Attack of the Blogosphere!

I read a lot of books. A lot. The time that most people spend on pesky activities like managing their investment portfolios, supervising their kids' education, or cleaning the house, I spend reading. I mainly read fantasy and mysteries, but I'm also interested in history, particularly regarding Queen Elizabeth I, 19th century women's fiction, and anything else that might catch my eye. I average about two books a week, not counting the ones I read online.

And when I'm not reading, I'm usually watching old movies. It's not true, as my brother claims, that the moldier they are, the better I like them. I like movies that were made within my lifetime too -- witness the title of this blog, which comes from the comedy classic The In-Laws. But I won't deny that I think the '30s and '40s rule, and everything took a sharp downturn beginning in the '50s.

And when I'm not watching old movies, I generally can find something else on TV to waste too much time on. I have enduring loves -- Antiques Roadshow, Project Runway, Veronica Mars -- and sudden enthusiasms -- Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty. I care whether Lorelai Gilmore winds up with Luke (she'd better!) or who's on Mohinder's list and what they can do. On the other hand, I'm past caring what's up with the Lostaways or watching Aaron Sorkin work out his issues on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

I've got a lot of opinions about the things I read and watch. A lot. But nobody in my world is really interested in hearing me hold forth about sexual politics and religion in the Wheel of Time saga by Robert Jordan or why the people responsible for the movie Elizabeth should be eliminated from the planet. For years I've kept it all inside, sloshing around in my head. But suddenly I realized that, due to the magic of the Internet, I could bore hundreds of perfect strangers with this stuff!

So that's what I'm here to do.

There's probably a couple of things you should know about me as a critic. First of all, when I don't like something, I'll let you know. I don't subscribe to the Harriet Klausner school of reviewing -- has she ever given a book under five stars? Lack of discrimination, whether positive or negative, is lazy and untrustworthy, and judging what's bad and why is useful in understanding and appreciating the good.

Also, I give spoilers. If I need to tell you that the end of a book completely contradicts the premise, I'm going to spell it out for you without stopping to worry about giving things away. Consider this your all-purpose spoiler warning.

I think that's all for now. As my sister would say, let's move the plot along, shall we?