This is the second title by writer Erik Larson that I have read recently. And, truth be told, I am a...moreTCL Call #:943.086 Larson E
Julia's Rating: 5 stars
This is the second title by writer Erik Larson that I have read recently. And, truth be told, I am already part-way through another of his works. So, that should indicate how much I enjoy his style of writing!
Cindy's Rating: 3 stars So, I liked "My Ideal Bookshelf" for its graphic quality, and also because I liked looking at the titles t...moreTCL Call #: 381.45 My
Cindy's Rating: 3 stars So, I liked "My Ideal Bookshelf" for its graphic quality, and also because I liked looking at the titles that some of my favorite authors considered great books (and seeing if any of my favorites were on their lists). I liked this book for the same reasons. The beginning starts out a little repetitive for me, all coming to the universal conclusion that independent bookstores are "souls of the community" and we don't want to lose that. But the best part was reading about the bookstores that inspired the authors in this book of essays. Some I knew and some I didn't, but I liked catching glimpses of the people behind the writers I love. (less)
I expected this book to be more about French food and culture. It was a hard book to stay with because of the...moreTCL Cal #: 394.1 Gopnik A Dimmie- 2 stars
I expected this book to be more about French food and culture. It was a hard book to stay with because of the extensive details Gopnik includes. I was not able to finish reading the book, which is really unusual for me! If this is your first book on French dining, food and culture go for it!(less)
Suzanne -- 5 stars Hyde champions the notion that the creative process requires independence from market driven forces to truly expl...more TCL Call# 301 Hyde
Suzanne -- 5 stars Hyde champions the notion that the creative process requires independence from market driven forces to truly exploit the creative impetus of individuals. This of course creates a conundrum for artists subscribing to these tenets. This thought provoking work may challenge your position of the place of the arts in our world. Made me think about how we as humans help facilitate creativity or not. (less)
Lost In Shangri-La is a true story of survival in the New Guinea jungle during World War II. After an air force...more940.548: Zuckoff, Mitchell
Nick 3 stars
Lost In Shangri-La is a true story of survival in the New Guinea jungle during World War II. After an air force C47 crashes, the survivors encounter a friendly stone age tribe. A difficult and time consuming rescue is made by the military.
The story of the tribes people is fascinating. They have no pottery or wheels or numbers past 3. Their life styles are incredible in comparison to the world that the stranded modern military people came from. The tribes war with each other without clear reasons, except that they have always fought and they are trying to appease ghosts that pervade their belief system.
The technical aspects of the rescue involve snatching loaded gliders from the ground by a flying aircraft. The story of how this is accomplished is extraordinary. The book combines history, anthropology, adventure, and human resiliance in a compelling story. (less)
Suzanne - 5 stars Well if you don't like to bake, this might change your mind. A whole book of cakes that your grandma m...moreTCL Call# 641.8653 Richardson J
Suzanne - 5 stars Well if you don't like to bake, this might change your mind. A whole book of cakes that your grandma might have made! Hard to resist the fabulous photos and total disregard for gluten, dairy or all things cooked. That being said, the sculptural edibles are hard to resist. Have made 3 so far and each was a magical, caloric wonder! sigh!
Suzanne - 5 stars For those who relish the theory behind the stodgy categories separating fine art, design and craft -- this...moreTCL Call# borrowed via ILL
Suzanne - 5 stars For those who relish the theory behind the stodgy categories separating fine art, design and craft -- this is a must read. It breaks through the barriers with a set of essays by noted writers/thinkers in the field. No longer are knitting and painting on far ends of the continuum and Maria Elena has done a really good job of helping us all understand better the new world order between art and craft.(less)
TCL Call number: 818 BACH R Stephanie’s rating: 4 stars
Doubt. Apprehension. Dilemma. Incertitude Mistrust Reluctance…they all mean the same thing. If you’ve...moreTCL Call number: 818 BACH R Stephanie’s rating: 4 stars
Doubt. Apprehension. Dilemma. Incertitude Mistrust Reluctance…they all mean the same thing. If you’ve ever felt the need for direction take a gander at this tiny book. Inside you will find motivational and inspirational quotes that are sure to give you a boost. Some are straightforward, while others may leave you saying “hmm”. Nevertheless, the “Messiah’s Handbook” is like a gift. Its appreciation will last for years and years to come. When in doubt, open it up and see what sort of advice you get. Remember, it’s not about the advice, per se, it’s what you do with it that really matters. (less)
Cindy's Rating: 5 stars In this collection of poems Billy Collins explores mortality. Using his smart, succinct language he evo...moreTCL call# 811.54 Collins
Cindy's Rating: 5 stars In this collection of poems Billy Collins explores mortality. Using his smart, succinct language he evokes feelings that go deeper than ordinary sentimentality associated with loss, aging and solitude. The title poem, Horoscopes for the Dead, and Thank-You Notes have such an ironic, humorous take on death. They are the gems of this book I think. His poetry has a way of rendering the mundane in life exceptional. You will not be disappointed reading this clever assortment. (less)
TCL Call number: 741.6092 MURATYAN V Stephanie’s rating: 5 stars
When you combine two of the most historical and breathtaking cities in the world what d...moreTCL Call number: 741.6092 MURATYAN V Stephanie’s rating: 5 stars
When you combine two of the most historical and breathtaking cities in the world what do you get? Hmm…”Paris Versus New York” of course…and a lot of chucking. You know, as it turns out this book is quite the information polestar. Author Vahram Muratyan, a Paris native, created a very VISUAL comparison of the two cities. From monumental buildings, exquisite food habits, notable figures, to saturated clichés about the people who inhabit these two magnificent cities. Although there is a vast ocean that separates Paris and New York; they could almost be twins tied at the hip…fraternal twins that is. One is more posh than the other. Which one?(less)
TCL Call number: 031.02 BIG Stephanie's rating: 4 stars
Why is it that little kids get to ask all the fun and interesting questions? Well...picture a 30...moreTCL Call number: 031.02 BIG Stephanie's rating: 4 stars
Why is it that little kids get to ask all the fun and interesting questions? Well...picture a 30 year old man asking; "Why can't I tickle myself?; How do the bubbles get into fizzy drinks?; Why is space so sparkly? Why do I get bored? The answer: because they don't look silly asking them. In "Big Questions from Little People and Simple Answers from Great Minds", author Gemma Elwin Harris compiles hundreds of questions from elementary school children, and had field experts in psychology, anthropology, physics, biology, musicology, and several other very prestigious professionals answer their questions with user-friendly words. The variety of inquiries is subliminal! I guarantee that almost everyone has secretly wondered why the sky is blue or why cake taste so nice. This book is not just for the kids. It’s for everyone! (less)
TCL Call#: 977.434 LeDuff C Julia's rating: 4 stars
Fasten your seatbelt and lock the doors for Charlie LeDuff's tour of Motor City U.S.A. You're in for...moreTCL Call#: 977.434 LeDuff C Julia's rating: 4 stars
Fasten your seatbelt and lock the doors for Charlie LeDuff's tour of Motor City U.S.A. You're in for a harrowing ride. LeDuff, a journalist who worked for years at the New York Times before returning with his wife and baby girl to his hometown - Motown - to take a position with the Detroit News, introduces this "American Autopsy" by saying:
"This is not a book about geopolitics or macroeceonomics or global finance. And it is not a feel-good story with a happy ending. It's a book of reportage. A memoir of a reporter returning home - only he cannot find the home he once knew ... It is a book about a rough town and a tough people during arguably some of the most historic and cataclysmic years in the American experience ... It is about the future of America and our desperate efforts to save ourselves from it..."
This is not unbaised journalism. This is LeDuff, a character in his own right, telling the story of a city through the stories of those born there, left there, surviving there, dying there. This includes his own story and those of his family members. I found these stories to be gripping, heartbreaking, fury-inducing and ultimately full of humanity.
But, this is not a book for those who like to wear rosy glasses. It's brutal in it's descriptions of crime scenes, corruption, drug-addiction and other utterly-21st century American realities. I felt, at times, like a rubber-necker passing a car crash, wanting to turn away but unable to do so. And, while LeDuff says that this book isn't about "geopolitics or macroeceonomics or global finance" you can't tell the story of Detroit at the end of the first 21st century decade without addressing those issues. For folks interested in current events, true crime, American history or gonzo journalism, pick up this book.(less)
One of the great questions of mankind is How did we get to where we are now? From a...moreTeton County Library Call No: 303.4 DIAMOND Adam's Rating: 5 Stars
One of the great questions of mankind is How did we get to where we are now? From a broad historical perspective, Diamond takes this question on with an ongoing aim to conflate the argument that some societies are "successful" because they are inherently more intelligent. This was a gratifying read because it looks at man's footprint on all continents, instead of the typical Western European re-cap. Diamond has helped me in broadening my understanding of human societies and what makes us thrive. Well deserving of the Pulitzer! (less)
Teton County Library Call No: 328.73 Lessig L Adam's Rating: 4 Stars
I picked up this book and persevered through 14 chapters of how incorrectly use mon...moreTeton County Library Call No: 328.73 Lessig L Adam's Rating: 4 Stars
I picked up this book and persevered through 14 chapters of how incorrectly use money corrupts, how money's influence in anything can create doubt of integrity, and how politician's addiction to it for funding their campaigns has basically eroded the United State's democracy, so that I could get to the last 4 chapters of Lessig's plan to fix it. It was worth the perseverance. He outlines a few different ideas of campaign finance reform. Most are radical, and most are unlikely to happen(a point he readily makes, with likelihood percentages), but at least he's putting ideas on the table. It's a table that desperately needs ideas because as Lessig points out, the current dependency politicians have on lobbyists and interest groups is the root of all of our other political problems. This book makes you want to be a rootstriker! (less)
TCL Call#: 508.092 Williams T Cindy's rating: 5 stars
I was drawn to this book because I am at a station in life similar to the author's. Reaching fifty...moreTCL Call#: 508.092 Williams T Cindy's rating: 5 stars
I was drawn to this book because I am at a station in life similar to the author's. Reaching fifty, my mother has been dead for 10 years, and I find myself trying to connect with who she was without me...or rather who she could have been. She was certainly more than the mother I knew when we were both on this earth together, but why don't I know this? Reading the introduction was cathartic! After the author's mother dies, Williams opens the many journals left to her only to discover they are all blank. This opening chapter is followed by several unprinted pages in the book. That visual illustration had such an impact on me. It made me immediately think of all the times I felt invisible as a woman. She goes on to talk about this issue of women either not using their voice or having their voice ignored - not only in personal relationships, but professionally and politically as well. Do men ever have this problem? I found this book very interesting, I am still thinking about it, and it will definitely make me more aware of the consequences of not letting my voice be heard.(less)
TCL Call number: 371.26 BENSON R Stephanie's rating: 4 stars
Question: Since when did getting an “F” in an exam turn out to be such a good thing? Answer:...moreTCL Call number: 371.26 BENSON R Stephanie's rating: 4 stars
Question: Since when did getting an “F” in an exam turn out to be such a good thing? Answer: July 11, 2012 when Richard Benson published “F For Effort: More of the very best totally wrong test answers”. Huh? Yeah, that’s right! This book is laugh-out-loud funny! Mr. Benson somehow managed to collect the most outrageous exam answers ever! Ranging from Biology, English, Math, to Geography this compilation is very necessary in a doctor’s waiting room, which is where I first discovered this little book. What a riot! Some of these responses are so imaginative. I most definitely did not have the capabilities to form such “fathomable” answers. Let’s give these students some credit! (less)
For somebody who has had such a glamorous career and befriended so many famous designers, photographers, and models,...moreTCL Call Number: Bio Coddington G
For somebody who has had such a glamorous career and befriended so many famous designers, photographers, and models, it took the documentary "The September Issue" about the inner workings at Vogue magazine to make icon Grace Coddington famous outside her fashion circles. This engagingly written memoir takes the reader from a country British upbringing, through a London modeling career, and to British and American Vogue, where she works today as creative director, with plenty of detail and self-deprecation. She traces the evolution of the industry from the time when fashion was the main focus, and models like herself carried bags with all of their makeup, shoes, wigs and other accessories they might need on a shoot; to today's celebrity-driven focus, with actresses on covers, and many makeup artists and photographers having become celebrities themselves. Grace is honest without being snarky, perhaps the benefit of the wisdom that her age brings.(less)
Madeleine - 2 stars I normally love me some Jon Ronson, see my review of the Psychopath Test. Only his shtick doesn't work so wel...moreTL Call#: 306 Ronson J
Madeleine - 2 stars I normally love me some Jon Ronson, see my review of the Psychopath Test. Only his shtick doesn't work so well in short format. What I found engaging in long form just felt snarky and fatiguing in shorter length. Perhaps he has to more obviously get his "dig" in fast in the tighter word count and it comes off as grating. After reading multiple stories that are on the face different, I felt exhausted towards the end. However different the dressing it was still the same pig in lipstick that Ronson was going to snickeringly reveal in collusion with the reader. Aren’t we clever (and better)?(less)
David Byrne is certainly one of my favorite musicians. His book is a history of the music industry from an arti...moreTCL 780.9 Byrne D Jess's rating: 4 stars
David Byrne is certainly one of my favorite musicians. His book is a history of the music industry from an artist's point of view. He covers topics such as the evolution of recorded music, his song writing techniques, how a music can be tailored to a venue instead of the other way around, collaborations with other musicians, etc. This read is a bit textbook-like but worthwhile for anyone who loves music and wants a deeper understanding of its power.(less)
Cindy - 4 stars If you like reading Richard Russo's fiction, you will enjoy this memoir. It is full of personal insights, intellectual a...moreTCL BIO Russo R
Cindy - 4 stars If you like reading Richard Russo's fiction, you will enjoy this memoir. It is full of personal insights, intellectual and emotional honesty mostly regarding his life with a challenging mother. While the entire book tells the tale of their lives together, it also explores the inescapable influence of family and hometown. Russo, like alot of us, has a love/hate relationship with his roots. Russo has so much empathy for his mother. I liked the fact that instead of rejecting his origins, his hometown, and at times his exasperating mother he is able to see how they've influenced his life and work in a sympathetic way. It is easy to see how the writers real life influences his fiction.(less)
Teton County Library Call Number: BIO CATHERINE MASSIE R
Jeannine's rating: 4 stars If Catherine the Great, Portrait of a Woman, by Robert Massie were f...moreTeton County Library Call Number: BIO CATHERINE MASSIE R
Jeannine's rating: 4 stars If Catherine the Great, Portrait of a Woman, by Robert Massie were fiction, it would be dismissed as implausible. She was an impoverished teenage German princess chosen by Elizabeth, Empress of Russia, to become the wife of Peter II, an unstable young man whose delight was playing with toy soldiers. After years of an unconsummated marriage, Catherine took the first of 12 lovers and produced an heir for the throne. When Peter finally became emperor, he was so inept that Catherine led her faithful guards on horseback in a coup and declared herself empress. Intelligent and self-educated, she ruled Russia with an enlightened hand and even attempted to free the serfs, although this failed. She negotiated treaties to maintain the balance of power in Europe, fought wars and gained territory from Poland and Turkey, all the while accumulating one of the finest art collections in the world housed in the Hermitage. Mr. Massie wrote a splendid book, but it is Catherine who turns the pages.(less)
Some may be insulted. Other may be in sync with it. Broetry is not for everyone. I belie...moreTCL Call number: 811.54 MCGACKIN B
Stephanie's rating: 3 stars
Some may be insulted. Other may be in sync with it. Broetry is not for everyone. I believe that every college aged man-dude that happens to pick up a copy of this book will howl with joy. They'll raise their fists high and proclaim victory! Brian McGackin has managed to entice a specific hub of men to read poetry by writing about women, alcohol, and college life. I know there is a female version of this book out there. Topics include: male immaturity, male stupidity, male incompetence, and male uncertainty followed by piña coladas and spring break stories. Let's all adhere to equal opportunity offenses and amusements. (less)
I am so inspired by Saul Bass's work. From corporate logos and film design to picture books...moreTeton County Call No: 760.092 Bass J Cindy's Rating: 5 Stars
I am so inspired by Saul Bass's work. From corporate logos and film design to picture books and graphic work, his style permeates American design culture. I particularly love his use of typography and image. This beautiful book designed by his daughter, Jennifer Bass, provides an in depth account of all of Saul Bass's work. The book was rich in detail, and I found the notes at the end describing his very personal creative process particularly fascinating. If you are a designer, this book is a must read, but even if you just like design, you will find learning how some of our most well known logos were created interesting. Loved this quote "...no matter how much experience you have, the blank page is still terrifying."(less)
Teton County Call No: BIO Marshall P Cindy's Rating: 2 stars
Amazingly, Penny Marshall's career happened almost entirely by accident. Raised in Brooklyn...moreTeton County Call No: BIO Marshall P Cindy's Rating: 2 stars
Amazingly, Penny Marshall's career happened almost entirely by accident. Raised in Brooklyn, her mother was the most influential person in her life, despite the fact that they did not have a good relationship. This book is no literary masterpiece, nor does it delve too deeply into Penny's motivations or perspectives. It is largely a string of anecdotes about her friends...John Belushi, Carrie Fisher, Art Garfunkel, among others...lots of name dropping! She retells events of her life chronologically, as if they all had equal importance to her. It was kind of interesting to read about all the betrayals, drugs and insecurities behind the scenes of Laverne & Shirley, a show popular when I was young. While reading the book, I couldn't get the image of Laverne with her thick Brooklyn accent, recounting these stories at the lunch counter of Schotz Brewery out of my head. (less)
I was drawn to pick up this book, as it is a new decorating book in our collection, and it had a...moreTCL Call number: 747 Novogratz R
Diana's rating: 4 stars
I was drawn to pick up this book, as it is a new decorating book in our collection, and it had a really bright fun room on the cover. In a way, I didn't want to like it because of the incredibly hip and smug-looking couple shown, and their equally hip-looking seven children. I kid you not. This couple has a successful design business and show on HGTV, and seven children. But back to the book. It's very well-organized by project, from Tony Hawk's mountain home to a suburban family basement to a Hamptons home for two sisters. Each project then shows before and multiple after photos, followed by a breakdown of the total budget for the project, something you don't often see in a design book. Their style is very current, mixing a lot of color, unique light fixtures, and floor coverings, for which they share many of their favorite sources.
Julia's rating: 4 stars
They do look so smug on the cover! But, beyond that, Diana's review is right on the money. Great photos and layout. A huge source of inspired ideas from mixing and matching modern, vintage, textures, homemade, recycled, heirlooms, books ... Also, loved that they offered resources for where they find the great pieces they include in their projects. It might all be a tad over the top (who's got a $35k budget for a treehouse?!) but so much fun! Open the pages and let your imagination/fantasies run wild!(less)
Susan - 2 This was an ok read. I was hoping to better understand schizophrenia and its causes and treatment. It is more a narr...moreTCL Call# Bio McCloskey M
Susan - 2 This was an ok read. I was hoping to better understand schizophrenia and its causes and treatment. It is more a narrative on the author's experiences trying to come to grips with her brother's condition. (less)
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