I've been reading a lot of books on China recently - not sure why exactly. I've got no desire at all to visit, but they're the books that have been ca...moreI've been reading a lot of books on China recently - not sure why exactly. I've got no desire at all to visit, but they're the books that have been catching my attention. This book is Joe Bennett's tracing of a pair of underpants purchased in New Zealand, back through their manufacture, from cotton to thread to fabric to finished product. Along the way he travels in China, reflecting on the culture and economy. I really like his perspective - thoughtful and introspective, with a slight sense of humor to spice things up. (less)
One benefit of my new job in the Technical Services department of the library is that I get a look at a lot of the advance reader copies that come in....moreOne benefit of my new job in the Technical Services department of the library is that I get a look at a lot of the advance reader copies that come in. These are prepublished books that publishers send out to generate interest and hopefully sales. They are usually uncorrected proofs, so you have to swim through some typos, but usually they're pretty good. That's how I got a look at this book, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, which won't be out for another month or so.
Wow, I liked this book. Andrew Peterson starts off with a wonderfully witty introduction, and then jumps into his story. It's the story of a family living in a land under the yoke of an oppressive tyrant, but despite that they seem able to have an okay time of things. As the cover of my copy says, "Adventure, Peril, Lost Jewels and the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Scree." Right on.
Seems like this is the first book in a planned series, the "Wingfeather Saga." The end of the first book is great, too, and I really look forward to another installment. Might have to read this book out loud to the kids..(less)
An excellent send-up of the bestseller industry, from one of the authors of The Ridiculous Race. {author:Steve Hely] packs this full of pop-culture re...moreAn excellent send-up of the bestseller industry, from one of the authors of The Ridiculous Race. {author:Steve Hely] packs this full of pop-culture references, delicious snarkiness, and details of his rise through the publishing industry. I think this book will need a certain kind of reader; fortunately I was one.(less)
Picked this up off of the Advance Reader copy shelf at work. It had been there awhile; it was published about a year ago. Started reading it thinking...morePicked this up off of the Advance Reader copy shelf at work. It had been there awhile; it was published about a year ago. Started reading it thinking it was a work of fiction, even after reading the introduction. Soon realized it was a memoir of this guy, Glasgow Phillips, basically his story of trying to make it in a combination of Hollywood and the internet boom of the late 90s. I found it funny, tragic, and hard to put down, BUT I only know of one other person who would be at all interested in it, so I'm giving it to my brother-in-law.(less)
I was expecting a self-absorbed, boutique-ey book about someone who fancied themselves a baker.
Instead I was plunged...moreThis book wasn't what I expected.
I was expecting a self-absorbed, boutique-ey book about someone who fancied themselves a baker.
Instead I was plunged into Gesine Bullock-Prado's memoir of her exodus from the shallow Hollywood world she had found herself in, to a self-created temple of baking delight in Montpelier, Vermont.
This is DEEP baking. Her grasp of why baking matters, what in means to the baker and the consumer, is breathtaking. There is sadness, joy, excitement, boredom,and life here. There are crazy coffee shop regulars and beloved dogs. There is family, roommates, hospital stays and holiday meals. There are trips to bakeries in Vienna and the morning ritual at home. And there are recipes.
It's a measure of how I feel about this book that I seriously want to make all the recipes in it. (Usually recipes in books aren't very tempting to me.) While there are a few people I'd like to pass this on to, they're not going to see it - I've got some baking to do...(less)
Frances Mayes third book about her life in Tuscany, Every Day feels a little patched-together but still gives great insight into how the life of an ex...moreFrances Mayes third book about her life in Tuscany, Every Day feels a little patched-together but still gives great insight into how the life of an ex-pat can progress. She experiences a bit of xenophobia, travels around on the trail of her favorite painters, shares the area with her grandson, and always learns more about the Italian kitchen. Recipes included.(less)
A very interesting insight into how our brains help us (or force us) to make decisions. Despite all the jargon (amygdala, dopamine receptors, etc.) it...moreA very interesting insight into how our brains help us (or force us) to make decisions. Despite all the jargon (amygdala, dopamine receptors, etc.) it didn't feel too technical, and was well illustrated with real world anecdotes. Unfortunately, 90% of the stories seemed very familiar, like they'd all been used before by Malcolm Gladwell or the Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything guys.(less)
People don't seem to have very good opinions about author blurbs. I, personally, love them. Some of the best and most unexpected books I've read in th...morePeople don't seem to have very good opinions about author blurbs. I, personally, love them. Some of the best and most unexpected books I've read in the past year, I've been drawn to by seeing that one or more of the blurbs on the jacket was from an author I enjoy. Same with this one. Granted, I was almost through the book before I glanced at them, but when I saw that the two Blurbs on the back were from Sasha Issenberg and Mary Roach, my feelings about blurbs were validated yet again.
Wow, I digressed before I ever got to the book I'm talking about. Oh well. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles is another great example of the kind of non-fiction I love to read: an in depth look into a specific subject, so in-depth that it ranges all over other subjects as well, with enough of the author's personality thrown in to make it interesting and humorous. Jennifer 8. Lee covers the phenomenon of Chinese food in America from a global and historical viewpoint, touching on subjects as wide ranging as Powerball lotteries (lucky numbers on fortune cookies), takeout box manufacturing, immigration policies and the birthplace of General Tso. Excellent book; glad I picked it up.(less)
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