http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/122647 en-US Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:34:02 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 25564151 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:34:02 -0700
Virus Games is the first book in the "Peter's Packets" series. Peter Dempsey hates computers until a freak accident gives him the ability to see packets described a bit like animated icons. With their help, Peter ends up being the star of the computer class in his school.

All of this takes place against the backdrop of the "Thanksgiving Virus" created by one of the most interesting and believable antagonists I've come across in my reading this year and certainly among the novels aimed at younger readers. Terry's motivation is not evil even though his actions end up being costly and destructive. He is restless and looking for attention.Tery's part of the story shows how easily pranks can get out of hand.

My only quibble with the book is with its ending. Sheerin works hard to make the packets characters in equal standing with his human characters and after giving some of them noble deaths in their quest to help Peter, one of the lot is saved with a rather hokey ending. I suppose he'll go onto the a co-star with Peter in future books in the series but it would have been more poignant without that last minute Hail Mary. ]]>
author: G. L. Sheerin
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/24/08
shelves: contest, released
review:
Books have a funny way of grouping together in unexpected ways. For instance, Virus Games by G. L. Sheerin reads like a prequel to Unholy Domain except aimed at children ages nine to twelve.

Virus Games is the first book in the "Peter's Packets" series. Peter Dempsey hates computers until a freak accident gives him the ability to see packets described a bit like animated icons. With their help, Peter ends up being the star of the computer class in his school.

All of this takes place against the backdrop of the "Thanksgiving Virus" created by one of the most interesting and believable antagonists I've come across in my reading this year and certainly among the novels aimed at younger readers. Terry's motivation is not evil even though his actions end up being costly and destructive. He is restless and looking for attention.Tery's part of the story shows how easily pranks can get out of hand.

My only quibble with the book is with its ending. Sheerin works hard to make the packets characters in equal standing with his human characters and after giving some of them noble deaths in their quest to help Peter, one of the lot is saved with a rather hokey ending. I suppose he'll go onto the a co-star with Peter in future books in the series but it would have been more poignant without that last minute Hail Mary.
]]> 22662039 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:11:04 -0700
Like many early detective novels, the Hercule Poirot isn't the narrator of the mystery. Just as Sherlock Holmes has Dr. John Watson, Hercule Poirot in this mystery has Dr. James Sheppard. As they are strangers, Sheppard's insights into Poirot are flawed. At first he mistakes the man for a hair dresser. He even gets his name wrong, rendering it as Porrott until he is later corrected. Sheppard tells an interesting story and seems likeable but he's terrible at getting to the facts of case.

With Sheppard being too unreliable of a narrator, the role of confidant and partner falls on the shoulders of the reader. It's the formula of Columbo and Criminal Intent. Even if you spot the twist early on, like I did, the book is still an interesting psychological drama between the hunter and his prey. ]]>
author: Agatha Christie
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1926
rating: 3
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/24/08
shelves: released
review:
I've been reading Agatha Christie's mysteries on and off for twenty years. The recent series four episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp" of Doctor Who piqued my interest in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926). It is her third Hercule Poirot mystery and one of her most controversial novels for its twist ending.

Like many early detective novels, the Hercule Poirot isn't the narrator of the mystery. Just as Sherlock Holmes has Dr. John Watson, Hercule Poirot in this mystery has Dr. James Sheppard. As they are strangers, Sheppard's insights into Poirot are flawed. At first he mistakes the man for a hair dresser. He even gets his name wrong, rendering it as Porrott until he is later corrected. Sheppard tells an interesting story and seems likeable but he's terrible at getting to the facts of case.

With Sheppard being too unreliable of a narrator, the role of confidant and partner falls on the shoulders of the reader. It's the formula of Columbo and Criminal Intent. Even if you spot the twist early on, like I did, the book is still an interesting psychological drama between the hunter and his prey.
]]> 25177716 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:10:17 -0700
The book's main selling point is its illustrations. They show cutaways of a tarantula and a scorpion labeled with the different parts of the anatomy.

Along with the pictures, the book has descriptions of the spider's and scorpion's biology and life cycle. The book describes how spiders weave webs and how scorpions can glow when exposed to blacklight.

As the creatures are drawings rather than photographs, they aren't as off putting as some of the invertebrate books I've read with Sean. The book is interesting and engaging, a good balance between text and diagrams. ]]>
author: P. D. Hillyard
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/24/08
shelves: borrowed
review:
From birds to creepy crawlies, Sean is now interested in books about invertebrates. He started off with Spiders and Scorpions by P. D. Hillyard. It's part of the Look Inside Series.

The book's main selling point is its illustrations. They show cutaways of a tarantula and a scorpion labeled with the different parts of the anatomy.

Along with the pictures, the book has descriptions of the spider's and scorpion's biology and life cycle. The book describes how spiders weave webs and how scorpions can glow when exposed to blacklight.

As the creatures are drawings rather than photographs, they aren't as off putting as some of the invertebrate books I've read with Sean. The book is interesting and engaging, a good balance between text and diagrams.
]]> 28137906 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:23:11 -0700
author: Kathleen Turner Elizabeth Peters
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2000
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 07/23/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 28137575 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:12:12 -0700
author: China Miéville
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2000
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 07/23/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 25177787 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:09:41 -0700
The stories are based on the Grimm brothers' tales but given a feminist focus. The Grimm stories do tend to boil down to fantastic and supernatural things happening to young women who then often (though not always) need rescuing by a male hero. They can do with a good turning inside out but the ways in which that's done in this collection feels too gimmicky.

The other major problem with these stories is the emphasis on evil. So many of the female characters are doing evil deeds that the positives of giving the old stories a feminist spin are undone. I didn't come away with a favorite story. I found the whole process of reading this book tedious, although the discomfort was quick as the book is short. ]]>
author: Tanith Lee
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1983
rating: 1
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/23/08
shelves: released
review:
For the last couple of years I have been focusing on including more short fiction in my reading routine. Likewise, I have been trying to go back to reading more fantasy and science fiction, two genres I devoured in my teens and early twenties but have gotten away from in recent years. Red as Blood by Tanith Lee fits both categories as it's a collection of retold fairy tales, each one with a dark twist.

The stories are based on the Grimm brothers' tales but given a feminist focus. The Grimm stories do tend to boil down to fantastic and supernatural things happening to young women who then often (though not always) need rescuing by a male hero. They can do with a good turning inside out but the ways in which that's done in this collection feels too gimmicky.

The other major problem with these stories is the emphasis on evil. So many of the female characters are doing evil deeds that the positives of giving the old stories a feminist spin are undone. I didn't come away with a favorite story. I found the whole process of reading this book tedious, although the discomfort was quick as the book is short.
]]> 28025055 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:47:17 -0700
author: Diana Wynne Jones
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2001
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 07/22/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 28025038 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:47:04 -0700
author: Diana Wynne Jones
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 07/22/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 28025028 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:46:52 -0700
author: Diana Wynne Jones
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 07/22/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 27965850 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:39:11 -0700
author: Diana Wynne Jones
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.29
book published: 1988
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 07/22/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 27947500 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:21:44 -0700
author: Stuart McLean
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 07/22/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 20272230 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:48:54 -0700
The illustration on the cover by Andrea Eberbachart reminded me of Tommy and Sarah Dress Up (1972) by Gunilla Wolde, a favorite book from my childhood and a contemporary with Frog Prints.

Bruce starts to see mysterious frog prints in his room and he can't figure out why. He enlists Melinda who has a detective kit. Together they manage to solve the case.

The story is silly and simplistic but oddly entertaining. My favorite part of the story though is artwork. The book is out of print but there are copies available online. ]]>
author: B. L. Harwick
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.00
book published: 1976
rating: 3
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/21/08
shelves: released
review:
A few months ago I asked for book donations for my son's kindergarten. Among the books donated, was The Frog Prints by B. L. Harwick.

The illustration on the cover by Andrea Eberbachart reminded me of Tommy and Sarah Dress Up (1972) by Gunilla Wolde, a favorite book from my childhood and a contemporary with Frog Prints.

Bruce starts to see mysterious frog prints in his room and he can't figure out why. He enlists Melinda who has a detective kit. Together they manage to solve the case.

The story is silly and simplistic but oddly entertaining. My favorite part of the story though is artwork. The book is out of print but there are copies available online.
]]> 22115305 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:24:42 -0700
When the book starts off with a lengthy chapter about a hockey game with the two lead characters against rivals from the other side of Cape Breton Island (off the coast of Nova Scotia) I was worried that my choice was based on cover art by an artist who hadn't read the book. Fortunately though, the hockey game is confined to that first chapter.

Sea Gift is mostly a coming of age tale set against lobster fishing and treasuring hunting. The treasure in question is presented as an old scrap of parchment found in an old tar sealed bottle under a cairn. The note inside describes a pirate treasure and a doctor's meeting with members of the Mi'kmaq Nation, years before recorded settlement by Europeans.

The parchment sparks the boys' interest in Cape Breton's history and a friendship with their old rival, Maurice aka "Moose" who is Mi'kmaq. I liked following along with Lauchie and Angus as they learn about their home and its rich history. Watching their perceptions of Moose change felt real. ]]>
author: John Ashby
name: Sarah
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/20/08
shelves: borrowed
review:
I have a thing for nautical stories: whether just near or actually on the sea. Sea Gift by John Ashby caught my attention at my local library for the painting of a boy dangling on a rope over the ocean.

When the book starts off with a lengthy chapter about a hockey game with the two lead characters against rivals from the other side of Cape Breton Island (off the coast of Nova Scotia) I was worried that my choice was based on cover art by an artist who hadn't read the book. Fortunately though, the hockey game is confined to that first chapter.

Sea Gift is mostly a coming of age tale set against lobster fishing and treasuring hunting. The treasure in question is presented as an old scrap of parchment found in an old tar sealed bottle under a cairn. The note inside describes a pirate treasure and a doctor's meeting with members of the Mi'kmaq Nation, years before recorded settlement by Europeans.

The parchment sparks the boys' interest in Cape Breton's history and a friendship with their old rival, Maurice aka "Moose" who is Mi'kmaq. I liked following along with Lauchie and Angus as they learn about their home and its rich history. Watching their perceptions of Moose change felt real.
]]> 7637752 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:45:03 -0700
The first book I finished is The Penthouse Mystery which started actually as a film and was novelized and sold as a "junior mystery." Ellery's secretary cons him into working on the mystery of a missing ventriloquist famous for his act in China. He has come back to New York on business but never makes it out of his penthouse.

Some of these Ellery Queen mysteries hinge on now outdated cultural norms. The Penthouse Mystery holds up fairly well and any attentive reader will be able to figure out the twist behind the mystery.

Many of the Ellery Queen mysteries are written as "Encyclopedia Brown for grownups" as my husband describes them. They will often stop at the point where all the clues have been laid and then Ellery (who is a character as well as an "author") will address the reader directly to ask if he has solved the mystery before going through the final summary chapters. The Penthouse Mystery, perhaps because it was a film first, doesn't break the fourth wall. For that reason alone, it's a better than average Ellery Queen.

Copies of the book can be readily found online for a few bucks. The film, though, doesn't seem available. ]]>
author: Ellery Queen
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.67
book published: 1941
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/20/08
shelves: pc
review:
My grandmother turned me onto the Ellery Queen mysteries when I was a kid. Ellery Queen, the author, was actually join pseudonym of two cousins, Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee, who collaborated on the books. Two years ago I received a bunch of Ellery Queen mysteries as library rescues and I have been enjoying them this year during my son's swim lessons.

The first book I finished is The Penthouse Mystery which started actually as a film and was novelized and sold as a "junior mystery." Ellery's secretary cons him into working on the mystery of a missing ventriloquist famous for his act in China. He has come back to New York on business but never makes it out of his penthouse.

Some of these Ellery Queen mysteries hinge on now outdated cultural norms. The Penthouse Mystery holds up fairly well and any attentive reader will be able to figure out the twist behind the mystery.

Many of the Ellery Queen mysteries are written as "Encyclopedia Brown for grownups" as my husband describes them. They will often stop at the point where all the clues have been laid and then Ellery (who is a character as well as an "author") will address the reader directly to ask if he has solved the mystery before going through the final summary chapters. The Penthouse Mystery, perhaps because it was a film first, doesn't break the fourth wall. For that reason alone, it's a better than average Ellery Queen.

Copies of the book can be readily found online for a few bucks. The film, though, doesn't seem available.
]]> 25012600 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:00:08 -0700
Unholy Domain by Don Ronco feels like a bit like a Y2K story even though the year 2000 is never mentioned. It has many of the same themes: our dependence on computer technology, the potential dangers if our modern technology suddenly failed, how dependent our economy is on technology to name the three main ones. There is truth to all three of those observations but what's missing is just how much legacy technology we still have in our day to day lives. The world of Unholy Domain, though terribly broken, is too far advanced to be only twelve years in the future.

In fact, the book's timeline its biggest flaw. For a world with AIs, human looking robots, lasers, pocket computers and holograms to be fully developed and destroyed between now and 2020 requires a huge suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader. Had the book taken place in 2120 instead of 2020 (much as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward takes place in 2105 and has all of the same technology and urban problems), I would have spent a lot less time shaking my head and saying "No way!" every time a date was mentioned.

Take away the unbelievable time line (where the hero, David Brown is only 3 years older than my son) and Unholy Domain is an entertaining techno-thriller set in a world struggling in the middle of a new great depression brought on by a destructive and deadly computer virus known as PeaceMaker. The son of man blamed with unleashing the virus goes on a quest to clear his father's name after receiving a mysterious message from him. In his search he finds himself in the middle of a three sided tug of war. Ignore the improbable set up and enjoy the ride.

Unholy Domain is the second in the series. The first is PeaceMaker. ]]>
author: Dan Ronco
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/19/08
shelves: contest, released
review:
I remember in mid 1998, businesses were being warned about the upcoming chaos that would be caused when the computer clocks ticked over to 2000 and all those older programs that only had two digits stored would assume it was 1900. We were told to expect a mortgage meltdown (that came later but not from computer error), massive power outages and other chaos. None of that materialized except maybe in small isolated cases. Y2K as it came to be known was a source of stories, including a funny episode of Sports Night for those last couple of years.

Unholy Domain by Don Ronco feels like a bit like a Y2K story even though the year 2000 is never mentioned. It has many of the same themes: our dependence on computer technology, the potential dangers if our modern technology suddenly failed, how dependent our economy is on technology to name the three main ones. There is truth to all three of those observations but what's missing is just how much legacy technology we still have in our day to day lives. The world of Unholy Domain, though terribly broken, is too far advanced to be only twelve years in the future.

In fact, the book's timeline its biggest flaw. For a world with AIs, human looking robots, lasers, pocket computers and holograms to be fully developed and destroyed between now and 2020 requires a huge suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader. Had the book taken place in 2120 instead of 2020 (much as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward takes place in 2105 and has all of the same technology and urban problems), I would have spent a lot less time shaking my head and saying "No way!" every time a date was mentioned.

Take away the unbelievable time line (where the hero, David Brown is only 3 years older than my son) and Unholy Domain is an entertaining techno-thriller set in a world struggling in the middle of a new great depression brought on by a destructive and deadly computer virus known as PeaceMaker. The son of man blamed with unleashing the virus goes on a quest to clear his father's name after receiving a mysterious message from him. In his search he finds himself in the middle of a three sided tug of war. Ignore the improbable set up and enjoy the ride.

Unholy Domain is the second in the series. The first is PeaceMaker.
]]> 24959073 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:17:18 -0700
The first story: "The Mountains of Mourning" was published in Analog in 1989. It covers Miles time back home after graduating from the military academy. He is sent by his Prime Minister father to investigate an infanticide case in a rural village 4 days walk away. It's a heart-wrenching story that also serves to build Miles as a character and to introduce readers to the world/universe in which he lives. There are spaceships, hover cars and other high tech conveniences. But there are also areas still living in extreme poverty who rely on horses and primitive technology to eke a living.

The second story: "Labyrinth" shows Miles as a mercenary. Although a lieutenant , he works under the pseudonym of Admiral Miles Naismith. He's sent to recover some data that's been implanted in what he's told is a medically enhanced soldier-monster. What Miles finds is nothing at all what he expected.

Another fantastic story!

The final story is the cover title "Borders of Infinity": Here Miles is a POW and must work the other POWs to gain his freedom. The prison, a dome, meets all the criteria to the letter for the IJC's rules but it's hell and inhumane nonetheless. In the process of figuring a way out, Miles lets himself be mistaken for a prophet.

So what does this mean for me... it means I must now read every Bujold book, especially the Vorkosigan Saga, that I can find.]]>
author: Lois McMaster Bujold
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1989
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/18/08
shelves: released
review:
I can't even begin to describe in this short entry how much I enjoyed Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold. This limited edition novel is actually made up of three novellas previously published in science fiction magazines. Then a few extra pages were written to wrap the stories together as a series of interviews between Miles Vorkosigan (the protagonist) and Simon Illyan.

The first story: "The Mountains of Mourning" was published in Analog in 1989. It covers Miles time back home after graduating from the military academy. He is sent by his Prime Minister father to investigate an infanticide case in a rural village 4 days walk away. It's a heart-wrenching story that also serves to build Miles as a character and to introduce readers to the world/universe in which he lives. There are spaceships, hover cars and other high tech conveniences. But there are also areas still living in extreme poverty who rely on horses and primitive technology to eke a living.

The second story: "Labyrinth" shows Miles as a mercenary. Although a lieutenant , he works under the pseudonym of Admiral Miles Naismith. He's sent to recover some data that's been implanted in what he's told is a medically enhanced soldier-monster. What Miles finds is nothing at all what he expected.

Another fantastic story!

The final story is the cover title "Borders of Infinity": Here Miles is a POW and must work the other POWs to gain his freedom. The prison, a dome, meets all the criteria to the letter for the IJC's rules but it's hell and inhumane nonetheless. In the process of figuring a way out, Miles lets himself be mistaken for a prophet.

So what does this mean for me... it means I must now read every Bujold book, especially the Vorkosigan Saga, that I can find.
]]> 19528380 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:14:25 -0700
With many of Boynton's books, there is an animal who just doesn't fit in. In the case of Blue Hat, Green Hat, that animal is a turkey. All the other animals can get themselves dressed but not the turkey. He tries but somehow things never seem to end up on him correctly.

Besides being a charming story about the troubles of learning how to get dressed (or prop comedy 101 for preschoolers), the book teaches colors, animals, parts of the body and clothing. It's also charming and very funny. The turkey, by the way, looks charming in his purple socks. ]]>
author: Sandra Boynton
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.33
book published: 1984
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/18/08
shelves: borrowed
review:
Harriet is a bit of a prop comedienne. Her favorite joke involves putting something unlikely on her head and asking innocently, "Hat?" So when she saw Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton at the library, she had to check it out.

With many of Boynton's books, there is an animal who just doesn't fit in. In the case of Blue Hat, Green Hat, that animal is a turkey. All the other animals can get themselves dressed but not the turkey. He tries but somehow things never seem to end up on him correctly.

Besides being a charming story about the troubles of learning how to get dressed (or prop comedy 101 for preschoolers), the book teaches colors, animals, parts of the body and clothing. It's also charming and very funny. The turkey, by the way, looks charming in his purple socks.
]]> 24959018 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:32:11 -0700
Will Stanton gets a warning just before his 11th birthday (which happens to fall on Midwinter's day) that he must help defeat the Dark as he is the last of the Old Ones. Over the next many days he must collect the necessary signs to fend off the growing Darkness manifesting in the form of an endless blizzard.

The Dark is Rising brings together a mixture of Norse, Celtic, Arthurian legends along with time travel and contemporary fantasy. Cooper manages the blending of these elements well and the time travel is especially well done. ]]>
author: Susan Cooper
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/17/08
shelves: challenge, pc
review:
I'm really terrible at reading series in sequence. That's why I like books that stand alone even if they build on an larger story sequence. The Dark is Rising (and the series of the same name) is an excellent sample of a book that stands strongly on its own and contributes to an entertaining series.

Will Stanton gets a warning just before his 11th birthday (which happens to fall on Midwinter's day) that he must help defeat the Dark as he is the last of the Old Ones. Over the next many days he must collect the necessary signs to fend off the growing Darkness manifesting in the form of an endless blizzard.

The Dark is Rising brings together a mixture of Norse, Celtic, Arthurian legends along with time travel and contemporary fantasy. Cooper manages the blending of these elements well and the time travel is especially well done.
]]> 22393846 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:22:03 -0700
Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself starts with Alda contemplating his life after nearly dying from a bowl obstruction. So it begins promisingly as a sequel to the first book. Rather than following on the path of how he has continued to live his life, the book becomes a collection of speeches he has given and the reasons behind them. I suppose that's where the "talking to myself" part of the title comes into play.

As his speech giving is part of his public life, he also tries to discuss his role as a public figure and how disconcerting public perceptions versus his own internalized self are.

Had the book been more focused on the stories behind the speeches and less on the speeches themselves, Things I Overheard... would have been just as enjoyable as Never Have Your Dog Stuffed. Instead, the speeches, break up the natural flow of the memoir. The speeches, are by their very nature, very formal and very crafted. They lack the warmth and spontaneity of the first memoir. They are also typeset in a heavy calligraphic script that is hard on the eyes in long blocks of text. ]]>
author: Alan Alda
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2007
rating: 2
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/17/08
shelves: borrowed
review:
Last month I read and enjoyed Never Have Your Dog Stuffed (2006), Alan Alda's first memoir. I eagerly dove into his second book, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself. Unfortunately it didn't hold my attention as much as the first.

Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself starts with Alda contemplating his life after nearly dying from a bowl obstruction. So it begins promisingly as a sequel to the first book. Rather than following on the path of how he has continued to live his life, the book becomes a collection of speeches he has given and the reasons behind them. I suppose that's where the "talking to myself" part of the title comes into play.

As his speech giving is part of his public life, he also tries to discuss his role as a public figure and how disconcerting public perceptions versus his own internalized self are.

Had the book been more focused on the stories behind the speeches and less on the speeches themselves, Things I Overheard... would have been just as enjoyable as Never Have Your Dog Stuffed. Instead, the speeches, break up the natural flow of the memoir. The speeches, are by their very nature, very formal and very crafted. They lack the warmth and spontaneity of the first memoir. They are also typeset in a heavy calligraphic script that is hard on the eyes in long blocks of text.
]]> 24958913 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:07:00 -0700
Child of the Owl is told in the first person perspective of a 12 year old girl named Casey. She's a native born Chinese American but doesn't even think of herself in terms of her Chinese heritage. Like many first generation native born Americans, she only speaks English. Just as Yep describes in his autobiography The Lost Garden (1996), Casey is "too American to fit into Chinatown, and too Chinese to fit in anywhere else." In fact, that turmoil of balancing cultures is a recurrent theme in Yep's books.

The book, though written in the 1970s, takes place in 1965. When Casey is forced to move in with her Grandmother, Paw-Paw, in Chinatown (San Francisco) we get to learn about Chinese culture as Casey does. All of Yep's descriptions of San Francisco have a delicate balance of Western and Chinese details. The Beatles, old time radio shows, and hamburgers coincide with Chinese opera, Kung fu movies and dim sum. ]]>
author: Laurence Yep
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.58
book published: 1990
rating: 4
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/16/08
shelves: borrowed
review:
Laurence Yep has been a favorite author of mine since my teens. I have been reading his books when I've had the opportunity. My local library has a huge collection of his novels and I've decided to work my way through them as time permits. Child of the Owl (1977) is my first revisiting of Yep in about a decade and I'm currently reading Sea Glass (1979).

Child of the Owl is told in the first person perspective of a 12 year old girl named Casey. She's a native born Chinese American but doesn't even think of herself in terms of her Chinese heritage. Like many first generation native born Americans, she only speaks English. Just as Yep describes in his autobiography The Lost Garden (1996), Casey is "too American to fit into Chinatown, and too Chinese to fit in anywhere else." In fact, that turmoil of balancing cultures is a recurrent theme in Yep's books.

The book, though written in the 1970s, takes place in 1965. When Casey is forced to move in with her Grandmother, Paw-Paw, in Chinatown (San Francisco) we get to learn about Chinese culture as Casey does. All of Yep's descriptions of San Francisco have a delicate balance of Western and Chinese details. The Beatles, old time radio shows, and hamburgers coincide with Chinese opera, Kung fu movies and dim sum.
]]> 23415075 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:54:54 -0700
I have bought copies of some of his books for my kids but Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! was Sean's choice. As you can imagine, I was thrilled when he picked that book out.

The book is part story and part drawing how-to. The bully bug describes to a smaller bug all the different ways he's equipped to eat the bug. In the course of his description he is drawn, shape by shape just as all Ed Emberley drawing books teach drawing from basic shapes.

Sean and I enjoyed reading the book and even drew our own bully bug for one of his Friday lunch bags. ]]>
author: Ed Emberley
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/15/08
shelves: pc
review:
As a child I was nuts about drawing (still am) and one of my favorite authors was Ed Emberley. He has written a number of drawing books that make drawing just about anything simple. I spent hours of my childhood pouring over his books at my grandmother's dining room table.

I have bought copies of some of his books for my kids but Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! was Sean's choice. As you can imagine, I was thrilled when he picked that book out.

The book is part story and part drawing how-to. The bully bug describes to a smaller bug all the different ways he's equipped to eat the bug. In the course of his description he is drawn, shape by shape just as all Ed Emberley drawing books teach drawing from basic shapes.

Sean and I enjoyed reading the book and even drew our own bully bug for one of his Friday lunch bags.
]]> 22470160 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:47:25 -0700
Martha Gellhorn was Ernest Hemingway's third wife (1940-6) and spent her marriage living in Havana. She returned in 1987 and that trip forms the basis of this essay.

As to be expected, Gellhorn's essay compares Havana before and after Castro. At first she is sad to see the changes but as she travels around the city and visits with the people she comes to see some of the positives. She never endorses Castro's regime. Her positive take on things is more a celebration of the human spirit than an approval.

My favorite part of the essay is her visit to a local school. She sits in on an English class, a history class and a biology class. This section reminded me of my own time as an exchange student to Mexico City, so I bonded with her own hunt for nostalgia in Havana.

***

The second item in Havana is an excerpt from Christina Garcia's novel Dreaming in Cuban.

Celia as a grandmother to twin girls looks back on her life, comparing her current situation to the unhappiness of her early marriage and the lover who left her. She also shares a brief memory of the early days of the revolution and the way it served as well needed distraction from her life.

The melancholy tone of the excerpt with the pastiche of magical realism reminds me Cereus Blooms at Night by Shani Mootoo.

I liked the twenty pages I read and hope to some day read the entire novel.

****

The third item in Havana is an excerpt from Consuelo Hermer and Marjorie May's book Havana Mañana called "What to Wear.'

Hermer and May warn against the tell tale signs of being a "tourista" when visiting Havana. They offer wardrobe advice for men and women for all seasons. The basic advice is "dress as you would for work at home but in lighter weight fabrics."

Although the specific advice is probably now dated the foundation is still sound for wherever one may travel. Dress for the weather but keep in mind the type of place being visited. If visiting a large well established city, dress formally but in weather appropriate fabrics. Wear more conservative colors in the winter months than the summer months.

Of course, the other option is to do what you darn well please but be willing to be branded a tourist!

****

The fourth selection in Havana is an interview from Frei Betto's collaboration with Fidel Castro, Fidel and Religion (1987).

Although both men have an ongoing respect for each other, it's hard to tell from this interview. It's an absolutely bristling interaction between Brei and Castro.

In between the bickering and interrupting, Castro outlines a brief history of his childhood, his parents' background and his religious up bringing. Castro describes how very rural much of Cuba was and Spanish traditions influenced life even in these out of the way places.

It's hard for me to imagine an entire book of this confrontational writing style.

****

The fifth piece in Havana is a letter from Sophia Peabody (soon to be Hawthorne) to her parents while she was in Cuba for her health. Her letter is among my favorites so far because of my fondness for her husband's books. Sophia by the way was the inspiration for House of the Seven Gables; (1851) I highly recommend it if you haven't read it.

In her letter (the third written during her trip), Sophia describes the voyage and the fun she had borrowing the captain's glass to watch the "distant ships and land when ever they were in sight." She goes on to describe where she is staying including the unusual architecture of the home and the day to day sounds she can hear from her window. As she was racing to beat the last call for mail, her long letter is peppered with odd word choices and other mistakes but that is nature of letter writing. Her words convey her enthusiasm and sense of adventure all these many years later.

****

The six piece in Havana is a short excerpt from Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene. I just wish there was more to it.

I'm scratching my head here at the editor's choice for stopping the excerpt. It's just a tiny hint of the book and if I didn't already love the Carol Reed film, I'd be hard pressed to figure out what's going on from the ten pages or so included in this book.

****

The next piece in Havana is a three page scene from The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano. It recounts a humorous ride on the guagua 68 bus.

The story whether fiction or not illustrates perfectly the way people can shrug things off and take charge of a situation when things break with routine.

In the case of the guagua 68, the bus driver gets distracted by an ice cream eating beauty. At first his unscheduled stop is a source of amusement and then a source of frustration for the passengers. Finally though, one person decides to get things back on schedule with or without the driver.

Coming in at the shortest story so far, it is also the funniest.

****

The next piece in Havana is a short excerpt from Henry Cabot Lodge's book The War with Spain (1899). You can read the entire book online at Google Books.

The excerpt covers pages 23 through 30 of the 277 page book. It covers the Cleveland administration's first dealings with Spain regarding Cuba up through the explosion of the Maine.

These events are rushed through but as an introductory chapter to a longer book, they would serve to set the stage for further discussion and analysis. The excerpt does include some interesting details regarding the trip that General Stewart L. Woodford made to Spain and the assassination of Spain's Prime Minister before Woodford's ship arrived.

As the excerpt was interesting enough in its disembodied fashion, I am adding the full text to my Google Books library to read when I have more time.

****

The next piece in Havana is an essay on fishing marlin by Ernest Hemingway. He originally wrote it for Esquire in 1933 and it was later republished it By-Line: Ernest Hemingway six years after his death.

"Marlin off the Morro" reads like a cheat sheet for Old Man and the Sea (1952). Hemingway describes a typical day of fishing for marlin including superstitions about breakfast and what to eat for lunch.

The remainder of the essay focuses on the marlin. It talks about where they swim, how they swim, and the different personality types Hemingway had run into while fishing.

****

The next piece in Havana is an excerpt from the 1881 book Cuban Sketches by James William Steele. The original book was 220 pages and I'm not convinced that this short selection is a good representation of the whole book. Steele wrote the book while serving as a United States Consul.

From the little bit that is included in Havana, "Cuban Sketches" comes off as not much more than a lengthy rant about how backwards the Spaniards living in Cuba were and how uncomfortable any civilized American will be when visiting.

The excerpt contains complaints against the colors of the buildings (described as "parti-colored"), the narrow streets, the windowless buildings, horrific food, uncomfortable beds, lack of proper gardens and trees, and so forth.

Coming so late in the book after numerous love letters about Cuba, this excerpt comes as a shock. It's a complete departure in tone but it does give a glimpse of what island life was like 120 years ago.

*****

The next piece in Havana is an excerpt from the 1993 novel Singing to Cuba by Margarita Engle. The story is based on the author's own trip back to Cuba after years of trying to get permission to visit.

This excerpt follows the dark tone of "Cuban Sketches." Clearly this book seems aimed at ending on a critical note. The unnamed protagonist who is a stand-in for the author, is dismayed at how much things have decayed since the revolution. There is also discussion on the lack of choice: cheap state-run beer and plenty of ice cream but no regular sources of food. There are no supplies for repairing homes so the paint and plaster is peeling.

For many characters in the story the only way out is suicide and it is the talk of death that ends the excerpt. What this sudden change in the book's tone shows is just how volatile a subject Cuba still in here in the States. I wish though that the book had some discussion about the reasons behind the pieces chosen.

*****

The next piece in Havana is a hack job from Maturin M. Ballou's History of Cuba published in 1854.

This three part selection is made up for pages 77-9 (the Creole Ladies section), 108-115 (Marti the Smuggler) and 132-135 (Bullfighting). As they are jumbled up together in this presentation they provide nothing more than a bizarre "local color" sketch of life in Cuba in the 1850s.

There honestly isn't enough here to write a review. The women of Cuba are simply described by their fancy shoes; Marti the Smuggler is shown making a deal with a former governor, and Bullfighting is briefly but inaccurately described. Taken out of the context of the full text Cuba comes across as a strange backwards place with naive designs on being an outpost of European high culture.

If you're not interested in buying the book to read the full text, it is also available online through Google Books.

*****

The penultimate selection is the poem "Academic Discourse at Havana" by Wallace Stevens.

****

The book closes with an 1849 letter by William Cullen Bryant that he later included in his Letters of a Traveller (1850).

Of the recent pieces I read in Havana, Bryant's letter and Wallace's poem seemed the most genuine. I think much of that authenticity stems from them being intact, rather than being excerpts lacking the necessary context. Bryant's Letters of a Traveller is part of the Google Books but I think sometime I would like to hold a copy in my hand and curl up in a comfy chair to read it.
]]>
author: Susannah Clark
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.00
book published: 1996
rating: 3
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/15/08
shelves: released
review:
The book starts off with "Cuba Revisited" by Martha Gellhorn, an essay originally published in The View from the Ground (1988).

Martha Gellhorn was Ernest Hemingway's third wife (1940-6) and spent her marriage living in Havana. She returned in 1987 and that trip forms the basis of this essay.

As to be expected, Gellhorn's essay compares Havana before and after Castro. At first she is sad to see the changes but as she travels around the city and visits with the people she comes to see some of the positives. She never endorses Castro's regime. Her positive take on things is more a celebration of the human spirit than an approval.

My favorite part of the essay is her visit to a local school. She sits in on an English class, a history class and a biology class. This section reminded me of my own time as an exchange student to Mexico City, so I bonded with her own hunt for nostalgia in Havana.

***

The second item in Havana is an excerpt from Christina Garcia's novel Dreaming in Cuban.

Celia as a grandmother to twin girls looks back on her life, comparing her current situation to the unhappiness of her early marriage and the lover who left her. She also shares a brief memory of the early days of the revolution and the way it served as well needed distraction from her life.

The melancholy tone of the excerpt with the pastiche of magical realism reminds me Cereus Blooms at Night by Shani Mootoo.

I liked the twenty pages I read and hope to some day read the entire novel.

****

The third item in Havana is an excerpt from Consuelo Hermer and Marjorie May's book Havana Mañana called "What to Wear.'

Hermer and May warn against the tell tale signs of being a "tourista" when visiting Havana. They offer wardrobe advice for men and women for all seasons. The basic advice is "dress as you would for work at home but in lighter weight fabrics."

Although the specific advice is probably now dated the foundation is still sound for wherever one may travel. Dress for the weather but keep in mind the type of place being visited. If visiting a large well established city, dress formally but in weather appropriate fabrics. Wear more conservative colors in the winter months than the summer months.

Of course, the other option is to do what you darn well please but be willing to be branded a tourist!

****

The fourth selection in Havana is an interview from Frei Betto's collaboration with Fidel Castro, Fidel and Religion (1987).

Although both men have an ongoing respect for each other, it's hard to tell from this interview. It's an absolutely bristling interaction between Brei and Castro.

In between the bickering and interrupting, Castro outlines a brief history of his childhood, his parents' background and his religious up bringing. Castro describes how very rural much of Cuba was and Spanish traditions influenced life even in these out of the way places.

It's hard for me to imagine an entire book of this confrontational writing style.

****

The fifth piece in Havana is a letter from Sophia Peabody (soon to be Hawthorne) to her parents while she was in Cuba for her health. Her letter is among my favorites so far because of my fondness for her husband's books. Sophia by the way was the inspiration for House of the Seven Gables; (1851) I highly recommend it if you haven't read it.

In her letter (the third written during her trip), Sophia describes the voyage and the fun she had borrowing the captain's glass to watch the "distant ships and land when ever they were in sight." She goes on to describe where she is staying including the unusual architecture of the home and the day to day sounds she can hear from her window. As she was racing to beat the last call for mail, her long letter is peppered with odd word choices and other mistakes but that is nature of letter writing. Her words convey her enthusiasm and sense of adventure all these many years later.

****

The six piece in Havana is a short excerpt from Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene. I just wish there was more to it.

I'm scratching my head here at the editor's choice for stopping the excerpt. It's just a tiny hint of the book and if I didn't already love the Carol Reed film, I'd be hard pressed to figure out what's going on from the ten pages or so included in this book.

****

The next piece in Havana is a three page scene from The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano. It recounts a humorous ride on the guagua 68 bus.

The story whether fiction or not illustrates perfectly the way people can shrug things off and take charge of a situation when things break with routine.

In the case of the guagua 68, the bus driver gets distracted by an ice cream eating beauty. At first his unscheduled stop is a source of amusement and then a source of frustration for the passengers. Finally though, one person decides to get things back on schedule with or without the driver.

Coming in at the shortest story so far, it is also the funniest.

****

The next piece in Havana is a short excerpt from Henry Cabot Lodge's book The War with Spain (1899). You can read the entire book online at Google Books.

The excerpt covers pages 23 through 30 of the 277 page book. It covers the Cleveland administration's first dealings with Spain regarding Cuba up through the explosion of the Maine.

These events are rushed through but as an introductory chapter to a longer book, they would serve to set the stage for further discussion and analysis. The excerpt does include some interesting details regarding the trip that General Stewart L. Woodford made to Spain and the assassination of Spain's Prime Minister before Woodford's ship arrived.

As the excerpt was interesting enough in its disembodied fashion, I am adding the full text to my Google Books library to read when I have more time.

****

The next piece in Havana is an essay on fishing marlin by Ernest Hemingway. He originally wrote it for Esquire in 1933 and it was later republished it By-Line: Ernest Hemingway six years after his death.

"Marlin off the Morro" reads like a cheat sheet for Old Man and the Sea (1952). Hemingway describes a typical day of fishing for marlin including superstitions about breakfast and what to eat for lunch.

The remainder of the essay focuses on the marlin. It talks about where they swim, how they swim, and the different personality types Hemingway had run into while fishing.

****

The next piece in Havana is an excerpt from the 1881 book Cuban Sketches by James William Steele. The original book was 220 pages and I'm not convinced that this short selection is a good representation of the whole book. Steele wrote the book while serving as a United States Consul.

From the little bit that is included in Havana, "Cuban Sketches" comes off as not much more than a lengthy rant about how backwards the Spaniards living in Cuba were and how uncomfortable any civilized American will be when visiting.

The excerpt contains complaints against the colors of the buildings (described as "parti-colored"), the narrow streets, the windowless buildings, horrific food, uncomfortable beds, lack of proper gardens and trees, and so forth.

Coming so late in the book after numerous love letters about Cuba, this excerpt comes as a shock. It's a complete departure in tone but it does give a glimpse of what island life was like 120 years ago.

*****

The next piece in Havana is an excerpt from the 1993 novel Singing to Cuba by Margarita Engle. The story is based on the author's own trip back to Cuba after years of trying to get permission to visit.

This excerpt follows the dark tone of "Cuban Sketches." Clearly this book seems aimed at ending on a critical note. The unnamed protagonist who is a stand-in for the author, is dismayed at how much things have decayed since the revolution. There is also discussion on the lack of choice: cheap state-run beer and plenty of ice cream but no regular sources of food. There are no supplies for repairing homes so the paint and plaster is peeling.

For many characters in the story the only way out is suicide and it is the talk of death that ends the excerpt. What this sudden change in the book's tone shows is just how volatile a subject Cuba still in here in the States. I wish though that the book had some discussion about the reasons behind the pieces chosen.

*****

The next piece in Havana is a hack job from Maturin M. Ballou's History of Cuba published in 1854.

This three part selection is made up for pages 77-9 (the Creole Ladies section), 108-115 (Marti the Smuggler) and 132-135 (Bullfighting). As they are jumbled up together in this presentation they provide nothing more than a bizarre "local color" sketch of life in Cuba in the 1850s.

There honestly isn't enough here to write a review. The women of Cuba are simply described by their fancy shoes; Marti the Smuggler is shown making a deal with a former governor, and Bullfighting is briefly but inaccurately described. Taken out of the context of the full text Cuba comes across as a strange backwards place with naive designs on being an outpost of European high culture.

If you're not interested in buying the book to read the full text, it is also available online through Google Books.

*****

The penultimate selection is the poem "Academic Discourse at Havana" by Wallace Stevens.

****

The book closes with an 1849 letter by William Cullen Bryant that he later included in his Letters of a Traveller (1850).

Of the recent pieces I read in Havana, Bryant's letter and Wallace's poem seemed the most genuine. I think much of that authenticity stems from them being intact, rather than being excerpts lacking the necessary context. Bryant's Letters of a Traveller is part of the Google Books but I think sometime I would like to hold a copy in my hand and curl up in a comfy chair to read it.

]]> 8303819 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:39:51 -0700
In fairness to Heyer, I have to point first to the copy I was reading. It's an old, cheap paperback from 1971. The pages are yellowed which mae the tiny font harder to read. Tiny, faded text combined with Heyer's lengthy paragraphs and elaborate language made for difficult reading at my usual pace.

Then there's the plot. From reviews I've read Arabella is sometimes compared to Romeo & Juliet. I was reminded more of LoveHampton by Sherri Rifkin and both, if I were to pick a Shakespearian play, remind me of The Taming of the Shrew. Having so enjoyed Rifkin's novel, I just wasn't in the mood for such a similar story. ]]>
author: Georgette Heyer
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1949
rating: 1
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/14/08
shelves: released
review:
Three years ago I enjoyed The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer and I expected to like Arabella as well but I didn't.

In fairness to Heyer, I have to point first to the copy I was reading. It's an old, cheap paperback from 1971. The pages are yellowed which mae the tiny font harder to read. Tiny, faded text combined with Heyer's lengthy paragraphs and elaborate language made for difficult reading at my usual pace.

Then there's the plot. From reviews I've read Arabella is sometimes compared to Romeo & Juliet. I was reminded more of LoveHampton by Sherri Rifkin and both, if I were to pick a Shakespearian play, remind me of The Taming of the Shrew. Having so enjoyed Rifkin's novel, I just wasn't in the mood for such a similar story.
]]> 27181728 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:15:38 -0700
author: Kristin Gore
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 07/13/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 24665681 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:13:51 -0700
This well researched book with an ample bibliography and notes section covers the rise and fall of the Everleigh Club in Chicago. As there are so many people of interest on both sides of the issue (those running the brothels and those trying to close them down) that the Abbot includes her own three page cast of characters.

At the start of each short chapter, Abbott includes a photograph or illustration from the time period. They are all captioned: either with the original caption or with relevant information for the upcoming chapter. These old pictures were my favorite part of the book. I wish the cover art could have been taken from one of these instead of being a stock photo of an unknown woman.

The strength and weakness of Sin in the Second City stems from the same source: its abundant information. As the timeline progresses and I'm guessing source material becomes more reliable and readily available, it becomes more difficult to keep track of the events while reading. As a source of research material Sin in the Second City will be very valuable. As pleasure reading, it needs to be taken slowly and passages reread for full comprehension.

If you haven't read Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser, I suggest reading it as a companion book to Sin in the Second City. Although fiction, it helps fill in the gaps of what Chicago was like during the Everleigh sister's stay. ]]>
author: Karen Abbott
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/13/08
shelves: contest, released
review:
"I'm getting Everleighed tonight." (p. 22) That quote, part slogan and part red light district slang sums up Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott best.

This well researched book with an ample bibliography and notes section covers the rise and fall of the Everleigh Club in Chicago. As there are so many people of interest on both sides of the issue (those running the brothels and those trying to close them down) that the Abbot includes her own three page cast of characters.

At the start of each short chapter, Abbott includes a photograph or illustration from the time period. They are all captioned: either with the original caption or with relevant information for the upcoming chapter. These old pictures were my favorite part of the book. I wish the cover art could have been taken from one of these instead of being a stock photo of an unknown woman.

The strength and weakness of Sin in the Second City stems from the same source: its abundant information. As the timeline progresses and I'm guessing source material becomes more reliable and readily available, it becomes more difficult to keep track of the events while reading. As a source of research material Sin in the Second City will be very valuable. As pleasure reading, it needs to be taken slowly and passages reread for full comprehension.

If you haven't read Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser, I suggest reading it as a companion book to Sin in the Second City. Although fiction, it helps fill in the gaps of what Chicago was like during the Everleigh sister's stay.
]]> 14963801 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:56:28 -0700
Salt is broken into three parts: the first covering why we need salt and how that need affected early civilizations; the second part focuses on the fishing industry; and the final part looks at how salt continues to affect society. Kurlansky has also written The Basque History of the World and Cod and he's clearly still interested in both topics. Large portions of Salt focus on both the Basque use of salt and the history of cod and salt. I am not all the interested in Basque history and The Zen of Fish is a more interesting take on the history of fish (and salt).

There are some interesting bits of Salt. I liked best the chapters about Italy that discuss prosciutto and Parmesan. I also liked the discussion of salt in China post revolution and the bit about how sugar is traditionally thought to balance the taste of salt. I had never heard of this old wives tale but it helps to explain why salt is always an ingredient in dessert recipes. ]]>
author: Mark Kurlansky
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2003
rating: 2
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/13/08
shelves: released
review:
I can remember sitting in my car listening to a review of Salt: A World History and an interview with Mark Kurlansky. Four years later I have finally gotten around to reading the book. Perhaps I should have read it sooner because the book didn't live up to expectations. I think part of my disappointment stems from having just enjoyed The Zen of Fish by Trevor Corson.

Salt is broken into three parts: the first covering why we need salt and how that need affected early civilizations; the second part focuses on the fishing industry; and the final part looks at how salt continues to affect society. Kurlansky has also written The Basque History of the World and Cod and he's clearly still interested in both topics. Large portions of Salt focus on both the Basque use of salt and the history of cod and salt. I am not all the interested in Basque history and The Zen of Fish is a more interesting take on the history of fish (and salt).

There are some interesting bits of Salt. I liked best the chapters about Italy that discuss prosciutto and Parmesan. I also liked the discussion of salt in China post revolution and the bit about how sugar is traditionally thought to balance the taste of salt. I had never heard of this old wives tale but it helps to explain why salt is always an ingredient in dessert recipes.
]]> 23166438 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:05:53 -0700
There are actually two young women named Nana: Nana Komatsu, who is introduced on pages 3-104, and Nana Osaki who is introduced on pages 105-176. The first volume comes to a close with a coda dedicated to a character named Junko but her role here is more as a source of "coming attractions" than anything else. Both Nanas are drawn to Tokyo but the paths they take are very different.

Nana K. is an emotionally scarred girl who is looking for love in all the wrong places, including having an affair with an older married man. She goes to Tokyo to follow a pair of men: the married one and a young artist who has transferred to a university there. Her time in Tokyo will probably be a rough one; she's unprepared for the big city and lacks the confidence to make the move work.

On the other hand, Nana O., a member of rock band, goes to Tokyo to follow her lover when he is offered a better gig. Although she is hurt by the break up she is strong enough and stubborn enough to charge into Tokyo and claim her piece of it.

The two Nanas will obviously meet in the future but in this volume they lead separate lives. There are enough similarities in their lives and in how they look that it is easy sometimes to accidentally confuse one for the other. In this regard, their parallel lives reminds me of a wonderful French/Polish film: La Double vie de Veronique / Dvojnaja zhizn Veroniki (1991). ]]>
author: Ai Yazawa
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/12/08
shelves: pc
review:
Nana Volume 1 by Ai Yazawa is a shojo manga and quite a departure for me from my usual manga choices. I saw this volume reviewed on my of favorite book blogs but it was months ago and I can't remember where. Anyway, the cover art appealed to me as did the title and I was looking for a change.

There are actually two young women named Nana: Nana Komatsu, who is introduced on pages 3-104, and Nana Osaki who is introduced on pages 105-176. The first volume comes to a close with a coda dedicated to a character named Junko but her role here is more as a source of "coming attractions" than anything else. Both Nanas are drawn to Tokyo but the paths they take are very different.

Nana K. is an emotionally scarred girl who is looking for love in all the wrong places, including having an affair with an older married man. She goes to Tokyo to follow a pair of men: the married one and a young artist who has transferred to a university there. Her time in Tokyo will probably be a rough one; she's unprepared for the big city and lacks the confidence to make the move work.

On the other hand, Nana O., a member of rock band, goes to Tokyo to follow her lover when he is offered a better gig. Although she is hurt by the break up she is strong enough and stubborn enough to charge into Tokyo and claim her piece of it.

The two Nanas will obviously meet in the future but in this volume they lead separate lives. There are enough similarities in their lives and in how they look that it is easy sometimes to accidentally confuse one for the other. In this regard, their parallel lives reminds me of a wonderful French/Polish film: La Double vie de Veronique / Dvojnaja zhizn Veroniki (1991).
]]> 22111374 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:42:21 -0700
This first novel introduces the family, five girls, who jokingly call themselves an "all-of-a-kind" family since they don't have any brothers. As with the Uptown novel, the is told as a series of vignettes over the course of a year. One can track the timeline by following the Jewish holidays they celebrate: Passover, Purim and so forth.

The book is more than just a primer for American Jewish culture and religion. It is a heartwarming story of a family facing the day to day struggles that any family faces: illness, finance, emotional upheaval and just the general chaos of parenting children.

The mother plays a more active role in this book. She comes up with an ingenious way to make the girls do their cleaning chores (something I plan to implement with my two children when they are a little older), the frustration of a child who suddenly refuses to eat (another thing I have in common with her), the personal sacrifices a parent will make when a child is ill and finally the exhaustion of parenting while pregnant. I really enjoyed getting to know her better.

All of these threads are woven through the fabric of Europe on the verge of WWI. Reading All-of-a-Kind Family will give one an appreciation for what life was like more than 90 years ago. ]]>
author: Sydney Taylor
name: Sarah
average rating: 4.35
book published: 1977
rating: 5
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/11/08
shelves: borrowed
review:
Back in April I read and reviewed All-of-a-Kind Family Uptown by Sydney Taylor. Having so enjoyed it I went back to read the first in the series, All-of-a-Kind Family.

This first novel introduces the family, five girls, who jokingly call themselves an "all-of-a-kind" family since they don't have any brothers. As with the Uptown novel, the is told as a series of vignettes over the course of a year. One can track the timeline by following the Jewish holidays they celebrate: Passover, Purim and so forth.

The book is more than just a primer for American Jewish culture and religion. It is a heartwarming story of a family facing the day to day struggles that any family faces: illness, finance, emotional upheaval and just the general chaos of parenting children.

The mother plays a more active role in this book. She comes up with an ingenious way to make the girls do their cleaning chores (something I plan to implement with my two children when they are a little older), the frustration of a child who suddenly refuses to eat (another thing I have in common with her), the personal sacrifices a parent will make when a child is ill and finally the exhaustion of parenting while pregnant. I really enjoyed getting to know her better.

All of these threads are woven through the fabric of Europe on the verge of WWI. Reading All-of-a-Kind Family will give one an appreciation for what life was like more than 90 years ago.
]]> 26930913 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:29:48 -0700
author: Desmond Morris
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.33
book published: 1987
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 07/10/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 23616795 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:24:19 -0700
Native Tongue being one of the earliest of his novels (#4) has many of the same themes as his later ones: environmentalism, corruption, animal rights, and big business. The big business in this case is a mob run amusement park with a desire to be bigger than Disney no matter the cost.

On the other side of the fence are a pair of thugs working for a crazy environmentalist. Her cause may be just but her methods aren't much better than head of the Amazing Kingdom.

The book suffers from too large a cast of characters and too many side plots. I ended up skipping around to the characters who interested me the most. ]]>
author: Carl Hiaasen
name: Sarah
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at: 07/08
date added: 07/10/08
shelves: released
review:
I've now read just over half of Carl Hiaasen's novels. I've come to the conclusio