http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/891514 en-US Wed, 21 May 2008 23:26:52 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 22734557 Wed, 21 May 2008 23:26:52 -0700
author: Jeffrey Brown
name: Erik
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 05/21/08
shelves: nonfiction-shelf
review:
Great little book for cat lovers. Poignant, funny and, at times, a bit sad - but all of it comes with having a feline household. While the drawings may not be the acme of animation, the author clearly conveys the message in a charming and unassuming way.
]]> 14999602 Mon, 05 May 2008 07:21:30 -0700
So, when Katrina hit New Orleans and eviscerated it and then flooded it, it not only damaged the physical infrastructure, buildings and history attached to them, it also did the same thing to the psyche of it's denizens. Chris Rose chronicled this collective pain and makes it painfully hard to read without feeling some level of empathy with every Katrina survivor. If you want a first hand look at what an epic, natural disaster does to a city, this is it. It's gritty and shocking. Should you choose to read it, prepare to gasp aloud at least a dozen times.]]>
author: Chris Rose
name: Erik
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 03/08
date added: 05/05/08
shelves:
review:
In the United States, there exists only 3 cities whose inhabitants actually love the cities in which they inhabit. They are: San Francisco, New Orleans and New York. If you have not lived in any of these, you probably aren't aware of the palpable affection and pride we have for these fabled places. We know our neighbors. We know the history of buildings and events that have been handed down through oral history.

So, when Katrina hit New Orleans and eviscerated it and then flooded it, it not only damaged the physical infrastructure, buildings and history attached to them, it also did the same thing to the psyche of it's denizens. Chris Rose chronicled this collective pain and makes it painfully hard to read without feeling some level of empathy with every Katrina survivor. If you want a first hand look at what an epic, natural disaster does to a city, this is it. It's gritty and shocking. Should you choose to read it, prepare to gasp aloud at least a dozen times.
]]> 21449635 Fri, 02 May 2008 06:48:15 -0700
I'd also recommend it if you're interested in traveling to Europe just because it gives an American's insight into being dumped into lands where he doesn't speak the languages or know the customs, but quickly learns. Hey, it might help you make a detour to Capri!]]>
author: Michael Tonello
name: Erik
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 04/08
date added: 05/02/08
shelves: nonfiction-shelf
review:
If the sight of orange Hermes boxes makes your heart go pitter-patter, this will be a page turner. Even if you're not familiar with the Parisian luxury goods maker, it's still a fun (and funny!) sneak peak into that world. The author, Michael Tonnello, is openly gay and writes with an acerbic, gay man's humor that is quite enjoyable without being overly campy.

I'd also recommend it if you're interested in traveling to Europe just because it gives an American's insight into being dumped into lands where he doesn't speak the languages or know the customs, but quickly learns. Hey, it might help you make a detour to Capri!
]]> 15480103 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:01:44 -0800
author: Jon Krakauer
name: Erik
average rating: 3.85
book published: 1996
rating: 3
read at: 01/08
date added: 02/15/08
shelves: nonfiction-shelf
review:
We've all seen the reports and heard about this book. It IS an interesting read that was a page turner; I blazed through it in 36 hours. But I question the author's neutrality in the subject matter and he was a bit verbose in describing the tale of an overly idealistic young man who still sees the world in binary terms.
]]> 15147365 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:20:26 -0800
author: Katherine Albrecht
name: Erik
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 04/06
date added: 02/11/08
shelves: nonfiction-shelf
review:
Definitely not a "Light Read". If you want a glimpse of how not only Big Brother but all the corporations in search of gathering more and more data on you via the use of RFID chips, this book will scare the heck outta you! Some may not like it because of it's technical detail, but it's somewhat integral to understanding how these things work, what their limitations are and what exactly these Data Miners are in search of. It's chilling to read this because the common man or woman on the streets has no idea of just how much he's being watched, tracked, classified, pigeon-holed and ultimately receiving custom advertising tailored to his/her specific preferences. Nor do they seem to care, which is what the mega-corporations are counting on. If anyone should ask, they only comment about how wonderful their asset tracking is and how it can predict customer demands before supply runs out while we're left scratching our collective heads thinking they're doing us some fantastic service.
]]> 15146583 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:10:43 -0800
author: Katharine Harmon
name: Erik
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at: 09/06
date added: 02/11/08
shelves: nonfiction-shelf
review:
One of my favorite personal geography books! It chronicles historic and present "personal maps" of such things as love, accupuncture, salvation and a "Dog's Idea of a Country Estate" plus so many more. Very creative. If you're into maps or cartography, this should be on your coffee table. It should be on just about everyone's I'd say!
]]> 15000174 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:53:09 -0800
author: New York Transit Museum
name: Erik
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 07/06
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: nonfiction-shelf
review:

]]> 14999766 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:48:38 -0800
author: Brian Hayes
name: Erik
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 02/07
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: nonfiction-shelf
review:
Everything a geek would want to know about how things work.
]]> 14997204 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:20:01 -0800
author: Barbara Tropp
name: Erik
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1996
rating: 5
read at: 05/94
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: cooking-shelf
review:
Barbara Tropp was the Mother of Fusion Cuisine and this is it's Bible.
]]> 14996843 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:17:54 -0800 The Modern Art of Chinese Cooking.]]>
author: Barbara Tropp
name: Erik
average rating: 3.93
book published: 1992
rating: 5
read at: 04/94
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: cooking-shelf
review:
I worked for Barbara Tropp ('BT' as she was known to friends) when China Moon met it's tragic demise. BT was one of the most brilliant people I have ever had the chance to know. China Moon Cookbook provides for a bare bones recipe file of dishes cooked at China Moon Cafe. For the real deal though, seek out BT's omnibus, The Modern Art of Chinese Cooking.
]]> 14995842 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:10:26 -0800
If anything, this book points out the disparity that exists within the United States. The people who have the luxury of reading this book probably already have an idea of where their local Farmer's Market(s) are while the ones who would benefit most from it lack the time (and possibly funds) to change their ways. It's easier, faster and cheaper to feed a family a meal of processed fast food. My 2¢...]]>
author: Carlo Petrini
name: Erik
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 07/07
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: cooking-shelf
review:
Great book if you have enough time to spend foraging for those prized local products and cooking them in your well-stocked kitchen. A bit verbose and elitist, but he's got the right idea - buy local and buy in season for best value and best taste. I learned this concept on my first day of cooking school, so it's hardly a revelation.

If anything, this book points out the disparity that exists within the United States. The people who have the luxury of reading this book probably already have an idea of where their local Farmer's Market(s) are while the ones who would benefit most from it lack the time (and possibly funds) to change their ways. It's easier, faster and cheaper to feed a family a meal of processed fast food. My 2¢...
]]> 14995156 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:59:21 -0800
author: David Kamp
name: Erik
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 08/07
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: cooking-shelf
review:
Good read into American Food History and how the folks in Marketing and R&D have "defined" what and how we eat today. Gives a good peek into some of the luminaries such as James Beard, Julia Child and Alice Waters who really defined - and celebrated - American food.
]]> 14992318 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:18:39 -0800
author: Maya Angelou
name: Erik
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at: 10/07
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: cooking-shelf
review:
One of my favorite books.
]]> 14992089 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:15:46 -0800
author: David Sedaris
name: Erik
average rating: 3.74
book published: 1994
rating: 5
read at: 10/07
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: nonfiction-shelf
review:
My sides still hurt!
]]> 14992092 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:14:53 -0800
author: David Sedaris
name: Erik
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2000
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 02/09/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 14991821 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:13:32 -0800
author: Holley Bishop
name: Erik
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 12/07
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: cooking-shelf
review:
Kinda interesting personal and historical account of bees and honey making. But it left a lot of loose ends and doesn't address the current phenomenon of Colony Collapse.
]]> 14990411 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:00:10 -0800
author: Angela Davis-Gardner
name: Erik
average rating: 3.25
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 08/07
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: fiction-shelf
review:
One of the most toughing, poignant books I've read. I was able to relate with the characters because I inherited many items from my family that have potent ties with past history. Memories can live on through other generations and this novel is a chronicle of just that.
]]> 14990211 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:50:32 -0800
author: Jake Tilson
name: Erik
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 10/07
date added: 02/09/08
shelves: cooking-shelf
review:
Travel and regional cooking are a pair of my passions. This book combines them both - with recipes! - in a journal type style that's chock full of pictures, drawings and souvenirs from places Tilson lived.
]]>