David - The United States (915 books)

David gave

to:

Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas
by Brad Thomas Parsons (Goodreads Author)

read in January, 2012

My rating:

If this is a culmination of the bitters knowledge of the world, then I guess there just isn't that much to know.

But that's fine. Honestly, unless there was a rousing back-story of evil chemists and immortal sex pirates, I'm not sure a long and det...moreIf this is a culmination of the bitters knowledge of the world, then I guess there just isn't that much to know.

But that's fine. Honestly, unless there was a rousing back-story of evil chemists and immortal sex pirates, I'm not sure a long and detailed history of bitters would have been much fun to read anyway.

I certainly learned all I need to know about the creation of bitters as medicinal elixirs and their fundamental importance in the genesis of the cocktail.

Really, the bulk of the book turns out to be a list of drink recipes calling for bitters and a guide to creating your own bitters (and other, less common drink ingredients you're not likely to find on your supermarket shelves like roasted chicken beaks with oak-aged sea cucumber).

I was delighted to learn that I could create a jug of my own passable bitters for less than the price of a used car. And so I have begun the month-and-a-half process of making the lemon bitters. Actually, that reminds me that I need to pull the jar out of the kitchen cabinet and give it the daily shake. We'll see how they turn out. I expect good things.

The drink recipes are interesting. You'll find most of the classics elsewhere, but I enjoyed Parsons' descriptions of them nonetheless. For some reason, cocktail book authors always like to wax poetic about the origins of drinks and how some 1920's movie starlet poured the ingredients down her ample curves under a gleaming moonlight into the hollowed-out head of an Abraham Lincoln ice sculpture in an exclusive and secretive club run by the CIA in the basement of the Empire State Building. But they rarely describe what the drink actually tastes like!

You'll spend a fortune and a week of your life that you'll never get back in order to create some of the modern drinks in listed in the final portion of the book. They're creative and they sound damned interesting. But it's unlikely I'll ever taste any of them.

I give this book four stars for existing. I love obsessive fixations, and cocktail culture is a great place to find them (or form some of your own)!(less)

David gave

to:

Claimed (Brides of the Kindred, #1)
by Evangeline Anderson

read in January, 2012

My rating:

So this three star review is actually high praise. I came into this "sci-fi" erotic romance on a lark and with low expectations. Extremely low. And in a lot of ways, those expectations were met. I could quote plenty of cringe-worthy passages (par...moreSo this three star review is actually high praise. I came into this "sci-fi" erotic romance on a lark and with low expectations. Extremely low. And in a lot of ways, those expectations were met. I could quote plenty of cringe-worthy passages (particularly dialog) as an example. But there would be little sport in that.

I'm not interested in the book's failings - which were quite expected. Instead, I'd like to mention some ways in which it did succeed.

First, while most of the writing was about what I'd expected, Anderson occasionally turned out a sentence or paragraph that was quite adequate. The quality sort of waxed and waned through out the book, and it's hard to put a finger on a particular pattern. Suffice it to say that I was occasionally able to simply read the story without being made aware of the words. And that's a good thing.

Second, I would probably bend the book over a barrel for being cliched if it were "serious science fiction" (or "speculative fiction" if you prefer, though I don't). But as a "romance," I did find it to be imaginative. So from that angle, it was a success.

Third, the basic romantic content worked. And I think I'm starting to grasp what makes romance books generally addictive to those who enjoy them. It's hard not to get at least somewhat involved in a story about two people finding love. No matter how flawed it may be, it's hard not to keep turning the pages to make sure the couple finally overcomes the obstacles and live happily ever after.

Finally, I thought Anderson did a great job of building a continuous erotic tension through the length of the book, culminating in some HARD FUCKING. My only complaints here are stylistic. Anderson is good at being descriptive, but could perhaps benefit from the use of a thesaurus for alternatives to "pussy" and "cock." You know, just from an aesthetic standpoint.

Incredibly, I have even higher praise for this book - and I can't believe I'm saying this - I've already started the second entry in the series.(less)

David gave

to:

Plague Zone (Plague, #3)
by Jeff Carlson (Goodreads Author)

read in December, 2011

My rating:

I think it's safe to say that if you enjoyed the first two books in this series, you'll enjoy this one. Jeff Carlson exercises his completely unique storytelling abilities to good effect in this final volume.

I am left impressed with the scope and de...more

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David gave

to:

Plague War (Plague, #2)
by Jeff Carlson (Goodreads Author)

read in September, 2011

My rating:

Plague War is a solid middle episode of the Plague trilogy. It works for the same reason the first book worked - the constant uphill battle of survival keeps those pages turning.

Surviving the plague is not fun business, and at times, reading about i...more

David gave

to:

The Titan II Handbook: A civilian's guide to the most powerful ICBM America ever Built
by Chuck Penson

read in September, 2011

My rating:

The Titan missile bases were an engineering marvel. They are also a frightening and sobering reminder of the capabilities of world superpowers.

Chuck Penson has things to say about all aspects of the Titan program, but the vast bulk of the book is ...more

David gave

to:

Plague Year (Plague, #1)
by Jeff Carlson (Goodreads Author)

read in August, 2011

My rating:

I can dig emotionally dark stories. I don't want to wallow in them all the time, but there's plenty of good material in the abyss. As tour guides go, Carlson is one of the better I've had. He gives his readers a flashlight and a sandwich and an ap...more

David gave

to:

Why the West Rules—for Now by Ian Morris

Why the West Rules—for Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future
by Ian Morris

read in August, 2011

My rating:

Astounding! I was fascinated by the premise of the book (why DOES the West rule, anyway?) but I was blown away by the scope! To make his case, Morris starts us at the dawn of humankind and takes us on a guided tour through all periods of human hist...more

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David gave to: Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas by Brad Thomas Parsons (Goodreads Author) read in January, 2012	My rating:
If this is a culmination of the bitters knowledge of the world, then I guess there just isn't that much to know. But that's fine. Honestly, unless there was a rousing back-story of evil chemists and immortal sex pirates, I'm not sure a long and det...more
Jan 24, 2012 04:10pm · see review
David gave to: Claimed (Brides of the Kindred, #1) by Evangeline Anderson read in January, 2012	My rating:
So this three star review is actually high praise. I came into this "sci-fi" erotic romance on a lark and with low expectations. Extremely low. And in a lot of ways, those expectations were met. I could quote plenty of cringe-worthy passages (par...more
Jan 24, 2012 03:18pm · see review
David gave to: Plague Zone (Plague, #3) by Jeff Carlson (Goodreads Author) read in December, 2011	My rating:
I think it's safe to say that if you enjoyed the first two books in this series, you'll enjoy this one. Jeff Carlson exercises his completely unique storytelling abilities to good effect in this final volume. I am left impressed with the scope and de...more
Jan 24, 2012 02:26pm · see review
David is now following Debu Majumdar's reviews
Oct 04, 2011 09:03am
David became a fan of
Oct 04, 2011 09:03am · all of David's favorite authors
David gave to: Plague War (Plague, #2) by Jeff Carlson (Goodreads Author) read in September, 2011	My rating:
Plague War is a solid middle episode of the Plague trilogy. It works for the same reason the first book worked - the constant uphill battle of survival keeps those pages turning. Surviving the plague is not fun business, and at times, reading about i...more
Sep 23, 2011 04:30pm · see review
David gave to: The Titan II Handbook: A civilian's guide to the most powerful ICBM America ever Built by Chuck Penson read in September, 2011	My rating:
The Titan missile bases were an engineering marvel. They are also a frightening and sobering reminder of the capabilities of world superpowers. Chuck Penson has things to say about all aspects of the Titan program, but the vast bulk of the book is ...more
Sep 23, 2011 03:16pm · see review
David gave to: Plague Year (Plague, #1) by Jeff Carlson (Goodreads Author) read in August, 2011	My rating:
I can dig emotionally dark stories. I don't want to wallow in them all the time, but there's plenty of good material in the abyss. As tour guides go, Carlson is one of the better I've had. He gives his readers a flashlight and a sandwich and an ap...more
Aug 26, 2011 04:30pm · see review
David gave to: Why the West Rules—for Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future by Ian Morris read in August, 2011	My rating:
Astounding! I was fascinated by the premise of the book (why DOES the West rule, anyway?) but I was blown away by the scope! To make his case, Morris starts us at the dawn of humankind and takes us on a guided tour through all periods of human hist...more
Aug 01, 2011 05:50pm · see review

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