Meghan

Meghan is now friends with Joyce Shelby

Meghan rated a book 2 of 5 stars

The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30)
by Terry Pratchett

read in January, 2012

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Ugh. I really wanted to like this book--Terry Pratchett is (allegedly) hilarious, Tiffany was a charmingly progressive heroine--but it just never quite worked for me. I'd go to read, and then think, 'Oh, I'm reading...that. Right.'

The plot felt tired...more

Meghan rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Best Food Writing 2010
by Holly Hughes

read in January, 2012

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I've read and enjoyed other books in this series before, but this one was rather hit or miss for me.

The first section, which was current hot-button issues about food, seemed to drag, especially given that it had not one but two sections either by or...more I've read and enjoyed other books in this series before, but this one was rather hit or miss for me.

The first section, which was current hot-button issues about food, seemed to drag, especially given that it had not one but two sections either by or about Jonathan Safran Foer. Possibly I would've felt differently about this had I read it when it came out and not two years later, when I'm well and thoroughly sick of the endless tail-chasing of "Ethical meat is hard--meat is delicious!"

The dining out section was equally lackluster, for me--it had, as usual, a heavy focus on France and LA, as well as the obligatory Southern Barbeque article. Bruni's piece in this section has been mentioned elsewhere as especially strong, but I have to admit that it left me wincing in sympathy for the poor sommelier--I'm never going to be able to get behind any "world's worst customer" pieces, I don't think, especially when they're coming from the customer's POV.

Section three, Someone's in the Kitchen, starts to pick up a bit. The Perfect Chef is the clear standout for me here--the first-person account of a food critic's obsession with a chef who can't seem to stay in one place.

The fourth section, entitled Stocking the Pantry, was where I started to feel that there were more hits than misses. In my opinion, the best articles in this section were Rare Breed--about heritage turkey breeds and one man's attempts to keep them from dying out completely--and Wine for Drinking, Not Overthinking, which is exactly what it sounds like--the author sets out to find the White Castle, bacon, and coffee of wine, and succeeds. She also makes me crave sliders, though your mileage may vary on that one. All the pieces in this section were very readable, and this may be the best section in the book--picking two standouts was tough.

Home Cooking is section five, and it features J. Kenji López-Alt's fantastic piece How to Make Perfect Thin and Crispy French Fries. It also has the entertaining All That Glitters, which addresses ways to roast a chicken. (It does not, however, offer a recipe, nor weigh in on the best way to roast a chicken. That way is this: purchase a chicken. Wash and blot dry with paper towels. Stuff a little butter under the skin of the breast; sprinkle the chicken with lemon juice, and then with salt, pepper, and maybe garlic powder. Put the chicken in the oven at 325 F for several hours--probably at least three. When it's done, the legs will wiggle freely, and, if tugged, the leg bones will just about pull out. It's delicious, with juicy meat and crispy skin. You're welcome.)

Section six, The Recipe File, talks about preserving recipes, and the ways that we use and access them. My favorite in this section is Does A Recipe Need to be Complicated to be Good? I sometimes struggle to remember that less can be more, and that complicated process doesn't necessarily equal better outcome--something that's probably true of most things, not just cooking.

Finally, we come to the last section, entitled Personal Tastes. The clear standout here, as mentioned elsewhere, is The Doughnut Gatherer, combining the neuroses of a food writer (having the best food) with those of a parent (getting your kid to eat).

All said, I think that the second half of the collection makes up for the first, and it's worth seeking out despite some unevenness a rather rocky start.(less)

Meghan rated a book 2 of 5 stars

A World Lit Only by Fire
by William Raymond Manchester

read in January, 2012

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The good: It was relatively engaging reading, and, despite the author's habit of drifting apparently aimlessly and plotlessly through the writing, a relatively easy read, as well. There's some interesting biographical information--the parts of the bo...more

Meghan rated a book 1 of 5 stars

The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People by David Niven

The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It
by David Niven

read in January, 2012

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It's hard to overstate my "meh" feelings about this book. Maybe if you're living in a cave, these things are secrets, but come on--it's stuff like cultivate friendships, laugh, exercise, set realistic goals... Nothing surprising there.

Additionally,...more

Meghan rated a book 4 of 5 stars

The False Princess
by Eilis O'Neal (Goodreads Author)

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Meghan rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Bossypants
by Tina Fey

read in February, 2012

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Funny and feminist--gold star!

Sure, parts of the book went on a little too long, and occasionally there's an awkward twinge at the end of a story, like you've just heard something you weren't meant to hear, but overall, the book is really enjoyable....more

Meghan rated a book 2 of 5 stars

Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

read in March, 2012

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I'm a knitter. I knit all the time, and, sitting here, have no fewer than three knitting projects within arm's reach of me. I'm totally this book's target audience...which is unfortunate, because I spent more time rolling my eyes than I did anything...more

Meghan rated a book 2 of 5 stars

The Dark Hills Divide (The Land of Elyon #1)
by Patrick Carman (Goodreads Author)

read in February, 2012

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Ugh. I really, really wanted to love this. It's middle grade fantasy from the POV of the female protagonist. There are talking animals, puzzles, secret passageways, and political conspiracies. Even the idea behind the story is interesting. So what's...more

Meghan rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
by Christopher Moore (Goodreads Author)

read in January, 2012

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If I could, I'd give this 4.5 stars--it wasn't *quite* a five for me, but I enjoyed it enough that I didn't want to bump it down to a four.

This is a funny, engaging book. Moore starts from the assumption that Jesus was basically the person the Gospel...more

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Meghan is now friends with Joyce Shelby
May 22, 2013 12:28pm · like
Meghan rated a book 2 of 5 stars The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30) by Terry Pratchett read in January, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ugh. I really wanted to like this book--Terry Pratchett is (allegedly) hilarious, Tiffany was a charmingly progressive heroine--but it just never quite worked for me. I'd go to read, and then think, 'Oh, I'm reading...that. Right.' The plot felt tired...more
Dec 02, 2012 04:26am · see review
Meghan rated a book 3 of 5 stars Best Food Writing 2010 by Holly Hughes read in January, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I've read and enjoyed other books in this series before, but this one was rather hit or miss for me. The first section, which was current hot-button issues about food, seemed to drag, especially given that it had not one but two sections either by or...more
Nov 26, 2012 01:53am · see review
Meghan rated a book 2 of 5 stars A World Lit Only by Fire by William Raymond Manchester read in January, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The good: It was relatively engaging reading, and, despite the author's habit of drifting apparently aimlessly and plotlessly through the writing, a relatively easy read, as well. There's some interesting biographical information--the parts of the bo...more
Nov 25, 2012 02:14am · see review
Meghan rated a book 1 of 5 stars The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It by David Niven read in January, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
It's hard to overstate my "meh" feelings about this book. Maybe if you're living in a cave, these things are secrets, but come on--it's stuff like cultivate friendships, laugh, exercise, set realistic goals... Nothing surprising there. Additionally,...more
Nov 25, 2012 01:32am · see review
Meghan rated a book 4 of 5 stars The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 12, 2012 01:35pm
Meghan rated a book 4 of 5 stars Bossypants by Tina Fey read in February, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Funny and feminist--gold star! Sure, parts of the book went on a little too long, and occasionally there's an awkward twinge at the end of a story, like you've just heard something you weren't meant to hear, but overall, the book is really enjoyable....more
Mar 12, 2012 01:18pm · see review
Meghan rated a book 2 of 5 stars Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee read in March, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I'm a knitter. I knit all the time, and, sitting here, have no fewer than three knitting projects within arm's reach of me. I'm totally this book's target audience...which is unfortunate, because I spent more time rolling my eyes than I did anything...more
Mar 12, 2012 12:54am · see review
Meghan rated a book 2 of 5 stars The Dark Hills Divide (The Land of Elyon #1) by Patrick Carman (Goodreads Author) read in February, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ugh. I really, really wanted to love this. It's middle grade fantasy from the POV of the female protagonist. There are talking animals, puzzles, secret passageways, and political conspiracies. Even the idea behind the story is interesting. So what's...more
Mar 12, 2012 12:44am · see review
Meghan rated a book 5 of 5 stars Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore (Goodreads Author) read in January, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
If I could, I'd give this 4.5 stars--it wasn't quite a five for me, but I enjoyed it enough that I didn't want to bump it down to a four. This is a funny, engaging book. Moore starts from the assumption that Jesus was basically the person the Gospel...more
Mar 12, 2012 12:15am · see review

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