I really wanted to like Bonk. Mary Roach seems joyous in her celebration of the science of sex. It's clear she's spent (and thoroughly enjoyed) her tiI really wanted to like Bonk. Mary Roach seems joyous in her celebration of the science of sex. It's clear she's spent (and thoroughly enjoyed) her time researching the subject, unfortunately the book never really comes together. Mary Roach's 'signature wit' comes of more as juvenile as she seems lost in her perspective on her subject. Is Bonk a personal essay about her journey through the world of sex research? A portrait of the history of sex and the science surrounding it? Roach never settles in with a clear perspective on her subject and ends up getting lost in the telling.
I'm not a huge fan of footnotes, I respect when they are used well but despise when they are used as long tangents for a broken narrative. In Bonk Roach uses long footnotes on almost every other page and uses them to add 'witty commentary' to some of her points. Most of the footnotes should have been integrated into the main text as they often feel orphaned from it.
The most telling chapter of this book is when Roach goes to Cairo to get insight into sex research in Egypt. Her trip, the results and the chapter are a complete let down and yet Roach tries to salvage it at the end with a chest thumping cry of how important people dedicating their lives to sexual discourse are. It's at this point you can see that Roach is 'rounding third' in her book and realizes she doesn't have the goods to bring it all home.
It's a real shame. This book could and should have been better. Mary Roach is a fine writer, an obvious research nut and the subject is one that is anything but unengaging. Unfortunately it's yet another book where the editor let the author run free. Some real hard nosed editing, some real focus, a re-arrangement of the footnotes and a clarity of perspective and you've got a fine book. But what's in this pages isn't worth picking this book up in hardcover. It's really a casual mass-market paperback read (or even a used one at that)....more
When I started reading Chelsea Cain's Heartsick I didn't really expect to enjoy it. Cain isn't a fantastic writer, she gets very caught up in over desWhen I started reading Chelsea Cain's Heartsick I didn't really expect to enjoy it. Cain isn't a fantastic writer, she gets very caught up in over describing her characters, her environment and everything in between. I'm in great agreement with Stephen King who wrote in his book "On Writing" that the building of a scene in a book is collaborative and that if an author describes every detail in that scene they take away from the reader and their role in the collaboration. Cain uses description as a crutch and Heartsick is a poorer book because of it.
But while Cain isn't a fantastic writer, she does have some really strong core skills. In Heartsick there is a relationship between a cop and a serial killer that is simply fantastic. The essential connection of these two characters is a strong foundation on which the book is built on. Cain interweaves flashbacks into a story about the hunt for a serial killer and the reporter who is trying to cover it. This overused device actually works here and the stronger story, told in flashback, really does help to bolster the weaker main story. The back story is so strong that I often wondered while reading this book if it shouldn't have been the main story.
While the twists and turns in the book aren't exactly surprising, the book moves along at a near page turner pace due to the peppering of the back story. I found myself more interested in what would happen between the cop and the serial killer than who was the actual killer in the main story. Faults aside, I do think this is a descent debut novel, it gives a peek into the possibilities that Cain has as a writer and so I'll be interested to see where she goes in the sequel to this book Sweetheart.
Monica Drake creates a world where clowns just are part of the scenery. Her main character is extremely well drawn and her struggle to find her muse, Monica Drake creates a world where clowns just are part of the scenery. Her main character is extremely well drawn and her struggle to find her muse, live her life and relate to others is superb. A strong debut book. I'll absolutely pick up whatever Drake does next....more
Drink Green Smoothies. No really. Change your life and make it happen. You'll be so happy you did. That's the message Victoria Boutenko repeats in herDrink Green Smoothies. No really. Change your life and make it happen. You'll be so happy you did. That's the message Victoria Boutenko repeats in her book Green For Life. It's a good message but the book doesn't have much more than that. This is the kind of book you pick up from the Library as you can read it quickly and get everything you need from it in one sitting.
Having said all that it's an important message Victoria Boutenko has and it's a book worth seeking out....more
I really wanted to like this book. John Robbins 'Diet for a New America' was very influential on my journey towards being Vegan. Healthy at 100 does hI really wanted to like this book. John Robbins 'Diet for a New America' was very influential on my journey towards being Vegan. Healthy at 100 does have its heart in the right place. The problem is that it probably would have made a better magazine article than book. Robbins repeats himself over and over and over again. Sections end with long 'to do lists' which feel like brainstorming notes and the end takeaway is pretty simple: eat veg, connect with the community, get exercise, find purpose and be happy.
I know John had a better book in him and so I really lay blame with the editor of this book. Healthy at 100 is a fantastic first draft, and in the right hands it could have been a very significant book, getting people to look at how we live and how our society deals with aging. Instead we get a bloated and repetitive book that meanders, never quite finding its way.
Vampire Fiction is a fairly well explored genre. With such heavyweights as Ann Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison and Charlene Harris each 'stakiVampire Fiction is a fairly well explored genre. With such heavyweights as Ann Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison and Charlene Harris each 'staking' their space in the genre it's difficult to imagine a lot of room for another author to get a significant piece of the Vampire pie. Jocelynn Drake's Nightwalker tries to squeeze in to this packed genre with a book that falls somewhere between Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter and Meredith Gentry Faerie series. Drake has a nice flair for language and Nightwalker is extremely readable. I enjoyed the two main characters and their interplay, the epic battle and race against the clock made the book move along quite quickly. But what's really missing is anything new. Nightwalker lives in a world all to familiar and it doesn't seem to have anything to add to the genre that wasn't already there. In many ways Nightwalker is the answer to all the Laurel K. Hamilton fans who wished there was less sex in Hamilton's books and more action. That's what they get here, and it's good, but it falls short of where I think the book could go. The book is the start of a series and I really hope that on her sophomore effort Drake opens up her world and gives us something new and surprising adding to the genre, not just recirculating it....more
Wow, what a great book! We Are Legion is a smart, funny, and extremely well written exploration of a future dependent AI (well, sort of). Dennis E. TaWow, what a great book! We Are Legion is a smart, funny, and extremely well written exploration of a future dependent AI (well, sort of). Dennis E. Taylor does a great job of delivering a huge amount of complexity in a way that never gets bogged down. His characters are interesting and the book is page turning, even when it's dealing with a topic that you wouldn't expect to be so compelling. There's just enough pop culture references to make it feel contemporary, but manages to do this without it getting gimmicky.
I listened to the audio book version which is narrated to perfection by Ray Porter. He brings this books to life in a way that's just perfect. I'm really looking forward to book 2, and more BOB!...more
Loose Girl is a well focused look at one woman's journey through insecurity, dysfunction and unhappiness. It reads a lot like many other 'addiction' bLoose Girl is a well focused look at one woman's journey through insecurity, dysfunction and unhappiness. It reads a lot like many other 'addiction' books but since the 'addiction' it covers is sex, the highs and lows are a lot less extreme. Author Kerry Cohen does a good job of drawing the reader in and creating a very vivid and engaging world. Her writing is clear, flowing and polished. I found myself zipping through the book fully engaged with Cohen's journey. My biggest gripe is that the book has almost no third act. Cohen's story has a very distinct beginning, middle, but a very soft end. I felt there was more book in Cohen and she stopped short of where the story could have taken her. The writer's Bio indicates that Cohen is now married with children, but the book never really ventures into how her past has shaped her present or now how reflecting on all this has impacted her as she moves forward. Even with a less than full ending, I still did like Loose Girl, it's well written, engaging and worth reading especially for fans of the genre. ...more
I'm surprised at just how much I enjoyed Shawna Kenney's I Was a Teenage Dominatrix: A Memoir. Keeney is an immensely talented writer who weaves an exI'm surprised at just how much I enjoyed Shawna Kenney's I Was a Teenage Dominatrix: A Memoir. Keeney is an immensely talented writer who weaves an extremely compelling and engaging tale that is focused and pitch perfectly paced. Using a combination of vivid language and well rounded characters Kenney writing is immerse, it's easy to get swept away with the universe she creates.
There are so many traps and pitfalls with a book that deals with a sexual topic and Kenney is adept at navigating the story and the characters into a very real but not overly heady space. Everything in the book feels very real and not contrived, a level of honesty which serves the book extremely well. If you're even remotely curious about this book or the topic, I highly recommend picking I Was a Teenage Dominatrix: A Memoir up, it delivers and is well worth you time. ...more
This is a crazy good book that will radically change the way you look at trees and forests. I listened to the audiobook version which was exceptionallThis is a crazy good book that will radically change the way you look at trees and forests. I listened to the audiobook version which was exceptionally narrated, and I could not put this book down. Who would have ever thought trees would be so captivating. This is one of the better books I've read in a while....more
I really respect the intent by Shane Stott to capture the world of floating into an easy to read/listen, engaging, book. The problem with The Float TaI really respect the intent by Shane Stott to capture the world of floating into an easy to read/listen, engaging, book. The problem with The Float Tank Cure is that it's too much of a first draft. While there are some great ideas presented in the book, the book is a little scattered in the way it tells its story and some of the ideas presented don't get the depth of exploration needed.
At times this book is more about dealing with anxiety than floating, which is ok. Shane's story is an interesting one and he gives some good tips on how to deal with anxiety in addition to floating.
While there are a few good nuggets here, there just isn't much here you can't already hear in a much more compelling and engaging way than in Shane's podcast interviews. Shane is much more animated in those podcasts and the conversations just flow better than this book.
I'd love to see Shane dive in (excuse the pun) and do a second edition of this book with more interviews with float professionals (he really only touches on two), more depth on what you can do in a tank, some tips for preparing before you get into the tank, and more coverage on what happened to bring floating closer to the mainstream (outside of Joe Rogan's Podcast).
At just over 2 hours, this is a pretty short book. Good for folks really interested in learning more about floating, but not as much depth for experienced floaters....more
This is the 10th book in the Harry Dresden Series, and with many series of this length, things are a little formulaic. As with White Knight, Small FavThis is the 10th book in the Harry Dresden Series, and with many series of this length, things are a little formulaic. As with White Knight, Small Favor slowly builds to an epic action scene. It could feel tired and overdone, but it doesn't. Jim Butcher's sharp whit and vividly drawn characters keep you engaged, and entertained the whole way through.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which is exceptionally well narrated by James Marsters (who reads all the books in the series) and I intend to consume the rest of the series this way. Jame Marsters breathes life into Dresden in a way few could.
Jim Butcher has done an excellent job of making a long running series into something that leaves you wanting more. It's a big accomplishment and a very well written book....more
Looking for "The Great American Novel"? Look no further, Men in Black is it. Extraordinarily well written with extremely well done characters and the Looking for "The Great American Novel"? Look no further, Men in Black is it. Extraordinarily well written with extremely well done characters and the best ending to a book I've ever read....more
Bentley Little constantly delivers solid horror. Sure his books often spin out of control into wild carnage, but the journey there is always a ton of Bentley Little constantly delivers solid horror. Sure his books often spin out of control into wild carnage, but the journey there is always a ton of fun....more
This is the book that the Shotime series of the same name is based on. That series is a fictionalization of the book, but the book is actually non-ficThis is the book that the Shotime series of the same name is based on. That series is a fictionalization of the book, but the book is actually non-fiction and it tells the story of the comedy explosion of the 70's and 80's. The book is well written and flows between narrative and oral history really well.
The first half of the book is the stronger half as it follows many of the threads that lead to the careers of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams and especially Richard Lewis. If the book were to really have a main character it's Richard Lewis and his story really intersects with many of the different branches of what happened in NY and LA at the Improv and Comedy Store.
The second half of the book gets really caught up with the quazi-union of comedians and their struggle with Mitzy Shore and the Comedy Store. The conflict is important, but it dominates the narrative so strongly it eclipses many of the individual comics narratives.
I listened to the Audiobook version of this book, which is well narrated by William Dufris, who does a good job keeping the comic timing from the sections of the book which are taken from the oral history. If you are interested in this topic, I solidly recommend this book...more
Scott Spencer is a great writer, but 'Willing' is just a good book. This book has such promise, a guy flees a failing relationship plagued by deceit aScott Spencer is a great writer, but 'Willing' is just a good book. This book has such promise, a guy flees a failing relationship plagued by deceit and infidelity by taking his uncle up on an offer for a once in a life time first class sex tour around the world. The lead character grapples with his feelings and emotions as he travels on this tour. At times its profound, and then it can turn almost maddening. The book gathers some great steam only to fail completely in the final act.
Spencer has one of the best endings I've read in his book "Men in Black", but here he has a deus ex machina event that just doesn't work and ultimately denigrates a fairly strong effort. In many ways Willing is an incomplete book with a whiplash ending. Spencer is better than this and so that's what makes reading this book all the more frustration. As I've said with other great writers and books that have missed their mark... What happened to the editor? The book was released by Harper Collins, not too shabby of a publisher, and yet no one saw that the gem of this book gets cracked by a truly awful ending?
After reading Jamie Rich's The Everlasting, I had expected the follow up (billed as the third chapter in a thematic trilogy) to be another extremely eAfter reading Jamie Rich's The Everlasting, I had expected the follow up (billed as the third chapter in a thematic trilogy) to be another extremely enjoyable light indie-unrequited-love-story. While the book does indeed deal with unrequited love it's anything but another light indie love story. Have You Seen The Horizon Lately? is a deeply philosophical and gut wrenchingly emotional book dealing with loss, the search for self and how we try to connect or disconnect with the people and world around us.
In The Everlasting Jamie Rich used everything but the kitchen sink narratively to tell his story (from emails to articles... just imagine it, it's in there). Here he uses a much more sophisticated narrative structure that volleys between the individual past of the two main characters and their current intertwined present. It's a narrative style that works brilliantly, giving you glimpses to how and why these two characters came to be where they are.
Have You Seen The Horizon Lately? is a very intimate book, set within the tiny walls of a foreign retreat, enclosed so much you can actually feel the walls.
A core theme of the book is suicide, and it's presented in both a stark philosophical perspective and jaw droopingly emotional. It's that combination of thinking and feeling that come together in this book. Just when you think it's going to fly off into pretentious pontifications about life, the universe and everything it spins back around and grounds itself in the real implications of these things and how they really effect and impact people and their relationships with each other.
The greatest tragedy of Have You Seen The Horizon Lately? is that it may be missed by most people. Like Rich's previous books it's been released by Oni Press (best known for their graphic novels and comics). Have You Seen The Horizon Lately? is a piece of fine literature, and given the right exposure it could be listed up there with Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar as a truly great book that deals with the impact of suicide on those who survive. ...more
File this one under sci-fi humor, with a bit more focus on the humor than sci fi. While The Book of Ralph is at times funny, it's often more cleaver tFile this one under sci-fi humor, with a bit more focus on the humor than sci fi. While The Book of Ralph is at times funny, it's often more cleaver than laugh out loud funny. The characters in the book are likable, especially the book's title character.
There are a few elements in the book that just didn't work for me, mostly when the book gets too cleaver to tries too hard for the joke. The book felt a little rough, like it needed a good revision before being unleashed to the world. I listened to the audiobook version and, the narration didn't do it for me at first, but once it really got underway, the narration was stronger and worked very well.
I listened to The Book of Ralph not long after finishing We Are Legion (We Are Bob), another sci-fi humor book. I absolutely loved Legion, but only liked Ralph. It's a 3 1/2 star book, but alas there are no 1/2 stars on Goodreads....more
While the book gets a little insufferable in parts, the core info here is absolutely fascinating and is a good book to read after reading "The Hidden While the book gets a little insufferable in parts, the core info here is absolutely fascinating and is a good book to read after reading "The Hidden Life of Trees", which is a much better written and more entertaining book. The author's storytelling craft aside (as it's clumsy), it's another book that will fundamentally change the way you look at plants....more
Smaltzy, contrived, and fantastical, but with a heart of absolute gold, and something really insightful to say about our relationship between ourselveSmaltzy, contrived, and fantastical, but with a heart of absolute gold, and something really insightful to say about our relationship between ourselves and what we make. Easily overlooked, but still quite a gem. Its faults are easy to overlook and the audiobook is enthusiastically read and produced, which makes for a very entertaining read....more
Sad, tragic, and painful. This is the tragic journey of one of the great men in comedy. His tragic story is told through the stories of the people whoSad, tragic, and painful. This is the tragic journey of one of the great men in comedy. His tragic story is told through the stories of the people who surrounded him, including his brothers, girl friends, fellow performers, and friends.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which was a good production but would have been MUCH better if it had the voices of the people who told the stories.
The though thing about this book is that Chris Farley's story is so tragic, it's a depressing read and one which really shows how flawed and pained Farley was. I wish Goodreads let you do 1/2 stars as this is more a 3 1/2 than 3 or 4 star book. Having said that, if you love Chris Farley, don't read this book, it's heartache from start to finish....more
By far the best book I've read on psychadellics, but even more importantly it goes deep into why these powerful drugs work so well and how the brain wBy far the best book I've read on psychadellics, but even more importantly it goes deep into why these powerful drugs work so well and how the brain works. This is a must read book. I listened to the audiobook read by the author which was excellent. ...more
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, something I'd highly recommend over the printed version, not only because Amy is entertaining in herI listened to the audiobook version of this book, something I'd highly recommend over the printed version, not only because Amy is entertaining in her reading of the book, but there are a lot of things that they do in audio that just doesn't translate into the book.
Yes, Please is funny, moving, touching and engaging. It's an enjoyable book even if you aren't a die hard fan of Parks and Rec. ...more
When I was 19, my father gave me this book and encouraged me to read it. I eventually read it and enjoyed it, but didn't really understand why my fathWhen I was 19, my father gave me this book and encouraged me to read it. I eventually read it and enjoyed it, but didn't really understand why my father gave it to me. Now, nearly 30 years later, I read this book and I get it. My heart fills with love, I weep, and sigh, this is the magic of books. Through it I reach back through time, to a time when my father was still alive and understand what he was trying to say to me. What the oceans, rivers, and forest are saying. What surviving hopelessness is saying.
Books can be magical. This one certainly is....more
I listened to the audiobook version of Restaurant Man, and I'd recommend that as the best way to consume this book. Part "how to" run a restaurant, paI listened to the audiobook version of Restaurant Man, and I'd recommend that as the best way to consume this book. Part "how to" run a restaurant, part history of Italian food in NYC and part biography, Restaurant Man is an engaging look behind the scenes of restaurants and restaurant culture.
Joe Bastianich is a great narrator and his depth of knowledge on the subject is clear. The book is best when it's breaking everything down on how a successful restaurant actually works. Joe's journey through his time in Italy and Croatia and his journey through wine and winemaking is especially engaging. The book falters a bit when it starts looking at more contemporary issues, like Joe Bastianich's hard learned lessons on who to go into business with and what things don't work. Perhaps that part was a little too fresh in the writer's mind to have the depth of perspective and eloquence in storytelling.
Restaurant Man is still required reading for anyone even mildly interested in getting into the restaurant business, and is a smart, funny, and engaging story, well told by its author on the audiobook....more
Matthew Dicks is both a strong writer and a good storyteller, and here he turns his craft to telling the story of a woman trying to revisit a painful Matthew Dicks is both a strong writer and a good storyteller, and here he turns his craft to telling the story of a woman trying to revisit a painful time in her life, looking for closure. There are some tough issues dealt with here including bullying and the death of a child, and for some this is going to be a difficult read. At its core though, this book is about a personal journey, much more real in scope than some travel around the world trying to find oneself.
As with all of Matthew Dicks' book, the main character Caroline, is very well crafted, you see the world through her eyes, and that's both compelling and difficult. I love the journey Caroline takes and how the people in her life both support and impact her journey. If you haven't read Dicks' Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend: A Novel, you may want to start there. This book is VERY different from that, and it shares more DNA with Something Missing: A Novel and Unexpectedly, Milo.
In all, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs is a well written, fast moving, engaging book. As with all of Dicks' books, it's a solid character driven story focused more on the journey than the destination....more
While I have a lot of respect for Dave Aspry, and I do very much enjoy bulletproof coffee, the book on the Bullet Proof Diet is fairly poorly written.While I have a lot of respect for Dave Aspry, and I do very much enjoy bulletproof coffee, the book on the Bullet Proof Diet is fairly poorly written. Sandwiched between testimonial after testimonial (they get old fast and are littered in almost every chapter) the book spends more time hyping up the diet, rather than just getting to the point. It's like listening to someone talk about how important they are, it gets old fast.
The truth is, the diet could have been presented in just a few chapters. At its core, this is a bio hackers diet, a riff on the ketogenic diet that is centered almost to a fault around the bulletproof coffee. Unless you are someone who is willing to bring your own butter to a restaurant, taking a mountain of supplements, and trying to quantify everything about your body, you are probably much better off looking at The Whole 30 and the Hartwigs book, It starts with food.
Aspray, is a pioneer in the biohacking space and his podcast is a lot better than his book. I was surprised he did not narrate his own audiobook, the narrator does a good job, but given A spray's claim of having 18 more years of life due to hacking his sleep he would have had the time to do his own narration. My advice is to skip the book and just go to Aspry's sire and podcast. Also, do try out the bulletproof coffee, it is pretty amazing. ...more
Well written, sobering, and absolutely hilarious, this book does an amazing job of calling you out on your shit and giving you a few perspective shiftWell written, sobering, and absolutely hilarious, this book does an amazing job of calling you out on your shit and giving you a few perspective shifts on how to approach life without getting buried by the expectations and perceptions of others. One of the best, most entertaining, and insightful books I read in 2017....more
Here's a book that's hard not to like. It takes the conventional superhero story and takes it a level deeper. I love how self aware and sarcastic it iHere's a book that's hard not to like. It takes the conventional superhero story and takes it a level deeper. I love how self aware and sarcastic it is as it tells a relatively conventional story. The book is split in narrative between two lead characters who trade narrating chapters. The device works reasonably well. The first half of the book is definitely stronger than the second half and the finale is a bit of a let down. So it's not a perfect book, but it is an enjoyable one. ...more
I'm a fan of Simon Rich's writing and it's been nice to see him make the leap from short stories, like in his break out novel The Last Girlfriend on EI'm a fan of Simon Rich's writing and it's been nice to see him make the leap from short stories, like in his break out novel The Last Girlfriend on Earth: And Other Love Stories to full length novels. I liked Simon's first full novel, What In God's Name, and so I was interested to see what he'd do with Elliot Allagash.
Elliot Allagash is an entertaining and light story of an obscenely rich kid and the lengths he goes to entertain himself, hint: it involves messing with the lives of people around him.
As with Simon Rich's other books, Elliot Allagash is well written, the characters are compelling, and the story ventures into interesting spaces. Although like his previous book, I found Elliot Allagash to be a little too abbreviated. At the end I felt like I had eaten a partial meal of a book and not a full one.
There's no denying Rich's talent, and I'm sure as he continues to produce novels we'll see more and more well fleshed out ideas, and third acts which feel more deep. In all though, this is an entertaining read from a talented writer....more
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