Monday, June 27, 2011

6-21-11 Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain - Non-Fiction

5 - I love reading his books. Bourdain really does not mince words and if he doesn't like something he's not shy about saying so. In turn, if he loves or adores or respects something he hands out accolades. As you readers know by now, I love food books and this one was no exception. Bourdain is now older and, perhaps, wiser and has gone a different direction since he wrote Kitchen Confidential. He has traveled the world, eaten incredible dishes, rubbed elbows with the culinary elite, and has entered the realm of television. His stories are entertaining and raw, telling it exactly how he sees it with no apology. And his food porn will make your mouth water and you will almost be able to taste the dish he is describing. And then you'll look at your boxed mac & cheese and go "ugh."

6-19-11 The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai - Fiction

3 - Yes, it's been critically acclaimed and the author has been touted as great but I only kind of enjoyed it. The story bumps around four main characters and a few other side characters and gives the reasons for the final realization that family should be cherished and not put aside for hopes and dreams and attainment of position. Blah. It is set mostly in the Himalayas during a time of revolution and that part of the story is interesting but this just really isn't my kind of book. The story of Biju in America trying to stay a step ahead of INS as he tries to make a living in a better country was very interesting and really highlighted the lives of illegal immigrants, but his story wasn't long enough. If you like Oprah books, you'll probably really like this one.

6-12-11 - Monster by A. Lee Martinez - Fiction

5 - I do love my quirky books! Monster is the main character and he works for the Cryptobiological Containment and Rescue Services, a division of Animal Control, and if you have a problem with yeti or trolls, he's your man. He wakes up a different color every day and each color has its own advantages. His assistant is a paper gnome and his girlfriend is a demon from hell. Really. And when he meets Judy, a clerk at the local Food Plus Mart, his life gets even more difficult. Oh yeah, if you like quirk & humor read this.

6-8-11 The Up and Up by Lee Irby - Fiction

4 - This was a neat look at Miami in the 20's full of gangsters, gambling, guys, and dolls. The Up and Up is a murder mystery featuring Frank Hearn, a man who wants to leave his rough past behind and become legit so he can marry his fiancee with a clean conscience. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong business partner to try to go straight and gets pulled into the middle of a murder investigation involving the corrupt police department, the local mob, and the federal authorities. Throw in Gloria Swanson's arrival just in time for tourist season and this is a crazy and humorous ride. Full of the lingo of the time, The Up and Up paints a very convincing and complete picture of Miami in the 20's and is a really fun read.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

6-4-11 Once a Spy by Keith Thomson - Fiction

5 - This has to be the best thriller debut I've ever read! The premise is amusing: What happens when a superspy, who has been privy to intensely classified information, gets Alzheimer's and becomes a national security risk? This story alternates between hilarious and tense as Charlie, a gambling addict with a weakness for the horses, tries to take care of his father, whose moments of lucidity are unpredictable, while being chased by an unknown group of men who seem intent on killing both of them. The story gets going from the very first chapter and only gets better as it goes. I'm interested to see what Thomson will follow up with.

6-1-11 Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton - Fiction

4 - I haven't read this book in years and I had forgotten just how good it really is. Full of great science and action mixed with the very real and scary possibility of what genetic engineering can let loose. If you've only ever seen the movie, I have to urge you to try the book. It has more fascinating information and more tension than the movie was able to portray. Since I figure everyone knows the basic plot of this story, I'm not going to describe any more to you.

5-30-11 Archangel by Sharon Shinn - Fiction

4 - This is what happens when you run out of books from the library on a holiday weekend. I re-read this book again. And I admit I enjoyed it again. Check out my other reviews of this title for more information.

5-29-11 Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz - Fiction

3 - Eh, a mediocre Wiccan themed teen/tween book. Set in a boarding school, the story centers around Stacy, a 16-year-old who has visions in her dreams and who practices Wicca. When the visions start focusing on her est friend being in danger, Stacy knows she has to act. Like I said, this is a mediocre book with mediocre writing, characters that aren't compelling, and a plot that's only so-so. I believe it's aimed at the teen market, but I would put the writing to more of a tween audience even though sex is mentioned. Just one of many average youth books.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Ok, this isn't a book...

But it is something I think you may find interesting. Go to www.zbs.org and click on the Jack Flanders link. These are a series of radio plays that were done in the 70's and they are fantastic. The first one you should listen to is The Fourth Tower of Inverness. You definitely want the radio version because it was recorded live so there are the moments when the actors crack up or make mistakes. The story is a kind of Gothic mystery with a lot of eastern thought thrown in. I know it sounds weird but, believe me, these radio plays are great. I've finished The Fourth Tower, Moon Over Morocco, and The Incredible Adventures of Jack Flanders. If you were ever a fan of The Shadow or any of the other wonderful radio plays of the 30's you will love these.

5-26-11 Virals by Kathy Reichs - Fiction

5 - I loved this even if it is a teen book. Reichs has created a story with great science, action, and teen issues and behavior that will entertain even adults. Tory Brennan is the niece of Temperance and has inherited her aunt's love of science and discovery. After being sent to live with her dad when her mother dies, she becomes friends with a small group of teens that live on the same South Carolina island. All their parents work for a research lab based at an environmental preserve. Because they are teens, they get themselves in trouble and are soon in way over their heads with genetic mutations, corporate espionage, and a decades old murder. Even if you're an adult, if you enjoy the Kathy Reichs novels or the TV series 'Bones' I suggest you pick this book up. It will keep you interested until the last page.

5-24-11 Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine - Fiction

3 - I had forgotten how mediocre this series was and got really excited when I picked up the fourth book. As I read, I remembered. It's cute, the continuing saga of a girl who moves to a small town for college and discovers the town is run by vampires. She lives in a house off campus with three roommates: a goth, a vampire, and a human. In this episode, a new vamp has come to town and isn't interested in keeping the status quo of balance between humans and vampires. That's all I'm going to say on this one because I'm already bored just writing about it.

5-22-11 Pale Demon by Kim Harrison - Fiction

4 - The continuing story of Rachel Morgan (witch), Jenks (pixy), and Ivy (living vamp) is fantastic and takes the series in a new direction. Rachel has to get cross country in three days to attend her hearing at the witches conference plus she has agreed to get Trent (elf) there as well. So this book is mostly a road trip with Rachel, Ivy, Jenks, and Trent in one car. Which, if you've been following the series, is a really bad combination. Throw in a new daywalking demon and the usual demons and witches and you have a fun cross country ride.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

5-17-11 American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food (and What We Can Do About It) by Jonathan Bloom - Non-Fiction

5 - This is a fascinating and shameful look at how much food waste is created in the United States every day. From restaurants to home kitchens to processing plants, Bloom lays out why and where so much waste is created: farmers who harvest only 60% of their crops; restaurants that throw out prepared food every night; general consumers who are confused about sell by and enjoy by and best by dates. What makes this book great is that he doesn't only show us our faults but he also proposes solutions and features groups and companies that are already trying to cut down or salvage some of the waste. We are a fortunate country and yet we are not aware of how much more we can do. I recommend that everyone read this book if for no other reason than that every consumer will be able to make more informed decisions and maybe effect a change, no matter how slight, that will help to cut down this waste.

5-10-11 The Emperor of Nihan-Ja by John Flanagan - Fiction

5 - As the 10th book in the Ranger's Apprentice series, The Emperor of Nihan-Ja carries on the wonderful characterization and suspenseful military and moral plots that Flanagan started way back with the Ruins of Gorlan. I love that this is actually a young reader series and yet can hold an adult's attention. The military tactics and the veiled references to other cultures such as the Norse, the Arabic, and the Oriental are fabulous and hopefully will get a new generation interested in history. These are the joys of fantasy books based on reality. Anyway, on the cover of this book, instead of having "Book 10" it says "The Final Battle." I'm hoping that's not true that this will be the last Ranger's Apprentice novel but if it is this is a worthy finish.