Pick-a-Shelf discussion

Please share your reads & thoughts here...

"Blink. The power of thinking without thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell. 2 stars. What I learned from this book-let me "thin slice" it for you: not much. It was an easy read, and initially engaging, then it began to dawn on me that it is just a series of anecdotes, entertaining enough, but they don't come together to form a cohesive whole and nail the argument by the end of the book. And it is repetitive. For example, you can't but feel horrified by the story of Diallo, but by the third time you have read it you are beginning to wonder whether the author thinks you are stupid. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the premise of the book, just think it didn't have much substance.

I have also read "Blink"; I read allot of business books for personal deveopment and school. This was ok, it seems that allot are going toward short little antidotes or lessons.I would recommend it for someone who hasn't read many books of this type.

I read Blink also (about 18 months ago), but felt I learned much more from The Tipping Point

and never let her go by anne rule

3 stars

while i've never read a true crime book before, i don't think i like this type of book. there was way too much detail and it took forever to actually get into the story line. the first part of the book describe the characters ancestors. i don't see a point in reading about a person's grandparents, it didn't matter in the plot. as much as i wanted to put this book down, i didn't because i wanted to see what happened in the end.

Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our Recent History by Kati Marton (5 Stars)

This was a re-read for me, but it had been about 5 years since I read it the first time. Just as good. If you like history and presidents, this is a great new way to learn about them. Using letters, quotes and interviews, Marton was able to share the dynamic of the marriages of noteable presidents and how their wives helped them make decisions that went down in history. What a wonderful read, especially with an inauguration coming up!

Rainbow Diary: A Journey in the New South Africa

3 stars

I found this quite an interesting book, and a good reminder of the history of South Africa which was drummed into me at school. It paints a colourful and often hopefuly picture of the New South Africa, written in an engaging style. The chapter on Durban was particularly saddening for me, as this is where I grew up and it sounds like it has changed beyond recognition (have also heard this from friends).

A good read, and I'd recommend it for anyone interested in South Africa.

Marley Me by John Grogan (5 stars)

I absolutely love this book. A memoir dedicated to Marley, a hyperactive Labrador retriever, for his companionship & lessons in life as received by the author. I found myself laughing out loud in intervals at the antics of Marley. I also found myself really teary nearing the end of the book. I think it’s pretty obvious that this book touches me so much. And right at this moment, my heart is overflowing with love for my lovely pug (who is currently snoring, yet again, at my feet).

SuzieR, I am half-South African, but to be honest, I don't have any hope for that country. I know that is sad and cynical, but it is the truth.

I just finished Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris and I'll give it a solid 4 *'s. I absolutely LOVED some of the stories (generally the more personal ones like SantaLand Diaries and Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol) but others were a little too weird for me.

I'd highly recommend this book to someone looking for an irreverent laugh at some holiday oddities.

Have just finished 'Night" by Elie Wiesel, and given it 5 stars. Not because it is perfect, but because of its importance in the body of Holocaust literature. Not as harrowing as I expected, but I don't feel like reprinting my review here (you can read it on my profile if you want.Is that against the rules?)
Meanwhile, am enjoying this Shelf, and have been to the library to get more!

Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom. 3 Stars

A Note of Warning: This is not a self-help parenting book. This is a humorous work of non-fiction that's sole purpose is to remind you not to take your new responsibility of parenthood too seriously.

This book is reminiscent of sitting down with that hilarious friend (or co-worker) who always has the funniest (though slightly off-color) stories about her last blind date or what she and her girlfriends "accidentally" did while totally plastered last weekend. Only, now she's a full-time mom.

Recommend to anyone who rolls their eyes when looking at all the Babywise guides and LeLeche handbooks, or feels like "What to Expect When..." just doesn't seem to jive with your personality.

How Reading Changed My Life
by Anna Quindlen

3 Stars.

It was a short read. Talked mostly about how she became infatuated with reading and books in general. She talks about some of her favorite books. At the end of the book she has several top 10 lists which had some pretty interesting suggestions.

I would recommend this to any book lover who wants something quick but interesting to read.

2 stars
The pillow book (El libro de la almohada) by Sei Shonagon.
I'm probably being a bit harsh by giving it 2 stars, it is not the books fault and I have read good reviews and it is considered one of the best pieces of literature written by a woman in 10th century Japan, but I must say it left me wanting to know more about the time period in order to understand Shonagon's view on life better. I also prefer when there is a plot that I can follow, instead of having several unconnected bits of information.
I would recommend this to anyone who is into history, anthropology, biographies or just wants something light and easy to read before bedtime or while waiting in line somewhere.

Just read The Wreck of the Abergavenny. Thought it was well written and easy to read. An enjoyable read as it looked into the effect of the wreck on John Wordsworth's family as well as the wreck itself and analysed how it impacted William Wordsworth's poetry. Definately recommended for those who like history but find historical accounts dry. My only criticism would be that the story wasn't written in chronological order and tended to jump around a bit, but that's more to my personal preference than anything.

I just finished The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot by Anne Hart. As the title clearly say, it is, I suppose, a biography on Agatha Christie's eccentric Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. I think the book is very well written and enjoyable to read in the sense that it is factual and objective, which I like. The author doesn't wander off into boring deep textual analysis and instead stick with reconstructing Poirot's life from Christie's vast collection of works. Fantastic read especially for Christie afficionados. Four stars from me!

I just finished Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler.

I would give this book two stars. This is her second book and in my opinion it was not as funny as the first. Some parts stood out and made me laugh a lot, but the beginning and end were disappointing.

This book is definitely only for those who are not offended by sex, lewd descriptions, foul language, and other types of behavior (writing). While these things do not offend or bother me, some of it seemed to be over the top.

Assassination Vacation
by Sarah Vowell
3 Stars

I found this surprisingly enjoyable thanks to the engaging Sarah Vowell. She basically takes us along on her pilgrimage as she researches the assassinations of Lincoln, McKinley and Garfield and drags along assorted friends and family with her.

As fascinating as I found some of the stuff (the Lincoln chapter is particularly engrossing) I must admit that I enjoyed it more because of the personal glimpses of the author we get throughout the book. She's a quirky creature with a droll sense of humor and terrific friends and family, she's a real doll!

I read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I gave it 4 stars.

Beautifully written, never boring or stuffy (as these things sometimes are). I loved the words of advice, the anecdotes, the musings.

Inspiring, and not just because I now want to become an Imagineer.

I feel like I've been granted a private look at the bigger picture.

I read Kattens språk: förstå din katt by Helga Hofmann, and I gave it 5 stars. It's only about65 pages long, but it's very well written and describes very well how the cat communicates with other cats and with humans. It also challenges the cat owner on how well you actually know and understand your cat.

This book was somewhat an eye-opener to me in some areas, and was very good for me to read.

Red Azalea by Anchee Min

A memoir about a young woman coming of age in China during the Mao years. She talks about her time in the Army, but it is mainly about her 'love life'. Some lesbian scenes are mildly graphic, but it wasn't enough to disturb me. Very beautifuly written, like poetry. Sad story, that ended bright.

4/5 stars.

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth.

4/5 stars

It's a biography of the Gilbreth family, a bunch of funny anecdotes.
I enjoyed the first half better than the second, it even had some laugh out loud moments. Frank Gilbreth was a very creative man, always finding practical and fun ways to teach and do things!
There is a sequel: Belles on Their Toes, also written by Frank Jr.

4 and half stars for Marley & Me tie-in: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

I just finished Marley and Me last night. The adorable photo on the cover caught my eye....they had a display of the book out in the open. Being an avid animal and dog lover, I couldn't pass it up. I loved it. To me it was so refreshing to see such commitment in another dog owner. I have always believed that when you adopt a pet it should be part of the family, and it is a lifelong commitment. You don't give up and get rid of them, just because of hard times or problems. This book is just enjoyable reading and now waiting for the movie to come out at Christmas time. Oh, if all our lives could be this much fun. Marley certainly was a loved dog, probably never had a bad day. I just passed this book onto other people, especially good dog lovers. I would also recommend it to high school readers as well. I loved the humor, the stories about Marley, and the compassion the author relates to the reader about his life/loves/annoyances. I'd highly recommend Marley and Me and am looking forward to reading John Grogan's 2nd book.

Now that I've finished the CHRISTMAS DAY challenge, I can concentrate on reading a few nonfiction books. :) I just read Secrets Of A Civil War Submarine: Solving The Mysteries Of The H. L. Hunley by Sally M. Walker. I gave it four stars. Walker succinctly and clearly explains complicated scientific processes involved in the excavation, conservation, and preservation of the Civil War submarine, the H.L. Hunley, and its contents. The H.L. Hunley was the first submarine to sink a ship in wartime, yet the submarine and its crew were never found following the successful attack. And that wasn’t the first time the submarine had sunk, killing all its crew. Walker brings the story of the H.L. Hunley and all the people involved to life. This is highly recommended for students interested in the Civil War and many areas of science and math. I was especially interested in the parts dealing with the forensic anthropologist and the forensic artist.

Things did go the way planned, but I did re-read Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston. It was a story of a young girl who was taken into Japanese internments camps during World War II. The book was well written, by a young child narrator, which brings an extremely unique, innocent view to the idea of internment. Furthermore, her recollections of camp after she has grown are also powerful. I particulary liked the quest for identity between a young girl whose parents want her to follow the traditional Japanese customs while she is struggling to fit in in America. 4 stars.

Brr! Reading this made me cold! Blizzard: The Storm That Changed America is a well-written account of the blizzard that struck the East Coast in March of 1888. Jim Murphy used newspaper articles, books, letters, and autobiographies written by survivors as sources for much of his information. I didn't find it quite as intriguing as The Great Fire or An American Plague, but still felt it was well worth reading. I was very interested to read about the changes that happened because of the blizzard, such as wires being moved underground and cities taking responsibility for snow removal. I gave it 3 stars.

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman - Nora Ephron

Well...
It was funny in parts, I could relate to some of it, but for me it was just OK. The rants of a famous, rich, skinny, 60something year old woman who lives in NYC only has only 2 things in common with me. Her sex and her location, although I don't live in a ritzy condo.

Light and entertaining I suppose, just not the usual type of memoir I would read, I like to read about the struggle of existence, hardships in childhood that were overcome by hard work. Not about how your favorite nail salon moved to the west side.

2.75 / 5

Never got to read a Non Fiction book so far.

I am currently reading "Why Venus and Mars Collide" by John Grey, Ph D. I give it 3 *s. It gives a lot of examples how men and women argue, and how they can better the way they say and do things to each other.

I read In Cold Blood for my December read. Gave it 4 stars. Amazing story~what can I say that hasn't already been said??

I just finished Autobiography by Agatha Christie and I would give it four stars for the general readers, but five stars for Christie readers!

It's one of the most enjoyable biographies I've read. Her descriptions are very vivid and very enjoyable to read. What I really like is how Victorian her upbringing was which is very much reflected in her works. She had a charmed life, even with having to go through two World Wars, and she knew she had a charmed life and is able to appreciate it all. The whole book has a positive feel to it even when she was going through some rocky times, and it all makes for a terribly good read!

The Knitting Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask, by Margaret Radcliffe. 4 stars.

This is a question-and-answer style encyclopedia for knitters, answering questions from "What's the easiest cast on?" to "What is duplicate stitch and how do I do it?", with many answers in between. Complete with drawings (of hand movements for different stitches, etc.) and charts.

The Complete Stephen King Universe: A Guide to the Worlds of Stephen King by Christopher Golden (and others) -3.5 to 4 stars

This book is a compilation of all the works of Stephen King (up to May 2006). It includes a story synopsis of every novel and short story (and screenplay/teleplay) Stephen King has ever written. It also has a breakdown of each major character in the story. If a screen adaptation was made that's also included.

What makes this book interesting is that, rather than organizing chronologically, the authors divided King's works based on where in the "Stephen King Universe" it is set. So, the Dark Tower series and all that interplay in that world are one section, there's a section for Castle Rock and another for King's other notable Maine locales. There's a section for Richard Bachman...you get the picture.

This is very useful for the long-time King reader (King calls you a Constant Reader) who has read his works over decades and can't quite remember what each story you've read is about. It was a great reminder to me, particularly since I have so many books on my shelves I don't have time to reread.

I'll be honest: I read the sections for each book/short story I've already read. I skipped over the sections that included works I'm dying to read and read the ones that I'm iffy about reading.

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh

Four stars. Fascinating stuff! Thimmesh did a great job of keeping the technical aspects simple, yet at the same time not dumbing them down. The photos are breathtaking. They work together with the text and the quotes to tell an amazing and informative story. I was especially interested in the part about the photos, cameras, and development of the film that came back with them from the moon - since they had to kill any "moon germs" that might have come back, but didn't want to wait for the month-long quarantine to end before developing the film.

I was too young to remember when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. After reading this, I feel, in a small way, as if I was able to experience it with all of those who were there. Now I need to watch the "From the Earth to the Moon" miniseries.

Better late than never I guess.

I read Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (3 stars)

Not as funny as "Me Talk Pretty One Day" but there were some really funny parts. I think Sedaris is much funnier when writing about his family and personal experiences (as in "Santaland" and "Deborah the Christmas Whore") then when he writes fiction. The three fictional stories in this book had one or two funny moments but mostly fell flat for me.

In the Days of the Vaqueros: America's First True Cowboys by Russell Freedman

4 stars. I always enjoy Russell Freedman's books, and this one was no exception. Freedman gives clear and concise information in an interesting way. This book is slightly shorter than others I've read of his, but I still felt like the subject was well covered. Freedman mentions several times that the Mexican vaquero has not been romanticized like the American cowboy and thus not a lot has been written about him over the years. I also really enjoyed the many paintings and sketches throughout the book, including several by Frederic Remington. My favorite chapter deals with contests and games enjoyed by vaqueros, some of which are quite similar to events in our modern-day rodeos. I included a few excerpts from that chapter in my review if you are interested.

Finally finished this one - and just in time! I've been taking my time with it over the past week or so.

The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father by Jim Wight
4 stars

Jim Wight has written a moving tribute to his father, James Alfred Wight, known as James Herriot to millions of fans around the world. At times it felt too long and detailed, but then he would catch my interest again with a funny or interesting story that hadn't been shared in any of the James Herriot books.

I particularly enjoyed the personal memories shared by Wight about his father and others well-known from the books. He quoted from diaries and letters written by his father and even included a few love letters Alf wrote to his wife. There are also 16 pages of family photos.

It was very interesting to find out what bits were real in the books and what had been changed. Mostly only the names of the people and the settings were changed. The stories James Herriot told in his books were all based on actual events. The last paragraph in the book says: "James Herriot, the unassuming veterinary surgeon who enthralled millions, was no fictional character. There was a man I knew, who possessed all the virtues of the famous veterinarian - and more. A totally honest man whose fine sense of humour and air of goodwill towards others ensured that he was respected by all who knew him. A man on whom, after his death, a Yorkshire farmer delivered his final verdict: 'Aye, he were a right decent feller.' That man was James Alfred Wight."

If you are a James Herriot fan, I highly recommend this book. Now I need to go find a copy of James Herriot's Yorkshire.

Getting this on in just before the buzzer:

The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston (4 stars)

Preston is a fiction author of several crime dramas (so he says--I've yet to read any of his fiction). He moved his family to Italy in 2000 to begin work on a fiction novel which takes place in Florence. While there, he became caught up in the story of an Italian serial killer, and ended up writing this book instead.

This book was in two parts. The first half was a synopsis of the story (up to 2006) of the Monster of Florence, a serial killer of the early 1980s that murdered young couples having sex in their cars in the Florentine countryside. The story is told third person but with a particular perpective from a journalist, Mario Spetzi (sp?) who became a "Monster Expert" during the 80s. Preston covers the murders, the various theories on who perpetrated the killings, police investigations, and the multiple trials to bring the killer(s) to justice.

The second half of the book tells what happened when Preston and his family moved to Italy. He became friends with Spetzi and they decided to collaborate writing a book on the Monster of Florence (several had already been published). When the police did not like what Spetzi and Preston had to say, they became tangled in the investigation, Spetzi even being arrested for his "involvement" in the serial killings.

It is a grim look into the Italian judicial system, with twists and story lines that are shockingly non-fiction. It is a great read for those who can keep up with non-fiction (I "read" it in audio form, so that helped me keep pace).

I finally finished a non-fiction book for this month: Jane Austen's Letters. It was really interesting to get a glimpse of Austen's everyday life, but she doesn't come across in an entirely positive light through her letters. A lot of her correspondence was very random - she'd talk about the deaths of people she knew and then move on to dumplings, all in the same paragraph! She did seem rather judgmental at times, and a bit insensitive at others. It definitely wasn't what I expected from her, but this book helps show how "real" she really was.

Edited to add: I gave this book 4/5 stars.

I finished my non-fiction book a few days ago but forgot to post until now.

Rachel's Tears: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott, 8/10

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book. The first chapter told the story of how the events of April 20th 1999 enfolded from the parents' point of view, and this gripped me and moved me to tears. But after that, a lot of the chapters simply recounted aspects of Rachel Scott's spiritual life. Although I was inspired by how strong her relationship with God was as well as her creativity in her drawings and poems, I felt that this got a little repetitive and I'm not quite sure how they spun these things out for several chapters. Maybe others who aren't used to spiritual gifts and intense relationships with God would have found these chapters more interesting, but I began to skim-read when I realised that I was reading the same thing written with different words. I have a feeling that this book was written to convince the general public that Rachel Scott was not an angel - she was a normal teenage girl. However, I was convinced as soon as the told me that. I didn't need to read proof. What did interest me, however, was the parents' explanations of the events of April 20th 1999, their opinions on why school shootings happen, their comments on their daughter's murderers. I'm not saying that I wasn't inspired by Rachel Scott's life - just that I didn't need to read seven chapters about her relationship with God in order to be inspired.

This is definitely a book for Christians, and I would recommend it to those who aren't used to having an intense relationship with God, or are "lukewarm" Christians. I think it would appeal more to this audience than people like me, who come from churches which hold "Healing Outpouring" meetings and dance around with ribbons during worship :) I also think that this book would appeal more to Christians as I have a feeling non-Christians might find the comments about the actual shooting interesting, but might not care for the notes on Rachel Scott's spiritual life (and thus leave disrespectful comments on Amazon and Good Reads).

Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life, by Alison Weir. 3 stars.

This is a biography of the great medieval queen, the wife of first Louis VII of France and then Henry II of England, and the mother of Richard I "The Lionheart" and John (possessor of many nicknames, none of them terribly flattering). In part it is a history of her times in what is now France and England - but since she did much to make her times what they were, that didn't bother me. If we had half-stars, I'd give it 3.5 stars.

I didn't get to this one in December, so it became my first book of 2009.

The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler by James Cross Giblin. 4 stars.

From the back cover: "Hitler's murderous actions left their mark, in one way or another, on everyone who lived in the latter two-thirds of the twentieth century. What sort of man could plan and carry out such horrendous schemes? How was he able to win support for his deadly ventures? And why did no one try to stop him until it was almost too late?" These are some of the questions this book explores.

I never realized how much I didn't know about Hitler - especially about his childhood and his early life as he attempted to earn a living as an artist before serving as a soldier in World War I. Giblin has written a well-researched, interesting, and very readable biography in his attempt to answer the questions above about a complex and evil man. Pair this with Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow for older students who are researching the Holocaust or WWII.