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curious incident of the dog in the night-time
mark haddon
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| Written from the point of view of Christopher, an autistic 15 year-old, as he tries to solve the mystery of the murdered dog next door. Along the way he solves other mysteries that he never even knew existed. Filled with neat little puzzles and facts and numbers that his autistic brain loves, this is truly a character you fall in love with as well as a mesmerizing tale. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
September 2004 [link] |
recommend 2 thumbs up
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the radleys
matt haig
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| "The Radleys" join the seemingly never-ending parade of vampire novels yet this one is set in the English ‘burbs and features Peter, Helen, Clara and Rowan Radley, a run-of-the-mill family leading a normal life. Except for one thing: they're vampires. At the start of the book, the kids don't even know the family secret – they just think they have to wear A LOT of sunblock during the day. One night, Clara is attacked by a classmate and winds up doing what vampires naturally do and all hell breaks loose in town. Peter's brother shows up to "help out", but since he isn't an "abstainer" and doesn't keep quite as low a profile as the rest of the family, their secret eventually gets out with disastrous – and surprising – consequences. Excerpts from "The Abstainer's Handbook" are sprinkled throughout the darkly humorous book. Are these Radleys related to Boo Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird"? Hmmmm. Interesting fact: I read this on my Nook and there was a typo in the title at the top of every page: it read "The Redleys" which was funny since they're vampires - get it? |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
March 2011 [link] |
recommend
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mrs. kimble
jennifer haigh
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| "mrs. kimble" was all at once happy and sad and beautiful and touching. the book follows the marriages of ken kimble with three mrs. kimbles in the course of his life. at times infuriating because you can never quite understand why women stick around with men like this but the story flows and shimmies and i was sorry to see it end (but happy with the way it did.) |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
May 2003 [link] |
recommend
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truth machine, the
james l. halperin
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| This book was recommended by some slightly unscrupulous photographer that I met on a camping trip organized by Kristy Byrd. He said it was VERY VERY meaning-of-life. This book is about what happens when a machine which can discern whether someone is telling the truth is invented. Although the book wasn't poetry or anything, I would recommend it just because it has such an interesting concept of what life could be. When I finally read it, I thought it was again one of those interesting concepts fleshed out with soap opera characters, but this book sticks with me. |
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reviewed by: kristen |
September 2000 [link] |
recommend
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the binding chair: or, a visit from the foot emancipation society
kathryn harrison
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It's hard to begin to describe this book since it's full of so many nooks and crannys, each with it's own story. This historically rich book centers around May - we meet her when she's in her 60s but the story goes back and forth as she grows up. May is a strong-willed, opinionated and free-spririted Chinese woman who, at the age of 5, had her feet bound. Contrary to popular belief, binding doesn't stunt the foot's growth - binding actually breaks the foot so it's more or less folded in half. The chapter about her first binding at such a young age is excruciatingly sad. After a bad arranged marriage, May escapes to Shanghai where, as a prostitute, she meets Albert Cohen, a member of a Jewish - Australian family living and working (very successfully working) in China. They eventually marry and have a child that accidentally drowns which haunts them forever.
Rich details and images propel the story of May's relationship with her husband, her troubled relationship with Alice, her favorite neice, and sad moments of death and sensual moments of love. A great novel with great female leads but an unfortunate and disappointing ending. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
April 2006 [link] |
recommend
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jump the shark
jon hein
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an excellent bathroom book, jump the shark explores all the tv show, celebs and political figures that have - and haven't - "jumped the shark" - a phrase coined by the author and his friends to signify the beginning of the end of something or someone. originated with a "happy days" episode where fonzi water skis and literally jumps over a shark. from that point on the show was crap. i'm happy to say that the simpson's have NOT jumped the shark.
you can also visit the website
jumptheshark.com |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
February 2003 [link] |
recommend
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stranger in a strange land
robert heinlein
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Surely, I enjoyed reading it. It was quite diverting – full of "fish out of water" revelations. It's about a man who is inadvertently reared on Mars and then returned to his genetic planet as an adult. The book was written in 1960 and Heinlein clearly thought the world was a barking madhouse then (as do most science fiction writers eh?). It is of interest to note the subjective decline of our civilization even in those years. That said, the book is basically a "what's wrong with all y'all? Can't we all get along? Let's screw and love and realize FOR REAL that we're all the creators of our own universe, and let's get crackin' on something better".
I'm all for this sentiment, and it's well and good; however, as I get more widely read, it rather depresses me to to read the same thing over and over and realize that not much is happening in the way of changing. Hell, I'm not doing anything but sitting on my buttocks and whining.
This was basically a jesus re-telling with loads of free love and interesting division of the sexes. Often I was offended (I'm a gal) but felt lacking in an alternative. I was rather in ire of the ole' "yes you silly man. I know what's best, and sure I'll look pretty for you though". (The women characters in me humble).
I'm proud of myself for writing even this short review of said "Stranger in a Strange Land" by heinlein because at least that gets me from sitting on the couch reading. But then again, I'm wondering if I have to force myself to do things or will I just command it because I grok that I am god? |
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reviewed by: kristen |
October 2004 [link] |
recommend 1 thumbs up
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the garden of eden
ernest hemingway
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I am prolific as a pig and am going to review 'the garden of eden'.
It was my first 'big girl' reading of an earnest hemingway story.
Previously, I had thought of him as a big blusterer who wrote about hunting and macho stupid crap. I had read the biography of Hadley Hemingway. Recently, I had seen his work room in key west when my family did our 2004 key west christmas.
That said, I am haunted still by the tendrils of 'the garden of eden'.
It had tons of drinking and pondering. The book reminded me greatly of 'tender is the night' by fitzgerald. As a crazy woman myself, i am drawn to books about men who tragically bloodily love us.
Money was no object, the couple in the book wandered wherever they wanted. Dark and light were always a factor. At one point, (and I rarely life up over the literal when I'm reading - much to my stupidity) I wondered if the three characters were metaphors for the narrator.
I adored the ending.
This book was published after papa's suicide. |
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reviewed by: kristen |
February 2005 [link] |
recommend
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dune
frank herbert
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| I heard the buzz on this book in eighth grade. It had space, champions, and kings and queens. While I sort of liked this book, it was a bit too operatic, sophisticated, and impersonal for me. It was probably WAY over my head, but I don't think I'll be re-reading it any time soon. Maybe it would be a good book to read if you were very intelligent and alienated from society. |
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reviewed by: kristen |
September 2000 [link] |
recommend
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cooking for mr. latte
amanda hesser
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| A simply delicious book - I had to restrain myself from devouring it all in one sitting. Amanda Hesser wrote "Food Diary" for The New York Times Magazine detailing her dating and cooking escapades with "Mr. Latte" (New Yorker writer Tad Friend) and this is a compilation of those essays. Cute, funny, yummy and interesting, this is the best kind of book: Words about food with the recipes included. Besides, it's the prettiest shade of pink this side of Chanel and the illustrations are adorable (as my husband said "I can't believe I have a crush on a drawing"). There's some funky recipes calling for figs and what-not but plenty of perfectly delectable dishes. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
August 2003 [link] |
recommend
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having our say: the delany sisters' first 100 years
amy hill hearth
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| This oldie but goodie, was first published in 1993 when the Delany sisters were 103 (Sadie) and 101 (Bessie). Told from their point of view in alternating chapters, the Delanys recount their upbringing on the campus of St. Augustine's school on Raleigh, NC and their subsequent life experiences as educated and well-off African-Americans. Having never married, they had pretty much spent their entire lives together. The secret to their longevity seems to be equal parts spitfire, sweetness, common sense and one mashed garlic clove every day. When Bessie passed away at age 104, Sadie went on to write "On My Own at 107: Reflections of Life Without Bessie". Sadie passed away in 1999 at the age of 109. They just don't make them like that anymore. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
June 2009 [link] |
recommend
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seabiscuit: an american legend
laura hillenbrand
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| this is the perfect summer read - exciting, funny and touching. i took to calling my dog "seabiscuit" since the horse was described as being "a big dog". it's hard to believe the author wrote this book almost completely without leaving her home since she suffers from a severe case of chronic fatique syndrome. some of the horseracing techie talk is a little dull and i can't seem to find out what "imposting" is about (why one horse races with more weight in their saddle than another) but it is still one of the best books i've read in a long time. read it quick before the movie comes out and ruins everything. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
June 2003 [link] |
recommend 1 thumbs up
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the areas of my expertise
john hodgeman
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| This crazy-assed book is chock-full of stuff John Hodgeman "knows". Favorites include "Seven Hundred Hobo Names" (I like "Freak le Freak, the Freakster" and "McCurk, Who May Be Found by the Card Catalogue" - really, there's too many awesome ones to write down) and the list of "Nine Presidents Who Had Hooks for Hands" ("F. Roosevelt - his hook was actually a wheelchair"). In between giggling, you'll shake your head and mutter "what the hell?". Very wacky and very fun. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
July 2007 [link] |
recommend
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smilla's sense of snow
peter hoeg
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| This is the book I read on the plane on the way to my leap year wedding in las vegas. How into it did I get? I actually was thinking in the back of my head the first night if I'd have a chance to get back to the room and read my book. Unfortunately when you're getting married, the man tends to want to be with you ALL THE TIME, so I did get to finish this when I got back. The mystery plot was not the greatest "ah hah" ever, but the tone and characters were just right. It's a book about a loner. |
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reviewed by: kristen |
September 2000 [link] |
recommend
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the dress lodger
sheri holman
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| this is an excellent historical fiction read set in england circa 1831. the main character is the "dress lodger", a prostitute that rents a fancy dress and a room from her john. the dress is supposed to get her a higher class of client. chock full of body snatching (the dead and the living) and mucho cholera, add this dark and velvety novel to your reading list. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
February 2003 [link] |
recommend
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hell hath no fury: women's letters from the end of the affair
anna holmes
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| a delectable book chock full of letters from women scorned. the volume is divided into chapters detailing different kind of break-up letters, i.e. the "just friends" letter or the "other woman/other man" letters. and then there's the letters that just rip men new a-holes. quite amusing. the book is better digested by skipping around mingling some of the oldies (anne boleyn, pre-beheading) with the more comtemporary e-mail disses (the author shares one of her classic dumpee letters). a couple of the letters are downright embarrassing - one woman claims her lover will never find anyone that "makes mac and cheese or chocolate milk" like her - i wonder if those were code words for anything? hmmm. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
May 2003 [link] |
recommend
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loving frank
nancy horan
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| Loving Frank is a wonderful historical fiction novel about Frank Lloyd Wright and his married mistress, Mamah Cheney. Not much is known in depth about their relationship - other then it was scandalous at the time since they were both married and had children - but Horan pieced together details from letters and newspaper articles. It is also a fascinating look at FLW and his design genius. I thought the sad ending had to be the author taking liberties with the story but some quick research showed the ending to be all true and thus making the book even more stunning and tragic. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
January 2010 [link] |
recommend
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songbook
nick hornby
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This is like a tape mix in book form - Hornby looks at 31 of his favorite tunes and the memories associated with them. Clever in only the way Hornby can be and funny funny funny. It's made me think about all my old favorites songs and his mention of some bands I never listened to has made me want to go out and rediscover the ones I missed.
(I believe the hardcover edition comes with a CD but doesn't feature all the songs mentioned in the book. I just have the paperback) |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
December 2004 [link] |
recommend 1 thumbs up
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high fidelity
nick hornsby
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| I remembered that I read this book when I saw the previews for the movie. This is a fine book. It's set in London which is a plus for me as I love to travel to exotic locales in me head. The thing I remember most about this book is that it had a lot of zingers/observations on female/male relationships. There's one that I remembered for the longest time, but I've forgotten it. This was also the first book I read with good music references. Groaningly, I would call this book one reminiscent of a story about a hip, normal-bodied, English Woody Allen. |
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reviewed by: kristen |
September 2000 [link] |
recommend 1 thumbs up
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the kite runner
khaled hosseini
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The Kite Runner is unlike any book I've ever read wholly because it's about Afganistan and Middle Eastern culture. The story is bittersweet - it revolves around a wealthy father and son and their father and son house servants - they are all best friends except for the money and cast difference. Amir is the rich son and Hassan is the servant son and both adore flying and "running" kites. Kite competition is huge in Afganistan by which the flyer tries to cut down other kites with glass-encrusted string.
There occurs an event that forever changes everyone's realtionship and then the Russians move in and a few years later, the Taliban, and all hell breaks loose. In that time, the wealthy father and son have moved to San Francisco and lost track of the servant friends. Years pass, Amir gets married, his father dies and then, one day, a phone call beckons him back to Afganistan to "make everything good" again.
I feel guilty saying that the ending got a little over the top for me, but it did. Still, it's an amazing book, so heavy with sadness and hope. Plus, the look into the Afgan culture is incredible and for that is worth reading despite some of the darker parts of the novel. |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
December 2005 [link] |
recommend
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the final confession of mabel stark
robert hough
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| This little ditty jumped off the library shelf as I was walking by and I'm sure glad I took her home. This is an amazing historical fiction account of the best tiger trainer in the world - and one of the few female trainers. The other interesting facet in this book is circus life of which this book gives a first hand look. Very funny and very moving, I admire the hell out of Mabel Stark and her audacious and large life. A final chapter at the end from the author details what aspects of the book were fiction and which were historical, plus all his research involved. Seventy-seven thumbs up! (That's a circus freak, for sure!) |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
April 2005 [link] |
recommend
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best food writing 2003
holly hughes
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This is a compliation of essays from various magazine and newspapers with what is considered the "best" in food writing. The 51 essays are about everything from sustainable farming, to stinky cheeses to soups. A book to be read all at once or skipping around whenever your appetite needs to be tempted.
(The new Best Food Writing 2004 was published 10/10/04) |
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reviewed by: lisa may |
October 2004 [link] |
recommend
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buddhism
christmas humphreys
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God. I thought I'd never get through this book. This is the third Buddhism book I've read. It's far better of an overview than the second one, but less explicit and approachable than "The Empty Mirror". It's taken me almost two months to read "Buddhism". I've been busy with school, AND this book is quite a headtrip - very involved and complicated (but not in a smug jerk way).
Hmmmmmmmm. Greg says I can now talk about buddhism now that I've read this book. That I'm informed enough.
I feel I could have foregone reading it a bit. In fact, I feel a bit less pure from reading it - as in now I may be "falling in the mahavinya line" or something. It was basically just a history of buddhism and an explanation of the various sects. It defined terms and explained actions.
I suppose you're going to have to read an overview of Buddhism in order to go further in your studies. This was good for that. |
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reviewed by: kristen |
September 2001 [link] |
recommend
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what i loved
siri hustvedt
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| It’s a mysterious painting that begins a lifelong friendship between art professor Leo Hertzberg and artist Bill Wechsler. Hustvedt’s novel details the lives of these two men and their respective families and how their paths become intertwined. Especially compelling are her detailed descriptions of the pieces that Wechler creates, becoming more complex as the novel progresses. The only minor gripe I have is that the third part of the novel detours in a wholly unexpected and somewhat mundane direction and seems at times like a different novel. That said, the novel manages to be a compelling page turner throughout, becoming an especially frantic one in the last hundred pages |
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reviewed by: JohnLawton |
June 2004 [link] |
recommend
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brave new world
adolphus huxley
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I had seen this book in my sister’s gift to me. She gave me
for Christmas a couple of years ago some playing cards with
52 great books described. This one was about “the future”.
Then, I recently saw the book referenced in some article I
was reading: “the whole idea had a decidedly ‘brave new
world’-ish cast”. I mentioned it at some party-talk, and got “I
can’t believe you haven’t read it”… so I did. This is the
first “hard” science fiction book I’ve read in my cognizant
adult life. I read the author’s preface, and it piqued my
interest a bit as he described how he would have improved
the book blah blah blah. At the end, someone who had
checked out the book before me had penciled in “beyond
prophet” after the introduction. This sincerely interested me
as I’ve only penciled in on one book (“the Blond Baboon”) and
I had done it on the inside cover in hopes that someone
would read the book. The book was quite engaging. Very
interesting and well thought out. I can completely say that it
ironed out my recent philosophy that all this horror and greed
and shit in society is only present because we must have a
good story for ourselves. The author presents us with a
futuristic society that has eliminated all negative things from
our society and has made us efficient, happy, and stratified
human beings. We are all content in our place. We take
drugs to pacify us. We worship Ford with his efficiency and
his vanguard-ness at delivering us from immobility. It was a
beautiful case of “be careful what you wish for”. It features
three characters who are beginning to come out of their
haze. What happens to them is moralistic and final. This
book was an excellent and detailed look at a bizarre and
philosophical future. It wasn’t really so much a novel as a
very long essay. Mr. Huxley seems more a philosopher than
a novelist, and I never got involved in the action. I felt merely
a tourist in a protective bubble visiting the future. It’s certainly
not a frou frou book, but rather one that tugged at my soul
strings. |
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reviewed by: kristen |
May 2001 [link] |
recommend
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