Book Story Reviews.

ชุดปรับสรีระซัมมิทควีน

2009-07-09T23:20:00.000-07:00

รูปร่างดีใคร ๆ ก็แอบมองในความสวย
วันนี้คุณสวยได้ถ้าคุณต้องการเปลี่ยนแปลงรูปร่างกับผลิตภัณฑ์นำเข้ามาจากประเทศญี่ปุ่น
ชุดชั้นในและถุงเท้า ซัมมิทควีน เป็นชุดชั้นในที่ทำมาจากเสนใย Elastic theraphy
เส้นใยบำบัดเพื่อสุขภาพและสรีระที่งดงาม ช่วยปรับและกระชับเรือนร่าง เคลื่อนย้ายไขมัน
โดยไม่ต่องทำศัลยกรรม ทำให้หลังตรง อกตั้ง เอวเว้า ก้นยก ช่วยพยุงกระดูกสันหลังให้ตรง ทำให้เลือดลม
เดินสะดวกทำให้ไม่ปวดหลัง ไม่ว่าจะอ้ววนหรือผอมก็ใช้ได้ ช่วยให้รูปร่างเปลี่ยนแปลง มีบุคลิกที่ดีขึ้น
สามารถแก้ปัญหาเฉพาะจุดของสรีระได้ โดยไม่ต้องกินยาหรืออดอาหาร เหมาะสำหรับผู้ที่ไม่มีเวลาออกกำลังกาย

และอีกเรื่องที่กล่าวถึงก็คือ เมื่อมีอายุขัยมากขึ้นการรักษารูปร่างก็จะยากขึ้นตามไปด้วย
สำหรับท่านใดที่มีปัญหาสรีระไม่สมส่วนหรือต้องการมีสุขภาพที่ดี ต้องชุดปรับสรีระที่ทำมาจาก
เส้นใยที่มีคุณภาพ เป็นเส้นใยไลคร่า100% มีกระบวนการผลิตที่เป็นเอกลักษณ์เฉพาะ
การออกแบบที่มีความเข้าใจและชำนาญเกี่ยวกับสรีระวิทยา โครงสร้างร่างกายของมนุษย์
ที่สำคัญออกแบบโดยหมอจีนฝังเข็ม ชุดชั้นในที่ดีผู้สวมใส่จะไม่รู้สึกอึดอัด สวมใส่สบาย ไม่อับชื้น
ไม่เก็บกักกลิ่น ระบายอากาศได้ดี ซักแห้งเร็ว และรู้สึกผ่อนคลายเมื่อได้สวมใส่ ทั้งยังยึดหลังให้ตรง
และเสริมบุคลิกของท่านนอกจากการที่จะช่วยปรับสรีระแล้ว ยังมีผลต่ออวัยวะภายในเป็นสำคัญ
ชุดชั้นในที่ดีเมื่อสวมใส่ยังบรรเทาอาการปวดท้อง กระดูกสันหลังไม่เคลื่อนผิดตำแหน่ง ไม่ปวดหลัง
ไมเกรนหาย ไซนัสหาย ริดสีดวงหาย ติ่งเนื้อตกกระหลุดหาย แก้หน้าท้องลาย ยกก้นยกมดลูกไม่หย่อนยาน
ช่องคลอดกระชับ หน้าอกสวยได้รูป เอวคอดเล็ก
อันเป็นสุขภาพและรูปร่างที่ดีที่ผู้หญิงทุกคนต้องการและใฝ่ฝัน

ชุดชั้นใน ช่วยกระชับรูปร่างให้ได้สัดส่วน อก เอว สะโพก ดูสวยงามมากขึ้น เป็นสัดส่วนมากขึ้น : ชุดปรับสรีระซัมมิทควีน ผลิตโดยประเทศญี่ปุ่น ไม่มีขายอยู่ในห้างฯ พิเศษกว่า 089-0888298 , 081-7588475

ชุดปรับสรีระซัมมิทควีน

2009-07-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

ชุดชั้นใน ช่วยกระชับรูปร่างให้ได้สัดส่วน อก เอว สะโพก ดูสวยงามมากขึ้น เป็นสัดส่วนมากขึ้น : ชุดปรับสรีระซัมมิทควีน ผลิตโดยประเทศญี่ปุ่น ไม่มีขายอยู่ในห้างฯ พิเศษกว่า
089-0888298 , 081-7588475

ชุดชั้นในช่วยกระชับรูปร่างให้ได้สัดส่วน เสริมสร้างบุคลิกที่ดี ช่วยดูแล และสร้างสรรค์สรีระให้คุณพึงพอใจ ตั่งแต่หน้าอกที่ได้รูปทรงจนถึงเรียว

ขาที่เรียวงาม สวมใส่ 8 ชม. เสมือนออกกำลังกาย 1 ชม. ช่วยยกหน้าอก และสร้างเนินอกเด่นชัด สวยงาม

ช่วย ยกสะโพกให้สูงขึ้นทำให้ขาดูเรียวยาว และด้วยประสิทธิภาพของผ้าพาวเวอร์เนท ตรงบริเวณท้อง ด้านข้าง และเอว จะช่วยทำให้บริเวณ

หน้าท้องเรียบ ช่วยให้สะโพกดูกลมกลึง ได้รอบสวยงาม บำบัด อาการ เบาหวาน ความดัน ปวดเมื่อยตามร่ายกาย ช่วยปรับระบบการไหลเวียน

ของโลหิตให้ดีขึ้น ผลิตจากเส้นใย Silsuperior และเส้นใย Lycra

ลิขสิทธิ์ ของบริษัทโทเร ประเทศญี่ปุ่น คือ เส้นใย ไนลอนเกรดสูงที่มีความเงามันวาวแบบเนื้อไหม ลิขสิทธิ์ของอินวิสต้า (บริษัทดูปองต์เดิม)

ประเทศสหรัฐอเมริกา คือ เส้นใยโพลียูรีเทนที่มีความคงทน และยืดหยุ่นเยี่ยม อายุการใช้งาน 3-5 ปี

ผ่านการรับรองจาก มหาวิทยาลัยโตเกียว และมหาวิทยาลัยโยชิยักขะ จากประเทศญี่ปุ่น

นำเข้าโดย บริษัท ซัมมิท ควีน จำกัด

ถุงเท้า และถุงน่องกระชับสัดส่วน Bonvolant ลิลลี่ บูเก้ ช่วยให้เรียวขากระชับ ดูสวยงาม

โครงสร้าง ได้รับการออกแบบอย่างประณีต ด้วยการใช้ระบบคอมพิวเตอร์วิเคราะห์สัดส่วนต่าง ๆ

เพื่อให้ถุงน่องมีรูปทรงที่เหมาะสมกับทุกสัดส่วนของเรียวขาคุณ ตั่งแต่ปลายเท้า จนถึงอุ้งเท้า น่อง และขาอ่อน

ทุกส่วนกระชับพอดีด้วยวัสดุสแปนเด็กซ์ (Lycra) ที่มีคุณสมบัติดี

ถุงเท้าผลิตจาก สแปนเด็กซ์ (Lycra) ขาดใหญ่พิเศษ ที่ไม่มีในประเทศไทย 570 ดีเนียร์สำหรับแบบแข็ง และ 310 ดีเนียร์สำหรับแบบนุ่ม

ถุงน่องวัสดุผลิตจาก สแปนเด็กซ์ (Lycra) 120 ดีเนียร์ / ไนล่อน 30 ดีเนียร์

ผลิตในประเทศ สหรัฐอเมริกา

ช่วยปรับระบบการไหลเวียนของโลหิตให้ดีขึ้น ไม่รัดร่างกาย

บรรเทาอาการปวดขา ปวดเข่า ตะคริว เกาท์ ทำให้อุ่น สามารถลดอาการบวมของเท้าได้

ช่วยให้เส้นเลือดขอดเบาบางลง และหายได้

ชุดชั้นใน ช่วยกระชับรูปร่างให้ได้สัดส่วน อก เอว สะโพก ดูสวยงามมากขึ้น เป็นสัดส่วนมากขึ้น : ชุดปรับสรีระซัมมิทควีน ผลิตโดยประเทศญี่ปุ่น

2009-06-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

Summit Lily Bouquet ชุดปรับสรีระจากญี่ปุ่น
P สันต์089-0888298 , 081-7588475

การ สูญเสียรูปร่างที่สวยงามอย่างไม่หยุดยั้งของสาวอายุตั้งแต่20-49ขึ้นไป พุงหย่อน ท้องยื่นยาน หน้าอกหย่อนคล้อย 3-5 ซม. ก้นหย่อนยาน

Summit Queen Limited Llily Bouquet

คุณภาพและคุณสมบัติอันโดดเด่น ชุดชั้นในที่ทำให้ทีรูปร่างที่ดีขึ้น

ลักษณะเด่น

ชุดซัพพอร์ทสูท - ยกสะโพก ยกหน้าอก จัดเก็บไขมันส่วนเกินใต้ท้องแขน กระชับหน้าท้องและไขมันส่วนเกิน

คุณสมบัติ

- การตัดเย็บแบบสามมิติ ยกสะโพกให้ได้รูป

- กระชับไขมันที่มักจะไปสะสมอยู่บริเวณหน้าท้องและแผ่นหลัง

- ไม่กดทับอวัยวะภายในร่างกาย จึงไม่รู้สึกอึดอัด

- ผ้าส่วนเป้าเป็นผ้ายืดตาข่าย และมีกระดุมด้านหน้าที่เปิดง่ายซึ่งสะดวกเวลาสวมใส่

- ออกแบบส่วนลำตัวยาวกว่าปกติ เพื่อกระชับทุกอิริยาบท แม้เวลาออกกำลังกาย

ลักษณะเด่น

เสื้อชั้นใน เมโมรี่บรา

- กระชับหน้าอกอย่างเป็นธรรมชาติ จัดเก็บไขมันบริเวณไขมันด้านข้างลำตัว และหน้าท้องให้เคลื่อนย้ายมาในหน้าอก

คุณสมบัติ

- ตัดเย็บแบบเต็มทรงซึ่งกระชับหน้าอกอย่างได้ผล

- เสริมโครงเหล็กใต้ทรง จึงทำให้หน้าอกตั้งได้รูปสวยงาม

- ช่วงด้านข้างของเสื้อกว้างกว่าปกติ ทำให้เก็บหน้าอกได้เต็มและกระชับแน่นขึ้น

- จัดให้หน้าอกเชิดมาด้านหน้า ได้ตำแหน่งถูกต้อง

รูปร่างที่กระชับสวยงามสมส่วนเป็นสิ่งที่ผู้หญิงทุกท่านใฝ่ฝันระยะหลังจึงหันมาใส่ใจในเรื่องของรูปร่างมากขึ้น

แต่เมื่อมีอายุมากขึ้นการรักษาร่างกายก็จะเป็นเรื่องที่ยากตามไปด้วยแต่จริงแล้วถ้าท่านใส่ใจดูแลตัวเองทุกวัน

ออกกำลังกายพอเหมาะทานอาหารอย่างถูกสุขลัษณะก็ทำให้มีรูปร่างที่สวยงามสมส่วน ชุดลี่ลลี่บูเก้เป็นส่วนหนึ่ง

ที่ช่วยให้การมีรูปร่างสวยงามสมส่วนง่ายขึ้น

ผลิตจากวัสดุคุณภาพดีรักษาความงามของเรือนร่างให้คงไว้ตลอดกาล

ชุดลิลลี่บูเก้ ทอจากเส้นใย ซิลสุพีเรีย มีประสิทธิภาพการดูดซึมน้ำ ดูดซับความชุ่มชื้น

แห้ง เร็ว และเส้นใยไลคร่า ที่มีความยืดหยุ่นและมีความทนทานเป็นเยี่ยมเป็นเนื้อผ้าที่นิ่ม เบา รู้สึกสบายเมื่อสวมใส่ งดงามด้วยผ้าลูกไม้คุณภาพสูง ริเวอร์เลสมีลวดลายดอกลิลลี่ที่งดงาม

1. เสื้อชั้นใน Memory Bra รักษา ความงามของหน้าอกให้คงไว้ตลอดกาล จะช่วยจัดเก็บไขมันส่วนเกินบริเวณรักแร้ ข้างลำตัวให้เข้ามาในหน้าอกและช่วยให้หน้าอกยกขึ้น เป็นเสื้อชั้นในแบบเต็มทรงตัดเย็บแบบสามมิติและการเลือก สรรวัสดุและกรรมวิธีการตัดเย็บได้คำนึงถึงการเสียรูปของเสื้อชั้นในที่อาจจะ เกิดขึ้นได้เวลาสวมใส่หรือซัก

2. ชุดซัพพอทสูท Support Suit ช่วยกระชับบริเวณรอบเอวและสะโพก ให้ได้สัดส่วนสวยงามยิ่งเคลื่อนไหว

ยิ่งช่วยกะชับไขมันส่วนเกิน

3. กางเกง Long Girdle เก็บเนื้อส่วนเกินจากด้านข้าง จัดยกสะโพกให้สวย กลมกลึงช่วยยกสะโพกให้สูงขึ้น

เหมาะสำหรับผู้ที่ต้องการปรับ กระชับต้นขาให้ได้รูปยิ่งเคลื่อนไหวยิ่งช่วยกะชับไขมันส่วนเกิน

4. ถุงเท้ายาว Super Support High Socks เท้ายาวกระชับเป็นลำดับใช้วัสดุสแปนเด็กซ์ ไลคร่า ขนาดใหญ่พิเศษที่ไม่มีในประเทศไทย 570 ดีเนียร์ การออกแบบเน้นให้กระชับเป็นส่วนๆโดยให้กระชับแน่นที่ข้อเท้า แล้วค่อยๆผ่อนลงเรื่อยๆจนถึงน่อง ส่วนที่อุ้งเท้า จะกระชับปานกลางจึงเหมาะอย่างยิ่งสำหรับผู้ที่ต้องยืนหรือเดินเป็นเวลานานๆ ใส่ได้ทั้งหญิงและชาย

ชุดปรับสรีระเคลื่อนย้ายไขมัน ช่วยให้รูปร่างกระชับ Lycra 100%

ประโยชน์ของชุดซัมมิท

ของเราไม่ใช่รักษาโรคหายแต่ช่วยบรรเทาอาการนั้นๆให้ค่อยๆ ดีขึ้นเท่านั้นเรายอมรับว่าไม่ใช่ยารักษาโรคค่ะ

ท่าน ที่มีสรีระไม่สมส่วนหรือต้องการที่จะลดน้ำหนักพอใส่ชุดนี้จะเหมือนกับออก กำลังกายทั้งวันเพราะชุดนี้จะมีเส้นใยไลค่าคอยนวดตัวคุณเองทั้งวัน

ไม่ ใช่แต่เพียงคุณจะลดน้ำหนักได้เท่านั้นแต่ยังสามารถบรรเทาอาการปวดหลัง ปวดท้องรอบเดือนให้หายได้ค่ แก้หน้าท้องลาย หน้าอกได้รูป ยกสะโพก กระชับไขมันส่วนเกินทอจากเส้นใยซิลสุพีเรีย และเส้นใยไลคร่ามีความยืดหยุ่นและทนทานสูง ระบายอากาศได้ดี เวลาสวมใส่จึงรู้สึกเบา สบาย ไม่ดึงรั้งร่างกาย

สำหรับ ท่านชายจะช่วยปรับสรีระมีกล้ามหน้าอกไม่มีหน้าท้องกระชับไขมันหุ่นเฟิมหรือ ใส่เล่นฟิตเนตได้จะเผาผลาญไขมันได้ดีเยี่ยมไม่ปวดหลัง

- จากคนที่เคยซื้อชุดกับเราเคยให้ข้อมูลมาว่าเป็นเนื้องอกในท้องแต่พอใส่ชุดนี้ไปไม่กี่เดือนไป x-ray ดูเนื้องอกนั้นหายไปแล้ว

- คนที่เคยผ่าตัดบ๊อกหลังบ่อยๆจากที่เคยมีอาการปวดหลังก็ไม่มีอีกเลย

(แต่กรณีแบบนี้ก็ต้องขึ้นอยู่กับบุคคลด้วยนะค่ะและขึ้นอยู่กับการรับประทานอาหารของตัวคุณเอง)

เรียนรู้วิธีการสร้างรายได้ จากการทำงานโดยไม่กระทบ งานประจำ

2009-06-29T20:14:00.001-07:00

เรียนรู้วิธีการสร้างรายได้ จากการทำงานโดยไม่กระทบ
งานประจำ

สร้างรายได้ 200-300 บาท/วัน ทำงานเพียงวันละ 2-3 ชม./วัน ไม่กระทบงานประจำ(ไม่จำกัด)วุฒิการศึกษา ด่วน!!

สนใจ ติดต่อ : P สันต์089-0888298 , 081-7588475 , 086-3116072
Email health-072@hotmail.com

ต้องการคนร่วมงาน , หางาน , งานพิเศษ Parttime ,สร้างรายได้, รายได้พิเศษ ไม่ต้องลาออกจากงานประจำ ใช้เวลาว่าง ทำได้ทุกที่...

โอกาสที่ดีที่สุดอยู่ที่การตัดสินใจเลือกทางเดินของคุณ

ระหว่าง ..........ชีวิต มนุษย์เงินเดือนที่นายจ้างแบ่งจากผลกำไรจากผลงานที่เราเป็นผู้ลงมือทำ หรือ "เรามีชีวิตเป็นเจ้านายตัวเองมีอิสระภาพทางการเงิน และมีเวลาอยู่กับครอบครัวที่เรารักมากที่สุดในโลก โดยไม่ต้องกังวลกับเวลาที่ผันผ่าน

โอกาสที่ดีที่สุดอยู่ที่การตัดสินใจเลือกทางเดินของคุณ

ใน ทุกๆ เช้า ของวันใหม่ที่เราตื่นขึ้นมาแล้วพบว่าเรายังต้องดำเนินชีวิตในรูปแบบที่ เหมือนๆกับทุกๆวันที่ผ่านมา คือต้องตื่นแต่เช้า ออกจากบ้าน ผจญกับปัญหาจราจร เพื่อไปให้ทันเข้างาน ตอกบัตรเข้าทำงาน แล้วก็ทำงานตามภาระรับผิดชอบที่ได้รับมอบหมาย พบเจอกับความเครียดต่างๆในการทำงาน ตอนเย็นเลิกงาน ตอกบัตรออก ผจญกับปัญหาจราจรอีกครั้ง กลับถึงบ้าน แล้วก็หลับไปด้วยความอ่อนเพลีย และเตรียมพบกับวันใหม่ที่ดำเนินชีวิตในรูปแบบเดิมๆ เป็นวงจรซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่าทุกวัน เราเคยสังเกตบ้างหรือไม่เราทำสิ่งเหล่านี้เพื่ออะไร? เพื่อที่จะให้สามารถดำรงชีวิตผ่านไปได้วันๆหนึ่งเท่านั้นเองหรือ ? เราต้องการชีวิตที่เป็นแบบนี้จริงๆหรือ ? ผมเชื่อมั่นว่าคนเราทุกคนมีความฝัน อยากจะมีชีวิตที่ดีกว่าที่เราเป็นอยู่ในปัจจุบันนี้อย่างแน่นอน แล้วทำไมไม่ลองหาทางที่จะเปลี่ยนชีวิตของคุณไปสู่รูปแบบของการใช้ชีวิตแบบ ใหม่ในแบบที่คุณอยากเป็น

มีสุภาษิตจีนบทหนึ่งกล่าวไว้ว่า “เดิน ทางร้อยลี้ต้องมีก้าวแรก” หากคุณต้องการเริ่มต้นสร้างความสำเร็จให้กับชีวิต ด้วยเส้นทางที่สามารถสร้างความฝันของคุณให้เป็นจริงได้ ภายในระยะเวลาที่ไม่ยาวนานเกินไป ธุรกิจเครือข่ายจะเป็นเส้นทางที่ดีที่สุดเส้นทางหนึ่ง ที่พร้อมจะเปิดโอกาสให้กับผู้ที่มีความมุ่งมั่นและตั้งใจจริงเสมอ หลังจากนี้ทั้งหมดขึ้นอยู่กับการตัดสินใจของคุณ เมื่อคุณได้มีโอกาสอ่านเอกสารฉบับนี้แล้ว และต้องการจะใช้โอกาสที่ดีนี้เพื่อสร้างอิสรภาพทางการเงินและเวลาให้กับตัว คุณเองและคนที่คุณรัก ผู้ที่แนะนำคุณให้อ่านเอกสารฉบับนี้พร้อมเสมอที่จะช่วย

ณ วันนี้ คุณกำลังทำอะไรอยู่ และทำแบบไหนอยู่ หากคุณยังมองไม่เห็นเป้าหมายที่ดีล่ะก็ คุณลองเริ่มต้นไปกับเราดูซิ แล้วคุณจะรู้ว่า เป้าหมายที่คุณตามหานั้นอยู่ ณ ที่แห่งนี้แล้ว

The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World by W. Cleon Skousen

2009-03-22T22:15:00.000-07:00

The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World by W. Cleon Skousen This is an incredible book that should be read by all Americans.

I first read this book back in the mid 1980s shortly after it was first published. It had such a profound effect on me that I can still recall where I was when I was reading it. That is rather amazing as I have I have probably read about 1600 books since then.

I was excited to see that it had recently been republished as my original copy is pretty ragged. It was great to reread it and brush up on the great ideas contained in it.

The premise of the book is that because of the free market system that took root after our Constitution was enacted, the United States literally made a 5000 year leap of progress in the time since then. The author, W. Cleon Skousen, discussed the changes from the time of the founding of Jamestown in 1607 to the early 1980s when the book was written. In discussing Jamestown, he said: "The most striking thing about the settlers of Jamestown was their startling similarity to the ancient pioneers who built settlements in other parts of the world 5,000 years earlier. The whole panorama of Jamestown demonstrated how shockingly little progress had been made by man during all of those fifty centuries."

He went on to say, "The settlers of Jamestown had come in a boat no larger and no more commodious than those of the ancient sea kings. Their tools still consisted of shovel, axe, hoe, and a stick plow which were only slightly improved over those of China, Egypt, Persia, and Greece. They harvested their grain and hay-grass with the same primitive scythes ..."

He then discussed the Constitution that was developed by the Founders. It took 180 years for them to put it all together from the beginning of Jamestown in 1607 to the enactment of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. He goes through the inspirations and sources for their thoughts in explaining how the U.S. Constitutional system came about.

Dr. Skousen contrasted the situation described in Jamestown above to the present day. He talks about the phenomenol results produced by the free enterprise system. Some of the incredible inventions and changes that he cites are as follows: the internal combustion engine, jet propulsion, exotic space travel, 'all the wonders of nuclear energy', massive changes in communications, the doubling of the life expectancy, central heating/air conditioning, surgical miracles, cures for numerous diseases, etc. Needless to say, the list could go on and on.

In showing how our system was designed, Skousen goes through 28 principles that the Founders developed from their study of sources such as Cicero, Locke, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, and others. Skousen has done what most people don't have the time or inclination to do: Study the original source materials and bring it all together.

Obviously, it would be great if every American studied the sources listed above as well as The Federalist Papers, the writings of Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, and others. Since that is unlikely, this is a great way to gain a good general understanding of the roots of our nation.

One great thing about this book is that the author discusses some of the problems that we have faced in recent years due to failing to follow the Constitution and the principles of the Founders. Some of these are issues like the mounting national debt, excessive taxation, and judicial activism.

Dr. Skousen also does a great job of explaining the political spectrum and the absurdities of the left-right labeling so often used in discourse today. He explains in an easy-to-understand manner that the far left and far right as the terms are used today are really the same thing, ruler's law, and are totally out of step with the way the system was intended.

One could easily go on about this book for a long time, but I will spare the reader that. Suffice it to say, this is an amazing book that should be read by all.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment by Steve Harvey

2009-03-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment by Steve Harvey Women can sit around with our girlfriends talking about how much men don't make sense or how they won't act right, but we oftentimes find better advice by actually asking for advice from our guy friends. The only problem is our guy friends may lie to spare our feelings, but Steve Harvey is not trying to be our friends and he's telling it like it t.i.s. in his new book, "Act Like a Lady: Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment."

Harvey breaks down all of the things that women need to know about men in 15 chapters on relationships--mama's boys, marriage, whether we are the ones for men to sports fish (reel in and throw back into the water when they're done) or a keeper; when we should introduce men to our child(ren); why the 90-day rule for sex makes sense; how independent women can remember to be ladies; the three things that drive men (who they are, what they do, and how much they make); and why "We need to talk" is a phrase that is man's worst enemy.

There are some contradictions within the read, like why women need to get out of the 1945 mentality of waiting on men to marry them, but at the same time, sticking to the chivalrous expectations of letting him open doors, wearing heels, carrying heavy items and letting him fix things and paint. (However, I interviewed him for the "Chicago Defender" [article will be out in February sometime] and he explained why he felt some old-fashioned values should still be met. His analysis made sense too.)

But for every contradiction, there are lessons that make so much sense. Harvey has a point. Women are far more complex with their emotions than men are, judging from his research and his own opinions and observance from my own friends. Poet Maya Angelou said it best when saying "When someone shows you who they are, believe them." That was the main theme throughout Harvey's read--to set standards and stick to them. While some men may feel like Harvey is snitching, women like me finished the read feeling educated and confident in my past decisions. Excellent and quick read, but grab your highlighters and take notes.

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto by Mark R. Levin

2009-03-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto

Conservative talk radio's fastest-growing superstar is also a New York Times bestselling phenomenon: the author of the groundbreaking critique of the Supreme Court, Men in Black, and the deeply personal dog lover's memoir Rescuing Sprite, Mark R. Levin now delivers the book that characterizes both his devotion to his more than 5 million listeners and his love of our country and the legacy of our Founding Fathers: Liberty and Tyranny is Mark R. Levin's clarion call to conservative America, a new manifesto for the conservative movement for the 21st century.

In the face of the modern liberal assault on Constitution-based values, an attack that has steadily snowballed since President Roosevelt's New Deal of the 1930s and resulted in a federal government that is a massive, unaccountable conglomerate, the time for re-enforcing the intellectual and practical case for conservatism is now. Conservative beliefs in individual freedoms do in the end stand for liberty for all Americans, while liberal dictates lead to the breakdown of civilized society -- in short, tyranny. Looking back to look to the future, Levin writes "conservatism is the antidote to tyranny precisely because its principles are our founding principles." And in a series of powerful essays, Levin lays out how conservatives can counter the liberal corrosion that has filtered into every timely issue affecting our daily lives, from the economy to health care, global warming, immigration, and more -- and illustrates how change, as seen through the conservative lens, is always prudent, and always an enhancement to individual freedom.

As provocative, well-reasoned, robust, and informed as his on-air commentary, Levin's narrative will galvanize readers to begin a new era in conservative thinking and action. Liberty and Tyranny provides a philosophical, historical, and practical framework for revitalizing the conservative vision and ensuring the preservation of American society.

About the Author
Mark R. Levin is a nationally syndicated talk radio host and president of Landmark Legal Foundation. He has also worked as an attorney in the private sector and as a top adviser and administrator to several members of President Reagan's cabinet. The author of the New York Times bestselling books Rescuing Sprite and Men in Black: How the Supreme Court Is Destroying America, Mark holds a B.A. from Temple University and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.

The Yankee Years

2009-02-01T17:36:00.000-08:00

The Yankee Years by Joe Torre, Tom Verducci

Twelve straight playoff appearances. Six American League pennants. Four World Series titles. This is the definitive story of a dynasty: the Yankee years

When Joe Torre took over as manager of the New York Yankees in 1996, the most storied franchise in sports had not won a World Series title in eighteen years. The famously tough and mercurial owner, George Steinbrenner, had fired seventeen managers during that span. Torre’s appointment was greeted with Bronx cheers from the notoriously brutal New York media, who cited his record as the player and manager who had been in the most Major League games without appearing in a World Series

Twelve tumultuous and triumphant years later, Torre left the team as the most beloved and successful manager in the game. In an era of multimillionaire free agents, fractured clubhouses, revenue-sharing, and off-the-field scandals, Torre forged a team ethos that united his players and made the Yankees, once again, the greatest team in sports. He won over the media with his honesty and class, and was beloved by the fans.

But it wasn’t easy.

Here, for the first time, Joe Torre and Tom Verducci take us inside the dugout, the
clubhouse, and the front office in a revelatory narrative that shows what it really took to keep the Yankees on top of the baseball world. The high-priced ace who broke down in tears and refused to go back to the mound in the middle of a game. Constant meddling from Yankee executives, many of whom were jealous of Torre’s popularity. The tension that developed between the old guard and the free agents brought in by management. The impact of revenue-sharing and new scouting techniques, which allowed other teams to challenge the Yankees’ dominance. The players who couldn’t resist the after-hours temptations of the Big Apple. The joys of managing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, and the challenges of managing Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. Torre’s last year, when constant ultimatums from the front office, devastating injuries, and a freak cloud of bugs on a warm September night in Cleveland forced him from a job he loved.

Through it all, Torre kept his calm, kept his players’ respect, and kept winning.

And, of course, The Yankee Years chronicles the amazing stories on the diamond. The stirring comeback in the 1996 World Series against the heavily favored Braves. The wonder of 1998, when Torre led the Yanks to the most wins in Major League history. The draining and emotional drama of the 2001 World Series. The incredible twists and turns of the epic Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series against the Red Sox, in which two teams who truly despised each other battled pitch by pitch until the stunning extra-inning home run.

Here is a sweeping narrative of Major League Baseball in the Yankee era, a book both grand in its scope and fascinating in its details.

About the Author

Joe Torre played for the Braves, the Cardinals, and the Mets before managing all three teams. From 1996 to 2007, Torre managed the New York Yankees. He is currently the manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Associate

2009-02-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

The Associate by John Grisham

Kyle McAvoy grew up in his father’s small-town law office in York, Pennsylvania. He excelled in college, was elected editor-in-chief of The Yale Law Journal, and his future has limitless potential.

But Kyle has a secret, a dark one, an episode from college that he has tried to forget. The secret, though, falls into the hands of the wrong people, and Kyle is forced to take a job he doesn’t want—even though it’s a job most law students can only dream about.

Three months after leaving Yale, Kyle becomes an associate at the largest law firm in the world, where, in addition to practicing law, he is expected to lie, steal, and take part in a scheme that could send him to prison, if not get him killed.

With an unforgettable cast of characters and villains—from Baxter Tate, a drug-addled trust fund kid and possible rapist, to Dale, a pretty but seemingly quiet former math teacher who shares Kyle’s “cubicle” at the law firm, to two of the most powerful and fiercely competitive defense contractors in the country—and featuring all the twists and turns that have made John Grisham the most popular storyteller in the world, The Associate is vintage Grisham.

About the Author

JOHN GRISHAM has written twenty previous novels and one work of nonfiction, The Innocent Man, published in 2006. He lives in Virginia and Mississippi.

Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution

2009-02-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution by David Zinczenko

With tens of thousands of products crammed into the walls of the neighborhood supermarket, trying to find a reliable snack, pantry product, or frozen dinner can be a serious challenge for the time-strained consumer. The Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide changes all of that, offering discerning shoppers everywhere a simple plan for finding the healthiest foods for them and their families. Beyond homing in on the best and worst in the world of packaged foods, the Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide scours the aisles to help you pick the most nutrient-packed produce, the leanest, tastiest cuts of meat, exotic cheeses that double as healthy snacks, and the best contaminant-free fish the ocean has to offer.

Click each image below for a larger view of selections from Eat This Not That! For Supermarkets

Best nonfiction of the year?

I know, that sounds like a wild claim. And I'm surprised I wrote it.

I own both of the previous Eat This Not That books (Thousands of Simple Food Swaps, For Kids!), so when I noticed this one was about to come out I decided to skip it. What more could it offer than what was already covered in the other two?

Then, tonight, I went shopping for food with my teenage daughter at Target. We spotted this in the little book section and, at her urging, picked it up and glanced through it.

What a great book! So helpful! So useful! Yes, if it keeps my husband healthy and my daughter enthused about nutrition, it gets my vote as best nonfiction book of 2008. I read about every day, and no book in the past year has struck me as a Must Buy as much as this one.

The reason? It's ENTIRELY focused on foods sold at supermarkets -- every item on every page is something readily accessible to you. And since every item is captioned with its relevant nutritional information, you get the benefit, in essence, of having read every tiny ingredients list on every item at your grocery store, all of it right in front of you in a little book that will fit in a decent-sized purse. By comparison, the earlier titles had less detailed grocery sections, as well as lots of stuff about fast food chains and table-service franchise restaurants, material that is useful only if you frequent those particular places.

In this book, every page has valuable content for anyone who shops at a supermarket -- so much, in fact, it's tough to determine just what to highlight in this review. Every time I flip through the book I come across useful, surprising information. For example, right now I'll randomly open it a few times and learn why....

1) Fruit Loops are better for you than Apple Cinnamon Cheerios...

2) Regular Cheerios is a better choice than Smart Start...

3) Regular Quick 1 minute Quaker Oats is healthier than Quaker's Simple Harvest Multigrain hot cereal...

4) Dole pineapple cups are more nutritious than Dole mixed fruit cups...

5) Del Monte pear halves beat Del Monte sliced pears...

I could go on forever.

By the way, not all the pages are side-by-side product comparisons. One spread, titled "The Meat Matrix," compares the nutritional value of a variety of meats, everything from pork to ostrich. Another, titled "The Perfect Refrigerator," displays a perfectly stocked healthy fridge. My daughter was especially interested in a spread titled "The Snack Matrix," which shows which combination of snack items (fruit, peanut butter, cottage cheese) mix well together for both nutrition and taste. Another section discusses how to store fresh fruits and produce and explains why fresh food is better for you.

Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More!

2009-02-01T17:24:00.000-08:00

Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More! by David Zinczenko

Eat what you want, when you want--and watch the pounds disappear!

Americans spend more than $400 billion a year eating out, and behind each burger, turkey sandwich, and ice cream sundae is a simple decision that could help you control your weight--and your life. The problem is, restaurant chains and food producers aren't interested in helping you make healthy choices. In fact, they invest $30 billion a year on advertising, much of it aimed at confusing eaters and disguising the fat and calorie counts of their products.

All of that has changed with EAT THIS, NOT THAT!. This book puts the entire food industry under the spotlight, and arms you with the savvy tricks and insider information it takes to eat well no matter where you are. With EAT THIS, NOT THAT! you're the expert in every eating situation, from the frozen food aisle to your favorite fast food joint to your local sports bar. You control your food universe--and lose the pounds you want--because, unlike every other customer, you'll know the smart choices to make--instantly!

EAT THIS, NOT THAT! is jam-packed with secrets the restaurant industry doesn't want you to know. For example: * Burger King doesn't want you to know that a BK Big Fish® Sandwich and fries have a whopping 1000 calories--nearly half your daily caloric intake! (Fish is usually healthy, but not this kind. Find out why with this book.) * Pizza Hut doesn't want you to know that a standard pizza in Italy contains 500 to 800 calories, but the same meal at Pizza Hut can top 2,100 calories! (You'd need to ride a stationary bike for more than three hours to burn off this mistake. Instead, eat all the pizza you want by making smart choices. EAT THIS, NOT THAT! shows you how.) * Macaroni Grill doesn't want you to know that a single serving of their Grilled Teriyaki Salmon has more than three times your daily allowance of sodium! (Cut your risk of high blood pressure by making smart choices at the same restaurant. You'll find them inside.)

If only you knew the industry secrets, you could eat at any of your favorite restaurants--or chow down on everything from the company vending machine to your kids' Halloween buckets--and know that every decision you made was smart, healthy, and the best possible choice for you. For example, did you know: * At McDonald's, an Egg McMuffin® is actually a healthy choice, with just 300 calories. (The Hotcakes pack more than double that amount!) * At Krispy Kreme, all you need to do is order the Very Berry Chiller instead of the Mocha Dream Chiller, and you'll save 500 calories! (Do that once a week and you'll drop more than 7 pounds this year--without trying!) * At Chipotle, you can cut 570 calories out of your Chicken Burrito just by ordering it as a bowl (without the tortilla) and asking them to hold the rice. (Same great taste, but with 94 fewer carb grams!) * Choosing a cinnamon roll at Au Bon Pain over Cinnabon will save you 463 calories and 20 grams of fat! * In the freezer section of your local supermarket, a turkey pot pie from Swanson's has 610 fewer calories than a turkey pot pie from Pepperidge Farms. * In the produce aisle, you'll get twice the vitamin C--and nine times as much vitamin A--simply by picking red bell peppers over green ones. (Who said eating healthy was difficult?)

And that's why EAT THIS, NOT THAT! is going to change everything. It's time to level the playing field. We're all tired of sneaky calories adding to our waistlines, and having to starve ourselves or spend hours on the treadmill trying to burn off the damage. Now--for the first time--you're in charge. With this simple illustrated guide to thousands of foods--along with the nutrition secrets that lead to fast and permanent weight loss--you'll make the smartest choice every time!

That pie has the same calories as three Big Macs?
This is a great book. Slick and attractive, with fantastic full-color pictures. Very well researched too, which is expected coming from the folks behind one of the most densely-packed, informative magazines, Men's Health.

The truth is that casual dining restaurants have higher calorie meals than the much-maligned fast food joints. While the fast food restaurants are now required to publish calorie, fat, and sodium contents, the casual restaurants have been quietly fighting against requiring them to release the same information. Thanks to this book and the research behind it, we can now get a better idea of what we've been eating at these restaurants. And it is eye opening.

Each two page section has a high-calorie, fat trap food on the right, and a healthier alternative on the left. Lots of reasons for why one is a better choice than the other, as well as quick lists of other good choices (and not so good choices) on the left and right.

This simple, but effective layout conveys a ton of information quickly and easily. The sections are by restaurant, and by situation type (like shopping at the mall, or at a holiday party), so it is easy to read and get good ideas for how to make better food choices.

The only negative is that you might never get fries again, after you see all the things you could eat instead and still not hit the calorie count of the fries. Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries have 2900 calories. Wow!

Highly recommended book, even if you aren't trying to lose weight. You'll learn a ton about the foods you are eating at restaurants, which is well worth the price of admission.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

2009-02-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

The highly anticipated third book in the critically acclaimed and bestselling series takes the art of being wimpy to a whole new level.

Let’s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other “manly” endeavors. Of course, Greg is able to easily sidestep his father’s efforts to change him. But when Greg’s dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to shape up . . . or get shipped out.

Greg and his family and friends, who make the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books a must-read for middle school readers, are back and at their best in this hilarious new installment of the series, which is sure to please current fans while attracting new ones.

Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Teal Book of Trust by Jeffrey Gitomer

2009-01-06T18:06:00.000-08:00

Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Teal Book of Trust by Jeffrey Gitomer This is an important and excellent book. (You will maybe appreciate my tongue-in-cheek headline after reading the first Chapter.)

Like so many others, I am a huge fan of Jeff Gitomers' sage, straightforward advice on selling and subjects tangentially related to his core expertise in the sales process. But, Gitomer has outdone himself with this absolute gem.

In a world where (some) businesses and politicians are almost daily demonstrating why they can't be trusted, the subject of "trust" needs to be written about. And, this well timed book is a great primer on the subject.

Now writing about "trust" is not easy. Who is a "trust" expert? Well the subject is a perfect one for Gitomer who manages to plead for us to do things better in a style that doesn't come over as unduly "preachy." And, he does so with his usual well organized, logical explanations. He does a great job of succinctly explaining the context of trust, it's benefits and ultimately its value, more than 20 characteristics of trust, and how to recover from a breach of trust (which can happen among us humans).

Best of all, his thoughts on becoming a trusted business advisor make this a book that every professional should read, study, implement and then re-read. As an advisor to leading professional service firms, I have already started giving the book to clients.

Regretfully, I expect that some who need this book most will never buy it as they see themselves as already fully trustworthy. Respectfully, I would suggest that few among us would not benefit from a tune-up in this area. Including the many whom start off conversations, as I did this review, with the commonly used phrase "trust me."

As an voracious reader of business and self-help books (and a reviewer here on Amazon of the best of that which I read), I consider this one of the most important books, in those two categories, in the last ten years. It really is that good! And that important!!

Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America by Ann Coulter

2009-01-06T18:04:00.000-08:00

Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America by Ann Coulter Many on the left have NEVER had to defend their ideas, and only grudgingly admit that there is even "another side" in politics to consider.

They are like that woman in Manhattan in 1972, who said she had no idea how Nixon had won because she didn't know anyone who voted for him.

Talk about living in a bubble!

I'm afraid Obama is going to destroy America. Ann, we need you now more than ever!

Outliers: The Story of Success by MalcolGladwell

2009-01-06T17:59:00.000-08:00

Outliers: The Story of Success by MalcolGladwell In this wide-ranging third installment of Malcolm Gladwell's exploration of how people and social phenomena work, the New Yorker journalist takes a close look at what constitutes high levels of success. That is, what makes people at the top of their respective fields get there? As we've come to expect from Gladwell's previous books, the answer to the question is a bit complicated.

He says that upbringing, culture and even random luck have something to with success, but there is another important quality that anyone can control. Two chapters are dedicated to the "revelation" that IQ is only a baseline quality and success has little to nothing to do with having a high IQ or a low IQ. Rather, success is substantially a product of cultivating a high degree of what Robert Sternberg calls "practical intelligence" or what most refer to as "emotional intelligence."

Gladwell uses the example of Nobel laureates coming from unknown schools as often as ivy league schools. At this level of mastery IQ is no longer a factor. Success has little to do with where you were educated and everything to do with your level of practical/emotional intelligence and willingness to put in the 10,000 hours of practice required to reach mastery of your field.

All in all, it's an interesting read that isn't too heady and goes by pretty quickly, as the interesting anecdotes are what you would expect from Gladwell.

The Power of Soul by Zhi Gang Sha

2009-01-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

The Way to Heal, Rejuvenate, Transform, and Enlighten All Life by Zhi Gang Sha I have read all of Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha's books.....every one is a jewel. The Power of Soul incorporates some of the wisdom from previous material, raises it to a new level and adds even more knowledge. If one can use the words profound and simple in the same description then this is the opportunity. Readers that are looking for answers regarding the spiritual journey will find them in this book. Karma, enlightenment, the role of soul in our daily lives ....all of this is covered and more. What I find most unique about Master Sha's teachings are the practical tools that he incorporates in every book. This one is exceptional. There are so many practices and special treasures on every page. The writing is easy to follow and understand. The wisdom is deep. I truly believe that if you follow the guidelines provided by Master Sha you will move further and faster on your spiritual journey. This is an excellent book.

The UltraMind Solution by Mark, M.D. Hyman

2009-01-06T17:49:00.000-08:00

Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First by Mark, M.D. Hyman

I was privileged to be one of the participants who was chosen to undergo the Ultramind solution for six weeks prior to publication. Although it has only been 18 days since I started, the change in my energy level and my ability to concentrate is remarkable.
I have been suffering from intense fatigue and trouble concentrating for the last two years, and my physicians have been unable to find a medical diagnosis for my symptoms. Being a 46-year-old graduate student, wife, mother and employee, I have to be able to concentrate for long periods of time, especially in the evenings after work. Before the Ultramind solution, I could not concentrate or stay focused past the early morning. Without knowing exactly when it occurred, I now find that my energy has been restored enough so that I can work twelve hour shifts at the hospital without fatigue and still go home and study, while retaining what I read. As a side effect, I have lost close to ten pounds without ever going hungry.
Although it may sound totally impossible to remove all processed foods, sugar, dairy, trans fat, wheat and flour products as Dr. Hyman required from my diet, I have discovered that all of my prior sugar cravings have disappeared completely, even now during the hoiday season when cookies and candy abound. I snack on nuts and fruit and make sure I eat good proteins and plenty of fresh vegetables and I drink plenty of water.
In the beginning I thought I would never be able to make it six weeks, but three weeks have breezed by. I am definitely going to make the Ultramind Solution a way of life from now on. Dr. Hyman's principles are simple yet effective.

The Complete History of Jack the Ripper by Philip Sugden

2008-12-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

The Complete History of Jack the Ripper by Philip Sugden Not being a "ripperologist" myself and only having a passing interest in the case I found this book to be an eye-opener. I had always assumed that there were the five murders that are accepted as being the work of the ripper and that was it. I now find that there may have been six, seven, or eight. Maybe even more. There may have even been a ripper murder in America.

With this work the reader gets a case by case, witness by witness, and suspect by suspect review of the facts. The research that went into this book and the details covered show an amazing dedication on the part of Mr. Sugden. He does not fall into what has apparently been a trap for ripper writers for years by accepting secondary sources at face value. Instead he looks to primary material where possible and by doing so exposes myths that have survived in some cases for over one hundred years. As an added bonus he does not start out like many other writers on this subject with a theory to prove, bending and ignoring evidence to fit his preconceived notion.

I only had two very small problems with this book. First, Mr. Sugden is a little too open in his contempt for some other ripper writers. Sometimes he seems to go out of his way to point out their mistakes. Considering that these mistakes have have often been accepted as fact by later writers and are the basis for many myths I guess that this tactic may be necessary. Still I often found that it bothered me. Second, he uses several words which I am sure are in common use in England but cause the American reader to pause and wonder just what Sugden is talking about. My complaints are small indeed.

Sugden does end the book with the most likely suspect but admits that the case against this man still is full of holes. Will the case ever be solved? Sugden seems to think so. After reading his extraordinary book I agree.

The Final Solution: A Story of Detectionby Michael Chabon

2008-12-24T18:50:00.000-08:00

The Final Solution by Michael Chabon is a slim, but satisfying mystery as well as an insightful examination and extension of a beloved fictional character. The story revolves around Linus Steinman, a nine year old mute, who escaped Nazi Germany with an African gray parrot named Bruno. Bruno’s past associations coupled with his numerical utterances bring the greedy and amoral to his lodging house.

The New York Times Book Review says The Final Solution is “On par with the best, most tightly written sections of Chabon’s last novel, the marvelous The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.” I’m not the NYT, but I’d beg to differ. I’m a huge Kavalier & Clay fan, and while The Final Solution is good, it simply doesn’t bristle with passion and power of the former. And I guess Chabon’s Summerland doesn’t count as a novel?

Instead, The Final Solution is a bit aloof like the unnamed detective who works to solve the mystery. So while the tight plot is enjoyable, the only character that truly jumps off the page is the aged Sherlock Holmes. And even then we’re never told it is that famous detective. So it reads more like a great cover band, or maybe Sammy Hagar as the front man for Van Halen. The ’story’ stands on it’s own, but is certainly given considerably more weight given Chabon’s literary history.

I found some of the P.S. features very interesting. The NPR interview in particular revealed Chabon’s admiration for David Mitchell and Cynthia Ozick. I’m a huge Mitchell fan and immediately picked up an Ozick title. I find the relationships between authors, most often exposed in the acknowledgments, to be a fascinating and valuable tool in finding other great reading.

For example, in Matt Ruff’s Bad Monkeys, he acknowledges Neal Stephenson of Cryptonomicon fame. Similarly, Susanna Clarke acknowledges Neil Gaiman in the fabulous Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I’d be extremely interested in a LibraryThing like interface that exposed these connections to readers.

So, pick up The Final Solution by Michael Chabon and then cross your fingers and hope that The Yiddish Policemen’s Union returns Chabon to his Kavalier & Clay form.

Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff

2008-12-24T18:41:00.000-08:00

Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff is a condensed, fast-paced, insightful romp that walks the line between gritty literary realism and surreal science-fiction. I’ve been waiting for the next Ruff novel for quite a while and Bad Monkeys will hold me over until I get my next fix.

Bad Monkeys revolves around Jane Charlotte as she converses with a psychologist and explains how and why she’s now arrested for murder. The explanation is, as you’d expect from a Ruff novel, a whopper! Jane details two secret societies locked in a battle of good and evil.

She explains how, as a child rejected by her mother, she found herself in central California on the trail of a serial pedophile and murderer dubbed The Angel of Death. It’s here that she first encounters the ‘organization’ and uses an NC gun to fend off and kill the The Angel of Death. What’s an NC gun? Come now, it’s a gun that kills by Natural Causes. Quintessential, inventive Ruff!

As you may have realized, the topics covered by Ruff aren’t shallow or glitzy in an Elmore Leonard way. Like Set This House In Order, he’s dealing with serious issues that fracture the lives of people. Bad Monkeys covers some of the same ground as Set This House In Order, and nearly feels like a mash-up of that novel and Sewer, Gas & Electric.

But Ruff makes it different enough and keeps you guessing as to whether Jane is just a very troubled woman who’s built a fantastic and bizarre world as a coping mechanism, or if she’s on the level and is on the front lines in the war against evil. Just when you think you know which way it will go, that’s when the plot twist(s) make you doubt yourself.

I read Bad Monkeys in two round-trip BART rides. It’s a rather short novel, particularly for the usually Homeric Ruff. So part of me wishes he’d taken one more year and written another 200 pages to fully explore the fantastic framework he established. Another is happy that the next novel is that much closer.

Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan

2008-12-24T18:39:00.001-08:00

Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan is a satisfying blend of his previous novels, equal parts of his hard-boiled Kovacs series and Market Forces, his recent Road Warrior meets Halliburton social treatise. If Andrew Vachss wrote science-fiction, this is what he’d write.

As with all of Morgan’s work, you’ll get a healthy dose of pulse-pounding action sequences and grisly crime descriptions. I’m not a horror buff and I don’t generally like gore. However, Morgan makes it accessible by delivering these sequences without the giddy glee or overly dramatic flair others employ. It’s a very straight-forward factual description - a nearly academic deconstruction of the brutality of what he’s envisioning. You’ll understand the appeal if you like CSI or Criminal Minds.

Th1rte3n continues Morgan’s science-fiction detective genre and delivers Carl Marsalis, a ‘Thirteen’, or genetically altered human who works as a hard-case bounty hunter. The back cover of the uncorrected proofs I obtained calls Marsalis “a hit man who has lost his desire to kill.” This, frankly, isn’t accurate. Marsalis is a genetically-modified soldier with increased aggression and machismo. He’s built to kill, is damn good at it, and doesn’t mind doing so for profit or revenge. It’s not a perfect life, but it’s the hand he’s been dealt and he’s a realist.

Marsalis is hired by agents of the governing body of Mars after one of their spaceships is ‘compromised’ by another Thirteen. The ship splashes into the ocean, filled with the remains of the other passengers, eaten by the renegade Thirteen. Using genetic trace the team has linked the escaped Thirteen to numerous seemingly unrelated murders across the country. Marsalis is the necessary evil they turn to as the body count rises without any further progress on capturing their suspect.

There’s a bit of rote material, necessary for the full plot, in which Marsalis bonds with his new ‘partner’, Sevgi Ertekin. It’s a satisfying tale of sleuth as the two follow the tangents, misdirection and clues to arrive at a final epiphany. In the end, the whole crime feels a little bit like a stretch, but the rest of the novel is strong enough to overcome this obstacle.

The world Morgan creates is a future fractured by racism and religion. Unlike his Kovacs novels, Morgan’s dialog is often a direct discussion of the topics he wishes to analyze and present to readers. Th1rte3n isn’t for you if you’re turned off by topics like the nature of man, of how society evolved, of Fundamentalism, of nature versus nurture and the corrupting influence of power. These direct miniature essays are peppered within the dialog, bringing introspection and intelligence to the inventive future world and hard-edge action sequences.

I recommend Richard K. Morgan’s Th1rte3n as a good way to introduce yourself to Morgan’s work. If you’re entertained and provoked, you’ll have plenty of great reading ahead of you by delving into his prior work.
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Moneyball by Michael Lewis

2008-12-24T18:32:00.000-08:00

Moneyball The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis is not your typical sports book. Indeed, as I read the back of the book now, I notice that it’s classified as Sports/Business. I’m a sports fan, but haven’t ever gotten into sports books. I watch enough sports (my wife is quick to point that out) so I couldn’t see really doubling up and reading about it too. I’ve read a few bicycling books including the fantastic The Rider by Tim Krabbe. I also read and enjoyed Seabiscuit. (I caught a bit of the horse racing bug when I lived down in San Diego and took a shine to the Del Mar Fairgrounds.)

Moneyball is another fringe sports book, and is more business, numbers and statistics than sports. That, in a nutshell, is the plot of the book. Lewis follows the Oakland A’s Billy Beane as he brings rational, fact-based decision making to baseball. Now, let me preface the rest of my review by saying that I like numbers and statistics. Segmenting a database? Sounds fun to me! Running baseball statistics through a regression analysis? I’m intrigued! Now I’m not saying that you need to like numbers to enjoy Moneyball, but I think it helps.

It also helps that the A’s are one of my local teams. Living in the Bay Area you have the A’s and the Giants. I like both, but force my hand and I’d go with the A’s, even more so after reading Moneyball. I’d heard about Moneyball but just didn’t think I’d really dig a sports book. A former colleague at Alibris (now at Linden Labs aka Second Life) said I’d definitely like it. He sat in the cube next to me and clearly understood that this was a perfect blend of sports and numbers.

Sure enough I sped through this book - 4 round-trip sittings on BART - and was amazed that numbers weren’t used more in evaluating baseball talent. How could all these teams simply trust their gut? How could they see potential in a guy and ignore what was in black and white? How could they ignore the numbers because they didn’t look like a typical ballplayer? The idea that past performance indicated future performance was slightly foreign to many of the ‘old school’ baseball executives.

There’s another layer in the book, about the mental part of the game, about expectations and confidence and how they all get warped by the sport of baseball. And yet another about the ex-jocks and hangers-on in baseball who are threatened by the ‘nerds’ who bring a greater amount of clarity and accountability to their profession. Lewis was wise to include these more human elements so that the nuts and bolts of OBP and why walks were so valuable and stolen bases over-rated don’t overwhelm the book.

If you have any interest in how the A’s continue to win with one of the smallest payrolls, or enjoy reading about people who introduce a disruptive force in an old and inefficient system, then read Michael Lewis’ Moneyball.

Bestsellers in Magazine

2008-11-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

Sports Illustrated Kids (1-year) [MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION]

A great start for kids interested in sports

I hesitated before subscribing to this magazine on behalf of my son, mainly due to a vague sense of dread about how SIKids might handle the inevitable boorish behavior by various jock/celebs. Every week in the "older" version of SI, you read something about drug bust this, assault and battery that--and you wonder what effect the antics of these millionaire morons has on kids. Well, to my surprise (and relief), SIKids generally skirts this type of nonsense and focuses squarely on the achievements of great athletes. The layouts and photos are great and the writing never talks down to kids. Instead, the magazine seems to excel at delivering good, solid journalism that kids can actually appreciate and relate to. SIKids is a VERY good investment if your son or daughter loves sports!

Marie Claire (1-year) [MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION]

Whenever I'd finish reading a magazine like 'Cosmo', I'd feel guilty for indulging in a magazine so obsessed with sex. But whenever I'd finish 'Marie Claire', I felt like I'd read something with quality without loosing any of the fashion and beauty advice (and even a little dating) that I love. The articles range from lingerie to skin care to guns to third world countries. It's the one magazine I can always read cover to cover. I feel as though I've actually learned something about life in other places and at the same time learned how to apply eyeliner more easily. While some magazines pride themselves on featuring models who are (gasp) size 4, 'Marie Claire' shows women with real bodies (there was a woman who was size 20 and proud) which makes me want to appreciate my body that way. The bottom line is the magazine has class and intelligence and plenty of it. If you get this magazine, you're not only getting fashion, dating and beauty, you're also getting a magazine with mind, soul and heart. And isn't that what we're all looking for?

Maxim

Maxim aims itself straight at what the straight male psyche likes: laughter, girls, and bizarre subjects (such as "How to Survive Torture", a topic in the September 2001 issue).

... this magazine is not just about sex and bad taste. It celebrates male life, and it does this without apology. Men have apologized far too much; the people who seem to think maleness needs to be "fixed" are maladjusted [people] who would never cut men any slack anyway, no matter how "sensitive" or politically correct men pretend to be, so men might as well party. Maxim is the technical journal of this attitude!

Maxim and some other men's magazines (like Men's Health) have discovered a formula that works to keep men reading: To-the-point articles thoroughly interleaved with humor and banter; lots of photographs and descriptive drawings; and topics ranging from sex and seduction to war and first aid. Lots of practical information and lots of truly excellent photos of sexy women that are not raunchy.

If I could only read one men's magazine, this would be it.

Smithsonian

Every issue we get, we say the same thing: "WOW! This is the best issue ever!! Just look at this article, and this one...."

We took a visit to the Smithsonian in Washington, hosting some guests from Germany who had the treasures of the mineral exhibit on their "must see first time to the US" list of attractions. We were a bit nonplussed by this--we didn't know that foreigners would be interested in the Smithsonian Museum. We spent an entire day, seeing just a small percentage of the national treasures in this montsrous museum complex. While we were shopping in one of the gift shops, we were offered a membership. We signed up to support the Smithsonian and to get this magazine.

Recently, there was an article on Cambodia's huge temple complex Ankhor Wat (filmed in "Lara Croft"), an article on sled dogs and an article on the Kansas-Nebraska Act, a key law that added to the tinder sparking the Civil War. And best of all, an article on Diane Arbus, the photographer who was famous for her portraits of seemingly ordinary people, somehow caught with an eye to freakishness or evil. Though I've been familiar with Arbus' work for year, this article had so much new information.

If you like magazines about nature, culture and history, this is the one to get. We get excited by every issue.

Newsweek

The magazine Newsweek presents current events written by well informed journalists. Quite often two sides of a story are presented, enabling me to form a sounder opinion of the situation. Nice Back Page editorials, particularly Anna Quindlen's. Definitely worth the read! Especially in this day of 1-2 minute clips on TV.

Wired

tech background not necessary to enjoy

You don't have to have a Ph.D. in computers, math, or engineering in order to enjoy this magazine: I don't possess such credentials, and I think Wired is outrageously good. The appeal of Wired is information on cutting-edge technology, delivered in a highly visual, understandable, and often entertaining format. A subtle sense of humor pervades the magazine with features such as "Return to Sender" - a contest in which Wired readers attempt to send the weirdest possible item in the mail to the magazine's San Francisco headquarters; or "Japanese Schoolgirl Watch" - which tracks the latest trendy gadgets favored by one of the world's most trend-obsessed demographic groups. Wired endlessly scrutinizes and ponders on the intersection of technology, humans, and society in its terrific articles. The articles are always interesting, and well-written, with topics such as artificial sight research, or the shenanigans of MIT's Blackjack Team in Las Vegas (9/02 issue); parents of extremely ill children, united via the Internet in their challenges to the medical industry (9/01); or a profile of the Ibot Transporter "inventrepreneur," Dean Kamen (9/00). Wired is a beautifully presented, outstanding magazine. Try one issue - you might get hooked!

Runner's World

I've been reading Runner's World for about three years now. It seems that whenever my motivation hits an all time low another magazine will end up in my mailbox. After reading half of the magazine I am forced to put on my running shoes and hit the streets.

There are many educational benefits I receive from these magazines. I enjoy their training tips to help me improve my running time. I enjoy their list of races in the back of issue so I can plan what I want to run next in my geographic area.

Most importantly, I highly appreciate the safety tips that are included. Running can be very hard on your body, as most of my cross country team learned in high school. This should become standard reading for high school students. I wish my coach had gone through an issue every month with us, highlighting how to run safely while diminishing run times.

If you run, get this magazine. If you don't run but would like to, visit their educational web page to get an idea how to start and then subcribe to the magazine so, like me, you are reminded to get off your duff and hit the streets.

Popular Mechanics

For me, this magazine has it all: technology, automotive, aviation, boats, home repair, and much more. It gives a great overview of what is happening in many industries and hobbies. I have generally read the entire issue two days after I have received it, and I don't have a lot of free time for reading.

One of the best aspects of this magazine is that is does not take itself too seriously. It does a great job creating articles that are informative and detailed, but leaves room for fun and offbeat topics too.

Last year Popular Mechanics readers got to follow a PM sponsored NASCAR car. This year they have switched to a top fuel dragster. These articles give you a good behind the sense look at what it takes to race these impressive vehicles.

If racing is not your style, checkout the woodworking section where a myriad of woodworking projects are presented. Don't forget their annual woodworkers special with a whole host of plans in a single issue.

Got a leaky water heater? Check the home repair section. Car on the fritz? Check the auto repair section. Wondering what is new in the military? Watch for the frequent special articles on the Special Forces and their hardware. This magazine has a great deal to offer!

For an all around look at technology and all things mechanical, you can't beat Popular Mechanics!

Good Housekeeping (1-year)

Of all the magazines, this one has the best layout.

Whether you are looking for the latest news on your favorite star or are looking for a new recipe...this magazine has it all.

You know how many magazines say: "Oh, we are going to tell you about...." And five minutes later, you are still looking for "that" article. Well, in this magazine they have a great Contents page with a special: "On the Cover" section. So, if you want to read about Nicole Kidman she is on page 110! OK, that was in the November 2001 issue and it is quite a sad article. What ever happened to the fairy tale? I just don't know...

Now, if you love reading about other people who are making the news, the People section always has something fun to read about. Fashion and beauty gives ideas on the latest nail color or makeup tips. The articles on relationships are interesting.

This magazine also has sections for: Health & Well Being, Consumer Sense, The Better Way, Food & Home, Fiction, Departments and Columns. The TECH section is always of interest. There is a definite focus on women, as in: "The Best Cell Phones for Women." Plus, this is where you can find Heloise giving out the newest Household Tips.

My favorite page is the looks, trends, and news page where they always give you ideas for holidays or feature beauty products like Pumpkin Pie body wash in November. The recipes are often multicultural and you can find anything from Lebkuchen to Pavlova with Passion Fruit Sorbet.

In my top 10 of favorite magazines!

Vanity Fair (1-year)

Vanity Fair has undergone a major transformation in the last several years from magazine geared towards women to a monthly that appeals to a much broader audience. The writing has gotten consistently better as well, though the occasional article will be little more than fluff. Photography is always lush, with the art world's top talent contributing beautiful done shots of major stars. Issues like Young Hollywood, or New Music Stars are fantastic, and every issue is something fresh and interesting.

In any given month we get a star showcase on the cover. Recent months have seen Lindsay Lohan, Sandra Bullock, and Hilary Swank. Interviews with these stars are fascinating because they invariably reveal more than they expect to. A recent interview with Sheryl Crow revealed the best of Vanity Fair, an intelligent, emotional, and honest interview that reveals a lot about Sheryl. The acccompanying photography is simply gorgeous. Every month has a rambling diary from the frequently tiresome Dominic Dunne (yes Dom, we get it, you know everyone.), a hard hitting political piece, and a expose on the past of politics, hollywood, or society. The articles are mostly great stuff, but with some clunkers in every issue. Every time I receive an issue, I know there will be articles that will fascinate me. Friends use to claim that Vanity Fair was a girl's magazine. Well, its not just for women anymore.

That being said, don't just order here. Go to their website and to the subscription inserts in the magazine itself, compare the prices, and request that a billing notice be sent to you instead of paying with a credit card. This way when your subscription is up for renewal, you have the opportunity to cancel without your card being charged. Often times sites like this one utilize a third party service that contracts with the various magazines, your payment goes to them and they auto-renew you. I find it easier to do it through the magazine themselves. Saves me the trouble, and invariably, the magazine comes a lot quicker.

Erased: Missing Women, Murdered Wives by Marilee Strong

2008-11-30T19:20:00.000-08:00

Erased: Missing Women, Murdered Wives by Marilee Strong

This is a fascinating and compulsively readable look into the dark abyss of the psychology of a seemingly new breed of men--like Scott Peterson, Mark Hacking of Salt Lake City, and more than forty others who are not 'household names'--who cleverly and in cold blood plan and carry out a complex killing of their wives/partners in order to "erase" these women from the face of the earth.

Though many of the cases are drawn from the headlines, dozens of others are completely new. All are disturbing. Author Strong--a journalist who has won awards for writing about issues where psychology crosses over with social problems--argues convincingly that the media has fed us with sometimes endless headlines on only a very few of these cases but without digging into the real issue of motive. What makes these apparently normal men do this?

Strong draws on a wealth of research in forensic psychology--especially the study of psychopaths and some of the closely related "cousins" of psychopathy which make up what researchers have called the "dark triad" of negative personality traits--including Machiavellianism and clinical narcissism. While the book is not a textbook, Strong skillfully weaves in just as much psychological background as we need in order to understand this crime.

Many of us who have followed these crimes have had the nagging feeling that "there must be something going on here." Strong is the first person to provide an answer, a new psychological profile, a 'match' with forensic psychology, a consistent motive (hint: it isn't money and it isn't even 'the other woman.') It's the psychologically twisted nature of the crime--what these men are really trying to do--that inspired her to call it "eraser killing."

Strong makes the straightforward argument that since no one has bothered to look at these killings as a group, this insidious crime hasn't even had a name yet, and without a name, no serious discussion would ever happen. (I remember the time when 'identity theft' didn't have a name but it had happened to a friend of mine...it was incredibly frustrating.)

But beyond the name, Strong goes over the stories of famous and never-heard-of cases to "tease out" the creepy set of consistent personality traits these men have (for example, compulsive and 'guilt free' lying, need to control, often living a 'secret life', emotions seem 'flat', seem quite normal on the surface, secretly (or not so secretly) feel very threatened about having children, always more concerned about themselves even though they 'fake' interest in others to serve their own ends.)

Interestingly, Strong traces the crime back a century ago to what was apparently a major headline case in the early 1900's which involved a young man who killed his pregnant girlfriend and then staged a boating accident to cover it up. That case went into history when writer Theodore Dreiser used it as the core story for his American Tragedy novel.

The book is packed with these fascinating insights and cases involving women of every social background, every race, and every part of the country. (Contrary to what the media has sometimes snarkily said, this secretive form of wife killing is not just something that happens to "pretty young white women"--whatever that might mean).

I think that the first step in naming and identifying a crime is very challenging. I know from reading that it took quite a struggle for the people from the FBI Behavioral Science Unit to establish the whole idea of profiling, and to come up with a rough definition of a serial killer. Those killers had been around for centuries but never had a name and were never studied as a group until 30 years ago. (Even today no one knows how many people are killed by serial killers every year. It will be a long time before we know how many are killed by erasers.)

It is interesting, however, that several of the most renowned "graduates" of the FBI "profiler" unit--people who consult on criminal cases for the police across the country--have "discovered" Strong's book and endorsed the findings. These include people like Roy Hazelwood (one of the original 'old guard' at the FBI, and author of The Evil That Men Do), and Clint Van Zandt (crime analyst frequently on TV in these cases, originally an FBI profiler.) Since Ms. Strong does venture boldly into the waters of forensic psychology, I was pleased to see that even some of the "heavy weights" who are not household names are recommending her book--people like psychiatrist Dr. Michael Stone from Columbia, who has been studying criminal psychopaths for decades.

You don't have to have read the many individual case crime books in order to appreciate the magnitude of what Marilee Strong is proposing in this groundbreaking work--she summarizes many of the cases in short form, but uses other cases, especially Scott Peterson, as the ultimate case study to illustrate the "sane on the outside, but completely narcissistic and remorseless on the inside" psychology she argues is at the core of all of these cases. Why do they do it? Are they any warning signs? Why don't they just get a divorce? Can they ever prosecute someone whose committed this kind of crime if they never find the woman's body? If you've been obsessed with these kinds of questions the way I have, you'll absolutely love this book.

Passive Aggressive Notes: Painfully Polite and Hilariously Hostile Writings by Kerry Miller

2008-11-30T19:14:00.000-08:00

Passive Aggressive Notes: Painfully Polite and Hilariously Hostile Writings by Kerry Miller

Part voyeuristic entertainment, part group therapy, Passive Aggressive Notes offers a fascinating look at the all-too-familiar frustrations of embattled office drones, apartment dwellers, parents, and pet owners everywhere.

This curated collection combines dozens of outrageous, never-before-seen notes as well as favorites from Passiveaggressivenotes.com a 2008 Webby Award Winner and the official "Best Blog" of the South by Southwest Interactive festival.

It all began with a first date...and not a particularly good date, either. Apparently, things between this guy and his roommate had gotten so bad that they now communicated almost exclusively via Post-it note. Ah, yes, I said, I know those notes well--my current apartment (where I lived with three other roommates) had seen its share, most of them about the presence of unwashed dishes in the sink. They were usually signed with love; they were never addressed directly. I should start collecting them, I joked--put them on the Internet or something. Now that would be passive-aggressive.

Later that night--after it became clear that our relationship wasn't going to progress beyond standard small talk--I decided to do just that. And unlike my roommates' approach to dish-washing, the response to passiveaggressivenotes.com was enthusiastic, immediate, and overwhelming. Within weeks of the site's launch, thousands of notes poured in from shared bathrooms, kitchens, cubicles, and parking lots. (Wrote one reader: "Instead of a single note, can I submit an entire person? Like my mother?") This book represents the funniest and most outrageous of those submissions.

Despite the book's title, some of these notes are really more aggressive in tone, and some of them are more passive--polite, even. What they all share a common sense of frustration that's been channeled into written form rather than a direct confrontation. It's barbed criticism disguised as something else--helpful advice, friendly concern, light-hearted humor. But as Dr. Scott Wetzler, a clinical psychologist and author of Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man, observed: "A joke can be the most skillful passive-aggressive act there is."


Dear Stalker	Get a Life

You Fail	Con

and i’m singing “uh oh” on a friday night

5:54 PM PST, November 30, 2008

how’d you like to be flatmates with dianne in london? cos i’m thinking there just might be an opening soon…

happy thxgiving, everyone!

our anonymous submitter in new jersey found this note taped to every apartment door in his complex. “we do indeed have a problem with feral cats in our neighborhood, but my sense is that they’ve been around for many (cat) generations…not that people are buying new ones.”

adds our submitter: “now that i think about it, i’m probably a bad person for finding this funny, but really, the all-bold, all-caps “LET HER DEATH BE ON YOUR HEAD!!!” is just so perfectly over the top. (personally, i would have gone with “A POX ON ALL YOUR HOUSES!!!”)

This is a great collection of PAN notes from goddess of an equally great website. For your Amish or Shiftless Mennonite friends this book is a perfect gift. This is the only thing that gets me through dark days in the cubicle farm. Recommended reading for all cohabitators it is Misheerific! Just ask Casey in HR.

Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer by Fred Kaplan

2008-11-30T19:08:00.000-08:00

Lincoln: The Biography of a Write by Fred Kaplan

In this intriguing biography, English professor and literary biographer Kaplan (The Singular Mark Twain) analyzes Abraham Lincoln's writings, from the great civic anthems of his presidency to love letters, legal briefs, poems and notebook jottings, and finds a first-rate literary talent—a master storyteller with an earthy wit, sharp logic and an ear for poetic phrasing. From wide reading, Kaplan contends, Lincoln gleaned influences—an Aesopian moralism, a biblical sense of providence, a Byronic melancholy, a Shakespearean understanding of human complexity—that shaped his approach to issues and, through his words, the nation's attitude toward slavery and war. Kaplan sometimes overdoes his critical exegeses of Lincoln's more forgettable efforts ([Lincoln's] comic depiction of what happens when two people of the same sex are bedded has a heterodox clarity that reveals his familiarity with bodily realities) but many of these readings, like his recasting as free verse a speech on agricultural improvements, are eye-opening. The result is a fresh, revealing study of both Lincoln's language and character. (Nov. 3)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From The Washington Post
From The Washington Post's Book World/washingtonpost.com Reviewed by Jonathan Yardley The literature about Abraham Lincoln is so vast as to defy comprehension, yet historians and other scholars -- not to mention novelists, poets, artists, sculptors, even composers -- continue to find new and revealing things to say about this greatest of all Americans. Fred Kaplan's Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer, is the latest case in point, a book that is certain to become essential to our understanding of the 16th president. To be sure, many others before Kaplan have dealt in various ways with Lincoln's love of literature and writing, but no one has explored the subject so deeply or found so much meaning in it. Kaplan's central subjects are Lincoln's "compelling interest in language as the instrumental vehicle for civilization and culture" and his specific interest in written language, about which he once said: "Writing -- the art of communicating thoughts to the mind, through the eye -- is the great invention of the world. Great in the astonishing range of analysis and combination which necessarily underlies the most crude and general conception of it -- great, very great in enabling us to converse with the dead, the absent, and the unborn, at all distances of time and of space; and great, not only in its direct benefits, but greatest help, to all other inventions. . . . Its utility may be conceived, by the reflection, that to it we owe everything which distinguishes us from savages. Take it from us, and the Bible, all history, all science, all government, all commerce, and nearly all social intercourse go with it." The language of that passage may seem a trifle quaint to today's reader, but the essential truth of it is clear and beyond argument. And at a time when careful writing has fallen into disrepute -- a time of lower-case e-mail, text messages and advertising idiocy -- its importance may well be greater than ever, especially when one contemplates the debased state of political discourse. As Kaplan points out, "Lincoln is distinguished from every other president, with the exception of Jefferson, in that we can be certain that he wrote every word to which his name is attached," and he "was also the last president whose character and standards in the use of language avoided the distortions and other dishonest uses of language that have done so much to undermine the credibility of national leaders." Some presidents have been well served by their speechwriters, but "the challenge of a president himself struggling to find the conjunction between the right words and honest expression, a use of language that respects intellect, truth, and sincerity, has largely been abandoned." It is always instructive to study Lincoln, but now is a particularly good time to consider his devotion to words. Yes, times do change and with them the ways by which we communicate with each other, but the need for clear, honest and comprehensible speech and writing has never been greater, as the political season now ending has made all too apparent. How we will be served in this regard by the person who is elected president on Tuesday remains to be seen, but the rhetoric of recent presidents -- in particular the two most recent ones -- does not bode well. Mendacity, as we know to our sorrow, has become a well-established presidential prerogative, and Adlai Stevenson's pledge to "talk sense to the American people" is a figment of a forgotten past. So let us contemplate the example of Abraham Lincoln, who before the age of 10 -- and in circumstances scarcely conducive to learning, much less deep learning -- had developed the habit of reading. As a boy on a farm in Kentucky in the early 1800s he seemed to face a "lifelong fate" of manual labor, as his father had, but in 1816 he came under the influence of a schoolmaster who set him on a different path. His "first formal lessons in literacy came from Thomas Dilworth's New Guide to the English Tongue, popularly known as Dilworth's Speller, a widely reprinted textbook first published in London in 1740." The book "taught Protestant theology and moral behavior" as well as grammar, and "some of the language and its lessons entered deeply into him" as "guideposts in his formative years." Then, in 1818, not long after the Lincolns moved to Indiana, Lincoln's mother died. A year later his father married Sally Bush Johnston, a passionate reader who brought "a small but marvelous library" with her. Young Abe's world changed forever "when she took from her luggage the Arabian Nights, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, Noah Webster's Speller, Lindley Murray's The English Reader, and William Scott's Lessons in Elocution." Though he could not have been aware of it at the time, Lincoln's constant, obsessive reading was teaching him how to write. The rhythms and cadences of the prose and poetry that he read -- Shakespeare (his lifelong "secular Bible"), Robert Burns, Lord Byron, Edward Gibbon, Samuel Johnson, Alexander Pope -- insinuated themselves into his capacious, ever curious mind and became the bedrock upon which his own majestic prose eventually was constructed. His reading also made him, again all unwittingly, a son of the Enlightenment, one who "had little mind for transcendence, let alone permanence," but was connected "to the rooted quotidian"; to him, "reason, logic, and experience seemed the best guides." The Enlightenment's "prevailing synthesis, which Lincoln absorbed, emphasized a combination of Christian ethics, classical style, and natural law." Shakespeare's "What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason. . . ." became his touchstone: "No matter how powerful the appeal of bombast, moodiness, and melancholy, Lincoln found in his Enlightenment models and in Shakespeare the affirmation of his tested but sustained faith in man's reasoning faculty as his highest and in reason's power to advance good works." He believed that he had the capacity to do important things but often feared that the opportunity would never come his way. His young adulthood, his long apprenticeship in law and politics, his romantic disappointments and strange yet crucial marriage to Mary Todd -- all gave him cause to wonder whether at worst failure or at best modest accomplishment was to be his fate. Through it all, though, he kept reading, and by 1846, when he was practicing law in Springfield, he decided to "try his hand as a writer of literature, attempting to use language as a vehicle of self-exploration and pleasurable expression in a way distinctly different from the writing that he had done as a political man addressing public issues." In three poems of his that have survived "the two alternative modes of his personality -- the melancholy and the humorous -- provided literary guidelines." He wrote little poetry thereafter, but "the command of literary models and of language that enabled him to write these credible poems in 1846," Kaplan says, was "inseparable from his command of language as a prose writer." Kaplan -- emeritus professor of English at Queens College and author of well regarded biographies of Mark Twain, Henry James and Charles Dickens, among others -- meticulously analyzes how Lincoln's steadily maturing prose style, "projecting a persona of dignified but amiable authenticity," enabled him to come to grips with slavery and, as his own views evolved, to express his deepening opposition to it. In 1854, not long after Franklin Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which permitted slavery's westward expansion, Lincoln tartly exposed what Kaplan calls the "flawed and dangerous" logic of slavery's adherents. Then, the next year, he exploded: "Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it 'all men are created equal, except Negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equals, except Negroes, and foreigners, and catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty -- to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy." Five years later he was elected president. We know the rest of the story, and Kaplan devotes far less space to it than to Lincoln's education as a writer, for by then -- just in time -- that education was complete. In one of the finest passages in this fine, invaluable book, Kaplan sets him on the road to Washington: "If intellectual readiness is everything, he was ready, as he well knew when he said goodbye to his Springfield world, having prepared himself over a lifetime to become a well-read master of the human narrative. If that narrative was to have its tragic dimension in Lincoln's failure, despite his talents, to prevent the South's secession, shorten the inevitable war, or alleviate Northern racism, it was to be an object lesson in the limitations of language rather than a failure in preparation. At the same time, the unfortunate givens of the narrative provided the context for his two greatest achievements, the Gettysburg Address and the second inaugural address, in which he did what great writers do: create useful texts from which readers can derive inspiration, literary pleasure, and universalizing direction." Amen.
Copyright 2008, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved.

Another book about Lincoln?

Yes! And a great book. From his love letters to the Gettysburg and second inaugural addresses, Lincoln was a master of putting great ideas into succinct words. In contrast to recent presidents, who are "too busy" to read much of anything, Lincoln and John Quincy Adams are the only presidents for whom literature and life were inseparable.

During his presidency, his two favourite volumes were Shakespeare's plays and the Bible -- both written in the same era -- in which he found an echo of the tragedy of the American Civil War. Most significantly, he did not often read to relax. Lincoln read to educate himself, to improve his mind and to understand the motives and methods of himself and others.

Think of the current financial crisis in which "deregulation" became liberty for bankers and a disaster for consumers. Lincoln understood such issues in terms of stories, such as "the shepherd who drives the wolf from the sheep's throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as a liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty, especially as the sheep was a Black one. Plainly the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of the word liberty."

"The claim that white Liberty requires Black servitude is a definition of liberty, in Lincoln's telling phrase, from 'the wolf's dictionary', and that dictionary must be repudiated," Kaplan wrote. Think of the impact today had former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan read and understood as much as deeply as Lincoln.

From his earliest days Lincoln used stories to illustrate his views. This explains the origins of the quality of his writing, both in terms of style and content. It's much more than just "another book about Lincoln", this is primarily a book about the growth of a great writer.

It's similar to 'Lives of the Artists' by Calvin Tomkins; the bottom line is the dedication to a single theme that produces greatness. As a child he was brought up on 'Dilworth's Speller'; in his early adult years he read Byron, then Weems, Burns and Goethe. None were passing fancies; each was a dedication to a particular author before he moved on to a more serious topic. His "reading" for the law took 10 years.

This book helps explain why men such as Lincoln are very rare.

Interestingly, instead of relying on the will of God, friends such as John Todd Stuart said Lincoln was "an avowed and open Infidel -- Sometimes bordered on atheism ... always denied that Jesus was the son of God as understood and maintained by the Christian world." Instead of an instant acceptance of Jesus as his saviour, Lincoln's reading was on the great authors to understand the ways of mankind.

He didn't reject the Bible, but he didn't "court" evangelicals and other true believers. Instead of instant salvation, he rejected fanatics. Lincoln was always eager to read, to learn and to write better. He never thought himself as blessed with complete wisdom which closed his mind to any and all new ideas.

Breathes there such a man today ?

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

2008-11-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer I wasn't going to review the novel at all because I simply hated it too much and, well, why spend more time dwelling on it than necessary? But the amount of people who claim her writing is flawless, the story is original and perfect, and the book appeals to all ages just drove me crazy. No, her writing is not flawless. In fact, it's very juvenile for someone who has had as much schooling as Stephenie Meyer. The story itself is completely predictable from the drab and ridiculous Preface, to the very last sentence. And the overall plot of the series? Well, I'm not actually sure there is one.

Don't get me wrong. I understand why this book appeals to young readers. It has every girl's fantasy, doesn't it? A handsome boy falling madly in love with the supposedly plain new girl. The story is so simplistic and so centered on this love story that, frankly, it can become addicting whether you like what you are reading or not (and I will freely admit to reading it in about six hours). I would not shy away from giving this book to preteen friends of mine.

However, I think the bias has to end somewhere. This book makes Harry Potter a literary masterpiece. This book makes Anne Rice's novels appear well-constructed. This book does not do anything new for the genre--which is not wrong. No one needs to set out and create a new precedent. No one is under that obligation. That doesn't negate the fact that the entire story was very tired. I had no interest in Bella's questions. I had no interest in the long blocks of explanations. There is a good reason Jo Rowling left most of her explanations scattered through seven books of varying length, and not all at once in every chapter. For someone who is hanging on the fence, boring descriptions and Q&A sessions are a killer.

Additionally, and perhaps the real reason I disliked the book, Bella Swan made for one of the worst protagonists I've ever read. Reading Meyer's website, I was amazed that someone who loves her characters so dearly manages to create such lifeless, flat personifications of them on paper. Bella is your typical self-insert of the author. She shares the author's hometown. She has a beautiful name--Isabella Swan! She's so clumsy that you figure she probably has an inner ear problem. She's constantly miserable, irritatingly oblivious to the world she's describing to us, and overdramatic.

And none of these are endearing traits.

Handled differently, they could be. Handled differently, they would be. Third person would have been preferable, rather than first. In a romance story where the author is not quite sophisticated enough to actually provide realism instead of fanfiction, first person kills the narrative. One moment, Bella is weeping over how horrible her life is. The next moment, she's discussing how unattractive she is while rebuffing three invitations to the dance in one day--after having no relationships at home. These are not endearing. These are the hopes and wishes of very young teenage girls, and perhaps a few older ones. But it makes for a very ridiculous read through. Personally, I believe Meyer should have worked on reading a bit more structured works before sitting down. She ought to have researched fiction writing and the dynamics of creating a proper heroine, because she has managed to make someone that is very unrealistic to the point of frustration.

You see, it's frustrating because I know Meyer is trying to make Bella realistic instead of perfect. What girl doesn't think she's ugly sometimes? What girl doesn't stumble gracelessly over her own feet? The only difference is, in a novel, these traits are the superficial flaws of a Mary Sue. Simply, they aren't flaws at all. They are excuses to make Bella "less perfect" while achieving the exact opposite. Had Bella been genuinely shy (she so wasn't shy!), genuinely unhappy, genuinely boring, it might have been less irritating. But she was clearly outgoing. She was clearly beautiful. She stumbled into horrible situations only to be saved by a gaggle of boys. And all the while, she remained oblivious to all of it. That isn't a flaw--that's convenience. And it's very immature writing.

I also think all of the Prefaces should have been removed. Upon reading Twilight's, I burst out laughing. Coming forward to kill her, eh? The writing couldn't handle the suspense or drama the author was attempting to create--it left no room for either. This is where first person kills the narrative completely. This preface then set the tone for the entire book, and I laughed similarly at about half of the descriptions she used.

There is no need to reiterate that Edward is perfect. If you trust your reader, you should trust them to remember that Edward is, apparently, a Greek god or adonis with an angel's face and runway model physique with black eyes sometimes, topaz eyes sometimes, ocher eyes sometimes, and golden hair, and that he drives fast, has a lot of money, is a musical savant, sparkles in the sun, dresses impeccably, etc., etc. You only need to say someone is perfect a couple of times over the course of the novel for anyone to understand.

All the overdesigning of Edward's appearance ended up feeling like was the author relishing in this personal fantasy. And that's great. We all have personal fantasies! But this book doesn't quite deserve the enormous praise it's receiving from all corners. Dissect the writing. Look at the ridiculous romance novelesque style of it all. Don't tell me writing doesn't matter when it's Young Adult. The YA genre is expanding. Teenagers are writing exquisite pieces of literature and not publishing them anywhere. There is no excuse for poor writing.

If I wanted to read a romance novel, I would have picked one up. At least romance novels have plot. Meyer all-too-frequently used 'scowling' and 'glaring' as the only method of communication between people. And Edward's behavior was indecisive to the point insanity. His constant 'please go away I can't love you I'll kill you but don't go away I love you please go away' would drive any sane human being into a psychological tailspin. If you made the movie exactly how she wrote the book, Bella and Edward would be consistently scowling at one another and arguing over everything. And there would be no plot until the last fifteen minutes.

Because, frankly, there was no plot. After the lust between Edward and Bella was reconciled, my interest left completely. After the relationship became whole, I was done. Everything else Meyer threw in seemed very, very half-hearted. And that's a shame, because I know she dedicated as many years into her characters. I only wish her results were better.

May your writing improve in the future, Stephenie Meyer. You have serious potential, but you probably jumped on writing and publishing these novels too soon. You definitely needed more time in Washington, as well.

The Age of Entanglement: When Quantum Physics Was Reborn

2008-11-26T19:41:00.000-08:00

The Age of Entanglement: When Quantum Physics Was Reborn by Louisa Gilder

I thoughly enjoyed reading the carefully referenced "dialogs/conversations" Miss Gilder weaved together to create a novel like experience. I hope that people are not turned off by the "quantum physics" in the title. Miss Gilder does a wonderful job of following the ideas of quantum physics from it's beginnings with it's many false starts, to current understanding (or puzzled understanding- can this really be?)
I felt as though I was a fly on the wall, as the well-known, and not so well known, scientists had discussions, reasoned out ideas, lost some, regained others, and puzzled thier way though the seemingly impossible complex possiblities. She caught "science" as it realy happens. False leads, promising ideas that could not be tested, experiments with unexpected results, and personality conflicts between scientists. All the human elements that are lost in many nonfiction accounts of modern science. People tend to think of "science" as being a series of linear discoveries, when in reality the "connect the dots" is sometimes quite random, and connections come from unexpectted places/people.
Louisa Gilder's book is one such unexpected welcome find.
She not your usual science writter. Enjoy.

How to Cook Everything (Completely Revised 10th Anniversary Edition): 2,000 Simple Recipes for Great Food

2008-11-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

I got my copy of the new edition of How to Cook Everything the other day and am beyond thrilled. I own the old yellow edition and have cooked from it far more than any other book, so I knew the new book had a lot to live up to. Well, it by far exceeded my expectations. While the book still feels familiar, it also feels new and improved. The essential recipe sections beginning each chapter are a great way to find the basics. But even the basics have changed. For example, Mark's roast chicken recipe, which I've used and liked in the past (though I still love Barbara Kafka's) has changed. He suggests you heat the pan before putting the chicken in and placing the chicken breast side up (instead of side down as he suggested in his old book). The heat of the pan helps cook the thighs faster so the breasts don't dry out. It worked perfectly the first time I tried it. Beyond the basics, there are just so many new recipes in here. The variations, lists, and charts that Mark is famous for seem even more plentiful than before, and there are tons of beautiful new illustrations. I'm so excited to cook with this new edition and foresee a day when it's pages will be stained with grease and flour just like the old edition. But I still can't get rid of the old one. It's like a good friend. I'll just put the new one on the shelf right next to it, red by yellow, and know that I can always count on them.

The Moon Shines Down

2008-11-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

The Moon Shines Down by Margaret Wise Brown

My boys loved this book

Today, I read my children "The moon shines down". My boys are 7 and 2. They were fascinated by it. The illustrations are colorful and fit the story perfectly. They had fun looking for the Koala on every page. There are a variety of animals for kids to look at. Some they had never heard of, and so we went online to look them up. As a mother, I appreciated the diversity of the children, and the different countries that are portrayed in the story. This of course led to a discussion about how God created the entire world. And I was able to show them where the countries are located on the globe. My favorite page was the Nativity Scene. The rhyme is repetitious, allowing children to read along. The book is very durable, allowing it to last for years to come. I believe Margaret Wise Brown, would be proud of the way her unfinished story has been completed. I plan on buying this book for my niece. It was beautiful.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

2008-11-26T19:24:00.000-08:00

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Ok, first off I just want to say why do people have to find fault with everything? This book was perfect. I read constantly, at least one book a day and i found nothing wrong with this book. It was amazing. Now about the story.

We start off with Bella who moves to a forks, washington to live with her dad. Her mom is a married to a athlete (phil) that constantly moves. Bella decided to live with her dad to give her mom and phil their own space, and she knew it made her mom unhappy to be away from phil, and bella and phil had to take turns sharing her. Bella is very unselfish which i find quite nice, i get sick of reading about selfish people. Anyway, she puts others needs before her own and really cares about them. I wish the world was really like that, full of non-egocentric people.
Bella is pretty but she doesnt think she is even thou a whole slew of guys are falling over her feet. She is clumsy and shy, and is always tripping over nothing. She is the damsel in distress and a magnet for trouble.

Edward who is my favorite charactor, is the complete opposite of bella. He is gorgeouse. Perfect in every way. Hot body, beautiful face. Oh and did i mention the fact that he is a vampire?
When he first meets bella he hates her. He has to do everything in his power to stop himself from killing her and sucking her sweet blood. but for some reason he finds her fasinating and holds back his instinct to kill her. He falls in love with her. He has to go against everything, even his family and his own kind to be with her. And on top of all that he is always saving her life.

This is a great love story. Bella and Edwards love is true and unconditional. I found myself falling for edward just like bella.

I cant see how anyone could dislike this book. ts a great read and i would recommend it to every one. PEASE READ THIS BOOK YOU WONT REGRET IT.

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2) by Stephenie Meyer

2008-11-25T19:20:00.000-08:00

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2) by Stephenie Meyer The book begins with seeing Bella become very comfortable with Edward and his family. I was delighted to see Alice's character take on more depth as we began to see more of her personality, but this may quickly turn into disappointment for some, when she is whisked away all too soon. Bella is given a birthday party and accidentally gets a paper cut. This leads to a tense moment when one of the family members cannot contain themselves and makes a leap for Bella. Edward is forced to protect her, but this makes it all to clear that keeping Bella close to the family puts her at risk. Edward begins to withdraw himself emotionally in order to (we readers know what is going to happen, but Bella seems to be in denial)leave her.

Naturally, Bella's grief is heartwrenching to read. Any girl who has felt the pain of lost or unrequited love will shed a few tears during this chapter. It is hard to get over being furious at Edward's behavior at the begining of the book, but this simply shows you how easy it is to get pulled into almost believing these characters are real.

Bella becomes seriously withdrawn from the world after his departure and considering their strange and magical relationship, this is to be expected. I do miss Edward's presence-he was such a strong character in Twilight- but I did something I never do, I flipped to the back of the book to assure myself of his return. Ms. Meyer realizes how addicted her audience is to Edward, so he does make token appearances in a roundabout way. Bella begins to hear Edward's voice warning her when she puts herself in harm's way and in this way Bella begins to court danger.

Jacob, the young native American from Twilight, makes a reappearance in New Moon. He becomes a very close friend of Bella's and helps her through her depression. His character takes the place of Edward and he becomes a major player in this story. He is also the complete opposite of Edward's sophisticated, wordly one. Jacob is lovable, akward, attractive (in a regular way) and warm-blooded. His story is one of interest and I don't believe any reader who has already read Twilight, will be surprised at the turn of events in which Jacob is involved.

The book is certainly excellent, as Ms. Meyer is a fabulous writer, but I do find myself impatiently turning the pages and skimming ahead to see when one of the Cullens' family members will appear. Even with those minor faults, I still find myself staying up way too late to finish another chapter. I have read half the book in the past two days instead of working on lesson plans for my class, during the first week of school, no less. This is a real indicator of just how wonderful New Moon is.

My ultimate disappointment will be when I am finished and must wait another year for the next book to come out. I don't believe Stephenie Meyer can whip these out fast enough to appease her growing leagues of fans. This is a very desirable position to be in for a writer and this should guarantee many Bella and Edward stories in the future.

*Update
The ending was very good and the reader finds out some interesting information concerning Bella and how special she really is. The twist adds a new dimension to the novel it ends with a bit of a cliffhanger. There is no complete closure for a few important issues and obviously this leaves it wide open for the third novel in the series.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition by J. K. Rowling

2008-11-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition by J. K. Rowling

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition

In December 2007, J.K. Rowling unveiled The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a very special book of five fairy tales illustrated by the bard herself, embellished with silver ornaments and mounted moonstones. Amazon was fortunate to come into possession of one of the original copies, and it was our privilege to share images and reviews of this incredible artifact. Now J.K. Rowling is giving millions of Harry Potter fans worldwide cause for celebration with a new edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, available December 4, 2008.

Offering the trademark wit and imagination familiar to Rowling's legions of readers--as well as Aesop's wisdom and the occasional darkness of the Brothers Grimm--each of these five tales reveals a lesson befitting children and parents alike: the strength gained with a trusted friendship, the redemptive power of love, and the true magic that exists in the hearts of all of us. Rowling's new introduction also comments on the personal lessons she has taken from the Tales, noting that the characters in Beedle's collection "take their fates into their own hands, rather than taking a prolonged nap or waiting for someone to return a lost shoe," and "that magic causes as much trouble as it cures."

But the true jewel of this new edition is the enlightening and comprehensive commentary (including extensive footnotes!) by Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who brings his unique wizard's-eye perspective to the collection. Discovered "among the many papers which Dumbledore left in his will to the Hogwarts Archives," the venerable wizard's ruminations on the Tales allow today's readers to place them in the context of 16th century Muggle society, even allowing that "Beedle was somewhat out of step with his times in preaching a message of brotherly love for Muggles" during the era of witch hunts that would eventually drive the wizarding community into self-imposed exile. In fact, versions of the same stories told in wizarding households would shock many for their uncharitable treatment of their Muggle characters.

Professor Dumbledore also includes fascinating historical backstory, including tidbits such as the history and pursuit of magic wands, a brief comment on the Dark Arts and its practitioners, and the struggles with censorship that eventually led "a certain Beatrix Bloxam" to cleanse the Tales of "much of the darker themes that she found distasteful," forever altering the meaning of the stories for their Muggle audience. Dumbledore also allows us a glimpse of his personal relationship to the Tales, remarking that it was through "Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump" that "many of us [wizards] first discovered that magic could not bring back the dead."

Both a wise and delightful addition to the Harry Potter canon, this new translation of The Tales of Beedle the Bard is all that fans could hope for and more--and an essential volume for the libraries of Muggles, wizards, and witches, both young and old.

Barack by Jonah Winter

2008-11-25T18:58:00.000-08:00

Barack by Jonah Winter Of the current group of books for children about Obama, this is by far the most well-written, most successfully executed, and most child-appropriate one. This isn't a smart country we live in, and children do, regardless of what the election's outcome might be, need to have the story of this candidate told in simple terms, in writing and not in a schmaltzy TV documentary. After 8 horrendous years, Americans nominated this man to run for President--a tremendous stride for his race; a book about a historic moment like this is worth more than all the toilet-training adventures and ghost-written celebrity stories about minding your manners you could possibly imagine. The illustrations, too, by a newcomer, promise a strong, strong career. I was very happy to purchase this book, and I'm very happy to see a work with such a combination of sophistication and energy on the market. A million thanks to everyone involved.

The Shack

2008-11-24T21:47:00.001-08:00

The Shack by William P. Young In the book world, it's hard to explain "the buzz." What causes word of mouth to start spreading? What turns an unknown author and novel into a surprise bestseller? Even more inexplicable for the book snobs is when a story fails to meet their literary standards and yet touches the masses in an undeniable way.

"The Shack" is the buzz book of the past few months. I hadn't even heard of it in November, but by the end of December I'd had relatives, friends, and online pals from across the country telling me I "had" to read this one. I've been burned by such recommendations in the past, particularly in relation to spiritually oriented titles. (Can anyone say "The Prayer of Jabez" and "Left Behind"?), but I was willing to give it a shot.

William P. Young's book has an intriguing premise. Years ago, a father name MacKenzie Phillips took his children camping and lost one of them to a man who has kidnapped and killed others. Mack has grieved since then. His marriage has struggled. Understandably, his relationship with God has suffered. Then, one wintry day, he receives a note in his mailbox inviting him back to the woods, to the shack in which his daughter's dress and bloodstains were found. The note, it would seem, is from God.

From this simple yet effective premise, Young leads Mack Phillips back to his point of despair and anger. The encounters he then has with God there in "The Shack" serve as thought-provoking moments for both Mack and the reader. This is not the God of stodgy Sunday school classes. This is not a flannel-graph Jesus. This is not limited to a fluttering dove of the Holy Spirit. The descriptions here are startling, while remaining true to the nature of God's love and grace as portrayed through Scripture. Not only are they startling, they're wise and moving and beautiful.

Some might argue that "The Shack" has little theology or accuracy to it, but the very argument is what Young is trying to melt away. I earned a Bachelor's from a Bible college, and the majority of Mack's godly encounters could be wrapped up in biblical theology: redemption, grace, forgiveness, propitiation, etc. Do I agree with every line of the book? Not necessarily. Yet, while never sounding like trite religion (because they're not and never should be!), the words spoken by God in this book are full of vibrancy and life.

Is it the best crafted novel ever? No. In many ways, it could be encapsulated in a non-fiction treatise. However, in sharing this remarkable tale in a fictional form, Young has breathed wonder and wisdom into a story that will continue to buzz around for years to come.

You Suck by Christopher Moore

2008-11-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

You Suck by Christopher Moore Have you ever been reading a book and completely loved it, only to have the author make a boneheaded twist in the plot and you went from loving the book to hating it? Unfortunately, that is what happened with this book. This book started off so well - the first words in the book are: "You bitch, you killed me! You Suck!" This book is a sequel to Bloodsucking Fiends. Our hero is Tommy Flood, known by his pen name C. Thomas Flood.

In the previous book, he was in love with a vampire, a tall sultry red- head who woke up one day a vampire, and Tommy was in love with her and her protector. This book begins with Tommy waking up and he is now a vampire also. At first he thinks it is cool. But his conscience gets the best of him. He likes the power, and the greater abilities, but he does not like the taking of life, or even just taking blood.

This book also overlaps with Moore's A Dirty Job. The focus of this story is the changing life of Thomas Flood and his girlfriend Jody, and there is a second parallel story of Abby Normal, vampire wannabe, who is a servant of the vampire flood. She fetches coffee, finds new lairs and such.

It's hard to write a hate-it review, when what you hate is the ending of the book, without spoiling it for those who are reading it or will read it. But I can state with all sincerity, that of all of Moore's books, this is not more fun, it is not more entertaining and it is not more Moore. It was in fact far, far less.

Like most of Moore's books, this one is at times incredibly witty and always funny. But without spoiling the ending, the last chapter makes me hate this book. There are so many other ways he could have ended the book, yet he chose a cheap and easy way out. The end of this book is so poor that you regret having spent the time and effort reading it. What should have been a light fun romp through the nightlife of San Francisco, becomes a flop because of the ending.

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

2008-11-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby is a novel about four very different people who unexpectedly meet on the top of a high-rise building on New Year’s Eve. Great rooftop party perhaps? No. As the title might give away, all four found their way to the roof to commit suicide. Sounds depressing, but if you’ve read (or seen) any of Hornby’s work you’ll know that it will be a (dark) comic romp.

Sure enough, A Long Way Down is a hyper-glib rim-shot of a novel that uses humor to explore the topics of loneliness, desolation and loss. Nearly all of Hornby’s work has a dark, troublesome theme residing at its core. His work is about how people find their way in the world, how they deal with hardship, how they … manage, which at times seems tough at best and impossible at worst. Laughter seems the best medicine.

Hornby has a bit of real-life experience to draw upon in this arena, given that his son is autistic. It’s tough for me not to read some of that background into his portrayal of Maureen, a middle-aged single mother with a severely handicapped son who keeps her housebound most of the time. The difficulty of that love shines around the wit of the words like an aura. You can’t help but feel it there.

The three other characters are Martin, a scandalized daytime tabloid star; JJ, a rock musician who believes his life is his career and his career is finished; and Jess, a young foul-mouthed girl without an emotional filter who lives in the shadow of her missing older sister. None of the four jump from the roof that night. Don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler! The book is about how they get on. It’s about how they band together and continue to live, despite their differences and despite any real fairy tale ending.

I like Hornby’s work and picked him up when High Fidelity was in paperback. I find it notable that his work translates extremely well to the big screen. While High Fidelity the movie was good, About A Boy the movie may be better than the book given the great performance by Hugh Grant. Speaking of Hugh Grant, it might be a stretch but the character of Martin seems like it could be loosely based on the scandalized actor.

A Long Way Down also covers some of the same material as Douglas Coupland’s Eleanor Rigby and there are similarities in wit and tone. However, the plot and format of A Long Way Down is somewhat formulaic. And even the interplay and dialog, while funny, doesn’t quite encapsulate the book. In the end, it’s a mood and a determination of life that is extracted.

It feels good, and at the end of the day that’s what most of Hornby’s work seems to wish upon the reader.

Whale Season by N.M. Kelby

2008-11-21T19:31:00.000-08:00

Whale Season by N.M. Kelby aspires to be a Carl Hiaasen-like romp. This Florida tale is populated with quirky characters, film-like dialog, and a pretty standard humor-crime-drama plot. (What is that? ‘Drimor’?) It’s good summer reading, that reaches - and fails - to be more.

There’s nothing wrong with N.M. Kelby’s Whale Season - except that she’s in the shadow of Carl Hiaasen. I like Hiaasen. His work is straight and tight, slick but not overly so. His characters seem real enough and the insight provided isn’t forced. The goal is to entertain, not to challenge the reader to higher thinking or to arrive at some epiphany. This is where Whale Season loses it’s focus.

Kelby walks the line between beach reader and a more introspective read. The plot revolves around a serial killer who passes himself off on Jesus, who lands in the tangled lives of Dagmar, Leon, Jimmy Ray, Trot and Carlotta. Dagmar and Leon are divorced and there is real tragedy in their background. Carlotta is the new girl in town, and is dating Leon, much to Trot’s chagrin. Thing is, Trot and Leon are best friends. Jimmy Ray is a blues musician, and Buddhist with a penchant for sage quotes, who has taken Dagmar under his wing, and vice versa.

Jesus as serial killer moves things along and it is Leon who turns into the central character of Whale Season. It’s here that he recalls his childhood, fraught with conflicting emotions about his family’s now closed alligator tourist attraction, and his recent family life with Dagmar. Here’s where Whale Season misses in my opinion.

There’s good stuff here that could be developed into a rich and vibrant story about Leon, a ‘Rabbit’ Angstrom type character of Florida. Instead, you only get small bits and they collide strangely with the tone of the rest of the story. Ditto the death koans that Jimmy Ray employs in his dialog. It’s interesting but seems like it belongs in a different book.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like Whale Season. It was a good breather between heavier books. I simply think there are far better summer reads. Whale Season is a fast food book that’s using whole wheat buns, soy cheese and organic lettuce to obscure the real meat at the center.

Wasp by Eric Frank Russell

2008-11-21T19:27:00.000-08:00

Wasp by Eric Frank Russell is the first in what I’m calling a Retro Review. These are books that I’ve read in the past instead of recently and are most likely older books that aren’t currently in popular circulation. I’m also using the cover art for the edition I have on my bookshelf. Thank you to the Denver Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Club from which I sourced this image.

The artwork was a big reason why I picked this out ages ago when I was in my teens. My dad had - still has - a large collection of science-fiction paperbacks in the basement. So, when I wanted something to read I’d go down and leaf through the musty books looking for something interesting. I’d often look for some of the names I’d come to rely upon: Heinlein, Laumer, Aldiss. But I could also be persuaded by a cool looking cover. Wasp was appealing (particularly the finger print font) and the quick teaser got me to open up the book and trudge up the stairs to start reading.

Wasp is about “intergalactic guerrilla warfare” and is based on the idea that small things can have big effects. The analogy is about how a wasp, “under half an ounce … killed four big men and converted a large, powerful car into a heap of scrap.” Furrowing your brow on that one? The scenario is that the driver is stung by a wasp and loses control of the car and crashes.

We follow James Mowry - reluctant hero - who is recruited as a wasp in the war between Terra and the Sirian Empire. Mowry is dropped on the planet Jaimec after undergoing training and surgery to blend into the humanoid Sirian population. What transpires next is a taut, but darkly comic look at psychological warfare.

After 9/11 and with terrorism such a buzz word, Wasp has been revived, discussed and debated. I’ve read Wasp twice and just can’t get myself lathered up about it being too close to home. Newly minted critics feel it’s a bad example. The thing is, most of what Mowry does is psychological warfare and not outright terrorism. Mowry creates a mythical rebel organization, places stickers and decals on storefronts, writes menacing letters and places fake wire-tapping devices in high-profile government buildings.

Wasp is about how to use communications to create paranoia and fear. In that way, I find it extremely relevant and interesting. But to tell the truth, each time I’ve read Wasp I simply fell into a reverie of rooting for David against Goliath while marveling and chuckling at the way in which Mowry went about his business. Russell’s Wasp is far more like reading one of Laumer’s Retief novels - a fun, yet intelligent, winking at the reader space opera.

It’s only after enjoying the tight plot line and too cool Mowry that you might connect the dots to present day geopolitics.

Magical Thinking: True Storiesby Augusten Burroughs

2008-11-21T19:24:00.000-08:00

Magical Thinking: True StoriesMagical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs is an over-the-top memoir that walks the tightrope line between magnetism and repulsion, between curiosity and the desire to know more and the impulse to shout ‘too much information’ and cover your ears while loudly singing ‘la la la’.

There’s a lot to like in Burroughs’ writing and in areas you feel like you’re making a connection with the author, that it is a true memoir. The topic of whether a memoir is ‘real’ has been a hot topic lately. Starting with James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces, bouncing off of David Sedaris and now squarely on Augusten Burroughs, the idea that memoirs are factual is highly subjective. In fact, reality is highly subjective which is why two memoirs of the same event could be and most likely are very different.

So, I don’t ding Burroughs for writing through the filter that is his mind and experience. All good writers do this and no one should be surprised at the differing views on a subjective experience. But is it evocative and effective for the reader? I’m still inclined to believe that fiction is a better proxy for relating real life experience than the memoir format. I definitely subscribe to the axiom that there’s more truth in fiction.

I enjoyed most of Magical Thinking, though being a Sedaris fan it’s difficult not to draw some comparisons between the two. And I’d choose Sedaris hands down. I find Sedaris to be more steady and even in his most shocking, there’s something … else going on that anchors his text.

Burroughs starts out strong, with back-to-back winners about his childhood with ‘Commercial Break’ and ‘Vanderbilt Genes’. These are quirky, insightful pieces that are both hard and tender at the same time. He scores again with ‘Debby’s Requirements’ a very interesting story about relationships and work life balance. ‘Holy Blow Job’ walks the line but works; ‘Ass Burger’ is another gem and isn’t at all what you think it might be about. Finally, ‘Life Cycle of the North American Opossum’ and ‘Magical Thinking’ are both excellent vignettes. See, there’s a lot to like!

But then there’s ‘The Rat/Thing’ which is just a bit too ugly and drawn-out. It was clearly traumatic, but honestly, I don’t want to hear about it. I’d cozy up and ask an exterminator to tell me his greatest hits (pun intended) if I wanted this type of story. There’s also ‘I Dated an Undertaker’ which is more shock-and-awe, and feels like a poorly done Six Feet Under spin-off.

There are references to a very disturbing childhood and a laundry list about his love life and personal habits which make him seem quite shallow. In some ways, reading Burroughs is like hanging around after a fire or a train wreck. You’re interested in seeing how it all turns out and asking officials how it happened. But you don’t do this in real life, instead you move on and give people their space and feel better for doing so.

Burroughs shines when he doesn’t grandstand and when he’s not over-seasoning his text with shock value. At times he presents himself as a card-board cutout, when what I really want is his real-self invested in the pages. All at once, Burroughs complains and promotes this type of over-sharing shock-value material with his reference to Dr. Pepper. I won’t relate the details here since the story will attach itself to the drink for a long time. I can’t help but flash on the topic when gazing into the drink case.

I recommend Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs but only for those with an iron-cast stomach.

Watchmen

2008-11-19T19:07:00.001-08:00

Watchmen (Paperback) by Alan Moore

P E R F E C T !

I first read Watchmen issue by issue when it came out back in the mid 80s. In the past 20 years, I have read it more times than I can count and have purchased the trade paperback numerous times. I have lent it out, given it as a gift, and just plain worn it out.

So why buy the Absolute Edition?

Because it is the most gorgeous presentation of the story to date. First off, it's BIG. This edition reminds me of the sheer pleasure I once had as a kid reading oversized editions. Remember the giant-sized reprints of first editions or that humongous "Superman vs. Spider-Man?" It isn't quite that big and unwieldy, but it's big and Dave Gibbons' beautiful artwork and genious panel to panel drama is so much more enjoyable in this format. The panel backgrounds, as any fan knows, are filled with clues and details that are richer than has ever been done before or since in the medium. The backgrounds are so much more enjoyable at this size.

But the real star of this new edition is the amazing John Higgins. John Higgins is the colorist. The comic book medium has always placed the most limitations on the colorist who has had to deal with the realities of the printing process, sacrificing in every panel, trying to make dramatic and reproducible choices.

With this edition, Higgins has been able to do what was not possible when the original series was presented. The colors here are absolutely beautiful to behold. The original color schemes and the drama they invoked are here, but far smoother and more intense.

One of the most popular aspects of the story is the internal comic drama "Tales of the Black Freighter," a pirate comic that comments on the larger story. John Higgins colors these panels in the old school process of the golden age, using those old printing limitations to his advantage and making the Black Freighter panels a nostalgic delight while advancing the story in a new way. Bravo, Mr. Higgins! You have proven your worth and demonstrated why Watchmen is a graphic novel by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins. It was a delight to see your name on the spine where it has belonged all along.

This Absolute Edition of Watchmen is the most glorious version of this brilliant work. This is the ultimate proof that sequential art stories can be legitimate literature.

The book also offers wonderful material illustrating the fleshing out of the story all those years ago and how the storytellers began with the old Charleton characters only to evolve them into new characters with more depth and dimension than their inspirations.

There are also several pages of script. Anyone who has ever seen a comic book script will be amazed by the density of Alan Moore describing a single panel. One feels like quite the insider to read these pages. Each panel description reads as if an impossibly picky art collector were writing a detailed letter to Dave Gibbons to commission a painting and told him everything he wanted in a great empassioned gush. And Mr. Gibbons delivered time after time, giving far more than even Moore had asked. Wow! This is how it's done, ladies and gentlemen.

This is the greatest version of the greatest story ever told in the history of this beautiful, yet underrated medium. A must for any collector. A must for any lover of great art. A must for any lover of great storytelling.

Wolves at the Gate (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 3)

2008-11-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

Wolves at the Gate (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 3) by Drew Goddard

The weakest Buffy arc yet, but still plenty enjoyable
Warning: some spoilers be ahead...

With that out of the way, let me start out by saying that I have immensely enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight since its inception, and this third storyarc, Wolves at the Gate, is no exception, even though it is the weakest arc of the series so far. The arc picks up with "A Beautiful Sunset", written by series creator Joss Whedon, in which Buffy has a confrontation with the mysterious villain Twilight. After that, we get a curveball thrown our way as Buffy embarks on a new relationship...with fellow slayer Satsu. Yes, it came out of left field for me too, and it doesn't quite work out as well as Whedon and Drew Goddard may have hoped. Back when this was done with Willow, it didn't seem like a hokey plot twist, but here and with Buffy, it just comes off as a little lame (even though there is a hilarious moment to be had right afterwards). Still, besides that plot point, Wolves at the Gate features an intriguing tale when a group of powerful Asian vamps assault Buffy and co., which leads to an uneasy team-up with Dracula. There's plenty of great dialogue and clever moments and in-jokes from Buffy episode writer (as well as Lost and Cloverfield) Drew Goddard, and Georges Jeanty provides more solid artwork, even though there are moments where it looks a little bit rushed. All in all, Wolves at the Gate may be the weakest storyarc yet in Buffy Season Eight, but it is still plenty entertaining and enjoyable, no matter how much the big twist may irk or annoy you.

The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle

2008-11-19T18:56:00.000-08:00

The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher

It's a jungle out there,Like any jungle, it is a world of predators and prey. Some of the most dangerous creatures in the world live here. Very few of them are in cages..."

Having appeared in bestselling books and on TV, detective/wizard Harry Dresden now has his own comic book series, the four-part "Welcome To the Jungle". And it loses nothing in translation -- author Jim Butcher wonderfully preserves the sharp, witty, literate fantasy-noir flavour of his books, which is brought to colorful life with Ardian Syaf's solid artwork. This is one to keep an eye on.

A mangled corpse is found outside the monkey house, but the facts don't add to the "gorilla attack" the city wants. So Murphy calls in Harry Dresden (who was killing a Rawhead and Bloody Bones), and after casting a spell to see what killed the man, Harry knows it definitely wasn't a gorilla, especially since the man filled his opponent with bullets before dying.

Unfortunately Harry only has twenty-four hours to find the culprit. And as he starts poking around the gorilla house, he and nervy zookeeper Wil are attacked by bespelled jungle cats, and later by the Big Bad Black Spectral Dog. Harry suspects the mysterious Dr. Watson, but has no idea of her true plans -- or her true monstrous nature.

I'll give it to Jim Butcher -- not only can the man pen two vastly different series and assorted short stories, but he can turn out a pretty thrilling graphic novel prequel. Though "Welcome to the Jungle" is a short work, it's still crammed with action, monsters, magic, and a unique new supernatural threat that Harry alone can deal with. Basically, what one expects of the Dresden Files.

The plot is a pretty straightforward one, and most of the first quarter involves Harry poking around at the zoo. But soon it speeds up as Butcher introduces lots of splattered blood, glowy eyes, monstrous hags, and some solid action scenes involving train tracks, car chases and flying boulders. By the time Harry rushes into the underground lair (complete with bubbling cauldron), Butcher is officially on an action-packed roll.

Since this is Jim Butcher, there's a hefty dose of humor (Harry getting whacked in the head with a notebook, or chatting with a lecherous talking skull), and also some wonderfully snappy dialogue ("I've taken your staff. I've taken your rod." "You should have taken my gun"). But there are also moments of poignancy, such as Harry recognizing the accused gorilla's grief over his human friend's death.

And Ardian Syaf does a simply lovely job with this book's art. Lots of shadows, blurry corners and just enough gritty fantasy realism -- one stunning image portrays the hags as hooded clawed creatures reaching to a blood-tinted moon. Harry is the tall, rangy, stubbly guy you'd expect, and though Murphy doesn't look quite as "cute" as you'd expect, she's a convincing hard-edged cop.

Butcher's anti-hero is no stereotypical wizard -- he's rough, a little sarcastic, and just trying to make the rent with his magical powers. And in the story's quieter moments, we get to see how Harry became such a cynical loner. And on the ordinary-people front, Wil... acts the way you'd expect an ordinary gal suddenly confronted by magic fire and evil hags to act.

"The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle" is a primo example of what graphic novel spinoffs should be -- fast, sharp and action-packed. Definitely a good read.

The Joker

2008-11-19T18:54:00.000-08:00

The Joker by Brian Azzarello

Joker Returns,Ever wonder what it would be like to be in the employ of the Joker? Job security would certainly not be one of its selling points, nor would benefits like health and life insurance. In fact, it might be a good idea to purchase some beforehand. Just ask Jonny Frost, his new henchman. Brian Azzarello's much anticipated new Joker novel is seen and told through the eager yet anxious perspective of one of his new accomplices in crime, and no previous experience on the mean streets of Gotham is going to prepare him for the mayhem and madness that is to follow. This is a slightly different Joker than normally seen; more serious than silly, more reflective than refractive. He has just returned from yet another of his enforced sojourns in Arkham, this time released legally for a change, brutally back with a vengeance to reclaim lost turf, and heaven help anyone who gets in his way. Joining the party on various sides are Killer Croc, the Penguin, slightly reinvented incarnations of Harley Quinn and the Riddler, and the one unfortunate downside, an ineffectually depicted Harvey Dent. While this obviously is the Joker's story, it serves little purpose in the grand scheme of things to portray other villains as weaker in order to make the Joker loom larger. As Batman can attest, you're only as imposing as your adversaries. All of the rogues have delightfully different visual looks, thanks to the imaginative illustrations of Lee Bermejo, whose work overall ranges from simply remarkable to occasionally awkward. As for Batman himself, he is only seen briefly at the very end, a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion that did appear a bit abrupt and condensed, but then again, this is more about portent and personalities than plot and practicalities. Comparisons to the creators' fantastic Lex Luthor mini are natural and indeed inevitable. That tale took Lex in a completely different direction than usual, and was a major part of its appeal. While this project didn't break any shocking new ground, it thankfully didn't retread the same tiresome and inane gag fests and mindless mania that many of his stories do. Azzarello instead wisely incorporated his trademark grit behind the grin, added danger to the drama, and in the process possibly produced this generation's unique Joker saga. Fans of these two talented men expected no less.

The Graveyard Book

2008-11-19T18:49:00.000-08:00

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The gravity of the situation

I've noticed that there's been an increased interest in the macabre in children's literature lately. Sometimes when I've had a glass or two of wine and I'm in a contemplative mood I try weaving together a postulation that ties the current love of violent movies into this rise in children's literary darkness. Is the violence of the world today trickling down into our entertainment? Hogwash and poppycock and other words of scoff and denial, says sober I. But I've certainly seen a distinct rise in the Gothic and otherworldly over the last few years, and one wonders if it's because kids want more of that kind of stuff or publishers are merely getting less squeamish. All that aside, generally I'll read a May Bird book or an Everlost title and they'll be fun examinations of the hereafter, but not the kind of things that touch my heart. Great writing doesn't have to transcend its genre. It just has to be emotionally honest with the reader. And The Graveyard Book is one of the most emotionally honest books I've yet to have read this year. Smart and focused, touching and wry, it takes the story of a boy raised by ghosts and extends it beyond the restrictive borders of the setting. Great stuff.

It starts with three murders. There were supposed to be four. The man Jack was one of the best, maybe THE best, and how hard is it to kill a toddler anyway? But on that particular night the little boy went for a midnight toddle out the front door while the murderer was busy and straight into the nearby graveyard. Saved and protected by the denizens of that particular abode (the ghosts and the far more corporeal if mysterious Silas), the little boy is called Bod, short for Nobody because no one knows his name. As he grows older, Bod learns the secrets of the graveyard, though he has to be careful. The man (or is it "men"?) who killed his family could come back for him. Best to stay quiet and out of sight. Yet as Bod grows older it becomes clear that hiding may not be the best way to confront his enemies. And what's more, Bod must come to grips with what it means to grow up.

Can I level with you? You know Coraline? Mr. Gaiman's previous foray into middle grade children's literature. Come close now, I don't want to speak too loudly. Uh... I didn't much care for it. WAIT! Come back, come back, I didn't mean it! Well, maybe I did a tad. It was a nice book. A sufficient story. But it was very much (new category alert) an adult-author-to-children's-author-first-timer-title. Gaiman appeared to be finding his sealegs with Coraline. He took the old Alice in Wonderland trope which adult authors naturally gravitate to on their first tries (see: Un Lun Dun, Summerland, The King in the Window, etc.). Throw in some rats, bees, and buttons, and voila! Instant success. But Coraline for all its readability and charm didn't get me here [thumps chest:]. I didn't feel emotionally close to the material. Now why it should be that I'd feel closer emotionally to a book filled with a plethora of ghosts, ghouls, night-gaunts, and Hounds of God, I can only chalk up to The Graveyard Book's strong vision.

My husband likes to say that the whole reason Buffy the Vampire Slayer worked as a television show was that it was a natural metaphor for the high school (and eventually college) experience. Likewise, The Graveyard Book has this strong,strange, wonderful metaphor about kids growing up, learning about the wider world, and exploring beyond the safe boundaries of their homes. There's so much you can read into this book. I mean, aren't all adults just ghosts to kids anyway? Those funny talking people whose time has passed but that may provide some shelter and wisdom against the wider, crueler world. Plus Mr. Gaiman also includes characters in Bod's world that kids will wish they had in their own. Silas, a man who may be a vampire (though the word is never said) is every child's fantasy; A mysterious/magical guardian/friend who will tell you the truth when your parents will not.

One thing I particularly liked about the book was the fact that Bod makes quite a few careless or thoughtless mistakes and yet you don't feel particularly inclined to throttle him because of them. Too often in a work of fiction a person isn't properly put into the head of their protagonist. So when that character walks off and does something stupid there's the sense (sometimes faint, sometimes not) that they deserved it and you're not going to stick around and read about somebody that dumb, are you? But even when Bod is at his most intolerable, his most childishly selfish and single-minded, you can understand and sympathize with him. Bod is no brat, a fact that implies right there that he is someone worth rooting for. We see our own young selves in Bod, and we root for him as a result. And as Bod reaches each stage in his growth, he encounters experiences and personalities that help him to reach maturity. That's a lot to put on the plate of a l'il ole fantasy novel, particularly one that's appropriate for younger kids.

And it is appropriate too. Don't let the fact that the first sentence in the book ("There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife") put you off. The murder of Bod's family is swift, immediate, and off-screen. What remains is just a great fantasy novel that has the potential to appeal to both boy and girl readers. Kid wants a ghost story? Check. Kid wants a fantasy novel set in another world appropriate for Harry Potter fans? Check. Kid wants a "good book". That's my favorite request. When the eleven-year-old comes up to my desk and begs for "a good book" I can just show them the cover and the title of this puppy and feel zero guilt when their little eyes light up. A good book it is.

I guess that if I have any objections at all to the title it has something to do with the villains. They're a bit sketchy, which I suppose is the point, but we live in an era where children's fantasy novels spend oodles of time defining their antagonists' motivations and histories. Gaiman's more interested in his hero, which is natural, but the villains' raison d'être is just a bit too vague for the average reader. Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that Bod's family is slaughtered at the start of this tale you wouldn't necessarily know whether or not to believe that these people are as nasty as we've been told.

That said the book's a peach. I once heard someone postulate that maybe Neil Gaiman wrote it just so that he could play with the sentence "It takes a graveyard to raise a child." Unlikely. Fun, but unlikely. I mean, he does make a casual allusion that isn't far off from that phrase, but he never goes whole hog. This book doesn't feel like it was written to back up a joke. It feels like a book written by a parent with children growing up and moving out. It's a title that tips its hat to kids making their way in the world, their pasts behind them, their futures unknown. This is not yet another silly little fantasy novel, but something with weight and depth. The fact that it just happens to be loads of fun to boot is simply a nice bonus. Highly recommended.

The World to Come

2008-11-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

The World to Come by Dara Horn

The World to Come is a kick in the stomach. I say this will great respect because it’s often difficult to get such a visceral reaction from the written word. There are portions of Dara Horn’s novel that simply make you want to close your eyes, want you to will what you’re revisiting out of this world. But you know that it exists. The old adage that there is more truth in fiction would certainly apply to how Horn has constructed some of her most heart-wrenching scenes.

The World to Come tracks the lineage and lives of the Ziskinds, from Soviet Russia to the modern day. The turning plot device is the theft of a valuable Chagall from a museum during a singles cocktail hour. The book is heavy on facts, and oddly enough this plot device is also true. You’re then transported back to Soviet Russia and the brutal nature of what occurred there and elsewhere. In the midst of this is Comrade Marc Chagall. Now, I’m not what I’d call an art aficionado or art-junky but I go to modern art museums, I have art on my walls by famed painters as well as my great grandmother. And I’ve liked Chagall since seeing some more of his work at the Guggenheim, particularly the Green Violinist.

So learning more about what Chagall might have been like was interesting, though not always flattering. I got the sense that Ms. Horn had a bit of an ax to grind and wished to paint Chagall in a negative light. (Yes, that pun was intended.) From her perspective Chagall did not suffer as his fellow Jewish artists did, nor come to their aide or defense. And as it’s written, it seems a bit … selfish and Chagall a bit of a flake. I’m guessing there is another side to the story and am inclined to believe that all artists are cut from a slightly different cloth.

The haunting Soviet era material matches well with other material from Vietnam. The contrast is the modern day material which reads far more like Philip Roth. The adolescent yearning, the internal monologues and general pacing feels very much like Roth. Again, not a bad thing really and makes a bit of sense given the topical material. Tossed in the middle is a mystical quality that never fully worked for me. At times it seemed to work, and at others seemed pried into the narrative.

I’m not sure I was thrilled with the ending, but it would be tough to find a climax that works after such intensity. There were times when I simply had to put the book down and catch my breath. That doesn’t happen to me often enough. So I recommend this book, but read only if you’re willing to conjure up some dreadful realities. Read The World to Come and then read some Christopher Moore.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

2008-11-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Atonement is the first Ian McEwan novel I’ve read. I’ll pick up another but with a bit of trepidation. Atonement has been linked - repeatedly - to Jane Austen’s work. The first act of this four act novel certainly has all the hallmarks. In fact, I found the first 40-50 pages to be difficult to get through. I kept looking at the praise on the back jacket and thinking that I had to read on because that many reviewers couldn’t all be so wrong.

I’m glad I got through those slow, overly descriptive first pages. (I just about closed the book when I read something about how the sun made parallelograms on the floor.) Midway through the first act a tension finally begins to build and I became drawn into the plot. The first act is set in 1935 where we meet the Tallis family, in particular young Briony and her older sister Cecilia. Briony witnesses events between Cecilia and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant whom the Tallis family has supported in his educational pursuits. The interpretation of this event puts into motion the rest of the novel.

The first act is all very Austen, very English, prim and class based. It is the second act that details Robbie Turner’s time in France during World War II that transformed this novel. The bleak nature of war and the ability to survive (or not) are laid bare for the reader. Not in a overly sentimental way where you feel you’re being manipulated, but just a honest narrow account of what occurred. In many ways, Atonement is a bit like Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. The beginning in no way prepares you for what is to come. The contrast is stark and I found this device to work to McEwan’s advantage.

The third act is interesting and at this point the plot and love story drive the reader through the narrative as they wish to find out what happens. You know you’re on to something good when you really and truly are reading because you are seeking that resolution. McEwan does this superbly. However, there is a small fourth act which in some ways feels like an editor’s addition. Perhaps not, but I find myself frustrated with the fourth act for a number of reasons, the least of which is a too tidy bookend of the novel.

Atonement is extremely enjoyable, insidiously readable and frustrating.

The Well of Lost Plots

2008-11-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde’s The Well of Lost Plots is third in the Thursday Next literary detective series. Thursday (our hero and literary cop) is pregnant by a husband who no longer exists and is hiding out in an unpublished murder mystery (something like a poorly constructed blend of Patricia Cornwell and John Grisham.) Makes perfect sense right? Well, if you’re a fan it does and I am a fan.

To enjoy Jasper Fforde’s novels you should make sure you have a funny bone. Once that’s been confirmed you might want to brush up on your classic literary works. While the plot is generally of the soap opera or spy thriller genre, it is wrapped in a literary fun house where you’ll meet Heathcliff from Bronte’s Wuthering Heights and speak frequently of Shakespearean works. Fforde’s alternate universe includes time-travel, a menacing corporate entity aptly named Goliath, and is populated by Neanderthals and dodos which have been genetically re-engineered.

Fforde uses the absurd for both comic effect and astute social commentary. And he’s keenly interested in the act of writing and reading. That is perhaps the highlight of The Well of Lost Plots. The plot surrounds an upgrade to how a book is read, aptly described as an operating system. The new version is UltraWord, which would help books gain market share on a populace that is reading less and less. One of the benefits of the upgrade would allow the reader to do away with all of the ‘he said’, ’she replied’, ‘he shouted’ and any other identifiers of who was actually speaking each line of dialog. To me, I can image Fforde exasperated with these markers, but at the same time chiding readers for the inability to simply engage and partake in the reading experience.

The Well of Lost Plots is Fforde’s most ambitious thought exercise into the creation of a book world. On this level the book is the best of the series. From a plot and narrative perspective, it is just this side of satisfying. While I recommend The Well of Lost Plots, any reader should read the series in order, starting with The Eyre Affair. For a sneak peek at the oddities you will find, visit the fabulous

Barack Obama UK

2008-11-10T23:38:00.000-08:00

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama

This may be the best-written memoir ever produced by an American politician.' - Joe Klein, Time * 'Whatever else people expect from a politician, it's not usually a beautifully written personal memoir steeped in honesty. Barack Obama has produced one.' - Oona King, The Times * 'Obama's writing is characterised throughout by a graceful eloquence, a generosity of perception and spirit rare in young men of many gifts and charisma...here is a testimony for the ages.' - Candace Allen, Independent * 'It is an almost illicit pleasure to be reading the unspun memories of a man who may yet become president of the US.'
Not a campaign booklet, but a frank personal insight
It is a rare privilege to have such a personal insight into the life and background of a prominent politician. Often it is written about leaders that nobody knows what they are really like as people. But in Barack Obama's case, it is laid out in quite frank detail in this book.

Like most people outside Illinois, I had not heard of Barack Obama until he gave his speech at the Democratic Convention on 27 July (it can be read on his website: www.obamaforillinois.com), and I was fortunate to find the last copy of his book in a Chicago bookshop in August. The opening of the convention speech is a brief outline of the background that formed the book. His father was a Kenyan who went to study in Hawaii, and his mother was living in Hawaii having grown up in Kansas. They parted company soon after Barack was born.

The book is about his childhood and how he adapted to life after his father left his mother. She remarried an Indonesian man, and they went with him to live in Indonesia for some years. Barack returned to the US to finish high school. After graduating, he went to work in Chicago among underprivileged black communities there before deciding to go to law school in Harvard.

Obama's style of writing is extremely personal and analytical of how he dealt with certain issues in his life - his absent father, the colour of his skin, the remarriage of his mother, how he learnt of his father's death, his work in Chicago, his decision to become a lawyer and his rediscovery of his roots in Kenya (including his grandmother, uncles and aunts, and various half-brothers and sisters). Despite having led a very different life in a different part of the world, I was regularly struck by similarities between his life and mine - and can only assume that every reader would have the same reaction.

On a slightly critical note, the book is written at times in quite a fictionalised style that took some time to get used to. It cannot really be believed that Obama remembered every word and pause in quite so many conversation (not to mention what he saw through the window during the many pauses in conversation).

That aside, this is a great book which appears not to have been written with an eye on a political career (future Republican opponents will doubtless make great play out of a small, passing reference to drug use). It was first published in 1995 when Obama was fresh out of law school, commissioned as a result of his having been the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review. Even if his political star were to fade without the widely tipped shot at the 2012 presidency, I would recommend anybody to read his book.

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
This is the first book by an aspirant politician, indeed the first political manifesto, (for that is what it is) that I have read cover to cover. (Perhaps, it occurs to me, I should read some of the works by serving British politicians, too, and not just rely on commentaries by journalists?) I bought the book the day after Barack Obama slipped up re-using the "lipstick on a pig" cliché, when, for the first time, McCain and Palin seemed to have achieved a significant lead in the polls.

Obama wrote this book to update his life story, including how he came to be elected senator for Illinois (he completed his first book "Dreams of my father" some ten years earlier), to offer an analysis of how modern American political life has become so polarised, but above all to state his personal and political principles. It would be easy to be cynical: his principles turn out to offer something to everyone, but this is the prerogative and the stategy of the political centrist. Economically, his liberalism demonstrates why Milton Friedman and others were forced to rebrand themselves as libertarians. He seems well versed in the pros and cons of state intervention, and clearly believes in the value of Keynsian-style state intervention, lamenting the breakdown of the New Deal consensus in the 1970s and 1980s. He does, however, go on record as recognising some of the limits of government. While he offers few concrete proposals as to what should be done, the reader does get the impression that this is a man who is aware of major issues and has thought them through in depth. Sadly but unsurprisingly he has not come up with any new solution to the problem that globalisation presents to American manufacturing and the American working class.

I was left with the impression that Barack Obama is a man of principle, but not one whose principles lead him to try to impose them on others. He recognises, for example, the abortion debate as being one of the most polarising in the US, and lays out his own pro-choice view very carefully, doing his best to respect the "social conservatives" who oppose his view. In one recollection he refers to how a pro-life doctor (but potential Democrat voter) who objected to Obama's implicit inclusion of him within the category of "right wing ideologues who wish to take away a woman's right to choose", and how, having thought the matter through, he changed this statement on his web site to a less confrontational one. Obama sketches out (but no more than sketches) a personal journey that led to his being baptised as an adult (his mother was not an adherent of institutionalised religion, but rather of spiritualist, new age inclinations). Cynically, perhaps, I was reminded of an oft-repeated statement that it would be impossible for an atheist to be elected to high office in the US. Obama believes in the separation of church and state, in accordance with the US Constitution; I do too, and perhaps therefore the privacy of his beliefs, whatever they actually are, should be respected.

Obama devotes a whole chapter to Race, although it is inevitably a backdrop to the whole book. He is of course aware that it is the colour of his skin that has given him the early prominence he has achieved. He tells us of his Kenyan cousins, the mainstream African American family of his wife Michelle, his Indonesian step-father and his white mother's family and mentions ethnic Chinese in-laws. He quietly implies that his background makes him both the epitome of the American dream and someone uniquely placed to deal with the domestic and international problems that confront the US, and to represent and to lead a multi-ethnic America. Not everyone is going to be convinced by that argument: he is certainly not guaranteed to succeed and, to be fair, he does not suggest that others with a less heterogeneous background could not succeed. His analysis of the condition of black America seems balanced - much progress made, but much more still to be made. My only concern for the US is that the programmes that he seems inclined to follow would involve a great deal more state expenditure. It is a shame that he has not put more effort into learning Spanish, acknowledging as he does the burgeoning Latino population of the US.

This is an excellent book. As a commentary on politics in the US over the past 30 years it is easy to read precisely because it is not done to any real depth. As a memoir by someone who is, at the very least, a remarkable man from a very unusual background it is uplifting. Whichever way we might prefer to see the Americans vote, I would hope that all would think it a loss to his country and the world if 2008 turns out to have been the high point in Obama's career. I was convinced that Obama is more than just an excellent public speaker or a politician riding high because of the novelty of his background. He is less beholden to interest groups than most contenders for the presidency. The USA could do a lot worse than bet on Barack Obama for the next 4 years - and I say that as someone who sees a good man in John McCain, too, (although I cannot but feel that he would have made a better president 8 years ago). As we enter the last 8 weeks of the US elections, this is the time to read "Audacity of Hope" if you have not yet done so.
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

Hopes and Dreams: The Story of Barack Obama by Steve Dougherty

Barack Obama, the young black Democratic Senator for Illinois, is the rising star of American politics: the man who has emerged as the symbol of hope for America, and is now being touted as a candidate for the next Presidential election raising the possibility of the first black U.S. President...Obama's own books (a memoir and a policy book) have figured highly on the "New York Times" bestsellers lists, but this is the first biographic portrait of the man, written by a leading journalist and filled with more than 100 lively photographs. It provides an overview of Obama's life up to the current time: childhood; Harvard Law School; civil rights lawyer; early political career; symbol of hope; keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic convention; family life; issues; vision; speeches; and quotations. It explores "Obamamania" - the whole buzz about him, the comparisons with Bobby Kennedy, the turning of American politics and his running for President...No political figure on the American scene has generated as much interest as Obama has, and many compare his appeal to that of a rock star...

Hopes and Dreams: The Story of Barack Obama by Steve Dougherty

Barack Obama: Speeches 2002-2006 by Maureen Harrison

The Faith of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield

This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

Barack Obama: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) by Joann F. Price

This revealing biography traces the events of Barack Obama's remarkable life, from his upbringing in humble circumstances to becoming a presidential candidate.Barack Obama splashed onto the political scene with an inspirational, rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. From that night on, Obamamania was very real. He is bold and audacious; his rhetoric fiery, convincing and very compelling. He encourages cross-over appeal, discourse, affiliation, and has drawn many Americans, including today's youth, into politics. This is the story of a man of mixed race heritage who inspires, listens, compromises, and is often bipartisan. With a charismatic smile and a cadre of "change we can believe in," many believe that he embodies the American dream. Thousands have turned out to hear the dynamic senator from Illinois speak as he campaigns to become the next President of the United States.This revealing biography traces the events of his remarkable life thus far. From Barack Obama's upbringing in humble circumstances in Hawaii and Indonesia to becoming the fifth African American senator in U.S. history, and later, a presidential candidate, this well-researched volume highlights the hardships and successes, the people who most influenced his career, his personal life, and his meteoric rise to popular icon status. Rounded out with photos, a timeline, a bibliography, and an index, this volume is a must-read title.

Should Barack Obama Be President? DREAMS FROM MY FATHER, AUDACITY OF HOPE, ... Obama in '08? by W. Frederick, Zimmerman

2008-11-10T23:29:00.000-08:00

The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell

The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell is a compilation of essays, stories and anecdotes with a theme of liberal politics and history. I’d been meaning to read Sarah Vowell for a while. She’d been mentioned in the same breath with David Sedaris whom I find hilarious and I’d seen her titles on a co-worker’s bookshelf. She’s got good taste which helped sway my thoughts. Throw in some love from Jon Stewart and it seemed that what I was really missing in my life was reading Ms. Vowell. (And what a great name for a writer eh?)

I enjoyed The Partly Cloudy Patriot, though I’m not sure everyone would, particularly if you have a conservative mindset. No, she’s not anywhere near the Augusten Burroughs nor David Sedaris in the out-in-left-left-field department, but she’s not really a moderate either. Let’s face it, she trekked to the Bush inauguration to show her displeasure for the way in which he was elected. Don’t get me wrong, I lean that way heavily myself and in some ways admire those who have the time and inclination to partake in the political discourse. But … I have things to do too.

Ms. Vowell is witty and amusing, but her writing feels more like she is sitting there telling you about this. That you’ve settled down into a non-corporate coffee shop drinking fair trade lattes and are getting the download direct from Sarah. Sometimes this works, and at others, it just doesn’t translate that well to the page. The historical and political vignettes are strong and fall in line with my politics, but I far more enjoyed some of her personal revelations and observations including her love of Pop-A-Shot and or detailed views on Tom Cruise (no it’s not what you think.)

There are real gems within the pages, in particular ‘Underground Lunchroom’ a discourse on the strange battle over an underground lunchroom in Carlsbad Cavern National Park. The Partly Cloudy Patriot is a satisfying read for any left leaning reader who enjoys politics, history and social commentary.

Eleanor Rigby

2008-11-10T23:27:00.000-08:00

Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland

If you know anything about music you know Douglas Coupland’s Eleanor Rigby is about loneliness. The classic (and great) Beatles song brought isolation and depression to the top of the charts. (As a side note, Squeeze may be one of the best at bringing sad lyrics to the masses in such melodic, catchy pop tunes. Listen to Up The Junction if you have any doubts.)

Sure enough, Eleanor Rigby follows the life of Liz Dunn, a fat, friendless woman approaching middle-age, who resides in a sterile condo, watching Law and Order reruns. In 1991 Coupland’s Generation X exploded onto the cultural scene, for lack of a better cliche. This was the cool book of my formative years and it was liberating to see the oversize pages with textbook like definitions on the edges of the pages, surrounded by images or logos like ‘Economy of Scale is Ruining Choice’ and ‘Eroticize Intelligence’. I still think of corporate cube farms as ‘veal fattening pens’ because of Coupland.

And it wasn’t just the gimmicks that made Generation X so good. The writing was solid and it felt like he was dragging you into the digital future of adjectives. Coupland’s ability to fuse the new cultural reality with traditional narrative was inspiring. He spoke the language of films like Repo Man and Buckaroo Banzai and the music of Nirvana.

So is this a review of Eleanor Rigby or Generation X you ask? I think you have to look at where Coupland entered the literary landscape to see the maturity of Eleanor Rigby. Coupland had stepped in to speak for an entire generation and in many ways got trapped there in my opinion. It took a lot of time (both in written form and otherwise) for Coupland to finally step away from that legacy and start to stand on his own without the reverberation of Generation X roaring in his ears.

I’ve liked most of Coupland’s novels, but there has been an ebb and flow. Eleanor Rigby brings Coupland back to the forefront with a cast of quirky and likable characters set against the themes of death and loneliness. As you would expect there is plenty of darkness in the novel, from disease to dysfunctional families and a broken foster care system. But amid all that charcoal is a very bright light, a lilting cadence and dialog, as well as a simple yet fantastic and twisting plot.

Eleanor Rigby reminds you how good you have it, and how many people don’t and to never lose that perspective.

Stranger Passing

2008-11-10T23:24:00.000-08:00

Stranger Passing by Joel Sternfeld

Joel Sternfeld’s Stranger Passing, a collection of sixty photographic portraits, is an art book worth buying. This is high praise for me, since I generally find art books useless. Bought with the best of intentions, they usually wind up unopened and coated with a layer of dust. Besides, they’re over-sized and don’t fit on any of my bookshelves.

To pull off the art book thing you need to have an Architectural Digest type living room with an attractive smoked glass coffee table. It’s not that I might not like a Van Gogh art book, but why get one when I can have a print on a wall where it can truly be appreciated. Heck, I can buy a calendar and marvel at a different masterpiece each month.

Stranger Passing is not the typical art book because you can’t find anything like it in your local mall. I discovered Sternfeld’s work by accident during an Ansel Adams exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). I quickly realized that I’d seen too many Adams prints in dorm rooms, hung by co-eds striving for culture, and that while striking, each of his photographs contained the same stark-nature-of-beauty theme. I’m not saying you can’t appreciate every tree in the forest but … I’d had my fill.

Clogged with people and unsatisfied I wandered into a room with huge nearly life size portraits, which upon closer inspection turned out to be photographs! I was immediately drawn to the detailed, quirky, gorgeous images that showcased people and landscapes from all walks of life. One would convey the harsh realities of the homeless while another would poke fun at American excess.

While Adams evoked a mood, Sternfeld provoked thought. Who were the people in these photographs? What were they thinking? What had brought them to that specific time and place? Each of Sternfeld’s photographs tells a rich story.

The cover photo of Stranger Passing is titled ‘Young Man Gathering Shopping Carts’ and portrays a teenager, standing in a parking lot cluttered with pink shopping carts, against the backdrop of an all too familiar generic strip mall. You can feel his repetitive discontent and nearly hear him grumble in a Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure accent as he collects the carts … again.

Some of my favorites in the collection include a young shirtless man standing in front of a colorful demolition derby car, newlyweds posing in a backyard with a flipped over kiddie pool and a colorful sari wrapped middle-eastern woman pumping gas.

You don’t need a guide to help you understand these photos. No pompous, overly academic explanations about brush strokes or f-stops are required. Vivid, accessible and fascinating, Stranger Passing is a sprawling collection that documents the changing American landscape through the experiences of Sternfeld’s subjects.

Ghostwritten

2008-11-10T23:17:00.000-08:00

Ghostwritten by David Mitchell

Ghostwitten is the debut novel by David Mitchell and is a true gem. This is the third novel I’ve read by Mitchell, the previous two being the fantastic Cloud Atlas and Number9dream. It’s tough for me to pick between Ghostwritten and Cloud Atlas as my favorite. Both weave a narrative through multiple short stories that interconnect in a Robert Altman kind of way. Cloud Atlas is a bit more complex and subtle while Ghostwritten is far more raw and angry.

Mitchell has many gifts as a writer, the first and foremost being a natural storyteller. Whether writing about love, theft, quantum physics or Mongolian culture, Mitchell can rivet your attention to the page. He propels you through the narrative, plunges and dunks you with an amazing descriptive capability and empathy for his characters. I never felt cheated by any one of the stories or characters in Ghostwritten, which is amazing given there are ten distinct stories within the novel. One would think a few of these would be less satisfying and that Mitchell might have had passion for just 7 of the 10.

That is not the case with Ghostwritten. Passion is not a problem for Mitchell. And I mourned the passing of each story because I wanted more. Each did reach a satisfying conclusion, but you wanted to inhabit that world, that reality, for a bit longer, to experience more of what Mitchell had created. The odd thing is that Ghostwritten is not a ‘happy’ piece of writing, but instead an expose on the hideous things people do to each other. I say this is odd because it doesn’t seem depressing. The actions are frightening in sections, heartbreaking in others but the tone lyrical and ethereal, much like a ghost watching those that remain alive.

I was also taken with many turns of phrase by Mitchell, as seen in the July Quotation Contest. Here are the others I would have liked to have used if they weren’t already easily available on the Internet.

“Nothing often poses in men as wisdom.”

“Memories are their own descendants masquerading as the ancestors of the present.”

“The human world is made of stories, not people.”

The last quote is apt given the composition of Ghostwritten. I’m partial to the more science-fiction themed stories of ‘Mongolia’ and ‘Night Train’. However, ‘Holy Mountain’ was a piercing and painful look at China’s evolution and ‘Petersburg’ a taut and powerful crime drama written from a unique point-of-view of a character unaware of the reality ahead of her. It’s akin to being in a movie theater and wanting to scream, ‘Don’t go out into the woods alone, that’s where the creature is!’

There’s nothing more for me to say other than to go and read Ghostwritten.

Book old

2008-11-09T18:47:00.001-08:00

Kaplan GRE Exam 2009 Premier Program

Kaplan Publishing is one of the nation's top publishers of academic and professional development resources. We publish titles on topics such as test preparation, college and graduate school admissions, academic and career development in the legal, medical, education, and general business fields. Kaplan Publishing is the leading provider of test prep materials for a variety of standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT, PSAT, MCAT, TOEFL, and more.

Test prep seems fairly good, albeit the CD-ROM seems dated
I have only had this product for a few weeks, but I have already discovered some criticisms. One major criticism is the CD-ROM seems dated. The disc lists "version 1.0" and you can tell that the disc is 1.0. The copyright on the program is 2004! While the sample tests appear to simulate the test environment very well they don't contain the any of the fill in the blank questions that have been added to the GRE. While they aren't a big part of the exam you would figure that if this is the "2009" edition of this book that the CD would fully prepare you for the test that students taking the exam in 2008 might take. Needless to say this disc doesn't seem to work properly under Windows Vista much like the feedback I read on last years' edition. I bought the 2009 edition figuring that they would have updated the CD for this years' book, but apparently not. Having neither a Mac version nor a Windows version that works in Vista seems pretty pathetic. I have been using the inside of a virtual machine(VMware) and it seems to run OK. I will give an update if I discover any means by which the software will run under Vista properly. After you remove the background information on the GRE, and the chapter on applying to grad school, and the advertising for Kaplan's courses the number of pages of actual prep drops below 400 pages, albeit most competing books are approximately the same length. There are entire books written on applying to grad school if I really wanted a book for that, but nevertheless I will admit that the book seems incredibly informative. As far as I can tell there is no compelling improvements in this book over the previous edition. The book could obviously have more problem sets, but so far I haven't seen any obvious mistakes in the book like I have seen in test prep books for the SAT or other exams. The book could be better, but I don't see any clear flaws in the book so far.

Rome 1960: The Olympics That Changed the World

Terrific Reading about the World at a Crossroads - and Glimpses of Sports Superstars, too!

The world is changing so fast right now that most of us can barely keep up with the daily news that affects our lives, jobs and future. So, it's a rare and wonderful treat when a book comes along that carries us back to a time and place when the world changed more slowly - to show us one of those events that truly did change our global culture. When such books come along, they're usually about wars - but not this new gem by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Maraniss.

Given my own background as a journalist, I'll confess that I was puzzled by Maraniss' decision in selecting "Rome 1960" for a thick new book of nearly 500 pages (that's counting all the extras at the end). As I picked up the book, I kept asking myself: Why did he call this particular meet -- "The Olympics that Changed the World"?

As a specialist in religion and culture, I've immersed myself in histories of other Olympics: the 1924 "Chariots of Fire" Olympics, the 1936 Nazi-dominated Olympics, the 1972 Olympics when terrorists killed 11 Israeli athletes - and even the 1964 Tokyo Olympics that were a milestone in global culture in part because of Kon Ichikawa's historic documentary film.

But having read Maraniss' new book, I've got to agree - Rome in 1960 ranks right up there as a milestone in world culture.

I had not considered the roles of the major players who all collided in Rome that year - including the now-infamous anti-Semite and pro-Nazi American czar of the Olympics movement: Avery Brundage. If you don't find yourself drawn to "Sports" - but you are fascinated by 20th-Century history, especially the 1930s, Fascism and the Holocaust - this is a "must read" book for you. Think of it as a "sequel" to books about the controversial Nazi Olympics in which Hitler, Goebbels and Riefenstahl essentially pulled a fast one on Brundage in convincing him to help them celebrate their glorious new Reich.

As a journalist, I'm a longtime follower of new research into that earlier era - and Maraniss picks up the Brundage story in 1960 and pretty much nails the man and his many levels of hypocrisy - and lets us see how this antique figure collided with many of the realities of later-20th-Century culture. Among the key details Maraniss adds to our understanding of Brundage are personal jottings he made during the Rome Olympics that, among other things, complained of the emergence of "Jews ... demanding restitution for everything lost and lot more." (Of course, Brundage somehow managed to continue at the helm through 1972 in Munich, where controversy continued to surround his decisions.)

What's great about this new book is that everything I've said about the Brundage sub-plot is just one of many compelling storylines that Maraniss explores in these 500 pages. Among other things: These were the Olympics in which Cassius Clay exploded onto the global stage, later to transform himself into Muhammad Ali. These were the games of Wilma Rudolph. These were the games in which commercial interests were knocking down old-school barriers that claimed to be preserving an "amateur" tradition. Doping became an issue at Rome. Two Chinas and two Germanys jostled at these games.

This is summer reading at its best. The next Olympic games are looming. The world is no longer merely tilting on its axis. No, global culture now is spinning at a topsy-turvy rate, it seems.

Pick up "Rome 1960." If you're like me, you won't stop until you've read the whole thing - and you'll come away understanding just a little more about how we all got to this place we're standing in this strange new century.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
by Michael Chabon

The Real Wonder Boys
"A faster read than a Grisham book. More powerful than an Oprah pick. Able to win Pulitzer Prizes in a single bound edition. Look! Up on the bookshelf! It's pulp fiction! It's serious literature! It's `The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay'! Yes it's `The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay', written by a strange visitor from Pittsburgh who came to the literary world with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay', a book that can change the course of mighty literary trends, bend public discourse in its bare hands, and which, disguised as Michael Chabon's latest novel, a mild-mannered bestseller for a great metropolitan readership, fights a never-ending battle for Truth! Justice! and the American Way!"

Pretty cheesy, that. But good cheese, no? Actually, the above is just a thinly veiled attempt to usher you into the world of super-hero comic books that Michael Chabon has created for this book. It is a world of convenient coincidences, of nick-of-time rescues, of unbelievable happenstance, and hyper-romanticism. It's a world whose characters are drawn in two tones (black or white), where good and evil combat in epic struggles, and little boys pay ten cents an issue to read about it. It's an entirely made up world, embracing its own fictionality, but one that the reader can easily get lost in. Chabon has written a book that takes the conventions of the comic book and exploits them. If you encounter a situation here that tests the boundaries of reality, try reading it as if spread over six cheerily drawn panels. It'll make much more sense that way.

The reason for this technique, if I may be so bold as to articulate it, is quite simple: Escapism. Joe Kavalier at one point lists the reasons why he loves his comic books: "for their inferior color separation, their poorly trimmed paper stock, their ads for air rifles and dance courses and acne creams..." But most importantly, for this young man newly escaped from occupied Prague, for the way they allowed young boys to escape from reality and dream their dreams. It's a pretty moving message. Joe and his cousin Sammy Clay (nee Clayman) create a comic book superhero to exploit this theme, named appropriately enough "The Escapist". It's popularity ends up rivaling Superman and Batman. I'm not going to tell you what Sammy is escaping from, for that would ruin one of the book's best and most tastefully portrayed surprises.

However, all is not painted in comic book artificiality. In fact, much of the book's sub-text is quite poignant and real. I mean, the book's title, which looks very comic-esque, is actually quite ironic. The boys' adventures aren't really that amazing together (it's run-of-the-mill, everyday stuff, except for a huge joint success). Joe has some topsy-turvy times himself, and Sammy's are more internal and domestic than anything. Even their names are ironic. Joe is certainly not cavalier about the cause he finds himself obsessed with. Sammy's clay (his "fundamental nature or spirit") remains hidden for the majority of the book, only drawn out against his will. Chabon only uses the comic book template as an easy entry point into this world. After that, he creates some complex human situations. And the book is set in and around a very real New York City, during its golden era. Not only are the city's alleyways and seedy apartments and subways represented, but so are some of its most famous landmarks. It's no coincidence that the Empire State Building stands tall and proud on the cover of the book's first paperback edition. It plays a major role in many of the boys' "adventures". As does the recent World's Fair, in a minor but crucial way.

The knock here is that Chabon's prose is a little too purple, a little too flowery, with a vocabulary that may stymie the majority of his readers. Frankly, I've read prose infinitely more difficult. Chabon, by comparison, is actually quite an easy, straightforward read. And for a 600+ page book with little in the way of narrative thrust, it's quite a page-turner. He has a sly little sense of humour, littering the text with some very silly, sarcastic moments (e.g., a brainstorming session almost ends with Kavalier & Clay's super hero being called `The Mandrill', with his "multicolored wonder ass that he used to bedazzle opponents"). But for the most part the book has a very somber tone. Before you begin, though, do yourself a favour and read up on the legend of the Golem (and not just in the Tolkien sense of the world). It'll help you to better understand many of the book's themes.

Chabon has done a wonderful job mixing a lot of research on comic book history (and I mean a lot), with a fake comic book history (perfectly believable in this context), with a story about two young men trying to live the American Dream. Don't be afraid by the book's heft; it's an exciting read, filled with suspense and cliffhanger endings, just like a real comic would be.

The Shack

Time to Rain on this Parade
I am certain that there is no other book I've been asked to review more times than William P. Young's The Shack, a book that is currently well within the top-100 best-selling titles at Amazon. The book, it seems, is becoming a hit and especially so among students and among those who are part of the Emergent Church. In the past few weeks many concerned readers have written to ask if I would be willing to read it and to provide a review. Because I am always interested in books that are popular among Christians, I was glad to comply.

First, a word about the book as it is written. William Young shows himself to be a capable writer, though I would not have believed it through the first couple of chapters. The book began with far too many awkward sentences and awkward sentence constructs (e.g. "One can almost hear a unified sigh rise from the nearby city and surrounding countryside where Nature has intervened to give respite to the weary humans slogging it out within her purview"). But as it went on and as the story took over the book became easier to read. The story itself is interesting enough, though certainly it lacks originality. The last chapter should have been left on the editing room floor and the final paragraph (before the "After Words") was a ridiculously terse attempt to provide closure to remaining plot lines. But on the whole the book is readable and enjoyable. Never does it become boring, even after long pages of nothing but dialog.

But Young did not write this book for the story. This book is all about the content and about the teaching it contains. The book's reviews focus not on the quality of the story but on its spiritual or emotional impact. Eugene Peterson grasps this, saying in his glowing endorsement, "When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of "The Shack." This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" did for his. It's that good!" Could it really be that good? Is it good enough to warrant positive comparison to the English-language book that has been read more widely than any other save the Bible? Let's turn to the book's content and find out.

The Shack revolves around Mack (Mackenzie) Philips. Four years before this story begins, Mack's young daughter, Missy, was abducted during a family vacation. Though her body was never found, the police did find evidence in an abandoned shack to prove that she had been brutally murdered by a notorious serial killer who preyed on young girls. As the story begins, Mack, who has been living in the shadow of his Great Sadness, receives a strange note that is apparently from God. God invites Mack to return to this shack for a get together. Though uncertain, Mack visits the scene of the crime and there has a weekend-long encounter with God, or, more properly, with the godhead.

Young covers a wide variety of theological topics in this book, each of which is relevant to the theme of Mack's suffering and his inability to trust in a God who could let his daughter be treated in such a horrifying way. The author is unafraid to tackle subjects of deep theological import--a courageous thing to do in so difficult a genre as fiction. The reader will find himself diving into deep waters as he reads this book. Unfortunately much of this theology is simply inconsistent with the Bible. Young shares strange ideas on the Trinity, the way God reveals Himself to us, forgiveness and a variety of other topics.

Despite the great amount of poor theology, my greatest concern is probably this one: the book has a quietly subversive quality to it. Young seems set on undermining orthodoxy Christianity. For example, at one point Mack states that, despite years of seminary and years of being a Christian, most of the things taught to him at the shack have never occurred to him before. Later he says, "I understand what you're saying. I did that for years after seminary. I had the right answers, sometimes, but I didn't know you. This weekend, sharing life with you has been far more illuminating than any of those answers."

Throughout the book there is this kind of subversive strain teaching that new and fresh revelation is much more relevant and important than the kind of knowledge we gain in sermons or seminaries or Scripture. Young's readers seem to be picking up on this. Read this brief Amazon review as an example: "Wish I could take back all the years in seminary! The years the locusts ate???? Systematic theology was never this good. Shack will be read again and again. With relish. Shared with friends, family, and strangers. I can fly! It's a gift. `Discipleship' will never be lessons again." Another reviewer warns that many Christians will find the book difficult to read because of their "modern" mindsets. "If one is coming from a strong, propositional and, perhaps, fundamentalist perspective to the Bible, this book certainly will be threatening." Still another says "This book was so shocking to my "staid" Christianity but it was eye opening to my own thoughts about who I think God is." At several points I felt as if the author was encouraging the reader to doubt what they know of Christianity--to deconstruct what they know of Christian theology--and to embrace something new. But the faith Young reconstructs is simply not the faith of the Bible.

Because of the sheer volume of error and because of the importance of the doctrines reinvented by the author, I would encourage Christians, and especially young Christians, to decline this invitation to meet with God in The Shack. It is not worth reading for the story and certainly not worth reading for the theology.

The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 11th Edition (Paperback)
by Graduate Management Admission Council

New Guide vs 10th Edition (Little Difference)

The previous comment about all questions in RC and CR being the same is incorrect. There are definitely new questions in both the Reading Comp and Critical Reasoning sections (I would say at least half the RC passages are new whe compared to the 10th edition). That said, there are a few things for any person preparing for the GMAT to consider.

Do you already have the 10th Edition?
If you do, this might not be necessary. There are less questions in the 11th Edition than the 10th Edition overall. One reason for you to HAVE to take the new version over the 10th is that you have used up all the questions in the old book.

Price.
Its way more expensive than the older version. Originally the 11th edition guide was set for $32.95 retail (pre-release stated price)but now, the website and everywhere else is pricing it at $36.95. Again, unless you have done all the questions in the 10th edition, or can't get your hands on the 10th edition anywhere, you might want to consider the 10th rather than the new.

Relevance.
Supposedly, the explanations for the answer choices have gotten better. I have yet to review the answer choices, but i must say that the answer explanations, in the 10th Ed, in nearly all the Verbal sections were absolutely useless. If you used their methodologies to arrive at the answer, you are more likely to hurt yourself than to help yourself. The explanations in the 10th edition were not systematic, so it always relied on internal logic for each question. More often than not, GMAT questions are similar to one another and I am sure the people at ETS (The people who wrote this book) knew that, but they seem hesitant to reveal the "tricks".

Overall it's not a bad book. Considering I been staring at my green/blue 10th edition for so many years, its nice to see a bright orange cover and nicer paper material inside the new book.

As for actual functionality, if you have a guided instructor, the 10th and 11th edition might not be that big of a difference. If you are working alone, and the rumors are true about better answer explanations, then you might benefit from the 11th Ed.

Irregardless of which one you decide, I really want to emphasize - all GMAT students MUST practice with the Official Guide. There is nothing out there that develops "air-tight" questions free from inconsistencies like the GMAT does. You can always use additional questions from various vendors as supplements, but the Official Guide is a must for your foundational GMAT preparation.

Watchmen (Paperback) by Alan Moore

P E R F E C T !

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Paperback) by Frank Miller If any comic has a claim to have truly reinvigorated the genre, then The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller--known also for his excellent Sin City series and his superb rendering of the blind superhero Daredevil--is probably the top contender. Batman represented all that was wrong in comics and Miller set himself a tough task taking on the camp crusader and turning this laughable, innocuous children's cartoon character into a hero for our times. The great Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, the arguably peerless Watchmen) argued that only someone of Miller's stature could have done this. Batman is a character known well beyond the confines of the comic world (as are his retinue) and so reinventing him, while keeping his limiting core essentials intact, was a huge task.Miller went far beyond the call of duty. The Dark Knight is a success on every level. Firstly it does keep the core elements of the Batman myth intact, with Robin, Alfred the butler, Commissioner Gordon, and the old roster of villains, present yet brilliantly subverted. Secondly the artwork is fantastic--detailed, sometimes claustrophobic, psychotic. Lastly it's a great story: Gotham City is a hell on earth, street gangs roam but there are no heroes. Decay is ubiquitous. Where is a hero to save Gotham? It is 10 years since the last recorded sighting of the Batman. And things have got worse than ever. Bruce Wayne is close to being a broken man but something is keeping him sane: the need to see change and the belief that he can orchestrate some of that change. Batman is back. The Dark Knight has returned. Awesome. --Mark Thwaite

Best "comic" I have ever read
It's amazing how well this story, originally written as a 4-part mini-series in 1986, has held up. This story is responsible for the re-emergence of Batman not just as a superhero, but as a tortured anti-hero with flaws that make him no less obsessed than the supervillains he hunts. Not only do we get heaping servings of the dark, obsessed Batman, we also meet an him as an older man, a true "lion in winter" who must come to grips with his mortality and the unstoppable decline of age.

Miller allows us to use our hero to percieve the world around us, and in doing so The Dark Knight Returns also ends up as a critique of 20th century society (and 21st, for that matter). Batman is just a few public opinion points away from being considered no different than the likes of Two-Face and the Joker.

The relationships between Batman and those he hunts is simply outstanding work by Frank Miller. Generally, there are three types of villains. The first are everyday thugs that are shallow and meaningless both in dialogue and mentality. The second is a savage gang leader. Powerfully built, full of rage and singularly focused hate often seen in the young, this character forces Batman to confront his own mortality and, in an awesome final confrontation, turn to the experience of age for victory. But the most powerful relations come with Batman and his fights with the classic supervillains Two-Face and The Joker. In one really powerful scene, Batman realizes he is equally as tortured as Two-Face, but with one difference: Two-Face feels remorse and despair for what he has once again become (One panel has him actually jumping off a skyscraper, in a possible suicide attempt). He has recieved redemption from society as well as himself, but was unable to maintain it from either. In contreast, Batman, has accepted what he has become, and revels in his darkness. And then of course, there's my favorite, The Joker. We have here an excellent portrayal of a supervillain with no conscience whatsoever, who commits evil deeds not for any agenda or flawed goal, but simply because he enjoys doing them. His ending scene with Batman is another one to remember, and I can't imagine it happening any other way.

The supporting cast in the graphic novel are also superbly detailed. Superman is portrayed as equal parts god, innocent child, tortured soul, government flunky, dumb jock, and a lampoon of the comic industry's idea of superheroes as flawless humans. The interesting point is, Miller creates a Superman that is not to be mocked, but understood and even sympathized with. His contrast with Batman benefits the development of both characters. Other characters, including a naive yet gifted Robin, a Gordon who is more fully fleshed-out as a cop than anything you'll see on NYPD Blue or Law and Order, and Green Arrow, who has become the epitome of grizzled in a novel full of grizzled ornery old men.

By now, I think you can guess I kind of liked it. Frank Miller has published here a brilliant novel. If the Gods of Hollywood are truly kind, perhaps one day this will be converted into a movie. The excessive use of Batman-as-narrator increases the difficulty of writing a screenplay, but the plot is not only flawless, it is still relevant. Miller, in 1986 mind you, points out how America has a love affair with celebrities (including superheroes), public perception, a fascination with criminals, and how modern media loves to praise heroes (and successful people in general) only to aid in their entertaining downfall from public grace.

By the end of the graphic novel, with some of the most original artwork for it's time (notice how good the story is that I didn't even mention how it looks until now?), Miller has us realizing we have experienced a story that explains obsession, public perception, conscience, mortality, and what it truly means to be a hero better than any psychology textbook could, and I am including those textbooks with the pictures.

Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore

Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore The Killing Joke, one of my favorite Batman stories ever, stirred a bit of controversy because the story involves the Joker brutally, pointlessly shooting Commissioner Gordon's daughter in the spine. This is a no-holds-barred take on a truly insane criminal mind, masterfully written by British comics writer Alan Moore. The art by Brian Bolland is so appealing that his depiction of the Joker became a standard and was imitated by many artists to follow.

Die Laughing, or: Our World in Greasepaint
*Batman: The Killing Joke*, apart from being Tim Burton's favorite comic book, is Alan Moore's most concentrated achievement (working in a shorter format), and, rare amongst adolescent passions, gives me the same pleasure today as it did when I was a wee boy. It is a dark, visual poem, running the gamut from high episodic drama to an interesting attempt at sentimentalism in its (definitive?) portrayal of the Batman/Joker dichotomy. Sure, Moore often falls back on trite phrases and mechanical epithets, but the book's strengths far outweigh my elitist quibbles, both in conception, writing, and visual delivery.

Illustrator Brian Bolland has touched the limits of what can be done in the mainstream comic medium, surpassing even Dave Gibbons in *Watchmen* (that undisputed *Citizen Kane* of graphic novels). I've counted roughly 230 individuated facial expressions in this book's 48 pages, every cameo and minor character penciled, inked, colored, storyboarded into life, the backdrops brimming with nuance and articulated detail, the coloring as lurid and suggestive as Steven Soderbergh's color-coded triple-narrative in *Traffic*. The Joker alone is granted 62 articulated facial expressions (19 during the course of his pre-Joker psychodrama), ranging from bright, sportive lunacy (each facial shot individuated) to an almost genuine grief and sadness towards the end. The spinal-paralytic Barbara Gordon, who appears in only 26 panels, is granted a dramatic reality remarkable given her minor role in the story. The portrait of her staring in bemused horror at the Joker (standing in the hallway with Hawaiian shirt, camera, and revolver), while the scene turns "orange" in anticipation of bloodshed, is the most memorable facial expression I've ever seen rendered in a comic book. As a close runner-up, the Joker's hang-dog look on page 41, as he asks Batman sincerely, "Why aren't you laughing?", is the only *convincing* moment of unfeigned sadness the Joker has ever given us, in any comic book.

The blocking and visual narrative is perfectly tuned, each panel calculated for sleek momentum and smooth dramatic economy. *The Killing Joke* is eye-candy from start to finish, and is over before you know it, leaving one to ponder the perfection of its design. As someone who once aspired to write for comics, I've meditated long and hard on how it might be "one-upped," while remaining in a commercial format, resisting the temptation for self-indulgent surrealist excess (i.e. *Arkham Asylum*). Needless to say, I've yet to come up with a solution.

There is no other comic book that's done so much for the Joker, that's made him as "real," as darkly appealing a figure (almost sentimentally so). The difficulty of representing so hyperbolic a personality, and making him seem refreshingly "human," is a testament to Moore's script and Bolland's incredibly articulated visual style. The duality between Batman and the Joker is a psychodrama I'm always eager to see re-rehearsed, but by 1988, in *The Killing Joke*, the leitmotif may have reached its limit. Even *Arkham Asylum* couldn't overtake it. (And let's face it, *The Dark Knight Returns* just prostituted the Joker for an uninteresting subplot.)

In the mad bacchanalia of our postmedia funhouse-culture, the Batman has become obsolete, an aging revenant that cannot keep up with the Joker's all-too-knowing take on media pathology and American theme-park culture. As Mark Dery points out, the Joker may be (superficially anyhow) Deleuze-Guattari's ideal schizophrenic, a de-centered whirlwind of morbid indulgence who never records "the same event in the same way." As the Joker confesses over the funhouse P.A. system: "Something like that happened to me, you know. I...I'm not exactly sure what it was. Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another. If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice! Ha ha ha!" But now I'm just being cheeky. The reader must decide for himself whether I am "overstating" the Joker's case.

Moore's rough draft for the Joker was Edward Blake (a.k.a. the Comedian) in the aforementioned *Watchmen*. But despite the dramatic achievement of that character appearing drunk in Moloch's bedroom, confessing terror and obsolescence to his old enemy, Moore's Joker is far more chilling, far more suggestive, and as I mentioned, dangerously appealing. The duality between this harlequin in toxic greasepaint and that billionaire-criminologist who "dress[es] up like a flying rat" reminds me of a certain line from Cervantes: "Don Quixote is a madman and we are sane, yet he goes away sound and laughing while your Grace is left here, battered and sorrowful. I wish you would tell me now who is the crazier: the one who is so because he cannot help it, or he who turns crazy of his own free will?" Batman turns crazy to put himself on the wavelength of the villains he tracks and combats, and the consequences for him (and those he protects) are real and immediate.

If Moore's thesis is correct, then it would seem that Batman *needs* the Joker, if not to rehabilitate him, well, then, simply to *contain* him, as a talisman held up in uneasy triumph against the impending waves of fin-de-millennial mass dementia. In one scene, the Joker boasts: "I've demonstrated there's no difference between me and everyone else! All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day." John Wayne Gacy would be proud.

*The Killing Joke * succeeds because it is able to cloak its pretentions in a commercial format, allowing us to put our guards down just long enough for Moore and Bolland to hit us hard. It may seem silly to try and "intellectualize" comics, but as the medium develops, a more sophisticated criticism is required to play catch-up with its images and explorations, and Alan Moore has long been a figurehead worth catching up to.

Olympic Dreams by Guoqi Xu is The Chinese government has said over and over in the last few months that the Beijing Olympics should not be politicized. The uproar over Tibet has no place in the Games, officials insist. Nor do humanitarian concerns over Sudan's Darfur region belong in the Olympic spotlight. As for human rights in China itself, well, that's an internal matter.

Yet, politics have long been at the heart of China's relations with the modern Olympic movement, as Xu Guoqi, an associate professor at Kalamazoo College, shows in his illuminating history, Olympic Dreams. The first time China participated in the Games, in 1932 at Los Angeles, the goal was to prevent Japan from scoring a propaganda coup. Japanese occupation authorities had planned to dispatch a stocky Chinese sprinter named Liu Changchun to represent the Manchukuo republic, the puppet state Japan had set up in Manchuria and Mongolia. To foil that plan, China's Nationalist government hurriedly scraped together some money and sent Liu as a one-man Chinese delegation. He fared poorly as a sprinter but held high the Chinese flag.

Later on, Mao Zedong saw sports victories as a way to prove the superiority of the socialist way. On advice from the U.S.S.R., China cultivated national teams. But during the first two decades of Communist rule, China kept its athletes out of the Olympics to protest Taiwan's participation. (More recently, both China and Taiwan have sent teams under artful compromises over the island's name.)

When Mao decided the time had come to make friends in the West, he also found sports a handy tool for that purpose. Mao and President Nixon had been exchanging secret messages through intermediaries for months before the Chinese sent a team to the World Table Tennis Championship in Japan in April 1971. As Xu relates, Zhou En-lai, who was in charge of foreign relations, issued detailed instructions to the Chinese players on what to do if they met Americans. "The Chinese were not permitted to exchange team flags," for example, but they "could shake hands," Xu notes. When American player Glenn Cowan jumped on a Chinese bus to greet Chinese star Zhuang Zedong, Zhuang was ready with a silk painting to present as a gift. Mao then gave the order for the Chinese players to invite the U.S. team to China; by the end of the month, the Americans had alighted in Beijing. "The small ping-pong ball, worth only about 25 cents, played a unique and significant role . . . in transforming Sino-U.S. relations," Xu concludes.

Even before Mao, sports had played an eminently political role in China. Chinese nationalists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw athletics as a way to create vigorous men who could wage war and change the country's reputation as the "sick man of east Asia." As part of the national revival they hoped to foster, they embraced Western sports to counter the Mandarin paradigm of Chinese men as spindly, sedentary and effete.

Despite the reformers' efforts, to some degree the old paradigm has remained alive. Traditionally, most Chinese have been brought up to think they should be clever, disciplined and able to bear hardship, but not powerful or swift. Because Yao Ming's jousts with fellow NBA giants and Liu Xiang's triumph in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics shattered racial stereotypes, they were hailed as breakthroughs by a new generation of Chinese. The 2008 Beijing Olympics, where China hopes to win more medals than any other nation, also was intended to have a political message.

Since abandoning doctrinaire socialism three decades ago, China has enjoyed an economic explosion that has given its 1.3 billion people a standard of living their parents could hardly imagine, and the government has entered into normal relations with most countries, becoming a diplomatic as well as an economic player in Asia and beyond. By hosting the Games, China was going to celebrate this status. Perhaps more important, it was going to receive international recognition of its achievements and, in some measure, acceptance of the Communist Party's glacial pace toward political change.

Xu's misfortune, and China's, is that this landscape, which he ably paints in his final chapter, shifted not long after the manuscript was sent to the printer. Riots in Tibet and protests along the Olympic Torch relay route created a global audience for questions about China's worthiness to host the Olympics. The atmosphere has soured badly, and no one knows whether it can be repaired before the Games begin in August.

The May 12 earthquake in Sichuan also will affect the Olympics. A country in mourning, China is likely to attract sympathy. But sorrow may change the tone of the event. Xu's history of China's participation in the Olympics remains enlightening, but the unsettled 2008 Games have become the stuff of journalism, changing every day.

Olympic Architecture by Beijing Institute of Architectural Desig is Without a doubt the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will not only attract worldwide attention for the sporting contests, but also for the architectural settings and arenas. The exemplary and prestigious stadiums will remain of interest long after the games are over.

Olympic Architecture, Beijing 2008 is a comprehensive survey of all the venues for the 29th Olympic Games. It provides detailed insights into the specialized stadium architecture with an abundance of visual material such as bird s-eye views, illustrations of details, plans/elevations/sections, and rendering drawings.

Part One of the volume is an overview written by Ma Guoxin, architectural master and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Part Two gives descriptions of the individual Olympic venues, including 15 newly-built ones (e.g. the Main Olympic Project Bird's Nest by Herzog & De Meuron, and the National Aquatics Center Water Cube by the China Construction Design International (Shenzhen) of CSCEC, PTW Architects, Australia, and Arup Australasia), 14 reconstructed buildings (e.g. Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Workers Stadium) and 6 temporary structures (e.g. Olympic Green Hockey Field, Wukesong Baseball Field).

Olympics (DK Eyewitness Books)by DK Publishing is not what I had in mind when placing the order for this book but, I find it fascinating and useful all the same. Can't wait for the next Olympics to start and will be glued to my TV for those 16 days. I am a fan of the whole Olympic Ideal and try to watch as much as I can. I am also a huge fan of "Chariots of Fire", about the 1924 Olympics and "1896: The First Modern Olympics", about how the U. S. put our team together and got the athletes to Athens in time for the games.

The Official History of the Olympic Games and the IOC: From Athens to Beijing, 1894-2008 (Official History of the Olympic Games & the Ioc)by David Miller Together with the highs and lows of the Games themselves, this illustrated chronicle includes the recreation of the Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin and the often tempestuous and controversial fortunes of the governing body—including three successive boycotts and the Salt Lake City scandal of 1998. It also tells the story of the historic competitors—from Spyridon Louis (the inaugural Marathon winner) and such heroes as Jim Thorpe, Paavo Nurmi, Sonja Heine, Jesse Owens, Greg Louganis, and Carl Lewis, to more recent medal winners, including Steve Redgrave and Kathy Freeman. The twin evolutions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the world's greatest sports festival unfold in alternate chapters, each of which begins with a personal reminiscence by either a famous champion or a notable IOC figure. Detailed background is provided on the many crises—the Nazi Games of 1936, the massacre at Mexico City in 1968, the Israeli slaughter by terrorists in 1972, the boycotts, the new commercialism from 1984 onwards, the advent of professionals from 1988, and the ongoing threat of drug abuse. Included is how the credibility of the Games and of the IOC was rescued by the glory of Sydney 2000, and how the sporting world anticipated the Games' return in 2004 to the country of their ancient origins.

Summer Olympics: The Definitive Guide to the World's Greatest Sports Celebration by Clive Gifford is From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8–A strong, ambitious, and useful title. Each subject is presented on a spread introduced by an enticing paragraph and accompanied by colorful, active photographs and diagrams. Subtopics are handled in lengthy paragraphs dynamically arranged across the pages. A historical introduction is followed by topical arrangements of the significance of the Olympics; track-and-field events; water events; precision, strength, and combat events; and cycling, equestrian, ball, and racket sports. They often include quick facts on past notable athletes, Olympic records, and stop-motion computer illustrations demonstrating how the sport is played. Each entry provides enough information to satisfy most casual readers, but many events are just mentioned in passing. Between these chapters there are features on past Games considered of particular significance such as those held in Berlin, Mexico City, and Sydney, but specific Olympiads are mostly underrepresented. The final section features facts, figures, and Olympic anecdotes. Overall, this is a worthwhile general addition to most collections as its usefulness will extend past this summer's games.–Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
This ambitious and current title is a fantastic must-have in order to be prepared for this summer. (School Library Journal )

This companion to the 2004 Olympics compiles background information on athletic events and competitors...and outlines highlights of past Games. (Publishers Weekly )

Product Description
Created by an award-winning author-and-illustrator team, Olympics sets the stage with facts, articles, and essential background information across the complete range of Olympic summer competition. Every aspect of the summer games is covered, including their history, the bidding process, training and qualifying, and life in the Olympic Village. Coverage of the events themselves captures the exhilaration of competing at the pinnacle of world sports—from explosive sprints and the grace of gymnastics to the proving grounds of endurance, the marathon and triathlon, and everything in between.

In addition, special spreads celebrate the great summer Olympics, from Stockholm 1912 to the record-breaking games of Sydney 2000. Olympic achievements are highlighted at the back of the book, bringing to life the great rivalries and honoring those competitors who battled adversity to shine on the world's stage.

About the Author
Clive Gifford is an award-winning author of more than fifty books on the subjects of sports and soccer. His previous titles for Kingfisher include The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia, Soccer Skills, Summer Olympics, and Soccer.

FracturedI is love, love, LOVE a good mystery. I am an avid watcher of all things CSI & Law & Order. I watch & tivo them religiously.

I was thrilled to start reading this book & envisioning it as an episode on Thursday night's CBS line-up.

Abigail is arguing on the phone with her wayward husband when she opens the front door & sees a young man holding a knife standing over the body of her teenage daughter. Abigail instantly goes into "mama bear" mode & the young man ends up dead. At her hands. And the body is not her daughter, but her daughter's best friend.

It is up to Georgia Bureau of Investigations detective, Will Trent, to find Abigail's daughter & the man who kidnapped her daughter & killed her best friend.

In a series of twists & turns, Karin Slaughter knows how to write a great mystery. And if you are familiar with her work, then you are familiar with Will Trent. And once again, the ending will leave you surprised.

Amazing Storyline, Heart Pounding Action, Superb Character Development and Intensity Spread Across the Pages
Karin Slaughter's latest release, Fractured is completely deserving of the acclaim and high praises it has received. Abigail Campano arrives home to discover her door unlocked and shattered glass around her feet. Her first response is fear for the well being of her daughter, Emma. As she rushes upstairs, she comes face to face with the battered and bloody body of her daughter and a man kneeling over her body with a knife in his hand. Pure adrenaline and rage consumes Abigail and she strangles the man to death. Enter Will Trent, member of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Will struggles with the crime scene and determines that the brutalized body upstairs does not belong to Emma Campano, but to her best friend Kayla, and the murdered man Abigail strangled with her bare hands was actually Emma's boyfriend, whose attempt to save Emma and Kayla got him killed. The shift from the murder to the reality of the kidnapping of Emma, forces Will to pair up with Atlanta officer Faith Mitchell. Running against the clock and without any suspects or leads, Will and Faith must work together to find Emma and catch a killer. Fractured is filled with plot twists and heart pounding intensity. Beyond Karin Slaughter's ability to provide her readers with an excellent storyline and superb mystery, she is able to delve into the characters emotions and backgrounds so deeply that readers feel they know these men and women. The return of our favorites like Will and his boss Amanda paired with new intriguing characters like Faith, Abigail and the monstrous villains will surly please its audience. Fractured is by far one of Slaughter's best works, she gives her readers everything and them some more.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore Katsa is a Graceling, blessed (or cursed) with the ability to kill with her bare hands. Since she is the niece of the King, she is used as an enforcer, sent out to torture or kill those who have wronged him in some way. Although she doesn't particularly enjoy her job, she is very, very good at it. What the King doesn't know is that Katsa is also the founder of the Council, a group of nobles and commoners who work together to protect those who are vulnerable to the often cruel and frequently capricious whims of the powerful. When a prince from another kingdom is kidnapped, the Council sets out to rescue him and discover both the person behind the kidnapping, and its purpose.

Enter Prince Po, the kidnapped victim's grandson, whose Grace makes him almost a physical match for Katsa, and whose personality makes him endlessly fascinating to her. After Katsa refuses to carry out one of her uncle's orders, she and Po set out to discover the reason behind his grandfather's kidnapping. On the road, they discover more about their unusual skills, and encounter a King with a Grace so powerful it could literally destroy their universe.

Graceling is, quite simply, one of the best new fantasy books I've read recently. Katsa is a fantastic heroine. Her relationships with family, conspirators, and Po unfold naturally, and her journey from enforcer to protector is well-crafted and believable. The concept of some people having superpowers is not, of course, new, but the Graces in this book are presented in a very unique, original way. One of the things I particularly enjoy is that not all of the Graces mentioned would be useful in any real way, which adds a touch of realism. Graceling will be released in October 2008, and I'm already hoping eagerly for a sequel.

Graceling(Hardcover) by Kristin Cashore

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