All-TIME 100 Best Nonfiction Books - TIME

All-TIME 100 Best Nonfiction Books - TIME:

... like my "to be read" pile isn't big enough already!

'via Blog this'

Life is good

I finally went to the movies and saw The King's Speech today.  I loved it!  So glad I saw it in the theater instead of waiting for the DVD.

Then went and had a wonderful Thai meal.  Just the right amount of heat make my mouth burn slightly.

Now I'm home and popping in the first disc of Big Love Season 4.

Let the snow fall (and, trust me, it is falling!) ... life is good!

Today’s Sandwich: “Original” Italian (Amato’s) — From Away

What an awesome description of an Italian sandwich:

The final thing, however, that you need to know about the “Original” Italian from Amato’s, is that they are like crack frigging cocaine, and when I say that, it is quite literally because after having my first one, I felt like a giant, omniscient being had grabbed me by the chest, pulled me through a wooshing tunnel of blurred, misconceived reality, setting me on my feet with new eyes, blinking back tears at the new world that lay before me, yet frustratingly just out of my grasp. I instantly began planning when I would have my next fix, I would have stolen from friends and family or sold my body on the street to get the money, and I realized that I would never again feel as much joy in my heart as I did after that first bite, destined to forever chase that first, elusive high.

Favorite Book Podcasts

Here are some of my favorite book-related podcasts:

Bookrageous ... http://bookrageous.tumblr.com/ ... fairly new, so I've only listened to 1 episode so far

Books on the Nightstand ... http://booksonthenightstand.com/

Do Nothing But Read ... http://dnbrd.org/

Murmur Book Club ... http://www.murmur.com/literature/book_club_discussion_for_the_amazing_adventures_of_kavalier_and_clay.html ... for this one you have to click on their "book club" tag to see all the book club entries (both online discussions and podcasts)

Book Review: The Passage

The Passage by Justin Cronin

This was just a great read.  I picked it up, started reading, got engrossed in the story, and was sorry when it ended.  (In that regard I'm glad it's the first part of a trilogy, because I know there will be more ... eventually!)  The story starts out by detailing a scientific event that derails society as we know it and gives the background on several people involved in that event.  Then it jumps ahead a couple of generations to a time when people have adjusted and adapted to life post-event.  The story continues from there with a (mostly) new cast of characters.  

Overall, I loved this book.  Storytelling at its best.

Note:  I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 5/17/10) as part of its Early Reviewers program.

Book Review: Talking Tails

Talking Tails: The Incredible Connection Between People and Their Pets by Ann Love

This was a very cute and very informative book about pets.  I thought it might be more of a picture book, but it's a bit older than that.  There was great information, stories, and illustrations.  I also enjoyed the running timeline at the bottom of each page showing pet-related events throughout history.

Very enjoyable!

Note:  I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 5/17/10) as part of its Early Reviewers program.

Book Review: The Spirit Level

The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger by Richard Wilkinson

The book is broken into different chapters, each showing how a particular social issue is impacted by the level of equality in society.  It compares different countries as well as different US states.  The premise is that countries (or states) with higher levels of equality are better off than those with lower levels.  I can't speak to how valid the research methods are or whether data was accurate, as other reviewers have.  I did find myself skimming over much of the data and details and just glancing at the graphs ... especially as I got further into the book.  In that regard it seemed very repetitive ... different topic, same analysis, same result ... the same countries (or states) ranking poorly each time.  

Overall, it was a worthwhile read and raised some very interesting points, but it took me a while to finish it.

Note:  I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 5/17/10) as part of its Early Reviewers program.

Book Review: Half Moon

Half Moon: Henry Hudson and the Voyage That Redrew the Map of the New World by Douglas Hunter

This is the history of Henry Hudson's voyage where he discovered the Hudson River. While the story was interesting, ultimately I found it buried too deeply for me to enjoy. The details on ship construction, sailing, and navigation were just too distracting for someone (like me) with no background in these areas. The narrative also often jumped from the main story to a description of a previous or even a subsequent voyage, which interrupted the flow.

Overall, it was a worthwhile read, but it took me a long time to get through it because I kept losing interest. I must say that the second half of the book seemed to move along much more smoothly than the first half.

Note:  I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 3/9/10) as part of its Early Reviewers program.

Book Review: Wake Up Dead

Wake Up Dead by Roger Smith

This is a fast-paced book set in Cape Town, South Africa. It starts out as the story of Roxy Palmer but quickly expands to include two car-jackers ... then drug dealers, cops, former cops, and numerous innocent bystanders. The story is very fast and very violent. In a way it reminds me of A Simple Plan (by Scott D. Smith) ... where the action starts with a single decision and then spirals quickly out of control.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and finished it in only a couple of sittings. The blood and violence get to be a bit much at times ... but ultimately I wanted to know how it ended.

Note: I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 1/18/10) as part of its Early Reviewers program

Book Review: The Klezmer Bunch

The Klezmer Bunch by Amalia Hoffman

This is a charming book about klezmer musicians traveling to play at a wedding ... complete with instruments and a runaway baby carriage. The pictures are wonderful! There is even a glossary at the back to translate the Yiddish words.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 11/29/09) as part of its Early Reviewers program

Book Review: A Supremely Bad Idea

A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All by Luke Dempsey

This book is kind of a travel memoir around the author's birding trips with his friends. He gives some of his personal background, some local history of the areas he visits, and lots of information about the birds he sees. He and his traveling partners run into some colorful folk along the way that make for entertaining stories.

The writing is light-hearted and humorous but I didn't find myself getting carried away by it. It was entertaining but not a "must read." I never got caught up in the birding aspect either although I do find myself paying a bit more attention now when a bird flies by.

Review originally posted to LibraryThing (LT review, 10/13/09) as part of its Early Reviewers program