Wednesday, November 9, 2005The Amazing RaceI find this television "reality show" fascinating, but also disturbing. Some of the contestants are wonderful ambassadors for our country, remembering to thank those who help them along the way. But others are complete jerks, making it quite clear why many places in the world consider Americans to... Sign in to see full entry.Tuesday, November 8, 2005More Marvelous McCaffreyAnne McCaffrey's series about the Talents is another foray into a wonderful, believable, and compelling otherworld. Beginning with the three-book "sub-series" generally called "Pegasus," McCaffrey describes a future Earth that has discovered uses for telepaths, telekinetics, and others who can tap... Sign in to see full entry.Thursday, November 3, 2005Pern, Glorious PernI've been engrossed in re-reading Anne McCaffrey's marvelous series of books about Pern... and it is as wonderful the second time as it was the first time, nearly 15 years ago. Comprising some 20 books written between 1968 and 2005, along with a number of short stories and novellas (originally... Sign in to see full entry.Tuesday, November 1, 2005The Spider and the Fly... by Mary Howitt and retold by Tony DeTerlizzi, is a really good kids' book. My sons found it at the library, and we've checked it out four times now. I'll probably give them their own copies at birthday time. The Spider and the Fly is a really creative re-telling of the 1800s poem "Will you come... Sign in to see full entry.Sunday, October 30, 2005A Unique and Useful Addition to Your Cookbook CollectionFor the serious cook who doesn't want to waste the tiniest morsel of the good food, this book is a treasure-trove. For the capable cook who needs to stretch his food budget as far as possible, this book is a godsend. For the neophyte cook who wants to learn to make the most of everything in his... Sign in to see full entry.Friday, October 28, 2005Some Great Kids' BooksThe children and I have discovered a wonderful children's author: Bill Peet. I saw one of his books at the library, glanced through it, and immediately checked out every book of his that they had available. Peet worked for Walt Disney Studios from 1937 to 1964, and the quality of his own books... Sign in to see full entry.Thursday, October 27, 2005Tricky BusinessDave Barry's second novel delivers the same hilarious and fast-paced action as his first. Tricky Business is a wonderful novel in the true Barry style. The plot revolves around a gambling cruise ship that leaves a wharf in Florida every night to take its passengers into international waters, where... Sign in to see full entry.Tuesday, October 25, 2005Big TroubleThis is one of Dave Barry's novels, and it does not disappoint. It's just as hysteria-inducing as any of Barry's columns, without the booger jokes. The basic plot of Big Trouble is simple. What happens when two hit men arrive in Miami to kill an embezzler only to get mixed up in arms smuggling, a... Sign in to see full entry.Monday, October 24, 2005Did You Know?French Women Don't Get Fat, and after reading Mireille Guiliano's book, I now know why. This is a fascinating book on many levels. Part memoir, part diet book, part cookbook, it it a wholly satisfying read. Mireille (meeRAY) was a normal teenager until she came to America as an exchange student.... Sign in to see full entry.Friday, October 21, 2005A Profound and Inspiring BookI think that The Disciplined Life, by Richard S. Taylor, should be required reading for everyone aged thirteen and up. In fact, it shoudl be given to thirteen-year-olds with the warning that if they fail to follow the directions in the book, they will never truly be "grown-up," no matter how old... Sign in to see full entry. |