Jordan Belfort, the "Wolf of Wall Street" is not an accomplished writer, and at first the book feels tedious, spending too much time on details--the fJordan Belfort, the "Wolf of Wall Street" is not an accomplished writer, and at first the book feels tedious, spending too much time on details--the first 100+ pages takes place during a single day. Once the Wolf's plans get off the ground, things pick up, and the book becomes addictive. Belfort is a very smart man, and it is fascinating to watch his brain scheme business partners and dodge financial regulations. One of the more striking things about reading a first-hand account of a white collar criminal is that there is no difference between them and the regular kind: there's just more money involved. Ironically, a white collar criminal inflicts more damage on society, but get less jail time, a cushier jail cell, and less scorn than the average bank robber. Really though, a bank robber could never come close to running off with as much money as The Wolf does.
Belfort gives everyone a nickname, which adds to the book's cartoonishness. I've yet to see the movie version, but I can only imagine how much of the book's depravity made it on to the screen. The Wolf, as well as his friends, consume insane amounts of drugs, and spend obscene amounts of money. That this is/was life for anyone is unfathomable. How are any of these people still alive? Who knew it was possible to buy $10,000 worth of silk sheets?
All the money that Belfort and his friends made changed them, and they were able to pay off and replace anything and anyone. For the very wealthy, the world is malleable in a way that the rest of will never experience, and this book proves that that is not necessarily a good thing.
Despite Belfort's awful behavior, I found myself liking him. He has a sequel that follows his cooperation with the FBI and prison sentence. It's on my 'to-read' list....more
Temple Grandin is a high functioning autistic woman, and in this book she shares the challenges and blessings of seeing the world in a different way. Temple Grandin is a high functioning autistic woman, and in this book she shares the challenges and blessings of seeing the world in a different way. She also writes a lot about autism--how it is diagnosed, treated, and even crucial to human evolution.
Though this book is not a page-turner, it offers a perspective on the world that the vast majority of people cannot comprehend. I especially enjoyed reading her views on religion, spirituality, and death. Her work, designing humane slaughterhouse equipment for cattle, may be a better example of her genius, but her writing is what makes her an extraordinary human being. ...more
This is a very emotional book to read, in both good and bad ways. The horrific details of Michael Vick's dog fighting practices are fairly well known This is a very emotional book to read, in both good and bad ways. The horrific details of Michael Vick's dog fighting practices are fairly well known at this point, and even then, it is still difficult to hear about them. What makes this book worth reading is that it is NOT about the awful things Vick and his cohorts did, it is about the brave and compassionate people that fought to bring them to justice, and give the rescued dogs a chance at redemption.
Since I don't want to spoil the ending, I'll just say that the outcomes of these dogs show that pit bulls are not the vicious killers they are portrayed to be, and that dogs are amazingly resilient creatures with a lot to teach us. Have a box of tissues nearby when you read this....more
The title of this book is somewhat misleading, as it is not a memoir about cooking, food service, or the restaurant business. What it is about is a liThe title of this book is somewhat misleading, as it is not a memoir about cooking, food service, or the restaurant business. What it is about is a life, with a great appreciation for the food that fueled it. Kate Christensen's memoir is a delicious read, not just because she uses food to flesh out her recollections, but also because writes sensually about colors, scents, textures. She is a fantastic writer. This is the perfect thing to read while wrapped in a blanket, with a warm mug of something nearby. It's comfort food in book form....more
In the past month I've read three books by Dr. Brian Weiss, and became fascinated with regression therapy. Weiss recommended this title for further reIn the past month I've read three books by Dr. Brian Weiss, and became fascinated with regression therapy. Weiss recommended this title for further reading.
Edith Fiore's book is essentially a collection of case studies. Each chapter begins with a short description of a patient and the issues they want to address through regression therapy (aka past life hypnosis). Transcripts of these sessions are included, which makes this book very easy to read. Whether or not the patient believed in past lives before engaging in this treatment, they all felt changed by what they experienced.
I prefer Dr. Weiss' books because they offer more insight about spirituality and the nature of the soul. In some ways, Dr. Fiore's book is more scientific because she merely recounts the problems, the treatment, and the results without adding larger spiritual lessons. You might even finish this book and believe that her patients made these things up, having elaborate and ultimately cathartic dreams while under hypnosis, instead of genuine past life experiences. Either way, this stuff is fascinating, and I'd pass this along to skeptics for an easy introduction....more
Aside from reading a few short blurbs about this novel, I knew very little about it. This story is about a dysfunctional family and is darkly funny anAside from reading a few short blurbs about this novel, I knew very little about it. This story is about a dysfunctional family and is darkly funny and sad. From what other people on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ have written, THAT is all a potential reader should know for maximum enjoyment, and I completely agree. I won't spoil things by giving you any more in the way of plot. Karen Joy Fowler had a bestseller a few years ago, which I did not read, but am now interested in grabbing.
Alexander Payne would be the ideal director for the movie adaptation. ...more
Most people would have preferred to become shark food than endure what Unbroken's protagonist did. It was difficult to get through, as Laura HillenbraMost people would have preferred to become shark food than endure what Unbroken's protagonist did. It was difficult to get through, as Laura Hillenbrand researched this so extensively that no grueling detail was left out. Louis Zamperini, the book's subject, is a hero just for surviving these ordeals. That he did not let those events destroy his goodness and dignity is astounding. ...more
Though many of the reviews of Night Film were lukewarm, I finished it a few days ago, and gave it five stars because I haven't read a book so quickly,Though many of the reviews of Night Film were lukewarm, I finished it a few days ago, and gave it five stars because I haven't read a book so quickly, so hungrily, in a long time, and days later, I'm still thinking about it. Going back to the tepid reception, I suspect that because the book is so suspenseful, and the pages mount to over 600 (at least in the e-book version) that there's no way for the ending of the mystery to be mind blowing. Once you know the answer, the rest of the chase loses its luster.
In general, mystery novels are not great for re-reading because knowing how it ends shakes the suspense from everything that comes before. What Pessl did with her previous novel, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, and somewhat less successfully in Night Film, is create a world so rich in detail that visiting it is enough of a reason to keep reading. STICP is one of my all-time favorite books, and I read it a second time. Night Film may not have carved a similar space in my heart, but I had a great time reading it. ...more
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