A lovely sequel to the Wild Robot. Though we no longer are surprised by Roz and her thoughts, and while we know the outcome of the plot, it was still A lovely sequel to the Wild Robot. Though we no longer are surprised by Roz and her thoughts, and while we know the outcome of the plot, it was still enjoyable to see her interact with humans and figure out how to get back to her son -- and to see who helped and who hindered her along the way.
I picked up this book because I have been trying to turn my eating habits towards whole foods plant based eating -- and this one is not for me becauseI picked up this book because I have been trying to turn my eating habits towards whole foods plant based eating -- and this one is not for me because it includes eggs in many of the recipes. However, if you would like to eat more veggies, this might be a useful book. I did think that some of the soups, Moroccan cauliflower, and tofu or noodle dishes sounded delicious....more
When it takes me a while to finish a book, when I am not eager to get to it every night before lights out, I wonder why...
I was drawn to this story tWhen it takes me a while to finish a book, when I am not eager to get to it every night before lights out, I wonder why...
I was drawn to this story that is based on time travel and intrigue. It is also a love story but a subtle one...The story is about a a handful of people who have been pulled from the past into the present because they were going to die anyway. They each are given a bridge, and the story focuses on the narrator who is the bridge for Graham Gore as he learns to adapt to modern London life (Gore was a naval officer who had been on the Erebus, one of two ships in the fatal Franklin expedition in Arctic waters -- the other being the Terror --when both crews ended up disappearing when the ships became ice bound in 1845).
This book has a really good premise, but it is slow going for the first 200 pages as there is not much plot. Nothing much really happens -- although we get to know the characters better, including Arthur, who had been pulled out of the trenches and Maggie who is from the 16th century and has a very fun way of expressing herself.
When the plot kicks in, I feel that I might have missed the reason why the people had been pulled into the present from the past (something about saving the future), but it did become more page turning in the last 150 pages. But it's not clear why these specific individuals were chosen nor what the goal of the Brigadier is nor why things are going to hell in a hand basket.
The writing itself is fresh and well crafted. And I can totally see this made into a movie (so I was not surprized to read that the rights have already been bought up). As a side note: a TV show had been made on the doomed Franklin expedition called The Terror, and it was already on my watch list when I picked up this book, so I wonder how Gore will be portrayed there....more
Of the three cookbooks I looked through by Joe Yonan, this one was the best one. There were many dips and soups and mains that sounded tasty�. And creOf the three cookbooks I looked through by Joe Yonan, this one was the best one. There were many dips and soups and mains that sounded tasty�. And creative uses for beans in drinks or desserts that I am not quite adventurous to try�....more
Unfortunately, the recipes really did not appeal to me, but I like Yohan’s voice and the idea of the book: it’s worth cooking for one. However, his boUnfortunately, the recipes really did not appeal to me, but I like Yohan’s voice and the idea of the book: it’s worth cooking for one. However, his book Cool Beans had a lot of tasty sounding recipes, especially the dips, and interesting dessert and drink recipes. The bean is so versatile!...more
Unfortunately, the recipes really did not appeal to me, but I like Yohan’s voice and the idea of the book: it’s worth cooking for one. However, his boUnfortunately, the recipes really did not appeal to me, but I like Yohan’s voice and the idea of the book: it’s worth cooking for one. However, his book Cool Beans has a lot of tasty sounding recipes, especially the dips, and interesting dessert and drink recipes. The bean is so versatile!...more
An excellent book that covers various cuisines. I wish there were more photos but I could imagine the results and would love to make some of the recipAn excellent book that covers various cuisines. I wish there were more photos but I could imagine the results and would love to make some of the recipes soon. A very good, thorough compendium of delicious foods!...more
**spoiler alert** I recently enjoyed the film version of this story, so I decided to pick up the book. However, the book is very different from the fi**spoiler alert** I recently enjoyed the film version of this story, so I decided to pick up the book. However, the book is very different from the film, so much so that they tell two different stories despite the kid having the same name....and there being an iron giant in both.
I liked how the book began with a focus on the giant before introducing the humans. There is a very different relationship between the boy and the giant than the film, the boy more so being on the same wavelength as the adults in the town rather than going against them and defending and hiding the giant. For this reason, the junk yard has a different function too.
And the climactic battle at the end is also changed. Rather than a self sacrificing moment, the giant in the book has a contest of strength with the creature from outer space, wins it, and basically enslaves the creature. What I found really weird is this ending where the creature provides the music of the spheres to the humans below, calming them and making them better people, is lauded as a move for peace (the book was written in 1968, the height of the space race and the arms race between East and West). But how can peace rest on the enslavement of a sentient being?...more
This chapter book story from the late 1940s is about Elmer Elevator, the narrator’s father. When he was young, the father was kind to an elderly alleyThis chapter book story from the late 1940s is about Elmer Elevator, the narrator’s father. When he was young, the father was kind to an elderly alley cat that tells him about how the wild animals of a faraway island exploit and abuse a baby dragon, forcing it to ferry them across a river. Elmer decides to save the dragon.
A good story for kids 8-10. I like learning about and reading children’s books, and it was interesting to see that this story basically held up 75 years later…well except for the boy’s mother “whipping� him when she found out that he was still taking care of the cat she had told him not to....more
An excellent book if you are curious about plant based cooking and want to give it a try. This morning, I made the tofu scramble with tomatoes and spiAn excellent book if you are curious about plant based cooking and want to give it a try. This morning, I made the tofu scramble with tomatoes and spinach, and it was a very filling and tasty brunch item�
There are simple clean healthy recipes for everyone. I am curious about the tahini chocolate chip cookies and mini raspberry cheez cakes as well as the lentil loaf and creamy mushroom pasta�
Looking forward to trying a few more recipes....more
I read this after Frankenstein Takes the Cake, and after reading reviews that preferred this prior book. I found that I preferred the Cake. I think thI read this after Frankenstein Takes the Cake, and after reading reviews that preferred this prior book. I found that I preferred the Cake. I think this is because that one felt a little more geared towards adults. I think the Poe sections in that are much wittier and more creative than the Phantom of the Opera sections in this book. The parts I really enjoyed were the poems on the Yeti and Bigfoot not liking to be referred to by the other’s name.
But it was an enjoyable read this afternoon at the library as I waited for my ride to show up....more
There are a handful of recipes that I would try and Headley’s comments about ingredients and pointers give off a completely different vibe than his FaThere are a handful of recipes that I would try and Headley’s comments about ingredients and pointers give off a completely different vibe than his Fancy Desserts book (which I gave 1 star to), but I have to say the pictures aren’t so appetizing. The food is made at a cafe in NYC, so many items are shown in paper takeout containers, some of the food overflowing out of them as if dolloped into the container in haste so that the next customer can be served. It looks like bar food, so a little oily looking�. But there are interesting combinations and more unusual fare than most vegan cookbooks that might be worth exploring�....more
There are a few reviews of this book, some glowing. But I think the style and content were annoying. It looks like a scrapbook-homemade-punk tour-zineThere are a few reviews of this book, some glowing. But I think the style and content were annoying. It looks like a scrapbook-homemade-punk tour-zine about things and people who are not interesting to me with interspersed recipes that often require special equipment or ingredients or oodles of time and finicky steps�. Sure, fancy desserts from an acclaimed chef will likely be difficult to replicate, but I at least want to be inspired by the chef, and I was not.
Here’s an example from the foreword that sets the tone:
“Cooking starts with learning to boil water, but you have no idea how difficult it is to boil water. First, you have your heart broken, and then you revel in the natural wonder of a fresh peach straight off a tree. Next, you drive four hundred miles in a van with no heat and one working door to find out the show has been cancelled, but you set your shit up and play anyhow, making sure to bolt before the flashing lights get too close. You have to fuck countless people, or one person who really counts. You need to feel your face flush with embarrassment and beam with pride, and freeze in abject boredom between the two�.� And this goes on for four more long sentences before ending with, “Boiling water is a bitch.�
This honestly sounds like the first-year creative writing pieces that I had encountered at many open mics during grad school…those attempts to be deep, philosophical, but ending up coming across as pretentious as shit and weirdly sounding like every other 20-something trying to express themselves poetically.
ShawnMS’s negative review sums up my feelings (but I did not end up liking the chef and giving the book 3 stars as they did).
I am obviously not the audience for this book. You might be. If so, enjoy....more
One has to be familiar with the original fairy tales to appreciate the parodies of these “fairly stupid tales,� and they were all a lot of fun, silly,One has to be familiar with the original fairy tales to appreciate the parodies of these “fairly stupid tales,� and they were all a lot of fun, silly, and each in its own way expands upon the fairy tale world� the frog who tells a princess he’s a prince, the prince who tricks his parents and puts a bowling ball under the mattresses in the place of the pea, Jack and the Giant arguing who is going to tell their story, etc.
I think I heard about this book from a list of books Neil Gaiman recommended�....more
This book contains blog posts from the Headless Horseman, poems about Edgar Allen Poe, a parody of the comic strip Peanuts with Dracula Jr as Charlie This book contains blog posts from the Headless Horseman, poems about Edgar Allen Poe, a parody of the comic strip Peanuts with Dracula Jr as Charlie Brown, and a through story about Frankenstein’s monster getting married, among other monsters and poems.
Love the idea of poems about monsters. However, I do agree with some reviewers that the rhymes were at times tough to make work, but the Poe poems are parodies, so you need to know the rhythms of Poe’s more famous poems to scan them. I also agree that the book seems to be geared more so to adults as kids would not get many of the references (Tipper Gore, anyone?), but it feels like a Pixar movie where different audiences would get different levels of nuance. I already ordered his prior book Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich that people felt was a stronger one and look forward to reading it....more
The premise of this novel is great: imagine if on a flight an old woman gets up and starts predicting how the people around her will die and at what aThe premise of this novel is great: imagine if on a flight an old woman gets up and starts predicting how the people around her will die and at what age. And when one of the passengers dies as predicted, how will the other passengers respond to their predicted futures?
While I did find the early chapters, especially the ones from the point of view of the older woman, slow, the set up needs to be in place for the novel to then unravel, and the second half of the book had me turning the pages faster, especially when it came to Ethan’s story�.
Ultimately, the message here is one we have heard before but perhaps in the bustle of life forget or can’t do: live every day as if it were your last. Or at least find one good thing in every day�....more
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