What a beautiful book about love, endurance, and survival. When a family is devastated by a horrific accident, their lives change immediately. SpiraliWhat a beautiful book about love, endurance, and survival. When a family is devastated by a horrific accident, their lives change immediately. Spiraling out of control into a dark place, they are guided back to the light by an unlikely character: An injured baby magpie whom they nurse back to health and name Penguin. The photos are lovely and the text is sparse and poignant. It was able to read this in one sitting, but I would definitely read it again. I was especially fond of the photographs showing Penguin sleeping or reclining on her back. What a silly, wonderful bird! ...more
The first book in John Lewis's graphic novel trilogy. I am a bit ashamed to admit that I don't know nearly as much about John Lewis as I should. We taThe first book in John Lewis's graphic novel trilogy. I am a bit ashamed to admit that I don't know nearly as much about John Lewis as I should. We talked a lot about prominent Civil Rights leaders throughout my school years, but I cannot say I remember much conversation about John Lewis. Which is unfortunate, because he really paved the way for equal rights and continues to fight for equality today. This first book mainly tells about John's early years and how he became a member of the movement. It really is incredible to think that these things happened in our country, not so long ago. It is a history we must never forget and continue to tell. This format makes it accessible for a new generation of leaders....more
I love Sy Montgomery's writing. She is such an interesting person. I loved Christopher Hogwood too, and I will admit to shedding a tear at the end of I love Sy Montgomery's writing. She is such an interesting person. I loved Christopher Hogwood too, and I will admit to shedding a tear at the end of the book. Also seriously questioning ever eating bacon...or meat again. ...more
I will never eat octopus or squid again. In fact, after reading this book the octopus is now one of my favorite animals and I relish the opportunity tI will never eat octopus or squid again. In fact, after reading this book the octopus is now one of my favorite animals and I relish the opportunity to tell anyone about them- whether it is solicited or not! The author does such a wonderful job of helping the reader feel and see these magnificent creatures. She is never clinical in her descriptions and seems to know just the right odd details to keep you engaged and learning. It is clear that she is a true scientist and animal lover. I can't wait to read her other books!...more
Wasn't able to read this in its entirety, though I can't say I was really all that interested in finishing it. I did like what I read, and the chefs aWasn't able to read this in its entirety, though I can't say I was really all that interested in finishing it. I did like what I read, and the chefs and food people that Questlove talked to were varied, I just didn't think their conversations were all that interesting because they are printed in interview format. Questlove is a good writer and I would have much rather read what he had to say about those conversations than the conversations themselves. I liked the photography scattered throughout the book and the way it played with displaying food in a way that didn't necessarily make me want to eat it. Art seen through the lens of food. Also, the article that Questlove references in the introduction had me doing some extracurricular reading and it was stellar: "Coding and Decoding Dinner" by Todd Kliman and published in the Oxford American. Entirely worth a read: ...more
Oh, Padma. I really want to like you, and when you talk about food, I do. When you talk about your gold-digging, status-grubbing ways though I start tOh, Padma. I really want to like you, and when you talk about food, I do. When you talk about your gold-digging, status-grubbing ways though I start to feel like I don't really like you much anymore.
How convenient that you just happened to be sleeping with two VERY wealthy men (as in billionaires) at the same time when you were miraculously impregnated (I don't say that part with sarcasm, as it was definitely a miracle). It was pretty obvious that it wasn't going to be the guy old enough to be your father, so lucky for you the bio dad is a venture capitalist with a last name that is emblazoned on computers all over the world. All of that was annoying to me, and made me suspect that Salman Rushdie was telling a lot of truth when he said you were a petulant, spoiled brat- those were my words, not his.
However, I did love the descriptions of food from India, as well as the recipes. I will definitely be making some of those, and my craving for Indian food was very strong after reading.
All in all that is to say, spare us the poetic waxing about your amazing affinity for picking up rich (and unattractive) men and stick to what you are actually good at: The food....more
I loved reading about Mumble the Tawny Owl. The author takes great care to explain how he came to have her as a companion, and there is very little roI loved reading about Mumble the Tawny Owl. The author takes great care to explain how he came to have her as a companion, and there is very little romanticizing her place in the animal kingdom. This is less of a description of Mumble's day to day life, and more of a memoir about some of the highlights, interspersed with detailed information about tawn owls, their anatomy, and their habits. ...more
Not an easy book to read, but as more and more of the Holocaust survivors die, we will need to turn to these written memories, photographs, and storieNot an easy book to read, but as more and more of the Holocaust survivors die, we will need to turn to these written memories, photographs, and stories to remind ourselves of the horrors committed and to never allow them to be repeated. It is too terrible to even imagine, and yet, it happened....more
What an inspiration. This book makes me want to sell everything, buy some land, and build a tiny home atop it to spend the rest of my days. It is niceWhat an inspiration. This book makes me want to sell everything, buy some land, and build a tiny home atop it to spend the rest of my days. It is nice to be reminded that we don't always need everything we think we need, and that one can live quite luxuriously without living beyond their means. Told from the perspectives of the builders themselves, Tiny Homes is less a handbook for building, and more of a fantastical look at what can be if only you have the courage to imagine it. ...more
Thank you, Paul Kalanithi for being honest. This is one of the saddest books I have ever read. The story is told daily and rarely written down. Even tThank you, Paul Kalanithi for being honest. This is one of the saddest books I have ever read. The story is told daily and rarely written down. Even though I knew his fate, I was sobbing at the end. Kalanithi introduces us to ourselves in a mortal way, in turn creating an emotional discovery. ...more
Favorites: What Broke My Father's Heart- Katy Butler Auscultation- Steven Church After the Ice- Paul Crenshaw Topic of Cancer- Christopher Hitchens Long DiFavorites: What Broke My Father's Heart- Katy Butler Auscultation- Steven Church After the Ice- Paul Crenshaw Topic of Cancer- Christopher Hitchens Long Distance- Victor LaValle What Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones? Charlie LeDuff Generation Why?- Zadie Smith ...more
I'm sure this book works for some people, and they find it very helpful and enlightening. I was able to follow the chapters and the concepts that wereI'm sure this book works for some people, and they find it very helpful and enlightening. I was able to follow the chapters and the concepts that were presented, but I found it to be intensely boring and I had to actually force myself to read it at certain times. Guess that really exemplifies the whole 'life is suffering' thing......more
For some reason I decided out of the blue that I wanted to read this. I had no previous knowledge of Greg Mortenson, and only very basic knowledge of For some reason I decided out of the blue that I wanted to read this. I had no previous knowledge of Greg Mortenson, and only very basic knowledge of his organization to build schools in troubled areas. The moral of this book is don't piss off an excellent writer and investigative journalist who has donated tens of thousands of dollars to your seemingly bogus organization. I think what I find most appalling is how Mortenson has been able to get away with his lies for this long, and the fact that his books are still being sold as non-fiction. I understand that every visionary is not also a great manager, so Mortenson should have been able to recognize his strengths and hired someone else to take care of the accountability side of things. This book will definitely make you look at non-profit and charity work with a much more discerning eye. ...more
This was at many points a difficult book to stomach, but it was very well-written and lends a probably more than realistic account of one person's ex This was at many points a difficult book to stomach, but it was very well-written and lends a probably more than realistic account of one person's experience of being kidnapped by militant Islamists. Lindhout had help writing this story, and it's a good thing she did because the writing is very beautiful and almost poetic at times. It is difficult to judge or rate someone's actual experience, but I often think back to this book after reading it. Whether that makes a book "good" or not isn't really as important as the fact that it keeps you thinking and pondering. ...more
Everything about this book pulled me in and wouldn't let me read anything else until I read the last page. Capote's prose is so excellently executed aEverything about this book pulled me in and wouldn't let me read anything else until I read the last page. Capote's prose is so excellently executed and the story itself is very dark and horrific. I wouldn't quite call it an enjoyable read, but it is another one of those books that should be read. It will stay with me for a very long time. Maybe forever. ...more
Loading...
