Monday, August 30, 2010

What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures I probably wouldn't have picked this up if it weren't for book group because I catch most of what Gladwell writes in The New Yorker. That said, this book contains several fascinating essays, even the ones that were re-reads for me. Highly recommended.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

Beautiful Lies (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) You know, I bought this expecting it to be a junk type of read (hey, it was less than a buck in the Kindle store and sometimes you just need a little mind candy) but it was quite good: suspenseful, great plot twists, decent (rarely eye-roll-inducing) writing, a great ending, and it explored several very compelling themes. Sometimes I wonder about the line between pulp and literary fiction.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Collier

My Brother Sam Is Dead (Apple Signature) I read this out loud to the boys. I thought the first 90% of this book was slow and dull but the ending was phenomenal in terms of both plot and theme. (We need more books that de-glorify war.)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) A captivating book with a reasonably satisfying ending. (Although I wanted her to end up with the other boy. But that probably says something--something not good--about me. . .)

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Word of God in English by Leland Ryken

The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation Some interesting ideas here, but this might be the most redundantly redundant and poorly organized book I have read in my life.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel A lovely, lovely book. Highly recommended.

My Life in France by Julia Child

My Life in France Didn't hold my attention. Had this not been for book group, I would not have finished it.

Friday, August 13, 2010

The Story of Science: Einstein Adds a New Dimension by Joy Hakim

The Story of Science: Einstein Adds a New Dimension A preread for Simon.

I love this series but I have to admit that this book was something of a disappointment. I know Hakim is planning a separate series on life science, but this book had nothing but physics in it--no astronomy (a little astrophysics), no chemistry, no technology/computer science, etc. Did nothing happen in the world of twentieth century science except for physics?

Monday, August 09, 2010

The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen

The Last Town on Earth: A Novel Nearly perfect in every way; highly recommended.

That's The Way the Cookie Crumbles by Joe Schwarcz

That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles: 62 All-New Commentaries on the Fascinating Chemistry of Everyday Life I read this out loud to the boys (with very minor editing for some inappropriate-for-young-ears material) and loved it. I love "living" science books--particularly when they are funny and historically grounded.

Friday, August 06, 2010

Exit Ghost by Philip Roth

Exit Ghost meh

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Mary Poppins (Odyssey Classics) I read this to Truman, but really his older brothers got more out of it--I think much of the humor was lost on him. I thought it was OK, not extraordinary.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

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