Charlotte Hanley-Jacobson

I was a little embarrassed whenever someone came upon me reading this book - it is a bit smutty! Not as good as the prequel to this book, unfortunately (Dark Angels). An entertaining read, but it tends to go on and on.

Another book I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I hadn't read previously. I really like the relationship between the man and the fish. Sad but redemptive.

For most of the book, I wanted more bad things to happen to her. The concept of the book has potential, but I just didn't find Jen to be very funny.

A good read. The relationships seemed a bit implausible at times, but overall I enjoyed it.

I loved, loved, loved the first book in this trilogy (The Golden Compass), and was so excited to read the next two. I have to say I am a little disappointed. The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass are still worthwhile, but the dialogue was often trite, and I felt like the story went in too many directions.

I can't wait to read the next one!

Interesting book that addresses the lack of knowledge of most Americans on the subject (but not practice) of religion. The book is well researched, but at times I felt that the author shot down any opinion for dealing with our collective ignorance than his own. There is a comprehensive dictionary in the back that I think I will refer to from time to time in case I forget the difference between Presbyterians and Methodists. Seriously.

I can't believe it took me so long to read this book - I think it is my new favorite!

I liked this one better than the first. The characters still find themselves in ridiculous situations, but hey, that's the fun of reading fiction, right? I felt like Larsson did a better job in this one of tying up the loose ends. I am looking forward to the next one.

I think I'm going to have to apologize to my book club for suggesting this one...

This book looks at the impact of diet on your health in a different way than I have previously experienced. Dr. Campbell demonstrates through numerous human and animal studies that a vegan or near-vegan diet has the power not only to prevent Western “lifestyle” diseases (cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc) but to reverse them. It is powerful evidence, and I am a little surprised not to have heard of his research before, but given the power of various food lobbying organizations in the United States, I suppose I shouldn't be. It's hard to fundamentally alter your diet, but after reading this book, I feel like I least have to try.

Ugh. I guess I shouldn't have changed the status of this book to “read”, since I can't even get past chapter two. I recognize that this book is set in biblical times, and of course that culture is very different from today's, but... REALLY??? This is like bad soft-core porn. Maybe I am just a prude?

The author makes going insane somehow seem rational. A must read.

Not too great. If you really want to learn about healthy eating and the impact of animals on your body and the environment, read Fast Food Nation or The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Fast-paced (although fairly long) and engaging - a fun summer read. I am excited to read the next installment. I was a little disappointed at the end, as it felt to me like the author had concocted an elaborate mystery but couldn't find a graceful way to wrap it up. But still very enjoyable.

I am familiar with most of the information and arguments in this book, but I still enjoyed it. It reinforces what I already believe, but sometimes find hard to practice - eat more plants than meat and dairy, and cut out as many processed food as possible. Bittman's twist is doing this in moderation - eat basically vegan for breakfast and lunch (or any 2 meals) and then feel free to consume animal products and alcohol at dinner. I am trying to stick to it - perhaps easier for me than most, as I eat mostly vegetarian all the time. But cutting out cheese during the day is hard. And my usual two-martini lunch as well.

I liked the narrative style of this book. But I found it hard to connect with the characters, and I felt that it moved too slowly. A good discussion book for teens I would imagine.

I wished I had read this in college, where I could have had the opportunity to discuss it with an English lit professor. So confusing at times, with all the time changes. I have to admit it took me half the book to realize that there were two characters named Quentin. But so creative! And haunting.

An overarching look at humans and our impact on the planet. This book covered many different subjects relating to human dominance. I wished that the authors had just picked two or three themes and explored them more in depth.

I loved this book - I learned so much. The author writes the book as if he were teaching a university class - the theme is revisited again and again, with many different examples, each one building on the previous one. I feel like I have a strong understanding of why the world is the way it is (albeit in a very general sense). I love feeling smarter!

It's hard not to be drawn into the crazy world in which he lives. Some of the stories are so fantastic that they defy belief - not unlike A Million Little Pieces. An engaging, yet disturbing read.

My favorite David Sedaris book so far. How does his family put up with him?

I laughed out loud several times while reading this book - but I also wished it was about half as long. His descriptions of people and places, while certainly exaggerated, can be delightful to read. And I found myself chuckling at his outrage and surprise concerning prices, leaf blowers, and other oddities of the late 80s that are normal (or quaint) today, 20 years later. But his annoyance at the less-than-perfect people and places he encounters got a little old, and for some reason he feels the need to share all the details of some of these places. But overall, I enjoyed the book.

The longest short book I've ever read! The narrative style is still compelling today. My favorite part, however, was when Mr. Antolini tells Holden how it is - “...you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know... many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now... You'll learn from them - if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry.”

I wish GoodReads had half stars - I was torn between “it was ok” and “liked it”. I felt like I gained a new perspective on the ongoing crises in the Middle East, one that is different from the daily stories in major American news outlets. I also learned a lot about King Hussein, and he sounds like a really amazing, compassionate, smart person. So I enjoyed those aspects of the book. Plus, it was fun reading about their royal existence. But on the down side, the book was far too detailed. I got the impression that Queen Noor didn't want to leave anything (or anyone) out, for fear of offense. I think all those years of living with strict protocol got to her.