Charlotte Hanley-Jacobson
I felt like I was the only person who didn't like this book - I mean, it's getting so much press! But then I checked out some other reviews on this site, and was very happily surprised to see that many reviewers also found it insipid. I think I would have loved this series when I was 15, but now at 35 with the benefit of hindsight, I wouldn't even recommend it to that age group. The message seems to be that it's fine to put your boyfriend (of only a few weeks) ahead of your family, friends, safety, etc.
It's tough to start this book knowing the end already. And while it's still horrifying to think what the Pearls have gone through, it is very heartening to read about all the wonderful help they got from dedicated Pakistanis as they searched for the kidnappers.
At the end of the book, the author publishes several pages of letters that she received after Danny's death. Some are eloquent, others brief, but all are heartfelt. But there was one letter to her new son that began “... I'm really happy that you are healthy. Your mom is really happy, too. She loves you a lot...” and I thought - oh, must be a letter from a high-schooler or something. But no, it was from our commander in chief. (The letter from his wife was much better).
I was expecting David Sedaris, and the first chapter or two didn't disappoint. But then Rakoff branches out from being a one-dimensional character and we see that compassion exists under the glossy shell. I actually enjoyed this better than Sedaris - less mean-spirited, and Rakoff is actually a pretty damn good writer. A very quick read too.
A very detailed account of a group of college students who kill one of their classmates. Kind of long and drawn out, but still engrossing. While the author's descriptions of the characters uniqueness make them seem to be fully formed, their actions in the book show them to be very impressionable and inexperienced.
I did have to wonder while reading though - in what time period did the book take place? When, at a small college in Vermont, would there have been students wearing suits, hippies, salutations like “old man” and “chap” as well as ATMs?
I just loved this book. Sally Jay Gorce is such a spaz - and so relatable. She is utterly unapologetic about wanting to live life to its fullest - but not so proud to admit when she's gone too far. This is one of the best books I have read in a long while. So many crazy things keep happeneing to the main character, but she is so nutty, it just seems to fit.
The author asks a lot of interesting questions, and it's eye-opening to hear what her interviewees have to say on the subjects of love, marriage, work, the decision to have children, etc. But I found it to be depressing - the conclusion seemed to be that women are destined to be unhappy - or at least question the impact of all of their past and current life choices.
The first horror book I've read in a long time... and now I remember why. I spent a couple of semi-sleepless nights thinking about the book while I was reading it. And it wasn't worth it. That said, there were some interesting parts to the book. The author spends a lot of time on details, which got a little tedious to me, but I had to admire it. But as far as the characters went, I found it hard to believe that they were in relationships with each other - they all seemed to turn on each other far too quickly when in trouble.
I was a little disappointed by this book. The author's book “A Dirty Job” was so funny, and I had high expectations for this one. The title alone is hilarious. But I felt like there was just too much going on in the book - it would have been much better at half the length. At the end, it seemed like Moore was just trying to squeeze in everything that happened up to Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus/Joshua didn't seem to have a consistent personality throughout the book. And, he tried to take credit for inventing coffee. The whole thing just got too far-fetched. But with the rapid-fire dialogue, it might make a good movie, if they shortened it.
This was a long read - he really does cover a little bit of all the major science disciplines. I found that there were sections I really enjoyed - geology and anthropology - and other sections, like chemistry and physics, that I had to skim through. It is an admirable undertaking, and Bill Bryson has the humor and writing skills to pull it off, and ultimately create a good book.
Very quick read, cute short stories. Like David Sedaris, it seems like the author has really lived a lot in a few years. I preferred the stories of him as a child - slightly less introspective and more amusing. I felt like some of the stories stopped short - I needed more character development, or more of an explanation. But overall I liked it.
An interesting topic, although I think it could have been broken into more than one book. At times I felt like I was reading Bill Bryson, as Michael Pollen can be very funny and self-deprecating. Other sections were meticulously researched, and could form their own book. However, it is worthwhile - and really a must-read for anyone interested in food and where it comes from. I do have to say though, I was a bit offended at his portrayal of vegetarians. Our decisions not to eat meat should not be taken as a cop-out, as Pollen seems to suggest!
I went to Australia several years ago, and when I shared my travel plans with anyone in the U.S., the first thing they asked me was - have you read “In a Sunburned Country”??? So seven years after my trip, I finally did - and I am glad of it. Bill Bryson is so likeable, so disarming, so damn funny. I have laughed out loud while reading all of his books. A good read even if you have never been (or never plan to travel) to Australia.
