Is the print book coming to an end? From http://www.thebookseller.com/news/print-book-sales-continue-fall.html:
"Book sales slipped for the fourth week in a row last week, and were down more than £3.3m on last year, according to Nielsen BookScan data.
A total of £24.2m was spent on printed books at UK retail outlets in the seven days to 26th March, down 2.9% (£735,000) on the previous week, and down 12% on the same week last year.
It is the 10th week of 12 in 2011 thus far that BookScan has reported a drop in year-on-year book sales, as the trade struggles to match a particularly poor start to 2010 when inclement weather resulted in sales falling 6% (£23m) in the first three months of the year on 2009."
I had blogged earlier about wondering whether to get a Kindle or Amazon or the like. I still haven't gotten one, as I don't really have a need for it. I don't travel enough for it to make a whole lot of sense for me. I would never, ever read an ebook at home. I prefer actual hard copy books. But will there come a point when I will have no choice?
I have a hard time seeing a time when hard copy books will become obsolete; but I think things will change. You used to see music stores in every mall. Not anymore. It's much easier and often cheaper to buy music online. But you can still go to Target and buy a CD if you want one. In that same vein, I am sure those who want actual books will still be able to get them. But I also predict that the trend discussed in the above-mentioned article will continue. However, it does make me a little bit sad.
29 March 2011
24 March 2011
C-Span's Book TV -- "Andrew Johnson" by Annette Gordon-Reed
I am a big fan of C-Span's Book TV. Every weekend, C-Span2 airs programs about books. These may be interviews with authors, book readings, programs from book fairs around the country, and presentations by authors. This last is my favorite to watch. Each week I look at the listings for the coming weekend and often set my DVR to record one or more shows. I currently have a backlog!
Yesterday, I watched a presentation by Annette Gordon-Reed, who wrote a biography of President Andrew Johnson for the American Presidents series. You may recall that I recently reviewed the biography of Chester Arthur from that series. Ms. Gordon Reed apparently normally focuses on slavery issues (she is African American), and stated in her presentation that she typically avoids the period of Reconstruction because it's very emotional for her. However, she was asked by friends to write this biography for the series and she agreed to do so.
I enjoyed listening to her talk about the process of doing the research and how her feelings about the era influenced her writing. I also learned quite a bit about Johnson from the presentation. Many of us, myself included, know little more than that Johnson was impeached (but escaped conviction by only one vote) and that he is considered among the worst presidents we've had. Ms. Gordon-Reed talked about Johnson's viewpoints regarding society at the time, such as his opinion that whites should always be above blacks, and that he really wan't that in favor of abolishing slavery. Therefore, that colored his view of how to reincorporate the South into the Union, and may have extended the racial issues that didn't even begin to get resolved until the mid 20th Century.
I am very interested to get this book to add to the editions I already have from the series.
If you'd like to view the presentation, it can be found on C-Span's Book TV website at http://www.booktv.org/Program/12207/Andrew+Johnson.aspx
Yesterday, I watched a presentation by Annette Gordon-Reed, who wrote a biography of President Andrew Johnson for the American Presidents series. You may recall that I recently reviewed the biography of Chester Arthur from that series. Ms. Gordon Reed apparently normally focuses on slavery issues (she is African American), and stated in her presentation that she typically avoids the period of Reconstruction because it's very emotional for her. However, she was asked by friends to write this biography for the series and she agreed to do so.
I enjoyed listening to her talk about the process of doing the research and how her feelings about the era influenced her writing. I also learned quite a bit about Johnson from the presentation. Many of us, myself included, know little more than that Johnson was impeached (but escaped conviction by only one vote) and that he is considered among the worst presidents we've had. Ms. Gordon-Reed talked about Johnson's viewpoints regarding society at the time, such as his opinion that whites should always be above blacks, and that he really wan't that in favor of abolishing slavery. Therefore, that colored his view of how to reincorporate the South into the Union, and may have extended the racial issues that didn't even begin to get resolved until the mid 20th Century.
I am very interested to get this book to add to the editions I already have from the series.
If you'd like to view the presentation, it can be found on C-Span's Book TV website at http://www.booktv.org/Program/12207/Andrew+Johnson.aspx
21 March 2011
Book List -- Trying to Catch Up!
I am woefully behind on my book reviews. I keep having good intentions to get caught up, and then I finish another book and fall farther behind. Therefore, I'm just going to give you short reviews of the books I've read recently, and I'll start up with regular reviews with the next book. So, in the couple of months I've read:
#3 -- "First Family: Abigail and John" by Joseph J. Ellis (2010). I'm a big John Adams fan so I was excited to read this book. It was strange after reading "Founding Brothers" immediately before this, because much of the John Adams chapter from "Brothers" is repeated verbatim here. The book didn't present much that I didn't already know, but by now that would be hard to go given all the Adams books I've read. For someone new to the Adams relationship, this book would be a great start. 3 stars out of 5.
#4 -- "American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia" by Joan Buskupic (2009). I'm not on Justice Scalia's end of the political spectrum, but I find him fascinating to listen to or to read his opinions. He's a very interesting character. Therefore, I found this book to be very interesting and I learned a lot about Scalia that I didn't know. The book does focus on a lot of the cases he's been involved in, and it was interesting to read about his role in cases I studied in law school. However, I wonder whether someone without a legal background would find the book a little too academic. I thought it was great. 4.5 stars out of 5.
#5 -- "Quentins" by Maeve Binchy (2002). I'm not a big fiction reader, but if I'm in the mood, Maeve Binchy is always a good bet. I've got a few of her books on my shelf. This book is a bit of a mystery surrounding a restaurant in Ireland. All the main characters have some sort of connection to the restaurant. The mystery has to do with a Madoff-esque scheme whereby a man steals money from people and flees to Spain when he's about to get caught. As usual, a very good book by Binchy. 4 stars out of 5.
#6 -- "Chester Alan Arthur" by Zachary Karabell (2004). This book is part of a series of presidential biographies. I have six of them and I hope to obtain them all. They're very short books -- this one was 144 pages -- so they do not go into a whole lot of depth; but I'm not sure there'd be much to say about Arthur anyway. He only served one term, and came to the Presidency only upon the death of President Garfield. I really knew nothing about him so found the book interesting. Arthur comes across as an ethical man and politician in an era marked with corruption. He never wanted to be President, and isn't marked as one of our best; but he made it through without scandal, which was really all that was needed at the time. 3 stars out of 5.
Let's hope I can bet back on track with book #7 for the year!
#3 -- "First Family: Abigail and John" by Joseph J. Ellis (2010). I'm a big John Adams fan so I was excited to read this book. It was strange after reading "Founding Brothers" immediately before this, because much of the John Adams chapter from "Brothers" is repeated verbatim here. The book didn't present much that I didn't already know, but by now that would be hard to go given all the Adams books I've read. For someone new to the Adams relationship, this book would be a great start. 3 stars out of 5.
#4 -- "American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia" by Joan Buskupic (2009). I'm not on Justice Scalia's end of the political spectrum, but I find him fascinating to listen to or to read his opinions. He's a very interesting character. Therefore, I found this book to be very interesting and I learned a lot about Scalia that I didn't know. The book does focus on a lot of the cases he's been involved in, and it was interesting to read about his role in cases I studied in law school. However, I wonder whether someone without a legal background would find the book a little too academic. I thought it was great. 4.5 stars out of 5.
#5 -- "Quentins" by Maeve Binchy (2002). I'm not a big fiction reader, but if I'm in the mood, Maeve Binchy is always a good bet. I've got a few of her books on my shelf. This book is a bit of a mystery surrounding a restaurant in Ireland. All the main characters have some sort of connection to the restaurant. The mystery has to do with a Madoff-esque scheme whereby a man steals money from people and flees to Spain when he's about to get caught. As usual, a very good book by Binchy. 4 stars out of 5.
#6 -- "Chester Alan Arthur" by Zachary Karabell (2004). This book is part of a series of presidential biographies. I have six of them and I hope to obtain them all. They're very short books -- this one was 144 pages -- so they do not go into a whole lot of depth; but I'm not sure there'd be much to say about Arthur anyway. He only served one term, and came to the Presidency only upon the death of President Garfield. I really knew nothing about him so found the book interesting. Arthur comes across as an ethical man and politician in an era marked with corruption. He never wanted to be President, and isn't marked as one of our best; but he made it through without scandal, which was really all that was needed at the time. 3 stars out of 5.
Let's hope I can bet back on track with book #7 for the year!
22 February 2011
Failed Attempt -- "American Scripture: Making of the Declaration of Independence" by Pauline Maier (1997)
I always have a book that I keep at school to read during lunch or if I'm prepared for class early enough to have some time to read. As you can imagine, it takes me quite a while to get through my "school book" reading only a few pages at a time here and there. But it's better than trying to remember to bring a book back and forth from home. Inevitably, the book is guaranteed to be wherever I am not. This book has been my "school book" for the last couple of weeks.
Maier discusses not only at THE Declaration of Indepdence, but also smaller declarations by communities all over the thirteen colonies. It was meant to show how it was more than just the founding fathers who were ready to break away from England. Further, the declarations were all remarkably similar, even though there was little to no communication among groups who may have been located anywhere from Massachusetts to Georgia. This should have been a book I liked. Unfortunately, it just wasn't working for me. It is only on rare occasion that I decide to quit reading a book. I usually slog my way through it out of principle -- one should finish what one starts, right? However, sometimes it's just best to quit and move on.
I think the main problem is that this book was a little too academic for my tastes. It read to me more like the law review articles I dealt with in law school: well researched and documented but lacking in any kind of passion, almost as if the author had to write it rather than wanted to write it. It certainly wasn't a book I looked forward to reading at lunch every day. Rather, I was reminded of something a history professor might assign to his/her students, and the students grumble about having to read it. Once I realized that, like a student might do, I was forcing myself to read the book, I knew I had to stop.
So what do I do with a book I don't really care for? I don't throw books away; they just go back on my shelf in case someone else might be interested in reading it. Who knows, maybe I'll give it another go one day.
Maier discusses not only at THE Declaration of Indepdence, but also smaller declarations by communities all over the thirteen colonies. It was meant to show how it was more than just the founding fathers who were ready to break away from England. Further, the declarations were all remarkably similar, even though there was little to no communication among groups who may have been located anywhere from Massachusetts to Georgia. This should have been a book I liked. Unfortunately, it just wasn't working for me. It is only on rare occasion that I decide to quit reading a book. I usually slog my way through it out of principle -- one should finish what one starts, right? However, sometimes it's just best to quit and move on.
I think the main problem is that this book was a little too academic for my tastes. It read to me more like the law review articles I dealt with in law school: well researched and documented but lacking in any kind of passion, almost as if the author had to write it rather than wanted to write it. It certainly wasn't a book I looked forward to reading at lunch every day. Rather, I was reminded of something a history professor might assign to his/her students, and the students grumble about having to read it. Once I realized that, like a student might do, I was forcing myself to read the book, I knew I had to stop.
So what do I do with a book I don't really care for? I don't throw books away; they just go back on my shelf in case someone else might be interested in reading it. Who knows, maybe I'll give it another go one day.
31 January 2011
Cookbook Sunday -- Jan. 23 and 30, 2011
These last two weeks have turned out to be off-weeks for Cookbook Sunday. Last weekend, I was sick so didn't cook anything beyond some toast. This weekend, I again didn't cook, but for a much better reason. My husband cooked a turkey dinner for us, so the oven was occupied most of the day. So, join us next week when hopefully Cookbook Sunday return ... unless of course my husband cooks again!
28 January 2011
(#2) "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis (2000)
Joseph J. Ellis is a fairly prolific writer of Revolutionary era biographies. He has written about John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and the relationship between John and Abigail Adams. "Founding Brothers" discusses six different stories from the era:
1. The Alexander Hamilton/Aaron Burr duel.
2. The agreement between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison (aided by Thomas Jefferson) whereby Hamilton got support for his plan to have the federal government assume the states' war debts, and Madison got support for the new capital being located on the Potomac.
3. The effect of failure of the founding fathers to put an end to the slave trade.
4. Washington's farewell address after the conclusion of the Revolutionary War.
5. The relationship between Adams and Jefferson before that relationship deteriorated as a result of the contentious elections of 1796 and 1800.
6. The marriage of John and Abigail Adams, and the renewal of the friendship between Adams and Jefferson in their old age.
.
At 248 pages, and covering six topics, it isn't surprising that Ellis just hits the surface of each these issues. Indeed, Ellis took his research from the last topic and turned it into an entire book about John and Abigail Adams' marriage ("First Family," which, incidentally, will be the topic of my next book review). As such, it's a good introduction to many of the most important players in the founding of our country. From here, the reader can seek out more detailed biographies, many of which, as noted, Ellis has written. Therefore, I think this book is best suited for someone who hasn't read a lot about this period.
There was one thing about Ellis's style that bothered me somewhat, and that's his excessive use (in my opinion) of the semi-colon. At times, it made sentences stretch out too long, and I'd forget at the end of a sentence what was at the beginning. I think his writing could have been much more succinct, which would have made the book easier to read.
Also a minor quibble, is that there were no pictures in the book. Yes, I know this isn't a children's book; but biographies almost always have a few pictures in the middle of the book. For a reader who is new to this period of history, some pictures might make the characters come alive. I know that I like seeing what the people I'm reading about looked like, particularly if it's someone with whom I'm less familiar.
All in all, I think I probably was not in the target audience for this book, as I've read extensively about much of these stories. Therefore, for me, it wasn't in-depth enough to really keep my interest. I would recommend the book, however, for someone who is interested in reading about this era for the first time.
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
1. The Alexander Hamilton/Aaron Burr duel.
2. The agreement between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison (aided by Thomas Jefferson) whereby Hamilton got support for his plan to have the federal government assume the states' war debts, and Madison got support for the new capital being located on the Potomac.
3. The effect of failure of the founding fathers to put an end to the slave trade.
4. Washington's farewell address after the conclusion of the Revolutionary War.
5. The relationship between Adams and Jefferson before that relationship deteriorated as a result of the contentious elections of 1796 and 1800.
6. The marriage of John and Abigail Adams, and the renewal of the friendship between Adams and Jefferson in their old age.
.
At 248 pages, and covering six topics, it isn't surprising that Ellis just hits the surface of each these issues. Indeed, Ellis took his research from the last topic and turned it into an entire book about John and Abigail Adams' marriage ("First Family," which, incidentally, will be the topic of my next book review). As such, it's a good introduction to many of the most important players in the founding of our country. From here, the reader can seek out more detailed biographies, many of which, as noted, Ellis has written. Therefore, I think this book is best suited for someone who hasn't read a lot about this period.
There was one thing about Ellis's style that bothered me somewhat, and that's his excessive use (in my opinion) of the semi-colon. At times, it made sentences stretch out too long, and I'd forget at the end of a sentence what was at the beginning. I think his writing could have been much more succinct, which would have made the book easier to read.
Also a minor quibble, is that there were no pictures in the book. Yes, I know this isn't a children's book; but biographies almost always have a few pictures in the middle of the book. For a reader who is new to this period of history, some pictures might make the characters come alive. I know that I like seeing what the people I'm reading about looked like, particularly if it's someone with whom I'm less familiar.
All in all, I think I probably was not in the target audience for this book, as I've read extensively about much of these stories. Therefore, for me, it wasn't in-depth enough to really keep my interest. I would recommend the book, however, for someone who is interested in reading about this era for the first time.
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
16 January 2011
Cookbook Sunday!
It's time for the first edition of Cookbook Sunday, where I detail my Sunday dinners made from my cookbooks. To review, I make one dessert and one thing that isn't a dessert, and they each come from a different cookbook. I try to ensure my meals have the following components: a main dish, a starch (rice, potatoes, pasta), a bread, and a fruit or vegetable. Here is what was on this week's menu.
My non-dessert cookbook item was mini honey-mustard meatloaves, from the March 2008 issue of the "Everyday Food" magazine (pg. 68). I served it with sour cream and chive mashed potatoes, buttermilk biscuits and mandarin orange slices, along with a glass of Riesling. Overall, the meatloaf was just OK. It was cheesy, which I liked, but didn't have much flavor beyond that. My usual meatloaf has sage and some other spices in it, which I like a lot, so if I made this again, I would maybe add that.
My dessert was oatmeal drop cookies, from the cookbook "Best Recipes From the Backs of Boxes, Bottles, Cans and Jars" (1982, pg. 567). These cookies used wheat flour and brown sugar instead of the usual white flour and white sugar. Therefore, the cookies had a much heartier feel than the usual oatmeal cookie. I like them, but would add more raisins if I made them again.
Overall, this was a fairly successful meal. I have one more mini-meatloaf to eat tomorrow, and a couple dozen cookies to eat over the rest of the week.
Next week's menu includes a pork tenderloin and chocolate cake. I'm looking forward to it already! Hopefully while I'm eating it I'll be celebrating the Packers' win over the Bears in the NFC Championship game!
My dessert was oatmeal drop cookies, from the cookbook "Best Recipes From the Backs of Boxes, Bottles, Cans and Jars" (1982, pg. 567). These cookies used wheat flour and brown sugar instead of the usual white flour and white sugar. Therefore, the cookies had a much heartier feel than the usual oatmeal cookie. I like them, but would add more raisins if I made them again.
Overall, this was a fairly successful meal. I have one more mini-meatloaf to eat tomorrow, and a couple dozen cookies to eat over the rest of the week.Next week's menu includes a pork tenderloin and chocolate cake. I'm looking forward to it already! Hopefully while I'm eating it I'll be celebrating the Packers' win over the Bears in the NFC Championship game!
13 January 2011
Coming Soon to a Blog Near You!
For quite some time now, I've had a Sunday ritual. Each week, I take two of my many cookbooks off the shelf and make something new. One thing is always a dessert and the other can be anything from breakfast to appetizers to a main course -- really anything other than dessert. It serves a couple of purposes: one is to actually USE the cookbooks I accumulate and the other is to simply try something new. As you can imagine if you read my earlier post about choosing books to read, there is a method to choosing what to make each week. I'll spare you the details, but it's not dissimilar from the other process.
Anyway, I've been looking for some new things to blog about in the book world so that I'm not going so long between posts. So I thought it would be appropriate to add a segment documenting what I make each week, for better or for worse. Think "Julie and Julia" (a movie I definitely recommend, by the way) on a much smaller scale. So, starting this coming Sunday, look here for the results of each week's cooking extravaganza. Here's a teaser: the menu will feature mini meatloaves and cookies.
Anyway, I've been looking for some new things to blog about in the book world so that I'm not going so long between posts. So I thought it would be appropriate to add a segment documenting what I make each week, for better or for worse. Think "Julie and Julia" (a movie I definitely recommend, by the way) on a much smaller scale. So, starting this coming Sunday, look here for the results of each week's cooking extravaganza. Here's a teaser: the menu will feature mini meatloaves and cookies.
04 January 2011
New books!
I purchased several new books today, so I thought I'd share them with you.
First, I got a gift card to Barnes & Noble from my brother for Christmas. With it, I purchased two cookbooks, both from PBS's "America's Test Kitchen" program, one of my favorite cooking shows. It's on my local PBS station on Saturday afternoons, and my DVR records it for me so I never miss it. One book is on cooking and one on baking. I was only going to get one, but they were half off so I figured that meant I should get both!
Then, while at the mall, I noticed that Waldenbooks had a going out of business sale and everything was 40% off. They were also selling all their fixtures, so it was tempting to buy some of their shelves. However, they really aren't the type of shelf you put in your living room, so I guess it wouldn't have been the best purchase. Anyway, I purchased three books. One is about the case Marbury v. Madison, specifically focusing on the roles John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Chief Justice Marshall played in that seminal case. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I have to own any book that involves John Adams!.
The other two books are a bit of a contradiction. One is the recent book publishing Jimmy Carter's diaries from when he was in office. The other is a similar book of Ronald Reagan's diaries. I am very interested in presidential history, regardless of the politics involved, so I thought these books really went well together. Plus, my husband is a big Reagan fan, so in reality the book is for him.
As usual, I'm accumulating books much faster than I can read them. Now to go make space on my increasingly full book shelves...
First, I got a gift card to Barnes & Noble from my brother for Christmas. With it, I purchased two cookbooks, both from PBS's "America's Test Kitchen" program, one of my favorite cooking shows. It's on my local PBS station on Saturday afternoons, and my DVR records it for me so I never miss it. One book is on cooking and one on baking. I was only going to get one, but they were half off so I figured that meant I should get both!
Then, while at the mall, I noticed that Waldenbooks had a going out of business sale and everything was 40% off. They were also selling all their fixtures, so it was tempting to buy some of their shelves. However, they really aren't the type of shelf you put in your living room, so I guess it wouldn't have been the best purchase. Anyway, I purchased three books. One is about the case Marbury v. Madison, specifically focusing on the roles John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Chief Justice Marshall played in that seminal case. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I have to own any book that involves John Adams!.
The other two books are a bit of a contradiction. One is the recent book publishing Jimmy Carter's diaries from when he was in office. The other is a similar book of Ronald Reagan's diaries. I am very interested in presidential history, regardless of the politics involved, so I thought these books really went well together. Plus, my husband is a big Reagan fan, so in reality the book is for him.
As usual, I'm accumulating books much faster than I can read them. Now to go make space on my increasingly full book shelves...
03 January 2011
(#1) "Paris Under Water: How the City of Light Survived the Great Flood of 1910" by Jeffrey H. Jackson (2010)
I am a big fan of Paris, and the Eiffel Tower in particular. I thought it was magical the first time I saw it, and have been in love ever since. I, however, did not marry it like some woman did a couple years ago. Really. Look it up. Anyway, I've been to Paris three times -- in 1994, 1995 and 1997. It's practically criminal that I haven't been there in so long! But it really seems like only yesterday.
Knowing of my love for Paris, my husband got me this book for Christmas. Actually, he probably got it less because I'm a fan and more because of the city's potential destruction by the flood. You see, he's not a big fan. But he's never been there so what does he know? That's right, nothing.
For all my fandom of Paris, however, I had never heard of this flood, which occurred in January 1910. It appears that Jackson first learned of it during a sewer tour in Paris. Yes, you can take a tour of the sewer. I was aware of that tour the times I was there, but never went on it. It is now at the top of my list of things to do the next time I'm there (second to going to the Eiffel Tower, of course).
I really enjoyed this book. Having been to Paris I knew many of the landmarks and places mentioned in the book. There was a lot of interesting information presented. For instance, the Parisians measured the flood by how high the waters came up on a statue (the Zouave) located on one of the bridges over the Seine. The statue still exists today, although other statues that were on the bridge were removed when the bridge was subsequently rebuilt. But the Zouave was put back in its place due to its significance with this flood. It's another thing I'll have to look for on my next trip to Paris.
It was interesting that the flooding was only caused in part by the Seine overflowing its banks, which of course was significant. But it was also caused by the water seeping up from underground as it rushed into the then-modern and ingenious sewer system (hence the sewer tours) and the newly constructed metro lines. That portion of the flooding maybe caused more destruction from the sewer waste going into basements of buildings.
Another interesting thing was how the people reacted to the flooding. As much as possible, life went on as normal during the flood. People moved around the flooded areas using "passerelles" which were pathways built above the water by placing boards over ladders and saw horses and the like. Also, people flocked to the river to watch the spectacle of people's belongings rushing down the river. But citizens also really came to each others' aid by donating money, necessities and lodging to the victims. It really pulled the people of Paris together, which may have helped them when they had to pull together again a few years later during World War I.
The only thing I would have changed in this book would be to add more pictures. The one or two pictures added at the beginning of each chapter really enhanced the text. In fact, the text often referred to them. But the book didn't have, like most books do, a center section or two with pictures. I would have liked that. At any rate, I would highly recommend this book to any Francophile.
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Knowing of my love for Paris, my husband got me this book for Christmas. Actually, he probably got it less because I'm a fan and more because of the city's potential destruction by the flood. You see, he's not a big fan. But he's never been there so what does he know? That's right, nothing.
For all my fandom of Paris, however, I had never heard of this flood, which occurred in January 1910. It appears that Jackson first learned of it during a sewer tour in Paris. Yes, you can take a tour of the sewer. I was aware of that tour the times I was there, but never went on it. It is now at the top of my list of things to do the next time I'm there (second to going to the Eiffel Tower, of course).
 |
| Me at the Eiffel Tower -- 1995 |
It was interesting that the flooding was only caused in part by the Seine overflowing its banks, which of course was significant. But it was also caused by the water seeping up from underground as it rushed into the then-modern and ingenious sewer system (hence the sewer tours) and the newly constructed metro lines. That portion of the flooding maybe caused more destruction from the sewer waste going into basements of buildings.
Another interesting thing was how the people reacted to the flooding. As much as possible, life went on as normal during the flood. People moved around the flooded areas using "passerelles" which were pathways built above the water by placing boards over ladders and saw horses and the like. Also, people flocked to the river to watch the spectacle of people's belongings rushing down the river. But citizens also really came to each others' aid by donating money, necessities and lodging to the victims. It really pulled the people of Paris together, which may have helped them when they had to pull together again a few years later during World War I.
The only thing I would have changed in this book would be to add more pictures. The one or two pictures added at the beginning of each chapter really enhanced the text. In fact, the text often referred to them. But the book didn't have, like most books do, a center section or two with pictures. I would have liked that. At any rate, I would highly recommend this book to any Francophile.
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
New Year -- New Books!
I'm not one for New Years resolutions. I know they're just going to get broken, so I don't bother. But, I do want to set a goal of reading more this year and keeping up better with this blog. To that end, I will be numbering my book reviews for the year to see how many books I can read in 2011. Ideally, I'd like to read on average a book a week. We'll see. But stay tuned. My first review for the year will be coming shortly. Enjoy!
01 December 2010
Books, Books and More Books
Well, faithful readers, it seems I've been somewhat lax in my blogging over the last couple of months. I need to get back to it! So I'll do just that by talking about how half the fun of reading books is the accumulation of them. And in my house, there's been some pretty significant accumulation lately.
My husband and I each belong to a history book club, and lately there have been quite a few books on sale that appealed to us. I believe that, to date, we have added approximately 20 books to our shelves. I love adding books to shelves. Really, I enjoy it so much I should have been a librarian instead of a lawyer. In fact, that's the first thing I wanted to be "when I grew up" when I was a kid. If I had to do it over again, I'd have gotten a library science degree. But it's fun for me to figure out where on the shelf a new book (or in this case 20 new books) should go. The only problem is that just a few months ago I had my shelves just as I wanted them. I don't like books from end to end. Rather, I prefer to have pictures, or vases or candles or whatever else on the shelves to break up the line of books. So, now I'm going to need a new shelf so I can spread them out again.
The next challenge comes in January. See, for every book purchased in November, you can do a buy-one-get-one-free deal in January. I don't know that we're ready for another 40 books though! Yikes! Maybe I should just get two more shelves right away just in case. Or maybe we should just exercise some restraint for once....
My husband and I each belong to a history book club, and lately there have been quite a few books on sale that appealed to us. I believe that, to date, we have added approximately 20 books to our shelves. I love adding books to shelves. Really, I enjoy it so much I should have been a librarian instead of a lawyer. In fact, that's the first thing I wanted to be "when I grew up" when I was a kid. If I had to do it over again, I'd have gotten a library science degree. But it's fun for me to figure out where on the shelf a new book (or in this case 20 new books) should go. The only problem is that just a few months ago I had my shelves just as I wanted them. I don't like books from end to end. Rather, I prefer to have pictures, or vases or candles or whatever else on the shelves to break up the line of books. So, now I'm going to need a new shelf so I can spread them out again.
The next challenge comes in January. See, for every book purchased in November, you can do a buy-one-get-one-free deal in January. I don't know that we're ready for another 40 books though! Yikes! Maybe I should just get two more shelves right away just in case. Or maybe we should just exercise some restraint for once....
27 September 2010
Book Festivals
Ten years ago, Laura Bush, in conjunction with the Library of Congress, started the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. As I learned in her book, "Spoken from the Heart," it was something she also started in Texas while that state's First Lady. I first became aware of it in 2005. I like to watch Book TV on C-Span during the weekends, and every year they feature the authors from the History and Biography Tent. In 2005, David McCullough, my favorite author, did a presenation on his book "1776." I spent a good portion of that weekend watching the other history and biography authors, and now every year I look to see who will be presenting. Some day, I want to actually go myself rather than rely on C-Span. If McCullough is ever there again, I'm there as well. I figure he's due to publish another book sometime soon!
There are state and regional book festivals all over the country. The Wisconsin Book Festival takes place in October, although I've never had the opportunity to go. I have been to the Fox Cities Book Festival though, and really enjoyed it. I saw a panel of speakers talk about reading classics, and I talked to a few authors who were there promoting their work. A regional festival doesn't always have the caliber of authors the National Book Festival does, of course. I bought one book that sounded really interesting, but turned out to be absolutely horrible and poorly written. But I also found a cute children's book that I gave to my godson that year. It's fun to have a book autographed by the author!
There are book festivals everywhere -- find one near you in the next year! You might have a chance to see your favorite author or discover a new one!
There are state and regional book festivals all over the country. The Wisconsin Book Festival takes place in October, although I've never had the opportunity to go. I have been to the Fox Cities Book Festival though, and really enjoyed it. I saw a panel of speakers talk about reading classics, and I talked to a few authors who were there promoting their work. A regional festival doesn't always have the caliber of authors the National Book Festival does, of course. I bought one book that sounded really interesting, but turned out to be absolutely horrible and poorly written. But I also found a cute children's book that I gave to my godson that year. It's fun to have a book autographed by the author!
There are book festivals everywhere -- find one near you in the next year! You might have a chance to see your favorite author or discover a new one!
23 September 2010
"The Man Who Ate The World: In Search of the Perfect Dinner" by Jay Rayner (2008)
You may have seen Jay Rayner as one of the judges on "Top Chef Masters" on Bravo. He is a restaurant critic from London who has been published in several newspapers and food magazines. Appropriately, this is the book I have been reading during my lunch break. It is a memoir of Rayner's year-long global search for "the perfect meal." He visits cities all over the world (New York, Moscow, Tokyo, Dubai and Paris, among others) and documents what he eats a long the way. Some of the meals are extraordinarily good, while others are just the opposite. Regardless, they are always very expensive.
To be honest, many of the foods he ate sounded pretty unappetizing to me; others I had never heard of before. Of course, I have never eaten in a Micheline star-rated restaurant, which most of the places Rayner visited were. I'm sure I never will eat in any of those places. None of that matters, because Rayner knows how to talk about food -- that much is certain. You are almost able to see, smell and taste what he is eating through his descriptions of the food. You get a real sense of the ambience of each restaurant -- some of them pretentious and some holes in the wall. This book is a great read for the foodie in all of us.
That said, let me tell you about two of my favorite restaurant meals of all time. The first was at Tre Scalini in Rome in 1994. The restaurant is located on the Piazza Navona, and we ate in the outdoor area right on the piazza. To be honest, 16 years later I don't remember a lot of the details. But there are three things I do remember. One was the steak. It was fantastic. In fact, after eating that steak I didn't feel like eating steak again knowing any other steak would pale in comparison. Eventually, I lost my taste for steak altogether and almost never eat it now. The second thing I remember was the dessert -- their well-known tartufo, a chocolate ice cream dessert. The third thing was our waiter, Rafaele. He took the time to translate for us and helped us out a lot with what to order. This was not a cheap meal, but it was worth it. Well, actually, I didn't pay -- my parents did -- so maybe you'd have to ask them if it was worth it.
My second greatest restaurant meal was at the Bodega Castaneda in Granada, Spain in 2003. This was a very small place with a few tables inside and a few more outside. You had to get there really early to get a table. I ate there twice while in Granada. Both were good experiences, but one stands out as even though it was very simple: the albondigas (meatballs). These were the best albondigas I'd ever eaten. I think I commented on every bite I took, as if it was a surprise that each bite was as good as the last. It's not expensive, so definitely check it out if you are ever in Granada.
And so ends my attempt at being a food critic. I think I'll leave that to Jay Rayner from now on.
My review: 3.5 stars out of 5
To be honest, many of the foods he ate sounded pretty unappetizing to me; others I had never heard of before. Of course, I have never eaten in a Micheline star-rated restaurant, which most of the places Rayner visited were. I'm sure I never will eat in any of those places. None of that matters, because Rayner knows how to talk about food -- that much is certain. You are almost able to see, smell and taste what he is eating through his descriptions of the food. You get a real sense of the ambience of each restaurant -- some of them pretentious and some holes in the wall. This book is a great read for the foodie in all of us.
That said, let me tell you about two of my favorite restaurant meals of all time. The first was at Tre Scalini in Rome in 1994. The restaurant is located on the Piazza Navona, and we ate in the outdoor area right on the piazza. To be honest, 16 years later I don't remember a lot of the details. But there are three things I do remember. One was the steak. It was fantastic. In fact, after eating that steak I didn't feel like eating steak again knowing any other steak would pale in comparison. Eventually, I lost my taste for steak altogether and almost never eat it now. The second thing I remember was the dessert -- their well-known tartufo, a chocolate ice cream dessert. The third thing was our waiter, Rafaele. He took the time to translate for us and helped us out a lot with what to order. This was not a cheap meal, but it was worth it. Well, actually, I didn't pay -- my parents did -- so maybe you'd have to ask them if it was worth it.
My second greatest restaurant meal was at the Bodega Castaneda in Granada, Spain in 2003. This was a very small place with a few tables inside and a few more outside. You had to get there really early to get a table. I ate there twice while in Granada. Both were good experiences, but one stands out as even though it was very simple: the albondigas (meatballs). These were the best albondigas I'd ever eaten. I think I commented on every bite I took, as if it was a surprise that each bite was as good as the last. It's not expensive, so definitely check it out if you are ever in Granada.
And so ends my attempt at being a food critic. I think I'll leave that to Jay Rayner from now on.
My review: 3.5 stars out of 5
20 September 2010
Reading the Classics
This past weekend, my mom and I went to see a performance of "To Kill a Mockingbird" at St. Norbert College. It was an excellent performance, but as the end neared, I realized that I only had a vague idea of how it ended because I've never read the book. It seems like one of those books everyone would read in high school. Maybe it's the racially charged language (the n-word is uttered more than just a few times) that prevents it from being read in school. Obviously, I've heard enough about it to know the general theme of the book, but that was about it. If fact, I'm almost ashamed to admit there are a lot of classics that I haven't read.
Barnes and Noble sells classics at a pretty low price, and the library is free, so there should be no excuse for not reading them. However, I think many of us look at the classics as the books we are forced to read while in high school but which we never actually enjoyed. I know I intensely disliked having to read "The Scarlet Letter" in high school. I wonder if I should try it again now as an adult. It certainly can't be any worse than I remember!
There are several lists of the top 100 books of all time. The New York Times version can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/library/books/072098best-novels-list.html. Of this list, I have read four. Interestingly, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is not on this list. Regardless, I think it's time for me to get reading!
Barnes and Noble sells classics at a pretty low price, and the library is free, so there should be no excuse for not reading them. However, I think many of us look at the classics as the books we are forced to read while in high school but which we never actually enjoyed. I know I intensely disliked having to read "The Scarlet Letter" in high school. I wonder if I should try it again now as an adult. It certainly can't be any worse than I remember!
There are several lists of the top 100 books of all time. The New York Times version can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/library/books/072098best-novels-list.html. Of this list, I have read four. Interestingly, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is not on this list. Regardless, I think it's time for me to get reading!
01 September 2010
"The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge" by David McCullough (1972, 2001)
Whew! I finally made it through another book -- 518 pages this time. I think I might need to add a new rule to my list of how to pick the next book to read: don't read two huge books in a row!
David McCullough is one of my favorite authors. In fact, he is my favorite author of nonfiction books. His biography of John Adams is my very favorite nonfiction book, and it has lead me to read several other of his books. Truth be told, I would never have picked up a book about a bridge if it wasn't written by McCullough!
The author's introduction at the beginning of the book tells why he wrote a book about the Brooklyn Bridge. His first book was about the Johnstown flood -- a book I have yet to read but is on my list! After that book's success he received several requests to write about things such as the Chicago fire and the San Francisco earthquake. However, he didn't want to be pigeonholed as a disaster writer, so he sought something completely different. This book was the result.
I have to admit that I am probably not the best audience for this book. The engineering discussions went over my head for the most part, and I've never been to that part of New York so the references to landmarks were lost on me. I've therefore never seen the bridge in person, which might have made the book come to life a bit more for me. Despite that, I enjoyed the book for the parts that did appeal to me: the biographies of those involved in the design and construction of the bridge; the danger associated with the construction due to issues such as "the bends" and the heights (and depths) involved; and the politics and corruption of the time (think Boss Tweed). As usual, McCullough's writing makes it a quick and interesting read, even for a book of this length. It doesn't reach the levels of his Adams or Harry Truman biographies, but I didn't expect it to given the topic of the book. If I had more interest in engineering, it might have rated it a little higher.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.
David McCullough is one of my favorite authors. In fact, he is my favorite author of nonfiction books. His biography of John Adams is my very favorite nonfiction book, and it has lead me to read several other of his books. Truth be told, I would never have picked up a book about a bridge if it wasn't written by McCullough!
The author's introduction at the beginning of the book tells why he wrote a book about the Brooklyn Bridge. His first book was about the Johnstown flood -- a book I have yet to read but is on my list! After that book's success he received several requests to write about things such as the Chicago fire and the San Francisco earthquake. However, he didn't want to be pigeonholed as a disaster writer, so he sought something completely different. This book was the result.
I have to admit that I am probably not the best audience for this book. The engineering discussions went over my head for the most part, and I've never been to that part of New York so the references to landmarks were lost on me. I've therefore never seen the bridge in person, which might have made the book come to life a bit more for me. Despite that, I enjoyed the book for the parts that did appeal to me: the biographies of those involved in the design and construction of the bridge; the danger associated with the construction due to issues such as "the bends" and the heights (and depths) involved; and the politics and corruption of the time (think Boss Tweed). As usual, McCullough's writing makes it a quick and interesting read, even for a book of this length. It doesn't reach the levels of his Adams or Harry Truman biographies, but I didn't expect it to given the topic of the book. If I had more interest in engineering, it might have rated it a little higher.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.
17 August 2010
I guess textbooks are books too!
Hi everyone. It's been a little over a week since my last post. My intention has been to write every three days so as not to disappoint my fans! Ha! But the fall semester is fast approaching, and I've been spending tons of time prepping for my 7 classes this semester. This requires reading a LOT of textbooks, particularly in classes where I'm using a new book this semester. Because of all the reading I've been doing, I haven't taken as much time for leisure reading as I'd like. Thankfully, that should remedy itself when my schedule normalizes in the next couple weeks.
However, I need to remind myself that reading textbooks is still reading. I read mostly non-fiction anyway, so reading a textbook isn't always too much of a deviation from that. I enjoy getting new textbooks, and if it wouldn't frustrate the hell out of the students and the bookstore, I'd probably switch books way more often just for the fun of it. There's not much out there that beats a brand new book (I used to love brand new notebooks too, so I admit to being a little odd in this regard), even if it is a textbook. It's right up there with new car smell. No, I don't smell my textbooks. That's a whole other story that only my law school classmates would appreciate!
However, I need to remind myself that reading textbooks is still reading. I read mostly non-fiction anyway, so reading a textbook isn't always too much of a deviation from that. I enjoy getting new textbooks, and if it wouldn't frustrate the hell out of the students and the bookstore, I'd probably switch books way more often just for the fun of it. There's not much out there that beats a brand new book (I used to love brand new notebooks too, so I admit to being a little odd in this regard), even if it is a textbook. It's right up there with new car smell. No, I don't smell my textbooks. That's a whole other story that only my law school classmates would appreciate!
05 August 2010
Making good books into miniseries
Some of my favorite books have been successfully made into miniseries: Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"; Alex Haley's "Roots"; John Jakes' "North and South"; David McCullough's "John Adams." These miniseries brought these books to life. However, I've recently found that it doesn't always work out that way.
I am a big fan of Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series. There are 10 books so far in the series, and I've read each of them. They are wonderful books and I'd recommend them to anyone. I was excited when I found out HBO was going to make them into a series. HBO did an excellent job with "John Adams" (even if I wasn't overly thrilled with the casting choice for John Adams himself), and was looking forward to something similar with Smith's books. Unfortunately, for me at least, it just didn't work. I think there are two reasons for this.
First, I love the way Smith writes his characters in the series. I was able to form a very clear image in my head of each of the characters and the locale in Botswana where the series takes place. I didn't think the HBO series lived up to my impressions. I don't know if it was the casting, the writing, or the acting, but it just didn't work for me. One example is the character of Mma Makutsi, who is an assistant detective/secretary. My impression of her from the book was that she was quite opinionated and often judgmental, but still a likeable character. In the HBO series she was still opinionated and judgmental, but came off bitchy rather than likeable. I was turned off by her, and that was unsettling for me.
Second, the books are very character-driven, not action-driven. You keep reading because you become attached to the characters and care what happens to them. It's not suspenseful really, and not particularly exciting; but it's not at all boring. However, when translated into a TV series, it became boring because nothing really happens amd there's not the character development to make up for it.
As a result of these observations, I watched only one episode and returned the DVD to Netflix. I was worried that if I watched any more, the images on the screen would replace the images in my head. That's not a risk I'm willing to take, and I can't wait for more books to come out in this series so I can continue reading about the wonderful characters.
Do you have a favorite book that was made into a movie or TV series? Maybe "Harry Potter" or the "Twighlight" series? How about "The DaVinci Code"? Please comment below and let me know!
I am a big fan of Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series. There are 10 books so far in the series, and I've read each of them. They are wonderful books and I'd recommend them to anyone. I was excited when I found out HBO was going to make them into a series. HBO did an excellent job with "John Adams" (even if I wasn't overly thrilled with the casting choice for John Adams himself), and was looking forward to something similar with Smith's books. Unfortunately, for me at least, it just didn't work. I think there are two reasons for this.
First, I love the way Smith writes his characters in the series. I was able to form a very clear image in my head of each of the characters and the locale in Botswana where the series takes place. I didn't think the HBO series lived up to my impressions. I don't know if it was the casting, the writing, or the acting, but it just didn't work for me. One example is the character of Mma Makutsi, who is an assistant detective/secretary. My impression of her from the book was that she was quite opinionated and often judgmental, but still a likeable character. In the HBO series she was still opinionated and judgmental, but came off bitchy rather than likeable. I was turned off by her, and that was unsettling for me.
Second, the books are very character-driven, not action-driven. You keep reading because you become attached to the characters and care what happens to them. It's not suspenseful really, and not particularly exciting; but it's not at all boring. However, when translated into a TV series, it became boring because nothing really happens amd there's not the character development to make up for it.
As a result of these observations, I watched only one episode and returned the DVD to Netflix. I was worried that if I watched any more, the images on the screen would replace the images in my head. That's not a risk I'm willing to take, and I can't wait for more books to come out in this series so I can continue reading about the wonderful characters.
Do you have a favorite book that was made into a movie or TV series? Maybe "Harry Potter" or the "Twighlight" series? How about "The DaVinci Code"? Please comment below and let me know!
02 August 2010
Do I want an e-reader?
I am not what they call an early adapter of technology. I don't have an i-phone, and I'm not even considering getting an i-pad. My mp3 player is an off-brand, not an i-pod. I just don't like to spend money on technology. However, I have been considering getting an e-reader, like a Kindle or a Nook. The problem is that I just don't know if it would be worth the expense for me.I love to read; but more than that, I love books. I like the feel of a new book. I like holding it in my hand and turning the pages. I have heard that reading an e-reader is very much like a book. I don't buy it, at least not yet. If I travelled more, either for work or pleasure, then I think it would be a good thing. Lugging a bunch of books on a plane is not fun. But my work is about 2 miles from my house, and I only go on vacation once or twice a year. I can't imagine choosing to read from an e-reader when I could just as easily read an actual book. But my curiousity might be getting the best of me, and I'm sure I'll end up with an e-reader sooner rather than later. If nothing else, I can download books for cheaper than I could buy them, which is a great option for books I'm less certain about.
There are people who worry books will become obsolete eventually as technology progresses. I don't think that will ever happen. There are too many people out there who, like me, need actual books in their lives. At least, I hope that's the case!
30 July 2010
Decisions, Decisions OR What Book Do I Read Next?
Every time I put a book back on the shelf, I choose a new one to read. My problem is that I accumulate books faster than I can read them, so it's hard to decide what's next. Also, by nature I don't like to make decisons if I don't have to. (Don't ever make me decide where to go to eat!) So when I need to pick a new book, I use the scientific method of eenie, meenie, miney, moe. Basically, I put the completed book back on the shelf and start counting from the next book in line, working my way down the shelves. Whatever book I land on, I read.
Of course, there are rules to this game. First, I usually don't read two similar books in a row. For example, I just read a book on Lincoln's cabinet, so I wouldn't read another Civil War era history or biography. Second, sometimes I land on a book I've already read and don't feel like re-reading right now. In either of these cases, I just go to the next book in line and apply the same rules. When I land on a book that I haven't read, I must read it. No excuses.
I know I could just pick whatever I felt like reading, but that never works. I have too many books to choose from, and some might never get read if I did it that way. With my method, each book has an equal chance of being read somewhere down the line. It might sound crazy to you, but if you know me well enough you probably aren't at all surprised at how my mind works. Ask me sometime how I go about eating a bag of M&Ms. There's an order to everything!
Of course, there are rules to this game. First, I usually don't read two similar books in a row. For example, I just read a book on Lincoln's cabinet, so I wouldn't read another Civil War era history or biography. Second, sometimes I land on a book I've already read and don't feel like re-reading right now. In either of these cases, I just go to the next book in line and apply the same rules. When I land on a book that I haven't read, I must read it. No excuses.
I know I could just pick whatever I felt like reading, but that never works. I have too many books to choose from, and some might never get read if I did it that way. With my method, each book has an equal chance of being read somewhere down the line. It might sound crazy to you, but if you know me well enough you probably aren't at all surprised at how my mind works. Ask me sometime how I go about eating a bag of M&Ms. There's an order to everything!
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