by Jim Walsh (267 pp.)
I grabbed this as soon as I finshed the Bob Mould book (#23). I liked the places where the books overlapped but overall I wasn't in love with this one. It's subtitled An Oral History and the entire book is snippets of stuff people said about the band including the band members. So instead of being a straight narrative it jumps and starts, sometimes repeating, sometimes random bits that just went on too long. Now I'm going to have to get my Replacements catalog out and listen to that. Here's a favorite quote from the book by Tommy Stinson: Boy, if "Aqualung" is a classic, then "I'll Be You" is history.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
23. Bob Mould: See A Little Light
by Bob Mould (385 pp.)
I have been a fan of Bob Mould since New Day Rising which I still own on vinyl. I don't own his complete catalog but pretty close. Reading this inspires me to pull out everything that I have and listen to it in order. Needless to say, as a fan, I loved this book. It's the story of his life and career. I particularly loved the early years stuff with Hüsker Dü and the Minneapolis scene and rivalry with The Replacements. (which is another of my all time favorite bands). What I admire about him is the same thing I admire about Patti Smith. They are true to their own artistic vision - they never try to be anything but themselves. I've had a Replacements bio on my shelf and I'm reading that now.
I have been a fan of Bob Mould since New Day Rising which I still own on vinyl. I don't own his complete catalog but pretty close. Reading this inspires me to pull out everything that I have and listen to it in order. Needless to say, as a fan, I loved this book. It's the story of his life and career. I particularly loved the early years stuff with Hüsker Dü and the Minneapolis scene and rivalry with The Replacements. (which is another of my all time favorite bands). What I admire about him is the same thing I admire about Patti Smith. They are true to their own artistic vision - they never try to be anything but themselves. I've had a Replacements bio on my shelf and I'm reading that now.
Friday, July 29, 2011
22. A Dance With Dragons
by George RR Martin (1 million pp)
It seems like every brick book series has moments in it that are just typing. This book is way too long for what happens in it. It felt like every chapter ended with a twist and by the time you met up with those characters again, a bunch of stuff had happened to solve the problem and a few characters stood around and talked about it. Then there would be a bit of action and another plot twist. Too much stuff happened off screen that would have been nice to see and too much standing around talking that could have been shaved down. I'm invested enough that I want to find out what happens next and there were good parts, too. And lots of people died.
It seems like every brick book series has moments in it that are just typing. This book is way too long for what happens in it. It felt like every chapter ended with a twist and by the time you met up with those characters again, a bunch of stuff had happened to solve the problem and a few characters stood around and talked about it. Then there would be a bit of action and another plot twist. Too much stuff happened off screen that would have been nice to see and too much standing around talking that could have been shaved down. I'm invested enough that I want to find out what happens next and there were good parts, too. And lots of people died.
Monday, July 4, 2011
21. Fathom
By Cherie Priest (380 pp.)
I almost didn't finish this book. I got it at a book exchange and it's not that I thought it was a bad book, it just didn't seem like my type of book. But then some unexpected things happened and I was sucked in and had to finish. This book is about an old god (goddess?) of water and her schemes. She's bad and she finds other bad people to help her out. Meanwhile other gods have their own plans. A fun story. I found myself wanting to go back and read just a few more chapters. I have a small complaint in that it felt like every other scene went on about a page and a half longer than it needed to. And then end felt like it went on about 20 pages longer than it needed to.
I almost didn't finish this book. I got it at a book exchange and it's not that I thought it was a bad book, it just didn't seem like my type of book. But then some unexpected things happened and I was sucked in and had to finish. This book is about an old god (goddess?) of water and her schemes. She's bad and she finds other bad people to help her out. Meanwhile other gods have their own plans. A fun story. I found myself wanting to go back and read just a few more chapters. I have a small complaint in that it felt like every other scene went on about a page and a half longer than it needed to. And then end felt like it went on about 20 pages longer than it needed to.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
20. The Year of the Flood
By Margaret Atwood (432 pp.)
It's not that I didn't like this book but it's not my favorite Margaret Atwood. I loved Alias Grace and The Blind Assassin. TBA is sitting on my "to read" shelf for a re-read. I hardly ever re-read books anymore. I think I got a little mucked up with the structure going back and forth in time with different narrators. But the closer the book got to the end, the more I got into it. This is a companion book to Oryx and Crake that I like when I read it. It takes place in the near future when the world is falling apart and then there's a pandemic and it really does fall apart. It made me want to skim Oryx and Crake again except I think my copy must be at Mom's because I can't find it. Recommend for MA fans.
It's not that I didn't like this book but it's not my favorite Margaret Atwood. I loved Alias Grace and The Blind Assassin. TBA is sitting on my "to read" shelf for a re-read. I hardly ever re-read books anymore. I think I got a little mucked up with the structure going back and forth in time with different narrators. But the closer the book got to the end, the more I got into it. This is a companion book to Oryx and Crake that I like when I read it. It takes place in the near future when the world is falling apart and then there's a pandemic and it really does fall apart. It made me want to skim Oryx and Crake again except I think my copy must be at Mom's because I can't find it. Recommend for MA fans.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
19. The Golem's Eye: The Bartimaeus Trilogy #2
By Jonathan Stroud (562 pp.)
This is second in a series (See Book #16.) I had a much harder time getting into this book and I don't think it was any major thing, it just could have been trimmed by 50+ pages so we got into it quicker. Bartimaeus, my favorite character barely appears in the first 100 pages. But once we headed to the conclusion, it went quick. It's about a djinni, a boy magician (who is a bit of a putz), a common girl who are fighting the magician establishment, and some big bad stuff.
This is second in a series (See Book #16.) I had a much harder time getting into this book and I don't think it was any major thing, it just could have been trimmed by 50+ pages so we got into it quicker. Bartimaeus, my favorite character barely appears in the first 100 pages. But once we headed to the conclusion, it went quick. It's about a djinni, a boy magician (who is a bit of a putz), a common girl who are fighting the magician establishment, and some big bad stuff.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
18. So You Want to Be A Rock & Roll Star
By Jacob Slichter (286 pp.)
When I graduated from college I really wanted to work for a record company or do something in the music business. For numerous reasons it didn't work out, but I'm still interested in how it works.
The book is written by the drummer for Semisonic the band that did the song "Closing Time" which is a great song but was everywhere in 1998. I remember getting to the point where I'd want to jump out the window when that song came on.
This is about them getting started, getting a record deal and trying to get their music on the air. Then getting a monster hit and how it all worked out. Slichter was in his 30's when this happened so he's got a grown-up's perspective. Lots of great inside scoop. The music business is scarily crooked. I'm lucky I didn't end up in it. Good book.
When I graduated from college I really wanted to work for a record company or do something in the music business. For numerous reasons it didn't work out, but I'm still interested in how it works.
The book is written by the drummer for Semisonic the band that did the song "Closing Time" which is a great song but was everywhere in 1998. I remember getting to the point where I'd want to jump out the window when that song came on.
This is about them getting started, getting a record deal and trying to get their music on the air. Then getting a monster hit and how it all worked out. Slichter was in his 30's when this happened so he's got a grown-up's perspective. Lots of great inside scoop. The music business is scarily crooked. I'm lucky I didn't end up in it. Good book.
Friday, June 3, 2011
17. The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro
By Joe McGinniss (404 pp.)
My love for this book grew exponentially as I read it. Very highly recommended for people who love books about soccer. I don't think anyone else will be so thrilled. It's about a soccer team from a tiny town in Italy that makes its way into Serie B. Non-fiction just in case it isn't clear. The author is an American and he lived in the town for the 1996 soccer season to write this story. My biggest beef, and I understand this is how this type of journalism works, is that the author make himself such a big part of the story. But he's such a big personality, I think this is also what makes the story work. It ends on a sour note which almost ruins the whole experience but I think the author and the team would agree on that.
My love for this book grew exponentially as I read it. Very highly recommended for people who love books about soccer. I don't think anyone else will be so thrilled. It's about a soccer team from a tiny town in Italy that makes its way into Serie B. Non-fiction just in case it isn't clear. The author is an American and he lived in the town for the 1996 soccer season to write this story. My biggest beef, and I understand this is how this type of journalism works, is that the author make himself such a big part of the story. But he's such a big personality, I think this is also what makes the story work. It ends on a sour note which almost ruins the whole experience but I think the author and the team would agree on that.
Friday, May 20, 2011
16. The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus Book 1)
By Jonathan Stroud (462 pp.)
My sister gave me this book and I LOVED it. I'm going to buy the other 2 ASAP. It's a YA book about an ancient djinni (Bartimaeus) and a kid named Nathanial who is studying to be a magician. It's got action, danger, great humor and characters who keep doing the wrong thing and then getting into more trouble when they try to fix it. Recommend!
My sister gave me this book and I LOVED it. I'm going to buy the other 2 ASAP. It's a YA book about an ancient djinni (Bartimaeus) and a kid named Nathanial who is studying to be a magician. It's got action, danger, great humor and characters who keep doing the wrong thing and then getting into more trouble when they try to fix it. Recommend!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
15. Chasing the Game: American and the Quest for the World Cup
By Filip Bondy (293 pp)
This is the story of the US Men's National Soccer team at the World Cup. It tells the story leading up to the 2010 World Cup and also the history of the US and the World Cup. There is a ton of great information in here and I learned a lot of new stuff. However, I found the structure sort-of confusing because the lead up to 2010 is intercut with the historical stuff and as you get closer to the present there are overlapping characters and I sometimes had to take a minute to sort out where I was in time. Plus the backstory of some of the players -- which are fantastic -- are thrown in seemingly at random. I also think the choice to put Tim Howard (click here for a special treat ladies) on the cover is weird. It seems like having a bunch of US players would have made more sense.
This is the story of the US Men's National Soccer team at the World Cup. It tells the story leading up to the 2010 World Cup and also the history of the US and the World Cup. There is a ton of great information in here and I learned a lot of new stuff. However, I found the structure sort-of confusing because the lead up to 2010 is intercut with the historical stuff and as you get closer to the present there are overlapping characters and I sometimes had to take a minute to sort out where I was in time. Plus the backstory of some of the players -- which are fantastic -- are thrown in seemingly at random. I also think the choice to put Tim Howard (click here for a special treat ladies) on the cover is weird. It seems like having a bunch of US players would have made more sense.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
14. As Always, Julia: Food, Friendship and the Making of a Masterpiece
Ed. by Joan Reardon (402 pp)
This is a book of correspondence between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto. They met when Julia wrote a letter to Bernard DeVoto after reading an article he wrote about kitchen knives. It's hard not to love people who are passionate about cutlery. That letter started a correspondence that developed into an amazing friendship. Avis ended up playing a key role in getting Mastering the Art of French Cooking published.
I loved it. It gets a tad long in spots but is easy to skim. One of the things I loved is that they both write about being frustrated with trying to balance all the things they want to do. I feel like my personal challenges are so unique and here are two ambitious women 50 years ago, struggling with the same thing.
This is a book of correspondence between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto. They met when Julia wrote a letter to Bernard DeVoto after reading an article he wrote about kitchen knives. It's hard not to love people who are passionate about cutlery. That letter started a correspondence that developed into an amazing friendship. Avis ended up playing a key role in getting Mastering the Art of French Cooking published.
I loved it. It gets a tad long in spots but is easy to skim. One of the things I loved is that they both write about being frustrated with trying to balance all the things they want to do. I feel like my personal challenges are so unique and here are two ambitious women 50 years ago, struggling with the same thing.
Friday, April 22, 2011
13. A Visit from the Goon Squad
by Jennifer Egan (274 pp.)
Another book of inter-connected short stories that would be tough to sum up in a sentence. People in different places at different times. It's really good. I recommend.
I wanted to check something about the book online and found the author website here which I highly recommend *after* you read the book. She talks about the stories in the book and real life connections to them.
In course of doing that I found a bunch of reviews and blurbs. Man, I'd like to start a project making fun of book reviews. Like, every week on FB I'd review a fake book: "A shocking tour de force that rewards the yearnings of modernity and pits us against the sweeping land mines of the human heart."
This book inspired quite a bit inanity in the review department.
Another book of inter-connected short stories that would be tough to sum up in a sentence. People in different places at different times. It's really good. I recommend.
I wanted to check something about the book online and found the author website here which I highly recommend *after* you read the book. She talks about the stories in the book and real life connections to them.
In course of doing that I found a bunch of reviews and blurbs. Man, I'd like to start a project making fun of book reviews. Like, every week on FB I'd review a fake book: "A shocking tour de force that rewards the yearnings of modernity and pits us against the sweeping land mines of the human heart."
This book inspired quite a bit inanity in the review department.
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