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The Pleasure Of My Company | 10/10 |
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Author: Steve Martin
Genre: ComedyWow. I kept expecting this book to fall apart in the latter stages but it held together quite well.
The book follows Daniel Pecan Cambridge, a rather eccentric character, through a period of his life. I found the character fascinating - overall I was just very impressed by this book. Why is it that when that happens I get so tongue-tied?
Recommended. Reviewed: May 26 2007
Average Rating: 8/10 - 3 reviews
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It's Not About The Bike | 10/10 |
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Author: Lance Armstrong
Genre: Biography and MemoirsWhat an AMAZING book by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins. I thought it was incredibly well-written and had to force myself to put it down (doing that the 2 times I did manage to was harder than winning a stage of the Tour de France!)
I thought the best thing about the book was how incredibly honest Lance Armstrong was. He laid everything out there and didn't make excuses for anything, even when the things he talked about made him look 'bad'. When he was a jerk (I'd use a stronger word, but this is a family site ;) ha ha) he said so. He talks about things like driving too fast, straying from women, etc. but never bragging or trying to excuse his behaviour or get sympathy, he just tells the whole truth about things (I don't know the guy, but it sure seemed like it anyway). I was also very impressed by how he described his wife, Kristin, she sounded amazing and he gave her a lot of credit. (Having read a brief article by her recently, I was struck by how modest she described herself in the article versus the way her then husband describes her in this book).
The book is not only about his nearly losing his life to cancer, or even his amazing comeback Tour de France triumph, but about him as a man, a human being...life in general. As I was reading it I thought it was one of the best books I've ever read and I will certainly read another by him. It also made me go from 'cycling? uh, whatever' to really wanting to watch the Tour de France and maybe even other cycling events.
I'm sure many reviewers have used the word 'inspirational' to describe this book, but I find that trite. If it was inspiring to me it was because it was such an honest soul searching without being maudlin. Lance Armstrong considers the psychological aspects of various things in his life but never ever wallows there. I appreciated the no nonsense attitude. I could go on and on. Highly recommended (if that wasn't obvious already!)
How anyone could find the book as good after my raising expectations so high with this review is beyond me - but what can I say, I loved it. Reviewed: July 06 2006
Average Rating: 9.6/10 - 3 reviews
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I Know This Much Is True | 10/10 |
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Author: Wally Lamb
Genre: General FictionI felt like this was one of the best books I'd ever read. Upon finishing it, I even went back and read the first chapter over again.
It's a huge novel (900 pages or something) but none of it seemed superfluous (and usually I think 'this author could have used an editor'). It also ends strongly, something I find many books disintegrate somewhat on and drop in rating.
I stayed up almost all night reading it one night (and then had to pick it up as soon as I had a chance the next day). It's not a page turner in the sense of a frantic 'must know what happened' but I found I was so interested in the character(s) and, secondarily, the story line that it was hard to put the book down.
The basic premise of the story is that of a guy who is an identical twin but really it's just a story about family, secrets, mental health, etc. Life, really.
Beautifully written - crafted - a piece of art in that way. I would have given it twelve if the scale went that high. Highly recommended. Reviewed: June 12 2006
Average Rating: 9/10 - 2 reviews
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All Is Vanity | 10/10 |
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Author: Christina Schwarz
Genre: General FictionI read this right after reading another book with a similar plot (writing a novel etc. - don't want to give too much away).
I really liked this author's first novel (Drowning Ruth) and, although this 2nd book was quite different, I really enjoyed it as well. The first book I could see being described as 'literary genius' or some such thing. The 2nd as 'a raw, honest portrayal'. I would actually find it difficult to say which was the better book because I appreciated both for their respective talents.
Friendship (between childhood best friends) is a major theme as is trying to "get somewhere" in life (the 'better' job, more money, more socially desirable stuff).
I found the characters interesting and one of them in particular very witty in a very natural way.
Overall I found the book to be simple, real...it felt like something that everyday people experience with perhaps a little extra thrown in to make it a novel. Reviewed: May 16 2006
Average Rating: 7.6/10 - 3 reviews
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Drowning Ruth | 10/10 |
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Author: Christina Schwarz
Genre: General FictionI liked the style this book was written in.
The author jumped around in time and character to tell the story of a family.
Various mysteries are revealed along the way and at the end the full story of the main plotline of the book is finally completed.
The characters are well-written and the non-chronological style makes for great pacing and intrigue throughout.
Highly recommended. Reviewed: March 24 2006
Average Rating: 9.5/10 - 2 reviews
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Notes From A Big Country | 10/10 |
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Author: Bill Bryson
Genre: Social and Cultural StudiesVery funny!
A collection of articles about life in America. I don't normally like books that are made up of articles or short stories or what have you but Bryson wrote these articles for a British audience and they all fit together in a cohesive way.
Love the wit and it lasts from start to finish. This book may be especially loved by people from countries other than the US (or those from the US who don't mind poking fun at themselves).
Recommended!' Reviewed: March 22 2006
Average Rating: 9/10 - 2 reviews
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Hey Nostradamus! | 10/10 |
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Author: Douglas Coupland
Genre: General FictionVery intriguing book in four parts: 1988 Cheryl, 1999 Jason, 2002 Heather, 2003 Reg.
The narration is first person and the characters realistic.
Original, well-written, well paced.
The kind of book about which professional reviewers write things like 'heart of the human condition' and 'characters floundering between desire and requittal'. Gag. I say 'recommended'. Reviewed: March 18 2006
Average Rating: 9.5/10 - 2 reviews
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No Plot? No Problem!...Write A Novel in 30 Days | 10/10 |
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Author: Chris Baty
Genre: How-To / InstructionBest book I've ever read. Okay, that might be overstating it a bit but I LOVED this author. He's very funny yet it was still a serious how-to for writing a novel - the best of two worlds. I actually didn't finish the book as the end part is for people in the process of writing a book and looking ahead is supposed to ruin the process so I will have to wait to finish reading until I've started writing.
One would think that if you have no interest in writing a novel there'd be no point in reading this book - that may be true but I had a great time reading it just because of the author's style of writing. Even the design of the book was really cool - the icons and so forth matched the tone and content well. Highly recommended, especially if writing for fun or career is of particular interest. Reviewed: February 24 2006
Rating: 10/10 - 1 review
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A Short History Of Nearly Everything | 10/10 |
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Author: Bill Bryson
Genre: Science and NatureI really didn't know anything about this book when I picked it up. Turns out it is a little like 'science for dummies.' Actually, it takes findings from areas such as physics, chemistry, geology, biology, etc and explains them in a way that the non-scientist (or perhaps more accurately 'lay person') can understand. In addition, the book is pretty humourous in parts, especially in the descriptions of the personalities of some of the scientific discoverers through the ages.
I found it, especially the first 3/4, to be riveting - I was telling everyone about it. I also found it to be almost...spiritual is the only word I can think of, but it perhaps doesn't capture the feeling I wish to describe. I just felt really awed at some of the descriptions that made it evident that it is an uber-miracle beyond belief that "we" are even here at all. Or more accurately that anything that we think of as 'life' is here at all. Reviewed: November 16 2005
Rating: 10/10 - 1 review
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Shaving The Inside of Your Skull: Crazy Wisdom For.. | 10/10 |
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Author: Mel Ash
Genre: Health and Well-BeingI've read this book a few times over the years and find it fresh & enjoyable each time.
The title is a reference to the practice some monks have of shaving their heads - the book gives zillions of "razors" (exercises) designed to help one discover who they really are by "shaving" the mind.
The book doesn't take itself too seriously, in my limited experience not a lot of this genre of books are "fun" but this one is. It's also chock-full of not only razors, but quotes from all kinds of people, from rabbis to John Lennon to Carl Sagan and so on. Reviewed: November 10 2005
Rating: 10/10 - 1 review
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