I was not expecting this. I thought I was diving into a book about bicycling across Vietnam. I did not realize I was experiencing several nuanced emotI was not expecting this. I thought I was diving into a book about bicycling across Vietnam. I did not realize I was experiencing several nuanced emotional journeys, centering around the family experience of war and immigraton, and returning.
I also was not expecting the stories of An's siblings and their struggles for identity. Especially the loss of his older sibling. I'm so glad I found this book at the library sale....more
I found this science crime book at Two Birds Bookstore in Capitola, and decided to add it to my ever evolving dinosaur collection. I learned a lot aboI found this science crime book at Two Birds Bookstore in Capitola, and decided to add it to my ever evolving dinosaur collection. I learned a lot about Mongolia, and the intersection of private collecting and museum collecting, as well as the politics of repatriation of items.
The focus seemed a little hazy at times, and there were pages of things that I skipped over because they weren't about dinosaurs in any way. I know other people might care about details of people's personal lives, but that was not why I chose a book called The Dinosaur Artist. The parts about dinosaurs were well written and informative....more
Humanity has a problem, and math, as always, has the answer. I have been waiting for Andy Weir's new book for a while, eager to read yet another homagHumanity has a problem, and math, as always, has the answer. I have been waiting for Andy Weir's new book for a while, eager to read yet another homage to plucky problem solving.
I will be rereading this soon, but my mom, and my two sons have requested a turn....more
If books are sorted between preapocalyptic, apocalyptic and postapocalyptic...this book is in the middle catagory. Apocalypse is inevitable in Kavan'sIf books are sorted between preapocalyptic, apocalyptic and postapocalyptic...this book is in the middle catagory. Apocalypse is inevitable in Kavan's book. There seem to be only two characters capable of affecting change, aspects of the same male force. And they are both opposing, and searching for an ice maiden. The story of that pursuit seems to start over many times, but the last line makes it clear that the story is a spiral, and all the circlular stories have the same ending.
I am not sure how this book ended up on my to-read list, but I am glad it did....more
Fooled by the book cover, I thought this would be an amusing read about a road trip in a rental car along The Great Wall. And for a third of the book Fooled by the book cover, I thought this would be an amusing read about a road trip in a rental car along The Great Wall. And for a third of the book it was..
However, this was more than just some travel adventure by a journalist with time on his hands, it was also a book about how freeways killed small town America...no, wait, I'm sorry, it is about how the advent of roads to remote destination in China changed the lives of walnut harvesting villagers, and, spoiler, not always for the better.
There is also an interesting section about the politics of car manufactures and industrial espionage.
So, as you can see, I accidently learned some things about China....more
Turns out, I prefer travel adventure stories in which at the end of the adventure, everyone gathers in a tropical bar to out boast each other about thTurns out, I prefer travel adventure stories in which at the end of the adventure, everyone gathers in a tropical bar to out boast each other about the hurricane they survived. This was not that book....more
I recently (not recently enough) took a birding trip to Arizona with Citizen Scientist Debbie and this book made me long to do that trip again, as welI recently (not recently enough) took a birding trip to Arizona with Citizen Scientist Debbie and this book made me long to do that trip again, as well as all the other trips described here.
I wish though, for an age of innocence, one where every travel book, and natural science book did not have to remind me of the ticking clock for our planet. I long for a more Victorian exuberance, a delight in the wonders of the world that is not tempered by the knowledge that if I don't get myself to a certain forest now, I may never see a Kirtlands Warbler....more
A lot of birds packed into a small book. I like the layout of the 2nd edition. I would love to see at least the major headings in Spanish and English.A lot of birds packed into a small book. I like the layout of the 2nd edition. I would love to see at least the major headings in Spanish and English...it would have been nice to share my love of herons with someone in a way other than hand gestures to indicate Boat Billed Herons Fighting. (I got laughed at, by the way.)
You should buy a copy, and then you should invite me to go bird watching with you in Costa Rica....more
I know this will not be a popular opinion, but the third act could have been its own 900 page book. I would have liked to slow down and appreciate theI know this will not be a popular opinion, but the third act could have been its own 900 page book. I would have liked to slow down and appreciate the world (re)building. With that said, I love old fashioned 'what-if' science fiction with a dash of space opera. I had to stop and look up a lot of things while I was reading, which always makes me happy....more
I object to anthropomorphizing bacterium on general principal, I like my science/history books to have a higher standard. However, the social history I object to anthropomorphizing bacterium on general principal, I like my science/history books to have a higher standard. However, the social history of the effects of the Black Death, its progress through Europe, and the demonizing of Jews as a result were quite interesting. I also enjoyed the debate over which strain, and which host might be 'the' culprit. Spoiler: Everyone dies....more
I have always loved Bill Bryson, yet, I had a difficult time with this book. I don't mind cantankerous, in fact, usually, I revel in it. This book thoI have always loved Bill Bryson, yet, I had a difficult time with this book. I don't mind cantankerous, in fact, usually, I revel in it. This book though had an undercurrent of mean, and I could not abandon myself to the humor of snark....more
I made halva, little meat pies, and a vegetable dish today, and I loved them all. Easy, clear instructions, and so many things I want to try! A gift fI made halva, little meat pies, and a vegetable dish today, and I loved them all. Easy, clear instructions, and so many things I want to try! A gift from my Uncle Rick...the only problem is trying to decide what to make next....more
This book had me at linear optimization. The premise of 30 games in 30 daysThings I love, in no particular order:
1) Math nerds 2) Road trips 3) Baseball
This book had me at linear optimization. The premise of 30 games in 30 days is one of those wonderful ideas that I am glad to know someone else has already done, and I know how difficult that can be. I tried to visit minor league games on a recent road trip, and was only successful in Albuquerque, and that game got rained out (torrential thunderstorm) before the end of the first half inning.
Because others have already done it, I won't need to do it, so that is a relief.
The balance in this book between sarcasm and friendship, loving the road trip ethos, and questioning a road trip that threatened to suck the love out of the very thing they had come to do, pleased me greatly....more
Being a review of The Florida of the Inca, which I read with several companions for a book club meeting, in which we travelled to the Community CenterBeing a review of The Florida of the Inca, which I read with several companions for a book club meeting, in which we travelled to the Community Center of Almaden's fair library.
It took us several weeks to read through this long missive of the Inca, and in it we learned many wonderful Spanish idioms, and enjoyed greatly the footnotes of the esteemed translators, who helped us navigate this narrative of the New World.
It contains but one chapter of praise for the work of the Inca....more
In the first chapter, I found nothing amusing or new, and I nearly gave up on this. But then the trivial details of medieval life began to pile up andIn the first chapter, I found nothing amusing or new, and I nearly gave up on this. But then the trivial details of medieval life began to pile up and I was captivated by the cost of feeding a horse, and the pros and cons of being a monk, among other things....more
Amazing!! So many bits and pieces of history from around the world placed in context. However, be warned this is an awkward book to read. The thick glAmazing!! So many bits and pieces of history from around the world placed in context. However, be warned this is an awkward book to read. The thick glossy paper in the paperback edition, is awesome for pictures, but catches glare just wrong when you are trying to read. And the size is not very friendly. All that is lost in the many wonderful new trivia bits that I added to my brain....more
This story of industrial espionage, is not as riveting as it could have been. I was fascinated by the technology that allowed plant cuttings to be nu This story of industrial espionage, is not as riveting as it could have been. I was fascinated by the technology that allowed plant cuttings to be nurtured on long sea voyages....more
I think I am in love with Mark Watney, and his "I must do it" attitude. Who wouldn't want the best engineer, botanist and D&D player on the entire plaI think I am in love with Mark Watney, and his "I must do it" attitude. Who wouldn't want the best engineer, botanist and D&D player on the entire planet....more
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