A Year of Reading: February 2012
Last night I went with listersgirl and SFD to see Potted Potter, an unauthorized parody of the Harry Potter books, seven books in 70 minutes. It's a two-man show, and honestly it was more MANIC than I expected (having seen One Man Lord of the Rings I suppose I was expecting something more like that?) but it was really funny - the two guys did well, and were (mostly) able to hold it together when they needed to ad-lib. The best part was when they got two people from the audience up on stage to be the Seekers (for the game of Quidditch we played in the middle of the show, naturally) and one was this tiny kid who clearly KNEW THE BOOKS and was READY TO PLAY QUIDDITCH and was TOTALLY INTO IT. She stole the show! The worst part was the girl across the aisle from us who was TEXTING ON HER FUCKING PHONE THROUGHOUT THE SHOW. I went over to her after to say that it had been very disturbing to me and that perhaps next time she might want to reconsider doing that DURING A LIVE SHOW. If there had been an intermission I would have called the ushers on her but since there was no break I didn't know what else to do. SOMETHING HAD TO BE SAID!!)
And then I got home at a reasonable time and spent the rest of the evening typing up my February books post! So here it is!!
1. Allegiance: A Dublin Novella by Heather Domin
4 stars on Goodreads
An MI5 informant on his last assignment infiltrates a group of IRA supporters in Dublin. This novella features likeable and layered characters, an interesting plot, and a nice m/m romance. A good quick read!
2. Atonement by Ian McEwan
I needed a small paperback to carry with me. I liked the movie of this so I tried the book. I think I read 50 pages, and I was so bored, it took so long to get going that I lost interest. Gave up.
3. The Lies of Sarah Palin: The Untold Story Behind Her Relentless Quest for Power by Geoffrey Dunn
4 stars on Goodreads
A political biography, this was both interesting and infuriating. I am no fan of Sarah Palin, and in that sense it was a reassuring book to read, because the author really dislikes her, too. (He's not always objective, but I didn't want him to be.) A bit repetitive near the end but still a good read, especially if you want to be reminded of the ways in which this is NOT a good person to have attempting to run the state of Alaska, let alone the US.
4. The Ice Cream Army by Jessica Gregson
4 stars on Goodreads
A Turkish boy emigrates to Australia and ends up living and working in a small outback town. When WWI breaks out (and Australia is sending troops to die in the Ottoman Empire/Turkey) relatively good relationships between Australians and the Turkish immigrants change to racial prejudice and violence. Based on true events, this book tells the story from different points of view to show how it might have come to pass. Lovely language and descriptions, likeable and believable characters, and a slow but unrelenting journey to the tragic ending. Really well done.
5. The Last Season by Eric Blehm
4 stars on Goodreads
This is the true story of a veteran National Park Ranger in the backcountry of the Sierra Nevadas who disappeared in the park. A bit repetitive at points but all together a really gripping read! I'm so glad there were photos, it really helped me understand more about the terrain and surroundings.
6. Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons
2 stars on Goodreads
This is the story of Jewish WWII refugee immigrants Jack and Sadie Rosenblum. Sadie buries her sorrows at those left behind with baking, but Jack tries desperately to become a proper English gentleman and when he cannot get into a golf club (because All English Gentlemen Play Golf) he decides to build his own. Wackiness and tragedy ensue. I didn't love this, honestly, but I think it would make a great movie!
7. The Kitchen Counter Cooking School: How a Few Simple Lessons Transformed Nine Culinary Novices Into Fearless Home Cooks by Kathleen Flinn
4 stars on Goodreads
I was so-so on the author's first book about her experiences at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, but I liked this one much better. This is the story of the author helping a group of non-cooking women find the courage and skills to be better cooks. It includes tips, recipes, and ideas for anyone who wants to learn more about basic cooking skills.
This is the book that convinced me to try roasting a whole chicken, which I had never done before!
8. The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes
4 stars on Goodreads
This is a book of fantastic photos and insights, that provides some context of both the show (which I love) and the history of the time depicted (which is fascinating). I loved the chapter about costume design, and all of the behind-the-scenes information about the show.
9. No Quarter by Tanya Huff (reread)
10. Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them by Donovan Hohn
1 star on GoodReads
I wanted to love this, I had followed the story of the lost bath toys when it was in the news and magazines, and I liked this book for about 100 pages, then I was so bored I fell asleep reading it twice! I think photos would have helped? There were great swaths of description but not one damned photo. Too bad. Gave up around page 165.
11. And Furthermore by Judi Dench
3 stars on Goodreads
This was pretty good, overall. I felt we got some of Dame Judi's voice, which is nice, as she is very private in her real life. You won't get gossip or deep dark secrets in this book, it's certainly much more her 'life in the business' instead of her life, relationships, etc. Which is her perfect right, but still. Those of us who would like to emulate her would like more personal details!! To be honest - and I hate to critizise it at all - some of it was kind of choppy and stories were told without much context for the reader who doesn't know much about the London Theatre Scene in the 1950s-1980s. I am going to read her biography by John Miller to (I hope!) get more context for the stories I read in this book.
Up Next or In Transit At the Library:
-Judi Dench: With a Crack in her Voice by John Miller (started this morning!)
-The Tudor Throne by Brandy Purdy
-Gold Diggers: Striking it Rich in the Klondike by Charlotte Gray
-The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
What are you reading lately? What do you recommend? Are you on GoodReads? If so, please feel free to add me there!
And then I got home at a reasonable time and spent the rest of the evening typing up my February books post! So here it is!!
1. Allegiance: A Dublin Novella by Heather Domin
4 stars on Goodreads
An MI5 informant on his last assignment infiltrates a group of IRA supporters in Dublin. This novella features likeable and layered characters, an interesting plot, and a nice m/m romance. A good quick read!
2. Atonement by Ian McEwan
I needed a small paperback to carry with me. I liked the movie of this so I tried the book. I think I read 50 pages, and I was so bored, it took so long to get going that I lost interest. Gave up.
3. The Lies of Sarah Palin: The Untold Story Behind Her Relentless Quest for Power by Geoffrey Dunn
4 stars on Goodreads
A political biography, this was both interesting and infuriating. I am no fan of Sarah Palin, and in that sense it was a reassuring book to read, because the author really dislikes her, too. (He's not always objective, but I didn't want him to be.) A bit repetitive near the end but still a good read, especially if you want to be reminded of the ways in which this is NOT a good person to have attempting to run the state of Alaska, let alone the US.
4. The Ice Cream Army by Jessica Gregson
4 stars on Goodreads
A Turkish boy emigrates to Australia and ends up living and working in a small outback town. When WWI breaks out (and Australia is sending troops to die in the Ottoman Empire/Turkey) relatively good relationships between Australians and the Turkish immigrants change to racial prejudice and violence. Based on true events, this book tells the story from different points of view to show how it might have come to pass. Lovely language and descriptions, likeable and believable characters, and a slow but unrelenting journey to the tragic ending. Really well done.
5. The Last Season by Eric Blehm
4 stars on Goodreads
This is the true story of a veteran National Park Ranger in the backcountry of the Sierra Nevadas who disappeared in the park. A bit repetitive at points but all together a really gripping read! I'm so glad there were photos, it really helped me understand more about the terrain and surroundings.
6. Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons
2 stars on Goodreads
This is the story of Jewish WWII refugee immigrants Jack and Sadie Rosenblum. Sadie buries her sorrows at those left behind with baking, but Jack tries desperately to become a proper English gentleman and when he cannot get into a golf club (because All English Gentlemen Play Golf) he decides to build his own. Wackiness and tragedy ensue. I didn't love this, honestly, but I think it would make a great movie!
7. The Kitchen Counter Cooking School: How a Few Simple Lessons Transformed Nine Culinary Novices Into Fearless Home Cooks by Kathleen Flinn
4 stars on Goodreads
I was so-so on the author's first book about her experiences at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, but I liked this one much better. This is the story of the author helping a group of non-cooking women find the courage and skills to be better cooks. It includes tips, recipes, and ideas for anyone who wants to learn more about basic cooking skills.
This is the book that convinced me to try roasting a whole chicken, which I had never done before!
8. The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes
4 stars on Goodreads
This is a book of fantastic photos and insights, that provides some context of both the show (which I love) and the history of the time depicted (which is fascinating). I loved the chapter about costume design, and all of the behind-the-scenes information about the show.
9. No Quarter by Tanya Huff (reread)
10. Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them by Donovan Hohn
1 star on GoodReads
I wanted to love this, I had followed the story of the lost bath toys when it was in the news and magazines, and I liked this book for about 100 pages, then I was so bored I fell asleep reading it twice! I think photos would have helped? There were great swaths of description but not one damned photo. Too bad. Gave up around page 165.
11. And Furthermore by Judi Dench
3 stars on Goodreads
This was pretty good, overall. I felt we got some of Dame Judi's voice, which is nice, as she is very private in her real life. You won't get gossip or deep dark secrets in this book, it's certainly much more her 'life in the business' instead of her life, relationships, etc. Which is her perfect right, but still. Those of us who would like to emulate her would like more personal details!! To be honest - and I hate to critizise it at all - some of it was kind of choppy and stories were told without much context for the reader who doesn't know much about the London Theatre Scene in the 1950s-1980s. I am going to read her biography by John Miller to (I hope!) get more context for the stories I read in this book.
Up Next or In Transit At the Library:
-Judi Dench: With a Crack in her Voice by John Miller (started this morning!)
-The Tudor Throne by Brandy Purdy
-Gold Diggers: Striking it Rich in the Klondike by Charlotte Gray
-The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
What are you reading lately? What do you recommend? Are you on GoodReads? If so, please feel free to add me there!