Reading Roundup January and February
So far I'm a little behind on my goal to read 60 books this year. I figure I can always cheat by reading lots of children's and young adult titles.
I discovered today on Amazon that it there are now "Choose Your Own" adventure-type books for the Kindle. They are low-cost and I'm sure I will enjoy the nostalgia.
1. How I Killed Pluto and Why it Had it Coming by Mike Brown: I got this book at a book signing. So I read an actual book with binding and paper and stuff. It's a great book. I highly recommend it.
2. Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans by Wendell Porter: A great look at the inner workings of the for-profit health insurance industry. Porter worked in public relations for several insurance companies and had to leave the industry because his job conflicted with his personal ethics.
3. Half Empty by David Rakoff: I thought this book would be much better than it was. I guess I expected it to be Sedaris-esque. I'm not sure why though. I think my pre-conceived expectations for this book clouded my judgement.
4. The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie: That's right. Dr. House wrote a novel. It was pretty darn entertaining though I wouldn't call it fine literature or anything. It's a tongue in cheek spy novel (sort of).
5. The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World's Most Endangered Languages by K. David Harrison: I love books about linguistics but I found this one pissing me off. It was highly subjective. I found the descriptions of the languages, customs and lifestyles of various cultures fascinating. However, Harrison kept making claims that were either completely untestable or just out-right wrong. For instance, he claimed that if the Tuvans give up speaking their own language and start using Russsian exclusively, they would lose their ability to use specialized terminology about livestock. I think that's quite a tenuous assertion. If the Russian speaking Tuvans need that specialized language they will either import the Tuvan terminology or invent new Russian words.
6. Shimmeree (Serendipity Books) by Stephen Cosgrove: I love re-reading old children's literature. Although this is a quick read intended for new readers, it is beautifully written and illustrated. My sister purchased this book used, she remembered reading it as a child. It is likely that these Serendipity Books had quite an influence on her art. It is a real shame that these are out of print.
7. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer: I re-read this children's book as well. I read the first three several years ago and I thought I'd like re-read the early titles before moving on. These are great books that are very imaginative. I hope children will be enjoying these stories for many years to come. Why is there no film? It would make a great film. It should contain cameos from various James Bond villans.
I discovered today on Amazon that it there are now "Choose Your Own" adventure-type books for the Kindle. They are low-cost and I'm sure I will enjoy the nostalgia.
1. How I Killed Pluto and Why it Had it Coming by Mike Brown: I got this book at a book signing. So I read an actual book with binding and paper and stuff. It's a great book. I highly recommend it.
2. Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans by Wendell Porter: A great look at the inner workings of the for-profit health insurance industry. Porter worked in public relations for several insurance companies and had to leave the industry because his job conflicted with his personal ethics.
3. Half Empty by David Rakoff: I thought this book would be much better than it was. I guess I expected it to be Sedaris-esque. I'm not sure why though. I think my pre-conceived expectations for this book clouded my judgement.
4. The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie: That's right. Dr. House wrote a novel. It was pretty darn entertaining though I wouldn't call it fine literature or anything. It's a tongue in cheek spy novel (sort of).
5. The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World's Most Endangered Languages by K. David Harrison: I love books about linguistics but I found this one pissing me off. It was highly subjective. I found the descriptions of the languages, customs and lifestyles of various cultures fascinating. However, Harrison kept making claims that were either completely untestable or just out-right wrong. For instance, he claimed that if the Tuvans give up speaking their own language and start using Russsian exclusively, they would lose their ability to use specialized terminology about livestock. I think that's quite a tenuous assertion. If the Russian speaking Tuvans need that specialized language they will either import the Tuvan terminology or invent new Russian words.
6. Shimmeree (Serendipity Books) by Stephen Cosgrove: I love re-reading old children's literature. Although this is a quick read intended for new readers, it is beautifully written and illustrated. My sister purchased this book used, she remembered reading it as a child. It is likely that these Serendipity Books had quite an influence on her art. It is a real shame that these are out of print.
7. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer: I re-read this children's book as well. I read the first three several years ago and I thought I'd like re-read the early titles before moving on. These are great books that are very imaginative. I hope children will be enjoying these stories for many years to come. Why is there no film? It would make a great film. It should contain cameos from various James Bond villans.