Absolute POISON

I've decided that 200 pages is the perfect length for a book. And if the chapters are short enough, I can finish the whole thing in just a day. Absolute Poison by Geraldine Evans is a murder mystery set in England (the best place for murder mysteries). I don't know why so many murder mystery authors are female, but Evans does the genre justice. It wasn't so compelling that I was on the edge of my seat, but the book did provide an entertaining diversion.

Like so many of these books, I give it a 3

Absolute Friends

Finished! Yes, this book is very anti-Western and pro-Communist in nature, but hey. It's a good book. If you are interested in world events and spy stories, I definitely recommend it.

3

Absalom, Absalom

I feel like I've just forced myself to eat a whole head of raw cabbage on the statement that it's "good for me." William Faulkner is something else. First of all, I got to deal with the n-word constantly. Given the time, this is understandable. But that's not what made this book painful to read. There is no variety in characters. Sure, they all have various backgrounds, but their style of speech is unbelievably all the same: stream of consciousness. No one talks like this. At least not more than one character per book. After chapter two, I was able to catch a certain flow, but it was still nearly impossible to care about the story line.

To demonstrate the long-windedness of everyone involved, consider this. The book is 303 pages. There are, however, only 299 paragraphs.

Sadly, this only merits a 1.

Commies and Amish

Ah the Holidays! I had an idea I'd be getting more reading time in this week, but turns out family keeps me pretty occupied. That's a good thing, btw.

I'm currently reading Absolute Friends by John Le Carre. It took me a chapter to really get into it, but I'm enjoying it so far. Our main character is a British man whose life has led him into the thick of political life. Son of a British Army officer, co-conspirator with Communists, and accidentally turned into a British spy. The 1st chapter takes place in the present, but starting in chapter 2, we get a flashback leading through his childhood, presumably to end right back where we started.

I'm also still reading through the Abram's Daughters series by Beverly Lewis. I've still 2 books to read before I can give any real opinion and believe me, the opinion has wavered quite a bit so far.

Absolute Smut

Still not done with the "Ab.." section, but I've run across a long list of books in the library beginning with the word "Absolute." For some odd reason, most of these books seem to be full of smut. I thought Absolute Fear by Lisa Jackson would be different, but I only got two pages before changing my mind. Moving on...

Absinthe: History In a Bottle by Barnaby Conrad III

As much as I love absinthe, this book didn't get interesting till the middle. The first 6 chapters talk exclusively about various artists who influenced and WERE influenced by The Green Fairy. The only problem is that more is said about the artists, than the drink itself.

So for those of you who don't know, the 1769 recipe for absinthe contains the following herbs: wormwood, anise, hyssop, dittany, sweet flag, Melissa (a type of mint), coriander, veronica, camomile, parsley, and even spinach.

As a response to some of the less than scientific medical experiments attempting to prove that absinthe causes epilepsy, Van Helmont conducted his own experiment as follows:

"Tank A was filled with three liters of distilled water, chemically pure, boiled and allowed to cool at air temperature; the bottom of the tank was filled with gravel sterilized at 130 degrees Celsius; in the tank were placed two freshwater fish, two saltwater fish, and a frog; a little wooden ladder (sterilized at the same time as the gravel) would permit the frog to leave his tank.

Tank B was filled with three liters of seawater (gathered at Trouville, at the end of the jetty-promenade) and lined with gravel and a ladder as before, and in this tank were put two freshwater fish and a frog.

Tank C was filled with three liters of spring water (from Dhuys), gravel and a ladder, and in it were placed two saltwater fish and a frog.

Tank D was filled with three liters of spring water (Dhuys) and one centiliter of sixty degree commercial absinthe. No special brand name. Only a frog was placed in this tank with a ladder and the gravel.

This is what resulted:
1) The four fish in Tank A died; the frog left to lodge himself in Tank D.
2) The two fish in Tank B died; this frog also went to Tank D.
3) The two fish in Tank C died; the third frog joined his colleagues in Tank D.

Van Helmont concluded:

1) Distilled water, chemically pure and boiled, is a poison since the four fish plunged in it died quickly; the frog did not give his last salute and took refuge in Tank D.
2) Sea water is a poison, since the two fish placed in it died quickly; the frog left hastily."
3) Spring water is a poison, since the two fish put in it also died.
4) Spring water with a small quantity of absinthe spirits is a very clean environment because the four frogs took refuge there and seemed to stay there with pleasure."

Because this book is outdated and the US has legalized absinthe again, I'm forced to only give it a 2 although the author gets kudos for having such a cool name.

Absent and losing my mind

Mary Westmacott is the name Agatha Christie used when writing romances, but this book is definitely not a romance by modern standards. The main character, Joan, is not meant to be loved by the reader. Pitied perhaps, but not loved. She is so naive to the way she hurts people that she mistakes their criticism of her as either impertinence or compliments. Assuming she is well-loved and more importantly, loving, she finds herself stranded in the desert with nothing but her own thoughts as companions.

Pieces of memories start coming to her mind that make her begin doubting whether she really is loved or if people are happier without her. During one of these memories, I particularly love an exchange between her husband and her oldest daughter. Rupert (the husband) weaves a logical, indisputable argument as to why Averil (the daughter) should not run off with a married man, 20 years her senior. So calm and firm in the face of a panicky situation.

I won't spoil the ending, but I am FRUSTRATED!! Since no one was murdered, I supposed Christie had to make up for it by leaving off a happy ending. *sigh* I'm glad I read it, but it's not exactly one you can read twice...at least not soon.

I give it a good, solid 3.

Absent In the Spring

This day just keeps getting better. This morning I went to my library and picked up this book. Small inconspicuous little novel, black, leather-bound, with nothing but the title and author in small print on the spine.

During my quite brief lunch break at work, I cracked it open and started at the first few pages. The language instantly placed me in the earlier half of the 1900's and the writing style was engrossing. Work picked up pace and I didn't get to read any more till getting home just now. After finishing the first chapter I wondered to myself when it was written. Looking at the spine it read "Mary Westmacott". Doesn't wring a bell. And then flipping to the first couple pages, I read again "Mary Westmacott: Known to millions as Agatha Christie" Copyright 1944

Abs and multiplication

Chapter 5 is all about calculating your body fat, perfect weight, waist-to-hip ratio, etc. One thing I DO like about this diet is that it's rather simple and relies heavily on the dieter's level of self-control.

Once we get to the middle of the book is when I start getting really hungry. Zinczenko lays down the what and how of each of the Abs Diet Power foods and suggests loads of recipes and meal plans. *drool*

The last half of the book is all about exercise and how to best make it part of your life. He even does a chapter on how to work the diet around those pesky feminine hormones.

All in all, I'd say this is a pretty good plan. I'd have to prove it to believe it, but for now I'm gonna stick with copying down some of those recipes and reminding myself to get some exercise. I have a feeling I'll be reading this again.

4

Abs. Need more proof?

The whole second chapter...is basically an extension of the first. If the first was about why obesity is bad, the second is about why the Abs Diet is good. Zinczenko starts off with a simple two page (4 column) shopping list, after which the diet is described as a "simple plan."

And what is the simple equation? more food + more exercise = less flab

One thing I've gotta give this book credit for is the fact that it makes me hungry. Hungry for good foods. And because it pokes fun at the Atkins diet. A few things did make me nervous though, and that's Zinczenko's suggestions for lowering blood glucose levels.

High Fructose Foods Replace With
Regular Soda Diet Soda
Commercial Candy Chocolate
Pancake Syrup Real maple syrup
Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream
Fruit-flavored yogurt Organic yogurt
Pasta Sauce Sugar-free pasta sauce
Energy Bars HFCS-free energy bars

Diet soda? Really? Haven't "they" proven that diet sodas make you crave more fatty foods? hmmm... And I'm a bit skeptical of ice cream being better than frozen yogurt, but I can't complain cuz I LOVE ice cream.

Abs Stats

The first chapter is basically a long list of reasons that flat abs are important. I thought it interesting to include some of the tables in the book to inspire us all. And don't worry. If you're not a woman, I think you might still be safe to read this book.

Overweight People:
50% more likely to get heart disease
up to 360% more likely to get diabetes
16% more likely to die of their first heart attack
50% more likely to have bad cholesterol
14% less attractive to opposite sex
37% more time at the pharmacy
stay 19% longer in the hospital
20% more likely to get asthma
19% more likely to die in a car crash
120% more likely to get stomach cancer
up to 90% more likely to get gallstones
590% more likely to develop esophageal cancer
35% more likely for kidney cancer
14% more likely for osteoarthritis
70% more likely for high blood pressure

The Abs Diet for Women

Just in time for the holidays!!! Many of you may have already read this book or some variation of the Abs Diet series. Let me start off by saying that I'm a diet skeptic. Diets, on the whole, don't work, or at least don't work on a long-term scale. No pun intended. Nevertheless, this book has gained quite a bit of attention, so I feel I should at least be informed. I hope you all brought donuts, cuz this is gonna be fun.

David Zinczenko opens the book with a summary suggesting 6 daily meals, lots of protein, easy on the carbs, one cheater meal a week, and light exercise. How is this different from other diets? Glad you didn't ask. Here are the so-called "Abs Diet Power 12" aka the 12 food groups Zinczenko suggests you include at least 2 of in every meal

- Almonds and other nuts
- Beans and legumes
- Spinach and other green vegetables
- Dairy (lowfat)
- Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, uninteresting)
- Eggs
- Turkey and other lean meats
- Peanut butter (to make up for the lean meats I suppose)
- Olive oil
- Whole-grain breads and cereals
- Extra protein powder
- Raspberries and other berries

Abraxas and the Earthman

Imagine you're in Jr. High and you're instructed to create a graphic novel. You combine Moby Dick, sci-fi, and Violence Jack, and come up with this failed piece of paper.

I'm not a huge fan of graphic novels, but I am able to enjoy them from time to time. This was not one of those times. Rick Veitch cut so many corners in this plot and tried too desperately to be profound that it just fell flat. Not only that, but after he quickly wraps up everything at the end, he concludes with "Twenty-Five Years Before the Mast: An Abraxas Memoir" by Rick Veitch, in which he explains the process of creating this and how all his childhood dreams have come true.

Don't read this. It earned a 1.

The Abrams Guide to American House Styles

PICTURES!!!! I'm unfamiliar with The Abrams Guide, but after "reading" this book, I'm quite happy it exists. The book is written by William Morgan, but his job was nothing compared to photographer Radek Kurzaj. Fifteen house styles ranging from colonial to curiosities make this an interesting venture for anyone. Unfortunately, I came away from the book still not quite grasping what a Tudor or a Cape Cod are. Yeah. I'm a girl. I'm supposed to know these things. At best I can describe certain design details, but I can't assign them to a specific style.

This isn't exactly recommended reading because there is so little reading. Yet again, this would make a good coffee table book if only it were the right shape and size.

As much as I liked looking at it, it still gets a 2.

The swamp that is Dickens

So, I have now started into my very fist Dickens novel which is David Copperfield. From the very first chapter the book is wonderful. The characters are interesting and often hilarious and the story is witty and engrossing.

On the other hand, me being a somewhat slow reader and a busy individual means that you, the huddled masses (I use the word masses generously) that read my postings on this blog may have a long while to wait for my conclusion of the book. Dickens is an exceptional writer, but is also a Victorian era novelist. This means that his books are long and smothered in fine detail. For the first time I am not bored by this kind of detail as I was in high school when reading the abomination that is Grapes of Wrath that my sadistic English teacher assigned. Instead I find myself drawn in to the life that young David is leading at his boarding school and the lives and personalities of his other characters.

I am only about 150 pages into this 845 page behemoth but I can tell, even as long as it is going to take me, I am really going to enjoy Dickens. Perhaps next, however, I will push into something a little lighter like..................... basically everything else on the list excepting Tolstoy.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

To answer the very first question that everybody will be having; no, this is only Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I have not read the other book's in the series of 6 or the short story. My book does have all of them in the proper order, but this will only be about the first book as it is the only one on the list. I will read the other books when I decide to take breaks from the list and read something just generally enjoyable. It will be between that and Terry Pratchett novels on those occasions.

So, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a silly book. This fact, along with the dry and matter of fact humor that Douglas Adams uses in the narration makes it a wonderful and memorable read. Most people do not realize, however, that the BBC miniseries and the recent Hollywood movie of the same title contain much more than the original book. They have taken bits and pieces here and there out of the other books and sewn them into the original. The miniseries does this to a much greater extent than the film.

They have also left out very interesting bits such as how the ship gets stolen, some small and interesting characters, and other small details. The book is mostly in the voice of a cheeky narrator that often explains things through the information given in The Guide. Continual pokes at modern life make it a hilarious and perhaps even culturally relevant book. Perhaps this is the reason that it is one of the very few modern satires to be considered a classic of literature. If I were a Ph.D. student in literature this book would be the basis of my thesis.

I find that HGttG is entertaining and engrossing and I can't imagine a person that enjoys reading not enjoying this book or the others that accompany it. It is certainly one that I am proud to now own and I would recommend it to anybody that knows how to read. My next project will be my very first Dickens novel. More on that later.

Abraham's Children Conclusion

We had blizzards here the last couple days. Now the temperature is -13C and my fingers are having a hard time typing!

Entine explores the various sects of Judaism. He also poses the question of whether "race" and "ethnicity" are have any scientific basis. Studies with the National Human Genome Research Institute have shown that all Americans are 99.9 percent genetically identical. And what about IQ levels? Is it true that Jews are smarter than the rest of us?

So what's Entine's conclusion after all this questioning? Does DNA and science help define what it means to be Jewish? Well according to him, it can and it can't. Yep. That's the best answer we're gonna get here. We start right where we began...confused.

Although this book had some enjoyable moments, it was overall a waste of time for me. For people who are already interested in genetics, it might be better. As is, I have to give this one a 1.

Just to let you know

Every once in a while, I'll come across a library book that is part of a series. So far, these books haven't been worth reading, but this time I'm gonna give the whole series a try. Beverly Lewis has written a group of novels called Abram's Children. There are five books in the series, and instead of reading them all at the right time and in the right order, I'm going to be reading them alongside my other alphabetical books and only blogging about them when I've finished the whole series.

I know this decision will probably change your lives. That's why I thought I should warn you.

Abraham's Children A skeptic

It's obvious by his language that our author has taken a stance against the validity of Scripture. He himself was raised Jewish and describes himself as one who left the faith. Instead of simply commenting scientifically on his genetic study, he throws in words that show his extreme distaste for most of the historical teachings.

While looking at the history of Judaism, Entine examines Jews from Spain, Africa, and Germany, trying to determine if they are indeed descended from the Israelites of the Bible. The German Jews, some have claimed, are actually descended from Jewish converts in Khazaria (Russia/Turkey), making them Slavic, not Semitic. DNA evidence can't disprove or confirm this, however.

Side note: Muhammed is formally named Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim.

Abraham's Children

Despite our attempts at wiping out the "race" issue, DNA still separates us. In the book, Jon Entine will be discussing some of the things that define Jews as being...Jewish.

The author gives an interesting viewpoint when he combines the communion cup and the Christian claim of Abraham as an ancestor. Jesus said "This is the new covenant in my blood." From this point in history onward, this blood ritual means that "for followers of Jesus, the covenant would be grounded not in blood ancestry but in the symbolism of blood represented by faith."

Entine digs further into the topic of genetics in his chapter entitled "Eve and Adam". The atypical positioning of their names is not an attempt at calming feminists, but rather a reference to the DNA testing which dates Eve as being born some 13 years before Adam. In order to find a genetic commonality among Jews, Entine searches for DNA testing within the most regulated group of Jews in history (the priests), finding a signature mutation pattern.

On an unrelated note, I found out that the "V" symbol Spock uses in Star Trek, was invented on the spot by Leonard Nimoy as an imitation of the symbol that Cohanim (descendants of Aaron) make in front of the congregation in every Orthodox synagogue.

I'm only a third of the way through so far.

Abraham Go get it

Another diamond in the rough! The next couple books I read will be slightly similar, but for this one, I can at least say that it was well worth it.

In the middle section, Feiler interviews a number of leaders in each of the three religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Some of it intrigued me. Some of it confirmed my own beliefs. Still more had me disheartened. Regardless of Feiler's own feelings on the issues, he asks some excellent questions.

This is not just a book of interviews and exegesis, however. Feiler's excellent writing style makes the reader feel as if the title's description is really true: A Journey to the Hearth of Three Faiths. In the process, we are submitted to a background on each religion as well as hearing from people who wave the "coexist" flag.

I definitely give this book a 4

Abraham Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths

*deep sigh of relief* And now I'm back into familiar territory. You may recognize the name of our author, Bruce Feiler, from his bestselling book Walking the Bible. If not, let me introduce you to his work.

Abraham is THE pivotal character in the formation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All three religions are monotheistic. All three hinge on Abraham. The book opens with a scene of Feiler walking through Jerusalem. If you've ever been to Israel, you know that anytime someone describes their journeys there, or a clip is shown on television, you're transported back there and find yourself experiencing it from the inside. If you have NOT been to Israel. Go. Go now while you can.

Feiler makes a number of judgments I may or may not agree with, but the subject matter is very interesting. Feiler himself was raised Jewish.

One chapter I highly recommend is Isaac where Feiler uncovers the details of the famous sacrifice and how it's been perceived through generations and within the various religions. I'm halfway through at the moment and hoping to finish on my way to Wisconsin tomorrow.

Welcome to the 100th post!!

So it's not that exciting, I know. But if you can't tell, I'm a person that likes landmarks such as a hundredth post or finishing the "abo.." section of the library.

Above Us Only Sky by Marion Winik makes for an odd landmark, but fate doesn't always smile. This book is formatted rather nicely for the casual reader. Much like About This Life, it is split into easy to chew pieces and are organized as brief essays on Winik's life. It's another way to do memoirs without saying "memoirs".

But wait! Another book from the Iowa City Public Library written by a Marxist feminist? What a surprise. Yes, I was put off by the title when I was in the library, but yet again I thought I'd give it a try. Sadly, the longest essay by far is the one entitled "Above Us Only Sky" in which she describes all her post-modern views on bisexuality, Lennon's murder, etc. laced with vulgarities of every kind.

This book got a 1...but only barely.

Above the Law finale

I'm so glad I'm not in law enforcement. Life is so much simpler this way. I've been reading the rest of Above the Law during commercials for the final episode of Monk so I'm in a full-on police mood.

The middle section of this book discusses what the authors think cause police officers to use brutality in their positions. One theory they use is that police are considered soldiers in a "war on crime" and also that the police administrators are either crooked or just narrow-minded.

Finally, they suggest that police be made more accountable by both external and internal factors.

I have to include that this book was written in 1993 and many things have changed since then. ALSO, I am incredibly ignorant where law enforcement is concerned because I've never been close to it on either side. I'm neither knowledgeable or particularly interested in this topic. If you ARE interested in police work, you may get more out of this book than I did.

I give it a 2.

Above the Law Groan

It's the start of a new month and the start of a new group of books. Above the Law by Jerome H. Skolnick and James J. Fyfe is about police brutality. Not a pleasant topic no matter how you look at it. In the prologue, they explain that the country is split into two basic groups. The first is multicultural and enlightened, and the second is white and sheltered. They temper this argument in the end of the prologue by saying that it's not just a race issue.

The book will hit on three points.
1. What are the occasions for police brutality?
2. How can it be explained?
3. How can it be remedied?

The first few chapters discuss the Rodney King incident of 1991 in detail and pose the question: When and how much force should law enforcement officers use?

Above the Law I give up

Ok, so I thought this book was getting better, but that was a lie. Freedman's writing style is engaging but for some reason, he thought smut was a good idea. Why do people write when they only write junk? Oh well...back to the library.

0

Mere Christianity

Alright, so this will be my first short post. If you haven't noticed, I am a little long-winded, so feel free to skim my postings for the main topics.

The first book I jumped into was Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This book only took me a few hours of reading, but mostly because I didn't finish it. I got about half-way through and was completely bored.

Here is the problem, as a Christian it is difficult to have somebody try and convince me of how wonderful it is to be a Christian. It is like having somebody try and convince you that it is important to wear clothing in public. I am aware of the need for clothing and why I should wear it, so stop telling me what I already know. This is different than taking an apologetics class because it is not written to teach other Christians. The book is written for seekers and those Christians who may be having a crisis in faith. I own the book now and I think it will be useful if I ever have a crisis in faith myself. However, until that point it is just difficult to push myself through the book

I think the book is well written and Lewis is brilliant and witty. It is a must read for those unsure of what they are looking for in faith or why Christians are such an odd lot. I highly recommend it to those individuals. I also highly recommend that Christians all own a copy to loan to people to whom they are witnessing. This book is a great resource and gives the basics of the faith. The seeker can read the book and gain an understanding of Christianity and the book will leave them with many questions that they will need to seek out Christians to answer.

Points and Clarifications

So, I believe it was Mark Twain that said, "The classics are books that everybody wants to have read, but nobody wants to read." The truth to that is the reason that my list is not made up entirely of classical literature but also of good books that deserve to be noted, books of historical significance, and books that just simply look interesting. Terry Pratchett's books are a great example of this as his books are well written and incredibly entertaining. He was knighted for contributions to literature and is a standard for study in secondary schools and universities in the U.K. and thus deserves a spot on the list. Furthermore, there are books that are not on the list for that very reason. The best example is The Grapes of Wrath. I was subjected to having to read this for an English class in high school and just couldn't get through it. If a book is going to be painful for me, I don't see that there is much point in reading it. Reading should be fun and not any more of a chore than absolutely necessary.

You may notice that my Lifetime Reading List is on the page. I must make a clarification about my rules that I stated earlier regarding the books on this list. You are more than welcome to make any comments about these books that you like. You may give all the reasons in the world as to why you do not feel they deserve to be on the list. If you make a good enough case I might take your suggestions under advisement. However, simply not liking a book will not get it off the list and scolding me for putting any book on there isn't going to gain you any brownie points. Scholarly discussion is more than welcome. I only close the door to additions to the list because this list is going to take me long enough. And now.................. on with the reading.

Above the Law

I'm not so sure about this one yet. There are a few books by this title, this novel being by J.F. Freedman. Freedman is the New York Times bestselling author of The Disappearance, but so far, this book seems nothing more than a John Grisham wanna-be. I've only read the first two chapters so far, and it's not enough for me to tell if this book will be worth it or not.

In the Begining

So, an introduction. My name is Tyler and since I will not post frequently enough to justify my own blog and because blogging is against my religion, I am posting on Bekah's which has a similar theme. Bekah is going to read about ten million books and I am going to read 165, probably in the same amount of time. But first, a few ground rules:

1) You are more than welcome to post comments, but under no circumstances are you allowed to suggest books for me to read or inform me of why whatever book or author I am reading should not be on the list. As soon as I figure out how, I will post a copy of the list on the blog. You are welcome to use it and start your own blogging empire if you like. The list is long enough and I made it so I get to decide what is worth reading. YAY, ME!!

2) No criticizing my reading speed. As a history, I had not read a novel front to back until after I was out of high school. I am not dumb, just lazy. So, I read slow because I am not very good at it. I am significantly better than I was, but I still only moderately faster than I am able to out loud. So, shut it.

3) You are welcome to make any other comments that you like.

That is it. I started reading seriously about 5 years ago with the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. I love the book and a few of them are on the list. I will read the books in whatever order I can buy them in because I am also attempting to build a library. Not to worry, I already own several of them to get started with. I hope you find this as interesting as I do. Since you don't, however, feel free to bore yourself with my wiley charms.

Above Suspicion finale

Well this book doesn't seem to fit in with the murder mystery category considering the reader knows who done it the whole time. Other than that, the book is unrealistic but do-able. Our author couldn't resist throwing in a very girly infatuation between two of our main characters, but if you go for that kind of thing, feel free to read Above Suspicion. I give it a 2.

Above Suspicion

If you can get past the first page, Above Suspicion by Linda La Plante isn't too bad. The first few paragraphs give the impression that she just isn't trying to write decent literature. The exposition is lazy and it's difficult to get into the characters.

I'm halfway through this murder mystery. As mysteries go, it's....so so. Doesn't come close to the mastery of an Agatha Christie, but we'll see how it ends.

Above Chicago

Yay, an easy one! Above Chicago is a coffee table book of photographs by Robert Cameron. They are all aerial shots of Chicago and some pages compare photos from decades past to show the city's development.

While I think Chicago is a great city and includes many beautiful elements, having a whole book of only aerial shots starts getting dull. After seeing building after building, I became less able to take interest in subtleties of architectural design. The photos themselves are well done, but the finished product could have been better.

This one gets a 2

Above All, Be Kind conclusion

This book has been the highlight reading of the month. Yeah, I'm generally a cynic about parenting books, but Weil puts out some great ideas to give your children a real sense of their own responsibility and purpose.

At the end of the book, she includes a questionnaire for parents revolving around the statement, "My life is my message" showing people just how well their life reflects their goals and ideals. GRANTED! Weil does have a certain bent toward issues of animal cruelty, consumerism, sweatshop labor, etc., but whether or not your ideas match with hers, this book is an excellent tool not only in helping raise children, but also in helping us raise ourselves.

I'll definitely read this again, though can't be bothered purchasing it. This one's a 4.

Above All Be Kind

At first glance, I thought I'd be putting this book down soon into the first chapter, but I'm pleasantly surprised. Above All, Be Kind by Zoe Weil is a book about how to raise humane children in a difficult society. I know, sounds a bit scary, right?

It's based on what she calls the best qualities of human beings, BUT she's willing to admit that her list is not a complete one. The qualities she focuses on in the book are
1. Willingness to choose and change
2. Kindness
3. Compassion
4. Honesty and trustworthiness
5. Generosity
6. Courage
7. Perseverance, self-discipline and restraint
8. Humor and playfulness
9. Wisdom
10. Integrity

The best thing about this book is that it's not based on some parenting styles that say "Here's how to get what you want out of your kid." Rather, it inspires adults to expect nothing more from their children than they are willing to exemplify. Simple concept, I know.

But along the way...we get some great greeting card, Oprah bookclub-esque, life lessons in the form of quotes.

"The people you have to lie to, own you. The things you have to lie about, own you. When your children see you owned, then they are not your children anymore, they are the children of what owns you. If money owns you, they are the children of money. If your need for pretense and illusion owns you, they are the children of pretense and illusion. If your fear of loneliness owns you, they are the children of loneliness. If your fear of the truth owns you, they are the children of the fear of the truth."
- Michael Venture

"Americans aren't starving for what they don't have but rather for what they won't give." - Marianne Williamson

"To see what is good and not to do it is want of courage." - Confucious

"If we did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves." - Thomas Edison

"I want peace; a quietness for my soul. And ease for my thoughts and a rest for my heart...I want faith. To possess the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen..." - Elisa, age 14

About Your House

This is it! I'm done with the "About"s. Very yay!

Well this book is a book companion to the PBS show by the same name, hosted by Bob Yapp. This book appeals to the creative type like me, AND it gets an automatic bonus because Yapp is from Des Moines.

Great advice from his mother, “Don’t worry about ‘the money’; if you do what you love, you will make a living.”

The purpose of this book is to give home owners good ideas on how to preserve old houses, what to consider when making repairs, and overall, how to enjoy the beauty and history of American homes.

Between a lack of universal usage and great pictures, About Your House gets a 2.

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About This Life conclusion

Maybe I enjoy this book because the author is so different than I. He writes a whole chapter about how he likes to stop along the road and carry dead animals off the pavement to a proper burial. Very not me. And yet I enjoyed reading about it.

The section on his travels in THIS country are still other-worldly enough to entertain and intrigue me. The end of the book gets a bit dark toward the end, but in a chilling, suspenseful way.

In a surprising finish, this book get a very high 3.

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Out of Country

I finished the first (and longest) section of About This Life. I especially love Lopez's chapter on Flight. My boyfriend has been an aircraft maintainer and I've done a bit of traveling myself, so seeing his perspective on flying was an enjoyment. The next section is about memories in the States and I'm a bit skeptical. Patriotic stories don't usually resonate with me, but Lopez comes across not as anti-American, but not particularly loyal.

We'll see. I should have this book finished in a couple days. I'm working full-time now, so I don't have as much time to read as before, and I've been dedicating more time to learning Estonian.

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About This Life

Finally! A book worth reading!

About This Life by Barry Lopez is difficult to categorize. It is somewhat autobiographical, but it is not really the story of his life. It deals with moments from his life, but is not a memoir. He's a creative storyteller, but it's not a novel of any kind. This book is simply described as "journeys on the threshold of memory." These memories could belong to anyone, but they are truthfully his own.

The first section of the book (which I'm completing) deals with his "Out of Country" memories. The chapters are short enough to be taken in small doses, and they don't need to be read in succession or in any particular space of time.

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More Authors

I finished About the Author by Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner tonight. If I didn't already have a huge list of books to read, I would be more eager to utilize the suggestions in this one. It definitely needs updating. It was published in 2000, so quite a bit has changed in the world of literature since then.

It's not the kind of book you really "read" more than once. Consult perhaps, but not read. Because of this, I give it a 3

About the Author take 2

Be still my beating heart! This book by Alfred and Emily Glossebrenner serves as a guide to various well-loved authors. And they’re all listed in ALPHABETICAL ORDER!!! Okay, it’s not really that exciting. I just draw pleasure from strange things. Repackaged, this would make a great coffee table book.

As a bibliophile, I am rather impressed by the layout. Each two-page spread includes a photo, brief bio, best works, as well as suggestions on what book to read first if you’re interested in trying the author out.

Some fun little tidbits I picked up tonight:
1.Isaac Asimov was a major P.G. Wodehouse fan and loved Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
2.Jane Austen wrote anonymously and wasn’t known as the author until after her death.
3.T. C. Boyle entered the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop because it was the only one he’d heard of.
4.William S. Burroughs was kicked out of the army for purposefully chopping off part of his finger and once sold his typewriter for heroin.
5.Lewis Carroll invented the idea of the dust jacket.
6.Michael Crichton is 6’9”.

About the Author

It really helps to read the afterword sometimes. This novel by John Colapinto was painful from start to almost finish. The title itself made me nervous that this would be yet another set of memoirs in disguise. Luckily, it wasn't.

If you don't mind sex and drug references, this book is do-able. The closer and closer I got to the end, the more I wanted to line up the three main characters and give them one giant slap.

The plot consists of a wanna-be author who steals his dead roomate's manuscript and publishes it as his own. The book becomes an instant success, but his fear of being discovered as the fraud he is leads him to marry his dead roomate's sweetheart and be conned into drug trafficking by a former (brief) sexual partner.

The fact that none of these people wants to tell the truth just makes me wanna punch them all, and some of the coincidences are just too far-fetched for me to latch onto.

BUT! The final chapter and afterword make all the difference. The cleverness of Colapinto at this point redeemed any violent tendencies I had. If you can't think of anything else to read, I can suggest it. I give this one a 3.

Philosophy FIN

I completely About Philosophy by Robert Paul Wolff. The last two chapters were the philosophy of Art and Religion. "Art" dealt mainly with whether art has any value, while "Religion" compared views of different philosophers, discussing whether truth is subjective or objective. Freud argued that religious impulse is just an infantile expression of fantasies.

Obviously this book was meant to accompany a philosophy class, so as such I find it difficult to rate outside its intended environment. I'm very impressed with Wolff's ability to make such a vague topic so accessible to a novice as myself. Because of that, I have to give this book a 3. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning about philosophy.

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Science....boring

Science can be interesting...but the PHILOSOPHY of science??!! Couldn't handle it. But I trudged on despite the fact that I've had a severe head cold the last 48 hours. Just a couple chapters left.

In other news....I started reading About Schmidt and thought it'd be exciting, but I have to admit, I put it down. I got through the second chapter and wanted to pull my eyeballs out! How this was made into a major motion picture, I'm not sure, but I couldn't force myself to care a bit about any of the characters. This bad boy got a 0.

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Metaphysics

This was a rather short chapter in our About Philosophy book. Gottfried Leibniz was the star of the show today. I'm kinda curious why I don't hear people use his metaphysical proof of God's existence in apologetics. His description of monads and composites seems to parallel creation vs. evolution. His Pre-Established Harmony parallels the concept of the chi.

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Political Philosophy

I thought this section would be difficult, but it was much more interesting than I thought. The early reference to Abelard and Heloise made me smile. This chapter deals with the philosophy of the state. Every state shares two characteristics: the use of force to maintain obedience and claims a right to demand that obedience from you.

So the fundamental question regarding political philosophy is whether or not any group of people has the right to command. Kant and many members of the Enlightenment feared that submitting to any authority was a denial of one’s own autonomy and reason. The standard solution to this became the social contract (eg. our Constitution). The concept of popular sovereignty is one I’ve thought a lot about recently. I hear people argue that we should obey our leaders without question because Jesus told us to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s”, while others argue that we should not obey them because they are corrupt. In our country, this is made much simpler by the fact that we, the people, ARE the rulers and leaders. We are the popular sovereigns. It’s time we took responsibility for that instead of griping about “the man” or what the government owes us. Soap box complete.

I agree with philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau on one strong point. “If the state is not kept small enough for everyone to participate in law-making, then so far as he is concerned, tyranny replaces liberty.” The price of freedom is that “all citizens, and not just a few professionals, are going to have to pay attention to public affairs.” Rousseau also believed that people only had a right to make laws if they were genuinely attempting to legislate in the public interest and not their own. One of the conflicts that arises is in this word “freedom”. For some people, freedom equals getting what I want. How do YOU define freedom?

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Social Philosophy

This chapter's main focus was the differences between capitalism and socialism. Some observations follow.

Jeremy Bentham takes the utilitarian theory even further to say that the ONLY good is pleasure and the ONLY evil is pain. This idea leaves no room for the type of pain that brings pleasure. This idea goes on to say that if we each concern ourselves with our own pleasures, then injustice and inequality will finally disappear. And that it’s the false belief that we have no right to satisfy our desires that inhibits people and brings about the class distinction.

Liberal democracy = psychological theory of individual motivation + moral theory of the good + educational theory of enlightenment.

Unlike Bentham who said that the only thing that matters is the quantity of pleasures, Mill asserted that the quality of pleasures is also important.

Socialism is a topic that runs rampant in the States these days. Wolff makes an interesting distinction between original socialist thought to that of Marx. Socialism’s slogan would have been “From each according to his ability; to each according to his work”, but Marx turned it into “From each according to his ability; to each according to his need.” So close, yet so far away!

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"And then there's Lesbian Ethics"

Chapter two of About Philosophy and we're already talking about abortion. I feel at a bit of a loss, cuz it seems that so many others know more about Immanuel Kant than I. Although Kant was a Pietist, he believed that morality is founded by rationality, not religion. Chapter two is all about Ethics.

Three main concerns were covered in the chapter.
1. The search for absolutely certain universally valid first principles of conduct that can stand against the challenges of the skeptic and the relativist
2. The search for a method or process of reasoning to help us in deciding hard cases and other real-world moral choices
3. The search for the good life, the life that combines virtue and happiness in true human fulfillment.

I'm sure we've all run across people who believe in ethical relativism. Namely, the belief that whether an act is right or wrong depends on the society in which one lives. Kant, however, believed in a categorical imperative which says "Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end."

Then there's utilitarianism which says we should seek to make as many people as happy as possible. Been there, done that. It doesn't work.

And then there’s lesbian ethics. Yep…an entire book dedicated to lesbian ethics, written by none other than Sarah Lucia Hoagland for the Institute of Lesbian Studies. This is turning out to be a rather fun book.

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About Philosophy What is philosophy?

I am a nerd. I just happen to be an ignorant nerd. So when I started reading this textbook About Philosphy, I just had to take some serious notes. You've been warned. I've never taken a philosophy course in my life, so this is all fresh for me.

First thing I noticed from reading this book, is that the author/professor writes in a very conversational manner. Philosophy is defined as "the love of wisdom. Philosophy is the systematic, critical examination of the way in which we judge, evaluate, and act, with the aim of making ourselves wiser, more self-reflective, and therefore better men and women." Socrates believe that the main hindrance to wisdom is the unwillingness to admit that we still have more to learn.

I can't deny the fact that I find Socrates to be a pretentious d-bag. Socrates’ line of questioning is deceptive, rude, and self-elevating. He starts off with false-humility and uses it to corner his opponent. How then can he pretend to impart wisdom when he himself has so little? He claims to be benefiting others by forcing them to think more about their own beliefs, but in fact, HE is the one benefiting by puffing himself up at the other person’s expense. If he does in fact have wisdom and yet refuses to impart that to others, is he not withholding good? He says that every man must find truth for himself, but it is Socrates’ assumed truth. What is so beneficial in deflating the egos of others?

Wolff claims that “philosophers are, above all else, seekers after unity.” How can this be so, when we see the discord Socrates brought about? Even if his purpose was to reach unity only after tearing down the assumptions and building togetherness through critical questioning, this presupposes that he himself was willing to be torn down and rebuilt. Unless I’m missing some crucial evidence, I don’t see him ever allowing himself to be the victim of his system. If this was his goal, he ultimately failed. If they’re seeking an “underlying oneness”, it must be ignorance. Because according to them, this seems to be the only thing we all have in common.

According to the stoic philosophy, logos is the power of reason. Logos is also identified as God (or as Biblical scholars might say, the “word of God”). How then would God embody the “power of reason”? Logos is also identified as the power of reason within all human beings. Could this then (according to stoic philosophy) be what God meant when He said “let us make man in our image”? Is this power to reason, the godly part of us? Emperor Marcus Aurelius seems to believe this, although his concept of God certainly did not coincide with Judeo-Christian tradition.

For there is one universe made up of all things, and one God who pervades all things, and one substance, and one law, one common reason in all intelligent animals, and one truth…

What role then did the tree of the knowledge of good and evil play?

Although each chapter contains study questions, I'll spare you all the misery of seeing the inner workings of my mind. More to come.

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More Variety

Just got back from the library with four more books. I should be done with the "Abouts" by the end of the year. And I should be done with the A's by the end of my life. Continuing with the About Pets books, I'm moving on to the rodent series. This time, the library only had one, and that's about mice. The format is the same as the dog series, even describing how to show mice. I feel privileged to discover that there is a Rat and Mouse Fanciers for Excellence (RMFE). Best name for an association ever!
This book has ruined mice for me. I neither want to own one or kill one now. However, I do see its usefulness for people seeking to buy a pet mouse. This one gets a 2 as well.

The other books I got are:

About Philosophy by Robert Paul Wolff
About Schmidt by Louis Begley
About the Author by John Colapinto

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About Pets

It's true that this series about dogs is actually 5 books, but they're so small I thought I'd knock them out all at once.

Apart from a few introductory pages on the individual breeds, these book all follow the same format and, for the most part, the same words. At around 60 pages each, the books talk about everything you need to know before you purchase your dog: Beagle, Border Collie, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jack Russel Terrier, or West Highland Terrier. This includes nutrition, care, behavior, travel, breeding, etc. These books, though fun, are meant to be read more as manuals than for leisure, so I wouldn't exactly recommend them unless you're wanting to buy a dog.

It's gonna have to be a 2 for this series.

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About My Sisters conclusion

I made it! I finished Debra Ginsberg's memoirs without becoming entirely disgusted. I still can't say I'd recommend them to anyone. I don't feel enlightened or enriched by reading the book. As a matter of fact, I'm rather excited to be reading another book about dogs next.

This gets a 2.

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Memoirabilia

I haven’t gotten disgusted by this book yet. Despite the occasional sexual reference, there is nothing explicit about it. I have even taken a fondness to her brother because, like me, he enjoys giving cards that are inappropriate to the occasion (Bar Mitzvah for a birthday). I’m even gaining a slight appreciation for the author because she refers to exercise as her “daily constitutional”.

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About My Sisters 1

Debra Ginsberg has written two other books…both memoirs. And here we have…another memoir. This woman must be difficult in a room. I imagine her taking charge of the conversation and doing nothing but talk about herself. But maybe I’m too harsh. Other than the fact that she’s a vegetarian who loves astrology, reality is that I know nothing about her. All I can say so far is that Lavender and Deja are just about the dumbest names I’ve ever heard of. I just want to slap her whole family.

Oh! And while I’m venting here, what’s up with books always starting at page 4 or 7 or 12? Why not start at page 1 for crying out loud?

I insist on sticking this one out. I’ve had too many worthless books I couldn’t finish, so I’m gonna do my best, even if it hurts. So far, her writing style is nice and smooth, so that’ll help.

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About My Life...

I don't know if I'm getting lazier or if the books are just getting worse, but I had to put this down. I got through 15 chapters, but every other chapter talks about Rechy's sexual encounters. I mean...this is his memoirs and I understand the need to talk about certain life experiences, but I really don't need to read it. Write a journal, man. I don't need your smutty memoirs.

Big fat 0

Back to the Library

I set a personal record and checked out 7 books today. The first two are biographical and the last five are all tiny and all part of the same collection, so I figured I'd be able to take it. Here's what to expect. Consider it a "coming soon to a blog near you!"

About My Life and the Kept Woman by John Rechy
About My Sisters by Debra Ginsberg
About Pets: Beagle
About Pets: Border Collie
About Pets: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
About Pets: Jack Russel Terrier
About Pets: West Highland Terrier

I've started the first book, which is sort of a memoir, and I'm enjoying it so far. More to come...

About Grace

I've gotta admit, I was skeptical about this novel from the start. It begins with our main character who has psychic dreams. The first few chapters are confusing because I couldn't tell what time-frame I was supposed to be based in. I had a hard time taking pity on the protagonist until halfway through the book cuz he was sleeping around and running away with a married woman.

BUT our author, Patrick DeWitt, did enchant me toward the end of the book and I was hooked. It becomes a story about forgiveness and missed chances. As with many of the novels I've read so far, it ends oddly and a bit too abruptly, but this is one I'd recommend to others and might even find myself reading it again. I give it a good 4 on the scale.

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Art: The masters

I tell ya. Without pictures in front of you, this book is rather dull. Thank God for internet! Here's a few more artists and works for your perusal.

Claude Monet: a liberating force in the rejection of cubism
http://www.monetalia.com/paintings/large/monet-irises-monets-garden.jpg
http://img2.allposters.com/images/HAD/5608.jpg

Wassily Kandinsky: a member of the Blaue Reiter painters. More of an illustrator than abstract artist. The third painting here always makes me think of Scategories.
http://s8635.gridserver.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/kandinsky.jpg
http://s8635.gridserver.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/kandinsky2.jpg
http://users.fmg.uva.nl/rgrasman/images/kandinsky.jpg

Pablo Picasso:
Acrobat on a ball
Meninas
Guernica
Still life with Skull

Juan Gris: One of the masters of cubism
http://www.artsmia.org/mia/e_images/00/mia_95e.jpg
http://cfs7.tistory.com/image/22/tistory/2008/08/16/00/26/48a5a024918d6


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More Post-War Art

Today's modern art reading went deeper into the works of some post-war artists.

Giacometti:Known for his long, slender figures
#1 #2

Francis Bacon: Dark. Incorporates the scream in many of his works.
#1 #2

Dubuffet: Seemingly childish, his art is like an elaborate joke.
#1 #2 #3

Jackson Pollock: The legend
#1 #2

Mark Rothko: Using hushed, serene colors to depict violence
#1 #2

Philip Guston: Lush and luxurious compared to his contemporaries.
#1 #2 #3

Ad Reinhardt: Perhaps symbolic, but definitely a denial of what art is supposed to be. Very subtle.
#1 #2 #3

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Today’s reading was about smooth surfaced art in the inter-war period vs. the roughness of paintings in the post-war era.

INTER-WAR
Salvador Dali
Fernand Léger
Constantin Brancusi
Henry Moore

POST WAR
Paul Cézanne
Francis Bacon
Mondrian

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About Modern Art

I'm going a bit out of order again with this one. This 476 page work by David Sylvester has ZERO illustrations in it, and because my knowledge of modern art is very small I'm taking this book in smaller chunks and reading it simultaneously with my next novel.

The book is a collection of articles Sylvester wrote over the course of his lifetime. Today's reading was about Paul Klee. I thought it'd be nice to include some visuals in my blog as a reference point for everyone else. Lucky me. This doubles as a Christmas list. :D

Intention, 1938
Harmonized Combat
Ancient Sound
Dream City

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"A" is for Ablutions

I'm taking a break from the "About"s to go back to a book I was waiting to be returned to the library. Ablutions is the first novel from new author, Patrick DeWitt.

The full title is Ablutions: Notes for a Novel. The name is confusing at first, but I was quickly put to understanding after the first “note.” This book is written in second person singular (you) and doesn’t exactly have chapters. Instead the reader becomes the main character as he is taken through a diary-like look from the eyes of a bartender who is taking notes about his experiences for a novel he will write someday. The author seems to like the phrase “platonically fall in love with” and I plan on working this into conversation sometime this week.

This book is far too depressing and just confirms the fact that I hate California and alcoholics. The fact that the author is forcefully including me in the story makes me uncomfortable, but I dealt with it.

This book is off the new fiction shelf, but already most of the pages are covered in smashed up fruit flies. weird

About Looking

This odd title by John Berger ended up to be an odd book indeed. This book arrived at the library in December of ’08, but looks like I’m the first to check it out. Page 4 and I’m already hearing about cows again. Some of the same information nonetheless. And on page 14 Berger starts talking about Behaviorism.

The first section left me confused as to the purpose of the author. He seems to be weaving a overly descriptive rant about zoos and the marginalization of animals, but the point is lost somewhere in the 30 pages. The jacket describes this as "art criticism." I finally understood by the middle of the book that this disjunct feeling is because the book is actually a collection of essays all written by Berger all which have something or other to do with looking. I now understand why I'm the first to borrow this book.

This barely gets rated as a 1.

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Avoiding Moo jokes

Well it turns out our author Sara Rath is the granddaughter of the man who is considered the greatest cheesemaker in the world...according to Wisconsin at least. My only complaint about this book is that the penultimate chapter, "Cows in the Arts", contained all sorts of cow references from music, art, poetry, etc., but it failed to include the ever important "It's a Cow Christmas". Now THAT's artistry!

I give this book a solid 3

About Cows

It's actually MUCH more interesting than you might think. Sara Rath's book About Cows isn't just for the ag-minded individual. This book is a witty, entertaining glance at...cows. For instance, did you know that the average cow produces 30 pounds of urine and 65 pounds of feces daily?! And to think I would have never known that if I weren't reading the library alphabetically.

I have a couple chapters left before I give my official rating

Now I want ice cream

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About Buttons

We're just wild about About Buttons's buttons!! Ok, I'm a dork, but it's kinda required for this nugget from Peggy Ann Osborne.

308 pages and 4644 buttons (yes, I counted them) later, I can understand why the Amish don't use buttons. For some reason, my buttons just don't seem adequate anymore. This book serves its purpose for button collectors, and it wouldn't look bad on a coffee table.

I give it a 2

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Giving up

I couldn't do it. I gave up. The topic really interests me, but I know I’d have to reread it or take a class for someone to explain everything to me for me to really grasp it all.

There is a suggestion that the reason we are unable to remember what happened when we were infants is because we were unable to describe it at the time.

Oh well. I guess it's a 0

About Behaviorism

I've just started reading About Behaviorism by B.F. Skinner (the first two initials indicating his expertise). I find this topic very interesting so far whether I adhere to the ideas presented or not. I probably won't be blogging on this one AS I read it cuz I don't wanna prove my own ignorance in understanding it all.

About a Movie

I saw the film version of About a Boy and I have to say I was quite impressed. Sometimes you read a book and think "how could this ever be a movie?" but it was exactly as I imagined it and I recommend it to anyone interested in quirkiness.

About Alice

I recommend this book for anyone who has been in love or wished to be in love. It is short, it is charming, and best of all, it is true. Calvin Trillin is (or was in 2006) a writer for The New Yorker. His wife Alice was an inspiration for most, if not all of his writings. This is her biography.

I only have one regret regarding this book, and that is that I came at it from a purely fresh perspective and not as a person who already has seen how her husband portrayed her in his other writings. There’s a familiarity in the writing style that made me feel I was part of the “in crowd” without having earned it. As a result I feel like I only just met her…and now she’s gone.

This book is a strong 3.

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"A" is for About

Well it seems the next 20 books or so will have titles beginning with "About." Today I read Nick Hornby's best selling novel, About a Boy. If you haven't read it before, you may have seen the film starring Hugh Grant. I had done neither till this week. Now the book's complete and I definitely have to see the film.

This book was quite well written and enjoyable. Like many of the books I've read recently, the ending was a bit of a disappointment as we're left to believe that 12 yr old boys really have it all figured out, and it puts a dull light on the concept of marriage and family, a socio-economic structure I happen to be rather fond of.

All in all I give this book a 4, and although I'm not rushing to the bookstore to buy it, this is a book I would not be ashamed to have in my personal library.

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"A" is for Aboltion

Usually, if I go to the library and a book has been checked out already, I just move on, but this time I had to wait for it to come back because this author cannot be skipped.

This book would be particularly interesting for educators. Like many of his “books”, The Abolition of Man is a collection of C.S. Lewis’ lectures, here addressing the issue of education and the way in which modern teaching styles remove from their pupils certain universal values, thereby creating a society of people who have been stripped of virtue and still expected to function honorably and creatively.

Though a short read, this is not a light read or what many call a "pleasure read." I give it a 3, but only for those who already have an interest in Lewis' oral style.

It seems I can't get away from the topic of contraceptives yet, so here's a quote from the book: “And as regards contraceptives, there is a paradoxical, negative sense in which all possible future generations are the patients or subjects of a power wielded by those already alive. By contraception simply, they are denied existence; by contraception used as a means of selective breeding, they are, without their concurring voice, made to be what one generation, for its own reasons, may choose to prefer. From this point of view, what we call Man’s power over Nature turns out to be a power exercised by some men over other men with Nature as its instrument.”

Right on, man.

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"A" is for Abortion

Now now, don't get worried. This is a novel. Abortion by Richard Brautigan was a quick read despite it's 200 some pages. It's a bit confusing because on one hand, it's a short story, but it contains 6 books, each of which have their own chapters.

It's obvious from reading this that Richard Brautigan is a poet. This story, set in first person, was written in 1971 and centers around (you guessed it) an abortion. The plot, though made interesting by the writing style, was somewhat empty, and once again we have a book where everything is conveniently wrapped up in the last few pages.

Best quote from the book: “He looked as if he had been beaten to death with a wine bottle, but by doing it with the contents of the bottle.”

I give this book a 2. It's back to the library for me.

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"A" is for Aboriginal

Well I did it again. I got a juvenile literature book without realizing it. Today's book is Aboriginal Art of Australia: Exploring Cultural Tradition by Carol Finley. I really didn't mind the fact that it was aimed at younger readers. I still came away learning something.

This book explored the subject matter and mediums used in aboriginal art and included some glimpses into the traditions of the aborigines. Although this style of art doesn't particularly speak to me, I give the book a 3 for being well-written, informative, and approachable.

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This book is an abomination

Imagine Se7en, Silence of the Lambs and Random Harvest all mixed together. That was this book.

The plot is interesting enough to make up for the lack of ability in writing the story, not to mention the typos, but maybe I’m the only one who notices things like that. Most of the loose ends were tied up way too quickly to create enough suspense. It was an enjoyable book, but not a great piece of literature. I would have given it a three if it weren't for the fact that everything wrapped up so nicely in the last page. Dozens of people died, but don't worry, we'll all live happily ever after because all these other things fell into place. Abomination gets a 2.

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"A" is for Abomination

You may have noticed that all these strong negative words begin with "abo": abolition, abomination, abortion (yeah, that's next).

Abomination is a novel by Colleen Coble about a serial killer and one of his attempted victims. I got a few chapters in before I saw the back of the binding and noticed it's supposed to be a Christian novel. I'm halfway through now, and apart from a few vague references to prayer and the fact that the killer is an obsessed cult leader, I'm not getting how this is supposed to be Christian...yet. It does have some handy "Reading Group Guide Questions" at the end, but I've avoided reading them before I finish the book.

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Hidden Treasure

One of the joys of the library is that sometimes you find bookmarks that others have left behind. I've found normal bookmarks, grocery lists, etc., but this last trip to the library was the kingpin of all finds.

Someone left an x-ray in the book! Not being a radiologist, I didn't have a clue what it was or if it was even human, but I took it to our sonographer at work today and the consensus is that it must be a gallbladder procedure. Talk about TMI!

Here's to the library.

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"A" is for "Abominable"

Abominable Dr. Faust by Hiroyuki Takei is a manga novel in the Shaman King series. This wasn't my first experience with manga, but it was the first time I was forced to read in English from right to left. I totally get it though. Why reprint the whole thing backwards just for a translation.

The storyline was typical: our hero is facing a series of challengers to become shaman king and is using varies spirits to help him. I give this book a 4, for three simple words: "To be continued"

ARE YOU SERIOUS??!! So maybe my rating is a little high, but they ended the book in the middle of the climax. Clever little Japanese tactics.

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"A" is for "The Abolition of Slavery"

The Abolition of Slavery: Fighting for a Free America by Suzanne Cloud Tapper, apart from being written by someone with a great name, is a moderately useful tool when brushing up on American slavery history. The small size and the colorful cover give the indication that this might be a jr. high or high school textbook, but within the first paragraph I was immediately plunged into the gruesome details of a lynching.

Welcome to 19th century America. This book is good for people who want a basic overview of the people and events leading up to freedom for the slaves, without committing to hours of overly detailed dates and facts. I give it a 2.

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"A" is for The Able Gardener

I can only guess that The Able Gardener: Overcoming Barriers of Age & Physical Limitations by Kathleen Yeomans, R.N. is a useful book. Although I don't have particular physical limitations, this book still put me in the mood to garden. Perhaps I had difficulties with it because I have a hard time enjoying a conversation in which I'm not involved. It lost my attention simply because it didn't apply to me.

This book was written in 1992, so some of the creative approaches put forth in it are outdated and have been made obsolete by modern convention. One would get the best use out of the book by having it nearby and referring to it throughout the entire gardening experience. I give it 2 green thumbs.

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Rating

I've decided to implement a new rating system as I read. Here goes.

0 = Couldn't finish it
1 = Barely finished and am lamenting the moments I can never get back.
2 = Hmmm....ok
3 = Enjoyed it and would recommend it to someone else
4 = Enjoyed it enough to want to read it again
5 = MUST BUY THIS BOOK!!

I'll use this system from now on when I finish each book. That said...

I've finished The Abolition of Britain and give it a 3. It's a bit lengthy, but kept my attention regardless. The author's cynical attitude made even the offensive parts worth reading in my opinion.

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Hitchens on Family

Family and Government:
“There are many explanations for authority’s mistrust of the family. The main one must be that it cannot control what goes on there, what ideas are taught, what wealth stored up, what loyalties fostered.”

Lambeth conference of Anglican bishops:
“We earnestly implore those whose marriages are unhappy to remain steadfastly faithful to their marriage vows, relying on the unfailing resources of God’s grace.”

Regarding the pill and abortion:
“Some experts believe that contraception actually increases the demand for abortion, because it raises the expectation that sex will not result in birth, and so persuades disappointed users of failed contraceptives to choose abortion without much further thought. They have already accepted that sexual intercourse does not and should not lead to a baby. The idea that they are going to have one therefore seems unjust, even outrageous.”

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Hitchens on Parenting

All parents need to read this and think.

In the affluent 1980’s, as millions of children acquired their own televisions and computer games, the house became a self-contained unit with almost no outside needs. Parents, scared either of dangerous traffic or of sexual predators, were afraid to let their children wander physically, so they allowed them to wander mentally instead. They swapped the old dispensation—moral authority, power over ideas and the development of the imagination—for the merely physical power to limit movement. The liberation of children’s minds was, in part at least, the price for their loss of physical freedom.

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Tell us how you really feel, Mr. Hitchens

“To leave a child unsupervised in front of a television set is no less dangerous than giving it neat gin, or putting it within reach of narcotics.”

Chris Brain meets the Anglican church

from The Rise and Fall of the Nine o'Clock Service describing how Chris Brain ran services in the early 1990's. Quoted from The Abolition of Britain chapter 5: "Hell Freezes Over"

'Druidic white-robed figures around an alter resembling a crescent moon...hundreds of black-clad figures peer out of the darkness, swaying to swirling, strangely ethereal breaths of ambient techno.'

This, remember, is taking place in an Anglican church, heir to the monastic tradition and the poetry of Thomas Cranmer. But instead of the timeless comfort of beauty and order, the worshipper hears, 'The Lord is here...his spirit is with us', and then listens to the 'first song, led by the band', followed by 'body prayer, a sort of Christianised yoga', and then a multi-decibel confession: 'Creator God, the source of all life, we confess our sin to you...we confess that as we've wanted more and more we have dominated and exploited your creation...we admit...that we are complicit in destroying you by polluting the air and sea, by destroying the forest, by starving the people of the Third World.'

Then 'a rapper comes over the top, giving it all he's got, and gradually fades into a sample of an Eastern voice wailing.' Then Chris (Brain) says: 'God who knows the equality of all people, and the trap of false dreams, release and deliver you, Amen.' He then 'fades into the sound of running water and birdsong and then it is time for the sacrament'.

Re: Corporal Punishment in Schools

"The conservative society accepts that rebellion and bad behaviour are natural and must be curbed. The liberal society requires all its citizens to be perfectly balanced, conforming to its ideals and aims with a happy heart and a willing mind..."

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"A" is for The Aboltion of Britain

Sometimes I read multiple books at once, and when one is longer than another, I start with that. That means that this week, I'm reading slightly out of alphabetical order. So sue me.

My trip to the library this time brought me, among other things, The Abolition of Britain: From Winston Churchill to Princess Diana by Peter Hitchens. Mr. Hitchens is a controversial journalist from England, and in his book he is attempting to explain how Britain has been destroying itself since the age of Churchill. He is VERY much conservative and doesn't hide the fact that he attributes all of Britain's faults to the liberals, but it's quite informative nonetheless. Since I do maintain fairly conservative views, I would be interested to see how a liberal person would take the book. We'll see...

"A" is for Abingdon

Abingdon Marriage Manual by Perry H. Biddle, Jr. is more a reference book than something meant to be read straight through, but this little book from 1932 and republished in 1974 is still an enjoyment. It's meant for the pastor performing marriage ceremonies, complete with scripts, music suggestions, various premarital counseling practices, etc.

I'm back to the library tonight for my next round. The novel I wanted to check out isn't back yet, but someday...someday.

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No More Abigail

Well it's happened, folks. I've read a biography that I actually quite liked. I think the fact that the author had all the family letters as a resource, helped make it more personal and less just a series of historical facts and data. As educational as the Abe Lincoln book was, it definitely was not for casual readers, whereas this was. The whole time I read it I could imagine it as a major motion picture...a really long one.

Great quote regarding parenting from Abigail to her husband: "You will not teach them what to think, but how to think, and they will then know how to act." I think a lot of parents should read and re-read that statement.

Now I KNOW I promised you a novel next, but after getting to chapter 11 I realized that it actually WAS a smutty novel much like the cover depicted. I closed it. Moving on.

John Adams concerning his daughter's possible marriage

During John's absence overseas, his daughter fell in love with a man of questionable reputation. John was forced to respond with a letter.

"It is by the female world...that the greatest and best characters among men are formed...when I hear of an extraordinary man...I naturally inquire who was his mother? There can be nothing in life more honourable for a woman, than to contribute by her virtue, her advice, her example...to the formation of an husband, a brother, or a son, to be useful to the world."

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Johnny's letter to Pappa

Sir:
I have been trying ever since you went away to learn to write you a Letter. I shall make poor work of it, but Sir Mamma says you will accept my endeavors, and that my Duty to you may be expressed in poor writing as well as good.

I hope I grow a better Boy and that you will have no occasion to be ashamed of me when you return. Mr. Thaxter says I learn my Books well--he is a very good Master. I read my Books to Mamma. We all long to see you; I am Sir your Dutiful Son, John Quincy Adams.

"A" is for Abigail Adams

I promised you some novels, but first another biography. This time it's Abigail Adams: Witness To a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober.

Yet again a book where religion already plays an important role. It's been interesting to see the various connections among the books I've read here. Abigail's youth saw the beginning of the French and Indian War (reference to Abenaki book). Much of this work is pieced together based on letters she wrote, many of them to her husband, John (Abelard and Heloise). She married one president and gave birth to another (Abe Lincoln connection).

I already quite like her. She’s described as always yearning for new books to read, memorizing poetry and reciting it to herself in times of trial, quick-witted and direct, often speaking her mind. She cranks out the babies as her familial duty requires.

But so far, my fave part of her life is her witty relationship with her husband (then suitor) John. He composed a letter to her called "Catalogue of your Faults." I can't help but quote the book.

In this letter John cautioned Abigail not to be "vexed, or fretted, or thrown into a Passion," but to "resolve upon a Reformation--for this is my sincere Aim." Having said this, he proceeded to list her faults: "In the first Place...you have been extreamly negligent, in attending so little to Cards." He hoped she would make a "better Figure in this elegant and necessary Accomplishment."
Second was "a certain Modesty, sensibility, Bashfulness...that enkindles Blushes...at every Violation of Decency in Company."

In the third place, she had never learned to sing. And fourth, "you very often hang your Head like a Bulrush. You do not sit erect as you ought," so "you appear too short for a Beauty, and the Company loses the sweet smiles of that Countenance and the bright sparkles of those Eyes. This Fault is the Effect and Consequence of another, still more inexcusable in a Lady. I mean an Habit of Reading, Writing and Thinking."

Yet another fault was that of sitting with legs crossed. This, he felt, "ruins the figure," and "injures the Health." This was the result, also, he added, of thinking too much.

He ended by telling her that for three weeks he had searched for more faults, "but more are not to be discovered. All the rest is bright and luminous."

Her response? That she's proud to continue in all her faults and that "a gentleman has no business to concern himself about the Leggs of a Lady."


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Morocco - Sloughi...and conclusion

Of all the dogs in the Muslim nation of Morocco, only the sloughi are regarded with affection and respect. Hunting with the sloughis has been illegal for quite some time, but they still have a big festival for the dogs every year, part of which includes a hunt.

This is Labor Day weekend and here I am ready for another trip to the library. I can't let you in on which book is next, cuz I have to read the jackets first to decide if I'm checking them out or not. I CAN tell you that there are a few novels coming up, so it'll be nice to get some fiction in here! Happy reading everyone. See you in a few days.


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Nepal - Do Khyi

In Tibet, the mastiff like dogs are called do khyi. As a rule, they are mistrustful of humans to the point where the authors were instructed “to always have a companion wearing local attire with us who would get along with the animals and they with him; to walk slowly and carry a stick, since in the case of an attack the dogs would first bite the stick; to never hit the dogs, since the noise of the wounded would call up all other dogs; and, if possible, to throw food to a threatening dog so that it would be occupied until we could reach safety.”

Namibia

The pariah dogs of the Himba people of Namibia have been the subject of heated debate over the past century. Negative descriptions of the dogs by cynologists were actually biased representations of the views they had toward their owners. The dogs are never assigned a duty, they come to their tasks on their own, and they are varied whether it be tending the cattle, finding worms with the children, or defending the women from snakes.

WARNING: Gross out moment? Among the Turkana tribe in east Africa, dogs guard the children often tidying up after them by eating baby feces and even licking them clean. GROSS!!!

I’m showing my ignorance here, but Namibia only became independent from South Africa in 1990?! Why do I not remember this? Namibia has been a country for as long as I can remember.


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Greenland Dogs

Once again it's quite apparently that this book has been translated. But who cares! I enjoyed this chapter. In Greenland, dogs are not only beneficial, but highly necessary for travel. The authors describe how dogs are raised, the formations they make as they travel across ice and snow, etc. If you don't read this book the whole way through, I highly recommend this chapter.

I learned that the Greenland shark meat doesn’t taste good to humans and cannot be fed to dogs when it’s fresh or it has an effect rather like alcohol, sometimes being lethal. They can only eat it after it’s been dried 6 months, and even then it can cause cramping in more than tiny amounts. I also read that dogsleds are even used for firefighting, complete with water hoses and everything. Whoever happens to have most recently harnessed his team is expected to lend it to the firefighters and postpone his hunt.

And because all of these books have touched on religion to some extent, I will mention that “in contrast to other Inuit people, Greenlanders are Christian.”

In other news, here's a cute photo!


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Patagonia - Mixed Breeds

Abenteuer Hund properly translates to "Working Dog," which makes it no surprise that all the dogs mentioned in this book are exactly that. Whoever came up with "Dog's Best Friend" for the English title is...well I'll leave my opinions to myself.

Patagonia equals sheep. Well, it equals many things, but for our purposes we'll stick with sheep. The dogs, like the people of Patagonia, are mixed, but are mostly border dogs from the area which borders England and Scotland. I can't say I learned much from this portion of the book, but the pictures were lovely. Again...this makes a better TV series.

In 1999, when this book was written, kelpies were a new, exciting, Australian herding breed to arrive on the scene. Here I can at least provide you with a cute photo. :D


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Borneo - Mystery Breed

We don’t even have a name for the dogs who reside here. That makes it quite difficult to find photos to post for you, but I can tell you they look a bit like dingos. The chapter opens describing a caring and precise funeral process, later to reveal that this burial is for a dog, a dog who helped his master kill over 100 pigs. With no separation between natural and spiritual, life and afterlife, the Punan people view their dogs as companions moreso than property. Instead of trying to teach the dogs commands, the Punan speak to them in the cries and wails the dogs themselves use. Unlike the greyhounds of Burkina Faso, the Punan dogs make terrible guards as they are so accustomed to humans that they consider everyone to be friendly.

The authors take this opportunity to include a few rants about deforestation, which although a tragedy, doesn’t seem to fit with the overall theme of the book.

Speaking of legends…the Punan have their own story about where their dogs came from:
According to an ancient legend, the Punan created their dogs themselves--from the resin of a eucalyptus tree. The creature was supposed to have quick legs and a good nose, and it needed to be able to speak so it could call to the hunter. In response to their requests, a god breathed into the figure and, thereby, gave the dog life.


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