Acapulco

Travel is a trend this month in my reading. I just finished another Moon travel guide. This one about Acapulco.
I can definitely say after reading, that Acapulco is not a destination I'm interested in. Too many people. Too much beach. Too much Mexico. Not enough....me.
Maybe after reading all these, I'll be able to pinpoint my ideal vacation spot.
2

All kinds of snobbery await

Well I've come across another exception to my reading schedule! I like wine. I'm not a wine expert by any means, but I love learning about it, and I was delighted to come across my next book: Academie du Vin Wine Course from none other than...the Academie du Vin. This book is split into three different courses on wine (basic to advanced) covering tasting, grape varieties, vinification, etc.

Book learning is all fine and well, but experience really does make the difference. That is why I will be keeping this book around for some time while I get a chance to taste a number of the wines it teaches about.

My only qualm with the book is that it was written in 1990 and so much has changed. If I can find an updated version, I will definitely be buying this one. Hooray for another 5!

Academy Award Winners!

Are you obsessed with the Oscars? Ever wanted info on every Academy Award winner at your fingertips? Bruce Henhershon has compiled the movie posters from all the best films and best actors of the Academy Awards.

I "read" this book while still in the library. It's mostly pictures, so it was no problem. But, I wasn't all that impressed. Movie posters are so much better when they're..well..posters

2

First Travel Guide

I admit, travel guides aren't exactly meant to be read, but Moon has put out a book on Acadia National Park, so it was only fitting that I look at it. For those of you who don't already know, Acadia National Park is off the coast of Maine. It's a beautiful area that can be overrun by tourists, but still offers seclusion if you know where to find it.
I've only been to Maine once, and that was in December, but I did manage to get to Bar Harbor (Bah Hahbuh). The book is laid out with recommendations for highlights, whether you have 3 days, a week, children, etc.

There's nothing very profound about the book, of course, so it will have to settle for a 2.

Argh! another decent book turns to smut. My fantasy series got halfway through and smutted it up. So no worth it.

0

Acacia...Part the First

The Acacia series by David Anthony Durham is labeled both as Sci-Fi and Fantasy, but it is definitely more Fantasy. The series consists of two books with books contained in each of them. Having completed the first "book" (Acacia: The War with the Mein: The King's Idyll), I am still getting some of the names mixed up, but that passes quickly. The storyline is interesting, but it does seem suspicious that there is a king named Leodan and that one of the characters discovers a secret passageway while hiding in a wardrobe.

The most difficult thing I'm faced with is knowing which side to favor. There aren't exactly good guys and bad guys. They're all good and bad in their own way, but I guess that's closer to reality.

Ooops!

I'm realizing I never blogged on one of the more depressing books at the library. In late January, I read a book about Abu Ghraib. Well....it wasn't so much reading as it was looking at the paintings of Fernando Botero.

Not enjoyable, of course. I can only give it a 1.

More AC/DC

Despite the fact that my father is an electrician, the study of electricity never made much sense to me in school. I get easily confused by things I can't necessarily see.

My next book was fun nonetheless. AC/DC: The savage tale of the first standards war by Tom McNichol is a fun book about the discovery of electricity and the inventions that followed. If you're a fan of Discovery Channel or History Channel, you've probably heard some about the controversy between alternating and direct current, but if you don't, this is the book to read! The topic may sound dull to some, but just wait till you read about all then animal experimentation.

I could recommend this to anyone. It's short and sweet. 3

FYI!

My next reading endeavor is another fiction series that will take quite a bit of time to get through, so I'll be pushing ahead and blogging on other books in the meantime.

I know you were all concerned.

For those about to read...we salute you

Ah..AC/DC. A band I've never really liked, but at least I can now say I know pretty much anything interesting there is to know about them. AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll by Murray Engleheart with Arnaud Durieux was an entertaining read. The book describes everything a typical biography would, including all the random bits of controversy and success they experienced during their career. Some may argue that their career is still running....but that's just silly.

If you like the band at all, I can definitely recommend this book. It's full of bad language, drugs, alcohol, and rock and roll. And if you're not into those types of things...well...you're probably not a fan of AC/DC.

3

AC Cobra by Brian Laban is definitely "The Complete Story." If it weren't for the fact that the Cobra is my absolute dream car, I wouldn't have been able to finish this book. Yes, it's got great pictures, but it's far too close to a tech manual for my feeble/female brain to grasp.
If you already have a thing for cars, read it. If not...you probably won't gain much from it.

2

From one Shelby to the next

What a great way to finish off the "Ab.." section of the library! ABZ: A Primer for Adults Only by Shel Silverstein is an absolute riot. Despite the fact that this man wrote for Playboy and was the lyricist for many a baudy tune, this book is actually appropriate for the mature child who isn't easily duped by the power of suggestion.

If Shel Silverstein was your favorite author as a child, I highly recommend this for adulthood. A strong 4.

And to continue my library tour, I'm moving on to AC Cobra, a book about the car that Carrol Shelby made famous.

Proof that mystery novels can be smut.

Sad, but true. Abyssinian Proof by Jenny White was a fun read for a while. It takes place in Turkey in the late 1800s. The historical setting is fun, but the writing is too modern. The Muslims are far too secular, using modern slang in conversation. Although it's set in the late 19th century, it could just as easily have been about late 20th century Brooklyn cops.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is her description of female circumcision. It seemed innocent enough, but turned to smut after 200 pages of decent reading. Not necessary. Didn't add to the plot in any way.

So, sadly, this book earned a 0

The Abyssinian conclusion

The Abyssinian in our book turned out to be the apothecary Jean-Baptiste Poncet, despite the fact that he's really French. My interest in the plot did increase gradually as I read. The lovers faced conflict. Lives were at stake. The ending, while happy, was a bit of a let down.

This book barely earned a 2.

It seems as though I'm moving gradually through time. I went from Marie Antoinette in the late 1700's to Louis XIV's kingdom in 1700, and this next book begins in Constantinople in 1453.

The Abyssinian by Jean-Christophe Rufin

Well the novel I'm reading right now is a bit slow going, but still worth getting through. The year is 1699 and King Louis XIV of France is sending ambassadors to Abyssinia to slowly, but surely, convert Africa. Since Abyssinia is VERY hostile toward Catholics, Louis is forced to send a his Jesuit ambassador disguised with an apothecary who is contracted to cure the king of Abyssinia of a skin disease.

Our apothecary, Jean Baptist seems to be one of the main characters so far. There is a very understated, secret love between him and the consul's daughter, Mademoiselle de Maillet. In the second section of the book, they've just left for Abyssinia. We'll see what happens.

Star Wars

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Abyss by Troy Denning is merely one in a gajillion Star Wars books to have been written by a variety of authors since the release of the first film trilogy. As with all the installments, this book begins in the middle and ends in the middle.

Abyss takes place while the Jedi seem to be suffering from some epidemic of insanity. Overall, the book is interesting, but it can never compare to the real thing.

Just a 2.

Abuse and Neglect

What a fun subject. Abuse and Neglect by Sarah Medina is one of the newest additions to my library. It is a short, succinct book describing the various types of abuse, why people become abusers, how to get help, etc. It's appropriate for all ages.

I didn't really learn anything considering I'm already a mandatory reporter, but I would recommend this book to anyone who's curious about the issue.

3

Calling all foragers!

I'm buying this one! Abundantly Wild: Collecting and Cooking Wild Edibles in the Upper Midwest by Teresa Marrone is a keeper. When I was growing up, my favorite thing to do was exploring our backyard or spending time in the woods. Now that I'm older and more sensible, maybe I can do it with a bit more purpose.

This book has lists of all sorts of edible plants that grow in my area, including how to harvest and prepare them. I learned a few things like the fact that black morels can cause lack of muscular coordination in some people and that the best time to find morels is when the nights are above 40, the days are in the 60's and the lilacs are in full bloom. It also dawned on me that the word "scrub" is simply a combination of "scrape" and "rub".

This book has so many typos, it's hilarious, but I simply must have it. It earns a 5.

More abundance. More gardening.

Today's read was Abundant Gardening by Barbara Denk. Like any good book on gardening, it was complete with photos. The book's goal was to take a look at a number of abundant gardens across the country.
As pretty as the pictures were, I can't say I gained a lot from the book. I have exactly zero room for gardening right now...maybe a zen garden, but that's about it.
Still, I gotta give this one a 2.

Marie Antoinette

It's been a while, but my last book was over 500 pages. Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund is a novel written from the perspective of Marie Antoinette. Despite it's thickness, it is a pleasant read, helped by the fact that the chapters are so short. It doesn't qualify as smut in any sense, but there are parts that are more adult in nature. (Imagine reading a 14yr old's diary.)

I don't think I would go so far as purchasing this book, but it would be interesting to read again. I tend to like historical fiction anyway. This book explores every aspect of her life from her relationships, to politics, to scandals. It begins at age 14 as she leaves Austria into France and ends under the guillotine. Sorry if I spoiled the ending. :D

This book earns a solid 4.