Total Ann Coulter snack food. Unfortunately there is little new work here, just reprints and pithy quotes from previous Human Events articles. Each chapter is on a different issue, so you can have all Coulter’s whit on each subject condensed. If you are a fan, you should read it. But not earth shattering. I have the most fun just leaving it on the coffee table to infuriate my liberal friends. I rate 3 of 5 stars

I was over at my friend Curt’s house two weeks ago and over coffee asked him what he was reading. He mentioned The Road, Cormac McCarthy’s new book. I had never read anything by McCarthy. But Curt warned me it was “bleak”. I picked it up last week and read half of it in one sitting. The last half in one long night till 3pm this weekend as my daughter slept in the twin bed next to me in my childhood room at my parents house this labor day weekend. Now a parent myself, this is a truly heart wrenching book to read. Such a bleak and dark vision of the future. The story is not so much about the future though as the trauma and heartache of having to drag your child through a dangerous and dark world. All the lengths you would go to as a parent. How far would you go? On the plane back to Seattle, Finn and I were sitting next to each other on the plane. Both wearing blankets, the plane was cold. Finn asked me for my blanket because she was cold. I gave it to her immediately. She said “dad you didn’t have to do that”. I said yes i did, that is what fathers do for their daughters.

All life’s choices should be that easy.

I am in the book page 83, 85 and 278. You must read this book even if just the pages about me.

started it and couldn’t finish. Too preachy. Too much TV talk show host. The ideas are laudable, but the presentation format is too much. Bad user interface.

useless tripe. couldn’t finish it.

My mother was out recently and we like to swap books on our visits. She took the latest Robert Parker and gave me this one. Since I panned her last recommendation, this one received a very hard sell. She was right. Much more about the characters and their personal issues/troubles than the who-dun-it, which is a refreshing change. Good plane reading again. 4 of 5 stars

Bought on the plane ride home from Hawaii. Finished when landed. Good plane book. 3 of 5 stars.

it was a bit cold today and looked like rain, so instead of a bike ride, I stayed in on the elliptical trainer and did some weights. Not wanting to listen to NPR again, I browsed the DVD case. I had bought this DVD in a fit of historical curiosity about the church and people of extreme faith. While a bit unsatisfying in style as it is just a bunch of voice overs, interviews and stock footage and pictures, I did learn quite a bit. I had no idea the complacency of the Catholic and Protestant church in Hitler’s rise. Nor did I understand the depth of the divisions in the German church or the extent of the conspiracy to topple Hitler. Interesting historically, but not narratively. You need to be a history or religious geek (like me) to enjoy it.

rainy day in seattle (surprise). I had watched all the Bill Maher episodes on TIVO. A friend knew i like motorcycles and sent me the movie. I loved it. Stayed on the eliptical longer just to watch the finish. A feel good time. I rank 5 of 5 stars.

I remember panning a previous Robert Crais book, so i started this one with trepidation. But it turned out. Good airport reading. I would put it in the “page turner” category. The ‘hero” is a little too silent and strong for my taste, but still ok. Good brain goo.
I rate 3 of 5 stars.