I read this out of necessity (I needed to get a better idea of how to cope with our donkeys). I found this book to be moderately helpful. It was published about 20 years ago, and it is U.K.-centric, so the donkey organization information is only relevant in the sense that I can go find their website in hope of more detailed health and care information. Some of the advice given assumes that the reader has some (what I would consider advanced-intermediate) knowledge on how to handle equines. So, I’ll be either getting another book, or I’ll be begging for handling lessons from my neighbor or one of DH’s college buddies.

I’d seen the movie a few years ago, and then was gifted with this book via BookCrossing. I was expecting differences between the two, but it is really obvious that whatever studio accepted the screenplay really wanted a “dry white toast” version of the story. Needless to say, I liked the book better, and wish I hadn’t spent time on the movie at all.

I think that the saddest aspect of the book is that “pay it forward” has not spread far into real life, and I’m too cynical to believe that it can.

As far as the story itself, I had some difficulty believing in the character of Trevor. I mean, seriously; how many children of alcoholic mothers and absent fathers turn out so well and navigate in such manner through junior high?

That said, it was a sweet story, and I’m glad I was able to spend some time being inspired by the characters that were left out of the movie.

I needed something light and quick while we waited out last month’s ice storm (and subsequent power outage) in front of the fireplace. I read it by booklight on the sheepskin-covered futon next to our son (sleeping in his playpen).

Anyway, I had a hard time keeping the giggles muffled. Even though my mother is nowhere nearly as intrusive as the authors’, I could certainly appreciate the stress and the acrobatics daughters tolerate when interacting with their mothers.

I will most likely register this one with BookCrossing and pass it on to another (hopefully) appreciative reader.

I finished listening to this one last night. Kinsey’s in her regular fine form in regards to her work, and she’s even doing some worthwhile introspection. Grafton gives her an engaging love interest without getting romance-novel graphic. I did find some fault with Grafton’s research—last I checked, Reno was not a desert. Not sure how she could have confused that with the climate of Las Vegas, but I guess she needed some reason for the fugitive to be skimpily dressed. I suppose I should take back what I said about the soft porn.

I listened to this audiobook from Recorded Books, and I either missed something important in the plot, or I failed to comprehend something subtle that Grafton was trying to express-whatever “ricocheted” got lost on me.

That said, I really enjoyed this installment. Kinsey gets a little groove, and she gets into big trouble. Grafton does this combination well. As always, recommended for the long-time fan, and for those who want to start with this book and catch up at one’s leisure.

McCrumb spends 6 chapters building backstory to the main event of the book-Elizabeth and Cameron’s wedding-before she introduces the mystery. Again, Elizabeth has only a minor part to play in its solution, but then she does have only a few weeks to prepare for her wedding.

McCrumb’s assignation of humor in her charaters is done well—Geoffrey’s one-liners are especially worth laughing out loud to. The inheritance subplot was another amusing diversion, if only for its patheticness.

While this was an entertaining (and quick) read, I’m becoming even more disappointed in the author’s characterization of Elizabeth. I suppose we got a fair picture of how shallow Elizabeth is in the early books, but I’d hoped to see some signs of maturation, given her field of study (forensics).

Description from back cover:
“Candid, campy, sexy Susie Bright takes the world by storm in [this] latest journey in [her] erotic travelogue. ‘Has your personal sex life improved over the decade of the sexual revolution that you’ve been so influential in?’ asks one reporter. In [this book], Bright raises more than an eyebrow as she answers that question, examining her own development as a sexpert and the state of sex in America.”

My thoughts/comments:

A collection of essays published elsewhere (for example, Village Voice and Esquire) and gathered here into 4 categories. Very handy for new fans who don’t have the time to hunt down her early 90’s works. Bright manages to pull off blunt and intelligent discourse about sexual adventures, attitudes and answers without being crude.

I enjoyed these essays on intellectual and theoretical levels. I appreciated her (mostly) calm manner and the lack of patronization for those readers who don’t express the same tastes as she does. That isn’t to say that Bright doesn’t mince words when she’s defending against prejudice.

My favorites were:
Adult Children of Family Values
Sex and the Single Reader
Camille Anonymous
White Sex

And a few especially pithy quotes:
“I never understood how there could be an organization like MADD, while there isn’t an even bigger group of…mommas ready to burn down the halls of Congress for not doing something about child care, education, and public health.”
“Perhaps the cruelest point of stereotypes is this: they imply that sexual freedom is a bad end, because one’s erotic yearnings can only be quenched at the price of losing one’s family ties, morality, and intellectual respectability.”

[originally posted on BookCrossing, December 2003]

Poppy Z Brite’s first full novel. Tells the story of evolved vampires and how they’ve adapted. Oh, and they’re fully functioning, as in breeding capability.

Not a book for the squeamish—reading about the feeding sessions, the rough sex, and the incest got disturbing at times. But I think that discomfort comes from knowing that this subculture does exist, and it worries me that this sort of pain is manifesting in our world. I’m not so afraid for myself, but for those who “don’t belong.” This subculture is a case in which “if you build it, they will come” is not the greatest idea out there. I just can’t make this “circle of life” equation match up. Does having predators who cull the weak make our species stronger in Brite’s universe? Is that what the vampire genre is all about? An exercise in fantasy to counteract the imbalances our society had created and nurtured?
Our collective conscious knows that to experience true life, there is physical and emotional pain to be had. Society has created ways to get rid of both kinds of pain without having to process and grow from its lesson. Society has also created acceptable space for those who thrive on the attention that pain and illness can generate. My theory is that many people have forgotten the way of transition towards healing, growth, and personal evolution. Or, they believe that their life is only about survival and “getting theirs,” ergo no room for and no communication with the divine within.
[well, so much for writing about the book… funny, the stuff that comes up for a reader]

I’m always interested in stories of the immigrant experience, religious conversion, and survival of abuse. This book gives all that, and in spades to boot. This memoir was definitely a challenge for journalist McBride. Most chapters open with transcripts of his mother’s recounting of her life.
I’ve enjoyed the experience of this book, but there are at least as many unanswered questions as revelations that McBride answers.
I do have to say that I’m not very impressed with the ethics of the extended family of McBride’s mother. I don’t know how much of their attitude towards the “poor kin” I can excuse away given their times and faith.

[originally posted to BookCrossing, May 2003]

Description from back cover:
“Lara McClintoch accompanies her employee to County Kerry, Ireland for the reading of an old friend’s will. The well-to-do Eamon Byrne left each of his quarreling heirs a clue-a piece of the puzzle that would lead to a mysterious treasure-but the family would have to work together, combining the clues to give them meaning. When Lara discovers the ancient Celtic poem that serves as the key, she begins to close in on the treasure, fascinated by the intricate riddle. Line by line, she comes closer to the secret, but someone thwarts her at every turn with murder.”

I wish I’d had time to read the previous 3, but I had way too many obligations, and of course the world had to interfere and horn in on my reading time. Anyway, I’m truly looking forward to going back and getting to know these characters a little better. Not having said history, my criticisms below may border on the unfair.
Hamilton’s done a wonderful research job with this book. It managed to demonstrate the manner of the ancient family feud without being a political mouthpiece. She also brought out one of Ireland’s better victories: the survival of their bards.
I had issues with the main character’s pushiness. Not being a professional detective, I suppose this is her main tactic for gathering information. The drawback, obviously, is the attention she gets from the people who would do her harm. I realize that this is crucial to the sub-genre of the mystery-dumped-in-lap of Jane Blow. I’m sure with further reading of the series, the character will endear herself as those of Davidson, Brown, and Conant have in my heart’s brain.

[originally posted to BookCrossing, May 2003]

It is rare to find autobiographies that consistently make readers laugh out loud and marvel at the grace that the author has achieved regarding the mishaps and tragedies s/he has suffered through. Technically, Fox’s book is a memoir (I guess that means “to be continued”), and with Michael Pollan’s help, he manages to tell enough of his story without violating too much of his privacy. Fox truly gave the public a gift when he published this book.

Fox’s advocacy for more research and funding for the disease he’s fighting made me think about today’s society and its attitude toward illness and debilitation in general. For some reason, people who are fighting disease or managing pain or other physical limitations due to injury or neurological condition, become relegated to a whole other class and get subjected to prejudicial attitudes and unspoken requests to hide any outward manifestations of their ailment. It’s as if we haven’t yet evolved to a point where we aren’t punished for our weaknesses; we still “remember” what it’s like to live in fear of physical attack from predators. What’s up with that?

I’m heartened to know that someone who has been so skilled at his craft (acting) has been successful in branching out into logical directions (producing and writing) and is also devoting his energy to finding a cure for Parkinson’s.

“Try to remember that working’s no crime, just don’t let them take and waste your time.” James Taylor

[originally posted to BookCrossing, March 2004]