I've checked this out of the library a couple of years now, because I like Christmas books and this is a cool one. And the recipes I've made from hereI've checked this out of the library a couple of years now, because I like Christmas books and this is a cool one. And the recipes I've made from here have been very good. ...more
Upped this from four to five stars, can't think why I didn't give it five to begin with, it's wonderful to know there are people as peculiar as you. Upped this from four to five stars, can't think why I didn't give it five to begin with, it's wonderful to know there are people as peculiar as you. ...more
The title is misleading, and sort of silly. This is a short bio of a number of paintings, of varying levels of fame. I enjoyed it, although I knew a lThe title is misleading, and sort of silly. This is a short bio of a number of paintings, of varying levels of fame. I enjoyed it, although I knew a lot of the information already, I still learned quite a bit. ...more
This is an interesting way to read about someone, through objects they owned. The Brontes themselves are not "stuck to", talking about their letters, This is an interesting way to read about someone, through objects they owned. The Brontes themselves are not "stuck to", talking about their letters, for example, will segue off onto a description of the postal service at the time. I was amazed at the amount of research that must have gone into it. Very detailed. If the particular subject was not of particular interest to me I did start to bog down a bit, but then turned the page and got interested all over again. This is not a book for everyone, but if it is your cup of tea, then you will love it. ...more
Roz Chast is a very clever and funny cartoonist, but this book is not as funny as it is terribly sad, a chronicle of the last few years and deaths of Roz Chast is a very clever and funny cartoonist, but this book is not as funny as it is terribly sad, a chronicle of the last few years and deaths of her parents, both of whom lived well into their 90s. I most heartily disagree with the reviewers who thought she was "getting even" with them, I didn't feel that for a second. This book was clearly her way of dealing with the trauma of the whole experience, and it rang very true. To the point that it was difficult to read, but I never considered not finishing it. It felt to me like something she HAD to write, and I could almost feel her relief when it was said and done. (and if you don't laugh out loud at "The Wheel of Doom" there is nothing to be done for you)...more
an amusing little book, by the @SoVeryBritish person on Twitter. On the little quiz to root out Americans I scored 100% British, so I guess blood truman amusing little book, by the @SoVeryBritish person on Twitter. On the little quiz to root out Americans I scored 100% British, so I guess blood trumps nationality in my case....more
This was interesting, certainly. Food for thought, undoubtedly, but the author does not "prove" anything, there are just as many holes in his theory oThis was interesting, certainly. Food for thought, undoubtedly, but the author does not "prove" anything, there are just as many holes in his theory of Jason Simpson as the killer as there are in the case against OJ. If Dear had addressed these problems, it would have made a more compelling work, rather than continually patting himself on the back for being so much smarter then everyone else. If the LAPD focused solely on OJ as the killer and ignored all evidence to the contrary, he does the same with Jason. And he contradicts himself in spots...Example: the first three quarters of the book makes a huge deal of the fact that Jason was running around town that night with his roll of incredibly sharp chef's knives..any of which could be the murder weapon. Then years later Dear acquires the contents of Jason's abandoned storage locker, and claims that a hunting-type knife found there is the murder weapon and has an "expert" demonstrate that no chef's knife could have been. Well, then, go back and remove all the parts where you harp about the chef's knives. He insinuates that Jason routinely took shoes, etc out of OJ's closet and he could have been wearing OJ's Bruno Magli shoes, then says an unidentified footprint at the scene must have been Jason's. He tells you about OJ coming to check on the crime scene wearing the knit hat and the gloves as a disguise, then announces that the knit hat was Jason's. Then go back and take out the part about it being OJ's hat!! Entertaining enough book, but it made me shout at it sometimes. (And for the record, those were OJ'S GLOVES, purchased at Bloomindale's in NYC for him by Nicole. They didn't fit well at the trial because he had LATEX GLOVES UNDERNEATH, did NO ONE BUT ME TEST THAT OUT? Leather gloves will not go on your hand over latex gloves.)...more
I confess to some skimming here, but mainly because I read a dual biography of the Duke and Duchess not that long ago and so much of this was not new I confess to some skimming here, but mainly because I read a dual biography of the Duke and Duchess not that long ago and so much of this was not new information. But I did frequently slow down and absorb some tidbit or other. If this was your first exposure to the subject it is a good enough place to start if you find this sort of thing interesting.
PS: I don't think this is the biggest cover-up in history, that's going a bit far....more
Most fascinating book about life in Victorian England. We start out by getting out of bed and end going back to bed, branching out along the way to coMost fascinating book about life in Victorian England. We start out by getting out of bed and end going back to bed, branching out along the way to cover all walks of life. A lot of it is very sad, and of course each reader will find some subjects more interesting than others but the detail in the research is phenomenal....more
I thought this was going to be strictly humorous, and although it was, it was also very wise and true. In fact, it sounded a lot like me preaching to I thought this was going to be strictly humorous, and although it was, it was also very wise and true. In fact, it sounded a lot like me preaching to my overachieving mother. (There are seven billion people in world who are NOT WORRIED about whether or not you swept the front walk today!) I liked this book.
Update 10/2020 Found and reread this while dusting. Remembered that no one REALLY cares if I dusted or not....more
I saw this exhibit last year at LACMA and it was wonderful. This has nice reproductions of the works and more but the text was written by a curator, I saw this exhibit last year at LACMA and it was wonderful. This has nice reproductions of the works and more but the text was written by a curator, and it was not geared to, well, me. I actually read some sentences aloud to see if that helped them to make sense, but no. Beautiful book, though. So although I am marking this as "read", it is more accurate to say TRIED to read, but looked at ALL the pictures....more
Not really so "shocking" account of the School of Paris artists in the first half of the 20th century. The focus mostly on Chaim Soutine and Marc ChagNot really so "shocking" account of the School of Paris artists in the first half of the 20th century. The focus mostly on Chaim Soutine and Marc Chagall. It's quite short, I guess I felt more like I had read a long magazine article than a book. I can't quite put my finger on what seemed sort of scattershot about this..maybe the focus turned away from the artists to world events a little too often?...more
The author puts forth the theory that the deaths of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and his mistress Marie Vetsera were not a suicide pact, or The author puts forth the theory that the deaths of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and his mistress Marie Vetsera were not a suicide pact, or murder-suicide, but in fact a political assassination at the hands of minions of Otto von Bismark. I always take "new theories" with a grain of salt if I'm not super knowledgeable on a subject, as information is often cherry picked to fit the theory in question, but here he makes a good case. Especially since the official story doesn't make much sense. Fascinating to think how much truth there is out there that we will never know. ...more
Text was a little...what's the word...dull, but it is a beautiful book with excellent reproductions. Text was a little...what's the word...dull, but it is a beautiful book with excellent reproductions. ...more
Like their history of the world, this is more a series of anecdotes than a straight history text. Very easy to read and often funny. If you have limitLike their history of the world, this is more a series of anecdotes than a straight history text. Very easy to read and often funny. If you have limited knowledge this is a good basic overview, and for someone with a fair amount of prior knowledge it is a great review, plus many interesting tidbits that I for one didn't know. Many sections start with the word "LIE:", de-bunking common myths we were fed in textbooks...always fascinating to know how much gets whitewashed and sanitized for general consumption, especially for the kiddies. ...more
I first read this probably in high school, it's out of print now, but, just like this author's book about the Civil War, it's a short, somewhat irreveI first read this probably in high school, it's out of print now, but, just like this author's book about the Civil War, it's a short, somewhat irreverent and sometimes humorous overview of the Revolutionary War and it's main personalities. I liked it then, I liked it now. ...more
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