I think it might have helped for me to know a little more about Graciela Iturbide than I did going into this...I just couldn't really make much sense I think it might have helped for me to know a little more about Graciela Iturbide than I did going into this...I just couldn't really make much sense of it, and I found Quintero's voice off-putting somehow--maybe a little too much "Dear Reader..." for my liking. I think I was just expecting something a little more straightforward and less mystical? That said, many of the actual photographs included are striking, and those did inspire me to look for more of Iturbide's work. So there's that!...more
Love, love, LOVE this one! It's gorgeous, the layout is so nice and easy to read, and the recipes all have like, three or four steps in them max. And Love, love, LOVE this one! It's gorgeous, the layout is so nice and easy to read, and the recipes all have like, three or four steps in them max. And they all sound and look delicious! This stuff is just exactly my style--simple, fruit and veggie-centric, and fast! Some are complaining that the recipes are too simple, but they're not things I would normally just come up with to make on my own, so they totally work for me. Plus, I'm lazy, so the simpler the better! It also has cocktails, which is fun, and my husband will be excited that his beloved Negroni is included (with blackberries added). I dunno, it just works for me. ...more
I'm going through a Handler/Kalman phase, so what?!?
Anyway, I did not like this one as much as I did Hurry Up and Wait. Or, actually that's not true. I'm going through a Handler/Kalman phase, so what?!?
Anyway, I did not like this one as much as I did Hurry Up and Wait. Or, actually that's not true. I did not like the writing part as much as I did in Hurry Up and Wait, but I liked Kalman's art and the photographs themselves much more.
This is a weird series. I feel like maybe I don't totally get it, but I like this strange partnership between these two and hope they keep doing more weird books together. I don't totally know what else to say....more
I really like both Maira Kalman and Daniel Handler (when he's himself and not Lemony Snicket), so I figured I'd give this art series of theirs a try. I really like both Maira Kalman and Daniel Handler (when he's himself and not Lemony Snicket), so I figured I'd give this art series of theirs a try. And maybe I should have started with the first one, since most people seem to think that one was better, but too late now. Anyway, I'm not sure I totally get what they're trying to do here exactly, but it might be because I hurried up through it when I needed to slow down and smell the roses instead of focusing on my ten things a day that I can get done.
Anyway, I do feel like Handler is sneakily good. Like, I started reading this and was just thinking, "blah, blah, stuff about time." And I didn't really think much more of it. But then I finished the book and little phrases just keep coming back to me. There's definitely something that resonates here.
So yeah, I think this is one of those books that demands a slower reread, so that all the little details can be taken in.
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Read it again. Yup! I liked this a lot more the second time. I'm bumping my rating up--booyah!...more
This book is basically a series of photographs taken from the ISS showing what our planet looks like from space.Chris Hadfield is so awesome!
Anyway...
This book is basically a series of photographs taken from the ISS showing what our planet looks like from space. I know, I know, we've all seen plenty of similar photos by this point, but that doesn't make these any less interesting! I really liked the way Hadfield sees numerous shapes, animals, lines, etc. in various landmasses, and he also points out the places where you can really see the effects of climate change, deforestation, and other environmental impacts on nature caused by humans. And the whole book showcases his sense of humor and wonder. It's a super quick read, because there really isn't much text, but the pictures are worth looking at again a time or two! ...more
I idly picked this up at some friends' house during their meet the baby party and almost immediately found myself totally sucked in and crying huge teI idly picked this up at some friends' house during their meet the baby party and almost immediately found myself totally sucked in and crying huge tears of laughter. And then I got to the Bill Murray part. I just about died. That part alone is probably worth buying the book--ha!...more
I should probably make a magical realism tag on Goodreads already, but whenever I make a new tag I feel compelled to go back and look at every book I'I should probably make a magical realism tag on Goodreads already, but whenever I make a new tag I feel compelled to go back and look at every book I've already read to see what other things fit that tag. And I've read a lot of books. So instead I'll just tag these things fantasy and realistic fiction at the same time. That works, right?
Anyway.
I feel like Andrew Smith prepared me well for this book. The fact that Glory and Ellie drink powdered, mummified bat and then get flashes of the past and the future didn't really phase me, although the future felt a little too far fetched to me (I said out loud "and here is where this book turns into The Handmaid's Tale."). I totally see where King is going with it, but yeah.
Still, I really like Glory and Ellie's dysfunctional friendship, I like that the love interest plays such a small part in the book, I like the way Glory and her Dad learn gradually to come to terms with and move on from Darla's suicide thirteen years earlier. I like how the future opens up for Glory and Ellie, even if it's not the future they might wish for. I like the idea that we're all nobody special, and we're all somebody special.
There were some off notes for me, but I still really enjoyed the characters and the main story. So. Good stuff!...more
Great photography and great writing on a very interesting subject. I especially liked the photographer's notes at the end of the book, since they offeGreat photography and great writing on a very interesting subject. I especially liked the photographer's notes at the end of the book, since they offer a little bit more of a personal perspective. ...more
Well, of course I loved this! It's partly about the original climb 60 years ago, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest Well, of course I loved this! It's partly about the original climb 60 years ago, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest for the first time, as told by team member and Hillary's best friend, George Lowe, and it's also partly about George Lowe himself, as told by numerous other climbers, such as Reinhold Messner, and the sons of Hillary and Norgay. And, of course, it's about the mountain and about climbing in general as well. Lowe's photographs are fantastic, and I loved the story he tells here of friendship and a love of the mountains. Beautifully done indeed!...more
So, I'm sadly a little more familiar with Michael Palin's work than I am with Ernest Hemingway's, despite my degree in English. I had my first encountSo, I'm sadly a little more familiar with Michael Palin's work than I am with Ernest Hemingway's, despite my degree in English. I had my first encounter with Hemingway a mere year-and-a-half or so ago (Islands in the Stream) and have since only read The Old Man and the Sea, though I enjoyed both enough that I've been meaning to get around to reading more at some point. But anyway, I like Michael Palin's travel shows and books, and that's why I originally picked this up, and not because I'm a big Hemingway fan.
Basically what Palin did for this travel show was to spend something like ten months visiting places Hemingway lived, worked, ate, drank, hunted, was injured, etc. and kind of...partly tried to picture what those places were like when Hemingway was there and partly tried to imagine what Hemingway might think of what those places have since become. It's not exactly a biography on Hemingway, but he's very much present, obviously being the reason for the adventure in the first place. I liked Palin's process of attempting to see things through Hemingway's eyes, though he states fairly early on that he doesn't think they would have gotten along well at all if they'd actually met. I suppose I feel the same way.
I had the most difficult time with the section that takes place in Spain, mostly because it seemes that pretty much all Hemingway did there was go to bullfights, which I...don't find interesting at all. But pretty much the entire rest of the book--Chicago, Paris, the Florida Keys, Cuba, Kenya, Uganda, Montana--I loved. Palin does a fantastic job of describing these places, as well as describing how they touched Hemingway and how he touched them. I even love that at least once during this journey, Palin feels a bit claustrophobic at being so surrounded by Hemingway and has to go to a part of town that Hemingway never visited for a little peace of mind.
It made me want to see many of these places for myself, and to read more of Hemingway's work and learn more about his life (and death). Though I don't know that I could describe Hemingway as likable, I certainly feel he was interesting.
Oh, and also? The photography in this book is fantastic! ...more
Really stunning photography, and the essays about Scott and Shackleton and about the importance of preserving their bases in the Antarctic are good asReally stunning photography, and the essays about Scott and Shackleton and about the importance of preserving their bases in the Antarctic are good as well. Excellent presentation. My complaints are the same as others'--a lot of the photographs don't have captions, so it's impossible for someone who isn't there seeing what Ussher was seeing to know what some objects are or what their significance might be, beautiful though the images are. There's also a lot of talk about the iconic photos of the men using the huts during the expeditions in the early 1900s, which are not included here. It would have been really interesting to see those old photos next to these for comparison. I have tons of other books at home that do include those photographs, so I can easily make comparisons myself if I so choose, but I imagine many others might have trouble with that. Still, for what it is, I think it's really beautifully done, and I can see myself coming back to this one often, especially as (sadly!!!!!!) I kind of doubt I'll ever get to visit these places in person....more
Simple, sweet non-fiction book for children about non-verbal communication, with nice photo illustrations and rhyming text. It's not something that reSimple, sweet non-fiction book for children about non-verbal communication, with nice photo illustrations and rhyming text. It's not something that really stood out to me as an adult, but I can see it being a nice, quiet book to read to very young children especially....more
Super interesting book about how different animals taste in different ways than we do, such as with tentacles, or with their skin. Great photographs tSuper interesting book about how different animals taste in different ways than we do, such as with tentacles, or with their skin. Great photographs too! Definitely a good pick for kids who are interested in animals and/or in how our senses work....more
I really liked seeing this book about what wildlife rehabilitators do; I volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation center in the Houston area in high sI really liked seeing this book about what wildlife rehabilitators do; I volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation center in the Houston area in high school, and it was the most interesting job I've ever had. This book talks about what rehabilitators try to do, and how, and why it's important. The photographs show a lot of different animals being helped in a wide variety of ways, and also show the other things that rehabilitators do, such as teach others about wildlife rescue and conservation. I think this book gives a really great overview for kids who might be interested in working with animals some day....more
Ummmmm...how could I think this is anything other than adorable (especially because ZooBorns is one of my favorite things in all the internet)??? It'sUmmmmm...how could I think this is anything other than adorable (especially because ZooBorns is one of my favorite things in all the internet)??? It's a pretty simple, quiet book, that will be really good for bedtime, I think. And there are a couple of animals included that kids might not know, which could be good or bad, depending on your perspective. Anyway, I dare you to read it and not say, "awwwwwww!" at least eight or nine times!...more
Omg, so super cute! I really like penguins, and this book is fantastic--info on all the different types of penguins, what they eat, where they live, hOmg, so super cute! I really like penguins, and this book is fantastic--info on all the different types of penguins, what they eat, where they live, how to tell them apart from species that look similar, which ones are threatened and why... Also, excellent photographs, and a neat interview with the author at the end. Really well done. ...more
When I saw this at the library, I couldn't resist, naturally--I'm a little bit of a sucker when it comes to Arctic/Antarctic survival tales, and this When I saw this at the library, I couldn't resist, naturally--I'm a little bit of a sucker when it comes to Arctic/Antarctic survival tales, and this is a great one. Sandler did an excellent job of setting up the story and making the people involved really stand out as individuals, and the photographs are a fantastic addition. Definitely recommended for teens and adults interested in survival/adventure stories....more
I really like the idea of this one--encouraging kids to go out and really see the world around them. The photographs are really beautiful as well, andI really like the idea of this one--encouraging kids to go out and really see the world around them. The photographs are really beautiful as well, and I love the variety of insects shown and that they're all identified at the end of the book. My one complaint (other than that I'm not big on poetry) is that the font bothered me a little for some reason--it felt kind of out-of-date to me, I think. But other than that, this is a really nice book all around, and perfect for kids with an interest in insects or nature in general....more
I'm a little unsure what to think about this book; it wasn't quite what I was expecting or hoping for, I guess. I love reading about the expeditions tI'm a little unsure what to think about this book; it wasn't quite what I was expecting or hoping for, I guess. I love reading about the expeditions that took place in Antarctica in the early 1900s, and have read quite a bit about them in the past, which is what the writing in this book mostly consists of. But what I was really wanting was more about the mountains themselves--more geology! The photographs are wonderful, and there are lots of interesting maps, but I found all the diagrams of which expeditions went where unimpressive--somewhat poorly done and not terribly clear or helpful. And I thought the structure of the book was really strange. Each chapter focuses on a different region of the Transantarctics, which makes sense in a way, but leads to a lot of repetition and confusion what with all the going back and forth in time as you move from one section to the next. In addition, each section has a short essay about the author's personal experiences there, which are interesting, but appear right in the middle of the main text and have a completely different tone. I mostly just found them distracting. I can understand what Stump was trying to do here, but I'm just not convinced that he really succeeded. ...more
Really enjoyable--the text is basically a brief history of ancient Egypt, and the photographs are excellent. I have really got to visit all this stuffReally enjoyable--the text is basically a brief history of ancient Egypt, and the photographs are excellent. I have really got to visit all this stuff some day!...more
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