An insider’s guide to books.
The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television.
~Andrew Ross
Posted on July 26th, 2006
Hurray! Today is review day! Five new reviews just went up before this. And today’s big thanks goes to Drew of Now is a Long time too. He has been kind enough to blogroll me and to help spread the world about this site. So thank you Drew!
  |
Title:The Wuggie Norple Story Author: Daniel M. Pinkwater and Tomie De Paola Format: Trade Paperbound |
I read this book the first time in the second grade. I have always loved animals, but cats and dogs especially. When I was 14, I was sitting on the porch of my parent’s house in the summer. We had just had a big talk that we wouldn’t adopt any more animals for a while. My parents were and are big supporters of animal shelters. They have always gotten their cats from the pound or adopted them right off the street. Well at that time we had two rottweilers, and about eight cats, so no more pets for quite some time. As I was sitting on the porch that day, around the corner comes the biggest orange tabby cat I have ever seen. He sees me and stops, I look at him and don’t move. I would get in big trouble if I called another cat to me. My mother happens to go by the door and asks me if the cat was friendly. I call to the cat and he comes bounding up the walk towards me. I had to name him Wuggie Norple. When we took Norple to the vet, he weighted in at 22 lbs, mostly muscle. He reminded me so much of this story. This family owns this cute little kitten. One day, the dad asks if the cat looks bigger to anyone. “No,” they all say, “he is still just a kitten.” The dad doesn’t think so, so he brings home a pit bull. They are the same size as each other, but the rest of the family swears that cannot be. Wuggie Norple keeps on growing. The next night he asks he family again, “Does Wuggie Norple look bigger to any of you?” Again they all say no. So he brings home a razor-back hog. The cat and the hog are the same size. This continues until the cat is bigger than an elephant. It is a very charming story, and if you can find it, put it in your child’s library as soon as you do.
If you would like more reviews on this title, please visit the Amazon website.
  |
Title:The Eyes of the Dragon Author: Stephen King Format: Mass Market |
When I was twelve, my mom took me to a small independent bookstore for my birthday. She said that I could pick out any one book that I wanted. My mom has never really censored my brother’s nor my reading material. So I went over and picked up Eyes of the Dragon. I felt so grown up that day. I had my very own King novel. I have read that first little mass market into its grave, and had to buy a second copy. This is King’s attempt at fantasy, and I think a pretty good one. Very few authors can break out of their genre. King went for a stroll out of his then came back to horror. While this novel is written in a very classic Stephen King type of voice, it is much different from anything else he has ever written. It is the story of a kingdom, two princes, a evil magician, and murder most foul. I would suggest this to anyone who is firmly stuck in either the mystery or the science fiction genre as an introduction to King’s works. I would also recommend this as a teen’s first King, as it is much milder then any of his other works.
If you would like more reviews on this title, please visit the Amazon website.
  |
Title:If I Pay Thee Not In Gold Author: Pierce Anthony and Mercedes Lackey Format: Mass Market |
At times, I have found both authors to be a bit trying. Both have long-winded, often repeating series and very few new ideas. Yet, somehow, when both Anthony and Lackey got in the same room, magic happened. A somewhat new idea for the both of them came forth, a world where women rule and men are slaves, where women have magic and all of the power and money. From all of this comes our little heroine, Xylina, and while she is female, she is an outcast of her society. Most believed that she and her line is cursed; she believes that she has very little magical talent and will not make it past her coming of age combat. I found that the book had a much different tone then either of the writers normally have. If you are a fan of either author I would suggest owning this book. I would also suggest this novel to anyone who has read only one author or the other and would like a introduction to the other.
If you would like more reviews on this title, please visit the Amazon website.
  |
Title:A Thousand Years Over A Hot Stove Author: Laura Schenone Format: Trade Paperbound |
I found I like cookbooks with personality. A Thousand Years Over A Hot Stove read more like a novel then a cookbook. The author starts with her own life and why she wrote the book. After that, she dives into the history of cooking, going back to before America was colonized, up to and through the depression and to modern day. And through her telling of history that reads much more like an old fairy tale then a history book, she generously dollops recipes and pictures. I really like how she has found this unique topic and given it a very unique voice. I also love the fact that she put in more then just American staple recipes, something outside of apple pie and hamburgers. I found everything from Pine Nut Soup, to Frittata of Zucchini. This book also won the James Beard Foundation/Kitchenaid Book Award, and did so rightly. I would suggest this title to anyone who has a love of history, especially women’s history, and cookbooks.
If you would like more reviews on this title, please visit the Amazon website.
  |
Title:Your Management Sucks, See Details Inside Author: Mark Stevens Format: Hardbound |
I try to be as nice as possible about all books. Someone put a lot of time and energy writing the book, editors going through and making the book as clean and readable as possible, publishers spent a lot of money printing and marketing the book as possible. But as nice as I want to be, some books don’t deserve it. This is unfortunately one of them. After reading Your Management Sucks my first thought was “Something sure does suck and it’s not my management.” I felt like I was being preached at. That everything I was doing was wrong and I will be a horrible manager if I don’t “declare war on myself.” Something that Stevens did right, I think, was put in others philosophies and thoughts on business, like that of Sam Walton. His philosophy is if he can invent a better him and a better way of doing business every day, then he would be happy. Unfortunately, Stevens then twists this into “he declares war on himself every day, he is never happy with himself, and you shouldn’t be either.” I’m sorry, but I am quite happy with myself, and at the same time I do strive to be better. I can actually hold these two thoughts in my head at the same time. The author cannot seem to do this. I was so disappointed in the book. The title had so much potential. I would recommend this book only to those people who want a “whip you into shape” book.
If you would like more reviews on this title, please visit the Amazon website.