There was a lot more hair in Joseph-Beth Booksellers on Wednesday, August 18th. Dave Mustaine of Megadeth (and formerly of Metallica) was on-hand to sign copies of his new autobiography, Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir. Lots of black t-shirts, lots of long hair, lots of guys who have probably never been in a bookstore before. Those are some of… Read more
I talked in an earlier review about looking for simple recipes for this abnormally hot summer weather – preferably recipes that did not require cooking. Well, I believe I have found just the thing and the best part — it’s absolutely free! A friend suggested I check out that Stone Soup Cookbook and what a terrific find! The cookbook is… Read more
If you wanted to completely change the face of American politics, what would you do? If you had nothing left to lose, what risks would you take? In Steve Martini’s The Rule of Nine, one character decides on a dramatic plan to change the political scene for decades to come. The Old Weatherman is dying — he has nothing left… Read more
The other day, as I was browsing my cookbook shelf, looking for something that didn’t actually require cooking, it occurred to me that I have a lot of cookbooks that deserve a review. I’m a big fan of cookbooks — I like serious, gourmet cookbooks, ethnic cookbooks, theme cookbooks — all kinds of cookbooks! Rock & Roll Diner (Menus and… Read more
Proust’s Overcoat: The True Story of One Man’s Passion for All Things Proust is an interesting little read — a case study in obsession. It is the story of a book lover, his connections to the Proust’s family, and his obsession with preserving the author’s writings and possessions. Author Lorenza Foschini does an excellent job of pulling the threads of… Read more
Good morning and Happy Tuesday! I’m still in Amsterdam and still finishing the same book (it’s been a busy week). I’m reading The World Without Us by Alan Weisman and really enjoying it — it’s about what would/will happen if/when people disappear from the planet. Things we think of as so solid and sturdy really don’t stand a chance against… Read more
Nancy over at Read Street posted a link to this nifty website: I Write Like…. So, I posted in a few paragraphs of my last review and came up with this: I write like Douglas Adams I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing! How cool is that?!? Read more
Sometimes, a book is not at all what you expected it to be. You pick up a novel for the mystery but get sucked into the romance along the way, or a piece of historical fiction turns out to be more educational than any college textbook. Of course, this can also be disappointing, as in the case of Refuge on Crescent… Read more
Hello from Amsterdam! I am working abroad for the next couple of weeks, so I am posting at the strangest times. I love this city – our corporate headquarters is here and I am lucky enough to visit once or twice a year. Today’s teaser comes from my current book, The World Without Us by Alan Weisman. You know I… Read more
Welcome to another edition of Wondrous Words Wednesday, where we share all the interesting words we’ve learned in the past week. Most of my words come from the book I just finished, The Rule of Nine by Steve Martini. Fabulous political thriller – I really enjoyed this one. But my first word is one I came across on a blog… Read more