Ever wonder where the phrase “getting laid” comes from? The answer might surprise you. Check the comments after this review for the answer. Sin in the Second City is the story of the Everleigh Sisters, who ran the most notorious brothel in Chicago in the 1890’s/early 1900’s. This was at a time when brothels were not exactly illegal: prostitution and… Read more
The Watercooler Effect is a very timely piece of work. It is, after all, election season. My inbox has been overflowing with forwarded bits of political “information,” most of it nonsense. I’d always believed this was primarily designed to sway my vote one way or another, but it turns out there may be other forces at work. I was most… Read more
This book starts with a fun premise: Emmett James’ life has revolved around the movies, so he tells his stories in the context of the movies. From his first family outings to the cinema for Jungle Book to his appearance in a soft-core porn film, he manages to tie his significant life experiences to the movies. (Not surprising for an… Read more
I want to buy Pagan Kennedy a beer and maybe a pizza; you just know that she’s got fabulous stories to tell. She covers quite a range of subjects in The Dangerous Joy of Dr. Sex and Other True Stories. Most of these people aren’t famous, most of them are a little nuts, all of them are fascinating in their… Read more
I read this book on a flight between Cleveland and Minneapolis, where I frequently travel on business. I had finished my previous book while waiting to board and opened this one while waiting to taxi – since the first scene takes place on an airplane, it seemed a good omen. Ruth Reichl spent 6 years as the restaurant critic for… Read more