Reading Post #27
Oct. 29th, 2006 05:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
desertvixenThe Elephant in the Room by Ryan Sager was a good book. It's not so much against the Republicans as it is about analyzing the uneasy alliance between social conservatives and those with more libertarian economic views (the author's words) and why it might be coming apart. Sager is pretty witty and entertaining, and does some theorizing about Electoral College shifts in the future with population patterns shifting, especially in the West/Mountain States. ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
selenite, you might enjoy this one.
What to Eat by Marion Nestle was more interesting for the analysis on why supermarkets are set up the way they are and the issues behind food production than for the "what you should eat" factor. Basically, the "what you should eat" factor has been covered by others, and there's no shocker. She does have some interesting stuff on choosing organic, and some of the book was more use than others.
The Worst Person in the World by Keith Olbermann is a rundown of actual segments from his show. If you enjoy the show, you'll probably like it.
The Discovery of King Arthur by Geoffrey Ashe (dates from 1985) was an acquistion at the UBS, and more for completeness sake in the collection. Focuses more on a) Arthur as "dux bellorum", not King of all England and b) historical contenders. It's not too bad and doesn't step out on any fantastical limbs, but would not recommend buying it "new", as you can probably find something more up to date.
Remember the Ladies by Cheryl Harness was also picked up at the UBS, and it's a beautifully illustrated brief on American women through history. Some of the more recent choices, I was a little sketchy on, but it's a gorgeous book.
The Case Against Homework by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish was eye-opening. It's been awhile since my elementary school days, but we definitely were not doing that much homework. The book doesn't just bitch, but also offers constructive suggestions for parents to reduce the workload by working with teachers, as well as getting policies that are ill-advised changed.
Green Blades Rising by Kevin Crossley-Holland is a rather scholarly look at the Anglo-Saxons, giving a nice overview. I picked it up because it goes along with my Brit History shelf, and because it was a decent price at Ye Olde UBS. Not too bad, but not super in-depth.
Albion: The Origins of the English Imagination by Peter Ackroyd. I'm a little ashamed to admit I got this as a Christmas gift last year and am just now reading it. It's definitely a "heavy" read and not one I recommend unless you're heavily into the subject.
The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Frank Rich, about the use of PR by the Bush Admin to substitute for stuff like actual policies and ideas. It's pretty decent, but doesn't blaze any new trails, and Rich is a little pretentious on turns of phrase. Wouldn't recommend paying full price.
On the Regency front: In The Shadow of Arabella by Lois Menzel was good enough, but one of those books where the blurb and the book differ. From the blurb, I was expecting something along the lines of Rebecca, where it was more along the lines of the "distrust all women because of perfidy of first wife" trope common in the genre. However, it has some good moments which elevate above the level of cliche. A Lady of Talent by Evelyn Richardson was very entertaining, but one of the plot developments was just TOO obvious. Her characterizations are good and diverting, however, which saved the thing. The Best Laid Plans by Laurie Bishop was a good read, and a fast one, but nothing outstanding. My Lady Governess by Wilma Counts was the best of the small Regencies I read this go-round, with a couple of plot twists I did not quite expect and good characters. I would definitely recommend that one.
The Marriage Spell by Mary Jo Putney actually came to me by way of the Sci-Fi Book Club. It's a "magical" Regency. It's a good read, but honestly, it could be set in any period without any real changes. There's nothing distinctive of the Regency about it. The magic bit could have been gone into a lot more, but what they had was decently done. I wouldn't pay full HC price for this unless you really love Mary Jo Putney, but it's a good read.
DV
selenite, you might enjoy this one.What to Eat by Marion Nestle was more interesting for the analysis on why supermarkets are set up the way they are and the issues behind food production than for the "what you should eat" factor. Basically, the "what you should eat" factor has been covered by others, and there's no shocker. She does have some interesting stuff on choosing organic, and some of the book was more use than others.
The Worst Person in the World by Keith Olbermann is a rundown of actual segments from his show. If you enjoy the show, you'll probably like it.
The Discovery of King Arthur by Geoffrey Ashe (dates from 1985) was an acquistion at the UBS, and more for completeness sake in the collection. Focuses more on a) Arthur as "dux bellorum", not King of all England and b) historical contenders. It's not too bad and doesn't step out on any fantastical limbs, but would not recommend buying it "new", as you can probably find something more up to date.
Remember the Ladies by Cheryl Harness was also picked up at the UBS, and it's a beautifully illustrated brief on American women through history. Some of the more recent choices, I was a little sketchy on, but it's a gorgeous book.
The Case Against Homework by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish was eye-opening. It's been awhile since my elementary school days, but we definitely were not doing that much homework. The book doesn't just bitch, but also offers constructive suggestions for parents to reduce the workload by working with teachers, as well as getting policies that are ill-advised changed.
Green Blades Rising by Kevin Crossley-Holland is a rather scholarly look at the Anglo-Saxons, giving a nice overview. I picked it up because it goes along with my Brit History shelf, and because it was a decent price at Ye Olde UBS. Not too bad, but not super in-depth.
Albion: The Origins of the English Imagination by Peter Ackroyd. I'm a little ashamed to admit I got this as a Christmas gift last year and am just now reading it. It's definitely a "heavy" read and not one I recommend unless you're heavily into the subject.
The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Frank Rich, about the use of PR by the Bush Admin to substitute for stuff like actual policies and ideas. It's pretty decent, but doesn't blaze any new trails, and Rich is a little pretentious on turns of phrase. Wouldn't recommend paying full price.
On the Regency front: In The Shadow of Arabella by Lois Menzel was good enough, but one of those books where the blurb and the book differ. From the blurb, I was expecting something along the lines of Rebecca, where it was more along the lines of the "distrust all women because of perfidy of first wife" trope common in the genre. However, it has some good moments which elevate above the level of cliche. A Lady of Talent by Evelyn Richardson was very entertaining, but one of the plot developments was just TOO obvious. Her characterizations are good and diverting, however, which saved the thing. The Best Laid Plans by Laurie Bishop was a good read, and a fast one, but nothing outstanding. My Lady Governess by Wilma Counts was the best of the small Regencies I read this go-round, with a couple of plot twists I did not quite expect and good characters. I would definitely recommend that one.
The Marriage Spell by Mary Jo Putney actually came to me by way of the Sci-Fi Book Club. It's a "magical" Regency. It's a good read, but honestly, it could be set in any period without any real changes. There's nothing distinctive of the Regency about it. The magic bit could have been gone into a lot more, but what they had was decently done. I wouldn't pay full HC price for this unless you really love Mary Jo Putney, but it's a good read.
DV
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no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 05:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-31 02:55 am (UTC)Would you like my copy to come to Texas on a field trip?
DV
no subject
Date: 2006-10-31 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-01 02:52 am (UTC)Email me at desert_foxb5 at yahoo dot com. I have your address lurking somewhere in the PC, I think, but if you email it to me, I'll try to ship it off to you tomorrow.
DV
no subject
Date: 2006-11-25 09:00 pm (UTC)http://libertarianhawk.livejournal.com/26576.html
(figured I'd best give you think since you may not want to do skip-400 after Thanksgiving)
Thanks for the loan!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 07:27 am (UTC)I ought to pick it up again.
TK
no subject
Date: 2006-11-01 02:53 am (UTC)Finishing it was quite a fight.
One of the things I like about nursing is that it gives me an excuse to sit and read.
I'm more into actual history than the lit stuff, but some of the Anglo-Saxon stuff was interesting. Some of the quotes were also fabulous.
DV