At any given time, I am probably reading one book in paper form, another as an audio book, and another on an e-reader. I also keep an anthology or collection in my car, for those long waits. My average rating is between 3 and 4, because I try to seek out good books and authors. One goal is to read all the SF award winners and SF Masterworks. See my profile at Worlds Without End.
Finally, the "social media" info - I am a long-time reader, proud to have completed several summer reading programs as a kid. I recall reading more than 50 books one summer. When I'm not reading, you might find me gaming (board and role play) or working, either as a baseball umpire or with software.
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Presents puzzling or ambiguous baseball questions derived from real events, such as "Can two pitchers …
Up a star for the author's name. There are better Baseball Rules Puzzle type books out there.
A good math and science story. It's a real pity that computers don't work the way they are described in here - I firmly believe that more insight = better science. This book wasn't Sci-Fi but was definitely Science Fiction.
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never …
Awesomesauce.
The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms is a philosophy book by Nassim Nicholas …
How to rate a book with no narrative? Will likely come back to this occasionally, so I "liked it". Only some of the aphorisms are solidly vivid, and I think I'd have been better off reading "fooled by randomness". Oh well, consider this a second recommendation for "The Black Swan".
The Annotated Hobbit: The Hobbit, or There and Back Again is an edition of J. …
Read aloud; chose the annotated version for the variety of pictures and (for me anyways) the added info in the footnotes. Probably my 5th reading of this book. What can one say that hasn't been said? This is a classic in every sense of the word. Regarding the upcoming movie, I can't wait to see who plays Beorn.
Many many short stories here, some twists and some insights. Seems almost more freeform poetry than fiction. Couldn't get into it.
An old man lies dying. As time collapses into memory, he travels deep into his …
One old guy dying thinks of not only his life but that of his father, also dead. We the reader get to see more of both their lives than they share with each other. That's it for the story - oh, it's buttered up with quotes from a fictional clock repair manual, but the metaphor of a "life running down" doesn't fit either of the men, and feels very forced.
With a little more focus, this could have been a very good book about dying and clocks winding down, or a very good book about the similarities of father and son - but instead we get a mish-mash. The Pulitzer guys liked it, but I didn't.
I'll start with what I liked - the history, and the speculation that modern wheat might cause some of the medical problems because of its genetic design. Unfortunately, the author left his point after the first chapter to write a diet book, and not a very good one. Little science, an overabundance of anecdote, and a preachy conclusion. Wheat is not tobacco, but even there the analogy this author strives for breaks down. In moderation, few things will actually kill you - unless you have an allergy or sensitivity. No science to say just how many people have a wheat or gluten allergy in this book, unfortunately - just a lot of hyperbole about how many more people are affected than show symptoms.
I for one would like to see more science about wheat gluten, whether genetically there is a difference in modern strains, and the effects of reduction of …
I'll start with what I liked - the history, and the speculation that modern wheat might cause some of the medical problems because of its genetic design. Unfortunately, the author left his point after the first chapter to write a diet book, and not a very good one. Little science, an overabundance of anecdote, and a preachy conclusion. Wheat is not tobacco, but even there the analogy this author strives for breaks down. In moderation, few things will actually kill you - unless you have an allergy or sensitivity. No science to say just how many people have a wheat or gluten allergy in this book, unfortunately - just a lot of hyperbole about how many more people are affected than show symptoms.
I for one would like to see more science about wheat gluten, whether genetically there is a difference in modern strains, and the effects of reduction of wheat - not the elimination this author constantly preaches.
A collection of four stories, better on average than the first four, including one cleverly done story. The first story finishes up the cliff hanger from the first collection. Having read the first 8 stories from the S.C.E., I have to say they are pretty enjoyable.
Farmer In The Sky is a 1950 science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. …
Started listening to it, then after the bad recording I finished it on the Nook. Nice descriptions of basic farming; wish we were closer to settling another body in space :(
Reamde is a speculative fiction novel by Neal Stephenson, published in 2011. The story, set …
Elements of cyberpunk, but set in the modern day, this big story has a lot of characters and plots to go with - even if the bow at the end is a little too neat. I enjoyed this book, and Stephenson as an author.
A nice light read, I really enjoyed the variety of topics that Ken traipsed through. After first reading about Paper Towns in a John Greene novel, I was hoping they would get a mention here too, but alas. Everything else seemed to make the cut, however. Well done, fellow Washingtonian!
Four tales, one incorporated in Lord of the Rings. I was in just the right mood for Leaf by Niggle. A fifth tale "Roverandom" is apparently associated with this also, to judge from the reviews. Will have to track that one down.
A collection of four stories, not all superb. Ends on a cliffhanger, so I have to move on to the fifth story (in the second collection) quite soon.
Maria's family are poor Honduran farmers, growing barely enough to eat. Then a new teacher …
First book of the new year, and highly recommended to those with families with kids. Simple ideas and compelling drawings are put forth in a good way, and the last pages detail the truth behind the story and also contain a small translation guide for those whose spanish is muy pequeño.
