tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79770701488453238202024-03-14T07:11:14.404-07:00Tonight's ReadingAbout books, mostly.Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-2716849730458802882014-04-21T15:36:00.001-07:002014-04-21T15:36:30.724-07:00Review: The Signal and the Noise<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4j67Sn3F3gXV8z6f7r7BUQDAXK5NT73ocy-wUq4zC4Qkq0nfcHYqSSLq-0FgoaGNyIVRrklClMRH7UKij24uPo_JECbMhH60q2_JR3A1fEs9rW-ynh7nh1x5aurcK8vNQD8kzq0cc25z9/s1600/signal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4j67Sn3F3gXV8z6f7r7BUQDAXK5NT73ocy-wUq4zC4Qkq0nfcHYqSSLq-0FgoaGNyIVRrklClMRH7UKij24uPo_JECbMhH60q2_JR3A1fEs9rW-ynh7nh1x5aurcK8vNQD8kzq0cc25z9/s1600/signal.jpg" /></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail—But Some Don’t </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by
Nate Silver. <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/contributors/nate-silver/">Silver</a> is the prediction phenom who successfully called every
state in the last presidential election. This book discusses the prediction of
many types of events: sports, politics, weather, the stock market, earthquakes,
and even terrorist attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Silver’s popular blogging style serves him well
here; even in an extended discussion of over 400 pages, I wasn’t bored, and the
math was explained well enough that I—or a typical lay reader—could understand
it. As Silver explains, the secret to better (not necessarily successful)
prediction lies in examining what is known about the event we want to predict
and discerning from all the available data which are the patterns that can help
with prediction, and which are just noise. Although I’m normally into the
humanities, I do enjoy books like this once in a while; if you liked (or might
like) <i>Freakonomics, </i>you’d probably
like this book. 3.5/5*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-66976370758330406842014-04-14T17:29:00.000-07:002014-04-14T17:29:40.351-07:00Review: Dear Mr. Knightley<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPeAf83rxcGEJ5fJgbg-lvqWS-8jwIEfR6uSjigUwGnumo0LNypWPjnpvVGOveqjR4nZnD9uyL84iBQmib1gmO8CFoXjDfoklIhG3JeY0JhOCwBqwhe7sOlhm3tznUZq45UpfqmqXbA1I/s1600/dear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPeAf83rxcGEJ5fJgbg-lvqWS-8jwIEfR6uSjigUwGnumo0LNypWPjnpvVGOveqjR4nZnD9uyL84iBQmib1gmO8CFoXjDfoklIhG3JeY0JhOCwBqwhe7sOlhm3tznUZq45UpfqmqXbA1I/s1600/dear.jpg" /></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear
Mr. Knightley </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by <a href="http://www.katherinereay.com/">Katherine Reay</a>. Sam has had a rough
life with parents who nearly killed her, a series of foster homes, and a group
home in place of family. A charitable foundation offers to pay her way to
graduate school; the only stipulation is that she write to her benefactor under
the alias of Mr. Knightley. The letters narrate Sam’s attempts to overcome her
bad start and emerge from behind the classic books she quotes whenever she finds
herself in over her head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This was probably my favorite book that I’ve read so
far this year. It’s very light, but it was a massively fun read (I read it in a
day), and the characters, especially Sam, are drawn sympathetically and
realistically. It turns out to be Christian fiction as well, and the faith part
of the book is written about as well as any I’ve read in a long time:
light-handed and understated. Watching Sam fight through to find her voice, her
confidence, and her family really made my day. 5/5*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-62955223994818212512014-04-13T05:47:00.000-07:002014-04-13T05:47:54.849-07:00Meeting the Dragon Pt.2<div class="MsoNormal">
A few years ago, I posted about <a href="http://tonightsreading.blogspot.com/search?q=facing+the+dragon">Meeting the Dragon</a>, where I
was coming up to a situation that I didn’t want to confront. My primary emotion
then was fear, and even fear of my fear. (Because really, who likes to be
afraid?) So here we are, three years later, and I’m facing a really similar
situation. This time, though, I’m not afraid. I’m not dreading it. And I’m
wondering, what’s the difference? Have I changed so much in three years?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Admittedly, the situation is a bit different. Here are some
ways it’s not the same:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<ul>
<li>Last time, I was still upset. I felt a personal betrayal
that went beyond other circumstances. I’d advise not meeting the dragon until
your own emotions have calmed down.</li>
<li>Last time, the situation didn’t evolve, it exploded. This
time, I’ve seen warning signs for months, and I’ve done my best to influence
events in the right direction. I don’t feel like there’s anything left on my
part that hasn’t been tried.</li>
<li>Finally, I’ve learned that sometimes I have to be the one to
make the tough decisions, and I have to be able to live with them. So I’d
better be pretty sure of what I’m doing going in. If I have questions about the
wisdom of what I’m contemplating, I’d better think about it until those
questions have been resolved.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m the kind of person who likes to put things behind me. If
there’s something unpleasant coming up, I’d just as soon deal with it and rip
the bandage off quickly. But sometimes, the bandage isn’t ready to come off,
and tearing it off too soon just makes the healing take longer. I’m still
working on how to figure out what’s going on under there while the bandage is
still on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-43272928414172938202014-04-12T16:38:00.001-07:002014-04-12T16:38:17.765-07:00Review: Case Histories<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz0B9KKxV0z8a8ZmHPpfJWX8XYAxkMY1ra_Cx0fHHESlFUoZ3RxyBPZ-_bVWIVMRFobs7XbhH6hE72_7Lb4ZiRcKd7an1J02eRQ4SRD5EEd4EktOJxh14gc8JcMxT6Y5mpFq3wCQbiM7E/s1600/case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz0B9KKxV0z8a8ZmHPpfJWX8XYAxkMY1ra_Cx0fHHESlFUoZ3RxyBPZ-_bVWIVMRFobs7XbhH6hE72_7Lb4ZiRcKd7an1J02eRQ4SRD5EEd4EktOJxh14gc8JcMxT6Y5mpFq3wCQbiM7E/s1600/case.jpg" /></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Case
Histories </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by <a href="http://www.kateatkinson.co.uk/">Kate Atkinson</a>. British detective Jackson Brodie
is working on three old cases: the disappearance of a toddler; the slasher
murder of a young woman, and the location of a teenage runaway. This book moves
between Brodie’s detective work and retelling some of the stories of what
happened all those years ago</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is actually the second time I’ve read this
book; it was chosen for our book group, so I reread it. All of the cases
examine family relationships: parent to child, sibling to sibling. Brodie’s
life comes in for some examination too as he struggles to redefine his life as
a father after his wife leaves him for another man. These cases are
interesting, and Atkinson weaves them together intriguingly, but I was a little
unconvinced that all three cases could be so neatly solved after stumping the
police for decades, and all within only a couple of hundred pages. The book is
a mystery, yet it’s more than your average genre mystery, and people who aren’t
big mystery buffs might still find it a worthwhile read. 3.5/5*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">p.s. This detective series was made into a <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/casehistories/">TV show</a> a few years ago. </span></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-69953394327792340952014-04-10T16:02:00.000-07:002014-04-10T16:02:48.245-07:00Review: Vienna Nocturne<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdHYbcnzXN31m18JIv1co4nvUd_Q0pWqZ6IfJfLgxGTNhfGxMe51nDOfVpxSGkc5wqDj_ETuXvemMVUePiQ-fzcxv9iY9dOAQNSrpXPke6Z8htdRHjLinSAcTH-ivWfkzVUkAVJjTfJmh/s1600/vienna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdHYbcnzXN31m18JIv1co4nvUd_Q0pWqZ6IfJfLgxGTNhfGxMe51nDOfVpxSGkc5wqDj_ETuXvemMVUePiQ-fzcxv9iY9dOAQNSrpXPke6Z8htdRHjLinSAcTH-ivWfkzVUkAVJjTfJmh/s1600/vienna.jpg" /></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vienna
Nocturne </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by <a href="http://vivienshotwell.com/">Vivien Shotwell</a>. <a href="http://www.historyandwomen.com/2014/03/nancy-anna-storace-1765-1817.html">Anna Storace</a> is a talented young
English singer, classically trained by an Italian castrato. When she began her
career, she quickly rocketed to fame as a beautiful young Englishwoman in
Italy; while she was prepared musically, emotionally she wasn’t ready to move
into the sophisticated and fickle world of professional musicians. After a
disastrous love affair, she moves to Vienna and meets Mozart, already a married
father. The attraction between the two is strengthened by their professional
relationship, and they soon begin an affair. Shotwell follows historical accounts
where they are available, so she is constrained by those outlines; an affair
between the two was speculated but never proven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I had looked forward to reading this book, but it
fell short for me. The dialogue always seemed unnatural, people seemed to take
actions without adequate motivation, and many characters didn’t seem real. I
realize that it’s tough to work within the limits of actual historical events,
but in this case, it was the writing style more than the historical situation
that I wasn’t taken with. 2.5/5* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-43003856499848720932014-04-09T17:07:00.000-07:002014-04-09T17:07:05.469-07:00Review: Still Life with Murder<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqyV3YGc4cFAS7IZ8W3iHCSo4pU9SW0y8ifbu7k9fSPwnCPitD2mZHBU80zhXGIQ2hTqEMqqtawObTJhh5_rhHGEnPtmYq47falxPuTBssZYdfx6wZCixzqIAkxRLBx0fstZj5vsXGhid/s1600/still.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqyV3YGc4cFAS7IZ8W3iHCSo4pU9SW0y8ifbu7k9fSPwnCPitD2mZHBU80zhXGIQ2hTqEMqqtawObTJhh5_rhHGEnPtmYq47falxPuTBssZYdfx6wZCixzqIAkxRLBx0fstZj5vsXGhid/s1600/still.jpg" /></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Still
Life with Murder </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by <a href="http://www.pb-ryan.com/">P.B. Ryan</a>. Nell Sweeney takes a job
as governess to baby Grace. Although Grace was born to a servant, the servant’s
employer adopts the baby and asks Nell to come along as her governess. In
Boston, her employer discovers that her son, who she thought was dead, has been
arrested for murder. Since her husband refuses to defend their son, Regina
Hewitt asks Nell to secretly investigate. The man Nell finds in prison is a
Civil War doctor ruined by opium. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This book fed into my fondness for historical
mysteries. Nell is an interesting character, observant, artistic, and trained
in medicine, but her past is shadowy, and her origins lower class. As her
relationship with Will Hewitt grows more complex, Nell comes to believe that he
couldn’t have been the murderer. This book, which I downloaded free from
kindle, is the first in a series, and I’ll definitely be seeking out the next
in the series. 4/5*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-88563600114418089782014-04-07T16:24:00.002-07:002014-04-07T16:24:36.546-07:00Review: The Forgotten Affairs of Youth<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><i>The Forgotten Affairs of Youth</i> by
<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/mccallsmith/main.php">Alexander McCall Smith</a>. Isabel Dalhousie
is thriving with her little <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKd_uDlZjRQAl-z3xzEebXIU4DZC8ATtMd6d6mmL9JWQ4Yac40G9qhhK0gESjivTnYfSGL7YMIimWFloVk3OQzYXGbVvxxoCUsd7-1NL0hdZl3oEPcNY1Q_VNWjuF_QTkkWsLnjTWDrOy/s1600/forgotten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKd_uDlZjRQAl-z3xzEebXIU4DZC8ATtMd6d6mmL9JWQ4Yac40G9qhhK0gESjivTnYfSGL7YMIimWFloVk3OQzYXGbVvxxoCUsd7-1NL0hdZl3oEPcNY1Q_VNWjuF_QTkkWsLnjTWDrOy/s1600/forgotten.jpg" /></a></div>
family: her toddler Charlie, her fiancé Jamie, and
even her housekeeper Grace. She meets a visiting philosopher who enlists her
help in finding her birthparents. Meanwhile, the dastardly professor Lettuce
appears to have sicced his budding scholar nephew on Isabel. </span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">As usual, this
series is less a mystery than an occasion for Isabel and her circle to
ruminate, meditate, and sometimes even act on moral questions, some of which
are trickier than others. Isabel’s ethics are always based on her knowledge of
human nature gained from her thoughtful interactions with her family and
friends. Even with her acute sensitivity to appropriate behavior, Isabel isn’t
beyond making mistakes herself sometimes, and needing to deal with the
consequences of those errors. The day I give one of his books any less than 5*
will be a sad day indeed. 5/5* <o:p></o:p></span></h1>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-83250317085758897102014-04-06T16:01:00.000-07:002014-04-06T16:01:24.229-07:00Review: What Angels Fear<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">What Angels
Fear </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">by
C.S. Harris (<a href="http://www.csharris.net/sebastian.php">A Sebastian St. Cyr</a> mystery). A while back I read a book that was
in the <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e-a9OFgIU9JlbI2jDBmD6fBE29RXp5nGAB_oVcvPqB_9RIr2IrDwT-10-Icosbwxg2px1tazgPhnDaDIGYiQcYPb0ZZqHfkZ3vT6I3NRotAf8cawlWL5hq3qwmfWfbsSD6qKrTxevo6q/s1600/what.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e-a9OFgIU9JlbI2jDBmD6fBE29RXp5nGAB_oVcvPqB_9RIr2IrDwT-10-Icosbwxg2px1tazgPhnDaDIGYiQcYPb0ZZqHfkZ3vT6I3NRotAf8cawlWL5hq3qwmfWfbsSD6qKrTxevo6q/s1600/what.jpg" /></a></div>
middle of this series, and I liked it well enough to want to read the
rest of the books in the series. So this is the first book in the series (I’m
actually planning to read from two ends—read on from the spot I started, and
read in order from the beginning). In this book, an actress is horrifically
murdered in a church, and the weapon at the scene implicates Sebastian St. Cyr.
An accident when the police are arresting Sebastian implicates him even further
and sends him into hiding. Staying out of the hands of the police and
investigating the murder to find the real culprit keep Sebastian busy. </span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">I enjoyed
this book a good deal, perhaps even more than the previous title I had read in
the series, which I found a little far-fetched. Series regulars were introduced
here, as were Sebastian’s near-supernatural senses. Harris excels at character
development and historical detail, two of my real soft spots when reading
historical mystery. The only drawback to this book was the graphic nature of
the crime. 4/5*<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-56682493179295491092014-03-30T17:18:00.000-07:002014-03-30T17:18:18.335-07:00Review: A Fine Balance<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUNBKtkBX5FEKz6aL40-dWe0GFIoT5vHWskz9EgBPUy8iDX-T2B4tDZkaOIiN6nJWmPaikTSyLj9mB0YZizlr3HDSUjzShjy80qfqlYrx6NC72ndVJSVlP8epIcRJDGjAk-oBxngNvmiY/s1600/fine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUNBKtkBX5FEKz6aL40-dWe0GFIoT5vHWskz9EgBPUy8iDX-T2B4tDZkaOIiN6nJWmPaikTSyLj9mB0YZizlr3HDSUjzShjy80qfqlYrx6NC72ndVJSVlP8epIcRJDGjAk-oBxngNvmiY/s1600/fine.jpg" /></a></div>
</span></i></h1>
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<i>A Fine Balance </i>by
<a href="http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/profile.cfm?article_id=2369">Rohinton Mistry</a>. This novel of epic scope is set in India and covers the entire
lives of the three main protagonists. Dina somehow manages to find love, but
after her husband’s early demise, she can’t bear to stay with her brother and
his family, so she tries to make it on her own by starting a tailoring
business. Elsewhere, a low caste family of tanners tries to better their lot by
traveling to the city to learn tailoring. When Dina needs tailors, she finds
these two, an uncle and nephew. With these three at the center of the tale and
many vivid secondary characters, Mistry draws a picture of what it’s like to
live in India. Unfortunately, it’s heartbreaking to live in India, for nearly
everyone concerned. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was a huge doorstop of a book, and I had a tough time
getting into it. Then, for most of the middle section, I was pretty interested.
Then at the end of the book, my heart was broken, broken. Maybe this is because
my dad was born in India and I’ve always wanted to go there, and he loved it so
much that I want to love it, but this story made me hate it. This book was well
written, and probably a work of genius, but I give these stars based on my
experience while I’m reading the book (like, the book and me, not just the
book). And sometimes I still love a book that breaks my heart, but this time,
not. 3/5*<o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-47099357161241246612014-03-29T16:06:00.001-07:002014-03-29T16:06:15.805-07:00Review: The Divorce Papers<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Divorce Papers by <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/03/18/289059505/all-sides-of-a-divorce-told-in-fresh-lively-papers">Susan Rieger</a>. Rieger is a lawyer, and this book draws heavily on her experience. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfkz0XYOwLnryemCMmWmZFGfLCBQfXbiE4hexrJ9MKOmUBjfpexC17tpJ7ccbE44PleBGzXpPSprN_dsuGHHc3Q20-2yDIDJDrk6oG8HjP3qnRh4-Pol-cspikzoMV2oAeuPiKYsSqffZ/s1600/divorce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfkz0XYOwLnryemCMmWmZFGfLCBQfXbiE4hexrJ9MKOmUBjfpexC17tpJ7ccbE44PleBGzXpPSprN_dsuGHHc3Q20-2yDIDJDrk6oG8HjP3qnRh4-Pol-cspikzoMV2oAeuPiKYsSqffZ/s1600/divorce.jpg" /></a></div>
Sophie is a young criminal lawyer who is roped against her will into representing Mia Meiklejohn Durkheim (yes, as rich as she sounds) in an ugly divorce. One of those epistolary novels that you don’t see as much any more, this book is made up only of documents: letters, emails, memos, and legal documents, primarily. Through these documents, the reader follows the divorce from its inception through its resolution, and we also learn about Sophie’s life and relationships and her own parents’ nasty divorce. </span></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I was interested in this book, but not enthralled. Men didn’t come off very well, and there were a few too many actual legal documents (I don’t mind reading memos, but I’m not crazy about reading laws and numbers, especially the fabulously inflated incomes of nasty people). It’s one of those books that entertained me for a few days, but I wouldn’t rush out and buy it. 3/5* </span></span></h1>
<div>
<br /></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-65163125034102462112014-03-27T16:54:00.001-07:002014-03-27T16:54:19.844-07:00Review: Cider House Rules<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgrHE2uQRAwiKgzuGKLLuCSMOHonvHP2MlR1Q2bJ9DZxQnmmmdy_ZSbZOwKTLWuIrWjw7kxBJXO7eXCqk6rBc3TVqJZe3Qx8kwmDFMV8VeUqW92IsAoGD8KAOawNN_058AyThx4M1xvFY/s1600/cider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgrHE2uQRAwiKgzuGKLLuCSMOHonvHP2MlR1Q2bJ9DZxQnmmmdy_ZSbZOwKTLWuIrWjw7kxBJXO7eXCqk6rBc3TVqJZe3Qx8kwmDFMV8VeUqW92IsAoGD8KAOawNN_058AyThx4M1xvFY/s1600/cider.jpg" /></a></div>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;">
<i>Cider House
Rules </i>by<a href="http://john-irving.com/"> John Irving</a>. Homer Wells lives in the
orphanage run by Dr. Wilbur Larch who delivers and cares for unwanted babies,
and aborts other unwanted babies. As he grows, he becomes a leader of the other
kids at the orphanage, and Dr. Larch even trains him in obstetrical procedures.
Though several adoption attempts don’t work out, Homer finally escapes the
orphanage with Candy and Wally, who come in for an abortion and leave with
Homer to help them with their apple orchard. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like most other Irving books, this one is the story of a
young man coming of age. You should know that I’m a big fan of Irving. The way
he tells stories, I could keep turning pages forever. So for me, this review is
just a comparison of this book with Irving’s other books, because it goes without
saying that I’ll like it. Unlike many of his other books, this one seems to be
less “his” story. It’s historical (pre-WWII), and it has a major issue to hype
(i.e. abortion). While <i>A Prayer for Owen
Meany </i>is still my favorite Irving book, and probably always will be, this
one is high on the list (maybe second). <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I try not to watch movies before I read the book, but in
this case, I had seen the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124315/">movie</a> several years ago, and the casting was perfect.
Tobey Maguire is the only way I will ever be able imagine Homer, and Michael
Caine was the ideal Dr. Larch. So if you haven’t seen the movie, imagine those
two as you read the book. 4/5*<o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-40389300646605492522014-03-26T17:55:00.003-07:002014-03-26T17:55:29.720-07:00Book Review: The Swan Gondola<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">The Swan
Gondola </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">by
<a href="http://www.timothyschaffert.com/">Timothy Schaffert</a><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ferret Skerrit makes his living in 1890’s Omaha as a
ventriloquist/letter scribe for hire. As the city </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc__9eMTqUdF7cRh7XoRxjIlG9H3Yj92PTeNCn5x8Jlenx_Ox_aI2K7du1K-_Ul4MH8ouBoJo5odKec7rSHvXDfPvhPViFDPa7YfWDUS6ixoKok03ZoDVrrY1H-NeQ-sj2vOBW6Mm572me/s1600/swan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc__9eMTqUdF7cRh7XoRxjIlG9H3Yj92PTeNCn5x8Jlenx_Ox_aI2K7du1K-_Ul4MH8ouBoJo5odKec7rSHvXDfPvhPViFDPa7YfWDUS6ixoKok03ZoDVrrY1H-NeQ-sj2vOBW6Mm572me/s1600/swan.jpg" /></a></div>
gears up for the <a href="http://www.cityofomaha.org/planning/landmarks/alphabetical-listing/trans-mississippi-and-international-exposition">World’sFair</a>, actors, con-men, and colorful characters of all types gather to make
their fortunes. Among these is Cecily, who becomes the love of Ferret’s life.
Ferret has competition, though from one of the wealthiest men around, who can
give Cecily more than he ever could in terms of material possessions. Told as a
flashback as Ferret recovers from a balloon crash in the house of two maiden
sisters on a Nebraska farm, the story alternates between Ferret’s present and
his past. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The book was very strong in terms of place. The evocation of
the Omaha’s World’s Fair is magnificent; it’s one of the richest evocations of
carnival that I’ve ever experienced in a book. The other strength of the story
is Schaffert’s incorporation of details from <i>The Wizard of Oz.</i> This story isn’t an allegory or a retelling of
the Wizard, but allusions and references occur throughout the book. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While Schaffert is masterful at evocation of place, the
story didn’t quite hold up for me. I didn’t ever understand exactly what Ferret
saw in Cecily (and what any woman might see in a man named Ferret). That human
connection between them (or between them and me) didn’t happen. There were some
nifty secondary characters; Ferret’s gay friend August was my favorite. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are interested in this era, or this geographical
region, this book is not to be missed, but as a love story, it wasn’t as great
of a success. 3.5/5*<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-35025467918491247042014-03-24T17:02:00.000-07:002014-03-24T17:02:52.246-07:00Review: The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">The Thinking
Woman’s Guide to Real Magic </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">by <a href="http://emilycroybarker.com/">Emily Croy Barker</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8qK0xPd6eMHYlwNlCQkfTO78mwCHqSHJzrsMRI5bp8GpoA5YJcpO4qbZjVo4QOzSd4gML7L6EtbOxxhYhCz7yW6mYbzoW1tKuMeUZLky3HpL2ghfSG7lV1vzdSNbDwN6nm-q7F3FT_jE/s1600/magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8qK0xPd6eMHYlwNlCQkfTO78mwCHqSHJzrsMRI5bp8GpoA5YJcpO4qbZjVo4QOzSd4gML7L6EtbOxxhYhCz7yW6mYbzoW1tKuMeUZLky3HpL2ghfSG7lV1vzdSNbDwN6nm-q7F3FT_jE/s1600/magic.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nora, a graduate student in English, is at a rough spot. Her
long-time boyfriend has left her for another woman and her dissertation just
isn’t going well. Walking in the woods one day, she finds herself in an
unfamiliar setting, the estate of a beautiful woman named Ilissa who
inexplicably treats her like a cherished guest and begs her to stay. Soon Nora
finds herself involved with Ilissa’s son, Raclin, like Ilissa too good to be
true. When this idyll becomes ominous, Nora is assisted by the magician Aruendiel
who eventually takes Nora on as an apprentice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book had everything I really love in a book: magic,
fairies, romance, strong character building, and a fully-formed world. It’s a
very long book, and I was completely engrossed the whole time I was reading.
The one thing I object to in this book, and it’s sort of a big one, is that
nothing at all was resolved. The romance—nope. The villains—at large. The
disappeared good guy—missing. I guess in my husband’s favored genres (sci fi
and fantasy) this is normal, but I’m not used to it, especially when the book
isn’t introduced as “Book one of a trilogy” or something like that. I did love this world and want to stay in it,
and the fact that the book ended unresolved made me salivate for the sequel,
but no clue when (if) that will be coming along. 4.5/5* <o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-69547140182299590812014-03-23T16:29:00.001-07:002014-03-23T16:29:24.945-07:00Review: How to Create the Perfect Wife<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">How to Create
the Perfect Wife: Britain’s Most Ineligible Bachelor and his Enlightened Quest to Create the <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDbYuha3-5FL1hqSoKRgRZYzXV_JDUMI0DugKQIto23_ejXSXeoC9F6zOlpqv7vw5-YYLUpVQwkAmr9jPGEz8e9sdl4vao2dRVhxc5TegiUabqwl6kDj1XwmrzoE3iu7CWkI5Tze1k-7C/s1600/wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDbYuha3-5FL1hqSoKRgRZYzXV_JDUMI0DugKQIto23_ejXSXeoC9F6zOlpqv7vw5-YYLUpVQwkAmr9jPGEz8e9sdl4vao2dRVhxc5TegiUabqwl6kDj1XwmrzoE3iu7CWkI5Tze1k-7C/s1600/wife.jpg" /></a></div>
Ideal Wife </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">by Wendy
Moore<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.brycchancarey.com/abolition/day.htm">Thomas Day</a> loved reading Rousseau, and he was a true
disciple. When the wealthy young man had several unsuccessful courtships, he
decided to try a new tactic. Enacting Rousseau’s Enlightenment philosophy of
education, he chose two young orphans from an orphanage, ostensibly for
“apprenticeship,” but in actuality to train them to be the perfect wife. He
educated them to be able to converse with educated men, but also to serve the
household needs, not to expect frivolities like fancy clothes or jewelry, and
not to have their heads turned by dancing or other feminine foolishness. Author
Moore did a fiendish job of researching this extremely odd story and pieced it
together meticulously. It was such an odd story that it would have been
difficult to believe without the undoubted documentary evidence. I think my
only problem with the book was that it didn’t read like fiction, and it was
such a freaky story. The central character, Day, was really unsavory and
unpleasant. The women don’t seem to come alive (that was probably Day’s fault;
he never wanted them to). Obviously, that wasn’t Moore’s fault. She told the
story that she found. 3/5*<o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-33120179636579184752014-03-21T16:50:00.000-07:002014-03-21T16:50:09.938-07:00Book Review: North and South<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">North and
South </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">by
<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/cranford/gaskell.html">Elizabeth Gaskel</a>l<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiu8v1PwDA8wGnIynWOXGM79EGRQWD0JNR8Tyhb20URu01XnJsNWCsUoqx2WGifcres-IgUvshyphenhyphenHHCPX-cUv-IGBLVrh68jjKTPPqB4qlkCngWT2pcQNXOQxI2ooCqa-YcrexshwNtDnk4/s1600/north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiu8v1PwDA8wGnIynWOXGM79EGRQWD0JNR8Tyhb20URu01XnJsNWCsUoqx2WGifcres-IgUvshyphenhyphenHHCPX-cUv-IGBLVrh68jjKTPPqB4qlkCngWT2pcQNXOQxI2ooCqa-YcrexshwNtDnk4/s1600/north.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After living with her cousin in London, Margaret returns
home only to find that her father, a country vicar, is giving up his living due
to doubts. The best he can do to continue to make a living is to find a job as
a tutor in industrial northern England. The move is jarring for the entire
family, but Margaret tries to make the best of it and to take care of her
mother who is in frail health. Industrialist
John Thornton, Rev. Hale’s student, is attracted to Margaret, but it’s
difficult for a lady from the rural south to accept the addresses of a
tradesman from the north.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First published in 1855, this book is written in the style
of the time, so lots of social prejudices, lots of overwrought women, etc.
Margaret is basically too perfect to be believed, though she does commit one
“sin” in order to give the novel a plot. What I liked about this book: the
comparison between the social milieu in the two very different regions; the
characters from up north (Thornton, his mother, the Higgins family); Thornton’s
hopeless passion. What I didn’t like: most of the female characters; the ending
that made me go “that’s it?”; the prejudice all over the place towards
everyone. 3.5/5*</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">P.S. I've heard the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417349/">miniseries</a> is quite good. I haven't seen it. </span></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-55802665474685083752014-02-22T07:40:00.000-08:002014-02-22T07:40:46.533-08:00Review: S.<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">S. </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">by <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2013/11/the-story-of-s-talking-with-jj-abrams-and-doug-dorst.html">J.J. Abrams</a> and Doug Dorst<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfC0uTBmE2JO_xXcDS9wBUQHnDbz569GZCuhcrOZJnryZEiQJcRdDngBCDm2hclId0mUeSq0EFyP9mNulnuyb5J9XKmsydcLSdrD0nt59q6eNCz5RI8KDc9D15Bee1jKpyAo3d3IhW2y0/s1600/s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfC0uTBmE2JO_xXcDS9wBUQHnDbz569GZCuhcrOZJnryZEiQJcRdDngBCDm2hclId0mUeSq0EFyP9mNulnuyb5J9XKmsydcLSdrD0nt59q6eNCz5RI8KDc9D15Bee1jKpyAo3d3IhW2y0/s1600/s.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is one of the toughest books to review that I’ve ever
read. Start with a book entitled <i>Ship of
Theseus </i>by V. M. Straka. This book looks like a library book from 1946,
which is what it purports to be. This book is about an amnesiac named S. who
seems to be fighting a shadowy and ominous organization. From the introduction,
we learn that no one really knows who V. M. Straka is; several people who have
a potential claim to the identity ar</span>e introduced here. The book has been
translated by “FXC,” who comments (and perhaps more) in the footnotes. THEN,
there are notes written in the margins of the book by two people: Eric owns the
book. He’s a (disgraced) graduate student obsessed with Straka. He’s made some
notes as he’s read it. Then there’s Jen, who works in the library and found the
book. She begins to write notes to Eric in the book, and he writes back.
Eventually, they also leave artifacts (newspaper clippings, notes, postcards)
in the book as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So at some point, I realized that I had no clue what was
going on. This means that I’ll have to start it over again and take notes. I am
prepared to do this. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book is more of a puzzle than a “normal” book. In other
words, I don’t think it’s possible to read it through (like I did) and “get”
it. I’ve seen some websites where people are trying to figure out puzzles in
the book that I didn’t know were even there, and there are plenty that I do
know about that aren’t solved easily for the reader as they might be in a
different kind of book. I’ve made a note to go back through it this summer when
I have some time and see what more I can get out of it. In terms of a reading
experience, I really enjoyed the story of Jen and Eric. I didn’t like <i>Ship of Theseus </i>much—it wasn’t the kind
of book I’d read without the extras. I can’t judge this experience in the same
way I usually judge a book, because it’s really more than that. If you like
solving mysteries or puzzles yourself, don’t miss this book. If you want the
author to solve it for you, skip it. <o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-44774668054982825432014-02-21T16:50:00.001-08:002014-02-21T16:50:37.891-08:00Review: Atonement<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Atonement </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">by Ian McEwan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxwu41wGwBJE7Q9oJXWcEQRFV-2ufv5gwkfCwwq_UilIX__tEOAjdvptT6A8rgMLKSg1rqs-a9aBdEnpl69E_MBpDshL1ha6VmY_gbVTtoDKc8-r4Bz6pUhlgnMs16McPgr8DnemQczUN/s1600/atonement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxwu41wGwBJE7Q9oJXWcEQRFV-2ufv5gwkfCwwq_UilIX__tEOAjdvptT6A8rgMLKSg1rqs-a9aBdEnpl69E_MBpDshL1ha6VmY_gbVTtoDKc8-r4Bz6pUhlgnMs16McPgr8DnemQczUN/s1600/atonement.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Briony is just the age to be confused about a lot of things.
As a precocious preteen, she wants to be noticed by the adults, maybe even
treated as an equal. She especially idolizes her older sister, who is just now
realizing she may have deeper feelings for Robbie, the housekeeper’s son.
Briony’s spot as both the budding young woman and the cute little one are
usurped by her cousins, an older girl and younger twins. When the twins run
away, everyone goes out to search, and Briony makes a huge moral blunder. The
rest of the book deals with the ramifications of this choice, stretching into
World War II and the adulthood of everyone present. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book is on a number of “great novels” lists, but I
wasn’t impressed. There are three main “episodes” in the book: the opening, set
when Briony is very young; Robbie in WWII France, and Briony as a student nurse
during the war. Of these, only the last held my attention; the first moved way
too slow, and the second seemed pointless in terms of the plot of the novel.
The characters weren’t at all sympathetic either. Briony was too spoiled and
selfish for me to want to spend page time with her, and Robbie was
(understandably) messed up and bitter. 3/5*<o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-56708215141529789702014-02-18T16:26:00.001-08:002014-02-18T16:26:49.995-08:00Review: The Moon Sisters<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">The Moon
Sisters </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">by
<a href="http://www.theresewalsh.com/">Therese Walsh</a></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNQKxHUtTPmQiBI0z-CgvQhb2wMB7gh3s1nxn4xD0NVKXJ_ckogpDUZSiv-N_GjqZ9bUUV6pcqooRLp6V2ubpJpzNiN5fs2QBxw_4UIFqyWsDCCt_lrfrVPhe07WNSqbObImFPbZlP2L7/s1600/moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNQKxHUtTPmQiBI0z-CgvQhb2wMB7gh3s1nxn4xD0NVKXJ_ckogpDUZSiv-N_GjqZ9bUUV6pcqooRLp6V2ubpJpzNiN5fs2QBxw_4UIFqyWsDCCt_lrfrVPhe07WNSqbObImFPbZlP2L7/s1600/moon.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jazz Moon is 22 years old, has just found her first real
job, and wants to be a writer. Olivia Moon is 18 years old, has synesthesia,
and sometimes fools around with boys more than she should. When their mother
dies in questionable circumstances (accident or suicide?), the family deals
with the gaping hole in the best ways they know how: their dad gets drunk, Jazz
gets a job at a funeral home (the same one that served their mother), and
Olivia stares at the sun until she is blinded. When Olivia sets out with her
mother’s ashes to visit a spot that is significant in their mother’s life, Jazz
is forced into her familiar (and unwilling) role as her sister’s guardian. What
happens on this unplanned trip changes them both. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
story is told in alternating voices—Jazz’s and Olivia’s, with their mother’s
letters to her estranged father thrown in as well. One of the most remarkable
aspects of the book is how Olivia and Jazz are so different from one another,
even openly hostile to one another much of the time, yet both are completely
sympathetic characters. The synesthesia provides opportunities for Walsh to use
images and metaphors that just make this book sparkle. I don’t say this much,
but really, everything about this book was perfect: lots of symbolism, if you like
that kind of thing, lots of character building, and an ending that both
surprised me and hit just the right tone. Loved, loved, loved this book! 5/5* </span></span>Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-66704465561654760652014-02-16T16:20:00.000-08:002014-02-16T16:20:32.466-08:00Review: Princess Bride<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.harcourtbooks.com/princessbride/">The Princess Bride</a> </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">by
William Goldman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB-3qGp2jbWERWlw84DdTWzIF64vYLKcSmynAkXbCstge8E2MhXWgpV7MApdUoGZbICEoW_301J3vRzka_ib3pkhzIsNTuyHKBqsj7dbLKsbw2ILawdS4ICbrqaAsmzL9dj661SlzYlxL/s1600/princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB-3qGp2jbWERWlw84DdTWzIF64vYLKcSmynAkXbCstge8E2MhXWgpV7MApdUoGZbICEoW_301J3vRzka_ib3pkhzIsNTuyHKBqsj7dbLKsbw2ILawdS4ICbrqaAsmzL9dj661SlzYlxL/s1600/princess.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t imagine anyone who hasn’t seen the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_16">movie</a>; </span>it’s one
of our family’s iconic texts. So rather than a normal book review, here I’ll
concentrate on book/movie contrasts. First, I started this book once, many
years ago, and was supremely bored by it. I put it on a shelf, but didn’t get
rid of it. Recently, I decided to cull my bookshelves and rather than just
dumping it, I decided to give it one more shot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think what bored me the first time was the prologue. The
movie’s frame (sick little boy being read to by grandpa) is introduced by a lengthy and sort of whiny prologue in
which the narrator (author?) relates how he’s contemplating adultery in L.A. but instead returns home to his
indifferent wife and spoiled son. He remembers the best book in the world which
his father read to him, and determines to fetch it for his son. It turns out to
be really boring in parts, so he revises it to just have the good parts so his
son will enjoy it more. (I know, you’re
bored just by my relating this much. Imagine 20 pages of it). <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I got to the story part, it mirrors the movie very
closely, down to the dialogue. It does have little bits that aren’t in the
movie, though, and of course, it was great fun to find them and imagine them as
acted by our old friends. (In terms of casting, the movie nailed it, except for
Prince Humperdinck.) When you love a movie this much, it’s a joy to add on to
the lore. And don’t feel guilty for skipping the prologue. 5/5*<o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-51204536346721004362014-02-15T13:40:00.000-08:002014-02-15T13:40:15.997-08:00Review: Book of the Dun Cow<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">The Book of
the Dun Cow </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">by <a href="http://walterwangerinjr.org/new_web/index.php">Walter Wangerin</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx3jvX9-esHinJ6ylcMVmBiqNCTvpxQtrXgre8RTLEPMD0iYGUgfOX_d5sdl10129co5RbibTi-Cy8UUGnyUpc51OvVHZv_pqbPvuO0BRFCHmmKNIjbk8t1aegciQEUO4ssADSoP4cckO/s1600/dun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx3jvX9-esHinJ6ylcMVmBiqNCTvpxQtrXgre8RTLEPMD0iYGUgfOX_d5sdl10129co5RbibTi-Cy8UUGnyUpc51OvVHZv_pqbPvuO0BRFCHmmKNIjbk8t1aegciQEUO4ssADSoP4cckO/s1600/dun.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is Walter Wangerin’s first novel; I’ve just now gotten
around to reading it, though I’ve read both his</span> fiction and nonfiction in the
past. In some time before humans, or world without humans, Chanticleer rules
his farmyard and its animals; all is well until they rescue some refugee
animals from another coop, including the beautiful Pertelote. Evil has come
into the world through another rooster’s failing, and it is up to Chanticleer
and his allies to save the world from dark evil. They have help from the
mysterious Dun Cow, who comes and goes as she pleases. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wangerin is a Christian writer, and there are definitely
Christian allegorical overtones here, although it’s not nearly so
straightforward an allegory as, for example, the Narnia books. One of
Wangerin’s strengths is the ability to write about suffering in a way that is
profound and wrenching, but not manipulative, and that strength is visible even
here in this early work. This book is the first of a trilogy. 4/5*<o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-35246291892189017392014-02-12T17:00:00.002-08:002014-02-12T17:00:57.520-08:00Review: Engaging Ideas<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Engaging
Ideas: The Professor's Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and
Active Learning in the Classroom </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">by John C. Bean (2<sup>nd</sup>
ed.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT3tmdipiUPG3PibnZQSyriqbP4-vRlzlYOc0GZeV3Yfz_YtmPRPNxeAhIq_WuBOO6KY-qIwizZ24DDFgUulRECx0m04aarmXZOVb1Vjpxqa2BMZO5NrEenoldVh05Ij2J3HERXi9a6o_/s1600/engaging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT3tmdipiUPG3PibnZQSyriqbP4-vRlzlYOc0GZeV3Yfz_YtmPRPNxeAhIq_WuBOO6KY-qIwizZ24DDFgUulRECx0m04aarmXZOVb1Vjpxqa2BMZO5NrEenoldVh05Ij2J3HERXi9a6o_/s1600/engaging.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm embarrassed that this review is so short, but it's often a problem I have when I love a book too much. I have a tendency to gush, which isn't fun to read. If you have any interest in teaching critical thinking or writing skills-- no matter what discipline you teach in--read this book!</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This book is probably the most helpful book on teaching that
I’ve ever read. Bean gives strategies for getting students—in classes across
the curriculum—to write more (and better) and to do more critical thinking. He
deals with all aspects of writing assignments, including how to respond to
writing in ways that won’t take so much of the professor’s time as to make the
grading oppressive. The main focus here, though, is on getting and keeping
students engaged in their learning. This book is full of ideas to take into the
classroom, and it’s both practical and theory-based. 5/5*</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-77535384246575552262014-02-10T16:48:00.000-08:002014-02-10T16:48:19.030-08:00Review: The Charming Quirks of Others<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Charming Quirks
of Others </i>by Alexander McCall Smith (<a href="http://www.alexandermccallsmith.co.uk/books/the-sunday-philosophy-club/">Isabel Dalhousie</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNCzA9sssoRpaT81ImyLe2l96PtBHsSzV2QT-SVYVryvfb9A_np2n19g92ac3YspIZFAbepCrKpn_3tjZsPEX3KCIw3UkZpr7QuMD0iigbikfQo5BJsPYKpFs6ri1YBYw2-y0ncfgIRWj/s1600/charming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNCzA9sssoRpaT81ImyLe2l96PtBHsSzV2QT-SVYVryvfb9A_np2n19g92ac3YspIZFAbepCrKpn_3tjZsPEX3KCIw3UkZpr7QuMD0iigbikfQo5BJsPYKpFs6ri1YBYw2-y0ncfgIRWj/s1600/charming.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isabel’s latest puzzle concerns a boarding school searching for a new
headmaster. An anonymous note has suggested that one of the three shortlist
candidates, if hired, would bring great embarrassment to the school. Isabel’s
investigation is complicated by the fact that one of the candidates is Cat’s
new boyfriend, and with Isabel and Jamie (Cat’s ex-boyfriend) now engaged,
Isabel still has some qualms about her relationship with her niece. Meanwhile,
Jamie is acting a little out of character, causing Isabel to wonder if he’s
seeing someone else. Smith is one of my
very favorite authors, and I save his books for when I need a real reading
treat. Of his three series that I read (also Mma Ramotswe and 44 Scotland St.),
this is my least favorite, but this entry in the series was strong. Smith’s
strengths are his gentle sense of humor and his reminders that we share the
common condition of humanity, so charity and seeing others in the best light
possible may eventually come back around to our benefit. 5/5*<o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-55716918096795977462014-02-09T14:09:00.000-08:002014-02-09T14:09:50.671-08:00Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Miss Peregrine’s
Home for Peculiar Children</i> by <a href="http://www.ransomriggs.com/">Ransom Riggs</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVm7JjVdPo1ftOOWGbkm9F5RUghybT2B_I_PC4LUg2us8yy2z-qg6X5HDcz0Csyz50tCVUkVTy0ETjKuiAJ33gtyD3tA7uBV68Bl8eGK_9t-ld0V6_zez0QFGF_zQJY-LnLQ1XRaGExJL/s1600/Peregrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVm7JjVdPo1ftOOWGbkm9F5RUghybT2B_I_PC4LUg2us8yy2z-qg6X5HDcz0Csyz50tCVUkVTy0ETjKuiAJ33gtyD3tA7uBV68Bl8eGK_9t-ld0V6_zez0QFGF_zQJY-LnLQ1XRaGExJL/s1600/Peregrine.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jacob and his family don’t quite believe his grandfather’s
increasingly panicked warnings about danger and strange beings pursuing him,
until his grandfather’s murder. Determined to find out what actually happened,
Jacob believes the answer lies on a small island off Wales where his
grandfather spent time as a child. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I totally wanted to like this book, mostly because I was intrigued by
the photographs of (as the title puts it) “peculiar children.” According to the
end material, these photographs are real artifacts, collected by the author and
some of his acquaintances. It seemed to me, though, like the children weren’t
the center of the story; rather, the narrator (Jacob) and his pursuit of his grandfather’s killer(s)
played that role. I think that’s where the book let me down. It’s also a YA
book, and I generally find that YA titles, while they might have interesting
plots, don’t have the sophisticated language or deep characterization that I
enjoy reading. This book was a quick and easy read, but I probably won’t do the
sequel. 3/5*<o:p></o:p></div>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-28405913640523165002014-02-05T17:35:00.002-08:002014-02-05T17:35:45.374-08:00Book Review: Three Souls<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Author: </b><a href="http://www.janiechang.com/home">Janie Chang</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoxmRZlaEFzNq7lI9AKCTJ8PY3x7TK7UwGUQAmzXVl2RJReHCTwY25Wg6C7rvd8LQHnabkcOFiln9mD7o-zlwTRl_5FEQpQUOLB7mGJE_jNdWnd4lJtwT6grb-DhF8DtKP8L6r69f3erd/s1600/souls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoxmRZlaEFzNq7lI9AKCTJ8PY3x7TK7UwGUQAmzXVl2RJReHCTwY25Wg6C7rvd8LQHnabkcOFiln9mD7o-zlwTRl_5FEQpQUOLB7mGJE_jNdWnd4lJtwT6grb-DhF8DtKP8L6r69f3erd/s1600/souls.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Title: </b><i>Three Souls</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Description: </b>Leiyin
is dead, but she and her three souls cannot move on to the afterlife. During
her life on earth, she has made enough mistakes that she must atone for them
before she can move along toward reincarnation. The three souls show her her
life, then all of them must determine how to move on. <b> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Review source: </b>Library
Thing Early Reviewers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Plot: </b>Leiyin
falls for a revolutionary poet, Yen Hanchin, although he is older than she is
and mostly involved with his communist friends. Her desire for him and for a
college education lead her to make a choice that sends her life down a path
that she never expected. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Characters: </b>The
characters are very well drawn. By portraying Leiyin from beyond the grave, the
author shows both her thoughts at the time of her impulsive actions and her
reflections later on from a more mature perspective. Secondary characters are
also well-realized. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Writing style: </b>The
information at the back of the book indicates that the characters are based on
Chang’s grandparents and great-grandparents. Chang is a wonderful storyteller,
and the family connection gives Chang the desire to truly understand her
characters, even those who initially appear less sympathetic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Audience: </b>Above
all, this is a historical novel and gives the reader a glimpse of what it might
have been like to be a young girl from a very wealthy family on the eve of WWII
and China’s embrace of communism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Wrap-up:</b> The only negative--and it's not insignificant--is the souls. I never got why there had to be three souls (not four, not two) and exactly what their purpose was. The story would have been just as good without them. Just the kind of historical novel I love. I was riveted by this story. 4.5/5*</div>
<br />
<h3 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></h3>
Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977070148845323820.post-2534793615680791752014-01-26T16:14:00.001-08:002014-01-26T16:17:56.982-08:00Review: Inside the Undergraduate Teaching Experience<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Author: </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal;">Catharine
Hoffman Beyer, Edward Taylor, and Gerald M. Gillmore</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJOG7qOXt56-HDBxQbkY9zyugEdsDvbWt17TVbha7KSiO1j6O4oE9JWlv5BZtlP3CCoDUGE_XY_hVRwhIOp1aID8ARUM_Bs-Ji5a__zyM899Tv2mxo4bR6QAmymYV_iKJ2R4o6SWBD1ZE/s1600/ug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJOG7qOXt56-HDBxQbkY9zyugEdsDvbWt17TVbha7KSiO1j6O4oE9JWlv5BZtlP3CCoDUGE_XY_hVRwhIOp1aID8ARUM_Bs-Ji5a__zyM899Tv2mxo4bR6QAmymYV_iKJ2R4o6SWBD1ZE/s1600/ug.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Title: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Undergraduate-Teaching-Experience-Catharine-Hoffman-ebook/dp/B00ANU3K0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389483426&sr=8-1&keywords=inside+the+undergraduate+teaching+experience"><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-weight: normal;">Inside
the Undergraduate Teaching Experience: The University of Washington's Growth in
Faculty Teaching Study</span></i></a></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b>Description: </b>Researchers
at the University of Washington conducted a study which examined professors’
teaching styles, specifically changes that they made to their teaching. They
were especially interested in the types of changes that were made and the
reasons for the changes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Writing style: </b>A
combination of study results and anecdotes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Audience: </b>Anyone
interested in undergraduate pedagogy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Major ideas: </b>The
study identified a group of the best professors (based on awards for teaching);
there were also randomly chosen professors in the group. Both sets change their
teaching methods more than the researchers expected, with the best professors
showing the most changes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<b>Wrap-up: </b>This
book was not a bad read, but I think I could have done as well with a well-done
précis. 3/5*<br />
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Let's Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831054494195507934noreply@blogger.com0