Wednesday, December 31, 2008

#52 - Mongo: Adventures in Trash

Woo-Hoo made it! Down to the wire! (Well, truthfully I've read more than 52 books but I wanted to end on something special) I managed to still hit my mark even with a wedding tossed in which basically consumed June and July, but my extended break now in December got me back on track.

Mongo: Adventures in Trash by Ted Botha is a book about Mongo. Mongo is loosely defined as any found item discarded by someone else, i.e. trash. I can appreciate a good find myself, and my bedroom TV would be considered "Mongo" since it came from a neighbor who was lovingly setting it out on the curb with remote and all. When I asked about it he said it worked fine but they had got a new bigger one and that he hoped someone would give it a good home since it was in excellent shape. I had a bad experience in college when we found some nice padded bar stools that after lugging across campus we found to be soaked through with what we hoped was just rainwater, they went quickly back out for the trash man or a braver hunter than I.

Ted Botha becomes one with the homeless, vagabonds, rebels, collectors, and even businessmen. Each chapter follows a new person's story and he jumps right into their world with very little apprehension or judgment. The tales are all very interesting and unique. Some are what you would expect, but others tell of rare book sellers (all found) and a man with a particular knack for hunting out some real treasures. Others hunt for food, while some hunt out of compulsion. If it were not New York City I have a feeling much of the hunting would not be so hot, but on the other hand it is nice to see that even with such riches and massive waste that there are those who turn it into a positive. This book offers a little of everything; sadness, humor, rags, and riches. Highly Recommended.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

#51 - King of the Dead

King of the Dead is R.A. Macavoy's second book in the Lens of the World Trilogy and continues the tale of Nazhuret, the wandering optician. While many fantasy books, and I've read hundreds, prefer action and fights and cliche aplenty Macavoy has gone a completely different direction and focuses her considerable writing skill on depth and culture and characters. Not in the Tolkien way of boring the reader to tears but by drawing you in ever further into a world and a character's mind that is slightly absurd but still one of the most believable and rewarding characters ever put on paper. Make no mistake, though, this book does suffer the fate of all sequels in that it runs a bit flat so that it can introduce some plot and gear up for a finale. Even still, easily one of the best series I've ever read and Highly Recommended.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

#50 - Bone

Bone: One Volume Edition by Jeff Smith is the complete collection of 13 years of the comic books in one massive black and white tome. I bought this a few years back when it was rarer than hen's teeth and prices were astronomical, although I found mine for cover price by chance, however now it has been reprinted and easily found. I've read and re-read this one quite a few times and it is just a great journey that puts a smile on my face every time. Following the Bone cousins and their individual quirks through an epic adventure filled with humor and drama and excellent characters is a delight. Even at 1300 pages this is a must read for just about anyone and I could imagine any kid would love to have this tale read to them and following along the quest with the great artwork. Absolutely Recommended.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

#49 - The Book of Tea

102 years old, reprinted countless times by as many publishers The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura is a masterpiece. After the unremarkable time with the Japanese gift box set I had to cleanse my palate with the real deal. This is a book I have owned for over 10 years and have read and re-read often. It is almost equal parts history, philosophy, and tea ceremony. It delves into Taoism, Zen, Teaism, culture, art, and tea and in quite short order... many copies are 80 pages or less. It is centered around Japan and Japanese tea so it is not a great general information resource on tea, but what it does do it does better than any other book out there, which is why it continues to be reprinted 102 years on. Highly Recommended.

#48 - The Japanese Tea Ceremony

This is a gift box type set from Border's Bookstore that I bought a while back and shelved. One of my great passions in life is tea, not your average teabag or flavored concoction but real teas from China, Taiwan, and Japan many hand harvested and processed. The Japanese tea ceremony is a very interesting and educational ritual but I have always found it to be too formal and scripted for my tastes, I do practice "Gong Fu" brewing however which is also a skilled brewing technique.

This box contains a very small pouch of powdered green tea, a bamboo whisk, and a book titled "The Japanese Tea Ceremony." The wares are pretty much garbage with the whisk being the best of the lot but very crude. The tea is abysmal and dark and the bowl is like a terra cotta flowerpot with no resemblance to a proper tea bowl. The book, however, is very nice. It is solely centered around Japanese tea, history, and ceremony but handles it well and seems to be properly researched and as thorough as its small size allows. I'm actually Not Recommending this one as it offers no great value or benefit and there are better books on tea ceremony out there.

Friday, December 19, 2008

#47 - Southern Exposure: A Solo Sea Kayaking Journey Around New Zealand's South Island

I love to kayak and unfortunately I didn't get out at all this past summer due to being so busy with wedding preparations and being Pennsylvania winter is right out for paddling. I love the solitude and exploration it affords even in waters I have either walked, fished, or traveled via motorboat. I caught the bug on my first trip down the Shenandoah River on a summer vacation where we tackled class 2-3 rapids totally unprepared, miles of flatwater, a bald eagle, and huge carp and turtles swimming along with us. Southern Exposure is Chris Duff's account of his journey around New Zealand. It is well written and delves into his head and thoughts on a number of occasions which can be a bit long and tedious but very real in that when alone you live entirely in your own head. It isn't a harrowing tale of survival or exposure, yet it does have moments, so it can seem a bit mundane or boring but I think I related well due to our similarities in personality and thought. I've always wanted to visit New Zealand ever since close family friends moved there and I was enthralled by the stories and sights. This one probably isn't for everyone but I'd still Recommend it.

#46 - Where the Sidewalk Ends

I'll probably upset someone with this one... to be honest this just isn't for me. I had never read "Where the Sidewalk Ends" or had it read to me in my younger years but I figured I'd give it a shot since it is so widely revered. I have a great sense of humor and enjoy silliness, whimsy, and fantasy but this just was not my cup of tea. People see a lot in this book and find great depth and humor and imagination, I found it mostly to be just kiddish absurdity and some silliness that at times works and others where it falls flat. I actually re-read it in a different mindset than the first time and I still couldn't get into it. I did enjoy a few of the pieces, though, and I will admit it is more than likely my sensibilities and humor just not syncing up to the material than anything "wrong" with the work itself. I love smart absurdity such as Monty Python, but not childish absurdity like silly songs or Spongebob. I did enjoy some of the illustration work but even that did not grab me as I had expected from all of the high praise I have heard over the years. Recommended but not a classic in my eyes.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

#45 - Hardening Network Security

Another big, bulky computer book... This one also specialized to the networking trade, specifically security practices and information. Networks are something most people know nothing about but use every day. The Internet, an office file share, a central network printer everyone can print to, etc. For many the network is a little jack on the wall they plug a cable into and get Internet access or they flip open their laptop and connect to a wireless access point. To make that happen there are thousands of wires, switches, devices, protocols, configurations, and languages all working hard behind the scenes often jammed in janitor closets or basements. As if that isn't enough there are a million more headaches involved in securing that network to keep unwanted people out, wanted people safe, files protected, and on and on. Unfortunately it only comes up when we learn of another hack that leaks thousands of credit card numbers or personal information to the wrong people. I've worked in very high security positions, such as a bank, and take network security very seriously and that is why I read huge tomes such as this in my spare time to stay informed. This is a bit of an older book by now but it still contains a lot of useful information and insight. Recommended.

#44 - Twisting the Rope

Twisting the Rope is the followup to R. A. MacAvoy's first novel, Tea With the Black Dragon that I recently covered. This one is more of an attempt at a murder mystery novel in addition to some of the suspense created in the first book. On its own I'd have to say it is an average story, after reading the first it is only marginally better. Tea With the Black Dragon was a very quick read and had solid pacing whereas Twisting the Rope tried to be a bit more ambitious and fell short. The two books really aren't connected in any meaningful way so it really isn't a continuation of the first tale, it's worth reading to be complete but not necessary. I'm going to make this my first Neutral Recommendation.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

#43 - Eragon

While I was writing the last two entries for The Bartimaeus Trilogy it sparked my memory that I hadn't posted a book I read earlier in the year, Eragon. There is a reason I had forgot... well more like put it out of my memory. Yeah it was written by a kid, Christopher Paolini, yeah it is fantasy-like and has dragons but it is simply an insult to the genre and to the intelligence of any reader. It is a hack, heavily plagiarized, over-hyped piece of trash. Yes, I feel that strongly about it. While The Bartimaeus Trilogy borrowed quite a lot it did so in a smart way and used a number of fantasy cliches and Potterisms to come out with a totally unique world and tale, this was just derivative and pretentious at best. The kid's parents both work in the publishing industry and they did their best to capitalize on every aspect they could. Having heavily read much of the required fantasy canon over the years, each page of Eragon was a pure bastardization of at least two or three classic/groundbreaking works. I never wanted to actually destroy a book before this one and if it hadn't been my wife's book I would have. I struggled to just finish it and I could NOT recommend a book less than this garbage.

#42 - The Golem's Eye

The Golem's Eye is the second book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy. If the first had you cringing from the blatant similarity to Mr. Potter, this one manages to borrow even more! Harry, I mean Nathaniel is working for the Ministry of... I mean Office of Internal Affairs which is defending against Muggl... I mean commoners in the Resistance movement threatening to overthrow the magicians. Hermion... I mean Kitty enters the picture as a female counterpart and edges out Bartimaeus the djini for attention to some disappointment relegating the much loved djini to a minor role in this one. Normally this much cribbing would put me off totally, but damn it! these books are just too good! As much as I initially want to dislike them they present a great world, frenetic action, and a ton of fun. Rather than the plodding tomes and tales of Harry Potter these are smart, sarcastic, action-packed romps with great characters and storytelling. I've just given in to it all and enjoy the journey for what it is, not something I normally or easily do. Recommended.

#41 - The Amulet of Samarkand

The Bartimaeus Trilogy, by Jonathan Stroud, was a series I picked up a book at a time from Borders' bargain bin. It is a young adult series I had feared was going to poorly proxy the Harry Potter series, especially due to the bargain bin part, but I bit anyhow... hey the covers are metal/foil iridescent and I can't pass up shiny fantasy books. :) You know the story, orphaned boy wizard sent off to study and learn of his "ultimate sacrifice." Seriously, except for Hogwarts it is an almost carbon copy. But, and most importantly, it all wildly diverges and quickly redeemed itself in my eyes. The boy summons a 5,000 year old djini that adds humor and character to a well written tale that is easily worth reading regardless of your age. In this case I'm glad I judged a book by its, shiny, cover and not the quick summary which screamed of a poor copy cat young adult fantasy novel. Recommended.

#40 - Tea With The Black Dragon

Sometimes seemingly random events in life become much more. A book I wrote about a while back "Lens of the World" by R. A. MacAvoy that I picked up on a whim in a dollar store led me to seek out and purchase the rest of the trilogy and while I was at it I decided to grab the first two unrelated books "Tea with the Black Dragon" and "Twisting teh Rope." This book was not a fantasy novel as I had thought but ended up being a suspense/mystery title involving Taoism, Tea, Zen Buddhism, and Chinese mysticism/legend... I don't think a single book could contain more of my interests unless I personally wrote it. Totally took me by surprise and in fact was an amazing read that did not allow me to stop turning the pages. Highly Recommended!

Friday, November 21, 2008

#39 - Lonely Planet Guide Kaua'i

Lonely Planet Guides are always tops on my list and earlier in the year when we were planning our honeymoon to Kaua'i it was my first choice. However there is a reason this is one of the books I forgot to post up after reading... it just wasn't the quality I was used to and while useful it was forgettable. This was the guidebook that sent us to a horrible dinner at Kintaro which had been highly applauded. A greasy and unseasoned massacre of Japanese cuisine where I was glad the overly strong Mai Tai at the bar while waiting for a table kept us in good spirits. It did turn us on to a few neat sights but nothing that wasn't covered as well or better in a different guidebook. Depending on your vacation style it might be more useful than it was for us so I'll say it is Recommended. Just stay away from Kintaro no matter what the book says.

#38 - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management with Microsoft Project 2003

Long title, decent book. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management with Microsoft Project 2003 was another tech book I picked up just for personal interest and betterment. MS Project is one of those neglected programs that many people use but few use properly. I have always found it to be only used in one of two ways: overly simplified or overly complex, and even with some familiarity I'd still be in the simplified group. This book, however, is great on the actual topic of project management overall and covers quite a lot of ground. This is a good book for the first time user or the seasoned project manager. Recommended.


Friday, November 14, 2008

#37 - Fiber Optics Technician's Manual

Another tech book I picked up just for my own research and development. I work with fiber optics on a daily basis but have never been trained to build fiber cables and it is something that intrigues me. Most network people work with fiber optics and never give it a second thought beyond is it single or multimode? Fiber optics transmits data at very high rates over a microscopic-thin piece of plastic or glass using light from an LED or laser beam. The production of the less-than-hair-thin flexible glass core is a marvel in itself. I could go on but I'll spare you the geekery... Let's just say I find fiber optics fascinating. So much so that I read technician's manuals about it for fun. Yes, I know.

The Fiber Optics Technician's Manual ended up not being quite what I had expected and while it could possibly be useful as a textbook it is hard to say if it is as useful in the real world. It has some great information though and is very accurate but at times it gets mired in minutia and math/numbers a bit too weighty for what it is trying to accomplish. I've heard that there is a new addition (3rd I believe) which adds the practical application and installation information, so I'm guessing my critique was accurate and shared by many others but I have not read or seen it to make an assessment. As it stands I can't say it is recommended outside of a classroom or possibly if you grab the latest edition.

#36 - Neuromancer

While waiting to receive the rest of the "Lens of the World" Trilogy I decided to tackle a "classic" sci-fi title which basically gave birth to the genre of cyberpunk. I'm a techie/IT Guy/nerd by nature but I somehow missed the sci-fi gene and absolutely hate most space-themed/Sci-fi favorites like Star Wars, Star Trek, Galactica, Battlefield Earth, etc. I am however fully into Fantasy/Medieval genres so I am able to retain my geek card. Neuromancer is kind of a blend of both computers and sci-fi so I have always kept a copy in the hopes of someday reading it.

I can at least say I have now, and I do have to be a bit easier on it since it was groundbreaking and genre-defining. It's always easy to look back and nitpick so many years later and especially since my expertise lies in the computer/network/Internet realm. I am so easily turned off because usually an author has a mere basic grasp of concepts and then proceeds to butcher the hell out of them to seem techie... it may fool the average Joe but it drives me crazy. This is, for the most part, not the case here and in fact Mr. Gibson actually presages a number of technologies and ideas that were in infancy or not invented at the time of writing. If not for that I would have never made it through. It is a choppy read that is esoteric and elusive just for the sake of being so at many points but on the whole it is successful and was a nice change of pace for me. It is a must read for fans of the genre and I can say it is Recommended even for dabblers.

Monday, October 27, 2008

#35 - Lens of the World

I used to work near a dollar store which had an unusual book rack. It would be filled with random garbage romance novels and odd celebrity books about Britney Spears or Tom Cruise and then there would always be one or two out of the ordinary ones like a huge copy of Battlefield Earth or, in this case, Lens of the World. It was #1 of a trilogy and from reading the back it seemed like a strange take on a fantasy novel. For a buck I would always pluck out these oddballs and occasionally they were worth it. This one was without a doubt. A wandering optician is not the usual fantasy hero, but after reading as many cliche fantasy novels as I have it is a welcome change. But unlike silly for silly sake novels Lens of the World is richly detailed and complex with just an undercurrent of humor and lightheartedness. R.A. MacAvoy is a superbly talented writer and I was scouring used book stores for the final two in the series before even finishing the first. It appears this series recently was reprinted so it should make it even easier to find. Highly Recommended.

#34 - Back To Eden

Back to Eden was another great gift book from my mother. She owns a well loved and used copy that has served her through all of my lifetime and I'm sure before. It is the real, original text for what has now become trendy and hip in the form of organic produce and healthy/green living and whatever else companies have branded it to profit. Basically it is long held knowledge which has served humanity long before 24 hour drug stores, Wal-Mart, or Whole Foods. If you have a malady the natural cure or at least some mitigating relief can be found in Back to Eden. Some great theories and thoughts on living right and healthfully as well as a wealth of knowledge on tons of subjects can be found within. I could see how anyone from a veteran physician to modern day vegan would find this book completely useful and eye-opening. I have read all of the written text but not the entire body of ailment/remedy as that part is meant to be more of a reference and would be like reading a dictionary. I do however consult it all the time and have never been let down even if used in conjunction with prescription medicine or therapy. Highly Recommended.

#33 - The Massage Book

The Massage Book (25th Anniversary Ed.) by George Downing is an extra special book to me. My mother has always given the best massages. When we were growing up she would put us to blissful sleep by getting us to relax completely as pools of jelly, or when I would be having terrible growing pains in my knees, or just about any time. It was always the most giving and unselfish outpouring of love and her skill could rival any Swedish masseuse. She always had this cool "hippie" massage book well worn and loved. She also always gave this book as a wedding gift to any new couple. Having recently been married one of the most special gifts we opened was the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Massage Book. I knew instantly and it brought a tear to my eye for sure. It does contain nude images but all tasteful and excellently illustrative if a bit hairy :). While I can learn the techniques and skills I don't think I could ever reach the pure essence of love my mother achieved, but that is certainly not a shortcoming of the book. Highly Recommended.

#32 - Off The Beaten Path Hawaii

You know you read too much when you realize that you forgot about entire books you've read. I was looking at my bookshelf for a new title and came across a few books I hadn't listed. Off The Beaten Path Hawaii, 8th ed. was one of the guide books I bought before honeymooning in Kauai, HI and was one of the better books we had with us while on the island. I'm no good at being a tourist, if there is a line or tickets or tour guides or any such "feature" I'm generally already miles away. I like to truly experience the places I travel, eat where the locals do, do the cool non-toursity stuff, and be my own tour guide. Off The Beaten Path Hawaii is a great guide book for those who have a similar outlook on adventure. The beach guides, restaurants, directions, and history are all top notch. There could be a better map included and one recommended restaurant (Kintaro Japanese Restaurant) was just bad. The upside though was Hamura's Saimin Stand (amazing ramen-style noodle soup in a true local setting) and Spam Musubi at the Pono Market which we would never have found in a million years on our own. Easily Recommended to any traveller to paradise. Aloha!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

#31 - Essential SNMP, Second Edition

O'Reilly makes some pretty solid technical books and for a number of years they have been my choice for learning a new skill or simply brushing up on an old one. Lately I've been working on a SNMP project so I broke this one out. Sadly this may be one of the least useful O'Reilly books I own. While Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) uses the word "Simple" in the acronym, it can be extremely archaic and confusing and unfortunately Essential SNMP doesn't make much of an effort to simplify it any further. This book does give a nice overview and history as well as a detailed MIB listing but ultimately fails at relating any of it to an actual implementation with much success. It is worthy of being in your tech library but I'd still find another more practical SNMP book to round out the edges. Recommended.

#30 - The Tao of Watercolor

The Tao of Watercolor is a book I have picked up and flipped through more times than I can count but never bought. I finally gave in and just bought it. I've never been big on watercolor painting, preferring oils or Sumi-e due to my inability to think in the quasi-reverse method necessary for watercolors. The one area that does grab me are washes and the ethereal and abstract looks that can be achieved and that is precisely what The Tao of Watercolor showcases. It isn't a howto book though and in fact it is mostly gibberish trying to relate to Taoism filled with the author's, Jeanne Carbonetti, works and some broken down into steps. If you come to it with a solid understanding of watercolors and want to crib a few new techniques and compositions then it is easily worth picking up which was my reasoning, but if you are a beginner or looking for a nice understandable guidebook keep looking. Recommended.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

#29 - Living Buddha, Living Christ

How does one even begin to "review" a work by Thich Nhat Hanh? I don't think I will even try. Living Buddha, Living Christ is an attempt to bridge Buddhism and Christianity and highlight the many common aspects. It is almost an inner dialogue from Thay on his experiences and encounters in both realms. The strongest points in the book are his lessons on "mindfulness" while I think the rest may be more aimed at warming the hearts of those on both sides to one another by showing the similarities. I have never been one to be closed minded on religions/beliefs or subscribe to any one "truth" so I personally do not have this trouble and as a result I think there was less in this book for me. Even still it is recommended reading.

Friday, October 3, 2008

#28 - Korean Cooking

Korean Cooking is a mass produced book which is basically canned content made to be re-branded by retailers such as Borders or Barnes & Noble. They're the super cheap hardback cookbooks always found in bargain bins. This one stood out because it starts with a very long and great intro to Korea, the people, and the food which is a book in itself and well worth the $4-5 but then follows with some really great recipes and photography. I also have a strong draw to Korea because in a way it was my doorway into Asian culture. My father was stationed on the DMZ and I grew up with tales of this distant land, kimchi, and also my mother had some great Korean family friends who would make us some truly amazing authentic food.

Even though it is a fairly basic overview I actually learned a lot of new tidbits and really enjoyed the photography. I promptly made some kimchi which turned out phenomenally and looking forward to trying the stir-fried kimchi recipe next. Another winner, but possibly too subtly flavored, was a recipe for fish ball soup which I had to slightly alter to increase the flavor of the broth which initially consisted of simply 2L water, 2 tsp of light soy, 2 tsp fish sauce, and a few sheets of nori (dried seaweed). There are many more recipes I'm eagerly awaiting though and for a value cookbook it is Highly Recommended.

Monday, September 29, 2008

#27 - Simple Taoism

Simple Taoism is a book that was given to me as a gift since many of my friends and family know my affinity for the philosophical teachings of Taoism, but has remained unread because it seemed too "simple." I was in between books so I figured it would make a quick read and maybe contain a nugget or two I was overlooking.

Simple Taoism is broken up into three parts: History, Concepts, and Practical Application. It is a small book so it is a touch ambitious. The history is a nice overview but since much of Taoism is shrouded in mystery and time it is just the author's take and I found it to be somewhere in the middle of different histories I have read. The definition of concepts is again middling in it's effort and very good for a beginners introduction but it does skip over some aspects and skimps on others and fails to offer a frame of reference for the level of importance of each piece. The author then ends with practical applications which are written from his own views and personal relationship with Taoism. He has a few other books on meditation so he does weight it a bit towards that end but again as a brief overview it suffices.

The Tao is simple by nature and in being so, complex. I'm very wary of any book which aims to "simplify" it, especially since most of these titles weigh in at many more pages than the original texts. I'm glad I read it and there were some new/different opinions on certain areas but it was a bit too basic for me and fell a little flat in places. It would have done well to include the Tao Te Ching in some way or at least start each chapter with an excerpt rather than some of the odd choices which were selected. Maybe a good quick basic intro, but I have to say it is Not Recommended.

#26 - Into The Wild

Right off the bat let me say that I have not watched the movie and I purposefully have not read this book for some time because of my own personal views on this tale. I am an avid outdoors man and fairly knowledgeable about wilderness survival and camping/hiking and Christopher McCandless' reckless adventure is not something I applaud or enjoy being sensationalized. There are two differing opinions on him with one camp saying he was just completely unprepared and foolish and another who maintains he was daring and a bit foolish but full of youthful bravado. I believe the former and figured I'd at least read the full story before cementing my opinion.

It's cemented. Fully. I can appreciate his journey and his desire to renounce materialism and enter the wilds but people underestimate just how soft we have become and how out of touch with nature we are. You can't relearn it by willpower and books alone in short order, especially in a totally unforgiving environment such as Alaska. There were some errors and omissions in the original Outdoors magazine article that were set right in the book but nothing groundbreaking that changed my initial theory.

The book does lose it's way as well at times and ventures into other random tales of failed wanderlust as well as the author's own which just feel like padding to an already well padded story. Fans of the movie will probably enjoy the book and regardless of my views it was enjoyable and quick. Recommended.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

#25 - Hatchet

OK, yes, it is another "young adult" novel but anyone who knows me can attest that they are indeed my favorites, award winners, and not just padding to reach the mythical 52 in 52 number. I genuinely re-read these books yearly around this time and they are the treasured books from my life. I also do not believe in drawing lines between books for "kids" or "adults" to do so would be folly and only succeed in ensuring that one misses out on some great journeys. I grew up in a wilderness-like region of PA and that may have predisposed me to these tales of a young boy's outdoor struggle and survival. Hatchet follows a young boy who is involved in a plane crash in a very remote area and his efforts to survive and be rescued with only a hatchet he had been given as a gift. This story reaches into some tough areas such as divorce and death, but never sugar coats or leads the reader into any particular opinion or view. It is absolutely recommended for anyone young or old.

#24 - The Sneetches and Other Stories

Ahh... The Sneetches. An oft overlooked story from the beloved Dr. Seuss, but my absolute favorite. It is quite possibly one of my most quoted books as well. The reason is that it is as poignant and accurate today as when it was written, and most likely will be for all time. The basic premise involves two factions of Sneetches, the haves and the have nots... well actually the Sneetches with stars on their bellies and those without. A very simple concept but filled to the brim with message. Beyond highly recommended, in fact go read it now!

#23 - The Sign of the Beaver

The Sign of the Beaver, a Newbery Honor Award Winner, is one of my all-time favorite books from childhood on. I continue to go back to it almost every year and I was in between books and the weather was turning colder so it was a perfect fit. The story follows a pioneer family who is establishing themselves in Maine and the father has to leave his young son and their new cabin to go back east to their old home to get his expecting wife and daughter to join them. The Sign of the Beaver follows the young boy's trials and tribulations of wilderness survival and interaction with Indians. The survival tactics are actually very accurate and there is a lot of insight packed into this "young adult" novel. I could not recommend a book higher, and no child should be left out of this great tale.

Monday, August 25, 2008

#22 - Possible Side Effects

While Running With Scissors got all the press for Augusten Burroughs I found it to be little more than a good backstory to truly appreciating his other books. It laid some foundation. Burroughs really hits his stride when he is writing short, true accounts from his life in books like Dry, Magical Thinking, and Possible Side Effects. Few authors can get me to actually laugh out loud while reading, but Burroughs is one of them and there was no shortage in this one. Neurotic, obsessive, strange, introspective and brutally honest all barely begin to describe the contents of any Augusten Burroughs tale and they really must be read to be appreciated. The only downfall is his "need" to end each story with some quip or pun that almost always falls flat. It might be intentionally groan-inducing but often it simply succeeds in wiping the smile off my face that I had the entire time through the tale. It's a minor quibble, but noteworthy. Highly Recommended.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

#21 - Cisco IOS in a Nutshell

I've been mainly working with Alcatel-Lucent switching gear for work but don't want to let my Cisco knowledge fade away from memory so I did some brushing up. To a non-techie that made no sense but a proper explanation would take too long. Basically, Cisco is the dominant maker of network gear and the operating system it uses is very complex and a bit archaic and if you are not working with it daily it can be hard to jump back into easily. Certainly not like riding a bike. IOS in a Nutshell is a great tour-de-force of the operating system and commands and easily catches me back up. This book should be part of any network admin/tech's library and re-read often. Highly Recommended.

#20 - The World Treasury of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics

Yes, I am probably the only person who considers a fairly large collection of math, physics, and astronomy writings to be a "beach read" but I do. The World Treasury of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics is a great collection because it straddles the line between being too simple and too complex and mostly succeeds. It is understandable to the layman and can be used as a reference or "dictionary" of concepts or read through as a book that properly flows from one concept to the next like building blocks. Einstein, Hawking, Assimov, and on and on are captured from lectures and talks to dissertations and it is all accessible. Highly Recommended.

#19 - Lost on Planet China

I needed a good plane/beach read so I went with Maarten Troost's newest even though his second book was pretty much a failure for me. Lost on Planet China has brief glimpses of greatness but unfortunately it ultimately falls flat and fails to even tie up any of the story elements before ending abruptly. Just a meandering mess. It did manage to make me genuinely laugh out loud a few times but beyond that it just bombed. I hate to say it but it looks like his initial brilliance was just a flash in the pan. Not Recommended.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

#18 - Touch The Dragon

Touch the dragon is part travelogue, part diary of a young girl's experience of living abroad in Thailand at the age of 17. The author, Karen Connelly, was originally from Canada and a Rotary Club exchange program sent her to live in this strange new land. Ultimately the book fails but the author does a good job of describing certain aspects of Thai life and play that it truly places you there in the middle of it. Much gets glossed over or rushed only to linger far too long on boring dairy-ish 17-year-old-girl bits. I have a love for Thai cuisine and culture and this book was a random purchase with little in the way of expectations. Which is good because I came away with little in the way of insight or depth, so I guess it was a wash. Not recommended.

Friday, June 27, 2008

#17 - The Hedge Knight

After finishing Legend and still in the fantasy mood, but not enough for another series novel, I turned to George R. R. Martin's "The Hedge Knight" graphic novel/comic book. It is a prequel to the Song of Ice and Fire novels and very centered around the characters and the human side of fantasy and heroes which so often goes underdeveloped in favor of action and tales of love. The Hedge Knight is thicker than a comic book but slightly undersized for a graphic novel, however it is a great mix of dialogue and art that is a treat for any fan of the series or genre. Certainly wordy for the average comic book but easily worth it. Recommended.

#16 - Legend

I have been meaning to read some of fantasy author David Gemmell for quite a while now so I started at the beginning with Legend. Gemmell was known for fantasy that incorporated magic sparingly but intelligently and gripping and descriptive battle scenes. For the most part I can agree with this but I have to say it was just shy of my expectations. A lot of his wording gets reused when it comes to battles and some characters are fully fleshed out while others become a muddy mess. The tale contained within is very enjoyable and worthwhile for fantasy fans and thankfully breaks free from some of the standard cliches but sadly not all of them. Recommended.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

#15 - Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook

Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking is the full title of this one. So you may be thinking that a cookbook doesn't count, and to that I would say, without the recipes this would still be one of the best reads so far this year! Even if you took away my predisposition to the man, it again still tops the list easily.

Few people can inject such humor and reality into cooking, but it doesn't end there, this book is almost as informative as a full-on stint at cooking school. It goes even farther by also offering the most insightful tips and tricks of the restaurant industry that I have ever read in a book. Les Halles is the NYC French brasserie where Anthony last cooked before lucking out on the cushy celebrity chef life. The focus is on bistro/rustic style French cooking but I would refuse to believe a cook of any cuisine wouldn't find it indispensable. Many of the recipes call for some exotic ingredients, but nothing over the top that a truly passionate cook couldn't find with a little effort. Hardback, well bound, and reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

#14 - The Return

The Return is a novel which prominently displays Buzz Aldrin as co-author, how much or little he contributed is unknown. After reading it, one would hope very little beyond technical details and some insight to the mindset and inner struggles of space programs.

It is hokey, scattered, and descends into a dismal slow-motion crash not far past the beginning. This is a case of a book just trying to do too much. There is space tourism, corporate/government spies and espionage, lost love, childhood flashbacks, courtroom drama, a Michael Jordan knockoff, war, and space rescue. Sadly, way too much time is spent on lame courtroom drama and Michael Jordan... er Michael James and almost no time is spent on space. This one drug on for way too long for zero payout, truly terrible. Not Recommended.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

#13 - Gullible's Travels

Every now and then I hit a book like this one. It sounds like a lighthearted, fun, travelogue of sorts with a well known/humorous/"celebrity" author Cash Peters. It managed to make me laugh out loud every 100 pages or so, which left stretches of 99 pages where I wanted to just give up on it. It also had my personal kiss of death, copious use of footnotes for no reason. I HATE to be drawn down to microscopic print at the bottom of the page in the middle of a tale for no reason at all, let alone 2-3 times in as many sentences. Like I said there are a few truly funny comments and observations, but too few to carry this mess of a book. Not Recommended.

Monday, April 14, 2008

#12 - You Know You've Been in Japan Too Long...

Quirky is a word that frequently comes to mind when thinking of Japan. I have been into Japanese culture, food, and tea for quite a long time now which has brought to light a number of these "quirks." Some are almost incomprehensible to a westerner, a "gaijin," and some are hilarious. You Know You've Been in Japan Too Long... is part comic book, part social commentary, and also written in both English and Japanese. While some of the content is truly meant for westerners who have lived in Japan, most of it can be appreciated by anyone who has had a fair bit of exposure to the people and culture. For the right person it is Recommended.

Friday, April 11, 2008

#11 - Panic Rising

As you can probably see by now, I love a good tale of survival. Panic Rising is a recounting of a number of other people's true stories about their brushes with death at the hands of nature. I was a bit skeptical about the retelling of a survival story, since I tend to like to read it straight from the source. You lose a lot of the psychological and inner-thought of such a traumatic experience when it is interpreted by someone else, and this is precisely the main shortcoming of the book. The other issue is that all of the tales are similar and many come from the same region and maps are given early on in the story which give away too much detail. There is nothing inherently wrong with the book, but there are much better stories out there. Not Recommended.

Friday, March 28, 2008

#10 - U.S. Army Survival Handbook

The U.S. Army FM 21-76 manual is basically the go-to guide for survival in many climates and terrains, this version is a more concise and approachable version of that text. For the casual to intermediate outdoorsman this is a great guide packed with life-saving information and techniques for when things go pear-shaped. I think I prefer the real thing myself, but for the average person this book will save a few bucks and is perfectly sufficient. Recommended.

#9 - Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet's Tsangpo River

Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet's Tsangpo River is the true story of a group of some of the best kayakers in the world gathered together to become the first people to successfully descend the mighty Tsangpo. Sadly this book falls very flat and fails in just about every regard. The author was basically an unwanted addition to the team and the entire book only succeeds in descending into his complaints and grousing as well as an inordinate amount of detail on labor disputes and uprisings amongst the Sherpas and porters. There is some good historical data and insight into Tibetan life but it is almost devoid of actual action and proper coverage of the kayaking. A bit of technical jargon, maybe two sentences, and a lot of eddy talk describes just about every section dealing with the descent. Boring. Not Recommended.

#8 - Tao Te Ching

I've enjoyed the philosophical teachings of Taoism for about ten years now and the Tao Te Ching is the seminal Taoist work. Fundamental in it's nature but hard to approach for a westerner. One must rely on translations and with the Tao Te Ching there are hundreds of versions. The Penguin Classic version translated by D.C. Lau also includes a great introduction and has been a highly regarded translation for well over 30 years now. I like a number of versions but I go back to this one often, and it was the one I chose the last time I read through it. Books don't come much more Highly Recommended from me.

#6 & 7 - CCNA Official Exam Certification Library

OK, I'm a geek, I freely admit it and yes, I read technical manuals for fun. It's a sickness, I know. The CCNA Official Exam Certification Library consists of two large tomes which is why it takes the sixth and seventh slots on the list. I work in the networking field and Cisco is one of the leaders in the market. These books cover a number of fundamentals and are meant to be a study tool in attaining your CCNA certification. Basically only someone like me even knows/cares about this stuff because most people take the little port they plug their computer into for Internet access for granted, or casually flipping your laptop open and surfing the web wirelessly from your local coffee shop... without networking none of it happens. Highly Recommended (for geeks only).

#5 - On The Beaten Path

I love the outdoors. I grew up camping and fishing and my parents instilled in me a true respect and unbelievable appreciation for what they can offer. I've become very interested in hiking/backpacking and a personal life goal of mine is to "thru-hike" the Appalachian Trail... the AT. On The Beaten Path follows one man's journey to get his life back into alignment by taking on the challenge of the AT. Unfortunately the writing style becomes very formulaic and never really digs into the meat of any particular subject. It does offer a glimpse into his life, his struggles, and characters and events along the way, but ultimately falls short. Not Recommended.

#4 - Roasting in Hell's Kitchen

While I was on a foodie kick (and off sick), another great book gift came in handy. Gordon Ramsay is another favorite of mine for his brutal honesty but also for his genuine nature and desire to help. While many only know him from the TV show tyrant in Hell's Kitchen, he has had a number of successes on British television and now in America such as Kitchen Nightmares. This book is an honest look into his life and experiences, good times and bad. He lays it all out there including some very personal issues and nothing is sugar coated or spared. It's a bit uncomfortable and he never seems to be able to admit that he has a few serious problems himself, but I burned through this one in a day because I just couldn't put it down. Not a must read, but for a fan it is Recommended.

#3 - The Nasty Bits

After reading through Kitchen Confidential I received The Nasty Bits as a Christmas gift from my parents. It's a collection of Bourdain's writings and even some of his fiction work. There is a bit of overlap with Kitchen Confidential but also some great inside information and tales of his exploits in making his TV show No Reservations. If you are only going to read one of Anthony Bourdain's books then go for Kitchen Confidential, but this is a treat for fans. Recommended.

#2 - Kitchen Confidential

I'm a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain, as well as the culinary arts, and equally as much against the disgrace known as "The Food Network." This book was written long before Anthony Bourdain was much more than a glorified line cook, and no one could have ever dreamed of what it would become. A wonderfully honest and candid peek into what really goes on behind the scenes in restaurants across the globe. Highly Recommended.

#1 - Kon-Tiki

I decided to start off this year with an older tale of adventure on the high seas. Kon-Tiki is a classic true story of a man on a mission to prove his theory that the Pacific Ocean could be crossed on nothing more than a balsa wood raft. Highly Recommended.

52 Books In 52 Weeks

Read 52 books in 52 weeks. This is my goal, and one I challenge each and every visitor to take on as well. It started as just a little mental checklist though, and I thought that bringing it to the Internet would accomplish a few things:

1. Archive my lists for future reference
2. Let friends and family (as well as anyone else on the world wide web) in on what I've been reading, good and bad
3. Hopefully inspire at least one other person to tackle the challenge as well
4. Provide yet another way for folks to waste time online

I've always loved to read and there are countless adventures and journeys out there just waiting for a pair of eyes. It may seem an impossible task, but I assure you it can be done. If you do care to attempt the 52 in 52 challenge please feel free to send me your book list and it will be showcased, just a list of titles numbered 1-52+ is fine.

(I will be posting all of the books I've read since January 1, 2008 up until now and then continuing the posts as I complete new ones throughout the year.)

Welcome!