History's Biggest Blunders (Ian Whitelaw)
I had a bad feeling about this book as soon as I started reading it; the first "blunder" is "Humankind domesticates plants and animals," which I think most people would agree has turned out pretty well, civilization wise. I chalked this up to the book not being titled "History's Most Nuanced Looks at Societal Development" and went on to the second "blunder", which is Pharoh not letting Moses and the Jews go free, even as the author mentions multiple times that God explains to Moses that he hardened Pharoah's heart. So is that really a blunder?
Eventually I got the sense that I know more than the author about most of these blunders (Did Alexander the Great really "push too far"? He won the Battle of Hydaspes and his army made him turn back; how is that one of "History's Biggest Blunders"?). This makes it a little tough to recommend, but it is fairly entertaining, and it's divided into two to three page chapters that are the perfect length for a bathroom break. Pick it up if you see it in the bargain bin, otherwise I can't recommend it too highly.
Grade: C-
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
"On Such a Full Sea"
On Such a Full Sea: A Novel (Chang-rae Lee)
I really wanted to like this book, and for the first 70 or so pages, I did; The setting of a ambiguously radiated future where Western civilization has declined seemingly more of malaise than anything else and been largely replaced by Chinese settlers is really interesting, even if our heroine doesn't have much of a personality.
The problem is that eventually I would like the scene to be set and the story to begin, and this never really happened. The author is unable (or, I suspect, just unwilling) to actually tell the story; for each page of our heroine's journey out in the wilds, you'll get a page about the city our heroine left, and while some of these are interesting, I eventually became deeply annoyed at cutting away from the main plot to meander through four pages about the weird uncle who used to live upstairs. By the time I was a third of the way through the book and realized that the plot was never going to be able to pick up any momentum this way, I bailed.
I'd recommend checking out of the library and going about 100 pages; if the author's elliptical style and refusal to get to the point aren't driving you crazy, you're set.
Grade: C-
I really wanted to like this book, and for the first 70 or so pages, I did; The setting of a ambiguously radiated future where Western civilization has declined seemingly more of malaise than anything else and been largely replaced by Chinese settlers is really interesting, even if our heroine doesn't have much of a personality.
The problem is that eventually I would like the scene to be set and the story to begin, and this never really happened. The author is unable (or, I suspect, just unwilling) to actually tell the story; for each page of our heroine's journey out in the wilds, you'll get a page about the city our heroine left, and while some of these are interesting, I eventually became deeply annoyed at cutting away from the main plot to meander through four pages about the weird uncle who used to live upstairs. By the time I was a third of the way through the book and realized that the plot was never going to be able to pick up any momentum this way, I bailed.
I'd recommend checking out of the library and going about 100 pages; if the author's elliptical style and refusal to get to the point aren't driving you crazy, you're set.
Grade: C-
Sunday, April 20, 2014
"Empire of Liberty"
Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789 - 1815 [Oxford History of the United States] (Gordon S. Wood)
For a massive history book I really enjoyed, I'm not sure I have much to say here aside from a strong recommendation; The core of this book is a why-didn't-I-learn-this-in-school exploration of the early clash between the Federalists - trying to make America into a European-style Power complete with landed aristocracy - and the Democratic-Republicans under Jefferson, attempting to mold America into a republic full of small farmers. This might not sound that interesting, but if so I'm not doing it justice; some of the truly bizarre ideas (including an attempt to completely outlaw commerce) are really staggering, and this is an easy recommend to anyone even casually interested in American history. Don't let the size scare you off from this gem.
Grade: A
For a massive history book I really enjoyed, I'm not sure I have much to say here aside from a strong recommendation; The core of this book is a why-didn't-I-learn-this-in-school exploration of the early clash between the Federalists - trying to make America into a European-style Power complete with landed aristocracy - and the Democratic-Republicans under Jefferson, attempting to mold America into a republic full of small farmers. This might not sound that interesting, but if so I'm not doing it justice; some of the truly bizarre ideas (including an attempt to completely outlaw commerce) are really staggering, and this is an easy recommend to anyone even casually interested in American history. Don't let the size scare you off from this gem.
Grade: A
Monday, April 7, 2014
Service Advisory
Your favorite blog about W40k novels and massive history books is going to be slowing down for a week or two; I'm currently reading the gigantic Empire of Liberty, which tips the scale at 800 pages and 2.4 pounds. This is going to take a while for me to read, which means middle of April may be quieter than usual around here. Resist the urge to go outside or interact with your loved ones until regular programming resumes. Instead, here's some other fine blogs to view:
NHam's Trip Reports - http://ntripreport.blogspot.com/
Eating Thru Albany (haitus) - http://eatingthrualbany.blogspot.com/
Husband Crime blotter - http://husbandcrimeblotter.blogspot.com/
NHam's Trip Reports - http://ntripreport.blogspot.com/
Eating Thru Albany (haitus) - http://eatingthrualbany.blogspot.com/
Husband Crime blotter - http://husbandcrimeblotter.blogspot.com/
Saturday, April 5, 2014
"American Savage"
American Savage: Insights, Slights, and Fights on Faith, Sex, Love, and Politics (Dan Savage)
I had an eerie feeling reading this book; Savage's voice comes through so strongly that I couldn't help but hear him reading the text. This is not necessarily a bad thing, although I guess it removes the need for an audiobook.
Aside from that, I liked it; Savage's positions seems pretty sensible to a liberal dupe like myself (although I was left wanting to hear more about his collection of Catholic kitsch).
My only two caveats are that I'd recommend skipping the gun control chapter, which is a real downer and doesn't look to be getting better any time soon; and this is probably a book to get out of the library (I polished it off in two sittings).
Grade: B+
I had an eerie feeling reading this book; Savage's voice comes through so strongly that I couldn't help but hear him reading the text. This is not necessarily a bad thing, although I guess it removes the need for an audiobook.
Aside from that, I liked it; Savage's positions seems pretty sensible to a liberal dupe like myself (although I was left wanting to hear more about his collection of Catholic kitsch).
My only two caveats are that I'd recommend skipping the gun control chapter, which is a real downer and doesn't look to be getting better any time soon; and this is probably a book to get out of the library (I polished it off in two sittings).
Grade: B+
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