Reading
The following is a list of some of the books I've read over the past few years, and some thoughts on them. Some of these thoughts were written as I was reading the books, and I haven't added to my review since completion.
The Wisdom of Crowds
October, 2004
The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations by James Surowiecki. I couldn't resist snagging this from Jason when I was home in NYC. Surowiecki's column in The New Yorker is one of my favorite things to read in the magazine. So far, this is as interesting as I expected.
Update: I'm so not reading this book anymore, and I didn't even finish it. Somewhere in mid-August I just stopped reading and haven't gotten back on track.
Update #2: I never picked this up again and moved on to another book. I'm sure it would be interesting to read, but the timing was off for me and my brain and curiosity were thinking for something else.
At Home in France
August, 2004
At Home in France: Tales of an American and Her Home Abroad by Ann Barry. Ever the sucker for books about living in France, I couldn't resist picking this up at the bookstore last week. It's about a single woman from New York City (a former travel editor at The New Yorker and the New York Times) who buys a house in Southwestern France (in the Lot) and visits it a few times a year. It was a delightful but bittersweet tale and I really enjoyed it.
Invisible Eden
July, 2004
Invisible Eden. I picked this up at Logan Airport in Boston on my way back to Nantucket a few weeks ago. The premise -- a single mom from NYC who had retreated to Truro, on Cape Cod -- seemed interesting. Her murder in her home seemed tragic. The book however, was mostly ponderous. I read the whole thing for some reason, and at the end was left annoyed by it all, which is a not a good feeling to have after reading about someone's life being brutally cut short.
The Island at the Center of the World
June, 2004
The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan, the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America. A fascinating look at the early colonies in America, and a good examination of the world in the late seventeenth century. The lushness of the American countryside when the Europeans arrived is hard to believe. And the characters and shaping of New York is a great story I'd never known. A must-read for any New York City history buff. Or American history buff. Or really just anyone.
Between Meals: An Appetite for Paris
May, 2004
Between Meals: An Appetite for Paris by A.J. Liebling. I really enjoyed this book and wrote a full-entry about it that you can read here, An appetite for A.J. Liebling. A snippet: "On a whim I ordered [Between Meals] from Amazon, ignoring the reviews who failed to see its classicality and felt, 'One star is an over-rating!' I'm happy to report I haven't enjoyed a book so much in ages!" One of my favorites from 2004!
O Pioneers!
April, 2004
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather. Another present from my father for Xmas. This was a wonderful novel, a voyage to a time that's long gone yet so clear. Ms. Cather's descriptive abilities brought a flat unknown stretch of land alive for me.
Kitchen Confidential
February, 2004
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain. A perfect gift from a megnut reader, this is a great fast read inspiring me once again to cook more. And it might just push me to go get that restaurant job I've always dreamed about.
History: A Novel
January, 2004
History: A Novel by Elsa Morante. I'm still reading this, it's very long (700+ pages) and I LOVE it! The writing -- especially considering it's a translation -- is beautiful and poetic, and the story has been a sad and lovely long journey. I've got about 200 pages to go and am both sad and expectant as I near the end.
Glass, Paper, Beans
November, 2003
Glass, Paper, Beans: Revelations on the Nature and Value of Ordinary Things by Leah Hager Cohen. A Christmas present from my dad last year, it took me a while to get around to reading this, but it was great. A wonderful examination of three simple things whose roles in our everyday lives we rarely stop to contemplate. Lush descriptions and honest examinations enhance the already strong narrative.
Beyond Fear
October, 2003
Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World by Bruce Schneier. I received a copy of this from Bruce himself. Lots of interesting things to think about in these days when the government is proposing all kinds of new "security" measures. A very nice voice of reason.
Bringing Down the House
September, 2003
Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich. Cameron bought this for me at the MIT Press bookstore as a TR100 present. It was so good, and just the thing to send me scampering off to Vegas to begin a life of card-counting. Alas, I'm so bad at doing simple math in my head that I resort to using my fingers. Do you think they'll notice that at the tables?
The Awakening
September, 2003
The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Some days this is my favorite book of all-time, and it certainly never wavers from its perch in my top 5. Each time I re-read this wonder, I discover something new, reconsider something remembered, and am all-around astounded at the quality of Chopin's writing. I also keep thinking it would make a lovely movie, if done right and not Hollywooded at the end.
Moneyball
September, 2003
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis. Picked it up after hearing various people, including Tim O'Reilly, touting it. It was very interesting, especially in its discussion of irrational markets and how to succeed by making more rational decisions. Totally recommended for anyone wanting to succeed by making better decisions and not just following the herd.
McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container
August, 2003
McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: A Container Garden of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers Recommended by a megnut reader, this is a great guide to everything I don't know about growing things (and I really don't know anything). I hadn't even thought about keeping my "garden" going through the fall, but this is encouraging me to do so, and explaining when and how to plant the next round of stuff, like kale! Woo hoo!
The Idiot
June, 2003
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I read about 300 pages of this book while I was on vacation in France in June 2003 but once I got home, I put it down. I rarely put down books, and I generally love Russian novels. But I just found this tiring, heavy, pedantic. I wanted to like it, I wanted to be completely absorbed by it, but I just felt like I could see the end coming -- good will get crushed by evil, Idiot == Jesus-like -- and didn't stick around to see that happen.
Cat's Cradle
May, 2003
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. A re-read because there's no time like the WMD-MIA propaganda-filled present for revisiting the delicious absurdity of Vonnegut. And of course, it occurs to me that the weblog community is a granfalloon. What's a granfalloon?
Liar's Poker
April, 2003
Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street by Michael Lewis. A fast, exciting read about the bond market in the 80's. Reminding me that I enjoy financial stuff and that maybe my next career should involve markets and trading and money. Really an enjoyable book and neat look at another world. Two thumbs up!
The American Dream
January, 2003
The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation by Jim Cullen. A Christmas gift from my father to Jason, I picked it up the other day out of curiousity. Very interesting, lots to chew on in there about what it means to be American and our common concept of the American Dream, and how it's changed over time, how we've reframed it, and how it differs from the intents of the Puritans and Founding Fathers. It's made me think about a lot of things, and that's always good.
Nickle and Dimed
December, 2002
![Nickle and Dimed, on [not] getting by in America](/images/nickel_and_dimed.jpg)
Nickle and Dimed, on [not] getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. The books I most enjoy aren't those that are necessarily great -- and Nickle and Dimed isn't great -- but those that change the way I think. And Ms. Ehrenreich's book is doing just that, reminding me of what it was like when I worked for $4.25 an hour in college. I generously received a "raise" to $4.50, or so said my boss, except it was the day before the minimum wage increased to that very amount. This book reminds me of my early work experiences, makes me realize how far I've come since then, reminds me how I need to treat everyone who works for me (whether as employee or simply a server at a restaurant), and most importantly, makes me so very appreciative of the work I am paid to do.
Is There a Nutmeg in the House?
November, 2002
Is There a Nutmeg in the House?: Essays on Practical Cooking with more than 150 Recipes by Elizabeth David. A gift from my mother when she visited me in Paris, I dipped into it on the plane home. I can't believe I hadn't heard of Elizabeth David before now, she's a wonderful food writer and her no-nonsense approach to cooking and life is very appealing to me. Very inspiring and hunger-inducing.
The Great Gatsby
August, 2002
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When I first read this I didn't like it. Upon further readings, it grew on me, each time revealing something I'd overlooked in a previous read. This time I'm amazed by the richness of the world created. The foibles of the minor characters (such as the man who bonks the wheel off his car by drunk-driving it into a ditch alongside Gatsby's driveway) and their names make me giggle aloud as I re-read this classic in the evening in bed.
Seabiscuit
July, 2002
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hittenbrand. A captivating true story of the 1930's racing legend Seabiscuit and the world of Thoroughbred horse racing. Highly recommended. Also, this book turned me crazy for Seabiscuit, and if you do a Google search for Seabiscuit on my site, you'll see how crazy I went.
Holy Land Unholy War
May, 2002
Holy Land Unholy War by Anton La Guardia. Purchased from Amazon UK because it's not yet released in the US. This was suggested in April, 2002 when I asked readers for recommendations for books on the Middle East. Very good, it's exactly what I was looking for and has increased my understanding of the region tremendously.
The Orchid Thief
April, 2002
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. A wonderful look at the world of orchids, beautifully written. Dreamy and engaging. I even bought an orchid after reading it, and so far it's still alive.
The Lord of the Rings
April, 2002
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Into the final part of the voyage and I don't even know what to say about these books that hasn't been said before. An absolute amazing, wonderous book that I look forward to reading again and again. I was sad when I finished them.
The Lord of the Rings
February, 2002
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I know I said I was reading Honky, but the box set arrived while I was in NYC, a gift from a megnut reader, and I had to dive immediately into it. I'm nearly done with the first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring, and it's so good. I don't know why I didn't read it before.
Paris to the Moon
January, 2002
Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik. This is a great book that Mena and Ben gave me for my birthday. It's reminding me of how interesting it is to live abroad and how every day is slightly more of an adventure than when you live at boring-old-home. At least, that's how it was when I lived abroad. Two thumbs up. Plus it makes me want to go visit France again.
The Count of Monte Cristo
November, 2001
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (yes, I've been reading this for months, on and off.) Pirates and jewels and extravagance galore. I am going to finish this book and I will read nothing else until I do! Update: I finished it!!! Yippee!!! It was really very good, and I was a fool to take so long in reading it. Honestly.
Emergence
October, 2001
Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software by Steven Johnson. I read half of this and it was good, but I put it down in favor of something else and now I'm all messed up.
The Soul of a Chef
October, 2001
The Soul of a Chef: The Journey Toward Perfection by Michael Ruhlman. This book was so good! I spent half the time in Berlin babbling about cooking and Thomas Keller to Jason. I am more into cooking than ever.
The Making of a Chef
September, 2001
The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America by Michael Ruhlman. Received this as a gift and couldn't resist diving right in. I'm all cooking ga-ga these days. Excellent look at what it's like to spend two years studying at the CIA. If you like cooking at all, read this and then the Soul of a Chef above. Both are excellent.
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