Category Archives: books
books i’ve, read, re-read, skimmed, and those i wanna read…and how literature has influenced my life
bookworm wednesday – born to run
as i was writing yesterday’s post about how this book had a significant impact on my approach toward running, i had to exercise some real restraint not to gush about how great it really is, beyond running inspiration. today’s bookworm review is of a book that i believe has a very broad appeal: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (4.5 of 5 stars)
if you enjoy epic stories, you’ll like this book. if you are awed by incredible physical feats, you’ll like this book. if you are delighted by interesting characters, you’ll like this book. if you are fascinated by anatomy and physiology, you’ll like this book. if you are intrigued by different cultures, interested in science or history, or excited by adventure, you will like this book.
mcdougall’s writing style seamlessly transitions back and forth between research and information and the compelling narrative. it is his own story—his search for an answer to the nagging question of why running caused him nothing but pain.
much of the book is spent uncovering the secrets of the reclusive tarahumara indians, who for centuries have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest over the savage terrain of mexico’s copper canyon and enjoy every mile of it. but mcdougall also takes you from the high-tech science labs at harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across north america, meeting fascinating people all along the way.
i loved marveling over the ultra-athletes, learning awesome scientific and cultural facts, and feeling encouraged about my own potential. i would recommend this book to anyone. it is entertaining and informative, no matter what your interests.
bookworm wednesday – longitude
it’s a rare treat when a nonfiction book reads like a work of fiction. i love to learn, so education is entertainment for me, but it’s nice to get caught up in a true story the way you might in a novel. this week’s bookworm wednesday review is of a little book that did just that for me: Longitude by Dava Sobel (3 of 5 stars).
i didn’t realize what a big deal “the longitude problem” was in the eighteeth century. it was the scientific dilemma of the day that impacted the fortunes of nations, the lives of thousands of sailors, and all exploration by sea. it was such a significant concern that the british parliament offered a prize equal to several million of today’s dollars to anyone who could solve the problem.
john harrison was the first person to imagine a mechanical solution. everyone else (galileo & sir isaac newton included) had always looked to the sky for the answer, mapping stars and planets. the story is of harrison’s forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper–an epic scientific quest. and along the way the reader gets to learn about the fascinating world of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking.
sobel’s storytelling is engaging, but not engrossing. the story itself is interesting enough to keep you flying through the short volume. i can’t decide if this book is more history, biography, or science, but if you like any of those you won’t regret spending a few hours with this one.
what is your favorite type of book to read? do you like when several genres intersect in one book?
bookworm wednesday – the night circus
let’s kick off the virtual book club with an enchanting story i devoured while visiting my brother in colorado over the new year: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (3.5 of 5 stars)
Le Cirque des Rêves is only open at night, and the fact that it appears and disappears without warning is the least curious thing about it. the nocturnal attraction, styled entirely in black and white, is full of extraordinary wonders, and not even the performers know that it is the setting for a behind-the-scenes magical duel.
i was certainly charmed as celia and marco play in a game they’ve been trained for since childhood. their complicated relationship with the circus, the performers, the patrons, and each other entangles the fates of many into an already high-stakes battle.
the descriptive and imaginative detail in this book is truly…well…magical.
the fantastical themes really worked for me, sweeping me into scenes where i marveled at the creativity and inventiveness of the author.
for me, the story was more entertaining when i decided to just enjoy the ride and not worry about the route or destination of the sprawling, time-jumping story. the puzzle is tightly woven and very slowly unraveled, and while i usually get into a good brain-twister, trying to reconcile all the pieces of this one would only have diminished my delight.
has anyone read this book? were you drawn in by the mystery or the imagery?
bookworm wednesday
more interaction, strengthened relationships, and cooperative accomplishments are the goal of my one word for 2012. but i have a feeling that sharing more this year will also have the happy side-effect of increasing my general activity in areas that i commit to share.
figment friday will no doubt encourage me to write more, so i’m sure establishing a weekly book review will guarantee that i finish the books i start.
i’ve been tracking the books i read on goodreads for several years, but not all of my bookish friends are members of the site. i do invite book recommendations and reviews here on the what i read page, but that’s not really the best forum for stirring up good discussion over a great (or horrible) book.
so for all the bookworms out there, wednesdays will be for you. i may not be able to read one book per week (i’m aiming for 2-3 per month), so when i haven’t finished anything new, i’ll share about another book that i’ve read in the past year or two.
i just finished a pretty good read that i’m looking forward to reviewing next week. what about you? have you read something lately that i should put on my list?
image via agile101
cooking up an un-cook book
it’s rewarding to see hard work come to fruition. the project i mentioned working on with chef mandy is almost complete! she’s crafted a brilliant set of recipes, and the publisher has designed a breathtaking piece of eye candy with so-vivid-you-could-lick-the-page photos on every spread. The Raw Food Feast: 7 Days Through the Rainbow is in the final stages of production, and i couldn’t be more excited about it’s june release!
the unique thing about this living cuisine cookbook is that it’s devised to help you organize and streamline your preparations so that you can easily put together three raw meals a day (plus a snack) with a real-life schedule. mandy provides a shopping list and menu for seven entire days, with each day’s recipes focusing around a different color of the rainbow. what a fantastic way to appreciate all the colorful produce God has created!
by concentrating on a few main ingredients to be used in several recipes, chef mandy shows you how to cut down on waste. this book makes it so easy to achieve raw food yummy-ness and reap the healthy benefits. there are even detailed step-by-step photos to accompany the instructions. another feature exclusive to this book is the demonstration of how to incorporate therapeutic-grade essential oils into the recipes, which adds a whole other dimension of taste and health advantages.
i can vouch that every single recipe is mouth-watering delicious. it was a ton of fun working with the team, and i feel very honored to be a part of this project. you can view more behind-the-scenes action of our adventures in recipe testing, planning, and final photo shoot here. so sorry – no food photos ’til the book is out! you can pre-order a copy now at the growing healthy homes store for only $16. Let me know if you want a signed copy!
