Finished reading Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
book
Wants to read The Unknowns by Gabriel Roth
Rated Still Here 6/10
A generally engaging multi-character-viewpoint story about Russian immigrants in New York and their relationships to each other, with a special focus on the technology that mediates those relationships. Well-drawn if not especially compelling; it's more of a slice-of-life than an arc, but it's a good solid read about convincing characters.
Rated A Dead Djinn in Cairo 9/10
<div>I really enjoy all the stories set in this alternate Cairo universe. </div>
Edited 48d ago
Rated The Enthusiast 8/10
Clever, breezy, thoroughly enjoyable comic novel about the interlocking misadventures of an undercover marketing agent. A pleasant surprise - I bought the book to support the writer of a blog I like but it was a great read on its own merits.
Wants to read 300 Arguments: Essays
Edited 48d ago
Edited 48d ago
Wants to read Death of the Author
Wants to read The Alice Network
Finished reading The Great Transition
Rated A Winter's Night by Valerio Massimo Manfredi 8/10
“Told in the tradition of country folktales,” <i>A Winter's Night</i>'s jacket copy reads. For some readers, I imagine that might be a deterrent, and if it is, resist your resistance. This expansive, multi-generational novel set in the first half of twentieth century Italy is as enjoyable as it is lovely. Manfredi gathers a lot of history into 400 pages, and while it's not exactly a quick read, <i>Night</i> never feels like a slog either — even if the characters themselves wonder when they might escape certain slog-like points in their lives.<br><br>(My full review appears on <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-winters-night-by-valerio-massimo.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)
Edited 48d ago
Finished reading The Best of Me
Finished reading Bog Queen
Finished reading How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures
Rated The Great Depression and the New Deal: A Very Short Introduction 6/10
Not a lot I didn't know already, but nicely done - efficiently walks through the major points while still having room for a little analysis of what did and didn't work.
Rated 21st-Century Yokel 10/10
I loved this immensely. More thoughts soon.
Edited 48d ago
Rated The coup / John Updike 6/10
Hmmm. Enjoyable, but ultimately kind of slight; beautifully written but too in love with its own language; too queasy-making about race and touched through with whatever the Africa version of "Orientalism" would be. Recommended with reservations - I haven't read much Updike but have to assume this is regarded as a lesser work.
Finished reading In My Kitchen: A Collection of New and Favorite Vegetarian Recipes
Rated Speak 6/10
Beautifully written sci-fi-ish novel about artificial intelligence, told in six separate storylines that don't quite hang together and vary in interest level. Thought-provoking and a quick read.
Rated A Psalm for the Wild-Built 6/10
<div>I think I would enjoy watching rather than reading this. I liked the premise, but the writing style wasn't always for me. Ymmv</div>
Edited 48d ago