Category: Writing

author: Kage Baker
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at: 2010/04/19
date added: 2010/04/20
shelves: fiction, history, sci-fi
review:
I saw a reference to this book when I was reading about Baker’s recent death, and I didn’t think I’d read it. Turns out, once I started on the stories, that I had, but it had been a long time, and I liked it enough to read it again.

Enjoyable collection of stories from Baker’s "Company" setting, with a variety of settings (altho lots of California), characters, and time periods. If I remember correctly, this is the volume that introduced me to Alec.

As always, love her narrative style(s), although it’s a little jouncy going from one tale to the next. Makes me want to go back and read all the Company novels over again!

author: Kage Baker
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at: 2010/04/19
date added: 2010/04/20
shelves: fiction, sci-fi, history
review:
I saw a reference to this book when I was reading about Baker’s recent death, and I didn’t think I’d read it. Turns out, once I started on the stories, that I had, but it had been a long time, and I liked it enough to read it again.

Enjoyable collection of stories from Baker’s "Company" setting, with a variety of settings (altho lots of California), characters, and time periods. If I remember correctly, this is the volume that introduced me to Alec.

As always, love her narrative style(s), although it’s a little jouncy going from one tale to the next. Makes me want to go back and read all the Company novels over again!

author: Paul Krugman
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2010/04/16
date added: 2010/04/20
shelves: economics, history, non-fiction, politics
review:
If you read Krugman’s columns or blog, a lot of this will feel familiar. But the level of detail is very helpful in understanding our current economic situation. In particular, I appreciated the review of the crises of the 90s; I was around for them, but honestly not paying that much attention. Plus he ties them very neatly together with the current situation: as harbingers, clues, and analogies.

"Depression Economics," by the way, refers to situations in which crisis is caused by the collapse of demand. It’s a weird counterintuitive state of affairs.

I would love to read a postscript to this, something that covers up to the present day. I imagine I’ll be on the lookout for a new edition in another 4 or 5 years.

author: Paul Krugman
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2010/04/16
date added: 2010/04/20
shelves: economics, history, non-fiction, politics
review:
If you read Krugman’s columns or blog, a lot of this will feel familiar. But the level of detail is very helpful in understanding our current economic situation. In particular, I appreciated the review of the crises of the 90s; I was around for them, but honestly not paying that much attention. Plus he ties them very neatly together with the current situation: as harbingers, clues, and analogies.

"Depression Economics," by the way, refers to situations in which crisis is caused by the collapse of demand. It’s a weird counterintuitive state of affairs.

I would love to read a postscript to this, something that covers up to the present day. I imagine I’ll be on the lookout for a new edition in another 4 or 5 years.

author: Lucy Jo Palladino
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2010/04/08
date added: 2010/04/20
shelves: non-fiction, psychology, self-help, wishlist
review:
Yes, it’s self-help. And yes, it was helpful. A lot of good tips for getting out of the doldrums and/or ratcheting down from crazy.

author: Lucy Jo Palladino
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2010/04/08
date added: 2010/04/20
shelves: psychology, non-fiction, self-help, wishlist
review:
Yes, it’s self-help. And yes, it was helpful. A lot of good tips for getting out of the doldrums and/or ratcheting down from crazy.

author: Rick Steves
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2010/04/03
date added: 2010/04/20
shelves: autobiography, history, non-fiction, politics, travel
review:
I first starting watching Steves’s show when I was in college, and though we often made fun of his extreme dorkiness, I’ve always appreciated his enthusiasm for travel and for other cultures.

In this book, he writes about how his travels have given him new perspectives on the political and social challenges of our time. In particular, his way of traveling, which is to get away from the tours and tourist traps, and out into the everyday world.

Each chapter focuses on a different topic, explored through his experiences in a particular region. Mostly Europe, but there is a chapter on El Salvador and another on Iran. What I find is that he has a very optimistic but nuanced view of the world. It also becomes clear that there’s a religious influence to his views, but IMHO it’s the best kind of Christian: infused with love and charity.

I found it fascinating and engaging; it made me think about my own views and to daydream about travel, which I suppose was the point.

Bonus points for gorgeous full-color photography. It’s rare to find a thoughtful (not natural science) non-fiction book that also has such great imagery!

author: Rick Steves
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2010/04/03
date added: 2010/04/20
shelves: autobiography, history, non-fiction, politics, travel, favorites
review:
I first starting watching Steves’s show when I was in college, and though we often made fun of his extreme dorkiness, I’ve always appreciated his enthusiasm for travel and for other cultures.

In this book, he writes about how his travels have given him new perspectives on the political and social challenges of our time. In particular, his way of traveling, which is to get away from the tours and tourist traps, and out into the everyday world.

Each chapter focuses on a different topic, explored through his experiences in a particular region. Mostly Europe, but there is a chapter on El Salvador and another on Iran. What I find is that he has a very optimistic but nuanced view of the world. It also becomes clear that there’s a religious influence to his views, but IMHO it’s the best kind of Christian: infused with love and charity.

I found it fascinating and engaging; it made me think about my own views and to daydream about travel, which I suppose was the point.

Bonus points for gorgeous full-color photography. It’s rare to find a thoughtful (not natural science) non-fiction book that also has such great imagery!

author: Christopher Robbins
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2010/03/30
date added: 2010/04/07
shelves: history, non-fiction, travel
review:
Fabulous. (short review, would like to write more later. might not, tho.)

author: Christopher Robbins
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2010/03/30
date added: 2010/04/07
shelves: non-fiction, history, travel
review:
Fabulous. (short review, would like to write more later. might not, tho.)