As soon as I saw the this book featured on 60 Minutes in a story about a lawsuit against the publisher I immediately sought to acquire it. Of course, As soon as I saw the this book featured on 60 Minutes in a story about a lawsuit against the publisher I immediately sought to acquire it. Of course, I wasn't looking for any instructions or methods, I simply wanted it because it was to become a so-called banned book. If I remember the backstory correctly, back in the 1990s a man a hired a hit man to kill his family based on instructions in the book. Surviving relatives sued the published, who settled and agreed to stop publishing the book... thus immediately spiking its resale value.
I did eventually buy the book in a second-hand shop or garage sale - for a couple bucks, not the inflated price (yay!). I read it out of curiosity to see what all the fuss was about. Although not very lengthy, this book is a definite slog ; it was very tedious getting to the end. The writing is amateurish and needs editing. Ironically, the methods outlined in the chapters are either out of date or simply wrong. Anyone following these instructions would be easily traced by investigators.
It remains on my shelf as a novelty and conversation piece....more
The artwork is the most enjoyable aspect of this book. The plot is certainly aimed at a younger audience. A bit too much of the "can't we all just getThe artwork is the most enjoyable aspect of this book. The plot is certainly aimed at a younger audience. A bit too much of the "can't we all just get along" for my taste....more
Bourdain was such a brilliant writer. His wit, sarcasm, and sardonic humor come through in all his books. This one is perhaps less known, but well worBourdain was such a brilliant writer. His wit, sarcasm, and sardonic humor come through in all his books. This one is perhaps less known, but well worth the read. It's about Typhoid Mary... a person we all may have joked about but may not realize that she was a real person... who led a tragic existence....more
This is my first foray into the much-vaunted Joan Didion canon. A little bit dated but interesting nonetheless. She writes sentences that span entire This is my first foray into the much-vaunted Joan Didion canon. A little bit dated but interesting nonetheless. She writes sentences that span entire paragraphs! My goodness!
As is my habit, I enjoyed looking up characters profiled to see what they are doing today....more
I really wanted to enjoy this story. There's obviously a huge amount of work that goes into drawing and writing graphic novels like this. The story diI really wanted to enjoy this story. There's obviously a huge amount of work that goes into drawing and writing graphic novels like this. The story didn't grab me. Certain plot points struck me as unlikely, others cliché. Also, I needed footnotes with translations of the Tagalog dialogue. Some of it, one can figure out, but many were undecipherable to non-speakers. And there was extensive use of this so that it became frustrating....more
Many non-fiction books have an inevitable shelf-life. Developments in history, culture, evolving zeitgeists can render many books moot. Such is the caMany non-fiction books have an inevitable shelf-life. Developments in history, culture, evolving zeitgeists can render many books moot. Such is the case with this book. American food ways have evolved so dramatically since the advent of the internet, especially as it relates to professional cooking, that a lot of author's points are moot.
My interest in reading it was as a sequel to The Making of a Chef. In this one, he returns (as an alum) to the culinary school where he attended "undercover." This time around his intentions are out in the open and he is able to reflect on how the cooking scene has changed since his graduation. My point is that, the cooking scene has evolved even more! Still, this is a fun read. As I've mentioned in other reviews, I enjoy looking up various folks profiled in the book to see where they are today. Some are still cooking, others not....more
Hulu's remake of the mini-series based on this book gave me the idea enjoy it again. The audiobook version is highly produced with actors narrating thHulu's remake of the mini-series based on this book gave me the idea enjoy it again. The audiobook version is highly produced with actors narrating the dialogue for the various characters. Housework, cooking, cleaning, commuting hadn't been so fun in years.
The story itself is well imagined and excellently researched. Clavell clearly shows his deep understanding of Japanese culture and history, including (and especially) some of it's less savory aspects that are usually glossed over in history books. Some folks may criticize this an yet another "white savior" trope but that's not quite correct. I did not anticipate the ending... highly original and unexpected!...more
A good introduction to non-fiction and historical reading for children. Probably appropriate for 4ht grade and up. Lots of full color pictures to enhaA good introduction to non-fiction and historical reading for children. Probably appropriate for 4ht grade and up. Lots of full color pictures to enhance the experience and entice reluctant readers....more
Without much explanation, Ingalls Wilder jumps back to the past, before littles houses in the woods and prairie, to rural New York state, to give us tWithout much explanation, Ingalls Wilder jumps back to the past, before littles houses in the woods and prairie, to rural New York state, to give us the origin story of the man Laura will someday marry. The story does tend to lag a bit at parts, seeming repetitive. Nevertheless it's a good glimpse into life of the past....more
This is yet another title I read as a child and picked up again as an adult. I realized the version I read after finding it on the shelf in my grandpaThis is yet another title I read as a child and picked up again as an adult. I realized the version I read after finding it on the shelf in my grandparent's house was a simplified version meant for English language learners.
Twain's writing style, using the vernacular and phrasings common to the later 19th century is occasionally difficult for me to fall into. Thus I decided to listen to it as an audiobook. I was a great choice. William Dufris's voice is perfect for this tale. He changes his voice just enough for each of the characters and gets the accents and dialects just so. It was compelling listening. One often forgets this is considered a children's tale. This is a wonderful tale for all ages....more
This is an excellent bit of trivia to add to the collection of factoids, anecdotes, and other little used information that lives in that brain of yourThis is an excellent bit of trivia to add to the collection of factoids, anecdotes, and other little used information that lives in that brain of yours. After finishing the book I was browsing the bibliography and end notes. It occurred that Joel Rose takes this obscure, esoteric episode and synthesizes an interesting tale. The incident itself was recorded for posterity long after the fact. Even then many of the key bits of information were sparse, if not lost to history. Rose fleshes out the episode. The lack of detailed information gives the author an opportunity to describe the aspects of daily life in New York at that time.
Supermarkets were not yet in existence, so how indeed did folks go about the business of buying the food for dinner and other meals. I was transported to a New York vastly different from the contemporary, modern beast it is today. If it sucks to be poor in this day and age, but compared with the desperation and misery of poor folks in the early 19th century New York, it would be considered a life of relative luxury.
One gripe, which has nothing to do with the author is a lack of an official list of all the "urban historical" titles in this series. One can glean most of them with some adept Google and Goodreads searches, but why not just have a list? I serendipitously found this one touted on the jacket of Bourdain's Typhoid Mary book....more
I recommend seeking out all of this author's works. Many are out of print and require interlibrary loans or eBay. seek them out. you won't regret it.I recommend seeking out all of this author's works. Many are out of print and require interlibrary loans or eBay. seek them out. you won't regret it....more