Pop Culture Breakdown: Non-Fiction

Rating

Synopsis: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

From ghosts, vampires, and zombies to serial killers, cannibalistic hillbillies, and haunted Japanese videocassettes, How to Survive a Horror Movie shows how to defeat every obstacle found in scary films. Readers will discover:

     • How to Perform an Exorcism
     • What to Do If You Did Something Last Summer
     • How to Persuade the Skeptical Local Sheriff
     • How to Vanquish a Murderous Doll
     • How to Survive an Alien Invasion
     • How to Tell If You’ve Been Dead Since the Beginning of the Movie

and much, much more. Complete with useful instructions, insane illustrations, and a list of 100 important films to study, How to Survive a Horror Movie is essential reading for prom queens, jocks, teenage babysitters, and anyone employed by a summer camp.

The Good: The book starts off with a delightful prologue from Wes Craven, which is definitely worth the read. Seth Grahame-Smith is quickly becoming a household name, especially with a movie adaption of his Pride & Prejudice & Zombies coming out soon. How to Survive a Horror Movie contains a wealth of his tongue-in-cheek humor that fans will love. As an avid horror movie fan, I appreciated quite a bit of what the author was putting out there in this book. "What to Do If Your Corn Has Children In It" may just be the best chapter title ever.

The Bad: This is much less useful compared to other pop culture survival books in terms of actual real world application. At least in the Zombie Survival Guide, I learned tips that could be used in situations other than zombie attacks. This book rested solely on its humor and that was asking too much of it. While parts are very funny, others fall flat. This is very much a coffee table book - something to build a conversation around rather than something to be read.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Dirty Daddy by Bob Saget

Dirty Daddy by Bob Saget

2014, It Books

Rating

Synopsis: Bob Saget, the decidedly irreverent stand-up comedian and beloved TV star, delivers uproarious, uncensored, and heartfelt stories from a life in entertainment and beyond

Millions of viewers know and love Bob Saget from his role as the sweetly neurotic father on the smash hit Full House, and as the charming wisecracking host of America's Funniest Home Videos. And then there are the legions of fans who can't get enough of his scatological, out-of-his-mind stand-up routines, comedy specials, and outrageously profane performances in such shows as HBO's Entourage and the hit documentary The Aristocrats. In his bold and wildly entertaining publishing debut, Bob continues to embrace his dark side and gives readers the book they have long been waiting for—hilarious and often dirty yet warm and disarmingly sincere.

Bob talks about the connection between humor and pain, offering insights into his own life, including the deaths of his beloved sisters. He pays homage to the people who shaped and inspired him: his mom, Dolly; his father, Ben (the comedy influence who instilled his love of "sick silliness"); and the teacher who told him, "You need to make people laugh," as well as legendary comedians such as Richard Pryor, David Letterman, Billy Crystal, and Robin Williams.

Bob believes there's a time and a place for filth and immature humor—and for gentle family comedy. Dirty Daddy is packed with both, from his never-before-heard stories of what really went on behind the scenes of two of the most successful family shows of all times, with costars like John Stamos, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Ashley Olsen, to his liberating experience in The Aristocrats, his Comedy Central roast, and his role of playing an extreme version of himself on Entourage. Bob opens up about his career, his reputation for sick humor, his pride and love for Full House, and how he's come to terms with the fame of being DT—"Danny Tanner." Throughout, he shares tales of close friends and colleagues like Rodney Dangerfield and Don Rickles, and recalls his experiences with show business legends, including Johnny Carson and George Carlin.

Told with his highly original blend of silliness, vulgarity, wit, and heart, Dirty Daddy reveals Bob Saget as never before—a man who loves being funny and making people laugh above all else.

The Good: You get a very good look at the life and history of Bob Saget in Dirty Daddy. You get to know who he is, far beyond the persona he portrays.

The Bad: I went into this book thinking Bob Saget was the man. That this was going to be a hilarious and scandalous read. I was rather disappointed. Dirty Daddy wasn't even a little funny. Saget is extremely obsessed with farts and other little boy humor. His version of "dirty" wasn't remotely close to my own. There was no scandal here either. Saget is protective of his friends, and while that's a good thing, that makes for no fun private stories shared.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Assholes Finish First by Tucker Max

Assholes Finish First by Tucker Max

2010, Gallery Books

Rating

Synopsis: What do you do when you've become rich and famous for writing a #1 best-selling book about your drunken, sexual misadventures? I'll tell you what I do: I write another fucking book.

This is that book. Assholes Finish First is hilarious in ways you will recognize from I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, and in other, newer ways you won't. Of course it has all the sex and debauchery you expect from my writing, but with a twist. You already know how I deal with women when I am poor and anonymous. You have no idea how I do it when I have money and fame.

It also answers the hard questions you've never thought of asking. What's it like to have sex with a midget? How about two of 'em? What happens when you eat too much beef jerky and then drink a gallon of vegetable juice? Or get head in an X-ray machine? The answers are inside, they are absurd, and they are the product of one man's experiences:

My name is still Tucker Max, and I am still an asshole.

The Good: Tucker Max has grown up. A little. Enough that he's sort of over constant random sex and debauchery. This is what makes Assholes Finish First readable. In his previous book, Max was a grating little boy enthralled with his own penis. At least in some of these stories, he's matured enough to realize the ridiculousness he perpetrates isn't always hilarious.

The Bad: Max is still a jerk. He continues to mock women, a large part of what made him famous in the first place. It's expected, but it's also sort of stupid. How many times can people read him ridiculing the naive and stupid? It's like he's stuck on repeat.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

On Writing by Stephen King

On Writing by Stephen King

2002, Pocket Books

Website / Goodreads / Amazon

Rating

Synopsis: Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King's advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported near-fatal accident in 1999 -- and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery.

The Good: On Writing is a 2 part book. The first part consists of short autobiographical stories about Stephen King's live. King is a fantastic writer and an interesting man, so it goes without saying that these stories are a lot of fun. The second half of the book is writing advice. Obviously, King knows what he's talking about here and the advice is logical and easy to understand. More importantly, King doesn't spew on pretentiously, as many other books about writing do. He gives you the facts, often tying them into his own experiences. There is an honesty here, without promises of fame and fortune, but rather a realistic look at the possibilities you may encounter. Even those not interested in writing themselves will enjoy this book and I can't imagine someone reading On Writing and not falling in love with King just a little bit more.

The Bad: Nothing at all.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Christmas Encyclopedia, 3rd edition by William D. Crump

The Christmas Encyclopedia, 3rd edition by William D. Crump

2013, McFarland & Company

Rating

Synopsis: First published in 2001, this considerably expanded third edition of The Christmas Encyclopedia adds 281 new entries, bringing the total number of Christmas topics to more than 760. Continuing in the format of the previous editions, a wide variety of subjects are included: individual carols and songs; historical events at Christmastime; popular Christmas symbols; Christmas plants, place names, and stamps; and celebrations in countries around the world, including the origins of some of the most cherished traditions in the United States. Unique to this work is its emphasis on Christmas as depicted in the popular media, with entries covering literary works such as Call Me Mrs. Miracle and Silver Bells, classic television series such as Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie, motion pictures such as Arthur Christmas and Santa Clause 3, and television specials expressing holiday themes.

The Good: This is an extensive book on Christmas. If you can think of anything Christmas related, it will be in this encyclopedia.

The Bad: This book is hard to read. The text is small. The pages cramped. I would have much rather a larger book than the small print, but the price is astronomical as it stands. In an effort to create a complete compendium of Christmas topics, this book verges on overkill. You have to sift through a lot of dreck to get to anything you actually want to learn about.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The Assault on Reason by Al Gore

The Assault on Reason by Al Gore

2007, Penguin Press HC

Website / Goodreads / Amazon

Rating

Synopsis: A visionary analysis of how the politics of fear, secrecy, cronyism, and blind faith has combined with the degration of the public sphere to create an environment dangerously hostile to reason

At the time George W. Bush ordered American forces to invade Iraq, 70 percent of Americans believed Saddam Hussein was linked to 9/11. Voters in Ohio, when asked by pollsters to list what stuck in their minds about the campaign, most frequently named two Bush television ads that played to fears of terrorism.

We live in an age when the thirty-second television spot is the most powerful force shaping the electorate's thinking, and America is in the hands of an administration less interested than any previous administration in sharing the truth with the citizenry. Related to this and of even greater concern is this administration's disinterest in the process by which the truth is ascertained, the tenets of fact-based reasoning-first among them an embrace of open inquiry in which unexpected and even inconvenient facts can lead to unexpected conclusions.

How did we get here? How much damage has been done to the functioning of our democracy and its role as steward of our security? Never has there been a worse time for us to lose the capacity to face the reality of our long-term challenges, from national security to the economy, from issues of health and social welfare to the environment. As The Assault on Reason shows us, we have precious little time to waste.

Gore's larger goal in this book is to explain how the public sphere itself has evolved into a place hospitable to reason's enemies, to make us more aware of the forces at work on our own minds, and to lead us to an understanding of what we can do, individually and collectively, to restore the rule of reason and safeguard our future. Drawing on a life's work in politics as well as on the work of experts across a broad range of disciplines, Al Gore has written a farsighted and powerful manifesto for clear thinking.

The Good: Al Gore is a smart, impassioned man. He's been in the upper tiers of government and seen things the rest of us can only imagine. When someone in his position practically begs you to just consider that government isn't working the way it should, you should listen. He articulates his views well and provides enough information for even a layperson to understand his concepts.

The Bad: Al Gore is dull. His passion just doesn't translate through his writing. What could have been a wake up call to Americans is easily forgotten after reading.

Friday, January 17, 2014

The Detox Prescription by Woodson Merrell

The Detox Prescription: Supercharge Your Health, Strip Away Pounds, and Eliminate the Toxins Within by Woodson Merrell

2013, Rodale Books

Rating

Synopsis: The human body has an extraordinary ability to detoxify itself. We rely on this system when we wait for a hangover to lift or recover from a bout of food poisoning. However, cutting-edge science is revealing how toxic exposures can actually affect our genes and lead to conditions such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis, mood disorders, energy, allergies, fertility, and heart disease—all of which are on the rise.The good news is that each of us can optimize this natural cleansing system for better health, greater energy, and efficient weight loss. In The Detox Prescription, Dr. Merrell draws on new research to help readers assess their own toxic risk factors and health deficiencies. Next, he and Mary Beth Augustine, RD, offer more than 75 delicious and nutrient-rich recipes incorporating juices and whole foods, broken into 3-, 7-, and 21-day cleanses. Dr. Merrell’s holistic approach also relies on light yoga practices, basic self-care, beginning meditation, and sleep hygiene to reset body, mind, and spiritand take control of our genetic destiny.

The Good: Merrell's nutritional plan is based in easy to understand medical science. He explains the concept of detoxing well and makes a convincing argument as to why his way would be the most effective. He offers ideas for behavioral changes in addition to nutritional changes, encouraging an easy to follow lifestyle change. Speaking of easy, he describes three cleanse plans of varying length, each with in-depth menu plans and recipes making it quite easy to follow along.

The Bad: Merrell expects too radical a change of lifestyle for his plans. His 3 day juicing plan is pretty feasible, as long as you have a local organic food store. Where else are you going to find hemp seeds to make milk from? The 7 and 21 day plans are a little out there for the modern convenience eater. I cook with whole, natural foods as often as possible, but that's a far cry from the vegan meal plans listed here. I don't even know where to find dandelion or burdock tea, and I have no desire to live a meat, dairy, gluten free lifestyle in the long-term.

Monday, January 13, 2014

An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore

An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore

2006, Rodale Books

Website / Goodreads / Amazon

Rating

Synopsis: An Inconvenient Truth--Gore's groundbreaking, battle cry of a follow-up to the bestselling Earth in the Balance--is being published to tie in with a documentary film of the same name. Both the book and film were inspired by a series of multimedia presentations on global warming that Gore created and delivers to groups around the world. With this book, Gore, who is one of our environmental heroes--and a leading expert--brings together leading-edge research from top scientists around the world; photographs, charts, and other illustrations; and personal anecdotes and observations to document the fast pace and wide scope of global warming. He presents, with alarming clarity and conclusiveness--and with humor, too--that the fact of global warming is not in question and that its consequences for the world we live in will be disastrous if left unchecked. This riveting new book--written in an accessible, entertaining style--will open the eyes of even the most skeptical.

The Good: This book, with its large glossy pages, is a very easy read. It's styled in such a way to make even the least scientifically inclined understand its message. Pictures, charts, highly quotable factoids, everything eye-catching and yet very basic. Through this book, you really feel Gore's passion for saving the world from global warming.

The Bad: Unfortunately Al Gore is sort of a boring man. He drones on, which is clear even through the vibrant background. And while this book is informative, it's hard to decipher where the line is between his politics and the cause at hand.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Pandemic Survival by Ann Love and Jane Drake

Pandemic Survival by Ann Love and Jane Drake

2013, Tundra Books

Rating

Synopsis: The Black Death. Yellow Fever. Smallpox. History is full of gruesome pandemics, and surviving those pandemics has shaped our society and way of life. Every person today is alive because of an ancestor who survived--and surviving our current and future pandemics, like SARS, AIDS, bird flu or a new and unknown disease, will determine our future. Pandemic Survival presents in-depth information about past and current illnesses; the evolution of medicine and its pioneers; cures and treatments; strange rituals and superstitions; and what we're doing to prevent future pandemics. Full of delightfully gross details about symptoms and fascinating facts about bizarre superstitious behaviors, Pandemic Survival is sure to interest even the most squeamish of readers.

The Good: I really liked this book. It was fun and super informative. I didn't even realize it was for kids until I noticed it kept using school situations as examples and mentioned poop a lot more than the average adult book. The pictures were great as well and I would recommend this for most age groups, including adults. Gross and educational - the perfect mix.

The Bad: A little too dry in places to really hold a kids attention, but written for that audience causing adults to feel out of place with the school age references.

Monday, July 8, 2013

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max

2009, Citadel

Rating

Synopsis: Tucker Max drinks to excess at inappropriate times, disregards social norms, indulges every whim, takes no responsibility for his actions, rebels against any authority, mocks idiots and posers, sleeps with more women than is safe or reasonable and generally just acts like an asshole. "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" contains everything the modern-day bounder that is Tucker Max has written since he started sharing his depraved reality with an audience of millions.

The Good: Max's writing is good. Man knows how to weave a tale. And there is no doubt of large embellishment to his stories. They ring true, as crazy as some may seem.

The Bad: Are we really giving out book deals for stories like this now? I could have been a millionaire, or something. Really, his stories are the same as every other drunken story I have ever heard or experienced. There isn't anything bizarrely special about Max and his antics, other than he's got a little less shame than some and a better vocabulary than many.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Gaming the Vote by William Poundstone

Gaming the Vote by William Poundstone

2008, Hill & Wang

Rating

Synopsis: Our Electoral System is Fundamentally Flawed, But There's a Simple and Fair Solution

At least five U.S. presidential elections have been won by the second most popular candidate. The reason was a "spoiler"--a minor candidate who takes enough votes away from the most popular candidate to tip the election to someone else. The spoiler effect is more than a glitch. It is a consequence of one of the most surprising intellectual discoveries of the twentieth century: the "impossibility theorem" of Nobel laureate economist Kenneth Arrow. The impossibility theorem asserts that voting is fundamentally unfair--a finding that has not been lost on today's political consultants. Armed with polls, focus groups, and smear campaigns, political strategists are exploiting the mathematical faults of the simple majority vote. In recent election cycles, this has led to such unlikely tactics as Republicans funding ballot drives for Green spoilers and Democrats paying for right-wing candidates' radio ads. "Gaming" "the Vote "shows that there is a solution to the spoiler problem that will satisfy both right and left. A system called range voting, already widely used on the Internet, is the fairest voting method of all, according to computer studies. Despite these findings, range voting remains controversial, and "Gaming the Vote "assesses the obstacles confronting any attempt to change the American electoral system. The latest of several books by William Poundstone on the theme of how important scientific ideas have affected the real world, "Gaming" "the Vote "is a wry expose of how the political system really works, and a call to action.

The Good: I think this book did a good job exposing some of the flaws in today's voting system and how both major parties attempt to use these flaws to their advantage in order to win without actually having the support of the majority. Gaming the Vote focuses on the mathematical aspects of how the system can be manipulated, which is interesting and applicable on all levels of politics.

The Bad: For many people, math is essentially boring and will turn of readers regardless of how well Poundstone explains the ideas in understandable terms. Because the focus in on the mathematics of politics, the book only really highlights one tiny way the system is flawed. Ultimately, correcting this flaw on every level wouldn't truly make elections any fairer.

Monday, June 10, 2013

How to Make Love Like a Porn Star by Jenna Jameson

How to Make Love Like a Porn Star by Jenna Jameson

2004, It Books

Rating

Synopsis: In the underbelly of Las Vegas, a cesspool of warring biker gangs and seedy strip clubs transformed the gawky, brace-faced Jenna Massoli into the bombshell Jenna Jameson. Today, Jenna Jameson is the biggest star in the history of adult movies, consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful women alive. But behind the glamour and the meteoric rise to fame was a path paved with tragedy and heartbreak.

As a teenager drawn into a chaotic world ruled by rape, abuse, and murder, Jenna plunged into a downward spiral of addiction, even as she became one of the most photographed women in adult magazines. Determined to overcome this past, Jenna rebounded in the adult-film business, where she encountered sadistic directors, experienced lovers of both sexes, amorous celebrities (from Howard Stern to Marilyn Manson to Tommy Lee), bitter rival starlets, and finally, glory, as she went on to become the biggest porn star the world has ever seen. But her struggle for happiness did not end when the accolades began. For years she wrestled with her resentment at her estranged father, the loneliness of growing up from the age of two without a mother, and her enduring childhood desire to find a man who could give her the security and love she never had.

Her unforgettable memoir is many things at once: a shocking sexual history, an insider's guide to the secret workings of the billion-dollar adult-film industry, and a gripping thriller that probes deep into Jenna's dark past. An unparalleled exploration of sexual freedom, How to Make Love Like a Porn Star ventures far beyond the flesh, into the heart-shredding tragedies and adrenaline-pumping triumphs of a woman who has already lived a hundred lifetimes. Always witty and humorous even as she faces the demons of her past, Jenna offers hilarious anecdotes about one of the most controversial businesses in history, and shares outrageous advice, including her ten commandments of dating and sex, how to become a "suitcase pimp," and how to make it in the business as a female (or a male).

Add to this never-before-seen photographs from Jenna's private collection and others taken exclusively for this book, and the result is certain to be one of the most talked-about books of the year.

The Good: I was really sort of impressed with Jenna Jameson after reading this autobiography. She's been through so much to get where she is, and she puts it all out there. The book didn't come off as though it had an agenda as some of these tend to. There was no feeling of attention seeking, excuses or seeking redemption - just the uncut story of her life. I, of course, loved the more scandalous aspects of the book - the celebrity tell-all stuff. I also loved how the book showed that not everything about celebrity life it glittery, as much as not all porn is degrading to women.

The Bad: Some aspects of Jenna's early life made me rather uncomfortable. While it was all part of her story and needed to be told, I question why she's chose to share these things. As much as I was impressed by Jenna after reading the novel, it didn't make me love her. It never struck the chord you get in autobiographies where you feel connected to the author. It felt more E! True Hollywood Story than anything else. It wasn't sympathetic which just kind of hit me as strange.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, Volume 2: 2000-2010 by Peter Dendle

The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, Volume 2: 2000-2010 by Peter Dendle

2012, McFarland & Company

Rating

Synopsis: This is a comprehensive overview of zombie movies in the first 11 years of the new millennium, the most dynamic and vital period yet in the history of the zombie genre. The compendium serves not only as a follow-up to its predecessor volume (The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia McFarland 2011 [2001]), which covered movies from 1932 up until the late 1990s, but also as a fresh exploration of what uniquely defines the genre in the 2000s. In-depth entries provide critical analysis of the zombie as creature in more than 270 feature-length movies, from 28 countries and filmed on six continents. An appendix offers shorter entries for more than 100 shorts and serials.

The Good: I enjoyed Dendle's 2nd volume of the Zombie Movie Encyclopedia much more than the first. Probably because it contained, almost totally, movies I'd already seen and for the most part, I agreed with his opinions on said movies. The book even included certain episodes from "Masters of Horror" that included zombies, in its shorts section.

The Bad: Hardcore zombie fans may find themselves lacking on new content, but this book would be perfect for anyone just getting into the genre.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

2007, HarperEntertainment

Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Rating

Synopsis: When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power - vodka. You would too if you found out that your boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo or if you had to pretend to be honeymooning with your father in order to upgrade to first class. Welcome to Chelsea's world - a place where absurdity reigns supreme and a quick wit is the best line of defense.

In this hilarious, deliciously skewed collection, Chelsea mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career that are at once singular and ridiculous. Whether she's convincing her third-grade class that she has been tapped to play Goldie Hawn's daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, deciding to be more egalitarian by dating a redhead, or looking out for a foulmouthed, rum-swilling little person who looks just like her... only smaller, Chelsea has a knack for getting herself into the most outrageous situations.

The Good: I liked Are You There Vodka so much more than My Horizontal Life. I actually kind of get why people really like Chelsea Handler and are interested in her life and stories. This book didn't shy away from her sexuality, but rather just put its main focus on the ludicrous situations she gets herself into without a common theme. She comes across as very humorous in this collection and it may very well motivate me to read some of her other books.

The Bad: You still have to take Handler with a grain of salt. She's not anywhere near as self-important as in My Horizontal Life, but she definitely has a way about here that can and will rub people the wrong way, even when they're enjoying her stories. It may be her writing style, but either way, it deters from fully enjoying what she's telling you.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making by John Curran

Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making by John Curran

2011, Harper

Rating

Synopsis: As he did in the Edgar(R)-nominated and Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards-winning "Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks," Christie expert and archivist John Curran once again examines the unpublished notebooks of the world's bestselling author to explore the techniques she used to surprise and entertain generations of readers.

Drawing on Christie's personal papers and letters, he reveals how more than twenty of her novels, as well as stage scripts, short stories, and some more personal items, evolved. Here are wonderful gems, including Christie's essay on her famous detective, Hercule Poirot, written for a British national newspaper in the 1930s; a previously unseen version of a "Miss Marple" short story; and a courtroom chapter from her first novel, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles," which was edited out of the published version in 1920; plus an insightful, well-reasoned analysis of her final unfinished novel, based on the author's notes and Curran's own deep knowledge of Christie and her work.

A must-read for every Christie aficionado, "Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making" is a fascinating look into the mind and craft of one of the world's most prolific and beloved authors.

Why read: Received for review from publisher

What impressed me: The highlight of the book for me was the plot ideas that Christie came up with, yet never used in her books. That's what made the book interesting and worth the read.

What disappointed me: So very dry. And obviously full of spoilers for any Christie novel I haven't read yet. Lists upon lists upon lists of characters with little variation. Vaguely interesting, but the repetitive nature of the book gets old quickly.

Recommended: Only for hardcore Agatha Christie fans.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Buffy and the Heroine's Journey by Valerie Estelle Frankel

Buffy and the Heroine's Journey by Valerie Estelle Frankel

2012, McFarland and Co.

Rating

Synopsis: The worlds of Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and other modern epics feature the Chosen One--an adolescent boy who defeats the Dark Lord and battles the sorrows of the world. Television's Buffy the Vampire Slayer represents a different kind of epic--the heroine's journey, not the hero's. This provocative study explores how Buffy blends 1990s girl power and the path of the warrior woman with the oldest of mythic traditions. It chronicles her descent into death and subsequent return like the great goddesses of antiquity. As she sacrifices her life for the helpless, Buffy experiences the classic heroine's quest, ascending to protector and queen in this timeless metaphor for growing into adulthood.

Why read: Received from LibraryThing Early Reviewers

What impressed me: Nothing.

What disappointed me: I don't know what I expected going into this book, but whatever it was, I didn't get it. Calling this book dry is generous. I love Buffy. All aspects of Buffy. But somewhere in comparing Buffy's life to that of the pattern of the heroine's journey in myth, all that was Buffy was lost and all that remained was academic theory. Gone was the wit that drove the series and with it my ability to read the book without falling asleep. While I believe the author had good intentions and a wealth of knowledge, she failed to grasp the true appeal of Buffy - our ability to relate to her.

Recommended: Absolutely not.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Stiff by Mary Roach

Stiff by Mary Roach

2004, W. W. Norton & Company

Rating

Synopsis: Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers—some willingly, some unwittingly—have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. They've tested France's first guillotines, ridden the NASA Space Shuttle, been crucified in a Parisian laboratory to test the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, and helped solve the mystery of TWA Flight 800. For every new surgical procedure, from heart transplants to gender reassignment surgery, cadavers have been there alongside surgeons, making history in their quiet way.

In this fascinating, ennobling account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries—from the anatomy labs and human-sourced pharmacies of medieval and nineteenth-century Europe to a human decay research facility in Tennessee, to a plastic surgery practice lab, to a Scandinavian funeral directors' conference on human composting. In her droll, inimitable voice, Roach tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them.

Why read: I loved Roach's other novel, Bonk.

What impressed me: Roach really researches the hell out of her subjects, always shocking readers with the depth of information she comes up with. Stiff is no different, informing of every conceivable aspect of the body after death, peppered with sick moments, funny moments and more often a combination of the two.

What disappointed me: There was a little more of a historical aspect to Stiff than I would have been interested in, but given the subject matter there really is only so much you can learn about today without taking a good long look at history.

Recommended: Yes. While cadavers weren't as entertaining to me as sex, this was still an amazing book.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Beer for Dummies by Marty Nachel

Beer for Dummies by Marty Nachel

2012, For Dummies

Rating

Synopsis: Beer has always been one of the world's most popular beverages; but recently, people have embraced the rich complexities of beer's many varieties. Now, with "Beer For Dummies," you can quickly and enjoyably educate your palate -- from recognizing the characteristics of ales, lagers, and other beer styles to brewing your own beer right at home. In "Beer For Dummies," beer connoisseur Marty Nachel shares his own expertise on this subject so dear to his heart, revealing his picks for the best beer festivals, tastings, and events around the world as well as his simple tips for pouring, storing, and drinking beer like an expert brewmeister.

Why read: Requested from Amazon Vine

What impressed me: Everything in this book was explained in basic, easy to understand terms.

What disappointed me: While this book was a broad look at all things beer related, nothing is covered in extreme depth. Good for the parts you aren't interested in, bad for the parts you want to learn more about. I wish the topics touted on the front cover were covered more fully and topics like homebrewing and cooking with beer were left out.

Recommended: Not really. Everything in this book is glossed over and readers interested in the different topics would do better to read a book on the specific topic they are interested in.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Brave New World Revisited by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World Revisited by Aldous Huxley

2005, Harper Perennial Modern Classics

Rating

Synopsis: When the novel "Brave New World" first appeared in 1932, its shocking analysis of a scientific dictatorship seemed a projection into the remote future. Here, in one of the most important and fascinating books of his career, Aldous Huxley uses his tremendous knowledge of human relations to compare the modern-day world with his prophetic fantasy. He scrutinizes threats to humanity, such as overpopulation, propaganda, and chemical persuasion, and explains why we have found it virtually impossible to avoid them. "Brave New World Revisited" is a trenchant plea that humankind should educate itself for freedom before it is too late.

Why read: Enjoyed Brave New World

What impressed me: I loved the concept of Huxley writing essays commenting on how the things he wrote about long ago in Brave New World translated into modern life.

What disappointed me: Unfortunately, modern life isn't what it once was. While Huxley drew parallels between things he created and that which ended up actually occurring in the course of his lifetime, his lifetime ended over 50 years ago, making the book less than accurate. Things he foresaw coming to pass soon never did and things have changed in ways he never imagined or at least mentioned.

Recommended: Not really. Too much time has past since Huxley wrote Revisited and it just doesn't hold up given modern developments.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Bonk by Mary Roach

Bonk by Mary Roach

2008, W. W. Norton & Co.