Apples at the Chapel

The Plan

2011-11-08T08:57:00.000-08:00

Well tomorrow morning is the big day; day 1 of 90. I am actually pretty excited about it as I have kept the diet 100% for the last 6 weeks. All I have read about it leads me to believe diet is king, and if you want the drastic results it all depends on keeping the diet. The more on plan you are the better your results will be.

With a few exceptions like teenagers or the genetically blessed, you cannot out exercise a bad diet. For example my wife tries for 10,000 steps a day which is approximately 5 miles of walking. But the calorie loss associated with that can be nullified by one candy bar. Typically people who want to lose weight will jump on the bandwagon of heavy exercise but then erase all possible results by eating more crap. Then they get depressed and quit the exercise portion, but not the eating more part. Thus they gain even more weight.

So far this year I have lost 25 pounds through eating better. I have done a little walking but most of it can be attributed to the diet. Once I add the exercise to the mix I think that extra 40 pounds I have left is going to disappear.

So tonight I will do the before fitness assessment and snap a few photos. I am wavering on the posting of them here at the start. I think I will see if I get through the first phase (4 weeks) before sharing them. But I will state my goals for this project:

Lower my blood pressure

Increase my HDL, lower my Tri’s

Drop 40 pounds of fat, get back into size 36 pants

Be able to do 5 pull-ups

The pull-up thing is my biggest weakness strength wise. Last time I messed around with this I only did phase one without a clean diet and managed to get 1 honest pull-up. So they are my Holy Grail of fitness, the one thing that will tell me I am doing some good. Otherwise I will let the photo’s speak to my success or failure. Plus I really want to blow away my Doctor at my next appointment. Lipid profile is scheduled on March 1 and my appointment is on March 5.

What Happened?

2011-11-03T00:48:00.000-07:00

Well marathon training was going great, I was down 25 pounds for the year, and I was fully on track and then I got sick. It was a weird sickness that involved a lot of GI distress, sore throats, mouth sores, and a general run down feeling. So I took some time off. I just started to feel better when we took Gunnar off to college and when I got there the symptoms all returned. I put it down to the altitude and the dry polluted air of Utah Valley. So I got through vacation and returned back to Minnesota feeling okay.

Once back all the symptoms hit me again but I wasn’t too worried because I still had enough time to recover enough for the marathon (though it would have been a slow jog now). Plus I was seeing my Doctor in a few weeks anyways. But the symptoms only got worse and any running was out of the question. I had been sick for over 9 weeks, not enough to warrant a trip to the Doctor, but enough to eliminate any chance of doing a marathon. So that money was gone

Plus I always tried to be 80% compliant on my diet, which coupled with exercise made me okay on my goals. That would mean okay lipid profile and I would gradually lose weight. The reality was about 50% compliant and without exercise I started to put the weight back on; not all of it but a little over half. As any knowledgeable fitness trainer will tell you, you cannot out exercise a bad diet (at least if you are not a teenager). Without control of my diet I was doomed to fail.

Finally after eight weeks of being sick and not eating well I was a mess again. It was then Lisa suggested that my illness started three weeks after starting the new medication. OMG!! I am so stupid given my history of getting side effects from medication. So I hit the internet and looked up the side effects for my pill and found out every one of my symptoms were listed right there. More worrisome was the really severe one that I was just beginning to develop. That one would have taken a year to recover from.

So I immediately stop taking the pill and decided right there and then, medication was never going to offer me an easy way out. I just had to accept my lot in life and just plain eat right and exercise, no excuses. I know if I would simply do that my problems would fix themselves. So in I went for my lipid profile and check up form my Doctor and as expected my results were terrible.

Total Cholesterol 250

LDL Unable to measure

HDL 25

Triglycerides 2100

Blood Pressure 160/100

Weight 250 pounds

I was a mess as expected and my Doctor immediately wanted to put me on a couple of new medications. But I asked for 1 month. Give me one month to just eat right and exercise. If I can show improvement for those 4 weeks I could stay off the pills, because the meds just screw me up. So I began with my diet and I was 100% compliant for all 4 weeks. Essentially I am extremely low carb. In simple terms, carbohydrates are transported by triglycerides within the body and that will cause you to store them as body fat and increased cholesterol. As I said this is a lot more complex process, but the basic premise is less carbohydrates equals less triglycerides. I have a condition referred to as Metabolic Disorder (aka Syndrome X) which greatly exacerbates this process.

I mainly just worried about diet compliance for the month with only occasional walks with the dog on the weekends. After the first week all my symptoms from the previous pill had finally cleared up, finishing with a nasty mouth sore at the base of my tongue. So let’s jump to my four week results:

Total Cholesterol 169

LDL 71

HDL 30

Triglycerides 339

Blood Pressure 137/82

Weight 240 pounds

The first thing I said to my Doctor was “Tell me how awesome I am”. And He Did. It was one of the most significant one month improvements he has ever seen and he has given me his approval for another four months. He says he wishes all his patients would just eat right and exercise, it would eliminate most problems. Now I still have room for improvement and my goals for the next four months are to drop another 40 pounds. This should help get my blood pressure where it needs to be. Plus I would like to get my triglycerides below 200 and this coupled with exercise should allow my HDL to climb back up to healthier levels.

So this means 120 days of eating clean – 100% compliant through all the holidays. So far I made it through Halloween with out an issue. I find the longer I am on clean eating the easier it becomes, so that is one good thing. Plus I plan on getting more exercise now that I feel much better. This means more walking and eventually running again. I am also setting up my bike trainer again for watching TV. Most importantly though, I am going to make an honest effort at the P90X. I have flirted with it before, but without the clean diet. This time Tony and me are going to do it right.

So I will probably post some photos soon. I have some from my really heavy days at 262 pounds, and I will get some of me at my current 240 pounds. Then I will try to get one a week for progress. It could get ugly; at least that is where we are starting.

Why?

2011-06-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

I used to run because I was good at it – relatively speaking. That was back in the day when bulking up meant getting my weight to 185 pounds; and that was hard to do. But those days are gone and I now jog for the sake of exercise and weight loss. And to get my blood lipid levels back in line.

So a month ago I had a lipid profile done and the results were not good. I made a concession to my Doctor that I would go on a hypertension drug if I didn’t get it under control. In conjunction with my bad lipid profile I once again had elevated blood pressure, so I am now on a Calcium Channel Blocker. So I made another commitment that if my lipids were not better by September I would go back on to the meds. I have generally avoided them because of some bad side effects over the years, and I know it can be controlled by diet and exercise if I wasn’t so lazy.

Anyways here are my terrible results:
Cholesterol 235
Triglycerides 1245

So you can get the sense from those two numbers about how bad I am; and yes I was fasting. So after 4 weeks of walking and generally eating right I had a quick lipid test at work as part of our work/health program. Here are those results
Cholesterol 188
Triglycerides 533

And my blood pressure was normal, but that was helped by the drugs. And the guy who gave me the results didn’t think that my results were that stunning, but I was dutifully impressed with myself. Especially after only four weeks.

Now to give myself a little break (i.e. excuse) the genetics are against me. I have metabolic disorder and have been dealing with this for about 20 years when my ability to manage my triglycerides just collapsed in college. Another symptom is my almost total lack of HDL. I am still sitting at 15 which is bad, but I generally find that it is an ordered recovery. I have to get my weight and tri’s down prior to making a dent in that problem. Even then I only get up to the mid 30’s.

If I get my weight down below 210 pounds (I am at 245 currently) I will start to wear my watch running and keep track of my times. For now I just go out and have fun.

Commitment

2011-06-16T13:03:00.001-07:00

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I find it really easy to quit most exercise endeavors. All I need is the flimsiest of excuses and I am right back where I started. Well maybe a little worse of because I am now older.

My goal for this week is to get out for at least 10 miles a day which takes me approximately 2.5 hours to do. I am mainly walking (about 90% of it) and do not officially time anything. I just want to get time on my feet so when the day comes that I can start moving a little faster I will be ready.

Last night everyone had something going on except JT, who is too young to stay at home by himself. So we waited around doing this and that for the first reasonably old enough person to turn up. Well that turned out to be Lisa at 9:15 pm; and did I mention it was raining again (but no lightning)? And my headlamp was missing? I was so tempted to just call it a day and go to bed. Missing one day wouldn’t hurt would it?

But that is how it starts, and only on the third day. So I got up and out door and began a repeat of yesterday’s trek since it was 10 miles exactly. I must say the library reflecting off the Mill pond at night is quite a pretty sight. I just wish I had a nicer camera to capture it. The only excitement was a text from Gunnar a little before 11pm.

Gunnar: Are you home?
Me: No, out walking
G: I left for J’s and locked the door*, do I need to come back?
*(this means I am locked out and everyone else is asleep)
Me: No. It’s on my route. I will pick up the key in an hour.

I now had visions of me banging on J’s door at almost midnight to get the key. This is funny because I am a regular worker ant in a rather large Fortune500 company and J’s dad is the CEO*. That would have been good. But I had the good sense to text Gunnar when I was close and the whole transaction was handled silently. Of course I told Lisa otherwise and she was quite horrified – got to enjoy myself somehow.

*I often joke that if I count all the soda that he has provided to my son over the years as part of my compensation package, I am probably one of the highest paid employee’s in the company.

How far away is it?

2011-06-15T12:43:00.000-07:00

I set off for my nightly walk using my cities trail system. My initial plan was to make it out the Nature Center to touch the big rock and back for about 11 miles total. Unfortunately the day had been overcast and about a mile out the rain started; then lightning in the distance. Now I am all for walking in the rain, mainly due to an old Bob Kennedy Nike ad in which he stated "Somewhere there's a sunny warm place where all the second place guys train". The problem with going to the Nature Center is you are exposed out in the country (fields) for over half the trip.

So I got off the trail at the Mill pond and began traipsing across the city, picking up bits and pieces of other running routes. The rain got very heavy for a while but the lightning seemed to stay off in the distance. I kept telling myself the old canard that 3 seconds between flash and thunder meant it was 3 miles away. At the beginning it was at 3 seconds but eventually made it to 16 seconds, so definitely moving away. I have since looked it up on Wikipedia and have learned it is actually closer to 1 KM for every 3 seconds. In hindsight that feels more accurate, especially in the beginning.

Early on before the weather a young girl from the office booked past me on the trail and disappeared around the bend. But then the lightning struck and she was immediately coming back down the trail and heading home. To bad for her because not a mile down the trail I found these babies right there on the side of the trail.

I think that makes me a professional walker, just with incredibly low wages.

In the end I got in 10 miles total, at least according to Google Maps. A little shorter than I wanted but a good result all the same. My goal is 75 miles for the week.

Where I'm At

2011-06-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

It always seems like tomorrow is a good day to get back into shape, but as the saying goes tomorrow never comes. So after a few years of starts and stops I finally reached a decision point. If I want to do these ultra’s I actually have to train for them. And if I want to train for them I actually need to get away from the TV and go outside.

Well the stumbling block for me has always been weight, which has been hovering around 260 pounds (but I am 6’4” so it isn’t as bad as it sounds). My exercise of choice has always been running but the extra weight causes a lot of stress on my lower legs which leads to injury. SO I would get started on a “new” exercise program only to stop again. After a not so good visit from my Doctor (Hypertension and the usual extremely bad lipid levels) and a weekend with my family of origin (for all my problems I am in the best shape – i.e. my medical future doesn’t look good unless I actively try to change course) I realized that tomorrow has finally arrived. As hard as it is today, tomorrow will only be harder.

So I have learned even though I may not be able to run at the moment, at least not more than a quarter mile at a time, I can surely walk. So with that in mind I have been walk/jogging over 50 miles a week for the last 5 weeks (90% walking) and I have been noticing some changes. First of all I am doing some long walks of 10-12 miles and my weight has been coming down. For the year I am down 20 pounds (at 242) which means I am only overweight now instead of obese (247 is the BMI obese weight for my height). Another 20 and I should be able to start running a bit more consistently.

But I am a goal orientated person and I think I have a pretty good one to keep me going. In August I turn 42 years old and just down the road we have an excellent trail that is 42 miles long. So tentatively on Saturday August 13th I am going to walk my years in miles on the Root River Trail (Houston to Fountain). It is a doable goal and on the positive side it will get that first ultra mystery out of the way. A lot of hesitation of doing a 100 miler is facing the great unknown of going beyond the marathon. Especially traveling a fair distance and paying money for an event you don’t even know you are capable of. I think doing this 42 miler will go a long way to alleviating a lot of my fears.

Plus it will pave the way for my first real ultra which will be a 24 hour race. That is where you do a loop course for 24 hours; and you can go as fast or slow as you want with all the breaks you want. I think then I will be ready for a 100 mile trail race next year sometime.

Anyways, if any of you will be in the area and would want to walk a few miles let me know. I can use all the company I can get (but I am not sure if any of you are as crazy as I am). I plan to walk the first 30 or so miles exclusively and then see how I feel for some jogging at the end. That could very well mean all walking.

Also I think I will start posting more about my walking here as a means to keep myself motivated. Maybe not as interesting but better than nothing, maybe?

Conversations with JT

2011-02-07T21:39:00.001-08:00

ON the way to get a haircut for JT and Qatar we have the following conversation.

Qatar: Next year when Gunnar is gone (college) I will get to move downstairs to his room.

Me: We might get a foreign Exchange Student.

Qatar: (Excitedly) A Girl

Me: Why would that matter?

(Now you have to imagine this in the Style of Tom Haverford, because I swear to God that that character is based on JT)

JT: It has to be a HOT girl (wait three beats) so we can all enjoy her.

Misheard Lyric

2010-11-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore by REO SPeedwagon

Actual Lyric:

"A candle in the window on a cold dark winter's night"

What I always though it was:

"A candle in the window and a corndogger in the night"

I always thought "corndogger" was insider band slang for doin it. I still say my way is better.

Zero to 100 in 250 days

2010-11-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

Phase one of training for the 100 is done.

I have stop eating grains (make me quite sick quickly) and the refined sugars (makes me sick in the long term – triglycerides). I made it through the entire Halloween season without any candy, even with my kids dragging home 5 pounds a piece.

Then I got myself off the carbonated drinks and caffeine. It really screws up my sleep schedule and I start drinking more than healthy. I quickly work up to 2 litres a day. Some people can manage a little and be fine, but I am not that guy. On the plus side when I am at mile 60 at 2am in the morning, that first Mountain Dew in 8 months is going to kick me awake pretty strongly.

Phase 2 is jogging with a little consistency. This first month will about 30 miles per week. I am just getting my legs used to running everyday, the increased milage will come later. I still need to add milage on my bike and some basic calesthenics and weght exercises. My exercises are goblet squats, single leg deads, push-ups, pull-ups, and some core work. Shoulder pain over time is a weakness of mine while running, hence the bodyweight pulls and pushes.

Has he never tried it before??

2010-10-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

It's About the Journey

2010-10-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

British Ingenuity

via Bits and Pieces

Book Him Danno!

2010-10-22T22:07:00.001-07:00

BOOK HIM DANNO!

Since Lisa and I have challenged each other to read over a 100 books a year and then blog about them - Lisa has been better at this than me - we have decided to start a group book review blog. All books all the time.

So the first review is up, Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, so please come on over and visit, even comment. Remember we are just getting started but links and more book news will be coming soon.

Plus if you have read a great book lately and can follow the same basic format for a review that we do, please send it over and we will post it. If you can do that at a few times a month we will sign you up as a permablogger (full blogging privileges).

So come join us for all the booky goodness, and please add a a link to your sidebar.

Teenage Celebrity Crushes

2010-10-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

For some reason this topic came up at work and I fondly remember my first celebrity crushes.

After seeing A Room with a View, the always beautiful Helena Bonham Carter has had a place in my heart.
She is still gorgeous even as Bellatrix.

And at the time Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice. Probably why I can still appreciate a goth girl done right.

What about you?

FWIW - I have it on good authority that this picture still gets Lisa all hot and bothered.

I have found my race

2010-10-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Black Hills 100

June 24-26th, 2011

South Dakota

I have been looking for an ultramarathon for a few years now that would fulfill a goal I have had for a few years now. It had to be point to point, on a trail, woods and hills but without the altitude, within a day's drive, but not a total killer. For the longest time I was considering doing the Sawtooth 100 up in northern Minnesota, but the course is a relentless killer and is an extremely technical trail.

But now comes the Black Hills 100 and it is just perfect.

Promo Video

Who wants to join me for 100 miles of pure fun??

Longer Video showing some of the course

Why JT is Awesome

2010-09-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

So the conversation at my house the other day was between me and my older kids about future career choices. The old “What do you want to be when you grow up” talk. JT walks though the room and let’s know what his plans are too.

JT: So I want to be in the Army.

ME: That is a great plan if you want to do it. The Army can be a good life.

JT: Or I want to be in the Police:

ME: You mean?

JT: No, No, I mean

ME: Another excellent career path. Seeing a pattern forming I also suggest that he could be a Police Officer in the Army.

I thought we were done when

JT: Or … I want to work at the House of Bounce.

ME: JT, this is exactly why you are Awesome!

Books 39-43

2010-09-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

Book #39 - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us
Author: Daniel Pink
Copyright: 2009

Book #40 - Switch: How to change things when change is hard
Author: Chip & Dan Heath
Copyright: 2010

This is the problem with not blogging about the books when you actually read them. I read these two back in March and nothing is standing out in my mind about them. I really enjoy reading a lot of these personal psychology books about the latest research in human behavior, but they can blend together as time passes.

The Heath Brothes Web-site.

To see Dan Pink talking about his subject at TED. BTW the TED website is really what the internet should be about. It is a goldmine of useful and interesting presentations from around the world, all gathered in one helpful location. Dan also has a web-site.

Book #41 - Sleepyhead
Author: Mark Billingham
Copyright: 2001

Meh. Over the top criminal killing/incapacitating his victims in an extreme way. Not my thing generally speaking.

Book #42 - The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun.
Author: Gretchen Rubin
Copyright: 2009

This was a fun book that looked into what it means to be happy. Overall it was a documentation of the author’s life – an experiment of one. Maybe one or two of her suggestions can affect your life for the better. Please visit the web-site for my information.

Book #43 - The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Copyright: 2008

I jumped on to this bandwagon a little late into the game. I saw this book listed on a lot of just read lists of my friends’ blogs and Goodreads’ accounts. It is Lord of the Flies meets Survivor. It was very good and well worth your time. And it is soon to be a movie and now the third book of the trilogy is out you do not have to wait to read the whole series. Soon to be a movie.

My New Shoes

2010-09-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

I used some of my birthday money to invest in some new running shoes. The Vibram Five Fingers are a shoe that allows you to experience barefoot running without actually being barefoot. For the most part I have been running in cheap aquasocks which have worked well, but their durability has been limited. The VFF’s should last a lot better.

Now if any of you are thinking of moving to a minimalist running shoe, be aware it doesn’t happen overnight. It has taken me about a year to get to the point wherein I can go on a 5 mile run in these shoes and not hurt myself. We have years of wearing elevated shoes that we have basically disabled our natural foot stike, calf muscles, and achilles tendon. If you do not gradually build them back up and try to rush it, you will definitely regret it.

The benefit though makes it worth it. On average 80% of runners will experience some sort of running injury any given year. This style of running has allowed me to run injury free for the first time in 15 years. The biggest change to my running has been in my stride. I used to focus on my foot stike and push off, but now I spend my time thinking about my knee lift – the opposite. I pull my feet off the ground rather than worrying about how they hit it.

For more information please read the book Born to Run by Chris McDougall or watch this video of a presentation he gave a Google Headquarters.

And a Dollar Short

2010-09-03T12:33:00.001-07:00

It’s not something I talk about a lot, but I read like a crap load of books. I make small discoveries along the way, some of which I share, because I am a giver. Anyways the need for a reliable bookmark that is cheap and convienient is very real in my day to day life. After much experimentation I finally hit upon using Post-It notes for this job – and they are fantastic. So I was pretty proud of myself until I saw this article on Newsweek’s site. It was a collection of products that were discovered accidently, among which was this entry about Post-It notes:

While the credit for the adhesive belongs to one man, Spencer Silver, the idea for the Post-it note belongs to another: Arthur Fry. In 1968 Silver, a chemist at 3M, created a high-quality, "low-tack" adhesive, which basically means it wasn't very sticky. Silver realized it was ideal for use with paper, because the adhesive was strong enough to hold it to a surface but weak enough that paper could be removed without tearing it. The added bonus: the adhesive remained sticky through multiple uses. In seminars at the office, Silver pitched it as a surface for bulletin boards or as a spray, but after five years of trying, he continued to have difficulty finding a marketable application for it. In attendance at one of these seminars, however, was Art Fry. A colleague at 3M working in the product-development department, Fry sang in his church choir, and the paper bookmarks he used to mark his spot in the hymnal were constantly slipping out. He realized that Silver's adhesive offered a solution, and he wrote a proposal for a sticky, reusable bookmark. The samples he passed around the office were a hit, and after refining the idea, 3M introduced the Post-it nationwide in 1980.

So using them as book marks was their original purpose – I am only 30 years too late. Story of my life.

The Usual Denials

2010-09-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

FYI – I know you all have been asking but I just want to say the following story from Arizona has nothing to do with me.

Story Highlight

ASU students are on alert, after police issue a warning about a man who's been groping students walking on campus. A man on a mountain bike groped a 20-year-old and put his hand under her shirt.

While I get it totally sounds like me, I just want to clarify I haven’t been to Tempe lately and I ride a Surly LHT.

I also haven’t been to New Jersey recently either. But a good time could just mean a game of Uno – just saying.

In other news Lisa had no comment when asked to confirm or deny if she had been in Bremerton.

Finally, my brother in law Steve relocated to D.C. last year and now the capitol has been named the worst driver’s in America according to an Allstate insurance poll. COINCIDENCE??*

*(probably)

Books #34-38

2010-09-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

Book # 34: Denialism: How Irrational thinking hinders scientific progress, harms our planet, and threatens our lives.
Author: Michael Spector
Copyright: 2009

A fun book that smacks the idiots about. Idiots can be defined by their unwavering belief that the plural of anecdote is data.

Book # 35: Kindred in Death
Author: JD Robb
Copyright: 2009

Another chronicle into the life of Eve Dallas, kick ass future cop and her merry band of friends, as they solve crimes. JD Robb as most of you know is a pseudonym for Nora Roberts, and her perchance for romance is in the structure of these books. My favorite is Eve’s husband Roark, the most handsome and richest man on the planet and beyond, possessing the Irish accent and the orgasm giving stare that all women love. As Mrs. Kensington** would say, “All men want to be him, all women want to be with him.”

Book # 36: Homeland
Author: Sam Lipsyte
Copyright: 2004

Former High School loser writes an extremely honest monthly email update for his graduating class ten years on. A different sort of book.

Book # 37: The Lucky One
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Copyright: 2008

Not his usual love death porn he is famous for. You know – let me create the greatest love story ever known and then let me kill it off so it fails. A decent story and at the end SPOILER ALERT they get to have happy ever after.

Book # 38: Mojo: How to get it, how to keep it, how to get it back if you lose it
Author: Marshall Goldsmith
Copyright: 2009

Run of the mill business book. I read it just because of the word mojo. Which brings me back to the earlier reference:

**Anyone recognize who Mrs. Kensington is?

Cats are just funny

2010-08-31T16:16:00.000-07:00

Parker's future if Lisa was left in charge

Books #29-33

2010-08-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

Since Blogger lets you add 5 pictures at a time that is what I will do. Plus I will pick the best of each set as a handy dandy reference for you.

Four of the books in this group are continuation of ongoing series.

BOOK #29: Arctic Chill
BOOK #30: Hypothermia
AUTHOR: Arnaldur Indritason
COPYRIGHT: 2005 & 2007

More crime and punishment in Iceland. This series is great for anyone interested in police procedurals and Nordic Noir, which is riding a wave of popularity right now. Similar authors would be Henning Mankell (a favorite) and Jo Nesbo who write about Sweden and Norway respectively.

BOOK #31: The Fixer Upper
AUTHOR: Mary Kay Andrews
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Who can resist a book on Home Improvement? This wasn’t too bad but in the end it was a little romancey* for my taste. I listened to it on CD as I went about my day and it was fun. If you like your mystery more light hearted with down to earth lovable guys just looking for the right woman to love, then this is for you. *Mainly involves name dropping shoe brands and dreamy guys able to give orgasms merely by looking at the female protagonists.

BOOK #32: Flesh House
AUTHOR: Stuart MacBride
COPYRIGHT: 2008

Gritty Tartan Noir with the Aberdeen police force. This is the third book I have seen this year involving cannibalism – I blame Thomas Harris. I can’t imagine that a human steak is so tasty that you can’t fill that need with a New York Strip, but then I am not a evil sociopath; at least not yet.

BOOK #33: The First Rule
AUTHOR: Robert Crais
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Crais writes a longstanding series about the wisecracking PI Elvis Cole and his silent partner, the don’t mess with me or I will kill you with Spartan efficiency Joe Pike. While the books almost always feature both characters, they usually center on Cole. Occasionally we get a Pike centered book and they are always a lot of fun in a kick ass sort of way.

Since these are all ongoing series I can recommend them all, just pick your style. The Arnaldur stuff featuring a sparse landscape and a cop whose personal life is in shambles while he draws the mystery out (standard fare for all Nordic stuff). MacBride’s Scotland with its dismal weather and nasty citizens (and there is some bad stuff about it too). His police officer keeps getting screwed by the man, but somehow maintains his sense of humor and solves the case in spite of it. Or the fun loving California PI’s of Crais, quick with a joke or a gun, whatever works best.

You hipsters will want the first ones as they are so in fashion in the mystery world right now.

You're Still Here? Yay!!

2010-08-30T09:16:00.001-07:00

Well, I got caught up doing other things, then my card reader got destroyed, and then the humidity season started and my internet is always spotty when the humidity gets going.

In an effort to get caught up I am going to star posting quick book posts mentioning the stuff I have read. I hit my 100 book goal early than ever this year in late July, and I have over 120 done now.

Otherwise I am going to try and be a little more focused here; reading, running, riding, (a little bit of) religion, and the general ridiculousness that I love – the 5 R’s as they say.

As always this will be sprinkled with family stuff and other social events that come my way. Stay tuned for an update of the side bar as well.

Doors Open – Book #28

2010-06-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

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Title Doors Open
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Author Ian Rankin
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Genre Mystery
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Pages 364
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Publisher Little Brown & Company
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Copyright 2010
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Synopsis (from web-site)
Three friends descend upon an art auction in search of some excitement. Mike Mackenzie- retired software mogul, bachelor and fine art enthusiast- wants something that money can't buy. Fellow art-lover Allan Cruickshank is bored with his banking career and burdened by a painful divorce. And Robert Gissing, an art professor, is frustrated that so many paintings stay hidden in corporate boardrooms, safes and private apartments. After the auction- and a chance encounter with crime boss Chib Calloway- Robert and Allan suggest the "liberation" of several paintings from the National Gallery, hoping Mike will dissuade them. Instead, he hopes they are serious. As enterprising girlfriends, clever detectives, seductive auctioneers and a Hell's Angel named Hate enter the picture, Ian Rankin creates a highly-charged thriller, a faced-past story of second guesses and double crosses that keep changing the picture, right until the harrowing finish.

Why I read It
Ian Rankin is one of my top five favorite authors (Rankin, Henning Mankell, Marian Keyes, Haruki Murakami, Stephanie Meyer*). So I read everything he writes as soon as possible.

What I Thought About It
Rankin recently ended his longstanding series featuring Inspector Rebus, and as I here has started another series with another Scottish detective. This book is the sorbet between those two courses. The emotional depth he achieved with the Rebus series was missing, but I don’t feel it is really fair to judge it by that standard. So it was a light, fun book that reminded me of a cross between Ocean’s 11 and the Usual Suspects.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Ian Rankin lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with his wife and their two sons.

*Just checking to see if anyone is actually reading this. I enjoyed the Twilight series (though not as much as a lot of you), but she is not in my top 5. My fifth choice is a little bit more fluid and varies depending who has a new book out. But it would include the likes of Laura Lippman, Tess Gerritsen, Christopher Moore, Robert Crais, Denis Lehane, Stuart MacBride, John Burdett, etc..

Volcano Aside

2010-06-08T15:46:00.001-07:00

Iceland was a pretty amazing place

Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.

I Actually Never Knew This

2010-05-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

What was the number one song the day you were born?

Honky Tonk Woman - The Rolling Stones

Go here to find out yours and leave it in the comments.

We Have Done Our Bit

2010-05-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

via Bits And Pieces

The quiet red sky in the morning

2010-04-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

After getting the exercise disks I see it is based on a 7 day schedule with the last day being stretching (i.e. an easier day). So after talking with Lisa I decided to make Saturday the easy day so I would be free to work on the house or other family activities. That would mean a Sunday start for the big P180X experiment, and it also meant I had 5 days to “get ready”, what ever that means. So over those five days I took steps to get my diet in line, because the sad truth is no matter how hard you “bring it” you cannot out exercise a bad diet. That is especially true as you get older. Heck my ability to out metabolize my diet ended at 22 years old thanks to some stellar genetics.

The other thing I did was work through the stretch video three times as I figured it couldn’t hurt and just might help. I could handle just about all of it except for the plow as it cut my breathing off. It will be interesting to see as I progress how that improves. Anyways I really like the structure of the DVD with the countdown clocks, and the slight banter between the participants. I am sure I will have it memorized before I am done. But Tony, Pam the blam, Shauna the super freak, and the seething Phil go from head to toe over the course of an hour. Actually I don’t know if Phil is seething but I was amused to find a lot of online speculation about his hidden anger, mostly due to his stone face expression.

I also took a before photo but that isn’t coming up unless I get a decent after to go with it. The beginning numbers are 256#’s and 35.1% fat, but that is spread out over 76 inches so it isn’t too bad, he said wishfully. The only nagging injury I have is some slight ITBS on the right side, but that requires some pretty unique positioning to aggravate.

Glass Houses and Such

2010-04-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

The sad part of procrastination is that one day the piper must be paid. I had this discussion with my son just the other day about getting into and paying for college. You can have all the fun you want in high school but all it ends up doing is increase the cost of the next phase of life. For him that meant he had reached the 100% point of putting his paycheck towards college. If he continues to waste time that would mean he will need to forgo his freshman year and work fulltime. I am alright either way but I wasn’t sure he was. I guess time will tell.

But this post isn’t about him, or his choices, that is his story to tell. I have procrastinated my health so long now that I crossed over the 100% line. Not taking care of your health as a young(er) person just means you will be less energetic, tired, and overweight; but definitely not anything dangerous. But I am forty now, the dangers for me are legitimately scary. I am easily old enough for a heart attack or a stroke. I am hitting most of the risk factors pretty solidly.

So I was sitting in a hotel the other day getting used to live television and I ended up watching infomercials, specifically Tony Horton and the P90X system. I am always doubtful of infomercials, especially when it comes to my health; but this looked pretty straightforward. Plus I have a few friends who have successfully used the system, so I know it can be helpful. After a little online research I was pretty sure it could help for three reasons. First I already had the equipment I need to do the program at home. Second it seemed to integrate a lot of bases; strength, fitness, and flexibility. Third, and probably most important to me, it is highly structured and visual.

I also realize the results shown on the commercial are not really within my reach at this time given the amount of weight I want to lose, but I have seen enough evidence to feel confident that two rounds would be pretty dramatic, so a P180X so to speak. My goal for this first round of 90 days will be to lose 30-35 pounds, be able to keep pace with the videos (more on that later), and generally to be ready to get super intense for round two. I realize some might feel I should be “intense” from the get go, but trust me at 50 pounds overweight and generally not exercising (besides the bike) for the last two year I am more concerned about not injuring myself until the rust falls off.

You can call me Hay Bale

2010-04-24T20:19:00.001-07:00

The Set Up:

JT has been JT his whole life (Jay Tee) though his actual name is Joseph Talmage.

The Pay Off:

I was reading with Cenny the other day, or rather Cenny was reading aloud to me when the character in the book said: "My name is Alexander, but you can call me Al."

Except Cenny didn't say Al (rhymes with Pal), she said AL (rhymes with Hay Bale).

This make me happy, and I might have to call Cenny Hay Bale from now on. It's a pretty good nickname.**

**yes, I am proud of the correct usage of It's versus Its

The Scars of Youth

2010-04-22T10:03:00.001-07:00

I noticed today one of my interactions has been permanently inf; influenced by my Mom. A scar so to speak that has changed me. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying this in a negative way, more just a neutral observation.

Whenever I hear Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd the first thought to enter my mind is my Mom ranting about how terrible this song is and how irresponsible the band is because they use BAD GRAMMAR!!

"It is clear that these kids really do need education. 'Don't need no'; I mean, really!"

And on and on she would go for the whole song. Through some Pavlovian training I cannot enjoy this song at the highest level because my interaction has been damaged. I cannot hear it without also hearing my Mom too.

Not necessarily a bad thing, just part of the weird mixture that is me.

What scars are you toting around? And are any of them indirectly affecting your more meaningful interactions?

About Last Night, or Not Really A Bucket List

2010-04-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

As I said in a previous post I am not really thinking in terms of a bucket list, but I do admit that I need to make changes to my general health if I want to have a long life. I was actually thinking in terms of just making changes to my outlook on life, or rather, the way I interact with it. I had my first opportunity last night to implement these changes.

So several months ago I read a book called Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert (but for some reason I cannot find my post on it). In it Gilbert posits that we as human beings are absolute crap at predicting what will make us happy. We set these very narrow standards at what will make us happy and when we vary off that target we predict we will be unhappy. This sets us up for a lot of self fulfilling prophecy of sadness in which we end up missing opportunities for joyful moments. Please watch the video below where Gilbert discusses various extreme events (paralysis and winning the lottery) and which makes people happier).

Anyways an example from my own life is pears. My exposure to pears growing up was limited to fruit cocktail in the can. We had that for dessert about 3 times a month growing up and I absolutely detested the pears (favorites in order are cherries, grapes, pineapples, and peaches) in so much that I would pick them out. Now that was no easy task given their small size and very similar color to the pineapples. I hated the pears so much that I went 35 years purposely avoiding them because I DO NOT LIKE PEARS. It was part of my identity.

Then one day I saw some Anjou pears for sale in the grocery store. They looked so good I bought a few pounds for the kids, but then they tempted me. I tried one to confirm that my core being hadn’t changed; I hate pears. But major paradigm shift later and now I am the guy who checks the fruit section of store EVERY TIME I go shopping to see if they have any Anjou pears in stock. What is the point of this story? Well I wasted 35 years of my life based on the prediction that eating pears would be an unpleasant experience and thus make me happy. Or conversely I believed that avoiding pears would make me happy and I was wrong.

Here is another shorter example for you to mull over. More often than not are truly great moments of real happiness come from unpredicted, unplanned events. Assuming you are in a happy relationship, think back to how you met your significant other – planned or random? It was completely random set of events that led me to Lisa (and vice-versa) and that has led to twenty years so far of the happiest moments of my life.

So what does that mean for you and me? We need to spend a lot less time setting up all these arbitrary standards for us to be happy, and more time finding happiness in all the moments we get. Stuck in traffic – don’t worry, be happy. I was stuck in traffic on I35 driving to the Twin Cities a while back. It was very frustrating to have all the construction slowing us down. Now while I turned off to go to the St. Paul side, I have to wonder how many people who where stuck along side me avoided the bridge collapse that happened just a few miles up the road from where we were that same afternoon? If my clueless school counselor hadn’t have passed the buck on writing my recommendation to the one teacher I had had verbal altercations with (and even filed a complaint about), maybe I would have made it into the Coast Guard Academy and then I would have never met Lisa. (of course I had never been on a boat either I have since learned I get violently sea sick). I was angry at the time but what a blessing that has turned out to be. Ms Mayers where ever you might be – I owe a lot of my happiness to your crap teaching, man hating, personality disorder – who knew?

So long story longer, what did I do? Two things I believed would never lead to happiness, first is a choir concert, and second is a long bus ride with people I don’t know. These are things I have been avoiding since forever and I totally could have avoided again. But as I told Lisa I wanted to go just to see if I could give up my narrow views and to see if happiness could be found in any moment. So last night Lisa and I rode the parents coach up to Minneapolis to see Gunnar and the AHS choir participate in a 6 choir show. You know what, I had a good time. It was fun, the performances were great, the venue was beautiful, and we had a great conversation with our neighbors on the way up, and met another parent at the show. Plus our son was very happy for us to be there.

What are you avoiding? Reframe it; What moments of great happiness are you missing out on because you are too busy being unhappy?

I Haven't Forgotten

2010-04-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

The annual Most Challenged Books List has been put out by the American Library Association again. These are books certain individuals want banned from libraries because they are incompetent parents and all around priggish busybodies. How many of the top ten have you read? (I have read the bold ones)

1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs

2. “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality

3. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide

4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee
Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

6. “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

7. “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence

8. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

9. “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

10. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

It looks like I have a few books left to read this year. How about you?

My Dad would be so jealous

2010-04-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of our little town is the Austin Artist series. This organization schedules 5 concerts through the year and they are always wide ranging in their appeal, but almost always fun and extremely talented. Last night was no exception as we closed out the 2010 season with Riders in the Sky, an old school singing cowboy western band. I was a little surprised at how many of the songs I knew, but in retrospect this is the music I grew up with as a kid as my father loves it (Think Gene Autry).

Anyways, they have been playing together for over thirty years so it was fun to watch how easy they made it all look even though you could tell they were technically brilliant. Of course their banter and jokes were spot on, but I always wonder how many times they have told the same jokes over their nearly 6000 performances? The kids had a good time, especially as they went through the medely of Disney songs they did for Toy Story (Woody’s Round-up being the best known). All that was missing was a banjo picker, but maybe that doesn’t fit into the genre.

The other big news was the announcement that next season will include a group from the cities perfroming the musical Forever Plaid. I don’t know much about it but one of my last college roommates absolutely loved it. On that alone I am looking forward to it.

The Likeness – Book #27

2010-04-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

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Title The Likeness
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Author Tana French
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Genre Mystery
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Pages 466
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Publisher Viking
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Copyright 2008
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Synopsis (from web-site)
The eagerly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestselling psychological thriller In the Woods Six months after the events of In the Woods, Detective Cassie Maddox is still trying to recover. She’s transferred out of the murder squad and started a relationship with Detective Sam O’Neill, but she’s too badly shaken to make a commitment to him or to her career. Then Sam calls her to the scene of his new case: a young woman found stabbed to death in a small town outside Dublin. The dead girl’s ID says her name is Lexie Madison “the identity Cassie used years ago as an undercover detective” and she looks exactly like Cassie. With no leads, no suspects, and no clue to Lexie’s real identity, Cassie’s old undercover boss, Frank Mackey, spots the opportunity of a lifetime. They can say that the stab wound wasn’t fatal and send Cassie undercover in her place to find out information that the police never would and to tempt the killer out of hiding. At first Cassie thinks the idea is crazy, but she is seduced by the prospect of working on a murder investigation again and by the idea of assuming the victim’s identity as a graduate student with a cozy group of friends. As she is drawn into Lexie’s world, Cassie realizes that the girl’s secrets run deeper than anyone imagined. Her friends are becoming suspicious, Sam has discovered a generations-old feud involving the old house the students live in, and Frank is starting to suspect that Cassie’s growing emotional involvement could put the whole investigation at risk. Another gripping psychological thriller featuring the headstrong protagonist we’ve come to love, from an author who has proven that she can deliver.

Why I read It
Even with all the frustrating editorial decisions the author took with her first book, In the Woods, her writing was excellent.

What I Thought About It
Well you have to accept a really, really, really big premise; but after that it is a great book throughout. The writing was engrossing again, not as many open plot points at the end (but there are some still there), and the characters are still likable. I will definitely be reading book three when it is released later this year.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Tana French grew up in Ireland, Italy, the US and Malawi, and has lived in Dublin since 1990. She trained as a professional actress at Trinity College, Dublin, and has worked in theatre, film and voiceover.

It has been a long time

2010-04-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Between the pneumonia, the week I spent in bed, and making up that week at work; I have been busy. Isn’t it always the case that it is exponential for making up work that you have missed? That is it takes two days to make up one missed day. So a week off was a killer to catch up. Plus it wasn’t like I was well when I got back to the office; I was just able to sit up for an 8 hour day.

Then last week I had a four day short course at the University of Minnesota; An Introduction to Food Science. That was more work missed, but at least this time I knew it was coming. By the way that course was really a misnomer. I went to school to become a therapist (double major in Psychology and Family Science) and then went on and got a masters in Organizational Management (yes, I am a degreed MOM). This job working with food was one I took at the time to make money after spending so much time in school (I was on the 9 year bachelor’s program). Well that was fifteen years ago and besides Food Allergies, my actual detailed food knowledge is severely lacking.

So I signed up for this course thinking it might give me the basics to get started. Instead it was more like “So you really know your Chemistry, so let us talk about the specialty of FOOD Chemistry.” I really liked how to make it “easier” the teacher would draw chemical compound diagrams on the board. It wasn’t a total loss because I learned quite a few superficial things, even a couple of really neat things, but ultimately I did get one truly important lesson.

I learned how much I didn’t know, especially since I work in R&D. As a 40 year old with 14 years into a 30 year career I realized I am not just doing this job to earn money before my “real” job. This is my life right now, this is my real job and I shouldn’t really be wasting anymore time. To that end I have decided to take advantage of my local community college and all the online courses now available and learn Chemistry and Food Science.

I am reminded of a brilliant woman from my mission, Sister Pass of Runcorn England. She earned her college degree in Art when she was 90 years old. She was interviewed on National TV at the time and the presenter asked her “Why get a degree at 90?” Her reply has always stuck with me. She said she figure she could have a degree at 90 or not, so either way she would still be 90. Why not have the degree.

So in ten years I will be 50, still stumbling along blindly in my career waiting for my life to begin or I can actually start living it today and get something done. As my secretary used to have as her screen saver, “Life is what happens while you make other plans.”

Maybe it is my midlife crisis, but I really want to start making changes to my life. Get ‘er done before I miss it. I do have a few nagging goals and desires that I will post later, but unlike Lisa I don’t think that will include skydiving.

Fantasy in Death – Book #26

2010-03-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Fantasy in Death |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |JD Robb (Nora Roberts) |
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| Genre |Mystery |
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| Pages |356 |
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| Publisher |GP Putnam |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2010 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
In the latest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.D. Robb, it is game over for the criminals pursued by NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas. Bart Minnock, founder of the computer-gaming giant U-Play, enters his private playroom, and eagerly can't wait to lose himself in an imaginary world, to play the role of a sword-wielding warrior king, in his company's latest top-secret project, Fantastical. The next morning, he is found in the same locked room, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. It is the most puzzling case Eve Dallas has ever faced, and it is not a game. . . . NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas is having as much trouble figuring out how Bart Minnock was murdered as who did the murdering. The victim's girlfriend seems sincerely grief-stricken, and his quirky-but-brilliant partners at U-Play appear equally shocked. No one seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire. Of course, success can attract jealousy, and gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks-as Eve's husband, Roarke, one of U- Play's competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naive, and quite capable of fighting back in the real world as well as the virtual one. Eve and her team are about to
enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction-and the price of defeat is death. . . .

Why I read It
This is one of Nora Roberts’s ongoing series and I believe she is up to book 30 now. Her usual pattern is to write 3 at a time, and then while she returns to her other books the publisher will release the three over the course of two years. This is book two of the latest set. Now you can read each book for the mystery in any order, be aware there are ongoing characters and relationships that have been developing since book one. My advice is to start as early in the series as you can.

What I Thought About It
Eve Dallas is a police detective in a futuristic New York City. In an homage to her romance writing Eve also happens to be married to the world’s richest, most considerate, good looking, desired man who also happens to be a former Irish street criminal gone straight. This guy gives women orgasms just by looking at them. All that silliness aside the mysteries are straightforward and solid – somebody killed somebody else for usually pedestrian reasons. Through determination and cleverness Eve’s team of investigators usually get to the bottom of the case.
The only drawback to these books is the sameness on the big picture elements. So while it may seem tempting after enjoying a couple of them to read her backlist straight through, I would highly recommend breaking it up with other authors. If you don’t those basic outline points will really jump out at you and ruin your reading experience.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Nora Roberts has published more than 130 novels, which has been translated into more than 25 languages. She writes romances under her own name and futuristic crime novels under the pseudonym of J. D. Robb. She has been given the Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into their Hall of Fame.

When Will There Be Good News? – Book #25

2010-03-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | When Will There Be Good News? |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Kate Atkinson |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |388 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Little Brown & Company |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2008 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
On a hot summer day, Joanna Mason's family slowly wanders home along a country lane. A moment later, Joanna's life is changed forever... On a dark night thirty years later, ex-detective Jackson Brodie finds himself on a train that is both crowded and late. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly hears a shocking sound... At the end of a long day, 16-year-old Reggie is looking forward to watching a little TV. Then a terrifying noise shatters her peaceful evening. Luckily, Reggie makes it a point to be prepared for an emergency...

Why I read It
I enjoyed Case Histories and I am now slowly working my way through Kate Atkinson’s back list.

What I Thought About It
Followed the same pattern of bring several seemingly unrelated cases together in a unifying finish. Solid writing and the mysteries were pretty good. The pacing was a little slower than Case Histories, but in that book it was phenomenal.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Kate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award.

She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories, and One Good Turn.

Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster. Her latest novel, the Richard & Judy Book Club and Galaxy British Book Awards 2009 shortlisted When Will There Be Good News?, also features Jackson Brodie and is out now in paperback.

Lady Gaga Christmas

2010-03-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

My Commute is ...

2010-03-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

almost identical to this :-)

If you have never seen this Danny MacAskill video before please watch it. Absolutely amazing and it changed his life. He had his mates film him as he rode to work at the bicycle shop - he now is an international (fully sponsored) rider.

Black Water Rising – Book #24

2010-03-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Black Water Rising |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Attica Locke |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery (Houston, Texas) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |427 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Harper Collins |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
When Houston lawyer Jay Porter responds to pressure from his wife and jumps into the bayou to rescue a drowning white woman during a birthday dinner cruise he'd planned, he has no idea of the hell he's about to enter. There's a murder nearby that same night. Jay suspects that the drowning woman was involved. Ominous threats convince him that it's bigger than just a simple murder and that the players go all the way to the top of Houston's business and political elite. Only by facing down the racially charged past that's been haunting him for years can Jay find it in himself to overcome his long-standing belief in keeping quiet instead of speaking up. Despite a slow start and a measured pace that fail to give the narrative the expected intensity, Locke's debut thriller ends in a satisfying whirlwind of drama. Deftly exploring social and economic themes during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, she balances Jay's current situation with flashbacks to his past as a student activist fighting for racial equality.

Why I read It
It was on every short list for Mystery of the year (for new authors) that I saw. Plus it was written by a woman (Always trying to read more female authors).

What I Thought About It
It was okay and made Houston seem like a hot and depressing city (maybe it is – so job well done). While I enjoyed it I did not connect with the lead character, which is not surprising given it was a first novel. I will be interested to see if she develops him more with subsequent books. I also realized how few books I read by black authors, or with black protagonists. It hasn’t been a conscious decision and I had never noticed before. I think I will try to correct that going forward.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Attica Locke is a writer who has worked in both film and television for over ten years. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has written movie scripts for Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, Twentieth Century Fox and Jerry Bruckheimer films, as well as television pilots for HBO, Dreamworks and Silver Pictures. She was a fellow at the Sundance Institute’s Feature Filmmaker’s Lab and most recently completed an adaptation of Stephen Carter’s The Emperor of Ocean Park. She is member of the Writers Guild of America, west, and is currently at work on an HBO miniseries about the civil rights movement, based on the writings of historian Taylor Branch. A native of Houston, Texas, Attica lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and daughter.

Child 44 – Book #23

2010-03-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Child 44 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Tom Rob Smith |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery (Russia) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |436 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Grand Central Publishing |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2008 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
A propulsive, relentless page-turner. A terrifying evocation of a paranoid world where no one can be trusted. A surprising, unexpected story of love and family, of hope and resilience. CHILD 44 is a thriller unlike any you have ever read. "There is no crime." Stalin's Soviet Union strives to be a paradise for its workers, providing for all of their needs. One of its fundamental pillars is that its citizens live free from the fear of ordinary crime and criminals. But in this society, millions do live in fear . . . of the State. Death is a whisper away. The mere suspicion of ideological disloyalty-owning a book from the decadent West, the wrong word at the wrong time-sends millions of innocents into the Gulags or to their executions. Defending the system from its citizens is the MGB, the State Security Force. And no MGB officer is more courageous, conscientious, or idealistic than Leo Demidov. A war hero with a beautiful wife, Leo lives in relative luxury in Moscow , even providing a decent apartment for his parents. His only ambition has been to serve his country. For this greater good, he has arrested and interrogated. Then the impossible happens. A different kind of criminal-a murderer-is on the loose, killing at will. At the same time, Leo finds himself demoted and denounced by his enemies, his world turned upside down, and every belief he's ever held shattered. The only way to save his life and the lives of his family is to uncover this criminal. But in a society that is officially paradise, it's a crime against the State to suggest that a murderer-much less a serial killer-is in their midst. Exiled from his home, with only his wife, Raisa, remaining at his side, Leo must confront the vast resources and reach of the MBG to find and stop a criminal that the State won't admit even exists.

Why I read It
I saw it on a lot of “Best of” lists and decided to give it a try.

What I Thought About It
While the mystery was quite good (and it is the second book I have read this year with the same theme – cannibal serial killer), I actually enjoyed the historical aspect of the book more. It is set in newly communist Russia shortly after WWII and how the secret police treated crime and its citizens. For example, you couldn’t say you had a murderer, let alone a serial killer on the loose because such things did not happen in a perfect society comrade. To do so, even as a cop figuratively standing on a stack of bodies, would be a crime against the state and earn you a trip to the gulag. I spent a lot of time contemplating societies (and by default organizations) that enforce a strict compliance to a set of arbitrary rules, and how that ultimately leads to abuse of power and self destruction. A lot to read into our modern society there, from terrorists to religion to families; good stuff.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Tom Rob Smith graduated from Cambridge in 2001 and lives in London . Child 44 is his first novel.

The Case of the Missing Servant – Book #22

2010-03-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |The Case of the Missing Servant |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Tarquin Hall |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery (India) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |310 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Simon & Schuster |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Vish Puri's New Delhi detective agency has never been busier, often doing background checks on persons selected for arranged marriages. With his keen skills of observation and deduction, a network of personal contacts, and some modern communication devices, Punjabi Puri claims to be his country's top detective, citing his Super Sleuth award from the World Federation of Detectives for solving the Case of the Missing Polo Elephant in 1999. (He also has an appetite for pakoras and 30 excess pounds and is known to family and friends as Chubby.) A prominent lawyer who asks Puri to find a missing servant is arrested for the young woman's murder when her body is found, requiring complex work by Puri's staff. Meanwhile, he must check out the squeaky-clean fiance of the granddaughter of a revered war hero. And Puri's visiting Mummy-ji undertakes her own search when her son is shot at.

Why I read It
It was in the new section of my library as I was browsing. A mystery that takes place in India was enough for me to pick it up.

What I Thought About It
It was pretty standard fair and nothing really stood out. I will be interested in the author’s second effort to see if it improves, but I am otherwise uncommitted to the book.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Tarquin Hall is a British writer and Journalist. He was born in London in 1969 and has livied in the United States, Pakistan, India, Kenya and Turkey, and traveled extensively in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. He is the author of three books and dozens of articles that have appeared in many British newspapers and magazines. He lives in the UK and India and is married to BBC reporter and presenter Anu Anand.

The Way It Should Be

2010-03-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Very Cool Bike Parking in Japan. This is distantly related to the way we store pallets at work (6000 pallet bays).

And the shear size of this Dutch bike garage. I think I saw elsewhere that it holds 10,000 bikes and is full every day - ALL YEAR ROUND!

The possibilities are there if only we would do it. My bike rack at work is buried under snow.

What I Learned Today

2010-03-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

The Canola in Canola oil is actually an acronym.**

Canola stands for CANadian Oil Low Acid.

**close enough for alliteration points for me.

Thirty-Three Teeth – Book #21

2010-03-18T19:04:00.000-07:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |Thirty-Three Teeth |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Colin Cotterill |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |238 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Soho |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2005 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Dr. Siri Paiboun of Laos-"reluctant national coroner, confused psychic, [and] disheartened communist"-employs forensic skills and spiritual acumen to solve a series of bizarre killings in Cotterill's quirky, exotic and winning second novel, set in 1977. Could an old escaped bear be mauling Vientiane citizens? Or is it something more mystical-say, a weretiger? When Paiboun is summoned to the capital to identify the nationality of a pair of charred bodies, he quickly flags them as Asians killed in a helicopter crash, and his ability to connect them to the royal family annoys Communist Party leaders. As Paiboun learns of an effort to get the remaining royal family members out of town, he's arrested, accused of damaging government property. But the witness's testimony is questionable, and Paiboun, representing himself in court, escapes this scrape as handily as he's escaped others before. Paiboun's droll wit and Cotterill's engaging plot twists keep things energetic; the rather grisly murders are offset by comedy, including a scene in which a Party member attempts to impose regulations on the spirit world.

Why I read It
Book two in the series. Slowly catching up on the adventures of the
geriatric pathologist in 1970’s communist Laos.

What I Thought About It
Another fun read; short and sweet with solid mysteries. The history lesson about communist society as it is blended with religious history is just icing on the cake.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Colin Cotterill is a London-born teacher, crime writer and cartoonist. Cotterill has dual English and Australian citizenship; however, he currently lives in Southeast Asia, where he writes the award-winning Dr. Siri mystery series set in the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.

That's Parker's Christmas taken care of

2010-03-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

It is a hard rubber ball with a mustache attached.

Only $15

via The Presurfer

If You Are Not Watching Craig Ferguson

2010-03-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE AN IDIOT

Between the end of Letterman and the start of his show their is a little dead time so Craig, his puppets, and a few stagehands lip sinc songs. This is my favorite but a more complete list (plus other highlights) can be found here.

This one is quite good too

I open the scriptures for you

2010-03-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

So today in Elder's Quorum we discussed JST of Matthew 3:24.

24 And it came to pass that Jesus grew up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come.

My comment was people often overlooked an alternative, but just as valid interpretation of this scripture. That is we must remember Jesus grew up as a carpenter. So when it said he "waxed strong" that could very well be referencing his skills as a furniture refinisher.

And now you have seen the written word in a different way - your welcome.

I am so proud

2010-03-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

My oldest made the local paper today. Here is the picture.

His excuse for being the only one dancing was "It was a break and nobody was doing anything; and I do NOT SIT DOWN for the chorus of Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus."

**If you read the article it says 9th graders. Gunnar is in 11th grade and is a student leader for them so he is actually setting the example, allegedly.

I am totally this guy

2010-03-10T16:07:00.000-08:00

When I play golf.

via Bits and Pieces

It turns out I am not as pervy as previously thought

2010-03-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I saw a trailer for the movie Percy Jackson and the Olympians. In it I saw something that reminded me of a literary idea I have been wrestling with and before I proceeded I wanted to check it out. Just making sure I wasn’t walking down an already worn path. Anyways all was well and the books were really fun. I told my family about them and most read all five in the series as well.

I also decided (look at me – the powerful man who will be obeyed!!) we should go see the movie as a family. Here comes the pervy part. In Harry Potter book 1 the kids were written as being 11 years old. Here is a picture of Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) in the first movie.

Pretty good representation of a 11 year old.

In book one of Percy Jackson the kids are written as 12 years old. Here is a picture of Annabeth Chase(Alexandra Daddario) in the first movie.

Either 12 year olds have really changed or I have totally got my creepy uncle vibe going on. Luckily IMDB is there to set the record straight as the actress is 24 years old. The movie went with an older portrayal of the kids to sell it as a teen movie (I guess). So no need for me to start growing facial hair, this Annabeth is acceptably hot and that only makes me mildly creepy. Just like all you Taylor Lautner fans ladies (except he is like totally underage you bunch of perves!)

Night Work – Book #20

2010-03-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |Night Work |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Steve Hamilton |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |294 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |St. Martin’s Minotaur |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2007 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Joe Trumbull is not a man who scares easily. As a juvenile probation officer in Kingston, New York, he’s half cop, half social worker to the most high-risk youth in the city. And when he’s not pounding the streets, trying to keep his kids out of jail, he’s pounding a heavy bag in the gym to stay in shape.

But tonight Joe Trumbull is scared to death.

It’s been two years since his fiancée, Laurel, was brutally murdered. Two years of grief and loneliness. On this hot summer night, he’s finally going out on a blind date, his first date since Laurel’s death. He’s not looking for love, just testing the waters to see if it’s possible to live a normal life again. The thought of it is turning his knees to jelly.

Marlene Frost is a beautiful woman. She’s warm and funny, with a smile to match. After the first awkward minutes, Joe finally starts to think this isn’t such a bad idea after all. In fact, maybe this blind date will turn out to be one of the best things that ever happened to him.

He couldn’t be more wrong. Because somehow, for reasons Joe can barely understand, this one evening will mark the beginning of a new nightmare. A nightmare that will lead him to the faceless man in the shadows, and to the most terrible realization of all...

For Joe Trumbull, the past is never past. And the worst is yet to come.

Why I read It
Steve Hamilton writes a nice series of PI books based in the UP (You-Pee). The UP stands for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, an area famous for snow, trees, copper, and more snow. Anyways my parents used to live up there so I have had occasion to visit and enjoy the many sights (snow). This is why I began reading the books. This book though is his first stand alone and definitely does not take place in the UP.

What I Thought About It
It was okay. Maybe it was because I was not invested in the characters, or some of the plot points were a little much to accept, but I was not that into it. I find I am pretty jaded to exaggeration (or Hollywoodesque showiness) in my crime fiction lately.

Mormon Mentions
None – and aren’t we all glad that crime fiction is free from it :-)

Author Biography

Born and raised in Detroit, Steve Hamilton graduated from the University of Michigan where he won the prestigious Hopwood Award for fiction. In 2006, he won the Michigan Author Award for his outstanding body of work. His novels have won numerous awards and media acclaim beginning with the very first in the Alex McKnight series, A Cold Day in Paradise, which won the Private Eye Writers of America/St. Martin's Press Award for Best First Mystery by an Unpublished Writer. Once published, it went on to win the MWA Edgar and the PWA Shamus Awards for Best First Novel, and was short-listed for the Anthony and Barry Awards. The awards didn't stop there but he's too modest to crow about them. Hamilton currently works for IBM in upstate New York where he lives with his wife Julia and their two children.

The Last Six Million Seconds – Book #19

2010-03-08T17:35:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | The Last Six Million Seconds |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |John Burdett |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |385 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |William Morrow & Co. |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |1997 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
A plastic bag containing three rotting heads is discovered near the Chinese mainland. The British seem to be keen for the investigation to drag on until after June 1997, the powerful Mr Xian wants a swift conclusion to the case, and the NYPD are taking a curious interest in events.

Why I read It
I was first introduced to John Burdett with his masterful Bangkok Police detective trilogy starring the multiracial Sonchai Jitpleecheep. In the reviews online I see Burdett has written a new book so I went on-line to see if my library had a copy yet. They didn’t but I saw this early work by him that I had not read yet.

What I Thought About It
As books/mysteries go this was okay. The real interest of the book is the development of Burdett as a writer. Featuring a multiracial police detective in Hong Kong (6 million seconds before it is turned over to China) you can see the seeds of Sonchai and Bangkok. It seems Burdett knew where his character was going; he just was initially not sure how to get him there. Fascinating stuff.

The other part of interest is the subtext that you cannot have control without corruption; whether that be the Chinese or the Americans. It is a difficult road to balanced power and I would guess most people fail at it. It is a fine line between what we want and what we need, and if you can figure out how to walk it and show others the way, power will take care of itself. Just don’t let it push you off.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Burdett is a former lawyer who lived and worked in Hong Kong for twelve years. For a time, he was employed by the Hong Kong Government. He later worked in private practice. Eventually, Burdett decided to abandon law and pursue a career as a detective novelist.

Burdett now splits his time between France and Bangkok and spends a lot of time researching in the red light areas of Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza.

He is divorced and has one daughter.

The Truth

2010-03-07T18:05:00.001-08:00

Getting Unstuck – Book #18

2010-03-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Getting Unstuck |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Timothy Butler |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Nonfiction – Business/Self Improvement |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |172 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |HBS Press |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2007 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Using his work as a social scientist, psychotherapist, and career counselor, Butler (career development, Harvard Business School) outlines strategies for getting "unstuck" at work, home, with colleagues, or family. He describes the state of psychological impasse and how it is a sign for change, how to create a clear vision, and the stages of the process of moving through the crisis: arrival, emergence of unresolved issues, opening up to new information, shifting to a new understanding of the situation, recognizing personality patterns, and deciding to take action, with a lot of information on career choices. He uses exercises from classes and workshops he teaches.

Why I read It
The subject interests me and I saw it mentioned online somewhere.

What I Thought About It
Meh. It was about a topic I liked and focused on anecdotes (which I prefer), but still I never really got into it. We grow by recognizing/accepting things as they are suck. We then make changes, grow, and eventually start over again. Ultimately we will not be happy if we let someone else call the shots. You must make changes; or something like that. I mean, that is what I got from it. Don't get me wrong, it was not a bad book; it just didn't do it for me. Much like Charles Dickens, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Gwynneth Paltrow.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Timothy Butler, Ph.D., along with James Waldroop, is director of career development at the Harvard Business School & the developer of the Internet-based interactive career assessment program, CareerLeader, currently used by more than ninety-five corporations & MBA programs worldwide. They are the authors of "Discovering Your Career in Business," as well as articles that have appeared in the "Harvard Business Review" & "Fortune." They live in the Boston metropolitan area

In The Woods – Book #17

2010-03-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | In the Woods |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Tana French |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Mystery (Ireland) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |429 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Viking |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2007 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
A gorgeously written novel that marks the debut of an astonishing new voice in psychological suspense As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours. Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox?his partner and closest friend?find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past. Richly atmospheric, stunning in its complexity, and utterly convincing and surprising to the end.

Why I read It
A highly regarded mystery from Ireland, plus my library had it.

What I Thought About It
I am of two minds. First of all the book was excellent in both writing and plot. I enjoyed the characters and found the mystery believable. On almost every other scale this book would have been a homerun. Here is the rub, or the second part. This book told two mysteries centered around the lead character, which in and of itself is fine, but it only solves one of them at the books end. That is especially grating given the sequel revolves around a secondary character so I do not expect an answer from it either. I get it is the author’s right to tell the story as they see it, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling frustrated. That said book 2 is in my to read pile at home right now.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Tana French grew up in Ireland, Italy, the US and Malawi, and has lived in Dublin since 1990. She trained as a professional actress at Trinity College, Dublin, and has worked in theatre, film and voiceover.

This is the absolute best explanation I have seen so far.

2010-03-04T15:37:00.001-08:00

When I first heard about this

2010-03-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

I thought it sounded like another stupid remake we don't need. But I must admit this trailer looks pretty awesome.

Young at Ears

2010-03-03T10:37:00.000-08:00

Created by Oatmeal

The Coroner’s Lunch – Book #16

2010-02-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | The Coroner’s Lunch |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Colin Cotterill |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Mystery (Laotian) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |257 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Soho |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2004 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Despite a total lack of training, an utter dearth of experience and a complete absence of inclination, Dr. Siri Paiboun has just been appointed state coroner for the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It's 1976, the royal family has been deposed, the professional classes have fled and the communists have taken over. And 72-year-old Siri - a communist for convenience and a wry old reprobate by nature - has got the coroner's job because he's the only doctor left in Laos.

But when the wife of a Party leader is wheeled into the morgue and the bodies of tortured Vietnamese soldiers start bobbing to the surface of a Laotian lake, all eyes turn to the new coroner. Faced with official cover-ups and an emerging international crisis, Siri will be forced to enlist old friends, tribal shamans, forensic deduction, spiritual acumen and some good old-fashioned sleuthing before he can discover quite what's going on...

Why I read It
I saw the latest book from Mr. Cotterill on my library’s new shelf and was intrigued. It takes place in Laos which I know nothing about. But since it is a ongoing series I went to the stacks and found this book, the first in the series.

What I Thought About It
While the author is British, he has spent most of his life in Southeast Asia, so I want to believe he has captured the feel of Laos. It is part of my ongoing effort to read more foreign literature, or at least foreign based stories. It clearly demonstrates the frustrations in living in a communist society, getting by with what life has dealt you. It also shows the power of being old, or in least in this case the power of not giving a damn anymore about what the “man” can do you. This story focuses on the life of the 72 year old coroner of Laos, the coroner because he was the only Doctor at the time that didn’t get out when the communists took over. He mistakenly thought he would be able to enjoy his retirement quietly. He gets frustrated by the imbeciles in charge wanting him to write death certificates to meet their quotas.

For example when a military boat crashes into a dock and chops off the legs of an old fisherman, instead of death by blood loss the local leader argues for natural causes (a heart attack because he was old). The thinking being the shock of losing his legs led to a heart attack. Anyways he finally has had enough of playing along and decides he is going to investigate the deaths that come his way like the detective in the old French novels he enjoyed in his youth. Fire him, kill him, he just doesn’t care anymore. Good stuff all the way around.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Colin Cotterill is a London-born teacher, crime writer and cartoonist. Cotterill has dual English and Australian citizenship; however, he currently lives in Southeast Asia, where he writes the award-winning Dr. Siri mystery series set in the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.

This is where I leave you – Book #15

2010-02-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | This is where I leave you |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Jonathan Tropper |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |339 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Dutton |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
The death of Judd Foxman's father marks the first time that the entire Foxman family-including Judd's mother, brothers, and sister-have been together in years. Conspicuously absent: Judd's wife, Jen, whose fourteen-month affair with Judd's radio-shock-jock boss has recently become painfully public.

Simultaneously mourning the death of his father and the demise of his marriage, Judd joins the rest of the Foxmans as they reluctantly submit to their patriarch's dying request: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family.

As the week quickly spins out of control, longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions reawakened. For Judd, it's a weeklong attempt to make sense of the mess his life has become while trying in vain not to get sucked into the regressive battles of his madly dysfunctional family. All of which would be hard enough without the bomb Jen dropped the day Judd's father died: She's pregnant.

This Is Where I Leave You is Jonathan Tropper's most accomplished work to date, a riotously funny, emotionally raw novel about love, marriage, divorce, family, and the ties that bind-whether we like it or not.

Why I read It
Tropper writes stories of normal lives that have been interrupted by some event. Sometimes sad and sometimes humorous, they always are entertaining. I picked up a book on tape by him a few years ago, The Book of Joe, and enjoyed it. While I haven’t read his entire backlist I do read him when I can. I saw this in a best of review for books of 2009, so I picked it up.

What I Thought About It
Fractured families and bad decisions; things that affect us all. The father of four grown children has died of a long standing illness and they all get together to sit Shiva. That is a Jewish custom where the family stays in the house for a week and contemplate the recently deceased (I am sure I am not doing it justice). All those bad decisions, well they come to a head and through the course of a week the inklings of hope and recovery can been seen. From dead fathers to dead marriages, all can heal eventually.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Jonathan Tropper is the author of How to Talk to a Widower, Everything Changes, The Book of Joe, and Plan B. He lives with his family in Westchester, New York, where he teaches writing at Manhattanville College. He is currently adapting This Is Where I Leave You as a feature film for Warner Brothers Studios

American on Purpose – Book #14

2010-02-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |American on Purpose |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Craig Ferguson |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Biography |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 268 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)

In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson delivers a moving and achingly funny memoir of living the American dream as he journeys from the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland, to the comedic promised land of Hollywood. Along the way he stumbles through several attempts to make his mark—as a punk rock musician, a construction worker, a bouncer, and, tragically, a modern dancer.

To numb the pain of failure, Ferguson found comfort in drugs and alcohol, addictions that eventually led to an aborted suicide attempt. (He forgot to do it when someone offered him a glass of sherry.) But his story has a happy ending: in 1993, the washed-up Ferguson washed up in the United States. Finally sober, Ferguson landed a breakthrough part on the hit sitcom The Drew Carey Show, a success that eventually led to his role as the host of CBS's The Late Late Show. By far Ferguson's greatest triumph was his decision to become a U.S. citizen, a milestone he achieved in early 2008, just before his command performance for the president at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson talks a red, white, and blue streak about everything our Founding Fathers feared.

Why I read It
Craig Ferguson is the man and he is hilarious. If you are not watching his late night show you should. This is what Tivo’s were invented for.

What I Thought About It
Loved it. Another biography which lets you know how destructive drugs and alcohol can be, even if you are an artist. It makes you wonder if creative lives foster substance abuse or if substance abuse fuels creativity. I would bet a lot of creative types mired in the addictive cycle believe the latter; it works as a justification. I started writing about my experiences with America, but it began looking like the seeds of an original post. So that is what it will be.

Mormon Mentions
Yes! One of the first shows Craig worked on in LA was a sit-com with Marie Osmond, consequently he had a lot of interaction with her and her entourage, mostly great. While he states he would never want to be one (a Mormon), he has never met one he hasn’t liked. Well he has got that on me I guess :-)

Author Biography

Craig Ferguson entered the world of late night comedy following a diverse and eclectic career that encompasses film, television, and the stage. Since taking the helm of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on January 3, 2005, the show has set all-time viewer records and achieved the highest ratings since the show's inception in 1995.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ferguson got his start in the entertainment industry as a drummer for some of the worst punk bands in the U.K., a profession he held for several years. Following his musical stint, he began bartending in a local pub in Glasgow where he was introduced to Michael Boyd, the artistic director of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, who persuaded Ferguson to give acting a go. After several low-paying acting gigs, Ferguson discovered he had a knack for comedy and was soon the star of his own BBC television show, The Ferguson Theory.

Ferguson was involved in the English comedy circuit for a short while, and then brought his act to America in 1995 to star with Betty White and Marie Osmond in the short-lived ABC comedy Maybe This Time. After the show ended, ABC decided to add the talented Scotsman to The Drew Carey Show, playing Drew Carey's boss, Nigel Wick, from 1996–2003.

Ferguson wrote the feature films The Big Tease and Saving Grace. In 2003, he made his directorial debut with I'll Be There, which he also wrote and starred in. I'll Be There went on to receive the Audience Award for Best Film at the Aspen, Dallas, and Valencia film festivals. Craig was also named Best New Director at the Napa Valley Film Festival. Ferguson's other film credits include: Niagra Motel, Lenny the Wonder Dog, Prendimi l'anima, Life Without Dick, Chain of Fools, and Born Romantic.

In April 2006, Ferguson published his first novel entitled Between the Bridge and the River, which became a critically acclaimed bestseller.

Since coming into his own on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and receiving his first Emmy nomination in 2006, Craig achieved a personal milestone in February 2008 when he was sworn in as a U.S. Citizen. Soon after, Craig hosted the White House Correspondents' Dinner, performing before political journalists, celebrities, and Washington power players.

In 2009, HarperCollins is set to publish Craig Ferguson's American on Purpose, a memoir of living the American dream as he journeys from a small town in Scotland to the entertainment capital of the world. "American on Purpose reads as if Ferguson had snorted Angela's Ashes," says David Hirshey, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor. "It will make you laugh, cry, and sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' with a Scottish burr."

Ferguson also serves on the board of the Lollipop Theater Network. The mission of the Lollipop Theater Network is to bring movies that are currently in theatrical release to hospitalized children facing chronic and life-threatening illness.

Ferguson lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

The astonishing adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl– Book #13

2010-02-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |The astonishing adventures of Fanboy & |
| |Goth Girl |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Barry Lyga |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Young Adult Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |311 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Houghton Mifflin |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |311 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
The brainy outcast known as Fanboy has never had it good, but lately his sophomore year is turning out to be its own special hell. The bullies have made him their favorite target, his best (and only) friend seems headed for the dark side (sports and popularity), and his pregnant mother and the step-fascist are eagerly awaiting the birth of the alien life form known as Fanboy’s new little brother or sister.

But Fanboy has a secret: a graphic novel he’s been working on without telling anyone about it, a graphic novel that he is convinced will lead to publication, fame, and — most important of all — a way out of the crappy little town he lives in and the bullies that make it all hell for him.

Just when he thinks he’s doomed to be alone, Fanboy meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, an outrageous, cynical girl who shares Fanboy’s love of comics as well as his hatred for jocks and bullies. Fanboy can’t resist someone who actually seems to understand him, and soon he finds himself willing to heed her advice — to ignore or crush anyone who stands in his way.

But Kyra has secrets, too. And they could lead Fanboy to his dreams…or down a path into his own darkness.

Why I read It
The Title! The young adult (teen) section of my library is around the music CD’s. So as I was checking out the latest arrivals I saw this book on the shelf in a prominent outfacing display. I love Goth Girls (think back to Winona Ryder in Bettlejuice) so I had to pick it up.

What I Thought About It
Quick, fun, and I will definitely be reading the sequel when my library gets it. Two loners find each other and just maybe they can get through the High School experience. Not a banned book but I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up there one day. Smoking, drinking, suicidal ideation, sexual suggestions, and public nudity all by teens.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Barry Lyga is a recovering comic book geek. When he was a kid, everyone told him that comic books were garbage and would rot his brain, but he had the last laugh. Raised on a steady diet of comics, he worked in the comic book industry for ten years, but now writes full-time because, well, wouldn’t you?

For Lisa

2010-02-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

FarmVille Is Action Packed To The Extreme!

A BYU Story

2010-02-11T16:16:00.000-08:00

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman!”

I saw a link to a new website the other day called Passive Aggressive Notes.

What led me here was a post featuring a note written at my alma mater BYU, the bastion of overly self righteous Mormons everywhere. Anyways the note was left on the windshield of a young woman who had parked outside her then boyfriend/now husband’s apartment building, the infamous King Henry Apartments. It is now framed and hangs in their house. Here is the text in full:

Hi – You don’t know me but I’ve noticed that you go into #306 apt. late @ night & I sometimes see you coming out in the morning & it’s obvious that you sleep over there b/c your car is parked @ King Henry all night. I know that it’s really none of my business, but my roommates & I think that it is inappropriate to be staying @ a boy’s house all night. I feel like I should talk to someone about this problem, perhaps King Henry, but I think that you could & should fix this problem on your own w/out my intervention.

Thanks for your time
-Have a great day :-)

I just love the “it’s none of my business” line but then they proceed to make it all of their business. The underlying message is they have completely assessed the situation and have judged you to be a filthy sinner, and that is okay because as a stone thrower they are completely without sin. The obnoxious smiley face at the end is just perfect. Bloody hell, isn’t there always one of these people (the note writer) in every ward in the church.

Anyways this completely accurate depiction of all that was annoying about BYU reminded me of my own experience with single housing. I dropped out of college as a senior and moved to Minnesota; I like to say it was to “find” myself. After working for a couple of years with Juvenile delinquents I did manage to find something out, mainly that I was an idiot for dropping out. Anyways, my wife was working, we had two kids, a car payment, and a mortgage (our first house was only $27,000 – those were the days), but at the same time it was not possible to transfer to a local college. So luckily my Mom moved in to look after the kids while I went back to BYU solo. My wife garnered a lot of “who are the fancy people with the live-in English Nanny” around town because what little accent I have is completely non-existent unless I am living there; so it wasn’t obvious that she is my Mom.

I moved into single housing just of campus and paid the whole semester’s rent upfront. Now I went with single housing because it was under $200 a month as opposed to $1000 plus for married. While going over the contract it come out I was actually married and not single. Well this caused quite a stir and the manager went into the office to make a phone call to the owner, and after a lengthy conversation it was decided I could live in the apartment complex only if I signed a special contract that explicitly stated I would not have sex with my wife. I thought to myself “I don’t know what rumors you have heard, but it isn’t that impressive that it could reach to Minnesota”, but kept it to myself and quietly signed the papers.

It has become one of those great life experiences that sounds to outlandish to be true, but is really funny to share. You have to remember the culture at BYU, sex outside of marriage will totally get you expelled, so while I am not saying it didn’t go on just like other universities, unlike them it is kept very deeply buried in the closet; hidden away as much as possible. The best part of the whole experience though is this is the apartment I shared with the Mo-famous actor Lincoln Hoppe AND I get to tell people even though we have been together about 20 years we did separate for a while.

And now we are fifteen years on from that experience I can freely admit that when I went back to Minnesota for my one visit, Lisa and I totally did it, like several times.

Bloodshot – Book #12

2010-02-11T16:02:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Bloodshot |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Stuart MacBride |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Adult Mystery (Tartan Noir) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 439 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | St. Martin’s Minotaur |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2007 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from this web-site)
The pounding rain of Aberdeen, Scotland is predominant in the third thriller by Scottish writer MacBride. Detective Sergeant Logan McRae is suffering under his superior, Detective Inspector Steel and her team of screw-up cops. Logan is extremely busy these days – he is involved in tracking soccer star Rob Macintyre, who is the prime suspect in a series of brutal rapes, and a porn star soon turns up dead following a horrible crime. To top it all off, an eight-year-old boy is on the run after killing an elderly man. Logan’s live-in girlfriend, Police Constable Jackie Watson, is growing increasingly distant to Logan as she works the Macintyre rape case and when Macintyre is found severely beaten, Logan wonders if Jackie is to blame.

Why I read It
I have been reading Stuart MacBride’s blog since before he published his first book thanks to the link on the great Sarah Weinman’s site. Speaking of which, I really need to list the book websites I frequent in the sidebar. If you are interested in mysteries at all, Sarah’s site, Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind, is the greatest blog ever. I can trace about 50% of all I read back to reviews I have seen on her blog.

Anyways I read Stuart’s first book, Cold Granite, when it came out and then over the years I forgot about him – Sorry Stuart if you are prone to googling yourself and read this. Anyways I was looking over my log of books read (a good practice to get into for just this reason) when I remembered him. A short search and I learned he had gone on to publish a book every year and my library system stocked them. So I am just now catching up.

Plus it is good solid Scottish Crime fiction, sad and violent on the one hand and blackly funny on the other. Plus the books are set in Aberdeen letting you know that Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Lock Dubh are not the only place to die a nasty death while on vacation.

What I Thought About It
Good story that just makes you fear Scotland as the crime capitol of the world :-) I like the implied social commentary about fame and its usefulness in getting away with crime. Plus what role do we as family have in helping versus enabling each other in nefarious behaviours? While you can read the books randomly I recommend you start at the beginning to get the overall character development.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Stuart MacBride lives in the North East of Scotland, where he writes gruesome crime novels and grows gruesome potatoes.

Don’t Look Back – Book #11

2010-02-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |Don’t Look Back |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Karin Fossum |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Mystery (Scandinavian Noir) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |295 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Harcourt |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |1996 (trans. 2002) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Beneath the imposing Kollen Mountain lies a small village where the children run in and out of one another's houses and play unafraid in the streets. But the sleepy village is like a pond through which not enough water runs - beneath the surface it is beginning to stagnate. When a naked body is found by the lake at the top of the mountain, its seeming tranquility is disturbed forever. Enter Inspector Sejer, a tough, no-nonsense policeman whose own life is tinged by sadness. As the suspense builds, and the list of suspects grows, Sejer's determination to discover the truth will lead him to peel away layer upon layer of distrust and lies, in this tiny community where apparently normal family ties hide dark secrets. Critically acclaimed across Europe, Karin Fossum's novels evoke a world that is terrifyingly familiar. Don't Look Back introduces the tough, ethical Inspector Sejer to British readers for the first time.

Why I read It
Read an article of the resurgence of Scandinavian crime fiction and this author from Norway was highly recommended AND my library system had her books.

What I Thought About It
Nice mystery based in the evil of ordinary people in regular situations. At its foundation is the truth that once you begin lying, you are stuck lying (or worse) to keep the first one in place; usually at the cost of your own soul. I will definitely read more of this author.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Karin Fossum (born November 6, 1954, Sandefjord) is a Norwegian author of crime fiction, often known there as the "Norwegian queen of crime." She lives in Oslo. Fossum was initially a poet, with her first collection published in 1974 when she was just 20. It won the Tarjei Vesaas' Debutant Prize. She is the author of the internationally successful Inspector Konrad Sejer series of crime novels, which have been translated into over 16 languages. She won the Glass key award for her novel Don't Look Back, which also won the Riverton Prize, and she was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger in 2005 for Calling Out For You.

Smell Like Me

2010-02-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

via Bits and Pieces

Adventures in Sunday School: My Answer FWIW

2010-02-09T10:14:00.001-08:00

For part one (the question) see here

I gave my answer in four parts; and with the ensuing discussion we had a very different lesson than I originally planned, but very productive all the same. I like to think the kids came away with something to think about which is really my goal with the class, to get them to contemplate their testimonies on a deeper level so that when the challenges come to them in the future they can better withstand the storm.

Part 1: Why is it there?
They are trying to make the point that spirits can be foreordained to great things, and that we as potential parents should keep that in mind when we chose to have or not have kids. That is to say your future child could literally be a prophet one day and if you chose not to have said child think of the possible loss.

To put that in perspective it was not all that long ago in the church where the unofficial prevailing belief that it was a sin not to have as many children as possible. If you where to do a quick Google search on Mormons and Birth Control you would easily find some quite harsh quotes to that effect.

(I didn’t share this in class but here is an example)

Joseph Fielding Smith

Those who attempt to pervert the ways of the Lord, and to prevent their offspring from coming into the world...are guilty of one of the most heinous crimes in the category. There is no promise of eternal salvation and exaltation for such as they...

Part 2: What I believe to be the understanding today
How many children you have comes down to three people, regardless of what anyone else thinks. You, your spouse, and the Lord. If all three of you are in agreement about your decision then nothing else matters.

(Again here is a quote I have looked up since then class expressing that opinion)

Church Handbook of Instructions
January 1999

It is the privilege of married couples who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for the spirit children of God, whom they are then responsible to nurture and rear. The decision as to how many chldren to have and when to have them is extremely intimate and private and should be left between the couple and the Lord. Church members should not judge one another in this matter.

Part 3: Where I share a personal example.
My first three kids were boys all approximately three years apart. We got surprised by number four 16 months later but she was our beautiful little girl. Lisa and I both came to the conclusion that we were done, complete now that we had a daughter. So it was all well and good between us but we forgot to include the third partner in the decision. So over the next few months started getting strong impressions that we were supposed to have one more. I just dismissed it as buyer’s remorse and I would get over it soon enough. Then I started getting even stronger impressions that we would have one more and it would be a boy. Still I wasn’t convinced and just kept it to myself. Then one day I was reading a book and as clear as day I knew I was supposed to have one more child, that it would be a boy, and his name would be Joseph Talmage.

I finally decided that I had to go revisit the decision we were done having kids with Lisa, which wasn’t easy due to us having four kids including two under two (and both in diapers). But as soon as I said I think we are supposed to have another baby and it would be a boy Lisa immediately said she had been getting the same feelings as well. Then I shared that his name had been given to me and even though she hadn’t had that feeling yet, as soon as I said Joseph Talmage she knew that would be his name (i.e. the spirit confirmed it for her strongly). So 18 months after our daughter we had baby number five, another boy who we now call JT. And then we all felt we had reached the number of kids we were supposed to have.

Though I did share that if he had been a girl we were going to call him Josephina and be done with it :-)

Part 4: The follow up
I made it clear that the topic of birth control was one that a lot of people had very strong feelings about and that my understanding may not be the correct one, or one that their parents might disagree with it. I highly encouraged them to talk with their parents to see what they thought about the topic before reaching any conclusion for their own life. Following class I made sure to visit with each of the parents in the foyer and shared parts one, two, and four with them and that I asked their kids to discuss it with them.

I have since heard from several of the parents that they have had some really good talks with their kids about the subject. I think it overall I would call this a teaching success.

The Devil of Nanking – Book #10

2010-02-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |The Devil of Nanking |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Mo Hayder |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Mystery (partly Historical) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |359 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Grove Press |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2004 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
British student, 'Grey', is obsessed with a past she cannot understand. She comes to Tokyo following rumours of a rare piece of film footage shot during the notorious Nanking Massacre in 1937. The film, if it exists, has been lost for decades. Only one man can help: Shi Chongming, now a visiting professor at the prestigious university of Tokyo , is a survivor of the massacre and holds the key to Grey's search. But will he help her? Increasingly desperate in an alien city where she knows no one, Grey accepts a job as a hostess in an upmarket nightspot catering for Japanese businessmen and wealthy gangsters. One gangster dominates. An old man in a wheelchair guarded by a terrifying entourage, he is rumoured to rely on a powerful elixir for his continued health. It is an elixir that others want for themselves – at any price.

Why I read It
This also turned up on a lot of “the best of” mysteries of the last decade lists. Given mystery is my favorite genre I have been trying to make sure I didn’t miss out on any of the good stuff. For the most part I had the top ten covered already except for this and Kate Atkinson below.

What I Thought About It
Really, really liked this. Had a lot of my favorite things covered like a historical aspect to the story, based in Japan (love Japanese mysteries), English writer, and a solid story to boot. This book explores the idea that people will do some truly evil things and feel perfectly okay justifying it in some belief system. Now we as the average Joe may not be some nasty in our lives, but I see more moderate approaches to this cruelty all the time. Read it in one day it was that good.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Hayder left school at fifteen, and has worked as a barmaid, security guard, film-maker, hostess in a Tokyo club, educational administrator and a teacher of English as a foreign language. Hayder has an MA in film from The American University in Washington DC, and an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University - where she now teaches.

Her debut novel, Birdman, was published in 2000 to wide acclaim. Although some reviewers found the novel (which concerns a serial killer with a particularly vicious modus-operandi) too violent and disturbing, the book became an international bestseller. Birdman introduced readers to DI Jack Caffery, a character who also featured in Hayder's second novel, The Treatment. The Treatment tackled themes of paedophilia. DI Caffery has returned in Hayder's most recent novels, Ritual and Skin, which she has called the Walking Man series.

Mo Hayder lives just outside Bath, England with her partner, Bob Randell (retired police sgt of Avon & Somerset Police Underwater Search Unit), and her daughter.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Books #5-9

2010-02-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | The Lightning Thief (2005) |
| | The Sea of Monsters (2006) |
| | The Titan’s Curse (2007) |
| | The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008) |
| | The Last Olympian (2009) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Rick Riordan |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Juvenile Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 377, 279, 312, 361, 381 respectively |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | Hyperion |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | See above |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a series of adventure and fantasy books authored by Rick Riordan. Set in the United States, the books are predominantly based on Greek mythology. The series consists of five books, as well as spin-off titles such as The Demigod Files and Demigods and Monsters. The Lightning Thief, the first book, is the basis of a film called Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, which is scheduled for release in the United States on February 12, 2010.

The protagonist is Percy Jackson, who discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes. He learns that the legendary beings of Greek mythology still exist and have always existed, including monsters, cyclopes, empousai, Titans, and also the Olympians (Greek gods) themselves who dwell in Olympus which is now situated at the mythical 600th floor of the Empire State Building. He is frequently attacked by monsters because he is a child of one of the "Big Three" (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades). Percy meets many other young demigods, both friendly and hostile, who are also in the process of discovering their heritage and powers.

Why I read It
I saw the trailer for the new movie coming out and thought it looked interesting.

What I Thought About It
Great, fun read that the whole family has enjoyed. It is kind of a Harry Potter lite story but provides a decent beginners guide to who is who with the Olympic Gods. I can easily see this being a stepping stone to the classics for some kids (like the Iliad or the Odyssey) which is great. I imagine once the movies start coming these books will become even more popular. The best part is the ongoing story is complete in the 5 books available, so you can get the whole series at once and not have to wait around for years (aka Harry Potter). As I have inferred above, there are a lot of direct parallels to the Harry Potter series, but that is okay. They do tell their own story and actually seem educational at the end of the day.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Riordan was born in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin where he double-majored in English and history. For fifteen years, he taught in public and private schools in California and in San Antonio. He was awarded Saint Mary’s Hall's first Master Teacher Award in 2002.

Riordan is the multi-award-winning author of the Tres Navarre mystery series for adults; his The Maze of Bones reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller list on September 28, 2008. His Percy Jackson and the Olympians series features a twelve-year-old boy who discovers he is the modern-day son of an ancient Greek god. Film rights have been purchased by Twentieth Century Fox and a feature film is in development. The film is set to be released on February 12, 2010. Riordan lives in San Antonio with his wife and their two sons. Recently, Riordan has stated that he is working on a new series based upon the Egyptian pantheon, which then turned out to be The Kane Chronicles, with the first book, The Red Pyramid, to be released May 4, 2010.

Super Bowl Commercials

2010-02-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

My two favorites:

and this one:

How old is Abe Vigoda?? He was ancient when Barney Miller was running.

(only 89 I guess)

But my favorite one liner is the "Milk-a-what" from this Etrade add.

A little bit behind

2010-02-08T19:38:00.000-08:00

So I got a cold.

A regular everyday sinus cold.

But just when I was getting over it I came home for lunch.

Within the next 30 minutes I became very, very sick.

By the time I got to the ER that night I had a temperature of 105°F, which is very hot for an adult.

Uncontrollable shaking.

I have been sick for almost three weeks, but now I feel better.

The residual cold sores are almost gone - I had three.

But now I am behind at work; a vicious cycle.

Anyways I have read over a dozen books so far this year and I will slowly catch up on that.

And maybe blog a little too.

Thank you for your patience, all two of you :-)

Case Histories – Book #4

2010-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Case Histories |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Kate Atkinson |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Adult Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 310 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | Little Brown & Company |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2004 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Investigating other people's tragedies and cock-ups and misfortunes was all he knew. He was used to being a voyeur, the outsider looking in, and nothing, but nothing, that anyone did surprised him any more. Yet despite everything he'd seen and done, inside Jackson there remained a belief — a small, battered and bruised belief — that his job was to help people be good rather than punish them for being bad.

Cambridge is sweltering, during an unusually hot summer. To Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, the world consists of one accounting sheet — Lost on the left, Found on the right — and the two never seem to balance.

Jackson has never felt at home in Cambridge, and has a failed marriage to prove it. Surrounded by death, intrigue and misfortune, his own life haunted by a family tragedy, he attempts to unravel three disparate case histories and begins to realise that in spite of apparent diversity, everything is connected...

Why I read It
This book is consistently rated as one of the top ten books of the first decade (this century). Consequently it has been on my “to read” list for quite a while and I happen to see it on the shelf at the library.

What I Thought About It
It started off slow, and it seemed to be three independent short stories told one chapter at a time. So much so that I looked through it to see if I could just read the stories one by one by jumping around. After settling my confusion I stuck with it due to all the phenomenal reviews and found the pace and the intertwining of the stories began to happen gradually until the speed and suspense built up to a very satisfying conclusion. This was not necessarily the style of mystery I go for, but I can state all the praise was well deserved.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Kate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award.

She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories, and One Good Turn.

Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster. Her latest novel, the Richard & Judy Book Club and Galaxy British Book Awards 2009 shortlisted When Will There Be Good News?, also features Jackson Brodie and is out now in paperback

Pirate Latitudes – Book #3

2010-02-08T19:23:00.001-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Pirate Latitudes |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Michael Crichton |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Adult Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 312 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
From one of the best-loved authors of all time comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal.

The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses.

In this steamy climate there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease—or by dagger. For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it.

Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. With backing from a powerful ally, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy outpost and commandeer El Trinidad, along with its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of island legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he even sets foot on foreign shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure. . . .

Why I read It
Michael Crichton’s last book!

What I Thought About It
I really enjoy Crichton’s books, and when he is on there are few better. When he is off it is not because of quality, it is because it seems like he never fully threshed out the whole story. Unfortunately this book has that feel, but I think that was due to circumstances beyond his control. The story was solid and entertaining, very Pirates of the Caribbean feel to it, it just would have been nice if it had been several hundred pages longer.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Michael Crichton was a writer and filmmaker, best known as the author of Jurassic Park and the creator of ER. His most recent novel, Pirate Latitudes, published posthumously in November 2009, is a suspenseful adventure story set in the 17th century.
Crichton graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College, received his MD from Harvard Medical School, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, researching public policy with Jacob Bronowski. He taught courses in anthropology at Cambridge University and writing at MIT. Crichton's 2004 bestseller, State of Fear, acknowledged the world was growing warmer, but challenged extreme anthropogenic warming scenarios. He predicted future warming at 0.8 degrees C. (His conclusions have been widely misstated.)

Adventures in Sunday School: What would you do?

2010-01-28T15:43:00.000-08:00

As some of you might know I am back in my favorite calling teaching Sunday School, and I am teaching the best age group, the 16 to 18 year old teenagers.

So I am what most people would call a liberal Mormon and that is okay with me. Even with that when teaching Sunday School I try to be neutral, or at least present both perspectives with the kids. Basically my goal is for them not to take things for granted, like their testimony or gospel knowledge, and to really think about the material and their relationship with God.

That said we had a great moment in class the other day. I was teaching Abraham 322-23 about how many were called before they were born.

22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;
23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

From there I wanted to transition to the thought that this was not a unique event in scripture and went to Jeremiah 1:5.

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations

Just as I was ready to move on one of my students pipes in with this question, “Why does it say ‘see birth control’ in the footnote?”

So you are teaching a class of teenagers in a small ward, how do you answer this? Be aware they were looking for an answer that discusses birth control. I will post my response later.

SLASH – Book #2

2010-01-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Slash |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Slash with Anthony Bozza |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Biography |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

| Pages | 458 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2007 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Most of the book focuses on Slash's years with Guns N' Roses, including many rock star cliches: trashed hotel rooms, groupies, drug abuse, etc. Slash talks about Axl Rose, front man of Guns N' Roses, and the breakup of the band in the mid-1990s. He explains that Axl's inability to show up to gigs and rehearsals on time, in addition to Axl's almost dictator-like control of the band contributed to the band's downfall. Slash also states that Axl wanted to change the musical direction of the band to include more synthesizers and effects, rather than guitar-driven rock as with their earlier material.

Why I read It

I like early Guns & Roses, Slash is arguably one of the best in the world at what he does, and I found him interesting on his turn as celebrity mentor on American Idol.

What I Thought About It

First of all this book is very honest. Very honest about being in a rock band, the personality struggles between the various members, and what it is like being a junkie. You feel some sympathy for him, but he takes responsibility for a lot of the problems in his life. If you ever want to be a rock star you need to read this first; hopefully you can avoid a lot of problems in your career. The biggest and best message of the book for me was what it takes to be great, in this case the guitar.

Slash was a major BMX’er in his youth until he got a guitar as a teenager. From that day forward he just gave up riding. I think it speaks to the power of finding our true love in life. Once you have it you never waste anymore time on distractions. I am not sure if that sort of dedication is required to be great, but it surely cannot hurt. His first guitar was a cheap acoustic with only one string, but that didn’t stop him from practicing for hours. He would play the notes up and down the one string until he could get the rest. I also like how he learns that you cannot really be great guitar player by copying someone else’s style. It is okay to learn from other’s, but you have to be yourself. Very Bruce Lee like. Ultimately he learned that he had to give up trying to read sheet music for other people’s songs and just keep trying things out as he learned songs by ear. After many hours of practicing he would eventually figure it out, but in the process he learned a lot about how the notes and tempo work together.So we have dedication (without distraction), tons of practice (you should love practicing), no excuses about why you can’t (as they say in ultramarathoning RFD, relentless forward motion no matter what), and be true to yourself (innovate not imitate).

The second message for me was the effects of drugs and how they can control you and ultimately destroy you and those in your life.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography

Saul Hudson, better known by his stage name Slash, is a British and American musician. Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, England, he moved to Los Angeles, California as a child, where he began his career in the music industry. Slash is best-known as the former lead guitarist of hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he performed and recorded between 1985 and 1996. He later formed the eponymous Slash's Snakepit and co-founded Velvet Revolver with his former bandmates Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. His debut solo album, Slash, is due to be released in 2010. In August 2009, Time Magazine named him #2 on its list of the 10 Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time
Anthony Bozza is a New York City-based author and journalist who is most famous for his writing in Rolling Stone Bozza is also well-known for his bestselling books on musicians which include rapper Eminem and hard rock band AC/DC as well as his work as co-author on the autobiographies of artists which include Slash, INXS, and Tommy Lee.

The Redbreast – Book #1

2010-01-28T15:29:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | The Redbreast |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Jo Nesbo |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Fiction - Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

| Pages |521 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |HarperCollins |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2000 (trans. 2006) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Voted the 'Best Norwegian Crime Novel of All Time'
The book, published by Harvill Secker and translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett, is set in the weeks before the new millennium. It follows Harry Hole, a police officer of seven years and a recovering alcoholic, who is forced to make a judgement call which ultimately and unexpectedly results in his promotion to inspector. He is assigned the task of monitoring neo-Nazi activities; fairly mundane until he hears of an unusual gun being fired. Then a former World War II soldier is found with his throat cut and things take a bloody turn.

Why I read It
I really enjoy Swedish and Icelandic fiction so I testing the waters of other Scandinavian countries, Norway in this case.

What I Thought About It

I am always apprehensive when I start a new (to me) author and the book is fairly large. I guess I am afraid of commitment, because life is too short to waste time on books I don’t like. This is why you will rarely see me be really negative about a book; I will quit reading it if it doesn’t grab me by page 50. This book delivered though. Strong mystery and it was tied into history which is always an added bonus for me. I never knew about Norway’s involvement with the Nazi’s on the Russian front. Even with that the mystery boils down to a crime of resentment and jealousy, and the solution is obtained with solid police work. Real crime with authentic investigation, perfect.

Funny because I am immature, the lead character is named Harry Hole. It probably has different connotations in the original Norwegian.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography
Jo Nesbø worked as a freelance journalist and a stockbroker before he began his writing career. The No.1 national bestseller, The Bat Man, is the first installment in the Harry Hole series. He sings and writes songs for the band Di Derre. He has also tried his hands on writing children's books.

The Thresher Award for Non-Fiction

2010-01-28T04:43:00.000-08:00

What makes great non-fiction? It must present interesting information in a captivating way. That is where most non-fiction fails. It is either way to dry where only the most diehard enthusiast can be bothered to make it all the way through (i.e. my Thesis), or the subject matter just doesn't have anything going for it. Now most books I read meet the last qualification because I wouldn’t have picked it up to begin with. This list of five books where very readable and overall I learned quite a few things from them.

In reverse order:
5. Got Fight by Forrest Griffen
Informational AND funny AND insightful about more things than the actual topic.

4. How We Decide by John Lehrer
One of many psychology books I read this year. Good examples are used to illustrate what should be commonsense principles.

3. Columbine by Dave Cullen
One of those pivotal moments in my generations history is laid out in this interesting book. The real power of the book comes in the analysis of the mental state of the young men who committed this terrible slaughter. If you ever wanted to know more about what actually happened (there are a lot of myths out there) than this should be one of your source books.

2. Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters by Alan Miller and Satoshi Kanazawa
I was almost tempted to make this my non-fiction book of the year because it was so much fun and led to a lot of casual discussion and debates. This book is based in evolutionary psychology, the premise that every decision we make is based on us surviving and propagating the species. With that starting point they attempt to explain all number of human behaviors with plenty of examples. If you are looking for a really good time with a psychology book, then this is absolutely the one you should get. According to this theory, Mormons should be one of the top proponents of gay marriage. Read it to see what I mean.

And the Winner is:

1. Hope Endures by Colette Livermore
This book is the memoir of a former nun in Mother Teresa’s Order. It recounts her life as she joined as a teenager and the next twenty years she spent working with the poor before she left to pursue a medical degree. This book made me really ponder what it means to be a Christian and become more aware of Pharisaical behaviors that pervade modern Christianity. This book is interesting but also has the power to change your life.

I would definitely vote for these guys

2010-01-21T15:47:00.001-08:00

pure genius

Where I apologise to my future son-in-law

2010-01-05T19:29:00.000-08:00

This was a real interaction between Cenny my 9yo daughter and Zeke my 10yo son.

Cenny, in a firm and authoritative tone: Zeke, let the dog out.

Zeke: I don't have to. Why don't you let the dog out?

Cenny, in the same tone: Zeke, let the dog out.

Zeke: You are a butt. You let the dog out.

Cenny: Zeke, let the dog out.

Zeke, yelling: No. You stink. I don't have to.

Cenny: Zeke, let the dog out.

Zeke, walking to the door with the dog: You're lazy. You stink, etc., etc, etc.

Cenny sits down on the couch next to me and says: Zeke is so easy to get to do stuff. Just keep repeating yourself and ignore what he says.

To my future son-in-law - you never had a chance. Sorry

Good To Know

2010-01-05T18:49:00.000-08:00

Created by Online Education

Most people get $40 or less, the maximum is $200.

Sperm banks pay the most for young men who are taller than 6", attractively built, possess advanced degrees and have proof of a very healthy family tree.
Don't worry if the number seems low because banks are INCREDIBLY picky.

The Thresher Award for Fiction

2010-01-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

I have selected nine books but they are from five authors. At the end of the day these books made me think and provided an excellent story. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up any of these again for another read through, and I would recommend them to everyone interested in a good journey. Ultimately good fiction is just that, a journey in which you leave your life if just for a little bit and experience something foreign. It takes a skilled writer to transcend the words on a page, and then to open your own life up for self-analysis.
In reverse order:

5. Italians Shoes by Henning Mankell
Henning Mankell is one of my favorite authors and this little story is a departure from his crime fiction that has made him internationally famous. It is a story of second chances and commitment set in the wilderness of Sweden.

4. The Riley Spartz Series (Stalking Susan and Missing Mark) by Julie Kramer
Julie Kramer is a local writer who has hit a homerun with this pair of books about Minneapolis investigative TV news reporter Riley Spartz. Great writing, especially for a new author, plus good solid mysteries to boot. The best part of these books for me is all the Minnesota references thrown in. As Minnesota is my adoptive state, I found myself recognizing most of them. The best news of all is Julie Kramer is coming to my library on the 21st to speak!

3. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
This book was disturbing but I couldn’t put it down. I pick it up to read a few pages before bed and the next thing I knew it was 2am and I was done. It reminded me a lot of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, but more graphic. This is the story of a young girl kidnapped by a pedophile and kept as a sexual slave for years. If you ever feel that the press desensitizes the issue of kidnapped children or other victims of sexual assault (I get the romantic impression from the media that while it is bad, it isn’t that bad) then this book will set that myth straight. The horrific circumstances that abused victims must endure should never be taken lightly, or the whitewashing of the perpetrators given to easily.

2. The Garnethill Trilogy (GarnetHill, Exile, Resolution) by Denise Mina
Tartan Noir at its best in these three wonderful books. Murder, mystery, revenge, and mental illness are all laid out in this overarching plot on the streets of modern Scotland. If you want to see what Scottish mystery is all about (and there is a lot out there to enjoy) you cannot do better than this series. This book also features a nontraditional investigator who is battling demons of her own involving a very real descriptions of depression and post traumatic stress disorder.

And the winner is

1. The Millennium Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo {read in 2008}, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest) by Stieg Larsson
These books are phenomenal! I am totally on the wagon for this worldwide sensation starring troubled investigated reporter Mikael Blomkvist and his reluctant partner, the slightly autistic and computer genius Lisbeth Salander. After Khaleed Hosseni, these books have been the largest sellers in the world for good reason. Book one has already been made into a movie in Sweden but an American studio is already looking to make an English version.
The beautiful, diminutive, and kick ass heroine has been mistreated and underestimated her whole life because she is different (has trouble with social relationships), and because of her unfortunate family history. Even to the point that the powers that be have taken steps to trash her life to meet their goals. The idealist reporter is always willing to take on the good fight regardless of the odds; he just has to believe that what he is doing is right.
Book one finds them investigating an old mystery at the behest of a powerful and rich family. Book two moves into Lisbeth’s past and the steps she takes to get even and the actions of the corrupt to destroy her. Book 3 finds them dealing with the repercussions of book 2.
Unfortunately Steig Larsson passed away after writing these three books because his original outlines showed he planned on a 10 book series. I mourn him and those lost 7 books.

So if I can recommend anything, the Millennium Trilogy is a not to missed opportunity.

It is time for the Thresher Awards

2010-01-04T21:12:00.000-08:00

So this year I officially managed to read 119 books, not my best since I started keeping track back 7 years ago, but still pretty good (I read 122 in 2006). Now I realize most of you will not be inclined to read back through all the reviews so I will make my annual best of the best list; the top five nonfiction and fiction books of the year.

Now this may not be as prestigious as some of the other book awards out there, but it might be one day. To qualify I must have read your book in the year 2009 regardless of when you published it. I won’t list all 119 out here, but here are the statistics I kept track of:
119 total books
37 Nonfiction books
82 Fiction books
39 Female Authors
80 Male Authors

And for you statistic nerds out there;
31 Fiction books by Female Authors
8 Nonfiction books by Female Authors
51 Fiction Books by Male Authors
29 Nonfiction Books by Male Authors

This upcoming year I will also keep track of pages read. Please suggest any other stats that would be interesting. Award posts to follow shortly.

Can We Say Awkward???

2010-01-01T15:05:00.000-08:00

I know the gays love me, being I am a totally hot guy, but sometimes even I am caught off guard.

So I was at the grocery store picking up some stuff for Lisa - because she is very demanding. Anyways, I am checking out when the DUDE bagging my stuff looks at me, and in a quiet voice says:

"I get off work at 10pm."

I was like ok, whatever, and then I quickly got out of there. I hope he doesn't wait for me too long.

***For those of you not in the know, my oldest works as a bag boy at the grocery store***

The Eye of the Leopard - Book #119

2009-12-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | The Eye of the Leopard |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Henning Mankell |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |315 |

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |The New Press |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |1990 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Hans Olofson is the son of a Swedish lumberjack. His early life is isolated and difficult, overshadowed by the disappearance of his mother. When he loses both his best friend, and then his girlfriend in tragic circumstances, his only remaining desire is to fulfil her dream of visiting the grave of a legendary missionary, deep in the remote hills of Northern Zambia.

On reaching Africa, Olofson is struck by its beauty and mystery. After fulfilling his initial quest, an opportunity of employment in the region tempts him to stay, and before long he takes sole responsibility for the farm he manages. Despite his early optimism, he is shocked by the attitude of the local white population to their adopted country, as well as their pitiful vulnerability to alcohol and malaria. As relationships splinter and fray, Hans is soon to discover

Why I read It
Henning Mankell is one of my favorite authors. I have waited on this a while because it is a departure from his crime fiction and instead focuses on his other passion in life; Africa. Even though it is 19 years old, it was only translated last year and as of yet I haven’t mastered Swedish.

The Good
I like books that open up my horizons a little, especially about other cultures. While I am missing the big picture that ties to the two concurrent stories together – the hero’s childhood in Sweden and his adult life in Africa (maybe it is the hopelessness of trying to enforce your values on a culture that doesn’t want it) – each story was compelling on its own.

The Bad
If you are like me and see a bad situation; you want to help, to make it better. When I read about poverty in Africa that is the feeling I get. This book left me with despair at trying to make a change.

The Ugly (my opinion)
Despair aside, this book has made me think, which is a good thing. Is prejudice based on truth or the fact that the individual cannot accept that everyone not wanting things your way is not necessarily a bad thing? Anotherwords, people often express the opinion that others are inferior because they do not do things the way they would do them. The arrogance of that belief system is lost on them.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author BiographyHenning Mankell is a Swedish author who gained bestseller stardom with his series of crime novels featuring inspector Kurt Wallander.
Internationally acclaimed author Henning Mankell has written numerous Kurt Wallander mysteries. The books have been published in 33 countries and consistently top the bestseller lists in Europe, receiving major literary prizes and generating numerous international film and television adaptations.

The year of living dangerously (Lean)

2009-12-29T10:40:00.000-08:00

I have been doing a lot of reading lately about decluttering and simplifying my life. It seems to be the clean version of hippies for Generation X. Anyways the basic premise is the less you have the less stressful your life, the easier to manage, and ultimately the happier you will be. Peter Walsh makes the point that all this stuff in our lives does more than just fill up our closets; it fills our psyches weighing us down in a figurative sense.

This

Like a fish, we tend to grow as big as our bowl allows. At 40 years old in a rather large house, I find that we are packing up the corners and crawl spaces rather tightly. Storing stuff I don’t use with the false promise I might use one day, or even more pathetic, it might be worth something someday.

To This

If money wasn’t an issue, I would reduce our possessions to what fits in some panniers and spend the rest of our time biking around the world seeing what there is to see. Memories rather than things would fill my storage spaces. That is all good and well in the what if, pie in the sky theoretical sense, but it does nothing for the here and now.

So to that end I want to try an experiment this next year. I want to be rid of as much as the nonessential, superfluous, stuff that fills my life and my home. I hope to document a lot of this through this site, so stay tuned, there might be some good giveaways, or at least some prime Ebay bargains going.

The corollary is I want to take in, buy, or accept as little in the way of stuff (primarily non-consumables) as possible this next year as well. Experiences or necessities will be the order of the day. That means I will need to finish up buying stuff this week!

Then again it might just be a mid-life crisis and I can’t afford a sports car

Ford County - Book #118

2009-12-29T10:20:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Ford County |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |John Grisham |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

| Genre |Adult Fiction – Short Stories |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 308 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | Dutton |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
In his first collection of short stories John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel, A Time to Kill.
Wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her two older sons, Leon and Butch, take a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to visit the youngest Graney brother, Raymond, who’s been locked away on death row for eleven years. It could well be their last visit.Mack Stafford, a hard-drinking and low-grossing run-of-the-mill divorce lawyer, gets a miracle phone call with a completely unexpected offer to settle some old, forgotten cases for more money than he has ever seen. Mack is suddenly bored with the law, fed up with his wife and his life, and makes drastic plans to finally escape.
Quiet, dull Sidney, a data collector for an insurance company, perfects his blackjack skills in hopes of bringing down the casino empire of Clanton’s most ambitious hustler, Bobby Carl Leach, who, among other crimes, has stolen Sidney’s wife.Three good ol’ boys from rural Ford County begin a journey to the big city of Memphis to give blood to a grievously injured friend. However, they are unable to drive past a beer store as the trip takes longer and longer. The journey comes to an abrupt end when they make a fateful stop at a Memphis strip club.
The Quiet Haven Retirement Home is the final stop for the elderly of Clanton. It’s a sad, languid place with little controversy, until Gilbert arrives. Posing as a low-paid bedpan boy, he is in reality a brilliant stalker with an uncanny ability to sniff out the assets of those “seniors” he professes to love.
One of the hazards of litigating against people in a small town is that one day, long after the trial, you will probably come face-to-face with someone you’ve beaten in a lawsuit. Lawyer Stanley Wade bumps into an old adversary, a man with a long memory, and the encounter becomes a violent ordeal.Clanton is rocked with the rumor that the gay son of a prominent family has finally come home, to die. Of AIDS. Fear permeates the town as gossip runs unabated. But in Lowtown, the colored section of Clanton, the young man finds a soul mate in his final days.
Featuring a cast of characters you’ll never forget, these stories bring Ford County to vivid and colorful life. Often hilarious, frequently moving, and always entertaining, this collection makes it abundantly clear why John Grisham is our most popular storyteller.

Why I read It
I find John Grisham books quite enjoyable most of the time.

The Good
Quick glimpses of a southern town. All the stories were quite good and developed some really strong characters; from the lawyer trapped in a dead life who catches an opportunity for freedom, to a men who have death beating a path to their door.

The Bad
My problem is universal to all short stories. If they are bad they tend to be really bad. If, as in this case, they are good they are too short. I would have liked to have read a full book on each of these.

The Ugly (my opinion)
If you have never taken the time to read a short story collection before, than this is a good place to start. The tales all involve characters from Ford County (which was featured in the book A Time to Kill). If I were to name a binding them that runs through all of them it would be Escape. As in the unknown gambler who escapes his boring identity and finds the life he should have had, to the death row inmate who is trying to escape his rapidly approaching destiny. I liked the last story in which a wealthy black sheep returns home to finish out his days because of AIDS. Through his struggle his caretaker is able to escape the social bonds that have held her prisoner for decades.

The Truth? (other reviews)
The Washington Post

Mormon Mentions
None

Author BiographyBorn on February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to a construction worker and a homemaker, John Grisham as a child dreamed of being a professional baseball player. Realizing he didn’t have the right stuff for a pro career, he shifted gears and majored in accounting at Mississippi State University. After graduating from law school at Ole Miss in 1981, he went on to practice law for nearly a decade in Southaven, specializing in criminal defense and personal injury litigation. In 1983, he was elected to the state House of Representatives and served until 1990.

When he’s not writing, Grisham devotes time to charitable causes, including most recently his Rebuild The Coast Fund, which raised 8.8 million dollars for Gulf Coast relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He also keeps up with his greatest passion: baseball. The man who dreamed of being a professional baseball player now serves as the local Little League commissioner. The six ballfields he built on his property have played host to over 350 kids on 26 Little League teams.

It ain't easy being fat & green

2009-12-26T21:50:00.001-08:00

So I got to spend some time with the young people over the holidays which is always fun. The young people really like me because they can see the true awesomeness on the inside. Anyways I received some particularly harsh feedback but I took it in stride like the mature adult I am.

First I was in the kitchen working on something with the TV on in the background. The show airing was the Biggest Loser - Where are they now? episode. So they were parading out the past winners and memorable contestants and seeing how they are doing now away from the show. JT was watching with me and then pipes up with:

Hey Dad, you should go on that show. You could get skinny.

A few days later we had all the family and friends over for our traditional Christmas Eve party featuring KFC. This gets about 30 or so people in attendance including a lot of little kids. Being the entertainer I put on the movie The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the new one with Jim Carey). Pretty soon I have my niece Abby scrunched up next to me on the couch. Now Abby has never seen the movie before and the Grinch is scaring her a little. So to alleviate her fears I say:

Don't worry Abby. The Grinch is mean and rough on the outside, but on the inside he is nice and soft; just like your Uncle Eric.

Then Abby turns with a serious expression and lets me know:

No, that is like you.

That's my Abby. Next time I see her I will be pushing 50 and she will be a teenager. Then I will just be her creepy Uncle who she will just want to avoid (like Randy :-)

Iranian Rappers and Persian Porn - Book #117

2009-12-26T10:36:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Iranian Rappers and Persian Porn |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Jamie Maslin |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Nonfiction - Travel |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |265 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Skyhorse Publishing |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
When Jamie Maslin decides to hitchhike the entire length of the Silk Road, he decides to travel first and plan later. Then, unexpectedly stranded in Iran—a country he's only read about in newspapers—he wonders whether he'll make it out alive. After crossing the border on foot from Turkey, Maslin finds himself suddenly plunged into the subversive, contradictory world of Iranian subculture, where he is embraced by locals who are happy to show him the true Iran as they see it—where tourists are treated like royalty, where cab drivers shout abuse at Mullahs from their car windows, where unmarried men and women mingle in Western clothes at secret parties, and where cans of whisky (the possession of which is punishable by lashings) is readily available on the black market. This is the charming and astonishing account of one Westerner's life-altering rambles across Iran that illustrates first-hand the attitudes and aspirations of a nation in flux.

Why I read It
The Title!! Which is unfortunate because a lot of people who read these silly reviews I write will avoid this book for the title alone. Too bad for you because Persian porn is covered in less than 3 sentences. As in the guy on the bus was watching porn - and then juxtapositioning the strict society in Iran with someone doing that.

The Good
As I firmly believe with most demonized people, almost all of them will be pleasant, nice, and unbelievably helpful to you. This book will make even the most diehard "axis of evil" believers want to visit. Yes Iran does have its problems, especially on the human rights front, but the average person on the street are fantastic.

The Bad
He can be a little glib, in the way young men are, about certain dangerous situations. And by dangerous I mean hitchhiking, alcohol consumption, and other activities (fast driving). It is also quite superficial, but if you are looking for a detail orientated history of Iran you should probably look elsewhere.

The Ugly (my opinion)
What defines a good travel book for me is how I feel at the end - Would I have wanted to have taken that trip? I can say a definite yes to this. It is like traveling with the funny British guy from the Lonely Planet show.

I like when Iranians ask him what westerners think about Iran and he shares with them that everyone told him not to go because he will get shot. They think that is the funniest thing they have ever heard. You may still feel that but a lot foreigners think that about America too, because all they watch is American movies and television. Everyone is getting shot and killed all the time if that is your only basis of opinion.

Wonderful book which at a minimum will change any stereotype opinions you may have about the average Iranian and the country while at the same time being honest about the current regime.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography
Not much out there, but I did find his Twitter feed.

The Unit - Book #116

2009-12-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | The Unit |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Ninni Holmqvist |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Fiction |

|-------------+----------------------------------------|

| Pages |268 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Other Press |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2006 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
"The Unit" is a gripping exploration of a society in the throes of an experiment, in which the "dispensable" people--those in their 60s, childless, or unemployed--are convinced of the importance of sacrificing for the "necessary" ones.

Why I read It
I was looking for Swedish literature.

The Good
A quick tale that opens up all sorts of discussion questions.

The Bad
I disliked the solution, but that is just a personal preference.

The Ugly (my opinion)
One of the best possible book group choices I have read in a long time. So if you are looking for something for your group please consider this. Plus you get the props for reading Swedish literature. It is especially timely given the large ongoing debate about healthcare.

The Truth? (other reviews)
Washington Post

Mormon Mentions
None

Author BiographyNinni Holmqvist was born in 1958 and lives in Skane, Sweden. She made her debut in 1995 with the short story collection Suit [Kostym] and has published two further collections of short stories since then. She also works as a translator. The Unit marks Holmqvist's debut as a novelist.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest - Book #115

2009-12-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Stieg Larsson |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery (Nordic Noir) |

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |599 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Maclehose Press |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2007 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)Two seriously injured people arrive at the emergency ward of the Sahlgrensa hospital in Gothenburg. One is the wanted murderer Lisbeth Salander who has taken a bullet to the head and needs immediate surgery, the other is Alexander Zalachenko, an older man who Lisbeth has attacked with an axe.

In this third novel in the Millennium trilogy, Lisbeth is planning her revenge against the men who tried to kill her, and even more importantly, revenge against the government which nearly destroyed her life. But first she must escape from the intensive care unit and exculpate her name from the charges of murder that hangs over her head.

In order to succeed with the latter, Lisbeth will need the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist. He is writing an exposing article that will shake the Swedish government, the secret service and the whole country by its foundations. Finally there is a chance for Lisbeth Salander to put her past behind her and finally there is a chance for truth and justice to prevail.

Why I read It
Part three of the Millenium series.

The Good
Neatly draws together the plot lines in the books and gives the characters a future you unfortunately have to speculate on.

The Bad
Not much at all.

The Ugly (my opinion)
As I said about book two – this is one of the best trilogies of all time. Characters, plot, pacing – the magic triangle of good writing and Larsson has hit them all. To think he just wrote these for his own enjoyment originally.

The Truth? (other reviews)
The Guardian
The Sunday Times

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography
Stieg Larsson (1954-2004) was a Swedish writer and journalist.

Prior to his sudden death of a heart attack in November 2004 he finished three detective novels in his trilogy "The Millenium-series" which were published posthumously; "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl Who Played With Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest". Altogether, his trilogy has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide (summer of 2009), and he was the second bestselling author in the world 2008.

Before his career as a writer, Stieg Larsson was mostly known for his struggle against racism and right-wing extremism. Starting in the late 1970's, he combined his work as a graphic designer with holding lectures on right-wing extremism for the Scotland Yard. During the following years he became an expert on the subject and has held many lectures as well as written many novels on the subject. In 1995, when 8 persons were killed by neo-Nazis I Sweden, he was the main force behind the founding of the Expo-foundation, a group intended on exposing neo-Nazi activity in Sweden. From 1999 and on, he was appointed chief editor of the magazine Expo.

During the last 15 years of his life, he and his life companion Eva Gabrielsson lived under constant threat from right-wing violence.

The Girl Who Played with Fire – Book #114

2009-12-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |The Girl Who Played with Fire |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Stieg Larsson |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Mystery (Sweden) |

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |503 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Alfred A. Knopf |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
On the eve of publisher Mikael Blomkvist's story about sex trafficking between Eastern Europe and Sweden, two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Mikael Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander--the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid years before.

Why I read It
This book two of the Millenium trilogy (book one is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The first book was fantastic.

The Good
Absolutely phenomenal! The characters work, the plot works, the pacing works, this book and series are just about perfect.

The Bad
Through unfortunate circumstance (a fatal heart attack) this planned 10 book series is finished in three leaving you the reader wondering what awesomeness we will never know.

The Ugly (my opinion)If you do not read these books there is something wrong with you. This ranks right up with Lord of the Rings for all time great Trilogies.

The Truth? (other reviews)
The Guardian
Washington Post
New York Times

Mormon Mentions
None

Author Biography
Stieg Larsson (1954-2004) was a Swedish writer and journalist.

Prior to his sudden death of a heart attack in November 2004 he finished three detective novels in his trilogy "The Millenium-series" which were published posthumously; "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl Who Played With Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest". Altogether, his trilogy has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide (summer of 2009), and he was the second bestselling author in the world 2008.

Before his career as a writer, Stieg Larsson was mostly known for his struggle against racism and right-wing extremism. Starting in the late 1970's, he combined his work as a graphic designer with holding lectures on right-wing extremism for the Scotland Yard. During the following years he became an expert on the subject and has held many lectures as well as written many novels on the subject. In 1995, when 8 persons were killed by neo-Nazis I Sweden, he was the main force behind the founding of the Expo-foundation, a group intended on exposing neo-Nazi activity in Sweden. From 1999 and on, he was appointed chief editor of the magazine Expo.

During the last 15 years of his life, he and his life companion Eva Gabrielsson lived under constant threat from right-wing violence.

Say Goodbye - Book #113

2009-12-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |Say Goodbye |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Lisa Gardner |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

| Pages |360 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Bantam Books |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2008 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)

For Kimberly Quincy, FBI Special Agent, it all starts with a pregnant hooker. The story Delilah Rose tells Kimberly about her johns is too horrifying to be true—but prostitutes are disappearing, one by one, with no explanation, and no one but Kimberly seems to care. Dead hookers aren't exactly Kimberly’s specialty and the young agent is five months pregnant—she has other things to worry about besides an alleged lunatic who uses spiders to do his dirty work. But Kimberly’s own mother and sister were victims of a serial killer. And now, with no bodies and precious few clues, is she chasing a crime that never happened? Kimberly’s caught in a web more lethal than any spider’s, and the more she fights for answers, the more tightly she’s trapped.

Why I read ItMy college roommate, Lincoln Hoppe, is an actor and improve comic who also supplements his income as a reader for books on tape. Unfortunately I usually learned about books he worked on after I had read them. Most notably would be King Dork and The Gargoyle. So I went to his website and browsed his resume until I found a book I would want to try (he has read quite a few young adult books) AND my library system had on tape (well CD in this case). That is how I settled on Say Goodbye.

The Good

For what it’s worth, the story moved forward at a good pace while applying all the requisite drama.

The Bad
This is a prime example of why I eschew most American crime fiction. The killer was a Serial killer who kills and disposes of his victims in overly elaborate ways, while at the same time actively engaging the authorities in an ongoing dick measuring contest. With most crime dramas I read I come away with the feeling that it could happen here in my small little town, but with this stuff I feel like someone has been watching too much TV. Plus the crimes presented where pornographically violent beyond reality.

The Ugly (my opinion)
Too much choreographed and stylized play acting and not enough real crime and investigative work. As I have said before that is my preference and not a problem per se with the actual book. If you like the standard American fair and find the likes of Rebus and Wallander too boring, then this book will be perfect for you.

As for the reason I got this book; Lincoln did fine. It is always pleasant to hear the guy who used to sleep in the next room talked about violently murdering people. I am betting he now gets treated like that poor guy who played Satan in those church movies.

Mormon Mentions
None, but a Mormon does 30% of the reading on the book on tape.

Author Biography
Lisa Gardner is an American author of fiction. She is the author of several thrillers including The Killing Hour and The Next Accident. She also wrote romance novels using the pseudonym Alicia Scott. Raised in Hillsboro, Oregon, she graduated from the city's Glencoe High School. As evidenced by her 2003 work, "The Killing Hour," Gardner has been heavily influenced by the box office smash and best selling book The Silence of the Lambs. Her novel Gone is set in a fictionalized version of Tillamook, Oregon.[1] As of 2007, Gardner lives in New Hampshire.

Bear With Me

2009-12-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

I am way behind on book reviews and I want to catch up before the end of the year.

Raising Jake - Book #112

2009-12-26T07:11:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |Raising Jake |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Charlie Carillo |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |341 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

| Publisher |Kensington Books |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
From the author of "Found Money," a wildly inventive new humorist, comes a wry, heartwarming yet darkly funny novel about a father and son's weekend of self-discovery.

Why I read It
I liked the cover – no other reason.

The Good
A really good story.

The Bad
I was left wanting to know more of what happens to the characters.

The Ugly (my opinion)
An estranged father and son (estranged through age and divorce) both experience tragedy and spend the weekend rebuilding their lives and their relationship. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I read this quickly and enjoyed it immensely.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author BiographyCharlie Carillo was born in New York City on December 8, 1955. He grew up in Douglaston, Queens, a town that was put on the map by three world-class tennis players - John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe and Charlie's sister, Mary Carillo, now a famous sports broadcaster.

The teenage Charlie tried his hand at tennis and lost a match to little John McEnroe 6-0, 6-0. Charlie won a total of one point and wrote about the humiliating but humorous event years later in the New York Times. Charlie graduated from Queens College of the City University of New York in 1977. That same year he won several prizes in the school's writing contest, including one for "the writer showing the most promise." The cash prize was $300, the first money Charlie ever made without pushing a broom or a lawnmower.

In 1978 Charlie took a job as a copyboy at the New York Post, eventually working his way up to reporter, rewrite man and columnist. In 1993 he switched to television, working as a producer for the newsmagazine shows "American Journal" and "Inside Edition" until 2006, when he moved to London. There he continues to work as a freelance TV producer and a magazine writer. He also takes his wife Kim's chocolate labrador retriever, Bailey, on frequent walks.

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance – Book #111

2009-12-22T20:23:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |The New York Regional Mormon Singles |
| |Halloween Dance |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Elna Baker |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Memoir |

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 274 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | Dutton |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)

In this hilarious, tongue-in-cheek memoir, writer, actress, and gorgeous stand up comedian Elna Baker tells what it's like to be the Mormon "Tina Fey"--the girl who distresses her family when she chooses NYU over BYU; the girl who's cultivating an oxymoronic identity as a bold, educated, modern, funny, proper, abstinent, religious stand-up comic, equal parts wholesome and hot.

Why I read It

This book has been all over the bloggernacle with reviews and author interviews. It is one of those books that I would want to read but the chances of me finding it was pretty slim. But then much to my surprise I found it in my local library so I checked it out immediately.

The Good

Very funny and I can empathize a lot with her problems with fitting in with the very vocal Mormon majority. They think they are right in all ways possible and have no problem letting you know about it. As an interesting note, we both spent our teenage years living in the same place if 15 years apart.

The Bad

She deals with some various sensitive subjects very bluntly which will make some people very uncomfortable. And while I enjoyed the book I always hate when people write memoirs when they are a long way off from any sort of conclusion in their life.

The Ugly (my opinion)

Being a successful humourist/comedian requires you to be honest. The problem with most Mormons is they have a real problem with honesty and thus their humour fails. They tend to be extremely worried about their image and being seen as perfect (the irony being they are not so interested in actually being honest). So whenever someone points out the flaws within the church culture, the Mormon majority feels the need to circle the wagons and show where the perpetrator are not within said circle.

So what does all that mean? This is a hilarious book which really highlights some of the contradictions within the church system. Because if we are all honest, there is plenty of things in the church that is worthy of humor. But for some of you it will be a little to personal and will discuss things which you have tightly locked away in the closets of your mind.

Mormon Mentions
About 95% Mormon.

Author BiographyThe Back Story: Elna Baker was born in Tacoma, Washington. She moved overseas when she was nine, and grew up in Madrid, London and New York City—where she attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her parents now live in Siberia where her father runs a titanium factory. When she goes home to visit she runs down the halls of the factory and knocks things over while chanting, “it’s Daddy’s factory!” in a pretentious British accent.

Profession: When Elna used to answer the dreaded, “What do you do?” question she’d say: “actress” or “comedian.” Now she says, “writer.” In honor of this switch she purchased a bunch of button down cardigans and glasses, (see BLOG page for a visual explanation).

Her Credits: As a comedian and storyteller, Elna has performed with The Moth, on This American Life, Studio 360, BBC Radio 4, at the Upright Citizens Brigade, The PIT, The Magnet and at many other comedy clubs throughout New York City.

Her show IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING premiered at the NY Fringe Festival and under the direction of her mentor Elizabeth Swados, she also created MEXICAN-MORMON (La Mama Etc.) and A BOOK OF OVER-DRAMATIC CONFESSIONS.

She’s written for ELLE Magazine, GLAMOUR, Five Dials and The Onion. She also appeared in The New Yorker…or a really bad picture of her did, but hey, that counts. In 2007 and 2008 Elna was awarded residencies at Yaddo and The MacDowell Colony.

The Future: Her book The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance will be published by Penguin Oct. 15th, 2009.

Resolution - Book #110

2009-12-22T20:11:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Resolution |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author | Denise Mina |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre | Mystery (Tartan Noir) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages | 367 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher | Carroll & Graf |

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright | 2001 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Blending suspense, compassion, raw instinct, and grim wit, this powerful conclusion to the Garnethill trilogy returns to the seamy side of downtown Glasgow and the untidy world of Maureen O'Donnell.

Why I read It
The final part to the Garnethill trilogy.

The Good
Excellent book that pulls all the plot lines from the first two books together

The Bad
Not much. This book exemplifies what tartan noir is all about.

The Ugly (my opinion)
While each book had its own independent mystery, the overall story was very satisfying and draws to solid conclusion. Like all Scottish crime books, it makes me never want to visit, let alone at night.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author BiographyDenise Mina was born in Glasgow in 1966. Because of her father's job as an engineer, the family followed the north sea oil boom of the seventies around Europe, moving twenty one times in eighteen years from Paris to the Hague, London, Scotland and Bergen. She left school at sixteen and did a number of poorly paid jobs: working in a meat factory, bar maid, kitchen porter and cook. Eventually she settle in auxiliary nursing for geriatric and terminal care patients.

At twenty one she passed exams, got into study Law at Glasgow University and went on to research a PhD thesis at Strathclyde University on the ascription of mental illness to female offenders, teaching criminology and criminal law in the mean time.

Misusing her grant she stayed at home and wrote a novel, 'Garnethill' when she was supposed to be studying instead.

Dying Light - Book #109

2009-12-22T19:30:00.000-08:00

|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title |Dying Light |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Stuart MacBride |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Mystery (Tartan Noir) |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

| Pages |424 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |St. Martins |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2006 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|

Synopsis (from web-site)
Detective Sergeant Logan MacRae has been bumped to the "Screw-up Squad," a team made up of the most worthless or inexperienced members of the homicide department, and Logan will do anything to prove he doesn't belong there. Including working overtime on two baffling cases: the murder by arson of six people, and the beating to death of a prostitute down by the docks, not a high priority compared to the fire. At least not until another prostitute ends up dead. Although both cases seem simple on the surface--turns out the fire's victims are part of a drug dealer's inner circle, and what fate is to be expected for working girls in Aberdeen's red-light district?--in Stuart MacBride's hands, what's going on in this rainy Scottish city is bound to be much more complicated than it appears.

Why I read It
Scottish Police Procedural – what’s not to love?? I originally became aware of MacBride through his blog which was linked on Sarah Weinman’s site. If you have any interest at all in Mystery books you must visit Sarah’s site to get all the latest news. Most of my favorite authors I have found through her. Anyway I was reading his blog regularly when he announced his first novel, Cold Granite, was being published. I read that when it came out but then over the next year forgot about him. Saw one of his new books the other week and so I went and got this his second one.

The Good
Good solid gritty crime with MacBride making the case for Aberdeen being the most violent city in Scotland.

The Bad
The bad guy was a little too cartoonish.

The Ugly (my opinion)
A good effort and worth the time. That said, all these Scottish crime novels I have been reading are making Scotland to be the most dangerous place in the world. Definitely reading book three.

Mormon Mentions
None

Author BiographyStuart MacBride lives in the North East of Scotland, where he writes gruesome crime novels and grows gruesome potatoes.