December 2011
7 posts
4 tags
Book 43: Full Dark, No Stars - Stephen King
ACTUAL BOOK
Barring an unlikely reading binge before Sunday, it looks like 2011 will end with 43 books read. And Full Dark, No Stars is a perfect ending book as I received it as a gift for Christmas in 2010 and it took me most of 2011 to finally read the thing. Not that the book was bad, I just had a hard time engaging with it and found myself frequently picking up other books in its place. A...
6 tags
Book 42: The Final Solution - Michael Chabon
AUDIOBOOK read by Michael York
I enjoyed Chabon’s The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, so I picked this book up to see if that was an anomaly, or if I enjoy his writing in general. I’m not sure that I’ve decided that definitively, but I did generally enjoy this book. I think The Final Solution is targeted to young adults as the mystery is not real complex, but it was a quick...
5 tags
Book 41: The Disappearing Spoon - Sam Kean
AUDIOBOOK read by Sean Runnette
This book is perfect if you’re a science geek like me. A look at the periodic table and the fascinating stories around the elements, the book flows nicely and held my attention throughout. Some of the stories are about how some of the elements were discovered, some about the properties of elements, and some just about the odd assortment of people that have...
4 tags
Book 40: Delivering Happiness - Tony Hsieh
AUDIOBOOK read by Tony Hsieh
I love Zappos. If you’ve never bought anything from them, you really should give it a shot. They offer free shipping both ways, typically upgrade your shipping to 2-day, and go above and beyond to make sure you are satisfied. A couple of weeks ago, I order two different pairs of hiking boots, was upgraded to 2-day shipping, tried both on, selected the pair I...
6 tags
Book 39: The Coral Thief - Rebecca Stott
AUDIOBOOK read by Simon Prebble
This was a pleasant surprise. I can’t remember how I stumbled across this book, but I’m glad I picked it up as I very much enjoyed it. The story takes place in Paris right after the final capture and exile of Napoleon. There is an interesting historical feel to the book as it follows a young medical student who gets caught up with a gang of thieves....
5 tags
Book 38: Children Playing Before a Statue of...
AUDIOBOOK read by multiple readers
I love David Sedaris. I, however, do not much care for his short story choices, apparently. I found this collection to be pretty dull. I listened to this audiobook a month or two ago and can’t remember a single story from it. Avoid this one and grab yourself an actual David Sedaris book. Your life will be better for it.
4 tags
Book 37: Bossypants - Tina Fey
AUDIOBOOK read by Tina Fey
I’m falling behind on my updates and need to get the remaining ones crammed in before the end of the year, so the rest will be short and sweet. 30 Rock is one of my favorite shows and I picked up Tina Fey’s book because of that fact. I wasn’t disappointed as her book was hilarious as well. Somewhat of an autobiography, Fey recounts stories from her...