• (4/27) Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean by Linda Cobb.
  
  Short book jam-packed with tips on how to clean just about everything, using, for the most part, stuff you already have around the house (such as baking soda, vinegar, salt, and club soda). Her techniques, then, are not only simple, but inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Good combination! As I was reading, I began jotting down notes. But by the time I was about 20 pages into this book, I realized I was just going to have to buy it -- I can tell this is a book I will consult pretty regularly. Recommended!
  [NON-FICTION]

  (4/26) Replay by Ken Grimwood.
  

  Engaging novel about a man who dies in 1988 and wakes up to find himself back in college in 1963. When he relizes what's happened, he quickly secures a fortune for himself (by betting on events he already knows the outcomes of) and begins to try to enjoy his second shot at life -- not sure why he's been given it, but not looking the gift horse in the mouth. Until he dies again. And is sent back to replay his life again. And again. And again. Think "Groundhog Day," except this isn't funny (no Bill Murray) and it's quite a bit more complex. I read this book in one day, finding it incredibly hard to put it down. Though I was slightly disappointed in the ending (I wanted more explanation), I heartily recommend this novel. It's fast-paced and thoroughly engrossing. Great vacation book -- and isn't it time you took a few days off anyway?
  [SCIENCE FICTION]

  (4/25) Snow Mountain Passage by James D. Houston.
  

  Totally enthralling historical novel about the tragic ordeal of the Donner Party. This fictionalized retelling actually focus on a different family in the group, the Reeds, and is told in part by the 8 year-old daughter of the main character, James Reed. When James is ousted from the group after accidentally killing a fellow traveler in a fight, he is forced to ride on ahead of his family, leaving his wife and four children in the care of others. Ultimately, this means Jim passes through the Sierras successfully, only to realize that winter has hit the mountains before the rest of the group have gotten through. Now James's family is trapped and starving on one side of the range, while he is desperately trying to organize a rescue party on the other side. Patty (the 8 year-old) tells the story of the starving pioneers while a third person narrative recounts the difficulties James encounters on the other side as he struggles with the politics of the region in an attempt to organize support. I have to confess to being far more enraptured by Patty's story than her father's, but I think that had a lot to do with the first vs. third person narrative style and may actually have been somewhat intentional. By the end of the novel, I was almost as anxious as Patty to get to the END of the story (i.e. the rescue, if there was going to be one), and not because I was eager for the book to finally be over. According to the author, this novel tells the true story of what happened up there with the Donner Party (a retelling not nearly as gruesome as the stories I have heard in my lifetime led me to anticipate). I enjoyed this book a great deal. Recommended!
  [FICTION]

  (4/23) Other People's Children by Joanna Trollope.
  

  Bittersweet novel about stepfamily life. This book follows two couples whose relationships are both helped and hindered by the presence of others -- stepchildren, mostly. All the things you usually hear about are here -- sullen teenagers who refuse to accept new parents, grown kids interfering and disapproving, etc. But Trollope has a way of telling these stories like you've never heard them before -- the usual emotions are there, but so is a little touch of humor (or, in some cases, a GIANT touch of humor). Stepfamilies are messy, Trollope seems to say, but they can also be totally amazing. This is a very perceptive and original novel. Recommended!
  [FICTION]

  (4/19) Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey by Goran Kropp.
  

  On October 16, 1995, Kropp, a Swedish mountain climber, set out from Stockholm on his bike on a quest to become the first person ever to travel to Mt. Everest, climb it, and return home under his own power. No sherpas, no cars or gasoline or airplanes, and no extra food. Only what he could pack on his bike and carry across 7,000 miles of land, and then up over 8,000 meters of mountain. It was a journey that ended up taking him an entire exhausting year, but he not only made it to the mountain and then to the summit (took him two attempts to summit, too), he also managed to get back home alive. A triumph especially since May 1995 was the same month over a dozen climbers on the mountain with him died in the storm immortalized by Jon Krakauer's book "Into Thin Air."

  I enjoyed this book a great deal. While I think you'll get more out of it if you read Krakauer's book first (Kropp refers to people and events that are more thoroughly described in "Into Thin Air"), this book definitely stands on its own as a description of an amazing "first" on the list of records set on Mt. Everest, as well as a great story about what's between Sweden and Tibet (like, rock-throwing kids in Iran!). I do have to say that I think this book would've been even better if Kropp had spent more time writing about the bike trip (7,000 miles is packed into only a few chapters) and less time writing about all the liars he encounters (sometimes he seems awfully self-righteous). But all in all, I really enjoyed reading this book. Recommended to fans of the true-adventure genre.
  [NON-FICTION]

  (4/18) jemima j by Jane Green.
  

  The author of this book very obviously set out to do a noble deed -- to show the world that no matter how unattractive (by society's standards) a woman looks, down inside you can often find quite an amazing person. So, stop judging books by their covers (ironic, considering one of the things that made me pick up this book was the cover, which features a pair of slightly-heavy but totally sexy legs on it) and start looking at insides first.

  Lovely idea that I totally agree with and try to live by. However, as hard as Green tried, she COMPLETELY blew it. Jemima J is a young British woman about 100 pounds overweight and full of self-loathing for it. She's madly in love with a man she works with, Ben, who really only thinks of her as a friend. But when she is swept off her feet by a handsome man she meets on the Internet (she sees a picture of him, which is how I know he's handsome), she realizes that if she doesn't do something about her weight before they meet in Los Angeles, he'll end up treating her just like Ben, if not worse.

  So, Jemima begins to starve herself and quickly becomes dangerously obsessed with exercise. Indeed, after a few months, she's eating ONLY so she can work out more often. And, she gets her wish -- by the time her trip to LA to meet Brad rolls around, she's gorgeous and thin, and when her Internet fella meets her, he seems to fall madly in love with her.

  Yet, still she pines for Ben. She says she realizes that being thin hasn't really made her happy after all. And when she finds out the truth about Brad, this idea is only strengthened further. But, oh yay! Ben is coming to LA to do an interview (while she's been gone, he's become a British TV star -- incidentally, he doesn't know she is thin). And, about this same time, Ben realizes he hasn't talked to his friend Jemima in far too long and manages to track her down once he gets to town. They agree to meet and when he sees her thin, gorgeous body sitting in the cafe, he doesn't recognize her.

  And his first thought? "I wish I wasn't meeting Jemima, so I could hang out with this hot babe!"

  But, oh happy day, he soon realizes she IS Jemima, blah blah blah. They fall in love etc. etc. etc.

  Lesson to be learned: crash diets and obsessive and insane amounts of exercise really WILL get you the man of your dreams. A man who once thought of you only as a friend will realize you are also a total sexpot and come around in full. The only fat chick in this book who scores (and I use that word lightly), is a woman in LA Jemima tries to befriend. Her boyfriend is a total sleaze who is into fat-chick pornography. (I think that was supposed to encourage us to believe there ARE a few men out there who find overweight women to be totally sexy, but since the guy is a completely disgusting jerkwad, I didn't feel too uplifted by that).

  The epilogue, incidentally, tries to take us back to Green's goal -- to tell us that being overweight isn't a death sentence when it comes to living a happy life -- but really, while Green says Jemima is no longer a "hard body" yet has still ended up married to the man of her dreams, it actually turns out that Jemima is a size 10. My sister, about the size of Ally McBeal, is also a size 10. So, um, Jemima may have lightened up a bit on the exercise, but her husband is definitely not in love with a woman who doesn't fit perfectly into the societal standards of "gorgeous." And, in fact, he never fell in love with a woman like that. He fell in love with a beautiful and thin (funny, intelligent, and sweet) woman. So, I really felt this epilogue did nothing to rescue this novel from its slip off-track, which disappointed me, since it held so much promise in the beginning.

  Anyway, despite the fact I felt this novel merely reinforced all the BAD body image stuff out there, I still enjoyed it. Brit women are fun to be around and while Jemima is nooooo Bridget Jones, this novel has a similar girl-buddy air about it. Recommended, however, only to those women who already know being overweight doesn't make you ugly and won't have that knowledge skewed on bit by more "thin's in!" propaganda.
  [FICTION]

  (4/17) Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman.
  

  Cute mystery featuring Juliet Applebaum, a public defender turned stay-at-home mom. When her young daughter's application to a famous preschool is rejected, Juliet isn't too surprised. When she turns on her TV that night only to discover the school's principal has been killed, however, she is not only shocked, but completely suspicious. Soon she finds herself investigating a few clues, against the advice of all who know her. The clues lead her to a seedy, sleazy Internet newsgroup where she eventually gets herself in deeper than she'd planned to go. Now the suspects are piling up (an angry man whose daughter was also denied entrance to the school? the principal's husband?) and when the cops start to take Juliet seriously, she begins to think she's really onto something. But is she? And, if so, how much risk is this pregnant mom going to take on in pursuit of justice? Waldman is the wife of Michael Chabon, one of my favorite authors, and while her novel isn't "literature" as her husband's often are, this was a book I drank down in one afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed. Am looking forward to Waldman's next Juliet Applebaum mystery, too. Recommended!
  [MYSTERY]

  (4/16) Potshot by Robert B. Parker.
  

  Yahoo! A new Spenser novel! And, true to form, it's a mighty fine one. In this installment of the series, Spenser gets hired by a woman from Potshot, Arizona who claims a local gang (The Dell) murdered her husband when he refused to pay them for "protection." She wants Spenser to prove it, hopefully getting rid of The Dell for good in the process (they've harassed everyone in town for so long the people there live in perpetual fear yet housing values have dropped so low no one can afford to leave).

  Spenser agrees to help and hires six of his old cadre of cohorts to go along with him: Hawk, Vinnie Morris, Bobby Horse, Chollo, Bernard J. Fortunato, and Tedy Sapp (all of whom you'll recognize if you're a true Spenser fan).

  Hmmmm, does this plot sound familiar? Small desert town being plagued by bullies hires a gang of seven outsiders (some of them criminals themselves) to rescue them? All we need now is Yul Brenner and we'd be all set, right? Only, leave it to Robert B. Parker to put an interesting spin on an old story. "The Magnificent Seven" probably couldn't have handled what Spenser and his gang eventually find themselves up against! This is one of the best Spenser novels yet. Oh cripes, I say that every time I read a Spenser, don't I? Yeah. That's cuz SPENSER RULES! Recommended!
  [MYSTERY]

  (4/15) A Dream of Wolves by Michael C. White.
  

  Dr. Stuart Jordan, an OB/GYN who moonlights as the town medical examiner, lives what looks like a quiet small-town life on the outskirts of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. In reality, he's struggling with an internal tornado of emotions, the result of the death of his five year-old son and consequent separation from his wife, as well as his growing feelings for the town's assistant district attorney. When he's called out to a murder scene one night, a new addition to his emotional turmoil is added. The assailant, a young Native American mother who has just killed her abusive boyfriend (the baby's father), begs Stuart to protect her baby from the boyfriend's family, a notorious group of "mountain people" known for their drinking and violent behavior. Stuart agrees to take the baby in until the court can decide about custody. Little does he know what he's getting himself into, however. Not only does his estranged and mentally ill wife choose this same moment to return home, but his DA lover finally leaves her husband for Stu and he begins to grow more and more attached to the baby, Maria. Then, to top it all off, he discovers something about the baby that leads him to suspect the mother may be innocent and that both he and Maria may be in terrible danger. This is an engaging novel -- at times sweet, at times tensely thrilling, and always emotionally riveting. I haven't read any of White's other novels, but you can bet I'll be looking them up soon. Recommended!
  [FICTION]

  (4/13) The Tightwad Gazette II by Amy Dacyczyn.
  

  Second in a series of books compiling the Tightwad Gazette newsletters, a great publication no longer in print that was full of tips on how to spend less and save more. Lots of recipes on making low-cost versions of favorite convenience foods, as well as a whole host of ideas on doing, getting, and making things for less. Dacyczyn is not only an amazing source of fantastic information, but also a very funny writer. The combination makes these a pleasure to read. Recommended!
  [NON-FICTION]

  (4/12) The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip by George Saunders.
  

  Sort of a combination children's book and adult novel ("adult" meaning it's complicated in theme, not about naked people), this is a kooky and brilliant story about a village called Frip whose goats are plagued by an outbreak of Gappers. Gappers are little critters that look like the kind of burr you get in your sock when you walk through a field (only bigger and orange with lots of eyes). They love goats and when a gapper gets near one, it lets out shrieks of joy that make it impossible for the goat to sleep, which eventually results in the goat being unable to give milk. A little girl named Capable is the first Frippian whose goats become Gapper-infested and oh, how the town turns their back on her. Without the town's support, though, how is Capable going to get rid of her Gappers? How will she survive if she loses her share of the goat milk market? This is a great story about the golden rule -- hilarious and thought-provoking (well, mostly hilarious, really). Highly recommended for readers of all ages! (p.s. Great illustrations, too!)
  [FICTION]

  (4/10) Why We Hurt: The Natural History of Pain by Frank Vertosick, J.R., M.D.
  

  Fascinating study of the origins of pain both in the body and in the mind, as well as a look of the evolution of pain over time. This book addresses a variety of questions like: why do humans get pain syndromes that animals do not? How does pain work? What are the different types of pain and how can they be treated? In many cases, the answers to these questions were not the ones I expected (for example, he hypothesizes that carpal tunnel syndrome really doesn't fit in with the standard definition of "repetitive injury syndrome"). Not only did I find this book to be informative, however, I also found it to be extremely personal. Each chapter begins with a story about a real patient of Vertosick's who suffers from the pain syndrome that is about to be discussed. Putting a human face on a clinical topic really makes the book more effective. In my own experiences with pain, I've learned that people who don't have it just don't understand it. Here's a chance for you to get to know pain as well as the people who suffer from it do (well, not as well, but at least a little better than you understand it now). I heartily recommend this book both for people who suffer and want to know more and for people who know people who suffer and want to understand.
  [NON-FICTION]

  (4/8) Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card.
  

  I don't know about you guys, but I absolutely adored Orson Scott Card's novel "Ender's Game," about a young boy-genius recruited by Earth's interstellar military and sent out to try to conquer a species of aliens threatening to wipe out the entire world. It is by far one of the best examples of escape literature I can come up with, and has remained a book that I still pick up and reread every couple of years. Just for the sheer pleasure of it. Its first sequel, "Speaker of the Dead," was just as good (possibly even better). However, the sequels that followed that one got progressively worse and finally I just had to give up on them. When "Ender's Shadow" came out, I assumed it was more of the same and didn't bother to pick it up.

  However, a friend of mine recommended it to me, telling me it wasn't really a sequel, it was more of a "parallel novel" to Ender's Game. And the good news is, he was totally right! "Shadow" tells the same exact story as "Game," only this time, it tells it from the perspective of Ender's friend Bean. We get to follow Bean throughout the early years of his life -- starting as a 6 year old genius living on the streets and using his smarts to keep himself alive, and ending up as a toon leader in Ender's army and as the one person Ender really is able to get close to. To say much more would give away some of the excitement, and I also think that you need to have read "Game" already before attempting this one. If you've read "Game," then you already know what "Shadow" is about. If not, you'll be lost anyway (there are a lot of references in "Shadow" to events and people in "Game" -- but they are just references -- not detailed reiterations) . However, I strongly recommend both of these novels to fans of good space-based science fiction. While I still think "Game" is tops, "Shadow" is a very very close second. Loved it!
  [SCIENCE FICTION]

  (4/6) Personal Injuries by Scott Turow.
  

  When Robbie Feaver, an arrogant lawyer who thinks he's above the law himself, is caught offering bribes, he is forced into a terrible situation. The U.S. Attorney wants to use Feaver to get the man who is at the center of all the corruption in the county, Brendan Tuohey, who also happens to be next in line for the position of Chief Justice of the County Superior Court. The sting will involve the use of a manufactured lawyer named "James McManis," a cast of fictional clients, and a deep cover agent, posing as Robbie's lover.

  Pretty engrossing and well-written legal thriller -- I've found that Turow is one of the few lawyers out there writing these types of books whose books aren't all exactly the same (but with the names changed). This is a super twist on the old "dirty lawyer" story -- recommended!
  [FICTION]

  (4/1) Hawaii for Dummies by Cheryl Farr Leas.
  

  Normally, I try to avoid these "Dummies" guides, as I'm just the slightest bit offended by the idea that I'm a "dummy" just because I don't know EVERYTHING. But after flipping through books at the local bookstore looking for a good guide for my honeymoon trip to Oahu and Kauai next October, I finally decided on this one. It's got great maps, for one thing, as well as extensive lists of hotels, places to eat, and things to do. Because the descriptions are full of personal anecdotes, I really trust that Leas has seen and done it all herself and she's being straight with me about what she thinks -- traditional travel guides always make me nervous because they're written in the third person. If I'm going to spend $3000 on a vacation, I want to really know what things I should do and what things I shouldn't!

  Possibly the greatest feature, though, is the fact that at least 75% of the entries for places and activities have web site URLs. Even though the book is extremely detailed and I could easily plan my entire trip without even a tap on the keyboard, I definitely love the fact that I now have the option of logging on to learn more about some of the museums and restaurants she recommends. I probably would've done searches on many of them anyway, and Leas has just saved me a step. Since I've got about a million things to do between now and my trip, every step saved is a pretty great thing! I also have to say that after reading the book, I asked a friend who had been to Honolulu several times for some tips. Every single thing he said I'd already read in Leas' book. Right down to the "don't call it 'shaved' ice -- it's 'shave' ice" one. When the author knows enough to help you avoid making yourself look like a disgusting tourist, you know you've picked a good guide. Recommended!
  [NON-FICTION]

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