I have stayed at the Paradise Inn on Mount Rainier several times in the past, and I am going again in a few days, so when a friend mentioned this bookI have stayed at the Paradise Inn on Mount Rainier several times in the past, and I am going again in a few days, so when a friend mentioned this book to me I requested it from the library.
Floyd Schmoe and his wife spent most of a year at Paradise shortly after World War I. They worked as caretakers of the inn during the winter, and once the snow was gone, Floyd worked as a mountain guide for groups of tourists, even taking some groups to the summit.
Schmoe recounts some of their adventures from that year, but he also talks about the plants, trees and wildlife on the mountain. Some things have definitely changed in one hundred years, but “The Mountain” remains the same.
This book got me excited about our trip, so it was a great read!...more
I was interested to know more about R. Eric Thomas ever since he took over Amy Dickinson’s advice column when she retired. This is his most recent booI was interested to know more about R. Eric Thomas ever since he took over Amy Dickinson’s advice column when she retired. This is his most recent book of essays, and I found them well-written, and often funny, but also heartfelt. In addition, hearing the essays read by the author was a plus. Definitely recommended. ...more
This was an interesting take on what the author calls “care tasks”, such as laundry, house cleaning, cooking and eating, as well as personal care taskThis was an interesting take on what the author calls “care tasks”, such as laundry, house cleaning, cooking and eating, as well as personal care tasks like tooth brushing, showering, etc. While I haven’t often experienced the feelings of overwhelm and worthlessness she describes, I did get some good tips for making my own care tasks more efficient. I especially like her focus on being kind to yourself if you can’t accomplish everything you want to, and I love her mantra: Care tasks are morally neutral.
Merged review:
This was an interesting take on what the author calls “care tasks”, such as laundry, house cleaning, cooking and eating, as well as personal care tasks like tooth brushing, showering, etc. While I haven’t often experienced the feelings of overwhelm and worthlessness she describes, I did get some good tips for making my own care tasks more efficient. I especially like her focus on being kind to yourself if you can’t accomplish everything you want to, and I love her mantra: Care tasks are morally neutral....more
Delightful! This is a collection of essays (with snippets of poetry here and there) about foods that have a history in the author's life and family heDelightful! This is a collection of essays (with snippets of poetry here and there) about foods that have a history in the author's life and family heritage. I love how so many events she has experienced have an important food memory associated with them, and what a gift to be able to write so beautifully that she can share them with the reader. Definitely recommended! ...more
I don't follow basketball, but it doesn't really matter when reading this collection of essays. Hanif Abdurraqib writes of many things: life, death, pI don't follow basketball, but it doesn't really matter when reading this collection of essays. Hanif Abdurraqib writes of many things: life, death, place (Columbus, Ohio), sports heroes, and yes, basketball. Beautifully written, with wonderful narration by the author....more
What a delight! I probably won’t ever make any of the recipes in this book, but I loved reading about the different kinds of chaat: appetizer-like treWhat a delight! I probably won’t ever make any of the recipes in this book, but I loved reading about the different kinds of chaat: appetizer-like treats available at or near the hundreds of train stations in India. Maneet Chauhan tells stories from the train journeys she took as both a child, student and adult and focuses on the unique chaat found in the different regions of the country. The wonderful accompanying photographs made me feel as if I was traveling along with her. Definitely recommended!...more
All I can say is WOW! Tessa Hulls has written and illustrated a monumental memoir/family history documenting the stories of her grandmother, mother anAll I can say is WOW! Tessa Hulls has written and illustrated a monumental memoir/family history documenting the stories of her grandmother, mother and herself, intertwining Chinese history with the generational trauma that all experienced. This was heart-rending and difficult to read at times, but so rewarding in the end. Highly, highly recommended....more
All aspects of books and reading, with the author’s experiences teaching literature and creative writing thrown in. Very enjoyable, and I recommend itAll aspects of books and reading, with the author’s experiences teaching literature and creative writing thrown in. Very enjoyable, and I recommend it....more
This was a compelling and well-written memoir. I was appalled at the struggles and privation that Elizabeth and her immigrant family went through, andThis was a compelling and well-written memoir. I was appalled at the struggles and privation that Elizabeth and her immigrant family went through, and heartened by her success. If I wasn’t already convinced that immigration policy in the United States was broken, this book would have convinced me. The book goes beyond the political, however, and tells a true and engaging personal story. Definitely recommended. ...more
A well-written, heartfelt book. Woniya Thibeaut is a wonderful descriptive writer, and her account of the more than two months she spent alone on her A well-written, heartfelt book. Woniya Thibeaut is a wonderful descriptive writer, and her account of the more than two months she spent alone on her little peninsula just below the Arctic Circle is fascinating. Heartily recommended!...more
I have to admit up front that, while I’ve heard of Frank O’Hara, I had never read any of his poetry before picking up this book. I also have to admit I have to admit up front that, while I’ve heard of Frank O’Hara, I had never read any of his poetry before picking up this book. I also have to admit that, for the first third of the book, I wasn’t liking it very much. This changed when it transitioned from being about Frank O’Hara to being about the author’s relationship with her father, the art critic Peter Schjeldahl. She documents lots of slights, arguments and drama that occurred over the course of her life, but in the end, she documents how much they love each other. This is such a convoluted memoir, but a very heartfelt one. Definitely recommended....more
Quirky and fun profiles of various “types” that in my experience are not just exclusive to bookstores (libraries, universities, anyone?). A very enjoyQuirky and fun profiles of various “types” that in my experience are not just exclusive to bookstores (libraries, universities, anyone?). A very enjoyable read....more
Like Heather "Anish" Anderson's previous book, Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home, this one also made me tired (and hungry) just reading it. Anderson tells thLike Heather "Anish" Anderson's previous book, Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home, this one also made me tired (and hungry) just reading it. Anderson tells the day-by-day, step-by-step story of setting the FKT (Fastest Known Time) Unsupported on the Appalachian Trail, starting in Maine and ending in Georgia. And what a story it is: full of physical privation, but emotional and spiritual growth. Well done, Heather! Highly recommended....more
Staci Lola Drouillard has written a loving memoir/family history of her seven aunts—four on her mother’s side and three on her father’s. These are allStaci Lola Drouillard has written a loving memoir/family history of her seven aunts—four on her mother’s side and three on her father’s. These are all ordinary women living ordinary and often anonymous lives. They dealt with poverty, abandonment, alcoholism and addiction, prejudice as well as the ups and downs of everyday life. Drouillard paints a loving picture of each aunt, not shying away from the sad and hard parts of the story. I did find the book meandering at times, and a family tree for each side would have helped. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.
This book is entertaining most of the time, and informative some of the time, but I felt more than a bit guilty to be laughing at Maria Bamford's expeThis book is entertaining most of the time, and informative some of the time, but I felt more than a bit guilty to be laughing at Maria Bamford's experiences with an eating disorder, OCD, debt and some pretty serious mental illness. The "cults" of the title are various Twelve-Step groups and therapies that Maria has participated in. I might have given this book another star except for Maria's occasional use of a despicable curse word that is so demeaning to women that I was amazed that her editor didn't call her on it.
Of course, Maria Bamford had to narrate her own book, and she did a great job. I think the producers could have toned down the sound effects, but that's a minor quibble....more
What a fascinating book! Sara B. Franklin delves into the life and work of Judith Jones, the legendary editor at Alfred A. Knopf, who most notably worWhat a fascinating book! Sara B. Franklin delves into the life and work of Judith Jones, the legendary editor at Alfred A. Knopf, who most notably worked with Julia Child on Mastering the Art of French Cooking and all of the cookbooks that followed, as well as with many other groundbreaking cookbook authors. She also was the editor for John Updike, Anne Tyler and Sylvia Plath. The book is well written and deeply researched, and kept my interest throughout. Definitely recommended....more
Utterly fascinating! I've been intrigued by Naomi Osaka ever since she burst onto the tennis scene in 2018. Ben Rothenberg's wonderful, well-written aUtterly fascinating! I've been intrigued by Naomi Osaka ever since she burst onto the tennis scene in 2018. Ben Rothenberg's wonderful, well-written and exhaustively researched biography answered all of my questions about Osaka, as well as a number of questions I never even thought of. Highly recommended....more
I own a small amount of Costco stock, so when I heard about this book, of course I wanted to read it. I was especially interested in the first sectionI own a small amount of Costco stock, so when I heard about this book, of course I wanted to read it. I was especially interested in the first section of the book, which covered the history of Costco and its previous iterations, but I also enjoyed the A to Z sections that explored every possible aspect of this fascinating company. Definitely recommended....more
Honest, challenging, sometimes brutal, but so, so good. Safiya Sinclair has captured the agonies that she experienced growing up Rastafarian in JamaicHonest, challenging, sometimes brutal, but so, so good. Safiya Sinclair has captured the agonies that she experienced growing up Rastafarian in Jamaica, as well as her escape and growth though her poetry. Definitely recommended.
Safiya Sinclair has a beautiful voice and I loved hearing her narrate her memoir....more
This was a fascinating account of Cassidy Hutchinson's time working in the Trump administration and her blockbuster testimony to the House January 6thThis was a fascinating account of Cassidy Hutchinson's time working in the Trump administration and her blockbuster testimony to the House January 6th Committee. Definitely recommended....more
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