41. A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson
My dad has had this book for a long time and has told me a lot about how much he liked it, but finally he just gave it to me to read, and it was really good. Bill Bryson is really funny and interspersed in the story of his hike in the Appalachians are facts and statistics about environmental changes and their effect on nature. I am going to check out several of his other books that our library currently has.
5/29/08
40. Star Trek Movie Memories by William Shatner
This is along the same lines as Star Trek Memories, mostly quotes by other people. But I liked the section where he explained the reasoning behind Star Trek V, easily the worst Star Trek movie of all time, which William Shatner directed and had the idea for the plot. It was funny to read about because his explanation sounded to me like how he wanted to make a really awful movie and other people stepped in and turned it into a mildly awful movie. Apparently he wanted the Star Trek crew to actually find God instead of an alien pretending to be God. I can't really say that this is a reflection of how bad Shatner's story ideas are, though, because I think Walter Koenig is a really good writer even though I didn't like any of his story ideas for The Next Generation.
This is along the same lines as Star Trek Memories, mostly quotes by other people. But I liked the section where he explained the reasoning behind Star Trek V, easily the worst Star Trek movie of all time, which William Shatner directed and had the idea for the plot. It was funny to read about because his explanation sounded to me like how he wanted to make a really awful movie and other people stepped in and turned it into a mildly awful movie. Apparently he wanted the Star Trek crew to actually find God instead of an alien pretending to be God. I can't really say that this is a reflection of how bad Shatner's story ideas are, though, because I think Walter Koenig is a really good writer even though I didn't like any of his story ideas for The Next Generation.
39. You've Got To Read This Book by Jack Canfield
This was one of those books of book lists and I checked it out mainly because Dave Barry was one of the contributers and I used to love to read his books and newspaper columns. Most of the contributers were motivational speakers or successful business CEOs and the subtitle of the book was something like 40 successful people tell the story of the book that changed their life. A lot of the books they cited, therefore, were self-help or inspirational books. I skimmed a lot of the sections and really only came out with one or two books that I might look up and read.
This was one of those books of book lists and I checked it out mainly because Dave Barry was one of the contributers and I used to love to read his books and newspaper columns. Most of the contributers were motivational speakers or successful business CEOs and the subtitle of the book was something like 40 successful people tell the story of the book that changed their life. A lot of the books they cited, therefore, were self-help or inspirational books. I skimmed a lot of the sections and really only came out with one or two books that I might look up and read.
38. Miss Lizzie by Walter Satterthwait
This was in Book Lust under the historical fiction section. It is a fiction story about a girl who lives next door to Lizzie Borden years after the famous trial and becomes friends with her just prior to her own stepmother being murdered with a hatchet. It was a pretty good story, but I think I would like to read a non-fiction account of the Lizzie Borden trial.
This was in Book Lust under the historical fiction section. It is a fiction story about a girl who lives next door to Lizzie Borden years after the famous trial and becomes friends with her just prior to her own stepmother being murdered with a hatchet. It was a pretty good story, but I think I would like to read a non-fiction account of the Lizzie Borden trial.
37. Disclosure by Michael Crichton
This was a pretty quick read and interesting enough but not my favorite Michael Crichton by a long shot. My favorite part of reading Michael Crichton books is that he explains things so well it makes you feel like you're an expert in whatever subject the book was about, but this one didn't really have any of that in it.
This was a pretty quick read and interesting enough but not my favorite Michael Crichton by a long shot. My favorite part of reading Michael Crichton books is that he explains things so well it makes you feel like you're an expert in whatever subject the book was about, but this one didn't really have any of that in it.
35. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
I saw this in Book Lust under historical fiction and recognized it as a recent movie (which I haven't yet seen) and decided to check it out. It was a really good book, I couldn't put it down and read it in a couple days. I really liked it for historical accuracy also, although a lot of it is speculation made out to be fact, I thought it matched up pretty well with what I could find out on wikipedia.
I saw this in Book Lust under historical fiction and recognized it as a recent movie (which I haven't yet seen) and decided to check it out. It was a really good book, I couldn't put it down and read it in a couple days. I really liked it for historical accuracy also, although a lot of it is speculation made out to be fact, I thought it matched up pretty well with what I could find out on wikipedia.
34. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
I never saw the original movie made after this book, but I did see the remake in 200? and it was terrible. The book was much better but not as scary as I would have liked. At most it was just mysterious and unexplained. I guess I'm just used to Stephen King scary. My dad actually read about this book in the aforementioned Book Lust and read it first, then I checked it out and read it.
I never saw the original movie made after this book, but I did see the remake in 200? and it was terrible. The book was much better but not as scary as I would have liked. At most it was just mysterious and unexplained. I guess I'm just used to Stephen King scary. My dad actually read about this book in the aforementioned Book Lust and read it first, then I checked it out and read it.
33. Organize Your Life by Ronni Eisenberg
I have a book called Organize Yourself by the same author that sits as a reference on my desk. When I saw that there was a new book out, I couldn't wait to read it. After I read the book I immediately bought a 3 ring binder to be used as a Master Notebook but I was disappointed that there wasn't a lot of information in the book about what exactly this should contain and how it should be organized. It has helped me to keep my lists all in one place though.
I have a book called Organize Yourself by the same author that sits as a reference on my desk. When I saw that there was a new book out, I couldn't wait to read it. After I read the book I immediately bought a 3 ring binder to be used as a Master Notebook but I was disappointed that there wasn't a lot of information in the book about what exactly this should contain and how it should be organized. It has helped me to keep my lists all in one place though.
32. Book Lust by Nancy Pearl
My dad pointed this out to me in the library because I was having a hard time thinking of books to read. This gives lots of different genres and the author's top picks for each genre, including a sentence or two about them. So far I've read four books that I picked because of this book. I am going to buy a copy of this book to keep as a reference, which is what it's actually supposed to be, but I really enjoyed reading it cover to cover.
My dad pointed this out to me in the library because I was having a hard time thinking of books to read. This gives lots of different genres and the author's top picks for each genre, including a sentence or two about them. So far I've read four books that I picked because of this book. I am going to buy a copy of this book to keep as a reference, which is what it's actually supposed to be, but I really enjoyed reading it cover to cover.
31. Five Patients by Michael Crichton
This book was in the fiction section, but it actually is case studies of five patients that Michael Crichton observed over a period of time at a teaching hospital in Boston. It was really interesting because in each section he would describe the patient's situation and what was done, but then he would also talk about some aspect of the hospital, like it's operating budget and hospital charges or how technology has impacted hospital procedures. This was written in the 1960's so it was interesting to see the differences from today. I decided after reading this that I need to find a good book to explain the health care situation today because it concerns me but I don't know a lot about it.
This book was in the fiction section, but it actually is case studies of five patients that Michael Crichton observed over a period of time at a teaching hospital in Boston. It was really interesting because in each section he would describe the patient's situation and what was done, but then he would also talk about some aspect of the hospital, like it's operating budget and hospital charges or how technology has impacted hospital procedures. This was written in the 1960's so it was interesting to see the differences from today. I decided after reading this that I need to find a good book to explain the health care situation today because it concerns me but I don't know a lot about it.
30. Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton
I was a big fan of Michael Crichton books in high school, but when I checked this book out from my high school library I found that I couldn't get past the first page. I couldn't pronounce any of the names of people or places and was utterly lost. Years later I watched "The Thirteenth Warrior" and found out that it was based on this book. (Great movie, by the way). I found out my dad had tried to read this years ago too, and was also unable due to the fact he couldn't figure out if it was supposed to be fiction or non-fiction. This time I was able to get through it (I was able to figure it out more easily after seeing the movie) and it was a great book. The best part was the afterword, in which Michael Crichton explains the reason for writing the book (a bet that he couldn't write an interesting Beowulf story) and states that later when going back over the book, he couldn't tell which footnotes he made up and which ones were true. Which was funny because I couldn't tell either.
I was a big fan of Michael Crichton books in high school, but when I checked this book out from my high school library I found that I couldn't get past the first page. I couldn't pronounce any of the names of people or places and was utterly lost. Years later I watched "The Thirteenth Warrior" and found out that it was based on this book. (Great movie, by the way). I found out my dad had tried to read this years ago too, and was also unable due to the fact he couldn't figure out if it was supposed to be fiction or non-fiction. This time I was able to get through it (I was able to figure it out more easily after seeing the movie) and it was a great book. The best part was the afterword, in which Michael Crichton explains the reason for writing the book (a bet that he couldn't write an interesting Beowulf story) and states that later when going back over the book, he couldn't tell which footnotes he made up and which ones were true. Which was funny because I couldn't tell either.
29. Warped Factors by Walter Koenig
This is Chekov from Star Trek. The subtitle of this book was something like "a neurotics guide to the universe". This is my favorite book of all the Star Trek biographies. For one, it was really written by Walter Koenig, and he is a great writer and very funny. If I see anything else by him, I will definitely read it.
This is Chekov from Star Trek. The subtitle of this book was something like "a neurotics guide to the universe". This is my favorite book of all the Star Trek biographies. For one, it was really written by Walter Koenig, and he is a great writer and very funny. If I see anything else by him, I will definitely read it.
28. Organizing From the Inside Out by Julie Morganstern
The library had a new organization book that I wanted to check out, but it wasn't in so I checked this out. I like reading about organizing because it makes me feel like I may someday be organized. I actually got a really good idea out of this book, which is the "kindergarten model of organization" where you group items based on what you need to complete an activity. I cleaned out Jay and Ryker's closet and put all the scissors, crayons, paints, playdough, paper, coloring books and other craft stuff in containers together in a section of the closet that is easy to get to. I also rearranged some of my kitchen drawers because my potholders were by the sink rather than by the stove and measuring cups were by the stove rather than the food preparation area.
The library had a new organization book that I wanted to check out, but it wasn't in so I checked this out. I like reading about organizing because it makes me feel like I may someday be organized. I actually got a really good idea out of this book, which is the "kindergarten model of organization" where you group items based on what you need to complete an activity. I cleaned out Jay and Ryker's closet and put all the scissors, crayons, paints, playdough, paper, coloring books and other craft stuff in containers together in a section of the closet that is easy to get to. I also rearranged some of my kitchen drawers because my potholders were by the sink rather than by the stove and measuring cups were by the stove rather than the food preparation area.
27. Star Trek Memories by William Shatner
In preparation for this book, William Shatner carried a tape recorder and interviewed several other people involved with Star Trek, so a lot of the book is quotes from these interviews. This isn't the most entertaining book about Star Trek, but it fills out the overall picture nicely.
In preparation for this book, William Shatner carried a tape recorder and interviewed several other people involved with Star Trek, so a lot of the book is quotes from these interviews. This isn't the most entertaining book about Star Trek, but it fills out the overall picture nicely.
26. I Am Spock by Leonard Nimoy
Apparently he had written a book titled "I Am Not Spock" previous to this, but our library doesn't carry it so this was the only one I read. I may have the library order in the other book so that I can get the full picture, but I'd like to read Uhura and Dr. McCoy's books first and the library doesn't have them either. The books I've read by William Shatner and this one by Leonard Nimoy have less to do with their personal lives and more with chronicling their acting careers and involvement in Star Trek, so I don't feel like I know them as much as Takei or Doohan or Koenig.
Apparently he had written a book titled "I Am Not Spock" previous to this, but our library doesn't carry it so this was the only one I read. I may have the library order in the other book so that I can get the full picture, but I'd like to read Uhura and Dr. McCoy's books first and the library doesn't have them either. The books I've read by William Shatner and this one by Leonard Nimoy have less to do with their personal lives and more with chronicling their acting careers and involvement in Star Trek, so I don't feel like I know them as much as Takei or Doohan or Koenig.
25. Beam Me Up, Scotty by James Doohan
This book, like George Takei's, was interesting for reasons other than the Star Trek information. James Doohan served in the Canadian military during World War II and led a group of soldiers onto the beaches in Normandy, so he had a pretty interesting life even besides his Star Trek involvement. His book was probably the most critical of William Shatner, and he was the only cast member as far as I can tell who never really reconciled his differences with him before his death. It was an interesting read, although, like most of the others, ghost-written, so it's more like reading a book about him rather than written by him.
This book, like George Takei's, was interesting for reasons other than the Star Trek information. James Doohan served in the Canadian military during World War II and led a group of soldiers onto the beaches in Normandy, so he had a pretty interesting life even besides his Star Trek involvement. His book was probably the most critical of William Shatner, and he was the only cast member as far as I can tell who never really reconciled his differences with him before his death. It was an interesting read, although, like most of the others, ghost-written, so it's more like reading a book about him rather than written by him.
24. Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb? A Tour of Presidential Gravesites by Brian Lamb
This was on the clearance rack at Hasting's for $3. What a bargain! I loved this book. For some reason, I think cemeteries are really interesting and this book had pictures of all the presidential tombs. It also gave the circumstances of each death and their last words. It even gave information on where each tomb was located, the telephone number and visiting hours of the cemetery, and information for all of the presidential libraries. I'm going to keep this one for a reference. Truman's presidential library and burial site is pretty near here, in Independence, Missouri and I would like to visit it some time. Independence is also the location of an LDS historical site and Visitor's Center, so there is a lot to see there.
This was on the clearance rack at Hasting's for $3. What a bargain! I loved this book. For some reason, I think cemeteries are really interesting and this book had pictures of all the presidential tombs. It also gave the circumstances of each death and their last words. It even gave information on where each tomb was located, the telephone number and visiting hours of the cemetery, and information for all of the presidential libraries. I'm going to keep this one for a reference. Truman's presidential library and burial site is pretty near here, in Independence, Missouri and I would like to visit it some time. Independence is also the location of an LDS historical site and Visitor's Center, so there is a lot to see there.
23. Women's Voices - An Untold History of the Latter-Day Saints, 1830-1900 by Kenneth W. Godfrey
This is one of Millie's books that I was given after she passed away. It was really interesting to read from the perspective of the women pioneers in the early years of the LDS church. I want to start a lending library of LDS books at the church, and I'm going to bring this one to add to the collection.
This is one of Millie's books that I was given after she passed away. It was really interesting to read from the perspective of the women pioneers in the early years of the LDS church. I want to start a lending library of LDS books at the church, and I'm going to bring this one to add to the collection.
5/28/08
20. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
I was getting some kids books to read to Jay and I wanted to try longer chapter books so I checked out a bunch to get some ideas. Since I hadn't read this before I added it to my list (I was running behind on books and wanted to have 25 read by the end of March). It wasn't interesting enough to keep Jay's attention but I enjoyed it.
I was getting some kids books to read to Jay and I wanted to try longer chapter books so I checked out a bunch to get some ideas. Since I hadn't read this before I added it to my list (I was running behind on books and wanted to have 25 read by the end of March). It wasn't interesting enough to keep Jay's attention but I enjoyed it.
13. Secret Lives of the U. S. Presidents: What Your Teachers Never Told You About the Men of the White House by Cormac O'Brien
This was in the same section as Lies Across America so I read it as well. Not as much informative as it is entertaining. The more interesting things I'd already read and the rest of it was more like, "Hey, did you know he drank a lot? or "Oh, and he cheated on his wife". Interesting, but not earth-shattering.
This was in the same section as Lies Across America so I read it as well. Not as much informative as it is entertaining. The more interesting things I'd already read and the rest of it was more like, "Hey, did you know he drank a lot? or "Oh, and he cheated on his wife". Interesting, but not earth-shattering.
11. Inside Star Trek by Robert Justman and Herb Solow
I considered this kind of the official word on the creation of Star Trek. I learned a lot about Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, that I didn't know before. I really enjoyed this book. I like reading the behind-the-scenes type of information about tv shows.
I considered this kind of the official word on the creation of Star Trek. I learned a lot about Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, that I didn't know before. I really enjoyed this book. I like reading the behind-the-scenes type of information about tv shows.
10. To the Stars by George Takei
This surprised me by being a really good book. I picked it up at the library because I had heard that Sulu (Takei) and Kirk (William Shatner) had some bad blood between them and I was wondering what it was all about. I have never watched all of the original Star Trek episodes, I didn't become a fan until The Next Generation, but I liked the classic Star Trek movies and I'm a fan of Denny Crane (Shatner) on Boston legal. I thought I would get this just to read about the Star Trek portion of George Takei's life and ended up finding the whole thing interesting. I have never read a lot about World War II, so I found the account of George Takei at age 4 living in an internment camp very informative. His account of the self-centered Shatner made me wonder what the other actors thought of him, and I decided to read each of their biographies.
This surprised me by being a really good book. I picked it up at the library because I had heard that Sulu (Takei) and Kirk (William Shatner) had some bad blood between them and I was wondering what it was all about. I have never watched all of the original Star Trek episodes, I didn't become a fan until The Next Generation, but I liked the classic Star Trek movies and I'm a fan of Denny Crane (Shatner) on Boston legal. I thought I would get this just to read about the Star Trek portion of George Takei's life and ended up finding the whole thing interesting. I have never read a lot about World War II, so I found the account of George Takei at age 4 living in an internment camp very informative. His account of the self-centered Shatner made me wonder what the other actors thought of him, and I decided to read each of their biographies.
9. Blacklist by Sara Paretsky
This is a book that I've had on my shelf for a long time but hadn't read yet. I really liked the V.I. Warshawski movie and read one of the books, and then I saw this on a bookstore clearance shelf and picked it up but never got around to reading it. It's set after 9/11 and deals with detainment of foreigners from Arab countries a little, but mostly it's just a typical mystery/private eye book.
This is a book that I've had on my shelf for a long time but hadn't read yet. I really liked the V.I. Warshawski movie and read one of the books, and then I saw this on a bookstore clearance shelf and picked it up but never got around to reading it. It's set after 9/11 and deals with detainment of foreigners from Arab countries a little, but mostly it's just a typical mystery/private eye book.
6. Brainwash: The Secret History of Mind Control by Dominic Streatfeild
This is a history of the government and military's search for a "truth drug" and tactics used for "brainwashing". Really interesting , although not as scary as it sounds since the conclusion is that nothing ever actually was found that would give someone access or control over another person. Basically it's just torture, which makes it very informative given the current world situation.
This is a history of the government and military's search for a "truth drug" and tactics used for "brainwashing". Really interesting , although not as scary as it sounds since the conclusion is that nothing ever actually was found that would give someone access or control over another person. Basically it's just torture, which makes it very informative given the current world situation.
4. Eldest by Christopher Paolini
These books are written as a trilogy and I was disappointed to find out that the third book still has not been published. I may end up having to read this again before the other book comes out so I can remember it. The first book, Eragon, was made into a movie, which I really liked as well. I hope they continue with the movie series as well.
These books are written as a trilogy and I was disappointed to find out that the third book still has not been published. I may end up having to read this again before the other book comes out so I can remember it. The first book, Eragon, was made into a movie, which I really liked as well. I hope they continue with the movie series as well.
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