Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d’Art by Christopher Moore | LibraryThing
Moore, C. (2012). Sacre bleu: A comedy d’art. New York: William Morrow. 9780061779749
My mom saw a book review in the Houston Chronicle. Then, she requested the book via HCPL. After its arrival, I’m inclined to follow suit.
Top Ten Tuesday | The Broke and the Bookish
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists. We’d love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here will answer. Everyone is welcome to join! All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It’s a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.Future Top Ten Tuesday topics are posted here.Today’s TTT is a little bit different than usual: it’s non-book related. I don’t think we’ve had a Top Ten list not related to books, reading or anything literary before?
Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis | LibraryThing
Ellis, J. J., & Runger, N. (2001). Founding brothers: The revolutionary generation. Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded Books. 9781402505393
Reasons for Reading: I found the book on the shelf at the HCPL branch where I work. Partially inspired by my girlhood crush on Thomas Jefferson (or was it Ken Howard playing Jefferson in 1776?), I checked out this audiobook. The first copy I borrowed had a scratch so I had to request another copy. The bottom line, though, I eventually got to read this book!
Summary: In shades of Paul Harvey ”The Rest of the Story,” Ellis tells of the relationships between those the United States often refers to as the Founding Fathers – John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington. Ellis pinpoints six different moments which exhibit these relationships in their truest form. These include:
Burr and Hamilton’s deadly duel, and what may have really happened; Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison’s secret dinner, during which the seat of the permanent capital was determined in exchange for passage of Hamilton’s financial plan; Franklin’s petition to end the “peculiar institution” of slavery–his last public act–and Madison’s efforts to quash it; Washington’s precedent-setting Farewell Address, announcing his retirement from public office and offering his country some final advice; Adams’s difficult term as Washington’s successor and his alleged scheme to pass the presidency on to his son; and finally, Adams and Jefferson’s renewed correspondence at the end of their lives, in which they compared their different views of the Revolution and its legacy.
- Joseph J. Ellis
Using these events, Ellis supports his claim that these men squabbled as though they were siblings.
What I Liked : Ellis excelled at filling in the blanks as he could. He rendered great portraits of these greats. I knew very little about Aaron Burr other than the “Got Milk?” commercial.
What I Disliked : I wasn’t crazy about the hopping around with the book. I wished Ellis had stayed closer to the original sequence of events.
Three Out of Five Pearls
Song: But Mr. Adams – 1776 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – YouTube
Setting: Thirteen Colonies, The USA
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Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell | LibraryThing
Powell, J. (2005). Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen. New York: Little, Brown and Co. 9780316109697
Reasons for Reading: I’m no gourmet but I enjoyed watching cooking shows on PBS ever since I can remember. One of those heroic translators of French cuisine was the unforgettable Julia Child. She empowered people nationwide to Since this book was about the experiences of a blogger working her way through Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, I decided I wanted to read Julie and Julia someday. A couple of years ago, I heard Julie Powell speak at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference. I found the book on the shelf at the HCPL where I work.
Summary: As secretarial government drone Julie Powell eyes her approaching thirtieth birthday, she yearns for something to do. While visiting her family in Austin, Texas, Julie eyes her mom’s copy of Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. This sighting inspires Julie to work her way through 524 recipes in a year and blog about her experiences.
What I Liked : I enjoyed the mention of Samuel Pepys and the segments from Julia and Paul Child. I also liked reading about Austin, Texas, the capital of my home state. The following Julie’s blog built amazed me. It’s impressive how these kind souls even sent her foodstuffs when she remarked on wanting something.
What I Disliked : I didn’t care much for Julie. This fact alone really colored my opinion of the book. I wanted to know more the actual blogging and how it became so lucrative for her. I didn’t find much of that here. Unfortunately I saw the movie before I read the book and that disappointed me as well. Maybe my expectations are too high.
Two Out of Five Pearls
Song: The French Chef Theme Song
Setting: New York City, Austin Texas, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Paris, Boston
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Total memory makeover by Marilu Henner | WorldCat Detailed Record
Henner, M., & Henner, L. (2012). Total memory makeover: Uncover your past, take charge of your future. New York: Gallery Books. 9781451651218
This book was among the new stuff I’ve checked into the system. I’ll request it soon. Let’s hope I’ll remember!
Do Yourself A Favor…Forgive by Joyce Meyer | LibraryThing
Meyer, J. (2012). Do yourself a favor– forgive: Learn how to take control of your life through forgiveness. New York: FaithWords. 978-0446547277
I saw it on a cart today and I’ve requested it. Just the title alone spoke to me.
Top 10 Orlando / WorldCat
Grula, R., Tunstall, J., & Tunstall, C. (2010). Top 10 Orlando. New York: DK Pub. 9780756661762
Reasons for Reading : After utilizing various other Top 10 guides, I wanted one on Orlando before I headed to see friends in Florida. I ordered the book from Amazon.
Places: Orlando
Song: Pinocchio – When You Wish Upon A Star – YouTube
For more on check out the following:
Scroll of the Book of Proverbs | Wikipedia
Proverbs – NIV archaeological study Bible: An Illustrated walk through Biblical history and culture. (2005). Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan. 9780310938521.
Proverbs is the first book I read under the heading of “Poetry” in the Read through the Bible Challenge. Many say that this is the oldest book in The Bible.
Attributed to Solomon, Proverbs offers wisdom and direction for one’s conduct. Since this book has thirty-one chapters, Proverbs is ideal monthly reading.
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
For more onProverbs and Bible-Reading Challenge, check out the following links:
Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story by John D. Luerssen | LibraryThing
Luerssen, J. D. (2004). Rivers’ edge: The Weezer story. Toronto: ECW Press. 9781550226195
Reasons for Reading: As a child, one of things my family saw to was that I listened to good music. Now, I’m not necessarily talking about classical, opera, or show tunes. No, I mean Oldies – real Rock ‘n’ Roll, MoTown, Rhythm & Blues (rather than R&B), and Jazz. Country Western wasn’t considered music 
. So, while I owned Debbie Gibson and MC Hammer tapes, I also heard my dad’s records of Elvis Presley, The Ventures, The Beach Boys, The Animals, etc (not an exhaustive list). On road trips, we listened to one of his favorites – Buddy Holly. Let’s just say the other kids weren’t down with these old guys, especially that nerdy guy on my t-shirt.
Fast forward to 1994, my classmates and I weren’t just listening to Nirvana and Ace of Base, but to Weezer, a new group where frontman Rivers Cuomo crooned “I look just like Buddy Holly.” Like the pioneer rocker, Cuomo also wore horn rimmed glasses. Yeah, life went on but Weezer continued to resonate. Thus, growing up listening to Weezer made me want to read a book about one of my all-time favorite groups. At first, I requested John D. Luerssen’s Rivers’ Edge: The Weezer Story via Inter-Library Loan (ILL). Ultimately, I purchased the book from Amazon.
Summary: Undeterred by the group not endorsing his proposed biography, Luerssen set out to write about Weezer, a music group he enjoyed. He describes Weezer’s ascent to super stardom and chronicles the bands ups (Blue Album, Green Album, and Maladroit) and downs (Pinkerton - “El Scorcho,” and “The Good Life.”)
At the center of this narrative is founder Rivers Cuomo, a brilliant musician and introvert who dons “Buddy Holly” glasses and other articles of nerdiness. Other founding members are the humorous drummer Patrick Wilson (definitely in “Keep Fishin‘”), “not second string to anyone” bassist Matt Sharp (check him out in this performance on The Late Show), and guitarist Jason Cropper. When Cropper left, he’s replaced by “Sass Master” Brian Bell (see the “The Impossible Bend“). Sharp left and was replaced by Mikey Welsh (Green Album – can be seen in “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun“.) Welsh exited, his void being filled by current member Scott “Shrine Dog” Shriner (look at “Photograph” and “Dope Nose.”) Luerssen offers a “no stone unturned” account of this contemporary group.
What I Liked: It was good finding out what Cuomo’s songs meant to Cuomo and what they all felt about making videos, particularly “Undone – The Sweater Song.”
I admired Bell’s support of Cuomo during their hiatus and the loyalty of unofficial fifth member Karl Koch, fans Mykel, Carli, and the Rebel Weezer Alliance.
Lastly, I loved how I could recall where I was when most of these events took place – definitely when reading about NASA Commander William McCool. In other words, we’re contemporaries.
What I Disliked: This book was published in 2004. That means the book predates the following:
Also, I didn’t care for the tangents of the band member’s other projects. Sorry, I’m not that crazy about “Friends of P.” Doesn’t the title suggest that it should focus on Rivers Cuomo, anyhow?
Then, there’s the belaboring of Cuomo’s affinity for Asian women. Of course, the book came out before Cuomo married in 2006. Cuomo address this in the general media in 2007 “Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo on Asian Women.” Luerssen paints Cuomo as a fetishist control freak, too.
Oh, and before I forget, I would’ve loved for this book to have an index!
Three Out of Five Pearls
Setting: United States
Song: Weezer – Say It Ain’t So – YouTube
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For more on John D. Luerssen’s Rivers’ edge: The Weezer story, please check out the following links :
Some More Weezer Links:
Top Ten Tuesday | The Broke and the Bookish
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We’d love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists! Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists.
Click here to see the upcoming topics!
