The 500 Best Urban Legends Ever

The 500 Best Urban Legends Ever
By Yorick Brown and Mike Flynn
0743445392

I could have just gone to Snopes.com and read all these same stories! Cute stories and commentary, nothing spectacular. It’s possibly not the best urban legends, but it is the most well-known ones!
7/10

Hearst Castle: San Simeon

Hearst Castle: San Simeon
By Thomas R. Aidala
0517460823

The real star of this book is it’s photographer: Curtis Bruce. The colors are amazing and the scenes are so well-done. I could just stare at the pictures in this book for hours! I liked learning the history for one of our most recognizable used-to-be-private homes. I loved that there were more pictures than text. I can’t stand reading books that describe works of art but never show them, drives me crazy!
9/10

A Death in White Bear Lake

A Death in White Bear Lake
By Barry Siegel

Deeply and unbelievably disturbing. Another condensed book, this one about a murder/death of a small boy. The evidence for who may have killed him is nearly overwhelming. It’s astonishing what people can get away with. This is a horrifying look at how things went wrong, every step of the way. Gripping, I could barely manage to put it down!
9/10

What I Saw at the Revolution

What I Saw at the Revolution
By Peggy Noonan

Condensed. Good book. But then I’m a sucker for anything to do with the White House. And a behind-the-scenes look at a Republican Presidency! How fun. I especially like that this was written from the viewpoint of a speech writer. I think they have one of the most interesting jobs at the White House. Taking the ideas of the President and crafting them into a coherent message despite all the other people who want to weigh in and make “slight” changes to the message! I can see how the job would burn someone out quickly, though, with all the politics involved within the White House. Impressive book.
8/10

Bond on Set

Bond on Set
By Greg Williams
0752264990

Wow! These pictures are amazing! This book shows what went on behind-the-scenes on the movie set of Die Another Day. And the photographer apparently had access to everything, if these shots are any indication. The colors are amazing, the black and white photographs are even more so. I also loved the information provided, the little stories that we would otherwise never hear. Pierce Brosnan’s brush with danger, for example, in the story of him getting hurt on set. All in all, a must for Bond fans!
10/10

God’s Design for Christian Dating

God’s Design for Christian Dating
By Greg Laurie
0890813736

Quick read, about 100 pages. Very clearly sets out how dating should be. Obviously, there was no dating in the time the Bible was written, so the author has to rely on his own common sense to apply scripture to dating. And he does it very well! Most of the stuff is common sense, in my opinion. But I guess for some people, the things in this book aren’t common sense. Well, good advice and well written.
9/10

Special Agent Scully: The Gillian Anderson Files

Special Agent Scully: The Gillian Anderson Files
By Malcolm But
0859652548 (17)

Hmmm… on page 75, he misspells Teri Hatcher as Terry. Big mistake as she’s another of my favorite actresses! Maybe I’ll take a point off for that! Otherwise, this is a very informative book about Gillian Anderson. Basically all of the information for this book is widely available but the author puts it together into a fascinating read. For fans of Gillian, this is the perfect book. Very nice.
8/10

Treasures of Tutankhamun

Treasures of Tutankhamun
By I.E.S. Edwards
0345256840795

Awesome pictures. An interesting and well-researched look at one of the greatest finds in history. The photography is wonderful, well lit and close-ups where appropriate. The details on the shots are very helpful. I like that the description makes a point of explaining the significance of the figures but the explained the same things over and over. I think this isn’t really a book to read all the way through, it’s more of a catalog where you only look at what is helpful to you at that moment.
9/10

Small Victories

Small Victories
By Samuel G. Freeman

Condensed again. And very good! A story of an inner city school and a great teacher who struggles against all odds to teach her students. I like these stories, it’s nice to know inner city schools have a bright spot. The characters (real, for the most part, just with different names apparently) are at times touching and amusing. I’m a sucker for stories about students. Especially ones overcoming the odds. And teachers who help them.
9/10

God’s Debris

God’s Debris
By Scott Adams

Ummm…. That was actually pretty stupid. Basically, Adams took a bunch of philosophies, mashed them together, stretched them back out, then threw them away and made up some stuff. Not sure what his ultimate goal was, but I ended up learning that he’s crazy and pretty full of himself. Because of the effort involved in writing a book, I can’t bear to give any book lower than a: 3/10

The Rich Part of Life

The Rich Part of Life
By Jim Kokoris

Another condensed story. And adorable! Told through the eyes of a young boy, it’s how his family changes when they win the lottery. An interesting perspective that plays out very well. The father’s brother is funny, showing up to “help” with the money. People seem to crawl out of the woodwork to have their touch with greatness. The few comments about the tabloids are very funny and really struck me. But definitely the most interesting part is the viewpoint of the young boy. Many times, the reader knows more than he does. Reading between the lines is the only way to read this story, but it’s worth it.
8/10

Uppity Women of Ancient Times

Uppity Women of Ancient Times
By Vicki Leon
1567312497

I got the idea for my Masters Thesis from one of Leon’s Uppity Women books and this one was just as good as all the rest! I like the little snippets we get on each woman. Very informative and well-researched. The author’s sense of humor is great too. Sometimes you wish there was more information, but that’s what the Internet is for!
8/10

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice
By Rosamunde Pilsher

Adorable! Another condensed story, another story I may have to read in it’s entirety one day. I was shocked about Francesa though, wow! The mother didn’t surprise me, but she did. And I loved Lucy, what a doll. And Carrie too… okay, all the characters were good, even the evil mothers! I would love to see a sequel (mental note: check if there is one).
8/10

Julie and Romeo

Julie and Romeo
By Jeanne Ray

Another shortened version of a story. This one was good, the characters were real. I liked Nora, who started off so nasty and ended up… well, nasty but at least on her mother’s side! I didn’t like that it didn’t end with a wedding between Julie and Romeo. Oh, they’re so “modern” they don’t need that kind of stuff. Stupid, in my opinion. They have a little apartment, they go there to sleep together but they live separately. Greeeeat, perfect. Morons. Because of that ending:
6/10

Back When We Were Grown-ups

Back When We Were Grown-ups
By Anne Tyler

I read this book in its abridged version, as part of an anthology. That seems like it’s going to be the theme for the beginning of this month- abridged books. This book was interesting, the road not taken. I think that is the most interesting theme a book can have, the road not taken. You look back on your life and you can see where your life took a totally different turn. It’s only human to wonder what would have happened if you hadn’t made that turn. I like that the main character ended up with a happy ending and not regretting her choices. I think I should read the full version and figure out what the real story is between her and Zeb, though. She meets him and he’s flirting with her and that never seems to changes. Most books end with a marriage, so I was ready for it! Strange.
8/10