I love the book (the part of it that I read).
I have only gotten a few hundred pages into it when I saw the book entitled "Honky" by Dalton Conley.
Since I do not like to read two books at the same time, I am taking a break from AS to read Honky.
Showing posts with label Bookshelf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bookshelf. Show all posts
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Book Review: New England White...3.75
New England White by Stephen L. Carter is a fascinating mystery set in an old New England town with very new New England money as the heroine. I found it to be a great and easy read and if you are looking for a book that will take you away from the conundrum of everyday life, I would definitely pick this book up.
Here is what a reviewer from Amazon.com had to say about it:
After Emperor of Ocean Park, I could hardly wait for a second book from Stephen Carter. I even emailed him once to find why it was taking so long (no, he didn't respond) and so when I found out his new book was coming out last week, I rushed to my local bookstore (coupons in hand) and started reading. Once again, Carter has delivered an intriguing mystery while providing juicy tidbits about life in the rarified atmosphere of rich black intellectuals. However, as much as I loved reading all 556 pages (whew!), I found that about halfway through the book, I started getting lost in all the details. There is just so much information he includes that after a while they start to detract from the story. More than once I thought "And who is this again?" Not that any of that stopped me from reading, it's that with so many characters, so many events, so much repetition, I was relieved to finally get to the big reveal. Yes, it was worth it find out whodunnit and why, but there is another message Carter delivers that members of both the darker nation and the paler nation will likely find themselves admitting, even if to no one other than to themselves. My favorite scene in the book? When Julia finds herself in an unfamiliar neighborhood, knocking on doors and understanding that it's race, not money/class/privilege that people see first. And that truth is not lost on her.
Here is what a reviewer from Amazon.com had to say about it:
After Emperor of Ocean Park, I could hardly wait for a second book from Stephen Carter. I even emailed him once to find why it was taking so long (no, he didn't respond) and so when I found out his new book was coming out last week, I rushed to my local bookstore (coupons in hand) and started reading. Once again, Carter has delivered an intriguing mystery while providing juicy tidbits about life in the rarified atmosphere of rich black intellectuals. However, as much as I loved reading all 556 pages (whew!), I found that about halfway through the book, I started getting lost in all the details. There is just so much information he includes that after a while they start to detract from the story. More than once I thought "And who is this again?" Not that any of that stopped me from reading, it's that with so many characters, so many events, so much repetition, I was relieved to finally get to the big reveal. Yes, it was worth it find out whodunnit and why, but there is another message Carter delivers that members of both the darker nation and the paler nation will likely find themselves admitting, even if to no one other than to themselves. My favorite scene in the book? When Julia finds herself in an unfamiliar neighborhood, knocking on doors and understanding that it's race, not money/class/privilege that people see first. And that truth is not lost on her.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Book Review: Raising the Bar: Integrity and Passion in Life and Business: The Story of Clif Bar & Co.
As a rule, I usually do not pick up self help books. i tend to think that they are filled with feel good attitudes that do exactly that, make you feel good, but giving little information which I could not figure out on my own.I am still convinced that the secret of life will never be found located between bound leather, but after speaking with friends, I have come to realize that some insight to life issues can be found printed in Black and White.
Still sceptical, I set out to locate a published work that would live up to my friend's promises.Raising the Bar by Greg Erickson was the first book that jumped out at me. Bar was writtten by the owner and creater of Clif Bar & Co., a line of fitness bars and energy drinks which came out of nowhere and took the industry by storm.Bar caught my eye for two reasons:
1. This book documents the success story of a small business who's healthy and eco-friendly business practices is the main readon for its prosperity
2. It documents a product that I have grown to love over the years, The Clif Bar.
If you are interested in learning how grow your business WITHOUT worrying about the economic bottom line, I would definitly recommend this book. Though containing some business theory and accounting mumbo-jumbo, it is still light and jovial enough to take on vacation with you or being considered a "light read".
Library Elf's Rating=======3 points (Rating based on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the best)
Still sceptical, I set out to locate a published work that would live up to my friend's promises.Raising the Bar by Greg Erickson was the first book that jumped out at me. Bar was writtten by the owner and creater of Clif Bar & Co., a line of fitness bars and energy drinks which came out of nowhere and took the industry by storm.Bar caught my eye for two reasons:
1. This book documents the success story of a small business who's healthy and eco-friendly business practices is the main readon for its prosperity
2. It documents a product that I have grown to love over the years, The Clif Bar.
If you are interested in learning how grow your business WITHOUT worrying about the economic bottom line, I would definitly recommend this book. Though containing some business theory and accounting mumbo-jumbo, it is still light and jovial enough to take on vacation with you or being considered a "light read".
Library Elf's Rating=======3 points (Rating based on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the best)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Jews & Blacks: A Review
Jews & Blacks: A Dialogue on Race, Religion, and Culture in America, by Michael Lerner and Cornel West chronicle the similarities of and differences in the struggles that both Jews and African-Americans have faced here in the United States.
Chapter by chapter, these two academic leaders in their perspective societies take on specific issues that have been of concern in both societies and give their unique and collective perspective of the societal concern.
In addition to introductions of the two intellectuals, some of the issues covered in this book include (but not limited to) Black and Jewish Nationalism, Jewish Racism/Black Anti-Semitism, and economic conflicts hindering/helping the two societies.
As an African-American, I have always known the struggles of the Jewish in the United States have paralleled those of Blacks, but this book gives me a greater perspective of the similarities and differences in the two society’s struggle for equality and inclusion.This is not light reading and I would not take it if I was going on vacation, but you are giving a speech on either two societies, I would definitely use this as a reference.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Library Elf's Book Review: Jews & Blacks
Jews & Blacks: A Dialogue on Race, Religion, and Culture in America, by Michael Lerner and Cornel West chronicle the similarities of and differences in the struggles that both Jews and African-Americans have faced here in the United States.
Chapter by chapter, these two academic leaders in their perspective societies take on specific issues that have been of concern in both societies and give their unique and collective perspective of the societal concern. In addition to introductions of the two intellectuals, some of the issues covered in this book include (but not limited to) Black and Jewish Nationalism, Jewish Racism/Black Anti-Semitism, and economic conflicts hindering/helping the two societies.
As an African-American, I have always known the struggles of the Jewish in the United States have paralleled those of Blacks, but this book gives me a greater perspective of the similarities and differences in the two society’s struggle for equality and inclusion.This is not light reading and I would not take it if I was going on vacation, but you are giving a speech on either two societies, I would definitely use this as a reference.
Library Elf's Rating: 3.75 points of the 5 (5 being the best)
Chapter by chapter, these two academic leaders in their perspective societies take on specific issues that have been of concern in both societies and give their unique and collective perspective of the societal concern. In addition to introductions of the two intellectuals, some of the issues covered in this book include (but not limited to) Black and Jewish Nationalism, Jewish Racism/Black Anti-Semitism, and economic conflicts hindering/helping the two societies.
As an African-American, I have always known the struggles of the Jewish in the United States have paralleled those of Blacks, but this book gives me a greater perspective of the similarities and differences in the two society’s struggle for equality and inclusion.This is not light reading and I would not take it if I was going on vacation, but you are giving a speech on either two societies, I would definitely use this as a reference.
Library Elf's Rating: 3.75 points of the 5 (5 being the best)
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Library Elf's Bookshelf
I went out to dinner last night and, throughout the entire evening, I ran into several people who I had not seen in years. In one case, it had been over a decade since I had laid eyes on them.
Departing from the normal questions asked to me like "How have you been?" and "Where do you live now?”, one question, "What are you reading?" was asked by everyone. No, those who I ran into were not librarians or worked in a library, but they all remembered that I love to read and always spoke of the books in which I was reading.
So I thought I would start letting you guys know what books I am currently reading and then give a brief synopsis after I am finished, along with my recommendations. You can find my current read off to the right.
Departing from the normal questions asked to me like "How have you been?" and "Where do you live now?”, one question, "What are you reading?" was asked by everyone. No, those who I ran into were not librarians or worked in a library, but they all remembered that I love to read and always spoke of the books in which I was reading.
So I thought I would start letting you guys know what books I am currently reading and then give a brief synopsis after I am finished, along with my recommendations. You can find my current read off to the right.
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