Review: Nefertiti

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Reading this book was like being stuck in front of a never-ending soap opera. It's mildly entertaining, and if you spend a little time with it, you find yourself slightly involved, if only in an ironic sense, but after a few hours you just want to get out of the drama. This book wasn't good literature; the narrative was poor and the descriptions were limited to faces and dress. The book doesn't explore the culture or imagery of Egypt, nor what a rule truly entailed. I was very disappointed.

[Addendum May 7th, 2012]

I remember listening to this audiobook very clearly. Ian was still in Albuquerque with his family (I had to return right after Christmas to get back to work). I recall quite vividly that the apartment was dark, I was avoiding cooking (I really hate cooking for just myself and will often actually lose a few pounds when Ian is out of town), and I was listening to this audiobook was listlessly working on a difficult Ravensburg puzzle, hating myself and hating the book.



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Review: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I've only seen the movie once, and while I didn't love it, I liked it enough to seek out the original story, hoping the book would have a better story. Capote's writing, of course, is very clear and strong and pleasurable to read. I finished it in one sitting (very short). I found myself enjoying the other short stories tucked in the back more than Breakfast at Tiffany's. I'm just not drawn to the storyline, I guess. Breakfast at Tiffany's gets three stars, and I give the book four stars for the stories in the back of my edition, which I thoroughly enjoyed.



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Review: Arthur and George

Arthur and George by Julian Barnes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Julian Barnes has done it again, the rascal. Excellent writing, interesting characters, all together a fabulous read.

[Addendum May 7th, 2012]

I re-read this Arthur and George last summer. It remains one of my all-time favorite books. Julian Barnes is an exceptional writer who creates a captivating world it is easy to lose yourself in. Anyone interested in Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes) should definitely give this a read, ASAP.



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Review: Boating for Beginners

Boating for Beginners by Jeanette Winterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I loved what Jeanette Winterson accomplished in this book, but it is not her best writing. Although funny and thought-provoking, a great story really, it seemed choppy and not as well-developed as her other works.



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Review: In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ian and I had a lot of fun reading this book aloud to each other over the summer, and upon finishing it, I promptly bought and mailed a copy to my parents in hopes that they will enjoy it as much as we have.

This was the first book on food that didn't recommend one solution to all problems. Instead, it took apart the 'science' of nutrition and focused on what food actually is and how American culture has strayed from eating the right way (whole foods, local foods, nutritionally-dense foods, unprocessed foods, organic foods).

This book was refreshing in that it doesn't promote food fads but a healthy perspective of eating and food. I enjoyed Pollan's journalistic breakdown of the industry and his simple suggestions for returning to a healthier, more whole and natural way of eating.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone.



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