Month: September 2009

author: Novella Carpenter
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2009/09/02
date added: 2009/09/03
shelves: autobiography, environmentalism, gardening, non-fiction, urban-studies
review:
Daughter of hippies moves to Oakland, starts farm in vacant lot…hilarity ensues. There were some wince-worthy moments, but definitely both entertaining and inspiring. Would I ever try to raise pigs (yes, really!) myself? No, but I can see now why they’re popular in (medieval) northern Europe and Asia. And I find myself strangely tempted to try raising chickens and/or rabbits.

author: Jeff Mapes
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2009/08/20
date added: 2009/09/03
shelves: bicycling, economics, environmentalism, history, non-fiction, politics, urban-studies
review:
A nice little survey of the state of transportational cycling in the US by a Portland (OR) journalist. Looks at some of the major figures in the field (thus my earlier note about Forrester, who really does come off as an elitist jerk), and particular cities: NYC, Davis CA, and of course Portland. 🙂 Nothing super-new, but gives one a bit of hope for the future of cycling.