Category: Writing

author: Gina Trapani
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2008/07/30
date added: 2012/06/23
shelves: non-fiction, technology, self-help
review:
Had to take back to the library w/out finishing, or even reading more than a few of the hacks. But I liked what I did read, & would be tempted to pick up a copy for my own reference. Plus it got me reinspired about keeping my email tidy.

author: Gina Trapani
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2008/07/30
date added: 2012/06/23
shelves: non-fiction, technology, self-help
review:
Had to take back to the library w/out finishing, or even reading more than a few of the hacks. But I liked what I did read, & would be tempted to pick up a copy for my own reference. Plus it got me reinspired about keeping my email tidy.

author: Seth Grahame-Smith
name: Elaine
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2012/03/01
date added: 2012/03/05
shelves: fiction, biography, fantasy, history, ebook
review:
Took me two attempts to read this; the opening framing is honestly not all that good.

But the book itself is surprisingly entertaining, with a strongly characterized Lincoln and a milieu that incorporates vampirism without letting it overwhelm the whole historical setting. Vampires are not a universally acknowledged phenomenon, and Lincoln’s vampire hunting is a secret to most of the people in his life. (Additionally, it’s not his whole life. One of the touches of realism is how career and family take him away from those activities.)

The artwork, while amusing, detracts from the book as a whole. Photoshopping is well-done but the effect is still cheesy.

But definitely recommended. I used to be nuts for vampire books (own lots of Anne Rice still), and have had a nerd-crush on Lincoln since I was a little girl. This book doesn’t disappoint either of those interests.

author: Seth Grahame-Smith
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2012/03/01
date added: 2012/03/05
shelves: fiction, biography, fantasy, history, ebook
review:
Took me two attempts to read this; the opening framing is honestly not all that good.

But the book itself is surprisingly entertaining, with a strongly characterized Lincoln and a milieu that incorporates vampirism without letting it overwhelm the whole historical setting. Vampires are not a universally acknowledged phenomenon, and Lincoln’s vampire hunting is a secret to most of the people in his life. (Additionally, it’s not his whole life. One of the touches of realism is how career and family take him away from those activities.)

The artwork, while amusing, detracts from the book as a whole. Photoshopping is well-done but the effect is still cheesy.

But definitely recommended. I used to be nuts for vampire books (own lots of Anne Rice still), and have had a nerd-crush on Lincoln since I was a little girl. This book doesn’t disappoint either of those interests.

author: Jeff Warren
name: Elaine
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2008/02/01
date added: 2012/02/22
shelves: autobiography, health, non-fiction, psychology, read-again, science
review:
Date read is a wild guess…I happened to remember this book after someone tweeted about first sleep/second sleep, then posted an Ask MetaFilter question because I couldn’t remember the name! http://ask.metafilter.com/208842/Look…

I do remember that I enjoyed it, and little bits of what I learned from it still filter into my head from time to time. (Ergo first/second sleep, which is something I learned about in that book. Very common before industrialization, people falling asleep at dark, waking for a while in the middle of the night, then sleeping again. Was totally normal, is almost forgotten today.) I’d sort of like to read it again.

author: Jeff Warren
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2008/02/01
date added: 2012/02/22
shelves: autobiography, health, non-fiction, psychology, read-again, science
review:
Date read is a wild guess…I happened to remember this book after someone tweeted about first sleep/second sleep, then posted an Ask MetaFilter question because I couldn’t remember the name! http://ask.metafilter.com/208842/Look…

I do remember that I enjoyed it, and little bits of what I learned from it still filter into my head from time to time. (Ergo first/second sleep, which is something I learned about in that book. Very common before industrialization, people falling asleep at dark, waking for a while in the middle of the night, then sleeping again. Was totally normal, is almost forgotten today.) I’d sort of like to read it again.

author: Walter Isaacson
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2012/01/12
date added: 2012/02/08
shelves: biography, non-fiction, read-again
review:
Putting this onto the “read” shelf because it’s obvious to me that I won’t get around to finishing/rereading for a while. In any case, I stand by all my earlier comments, and have made up my mind that Steve Jobs was a grade-A asshole. Genius-shmenius, doesn’t make up for anything as far as I can tell.

That being said, it was a solidly written book, definitely worth the time.

author: Walter Isaacson
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2012/01/12
date added: 2012/02/08
shelves: biography, non-fiction, read-again
review:
Putting this onto the “read” shelf because it’s obvious to me that I won’t get around to finishing/rereading for a while. In any case, I stand by all my earlier comments, and have made up my mind that Steve Jobs was a grade-A asshole. Genius-shmenius, doesn’t make up for anything as far as I can tell.

That being said, it was a solidly written book, definitely worth the time.

author: Michael Ruhlman
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2012/01/08
date added: 2012/02/08
shelves: cookbook, ebook, non-fiction, read-again
review:
Returned itself to the library before I finished. Some interesting ideas here, things I’d like to try in more detail sometime.

author: Michael Ruhlman
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2012/01/08
date added: 2012/02/08
shelves: cookbook, ebook, non-fiction, read-again
review:
Returned itself to the library before I finished. Some interesting ideas here, things I’d like to try in more detail sometime.