Category: Writing

author: Nancy Baggett
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2009/08/28
date added: 2011/12/23
shelves: cookbook, own
review:
I only got to make one recipe out of this book: the very first one. But it was amazing. I’ve made basic white bread twice now. The first time, I didn’t let it rise quite long enough, so it was kinda dense, but still really tasty. The second time I was more patient (and maybe added more yeast? or it was warmer?) and it turned out just about perfect. I really want to get a copy and try more recipes. (Also need dutch oven.)

[Edit: got a copy for Christmas (2009 or 2010?) from my sister. Have made several recipes, am fond of oat bread, English muffin bread, and pizza dough.]

author: Nancy Baggett
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2009/08/28
date added: 2011/12/23
shelves: cookbook, own
review:
I only got to make one recipe out of this book: the very first one. But it was amazing. I’ve made basic white bread twice now. The first time, I didn’t let it rise quite long enough, so it was kinda dense, but still really tasty. The second time I was more patient (and maybe added more yeast? or it was warmer?) and it turned out just about perfect. I really want to get a copy and try more recipes. (Also need dutch oven.)

[Edit: got a copy for Christmas (2009 or 2010?) from my sister. Have made several recipes, am fond of oat bread, English muffin bread, and pizza dough.]

author: Lee Sandlin
name: Elaine
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2011/12/12
date added: 2011/12/13
shelves: history, ebook, non-fiction
review:
A semi-chronological narrative of life along the Mississippi River, primarily before the Civil War, when the river valley was still part of the frontier. It was a dangerous place, both from nature (storms, earthquakes, the river itself) and from other humans (lots of drunkenness and piracy). Includes the origin of the term “lynching”, which didn’t always mean hanging. Found myself unreasonably amused by the fact that the voyageurs (boatmen, somewhat expendable) were known for their red shirts. Tidbits that I want to use for future D&D games: the Crow’s Nest, an island of pirates in the middle of the river, which was destroyed by the New Madrid quakes; Natchez-Under-the-Hill, the sketchy/wild town down by the river, partially built into the bluffs, with the “respectable” town up above. Ends with Mark Twain’s last visit to the river, when few boats traveled it, the traffic all having gone to rail, and when the course of the river itself was being tamed; in the epilogue, he revisits the “panorama” paintings that were all the rage in the early 19th century, and how the last one disappeared. (Fittingly, part of it may still be hidden under a wall somewhere in South Dakota.) Very engaging; probably wouldn’t have read it if it hadn’t been one of the few non-fiction books available in Overdrive, but glad I did anyway.

author: Lee Sandlin
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2011/12/12
date added: 2011/12/13
shelves: history, ebook, non-fiction
review:
A semi-chronological narrative of life along the Mississippi River, primarily before the Civil War, when the river valley was still part of the frontier. It was a dangerous place, both from nature (storms, earthquakes, the river itself) and from other humans (lots of drunkenness and piracy). Includes the origin of the term “lynching”, which didn’t always mean hanging. Found myself unreasonably amused by the fact that the voyageurs (boatmen, somewhat expendable) were known for their red shirts. Tidbits that I want to use for future D&D games: the Crow’s Nest, an island of pirates in the middle of the river, which was destroyed by the New Madrid quakes; Natchez-Under-the-Hill, the sketchy/wild town down by the river, partially built into the bluffs, with the “respectable” town up above. Ends with Mark Twain’s last visit to the river, when few boats traveled it, the traffic all having gone to rail, and when the course of the river itself was being tamed; in the epilogue, he revisits the “panorama” paintings that were all the rage in the early 19th century, and how the last one disappeared. (Fittingly, part of it may still be hidden under a wall somewhere in South Dakota.) Very engaging; probably wouldn’t have read it if it hadn’t been one of the few non-fiction books available in Overdrive, but glad I did anyway.

author: Nancy Queen
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2011/11/12
date added: 2011/12/12
shelves: knitting, crafty, non-fiction, wishlist
review:
Loved the color pictures in this one, and IIRC this had the diagram that finally got me purling successfully. Made one pattern: the “Boyfriend Scarf”, which took me a month (off and on) and which C LOVES. Would probably be my top pick of a knitting book so far.

author: Nancy Queen
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2011/11/12
date added: 2011/12/12
shelves: knitting, crafty, non-fiction, wishlist
review:
Loved the color pictures in this one, and IIRC this had the diagram that finally got me purling successfully. Made one pattern: the “Boyfriend Scarf”, which took me a month (off and on) and which C LOVES. Would probably be my top pick of a knitting book so far.

author: Debbie Stoller
name: Elaine
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2000
rating: 3
read at: 2011/11/12
date added: 2011/12/12
shelves: crafty, knitting, non-fiction
review:
Slightly more helpful in getting me going with knitting; in particular, picked up good technique for holding yarn while working. Only made one pattern, and that was a basic ribbed scarf. Wouldn’t mind trying some other things if I pick up my own copy.

author: Debbie Stoller
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2000
rating: 3
read at: 2011/11/12
date added: 2011/12/12
shelves: crafty, knitting, non-fiction
review:
Slightly more helpful in getting me going with knitting; in particular, picked up good technique for holding yarn while working. Only made one pattern, and that was a basic ribbed scarf. Wouldn’t mind trying some other things if I pick up my own copy.

author: Libba Bray
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2009/09/23
date added: 2011/12/12
shelves: fiction, fantasy, history
review:

author: Libba Bray
name: Elaine
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2009/09/23
date added: 2011/12/12
shelves: fiction, fantasy, history
review: