Classics and Cheese

A Night of Poetry at the Foundry Art Centre

2012-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

Only a week away from one of the largest poetry events west of the Missouri River. "A Night of Poetry at the FAC" will be held Friday, Jan. 27, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Foundry Art Centre in Historic St. Charles, Missouri.

Poets to read include:
Michael Castro
Peter Carlos
Teddy Norris
Kelli Allen
Dawn Dupler
Julia Gordon-Bramer

There'll be a cash bar provided by local restaurant Russo's, and most of the poets will have table set up for books sales and autographs.

Admission is only $5.

If you're in the St. Louis area and you love poetry, this is something you don't want to miss.

Until Next Time...
Excitedly,
Michael

Revised Sage Books Frenchtown Schedule

2011-12-13T13:30:00.000-08:00

Due to the holidays, and all the conflicting schedules, the regular open mic poetry readings at Sage Book Frenchtown will be cancelled until Jan 18th, 2012 - the third Wednesday in January.

After that, the schedule will resume a third Wednesday of the month regular event. It's free, open to the public, coffee and snacks are provided, and the setting it quite intimate. It's a great play to practice your poetry reading skills or try out something new you've written on a positive and upbeat crowd.

Hope to see you in January.

Until Next Time...
In Holiday Survival Mode,
Michael

Two new poems at tonight's Coffeehouse

2011-12-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

I will be reading two brand new poems at tonight's SCC Coffeehouse at St. Charles Community College. "My Wife Married a Mutant" and "Jane, Jane, Jane" are both experimental poems for me, so tonight should be interesting.

In case you don't know about the Coffeehouse - four times per semester year, St. Charles Community College hosts an open mic event for poets and musicians. Starts at 7 p.m., goes until we're done. Coffee and snacks are provided.

Until Next Time...
Experimentingly Yours,
Michael

Reminder of Upcoming Events

2011-11-07T14:03:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder for those Cheesy readers who still check here from time to time.

The Storm Country Anthology Release Party and Signing is coming up this Sunday, Nov. 13 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. It is free and open to the public, and sponsored by the Graduate Writers Association in partnership with the Missouri Writers Guild.

Then on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 7-9 p.m., SageBooks Frenchtown will be hosting Open Mic Poetry Reading. This event takes place the first and third Wednesday of every month, and I can speak from personal experience when I say the first night was a blast. It is also free and open to the public, and in a very cozy atmosphere in the heart of Frenchtown, St. Charles.

Until next time,
Prepping more poems,
Michael

Storm Country Anthology

2011-10-26T21:47:00.000-07:00

Not sure what to do with your Sunday night? Not in the mood to watch the Patriots and the Jets? Then on Sunday, Nov. 13, you should go out to the release party and book signing for the Storm Country Anthology.

The Graduate Writers Association in partnership with the Missouri Writers Guild will be presenting this free and open to the public event at the Regional Art Commission of St. Louis (6128 Delmar Blvd.).

Scheduled to read are: Elaine Viets, Linda Austin, Lynn Obermoeller, Linda O'Connell, Donna Volkenannt, Anene Tressler-Hauschultz, Kelli Allen, and more.

Party starts at 7 p.m., and unless you're a Tom Brady or Mark Sanchez fan, we expect you to be there.

New Events at Sage Books Frenchtown

2011-10-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Starting November 2, 2011, Sage Books Frenchtown, St. Charles, MO, will be hosting open mic poetry readings.

The tentative schedule is to be the first and third Wednesday of every month, and it'll be free and open to the public. Coffee and treats will be provided. Keep in mind, though, that poetry and its various forms is going to be the primary focus. Flash fiction, prose poetry, etc., are all acceptable. Musicians won't be turned away, but since two other local places offer open mics for musicians, this one wants to give poets a more regular forum than other places do.

No need to RSVP, just show up and be ready to read.

Dates until the end of the year are:
Nov. 2
Nov. 16
Dec. 7
Dec. 21

Until Next Time...
Expressively Yours,
Michael

Local poets reading at Dressel's

2011-09-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, due to a prior commitment with the Foundry Art Centre Book Club, I will be unable to attend the "Poems, Prose, and Pints" event held at Dressel's, 419 North Euclid, in the Central West End. Local poet (and my Facebook friend) Tony Renner will be reading there tomorrow evening, as well as Billy Foster, Pat Piety, Jason Dockery, Dawn Dupler, Sarah Kuntz Jones, and Stef Russell.

Admission is free, the readings begin at 7:00 p.m., and music will be provided by Kevin Renick.

If you're in that area (thereby NOT attending my event), be sure to stop by and support this group of poets.

Until Next Time...
Supportively,
Michael

SCC Coffeehouse Open Mic Night dates

2011-08-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

I have the dates for this academic year's SCC Coffeehouse Open Mic Night:

Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011
Friday, Dec. 2, 2011
Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012

These events are open to the public, non-students, soon-to-be students, and anyone else who can stand behind a microphone and perform for about five to seven minutes. I'll add reminders as the dates approach, and if you want more info, check out the official site.

Until Next Time...
Keeping the coffee coming,
Michael

Sex on the Moon

2011-08-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I hold off buying a book on the off chance that I may be given an opportunity to review it, therefore receiving a free copy. This time Doubleday/Random House was kind enough to oblige me, and today when I came home from work, "Sex on the Moon" by Ben Mezrich was waiting for me.

Known for his books "The Accidental Billionaires" (which became the movie "The Social Network") and "Bringing Down the House" (which became the movie "21"), Mezrich now reveals the tale of three individuals who conspire to steal moon rocks from the heart of NASA's most secure laboratory. It promises to be every bit of an equal to his previous books, and is already generating a fair amount of media buzz.

As soon as I finish the Foundry Art Centre's selection for September ("Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet"), which should only take about a week, I'll read Mezrich's novel and hope to have the review posted before the end of August.

Until Next Time...

Lunarly Yours,

Michael

Open Mic Updates

2011-07-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

I found a new place for Open Mic Nights in Manchester, MO.

Stone Spiral Coffee & Curios hosts open mic nights every Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. I may be checking it out soon, and I'll report back here.

* * * *

In the meantime, Beatniks, in New Town St. Charles closed their doors July 1, 2011, leaving only Picasso's Coffee as the open mic location in St. Charles county on Thursday nights.

Keep watching here though, as I learn of (or plan) other open mic events on the west side of the Missouri River, I'll post 'em here.

Until Next Time...

Spiraling,

Michael

New Book Club

2011-06-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

I've started a new book club at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO, and our first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2, 2011 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Ameristar Gallery. We'll be discussing "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.

We'll then begin meeting regularly on the first Tuesday of every month. At our September 6, we'll discuss "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford, and at the October 4 meeting, we'll discuss "The Imperfectionists" by Tom Rachman.

You can RSVP to me, or just show up.

And if you need a copy of any of these books, Main Street Books on Historic Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri, is offering 10% off any of these titles if you mention that you'll be attending.

Phoebe's Secret Admirer

2011-06-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

My peom "Phoebe's Secret Admirer" has been printed in the MidRivers Review 2011 Annual literary publication.

Copies can be purchased at independent book stores and art facilities in the St. Charles, Mo, area, including the St. Charles Community College.

Until Next Time...

Keep Writing,

Michael

Made the Rounds

2011-06-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

Spent the last couple of weeks digging up any Open Mic spots in St. Charles county, and have only found Picasso's and Beatniks, which tend to draw almost 100% musical acts.

Picasso's had a wider variety of talent, from bluegrass to reggae, but was very crowded and sometimes it was difficult to hear the performance over the sound of the espresso machine.

Beatniks on the other hand, afforded great acoustics, but the talent was limited to mostly older cover tunes done acoustically, but still creatively.

May have to venture out, see what I can organize...

Until Next Time...
Still Searching,
Michael

Beatniks and Picasso's

2011-05-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

Thursdays in St. Charles County is where you should go if you want to experience open mic events.

For those who like the Historic St. Charles District, Picasso's Coffeehouse is the place to go. Thursday evenings starting at 7:30 p.m. is Open Mic night. You can even buy a tee-shirt.

If New Town is more your place, then visit Beatnik's. Open Mic Night every Thursday there as well.

You may find yourself having to alternate between the two places to catch the best area poets and solo performances. This Thursday, I'll be visiting Picasso's. Don't plan to read anything, though, unless they run of those of us crazy enough to bare our souls through a microphone.

Until Next Time...

Thursday'ing It,

Michael

Poets at the Station - Schwartz

2011-05-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

The "Poets at the Station" poetry reading series will feature Howard Schwatrz tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the Kirkwood Train Station, Argonne Ave and Kirkwood Rd.

The event is open to the public, and admission is free.

For more information, call (314)-965-7100, or surf over to www.kirkwoodareaarts.org.

Book Review: Strength Training Anatomy Workout

2011-04-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

I considered myself extremely lucky when I found out that I was going to have a chance to review "The Strength Training Anatomy Workout" by Frederic Delavier. Yes, maybe I approached it from a biased point of view, but at the same time, that same bias and high expectation could have left me disappointed if this book had done nothing short of astounding me.

I am not disappointed.

Just the opposite.

I love this book as much, if maybe not more, than the previous companion "Strength Training Anatomy." I proudly use and display both books in my health library.

The diagrams are clear and detailed, educational and enlightening. The text is straight-forward and easy to understand. Most of all, the entire package is professional and full of practical and user-friendly knowledge. Each exercise has detailed explanations and diagrams showing exactly which muscles are worked, with examples that take into account real-world limitations and situations. This book also includes workout routines that can be followed precisely, or modified to fit your personal goals and lifestyles.

This book (along with its companion) speaks for itself. You will not regret owning it.

Poets at the Station

2011-04-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

The "Poets at the Station" poetry reading series will feature David Clewell this Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the Kirkwood Train Station, Argonne Ave and Kirkwood Rd.

The event is open to the public, and admission is free.

For more information, call (314)-965-7100, or surf over to www.kirkwoodareaarts.org.

"Upgrading The Illusion"

2011-04-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Poet Philip Gounis will be discussing, then later signing, his poetry chapbook "Upgrading The Illusion" at The Archive (3213 Cherokee Street, St. Louis) at 7 pm. on Monday, April 25, 2011.

Admission is free, and music will also serve as part of the evening's entertainment. Beer and wine will be available for a small suggested donation.

Further information can be found at saintlouisprojects.org.

River Styx at Duff's Poetry Reading

2011-04-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight Duff's Restaurant (392 North Euclid, St. Louis) will be hosting a River Styx poetry reading event featuring Cornelius Eady and Michelle Boisseau.

There will be a cover charge of $5 at the door, $4 for River Styx members, students, or seniors. For more information http://www.riverstyx.org/events/index.php

SCC Coffeehouse Open-Mic Night

2011-04-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

I'll be reading my poems "Phoebe's Secret Lover (The Hawthorne Reader)", "Ode to Jupiter", and "Pleiades Told" at the St. Charles Community College Coffeehouse Open-Mic Night event this Friday, April 15. Performances will be in the Social Science building in the lobby outside the auditorium and will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hope to see some familiar faces.

I'm Alive

2011-03-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

I'm still here, been ultra busy lately, but haven't stopped thinking about this place.

Here is the most recent review I've done (for a book that was promised me last fall but didn't arrive until mid-February). It was worth the weight though. I gave it four out of five stars.

"If you’re a news junkie then this book is perfect for you.

It is a first-rate account of a journalistic institution as it adapts to survive in the 21st century as our major sources of news switch from physical print to 24-hour online access. The easy to read narrative keeps the reader interested and moves with a good flowing pace. The author tells the story of the Washington Post and some of the great events it has covered without bogging down to low into the details, but giving just enough so that the reader can remember the rest while the story of the paper is told.

Kindred clearly likes the unique individuals he chooses to highlight in this narrative, and that fondness comes through in many funny and endearing anecdotes of life in the newsroom. The kind of stories that makes former journalists (like myself) long to return to those days when things were changing so rapidly everyday was a new adventure.

Don’t pass this one up."

Until next time...
Promising to be back soon,
Michael

Brain Candy

2011-02-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

I've been reading so much serious stuff lately that I need a little cheese or brain candy to give the ol' grey cells a break.

I always know that's the case when my rate of reading begins to slow, and I start looking at that stack of Star Trek and Star Wars books I have packed in a box.

So since I'm currently watching episodes of Deep Space Nine Season One while I walk on the treadmill, I'm in a Star Trek kind of mood. But I've read all my DSN novels. I could read the new Enterprise ones I picked up, but...I did just land Voyager Season Three fairly inexpensively and I do have some of those around here unread, so I decided to start with the earliest one I haven't read.

I'm only a few pages into it, but I immediately noticed the change in tone, narration, and overall style difference from Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre." It truly is a whole 'nother universe.

But then again, that's exactly what I need right now.

Until Next Time...
Engage,
Michael

I've Got a New Microphone...

2011-01-24T21:17:00.000-08:00

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...Is this thing on? Good.

Now just as important... Is there anyone left out there still listening? No? That's okay, I don't think anyone ever was.

Well, anyway, just in case someone is listening, I thought I'd share that I was recently asked to MC the "Poetry Out Loud" event to be held in February at the St. Charles Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, Missouri.

I don't have a lot of details yet,other than it's (obviously) funded by the National Endowment of the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, and will be judged by some local top name poets, but the more I learn about it and the closer we get to the event, the more information I'll provide here.

In the meantime, Cheesy Readers, don't go anywhere, I promise to be back soon.

Until Next Time,
Poetically Yours (I wish)...
Michael

Sex and the Russian Mafia

2010-12-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

Sorry, gang, wrote this review a few weeks ago and forgot to post it here.

A worthy read.

Stephen Jay Schwartz's sequel to “Boulevard” is an exciting crime thriller that follows sex-addict Detective Hayden Glass into the twisted underbelly of porn, police corruption, and the Russian mafia in search of a prostitute he has fallen in love with. Diving head-first into the “shark-infested” waters, Glass soon finds himself much more invested in rescuing his love than he could have ever imagined.

But the action-packed plot alone isn't the only reason this is a exceptional read, Schwartz's abilities as a writer naturally come to the surface with amazing phrasing and pacing. He can write gritty scenes as well as tender ones, while crafting characters that are not only believable, but sympathetic as well.

I predict that Schwartz will continue to write great crime novels, but will eventually expand into other areas of fiction as well. His talent with all aspects of the craft of writing promises that this author will continue to bless us with wonderfully fun stories for many years to come.

Nice little bit of crime noir...

2010-11-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

I love crime noir, so maybe I'm a bit biased, but I truly enjoyed this collection of new short stories by some well known authors.

Each tale has its own unique voice and style, sometimes with subtle plot twists, other times with surprise endings that shock the reader out of their chair. Peppered throughout the volume is original artwork that adds to the flavor of the book, although, keep in mind that the art is independent of the stories.

Crime and short story fans can safely add this enjoyable work to their shelf.

I want this time back

2010-10-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

This is one of those books you wish you had spent the time doing something more useful, like cleaning behind the refrigerator:

"First Stringers: Eyes That Do Not See" contained promise within the concept and potential story lines, unfortunately, the execution falls short and leaves the reader disappointed at many points along the way.

This is a story where the characters have the ability to manipulate the quantum strings to affect their environment. The concept sounds wonderful, but the author fails to fully understand quantum mechanics by limiting the characters to only have control over certain realms of their environment. Since quantum mechanics takes place at the subatomic level, a character would not be limited to elemental restrictions (i.e., have only the ability to make fire, or only the ability to alter chemical compounds). Because of this, the story comes off as a poor copy of The X-Men, rather than an individual work of its own.

Also, the overall writing is amateurish and in many places elementary-level. The characters are too naïve to their powers considering they've all been aware of them for years by the time the novel begins, and conversations contain clunky dialogue that are not only difficult to read but awkward to speak. Descriptions are not always appropriate to the scene context. The author has a tendency to over-describe a room of no significance, while failing to mention key elements during important scenes. The plot is over-simplified, predictable, and clichéd.

I would suggest that experienced science fiction readers steer clear of this book, but there's no doubt they probably won't get far into it before tossing it to the "donate" pile anyway. If you have nothing else to read, and you don't mind the above distractions, then you can probably make your way through this story and enjoy it for a semi-entertaining distraction from the real world. Otherwise, I'd suggest the author take this one back and give it a serious rewrite.

Until next time...
Thankfully off to read something else,
Michael

Book Review: Anywhere, Anytime, Any Body Yoga

2010-08-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

If you've never practiced yoga because you believe it belongs to the realm of the skinny and flexible, then it's time to change your perspective. While yoga is practiced by skinny men and women who can contort themselves into the oddest of positions, yoga bests benefits the rest of the world...you know, us normal people.

"Anywhere, Anytime, Any Body Yoga" by Emily Slonina shows us all that yoga isn't restricted to those who are already fit, but can be practiced by the overweight, the elderly, and even the wheelchair-bound. Using models that represent every body type, except the ultra-thin, Slonina provides extensive pictures of various poses and their alternates that can be performed sitting or standing, on the floor or in the office chair, alone or even with a grandchild.

The book is divided into different sections relaxation, meditation, of course, the poses. It does lack a deeper dive into some of the mental aspects of practicing yoga, but considering it's size and price, this book is hard to beat, especially when considering the target audience.

If you've always wanted to try yoga and gain the benefits of regular practice, but have felt intimiated by stereotypes, then this is the book for you.

Book Review: "Reduce Your Cancer Risk"

2010-08-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

I recently reviewed a book I found extremely informative and enlightening. I've posted that review here::

"Reduce Your Cancer Risk" has to be one of the best books I've read on the topic in many years. It exceeded my expectations in so many areas, I don't know where to begin.

I had expected the authors to either bore me with endless statistics that would eventually make my eyes glaze over, or, I expected to be condescended with sentences and vocabulary aimed to the lowest common denominator of reading skill. But instead, I was pleasantly surprised by the intelligent yet common sense tone of the text mixed with a good balance of supporting documentation and facts.

Even though I have considered myself well versed on the topics of health and nutrition, especially for someone not in the medical profession, I learned something new with nearly every page in the book. (I must confess that I skimmed two chapters that did not apply to me: tobacco and 'when you've already had cancer.').

If you read with a highlighter or ink pen, bring more than one, because you'll definite use them up as you read this. I've recommended and shown this to friends, although I won't loan it out for fear of not getting it back. This is worth owning, reading, and referring to time and time again. The information packed within will have you re-examining and evaluating your lifestyle choices and the impacts those choices have on your long-term health.

The only beef I have with this wonderful book is: first, the stance of support for censoring Hollywood to remove smoking from its films, which I believe is naïve; and second, no mention that I noticed about the connection between general oral health and the link to increased risks of other types of cancer. The only other concern I have is in the Obesity and Cancer chapter in which the author passively supports fad diets as a way of initiating weight loss, i.e., Atkins, South Beach, etc. Those short term solutions never have the lasting effect that straight forward exercise and diet-control have, and in some cases have the opposite effect.

All in all, this book belongs on every bookshelf in every home in the country.

Book Review for LibraryThing

2010-04-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the full text of a review I recently published on LibraryThing.com:

"Dare...to Have Sex Everywhere but in Bed" is a cute little book that seeks to inspire couples to have intimate fun outside the usual confines of the bedroom. It that aspect it succeeds, as it offers plenty of ideas of where, when, and how couples can spice it up via role-playing or even exhibitionist-style. The only problem with "idea" books in general is that usual the people who purchase or read them have already thought about or tried a majority of the suggestions. Honestly, who hasn't thought about making love in their own kitchen, in the car, or in the back yard.

But with that being said, there probably are a few situations in here that many couples haven't considered, or may not have weighed the possibilities of successfully pulling off without getting caught. Many of these are in public spaces, or the traditional office, elevator, park, restroom, etc. etc.

This book does offer practical tips and advice on how to get away with certain acts, and how to avoid certain pit falls that could land an adventurous duo in an embarrassing situation. There are "Difficulty" ratings concerning both physicality and practability, "Costs" and "Risks," as well as "Pleasure" ratings.

Unfortunately though, the book was originally written in French and some awkward phrasing will make the reader pause, and many of the inspirational media cited are French works and films and may not be available elsewhere.

Until Next Time...
Off to the next spot, er...um...I mean, next book, off to the next book,
Michael

"Sustainable Network" book review

2010-01-10T20:33:00.001-08:00

I recently reviewed "The Sustainable Network" for LibraryThing.com and have included the review here for those who are interested:

Surmised from the title and as stated in the introduction, "The Sustainable Network," takes a look at the role the Internet and all the other networks that connect the world’s computing devices have on our lives, from our politics (as witnessed by the recent presidential election) to our carbon footprint. The author states that this book is the output of her deep realization and appreciation of the global network we've created for ourselves, and she also states that everyone who uses this network should develop a deep appreciation and understanding of it and its potential to change our lives.

But I think on many levels, this book doesn't hit that target.

The author and publisher's mistake is the target audience of the book. Those most likely to read a book of this nature already know 80% or more of the material printed, and in most cases probably understand the technology and its environment. Those most likely to benefit from the material in this book, which is the target audience, either wouldn't read it or probably don't care, i.e., you don't have to appreciate how a car works in order to successfully drive one.

With that being said though, it is a decent high-level read for those interested in information technology in today's society. Yes, there are the occasional mistakes as can be found in every book on the shelf, but there are plenty of things the author got correct as well. Her enthusiasm and appreciation is evident and contagious throughout the pages, and propels the reader to further independent investigation of the topics presented. And even though this book will be out-date within just a couple of years, it's worth picking up a copy.

Mathematically speaking, it's logical

2009-12-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

Any one who knows me more than five minutes knows that I have many many other interests besides books and movies. One of my other interests is astronomy, and I'd consider myself more of an amateur astronomers if I actually made it outside a bit more.

Any one who knows me also knows I read pretty much anything and everything I can get my hands on, including National Geographic. And this month's issue briefly profiles a topic that I've been following for years.

The search for planets outside our solar system has heated up this past decade, with new discoveries coming almost at a steady stream. As the equipment and search techniques have gotten better the search for a terrestrial, Earth-like planet has intensified.

While the article in this National Geographic doesn't present any new material to someone who's been staying on top of this field of research, it does offer some really cool pull-out graphics that help readers grasp the discoveries and put everything in a physical perspective unlike many other magazines. The article is also a good introduction for those unfamiliar with the search.

As an avid reader and astronomy nut, I recommend picking up this issue, or at the very least, checking it out from your local library.

In the meantime, to borrow and paraphrase a phrase from a few friends of mine:

Until Next Time...
Keeping a Watch on the Skies,
Michael

Short People Got No Reason....

2009-09-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

I can make that reference to the classic Randy Newman song with no karmic penalty for two good reasons:
1)I, too, suffer from Vertical Challengement
and
2)I recently published at LibraryThing.com my review of Bich Minh Nguyen's "Short Girls" in which the father has an obsession with that song.

So, since publishers and LibraryThing.com like it when we publish our reviews on our blogs (as well as where we were assigned to), I present to you my review of "Short Girls":

"Short Girls" is a wonderful debut novel about two Vietnamese sisters and their father struggling in modern America. The oldest daughter Van escapes through overachieving: she works hard in law school, then in her career as a immigration lawyer, and in her marriage to a firmly implanted Chinese American man who happens to be a perfectionist. Younger sister Linny, the rebel, is her opposite: she relies on her beauty and fashion sense to eventually land a job in a catering company, only to jeopardize that job by having an affair with the husband of one of her clients.

This novel is about discovering ones sense of self in an "alien" land, and is reflected in the title "Short Girls." In a country that seems to be mostly tall people, their father, Mr. Luong constantly reminds his children that they are short people growing up in a world designed for people taller than themselves and that they have to work harder than other people to overcome the world's bias.

Stylistically, Nguyen seems to have a wonderful command of language and is able to pack a lot of emotion into her tight prose. Alternating between the point-of-view of each sister, the reader is able to follow each character as she sorts out her recently troubled life and the author does a wonderful job of firmly establishing each character's unique voice. And while the plot itself is nothing exciting, the story is well worth the time.
*************

Until next time...
Vertically Yours,
Michael OCD

We Only Wish Doomsday Had Come...

2008-10-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

Apparently my review of "Any Given Doomsday" by Lori Handeland has become popular enough to be officially labeled a Hot Review on LibraryThing. So...I thought I'd post it here for those who aren't 'Thangers - may my simple little review save as many lives as possible.

#############

Any Given Doomsday - Lori Handeland

I honestly cannot find one redeeming quality about “Any Given Doomsday.” Despite the fact that the cover states that Lori Handeland is a New York Times bestselling author, this book reads like an amateur first draft with character inconsistencies, bad plotting, terrible dialogue, and classic blunders.

The main character, Elizabeth Phoenix, is not the brightest crayon in the box, and frequently has to have things explained to her two and three times before she understands something, but will then follow up with the exact same question that started the long, boring, and stilted explanation the reader has just suffered through. Her actions and reactions are also inconsistent with previous experiences in the story. For instance, after fighting two demons who turned to ash upon their deaths, learning that her ex-boyfriend is a half-vampire, and killing off a town of werewolves, Elizabeth Phoenix drops the phone in shock to learn that a previous victim had the blood sucked out of her body. To the reader, that seems like the *least* shocking revelation, but not to our sharp-as-a-bowling-ball heroine.

Another moment of supreme stupidity is after Elizabeth is captured, stripped of her clothes, and seduced/raped by her ex-boyfriend turned temporarily evil, she is told that she will become a sex slave and will never again wear clothes for the rest of eternity. She leaves to take a shower, only to be insulted and shocked upon her return to find her tattered clothes missing from the bedroom with no new clothes left in their place.

The two male characters are so two dimensional that their every action seems contrived, and their feud and mistrust of each other goes beyond absurd to simply annoying and distracting. But that fits lock-in-step with the overly simplistic and predictable plot. The supremely intelligent, ancient and wise evil vampire/antagonist is killed off with the easiest of effort stolen straight from an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but only after revealing his “secret” plan to our nude and captive heroine (i.e. in the classical-cheesy method: I’m going to kill you, but first I will reveal my plan to take over the world.). Then after one more poorly written sex scene, our heroine’s now reformed ex-boyfriend disappears like a cliché in the early dawn hours, leading us straight into a sequel you couldn’t pay me to read.

This novel is proof-positive that once publishers spot a hot trend or sub-genre, they will rush any ol’ title out there to grab as much cash as they can as quickly as they can, thereby smothering with certifiable crap the very market they’re trying to build. It’s just unfortunate that the authors don’t at least make an honest attempt to craft a better story.

Scale of 1-5 Stars:
one-half star

#############

Hoping for criminal charges to be filed,
Michael OCD

Not Burning...but history none-the-less

2008-09-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Wow -- just about finished with a long spat of reviews. I have two reviews to finish (including the draft below), and one more book to read. I still feel as though a great weight has been removed from my shoulders as I pick up this last book, plus I also feel a bit of gratitude that it's a standard-sized, mass-market paperback ARC and not some over-sized trade paperback or some spiral bound unfinished ARC. It is true, you don't truly appreciate something until it's gone for a while, and in this case, I've missed the compact size and ease of handling of the good ol' fashioned mass-market paperback provides. It simply can't be beat. Yeah, sure, hardbacks are good for long-term collecting, and trade paperbacks are good for taking notes or instructional use, but nothing beats a mass-market paperback for reading on the go.

#############

Here is my review of “Obscene In the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck’s ‘The Grapes of Wrath’” as posted at LibraryThing.com:

The title of the book “Obscene In the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck’s ‘The Grapes of Wrath’” is deceptive of its contents. While the first chapter spends a few pages discussing the efforts to ban the book from the Kern County library, and while the last chapter focuses more on those efforts and the immediate aftermath, the rest of the book focuses nearly exclusively on the labor issues in California during the 1930s and only mentions “The Grapes of Wrath” in passing references from time to time.

The background and history of that region is important to understand in order to appreciate why Steinbeck’s classic came under fire, but author Rick Wartzman devotes more time than is necessary to convey this point. He mentions that the book was also banned in other regions of the country, but rarely, if at all, states why these areas outside California found it necessary to do so.

The book's “heroine” is a Kern County librarian who was brave enough to write a stern letter to the Kern County Board – her employer – and managed to loan a good number of copies out to other libraries who struggled to keep up with the demand for “The Grapes of Wrath”, but beyond that, either Ms. Gretchen Knief did nothing of note or else the author chose not to mention it. From the available text, it is difficult to tell.

Thankfully, the author does spend some time discussing Steinbeck’s actions in California during the 1930s, but despite the title of this book, most of the focus is prior to the penning of his classic novel. Once again, this was interesting and necessary, but not in keeping with the title.

With all of that being said, though, this work told a detailed and compelling story of the laborers of that region and their struggles. These pages could serve as a good solid starting point for anyone wanting to learn of the era and the atmosphere at a tumultuous time in California’s history when the political and social stakes were high. For that much, this is a good read.

But as a book about the burning and banning of an American classic, this reference falls short with a title that is as deceptive as the land-owners it chronicles.

#############

Since Fall officially begins tomorrow, I'm off to pick my Classics & Cheese movies for the upcoming months of cool weather, fallen leaves, and longer nights. I've recently purchased some modern horror films (by modern, I mean made within the last ten years) that I haven't opened yet, so maybe I'll strip off the cellophane and fire those up.

#############
Taking a bite out of clear plastic,
Michael OCD