Book Review: Strength Training Anatomy Workout

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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...

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.