Reviews and Comments

I read a sample of the just-published book that Meta is suing to block and it's not my cup of tea (a first-hand account written in the present tense like a YA novel which works for me in the Hunger Games but little else), but this book written by two NYT reporteres is all you need - it's got everything, including genocide, and doesn't just talk about Zuckerberg (let's not forget Sheryl "Lean In" Sandberg). X formerly known as twitter is more gleefully evil, but Meta formerly known as facebook has probably done more damage and killed more people.

I didn't find the plot riveting, but it's the Mosley flow that I like, and as I haven't read an Easy Rawlins mystery in a while, this was a family reunion, literally, reintroducing a middle-aged Easy Rawlins and his family accumulated over several novels, including appearances by his various friends (I only sometimes visualize Easy Rawlins as Denzel Washington, but I always see Mouse in the form of Don Cheadle). Plus a cameo by Fearless Jones who has his own books. I may have to go back and see what novels I've missed, because I don't remember him living on a mountain resort. Easy has come a long way.

I read this several years ago so my memory is a bit hazy but I recall thinking it was generally worshipful and a bit of a hagiography (it predates the first Trump presidency but in recent interviews the author, who has a fascination with space moguls, still talks about Musk like he's Steve Jobs). Nevertheless, it's a comprehensive bio up to that point so now when I hear a reference to an ex-wife, for example, or disputes about who actually founded Tesla, I already know the deal. So it's worth reading for background, but I am perhaps unreasonably going to hold it against the author for not warning us we have a billionaire white nationalist on our hands (an issue the author has avoided touching on in all his nterviews about Musk that I've seen, so maybe not that unreasonable).

I find any decently written dog story is irresistible, and this one about a pit bull saved from ending up in dogfights (couple of Michael Vick references in there - he did his time but I still wouldn't want him as a pet sitter) and being put down in a shelter because of his breed to end up as a frisbee, I mean disc, champion, is no exception. The human protagonists are sympathetic, too, struggling through life issues while staying devoted to their dogs (they adopted a lot). The writing was a bit confusing at times - I often lost track of what event or round or even person the author is referencing - and there is an unnecessary use of "off the reservation" which is always unnecessary. But otherwise, there's a lot of good messaging here.

I was a kid during the Carter years but I remember my family wasn't happy with him (and I do remember the hatchet job the media did as recounted in this book), but I recently gave my dad a copy of this book and it changed his mind.

This is not an easy read, and it took me a long time to finish it, but I think it's important and undoubtedly sincere, charting the author's developing views on racism, and how to combat racism, in an autobiographical journey. I always worry the discussion will take place as if bigotry is only an issue with African Americans, but that isn't the case here - in fact the author points out that all prejudices reinforce each other (with particular attention to gender issues, spoiler alert- get used to the word intersectionality) and those who buy into them end up oppressing themselves.

I just skimmed this cookbook - it's a collection of comfort food recipes, so it delivers as advertised, and there are some useful preparation tips in the beginning like how to properly freeze dishes after cooling in the fridge first, but otherwise it doesn't really do anything for me because 1) there's nothing here for someone who's lactose intolerant and on a prediabetic diet and 2) no stories, no history, no personal anecdote, no education on cuisine, not even a "we used to have this at family get-togethers". It's very impersonal, a modern edition would probably be AI-generated.

I like to say I read cookbooks for the stories, but this one is a real history textbook, relating how Thai cuisine has evolved and absorbed neighboring and not so neighboring influences (I didn't know noodles were a relatively recent addition and pad thai was the result of a national contest to come up with a distinctly Thai noodle dish, which apparently worked out quite well), plus a deep dive into the distinct regional cuisines (and of course the bragging rights disputes about who invented what), trends like the famous Thai street food and the schizophrenic government attitude toward it, and historical figures like Maria Guyoma de Pinha whose soap opera life was dramatized in TV series not least because she's credited with inventing Thai classic desserts. Of course, this is a cookbook, and the dishes look great along with the mouth-watering descriptions.

OK, I got going on this again but in my defense, it's a collection of several novels. I wouldn't say it's great sci-fi, and it's weird to see Arthur Dent in playboy mode (which reminds me, did we lose a character?) but as someone who listened to the original radio series, it feels like obligatory reading, and now I know what happened to everyone. Sort of.

I have to admit I didn't know who Pepper Teigen or her daughter is, I knew they were famous but I didn't know exactly for what, except that it probably involved reality TV. Anyway, I'm all caught up now via Wikipedia and this cookbook, and it's a fun cookbook, the kind I like with personal stories behind each recipe and some cuisine facts (there are several invented recipes here, not just classic Thai, but I like to know the history, notwithstanding the anti-authenticity protestations of those who go straight to "this is my take on..."). The author is cheerful and engaging and tells a great immigrant story, so let's keep them coming.

nook ebook is currently $1.99