Still funny - especially when you watch people realize who is reading it.

Updated Review - And Leia should have read this to her Hot Topic fired son. Still funny.



I finally downloaded the audible version of this book.

Who can be a more perfect reader of this story than Mr. Only-Cool-Jedi-Kilt-Wearing-Drug-Dealer-Cursing-Snake-Shooting-Cop-Best-Actor-In-The-World Jackson?


No one.

But you knew that already, didn't you? Jackson includes a little story at the beginning.

He should have read this to Annie Skywalker!

Merged review:

I mentioned this book last week, and this week one of my students brings it in. I read it, then another student read it aloud.

I don't have kids, but honestly if anything (kid, pet, sibling) won't go to sleep, this book is AWESOME

I love the Faberge animals more than the eggs. This little, short book is a guide to the animals in the English Royal Collection, including those that were commissioned portraits of the royals actual animals. (A suggestion made, perhaps, by the mistress of Edward VII). Nice little book. If you like Faberge, you should check it out.

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

 

                What makes us pick up the books we do?  Some of us like to pretend that the cover has little to do with it, and while this may be true in some cases, it is not true in others.  I can honestly say that I have read several books and discovered authors simply because of covers. 

 

                Finally, we have a book about book covers.

 

                In some ways, the book almost reads as a primer or advertising space for various designers.  This is furthered by the inclusion of contact data.  While this could ruin the book, it doesn’t.  Each artist, or design company, is given a brief bio, a brief paragraph or two about the creation process, and various book covers.  The more technical aspects are left at, so while it serves as a listing, it also doesn’t put off a reader who is simply reading it to look at the plenty covers.  As a reader, I wish there had been a bit more detail about moving into the industry or about any studies done over what cataches a reader’s eye.  (Actually, I have a question about all those headless, faceless women that keep appearing, what is up with that?).

 

                The book covers used run across all genres – and the designers accessed for the book note differences in design in some cases for genres. 

                It’s a very pretty and lovely book in terms of graphics.

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

                I hadn’t heard of Ferrer-Dalmau before reading this book, though undoubtedly I saw one of his paintings somewhere online.  I requested this book from Netgalley because my father collects miniature soldiers, and I collect model horses.

                It’s stunning piece of work.  If you know anyone who is interested miniatures, you should consider getting them this book.

                While the book does contain introductory essays that not only about Ferrer-Dalmau but also about the miniatures and a bit about military history, the bulk of the book is the art.  Miniaturists created work that references, or is a direct recreation of, a painting or part of a painting. 

                This book makes me wish I had been able to see the exhibit. 

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

                This is a collection of photographs by Mohan Bhasker, and many of them are stunning.  As the title indicts, the photos are divided by continent.  While largely pictures, there is some text, for the most part relating experiences while on the journey. 

                It’s strange that North and South America share a chapter, while each other continent gets its own (and you can make a geologic argument that Europe isn’t one).  While there are pretty pictures of New England in the fall, Canada is left out – though Mexico gets attention.  The focus on South America is largely, though not exclusively, on Argentina.  Those photos are beautiful, largely of nature, and they will make you want to visit.

                I do wonder, can anyone not include photos of lavender in France, just once?

                The weakest section of the book, for me, was the Africa chapter.  This isn’t because the photos aren’t stunning; every photo in the book is. It’s because they are all nature photos.  While the focus is on the natural world, the chapter on the Americas, Europe, and Asia do include buildings.  Why not Africa?  Why just the almost standard photos, wonderful as they are, of lions, zebras, and so on?

                Bu hey, at least Africa got more attention than Australia.

                The heart of the book is the Asia section, including a section on Nepal that is impossible to look at without thinking of the earthquake.  The Asia section does make up for other Africa and Australia.  And it is this chapter that truly comes across as a love letter of words and photos.