Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was excited to read this book because I love to travel and would like to go to India someday. It started off decent, but definitely hit a snag partway through and I lost interest. It did pick back up near the end, save for when she visits her husband in Pakistan. That was a verbose chapter to get to a point, in my opinion. In fact, that was often a problem for the author. I could see what she was wanting to get to, but she would take the long way to get there. I am a sucker for alliteration and the author does have some rather excellent alliteration sprinkled throughout. But, it wasn't always necessary. I think this book would have been much better if had been condensed a bit. It needs some of the superfluous content cut and it would be much more enjoyable.

View all my reviews >>

Another Day In Paradise by Carol Bergman

Another Day in Paradise: International Humanitarian Workers Tell Their Stories by Carol Bergman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really liked this book. I've been fascinated by humanitarian work for many years. I've read more about the Peace Corps than most people I know. This book was written for people like me. :)

The stories aren't candy coated. They are gritty and real and cover the horror as well as the beauty of the work. Some people would read this book and feel turned off from humanitarian work. But, when I read it, it deepens my understanding of what it takes and I feel encouraged to explore my humanitarian side more deeply. I want to know the stories more intimately and have one to share. Truly a fascinating book and I'm very glad I was able to read it.

The Chris Farley Show by Thomas Farley Jr.

The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts by Thomas Farley Jr.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
An emotional book for me. I adored Chris Farley and loved getting to know him throughout this book. Of course, the story is heart breaking in the end and it's hard not to get a little teary eyed while reading. I liked that not everyone agreed on certain points, but that they were still represented. I have more empathy for David Spade than ever before. I can't imagine what that time was like for him. Overall, it was much more than I thought it would be. It was more emotional, more honest, and more brutal than I expected from a biography written by friends and family. There are a lot of great pictures included too. I loved being able to put a face to the few names that I didn't recognize.

Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield

Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved the concept behind this book. Rob is a music fan and he uses music to tell his story. It was funny, sad, touching, and real. I would love to have a play list of all the songs mentioned at the beginning of each chapter so I could really connect to Rob's experiences. There were many great quotes that will end up in my quote book. In particular, the chapter that deals with Kurt Cobain's music and death was fantastic. It was a thought provoking chapter for me. However, there was one chapter that did nothing for me and that's why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Otherwise, it was a really good book that I would recommend to anyone that has ever made a mix tape. :)

A TV Guide to Life by Jeff Alexander

A TV Guide to Life: How I Learned Everything I Needed to Know From Watching Television by Jeff Alexander



rating: 2 of 5 stars
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. It wasn't bad, just not quite what I was expecting either. I've been a TWoP follower for a few years now, so I had an idea of what to expect from a writer on the site. Unfortunately, for me, the book didn't quite deliver as much as I was thought it would. It started off quite strong, but seemed to lose momentum as it progressed. There were a few laugh out loud moments though, so it definitely wasn't a total loss. I wanted to say that I loved it, but in truth, I thought it was okay. Not bad, but not great either. However, I feel the book was targeting an age range that is just a little older than I am, which could explain my slight disappointment. So if you were alive for more than just a few days of the 70's, you will likely enjoy this book more than I did. :)