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Dirty Jokes and Beer
Stories of the Unrefined
By: Drew Carey
Picked this up at the library book sale one day.. It was a bit different than I thought it would be.. It was a lot about the behind the scenes of The Drew Carey Show along with how his life changed when the show hit it big. I have seen the show a few times, but I seldom watch TV, so a lot of this was lost on me. Each chapter starts with a classis joke. The best part is the last section which are stories he wrote.. slightly twisted "dark" stories as he describes them.. They are funny in a wrong sort of way.. Mostly about misery.. I really enjoyed them!
Over all the book was worthwhile.. but probably even better if you watch his show.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Frontsoldaten (23)
Frontsoldaten
The German Soldier in World War II
By Stephen G Fritz
This book looked at the life of the common foot soldier (the landser) in the German Army during World War II. The text of the book was from letters written by the soliders and diaries kept during that period. It looked at all aspects from training, comradeship, weather (good and bad), philosophy of what they were fighting for, and reflection on the end.
The book was really interesting.. a bit thick to get through.. but interesting to read the thoughts of the men who were there.. many passages ended with the note.. was killed later that spring.. was killed a few days later... was killed later that day.. Many, many men did not make it out alive..
I recommend the book.. it is about what it was like.. from those who were there.
The German Soldier in World War II
By Stephen G Fritz
This book looked at the life of the common foot soldier (the landser) in the German Army during World War II. The text of the book was from letters written by the soliders and diaries kept during that period. It looked at all aspects from training, comradeship, weather (good and bad), philosophy of what they were fighting for, and reflection on the end.
The book was really interesting.. a bit thick to get through.. but interesting to read the thoughts of the men who were there.. many passages ended with the note.. was killed later that spring.. was killed a few days later... was killed later that day.. Many, many men did not make it out alive..
I recommend the book.. it is about what it was like.. from those who were there.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Reflex (22)
Reflex
Stephen Gould
This was a science fiction book that I found throught Dear Reader It was not bad.. but I never felt it reached its full potential.. or it did reach it, it just took too long. Some parts of the story were very detailed.. other parts just skipped over... There wasnt a good conintunity to the story lines.. Over all it was an enjoyable story and it wasn't a chore to read.. but still it missed something...
Still trying to get through until April without repeating an author.. this has been much harder than I thought it would be... so now when April comes, I don't know who I will read first :)
Stephen Gould
This was a science fiction book that I found throught Dear Reader It was not bad.. but I never felt it reached its full potential.. or it did reach it, it just took too long. Some parts of the story were very detailed.. other parts just skipped over... There wasnt a good conintunity to the story lines.. Over all it was an enjoyable story and it wasn't a chore to read.. but still it missed something...
Still trying to get through until April without repeating an author.. this has been much harder than I thought it would be... so now when April comes, I don't know who I will read first :)
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
2061: Odyssey Three (21)
2061: Odyssey Three
By Arthur C. Clarke
The third book in one of the best known stories in all of science fiction.. This book loosely picks up on where 2010 leaves off.. With a lot of flashback to the previous 2 books. Dr Floyd is still alive and one of the main characters in this book.
Europa is off limits, but what would happen if a ship crash landed there.. this is about what happens when that occurs, along with a side line to Halleys comet;) In the end we learn more about the monoliths.. but just a tease... but I see there is one more book in this series.. 3001 The Final Odyssey...
I was also interested and surprised to see that Clarke is still alive.. :)
By Arthur C. Clarke
The third book in one of the best known stories in all of science fiction.. This book loosely picks up on where 2010 leaves off.. With a lot of flashback to the previous 2 books. Dr Floyd is still alive and one of the main characters in this book.
Europa is off limits, but what would happen if a ship crash landed there.. this is about what happens when that occurs, along with a side line to Halleys comet;) In the end we learn more about the monoliths.. but just a tease... but I see there is one more book in this series.. 3001 The Final Odyssey...
I was also interested and surprised to see that Clarke is still alive.. :)
Saturday, March 11, 2006
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (20)
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
by John le Carre
I am still on my quest to no re-read an author until after April 1.. This has forced me to look deep into my book shelf for things over looked.. Including this book. I had always heard that le Carre was overly detailed and tedious to read. I did not find this book that way at all.. It was very interesting.. and adventure.. but you were confused where it was going.. lots of turns and twists.. This book reminded me very much of the Deighton spy books.. and of course they are in the same genre. The ending was surprising.. not the happy ending many books have.. yet kept very much in line with the book. So today I went out and bought 5 more leCarre books, along with the 2 I already had.. I will get to them some day.. The point of no re reading an author for 3 months is to force me to read different people.. rather than reading the same authors to exhaustion. This has been largely sucessful and I have found several authors I want to read more of.. and have purchased many books to this effect.
I have been recently reminded that I do like science fiction.. reading some Asimov short stories now.. next up is 2061 by Clarke.
As a side note.. I believe the copy of the book that I have is an original edition (1963 Coward McCann publishers). Rather interesting to have a first edition of the third book written by an author that went on to become very sucessful and have several of his books made into movies.. A review of the Internet show this 46 year old first editon is worth... $1.97
Good thing I enjoy books, because I am sure not going to get rich doing this - lol
by John le Carre
I am still on my quest to no re-read an author until after April 1.. This has forced me to look deep into my book shelf for things over looked.. Including this book. I had always heard that le Carre was overly detailed and tedious to read. I did not find this book that way at all.. It was very interesting.. and adventure.. but you were confused where it was going.. lots of turns and twists.. This book reminded me very much of the Deighton spy books.. and of course they are in the same genre. The ending was surprising.. not the happy ending many books have.. yet kept very much in line with the book. So today I went out and bought 5 more leCarre books, along with the 2 I already had.. I will get to them some day.. The point of no re reading an author for 3 months is to force me to read different people.. rather than reading the same authors to exhaustion. This has been largely sucessful and I have found several authors I want to read more of.. and have purchased many books to this effect.
I have been recently reminded that I do like science fiction.. reading some Asimov short stories now.. next up is 2061 by Clarke.
As a side note.. I believe the copy of the book that I have is an original edition (1963 Coward McCann publishers). Rather interesting to have a first edition of the third book written by an author that went on to become very sucessful and have several of his books made into movies.. A review of the Internet show this 46 year old first editon is worth... $1.97
Good thing I enjoy books, because I am sure not going to get rich doing this - lol
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
The Place of the Pike
The Place of the Pike (Gnoozhekaaning)
Charles E Cleland
This was an excellent book!! It is the history of the Bay Mills Indians from the begining, until present day. It was extremely well written, you got a feel for the people and what their lives were like.. not just a bunch of facts. Really gave me the insite I was looking for about the tribe. It talks about the early days when white settlers first came.. and the many treatys that each took more from the Indians. The hardships of the 1900's bacsically from the beginning on... Starting with losing their land, and their ability to hunt & fish to survive. Through extreme poverty and battles for recognition and help.
In the end they now have a stable community which is able to help its people. Money from gambling helps to support that.. but there were many other things. Bay Mills are the tribe that got the gil netting law changed. I have heard about this since I was a child.. but had never heard their side of the story. Also they were able to get the government to release the funds set aside for restitution for the land swindles of the 1800's. In 1997 more than 160 years after the wrong.. the money was finally released.
The author of the book is Prof. Emeritus of Anthropolgy at Michigan State. I found out about the book from information on the website It took me a while to find the book, but it was well worth it. Some of the information is particualar to this tribe and the area they live. But I imagine much of their story is the same as many other Indian tribes faced over the past 200 years.
Charles E Cleland
This was an excellent book!! It is the history of the Bay Mills Indians from the begining, until present day. It was extremely well written, you got a feel for the people and what their lives were like.. not just a bunch of facts. Really gave me the insite I was looking for about the tribe. It talks about the early days when white settlers first came.. and the many treatys that each took more from the Indians. The hardships of the 1900's bacsically from the beginning on... Starting with losing their land, and their ability to hunt & fish to survive. Through extreme poverty and battles for recognition and help.
In the end they now have a stable community which is able to help its people. Money from gambling helps to support that.. but there were many other things. Bay Mills are the tribe that got the gil netting law changed. I have heard about this since I was a child.. but had never heard their side of the story. Also they were able to get the government to release the funds set aside for restitution for the land swindles of the 1800's. In 1997 more than 160 years after the wrong.. the money was finally released.
The author of the book is Prof. Emeritus of Anthropolgy at Michigan State. I found out about the book from information on the website It took me a while to find the book, but it was well worth it. Some of the information is particualar to this tribe and the area they live. But I imagine much of their story is the same as many other Indian tribes faced over the past 200 years.
Hemingway (18)
Hemingway
Christopher Cook Gilmore
This book is based on the 1988 movie . It is a brief overview of Hemingway's life from 1918 when he was first in war as a medic, up until his death. It glosses over a lot and moves quickly mostly centering on his 4 wives, his drinking and boasting, and his involvement in endless wars.
The book is ok, you can tell it was written for TV, as it jumps around a bit.. more like scence that like a book.. but still not bad, I think it captures his life.
Christopher Cook Gilmore
This book is based on the 1988 movie . It is a brief overview of Hemingway's life from 1918 when he was first in war as a medic, up until his death. It glosses over a lot and moves quickly mostly centering on his 4 wives, his drinking and boasting, and his involvement in endless wars.
The book is ok, you can tell it was written for TV, as it jumps around a bit.. more like scence that like a book.. but still not bad, I think it captures his life.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
My First Years in the Fur Trade
My First years in the Fur Trade 1802 ~ 1804
by George Nelson
The story of a 15 yr old boy that signs on to work as a fur trader.. but really has not idea what he is getting into. The book is oddly written... In 1802 when this happened, he kept a journal of what was happening.. he later gave these journals to a friend.. the friend later burned the journals rather than letting them fall into the hands of a rival fur company. So in 1811 he re-wrote the journals.. this is the basis for most of the book. In 1836 he wrote is memiors.. so for each day/even there are 2 entries.. one written in 1811, and one in 1836.. the entries are very different.. time soften his view of most events.. things that seem terrifying in 1811 where everyday in 1836. So that was hard to follow.. worse was that there was no rythm or story being told.. it was a collection of events.. largly concerned with recording how much run they gave away to the Indians, and what they had to eat.. which was not much in the later year... They seems disorganized and clueless. I have read other books of this sort Sandy MacDonald's man was an excellent book that detailed what it was like to be in the fur trade. This book was not!
by George Nelson
The story of a 15 yr old boy that signs on to work as a fur trader.. but really has not idea what he is getting into. The book is oddly written... In 1802 when this happened, he kept a journal of what was happening.. he later gave these journals to a friend.. the friend later burned the journals rather than letting them fall into the hands of a rival fur company. So in 1811 he re-wrote the journals.. this is the basis for most of the book. In 1836 he wrote is memiors.. so for each day/even there are 2 entries.. one written in 1811, and one in 1836.. the entries are very different.. time soften his view of most events.. things that seem terrifying in 1811 where everyday in 1836. So that was hard to follow.. worse was that there was no rythm or story being told.. it was a collection of events.. largly concerned with recording how much run they gave away to the Indians, and what they had to eat.. which was not much in the later year... They seems disorganized and clueless. I have read other books of this sort Sandy MacDonald's man was an excellent book that detailed what it was like to be in the fur trade. This book was not!
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