I wouldn't have met Piti if it hadn't been for a chichigua. To translate chichigua as a kite does not do justice to these beautiful creations of...
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A Song of Ice & Fire is, I believe, projected to comprise 7 books. I've just finished this one (#5) and am in imminent danger of anxiety attacks while waiting for Martin to write #s 6 and 7.
I make jewelry, mostly in the general area of steam punk, and also have a small online supply store. Many of my customers are gamers and video junkies, so it's critical for me to keep abreast of popular trends which, being me, I do by perusing actual books printed on paper. After the Twilight saga, this series, which also has TV movies and several games associated with it, is a breath of fresh air. It's well-written, the characters are believable -- some more fleshed out and some more appealing than others, but that's to be expected -- the plot takes unexpected twists and turns, and subgroups like the "Others" (walking dead) and wargs (humans who can share consciousness with animals) are introduced as an integral part of the storyline but not the main event. In other words, these books are a good read and I think may become classics.
In thinking about which book to review, I realized that most of what I've read this year was published earlier, but I'd have chosen this one anyway--it's the kind of book that leaves you sleep deprived because you can't put it down at bedtime.
I was reading this book when the Japanese nuclear reactors blew, and I think maybe Friedman's no longer counting nuclear power as among green alternatives, but other than that this book is terrifying, prophetic, and right on.
It was published a few years ago--2008 or 9 I think, which makes it even scarier, because many of the things he talks about ("climate weirding" for instance) have already started to happen on a scale it's hard to ignore.
Friedman, as usual, has done his homework: his ideas are backed by solid research, and he quotes experts in a variety of fields. This may well be the most important book I've read in a decade, and I've been recommending it to everyone with whom I communicate. Ignoring the ideas in this book, or even delaying their implementation, is, I think, dangerous to our economy, our world leadership, and our planet.
As a teacher, feminist, and socisal worker, as well as a mother, grandmother, and peacenik, this book resonates for me on many levels. Asking communities what they need, rather than coming in with offers of what one thinks they need, person-to-person interaction, bridging cultural divides, educating girls--not to mention the truly astounding ramifications of one man's vision all point to a possible way to make peace instead of war in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the surrounding areas.
And it reads like an adverture novel, too.
Robert Munsch is one of those rare writers for children who can make perfectly sober adults giggle--& read his books over & over without protest--sometimes even to themselves when there's not a child handy.
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Customer Comments
Leslie Sirag has commented on (4) products.
A Dance with Dragons (Song of Ice and Fire #5) by George R. R. Martin
Leslie Sirag, January 2, 2012
A Song of Ice & Fire is, I believe, projected to comprise 7 books. I've just finished this one (#5) and am in imminent danger of anxiety attacks while waiting for Martin to write #s 6 and 7.I make jewelry, mostly in the general area of steam punk, and also have a small online supply store. Many of my customers are gamers and video junkies, so it's critical for me to keep abreast of popular trends which, being me, I do by perusing actual books printed on paper. After the Twilight saga, this series, which also has TV movies and several games associated with it, is a breath of fresh air. It's well-written, the characters are believable -- some more fleshed out and some more appealing than others, but that's to be expected -- the plot takes unexpected twists and turns, and subgroups like the "Others" (walking dead) and wargs (humans who can share consciousness with animals) are introduced as an integral part of the storyline but not the main event. In other words, these books are a good read and I think may become classics.
In thinking about which book to review, I realized that most of what I've read this year was published earlier, but I'd have chosen this one anyway--it's the kind of book that leaves you sleep deprived because you can't put it down at bedtime.
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution -- and How It Can Renew America by Thomas L. Friedman
Leslie Sirag, September 26, 2011
I was reading this book when the Japanese nuclear reactors blew, and I think maybe Friedman's no longer counting nuclear power as among green alternatives, but other than that this book is terrifying, prophetic, and right on.It was published a few years ago--2008 or 9 I think, which makes it even scarier, because many of the things he talks about ("climate weirding" for instance) have already started to happen on a scale it's hard to ignore.
Friedman, as usual, has done his homework: his ideas are backed by solid research, and he quotes experts in a variety of fields. This may well be the most important book I've read in a decade, and I've been recommending it to everyone with whom I communicate. Ignoring the ideas in this book, or even delaying their implementation, is, I think, dangerous to our economy, our world leadership, and our planet.
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Leslie Sirag, January 1, 2010
As a teacher, feminist, and socisal worker, as well as a mother, grandmother, and peacenik, this book resonates for me on many levels. Asking communities what they need, rather than coming in with offers of what one thinks they need, person-to-person interaction, bridging cultural divides, educating girls--not to mention the truly astounding ramifications of one man's vision all point to a possible way to make peace instead of war in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the surrounding areas.And it reads like an adverture novel, too.
Munshworks #02: Munschworks: The Second Munsch Treasury by Robert Munsch
Leslie Sirag, February 26, 2007
Robert Munsch is one of those rare writers for children who can make perfectly sober adults giggle--& read his books over & over without protest--sometimes even to themselves when there's not a child handy.