Galileo Goes to Jail and Other Myths about Science and Religion

Galileo Goes to Jail and Other Myths about Science and Religion edited by Ronald L. Numbers started out as a fantastic history of science and religion. Mr. Numbers and the authors of each of the myths, debunked a number of myths about the connections of science and religion. Some of the myths, I was aware of as myths, and that they had been proven wrong. It was interesting however to read briefs on them. I actually didn't know, or more likely didn't remember, the myth that Galileo had gone to jail for his beliefs. I really enjoyed reading each little brief, and learning something new about the connection that science and religion has shared.

Marco Polo from Venice to Xanadu

Marco Polo from Venice to Xanadu by Laurence Bergreen is a fascinating biography of a fascinating man. Mr. Bergreen is well known for his other biographies and for being a man who writes definitive biographies of famous people who have since passed on. He does just that with his biography of Marco Polo. Marco Polo had some fantastic adventures and having not read his book, I felt just fine reading the biography. Mr. Bergreen has made sure that he has researched well his topic and can present readers with a good picture of what the main character of his biographies may have seen, from strange (to us) customs, and experiences that are unique to his time. Laurence really did his research, and presented an excellent view of the court of Kublai Khan, as well as some of the reasons as to why the Mongolians of this particular era were such a feared fighting force, and some of the ways that the force was eventually defeated. Mr. Begreen also presented the role of foreigners in the court system, and the reasons why Kublai Khan would have employed them, and what Marco Polo's probable role was in the court. Mr. Bergreen takes some time to discuss the views on the modern work not being the same as the account written by Marco Polo so many years prior, and why there was such a difference between the types and where he thinks the most accurate account lies. The book was a fascinating study in Marco Polo and his works.

The Third Tower Up From the Road: A Compilation of Colums from McSweeny's Internet Tendency's Kevin Dolgin Tells You About Places You Should Go

The Third Tower Up From The Road: A Compilation of Columns from McSweeny's Internet Tendency's Kevin Dolgin Tells You About Places You Should Go by Kevin Dolgin was a fascinating book, which mostly was a collection of previously published travel columns as stated in the title. Kevin Dolgin does an excellent job of not reiterating information that most readers can find through a good google search or any particular travel guides to the areas, but discusses his experiences with the areas, while in the mean time giving tips on what to see and what to avoid. His tips are based on experiences he has had while traveling to these places. As a person without a lot of money it was good to feel as though I lived vicariously through his travels around the world. I loved his experiences, and reading about others makes me think that I can really search out my own around the world, and with very little effort create a more memorable trip than the average tourist. I especially liked reading his stories about the Island where his wife's family is from, Corsica, because Kevin really demonstrated that an adventure can be had right at home, in your own backyard, and you can still sleep in your bed at home. While I do not know if I will become a devout blog reader of his, (my success at blog reading is the same as my success of writing blogs) I can say if he ever publishes another collection I will look forward to reading it.

Carrying the Heart: Exploring the Worlds Within Us

Carrying the Heart: Exploring the Worlds Within Us by F. Gonzalez-Crussi was a fantastic book, that explored the history of our understanding of the body. He explored the early myths and other stories and treatments for the body. He arranges the book starting with the digestive system which is appropriately where the world had and still does view the seat of the body, from feeling not right when the digestive system is upset, to some of the views we believed about the system, and some of the remedies for our perceived maladies, or true maladies of that particular system, he goes on from there through the respiratory system, the reproductive system, and finally the cardiovascular system. Mr. Gonzalez-Crussi discusses our beliefs and addresses the more unusual cures that we have used in the past to treat the various symptoms. One of my favorites that he addresses is some of the unusual enemas and the picture featured on the cover of the book is the device used to give smoke enemas. I enjoyed his book and have added some of his others to my list of books to read.

Stitches

Stitches by David Small is my first ever read of a Graphic Novel. It was recommended by a woman at a both at the ALA. The book, the copy I have is an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and the actual book's release date is not listed on Amazon. -- this has changed since I started this post. The date of Release is now September 8th. I didn't know what to expect, except the person who told me about the book told me to have the Kleenex ready. I didn't have the Kleenex ready but was really in shock when I finished the book, but it was much the way I expected the author felt, when he first lived the events of the memoir. I feel as though we are the privileged audience reading something that was written for someone privately. I think it was an amazing piece of work, and while it did not turn me on to the field of graphic novels, it certainly helped to open my mind to the possibility of a great graphic novel, and a once and a while quick read. I found the book to be very fast moving, and I think that helped to contribute to the level of shock at the end of the book. I find that the speed of the book really set the tone for the book also. I think David Small did a great job with his first book, and I will look for him in the future.

The Order of the Odd-Fish

The Order of the Odd-Fish by James Kennedy is a fantastic book by an author who is clearly influenced by Monty-Python and Roald Dahl. His book contains all of the fantastic whimsical ideas that they could dream up along with the dark and scary too. But at no time is the dark and scary overwhelmingly dark and scary. The book was recommended to me by the author who described it as Monty-Python meets Roald Dahl, and it was. It is the story of the Odd-Fish, a society that studies the appendix to the encyclopedia, which is everything you think it should be, it is the science of smells, unusual creatures, and dithering. The book is a bit of a harrowing ride at the beginning, but as Jo (the main character) settles into her new life, you settle in to expecting the unexpected, and to me that is the only throwback. I figured out the end of the book shortly after the start, but wasn't disappointed by having done that. As the book crashes around corners you find yourself cheering on even the guy who is set out to be one of the villains in the start of the book. Death and destruction is present but dealt with much as Roald Dahl did, just a fact of life and to celebrate the life of, rather than mourn the loss of. So I suggest you head to the California Desert, Lily Larouche and her niece Jo, but beware, when Jo was found there was a note warning that she is a very dangerous baby.

The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasure of the Obituaries

The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasure of the Obituaries by Marilyn Johnson. When I first saw this book, the name reminded me of a former nursing school instructor by the same name, but since the author is neither a nursing school instructor or living in Illinois, just a coincidence. At the same time, the title was completely intreguing, and what I thought was going to be a collection of obituaries, based on the title alone. I really regularly judge a book by its title, and then if intregued, and at the library, I am likely to pick it up. The book was not a collection of obituaries, but a dive into the cultural world created by the obituaries section of the paper. I liked her stories of the editors of the obituaries of the various major newspaper and the history of the modern newspaper obituarie of the "common man", although I didn't feel like her writing flowed well. I felt as though her thoughts hadn't been fully revised, and it was difficult to follow her train of thought.

While her writing may have left something to be desired, anyone who has ever read one of the staff written obituaries, about all the slighltly famous, or not famous at all that die everyday, will enjoy this book, and the look at the culture, a newly discovered culture for me, that surrounds the obituaries, and will think harder about the next time you see a newspaper and look at the obituaries sections of the paper.

Ms. Johnson comments on the form of the obituary and the changes along almost a pendulic line of the obituaries. From obituaries that celebrate life, to obituaries that focus on death, and back again. She also does a nice job of dealing with the effects of Sept. 11 and the following bombing of London Public Transit, and how obituary writers deal, or don't in some cases with crisis. She also focuses on the difference between an English Obit and an American Obit, highliting some of the people who make this section of the paper a must read for some people every moring.

The obit section will never surpass the comics section or the crossword puzzle for me, it is a section of the paper that I do seek out, and I think after this book I will pay this section more of the attention that it deserves.