Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem

By Rosalyn Schanzer, 144 pages.

Using grim black and white illustrations and a language kids can identify with, Schanzer tells the real-life ghost story of the Salem witch trials. The best thing about this book: kids will pick it up. Just look at the cover, it leads the reader to expect a spooky tale with plenty of cool illustrations and they will get just that as well as the facts relating to the story, quotes from the real people who were involved, and a list of sources to go on to learn more. The text naturally grasps the readers attention and expertly weaves in the facts and the language of the time without making it feel out of reach. A great first stop for kids just being introduced to the topic.

Look me in the eye

John Elder Robison
pages 282

Sub-titled "my life with Asperger's" this memoir is an insightful look into the world of Autism, specifically the spectrum known as Asperger's Syndrome. Robison, whose younger brother is writer Augusten Burroughs of "Running With Scissors" fame was not diagnosed until he was well into adulthood. Reading how his life was shaped by the unique perspective of Asperger's is fascinating. Socially stunted and an over-logical sense of thinking, John Elder lived a childhood labeled weird, retarded and at times psychotic. Living in a home of highly intelligent, yet dysfunctional parents created an isolation that left him on his own to try to learn how to cope in a world that does not even today understand the nuances of Asperger's much less how to best deal with those affected by it. Writing these memories is a cathartic experience for the author, yet because of his Asperger's he is also able to detach from it and objectively examine it. If you know anyone who deals with Autism on a personal level I would highly recommend this book because it is such an uplifting and demystifying experience. Wonderfully written, it would be an entertaining and
informative read for anyone. Loved it! It get's top rating.
Rock, Chalk, Jay, Hawk

The Thank You Economy

by Gary Vaynerchuck.  240 p.


I was a bit disappointed in this book.  After listening to a wonderful interview on NPR, I had high hopes for learning just how social networking and marketing and good, old-fashioned customer service can make for a better business model than any before.  I did find this information, to be sure, but I don't think that reading the book helped me to better understand Mr. Vaynerchuk's hypothesis.

For those that have been keeping up to date on currents trends in social marketing, this book won't be front page news.

But for those that are wanting to learn more about the role social networking and media can be used in business and the more powerful role that the Internet plays in the customer's experience, I say definitely give this book a read.

The Murder of King Tut

by James Patterson & Martin Dugard
p 332

Every 8 years I read a James Patterson offering, whether I need to or not. The last time was 2003 and the book was The Court Jester, a pleasant change of pace from the prolific and predictable thrillers I have come to expect. When The Murder of King Tut came my way I was hoping for another break from the norm. "The Plot to Kill the Child King - A Non-Fiction Thriller" was jointly written and extensively researched by the authors to put to rest the ancient mystery of King Tut.
The book is written in 3 areas - the life and death of Tut, the discovery of his tomb almost 600 years later and the present day attempt by Patterson to solve the mystery shrouding Tut's life and death. The historical evidence presented was interesting and engaging. The story behind Howard Carter's discovery in 1922 is equally intriguing, a well-documented curse that surrounded the expedition that was fraught with problems and mishaps. The present-day tale of writing this book was somewhat self-absorbed and I could not help but feel that Patterson's view of his work is much more important that what I have given him credit for.
I did not feel that his effort really shed that much new light on the subject, though he uses a variety of sources to draw his own conclusions, thus "solving the mystery of Tut". All-in-all this book is a quick and easy read, which Patterson excels at. But ultimately it was not the page-turning thriller I would have expected.
Giving it a Rock and a Chalk!

Bossypants

By Tina Fey, 277 p.

Tina Fey, creator and star of ‘30 Rock’ and former anchor of Saturday Night Live’s ‘Weekend Update,’ flexes her hilarious writing muscles in Bossypants.  Fey explores her early childhood, her awkward forays into what it means to be a ‘woman’ and a lengthy chapter on just how cool her dad is.  Between these reminiscences and her wonderful fashion tips (baggy t-shirts belted with a fanny pack are always in), Fey talks about her Sarah Palin impressions, what it’s like working on SNL and her early days in Chicago-style improvisational theatre.

Tina Fey’s distinctive comedy style shines in Bossypants.  Witty, hilarious, and well-written, this is a memoir for the ages.  Reader’s who enjoyed Sloane Crosley’s I was told there’d be cake and How did you get this number? will enjoy this book.

The Last Boy

by Jane Leavy
p. 387

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. There are the extraordinary people that do extraordinary things, the ordinary people that do extraordinary things, and just the simple folks that live their lives by example. Micky Mantle was a "hero" that perhaps fit into all those categories. In Jane Leavy's thorough examination of the life and legend of Micky Mantle she explores not only the legacy of NY Yankees' "the Mick" but also the boy from the small town of Commerce OK.
Micky Mantle never intended to be a "hero." His love for baseball came from a desire to please his father, Mutt; that pushed his oldest son to be the player he never was. Throughout his amazing baseball career, statistics put Mantle in the stratosphere of "super athlete" and he was a combination of desire, determination and physical ability that created one of the best athletes the word has ever witnessed. Yet in expert hands, Jan Leavy also gives us a glimpse of Micky Mantle, the "tragic" hero that could never satisfy his inner critic and whose hard life and lifestyle manufactured the what-if's that surrounded his life.
Mantle was never my hero. As a child growing up in St Louis, my baseball heroes were Musial, Boyer, Gibson and Flood. After reading "The Last Boy" I have added Mantle's name to my list.
For those who love baseball, I give this book a Rock. Chalk, Jay, Hawk!!!!

Getting Organized in the Google Era

by Douglas C Merrill
p.237

If "getting organized" makes your News Years resolution list every year, this might be a book worth checking out.
Douglas C Merrill, former chief information office of Google puts together a useful, contemporary guide for organizing our lives with all of today's useful (and sometimes overwhelming) technology. Naturally it stands to reason that someone with Mr Merrills qualifications would be an expert in all the technological gadgets at our disposal to keep us on track, on time, on course. He unashamedly admits to using Google as the prime example because during the time he spent with that company the employees were "expected to eat their own dog food." Yet he continues using many of their programs today because they fit his particular needs in keeping organized. Best of all he gives many different options for achieving your own specific organizational goals.
I am not a "techie." Never will be on the cutting edge of anything, much less technology. But this books offers insight and direction in the constant search for organization. Filing has been replaced by filtering, and the way we filter all the information that is now at our finger tips is the key to using it properly and most effectively.
In addition, he has a fresh and engaging approach to the genre of "self help" books. He uses a very conversational and at times "cheeky" tone in his writing that I loved. He "encodes" basic concepts he describes at the end of each chapter. Best of all the book is full of wonderful quotes to illustrate points - all taken from popular song lyrics......who knew Coldplay could be so relevant!

So this year I might actually get closer to my New Years Resolution! I'll give the books a Rock, Chalk, Jay!!!

Murder in Little Egypt

By Darcy O’Brien
344 pages

The inverted triangular tip of Southern Illinois is surrounded by the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In Darcy OBrien’s True Life Crime story of Dr Dale Cavaness, this region known as “Little Egypt” plays a key role. “Dr Dale” returns home to the rough and rural mining town of Eldorado to begin his medical practice. As many country doctors in the 1960’s, he is responsible for most of the area’s medical needs, from general practitioner to surgeon. To his community he is well-loved and respected, a larger than life influence and a man too good to be true. Unfortunately for his family, his Dr Jekyll persona is off-set by his Mr. Hyde behavior at home. A cold and un-caring father, he physically and verbally abuses his wife and their 4 sons. The years of alcohol, cheating, and lavish spending eventually send his life spiraling out of control. Facing financial ruin he turns to murder to collect insurance on not one, but two of his sons over a seven year period.
Perhaps as disturbing as these heinous acts is this community’s effort to protect their own in light of ever-mounting evidence against the “good doctor.” Patients and friends rally to not only support him, but refuse to cooperate with the investigators of these young men’s murders.
The reader has the benefit of the complete story down to the final verdict, expertly researched and documented by Mr. O’Brien. The cold hard facts are compelling. What is more difficult to comprehend is how an entire region bands together to shelter this man, innocent or guilty. In their minds the difference is barely discernible.
Like much True Crime writing the real interest lies in the “psychological dynamics behind these ghastly crimes.” Written in 1989, the investigation is rather dated compared to today’s forensic tools and extensive resources. Murder in Little Egypt is entertaining in the same voyeuristic way of In Cold Blood or Helter Skelter. So readers beware!

Mr O’Brien its only a Rock and a Chalk for this effort.

At Home A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson

I really like Bill Bryson and am always glad to see a new book hit the shelves. Despite providing a huge amount of facts and tidbits about his subjects, I don't get bogged down or bored. At Home is more of the same. The book is full of facts about the history of homes and it is his 150 year home in Norfolk England that he uses as his base as he wanders from the attic to the cellar spouting off trivia about fork tines, dining tables, food in the middle ages, diseases, servants, stairs, bed bugs, archeologists, bathing....the list goes on and on. Somehow he does it with such wit and ease that you don't realise the amount of information you are taking in. I liked this book and enjoyed reading it though I have to admit it was not one of my favorites. My favorites are In a Sunburned Country and A Walk in the Woods simply because I get more of Bryson himself...he is a character in these books and not merely the narrator. But even a mediocre Bryson book is really enjoyable and this was a fun read. 2010 512 pages