“She’s the most important person in the world and her family living in poverty. If our mother is so important to science, why can’t we get health insurance?” Y’all, this is a good book. I read a lot of non-fiction, and this book moves faster and stays interesting in a way where a lot of non-fiction falls short. Rebecca Skloot is a talented writer and researcher, and I can’t wait to see what she tackles next. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is about a […]
The Servant Problem at Historic House Museums
In an attempt to get back to the full cannonball this year, I am including books I read for work. With that, I bring you Interpreting Servants’ Lives at Historic House Museums by Jennifer Pustz. This book grew out of Ms. Pustz’s dissertation and seeks to understand when, why and how domestic staff and servants are being interpreted in the Historic House museum field, and how museum professionals can expand their current offerings to offer a wider, and hopefully more accurate, view of the lives […]
Put on a Happy Face!…You’ll Live Longer
A lot can be learned from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813), one of which is why it is important to smile: Mr. Bingley, who puts on a more agreeable face, is received well by the people of Netherfield Park whereas Mr. Darcy, who doesn’t, is spurned. The science behind why Mr. Bingley experiences more social success than Mr. Darcy is explained in Marianne LaFrance’s Why Smile? The Science Behind Facial Expressions (2011). LaFrance draws on the work of latest research in biology, psychology, sociology […]
thank you Annie Choi
After my last review (the almost moon) I needed a mindless, surefire win. I read Annie Choi’s previous memoir, Happy Birthday or Whatever, a couple years ago and passed by her memoir, not realizing she had a new book, at Barnes & Nobel after the holidays. Memoirs are probably my favorite style of book, maybe I have voyeuristic tendencies, because I love peeking into peoples lives. And people who write memoirs have way more interesting lives then me. Shut up was a quick and easy […]
Paris Hilton Should Take Notes
In today’s culture, where the word ‘heiress’ brings to mind someone like Paris Hilton and an alarmingly large percentage of the world’s population would do just about anything to be famous, Huguette Clark seems like a throwback to an era long past despite having only passed away two and a half years ago.
Tart green apple on the nose, with a smooth mouthfeel and a dry, cheeky finish
Does this actually count as a book? I know there’s no minimum page requirement, but 20 pages is not a lot of pages. Well, I have read it, and now I shall review it! Hang on, I’m just going to pour a glass* first. OK I’m back. A few weeks ago, NPR aired a segment about this book. I was immediately charmed by the interview, and resolved to track down the book and buy it immediately. You see, I enjoy a glass of wine, but […]