sldoug
The Seattle Public Library
sldoug's Completed Shelf
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SabrielSabriel, Book
by Nix, GarthBook - 1996 | First American editionBook, 1996. First American edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Aug 24, 2012
LambLamb, BookThe Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
by Moore, ChristopherBook - 2003 | First Perennial editionBook, 2003. First Perennial edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Aug 20, 2012
Comment:
I'm surprised that so many of my friends liked this book so well, while I really didn't like it at all. The premise of the book was interesting, there were plenty of clever bits, and if nothing else, I actually feel like I understand more about the Christian Christ story (despite this being a primarily fictional account), but, man, the book was so boring! I kept waiting for something interesting to happen and nothing ever did. The plot was so uneven, important events were completely glossed over (really, you just walk up to some complete stranger and suddenly he becomes a disciple? Over and over again??), and what was up with that completely gratuitous happily ever after ending? Plus, the fact that every woman in the book existing solely to have sex with Biff got really old, really fast. I guess Biff was supposed to be a shallow asshole, and so maybe this was supposed to be funny? I don't know, I just found it to be boring and completely uninspired.
I never would have finished this book if it hadn't been a gift from a friend. At least now I know that I'm not particularly interested in reading anything more by Christopher Moore.I'm surprised that so many of my friends liked this book so well, while I really didn't like it at all. The premise of the book was interesting, there were plenty of clever bits, and if nothing else, I actually feel like I understand more about the…
The Invention of Hugo CabretThe Invention of Hugo Cabret, BookA Novel in Words and Pictures
by Selznick, BrianBook - 2007 | First editionBook, 2007. First edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Aug 20, 2012
Comment:
It's hard for me to separate the book from the movie (especially since I saw the movie first), but both were good. I don't usually love books with pictures (my brain seems to have a hard time going back and forth between different types of processing), but the images in this book were perfect (and lovely!) and didn't disrupt the story flow for me at all. I liked the unusual format and would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, entertaining read (although be warned, the book is huge!).It's hard for me to separate the book from the movie (especially since I saw the movie first), but both were good. I don't usually love books with pictures (my brain seems to have a hard time going back and forth between different types of…
sldoug's rating:
Added Aug 08, 2012
Comment:
This was a very promising book that started strongly. The characters were realistic, the plot was compelling, I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. But the book was short and the plot was long, so all the major events got jammed together and nothing got nearly enough explanation. This book easily could have been a sequel to the backstory (which deserves its own novel) and the main story could have filled a book two or three times as long. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book, but I also felt like it really didn't live up to what it could have been.This was a very promising book that started strongly. The characters were realistic, the plot was compelling, I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. But the book was short and the plot was long, so all the major events got jammed…
The Whole Life Nutrition CookbookThe Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, BookWhole Foods Recipes for Personal and Planetary Health
by Segersten, AlissaBook - 2007 | 2nd edBook, 2007. 2nd ed
sldoug's rating:
Added Aug 07, 2012
Comment:
I purchased this book as I'd read about it online and had heard that it's the "elimination diet bible." Indeed, there's a whole section on doing an elimination diet, but there's limited-to-no information on why you should eliminate certain items (which is really what I was looking for since there are a million people espousing random variations, and I wanted some authoritative info), and very few recipes from the rest of the book that you can use during the elimination diet. So that was disappointing.
Then I tried some of the recipes and found that they were pretty disappointing too. At best, they were okay/fine, but some were pretty awful. I've eaten many extremely delicious whole foods meals, so I know that this kind of cooking can be really fantastic, but this is not the book to use for those recipes. But who knows. Maybe I just hit all the bad ones and the rest of the recipes are amazing.I purchased this book as I'd read about it online and had heard that it's the "elimination diet bible." Indeed, there's a whole section on doing an elimination diet, but there's limited-to-no information on why you should eliminate certain items…
After Ever AfterAfter Ever After, Book
by Sonnenblick, JordanBook - 2010 | First editionBook, 2010. First edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Aug 07, 2012
Comment:
This book was recommended by Seattle Public Library for people who liked A Fault in Our Stars. If the thing that drew you to A Fault in Our Stars is kids with cancer, then yes, After Ever After might also be enjoyable to you. Unfortunately, that's where the similarity stops. I loved the characters in AFIOS but I found the characters in AEA to be extremely unbelievable, especially when viewed through the lens of my own middle school memories. I never felt attached to anyone and when bad things happened I knew I was supposed to feel sad, but I did not (whereas I cried like a baby when I read AFIOS). I see now that this book is a sequel; maybe I'd have liked it better if I'd read the first book first.This book was recommended by Seattle Public Library for people who liked A Fault in Our Stars. If the thing that drew you to A Fault in Our Stars is kids with cancer, then yes, After Ever After might also be enjoyable to you. Unfortunately, that's…
The Age of MiraclesThe Age of Miracles, BookA Novel
by Walker, Karen ThompsonBook - 2012 | First editionBook, 2012. First edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 31, 2012
Comment:
I love YA apocalyptic fiction so I was predisposed to like this one and indeed, I did like it. It was entertaining, the plot was interesting, I flew through it and enjoyed the ride. That said, the book was really just fine, with nothing to make it stand out. Julia seemed older than 11 so it was a little surprising every time I was reminded of that, her parents felt pretty flat as characters, and I felt like the general tone of reactions to events wasn't quite right. But still, overall I enjoyed it and if the author were to write a sequel, I'd definitely read it.I love YA apocalyptic fiction so I was predisposed to like this one and indeed, I did like it. It was entertaining, the plot was interesting, I flew through it and enjoyed the ride. That said, the book was really just fine, with nothing to make it…
Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Book
by Rowling, J. K.Book - 1999 | First editionBook, 1999. First edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 31, 2012
Comment:
Reading the series to my boys at bedtime. We just finished this one and it's amazing to see how Rowling was already setting things up. I doubt this will be my last time rereading this one. :-)
The Very Persistent Gappers of FripThe Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, Book
by Saunders, GeorgeBook - 2000 | First editionBook, 2000. First edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 31, 2012
Comment:
I read this aloud to my kids over the course of a couple nights. It was an odd and very compelling story with a message that might strike home more for adults than for kids, but still, a very worthwhile read. I felt like parts of the message got stretched a bit thin (like the daughters who stood still in order to look pretty so that boys would like them) but overall I really enjoyed this book and am glad I stumbled across it.I read this aloud to my kids over the course of a couple nights. It was an odd and very compelling story with a message that might strike home more for adults than for kids, but still, a very worthwhile read. I felt like parts of the message got…
The SubmissionThe Submission, Book
by Waldman, AmyBook - 2011 | First editionBook, 2011. First edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 31, 2012
Comment:
Vvery well written and described with great accuracy what might have happened had this scenario (a Muslim wins a contest to design the September 11 World Trade Center memorial) actually played out, but the characters were fairly flat, which made it hard to really get into the book. Still, it was an enjoyable read and, in case anyone is looking, one particularly well suited to book clubs. I definitely wouldn't mind having people to discuss this one with.Vvery well written and described with great accuracy what might have happened had this scenario (a Muslim wins a contest to design the September 11 World Trade Center memorial) actually played out, but the characters were fairly flat, which made it…
The Phantom TollboothThe Phantom Tollbooth, Audiobook CD
by Juster, NortonAudiobook CD - 2008Audiobook CD, 2008
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 31, 2012
Comment:
My sons and I listened to this in the car during a couple of long car trips and found it quite enjoyable. I'm sure it was thoroughly over the head of my six year old, but my nine year old and I made eye contact in the rear view mirror to share giggles many times. I think this book is particularly well suited for kids who are just starting to understand the clever (and not to mention humorous) potential of wordplay. As a wordy-girl-grown-into-wordy-woman, this book tickled me quite a bit.My sons and I listened to this in the car during a couple of long car trips and found it quite enjoyable. I'm sure it was thoroughly over the head of my six year old, but my nine year old and I made eye contact in the rear view mirror to share…
Only Time Will TellOnly Time Will Tell, Book
by Archer, JeffreyBook - 2011 | First U.S. editionBook, 2011. First U.S. edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 31, 2012
Comment:
A fast read, fast paced with minimal detail. The characters weren't terribly deep (either flawlessly noble and good, or evil to the core...but mostly flawlessly noble and good), but the storyline was engaging and really, sometimes the story of the unfailingly good underdogs trying to prevail against evil is exactly what you're looking for.A fast read, fast paced with minimal detail. The characters weren't terribly deep (either flawlessly noble and good, or evil to the core...but mostly flawlessly noble and good), but the storyline was engaging and really, sometimes the story of the…
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 22, 2012
Comment:
Sadly, I couldn't get into this one. I finished it, but everything felt so flat -- characters, plot, setting. I wanted to like it but ultimately it was only okay.
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 15, 2012
Comment:
I loved how this story was so very ordinary, and yet so suffused with magic. I generally don't love modern fantasy, but this one was lovely.
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 13, 2012
Comment:
A very sad, touching book. I look forward to hearing what my 9 year old thinks of it.
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 13, 2012
Comment:
Very entertaining cop mystery. Felt fairly typical for the genre, but it definitely kept me reading and I'd like to read the next one.
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 13, 2012
Comment:
The history was interesting but the plot and characters lacked much depth.
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 04, 2012
Comment:
I really loved the first part of the book, but I didn't love Altair. The land and characters were not nearly as deep as I hoped for given the strong start. Still, an entertaining read.
Steal Across the SkySteal Across the Sky, Book
by Kress, NancyBook - 2009 | First editionBook, 2009. First edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jul 01, 2012
Comment:
Very entertaining novel of first contact. The ending wasn't as strong as I'd have hoped, but overall it was still a great read.
StardustStardust, Book
by Gaiman, NeilBook - 2006 | First Harper Perennial editionBook, 2006. First Harper Perennial edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jun 29, 2012
Comment:
I enjoyed this story and the writing, but overall I like my fantasy to have a little more depth.
Fifty Shades of GreyFifty Shades of Grey, Book
by James, E. L.Book - 2012 | First Vintage Books editionBook, 2012. First Vintage Books edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jun 28, 2012
Comment:
Ugh, the writing was terrible, the characters were ridiculous and whoever edited this mess couldn't be bothered to even try to make it less blatantly British. Yay for erotica, but this book should have stayed fan fiction.
sldoug's rating:
Added Jun 26, 2012
Comment:
Such a quick, fun read!
sldoug's rating:
Added Jun 24, 2012
Comment:
If nothing else, this book provided a really interesting look into the experiences of a female soldier deployed to Iraq.
SpinSpin, Book
by Wilson, Robert CharlesBook - 2006 | First mass market editionBook, 2006. First mass market edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jun 24, 2012
Comment:
I loved the ideas presented in this book, I wish he'd write a whole separate book about the first Mars settlers, but man I really did not like the characters or the plotlines that were character driven, which made it hard to fully appreciate this book.I loved the ideas presented in this book, I wish he'd write a whole separate book about the first Mars settlers, but man I really did not like the characters or the plotlines that were character driven, which made it hard to fully appreciate this…
Two Kisses for MaddyTwo Kisses for Maddy, BookA Memoir of Loss & Love
by Logelin, MatthewBook - 2011 | First editionBook, 2011. First edition
sldoug's rating:
Added Jun 22, 2012
Comment:
The story was sad but the writing was not great...not even good, really.
Comment: