leah_p
Markham Public Library
leah_p's Completed Shelf
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A House in the SkyA House in the Sky, BookA Memoir
by Lindhout, AmandaBook - 2013 | 1st Scribner hardcover ed. --Book, 2013. 1st Scribner hardcover ed. --
Added Dec 29, 2023
Added Aug 09, 2022
Added Aug 09, 2022
Prosper's DemonProsper's Demon, Book
by Parker, K. J.Book - 2020 | First edition.Book, 2020. First edition.
Added Aug 09, 2022
leah_p's rating:
Added Aug 09, 2016
Sergei Prokofiev's Peter & the WolfSergei Prokofiev's Peter & the Wolf, DVD
DVD - 2008DVD, 2008
leah_p's rating:
Added Jul 27, 2016
Similar Titles (1)
Peter and the WolfPeter and the Wolf, Book
by Prokofiev, SergeyBook - 2008 | 1st ed. --Book, 2008. 1st ed. --
Koko Takes A HolidayKoko Takes A Holiday, Book
by Shea, KieranBook - 2014 | 1st ed.Book, 2014. 1st ed.
leah_p's rating:
Added Mar 31, 2016
Comment:
The cover of this one completely grabbed me. I thought, "This'll either be awful, or amazing, but either way I have to read it". It's like an action movie that speeds along with blood and bullets flying and well-placed one-liners. The world is fleshed out well in all its grittiness - to me it's like a mashup of Sucker Punch, Star Wars and Neuromancer (the book by William Gibson). An especially creative bit are the transcripts of commercials advertising The Sixty Islands. The plot is pretty simple but the rest of the world - depraved, corrupt, unstable - makes up for it. There was only one sour spot for me in the whole book: a key character has been diagnosed with Depressus, a terminal-in-that-world disease that mirrors what we would call depression, and at one point I felt jolted out of the narrative because it was as if everything paused so that Shea could ramble about his opinion on mental illness sufferers. The intention may have been to make that one character realize the ulterior motives of those in power, but as it is it just felt callous. Still, all in all it's a ton of fun.The cover of this one completely grabbed me. I thought, "This'll either be awful, or amazing, but either way I have to read it". It's like an action movie that speeds along with blood and bullets flying and well-placed one-liners. The world is…
DisneyDisney, Printed Music
Printed Music - 2011Printed Music, 2011
leah_p's rating:
Added Mar 22, 2016
Comment:
Even though these pieces have been spiced up a little stylistically and rhythmically, the melodies are still true and instantly recognizable. A lot of these classics haven't really changed at all insofar as a bunch of songs are meant to be in a bright swing style, where others just have a bit more colour added to them (for example, 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight' done with "slow latin groove" harmonies and rhythm). The collection spans from Snow White's Some Day My Prince Will Come (1937) through to Toy Story's 'You've Got a Friend In Me' (1995). As far as difficulty, if you're familiar with the RCM curriculum, I'd say the pieces range between Grades 4 - 6.Even though these pieces have been spiced up a little stylistically and rhythmically, the melodies are still true and instantly recognizable. A lot of these classics haven't really changed at all insofar as a bunch of songs are meant to be in a…
Young House LoveYoung House Love, Book243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show your Home Some Love
by Petersik, SherryBook - 2012Book, 2012
leah_p's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2016
Comment:
The appeal of John & Sherry Petersik is their bright and cheery "You can do it!" attitude, and how they chart their journey from know-nothing paint-happy first time homeowners armed with paintbrushes and enthusiasm to ‘been there, made that’ DIY devotees. Their now-archival blog houses most of their projects and lots more of their zingy writing (Sherry especially). I’ve also read their second book, Lovable Livable Home, but YHL in my opinion is more appealing and engaging because they talk about problems they encountered in their homes and how they handled them as opposed to presenting design tips that anyone could give or look up. YHL is more creative and down to earth, but most importantly all of the projects and ideas are do-able, and the authors are very relatable.The appeal of John & Sherry Petersik is their bright and cheery "You can do it!" attitude, and how they chart their journey from know-nothing paint-happy first time homeowners armed with paintbrushes and enthusiasm to ‘been there, made that’ DIY…
WordcatcherWordcatcher, BookAn Odyssey Into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words
by Cousineau, PhilBook - 2010Book, 2010
Added Mar 11, 2016
Comment:
This collection of the author’s favourite words that have been discovered and ‘caught’ throughout has interesting etymological anecdotes for each entry. It’s not an exhaustive collection but is great for casual perusal and picking out an odd or obscure bit of trivia; additionally, if you’re so inclined – i.e. if you’re “that friend” – you may enjoy selecting a word-of-the-day to place carefully (or use recklessly) in communication to anyone and everyone :)This collection of the author’s favourite words that have been discovered and ‘caught’ throughout has interesting etymological anecdotes for each entry. It’s not an exhaustive collection but is great for casual perusal and picking out an odd or…
NeverwhereNeverwhere, BookA Novel
by Gaiman, NeilBook - 2003 | 1st Perennial ed.Book, 2003. 1st Perennial ed.
Added Mar 09, 2016
Quotations
- “Richard wrote a diary entry in his head. Dear Diary, he began. On Friday I had a job, a fiancée, a home, and a life that made sense. (Well, as much as any life makes sense). Then I found an injured girl bleeding on the pavement, and I tried to be a Good Samaritan. Now I've got no fiancée, no home, no job, and I'm walking around a couple of hundred feet under the streets of London with the projected life expectancy of a suicidal fruitfly.”“Richard wrote a diary entry in his head. Dear Diary, he began. On Friday I had a job, a fiancée, a home, and a life that made sense. (Well, as much as any life makes sense). Then I found an injured girl bleeding on the pavement, and I tried to be…
leah_p's rating:
Added Dec 05, 2015
In A WorldIn A World, DVD
DVD - 2014DVD, 2014
leah_p's rating:
Added Oct 06, 2015
Comment:
This is a movie that succeeds in being serious but making fun of itself at the same time. A theme that runs through this movie is the sexism endemic in male-dominated professions whose "rules" have never changed; it's blatant in the way the main character's legendary voiceover father Sam tells her she'll never be good enough to compete with the men, but subtle and funny in details like his decor and chocolate brown velour tracksuit that seem to hearken back to his glory days. I will admit that Lake Bell's character/acting gets annoying - it's like she's trying to imitate Kristen Wiig as Annie Walker and isn't succeeding. Yes, it drags at times, but I feel that it's a real but funny look at a person trying to navigate their life and actually deal with what they encounter, unlike other "quirky" films that go nowhere. Overall it was better and more complex than I anticipated.This is a movie that succeeds in being serious but making fun of itself at the same time. A theme that runs through this movie is the sexism endemic in male-dominated professions whose "rules" have never changed; it's blatant in the way the main…
Added Oct 04, 2015
Batman, the Dark Knight UnwrappedBatman, the Dark Knight Unwrapped, Comic Book
by Finch, DavidComic Book - 2015Comic Book, 2015
leah_p's rating:
Added Sep 30, 2015
Comment:
This review is all about the art. Finch's art is absolutely killer and it's pretty cool to see the bones of the comic before inking. This is one instance where, in my opinion, inking actually hinders the quality of the finished product because of all the lost detail (a few panels are shown inked). Seeing the process and the raw pages makes you appreciate not only the artist's skill but their grasp of anatomy, perspective, composition and lighting.This review is all about the art. Finch's art is absolutely killer and it's pretty cool to see the bones of the comic before inking. This is one instance where, in my opinion, inking actually hinders the quality of the finished product because of…
Only Lovers Left AliveOnly Lovers Left Alive, DVD
DVD - 2014DVD, 2014
leah_p's rating:
Added Sep 20, 2015
Added Aug 12, 2015
Comment:
A comprehensive guide to all bird species kept as pets and the 'need to know' info about all of them. Good, colourful photos and descriptions. It includes lists of toxic and non-toxic woods that can be used as natural perches, what to feed and what not to feed and why, recipes, info on cleaning products and more. Useful tips about training, feeding, behaviour and care are also scattered throughout.A comprehensive guide to all bird species kept as pets and the 'need to know' info about all of them. Good, colourful photos and descriptions. It includes lists of toxic and non-toxic woods that can be used as natural perches, what to feed and what…
leah_p's rating:
Added Aug 12, 2015
Comment:
A seriously awesome album. Sounds like all their musical influences converge and evolve into something better. You can't file these guys under any existing genre (although their own label of 'schizo pop' definitely works) which is what makes their stuff sound so fresh.A seriously awesome album. Sounds like all their musical influences converge and evolve into something better. You can't file these guys under any existing genre (although their own label of 'schizo pop' definitely works) which is what makes their…
The Kingdom of GodsThe Kingdom of Gods, Book
by Jemisin, N. K.Book - 2011 | 1st ed. --Book, 2011. 1st ed. --
leah_p's rating:
Added Jul 24, 2015
The Broken KingdomsThe Broken Kingdoms, Book
by Jemisin, N. K.Book - 2011 | 1st mass market ed. --Book, 2011. 1st mass market ed. --
leah_p's rating:
Added Jul 11, 2015
The Hundred Thousand KingdomsThe Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Book
by Jemisin, N. K.Book - 2010 | 1st mass market ed. --Book, 2010. 1st mass market ed. --
leah_p's rating:
Added Jul 11, 2015
Gifts of the CrowGifts of the Crow, BookHow Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans
by Marzluff, John M.Book - 2012 | 1st Free Press hardcover ed. --Book, 2012. 1st Free Press hardcover ed. --
leah_p's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2015
Comment:
This is a very accessible, engaging read that presents both scientific evidence and informal accounts of how and why corvids perceive, learn and plan, among other behaviours that many would ascribe to humans alone. The convergent evolution of human and corvid brains from a common reptilian ancestor is a fascinating bit of knowledge.This is a very accessible, engaging read that presents both scientific evidence and informal accounts of how and why corvids perceive, learn and plan, among other behaviours that many would ascribe to humans alone. The convergent evolution of human…
Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour BookstoreMr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore, Book
by Sloan, RobinBook - 2012 | 1st Canadian ed. --Book, 2012. 1st Canadian ed. --
leah_p's rating:
Added May 01, 2015
Design in NatureDesign in Nature, BookHow the Constructal Law Governs Evolution in Biology, Physics, Technology, and Social Organization
by Bejan, AdrianBook - 2012 | 1st ed. --Book, 2012. 1st ed. --
Added May 01, 2015
The Myth of the Muslim TideThe Myth of the Muslim Tide, BookDo Immigrants Threaten the West
by Saunders, DougBook - 2012Book, 2012
leah_p's rating:
Added May 01, 2015
Quotations
- The arrival of millions of people from poor religious-minority backgrounds in Western countries was a traumatic, politically controversial, sometimes violent affair... We forget that the sons of arrivals from Poland and Ireland failed to do better economically than their fathers, were often more religiously extreme, and refused to marry outside their ethnic circle. We forget that this was considered a threat to our democracy and civilization. We forget that it was nearly universal to see these people as members of an alien civilization, to distrust them because of the presume motives of their religion, to associate them with violence, to believe that they were deliberately refusing to integrate and that there was plenty of evidence to support such views. The integration of Catholic and Jewish immigrants into our economies and societies took far longer than we remember. To avoid the mistakes of hindsight, we should take the time to remember.The arrival of millions of people from poor religious-minority backgrounds in Western countries was a traumatic, politically controversial, sometimes violent affair... We forget that the sons of arrivals from Poland and Ireland failed to do better…
- We see it repeatedly when a new group of immigrants arrives who are members of a religious minority, usually poor and ill-accustomed to the language and folkways of their new country and the workings of its economy. In response to these strange newcomers writers and politicians offer the same set of frightened, frightening ideas: They are different from previous groups. They don’t want to integrate. Their religion compels them to impose their values on us. Their reproduction rates will swamp us. They are disloyal and capable of violence... That said, the circumstances and context of each immigrant wave are profoundly different, and the outcome will never be exactly the same. But we should learn to recognize the pattern and to remember the long, awkward struggle for integration endured by those earlier waves, to identify the arguments that appear every time in literature, scholarship and politics, and then take care to make sure that we don’t repeat those mistakes.We see it repeatedly when a new group of immigrants arrives who are members of a religious minority, usually poor and ill-accustomed to the language and folkways of their new country and the workings of its economy. In response to these strange…
Comment: