Tshania Sedai
I am really a fan of this book! Organized in to chapters that act as life lessons, this book is really an interesting look into the world of fashion and celebrity. Essentially, this is a collection of rambling stories that work together to highlight character traits we should work to posses or flaws we should strive to overcome. Though at times I suppose this book could feel like Tim is just airing his grievances, the stories are told in such a way that I found them insightful and amusing. This book really feels more like you are having a chat with a friend, or listening to the stories of a relative than that you are being lectured on manners. The book is a mixture of tales from Tim's personal and professional lives, and all are told with the right mixture of whit, charm, and disdain. I found this book to be a quick and enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it. However, if you are a fan of Project Runway, or any of Tim Gunn's other television endeavors, then this book is an absolute must read and should be placed on top of your reading pile.
Lost at the Con by Bryan Young is a wild romp through the world of a science fiction convention. It is the story of Cobb, a political journalist who has sold out on his ideals for a steady pay check. Disgusted with his personal and professional life, he is given an assignment he could care less about - covering the science fiction convention GriffinCon (based on the real life DragonCon) in Atlanta. Armed with a pen, a press badge, and a glass of scotch (or any other alcohol handy), Cobb sets off in search of stories.
Upon reaching Atlanta, Cobb is confused and lost almost his entire stay. He wanders his way through the hoards of convention-goers, dressed to the max in geeky costumes from comics, movies, and history. What he expects to find is a mass of “basement dwelling mouth-breathers,” but instead he finds everything from the socially awkward young adult male to sexy girls in school girl costumes. Though he searches for the seedy underbelly of geek life, he can't help but be swept up in the hero's journey that is so beloved by fans of fantasy and science fiction.
I don't really want to spoil the fun details of story, but if “slashfic,” “nerds vs. jocks,” or “Cybernetic Space Lincoln” pique your interest, this book is a must read. And I mean, really, how could Cybernetic Space Lincoln not pique your interest? The book has the feel of a modern-day epic quest in an alien world (well, alien at least to the main character). It is for anyone who is a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, or anyone who has been to a science fiction convention (willingly or otherwise). I found this book to be hilarious and fun, and I highly recommend it.
This novel details the adventures of Antoine as he searches for happiness, which, he has decided, will be best achieved by finding a way to reduce his intelligence. His attempts to live as an “ordinary man” border on the ridiculous, and he tries everything from alcohol to stock brokering in search of a cure. Surrounded by a cast of wacky characters, Antoine's world is both crazily odd and yet strangely relatable.
Although I thought this book started off as an amusing read, by the end I was a bit conflicted on my overall impression. On one hand, I actually think the concept is sort of brilliant, and many of Antoine's attempts at slowing his mind are hilarious. On the other hand, I feel like this book didn't strike the right balance between ridiculous satire and social commentary. While the book did point out a lot of flaws in today's society, the ending felt muddled and rushed, and didn't seem to flow naturally with the rest of the story. I don't know if I would say that I am confused about the overall message of the book, I would say that the message felt like it was forced on the reader by the abrupt ending, rather than growing more organically out of the story. It really felt like the author had a good idea, but was never able to fully flush it out, and then rushed an ending to meet a publication deadline. While I enjoyed the majority of the book, the abrupt ending sort of killed all of my warm fuzzy feelings.
I don't think I would recommend this book as a must read, but I do think the beginning of the book is humorous and does have some merit. I am glad I read it, but I don't think this book necessarily has broad appeal. If you want a quick read that proposes some interesting thoughts, it is worth the time, but if you want a great novel that will shower you with insights to the meaning of life then you would probably be best off looking elsewhere.
Serger Secrets is broken into four main sections: (1) information about the mechanics of sergers, proper needles, thread, how to deal with thread tension, and stitch variations, (2) garment gallery showing how various serger techniques can be used in practice, (3) technique guide with step-by-step instructions, and (4) troubleshooting tips. All of the images in this book are color photographs, which can be helpful for seeing visual comparisons between different types of serger thread or seeing how a technique looks in a finished design. While I may have to point out that some of their example garments may not be the most inspiring to look at, they do do an excellent job of highlighting the desired techniques.
With this book I think what comes through most clearly is the enthusiasm that the authors have for the creative use of a serger. I think the reader of the book will definitely feel encouraged to find new and interesting uses for their serger. To me the first section of the book felt a bit cluttered - too much information laid out in a less than logical manner. The writing itself was quite comprehensible and informative, but the page layout did feel a bit crowded at times. However, I do very much appreciate the photographic comparisons of various stitches and various threads. This section of the book is quite helpful in deciding which threads and stitch functions are most appropriate for various sewing and designs. The second section of the book (garment gallery) is fine, but I did not find the designs particularly inspiring myself. I actually thought the third section (step-by-step techniques) were more inspiring in terms of ideas for incorporating the serger into my own designs. I thought the techniques section (which covers everything from simple overcasting and serging a seam to using the serger to install zippers and creating new fabric with heirloom techniques) was quite exhaustive and I think it will be an excellent resource. It did, however, leave me wishing I had a coverstitch machine, which wasn't in the original serger budget, but definitely something I must consider for the future. Overall this book is an excellent resource, and I would highly recommend it as well.
Successful Serging is actually a wire bound book, which is great because it easily lays flat when you want to use it as reference, but it also has a soft cover over the wires, so they stay neat and tidy without mangling any other books on the shelf. The book starts by discussing what a serger is, what it does, how it forms stitches, and why it is good to have one in addition to a regular sewing machine. It goes on to discuss thread and threading, tension, and the best uses for the various types of serger thread. The book then discusses the types of stitches a serger can make, and their best applications. It gives practical advice for dealing with corners and curves and how best to operate the machine. The book also discusses cleaver ways to use the serger in garment construction (various types of hems, etc.), as well as how to do some decorative trims and “heirloom serging.” Finally, it discusses problem fabrics and how to deal with them, as well as potential troubleshooting in the back.
The images in this book are in color, although most of the useful images are drawn diagrams, with the photographs being mostly for decoration. I actually like this, as I find the diagrams easy to see and understand. Also, the writing in this book is fairly basic and simplified, while still having enough detail to be useful. I would say that this book is an excellent resource, especially for a new serger owner. While it can't replace the necessity of having the serger's manual at hand, this book can provide ideas and advice about how to best use the serger to full advantage. I feel that it is rather comprehensive without being too full of information as to be overwhelming. All in all it is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
Frist off, I should say that I have been reading Tamora Pierce's works since the age of eleven. Without a doubt the target audience of her books are pre-teen and teenage girls (perhaps a bit more toward the teen depending upon maturity levels), but I decided long ago that as long as she keeps writing ‘em, I am going to keep reading ‘em. She was one of the first authors I really loved to read, and so I suppose I shall always have a soft spot for her books. In any case, even as I age, I still appreciate her stories and characters and continue to enjoy her books.
Tamora Pierce has created two main worlds in which her characters and magic systems exist. One is the home of the Circle of Magic books, and the other is Tortall, which has been home to a wonderful assortment of knights, mages, scoundrels, and nobility. While the setting remains the same, the characters and their stories have been excitingly different. It has been interesting to see how the beliefs and customs in this world have changed over time, while other things have remained very much consistent throughout the timeframe covered by her works.
Typically, in her Tortallian stories, Pierce creates a female character and follows their path to greatness through two, three, or four books. Mastiff is the third and final book in the Beka Cooper series, which details the progress of Beka Cooper as she gains position in Tortall's police force. Unlike Tamora Pierce's other books, the Cooper stories are written journal style in first person. Since Beka Cooper is one of Tamora Pierce's few shyer, quieter characters, this is an excellent way to understand and connect with the character, although she may not speak as much as many of the other characters in the story. The Beka Cooper stories date back the furthest in the Tortall collections thus far; so it is interesting to see how things have changed between her time on Tortall's police force and later in the timeline when Alanna must struggle to gain acceptance as a lady knight.
Beka's earlier stories detail her learning and growing into her position as a law keeper of the realm, but Mastiff highlights how skilled and mature she has become. This is without a doubt the most exciting of the three novels, as the stakes have never been higher and it pushes Beka and all of her companions to the limit. I won't deny that there may have been more than once during the reading of this book that caused me to get a little teary-eyed, a few moments that had me bouncing in glee, and more than a few moments that left me screaming at the book and wanting to throw it against the wall. And, despite seeing a few things coming a mile off, that still didn't affect my reaction once they actually turned up in the plot. Which speaks volumes about how easy it is to get wrapped up in the story and empathize with Pierce's characters. I suppose it isn't a surprise then, that this books kept me up well past bed-time three nights running. And I have to say - totally worth it.
While Beka Cooper isn't my favorite of the Tortallian legends (my favorite stories are in The Immortals Quartet), I still thoroughly enjoyed reading her story and watching her journey. I love how her tale, despite being a century removed from most of the other events in the Tortallian legends, is still connected and important to those future events. As always, I greatly enjoyed the cast of characters, the exciting events, and the constant snark that is so prevalent in Tamora Pierce's work. All in all this book was quite satisfying, and I found it thoroughly enjoyable.
The completely spoiler free review: In a way, it is sort of like the fourth Indiana Jones movie, only done right. And by “right” I mean that fans of the originally trilogy will find it undeniably amazing.
The more complete review: This review will not be spolierific in terms of plot, but may reveal more than some purists want to know about the contents of the book. Proceed with caution.The Alloy of Law is a steam-punk-esque type fantasy/mystery/action/adventure novel set in Sanderson's Mistborn world. The adventures in this story take place many years after the original trilogy has ended. I really love that Sanderson has shown how his world has progressed in terms of technology, religion, and the magic system he created in the original trilogy. Perhaps the best part is that none of these changes really require a lengthy explanation, and none of them receive it. All of the progression is logical and well thought out, adding exciting new flair to this story, but at its core this is still a Mistborn novel, with all of the awesomeness that implies.Without a doubt, the Mistborn books contain the best action sequences I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and Alloy takes the game to a whole new level. Quite frankly, between the amazing "magical" powers possessed by the characters, the guns, and the dynamite, this book almost reads like a commercial for Spike tv (read: LOTS of explosions). This, however, is a good thing, as it allows the characters to undeniably assert their complete and total awesomeness. Badass doesn't even begin to cover the levels of amazing displayed in this story. Which makes it a very, very fun read.While I don't think this book achieves the same level of storytelling brilliance as was displayed in the original trilogy, there is no doubt that this book deserves to stand on the shelf next to them. Although Sanderson always loves to create characters with wit (haha, see what I did there?), the constant banter in the book gives it something of a lighter tone than was present in the original trilogy. I don't think this makes the novel feel out of place though; it just further highlights the fact that this a different story in a different time in the same place. And while the overall story is quite exciting, following the adventures of lawmen just does not have the dramatic impact of taking on a centuries-old empire. Despite this, however, the idea of having characters use their powers in an attempt to serve humanity is very much in line with the original Mistborn story. So, despite all of its differences, in the end this book actually fits in very well with those preceding it.
Final impressions - this book is a must read! Honestly, all of the books set in the Mistborn universe are must reads, and this is no exception. While I have enjoyed all of Brandon Sanderson's writings, the Mistborn novels are my favorites, and I highly recommend them to readers of all genres, though especially fans of fantasy or science fiction.
I think this book is clearly laid out - the book starts by discussing important tools, how to read and trace patterns, grainlines and fabric, and basic sewing techniques. It then goes on to give very detailed instructions for a skirt, a blouse, a dress, a coat, and a bag. It includes three variations with instructions for each pattern, as well as photographs of lots of creative ideas for each of the five designs. The pattern pieces are included with the book, which is great. I really love the blouse, and I like elements of the coat, so I may make use of these patterns in the future.
My overall impression is that this is the perfect book for someone who is interested in learning to sew clothes but doesn't have a lot of experience. The book outlines the essentials of sewing without getting too bogged down in the details. It emphasizes creativity while still highlighting the importance of technique (pressing seams, etc.). Most of the other “learn to sew” type books tend to give “patterns” for aprons or toys or crafty items, which never held much interest for me, and I am sure aren't of much interest for others who want to learn to sew garments. This, of course, is not an issue with BurdaStyle, which emphasizes the different garment patterns they have included. The instructions seem to be quite detailed, so they could be great for newer sewers. Also, these patterns do not have seam allowances (like the magazine patterns), and it gives some good advice about how to add seam allowances and why it is better to make pattern alterations without them. I really think this book would be especially good for teens or young adults who are interested in sewing trendy clothes and want to learn some of the basics.
I don't know that this is going to be one of my go-to books for sewing techniques, but I do like the inspiration and advice it gives for altering patterns to get totally different styles. While I feel very confident trying pattern alterations with skating costumes, I am usually less willing to experiment with regular clothing and I think this book may give me more ideas for making major pattern alterations. Of course, on the other hand, I really like trying out new patterns, so I don't think that is going to stop just because of this book. However, I may be more open minded when looking at patterns - looking for details I like so I can incorporate them into other designs.
Overall I would say this is a great book and fills a niche in the current sewing book market. I think it may be just a bit below my skill level at this point, but it is exactly the book I was looking for when I first started sewing. The inclusions of the patterns are great and make the purchase worth it for advanced sewers, and I really like that this book included designs from the BurdaStyle community members. I think it is great that they recognize the skill and creativity of the BurdaStyle users, and feature this in the book. However, I think where this book really excels is as a first sewing book for new sewers who want to learn about garment construction. It may not be my go-to book when I have a sewing question, but I am quite pleased with it and I feel it deserves a spot on my sewing book shelf.
So... my overall impressions after reading the book is that I am not as blown away as I had hoped to be. That doesn't mean this is a bad book. I think having read somewhere that this series is the equivalent of “literary crack” I just expected a bit much. I mean, the general consensus that this is a more realistic, gritty, shades-of-grey type fantasy world than can be found in other novels is a rather accurate depiction. And I actually do like that aspect of the book. The writing is very good, and I usually enjoy a political intrigue type of story. However, I am just not loving and obsessing over this book as much as I do with a lot of the other series I have read. I think perhaps it is because I just don't love a lot of the characters. I mean, I appreciate the characters - they are interesting and multi-dimensional. I wouldn't say a single character is boring. However, even the best of the bunch have their dark moments and there aren't a ton of characters who are entirely likable. Which, I suppose, is how it is with real people in real life. Which also adds to the realistic nature of this story. And even in this first novel there is some character growth and development, which is good. And yet... there were very few people I actually really liked. I ponder if it is because I don't feel like I can trust any of these characters, at least not fully. And even those I do trust... I worry about getting too attached because they seem to make some stupid, all be it noble, decisions that don't really give me much encouragement for their longevity.
The other lasting impression I have of this book is that it is very much a beginning. I think this books shows a lot of plot threads that could potentially all come together in a bout of awesome at the end of the series. I think that perhaps that is the other reason I am still not obsessing over this book is that I am still waiting for the series to go somewhere. Which isn't to say that important things didn't happen in this book, because they most surely did. However, all of these things leave the impression of events just starting to get into motion. Even the ending of the book (which was quite satisfying, I might add) feels more like the start of things yet to come, rather than a culmination of the events of this part of the story. I think many fantasy stories start with many of the characters together, then branching out on their own adventures, and finally coming together for an epic ending. However, in this case, I feel like most of the characters have been spread apart to begin with, and will hopefully come together in the end for some sort of epic ending.
Overall, I am not super obsessively loving this book. However, I do think it was a good book and well worth reading. I am starting in on the second book because I am afraid I will forget all of the little details if I wait too long. Also, the second book picks up right where the first book left off, so I think reading the entire series (such as it is, as it is yet unfinished) as continuously as possible will probably enhance the story. Hopefully the second book will leave me loving the series a bit more... I am hoping that my lackluster reaction really is due to the slow start and not me losing interest in fantasy novels and other nerdy pursuits. I mean, I haven't even seen the last few Harry Potter movies. Lately my sewing has been more practical than fantastic, and my bedside stack of “to read” has shifted from fat fantasy novels to technical sewing guides. I don't know. I seem to be having less of an interest in the nerd pop culture as of late and I wonder, am I losing my nerdiness? I hope not. But I suppose time and a few more fantasy novels will tell.
Since this is, you know, a murder mystery I won't go spoiling any of the important plot related stuff. I will however, extol the virtues of the rather fun cast of characters and give my overall opinion of the book.
The story is about Rebecca Robbins, a small town girl trying to make her way in the big city of Chicago. When her mother passes she inherits The Toe Stop, her mother's rink located in her small home town. After spending her childhood dreaming of getting out of small-town-Illinois, Rebecca's goal is to sell the rink and get back to Chicago as quickly as possible. However, when the town's handy man, Mack, winds up dead in a rink toilet, her dreams of a quick sale die with him. When it becomes apparent that the town's sheriff is essentially useless in solving the case, Rebecca takes things into her own hands. In her quest to find the killer, Rebecca shakes up the small town and makes a few enemies and a few friends. Of course, clues are found, people are questioned, and in general, hilarity ensues.
One of the great things about this book is the fun cast of characters. Written from Rebecca's first person point of view, there is snarky commentary throughout about the crazy people would would want to live in rural Illinois. Although they are all slightly stereotypical (small town girl escapes to the big city, hunky small town veterinarian, crazy old cat lady, the ladies-man grandfather, etc.) most of the time they are just plain fun. A few of the stand-out characters are George, the rink's skating instructor who would have been better suited to live in the days of the Skating Vanities and Gloria Nord, and Elwood, the hat wearing camel. Although they may not have quite the page time as some of the other characters, they are fun for the skating crowd, or just plain fun. Also, much love for Bryan and Reginald, but really, you have to read it to see why. I can't spoil the awesome on that one.
I would highly recommend this book for ages 12 and up (maybe 14 and up, depending on maturity of the kid/family values/etc). Being as how it is, you know, a murder mystery, there is some violence (gasp the horror!), and while, mercifully, most of the sexual content is keep off-screen, it is very very (very) heavily implied. While the plot is rather predictable, the characters rather stereotypical, and the story very straightforward, there are some exciting bits and some great laugh out loud moments. It doesn't take itself seriously and so everything just works. To sum it up in a sentence: This is Nancy Drew for the adult crowd. For grown up Nancy Drew lovers, roller skating fans, or anyone looking for a fun, fast, easy read, this is a great book.
