When: Saturday 5/23/09, early afternoon
Where: corner of Garden St. and Berkeley St., Cambridge (outside the Sheraton Commander hotel)
Who: Male, early 20s
What: The Dying Animal by Philip Roth
I forgot to record this one, and remembered it the other day. I've never had much of an interest in reading Roth - from what I've heard, his novels seem like everything I dislike - but I suppose I should at least read one.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Genre fiction issues
When: Monday 5/25/09, around 2:00 PM
Where: Davis Square, on the benches in front of JP Licks
Who: Female, early 30s
What: The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
I've known plenty of people who liked this author, but have never actually read a book by him myself.
I wanted to start labeling books with genres where appropriate, but I don't know enough about this one to label it sci-fi or fantasy. Maybe at some point int he future.
Where: Davis Square, on the benches in front of JP Licks
Who: Female, early 30s
What: The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
I've known plenty of people who liked this author, but have never actually read a book by him myself.
I wanted to start labeling books with genres where appropriate, but I don't know enough about this one to label it sci-fi or fantasy. Maybe at some point int he future.
Maybe a more modest financial goal is appropriate these days....
When: Monday 5/25/09, early afternoon
Where: MBTA Red Line, going towards Alewife, between Harvard and Davis
Who: Male, early 20s
What: I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi
The WorldCat summary: "Presents the author's six-week personal finance program for adults ages 20-35. Integrated with his website, where readers can use interactive charts, follow up on the latest information, and join the community, it is a hip blueprint to building wealth and financial security."
This is perhaps the only instance of "hip" modifying "blueprint" in the English language.
Where: MBTA Red Line, going towards Alewife, between Harvard and Davis
Who: Male, early 20s
What: I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi
The WorldCat summary: "Presents the author's six-week personal finance program for adults ages 20-35. Integrated with his website, where readers can use interactive charts, follow up on the latest information, and join the community, it is a hip blueprint to building wealth and financial security."
This is perhaps the only instance of "hip" modifying "blueprint" in the English language.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
London in Cambridge
When: Saturday 5/16/09, around 4:30 PM
Where: Brattle Square, Cambridge, near the florist shop
Who: Male, 20s
What: White Teeth by Zadie Smith
One of my favorite books! I got very excited.
Where: Brattle Square, Cambridge, near the florist shop
Who: Male, 20s
What: White Teeth by Zadie Smith
One of my favorite books! I got very excited.
Political novel
When: Saturday 5/16/09, around 4:00 PM
Where: MBTA Red Line, going towards Alewife, between Downtown Crossing and Harvard
Who: Female, 40s
What: Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley
The novel about a TV judge who ends up on the Supreme Court, by the erstwhile National Review writer (see this October New York Times article). I recognized the title from when I saw him on The Daily Show (or maybe it was The Colbert Report).
Image from WorldCat.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Ubiquitous Salinger
When: Saturday 5/16/09, around noon
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and Broadway
Who: Female, 20s
What: Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
Salinger keeps popping up lately (he was an answer on Jeopardy! the other day). I've never read this one...this blog is quickly becoming a list of books to read. I'll add it to the several others I keep.
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and Broadway
Who: Female, 20s
What: Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
Salinger keeps popping up lately (he was an answer on Jeopardy! the other day). I've never read this one...this blog is quickly becoming a list of books to read. I'll add it to the several others I keep.
First children's book of the blog
When: Saturday 5/16/09, around noon
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and Broadway
Who: Male, around 8 or 9
What: Dragon of the Red Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne
An installment of the Magic Tree House series.
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and Broadway
Who: Male, around 8 or 9
What: Dragon of the Red Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne
An installment of the Magic Tree House series.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Dan Brown strikes again
When: Tuesday 5/12/09, 7:35 AM
Where: MBTA Harvard Station, lower busway
Who: Female, early 40s
What: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Catching up before the movie comes out....
Where: MBTA Harvard Station, lower busway
Who: Female, early 40s
What: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Catching up before the movie comes out....
Classic in the air, part two
When: Sunday 5/10/09, 7:00 PM or so
Where: American Airlines flight 154 from Chicago to Boston
Who: Male, 30s
What: The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Where: American Airlines flight 154 from Chicago to Boston
Who: Male, 30s
What: The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Classic in the air, part one
When: Sunday 5/10/09, 7:00 PM or so
Where: American Airlines flight 154 from Chicago to Boston
Who: Male, early 20s
What: Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Where: American Airlines flight 154 from Chicago to Boston
Who: Male, early 20s
What: Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Don't think of a plane crash
When: Sunday 5/10/09, 7:00 PM or so
Where: American Airlines flight 154 from Chicago to Boston
Who: Male, late 20s
What: Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate by George Lakoff
My impression of this book is that it's basically Moral Politics abridged. I could be wrong, though. I was in the aisle seat; the man reading this was by the window. He very politely ignored the not-so-under-my-breath swearing and erratic behavior that characterizes me during turbulence.
Where: American Airlines flight 154 from Chicago to Boston
Who: Male, late 20s
What: Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate by George Lakoff
My impression of this book is that it's basically Moral Politics abridged. I could be wrong, though. I was in the aisle seat; the man reading this was by the window. He very politely ignored the not-so-under-my-breath swearing and erratic behavior that characterizes me during turbulence.
Not what I thought
When: Friday 5/8/09, 9:30 AM
Where: Logan Airport, Terminal B
Who: Female, late teens
What: A Piece of Cake: A Memoir by Cupcake Brown
Here's a link to a review from Bookreporter, which explains what the book is about. I had never heard of it and thought from my brief glimpse at the cover that it might be a culinary memoir, a la Ruth Reichl.
Where: Logan Airport, Terminal B
Who: Female, late teens
What: A Piece of Cake: A Memoir by Cupcake Brown
Here's a link to a review from Bookreporter, which explains what the book is about. I had never heard of it and thought from my brief glimpse at the cover that it might be a culinary memoir, a la Ruth Reichl.
Your book is passing by
When: Friday 5/8/09, 8:30 AM
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and South Station
Who: Female, 20s
What: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
I've heard an awful lot about this book; I might try to read it soon. The author used to (and might still) teach at MIT, which the train passed as we were going along. This kind of physical proximity of reader to author probably happens a lot in university towns.
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and South Station
Who: Female, 20s
What: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
I've heard an awful lot about this book; I might try to read it soon. The author used to (and might still) teach at MIT, which the train passed as we were going along. This kind of physical proximity of reader to author probably happens a lot in university towns.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Life change events -- Fiction.
When: Friday 5/8/09, 8:30 AM
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and South Station
Who: Female, early 40s
What: The Shack by William Paul Young
Another great subject heading.
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and South Station
Who: Female, early 40s
What: The Shack by William Paul Young
Another great subject heading.
Pre- Da Vinci Code
When: Friday 5/8/09, 8:30 AM
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and South Station
Who: Female, 20s
What: Deception Point by Dan Brown
Someone catching up on her Dan Brown canon?
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Braintree, between Harvard and South Station
Who: Female, 20s
What: Deception Point by Dan Brown
Someone catching up on her Dan Brown canon?
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Literary nonfiction!
When: Wednesday 5/6/09, 6:45 PM
Where: MBTA Green Line (B Line), outbound, between Park St. and Kenmore
Who: Male, 20s
What: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
I paused over what category to put this book in. It's literary nonfiction, a genre I increasingly love. Nonfiction seems good to me; "memoir" is a little specific, I think.
Where: MBTA Green Line (B Line), outbound, between Park St. and Kenmore
Who: Male, 20s
What: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
I paused over what category to put this book in. It's literary nonfiction, a genre I increasingly love. Nonfiction seems good to me; "memoir" is a little specific, I think.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wayfaring life - Alaska.
When: Tuesday 5/5/09, 6:45 PM
Where: MBTA Green Line (B Line), outbound, between Park St. and Pleasant. St.
Who: Female, 20s
What: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Surely this title needs no explanation. I have absolutely no desire, however, to read it. Once again I've titled the post with a subject heading from WorldCat, because I really like that this is a subject heading.
Where: MBTA Green Line (B Line), outbound, between Park St. and Pleasant. St.
Who: Female, 20s
What: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Surely this title needs no explanation. I have absolutely no desire, however, to read it. Once again I've titled the post with a subject heading from WorldCat, because I really like that this is a subject heading.
Wine and wine making - Fiction.
When: Tuesday 5/5/09, 6:45 PM
Where: MBTA Green Line (B Line), outbound, between Park St. and Pleasant. St.
Who: Female, late 20s
What: A Long Finish by Michael Dibdin
I had never heard of this author; apparently he writes mysteries about a detective named Aurelio Zen. The WorldCat summary of this one is: "Detective Aurelio Zen is dispatched to Piedmont to investigate the mutilation and murder of a wealthy wine grower. He discovers a closed society with lots of secrets." The title of this post is one of the subject headings assigned to the book.
Where: MBTA Green Line (B Line), outbound, between Park St. and Pleasant. St.
Who: Female, late 20s
What: A Long Finish by Michael Dibdin
I had never heard of this author; apparently he writes mysteries about a detective named Aurelio Zen. The WorldCat summary of this one is: "Detective Aurelio Zen is dispatched to Piedmont to investigate the mutilation and murder of a wealthy wine grower. He discovers a closed society with lots of secrets." The title of this post is one of the subject headings assigned to the book.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Paging Nurse Ratched
When: Saturday, 5/2/09, 1:15 PM
Where: MBTA Green Line (C Line), outbound, between Park St. and Coolidge Corner
Who: Female, 30s
What: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
I remember this copy had a cool cover, but I can't remember what it looked like. I've never tried to read this book, and I don't feel like I ever will.
Where: MBTA Green Line (C Line), outbound, between Park St. and Coolidge Corner
Who: Female, 30s
What: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
I remember this copy had a cool cover, but I can't remember what it looked like. I've never tried to read this book, and I don't feel like I ever will.
The debut of fantasy novels on this blog
When: Saturday, 5/2/09, 12:30 PM
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Ashmont, between Harvard and Park St.
Who: Female, late 20s
What: Oathbreaker by Mercedes Lackey
A well-worn paperback copy. She was laughing at something in the book.
Where: MBTA Red Line, going toward Ashmont, between Harvard and Park St.
Who: Female, late 20s
What: Oathbreaker by Mercedes Lackey
A well-worn paperback copy. She was laughing at something in the book.
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