Book Review: Super Boys

Katie June 6, 2013 0 Comments

One time, I saw on The OC a book called Kavalier and Clay.  So I bought it.  And have yet to read it.  So when I saw that this book is the biography of the inspiration for Kavalier and Clay, I decided to check it out.  The book is pretty long, 425 pages.  I was a bit overwhelmed and put off reading it for a long, long time.  But I love Superman and finding out more about the creators would be something interesting to me, no matter how long it would take me to read it.  (The book is split into 3 parts and before all the notes is about 100 pages less than it appears to be.)

The story actually ended up being quite interesting and although the book was long, it flowed and was easy to read, unlike some other biographies I have checked out.  It was interesting to see the evolution of the stories and Superman as well as find out about the inspiration for Lois Lane.

Also great was how the two just kept trying to get their comic seen.  They never really seemed to take no for an answer.  And obviously, eventually this paid off for them, and quite handsomely.

Overall, definitely an inspiring and interesting biography and maybe I’ll have to find Kavalier and Clay now and give it another try…

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

The first comprehensive literary biography of Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, creators of Superman and the inspiration for Michael Chabon’s Kavalier and Clay

Drawing on ten years of research in the trenches of Cleveland libraries, boarded-up high schools, and secret, private collections, Brad Ricca’s Super Boys is the first ever full biography about Superman’s creators. Among scores of new discoveries, the book reveals the first stories and pictures ever published by the two, where the first Superman story really came from, the real inspiration for Lois Lane, the template for Superman’s costume, and much, much more. Super Boys also tracks the boys’ unknown, often mysterious lives after they left Superman, including Siegel’s secret work during World War II and never-before-seen work from Shuster.

Super Boys explains, finally, what exactly happened with the infamous check for $130 that pulled Superman away from his creators—and gave control of the character to the publisher. Ricca also uncovers the true nature of Jerry’s father’s death, a crime that has always remained a mystery. Super Boys is the story of a long friendship between boys who grew to be men and the standard that would be impossible for both of them to live up to.

Book Review: Pretty Good for a Girl

Katie June 5, 2013 0 Comments

I don’t often hear much about women in bluegrass. I’m not sure if this is just because I am not a huge fan of bluegrass or if they really just aren’t talked about all that much.  Pretty Good for a Girl, chronicles the women in Bluegrass and it is separated into chapters by years.  There are 4 ladies represents from the 1940s, 6 ladies / groups represented in the 1950s, In the 1960s we have 13 groups and/or ladies, in the 1970s the floodgates opened giving way to 13 more additions.  The 80s had 4, and in 1990 there are too many to count but there are chapters devoted to 4.

Featured in the book are Wilma Lee Cooper, Bessie Lee Mauldin, Betty Amos with Jud and Jen, The Women in California, Alison Krauss, The Dixie Chicks and many, many more.

The title of the book comes from the backhanded compliments many get – you’re pretty good! … for a girl.   Being told you do anything “like a girl” has always been considered a put-down.

I love stories about women who are excelling in a man’s profession and this book is full of great stories about empowered women.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

The first book devoted entirely to women in bluegrass, Pretty Good for a Girl documents the lives of more than seventy women whose vibrant contributions to the development of bluegrass have been, for the most part, overlooked. Accessibly written and organized by decade, the book begins with Sally Ann Forrester, who played accordion and sang with Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys from 1943 to 1946, and continues into the present with artists such as Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, and the Dixie Chicks. Drawing from extensive interviews, well-known banjoist Murphy Hicks Henry gives voice to women performers and innovators throughout bluegrass’s history, including such pioneers as Bessie Lee Mauldin, Wilma Lee Cooper, and Roni and Donna Stoneman; family bands including the Lewises, Whites, and McLains; and later pathbreaking performers such as the Buffalo Gals and other all-girl bands, Laurie Lewis, Lynn Morris, Missy Raines, and many others.

Murphy Hicks Henry is a professional banjo player, teacher, and writer living in Virginia. She founded the Women in Bluegrassnewsletter and has written regularly for Bluegrass Unlimited andBanjo Newsletter. She is also the co-creator of The Murphy Method, a series of instructional videos on playing the banjo and other bluegrass instruments.

Book Review: The Scoop on Breasts

Katie June 4, 2013 0 Comments

 The Scoop on Breasts will let you all you need to know about breasts as well as implants and augmentation.  It is written by the doctor who is in the Guinness book of world records as having performed the most augmentations done in a lifetime.

I have no desire to get a breast augmentation, but thought that this book might be an interesting read, and I was right.  Dr Ted goes through a lot of the frequent questions that he gets as a doctor in this field – will the implants pop, are most of his clients exotic dancers, etc.  In addition to answering all these and more, there is also “extra padding” in each chapter that tells some background information on different things relating to the breasts.

If you are thinking about getting an augmentation, then this book should definitely help you with some questions you may have but might be too embarrassed to ask (although, it is your body so you shouldn’t be embarrassed so you can be well informed on the decisions you make regarding it!) or if you are just curious to find out more about breasts, then I would recommend this book to you.

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review.  I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Whether you want to augment them, lift them, reduce them, or embrace them just the way they are, you’ll get the inside scoop about breasts and cosmetic breast surgery in this educational and entertaining book. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, a plastic surgeon who holds the Guinness Record for most breast augmentations done in a lifetime, candidly answers hundreds of actual patient questions like: Am I too old for breast augmentation? Will my implants boil in a hot tub? Do I need to replace them every 10 years? Joyce Eisenberg offers up titillating titbits and extra padding about breast goddesses, go-topless days, and Great Britain, whose women have the largest breasts in Europe. Filled with close to 200 photographs and illustrations, The Scoop on Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths is an amusing and revealing read. By book’s end, you’ll consider the authors your BBFs: Bosom Buddies Forever.

Book Review: The Black Suitcase

Katie June 3, 2013 0 Comments

The Black Suitcase is about a little boy named Eddie and his Dad.  Eddie’s Dad is a lot of fun when he is home and he and Eddie do all sorts of great things together.  But when he sees the Black Suitcase, he knows that means his Dad is leaving him!

Eddie decides to hide the suitcase and tell his Dad that he doesn’t want him to leave.  Eddie’s Dad explains to him that if he wants his house, tours and food, Dad has to go away to work and help people.

Dad then explains responsibility to Eddie and tries to make his leaving fun by teaching Eddie where they will be going on the map. Eddie learns about states and countries.  Then he and his Dad draw each other pictured.  Eddie hides his somewhere in his Dad’s suitcase and Dad hides his in Eddie’s room.  They will find them later!

The book is a sweet story explaining to a child while some parents have to leave on business trips (and why some leave when other Dad’s don’t!)  The illustrations are phenomenal and it is a great lesson for a kid whose parents may travel or maybe who has a friend whose parents travel.

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in order to write this review.  I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Meet Eddie — a perceptive, animated, big-blue-eyed little boy whose Dad doesn’t realize the impact his business traveling has on his son. From the moment The Black Suitcase appears, both father and son learn the importance of staying connected, even when they have to be apart. Along the way, Eddie learns about responsibility — and geography — while Dad grows to understand the values of communication.

Book Review: Guitar-ific!

Katie June 2, 2013 0 Comments

Nini Spergelini Guitar-Ific is about a kid named Nini.  When he is walking by the music store, he spots a really awesome yellow guitar in the window.  He day dreams about what it would be like to have the guitar and play a huge concert where everyone is there to see Nini!

Then it is time to wake up from the daydream and go to school.  He tells Picaboo that later they will continue to dream about the guitar.

When school gets out – Dad has a surprise for Nini in the car.  What can it be?

This is a 32 page book and is really cute about day dreaming about your dreams in life.  The illustrations are all done in marker which is also a really cool addition to the story.  It reminds me of stuff I used to doodle – except well, way better because I have no artistic talent whatsoever 😉

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About The Book
NiNi Spergelini rocks! NiNi and his loyal companion Picaboo spot a very special guitar in a music store window, and what happens next is a fun-loving adventure through space, time and a child’s imagination.

About The Author:
Born and raised in New Jersey, Heather Spergel spent her younger years performing on Broadway, in television commercials, and playing the flute in regional bands. With an M.S. in Community Counseling and as a National Certified Counselor, Heather worked in the mental health field for a number of years before joining the family business in property management.