Book Review: Big Day Coming

Katie August 11, 2012 0 Comments

Big Day Coming is a book about the band “Yo La Tengo”, before reading this book the only thing I knew about them was that they got their band name from the New York Mets.  The story goes that Mets outfielders Richie Ashburn and Elion Chacon often collided on fly balls when Ashburn yelled out “I’VE GOT IT!”, a spanish speaking teammate suggested that Ashburn try saying “Yo La Tengo”, and it worked for Chacon, but then the other outfielder Frank Thomas collided with Ashburn…

The book tells the stories of Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley, their youth and how music became a part of their lives growing up as well as how they met and formed the band as a husband and wife duo. Both are from the New York area and a lot of the story takes place in Hoboken, so it was interesting to read about locations I know of or have been to, it made the whole story a lot more relatable and real to me, at least. (If you’re not from the area the descriptions of the clubs are great and I think you’d have no problem picturing them!)

When they first started performing they had a rule thart they would not repeat songs from performance to performance so they had to teach themselves a whole new set every time they were going to perform! This led them to learning hundreds of songs to cover during their performances.

Yo La Tengo officially began in 1984 and has been continuing ever since, though the band members have switched around a bit.  Eventually they started adding in original songs to their sets and not just new covers.  Ira and Georgia over the years became a good songwriting team.

The biography is definitely an interesting story and was a fun read.  Definitely recommended for anyone looking to find out more about the band or about the music scene in Hoboken 30 years ago.

I receieved 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

Book Review: The Psychology of Dexter

Katie August 10, 2012 0 Comments

The Psychology of Dexter analyzes the hit Showtime television show through a series of essays written by various experts and fans of the show.  Dexter is a serial killer – but he has millions of people each week rooting for him.  Why is he so likeable compared to other killers featured in the show?  What is it about the character that has so many people drawn to him?

One chapter even compares everyone to Dexter.  It has a disclaimer before the essay begins – “If you want to believe that you have nothing in common with Dexter, do not read this chapter.” Is it true? Do we really all have a Dark Passenger in us like Dexter does? I think that we do – though perhaps some of us are just a bit better at hiding it than others.

While I’ve only seen the past couple seasons of Dexter, it was definitely interesting how the book took apart not only Dexter but other characters too, I’ve always been interested in Psych and things like this.  I probably would have gotten a bit more out of the book had I seen all the seasons though.

There are some other books in this series that analyze the Psychology of other TV shows, which I definitely think I need to check out. (And I may need to catch up on past Dexter seasons as well before it comes back in September!)  I would definitely recommend this book for any one who is a fan of or at the very least familiar with the TV show Dexter and has some sort of interest in psychology and analyzing serial killer characters.

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

About the Book

Millions of us are fascinated by unlikely hero Dexter Morgan—a character who constantly makes us question what being “normal” really means. What makes Dexter tick? And what makes a show about a serial killer so appealing to those of us at home?

In The Psychology of Dexter 17 psychologists and devoted Dexterfans take on the show’s psychological complexities, analyzing not just the title character but also his family, coworkers, and even his viewers.

• What can we learn about Dexter from the way he captures, kills, and disposes of his victims?
• We know Dexter is a psychopath . . . don’t we? Without the Code of Harry, would Dexter have ever killed at all?
• What do Deb’s daddy issues tell us about Dexter—and about Harry?
• Was Rita a victim or a manipulator?
• Can Jungian theory explain our fascination with Dexter? And do we need to be worried about our own Dark Passengers?

Think you know Dexter? The Psychology of Dexter will make you think again.

Book Review: The Melody Man

Katie August 7, 2012 0 Comments

The Melody Man is a biography on Joe Davis by Bruce Bastin with Kip Lornell.  It tells the story of Joe Davis and the New York Music Scene, 1916-1978.

Prior to reading this book I knew nothing about Joe Davis.  It was a music related book and I love expanding my knowledge of the older music scenes so I checked it out.  Now I know anything I ever wanted to know about The Melody Man and then some!

Defnitely a must read if you are interested in the early days of the recording industry and finding out more about The Melody Man!

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.

Book Review: MP3

Katie August 6, 2012 0 Comments

If you’re looking for a quick read about the history of MP3s, MP3: The Meaning of a Format by Jonathan Sterne is probably not for you.  If you’re looking for a very, very in depth look about the history of  audio formats, then you certainly will want to check out MP3: The Meaning of a Format.

I didn’t realize that the history of MP3 could be so thorough! I remember when my dad came home from work one day and asked me if I ever heard of MP3s. I had no idea what he was talking about – quite content with the AMAZING .wav files I had – and even more fascinated with the .midi files I had of Hanson songs!  Each one took up 1 of my floppy disks and I was constantly asking my parents to buy me more and more disks because they didn’t want me to keep any of my Hanson pictures on their computer. (I can’t really blame them – I think back in the late 90s I could have EASILY filled the hard drive with this stuff!)

It’s kind of crazy to think how different things were just 15 years ago – and try to imagine what things will be like 15 years from now.  Especially since it seems like even  MP3s are slowly being phased out with MP4s making their way through and other lossless files becoming more prominent as well.

This book was really interesting, though admittedly, not the easiest book to get through.  It’s pretty intense at times so definitely make sure that you have the time set aside and the mind set to be reading this.  If you do – then I think you will find that it is very interesting and fulfilling!

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review.

About the Book

MP3: The Meaning of a Format recounts the hundred-year history of the world’s most common format for recorded audio. Understanding the historical meaning of the MP3 format entails rethinking the place of digital technologies in the larger universe of twentieth-century communication history, from hearing research conducted by the telephone industry in the 1910s, through the mid-century development of perceptual coding (the technology underlying the MP3), to the format’s promiscuous social life since the mid 1990s.

MP3s are products of compression, a process that removes sounds unlikely to be heard from recordings. Although media history is often characterized as a progression toward greater definition, fidelity, and truthfulness, MP3: The Meaning of a Format illuminates the crucial role of compression in the development of modern media and sound culture. Taking the history of compression as his point of departure, Jonathan Sterne investigates the relationship between sound, silence, sense, and noise; the commodity status of recorded sound and the economic role of piracy; and the importance of standards in the governance of our emerging media culture. He demonstrates that formats, standards, and infrastructures-and the need for content to fit inside them-are every bit as central to communication as the boxes we call “media.”

Jonathan Sterne is Associate Professor in Department of Art History and Communication Studies at McGill University. He is the author of The Audible Past: Cultural Origins of Sound Reproduction, also published by Duke University Press, and editor of The Sound Studies Reader (forthcoming).

Book Review: The Whitney I Knew

Katie August 4, 2012 0 Comments

The Whitney I Knew is a touching remembrance of a pop icon written by her “brother”, BeBe Winans.  I thought this book was beautifully written and really gave insight to the Whitney that the public didn’t really know, the Whitney that only her close friends, her family knew.  It was interesting to find out how she was behind the scenes and she seemed like she was a wonderful woman in addition to a great talent.

There are a lot of great stories in the book about her love and devotion to the Winans family and how she would pop up at their shows when they were on tour and sing back up for them! Of course, inevitably all eyes would end up on her, but the fact that she was humble enough to stay in the background and give the Winans their moment definitely speaks about what kind of a person she was.  She could have stole the spotlight (and in way, she probably kind of did) but chose to try and stay in the background to enjoy the moment with her family.

This book is relatively short, and a quick read, but it is an excellent read.  I recommend it for anyone who knew of Whitney fan or not, I think you will learn a lot and really appreciate Whitney for the person she was – a phenomenal talent taken from us far too soon.

TheWhitneyIKnewVideos.com contains bonus material as mentioned in the book as well as other videos as well.

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

About the Book

BeBe Winans met Whitney Houston 28 years ago and they quickly developed a close bond. He considered her a sister, and she became a part of the Winans extended family. BeBe takes us inside the life of Whitney Houston. Winans sang back-up vocals on every one of her records and toured with her. He was with her when she was both in front of the camera and far from the spotlight – through good times and the worst of times. Here readers will discover profound stories of triumph and inspiration, and heart-breaking realities that led to her ultimate defeat —new information and insights readers will not find anywhere else. Delivering the moving eulogy at her funeral, Winans reaffirmed that she will be remembered for her warm, lavish generosity and light-hearted humor –the positive truths that overshadow any negative missteps in recent years. “In my heart and in my mind, I have memories of so many great, great moments; she will live in our hearts forever.”

Book Review: Fifty Shames of Earl Grey

Katie August 3, 2012 0 Comments

Fifty Shames of Earl Grey is a spoof of the popular Fifty Shades of Grey.  With all the talk surrounding Fifty Shades, I knew that I had to read Fifty Shames.  I was not disappointed.  The book is hilarious and pokes fun at the fact that Fifty Shades started off as a Twilight fanfiction with several references to Edward/Bella/Robert Patinson/Kristen Stewart/etc.

The story is very ridiculous – mocking the storyline in Fifty Shades and doing a great job at that.  I found myself laughing out loud on nearly every page.

I probably wouldn’t recommend this book if you haven’t read Fifty Shades yet, because a lot of the mocking will just go over your head if you don’t know what it is mocking.  But if you HAVE read fifty shades and find it as ridiculous as I and many other readers have, then I definitely recommend you read Fifty Shames.  While there is sex in Fifty Shames it is not written out in great detail as it is in Fifty Shades at all. It is just mentioned in passing for the most part, all while still mocking Fifty Shades.

The end of the book even has the list of what Earl’s Fifty Shames are. (Like Nickelback and The Olive Garden being 2 of them – lol!)

There is an excerpt of the next book – Fifty Shames in Space and I truly hope that this book does end up getting written (I am not sure if it was more mocking or if it seriously is going to become a book) because I could not put down Fifty Shames but at the same time I did not want it to end!

About the Book

Young, arrogant, tycoon Earl Grey seduces the naïve coed Anna Steal with his overpowering good looks and staggering amounts of money, but will she be able to get past his fifty shames, including shopping at Walmart on Saturdays, bondage with handcuffs, and his love of BDSM (Bards, Dragons, Sorcery, and Magick)? Or will his dark secrets and constant smirking drive her over the edge?