Book Review: Blues Hands

Katie December 11, 2015 0 Comments

You know what they say – a picture is worth a thousand words. And this book is certainly full of a lot of great photographs of hands that play the blues. Some of the hands belong to well known artists like Al Green, BB King and James Brown.  Others are less well known but all the hands tell the story.

At the end of the book there are some notes on the performers and the photos that were included, but just looking at the photos really captures the essense of the blues and the life these people have led.

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

About the Book

Through images of hands, this book conveys the strength, beauty, diversity, depth, and power of the blues, the root of all American music. It features photographs from Joseph A. Rosen’s 30-plus years of adventure in blues and music photography. Included are such noted music personalities as B.B. King, Gary Clark, Jr., Buddy Guy, Al Green, Willie King, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, The Blind Boys of Alabama, James Brown. The book holds rich treasures for lovers of music, photography, and the human form. One need not be deeply versed in the blues to appreciate the beauty, strength, and diversity of those who make it. With powerful imagery, as well as anecdotes and biographical information, Blues Hands tells a story of human experience.

Book Review: Van Halen Rising

Katie December 11, 2015 0 Comments

Van Halen Rising: How A Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal.  This book is very heavy on the text.  There are a few pictures mixed in but it is all full of information.  The book was written based off of over 200 different interviews with members of the band and other pieces to the Van Halen puzzle.  It is probably the most comprehensive writing that you will be able to find.

How did Van Halen save Heavy Metal?  Read the book and find out… if you dare.

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

About the Book

A vivid and energetic history of Van Halen’s legendary early years

After years of playing gigs everywhere from suburban backyards to dive bars, Van Halen — led by frontman extraordinaire David Lee Roth and guitar virtuoso Edward Van Halen — had the songs, the swagger, and the talent to turn the rock world on its ear. The quartet’s classic 1978 debut, Van Halen, sold more than a million copies within months of release and rocketed the band to the stratosphere of rock success. On tour, Van Halen’s high-energy show wowed audiences and prompted headlining acts like Black Sabbath to concede that they’d been blown off the stage. By the year’s end, Van Halen had established themselves as superstars and reinvigorated heavy metal in the process.

Based on more than 230 original interviews — including with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and power players like Pete Angelus, Marshall Berle, Donn Landee, Ted Templeman, and Neil Zlozower — Van Halen Rising reveals the untold story of how these rock legends made the unlikely journey from Pasadena, California, to the worldwide stage.

Book Review: His New Jam

Katie December 11, 2015 0 Comments

His New Jam is about Sydney Peters, a girl in marching band who is sick of playing just the symbols and wanting to play drums.  Then there’s Hunter, who seems to be flirting by playing her a song on his sax every day – most recently “Let It Go”, so maybe he thinks she’s an ice queen for ignoring him.  Sydney had a bad last relationship and isn’t sure she trusts guys anymore.  But somehow Hunter ends up breaking down her guard and her giving him drum lessons and joining his band turns into more.

This was a good book. It was short, which I always appreciate, which means it got to the point (and action) rather quickly.  Of course the relationship with Hunter and Syd was not without it’s drama, since both have had issues in the past that needed to be worked through.

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

About the Book

Sydney Peters can’t wait to finally drop the cymbals in marching band and devote time to her true love: drums. With the semester coming to a close, she’s blocking out the cacophony during practice, especially sax serenades from Hunter Reed. But when Hunter offers her a paid gig as a drummer in his band, Sydney quickly changes her tune. The two favor different styles, but they make beautiful music together…in more ways than one.

Hunter is fascinated by Sydney’s distant allure. He might be a ladies’ man on campus, but the sarcastic cymbalist is impervious to his advances. When Hunter sees how passionate Sydney is behind the drums, he orchestrates a plan to find out if she kisses like she plays. What he doesn’t anticipate, however, is falling so hard. But will the repercussions of his past crash down on his chance at something real?

Book Review: Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas

Katie December 4, 2015 0 Comments

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas is a spin on Goldie Locks and the Three Bears with a Chinese New Year spin!  Goldy Luck doesn’t have all that much luck or weath, even though her parents thought she would when she was born. Her mom asks her to go to the neighbors to wish them a happy new year but they are not home.  She neds up dropping the turnip cakes that she brought over, tries all of the Chan’s congee, breaks a chair and ends up asleep in Little Chan’s bed.  When the Chans get home she runs off startled but once she gets home she realizes that she needs to go back over and apologize and make the mistakes that she made right.

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

About the Book

In this Chinese American retelling of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” a careless Goldy Luck wreaks havoc on the home of a family of panda bears. She eats up the littlest panda’s rice porridge, breaks his rocking chair, and rumples all the blankets on his futon. When Goldy takes responsibility for her actions, she makes a new friend (and a whole plate of turnip cakes!) just in time for Chinese New Year.

Book Review: Tales from Christmas Wood

Katie December 4, 2015 0 Comments

Tales from Christmas Wood has several stories within it, all revolving around Christmas Wood and the animals that live there.  In the first tale – Badger finds a friend, badger is scaring everyone that lives in Christmas Wood. Not sure what to do, she finds an Owl to talk to and help her make friends.  The second tale – Tiny Mouse and the Gingerbread Mystery is about a mouse who makes some cookies – but ends up eating more of the dough than using it to make cookies. I can relate! The third tale is about the rabbits of Christmas Wood, A Burrow Full of Brothers – where Rosie Rabbit wants her Christmas cards to be perfect but her brothers are making things difficult! The fourth tale is about The Amazing Robin – a bird who loved to he a hero and help others. The fifth is a Christmas Eve Adventure with Fidgety Fox. In the final tale, all of the animals of Christmas Wood come together in A Very Busy Barn where they find a baby who was just born in a manger and learn the true meaning of Christmas.

I have to say that I was very much so distracted by the illustrations in this book. They are amazing.  all of the animals look like they have fur on them and I just wanted to reach out and pet them all! They are so beautifully done!

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

About the Book

It’s winter, the snow is deep, and in the woods there are cute and fluffy animals preparing for Christmas. Five different stories come together in the sixth tale, where they discover the real meaning of Christmas.

Book Review: The Christmas Coal Man

Katie December 4, 2015 0 Comments

The Christmas Coal Man is the man who collects the coal in the mines to sell to Santa so that Santa has something to put in the naughty children’s stockings on Christmas.  The Coal Man dreams of making enough money to go to a nice island with his horse and canary.  Except when he goes to deliver this years coal to Santa, Santa tells him that the coal just isn’t working and the naughty children are still naughty all year – even after only getting coal!  The Coal Man is disappointed, but Santa gives him a bag of coal to remember the time they worked together.  Except – inside the bag was something wonderful!  Maybe he will end up moving to that island after all…

I thought this was a really cute book and while I’ve read a lot of stories about Santa, this was a different and cute approach to see where the coal for the naughty kids came from! Wonderful illustrations and a beautiful story – I think I have to be extra good this year because I want the special gift that Santa is giving to the really good children with the help of the Coal Man! Just what is the gift? Well, you’ll have to read The Christmas Coal Man to find out!

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

About the Book

The Coal Man works hard all year, searching dark mines for the coal that Santa Claus drops into the stockings of naughty boys and girls. He’s saving up money to take himself, his mule, and his trusty canary to a sunny island.

This year, when the Coal Man makes his delivery to the North Pole, he gets a big surprise. Santa’s not using coal anymore! Will the Coal Man ever get his day in the sun? With a little Christmas magic, he just might.

Book Review: The Little Christmas Tree

Katie December 4, 2015 0 Comments

The Little Christmas Tree is about a fir tree in the forest. It was a cold night, even the stars were shivering, but the fir tree helped to keep all the animals in the forest warm.  The storm did not hurt the fir tree and the other trees knew that she was different.  On that same night, a baby was born in a manger.  The stars from the angels come through the forest and rest on the fir tree. It makes the tree beautiful because the tree showed love to the others in the forest.

This is a sweet book and the illustrations are gorgeous. A great Christmas story.

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

About the Book

‘Deep in the forest, one dark night, it was so cold the stars were shivering in the sky…’ A dark storm is brewing, and the woodland animals sense danger. The grand, proud trees, oak, sycamore and birch, are determined to fight the storm wind. But the little fir tree knows that it is more important to shelter the frightened birds and animals. When the storm wreaks destruction, she alone is unharmed. And far away, that very night, a baby is born in a manger. The angels who herald the baby’s birth scatter shimmering stars as they pass the forest. On which tree do the stars rest? The little fir tree, the one who had shown love. A beautiful picture book with a sparkly surprise on the last page!

Book Review: Spending the Holidays with People I Want To Punch In The Throat

Katie November 27, 2015 0 Comments

I had previously read Jen Mann’s People I Want To Punch in the Throat , so I had to check out her next installment, Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat.   This book is of course all essays revolving around the holidays.  Most of the stories are about Christmas – and one I could totally relate to. Jen is allergic to Christmas trees, but no one knew she was allergic.  The “We always just thought he had a cold at Christmas” excuse was used on my little brother too. Until I finally brought a small evergreen pine needle sachet home from school and he played with it and immediately got all sneezy. Ohhh, maybe we should get a fake tree… But Jen’s family never figured it out until her Mom decided a fake tree would look nicer! Poor girl!

Section 3 focuses on other holidays that still annoy Jen, since Sections 1 and 2 were all christmas, all the time (but with the way her family is about Christmas, I can see why).  This section has essays on the Easter Bunny, Thanksgiving, Chinese New Year and a few other as well.  Another great book with some fun essays – that let you know either you are not alone or some people have it worse 😉

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

About the Book

For fans of Laurie Notaro and Jenny Lawson comes an uproarious and oddly endearing essay collection for anyone trying to survive the holidays in one piece.

When it comes to time-honored holiday traditions, Jen Mann pulls no punches

In this hilariously irreverent collection of essays, Jen Mann, nationally bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, turns her mordant wit on the holidays. On Mann’s naughty list: mothers who go way overboard with their Elf on the Shelf, overzealous carolers who can’t take a hint, and people who write their Christmas cards in the third person (“Joyce is enjoying Bunko. Yeah, Joyce, we know you wrote this letter.”). And on her nice list . . . well, she’s working on that one. Here, no celebration is off-limits. The essays include:

• You Can Keep Your Cookies, I’m Just Here for the Booze
• Nice Halloween Costume. Was Skank Sold Out?
• Why You Won’t Be Invited to Our Chinese New Year Party

From hosting an ill-fated Chinese New Year party, to receiving horrible gifts from her husband on Mother’s Day, to reluctantly telling her son the truth about the Easter Bunny, Mann knows the challenge of navigating the holidays while keeping her sanity intact. And even if she can’t get out of attending another Christmas cookie exchange, at least she can try again next year.

Advance praise for Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat

Book Review: Lost In Geeklandia

Katie November 27, 2015 0 Comments

Lost In Geeklandia is about Charlie, a girl who has been trying to make a dating algorithm ever since her arch-nemesis Daniel has lost his professional reputation after trying to back a similar idea of a love algorithm that turned out to be nothing but a scam.  There’s only one problem.  When she tries the algorithm on herself, she gets matched with… arch nemesis Daniel.  Is the algorithm right or is it horribly wrong?

Each chapter starts with a “Geekronym”, most of which I already knew. I couldn’t always tell how these ended up working with the chapter ahead though and other reviews I read said they were nothing but confusing for those who don’t know what they are talking about.  There are also a lot of “geeky” pop culture references – a lot for Star Trek and Dr Who – neither of which I was a fan of so I couldn’t really appreciate them (and there were probably a lot that I missed, as well).   I found the book to be cute, at times a bit hard to follow, and I couldn’t help but wonder – what happens when Daniel finds out this is all a set up?

I am happy to report that he DID find out it was all based on an algorithm, but no, I can’t tell you what happened. You’ll have to read for yourself to see 🙂

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

About the Book

She has 30 days to turn her enemy into her boyfriend…

Introverted computer engineer Charlie Forrester has coded an algorithm for love, a nearly flawless matchmaking program. But then she’s challenged to prove its accuracy – on herself. With her dream job on the line, Charlie has thirty days to forge a romantic relationship with her “perfect” match…her ex-friend and now-nemesis, Daniel Shawn. Since her dating experience is expressed in binary, she’ll need more than flirting lessons and a wardrobe overhaul to pull it off.

After falling victim to the same online matchmaking con he was investigating, reporter Daniel Shawn’s professional reputation went up in flames. Now he suspects someone has rebooted the scam, and he’s determined to expose the fraud and rebuild his career. Unfortunately, his efforts to get back in the game get sidetracked by Charlie and her adorable geekitude, even though she seems to know a little too much about digital dating for Daniel’s comfort.

And when fake romance crosses into real chemistry, Charlie’s formula for love might just be the perfect formula for disaster…

Book Review: Saved By The Bell

Katie November 27, 2015 0 Comments

Saved By The Bell was one of my favorite shows in elementary school, so I decided to check out this new comic book adaptation of the show.  The characters from the show are back and they seem to be written pretty true to the personality of the characters from the show, even if their drawings don’t quite look like the actors that portray them.

But the thing that I thought missed the mark in this book was that they all had cell phones, laptops, etc.  Zack not having his huge cell phone was something that ruined this adaptation for me (though it is mentioned in one of the stories)

Whereas the Punky book I read wasn’t as affected by the modern additions, I felt that this story was.  Although maybe kids who have never seen the show before will get into it from these comics, they are more like them now.

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

About the Book

The classic TV series gets an update for today’s brand new high-schoolers as the coolest kids at Bayside High start their freshman year!

All your favorite characters – Zack, Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Screech and Jessie (and Mr. Belding, of course!) – are starting freshman year at Bayside High, trading in brick phones and mullets for iPhones and Twitter accounts. Does Lisa’s fashion show get on the air, and will Screech ever leave her alone? Will Jessie get that A+? And, most importantly, who’s Kelly going to go out with – preppy Zack or new star athlete A.C. Slater? It’s alright, ‘cause we’re saved by the bell!