Book Review: The Martian by Andy Weir

First line of the book: 

"LOG ENTRY: SOL 6
I'm pretty much fucked."

Last line of the book: 
"This is the happiest day of my life."

Message/point of the book: Mars is not for humans, survive no matter what, humor works wonders for your mental state, science is cool, and potatoes get really boring when you eat them all day every single day.

I was happy I had the book with additional info. in the back for reading groups, interview with the author, and a note from the author. I can see why they made this into a movie, it is suspenseful and fun to read!

And so it goes...

Book Review: Dog Days: A Year in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile by Dave Ihlenfeld

Read for non-fiction book club at CLPL (Real World Reads) January 2015.  The style is memoir.  This is a summer job plus coming of age story, but in an unusual car.  It is a fun lighthearted read that will give you a nice dose of nostalgia, you'll learn a bit about the history of Oscar Meyer (and if you live near Chicago it is a little hometown interest as well), and you'll see the joy and challenges they had driving these crazy cars.  I learned that you always take "weenie whistles" with you when going to Walmart because everybody will stop you for one, how outdated these cars still are, and if I know a young person looking for something fun to do the summer after they finish college, I know where to tell them to apply.  Although we read this in January, I would recommend this more as a summer read, since it is a bubbly travel journal of a young man with a playful attitude.

And so it goes...

Book Review: Gulp by Mary Roach

Non-fiction.  I read this for the non-fiction book club at my local library (July 2014).  Really interesting book, though I may have found it more so than the average person because I have GI issues.  Our bodies are really interesting machines.  The author has a good sense of humor and goes to some funny places that do some unusual experiments.  Mary Roach visited people who are professional taste testers (e.g. olive oil), some people who explain why only smell is important to dogs when choosing their food but that cats only really care about texture so you can call their food whatever you like and it makes a difference only to the owners, scientists who determine the smell factors and components of flatulence, she enthusiastically gets a colonoscopy, and other bizarre, funny, and informative adventures.  Boy the history of medicine has been quite bizarre at times.  I enthusiastically recommend this one.  It really helped me learn quite a bit about my own GI issues in an entertaining way and about some of the new research being done about bacteria and its importance to our digestive and overall health.  I look forward to reading some of her other books, if they are half as interesting as this they will be worth the read.

And so it goes...

Book Review: The Journal of Best Practices by David Finch

Memoir, non-fiction.  I read this for the non-fiction book club at my local library (August 2014).  Interesting account of a man who learns he has Asperger Syndrome at age 30, and a local author for me, he lives in this area of north of Chicago.  Insightful information about what the journey was/is like for him, and very funny in parts too.  We all thought his wife was very patient and many thought she was a saint.  I found it very helpful with trying to understand how a person with Asperber Syndrome functions and behaves in a world of "neurotypicals."  To me, knowledge breeds understanding, understanding breeds patience, and I think the ideas here will help me with my interactions with others, with extending compassion to all.  I highly recommend this book, it funny, informative, and a real eye-opener.

And so it goes...

I am extremely fondue of this...

Insert cheese pun here________

Insert Eurythmics pun here________

And so it goes...

53 Things 80s Girls Understand

There are 3 or 4 that do not apply to me, but still one of the best lists I have seen so far, enjoy memory lane!

Poochie anyone?

I still have a caboodle...

Encouraging animal adoption at an early age :)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/53-things-only-80s-girls-can-understand

And so it goes...