Hell's Angels

Title: Hell's Angels













Author: Hunter S. Thompson
Genre: non-fiction
Rating:

What they said: Links to reviews

What I say:

The late Hunter Thompson is best known for his gonzo journalism and rampant and reckless recreational drug use. So famous is he for his bad behaviour that one tends to forget that he is actually a reputable journalist. Sure, he lied his way into the profession, but his continuing success in the cutthroat field was no accident.

In 1966 and 1967 the Hell's Angels were truly hellraisers. They inspired fear and awe everywhere they went. Their reputations preceded them, and they seldom disappointed. A number of journalists wrote about the Angels during this time period before they became so famous that they outgrew themselves. I would argue that Hunter Thompson did it best.

Thompson lived with the Angels for a year, befriending some though never fully gaining the trust of all. This book will truly give an insider's account of the Hell's Angels, for better and for worse.

If for no other reason, read this book because it is an honest and factual work written by the master of insanity.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Title: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers



Author: Mary Roach
Genre: non-fiction: science, dead people
Rating:

What they said: Links to reviews

What I say:

In driving past a cemetery last week, the conversation went like so:

ERICA: When I die I think I want to be cremated.
ME: I want my body donated to science.
CHAPIN: I want to be fed to the hungry.

At the time we all laughed uproariously, but upon further thought this would not be an entirely unusual (at least in an historical context) use for one's mortal remains. Indeed, dead humans have been met a number of needs in the medical, scientific, and religious communities many of which are more shocking than feeding the hungry.

Who knew dead people could be so engaging? Mary Roach, a respected and thoroughly intriguing science writer suspected it and set out to prove her theory.

In this well-researched (and thoroughly funny) book, Roach explores the various fates of human cadavers through the ages. She delves into medical and anatomical research, organ donation, the heroism of crash test corpses, the many uses for the human head (including transplantation), as well as things to do with your body when you're dead. As a pacifist I may not be completely at ease with the idea of my body being used for ballistics research, but I silently salute those whose bodies have.

The last couple of chapters dealt with the various ways of disposing of one's body, from burial to cremation, from brain banking to plastination. She even dedicates a large portion of a chapter to composting, perhaps the disposal means of the future.

What will I do? I enjoy the idea of plastination and subsequent use as an anatomy teaching aid, though also am a big proponent of body composting. As Roach discusses, however, what is done with a body should be decided by the survivors' comfort and not a dead person's selfish wish.

~a m i~

Girlfriend in a Coma

Title: Girlfriend in a Coma













Author: Douglas Coupland
Genre: fiction
Rating:

What they said: Links to reviews

What I say:

Part love story. Part dystopic fantasy. Coupland continues his trend of searching for the meaning of life through characters and settings that seem to be devoid of any kind of meaning whatsoever.

Ever lament the state of the world today? Think things used to be a lot better? Sometimes wish you could completely withdraw from society as it stands? Coupland explores these questions and desires that have become so common that they're almost mundane, and comes to some interesting conclusions, and implores the reader to follow the same path the characters are about to embark upon at the end of the novel. (It may be a good idea to avoid the office's Xerox machine for a while after you put the book down. Trust me.)

More plot-driven than Generation X, the book that set the benchmark against which all of his work will always be measured, though still not without moments where he beats you over the head with metaphors (can't you just see him - "LOOK!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! DIDN'T GET IT THAT TIME? HERE! LET ME REMIND YOU!)

Anyone who is into deconstructing absolutely everything that happens in the course of an ordinary(ish) day should love this book. And almost everything else Coupland has written. Be forewarned, though - if you're anything like me, you may find yourself drunk at a bar, pen in hand, analyzing every interpersonal interaction you've ever had, using sentence fragments. eg. "I once had an all consuming crush on a girl. She had a website devoted to John Stamos. And a boyfriend. It was unfortunate."

~mf~

Under the Banner of Heaven

Title: Under the Banner of Heaven

Author: Jon Krakauer
Genre: non-fiction: true crime/religion
Rating:

What they said: Links to reviews

What I say:

My first introduction to Mormons, like many folks my age who grew up in Eastern Canada, was from the commercials that aired during my childhood. They were always steeped in family values and left one with a warm, loving glow. "This has been a message from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

So before moving to Arizona I knew Mormons existed (though hadn't met any), but had little idea what the religion entailed. Most of the press they received in international and national news (Globe and Mail) was defamatory, usually involving the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints and their practice of polygamy both in Canada (Bountiful, BC) and in the US (Colorado City, AZ and elsewhere).

In Arizona, there are Mormons everywhere. I've met a gazillion of them. They're really nice, and have great family lives. But still the polygamy issue bothered me... I found "Under the Banner of Heaven" on sale at my local Borders and decided to read up a bit about the best and worst Joseph Smith's followers had to offer.

Random House categorizes this book as "True Crime - Murder; Religion - Mormonism". Do not take this lightly. Some of the anecdotes and histories told herein are gory, others just plain disturbing. Krakauer exposes the extremist LDS spinoff sects and explains the religious and societal atmosphere that spawned them. It's worth a read, and worth bearing in mind that religious extremists or fundamentalists of any kind are not necessarily indicative of mainstream adherents.

~a m i~

The Da Vinci Code

Title: The Da Vinci Code

Author: Dan Brown
Genre: fiction
Rating:

What they said: Links to reviews

What I say:

I really didn't want to like this book. I promise you, reader, I tried my best not to. The problem is that it's so darned compelling...

How does one review a book that spent so many weeks/months/years at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list and manage to sound original?

Read this because you want to feel suspense.
Read it because you'll guess wrong.
Read this book because you want to know her secret.
Read it and decide for yourself how fictional it is, or is not.

Do not open this book unless you have time to finish it. The writer of this review will not be held responsible for missed work, skipped appointments, broken dates or missed season finales of bad reality TV as a result of the reading of this book. Consider yourself warned.

~a m i~

A Long Way Down

Title: A Long Way Down

Author: Nick Hornby
Genre: fiction
Rating:

What they said: Links to reviews

What I say:

I'll admit to you right off the bat, that I loved High Fidelity. What I loved most about it was that it had a pretty ending, and unless you've read the book and not simply seen the hollywoodised version, you think it's a happily-ever-after deal. Nick Hornby doesn't seem to go in for happily-ever-afters.

A tale told in four voices, A Long Way Down initially struck me as schizophrenic. All the narrators flipping back and forth like that made my head spin at first. Then finally I got to know them well enough to recognize their voices. Which meant I knew them well enough to care. Which meant I was sunk. Which also meant this was a very well-written book.

I cannot synopsize this novel without making it sound ridiculous, trite, or pappy. So I won't. Let it simply be said that four desperate strangers poised to do a desperate thing, don't.

You will roll your eyes. You'll laugh, both at and with them. You will hate each of them at one point or another. But you will not leave them, like they will not leave each other. And there will be no hollywood ending, but there will be hope.

~a m i~

How we are hungry

Title: How We Are Hungry

Author: David Eggers
Genre: fiction - short stories
Rating:

What they said: Links to reviews

What I say:
Damn. I can't believe I did it again. I got suckered into reading yet another David Eggers book.

The first time this happened, I succumbed to a title: A heartbreaking work of staggering genius. I laughed and cried for the first few chapters, then, as Eggers promised in his prologue, the book fell apart. And man, did it ever get old fast.

The second time was You shall know our velocity. Again with the captivating title. Again with the engaging first few chapters. Again with the disappointment!

So why did I let this happen again? How we are hungry is a book of short stories. They can't fall apart, right? They can't sucker me in, then disappoint after the first 200 pages. But they can just suck outright.

The entire book is not without merit. "There are some things he should keep to himself" was delightful. Five pages, gloriously free of any of Eggers's writing. It's unfortunate that he resorts to such gimmickry. But that is ungenerous of me. That one is not the only story I loved. Despite myself, I enjoyed "Up the mountain coming down slowly," and "When they learned to yelp" left a lump in my throat that has yet to go away.

This anthology of short stories truly is a mixed bag. When it is good, Eggers manages to whisper stories that touch life both violently and intimately. But when he starts to shout, all I read is noise.

Be patient with him. Don't read too quickly. You just might like it.

~a m i~