Books Aloud!
Issue 240 / December 2008 More from this Issue
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Capote in Kansas
Kim Powell
Da Capo Press [07.13.05]
Kim Powers does little to make mecare about Capote in Kansas. Themetaphors are syrup level sappy.The author tells, rather than shows,how his characters feel, except in hisannoying habit of writing dialoguein all caps to indicate to his readersthat someone is angry or scared.And Capote himself is reduced to acaricature of a terrified gay man. Ultimately,this book did not captivatemy interest. Anyone not infatuatedenough with Truman Capote to overlookthe flaws in this novel, might findthe following pieces more rewarding:
•Stephanie Meyer’s dream journal
•White Chicks: The Novel
• Finnegan’s Wake II: The Legend ofCurly’s Gold
• Soup: The Complete History
•David Foster Wallace’s suicidenote – 328 pages, 712 footnotes
–JR Boyce
Mamarama: A Memoirof Sex, Rock n’ Rolland Kids
Evelyn McDonnell
Da Capo Press
[Street: 02.2007]
The Stepford Wives’ image of perfectionis out as a new decade comesaround. No longer are mothers supposedto be ink-free and unpierced.This memoir is the story of a youngwoman growing up in the fast lane,obsessed with bands and the boysin them. Sound familiar? McDonnellmaps her route from early rebellionto political activism to motherhoodin a larger cultural context. It mirrors the struggle that many people havein balancing work, relationships, individualityand parenthood. This is a verypositive view on pregnancy. Althoughthe memoir does seem a tad cliche,this type of scenario happens everyday. The book’s main lesson is thatmotherhood shouldn’t be somethingdone on the side, or something thatpushes everything else away. It’s thatbalance that our culture should strivefor. –Alexandra Harris
Totally Vegetarian: Easy,Fast, Comforting Cookingfor Every Kind ofVegetarian
Toni Fiore
DaCapo Press [Street: 09.01]
I have 30+ vegan cookbooks. It’sgetting harder to find great vegan cookbookswith new recipes or original culinarypresentation. Although not 100% vegan, the vegetarian recipes call forgourmet, unprocessed cheeses, whichcan be easily modified. Author and chef,Toni Fiore, has compiled an excellentselection of recipes from her cookingshow on the DeliciousTV channel. Manyof the foods are Mediterranean-basedcuisine, like the quick and crunchy"Fried Polenta Squares." Polenta is awell-oiled, flavorful cornmeal that is easilyadded to meals, but not always tastyalone. Her squares were simple to cookand made a great snack. I also madethe "Tomato and Basil Bruschetta." Allrecipes required so few ingredients thatpreparation was easy and cooking timewas fast. I like that Fiore’s chaptersare not separated by Appetizers andEntrees, but are labeled Salads, Soupsand Stews, Breads and Pizza, Tofu,Tempeh and Seitan, etc. Sweet Finishesis my favorite section. I can’t wait tobake a "Tofu Coconut Cream Pie" and"Tofu Cannoli." A great cookbook fornovice cooks or professional chefs,vegetarian hippies or vegan busybodies.—Jennifer Nielsen
Kim Powell
Da Capo Press [07.13.05]
Kim Powers does little to make mecare about Capote in Kansas. Themetaphors are syrup level sappy.The author tells, rather than shows,how his characters feel, except in hisannoying habit of writing dialoguein all caps to indicate to his readersthat someone is angry or scared.And Capote himself is reduced to acaricature of a terrified gay man. Ultimately,this book did not captivatemy interest. Anyone not infatuatedenough with Truman Capote to overlookthe flaws in this novel, might findthe following pieces more rewarding:
•Stephanie Meyer’s dream journal
•White Chicks: The Novel
• Finnegan’s Wake II: The Legend ofCurly’s Gold
• Soup: The Complete History
•David Foster Wallace’s suicidenote – 328 pages, 712 footnotes
–JR Boyce
Mamarama: A Memoirof Sex, Rock n’ Rolland Kids
Evelyn McDonnell
Da Capo Press
[Street: 02.2007]
The Stepford Wives’ image of perfectionis out as a new decade comesaround. No longer are mothers supposedto be ink-free and unpierced.This memoir is the story of a youngwoman growing up in the fast lane,obsessed with bands and the boysin them. Sound familiar? McDonnellmaps her route from early rebellionto political activism to motherhoodin a larger cultural context. It mirrors the struggle that many people havein balancing work, relationships, individualityand parenthood. This is a verypositive view on pregnancy. Althoughthe memoir does seem a tad cliche,this type of scenario happens everyday. The book’s main lesson is thatmotherhood shouldn’t be somethingdone on the side, or something thatpushes everything else away. It’s thatbalance that our culture should strivefor. –Alexandra Harris
Totally Vegetarian: Easy,Fast, Comforting Cookingfor Every Kind ofVegetarian
Toni Fiore
DaCapo Press [Street: 09.01]
I have 30+ vegan cookbooks. It’sgetting harder to find great vegan cookbookswith new recipes or original culinarypresentation. Although not 100% vegan, the vegetarian recipes call forgourmet, unprocessed cheeses, whichcan be easily modified. Author and chef,Toni Fiore, has compiled an excellentselection of recipes from her cookingshow on the DeliciousTV channel. Manyof the foods are Mediterranean-basedcuisine, like the quick and crunchy"Fried Polenta Squares." Polenta is awell-oiled, flavorful cornmeal that is easilyadded to meals, but not always tastyalone. Her squares were simple to cookand made a great snack. I also madethe "Tomato and Basil Bruschetta." Allrecipes required so few ingredients thatpreparation was easy and cooking timewas fast. I like that Fiore’s chaptersare not separated by Appetizers andEntrees, but are labeled Salads, Soupsand Stews, Breads and Pizza, Tofu,Tempeh and Seitan, etc. Sweet Finishesis my favorite section. I can’t wait tobake a "Tofu Coconut Cream Pie" and"Tofu Cannoli." A great cookbook fornovice cooks or professional chefs,vegetarian hippies or vegan busybodies.—Jennifer Nielsen
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