rachel quist

I Drink for a Reason by David Cross
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This was horrible! I could not get through more than the first... say 20% of the book. I kept on thinking it would get better but all it really is David Cross spewing his hatred for everything and in a manner that is not so funny. I really wanted to like the book but it was just awful. Pass.

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
A review of the unabridged audiobook.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had never heard of this book before the previews of the movie starting coming out, and once I saw the preview I just said WOW. I immediately downloaded the unabridged audio book so I could listen to it during my long commutes. Unlike other books/stories/podcasts, I could not get this book out of my head and I continued to listen to it while I worked and around the house.

I finished to book today and the way it ended made me very perturbed. I want to know what happens next. I had to restrain myself from immediately ordering the next book. Knowing how much I got sucked into this story, I best leave the next book for the weekend.

Regarding the quality of the narration of the audiobook - superb.

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The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Elna Baker!  Half way through this book, I gave it 4 stars. Now I have finished the book and I give it 5 stars.  A funny and honest memoir worth reading but not one I would necessarily recommend to friends.

Now having finished the book, the last few chapters are truly amazing. i love her quest for love in New York (and Utah) and her sheer honesty of self.

You have probably heard Elna on This American Life and The Moth. She is truly wonderful. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit by Eric Haney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I just finished this book and quite frankly I am not sure if I liked it or not.

I find the writing and the storytelling incredibly gripping - Eric Haney certainly has a knack for that. The attitude and the jargon of the Delta Force operators is certainly accurate and I have no doubt that he was in Delta Force as he states.

However, I am concerned about the criticism that he has received regarding the accuracy of some of his stories. Now it may simply be that each individual understands the truth according to his own experience, due to the compartmentalization of classified information; but I find it disturbing that many of the people he describes in this book do not find it to be factually accurate.

Another issue I have with the book is that most members of these elite groups do not talk about their experiences. It is a given that they serve without recognition... the quiet (and the unrecognized) Soldier. So a book like this that describes missions and accomplishments really makes me uneasy.

However, despite all that I do think Eric Haney does have a grasp on world politics and I really liked his explanation of why the US invaded Iraq following Sept 11 2001 and his warnings over India and Pakistan.

Overall, I think a good read... but approach with a little caution and skepticism.

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The Archaeological Adventures of I.V. Jones by Heidi Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy this book. Granted, I am rather biased as much of the locations in this book and experiences tend to be that of your average University of Utah archaeology student and it is fun to see many of the U of U archaeology legends put into print.

The book starts out with a chapter on The Dark Lord. In the book, the Dark Lord is Dr. Maxwell "Max" Johnson, who earned his world wide reputation by carefully excavating and radiocarbon dating many of the dry caves in Utah and the Great Basin. Clearly, this is a reference to Dr. Jesse "Jess" Jennings.

Roberts relates all the details of the old Stewart building and Dr. Jennings. Including the location of his office on the 2nd floor, the ivy on the building, and his legendary nasty disposition.

What I really enjoyed is reading the aspects of field school, including the shenanigans of the students and tales of the legendary camp cook, Jimmy.

It is a fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Some Girls: My Life in a Harem by Jillian Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. Despite it being an easy and quick read, I found that it held several personal insights and anthropologically astute observations. The author is straightforward and honest, especially when considering the cold truth of much of the world and life. I appreciated the author's ability to be honest about who she was and who she is. I must also admit that the book certainly fulfilled some of my voyeuristic tendencies... admit it, you want to know what it is like to live in a modern harem and how royal families operate in a world other than the rest of us.

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Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was rather disappointing in this book. The author's attention to detail and the science made up for the fairly predictable story and ending. I expected a storyline more complicated and with less stereotypical characters. However, I did particularly enjoy the aspect of the alcoholic bender and the complications to the story that entailed. Overall, a decent read or ipod listen during my long carpool commute but not a book I would enthusiastically recommend or read twice.

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Have Space Suit-Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this book! Even though it is classified as juvenile fiction I find the story engaging and fascinating. I especially enjoy the integration of real math and science into the story as well as the philosophical questions about space travel and life in the universe.

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Earth: A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this book but I just don't. I find the book really boring. The book is supposed to be a semi-satirical view of the history of the world, including human evolution and civilization development... you would think this would be right up my ally and love it but, no I don't and I don't think I will be able to finish the book.

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Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For the most part, I found this to be a decent story. I liked the interaction of the characters and the internal dialog of the narrator as well as the multiple plot lines. However, I was rather disappointed with the ending; given the complexity of storyline I expected an ending that was much less 'neat' than what was presented... as it is, I was a bit disappointed with the way the story ended and really expected a few additional chapters. It just seemed too abrupt.

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The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth and His Family, Alone in Alaska's Arctic Wilderness by James Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an exportation of the concept of "wilderness" and those who strive to find themselves in the American concept of wilderness. The book does a great job at contrasting the native cultural concept of wilderness as home and the need for community and the unique American concept of "finding oneself alone in the wilderness." I also appreciate how the book explores the female and family outlook on life on the frontier and how to cope with the loneliness. It is a great anthropological look on modern day subsistence hunters and gatherers. View all my reviews >>

Book review: Not by bread alone the journal of Martha Spence Haywood 1850-56

Martha Spence Heywood was born in Ireland in 1812 and against her parents (especially her mother) wishes traveled with her sister for New York City. She supported herself by sewing and making hats all the while traveling extensively in upstate New York and Canada as a part time Advent preacher. She made the journey across the Atlantic a total of three times before joining the Mormon Church in July 1848; she found the Mormon religion to be a good match with her believe in end of days.

Her journal is an account of life on the frontier and all the hardships it entails, including delivering her first child in the middle of winter in a wagon box, as accounts of sickness and death of friends and relatives, as well as opinions about intellectualism and the need for such pursuits such as theater and schooling.

Many of her journal entries are about social visits with specific individuals, a primary concern of a higher class Mormon woman at the time. Such visits were highly regulated and only permitted on certain days of the week so as to not interfere with other household chores and religious gatherings.

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