Non-Fiction Book #3 in 2009 – A Star Is Found: Our Adventures Casting Some of Hollywood’s Biggest Movies by Janet Hirshenson & Jane Jenkins

A Star Is Found: Our Adventures Casting Some of Hollywood’s Biggest Movies by Janet Hirshenson & Jane Jenkins

From Publishers Weekly on amazon.com:

Hirshenson and Jenkins got their start casting for Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios. When the studio went bust, they opened their own office, the Casting Company, and their book reminisces about the many films they’ve cast, including Harry Potter and A Beautiful Mind; the actors they’ve discovered, such as Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Scarlett Johansson; and some of the A-list directors, like Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg, who hired them. Given the authors’ credentials (they have been casting partners since 1981), consider the advice they offer blue-chip. They cover everything from how to handle a call-back to telling actors to send head shots “that actually look like you.” Most important, never take anything personally. A great audition doesn’t always translate into a role: there are many factors that determine the final decision, such as chemistry, preference and competition. These veteran insiders have a passion for casting major motion pictures, and they use meetings with famous people to illustrate how Hollywood works. Tales of actors’ career trajectories are informative without being malicious. For actors, this informative, breezy narrative is like having a frank but loving aunt tell you the facts of life.

My thoughts:

• It was a fun, quick read – want to find out why some got cast for movies like James Bond, Jurassic Park, Ghost, A Beautiful Mind, Harry Potter etc? I haven’t watched all the movies mentioned in the book, but it was very interesting to read someone got cast over another actor/actress. E.g. 2 actors may be equally as good for a role, but the final decision might depend on who else is cast, like the female lead’s best friend can’t be blond if the female lead is blond, and the best friend can’t be prettier than the lead etc etc.

• The book was in a conversational style, between Jane and Janet – but the 2 voices are so similar that I don’t really remember who is saying what, but it doesn’t matter that much.

• I wish the book was written in a more chronological order, or talk about one movie at a time, because the same movie might get mentioned through the book, so some parts seem a bit repetitive.

• A LOT go into choosing each role for each movie, even if the role is very minor. I think from now on when I watch movies (or TV) it’d give me a new insight about why someone may be chosen for a part.

• “Good casting = invisible” – so that when you’re watching the movie,  you don’t wonder who else may be better for that role, rather than the person chosen. Very true.

Non-Fiction Book #2 in 2009 – My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor

from Publishers Weekly on amazon.com:
In 1996, 37-year-old neuroanatomist Taylor experienced a massive stroke that erased her abilities to walk, talk, do mathematics, read, or remember details. Her remarkable story details her slow recovery of those abilities (and the cultivation of new ones) and recounts exactly what happened with her brain. Read proficiently by the author, this is a fascinating memoir of the brain’s remarkable resiliency and of one woman’s determination to regain her faculties and recount her experience for the benefit of others. Taylor repeatedly describes her “stroke of insight”-a tremendous gratitude for, and connection with, the cells of her body and of every living thing-and says that although she is fully recovered, she is not the same driven, type-A scientist that she was before the stroke. Her holistic approach to healing will be valuable to stroke survivors and their caregivers, who can pick up suggestions from Taylor’s moving accounts of how her mother faithfully loved her back to life.

My thoughts:

• There is a VIDEO of Jill giving a speech on amazon, click here to watch it

• I want to like this book and I do enjoy the parts when Jill described what went through her mind that day, and how her mother helped her recover – eg her mother had to give her multiple choice questions, instead of yes/no question, so Jill can search through the mental pictures what her mum was asking. And I do appreciate the list of “40 things I need the most” for caregivers (not that I am caring for anyone with brain trauma, but since I work in healthcare, if I ever come across a patient with such condition, this list would be helpful.)

• But there were parts where I just skimmed… the part where she wrote about inner peace etc. I guess part of it is the writing style – it just couldn’t capture my attention. I guess I was expecting more about the actual account of the day she had the stroke and how she recovered and re-learned in the 7-8 years (she had to re-learn ABC, math etc), rather than the spiritual side of things.

• Last year I read Where is the Mango Princess? by Cathy Crimmins which I really enjoyed reading. Cathy’s husband suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and she detailed the “before” and “after” of his accident. I guess I was expecting My Stroke of Insight to be a similar book, which probably isn’t fair but I was interested to read something from the other perspective.

• The author mentioned The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) a bit, and it just happened that I did a charity photo shoot for their walk in Rochester MN last year, you can see the photos here.

Fiction Book #4 in 2009 – All The Pretty Girls by J. T. Ellison

All The Pretty Girls by J. T. Ellison

From Publishers Weekly on amazon.com:

In this tame debut, the body of a young girl discovered by the side of a Nashville highway puts homicide detective Taylor Jackson and her lowdown boyfriend, FBI Agent John Baldwin, on the trail of the Southern Strangler, a playful, brutal killer who likes to carry his victims across state lines before murdering them and removing their hands. Before long, however, Taylor’s reassigned to the suspicious death of a prominent TV personality, leaving John struggling to keep ahead of the Strangler’s mounting body count. Meanwhile, Taylor is still recovering from a near-fatal neck injury earned in her last case and worrying over her own demons—not the least of which is John’s threat to marry her. The real victim is Ellison’s plot, strangled by slow pacing, egregious subplots (a serial rapist, a crooked officer, a pregnancy scare) and a clichéd cast of characters: the shady Southern belle, the veteran detective pushed over the edge, the evil genius who stays a step ahead of everyone—even the appealing Taylor strikes a numbingly familiar tough-yet-vulnerable pose. Though a climactic showdown injects some much-needed excitement, readers may have a hard time getting there.

My thoughts:

• I enjoy reading murder/mystery/thriller because I like guessing who-dunnit. I like different twists and turns and solving puzzles. Usually though, I don’t remember the plot much afterward, as I just read these books for fun and don’t try to remember anything.

• Not a bad read, but not that great… I guessed who the killer was about 1/3 through the book. Of course I didn’t really know the motive or the fine details of the plot, but it was kinda obvious to me. Maybe I read too many books of this kind of books that you just know a certain “formula” will be used. Not that I guess who the killer is right every time – I mean, really, the author has control of how much to reveal or how many clues to leave you guessing

• It was a quick read though. Just feel kinda indifferent about it.

• Blah, I need to pick up some better fiction books to read this year.

• One thriller that left an impression from my 2008 list was Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. While I don’t remember the little details of the plot, and that it does take a bit getting used to the voice of the main character in the book (which could be a turn off for some), I enjoy the twists. Looks like there will be a movie! Although it’d spoil the surprise for me since I’d already read the book. Ah well. Books are typically better than the movies anyway – except the Lord of the Rings triology! I had no desire to read the book – bought the book, tried reading it but never seriously picked it off the shelf… but I love the movies! Same for the DaVinci Code – never wanted to read the book, but it was kinda fun to watch the movies as I just wanted to see what the fuzz was about (I really had no clue what the book or movie was about, so I had no expectation). And as I mentioned, I like books/movies that made you try to solve the puzzle.

Fiction Book #3 in 2009 – Miracle Myx by Dave Diotalevi

Miracle Myx by Dave Diotalevi

From amazon.com:
Two near-death experiences have transformed Myx Amens; he hasn’t slept for three years. His first near-death experience, a lightning strike, left him with a photographic memory while his second, drowning, induced synesthesia, so he smells and feels colors, sees sounds, and tastes the thoughts and feelings of others. These skill sets endow Myx to investigate local unsolved homicides and ruffle a lot of feathers. The murders are disturbing—a beautiful teen with her lower lip cut off; her boyfriend sexually mutilated—and leave Myx wondering What could the killer possibly want with these body parts? A third victim, the town’s tattoo artist, could be the clue to link the other two victims, but a tattoo seems a thin motive for murder. Myx discovers a baffling puzzle box which may hold secrets dating back centuries to town founder Elbridge Sonnet, and is possibly connected to the tattoo murders. For an unblinking 42 hours, Myx’s high-performance synesthetic brain probes the dirty secrets of Miracle, Massachusetts, in search of the astonishing truth. This thoroughly original, beautifully written novel introduces one of the most intriguing protagonists in recent literature.

My thoughts:

• I first saw this book at the library, thought it looked interesting (I DO judge books by the cover, well, catchy book title too, when I browse at the library!). I was in a hurry and didn’t borrow it but thought I’d check out the amazon review (not that I rely on it totally. I just like checking out the 1 and 2 stars reviews to see why people don’t like something). It only has 8 reviews, but all 5 stars. So I thought I’d give it a try.

• Guess this book really isn’t my type… because I felt like I wasted my time reading it. I did finish it, but it was very slow going for me despite the fact that the language in the book was simple and it is not a difficult read, just that I wasn’t interested enough to stay up late to finish it. Yes I’d sacrifice sleep to finish a book if it captures my attention. Maybe this is more a young adult book?! Didn’t see it marked as such though.

• The main character in the book is a 14 years old boy. Some of the things he did or happened to him kinda bothered me (won’t spoil it here). Maybe I’m too uptight

• It was a bit annoying when “My voice was white” appeared every few pages. I don’t even know for certain what that meant.

• I do like the name Myx though (pronounced Mix)

Are you in your 20s? Do you want $2500?

Too bad I’m too old for it :p

Came across this amazing opportunity, so thought I’d pass it along:

http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/scholarship/

The I Will Teach You To Be Rich Scholarship for Social Innovation is an annual $2,500 award for anyone in their twenties who has demonstrated entrepreneurial excellence and is planning a socially innovative project. The award can be used for a special project, service initiative, founding a company, creating a community organization, or any other entrepreneurial venture that scales to help others.

Musings

• Cost Plus World Market is closing its Rochester store (actually all 6 MN stores). Justin is sad because he likes their wine selection, and I am sad because they have so many different chocolate! Especially since I recently found they carry Vosges (Goji, Bacon etc).

• One lost store, but one new store found! I’ve heard about the Good Food Store / Backroom Deli for a while now, but just never got the chance to go. What a cool store! They have many brands that aren’t available in the typical grocery store – I love how many different type of yogurt they carry! And you can get dried fruit, honey and other stuff in bulk. We also ate at the Backroom Deli – I had the Pecan Oat Burger which was quite tasty (you can buy them frozen from the Good Food Store too). Justin had the salad which had at least 7 different vegetables. We’ll definitely go back!

• Didn’t watch Golden Globe, but I love checking out the fashion. Love these dresses:

from foxnews.com

from imageandstylenews.com

from imageandstylenews.com

Wouldn’t these up-do’s be so elegant for weddings? All from imageandstylenews.com

Fiction Book #2 in 2009 – Devil Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels) by Kathy Reichs

Devil Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels) by Kathy Reichs

From From Publishers Weekly on amazon.com:
Dr. Temperance Brennan’s quest to identify two corpses pits her against citizen vigilantes intent on a witch-hunt in bestseller Reichs’s exciting 11th thriller to feature the forensic anthropologist (after 2007’s Bones to Ashes). While working in Charlotte, N.C., Brennan investigates remains unearthed during a housing renovation and discovers disturbing clues possibly pointing to voodoo or Santeria. She must determine if the bones, including the skull of a teenage girl, are linked to an unidentified headless torso found in a nearby lake. Intent on using the deaths as the cornerstone of his crusade against immorality, fundamentalist preacher turned politician Boyce Lingo claims that the bodies bear the mark of devil worshippers. With the help of Det. Erskine Skinny Slidell, Brennan unearths a tangled web of dirty politics, religious persecution and male prostitution. Reichs, whose work inspired the hit TV series Bones, once again expertly blends science and complex character development.

My thoughts:

• I started reading Richs’ books after watching the TV show Bones. I love watching the show, as I like crime / forensic type of shows like CSI and such. After I found out the show is based on Reichs’ books, I started reading her Tempe Brennan series. This is the 11th one in the series. I haven’t read all the books in the series I don’t think…

• It was a quick read. Okay but not too exciting. Quite a few characters. I do like that Reichs explained and described some technical details which made the book a bit more authentic. She is a forensic anthropologist after all in real life.

• Would I recommend it? You won’t miss too much if you don’t read it. I hope Reichs is not going to turn out like Patricia Cornwell – I love her earlier Kay Scarpetta series, but the more recent books are lacking something. The characters aren’t as likable, and the plot is too ‘generic’. I have still reserved her latest book “Kay Scarpetta” so we’ll see if that gets better.

• My favorite forensic author is still Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme (the Bone Collector etc). I just picked his A Maiden’s Grave randomly off the library shelf probably sometime in 1996 or 1997. Then started reading his other books (including the Bone Collector before it was made into a movie). I like to read about the technical side of forensic science. I wanted to be a CSI at one point in life… until I found out I suck at biology and chemistry, and became a psychology major instead.

Fiction Book #1 in 2009 – The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

From the back of the book:
Suburbia. Shady, tree-lined streets, well-tended lawns and cozy homes. A nice, quiet place to grow up. Unless you are teenage Meg or her crippled sister, Susan. On a dead-end street, in the dark, damp basement of the Chandler house, Meg and Susan are left captive to the savage whims and rages of a distant aunt who is rapidly descending into madness. It is a madness that infects all three of her sons – and finally the entire neighborhood. Only one troubled boy stands hesitantly between Meg and Susan and their cruel, torturous deaths. A by with a very adult decision to make…

My thoughts:

• This book was recommended as a great horror novel on a book forum. I don’t usually read horror, but thought I’d branch out a little to read something I don’t usually read. So I had no clue what this book was really about, apart from what it said on the back of the book (didn’t read any reviews on amazon.com beforehand, which I usually do)

• Very, very disturbing

• I was disgusted as I read… and disgusted at myself for keeping on reading. It was a very quick read (finish in a couple of hours), but there were several times I almost stopped but couldn’t help but kept on reading

• Kept wondering why anybody would write a novel like so. I mean, who would come up with stuff like that (won’t go into details what the “stuff” is so I won’t spoil it for those who do want to read it). Got a better understanding when I read Author’s Note: On Writing the Girl Next Door at the end of the book. So it was loosely based on a true crime story (for those of you who are interested, goggle Sylvia Likens or Gertrude Baniszewski.) And I suppose, sometimes true life is stranger (or more disturbing?) than fiction. Ketchum wrote that “I eventually made the decision to soften some of what happened and leave some out altogether.”

• It is a book I can’t rate – is it effective as an horror book? Yes, because I was disturbed by it, and I had read true crime / forensic books etc before. And I kept thinking I hope no one made any movies based on the book, or the true crime itself. Well, there IS a movie based on the book, AND another movied based on the crime… guess I won’t be watching those. What I visualized as I read the book was terrifying enough. Would I recommend this book then? No. But you are old enough to make your own decision

• I did learn something though, about writing technique, that Jack Ketchum shared in Author’s Note. He chose to use a first-person voice for a reason, which he explained on p.339 (soft cover). I thought it was interesting to read why he’d taken this approach. I’ll copy it here as I don’t think I can paraphrase it:

“I used a first-person voice for one thing, with the boy next door as narrator. He’s a troubled but not insensitive kid who vacillates between his fascination at the very license involved and what his empathy’s telling him. He sees plenty. But not everything. Which allowed me to sketch a few things rather than go at them close-up and full-throttle.

He’s also speaking some thirty years later. He’s an adult now so he can edit. So at one point when the going gets roughest I have him say, Sorry, I am just not going to show you this. Imagine it for yourself if you care and dare to. Me, I am not helping.

The first-person voice in a suspense book can automatically shift the reader’s sympathy directly to the object of violence… {cut}. You know whoever’s talking to you is going to survive so you don’t tend to worry much about his physical safety. (Though you can worry about his moral safety and hopefully that’s what happens here.) But if it’s done right you’ll worry about the safety of the people he cares about. In this case, The Girl Next Door and her sister.“

Non-fiction Book #1 in 2009 – Something for the Pain: One Doctor’s Account of Life and Death in the ER by Paul Austin

The first book I read in 2009:
Something for the Pain: One Doctor’s Account of Life and Death in the ER by Paul Austin

From Publishers Weekly on amazon.com:

With a relentlessly honest look at modern emergency medicine, Austin, a former firefighter now living in Durham, N.C., writes in his debut book of his transformation to a highly capable ER doctor struggling to stay one jump ahead of death in the crowded critical care ward. The book begins deftly with Austin, a sleep-deprived physician, trying to avoid mistakes stemming from fatigue by relying on his instincts, frequently both skill and luck, to treat patients with gunshot wounds, brain tumors, asthma, heart ailments and general problems. In a narrative blur of flashbacks, he tells of his career as a firefighter before landing in medical school, which was followed by an internship at a local hospital and marriage to a lovely nurse and having a family. What makes this inspiring medical memoir stand out is the courageous measure of Austin’s humanity in taking on the endless weight of suffering, and what he becomes to his co-workers, his patients, his family and his community.

My thoughts:

• I’d read a few medical memoir (or something related to medicine such as how doctors think) recently, and I enjoyed reading this one because I think Dr Austin gave an honest account of his ER experience – from his days as a medical student, resident or “ER doc”. Not just about his medical experience, but his personal life as well, such as how it affects his family life especially when it comes to dealing with night/rotating shifts and the consequences of sleep-deprived days, or his daughter who has Down Syndrome.
• Since I work at the Mayo Clinic and work closely with some physicians on some projects, I really want to learn more about what they have to deal with day to day, or at least get a glimpse of it, so I can understand where they are coming from better.  While I haven’t worked with any ER docs yet, it’d help me prepare for it since I think there are certain type of personalities that are drawn to a career in ER (as opposed to say, surgeons or internalists.) It was particularly interesting to read about the mistakes he made, especially since it relates to my job. Human do make mistakes, it’s part of human nature. What we can do is help prevent them if possible. It is a bit sad to read that sometimes if a doctor apologizes to a patient for a mistake, then they risk the chance of being sued for malpractice.

• I like the agreement between him and his wife regarding what should be included or excluded in the book (cited in the Acknowledgments): Our agreement was that I could write whatever I wanted, and she could delete whatever she wanted. It shows respect, trust, and love.

• I may like Hot Lights, Cold Steel: Life, Death and Sleepless Nights in a Surgeon’s First Years by Michael J. Collins just a bit better, probably because it happened at the Mayo Clinic (though before I started working there), so it is fun to read about something I may be familiar with.  A bit sad though that some of the restaurants he mentioned in the book is no longer here (I believe this happened about 15 years or so ago?) Just for completeness sake, here is info from Publishers Weekly on amazon.com:

Collins begins this personal chronicle with an account of a choice he had to make between amputating a 14-year-old boy’s leg and saving the limb at a greater risk to the boy’s life. (He amputated the leg.) This dilemma came at the conclusion of Collins’s grueling four years of residency at the Mayo Clinic, culminating in his appointment as chief resident in orthopedic surgery. Now in practice in Illinois, he details, with admirable humor and insight, the early, virtually sleepless years when he learned not only to perfect his craft but to come to terms with the emotional impact of causing pain and losing patients. Collins brings to life the dramatic moments when he made his first, terrifying incision and hand-drilled a traction pin into a weeping six-year–old’s leg. Collins and his wife, Patti, wanted a large family, but the economic strain of having three children in three years (they eventually had 12) forced him to moonlight every other weekend at rural hospitals. There are moving passages about his love for Patti and the bonds he developed with other residents, and empathetic evocations of those he treats. Collins describes powerfully how he came to understand that his calling was not just to develop as a skilled surgical technician, but to treat his patients humanely as individuals.

Booking Through Thursday – 01/01/09 – Reading Resolutions

While I was browsing on some book reviews site, I came across this website: Booking Through Thursday. Every Thursday, they will ask a question related to books, and people can comment on it. I thought I’d give it a try! This will also help me blog more regularly – part of my New Year Resolution!

The latest question (I am a bit late already, as it was posted on 1/1/09):

So … any Reading Resolutions? Say, specific books you plan to read? A plan to read more ____? Anything at all?

• Read at least 100 books again, if time permits
• Blog a review for each book
• Read the Kite Runner & A Thousand Splendid Suns
• Participate in Booking Through Thursday!
• Read some of the books that I bought, instead of just the library books I borrowed! (Felt like I need to read the library ones first, because other patrons may be waiting for them and I don’t want to hold them up!)
• Participate in at least one Rochester Reads (MN) event (I have already read the chosen book – Candy Freak by Steve Almond – a dangerous book to read since I am a chocoholic!). Btw, there is a photo contest too! Now I have an excuse to go buy more candies for the shoot I regretted I didn’t go see Greg Mortenson last year when Three Cups of Tea was chosen as the book to read. It is one of my favorite books – a little slow at times but very, very inspirational and I am very grateful that there are people like Greg!
• Look back at my goals in 1/1/10 to see how many I have accomplished

Wedding Extravaganza – Done!

Had a fun day today – though we had to finish the show 45 min early due to bad weather… will do a recap in the next few days as I’m a bit tired. But it was great meeting some new people – brides and their families, fellow photographers, and other wedding vendors. I may only see them once a year at the show but it’s always great to catch up with them. Didn’t seem like it was that long ago though when we did the 2008 show!

Wedding Extravaganza = 01/03/2009

I need to do my more blog postings, especially with the 2008 weddings I’d shot… but I am busy preparing for the upcoming Wedding Extravaganza at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester MN this Saturday (1/3/09)… so will blog more later. Yes it is part of my New Year Resolutions to blog more frequently this year!

So please check back!

Meanwhile, please drop by to say hello if you are going to the show!

http://www.weddingxtravaganza.com/

A Tale of Two Careers

I am a portrait/wedding photographer.

I also work at the Mayo Clinic – as an analyst, non-photography related.

I often got asked if I’d become a full time photographer. To be honest, I don’t know.

While I do love photography, I also really enjoy my job at the Mayo Clinic. My undergraduate was in psychology/marketing, and I also finished my MBA last year so the job really fits well with my educational background.

As for photography, it was pretty much self-taught. I started off reading photography books (told you I love reading!), then participated in some photography forums, and did some photography workshops.

I know a lot of photographers said they loved photography since they were little… my love for photography didn’t start until I was in my early twenties – while I was searching for my own wedding photographer. In high school, I loved paintings so much more (but had hardly ever painted since…)  Since I grew up in Hong Kong (then later on in Australia – but I had no reason to look into wedding photography then!), the only wedding photography style I knew of was studio-based photography. The couple would get to dress up in different outfits (e.g. Chinese wedding customs, Japanese or Korean customs just for fun, and western wedding customs), and actually have their wedding photos taken BEFORE the wedding day (more like a portrait session). Then on the wedding day, photography typically isn’t part of the package – there are enough relatives and friends to take photos that day since almost everyone has a camera.

I was never really into that style of photography, so when I got engaged and started really looking for a wedding photographer (the wedding would be held in the US), that’s when I discovered the power of photojournalistic style of wedding photography. I love the emotions captured.

My then boyfriend (now husband) decided to send me a SLR as a gift (a Canon Rebel – FILM camera… am I dating myself here? ). I was still living in Australian then, and he was in MN. To my shock, I ended up having to pay about A$300 (about US $200? depending on the exchange rate) for the package for customs fees! I almost sent the camera back to him :p

My first wedding was for a friend in Melbourne (before I actually started as a business). It was all film. Much different to digital in terms of perparation (how many rolls of films do I need?! What ISO since I can’t change mid-roll?), actual photography (you have to change rolls every 24 or 36 shots, in the middle of the ceremony, hoping the ring exchange or kiss won’t be within the next few seconds…), or workflow afterwards (a lot less time spent on computers).

I digress.

Regardless whether my photography is full time or not, I still give in 110% at every wedding or photo shoot. There are also many behind the scene hours (thanks to digital photography! ) As with anything else, it’s a balancing act.

Since I am feeling a bit sentimental tonight (must be the new year!), I’d post my FIRST ever wedding here (without shooting any weddings, or second shooting/helping another photographer before). I am still proud of it – especially since that’s how I started my photography journey, and how I got hooked into wedding photography.

(okay for some reasons the photos I posted aren’t showing up anymore, so will re-post now):

Hoax – Memoir

I wrote about this love story a couple of months back. And of course now the author has admitted the story is not true.

Sigh.

Why do people lie about such things. If you read the list of non-fiction books I read in 2008, you could see that I read a lot of memoir. It is interesting to read about other’s lives. Their joy, their struggles, their tears and their hope. Sometimes my life seems so normal (or boring if you will!) after hearing their stories.

Ah well, it won’t stop me from reading more memoir. If you have other memoir to recommend, please leave a comment!

100

What does 100 mean?

It meant I read 100 books in 2008.

Actually I read more than 100 as I read some Chinese books (somewhere around 20?) but didn’t record those since I can’t type Chinese so it’s hard to keep an electronic record of them.

I have always loved to read, even if it meant I slept a few hours less so I can stay up to read a few more pages. I usually read and eat lunch at the same time. I have, however, stopped trying to read and have dinner at the same time so that Justin won’t be neglected (though at times it’s hard to stop reading to get over to the dining table instead, especially when it is at an exciting part of the book!).

I used to read a lot more fiction books – 99% are probably fiction. This year though about 2/3 are non-fiction instead. I am reading a lot more memoir which I hardly read before late 2007.

I will try to do reviews in 2009, instead of just listing the books I’d read. It’s too late to do reviews for 2008 now, especially for most of the fiction, I’d forgotten what it’s about – when I read fiction books, I really just want to enjoy the story/plot (that’s why I love reading murder/mystery/thriller) so I don’t tend to remember them afterwards.

I’d high-light those I’d recommend in BLUE, and in a future post I’d comment on a few books that leave an impression (good or bad).

Fiction

1. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.
2. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 1/6/08.
3. Got the Look by James Grippando
4. Hide by Lisa Gardner
5. Simple Genius by David Baldacci
6. Afterimage by Jay Brandon
7. Carved in Bone: A Body Farm Mystery by Jefferson Bass
8. Flesh & Bones: A Body Farm Mystery by Jefferson Bass
9. The Chicago Way by Michael Harvey
10. Mistress of Justice by Jeffery Deaver
11. Iron Orchid by Stuart Woods
12. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
13. Mystic River by by Dennis Lehane
14. Judas Child by Carol O’Connell
15. Pyres by Derek Nikitas
16. Hostile Witness by William Lashner
17. Midnight Rambler by James Swain
18. A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo
19. 24 Hours by Greg Iles
20. Gone for Good by Harlan Coben
21. The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver
22. Obedience: A Novel by Will Lavender
23. Beverly Hills Dead by Stuart Woods
24. The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
25. The Spellman Files by Liz Lutz
26. The Dirty Secrets Club (Jo Beckett) by Meg Gardiner
27. The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martnez
28. Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
29. Sequence by Lori Andrews
30. The Keepsake: a Novel by Tess Gerritsen
31. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
32. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
33. Delusion: A Novel of Suspense by Peter Abrahams
34. By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer
35. House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe
36. The Bodies Left Behind: A Novel by Jeffery Deaver
37. Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee

Non-fiction

1. The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by Maarten Troost.
2. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
3. A Boy Named Shel: The Life and Times of Shel Silverstein by Lisa Rogak
4. More Than a Hobby: How a $600 Startup Became America’s Home and Craft Superstore by David Green, Dean Merrill
5. How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else by Michael Gates Gill
6. The Year of Eating Dangerously: A Global Adventure in Search of Culinary Extremes by Tom Parker Bowles
7. The Emergency Teacher: The Inspirational Story of a New Teacher in an Inner City School by Christina Asquith
8. Mentor: The Kid & the CEO: A Simple Story of Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Significance by Tom Pace
9. Out of the Frying Pan: A Chef’s Memoir of Hot Kitchens, Single Motherhood, and the Family Meal by Gillian Clark
10. No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach by Anthony Bourdain
11. Juggling Elephants: An Easier Way to Get Your Most Important Things Done–Now! by Jones Loflin & Todd Musig
12. Roman’s Journey:a memoir of survival by Roman Halter
13. Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza
14. Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh
15. Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson
16. What Clients Love: A Field Guide to Growing Your Business by Harry Beckwith
17. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath, Dan Heath
18. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
19. Hug Your Customers: The Proven Way to Personalize Sales and Achieve Astounding Results by Jack Mitchell
20. Buzzmarketing: Get People to Talk About Your Stuff by Mark Hughes
21. On my own two feet – a modern girl’s guide to personal finance by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar
22. My Life as a Traitor by Zarah Ghahramani
23. Grow Your Money!: 101 Easy Tips to Plan, Save, and Invest by Jonathan Pond
24. 500 Ideas for Small Spaces: Easy Solutions for Living in 1000 Square Feet or Less by Kimberly Seldon
25. Children of the Flames: Dr. Josef Mengele and the Untold Story of the Twins of Auschwitz by Lucette Matalon Lagnado
26. Blue Pills by Frederik Peeters
27. The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
28. If You Save One Life: A survivor’s memoir by by Eva Brown with Thomas Fields-Meyer
29. Three Little Words: A Memoir by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
30. Heaven’s Harlots My Fifteen Years As a Sacred Prostitute in the Children of God Cult by Miriam Williams
31. A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs
32. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8 Lee
33. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
34. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow
35. Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope by Don Van Ryn, Susie Van Ryn, Mark Tabb
36. Step Into the Spotlight!- ‘Cause ALL Business is Show Business! by Tsufit
37. Teacher Miracles: Inspirational True Stories from the Classroom by Brian Thornton
38. Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman
39. The Present : The Secret to Enjoying Your Work And Life, Now! by Spencer Johnson
40. Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond
41. The Butterfly Garden: Surviving Childhood on the Run with One of Americas Most Wanted by Chip St Clair
42. See Jane Write: A Girl’s Guide to Writing Chick Lit by Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs
43. All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-Down House by David Giffels
44. Where is the Mango Princess? by Cathy Crimmins
45. Happy Birthday or Whatever: Track Suits, Kim Chee, and Other Family Disasters by Annie Choi
46. The Girl with the Crooked Nose: A Tale of Murder, Obsession, and Forensic Artistry by Ted Botha
47. Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John Kotter
48. Ahead of the Curve: Two Years at Harvard Business School by Philip Delves Broughton
49. The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman
50. The Ice Cream Maker: An Inspiring Tale About Making Quality The Key Ingredient in Everything You Do by Subir Chowdhur
51. Change Is Good… You Go First by Mac Anderson
52. Hot Lights, Cold Steel: Life, Death and Sleepless Nights in a Surgeon’s First Years by Michael Collins
53. Saying the Right Thing: A Business Parable : The Four Secrets of Powerful Communication by Raymond Dizazzo
54. How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman
55. Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story by Lang Lang
56. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
57. Murder by Family: The Incredible True Story of a Son’s Treachery and a Father’s Forgiveness by Kent Whitaker
58. The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World’s Most Famous Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn
59. Travel Writing by Peter Ferry
60. House: A Memoir by Michael Ruhlman
61. One Smart Cookie: How a Housewife’s Chocolate Chip Recipe Turned into a Multimillion-Dollar Business : The Story of Mrs. Fields Cookies by Debbie Fields
62. Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande
63. Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda