Some New Kind of Kick is the story of a Hispanic gay punk’s journey from a confused adolescent to guitarist with The Cramps. It’s the late 1970s. Punk rock is just beginning in Los Angeles. Here is your chance to take a drug-fueled lap around the club and gay sceneContinue Reading
The Official Amazing Race Travel Companion is an uneasy mixture of a travel guide and a behind-the-scenes television show memoir. I found the memoir much more interesting. It begins with how the show was created and continues through the 2021 season. I expected more from the travel guide. I wantedContinue Reading
Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square is an odd art guide. The book has quick pictures of how to turn circles into faces and ultimately entire bodies. It includes how to turn triangles into shoes and both circles and triangles into hands. However, it just shows fully drawn pictures ofContinue Reading
With sixty sweet and savory recipes, my biggest issue with the Small-Batch Keto Baking Cookbook is what to cook first. Should it be naan, red velvet cake, or brownie cheesecake bars? I chose Peanut Butter Cookies because I had all the ingredients (peanut butter, sweetener, and an egg) on hand.Continue Reading
Uncultured is the memoir of a woman born into a cult, who escapes only to join the army, which feels increasingly like a cult too. Cult life is even worse from a child’s point of view. Unprovoked spankings and sexual abuse from a young age is a normal day inContinue Reading
Every person I know wants (maybe even needs) to know How to Lose Weight for the Last Time. Will this book fulfill that promise? The book takes the stance that weight gain is caused by the mind-not the stomach. Therefore, only by looking at the reasons why you overeat, andContinue Reading
Welcome to the jungle! And the jungle is LOUD! The first female roadie, for bands like The Who and AC/DC, writes her memoir. Of course, it’s chock full of sex, drugs and rock and roll. But, also, it shows her courageous battle for equity at a time when women wereContinue Reading
Why We Play explains why play is still necessary for adults. It includes exercises to get some short play sessions into your life. Even though I play video and mobile games every day, a few more ideas are always welcome. I particularly liked Scribble Art. Take a plain piece ofContinue Reading
After reading Easy Drawing, I was worried that Easy Watercolor would also start at an intermediate level. I didn’t need to worry. This book is truly a beginner’s guide. Not only does the book include instructions for creating watercolor paintings of objects, animals, portraits, and landscapes, it begins at theContinue Reading
Easy Drawing is the perfect book for someone already familiar with basic drawing techniques like shadowing and coloring. It may not be the best choice for a complete beginner as the quick escalation of skills might be intimidating. However, Easy Drawing is the perfect book for someone like me whoContinue Reading
Sex and Sexuality in Medieval England commits a common sin in histories of culture. It is overloaded with names and dates. Perhaps if I was related to the people mentioned, I would find that revelatory. Unfortunately, I just found it boring. However, the conclusions were interesting. One in six childrenContinue Reading
Usually, I pick up books to review based on what I think my blog readers might like to read. However, this week I chose three books just because I wanted to read them. My beach-themed family room needs some decorations so I thought I would begin a new hobby whileContinue Reading
I’m not even from the East Coast but I remember Crazy Eddie from the satires of him on Saturday Night Live. I never heard that his whole empire was based on scams until I read Retail Gangster. As a former internal auditor, I found this book a hoot! You canContinue Reading
I love the introductions written by this author for the golden age mysteries published by British Library Crime Classics, but they always leave me wanting more. This book, The Life of Crime, includes all the details and backstories I have been wanting on famous, and not so famous, mystery writers.Continue Reading
With grocery prices rising fast, who doesn’t want to save money and live healthier by eating more plants. But if you are unfamiliar with vegan or vegetarian cooking, your plant recipe repertoire may seem like a menu of side dishes. This book addresses that problem by explaining How to EatContinue Reading
Decorative Needle Felting Projects has fully illustrated instructions showing how to turn wool into cute designs for your home and jewelry chest. The book begins with an extensive section on tools and techniques. It then includes twenty projects: five per season. They include Easter eggs for Spring, a brooch forContinue Reading