Pinball
Is Pinball gambling? New York City thought so from 1942-1976. But in 1976, it was once again legalized and came back with a vengeance both there and across the US. If you remember playing Pinball fondly, this graphic biography is a compelling read. From the game’s history to each innovationContinue Reading
The Missing Piece
In The Missing Piece, defense attorney (and former District Attorney) Wes Farrell is feeling burnt out representing people he believes are guilty. Wes’ latest client, Doug Rush, is accused of murdering recently exonerated Paul Riley. Riley served eleven years for raping and murdering Doug’s daughter. The Exoneration Initiative (a thinlyContinue Reading
Life’s Messy Live Happy
The author of Life’s Messy Live Happy uses her own life experiences to show how reframing our self-talk will make us healthier and happier. The book reads more like a memoir with some common pop psychology thrown in than a true step-by-step self-help guide. The author has gone through someContinue Reading
The Resting Place
The Resting Place has tons of atmosphere but little substance. Eleanor spends her life being confused. She cannot recognize faces. One day, she passes someone coming out of her grandmother’s apartment and then finds her grandmother murdered. Knowing she probably saw the murderer but cannot describe them to the policeContinue Reading
The Temps
Jacob Elliott picked a bad day to begin working as a temporary mailroom clerk at Delphi Enterprises. First, he went to the wrong entrance of the massive campus. After being directed to the correct location, he arrived late. All the permanent employees were leaving to hear the company’s CEO speakContinue Reading
Pandora’s Toolbox
Now, in addition to rampant inflation, a never-ending pandemic, and an imminent world war, climate change is unleashing its fury on the world. Can anything be done to stop it? If so, will the world’s governments cooperate long enough to affect change? Two possible answers fill Pandora’s Toolbox: carbon dioxideContinue Reading
Beat the Devils
What do you feel like reading? A Los Angeles-set noir? Historical fiction? A murder mystery? An alternate history that feels scarily relevant to today’s world? With Beat the Devils, you can get all of this and more in one book. Mo Baker is a holocaust survivor and an LAPD detectiveContinue Reading
Truly, Madly
I love Vivian Leigh, the actress. But now, after reading Truly, Madly, I admire her courage in going all out for her dreams despite serious mental health issues. Vivian and Laurence Olivier had a real love story—not just a Hollywood romance. And, unfortunately, not all real-life stories have a happyContinue Reading
The Recovery Agent
Stephanie Plum’s creator comes up with a new free-spirited female character in Gabriella Rose, The Recovery Agent. Gabriella finds lost things as a profession but this time it’s personal. Gabriella’s grandmother has a kooky idea to save their small Southern fishing town from developers. So, Gabriella is soon searching forContinue Reading
The Journey of Humanity
The Journey of Humanity takes on the huge task of explaining how humanity got to this point, which the author calls the Mystery of Growth. The second half explains why this growth has not been universal across nations, which the author calls the Mystery of Inequality. From the Malthusian (hunter-gatherer)Continue Reading
Betty Crocker Simply Delicious Diabetes Cookbook
Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean you are stuck with salads for every meal. The venerable Betty Crocker brand has created 162 easy, delicious and diabetes-friendly recipes to add variety to your diet every day in the Betty Crocker Simply Delicious Diabetes Cookbook. While salads are included in theContinue Reading
The Kaiju Preservation Society
Sometimes you just want to read some light science fiction. No deep science. No not-so-subtle morals for the real Earth’s ailments. Just adventure and the great unknown. The Kaiju Preservation Society delivers on that promise. Jamie has been demoted from management to a career as a food delivery driver. HeContinue Reading
Under Lock & Skeleton Key
Secret rooms, a dead body hidden behind wall, a family curse, and magicians? All this and more are included within Under Lock & Skeleton Key. Tempest is from a family of magicians. She had a successful act in Las Vegas until she is betrayed by her jealous assistant. Tempest hasContinue Reading
Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening
If you live in a desert area, Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening will be your gardening bible. Everything you need is here but tailored for a desert climate. While the book says it only covers Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, it also applies here in the California desert too. ThereContinue Reading
How to Garden Indoors & Grow Your Own Food Year Round
Four indoor gardening techniques are explained within How to Garden Indoors & Grow Your Own Food Year Round: container, hydroponic, vertical, and sprouts/microgreens. I like that budget is discussed in this book. Most garden books assume their readers have unlimited funds. If you are willing to do a DIY projectContinue Reading
Secret Identity
Secret Identity is an exposé of comic publishing in the 1970s by someone that was there. But it also is a feminist statement and a full-blown female noir. I can’t imagine a better book for my tastes. It’s 1975. New York City is at its grimy and murderous best. CarmenContinue Reading