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laurieb755's reviews
759 reviews
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
4.0
I am a J.K. Rowling fan, starting with the very first Harry Potter when it was initially published, moving on to The Casual Vacancy and then The Cuckoo's Calling with Cormoran Strike. I came to The Silkworm with solid expectations and, for the most part, they were met. Rowling/Galbraith has a vivid imagination and with a deft handling of words can make that imagination come to life for readers.
Still, something was left wanting with this book. In the interim between the first Cormoran Strike novel and this one, I have read every one of the Inspector Gamache novels by Louise Penny. With much in common, including their love of a good mystery, Rowling and Penny have a marvelous command of geographic locales, and they know their sleuths intimately.
But Louise Penny spoiled me with the richness of her characters, and with the relationships between many of them that span nine novels, with the tenth just out this month (though I haven't yet read it). Alas, on occasion while reading The Silkworm I found myself thinking of Inspector Gamache and his bookmates. While Cormoran Strike is richly portrayed, his lovely associate Robin is still being filled in, and her fiancé Matthew appears very typically drawn. I am hoping that if Cormoran and Robin make a return, Rowling convinces Galbraith to draw out these folks with the same skill and depth that Strike calls out the perpetrators he investigates.
Still, something was left wanting with this book. In the interim between the first Cormoran Strike novel and this one, I have read every one of the Inspector Gamache novels by Louise Penny. With much in common, including their love of a good mystery, Rowling and Penny have a marvelous command of geographic locales, and they know their sleuths intimately.
But Louise Penny spoiled me with the richness of her characters, and with the relationships between many of them that span nine novels, with the tenth just out this month (though I haven't yet read it). Alas, on occasion while reading The Silkworm I found myself thinking of Inspector Gamache and his bookmates. While Cormoran Strike is richly portrayed, his lovely associate Robin is still being filled in, and her fiancé Matthew appears very typically drawn. I am hoping that if Cormoran and Robin make a return, Rowling convinces Galbraith to draw out these folks with the same skill and depth that Strike calls out the perpetrators he investigates.
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull, Amy Wallace
5.0
Ed Catmull writes from his heart as he shares his approach - what worked and what didn't - to providing an environment that fosters creativity and inspiration. The bulk of his book is about his time at Pixar, where he is the President of Pixar Animation as well as of Disney Animation, but there is plenty prior to Pixar, where Ed began to think about the process of managing people as he experienced his own progression from PhD candidate focused on computer animation to manager at the New York Institute of Technology to Pixar and Disney Animation.
Whew, that was a run-on sentence, to be sure! Well, one of the precepts in Ed's strategy is to make your goofs as soon as possible (i.e. choose a direction and then move in that direction) and then change course when you find it necessary to do so (i.e. switch direction as needed). That isn't to say you should proceed willy-nilly without a plan; rather, choose a plan and put it in motion. If that plan needs revision, revise it. So, having written a run-on sentence, all the following ones will be shorter!
In the preface to his book Ed states some of the driving beliefs he has learned about managing people (and these are all quotes):
• …my job as manager is to create a fertile environment, keep it healthy, and watch for the things that undermine it.
• I believe, to my core, that everybody has the potential to be creative–whatever form that creativity takes–and that to encourage such development is a noble thing.
• …there are many blocks to creativity, but there are active steps we can take to protect the creative process.
• I believe the best managers acknowledge and make room for what they do not know–not just because humility is a virtue but because until one adopts that mindset, the most striking breakthroughs cannot occur.
• I believe that mangers must loosen controls, not tighten them. They must accept risk; they must trust the people they work with and strive to clear the path for them; and always, they must pay attention to and engage with anything that creates fear.
• …successful leaders embrace the reality that their models may be wrong or incomplete. Onlyy when we admit what we don't know can we ever hope to learn it.
The remainder of the book relates practical approaches that Ed and his team have developed to foster the above beliefs, both prior to Pixar, and then at Pixar and then again at Disney.
I relished this book for Ed's honesty, for his sharing what, in hindsight, are very practical approaches, and for the story that emerges of Pixar. I take from it lessons for managing my own personal creative process, and also for working with colleagues at school as we collaborate and teach and learn from one another and from our students.
Whew, that was a run-on sentence, to be sure! Well, one of the precepts in Ed's strategy is to make your goofs as soon as possible (i.e. choose a direction and then move in that direction) and then change course when you find it necessary to do so (i.e. switch direction as needed). That isn't to say you should proceed willy-nilly without a plan; rather, choose a plan and put it in motion. If that plan needs revision, revise it. So, having written a run-on sentence, all the following ones will be shorter!
In the preface to his book Ed states some of the driving beliefs he has learned about managing people (and these are all quotes):
• …my job as manager is to create a fertile environment, keep it healthy, and watch for the things that undermine it.
• I believe, to my core, that everybody has the potential to be creative–whatever form that creativity takes–and that to encourage such development is a noble thing.
• …there are many blocks to creativity, but there are active steps we can take to protect the creative process.
• I believe the best managers acknowledge and make room for what they do not know–not just because humility is a virtue but because until one adopts that mindset, the most striking breakthroughs cannot occur.
• I believe that mangers must loosen controls, not tighten them. They must accept risk; they must trust the people they work with and strive to clear the path for them; and always, they must pay attention to and engage with anything that creates fear.
• …successful leaders embrace the reality that their models may be wrong or incomplete. Onlyy when we admit what we don't know can we ever hope to learn it.
The remainder of the book relates practical approaches that Ed and his team have developed to foster the above beliefs, both prior to Pixar, and then at Pixar and then again at Disney.
I relished this book for Ed's honesty, for his sharing what, in hindsight, are very practical approaches, and for the story that emerges of Pixar. I take from it lessons for managing my own personal creative process, and also for working with colleagues at school as we collaborate and teach and learn from one another and from our students.
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
5.0
My friend Ann said it well: this was much more inside. I took away from her comment two interpretations. The bulk of the physical tale did take place inside, as indoors. Lots of research took place via phone calls and on the computer, or via in-person visits that took place inside. At least until the end, when the story became one of travel to a remote location. Yet, there was still plenty of inside - inside a ship's cabin, inside a small cabin in a remote place. I could go on listing the many physical "insides", but the bulk of the psychological tale, the one that Gamache often spends most of his time trying to decipher when he is working on a case, took place inside…inside the mind.
It is this inside tale that was most fascinating. What was Peter possibly thinking, as Clara, Myrna, Jean-Luc and Armand trace his trail and wonder why he went where he went? What is Clara pondering as she wonders about seeing Peter and what might come next? How is Armand dealing with self-discovery?
As an aside, I am still awaiting a tale that sheds more light on Jean-Luc's, Myrna's and Ruth's backgrounds - particularly how Myrna and Ruth came to Three Pines.
Without giving away the ending, I can say how satisfying it felt to be with Armand as he makes his way home. :-)
It is this inside tale that was most fascinating. What was Peter possibly thinking, as Clara, Myrna, Jean-Luc and Armand trace his trail and wonder why he went where he went? What is Clara pondering as she wonders about seeing Peter and what might come next? How is Armand dealing with self-discovery?
As an aside, I am still awaiting a tale that sheds more light on Jean-Luc's, Myrna's and Ruth's backgrounds - particularly how Myrna and Ruth came to Three Pines.
Without giving away the ending, I can say how satisfying it felt to be with Armand as he makes his way home. :-)
Timeless: Love, Morgenthau, and Me by Lucinda Franks
4.0
What I really wanted to do was give this book a 3.5. Lucinda Franks is smitten with Robert Morgenthau. Of that, there is no doubt. Part of her memoir about them simply reads as reverence for Morgenthau, as if he were some god-like human. She soon learns, though, that he has his darker points, mostly as relates to the sharing of feelings, which he is not one to do. In some ways, this struck me as the old-fashioned love stories that I grew up on - strong, silent type for the male role, vibrant, yearning type for the female role. The major difference here is that Lucinda Franks, while definitely vibrant and yearning, also has her own strong career and personality to bolster their relationship. In addition, it turns out that Morgenthau's strong silent type is due to PTSD from World War II coupled with other traumatic events in his life.
I enjoyed the historical portions of the book and found myself curiously drawn into Morgenthau's life. Indeed, I want to now research him to find out how he is doing as of today. From the book I know ee is currently employed at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Here is the link to his bio: http://www.wlrk.com/RMMorgenthau/
And here is an interview of both Lucinda and Bob together discussing the book: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/09/14/timeless-tells-love-story-between-robert-morgenthau-wife-lucinda-franks/
And lest you wonder at what Robert Morgenthau is up to these days, at the marvelous age of 95 he has written yet another article, this one an editorial for The Wall Street Journal's October 6, 2014 issue. The editorial is entitled "Those Migrant Children Belong With Their U.S. Families" and you can read it at: http://online.wsj.com/articles/robert-morgenthau-those-migrant-children-belong-with-their-u-s-families-1412636828
So given my fascination with the subject, why just a 3.5 for the book? I am not smitten by Lucinda's writing style. At times I felt she was self-serving, though I suppose that is why she wrote the book - to better serve her husband, which was her intent so I guess that bespeaks the self-serving! Also, at times I felt there was too much sharing of personal moments.
Nonetheless, a most interesting look at Morgenthau and a glimpse into Lucinda Franks, as well.
I enjoyed the historical portions of the book and found myself curiously drawn into Morgenthau's life. Indeed, I want to now research him to find out how he is doing as of today. From the book I know ee is currently employed at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Here is the link to his bio: http://www.wlrk.com/RMMorgenthau/
And here is an interview of both Lucinda and Bob together discussing the book: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/09/14/timeless-tells-love-story-between-robert-morgenthau-wife-lucinda-franks/
And lest you wonder at what Robert Morgenthau is up to these days, at the marvelous age of 95 he has written yet another article, this one an editorial for The Wall Street Journal's October 6, 2014 issue. The editorial is entitled "Those Migrant Children Belong With Their U.S. Families" and you can read it at: http://online.wsj.com/articles/robert-morgenthau-those-migrant-children-belong-with-their-u-s-families-1412636828
So given my fascination with the subject, why just a 3.5 for the book? I am not smitten by Lucinda's writing style. At times I felt she was self-serving, though I suppose that is why she wrote the book - to better serve her husband, which was her intent so I guess that bespeaks the self-serving! Also, at times I felt there was too much sharing of personal moments.
Nonetheless, a most interesting look at Morgenthau and a glimpse into Lucinda Franks, as well.
The Monogram Murders by Agatha Christie, Sophie Hannah
4.0
Don't believe I have ever read a Poirot mystery. Rather, my knowledge of this Belgian mutashioed sleuth comes from seeing him on the screen, mostly in the form of David Suchet. Sophie Hannah has captured my Poirot as faithfully as can be, right down to his fastidiousness with dressing and his irritation with disshevelment.
With just a few descriptive words, Sophie Hannah plants the seeds of a Poirot, and my prior knowledge of him simply filled in the picture, growing him to a full bodied detective who was yet again stirring his little grey cells into action.
As for the plot, it was a multi-layered onion, each peeling shedding a tad more light on a semi-translucent tale. I kept imagining solutions and found my explanations planted somewhere between Poirot's patient unravelling and Edward Catchpool's quizzicality. More often than not, I was as stymied as Catchpool.
The only flaw that I can think of is purely mine. I am a fast reader. This tale requires slow reading to absorb the images of what is being painted, and in the process to see what Poirot sees.
And yes, I have undoubtably mixed my metaphors and goodness knows what else!
With just a few descriptive words, Sophie Hannah plants the seeds of a Poirot, and my prior knowledge of him simply filled in the picture, growing him to a full bodied detective who was yet again stirring his little grey cells into action.
As for the plot, it was a multi-layered onion, each peeling shedding a tad more light on a semi-translucent tale. I kept imagining solutions and found my explanations planted somewhere between Poirot's patient unravelling and Edward Catchpool's quizzicality. More often than not, I was as stymied as Catchpool.
The only flaw that I can think of is purely mine. I am a fast reader. This tale requires slow reading to absorb the images of what is being painted, and in the process to see what Poirot sees.
And yes, I have undoubtably mixed my metaphors and goodness knows what else!
Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg
5.0
Reading Tapestry of Fortunes reminded me that I had read previous Elizabeth Berg stories – Range of Motion and Talk Before Sleep. All of them tugged at my heart and drew me in as if I were a neighbor or a friend.
Tapestry of Fortunes. The title alone shouts out loud that life's adventures can be myriad; that we can stay on our path or change our path; that it is the doing of life that weaves the tapestry.
Okay, so maybe my verbiage is mixing itself - I am tired at the end of a full day, but I was determined to add my notes and comments, which are simply this – the older I get (60 not even a month ago :-)), the more I appreciate the women in my life, and the more I want to cook a savory stew for my future.
And Ann C, if you read this review, I am giving a copy of this book to you! You continue to teach me the beauty of friendship. We may not be taking a road trip (yet…) but we are taking a high heeled hot cocoa drive. May the tastiest cocoa warm the heart, and may the highest heel tickle our imaginations. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLM5NEsINTo)
Tapestry of Fortunes. The title alone shouts out loud that life's adventures can be myriad; that we can stay on our path or change our path; that it is the doing of life that weaves the tapestry.
Okay, so maybe my verbiage is mixing itself - I am tired at the end of a full day, but I was determined to add my notes and comments, which are simply this – the older I get (60 not even a month ago :-)), the more I appreciate the women in my life, and the more I want to cook a savory stew for my future.
And Ann C, if you read this review, I am giving a copy of this book to you! You continue to teach me the beauty of friendship. We may not be taking a road trip (yet…) but we are taking a high heeled hot cocoa drive. May the tastiest cocoa warm the heart, and may the highest heel tickle our imaginations. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLM5NEsINTo)
Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
3.0
Two weekends ago my friend Ann took me to see the Brooklyn Museum exhibit Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe. (http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/heels/) The exhibit led to conversation about shoes (of course!) and that led to Ann mentioning Adriana Trigiani and this three-book series, in particular.
I definitely enjoyed the book. Trigani's writing (at least for this book) is an adjective's best friend and, coupled with my being a New Yorker, I often felt like I was right smack there in Little Italy or Greenwich Village or mid-town, along with Valentine and her family and friends - that's how robust the descriptions are.
Trigani or, more precisely, Valentine, is also sufficiently chatty that I knew what was going on from the very start thanks to her non-stop patter.
All this communication made me feel like another member of the family, and I was enjoying being complicit until the return from Italy and Gram's episode. Maybe it was jet lag, but at that point I was beginning to wish Valentine would use less verbiage to tell her tale.
Yet, when all is said and done, I am curious to know how Valentine's tale turns out, and am likely going to reserve the next book in the series. And, it did make a nice vacation read!
I definitely enjoyed the book. Trigani's writing (at least for this book) is an adjective's best friend and, coupled with my being a New Yorker, I often felt like I was right smack there in Little Italy or Greenwich Village or mid-town, along with Valentine and her family and friends - that's how robust the descriptions are.
Trigani or, more precisely, Valentine, is also sufficiently chatty that I knew what was going on from the very start thanks to her non-stop patter.
All this communication made me feel like another member of the family, and I was enjoying being complicit until the return from Italy and Gram's episode. Maybe it was jet lag, but at that point I was beginning to wish Valentine would use less verbiage to tell her tale.
Yet, when all is said and done, I am curious to know how Valentine's tale turns out, and am likely going to reserve the next book in the series. And, it did make a nice vacation read!
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
4.0
This was another great discovery, courtesy of Ann, yet again! (When it comes to book suggestions, there is nothing quite like the advice of a friend who is an avid reader and also happens to be a librarian.)
This book resonated not just for the delight of getting to know Don and Rosie and their friends, but also because one of my nephews has Aspergers. And wouldn't you know it, just this Christmas Eve my nephew proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes. :-) And not dissimilar from Don and Rosie, my nephew's financé is also in the medical profession: she is a nurse.
The Rosie Project is a warm, heartening tale of one person's quest to discover his life, with a little help from his friends. (The Beatles got it right ;-)) I think self-discovery and learning how to engage with life are healthy pursuits regardless of where we start that adventure.
I have never listened to an entire book on tape, but have considered it might add to my enjoyment of The Rosie Project, as apparently the narrator is an actor with an Australian accent. I noticed in today's NYT book review that there is now a follow-up tale, The Rosie Effect. Perhaps that will be my first book on tape.
This book resonated not just for the delight of getting to know Don and Rosie and their friends, but also because one of my nephews has Aspergers. And wouldn't you know it, just this Christmas Eve my nephew proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes. :-) And not dissimilar from Don and Rosie, my nephew's financé is also in the medical profession: she is a nurse.
The Rosie Project is a warm, heartening tale of one person's quest to discover his life, with a little help from his friends. (The Beatles got it right ;-)) I think self-discovery and learning how to engage with life are healthy pursuits regardless of where we start that adventure.
I have never listened to an entire book on tape, but have considered it might add to my enjoyment of The Rosie Project, as apparently the narrator is an actor with an Australian accent. I noticed in today's NYT book review that there is now a follow-up tale, The Rosie Effect. Perhaps that will be my first book on tape.