travellingcari's reviews
875 reviews

Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service by James McCommons

4.0

A really interesting look at the past, present and future of Amtrak through the lens of the long distance trains. McCommons is a university professor and some chapters come through as feeling like a published paper, but overall it was super readable. Especially as I began reading it on a Lake Shore Limited between Albany and NYC. While not a foamer myself, long distance train travel fascinates me and I enjoyed this look at the history of some - especially why the Empire Builder has that name.
While the cost of gas isn't the issue that it was in 2009, there remain many reasons to take trains. Seeing the country is one amazing one - getting there quickly isn't always.

Devil's Bridge by Linda Fairstein

3.0

I love this series, but I really didn't love this book.
Telling it from Mike's POV and "hearing" his inner thoughts/feelings on Coop (sorry, she's "Coop", she's not "Alex") was good, but I felt it got a little too touchy feely for the character of Mike Chapman. I did like this story as a lens into Chapman's history - his father's interactions with the Westies would be perfect for a cop at that time. The "character" of Jeoffrey's Hook was amazing - I wish the same level of detail had been paid to Liberty Island and its history.
I felt short changed on the initial case though and curious whether he, the Reverend or Raymond Tanner will be revisited in a future story.

I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark

3.0

Predictable Mary Higgins Clark, but at least I hadn't figured out who the perp was. I knew it was going to be a quick/clean ending due to the minimal number of remaining pages. At times I was confused with the number of different characters.

Front of the House: Restaurant Manners, Misbehaviors & Secrets by Jeff Benjamin

While I'm not familiar with the Vetri brand, this was an interesting look at the hospitality industry via that lens. A mix of common sense knowledge and some interesting behind the scenes like reservation management. Good, quick read

Brady vs Manning: The Untold Story of the Rivalry That Transformed the NFL by Gary Myers

4.0

as a huge NFL fan and big fan of the Mannings I wondered how much of this would be truly "untold". I walked away pleasantly surprised to learn significant new information about the QBs, their current and past QBs and the rivalry. Like Myers said in his conclusion, you can't go wrong with either QB. Except, I'd say, when it comes to pranking. Then I'd avoid both.
As someone who is less of a PAts fan, I enjoyed the new-to-me info on Bledsoe being "Pipped" and some of the back story of Brady's UM career. Like Myers' other NFL books, a great read

Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing, and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon by Nick Trout

4.0

A good read, although I began to skim in parts when he got too bogged down in veterinary history that I wasn't as interested in. I grew attached to the pets and found myself wanting to know more-especially Sage. One confusing thing is that they're are many names: pets and human (families, doctors, techs) that it was sometimes hard to remember which was which.

Don't Go To Law School (Unless): A Law Professor's Inside Guide to Maximizing Opportunity and Minimizing Risk by Paul Campos

Some good things, but most of this has been done to death on the internet. His personal Q&A new but not new material

EMT: Beyond the Lights and Sirens by Pat Ivey

4.0

An interesting, light read despite the subject matter. Although we knew it was dated by her daughter's age and the gift of twin cabbage patch kids, it didn't hit me how old this was until they referenced AIDS as "new" that discussed having to start wearing gloves. It turned out this was a 2014 reprint of a 1990 title. No matter, the human interest stories were still relevant

Chasing the Ripper by Patricia Cornwell

3.0

An interesting look back at Cornwell's writing about Jack the Ripper. Nothing much new in here if you follow her on social channels and/or read some of the book's coverage.

Unchosen: The Hidden Lives of Hasidic Rebels by Hella Winston

4.0

The reviews for this book are all over the map so I went into it with minimal expectations. Although I skimmed some chapters, I found it quite the compelling read. I wanted to know more about Malkie's work (at the time of her work with the author, she hadn't officially founded Footsteps), about Yossi's progress and how Dini was managing. WHo else has Chaim (appropriate pseudonym!) helped? Not the read for people looking for scholarly research into those leaving the fold, but a good inside look at the people behind the stories