Cutting for Stone

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Although as I was reading it, it occasionally felt a bit long, by the end there was nothing I would have left out or changed. Cutting for Stone is beautifully written and so clear that it was sometimes hard to remember it's a novel not a memoir. The book traces the life of an Ethiopian-born Indian surgeon from the anguish of his birth until, in middle-age, he finally puts his demons to rest. Abraham Verghese manages to follow themes of religion, race, war, poverty, family and more all without ever being overbearing or preachy. I'd read it again.


View all my reviews.

The Man Who Loved China

The Man Who Loved China: Joseph Needham and the Making of a Masterpiece by Simon Winchester

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fascinating biography of the man who wrote the definitive history of science in China. While I don't think I am too likely to read his (dozens of volume long!) history, he led quite an interesting life and the tidbits I picked up about science here in China were remarkable (did you know, for example, that the Chinese invented the printing press 100s of years before Gutenberg?).


View all my reviews.

The Bondwoman's Narrative

The Bondwoman's Narrative by Hannah Crafts

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I didn't find the novel extraordinary per se, but given its historical context it was well worth reading. The introduction, notes and appendices were quite fascinating. Don't skip them.


View all my reviews.

Wedlock: The True Story of the Disastrous Marriage...

Wedlock: The True Story of the Disastrous Marriage and Remarkable Divorce of Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore by Wendy Moore

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
Despite the glowing review in the Washington Post, this book was a disaster. I couldn't even read enough of it to judge for myself if the Washington Post accurately described the excellent research that they claim went into the book. The writing was simply dreadful. Someone should have used her editor's pencil a little more vigorously to remove the excessive and unreadable use of the past-perfect.


View all my reviews.

Into Thin Air

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I would definitely NOT recommend reading this book 3 weeks before leaving for a trek that culminates on Mt. Everest. Although our plans only take us as far as the Tibet-side base camp, reading Krakauer's account of the catastrophic expeditions of May, 1996, has only increased my anxiety. If, on the other hand, you are not setting off for a grueling, high-altitude trek any time soon, then this gripping book is well worth a read.


View all my reviews.

Eat My Globe

Eat My Globe: One Year to Go Everywhere and Eat Everything by Simon Majumdar

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is far more a travelogue than a food book, despite the title. For a book that purports to be a food book it really has remarkably little about the food. While it lists the dishes the author tasted and his reactions to them, the descriptions are too bland and repetitive to help me imagine what the food might really be like. In addition, the writing is distressingly poor, especially considering that the author left a publishing job to research and write the book. He and his editors should be ashamed of themselves. Nevertheless, the book has some entertaining qualities and if you read it not for its informational content but only as a way to pass an entertaining few hours, it does pass the time successfully.


View all my reviews.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book had a good idea, but rather failed in execution. I hated that the author portrayed the main character, a nine year old boy, as so clueless that by the end of a year away from home he'd forgotten even the names of his best friends. Just not realistic!


View all my reviews.

Happens Every Day: An All-Too-True Story

Happens Every Day: An All-Too-True Story by Isabel Gillies

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
It happens every day which makes it pretty uninteresting to read about. Mediocre writing and a boring theme = a pretty lousy book. Don't waste your time.


View all my reviews.