This book is by the same author as The Fault in Our Stars, and the books share a number of characteristics including the fact that most of the characters are teenagers and the dialogue in the book is the best I've ever read. This book had me laughing so hard I was almost crying a few times -- the dialogue is simply brilliant. The plot of this book, however, was pretty weak. Some of the characters are shallow and uninspiring, and the pace is slow at times. I'd recommend the book, but keep your plot expectations low... Grade: B
Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials that Shape our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik
Even though I've taken multiple college level courses on material science, I learned a lot while reading this book. The author does an outstanding job of make material science understandable and interesting while at the same time demonstrating the important role it plays in modern science and shaping modern society. A great balance of science and interesting anecdotes. Grade: B+
DEEP: The Story of Skiing and the Future of Snow by Porter Fox
This book is a cord made of three strands: (1) a story about how amazing it is to ski in powder, (2) a story about a tragedy at a ski resort in Washington state, and (3) a description of the future of skiing if global warming continues. It is not easy to weave these three narratives together, but the author does a great job of doing just that. This book made me care more about global warming than I did previously. Grade: A-
12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. The book was heart breaking and thought provoking and I'm hoping for a great movie. Grade: B
12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. The book was heart breaking and thought provoking and I'm hoping for a great movie. Grade: B
