What are you reading?

I just finished a book called The Emperor of Scent by Chandler Burr. It is about a scientist named Luca Turin and what happened when he introduced a new theory of how smell works. It was a fun read but I have to admit, some of the science really baffled me and went way above my head. I mostly read it for the bits about perfume-Luca is a celebrated perfume critic, and Chandler Burr is the New York Times's first ever perfume critic. Perfume is my new obsession-I spend about an hour each day reading perfume blogs online.

Next up, I am going to read Madame Bovary. Never read it before, and was thrilled to find that Barnes and Nobles has a whole shelf of classic literature where each book costs only about $7! I know where I will be stocking up at from now on prior to vacations!

Lessee--For one, I'm reading "The Great Funk:Falling Apart and Coming Together (on a shag rug) in the Seventies" by Thomas Hine.

Great ride down memory lane, in fact it's more of a ride down 'Retrieving Your Memory' Lane since I was pretty stoned through the seventies...very interesting to see what problems bothered us then and how they compare to what bothers us now. Much more freedom then than now it seems--very sad, that.

Also I'm reading "My Last Supper: Fifty Great Chefs and Their Final Meals-Portraits, Interviews and Recipes" by Melanie Dunea. I didn't need the nude photo of Anthony Bourdain, however his last meal of roasted bone marrow with little toasts sounds pretty good. My other 'favorite' chefs are in there too with some kick-butt recipes.

Just got done reading "Land Of a Thousand Eyes", by Peter Olszewski, about living in Myanmar ('Burma' to us old folks) recently. The author has written for Rolling Stone and other Australian publications, he was the former 'minder' to Hunter S. Thompson when the Gonz went to Australia, along with being the head of the Australian pot party way back. The book has some interesting insights into the delicate buddhist culture and it's insane military overlords, but it eventually gets bogged down late int he book by a love story. I did however learn a new word by reading this book -- "Callipygian". And if you have one of those I'll probably be staring at it.

Other than those I'm reading numerous cookbooks and travelogues and a cool book on how to rev up my iphone.

May ya'll have a great day,

Rott

An interesting, very though history of the English Navy and it's impact on world history and culture. It really is amazing how many little details they didn't teach us in school that books like this fill in. The transition of English politics from what would now be called 'State Sponsored Terrorism' and the slave trade, to 'Police for the New World Order' fighting for Abolition is fascinating.

It must be taken with a grain of salt, as the author is a hard-core Anglophile. And the anachronistic view of English culture is a bit 2-dimensional. But once you get past that, the book is really worth it. The way that the Hermann gets you deeply involved in the incredible hardships and bravery of the people who opened up the world makes it a real page turner.

On a professional note: ITIL Standards v3 & every Linux magazine I can find.

I just finished PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Geraldine Brooks. Partly true but mostly historical fiction. It's about a manuscript preservationist and the 500 year old Haggadah known as the Sarajevo Haggadah, famous because it was beautifully illustrated by an unknown artist at a time when all three major religions practiced iconoclasm. The original is back in Sarejevo, but its travels in the 20th century would remind you of an Indiana Jones adventure. The book takes you on a journey back in time, the author having imagined where the manuscript had been, who had owned it, and how it was created. On a more subtle level, it is a book about religious similarities and reconciliation.

Hands down, the best book I've read about food politics yet. It will certainly get thee to a farmer's market!

I am reading a book now called In the Woods by Tana French. It is really great. It is a double whodunit. I usually do not gravitate towards those kinds of books but this is a great one and I am really enjoying it!

I am a sucker for award winners. If a book has won some awards, I am much more likely to buy it. Does it have that effect on anyone else?