Ravenous Reviews & Rants

To Pin or Not to Pin

2015-03-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

To Pin or Not to Pin

Some people dream about their weddings from the day they are born. Some people have had bridal magazine subscriptions since they could read. Some of us have never thought about what we would want in our wedding before we were engaged. No matter which category you fall into Pinterest can be a great help to us all.

Before Pinterest, you would have to purchase bridal magazines (which are mostly ads) and dog ear pages. Then if you were really ambitious, create a board with everything you might want, which you could share with your vendors to help see your vision. Today no scissors, glue, tape or paper cuts are needed.

You can now peruse Pinterest and tag anything that catches your fancy. Then when you find your vendors share your board with them. They can see your overall choices and well as the choices that relate to their part of the event. You will always have the info at your fingertips on your phone, tablet or laptop, which is so much lighter to carry with you than a bulky board or binder.

When I created my board I started by looking at one item at a time, that way the choices are grouped closely to each other. You will start to see patterns develop based on what you are pinning. It will also leave you lasting links to things you may want to refer back to, instead of playing the what was the name of that website game.

My wedding was 3,000 miles away from where I live so my board was a lifesaver. Every vendor was able to take my pins and translate them into exactly what we had in mind. Below you will see some of my pins and the pictures of what my vendors created. They are spot on and even better than the pins in many instances.

Pinned

Actual

Milan Events

Maggie Stolzberg Photography

Pinned

Actual

Key West Cakes

Old Town Manor Weddings

Pinned

Actual

Created by Merry & Married Meg

Maggie Stolzberg Photography

A couple of hints for pinning:

If you get a little too pin happy, go back in and take out what you may have changed your mind about.
Follow Pinners who have similar ideas as you, they will then show up in your feed so you don’t have to search as long or hard for what you are looking for.
Remember, that not all things on Pinterest can be duplicated exactly or are feasible. Pinterest is an idea board and not always a reality board.

I cannot stress enough how helpful it can be in visualizing your dream and making it become a reality.

Merry & Married Meg

It's All a Matter of Money.

2015-03-04T17:50:00.002-08:00

One of the hardest things about planning a wedding is the money. Some of us get help from family and friends and others of us are on our own when it comes to paying for our weddings. No matter the case, make sure that you are truly sure how much you want to spend.

Yes, it is a once in a lifetime event, but you don’t want to spend the rest of your life trying to pay it back. When deciding your budget make sure that you will be able to afford the payments over the course of the planning. Some of your vendors will have a payment plan which allows you to pay most of the total before the actual event. This helps alleviate the pain on the day of the wedding.

When working with your budget there are a few things you should keep in mind. There will be many small incidental costs towards the end that can add up and put you over budget. A couple hundred here and there may not seem like much at the time, but four or five of those and you can be in trouble.

Don’t forget you will need to tip your vendors. Those tips can be a percentage of the total spent with the company or a flat amount based on the service that is provided. The tips will depend on your overall budget, but no matter what, they will still have an impact.

Tipping Chart Provided by Just Save the Date Wedding Planning

Pick the three things that are most important to you and make those your splurges. For us the music, food and photography were the top three. If we were going to need to make compromises they would not be in those categories. Keep in mind the overall experience is going to be the most memorable part of the wedding, most people are not going to remember your linens or choice of chairs.

Great Events Catering - Photo by Maggie Stolzberg Photography

If you are crafty or have plenty of time you can also save money by making some things yourself. Don’t forget if you have willing and able friends they could help your budget too. My best friend has the most amazing handwriting, so when it came to the invites he was more than willing to help address the envelopes. He was the Man of Honor after all. Those handmade details with their love and time will mean so much more.

Escort Card and Menu by Me - Photo by Maggie Stolzberg Photography

I feel the best thing is to set your budget below what you are actually willing to spend. That way when things pop up you have a buffer. Most of all remember you want to enjoy your wedding not spend the planning and day of trying to justify the money that you spent. No one can have fun when they are stressing about funds.

Merry & Married Meg

Rings are tricky things

2015-02-19T19:53:00.000-08:00

Rings or a version of them can be linked back to before the Egyptians. Each time a ring is presented no matter its position in history it has meant a binding agreement between two individuals. The diamond ring is a relatively new concept. In 1477 Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy using a ring set with diamonds in the shape of an M. DeBeers was the company that made the idea of a diamond the gold standard, no pun intended.

There have been many conversations lately swirling around where people have been complaining about the ring their fiance gave them. It is not the "traditional" ring they expected. This frustrates me that people are disappointed in a symbol of love. Even "The Simpsons" broached the subject when Marge and Homer got engaged with an onion ring. No matter what your ring may be, gold, silver, platinum, diamond, ruby or sapphire it is meant to be a representation of your love and commitment to each other.

Enough about the history and people's proclivities, let's get down to what I have learned. My husband knows my style very well and would have had no problem picking out what would be the perfect ring without help.

However, he and our friend who is a jeweler and whose store we frequent did a little detective work. We wandered in one day to visit the owner and while I was there he showed me his "new" line of rings. He pointed out his favorite to me and asked me which was my favorite. The owner even asked me if there was somethings I would change about certain rings. It seemed a little odd at the time but I went with the flow. Long story short on the fateful night of our engagement my husband presented me with the ring that I liked best.

The moral of the story is if someone, anyone asks you what you think of certain styles of rings or a particular ring you must be completely honest. You never know who might be in on helping pick your ring. Either way remember it is a symbol of your love and future together.

As soon as you have said yes and put the ring on make sure it fits perfect. If it is super loose get it adjusted as soon as possible, you don't want to lose it. If it is slightly loose, keep it that way. When you stack rings on top of each other they tend to fit tighter.

Call your home owners or renters insurance right away. You fiancé doesn't have to tell you how much was spent on the ring but it definitely needs to be revealed to your insurance agent. This will protect you in case of loss or theft. Not the most exciting part of being engaged but very, very important.

Lastly, no matter how weird it feels to give someone your hand when they ask to see the ring do not take it off and hand it to the person wishing to see it. At a dinner party once a guest asked to see my ring. Since we were sitting across the table from each other I handed it to her. She proceeded to wear it for a half hour. It was probably one of the most uncomfortable half hours of my life.

I know that was a lot of information for one post, but I believe it can be helpful in many different ways. Engagement and everything that goes with it can feel like walking a tight rope at times, but it is absolutely worth it.

Merry & Married Meg

You're Engaged . . . Now What?

2015-02-10T19:25:00.001-08:00

Getting engaged is a roller coaster of emotions. There is the feeling of surprise, the giddiness of saying yes, and then the adrenaline that follows. You are ecstatic and want to tell the world, but WAIT!

Surprised, yes!
I was totally underdressed for the fancy restaurant but,
hey I had no idea what was going to happen.
I thought the staff was just super friendly.
My Sutro Tower t-shirt will forever remind me of that night.

The moment you say yes you will want to shout it from the rooftops, but are you ready for the barrage of questions that will follow? Here are the most asked questions I ran into:

How did he ask?
Did you know he was going to ask?
What does the ring look like?
Do you know what kind of dress you want?
When is the wedding?

Yes, you read that last one correctly. WHEN IS THE WEDDING? Hello, I just got engaged how am I supposed to know!

Believe it of not that was the most asked question I encountered. There really is no way to answer that. Not many people out there have a venue lined up before the question is popped, so not many people can answer that ridiculousness.

I think people ask these kinds of questions because after you say congratulations it is hard to keep the conversation going in that same vain. Your friends and family are happy for you, but they are at a loss for words. When things start to head in the manner of an interrogation, explain that you are glad that you got to share the news with them and you have other people that you would like to tell so you will call back again soon when more of the details are settled. By explaining that you will check back you give yourself and the person you are sharing with have an out.

The greatest advice I can give for the newly engaged is take at least a couple hours to enjoy yourselves and the love that you share. Appreciate your relationship and revel in each other's company before you pick up that phone.

Make sure you are ready to share and answer many, many questions before you open the flood gates. Not only will questions follow but so will opinions and advice. Some things people tell you will be helpful and others will not, so take everyone's advice and use what YOU think will help you.

Merry & Married Meg

Just Married

2015-01-29T19:52:00.000-08:00

So the world's most inconsistent blogger is back again. My love of San Francisco and my now husband have kept me quite occupied since the last time I wrote. I think it might be just about time to start the blog up again. Why you might ask?

Well, planning a wedding is stressful and I learned a lot along the way. When I got engaged my mind started to spiral and I felt as if there wasn't much help out there. There are tons of websites trying to sell you the things you "need" for you wedding but not much advice. So I am going to start the blog that I wish was out there a year and a half ago. I am hoping to write in chronological order, but if I forget something important I will add it in when I remember.

Along the way you I will introduce you to sites, my vendors, and even private looks at bits and pieces of my wedding. Whether you are engaged, married or single I am sure there will be something for everyone after all a wedding is a giant party.

Sincerely,

Married & Merry Meg

Miss R's Amazing Adventures

2012-06-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

I know I have not written much lately. That is because things will be changing very soon. This blogger is moving from one coast to the other.

I am currently working on a blog for my students called Miss R's Amazing Adventures. It will chronicle everything that a move of that magnitude entails. There are even fish at the top of the page that kids can feed by clicking in the pond.

I will post here more of an adult version of what it great in the states that I visit. Stay tuned for more posts.

Team Sparkle Pony

2012-05-01T14:05:00.003-07:00

This is the second time that Team Sparkle Pony will be walking in the San Francisco AIDS walk. Since our fundraising has begun we have been in the top 25 and were asked to write a biography of the team. Below is what we submitted. If the story touches you, please donate at the link here.

Team Sparkle Pony is small but powerful. It is compromised of three friends: Jordan, Megan and Mike. The team formed the same week that we all became mutual friends.

Last April, on my annual spring break trip to San Francisco from New Jersey the idea to participate in the San Francisco AIDS walk came to fruition. Jordan and I were meeting for coffee when we commented on the AIDS walk banners flying overhead.

One of us said, “We should do that this year.” The other responded, “Yeah, we should.” Of course over coffee we started thinking of names and fundraising ideas. With us, when the ball gets rolling there is no stopping it!

We mentioned the idea to our new friend Mike and he jumped right in. We set the lofty goal of raising $1,000 a piece and came within $25 of our team goal. The money was raised in many different ways.

Each of us e-mailed every one we knew and sent reminders when ever we could. We also used facebook to bombard the internet with our support requests. Personal thanks were e-mailed and hand written for every donation made. Our perseverance paid off, we started to see the temperature go up on all of our thermometers. Friends, friends of friends, students and their families, and people we did not even know began to donate. Every day this team of three got stronger and sparklier.

For our final push to reach our goal we hosted a fundraising event with a raffle of locally donated gift certificates. We had the support of the event’s location, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and a radio station. Other walkers came out to help us at our fundraiser even though they were fundraising on their own. We even sold our team t-shirts off our backs.

This year we are going to reach that goal of $3,000 or more. Even though our team is located on two coasts, we won’t give up. We don’t raise money for anyone in particular, but for all of mankind. We each know someone who has been battling this disease and want them to have all the support that we can give.

Team Sparkle Pony is stronger and sparklier than ever. A great team name and t-shirt can get you far but amazing teammates get you ever further.

Team Captain of Sparkle Pony

Born Wicked

2012-04-22T15:03:00.001-07:00

Someone I went to college with published a book! I know I couldn't believe it either, so of course I needed to read it and review it.

Born Wicked: The Cahill Witch Chronicles (Book 1), by Jessica Spotswood, follows the lives of three sisters in a small town at the turn of the century. These are not ordinary sisters, they are witches who were taught little of the craft before their mother passed away. They need to hide their gifts from the world for fear of persecution. With only six months before a major life decision must be made the eldest sister finds out information that will change their lives forever.

The book takes a while to get moving. Until about 2/3 in I was not sure if I was going to enjoy it. After that point I wanted to know what happens next. Unfortunately, the book is one of three and it ends abruptly. If you hold on until the end I am sure you will be looking for the next one just like me.

The thing that drove me crazy was the world the story is set in. Some of the events chronologically do not make sense. It resembles our turn of the century New England so closely that I did not realize it an alternate world until I checked the library of congresses description on the front cover.

If you like witches and romance give this book a try. Check out Jessica's website here.

Blend Creations

2012-03-29T17:03:00.001-07:00

I am giggling like a little kid because I just received my custom necklace from Blend Creations.

It is awesome and easy. You print out the custom worksheet from the website and draw within the lines. Then scan it and send it to the company. In three days I had my brother's childhood drawing on a necklace.

So of course being a teacher I think, "Great Mother's Day gift!" It is too expensive for me to order for each of the children in my class. We are on the tissue paper flower budget in most schools, but Dads could totally get their tot to draw within the lines. You also sign the back. What a perfect momento.

They also have great and unusual items like bottle opener necklaces. Which is more ingenious then flip-flop bottle openers, since, well you walk on them. Gross! Blend Creations also offers flowers suspended in resin and many other items. There are more traditional items as well, but those are less my style.

There is a custom portion to almost any piece of artwork on this site. You can really make your mark on any piece.

Please give Blend Creations a try and you will not be disappointed.

Stardust

2012-03-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

Neil Gaiman is my go-to traveling companion. I love the fantasy and the unusual twists and turns, he gives you. Stardust is no exception. It is a relatively modern fairytale.

It follows both a father and son's journey out of their sheltered lives. These stories take place consecutively. The father's story give us the interesting story of his son's origin.

The bigger story is that of the son. He is madly in love with a girl and promises her the star that fell from the sky. The rest of the story is his journey to find and return the star to his love. Along the way he meets many fanciful and fantastic creatures. Some will help and some will hinder him along the way. The story is woven like a typical Gaiman spider web, you are never sure which way it will go and where it will end up.

I would love to write more, but the beauty of this book is discovering the fairy tale one strand at a time.

There is also a movie based on the book, but of course it is different and not as exciting. Gaiman has said that when your story becomes a film you have to let go of your piece of art and let someone else take it and make it their own.

Diary of a Married Call Girl

2012-03-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

To feed my constant addiction for small and/or used book stores I wander into them as much as I can. My way of keeping them around so I can continue to enjoy them. On one of my journeys I wanted a little bit of fluff to read and Tracy Quan's Diary of a Married Call Girl fit the bill.

It is an unusual story. It follows a woman who hides being a call girl from her new husband. The new husband wants to start a family and she wants to keep her business. I enjoyed the parts about her family history, rather than the main story line about hiding ones life from another. It is an easy quick read and does not require too much brain power. It would be great for the beach.

Bossy Pants

2012-03-04T09:48:00.001-08:00

I love my Nook but I hate that I can't read it during take off. So when I forgot to bring a book along I wandered into the many Hudson News shops in the airport and picked up Tina Fey's Bossy Pants. I will admit I love everything Fey. This book did not disappoint.

Fey's book has her humor throughout, so there are giggles every couple of pages. It follows her from the beginning of her life up until now. I find it funny that you can see 30 Rock episodes in your head that were taken from her life. The truth is always funnier than fiction. Tina has used all she has been through to make an outrageous book and tv show.

It is a very quick read, it took me only 2 days to finish it. You can read it in any order since each chapter is its own story. Although I would read it from start to finish. That could be the OCD in me, but chronologically is always better.

So enjoy the giggles.

San Francisco AIDS Walk - Part 2

2012-02-29T14:26:00.001-08:00

Last year I decided along with my best friend to participate in the San Francisco AIDS walk. Our small team of 3 raised almost $3,000. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. So . . . we decided to do it again.

Cloris Leachman Kicked everything off with a laugh. Then we started the 10K walk with a mass of people. The feeling of knowing that you and all of those around you were all working towards the same cause was overwhelming.

Along the way there was tons of entertainment. Musicians, bands and belly dancers. There were even snacks and a cheering section to keep you going.

There were even parts of the famous remembrance quilt to remind us all that even though this is a fun event we are fighting for something extremely important.

I would love to beat my $1,000 goal from last year. Please take the time to check out my page and support me and Team Sparkle Pony. Or start a team yourself.

Thank you in advance for all your support.

Travel Must Haves

2012-01-28T14:06:00.000-08:00

I have been racking up the frequent flyer miles in the past year based on the location of loved ones. There are a few items which I cannot travel without. Of course they are all easily found on the internet or in stores. Plus are light and take up very little space.

If you are like me you cannot keep your eyes open on the plane long enough to get your beverage, and are parched upon waking. I have a great solution even though we all know that you can't bring a drink into the airport.

The vapor water bottle is one of the best purchases I have ever made. They typically cost less than $10 for the 0.5L reusable bottle. It stands up when full and is completely rollable when empty. It is BPA free which is a plus. The carabiner makes easy to clip on the outside of your bag.

Many airport now have filling stations when you get past security. No more carrying a crusty old empty water bottle, to keep hydrated on the long flights.

I love those neck pillows that keep your head from hitting the window or ending up on other people shoulders. The only draw back to them is they are huge and unwieldily. Here is a cheap and smaller alternative.

Ikea has developed a travel line. Go figure, they have everything else. The neck pillow, Upptacka, is inflatable. So it rolls up into a mesh bag about the size of a soda can. The internal bladder can even be removed and the cover washed. Since you are blowing it up you can make it as firm or soft as you like. It is a mere $5 if you do not have an Ikea family card and $4 if you don't. They even come in 5 colors, I have the yellow-orange.

The next two products I will admit I use everyday and not just for travel.

I like to sleep in complete darkness and we all know that is not possible on a flight. So an eye mask is a must. They even provide them on red-eye international flights. However, most are thin and don't block out enough light. Not this one, it is actually made for migraine suffers and it the best one I have ever had.

The IMAK face mask is filled with ergonomic beads so it conforms to your face without pressure points. You can even freeze it for cool comfort when at home. They run about $15, and can be found at drugstore.com.

My last favorite is a new Burt's Bees invention, tinted lip balm. I am a lipgloss junkie and hate having to stash it in my checked luggage so as not to loose it to security. After a flight your lips are often dry from the recycled air, so lip balm is a must. Of course you want to try and look half human when you meet people on the other side of your travel.

It comes in six sheer shades that will complement most any skin tone. Of course it nourishes like a Burt's Bees product should.

If you have this products will leave your flight well rested, hydrated and beautiful.

Pocket Screwdriver

2012-01-15T09:55:00.001-08:00

Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you need a screwdriver just to tighten something up. I am constantly annoyed by a loose drawer handle or something else that is just not right. These are the best invention I have seen in a long time.

This little gem fits on any key ring and will not let you down. The ring can be rotated to fit flat head screws whose channel is 0.030 to 0.090 inches wide.

The only unfortunate thing is that they only buy them by the dozen. Then again you can be like me and give one to everyone you know could appreciate one. The dozen is only $9.95 at Lee Valley.

Teacher Gifts Part II

2011-11-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

Last year around this time I wrote a blog entry about teacher gifts. Being a teacher we always receive the same things and of course we know we are hard to buy for. We look forward to the gifts every year. It makes us feel loved and appreciated in a profession that does not always make us feel that way.

Last year I stated some do's and don'ts which you can read from the above link. This year I decided to do an Oprah's style favorite things. These gifts can be used by all and are not necessarily just for teachers.

1. Personalized Stationary - I write so many letters and get just giddy about having personalized stationary. I recently ordered this pattern from Paper Culture. The cards are on a heavy stock and come so quickly. For every order they pledge to plant a tree. Makes me want to order lots more.

2. Reusable Shopping Bags - I know, it sounds like Envirosax is paying me, but I can't get enough of them. I have 3 regular sax, a sling sax, and a mini sax (I use as a lunch bag). They weigh about an ounce and can be easily carried every where. They are sturdy and can hold about 44 pounds, not that you want to carry that much. I have even gotten the tiniest hole in my original bag and it is still the size of a pin point years later. Everyone I have given one to has adored them as much as me.

3. Personalized Stamps - I was given a gift certificate to the Three Designing Women website. I ordered the stamp featured on the side with "This Book Belongs To ......" instead of the address. I am actually thinking of ordering an address stamps and a monogram version to use on stationary. This company offers interchangeable stamps and stationary that is made to have a stamp used with it. I just love personalization.

Enjoy!

Envirosax Sling

2011-11-27T08:07:00.000-08:00

We all know I love my Envirosax. They are light and easy to carry with you all the time. Plus are amazingly durable. Well they came out with a new style. The Envirosax sling.

This bag has two free straps that you can tie to any length, which means you can make it fit your body perfectly. It still rolls like the original, however it is a bigger roll and does not roll as neatly. Because of the design there is a deep pocket on the outside where the fabrics meet. It is actually the perfect size for a bottle of wine. If you want to seal the bag when traveling you can tie the bag closed and fit it under the seat in front of you.

I love the bag, but I don't think I will be carrying it at the bottom of my purse like the others. I don't carry the biggest purses and this one takes up too much room. I will only have it when I know that I will be using it.

If you are interested in buying this bag or the other bags I have reviewed go to this site. Now through the 28th of November the original bags are 50% off. I know they can be hard to find outside of the internet, but they are well worth it.

Kindle vs. Nook

2011-11-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

So over the past year my family has been in possession of the Kindle 3g and the Nook Color. Even though both companies have come out with new versions. I feel some people may still want to know the differences between the two.

VS.

We originally had the kindle with the 3g and keyboard. The keyboard makes typing easy. However, I find it hard to scroll through websites and lists since you can only use the four directional keys. The 3g means that internet is always available, which is a plus. I will admit that when the ink layer changes it makes me feel a little sick to my stomach. The screen is glare free but you need to buy a light to accompany it to read at night.

I purchased the nook color not long after having the kindle in my life. It works like a tablet computer. You can have music, pictures, apps, books and magazines on this device. The nook even reads children's books out loud. I prefer the search options on the nook since I am able to see the covers of the books. I sometime cannot remember the exact name of the book and the cover always helps me find it. The magazine subscriptions are reasonably priced and are beautiful to look at. Another advantage is you can download e-pub books for free from you local library and read for free. The screen can have glare in the sun, but most people like myself will purchase a screen guard for the touch screen. The major disadvantage is that you must be in range of internet in order to download new books.

Overall, I prefer the nook. I cannot comment on the new versions of either, but you can look at the lists below and make the decision for yourself.

Kindle Nook_______________________________

Black and White Color

Keyboard Touch screen keyboard

Scrolling using directionals Touch scrolling

3g wireless available Must be in internet range

No glare Needs screen/glare protector

Needs light to read at night Back lit

Cannot download from libraries Free books from library

Magazines

Apps

Pictures

Music

A Dog's Purpose

2011-11-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

I received the book A Dog's Purpose; A Novel for Humans, by W. Bruce Cameron as a birthday gift from a fellow dog lover.

I love dogs and have owned many over my life. My current dog started life in a not so nice household before making it to our home through the NYC ASPCA. This book sent me on an emotional roller coaster, thinking of her former life.

A Dog's Purpose, follows the story of one dog through many lives. The dog learns new things through every life he/she is given. Along the way the dog figures that there must be a purpose for all the reincarnation that is going on. From that point on it is the dog's quest.

I will admit I almost put the book down after the first couple of chapters. I did not realize the dog would be reincarnated and well it took all my power to keep reading and not throw the book across the room upon his first death. Not all of the dog's lives are perfect, but there is a reason for each one.

I promise that this is a tear jerker. I was crying like a baby, even though there was a smile on my face when I finished the book. Of course my dog was there to console me.

Sasha, my proud to be adopted pup.

If you would like to donate to the NYC ASPCA where my girl is from click the link and help another dog find its purpose.

The Monster of Florence

2011-11-01T06:20:00.000-07:00

Many of you who know me, understand that I start and stop books, eventually picking them up again. I know it sounds weird but sometimes you are no longer in the mood for the book you are reading. This however was not the reason that I stopped reading The Monster of Florence: A True Story, by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi.

About three years ago my mother was reading this book and I said "What are you reading, it has the 'Rape of the Sabine Women' on the cover?" She explained that it is the true story of an author and an Italian reporter trying to solve the mystery of "The Monster of Florence."

This book is right up my alley. I love mystery, history and crime novels. So why did I stop with 30 pages left and leave it for so long. Simple reason, I was headed to Italy. I figured it would not be the best book to carry around while sightseeing. Especially, since it does not always speak highly of the Italian judicial system.

The book follows a series of murders that occurred between 1968 and 1985. In each of the murders a couple would be murdered while having sex in their cars in deserted areas around Florence. Sounds like they were breaking a horror movie rule. This murderous rampage took 16 lives.

The book takes a turn about half way through, and begins to focus on the Italian judicial system. Why may ask, if there are no clear suspects? Well, the writers are finding more sensitive information and are actually accused themselves. You can now see what it is like to be pursued by the Italian police and prosecutors in the Monster of Florence. Mario Spezi at one point is accused of being involved in the crimes and jailed in Perugia by Prosecutor Giuliano Migini.

Giuliano Migini, may sound familiar. He was the prosecutor in the Amanda Knox case. There is an addendum to the story featuring research into the Amanda Knox court case.

This book has a little bit of everything. You will feel uncomfortable at some point in the book. The murders are given detailed descriptions. The accusations and jailing are equally as detailed. The book makes you squirm and the scary part is its all real.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

2011-10-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

For over a year I have been meaning to read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, by Aimee Bender. Of course as many of you know I read multiple books at once and have a precarious pile of books waiting to be read. I finally got around to this one.

The concept of the book is what caught my interest. The main character, Rose, is a young girl who is navigating adolesence with a family of outsiders when she discovers she has an unusual ability. Rose can taste the feelings of the people who handle the food she eats. Imagine that some makes you a meal out of pure love and you can taste every beat of that person's heart. On the flip side you can taste all feelings good and bad.

Rose struggles to grow into this ability. It helps her understand her free spirited mother, but only through painful meals. Her father is almost nonexistent to her, until the very end of the story. I love the relationship between Rose and her brother's best friend George. However, the story line featuring her brother, Joseph, is lost on me. I feel this is where the book went off the deep end.

I love the concept of having an extra sense that can help or hinder you. Especially seeing Rose beginning to understand its usefulness. I liked the book but could do without her brother Joseph and the weirdness that surrounds him. I did not like the ending, but I don't really like endings that leave you hanging. If you are looking for a resolution do not read this book.

I cannot really say whether or not I would recommend this book. I did not love it and I did not hate it. This time you must really decide for yourself.

Anansi Boys

2011-09-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

After reading American Gods I needed more Gaiman. So the next logical book was Anansi Boys. It follows one of the most interesting characters from the former book "Mr. Nancy" who happens to be Anansi from the African Folk Tales. Gaiman brings the mischievousness of the ancient Anansi to the modern world.

The main character is Charles "Fat Charlie" Nancy, Anansi's son. Upon his father's death Fat Charlie finds out about his twin brother Spider and his father's true identity. This information leads Fat Charlie on a long and winding path he will never forget. The magical world once again collides with our world.

Things will never be the same.

Book Crossing

2011-09-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever read a book and wanted to share it with perfect strangers? Have you ever read a book and realized that is was not for you and now you are stuck with it? Well then Book Crossing is the answer.

Book Crossing is an international free library. All you do is create a user name and password. Then you can search for books you are looking for. Or you can release books into the wild and then track them to see where they go. I have released books at the airport and local bookshelves in public locations.

The tracking works just like wheresgeorge.com, which tracks dollar bills. You can see when your book has been and where it ends up.

You register the book, print a label and release it. It is that easy. If you are a reader like me, but do not have the room for all the books you read this is the perfect way to do it. Give it a try the more people using it, the more books available to the wide world of readers.

American Gods

2011-08-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

I have read Neil Gaiman books many times and even waited in line to meet him. Gaiman is a wonderful person to meet. He took a couple of minutes with each person whose books he was signing. Not the normal two seconds.

I some how never read any of his early books. So on my latest trip to the bookstore I picked up American Gods.

American Gods follows a recently released convict Shadow while he tries to become a member of society again. He is almost immediately hired by a con man, who may be more than he appears. Throughout the book there are short stories of Gods from all religions and cultures. You come to find out that Shadow is torn between three worlds; his own, the Ancient Gods and the New Gods.

This story is great but may take some time to get through. Whenever there seems to be movement in Shadow's story, all of a sudden there is a story of a God. These stories are important to the main plot but they seem to interrupt the flow. All of it comes together in the end.

I enjoyed this books so much that I am now reading his follow up book Anasi Boys.

Heat

2011-08-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago my best friend lent me this book. Unfortunately, since I read multiple books at once I have not finished Heat, by Bill Buford, until just recently.

Heat is the memoir of a journalist who after interviewing Mario Batali decides to join the restaurant world. The beginning of the book starts off with a bang. Buford starts as a kitchen slave and works his way up to an apprentice. Anyone who has ever wondered what it was like in a NYC kitchen will get a kick out of the beginning.

Buford, gets so obsessed with following in Batali's footsteps that he actual travels to Italy and to the exact places when Batali stayed and learned. He learns how to make pasta and to butcher all kinds of meats. The pasta making is interesting. Buford, also does research into the history of pasta based on what he learns.

The Dante quoting butcher is an interesting character, however this is where the book begins to fall flat. I know of people who stopped reading the book at this point. Buford has run out of steam when reaching the butcher.

The book held my attention until the final third. If you would like to know what it could be like to work in a high pressure kitchen read the first third. If you would like to know the history of pasta and how it is made in Italian read the second third. I probably would skip the final part of the book.