If I Am Missing or Dead
If I Am Missing or Dead (2007) by Janine Latus. This is an artfully reported account of two parallel stories -- of Latus's own abuse, physical and emotional, by the men in her life, and of her sister's abuse, leading to murder. It all starts with their father, who fares poorly in Latus's description of him, from the time she was a child until she becomes a mature adult. It then progresses to men she is involved with, even the man she marries, who are no more impressive than her father. All are sexually obsessed, all are willing to use force to get what they want. Latus is raped, beaten, and emotionally abused in the course of the book, and it climaxes with the murder of her sister Amy by a man she has gotten involved with. It's pretty powerful stuff, and it makes for fascinating reading. Grade: B+
Labels: Memoir
Kitchen Confidential
Kitchen Confidential (Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly) (2000) by Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain is the real deal -- a top chef who has his own TV show ("No Reservations") and also runs a high-end restaurant in New York City. He is also incredibly full of himself, an attribute that I found off-putting. Overall, though, this is just an enjoyable journey through the life of someone who loves food -- something we have in common, although he is a bit more adventurous than I. You will learn things about restaurants that you might rather not know, but that's part of the fun. This would be a good book to read for anyone who loves food and/or its preparation. Grade: B+
Labels: Memoir
Hot House Flower and the 9 Plants of Desire
Hot House Flower and the 9 Plants of Desire (2009) by Margot Berwin. What a marvelous find this book is! Berwin weaves a tale that stretches from the streets of New York City to the jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula. As the title suggests, it deals with botanicals and the magical properties of certain tropical plants. Along the way, the protagonist finds adventure, love and self-knowledge. And she discovers the secret of the nine plants of desire. It's an enjoyable, entertaining and quick read. Grade: A
Labels: Novel
My Booky Wook
My Booky Wook (A Memoir of Sex, Drugs and Stand-Up) by Russell Brand. Brand is a cad, or was, a fact he admits himself. He used drugs and he used women in the pursuit of his own personal pleasure, until finally some friends convinced him that his addictions (drugs and sex) were the reason for his constant career failure. He is (apparently) clean now, and his career has picked up -- to the point where he is scoring roles in Hollywood movies, notably "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," in which he played the cad whom Sarah shacks up with in Hawaii. We'll probably be seeing more of him. At any rate, this is a diverting book, and rather well written. He seems to hold nothing back about his previous bad behavior, a fact that bodes well for his future. I will be interested to see what happens next in his career as a funnyman and actor. Grade: B+
Labels: Memoir
