Reviews

This is a hands-down fabulous book! It’s an adventure. In space. On Mars. What more do you need? But on top of that it’s witty and science-y with a hint of impending doom.

In case the title doesn’t give it away, McCarney is a potty mouth. If foul language upsets you in the least, please put this book down immediately. Should profanity be less a concern, The Joy of Leaving Your Sh*t All Over the Place is actually kind of a joy itself.

When it comes to animated films, talking animals is certainly not a new concept, but the idea of domesticated pets going on wild adventures when the owners are away becomes a fun driving force in the new movie The Secret Life of Pets.

Secrets abound in Planetfall. Since establishing a colony on a distant planet, no one has seen the leader of the mission, Suh-Mi, who has gone to live in a strange network of tunnels called God’s City. The protagonist, Renata, believes in the supernatural, but has her doubts about the religion that has formed around the leader’s disappearance into God’s City. A stranger arrives at the colony, but no one knows how he got there.

Much is expected of Alexander, the only son of Alexander the Great, but he's more than ready for the task. His skills on the battlefield are well known, and he's charming, yet cautious when it comes to social and political affairs. His search for a wife worthy of the noble lineage of his family finds him engaged to Princess Mereret, the daughter of the Egyptian King Ptolemy. While waiting for the wedding date to arrive, a slave girl named Kiara is sent to entertain him. Although Alexander is stunned and enchanted by her beauty, his responsibility is clear. 

The Atomic Weight of Love is an outstanding debut novel. Meridian Wallace puts her dreams of a Masters and PhD. on hold and follows her husband, Alden Whetstone, to Los Alamos, New Mexico where he helps develop the atomic bomb. Meridian’s unfinished scholarly work in ornithology leads her to question her life with Alden, who becomes more interested in his work and must lead a rather secretive life.

Mia, "Rabbit", Hayes is a fighter and the very heart of her adoring family. But so is the cancer slowly taking over her body. Rabbit, however, refuses to acknowledge that her diagnosis has just rapidly plummeted or share the news with her 12 year old daughter, Juliet. Neither of them is ready to say goodbye. Rabbit's family is amazing, particularly her strong tough Irish "Mammy" Molly, who fights like a tiger for her daughter's life. Rabbit's father, Jack, and her siblings, Grace and Davey, are believably drawn characters.

In my heart, I have always supported the right to die movement without knowing exactly why. Except that, I always euthanize my pets when their suffering outweighs all else. And I watched my Grandmother suffer indignities she would have been horrified by and wonder why we work so hard to prolong lives long over.  

I Am Big Bird is a must-see for fans of Sesame Street, Jim Henson, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, or all of the above. It’s a documentary focusing on the life of Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who plays both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, and also sometimes other famous Sesame Street characters like Bert.

I was searching for a simple cookbook. How to Cook Everything is just that; very basic and a great resource for new cooks. For those who don’t know how to boil an egg, instructions are included. How to scramble eggs, make pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches—it’s all here. Slightly advanced recipes, such as meatloaf, minestrone, and cinnamon rolls are also included. The book covers the difference between sautéing and stir-frying, simmering and boiling.