Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I would have given this book 4 stars if I had not read it 8 years after it was published. It is a well organized, well researched, well written attack of the fast food industry.
I have to admit my initial reaction to Schlosser's acerbic and condescending criticism was to defend the fast food industry. So what if McDonald's introduced the first "assembly" line kitchen to increase speed and efficiency? It's called innovation. So what if the majority of fast food employees are teenagers that work less than 40 hrs./wk. (so they won't qualify for benefits) and the jobs require little training? What else are teens going to do for summer jobs--and what teen wants to work 40 hrs./wk. anyway (esp. during school)? So what if the fast food industry panders to children with toys and playlands? It's a crime to try to make children happy at a restaurant? Scholsser also seems to have a deep set dislike for Disneyland, whose connection to fast food I never really understood, other than they both were born in Southern CA. He also seems to think that kids wearing cowboy clothing is really important.
But then. Then he delves into the food production issues and it is hard not to agree with Schlosser that food safty and production in this country have some major issues. He writes about the problems with horrific details and then expounds on our government's lack of ability to correct it. I think I was more outraged by our government's lack of concern for its people and the way big business owns and controls the government. I mean, this is not just the food at McDonalds, but the food we buy at the grocery store and that is served to our children in our schools.
He does end with a good example of how by demanding changes from fast food chains, who are the largest buyers of food commodities, they in turn can bring the needed changes to food production/safety faster than the government obviously can. Some of these changes are already taking place as an afterword in the paperback edition I read relates. You can see changes since the book was written such as fast food offering more healthy choices, esp. to children. Perhaps what I learned most from this book, is that if there is an issue you care about, don't appeal to the govt. for help--talk with your money. Find a business that you can persuade with your dollar or publicity, and the needed changes will happen.

View all my reviews >>

Indignation

Indignation by Philip Roth


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was my first Roth novel. Novella. Short story expanded into a novella. Here's what I liked: I liked his effortless style; nothing fancy and poetic, just good crisp writing--very timeless. I liked the theme of following life backwards, to the one action that created the domino that got you to where you are. I liked the irony of how the characters fear a certain outcome, and by trying to prevent it, actually produce that exact outcome--I've always been facinated by that. What I didn't like: I don't know. But I do know it was an ok book, but not one that I loved or thought was amazing.


View all my reviews >>

Nineteen Minutes

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This would probably be more like 3.5. Picoult really writes well and gives the reader a lot to think about. But it ended flat with me--the big reveal played more to surprise the reader than to be consistent with the characters, I felt.

Nineteen minutes is about Peter, picked on his whole life, who wakes up one day, takes 4 guns to school and shoots 10 people dead, wounding 19 others. It is also about Josie, who used to be one of Peter's only friends, only to abandon him to be part of the popular crowd. The parts I connected with best are from the points of view of Peter's and Josie's parents, as they wonder what they could have done to make things turn out differently. As a parent, it is hard not judge yourself for the actions of your children, and it is hard to know what they need or how to help them. It's also easy to take them for granted. In that way, this book really inspired me to try to connect better with my kids, and to be thankful for them.

Picoult writes well, getting under the skin of multiple characters without losing the reader. She's descriptive and emotive and the plot moves along well. There are a few factual errors that I found distracting though, like saying Peter's eyeglasses that help him see far away make his eyes look big--I know from experience that it would be the opposite, they would make his eyes look small. And then there is a pivotal point near the end that involves a sock, when she makes a point to describe Peter wearing flip flops. And like I said, the big reveal doesn't track with me--unless she's just trying to make a point about gun control.

A friend gave this to me, saying Picoult was her favorite author. I did enjoy it enough that I'll put My Sister's Keeper on my list.


View all my reviews.

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Can you find a more delightful book? I was reluctant to read this again since we read it to death in high school and then again in college (plus the prolific movie adaptations) so when my book club chose this book to read, I was a less than enthusiastic. I got Pride and Prejudice and Zombiesto spice things up, and read alongside it. That was a dissappointing experiment; but as I re-read P&P, I remembered how thoroughly entertaining it is. In fact, knowing how it all ends makes the moments in between that much sweeter. The characters are fully realized, the conversations zing, and the plot is near perfect. No zombies needed.


View all my reviews.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
I hated this book. The first few chapters were charming and the addition of zombies and martial arts were an interesting change of pace. I wasn't particularly impressed and tried to understand the why behind the zombies. Then I tried to just read it as fun. And I can't say it benefited from either interpretation. Finally, about the time that Jane goes to visit Charlotte who is turning into a zombie, I came to the conclusion that the addition of zombies were neither symbolic nor fun, but just sensationalism and the lowest form at that. Grahame-Smith lifts text from the original word for word--and that is the only good part--but then omits parts that might seem boring or old-fashioned and then adds in zombie slaying and eating of hearts (not very well written either I might add--his only imagry of blood is of rubies--again and again). GS omits crucial speeches like the one Darcy makes about once forming an opinion of someone, he doesn't easily change his mind, and yet refers to it in another part of the book. Once while editing an exchange betweeen Elizabeth and Jane, GS edits too much and ends up with Jane speaking to herself. And I just read half of it. I am all for shaking up the classics a bit--The Graveyard Book was a beautiful re-imagining of The Jungle Book, etc. but just adding dead flesh on people's clothes and having people vomit in their hands is a poor excuse for literature. That it is #7 on the trade paper-back list is just sad.

(Of course, I also don't get Borat, Bruno, or Apatow sense of humor. I've never thought boogers, vomit, or poop as funny. So take it is as you will).


View all my reviews.

Lush life

Lush Life: A Novel by Richard Price

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
All the reviewers on the back of the book raved about how well Price captures dialogue and I have to whole-heartedly agree. I've never read such real exchanges before--it seemed like you were right there.

The plot revolves around a stick up that resulted in a death, and the detectives who try to sort out what happened. Honestly, there isn't much action, mostly conversations, but like I said, the conversations are amazing--not so much by what they say, but how real they are. I'll have to say at one point 3/4 of the way in, I did wonder if the book was getting anywhere. Ultimately, the book's message, I think, is how important families are, especially fathers, in giving structure and validation to a kid--and how the absence of that can have dire consequences.

This book was set in downtown NY, in the PJ's so there is drugs and swearing and some sex.

Price wrote for The Wire which I heard was based on his book Clockers. I haven't read or watched either but I heard they are both well-written.


View all my reviews.

Lark and Termite

Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is the story of Lark and Termite, and the mystery of what happened to their mother and respective fathers. Lark is 17 and on the verge of finding her place in the world. Termite is her half-brother who can't walk, doesn't really talk, and can't see well. Phillips lets us peek into his consiousnous however and we realize he may see and know more than most. Lark takes care of her brother with a tenderness and understanding that is at once tender and hoepeful. They both live with their aunt Nonie who has a strength and independence that she passes onto them. When a storm blows through their small town, it becomes a catalyst that changes their lives.

I don't know how I feel about this book. It is well written, with good character development and a plot that feels natural and creates mystery and growth in the characters. The writing is thought provoking and poetic, although it may be too challenging at times. The first chapter especially is hard to muddle through. It is almost too weighed down with symbolism and distracting details. I really liked Lark and Termite but never really understood where Nonie was coming from. There were also too many sexual refrences for me to recommend this book.


View all my reviews.