Review of Blonde Like Me: The Roots of the Blonde Myth in Our Culture (Paperback)

"I'm not offended by people who think I'm a dumb blonde, because I know two things they don't: I'm not dumb, and I'm not blonde." -- Dolly Parton

People are just not happy with things as they are. Australopithicus africanus used tools, which means that he willfully andimaginatively altered his environment, and -- even though he was not a truehuman -- probably did the one thing that we humans do best when not makingdecorative cuts in our enemies, which is to make decorative cuts inourselves. People trim, style and color their hair, tattoo their bodies,daub on paint and enhance or minimize sundry parts for the simple reasonthat they can. As soon as a new way of altering the body comes along, wegreet it with glad cries and rejoicing. It's not a fad, it's the humancondition.True blondes -- blondes over the age of six -- are asscarce as hen's teeth. But blonde, as Natalia Ilyin discusses in her witty,poignant book "Blonde Like Me," is a state of mind that disregards exteriorreality in favor of the inner vision. Beginning with the title, itself aclever play on John Howard Griffin's 1959 "Black Like Me," the bookexplores the social condition of people who, because of their coloration,are treated differently by their fellows. In Ilyin's case, better, and inGriffin's case, worse, but the kicker is that neither is what they seem.Natalia Ilyin, 6'2" in her stocking feet, armed cap a pie with blonde hairand high heels has "caused minor traffic accidents,"as well you mightimagine. Blondeness is a metaphor for beauty and allure. Blondeness confersinstant sexual power. What do I mean when I say, in cryptic shorthand,"Tonight I have a date with a blonde"? Natalia knows, and if you read"Blonde Like Me," she'll tell you.

David Lance Goines



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Review of Time Out 1000 Things to Do in London (Time Out Guides) (Paperback)

We found this book very helpful for our first trip to London.We visited many of the sites mentioned and I like the fact that it doesn't focus on the typical "tourist" destinations.However, it does seem to stretch it a little bit to come up with 1000 interesting things!Fast delivery from Amazon.

Product Description
This new title from Time Out, the publishers of Time Out London Magazine, offers inspiration to locals and tourists alike for enjoying England's largest and capital city. 1,000 Things to Do in London features up-to-date, hip ideas for fun along the Thames. Written by a team of local journalists, readers will gain an insider's perspective on each destination with this book, from the city's hidden gems to overrated attractions. Both a delightful armchair read and a useful handbook, 1,000 Things to Do in London contains top-ten lists, quirky walks, lovely views, picnic spots, must-visit restaurants and shops, and unusual takes on well-known attractions.Many locations are illustrated with photos, and handy maps make navigating the city a breeze.

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Review of Frommer's San Francisco 2005 (Frommer's Complete) (Paperback)

I have been to San Francisco dozens of times and used at least five different travel guide books. I especially liked this one because the author gave a real sense of the places and gave me a better idea of whether I wanted to go to the places--especially when it came to restaurants. As far as sights go, all the essentials are covered. And there are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and shops to choose from. I found some real neighborhood gems thanks to this book. It definitely helped me to see more of authentic San Francisco.

Product Description
You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go-- they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Thoroughly updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's San Francisco featureseverything you need to know to enjoythe sights and experiences that await you in the City by the Bay. Our author, a longtime resident and noted dining critic, hits all the highlights, from Golden Gate Park to North Beach. She's checked out all the city's best hotels and restaurants in person, and will help you find the choices that suit your tastes and budget. Her honest, irreverent, and opinionated dining reviews encompass everything from the best dim sum to the freshest seafood, from affordable burrito joints and Vietnamese restaurants to trendy bistros opened by California's hottest chefs.

Look for up-to-the-minute coverage of shopping and nightlife; detailed walking tours; accurate neighborhood maps; and side trips to Berkeley, Sausalito, Muir Woods, Point Reyes, and more. There's also a detailed chapter on the nearby Wine Country, with the best wineries, inns, spas, and gourmet shopping, and the most decadent restaurants in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. You'll even get a free color fold-out map and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

From the Back Cover
Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. Frommer's. The best trips start here.

• Insider tips on the best side trips from San Francisco, from the Napa and Sonoma valleys to Berkeley, Sausalito, and Muir Woods.
• Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
• Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
• Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

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Review of Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper (Paperback)

I've just read this wonderful book and I was sorry that it came to an end. It does exacly what it does on the cover, tell the tale of this young man and his adventures as a lighthouse keeper. There's a lovely build-up to him taking the job, spurred by the inevitable question, how did you get a job like that?
As someone who grew up with a lighthouse outside my living room window (this island, the Bass Rock, gets a couple of mentions!), I have always been fascinated by them. It's a job you never see advertised any more, for in Scotland at least, where this book is set, all the lights are automated.
Peter Hill describes the camararaderie that the men who worked the lights shared so well, which is warms the cockles of your heart. He sprinkles the stories that the older keepers tell him as he's learning the ropes, and we read of both adventurous and mundane lives lead. It's humourous, informative and well-written. Apparently the author is planning a book on Australian lighthouses next, collecting keepers' stories. Can't wait!



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Review of Ms. Cheap's Guide to Getting More For Less (Paperback)

This book is a quick and easy read, filled with lots of money-saving hints.Just when I thought I knew all there was about saving money, Mary Hance has more tips to share.Written in a conversational way, Mary sounds like she'd make a wonderful neighbor.I'm waiting for the next book she writes!

Product Description
Everybody loves a bargain. Ms. Cheap's Guide To Getting More For Less is a money-saving book that is as practical as it is fun.Included are internet sources for freebies and coupons, suggestions such as how to get a free Barnum and Baily Circus ticket for your baby in the year of his or her birth, how to save money on travel, on groceries, on finding entertainment, and more.

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Review of Hot Blood X (Paperback)

One would think by the tenth novel in a series, the author would be struggling for ideas.That's the advantage of an anthology; the more authors you have, the better the chance that the ideas remain fresh andnew.Hot Blood X doesn't let down, though there are a couple of storiesthat strain to fit into the Hot Blood mold in terms of eroticism.As theseries editors wrote in a previous Hot Blood novel, keeping that balancebetween eroticism and out-and-out porn is difficult.It becomes even moredifficult when you're adding horror to the mix.However, most of thestories in Hot Blood X stand true to the balance being achieved and beyond. This tenth novel to the anthology didn't disappoint me.I was repulsed,aroused, shocked, excited and even scared. :)Worth a read, I promise!



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Review of The Girls (Paperback)

Thankfully, The Girls is not one of those books. The main character, Joe Nash, is a first-time novelist with one success under his belt and a crumbling marriage. Looking both for inspiration for his next book and escape from his distant, spiteful wife, he finds himself walking into the only strip club in town. In doing so, he dips his toe into a cold, menacing ocean of trouble, to find himself quickly tugged under by forces beyond his control.

The characters in the book are well fleshed-out and believable, each with their own limitations and imperfections. Nash is smart enough to know he should stay away, and weak enough to create justifications for returning. His friend, Lieutenant Duffy, hides his own secrets behind his gruff manor and dour ideology.

The story unfolds like a shot of espresso on a rickety roller coaster, and before you know it, you're plummeting with Nash into a tailspin of thugs, prostitutes, corrupt clergy and sensationalists.

Hopefully we haven't seen the last of Joe Nash. Like a good roller coaster, his story left me waiting in line for the next ride.

Product Description
Desperate for literary inspiration and seeking refuge from a less than inspirational home life, Joe Nash finds himself lured into the dark world of prostitution and white slavery.

A one time best selling author, Joe is intrigued with the lifestyle of exotic dancers within his own sleepy community in Washington State. Joe convinces himself his interest is only the necessary research for his long awaited second book. Then his association with a young dancer, Sarah Michaels, challenges his middle class, middle-aged attitudes towards sex and relationships.

SarahÂ's body is found on the mud flats of Puget Sound after one of their meetings and then Joe learns that he has been named as a suspect. He is abandoned and accused by his wife, his friends and his community. Determined to defend himself and discover why and by whom Sarah was murdered Joe begins a dangerous journey. Joe once again finds himself drawn to one of the girls and together they enter a realm beyond his imagination. He discovers what is supposed to be a haven, but is instead clearing house where young girls are passed around for profit and from which there is no escapeÂ-a lesson Sarah Michaels learned all too well.

About the Author
Michael Richmond, after completing a tour in the Marine Corps, fought forest fires and fished commercially in Washington State until the industry collapsed in the mid 80s. He was a contractor until he retired. He and his wife live in the Northwest, where he is working on his next book.

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