Book: Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide
Author: Peter Allison
Pages: 246
I've always been fascinated with big game; elephants, tigers, lions, etc. I find it mesmerizing to watch them on PBS in their natural habitat. The other day at the library I came across this book on the new arrivals shelf and picked it up. I love animals and I love funny stories involving animals. It was a perfect fit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author, Peter Allison, left his homeland of Australia at 19 to seek out a challenge and backpack his way through Africa. Six months into his journey, most of his money had been spent and the rest had been stolen. Kindly fellow travelers offered Allison a ride to South Africa so he could secure more funds. On the way, they stopped at a game reserve. Allison was offered a job tending the bar at the end of their stay. He put down his backpack and waved goodbye to his traveling companions. It was the beginning of an amazing and astonishing experience.
The book is broken up into chapters, each detailing a particular incident that happened involving animals, tourists, fellow guides, or any combination of the three. While some were more serious like the realization that native African guides were not exempt from the harsh realities of the AIDS epidemic running rampant through the continent, many stories were surreal encounters with nature's largest mammals. One particularly funny story involved a search for a drunk, half-naked tourist who happened to be part of the British royal family.
Allison's writing is superb, putting the reader in the very story. I remember thinking on many occassions throughout the book "why didn't I think of doing this after I graduated high school?"
I was surprised at how well the beasts tolerated people in their territory. They even hung around, earning nicknames from the fellow guides. I found it particularly interesting that the guides could pick out individual families and prides of animals. I have always found that one lion looks quite a bit like every other lion. But I guess when you're living with them, their differences shine through.
This was definitely the best book I've read so far this year. It was heartfelt, exhibitiing a true love for wild animals. I thought it was going to veer off in to the "eco-friendly" terrain, but Allison mananged to keep politics out and captured the true essence of the African wildlife.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals and loves adventure.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Classics
It's been on my mind lately and I'm finally addressing it: What qualifies a book to become a "classic"?
One would think that by typing in "list of classic books" in Google, a universal list of all the books considered to be classics would pop up and I could see a common thread that tied them all together. Not so.
I love to read. I read everything. But for some reason, I have an aversion to the books we were forced to read in High School English. I don't know if it's because I could never find the hidden meanings or the symbolism or the moral of the story. I just read them for what they were. Books written in a different era than the one I'm presently in. I'm sure it didn't help that they were crammed down our throats every day for months on end. For a long time I just couldn't see the allure to the "classics".
The other thing I had a problem with was who defined them as "classics". Another seemingly easy search phrase "qualifications for classic books" yielded no concrete answer. It seems that any book that has withheld the test of time is considered a classic.
So it was with trepidation that I put Number 55 on the list--read the classics. For starters, I was going to have to find a list of classics and since there is no universal one, where do I start? The other day I'm at Barnes and Noble and notice that they have an entire bookshelf dedicated to the classics as well as a website listing what "they" (a whole can of beans I'm not opening quite yet) consider the classics. It's a good as any other place to start. The list comprises of 199 books. I've heard of a lot of them, but there's a surprising number I've never heard of. My goal is to read at least one "classic" a month. Not only read it but study why it's considered a classic. At this rate, it will take me nearly 17 years to read them all.
What's really the motivating factor behind this? In 20 years, when I live in the house that I custom designed (number 25), I'd like to have entire bookshelves filled with the classics so when people come over they'll turn to their companion after the door shuts behind them: "Wow! She's really smart. Did you see all those books?"
One would think that by typing in "list of classic books" in Google, a universal list of all the books considered to be classics would pop up and I could see a common thread that tied them all together. Not so.
I love to read. I read everything. But for some reason, I have an aversion to the books we were forced to read in High School English. I don't know if it's because I could never find the hidden meanings or the symbolism or the moral of the story. I just read them for what they were. Books written in a different era than the one I'm presently in. I'm sure it didn't help that they were crammed down our throats every day for months on end. For a long time I just couldn't see the allure to the "classics".
The other thing I had a problem with was who defined them as "classics". Another seemingly easy search phrase "qualifications for classic books" yielded no concrete answer. It seems that any book that has withheld the test of time is considered a classic.
So it was with trepidation that I put Number 55 on the list--read the classics. For starters, I was going to have to find a list of classics and since there is no universal one, where do I start? The other day I'm at Barnes and Noble and notice that they have an entire bookshelf dedicated to the classics as well as a website listing what "they" (a whole can of beans I'm not opening quite yet) consider the classics. It's a good as any other place to start. The list comprises of 199 books. I've heard of a lot of them, but there's a surprising number I've never heard of. My goal is to read at least one "classic" a month. Not only read it but study why it's considered a classic. At this rate, it will take me nearly 17 years to read them all.
What's really the motivating factor behind this? In 20 years, when I live in the house that I custom designed (number 25), I'd like to have entire bookshelves filled with the classics so when people come over they'll turn to their companion after the door shuts behind them: "Wow! She's really smart. Did you see all those books?"
Monday, January 21, 2008
Boy Genius
While I've suspected it for a while now, it was finally confirmed today. Josh is a genius. I know that every parent thinks their kid is the smartest kid out there, but Josh really is. Today, he put together a puzzle all by himself. Albeit, we've done it 100 times before. And there are only 12 pieces. Yet, he did it himself. After much complaining that mom wasn't helping.
If we save a mere $150 a month for the next 15 years, we can send Josh to Yale for his freshman year. After that, he'll have to pave his own way. Hopefully, he's no Doogie Howser and finishes med school at 16. Otherwise, we'd be a little short on cash. But, I can't squash the dreams of my boy genius.
And to think, just last week he pooped in the bathtub. My, how the tables have turned.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Edukation
extricuating and extruiating from yesterday's post should be excruciating. Me know big words.
And to think I won the spelling bee in 6th grade.
And to think I won the spelling bee in 6th grade.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
I Will Survive
I survived! I did the impossible. I ran a half-marathon--13.1 miles--without training a stitch. Well, maybe I trained a stitch or two, but definitely not very much. It wasn't pretty, but I finished and received my medal.
I was on some euphoric high after running the St. George marathon in October and so I agreed to run a half-marathon with the neighbor, Christina. November came and went and I did some running. Then December came. We ran a long run of 10 miles the 2nd Saturday in December in the snow. Shortly afterwards, Wade broke our treadmill and it was snowy and the holidays came and I was really busy and...the next time I ran was New Years Day. I vowed I was going to change my ways. Wade fixed the treadmill. It was a new year. A blank slate. Then I had to start getting stuff ready for the cruise. And then the cruise came. And then I lost count of how many ice cream cones I had eaten and it all seemed a lost hope.
Monday afternoon I call Christina to see how set she is on running this half-marathon. She is SO excited. I can't bail now. She's put in so much work. So I suck it up and drive with her down to St. George last night.
I wake up with the worst stomachache. Probably because I'm so nervous about running 13 miles in my present state of sluggishness. I eat some oatmeal and feel a little better, but realize I've forgotten "normal" underwear. Not good. I end up wearing compression shorts to compensate. It's not the same, but it's going to have to work.
We start off and I'm feeling pretty good. It's a little chilly, but the sky is cloudless and the surrounding area is gorgeous. I keep up with Christina for the first two miles and then she's off. At mile 7 I look around at the red rock cliffs and realize there's no where else I'd rather be. At 7.01 miles I remember I was sitting on a beach in Cabo San Lucas last week and I'd much rather be there. Then I start seeing the lead runners passing by on the other side and I'm reminded how slow of a runner I truly am. I'm on mile 7 and they've just passed the mile 12 sign. The next 4 miles are extricuating. At mile 11, the only comfort I feel is that this time, at 11 miles, there are only 2 miles left instead of 15.
I limp my way in and collect my finisher's medal. I finished. 30 minutes behind Christina, who I beat easily in the 5k, 10k and triathlon we did together last summer, but I finished. And I'm proud she did it in such a good time. She deserves it.
The drive home was extruiating. My legs, butt, arms, skin--it all hurts. I deserve friend of the year...wait, the century. I need a new hobby like guitar picking or knitting.
Us before--unaware of what was about to happen.
Us after--proof that we both finished.
I was on some euphoric high after running the St. George marathon in October and so I agreed to run a half-marathon with the neighbor, Christina. November came and went and I did some running. Then December came. We ran a long run of 10 miles the 2nd Saturday in December in the snow. Shortly afterwards, Wade broke our treadmill and it was snowy and the holidays came and I was really busy and...the next time I ran was New Years Day. I vowed I was going to change my ways. Wade fixed the treadmill. It was a new year. A blank slate. Then I had to start getting stuff ready for the cruise. And then the cruise came. And then I lost count of how many ice cream cones I had eaten and it all seemed a lost hope.
Monday afternoon I call Christina to see how set she is on running this half-marathon. She is SO excited. I can't bail now. She's put in so much work. So I suck it up and drive with her down to St. George last night.
I wake up with the worst stomachache. Probably because I'm so nervous about running 13 miles in my present state of sluggishness. I eat some oatmeal and feel a little better, but realize I've forgotten "normal" underwear. Not good. I end up wearing compression shorts to compensate. It's not the same, but it's going to have to work.
We start off and I'm feeling pretty good. It's a little chilly, but the sky is cloudless and the surrounding area is gorgeous. I keep up with Christina for the first two miles and then she's off. At mile 7 I look around at the red rock cliffs and realize there's no where else I'd rather be. At 7.01 miles I remember I was sitting on a beach in Cabo San Lucas last week and I'd much rather be there. Then I start seeing the lead runners passing by on the other side and I'm reminded how slow of a runner I truly am. I'm on mile 7 and they've just passed the mile 12 sign. The next 4 miles are extricuating. At mile 11, the only comfort I feel is that this time, at 11 miles, there are only 2 miles left instead of 15.
I limp my way in and collect my finisher's medal. I finished. 30 minutes behind Christina, who I beat easily in the 5k, 10k and triathlon we did together last summer, but I finished. And I'm proud she did it in such a good time. She deserves it.
The drive home was extruiating. My legs, butt, arms, skin--it all hurts. I deserve friend of the year...wait, the century. I need a new hobby like guitar picking or knitting.
Us before--unaware of what was about to happen.
Us after--proof that we both finished.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Book Review Friday 1/18/08
Book: Brother Odd
Author: Dean Koontz
Pages: 464
This is the third book in this series by Dean Koontz. I fell in love with Odd Thomas in the first book, aptly named Odd Thomas. I devoured it in a day. It was a little bit different than anything I had read, so it captured me wholeheartedly. The second book in the series, Forever Odd, I didn't care for as much. It was okay, but I didn't love it like I did the first book. I was a little hestitant to pick up the third book because of my experience with the second book, but again, it was a tad different than what I've been reading so I decided to give it a whirl.
Odd Thomas is a normal frycook that also sees impeding doom in the form of "bodachs" that gather around an area that is about to undergo major tragedy. He feels it's his duty to determine what is going on and save as many people as he can.
While it's not necessary to read the first two books before embarking on the third one, it does help with the background information. He refers a lot to Stormy, a girl he once loved, and it's nice to know the story behind that affair.
After the last bit of tragedy that Odd found himself in, he comes to live at a monastery to regroup. The monks bring him in and allow him his space to heal. He becomes good friends with the brothers, as well as with the sisters in the neighboring Covent and school for the severely handicapped. One night, while he's staring out the window, he sees three "bodachs" enter the school. He seeks them out and in the process is reminded of his lost love. In the days to follow more "bodachs" gather and a mad search is underway for the cause of the impeding doom.
I really, really enjoyed this book. Written with a little humor and some wacky imagination, it captured me from page 1. It was almost not believable, but I really like the Odd Thomas character so I could forget the lack of science behind it. I would recommend reading the first two books first, but it could picked up off the shelf as is.
Author: Dean Koontz
Pages: 464
This is the third book in this series by Dean Koontz. I fell in love with Odd Thomas in the first book, aptly named Odd Thomas. I devoured it in a day. It was a little bit different than anything I had read, so it captured me wholeheartedly. The second book in the series, Forever Odd, I didn't care for as much. It was okay, but I didn't love it like I did the first book. I was a little hestitant to pick up the third book because of my experience with the second book, but again, it was a tad different than what I've been reading so I decided to give it a whirl.
Odd Thomas is a normal frycook that also sees impeding doom in the form of "bodachs" that gather around an area that is about to undergo major tragedy. He feels it's his duty to determine what is going on and save as many people as he can.
While it's not necessary to read the first two books before embarking on the third one, it does help with the background information. He refers a lot to Stormy, a girl he once loved, and it's nice to know the story behind that affair.
After the last bit of tragedy that Odd found himself in, he comes to live at a monastery to regroup. The monks bring him in and allow him his space to heal. He becomes good friends with the brothers, as well as with the sisters in the neighboring Covent and school for the severely handicapped. One night, while he's staring out the window, he sees three "bodachs" enter the school. He seeks them out and in the process is reminded of his lost love. In the days to follow more "bodachs" gather and a mad search is underway for the cause of the impeding doom.
I really, really enjoyed this book. Written with a little humor and some wacky imagination, it captured me from page 1. It was almost not believable, but I really like the Odd Thomas character so I could forget the lack of science behind it. I would recommend reading the first two books first, but it could picked up off the shelf as is.
Book Review Friday 1/11/08
Since I was gone last week, this is last weeks book review:
Book: The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters
Author: Elisabeth Robinson
Pages: 352
I found this on the bargain table at Barnes and Noble as I was leaving on our cruise so I picked it up. I read the synopsis and put it in my pile. Olivia has moved from her small Ohioan town to make it big in the movie producing world in LA, but is suddenly called back when her once vibrant, younger sister is diagnosed with Luekemia. In letters written to her ex-boyfriend and a best friend from high school, she has to come to grips with her shortcomings as a human being and a sister.
Once her sister has regained some of her health, Olivia leaves again to regain her life and then cooresponds with her sister and mom through letter writing. There are a few other correspondences included to make the story flow.
Overall, I thought it was a decent book, though--as most books are--forgettable. I could sense what was coming from the beginning so I didn't build a strong connection with the characters. At first, I found it annoying that I didn't know what the letters were sometimes referring to--much like being at dinner with a group of friends who were all at the same party last weekend when you were out of town. You can pick up a lot of what happened, but "it" and "that" aren't really clear. As the story wore on, however, pieces began falling into place, so it flowed much easier.
I got tired of listening to Olivia whine to her "amazing" ex-boyfriend about their flawed relationship. The dissection of the failed relationship took over the middle third of the book and got to be tedious and repetitious. Yes, we know you broke up. Yes, we know it was hard. Move on! It was very much like a high school drama unfolding on paper.
With that being said, I had the entire book started and read by Tuesday, so I guess it did capture part of my attention.
Book: The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters
Author: Elisabeth Robinson
Pages: 352
I found this on the bargain table at Barnes and Noble as I was leaving on our cruise so I picked it up. I read the synopsis and put it in my pile. Olivia has moved from her small Ohioan town to make it big in the movie producing world in LA, but is suddenly called back when her once vibrant, younger sister is diagnosed with Luekemia. In letters written to her ex-boyfriend and a best friend from high school, she has to come to grips with her shortcomings as a human being and a sister.
Once her sister has regained some of her health, Olivia leaves again to regain her life and then cooresponds with her sister and mom through letter writing. There are a few other correspondences included to make the story flow.
Overall, I thought it was a decent book, though--as most books are--forgettable. I could sense what was coming from the beginning so I didn't build a strong connection with the characters. At first, I found it annoying that I didn't know what the letters were sometimes referring to--much like being at dinner with a group of friends who were all at the same party last weekend when you were out of town. You can pick up a lot of what happened, but "it" and "that" aren't really clear. As the story wore on, however, pieces began falling into place, so it flowed much easier.
I got tired of listening to Olivia whine to her "amazing" ex-boyfriend about their flawed relationship. The dissection of the failed relationship took over the middle third of the book and got to be tedious and repetitious. Yes, we know you broke up. Yes, we know it was hard. Move on! It was very much like a high school drama unfolding on paper.
With that being said, I had the entire book started and read by Tuesday, so I guess it did capture part of my attention.
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