Mission Accomplished!

Starting in May of 2005, I set myself a goal of reading 100 books in a year, and on the 29th April 2006, I reached it. (Cut it a tad close though, as you can see.) If anyone's looking for a good read you might want to check out one of these. Most of them were excellent, although there were one or two stinkers. Let me know if you wanna borrow any of them. The Library of Becki is open 24-7! (And look out for more reviews coming soon!)

100 books

Mutants Are People Too!

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Title: Mutants

Author: Armand Marie Leroi

Genre: Popular Science

Read: 17th June 2005




Comments: Fascinating. Leroi explores the whys and wherefores of the genetic mutations that result in various abnormal anatomical conditions, giving us a sprinkling of genetics with some history and mythology thrown in as well. He describes the history and causes of such diverse conditions as Proteus Syndrome (think the Elephant Man), Phocomelia, and Hypertrichosis Languinosa (think Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy), and skates from serious scientific discussion to humour without missing a beat. This is a great book for anyone interested in, as the subtitle has it, 'The Form, Varieties and Errors of the Human Body'

Quote: "No man should be judged by the size of his feet however, for the correlation, though statistically significant, is weak. And then such data as there are concern stretched rather that erect penis length, surely the variable of interest.

Mutants

The Lowdown on the OED

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Title: The Meaning of Everything

Author: Simon Winchester

Genre: History

Read: 15th June 2005




Comments: A fun and enlightening read. These days we tend to take dictionaries for granted, but reading this book will give you a new appreciation for the true enormity of the task of creating one. Begun in 1860 and not published until 1928 the finished dictionary was the product of hundreds of contributors and 4 main editors. After reading this, you'll thank them the next time you need to look something up. (And to think that Johnson and Webster wrote their dictionaries practically single-handedly!)

Quote: "May you live to see Zymotic!" <== a well-wisher to the editors of the Dictionary

The Meaning of Everything

see also

Defining the World : The Extraordinary Story of Dr Johnson's Dictionary

Monkey Business

Rating: ☆☆☆

Title: Sarudie Vol. 3 (サルヂエ)

Author: Satou Roman (佐藤ろまん)

Genre: Games and Riddles

Read: 14th June 2005




Comments: The book version of the popular TV quiz show 'Sarudie' it has lots of silly riddles and bad puns to enjoy. Good for taking on a long train ride with a friend. I always get stumped by the entertainment ones because I don't know the names of any Japanese TV stars, but the other gags are often quite good 'groaners'. (The name of the TV show means 'shallow cunning or cleverness' but the literal meaning is 'monkey knowledge' and the show is hosted by two popular comedians dressed in monkey suits à la 'Planet of the Apes'. Also, it's pronounced Saru G A although it's written in romaji with a 'd'.)

Quote: "壊れた望遠鏡は何円？３円（見えん)" <== Q: How much is a broken telescope? A: ¥3 (mi-en = 3 yen or can't see)

Sarudie (サルヂエ)

My Life as Emperor

Rating: ☆☆☆

Title: My Life as Emperor

Author: Su Tong

Genre: Chinese Historical Fiction

Read: 13th June 2005




Comments: A young prince becomes emperor and proceeds to live a life of debuachery and senseless execution of those displease him. Although the young emperor is a right bastard, you still feel kind of sorry for him anyway, because he really didn't have anyone around him to show him he could be anything other than a right bastard. It was written by the same author as 'Raise the Red Lantern' and I think it'd be a great film. Very decadent and very brutal.

Quote: "Have you ever seen a baboon’s ass? Well. that is what your face looks like." <==The young emperor to one of his ministers.

My Life as Emperor

To the Kingdom of Prester John!

Rating: ☆☆☆

Title: Baudolino

Author: Umberto Eco

Genre: Historical Fiction

Read: 9th June 2005




Comments: Half novel and half history lesson, 'Baudolino' is a wild ride through 12th century history ending with the sack of Constantinople by the knights of the 4th Crusade. The hero and narrator Baudolino, survives the siege of his city, becomes the adopted son of Barbarossa, falls in love, forges religious relics, solves a locked room murder, journeys to the fabled kingdom of Prester John, falls in love again, and generally had more adventures than you can shake a stick at. It's imaginative and fun, and you'll come away with some interesting historical and theological trivia.

Quote: "God’s Belly! By the Virgin’s death! Filthy Blasphemers! Simonist Pigs!"

Baudolino

See also:

The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople