In Nevermore book club this week, members discussed
several different books. First on the
agenda was Dude, Where’s My Country by Michael Moore, a
politically-charged satirical work of non-fiction in which the author examines
the condition of corporate America and the Bush administration. As a fan of Michael Moore, our Nevermore
member considered Dude, Where's My Country an automatic hit.
Likewise, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by
Anthony Bourdain proved to be an unexpected pleasure to read. Depicting events behind the scenes of some
of the largest, most prestigious restaurants in the United States, Kitchen
Confidential is both an expose and a memoir that encapsulates Bourdain’s
experiences as a chef. For the Nevermore
reader, it was “really good. The way he
describes [events and locations and scenery] was absolutely incredible.” Moreover, Bourdain was brutally honest about
his experiences and his personality, which the reader found surprising.
The Last Laugh:
Folk Humor, Celebrity Culture, and Mass Mediated Disasters in the
Digital Age by Trevor J. Blank, however, was a flop. Exploring the different ways humor develops
in an Internet age, studying the means through which comedy evolves through new
media, The Las Laugh reads more like a textbook than a collection of
humorous observations. For our Nevermore
reader, it proved to be a disappointing read and remained unfinished.
Small Victories:
Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace by Anne Lamott followed next for Nevermore. Our Nevermore reader said that Lamott’s
collection of essays was “interesting to read,” using a style of writing that
is brutally honest, laying bare her thoughts on humanity, faith, grace,
mortality, Christianity, and just about everything else. She speaks openly, writes well with a deep
sensitivity for her subjects, and explores the human spirit and faith on both
the good and bad days.
Last, Nevermore readers discussed The Planets, a
DK Smithsonian book. As one might
expect, The Planets explores the planets of our solar system and beyond,
providing examinations of various heavenly bodies and offering full-color
illustrations/ photographs of celestial events and phenomena. For the Nevermore reader, The Planets
was “full of good stuff. Full of
information you wouldn’t guess.” It was
a surprising treat, and a great discussion to cap off this week’s Nevermore
meeting.
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