"Granta 119: Britain"

Published in 2012 by Granta

Granta is a win-some-lose-some books by mail subscription. Four times a year I receive a compilation of Hirt stories that all focus in some way on a specific topic.

This quarters topic was Britain; the stories, poems, and photos ranged in style and composition but were all somehow clearly linked by the overarching theme.

This was a win-some.

Quotes:
"She paid twenty quid for a private dance with a girl named Clover, who had pigtails and purple nails and a tattoo of a unicorn just above her groin.
'Its my power animal,' she said.
'I'm pregnant,' said Katherine."

"Living in a racist society has a profound psychological impact. It produces in it's victims a sort of hyper-vigilance, as the individual attempts to read those around them and so anticipate the hostility that might assail them."

"Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Aspergers" - John Elder Robison

Published in 2008 (paperback) by Random House, Inc

The memoir of John Elder Robison proved much more interesting than I had originally anticipated.  I picked up this book as part of one of Barnes & Nobles buy two, get one free promotions and figured it looked like a nice distraction from my usual reading.  His is the story of growing up with undiagnosed asperger's and how he managed to make it through the rough patches thrown his way by society and his family.

John Elder Robison is the brother of well known author Augusten Burroughs, entertainingly, both of them use similar writing devices and seem to prefer a compilation of short stories instead of one long autobiography.  Through Robison's writing it is possible to see inside the workings of the mind of a person who has aspergers, and it is truly a revelation.

The stories he tells help to show his point that however "robotic we Aspergians might seem, we do have deep emotions."  He tells the reader about growing up in a home where his parents were in the process of breaking down both physically and emotionally, his quirky younger brother, trouble with names, working with KISS and other bands, and basically the process of growing up and realizing he didn't fit in even when he tried his hardest.

His writing is at times a little jarring, but for the most part it is beautifully written with both funny and moving stories.  Robison writes that both he and his brother got their storytelling abilities from their mother, and it is all too sad that she had a mental collapse before she could write her own memoirs.

Overall, a great read.  Both insightful and intriguing while maintaining a hint of excitement with every page turn.

Rating:
***

"The Sweet Life in Paris" - David Lebovitz

Published by Broadway Paperbacks in 2009

Another foodie delight! I seem to have an accidental habit for picking up books written by cooks who happened to start their careers within blocks of my current home.  Lebovitz was a pastry chef at Chez Panisse (a fancy Berkeley restaurant that I still haven't convinced myself to go to given the outlandish prices.)  After his partner died he decided that a change was necessary and moved his life to a small one bedroom flat in Paris.

The book chronicles some of his adventures, with less panache than Reichl in my opinion, but the recipes he throws in for flavor seem to hit a little closer to home.  In fact, while reading this book I made one of the recipes and was surprised at how simple and delicious it was!

Quotes:
"serve with a chilled glass or fillette of white wine, such as Muscadet, Sancerre, or Sauvignon Blanc.  Enjoy, by yourself"
- Regarding his warm goat cheese salad recipe

"you need to clamp my mouth closed and massage my neck to get that hyperthick stuff down my throat -- like forcing a dog to swallow a pill"
- Regarding most parisian Hot Chocolate

Rating:
writing **
recipes ****

"Granta 117 - Horror"

Published in 2011 by Granta Magazine

"Horror is everywhere" and this collection of short stories shows that it isn't always something that goes bump in the night.  Authors ranging from Stephen King to Will Self give us sneak peeks into the many forms that Horror can take in our lives.

While some were not quite my style, a majority of the stories were exciting and engaging, urging me to just read "one more page."

Rating: ***

"Smoke and Mirrors" - Neil Gaiman

Published in 1998 by Avon Books Inc.

A series of short stories (unrelated to one another) all by author Neil Gaiman.  Some of them are entertaining others are confusing and strangely written.  After having read "Stardust" I was prepared for his style of writing but was hoping that in short story form it would be more appealing.  Sadly, I was mistaken as there is no single point in this collection that stood out as particularly amazing.

His writing lacks details, and I personally find it less than exciting.

Rating: **