by Michael Connelly
This is my first Harry Bosch and second Michael Connelly, and neither of them let me down.
There is nothing funky about the fiction. A typical detective story develops in a straight forward way. One case, two major detectives and some politics. The readers access the case the same way as the detectives, from reading the murder book to finding clues. The drama is not achieved through hiding information or twisting narration. We are allowed, or maybe even forced to emerge our minds into those of the detectives and therefore, when they think, we think, when they discover, we discover. In a way, we become the drama. The suspension is achieved through the rhythm of narrating. Nothing interrupts the case. The private lives of the detectives are kept minimum, the background and environmental information are given just enough to facilitate a better understanding of the case, and even the politics within the police department are tightly controlled. Thanks to his training in journalism, Connelly's narration is concise and right to the point.
Michael Connelly and John Grisham represent two types of author. The former is a professional. Since writing a good mystery is his ultimate goal, Connelly may never go beyond a bestseller, but readers can always depend upon his consistency in style and skill to have a good read. John Grisham, on the other hand, has agenda above writing, and he explores and expresses them through his writing. Therefore, depends on whether the cultural, religious or political topics he engages into interest you or not, the reading experiences may vary drastically. Great writers usually come from this second type.
Books (2006)
- Google: The Missing Manual
- Nutrition for Health Fitness and Sport
- Writing Book Reviews
- The Everything Guide to Writing Children's Books
- Deception Point
- The Lincoln Lawyer
- The Closers
- Chasing the Dime
- The Hostage
- Ender's Game
- The Lighthouse
- Mary Mary
- Tell No One
- The Firm
- The Partner
- The Brethren
- The Last Juror
- The Summons
- The Testament
- The Street Lawyer
- Freakonomics
- Freedom in Exile
- Hub Culture
- Misquoting Jesus
- Story of Classical Music
- War On the Middle Class
- A Short History of Nearly Everything
- Omnivore's Dilemma
- The Supermarket Diet
- Mindless Eating
- Volumetrics Eating Plan
Jiu cai he zi
- Half bundle of green chives
- 3 eggs
- spring roll wraps
- mung bean noodle
- salt, sesame oil, vegetable oil
Stir fried eggs (a bit more oil and longer cooking time will taste better)
Mix diced chives, noodle and eggs
Seasoned with salt, sesame oil, soy sauce, MSG (optional), Chinese pepper oil
Wrap in spring roll wraps
Medium heat, some oil, fried 2 minutes, turn over, fried 1 minute, cover with a pot lid, fried two more minutes.
*Cook immediately after wrapping.
- 3 eggs
- spring roll wraps
- mung bean noodle
- salt, sesame oil, vegetable oil
Stir fried eggs (a bit more oil and longer cooking time will taste better)
Mix diced chives, noodle and eggs
Seasoned with salt, sesame oil, soy sauce, MSG (optional), Chinese pepper oil
Wrap in spring roll wraps
Medium heat, some oil, fried 2 minutes, turn over, fried 1 minute, cover with a pot lid, fried two more minutes.
*Cook immediately after wrapping.
The Everything Guide to Writing Children's Books
by Lesley Bolton
1. History
- A Book for Boys and Girls; Country Rhymes for Children (1686), by John Bunyan
- A Little Pretty Pocket Book (1744), by John Newbery.
- The Newbery Medal was established in 1921 by ALA.
- Macmillan opened the first department solely for trade children's book in 1921.
2. Types of Children's Books
- Standard categories: fiction, nonfiction, faction.
- Picture books:
3. Education Resources
- Writer's groups (local)
- Courses (e.g. The Institute of Children's Literature)
- Organizations:
4. Research the Market
- Types of Market
- Newsletters
- Writer's Magazines
- Children's magazines
5. Illustrations
- Do not submit writings with illustrations (by other artists), publishers will find illustrators.
6. Find a Publisher
- Traditional (The Children's Writer & Illustrator's Market; Literary Market Place; The Children's Book Council)
- Subsidy (not recommended)
- Self-publishing (The Self-Publishing Manual, by Dan Poynter)
7. Agents
- Association of Authors' Representatives
- Literary Market Place
- Writer's Digest Guide to Literary Agents
- Agent Research & Evaluation
8. Compensations
- Flat fee (work-for-hire, turn over all rights)
- Royalties
9. Grants and Awards
- writers' organizations
- Finding Funding: The Comprehensive Guide to Grant Writing by Daniel M. Barber
1. History
- A Book for Boys and Girls; Country Rhymes for Children (1686), by John Bunyan
- A Little Pretty Pocket Book (1744), by John Newbery.
- The Newbery Medal was established in 1921 by ALA.
- Macmillan opened the first department solely for trade children's book in 1921.
2. Types of Children's Books
- Standard categories: fiction, nonfiction, faction.
- Picture books:
- -- most structured: 24-32 pages, 200-1500 words.
- -- every page (including 1st) should contain action (capture kid's interest, and leave for illustration)
- -- cliffhangers to motivate kids to turn the page
- -- types of picture books: board books, wordless books, novelty books (pop-ups, pull tabs, graduated page lengths, holes, accessories), concept books.
- -- for children who are learn to read
- -- 48-64 pages, word count up to 1500 words
- -- some publishers have vocabulary lists
- -- simple text with occasional big words, simple sentence structure, and simple plot
- -- use actions, dialogues, and rich language to keep it moving
- -- 48-80 pages, word count between 1500 and 10000.
- -- simple plot with focus on one specific concept or problem
- -- familiar experience, recognizable setting, with a child as hero/heroine
- -- full of action, humor, dialogues.
- -- for independent reader, 80-192 pages, word count between 12000 and 30000.
- -- most popular form: series
- -- conflict driven plot, main character is someone a child can related to and the problem solver.
- -- relay the story from only one child's perspective
3. Education Resources
- Writer's groups (local)
- Courses (e.g. The Institute of Children's Literature)
- Organizations:
- -- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (published and unpublished)
- -- The Authors Guild (published by American publisher only)
- -- The Children's Book Council (no membership to individual)
4. Research the Market
- Types of Market
- -- Trade market (bookstores; hardcover, high price, high quality)
- -- Mass market (grocery, newsstand etc.; paperback, low price, low quality)
- -- Institutional market (textbooks)
- -- Electronic market
- Newsletters
- Writer's Magazines
- Children's magazines
5. Illustrations
- Do not submit writings with illustrations (by other artists), publishers will find illustrators.
6. Find a Publisher
- Traditional (The Children's Writer & Illustrator's Market; Literary Market Place; The Children's Book Council)
- Subsidy (not recommended)
- Self-publishing (The Self-Publishing Manual, by Dan Poynter)
7. Agents
- Association of Authors' Representatives
- Literary Market Place
- Writer's Digest Guide to Literary Agents
- Agent Research & Evaluation
8. Compensations
- Flat fee (work-for-hire, turn over all rights)
- Royalties
- -- advance (earn back the advance before collecting royalties)
- -- royalty (equally divided between author and illustrator; can be on list price or net price)
9. Grants and Awards
- writers' organizations
- Finding Funding: The Comprehensive Guide to Grant Writing by Daniel M. Barber
Writing Book Reviews
by John E. Drewry
Types of Reviews:
- objective
- subjective
- judicial (a scholarly appraisal, a critique)
- impressionistic (a book is interpreted against a background of the author's avowed purposes and a common sense estimate as to whether these have been achieved. Descriptive. For mass media.)
Different Genres:
1. Biography
(a). Novelist invents situations that will rouse a reader's emotions; biographer brings out the significance of situations that already exist.
(b). Types of biographies - autobiography, letters and diaries, authorized biography, campaign biography, debunking biography (depreciatory), fictionized biography, panegyric (eulogistic).
(c). Questions to ask:
2. History
(a). Questions to ask:
3. Contemporary Thought
(a). Questions to ask:
- Is the subject-matter or the style more important?
- Who is the author, and what right has he to be writing on this subject?
- What seems to have been the author's purpose in writing this book?
- What contributions to knowledge and understanding are made by this book?
4. Travel and Adventure
(a). Questions to ask:
5. Fiction
(a). Dominant injunction: do not give away the story
(b). Four essential elements to the novel: the characters; the plot; the setting; the style.
(c). Questions to ask:
6. Children's books
(a). Indicate the ages and/or interest group for which the book is intended.
(b). Describe the type(s) of illustrations used, naming the illustrator and his qualification.
(c). Keep literary criticism brief but explicit.
* The author was the first dean of Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and a co-creator of the Peabody Reward.
Types of Reviews:
- objective
- subjective
- judicial (a scholarly appraisal, a critique)
- impressionistic (a book is interpreted against a background of the author's avowed purposes and a common sense estimate as to whether these have been achieved. Descriptive. For mass media.)
Different Genres:
1. Biography
(a). Novelist invents situations that will rouse a reader's emotions; biographer brings out the significance of situations that already exist.
(b). Types of biographies - autobiography, letters and diaries, authorized biography, campaign biography, debunking biography (depreciatory), fictionized biography, panegyric (eulogistic).
(c). Questions to ask:
- - Does the book give a full-length picture of the subject?
- - What phases of the subject's life receive greatest space? Is there justification for this?
- - What is the point of view of the author?
- - How are peculiarities, idiosyncrasies, weaknesses, foibles, and the like treated?
- - How is the subject-matter organized?
- - Is the treatment superficial, or does the author show extensive study into the subject?
- - What source materials were used in the preparation of this book?
- - Is the work documented?
- - Does the author endeavor to get at hidden motives?
- - What important new facts about the subject's life are revealed in the book?
- - What is the relationship of the subject's career to contemporary history?
- - Is the subject still living?
- - How does this book compare with others about the same person? by the same author?
2. History
(a). Questions to ask:
- - The training of the author?
- - What else has the author written and how did they received?
- - The historical period of the book?
- - The sources of the book, how thorough?
- - Broad outline or detail?
- - Is the style reportorial or interpretative?
- - What's the author's point of view?
- - Is the treatment superficial or profound?
- - Who's the intended reader?
- - The use of dates, maps, illustrations, charts?
3. Contemporary Thought
(a). Questions to ask:
- Is the subject-matter or the style more important?
- Who is the author, and what right has he to be writing on this subject?
- What seems to have been the author's purpose in writing this book?
- What contributions to knowledge and understanding are made by this book?
4. Travel and Adventure
(a). Questions to ask:
- - The credibility of the writer?
- - The purpose of the book?
- - Anything new in content and treatment?
- - Contributions to man's knowledge of geography, government, economics, folklore, customs?
- - Does the book has news value?
5. Fiction
(a). Dominant injunction: do not give away the story
(b). Four essential elements to the novel: the characters; the plot; the setting; the style.
(c). Questions to ask:
- - What are the sources of the characters?
- - Is the direct or indirect plan used?
- - How are the elements of plot (introduction, suspense, climax, conclusion) handled?
- - What's the relationship of plot to character delineation?
- - Is there a sub-plot?
6. Children's books
(a). Indicate the ages and/or interest group for which the book is intended.
(b). Describe the type(s) of illustrations used, naming the illustrator and his qualification.
(c). Keep literary criticism brief but explicit.
* The author was the first dean of Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and a co-creator of the Peabody Reward.
War On the Middle Class
- How the Government, Big Business, and Special Interest Groups Are Waging War on the American Dream and How to Fight Back
by Lou Dobbs
Host of CNN's famous "Lou Dobbs Tonight," with an annual salary over 6 million, Lou identifies himself with the voice of middle class. A bit ironic, isn't it?
And he comes from a loyal republican to become a populist. He is against outsourcing, lobbying, illegal immigrants and he is anti-China.
His writing is as dull as of his voice, and as a self-absorbed journalist, he daunts us with numbers and couldn't care less about quoting a source.
But he is fearless, just like any other man with great fortune and fame. He names so many names.
This is a book for a politics savvy. Too boring for a cultural and social oriented mind.
by Lou Dobbs
Host of CNN's famous "Lou Dobbs Tonight," with an annual salary over 6 million, Lou identifies himself with the voice of middle class. A bit ironic, isn't it?
And he comes from a loyal republican to become a populist. He is against outsourcing, lobbying, illegal immigrants and he is anti-China.
His writing is as dull as of his voice, and as a self-absorbed journalist, he daunts us with numbers and couldn't care less about quoting a source.
But he is fearless, just like any other man with great fortune and fame. He names so many names.
This is a book for a politics savvy. Too boring for a cultural and social oriented mind.
The Street Lawyer
by John Grisham
Just like the Last Juror, story line is not the strong side of this work. It's the social background - the world of homeless in D.C. Obviously the author has done his research and preached his agenda.
For now, this is the last one of Grisham for me.
Just like the Last Juror, story line is not the strong side of this work. It's the social background - the world of homeless in D.C. Obviously the author has done his research and preached his agenda.
For now, this is the last one of Grisham for me.
The Volumetrics Eating Plan
by Barbara Rolls
Like the Supermarket Diet, this book is full of recipies that I can skip. So the reading only takes an hour. The message is simple, like all the diet books - eat low energy, high water and high fiber food. But there are a few interesting points to take away:
1) divide engergy by serving size, if size (g) is larger than energy(c), eat a lot; if about the same, pay attention to portion; if much smaller (>2), limit.
2) calculate engergy need:
A: sedentary = 1;
low active (30 - 90 min brisk walking daily) = 1.14;
active (1.5 - 3.5 hours brisk walking daily) = 1.27;
very active (3.5 or more brisk waling daily) = 1.45
B: height (inches) * 16.78
C: weight (lb) * 4.95
D: age * 7.31
E: B + C
F: A * E
G: 387 - D
Result: G + F
Like the Supermarket Diet, this book is full of recipies that I can skip. So the reading only takes an hour. The message is simple, like all the diet books - eat low energy, high water and high fiber food. But there are a few interesting points to take away:
1) divide engergy by serving size, if size (g) is larger than energy(c), eat a lot; if about the same, pay attention to portion; if much smaller (>2), limit.
2) calculate engergy need:
A: sedentary = 1;
low active (30 - 90 min brisk walking daily) = 1.14;
active (1.5 - 3.5 hours brisk walking daily) = 1.27;
very active (3.5 or more brisk waling daily) = 1.45
B: height (inches) * 16.78
C: weight (lb) * 4.95
D: age * 7.31
E: B + C
F: A * E
G: 387 - D
Result: G + F
Mindless Eating
- Why We Eat More Than We Think
by BrianWansink
This is one of those books that got people really exciting with startling claims and funny findings that could fill a lot of conversations and gossips afterwards. And, the idea is really simple - perception, perception fools us into overeating, and some small changes/modifications on that can help us to eat better and even loose weight. Let's hope so.
- try 0.25 lb per week
- eat only 100 -200 calories less a day
- avoid bigger packages
- hide you food
- use trade offs (I can eat x if I do y)
by BrianWansink
This is one of those books that got people really exciting with startling claims and funny findings that could fill a lot of conversations and gossips afterwards. And, the idea is really simple - perception, perception fools us into overeating, and some small changes/modifications on that can help us to eat better and even loose weight. Let's hope so.
- try 0.25 lb per week
- eat only 100 -200 calories less a day
- avoid bigger packages
- hide you food
- use trade offs (I can eat x if I do y)
The Story of Classical Music
by Darren Henley
read by Marin Alsop
I didn't go through the whole thing, but that's only because I decided to buy one for my self. It includes most of the importants artists, their achievements, background and masterpieces. It is intended for children, but comprehensive and enjoyable enough for me.
read by Marin Alsop
I didn't go through the whole thing, but that's only because I decided to buy one for my self. It includes most of the importants artists, their achievements, background and masterpieces. It is intended for children, but comprehensive and enjoyable enough for me.
Nutritious Food
Must have all the followings:
* 1 yogurt (60) s
* 1 milk + 7 dates (120 + 72) s
* 1 chrysanthemum + goji + hawthorn berry tea (30) s
Must choose 2 of the followings:
- 1 tbsp sesame (78) j
- 12 almond (94) j
- 9 cashew (82) j
- 9 chestnuts (88) j
Can have 1 of the followings:
- 8 walnuts (106) s
- 1/4 cup cranberry (91) s
* 1 yogurt (60) s
* 1 milk + 7 dates (120 + 72) s
* 1 chrysanthemum + goji + hawthorn berry tea (30) s
Must choose 2 of the followings:
- 1 tbsp sesame (78) j
- 12 almond (94) j
- 9 cashew (82) j
- 9 chestnuts (88) j
Can have 1 of the followings:
- 8 walnuts (106) s
- 1/4 cup cranberry (91) s
Fa gao
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup corn meal
1 teaspoon yeast
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoon sugar (amount is flexible)
some cold water or milk
some dates and/or nuts
Mix into a bowl of thicky sticky fluid, leave at a warm place until it grows 2 or 3 times of the orginal size (may take several hours, and the ready thing has many bubbles on top).
Add dates/nuts etc., mix lightly, give it 30 minutes to rise again before steaming. Steaming 25 minutes.
*I use white sugar the first time. Doesn't look authentic, but tastes good.
1 cup corn meal
1 teaspoon yeast
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoon sugar (amount is flexible)
some cold water or milk
some dates and/or nuts
Mix into a bowl of thicky sticky fluid, leave at a warm place until it grows 2 or 3 times of the orginal size (may take several hours, and the ready thing has many bubbles on top).
Add dates/nuts etc., mix lightly, give it 30 minutes to rise again before steaming. Steaming 25 minutes.
*I use white sugar the first time. Doesn't look authentic, but tastes good.
Cheesecake
2 eggs
1 1/3 cup heavy cream (a bout 266.6 ml)
5 tbsp sugar (can be less than this)
2 - 8 oz cream cheese
use mixer to mix
bake at 350 F for 30 minutes
taste creamy, somewhere between a sugary tofu and a steamed egg.
2861 Calories total
1 1/3 cup heavy cream (a bout 266.6 ml)
5 tbsp sugar (can be less than this)
2 - 8 oz cream cheese
use mixer to mix
bake at 350 F for 30 minutes
taste creamy, somewhere between a sugary tofu and a steamed egg.
2861 Calories total
The Supermarket Diet
by Janis Jibrin
I flipped through this book within less than an hour, because there's really nothing new in it.
At this point of my life, I believe I have accumulated enough knowledge about nutrition and food labels to comprehend any diet plan. The problem is to carry it out. Maybe I'll give it a try - the 1200 -1500 - 1800 calories plan.
I flipped through this book within less than an hour, because there's really nothing new in it.
At this point of my life, I believe I have accumulated enough knowledge about nutrition and food labels to comprehend any diet plan. The problem is to carry it out. Maybe I'll give it a try - the 1200 -1500 - 1800 calories plan.
Carrot Cake
1 cup of all purpose flour
1 cup of whole grain flour
1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of plain sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 or 2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup of walnuts
1/3 cup of oil
2/3 cup of buttermilk
1/3 cup of heavy cream
3 eggs
2 cups of carrots
Mix dry ingredients (first group)
Mix and beat wet ingredients (second group)
Gradually add dry to wet (1/2 cup a time), then add carrots, mix till smooth.
Preheat oven to 350F, spray and flour a pan, pour mixture in, bake 45 minutes.
Calories: 4000 C
1 cup of whole grain flour
1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of plain sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 or 2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup of walnuts
1/3 cup of oil
2/3 cup of buttermilk
1/3 cup of heavy cream
3 eggs
2 cups of carrots
Mix dry ingredients (first group)
Mix and beat wet ingredients (second group)
Gradually add dry to wet (1/2 cup a time), then add carrots, mix till smooth.
Preheat oven to 350F, spray and flour a pan, pour mixture in, bake 45 minutes.
Calories: 4000 C
The Last Juror
by John Grisham
I was expecting a typical lawyer, court, prosecution story full of conspiracy, thriller and suspense, but it turns out something quite different. Through a rookie journalist's eyes and along with his maturing, we come the see life - almost all aspects of it, from politics and religion to attire and food, in a small southern town in the 70's, and how the social background of the decade - vietnam, desegregation, drug, and monopolization, changed the often idyllic south. This is a story of culture, a story of humanity.
A very enlightening reading experience, but still puzzled by the title.
I was expecting a typical lawyer, court, prosecution story full of conspiracy, thriller and suspense, but it turns out something quite different. Through a rookie journalist's eyes and along with his maturing, we come the see life - almost all aspects of it, from politics and religion to attire and food, in a small southern town in the 70's, and how the social background of the decade - vietnam, desegregation, drug, and monopolization, changed the often idyllic south. This is a story of culture, a story of humanity.
A very enlightening reading experience, but still puzzled by the title.
The Testament
by John Grisham
This is by far the most boring one from this author - jungles and preaches interwaing with litigation. Perhaps because it reflects so much of the author's own life - Brazil, the missionary, the court, the last case, and maybe many more - that he couldn't focus on facribating an intriguing story.
This is by far the most boring one from this author - jungles and preaches interwaing with litigation. Perhaps because it reflects so much of the author's own life - Brazil, the missionary, the court, the last case, and maybe many more - that he couldn't focus on facribating an intriguing story.
The Summons
by John Grisham
My second book on CD and maybe the last one for this author. The more you read one author, the more repeating rhetorics, themes and twists you see, and eventually, you'll get tired of him/her, no matter how good an impression you held in the beginning. I am on that edge for John Grisham now.
My second book on CD and maybe the last one for this author. The more you read one author, the more repeating rhetorics, themes and twists you see, and eventually, you'll get tired of him/her, no matter how good an impression you held in the beginning. I am on that edge for John Grisham now.
The Brethren
by John Grisham
Some dude from bbs highly recommends this one, but I happen to have a low opinion of it. It's simply too ridiculous.
Some dude from bbs highly recommends this one, but I happen to have a low opinion of it. It's simply too ridiculous.
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