Tim Ferriss has a highly successful podcast in which he interviews people who are tops at what they do and tries to uncover some of the secrets of their success. He’s good at this because he seems to be genuinely curious about his guests and he likes to apply some of their methods to his own life in an ongoing effort to improve himself. Continue reading
Author Archives: mmelland
“Still Life with Bread Crumbs” or Have You Ever Accidentally Read the Same Book Twice?
This week, I read “Still Life with Bread Crumbs”, by Anna Quindlen. The book was pretty good, but I was a little distracted by a strong feeling of deja vu. Actually, I was a lot distracted. Continue reading
April’s Kind of Like a Book Club Book
If you’re interested in joining me in reading an upcoming book, I’ll be reading “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” by Rachel Joyce during the month of April. It looks like a light, feel good kind of read. Continue reading
Book Review: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
A Gentleman in Moscow is a novel that is packed with warmth, charm and basic human decency. It tells the story of Count Alexander Rostov, who is confined to the Metropol Hotel in Moscow by the Bolsheviks in the 1920s for the “crime” of being part of the upper class. Continue reading
Valentine’s Brain Candy or How to Avoid the Facebook Pigeons
Since it’s Valentine’s Day, it seemed appropriate to read and review a romance. I like a good romance, and, no, it’s not because there’s something lacking in my life. I have my prince, thank you very much. I just like the idea of everyone finding a soulmate who will always be there for them, respect and love them and make them laugh. Which also means I like romances with a “happily ever after”, or HEA, as they say in the trade. No tragic, star-crossed lovers for me. Continue reading
Book Review The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
In The Life We Bury, college student Joe Talbert is given an English assignment to write someone’s biography. Not having anyone in his own life that would be a good subject, he goes to a nearby nursing home, where he meets convicted rapist and murderer, Carl Iverson, who has recently been paroled because he is dying. As he learns more about Carl’s life, including the details of his murder conviction, Joe becomes convinced that there’s more to Carl than meets the eye. Continue reading
Book Review: Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller
Norwegian by Night is a charming novel that explores fatherhood, aging, love and personal and societal values. It’s the story of an ordinary American man who is trying to make amends with his past as he faces the end of his life. At times sweet, funny and sad, it is always heartfelt and imaginative. Continue reading
5 Ways to Encourage Reading in the Kansas City Area
It’s not breaking news that not enough Americans read books. According to commonly cited statistics, 33% of US high school graduates will never read a book after graduation. Even if everyone was inclined to read, only 50% of US adults can do so at or above an 8th grade level. And 60% of inmates can’t read at all, so read between the lines about the effects of being illiterate. Continue reading
February’s “Kind of Like a Book Club” Book
Well, the monthly group read hasn’t been very successful, so I’m going to tweak the process and go to every other month. That will give everyone two months to read the book. Hopefully, more people will be able to participate this way.
February’s book is “A Gentleman in Moscow”, by Amor Towles. Continue reading
“The Last Painting of Sara de Vos”, by Dominic Smith
Author Dominic Smith delivers beautiful prose and a melancholy mood in “The Last Painting of Sara de Vos”. Spanning three different time periods, the book tells the tale of a 17th century artist and the 20th century forger who copies one of her paintings. Continue reading
Book Thoughts from Bed 