Barrel Fever by David Sedaris

I love David Sedaris. So far I've read all but two of his books, have listened to a great many episodes of This American Life on which he is featured, and frankly I can't get enough. He's sarcastic and he has a special way of taking a bad situation and pointing out its badness in a hilarious way. He looks on the dark side of things, he embraces fears, and I like this about him. Too much positivity just isn't realistic, right? Why add sugar and water to lemon juice when it can be so distinctly pure and tart on it's own?

Anyway, I had already heard or read some of the stories in Barrel Fever by the time I got to it, but I was happy to read them again. Some people I know dislike the way he tells a story and don't value the negativity that often comes through, but like I said-- I'm into that. As long as negativity has a purpose, I'm happy for it to be there. He tells stories as he experienced them, as he viewed them, and I think they're so genuine and funny as a result. I enjoyed all the different stories in Barrel Fever as I've enjoyed the different stories in his other works. I like that he's not afraid to be that person who complains when complaining feels right, and that he's not afraid to pick out the worst traits in people to describe them. But maybe I'm going a bit too far in highlighting his knack for blatant mockery and resentment; I definitely don't feel bogged down by Sedaris. Quite the contrary. I have a good laugh at his stories. I can picture clearly the things he describes because he's so good at pinpointing things, and I think that's one of the things that makes his humor so successful.

Anyway, I like it. I like the format of essays, I like its inhibitions, and I like its humor. Two thumbs up.

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Yesterday I spent about 12 hours at my friend Kristen's house making a pumpkin cheesecake (yes, it was delicious- thank you for asking), so in our down time I read 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. Kristen gave me a brief synopsis before I read it and I was a bit unsure that I'd find interest in it, but it was actually very incredibly charming and easy to read through.

The book is a series of back and forth letters between Helene and her favorite British book store. It starts off as a business relationship, her sending off for antique books she can't find in the US, but it transforms into something much more personal. It's not an in-love story, but I would definitely consider it a story of love and caring. It's very sweet, and *spoiler alert* a tear-jerker.

Since the book is short and simple, I won't ramble on about it more than this. However, I would recommend it to anyone who has an hour or two on their hands for a quick and lovable read!

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

I've watched a lot of documentaries and read all kinds of books and articles on the role of food in the life of modern humans, and as a vegetarian I continue to have an interest in the subject of eating animals. In this book, the author, Jonathan Safran Foer, is about to bring a new baby into the world with his wife. Both he and his wife have been wavering vegetarians, so in this book he explores the value in eating meat in order to make good decisions for his son's future food life.

This book does do a lot of what you expect it to do: it talks about his knowledge and direct experiences with different kinds of animal farms, he discusses his reservations about eating animals, etc. But it also explores the role of meat in cultural and family tradition, how it's played a part in his life. I liked the story of how his grandmother basically only ever made one dish, which involved chicken, and how it was simple and maybe not even that good. But because she made it for him out of love, it was special. It reminded me of my grandmother with her chicken pies. Though I haven't eaten meat in a long time, I remember how much I loved that pie. She knew it was my favorite and she would make it for me about once a week. The idea of that dish is special to me because of her, and this is a concept a he talks about at the end of the book. It doesn't matter what you are cooking for your family or friends-- it can align with your values and still be remembered as a precious, nostalgic thing.

I liked the book because of the combination of the exposure of meat industry goings-on, and the personal element that it tied in. It didn't say "For everyone, eating animals is absolutely wrong." The message was more "I've explored the meat options, and I don't like what I see. For my family, we will find other ways to enjoy our food without animal products." The book was a journey and a learning experience, and it was composed by someone I respect greatly as an author. Overall I would say that this book was very enjoyable, especially if you have an open mind and are interested in knowing about the significance of eating animals.