Review: Dancers After Dark

Title:  Dancers After Dark
Author:  Jordan Matter
Rating: 4.5/5
Expected Publish Date: October 18, 2016

Summary:

A photography collection of nude dancers at night from the bestselling photographer of Dancers Among Us - a celebration of the human form and the fearlessness of the human spirit.

Review:

**I received this book as an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley**

Little known fact, I love photography.  I've read all the Humans of New York books and follow the creator on Facebook every day.  I do take my own pictures and have an Instagram account here, but I'm not in the business.  Anyway, this is what led me to request this book, that and the unique subjects of the book.

Yes, everyone in this book is naked, no I did not get it because of that.  There is a certain vulnerability in this book, exposing oneself in poses that stimulate while in public, but shrouded in shadow.  One of my favorite aspects of this books is that the pictures are marked not first by location, subject, or description, but by a time stamp.

The only negative thing I have to say (that missing .5 on my rating) is that I received it as an ebook and thus pictures that were spread across two pages lost their affect on me.  I will be sure to re-read this when it comes out in hardcover to get the full effect.

And please, I recommend to only those over the age of 17.

Blind Date With A Book

Blind Date!

I've seen the concept of a blind date with a book across the internet for a while now, but until now none of the libraries in my local system did it, until now!

A blind date with a book is when the library wraps up books and gives you either a brief description or a picture of some sort on the front to give you an indication of the themes of the book.  You check them out and try not to look at the titles on your receipt until you get home and can unwrap them.  It's  like a Christmas present to yourself that doesn't cost you anything.  

In my trek to my local library today I found a table of them!  Here are the two I selected, wrapped and then unwrapped when I got home:

 

The clues for this book was a mystery guy emoji, and elephant, and two chemistry vials.  The deciding factor for me was the elephant!  Turns out it was a book I've been meaning to read:

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

 

The clues for my second pic were two emojis, a sick face and a winky face.  The deciding factor for me was actually the random space picture on the newspaper they chose to wrap it in.  This book I've never heard of and turned out to be:

The End of Eve by Ariel Gore

So I shall read both of these books (along with the nine other I borrowed today) and let you guys know the results of my blind dates!

Has anyone else ever done a blind date with a book?

Top Ten Books I Enjoyed Recently That Weren't My Typical Genre

Presented by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books I Enjoyed Recently That Weren't My Typical Genre

1. The Martian by Andy Weir

I don't really do science fiction, pretty much ever.  If I delve into that side of literature I go towards fantasy, but this book was amazing.

2. The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

I actually read this as a brand new book, that I requested through the library because it had been on the bestsellers lists (or at least the author had).  I don't typically read mainstream, new releases, but this was kind of hilarious.

3. Breakwater Bay by Shelley Nobel

Just a basic family drama/romance, not normally exciting for me.

4. Awesome Sh*t My Drill Sergeant Said by Dan Caddy

This was straight up hilarious, and nonfiction is not my favorite genre by far.

5. If You Feel Too Much by Jamie Tworkowski

Again, nonfiction, but it's from To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), so I had to because I love them, and I loved this.

6. Raising My Rainbow by Lori Duron

Blah memoirs usually, especially whiny ones about how someone is different and life is hard, but I found this rather inspiring.

7. American Sniper by Chris Kyle

Again, memoir, but war.  I love war movies, not typically books.  This was the best book I read in 2015 hands down.

8. Entwined With You by Sylvia Day

I normally find myself embarrassed by reading books that are known to be about sex and not much more, but this series has actual plot and Sylvia Day can actually write, so I make the exception for her.

9. Who Was Alfred Hitchcock? by Pamela D. Pollak

Need I say memoir again?  I'm starting to think I read these more than I think, but this was childrens level.  If you have a child and they don't like nonfiction, introduce them to this series of books, they'll love it.

10. The Terrorist's Son by Zak Ebrahim

Memoir!  Mostly I loved it because it was related to a Ted Talk, and if you don't know what Ted Talks are, then google it.  Now.  Seriously.

Mini Review: One Today

Title:  One Today: A Poem for Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration January 21, 2013
Author:  Richard Blanco
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

One Today is a commemorative chapbook of Richard Blanco’s inaugural poem, presented January 21, 2013 during President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony.

Review:

A mini review for a mini book (I think it's a total of 30 pages, maybe).  I picked it up while at work on the library and read it during my break (in 15 minutes).  I love poetry and I am getting more involved with history so I enjoyed the series of poems.

I saw it as both many poems and one poem that tie us, as a nation, together for a day.  Nothing extraordinary, just a day in or lives.

I recommend for a poetry lover who doesn't want a big read or heavy interpretation.