That’s Disgusting : An Adult Guide to What’s Gross, Tasteless, Rude, Crude, and Lewd by Greta Garbage

I may be only one of three people who knows the true identity of “Greta Garbage”, the author of That’s Disgusting: An Adult Guide to What’s Cross, Tasteless, Rude, Crude, and Lewd, and its companion volume, That’s Disgusting Too: The 200 Most Disgusting Sites on the Internet. I have known the author for a long, long time and can attest to the fact she is an absolute delight to be around and the last person in the world I would have thought would write these books. Except, it takes someone with good taste to know bad taste when she sees it and she has found it everywhere in a hilarious collection that is likely to be read in one of the favorite spots of the house, the bathroom! In December, “Greta” is going to announce her first annual list of The Most Disgusting Things of the Year. Meanwhile, these books will provide a world of laughter. File this one under guilty pleasures!

“… a financial one, since they later sell these “upskirt” (and “downblouse“) tapes. …”

Voyeur Nation: Media, Privacy, and Peering in Modern Culture by Clay Calvert

This is an excellent book covering a topic that affects anyone who watches TV or access the Internet. This book provokes thinking about what we view on TV news and “news magazines”. What is newsworthy content? How far can and should the media go in terms of invading privacy by broadcasting private moments? Is shoving a camera into a grieving person’s face newsworthy, or is it an invasion of privacy rights not worthy of First Amendment protection? What about secretly videotaping an accident victim’s on-the-scene agony and broadcasting it later on TV without seeking the victim’s permission?

The author notes that the First Amendment was designed to promote participation in our democracy, but much of the content provided my media outlets today actually lulls viewers into a voyeuristic mode, suppressing the will of people to participate. Still, most of what we see on TV is protected by the First Amendment, even when the result is contrary to the desired effect of promoting an active and involved democracy.

When reading this book, you might find yourself questioning court decisions, but you will also question the alternatives. This book provokes thought, as a good book should. I highly recommend it. You won’t see the news or “news” magazine shows in the same light again!

“… and pictures taken from above women looking down their blouses (”downblouse” voyeurism). Women, however, are not the only targets of this …”

Dear American Airlines: A Novel by Jonathan Miles

Every writer who has been stranded in an airport is going to mutter “Why didn’t I think of this?” when they pick up Jonathan Miles’ epistolary first novel. Dear American Airlines is not a book about the perils of commercial flight (although they play a supporting role here). It’s a novel about the perils of modern life. Especially the perils of modern life with alcohol.

The protagonist, Benjamin Ford, is stranded in Chicago’s O’Hare as he begins, but much of the narrative, a rant told largely in flashbacks, is set in New Orleans where he grew up and got his girlfriend, Stella, pregnant with a daughter, also named Stella, or Speck, the nickname he gave her when her conception was discovered and abortion was considered. He hasn’t seen either of them since the older Stella kicked him out and moved to California with the baby twenty-something years ago. Now, little Stella, whom he boozily promised he would walk down the aisle on her wedding day, is getting married to a woman named Syl, and Bennie is determined to be there.

I read Bennie’s attempts to deal with unmanageable air traffic problems as a metaphor for his many years of struggling to manage alcohol without giving it up. But Bennie is sober now, down to his last vice of cigarettes, and we learn of his childhood with Miss Willa, his mother who now lives with her adult child, and his father, Henryk Gneich, a survivor of Dachau who died when Bennie was a teenager. From his father he got his love of poetry and the language of Poland, from which he makes his living. His mother, in many ways, has been a child both he and his father had to care for. But she loves Bennie, and she continues to show it as she writes brief messages to him on Post-its.

Miles covers much of the ground familiar to readers of memoir from James Frey and Augustin Burroughs, but he’s far more disciplined. Part of the impact of this novel is that he manages to convey a lifetime of love and suffering into 180 pages. Miles writes about cocktails for the New York Times, but so tenderly does he write from Bennie’s point of view that it’s hard to believe he’s not a recovering alcoholic. Either way, this is one impressive fiction debut.

“… My enigmatic coeditor, her downblouse-peer- ing old roach of a thesis advisor. Oh, and yes, …”

This Fire Down in My Soul by J. D. Mason

I absolutely enjoyed this book. JD Mason has become one of my favorite authors. I love her style of writing.
This book is about the complexities of marriage, relationships, and choices. It’s about 3 married couples and their mistresses and mister. It’s hard for me to write a review without mistakenly telling the story. This book, as well as the author’s previous books are well worth reading.

“… just come on the market.” Jay looked at Elise, then down her blouse. “Any of those places happen to be down there? …”

Blow Me Down by Katie MacAlister

As has been mentioned by others, ‘Blow Me Down” is about a woman who gets trapped in a VR game, meets the game creator, and needs to get out of the game. If anyone decides to not read this book on the summary alone that person is missing a lot of fun. Sure the mechanics of the game are a little loose, but it’s a romance novel not a sci-fi novel. As always MacAlister features two flawed people as the hero and heroine. Amy is irrational in that she both wants and doesn’t want a serious relationship. She spends too much time working and too little playing. She is also ,like most other MacAlister heroines, not a stick. Corbin has been left insecure because of his own dissolved marriage and like Amy is not ridiculously small. The two have decided chemistry from the start being of the opposites attract school of love. There are more than a few scenes guaranteed to steam up your windows. The instant chemistry between the leads and the steamy scenes make this one a decided winner. All in all an enjoyable book, but I found the ending a little too rushed.

Easy Guide to Sewing Blouses by Connie Long and Clarke Barre

I can’t say enough about Chapter 4 in this book, entitled, “The Best Sewing Techniques.” I have already used this chapter to make a blouse. The author’s instructions are SUPERIOR to those of pattern manufacturers. I’ve never taken a class on shirts/blouses and have always relied on the instructions included in a pattern. Not this time around! I used the author’s detailed and very easy to understand instructions along with the beautifully detailed colored photos to construct a blouse just this week. The biggest difference in this shirt and others I’ve made is definitely the collar and facing. Makes you wonder why pattern companys don’t let you in on these VERY EASY changes we can all make to make our blouses look tailored instead of homemade.

Naked in Haiti: A sexy morality tale about tourists, prostitutes & politicians by Dan King

Here’s the setup of this true story: The author (who claims to be a college prof from the U.S.) goes to Haiti on a ‘business trip’ so he can get some extramarital nooky as a sex tourist.

As he’s going there, he meets a female U.N. social worker and decides, when asked, to play it straight with her and tells her openly what he’s doing.

He’s in Haiti to have lots of consensual and recreational sex with willing female adults who will enjoy his company in exchange for money.

She’s horrified and curious, asks if she can watch him pick up the girls, and makes a point of learning what she can about the situation as part of her ’sister solidarity.’

“Sister Solidarity” is her phrase, and it’s a pretty nice one; I wish she’d written the book.

Our actual author, however, is probably a teacher at an agricultural mechanics vocational school in Texas. His writing has no life, his insights are juvenile and a chore to read, and only the subject matter carries the story.

The subject, however, is as interesting as sex always is. Haiti’s government, governors, and headline national news incidents all have personal walk-ons into the book.

The book manages occasional moments of high interest intrigue, sexy interludes, and philosophical questions. In the hands of a better writer, it could all have been interesting to anyone.

As it is, it’s interesting as a vicarious trip into an area of very hazy morality. If you think fantasizing about this could be fun, skim this book.

“… Her most attractive feature was her bosom, and a sexy blouse and bra combination would be a turn-on. In my view …”

The Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System That Works for Every Shapeand Size by Bradley Bayou

I bought this book for my 18 year-old niece so that she could see that every woman can look and feel sexy and beautiful. I liked it so much that I ordered another one for myself and have already recommended it to many friends.

Bradley Bayou looks at women through realistic eyes with impeccable balance. He gives serious advice but retains a sense of humor. I applaud him for seeing the beauty in all female body types. We need to promote this ideaology so that women of all shapes and sizes can feel sexy by making the most of what they have and who they are.

A MUST-have!

Zip file of the entire book

Picked up Morell’s newest at the Brookline Booksmith book signing the other night, where the artist gave an inspiring talk. Going back for more copies tonight. This is the single best homage to photography ever! Where does a person get such fantastic ideas and how does he realize them with such beauty and wonder? Last year, one could hardly imagine how Morell might follow up his equally elegant Book of Books. Well, now we know.