All Things Wood are Good A Reverence for Wood, Eric Sloane (1965) Look, man, I'm going to keep this review very short. If you're familiar with Eric Sloane's books, you almost surely love Eric Sloane books. If you're not, you can go read my longer review of his A Museum of Early American Tools published a year … [Read more...]
January 2025 Books
In descending order of most to least enjoyed. My favorite read of the month was a reread... The Stranger, Albert Camus (1942): Short, powerful novella; apparently emotionless dude in Algiera murders a nameless Arab and is condemned for it, but doesn't ever seem to emote over anything. Life is absurd and a series of … [Read more...]
Book Review: A Museum of Early American Tools
Toolin' Along A Museum of Early American Tools, Eric Sloane (1964) Connecticut museum visit #541. This is a first. 541 Connecticut museums into this decades-long project and I'm calling a book I just read a museum. Which is ridiculous. Absurd. Ludicrous. The book was written by Eric Sloane, one of … [Read more...]
Book Review: Unique Eats and Eateries of Connecticut
ConnEATicut Unique Eats and Eateries of Connecticut, Mike Urban (2021) This won't be your typical CTMQ CT Book Review. But what would that even be? I don't know. This is a good book! Any Connecticutian who likes to go out to eat would be well-served by this book. This book is also part of a massive universe of … [Read more...]
Book Review: Connecticut Cryptids
Tales From the Cryptids Connecticut Cryptids, Patrick Scalisi & Illustrations by Valerie Ruby-Omen (2023) Never judge a book by its cover. And, usually, never judge a book by its Goodreads reviews. But always judge Goodreads reviewers by their idiotic reviews: That has to be one of the least self-aware … [Read more...]
Book Review: In the Blood
Bloody Good In the Blood, Charles Barber (2023) This book is so good. I don't care if you're not a non-fiction reader. You'll enjoy this book. It is as good as any mystery or thriller simply because it is a mystery and a thriller. And bonus: it all happened in Connecticut. (Well, except for the parts in Somalia … [Read more...]
Book Review: A Professor, A President, and a Meteor
Weston Rocks! A Professor, A President, and a Meteor, Cathryn J. Prince (2011) I was "friends" with Cathryn Prince for a year or so before meeting her in person at a book signing in 2011. 21st-century "friends." In other words, Twitter friends. A Connecticut resident and professor, Prince specializes in writing … [Read more...]
Whitlock’s Book Barn
[Some Whitty Title Pun] Whitlock's Book Barn, Bethany May 2024 I learned something years ago while traveling the backroads of Connecticut, often with one or two children: do not bring them to large used bookstores. I need my time. I can't be rushed or distracted. I don't just need to peruse, I need to … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Bright Silver Star
He's Rich, Young, Handsome, Tortured, Gay, and... Dead The Bright Silver Star, David Handler (2003) This is the third in David Handler's Berger and Mitry Mystery series. As always, I will sprinkle in random passages because they are just so Connecticut. I read this book over Christmas week when I was at my … [Read more...]
Top 5 Books I Read in 2023
Top 5 Books I Read in 2023 CTMQ's Reading Challenges and Lists … [Read more...]