Wants to read Making Dough: Recipes and Ratios for Perfect Pastries
book
Rated Lucky Peach: Issue 1 8/10
<i>Lucky Peach</i> represents what can be great about the magazine industry. Founded by Momofuku chef David Chang, the publication brings together his passion for innovation and his loyalty to doing singular, often simple, things well. Issue #1 is ad-free and dedicated almost entirely to one subject — ramen. The good stuff, the real stuff, straight out of Japanese back alleys and from old-school noodle masters. Perhaps only through McSweeney's could this sort of indulgence be encouraged on a large scale. As someone who publishes a magazine composed largely of my own whims, I love what they've done.<br><br>It is a really solid, interesting collection of food talk, and I'm considering getting a subscription. As a quarterly publication, I'm curious to see what other themes Chang and company take on, and I'm always wanting to read more from Anthony Bourdain. And though I'm not so naïve as to expect less pork products in future issues, I look forward to seeing what other dishes they feature that I may want to try on my own. It's a different sort of food porn, this magazine, and it's both aspirational and reassuring. "Look, we may be working professionals," it seems to say, "but everyone — <i>everyone</i> — can always do better."<br><br>(The full review can be seen on <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2011/09/lucky-peach-issue-1-ramen-summer-2011.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)
Finished reading The Two Towers
Finished reading The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
Finished reading The Silence of the Wilting Skin
Finished reading Digging Stars
Finished reading Annihilation
Rated May God Forgive 10/10
<div>This is probably my favorite noir series, so 5 stars is overcooking things a smidge, but I don't care. Compelling characters, a plot you're not figuring out right away, and a real sense of place.</div>
Reviewed Finite and Infinite Games
<a href="https://smus.com/books/finite-and-infinite-games-by-james-carse">Full review on smus.com</a>
Reviewed Summary & Study Guide Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam
<a href="https://smus.com/books/bowling-alone-by-robert-putnam">Full review on smus.com</a>
Finished reading Authority
Wants to read Dead Astronauts
Wants to read City of Saints and Madmen
Wants to read Omeros
Wants to read McSweeney's Issue 22: Three Books Held Within By Magnets
Rated Menewood 10/10
<div>So good, I mostly didn't mind heaving a 700 page hardcover. Beautifully written. What a feat.</div>
Finished reading Witch King
Reviewed On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It
<a href="https://smus.com/books/on-the-shortness-of-life">Full review on smus.com</a>
Finished reading Cat’s Cradle
Finished reading The Martian
Wants to read Slaughterhouse-Five
Reviewed Anthem
<a href="https://smus.com/books/anthem-by-ayn-rand">Full review on smus.com</a>
Reviewed Unsong
<a href="https://smus.com/books/unsong-by-scott-alexander">Full review on smus.com</a>