Michael Bolls (マイケル・ボールス)

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John McPhee is definitely not a fan of orange concentrate. This little book, a collection of essays turned into a narrative, offers a series of vignettes about oranges. McPhee touches on everything from botany and history to industry and the barons of the orange world. Yes, this book is literally all about oranges. Yet, who would have thought that the humble orange in the supermarket's produce section has such a fascinating history? I couldn't help but reach for the nearest orange while reading this book. It's simply a celebration of a delicious, sweet fruit. 4.5/5, rounded up to 5. A little dated but a pleasant and fascinating short read.

A collection of quotes and shots from various Bond films, broken out by topic. The Wit and Wisdom of James Bond had some amusing quotes that serve as a refreshing reminder to those who watched the films before. Yet, reading them outside the context of film, the humor & wit could be lost. Most of the entertainment of the delivery of these quotes were in the context of the films they were in. Still, this little book did what the title says. I did feel that too much focus was spent on the more recent Daniel Craig films. But I digress. 3/5. Exactly what it says. No more, no less. Some quotes without the context may not make sense to a casual Bond fan. Could have been done a bit better IMO.

As someone new to houseplants, I found this quick, easy to read guide quite handy. My personal copy was gifted to me and what a delightful gift it was. If anyone has started going down the rabbit hole of houseplant-care, they will need this. Online resources alone can be quite daunting and confusing for beginners like myself. Houseplant Hookups was written as a useful guide on all things houseplants. It treats different plants from the perspective of an online dating profile. The idea being that some plants are the "right match" for some people that may not be the right match for others. It's a quick, easy read with many beautiful illustrations by Mai Ly Degnan. There are about 35 "dating profiles" in this book. I appreciate the range of plants Isabel picks. The choices are well balanced between plants that need the utmost care to those that can thrive on forgetfulness. Many colorful room pieces were selected too that I was not even aware of. For those overwhelmed by the choices, Isabel offers a handy "dating quiz" and index in the back. One issue I often have is finding plants that are pet friendly. Isabel includes those as well as those that may need more or less water, light, etc. . A wide range indeed. 5/5. Did what it set out to do. Many helpful tips, tricks, and ideas. Also, beautiful illustrations that were well done by Mai Ly Degnan.

Read this when I was much younger and it shaped my life. Reread this again to get a refresher. Who Moved My Cheese is a short parable that can be read within an hour or so. Yet, the impact of it can be profound. Written before the "change is the only constant" became a business cliche, I can see how some modern readers may be put off by it. Yet, the lessons themselves, as simple as they may be, are fundamental to each of our own experience. The beauty is in the shortness and simplicity of the story. Anyone from a teenager to an adult like myself can pick it up. Sometimes we get complacent in our current situation. The beauty of the parable is that it helps us reassess our own lives as it relates to the story. The "cheese" in this case being a metaphor for whatever we are working towards. It gets us to ask ourselves how we should adapt to a changing environment rather than if we should. After many years, I still give this a 5/5. I love this book that much.

Anthony Bourdain is a poet with words, and Kitchen Confidential is no exception. Disclaimer: I'm a huge Bourdain fan, so my review might be a bit biased. When Kitchen Confidential was released, it changed how people saw the behind-the-scenes world of restaurants. Bourdain doesn’t hold back. He delivers a raw, gonzo-style memoir that reshaped kitchen culture for the better. Bourdain’s passion for food shines through his writing. The characters he introduces feel real and relatable. I worked in a similar industry, so many of his stories resonated with me. I also appreciate his praise for the often-overlooked immigrant kitchen staff. It’s a refreshing acknowledgment of the real heroes behind the scenes. Ultimately, this book is about an industry driven by passion. It’s rough around the edges, but that’s part of its charm. 4/5. A great read. RIP, Bourdain.

My first Isaac Asimov book and I'm glad I picked it up. The End of Eternity is a mind boggling time travelling sci-fi thriller. For being written in the 1950s, it still holds up well. Except for perhaps his portrayal of the only female character but I'll ignore that for now. The End of Eternity is creative in both its world building and originality. It takes a few of the time travel clichés and flips them on their head. I never had my suspension of belief broken while reading this book -- a mark of good sci-fi. I was also unable to predict where the story was leading to. Plots where one can easily figure out the twists kill the fun for me. But this wasn't one of those books. Asimov keeps the reader guessing with twists at almost rollercoaster speeds throughout. If I had any complaint about the book, it would be that the characters were a bit one dimensional. There wasn't much nuance. I also found that this book would not past the Bechdel test. But the brilliant sci-fi construction alone can make me overlook those facts. This was a fun read. 5/5. For my first Isaac Asimov book, I now understand why he is considered the sci-fi godfather. Amazing how well this book holds up even after 70+ years.

Surprisingly holds up well even though it was written in the 60s. Disclaimer: Read this after watching Blade Runner & its sequel. Yet, I'll try to keep my opinion of the movie separate from the novel. "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" is a classic of the sci-fi world and my introduction to Philip K. Dick's writing. Despite being over half a century old, its themes are incredibly relevant today. The novel raises profound questions: What makes a human, human? Can androids feel empathy? Where do we draw the line between human and machine? In an era where AI is becoming more sophisticated, these questions feel more urgent than ever. I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building. Philip K. Dick crafts a desolate, post-apocalyptic Earth that feels eerily plausible. The plot is straightforward yet gripping, free from unnecessary fluff. Rick Deckard's lack of empathy adds a fascinating layer to the story, challenging our understanding of humanity. Yet, the novel does leave some loose ends. Certain questions remain unresolved, leaving me wanting more. Perhaps the ambiguity is intentional, a way to reflect on the the themes Dick explores. But I digress. In today's world, as we inch closer to creating human-like AI, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" offers a sobering reflection on the essence of humanity. It's a short, impactful read that leaves a lasting impression. 4/5. A great short read & a sci-fi classic.

Prometheus sets its audience up for big expectations only to fall flat on all of them. Disclaimer: I watched this movie not knowing that it was a prequel to Alien until the very end. Hence, I am rating this movie as a standalone instead of how it fits into the larger franchise -- which is how I believe that's how it should be done. Let's start with the good. The visuals, the questions of genesis, the awe of voyaging onto new worlds. It's a promising story filled with philosophical undertones. We are thrown back and forth between the creator and the created. Both humans and Engineers. Humans and machines. We see our key protagonists and their motivations are understandable -- noble even. We have mystery and twists. But then it ... falls flat. There are many questions that this movie raises but never answers. Perhaps that's what Ridley Scott wanted his audiences to fill in with the other entries in his franchise. Yet, without answers, this movie leaves its viewers feeling empty if viewed as a standalone movie. It promises to be so much yet doesn't deliver. We don't see why certain characters (ahem, David) do what they do. Why do the Engineers want to destroy their creations? Why a bio-weapon instead of something more... clean? Nothing makes sense and I feel as if I gained nothing watching this. I should have taken my friends' advice and skipped this movie entirely. 1/5. Epic surgery scene though.

A stylish gangster movie with plenty of gun action, memorable moments, and cinematography that does justice to its setting. King of New York keeps one glued to the screen. This movie is Christopher Walken at his best. Speaking about the cast, did anyone notice the absolute A-list cast this movie has? I was floored by the cast of this movie. Laurence Fishburne with his flashy grin and hyena-like laugh as Jimmy Jump. Victor Argo of Taxi Driver fame plays the seasoned detective. Wesley Snipes is on the other side of the law from his typical bad-guy roles. David Caruso who would later become well known for his lead role in CSI Miami. Steve Buscemi. Hell, even Giancarlo Esposito (I knew he looked familiar!) was cast in this movie decades before his breakout role in Breaking Bad. Wow! But besides the dazzling visuals & great soundtrack I felt that this movie felt a bit lacking. The screenplay and script didn't resonate with me. Frank White / Walken tries to rationalize his behavior as being a sort of "Robin Hood" figure for the streets. He mentions how everyone he kills and targets is worse than him in some fashion. He mentions how drugs would still be a market for New York even if he wasn't there. Yet, by his reasoning, wouldn't those other vices he sought to eliminate also be there? I also found it hard how easy it was for him to massacre his enemies throughout the movie. Like nobody else has protection? Nobody else thought it would be bad to do business with him? Nobody sought to form some sort of alliance with Frank's enemies? Also, what's with the part about blowing a cop's head off at a funeral? The plotholes in the script kind of broke my suspension of reality. Don't get me wrong, it's still a fantastically stylish movie. Yet, I found it one step away from greater things. 4/5.

"The saddest thing in life is wasted talent." The ultimate irony if anyone followed what happened later in Lillo Brancato Jr's life. But I digress. A Bronx Tale is an amazingly positive and poignant movie. It's a coming-of-age story wrapped up like a mob movie. Robert De Niro plays the loving father trying to keep his son on the straight path. Chazz Palminteri plays the neighborhood mobster who understands the ways of the street. Calogero / C is the person stuck in the middle of these two father figures he looks up to trying to figure out his way in life. His friends are also trying to figure out their ways in life but without any father figures we see. The backdrop is beautiful. The setting and sound design are gorgeous. I didn't see the play. Yet, I can tell that the screenplay by Palminteri and De Niro's directing brought everything to life. Perfect. I did love the added theme of race being thrown into this clash of cultures. Parallels could easily be drawn and this movie handled it well. You do feel for all the characters. You laugh and smile with them. You feel pain and reminisce on perhaps a forbidden love. It touches all the perfect notes. Also got to love Joe Pesci's appearance. 5/5.