Title: Along Interstate 75 (13th Edition)
Author: Dave Hunter
Publisher: Mile Oak Publishing Inc.
Copyright: 2005
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: For those who travel along Interstate 75 quite often or are just merely taking a family vacation. This book has everything, including an easy to read map for North or South on 75. It lists in detail every exit, historical points of interest, rest stops, speed limits, speed traps, detours, construction and everything else imaginable to keep you entertained and educated for your travels. The only set back is the lack of Florida, this book takes you from the North of 75 in Michigan to just a few miles south of Georgia. Florida is in a separate book which makes it difficult for Florida snow birds.

Title: Best Places SAN FRANCISCO, Editon 1
Publisher: Sasquatch Books
Copyright: 2000
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: If this was the only book I ever saw for San Francisco I would have to think it was a pretty boring place. Best Places never once shows a photograph or drawing of any place it talks about except for the cover. Readers have to rely on their own imagination for the place they're about to vacation to, which seems scary. It does have an extensive list of places to eat and things to do. But it doesn't give you much of an idea as to where these neighborhoods are or what they're all about. This book does have one amazing feature; there is an awesome pull out map in the front of the book with almost every possible street listed on a compact map.

Title: The Birth Order Book
Author: Dr. Kevin Lehman
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Copyright: 1998
Reviewer: Patty
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is one of my favorite books. I have never read a book that helps you get to know the traits of people based on their birth order. I love this book so much that it is has become my standard baby shower gift because it is so insightful. It amazes me how every time I pick up the book, I'll learn something new because there is so much to absorb that you don't get all of it the first couple time around. The way the chapters are separated makes the book a quick read because you don't necessarily have to read the whole thing. You can skip around to the chapters that apply to your own family.

Title: City of Falling Angels
Author: John Berendt
Publisher: Penguin
Copyright: 2005
Reviewer: Carol
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: John Berendt, author of "Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil", chose Venice Italy in this true crime investigation surrounding the 1996 fire that destroyed the famous opera house La Fanice. Berendt introduces us to dozens of famous and influential people who had their own personal and political agendas. I got bogged down with all the names, but found the Venetian lifestyles and history very interesting.

Title: Demon in the Freezer
Author: Richard Preston
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: October 2002
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is a well researched book about the history of smallpox and the dangers of making it into a bioweapon. Along the same lines as "The Hot Zone", Preston keeps your attention throughout most of the book.

Title: Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change
Author: Elizabeth Kolbert
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: In a clear, concise, and unbiased voice, journalist Kolbert presents her findings on the current status of the melting polar ice caps due to the buildup of carbon dioxide. This catastrophic problem, first brought to light in the 1970’s, may be closer to effecting irreversible climatic changes than we realize. The book is easy to read, avoiding cumbersome scientific terms and concepts, and sobering in its delivery. Using examples such as floating houses and migrating butterflies, and explaining the politics of global warming as it relates to science sheds light on the reality of “what we know and what we refuse to know” about global warming. Highly recommended for anyone trying to grasp understanding of the most serious threat we face to our way of life.

Title: The Forensic Science of C.S.I.
Author: Katherine M. Ramsland
Publisher: Penguin Group
Copyright: September 2001
Reviewer: Beth
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Lovers of the hit show C.S.I. should definitely read this book. The real crime scene experts explain various techniques used in the field today. Some of the real cases are a bit gruesome, so this book is not for the squeamish.

Title: Frommer's SAN FRANCISCO 2006
Publisher: Frommer's
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Frommer's is always a safe bet for travel guides. It offers photographs, and maps for each neighborhood mentioned, and one big tear out map of the city in the back of the book. The restaurants and hotels mentioned are always rated and so far I have never been let down. Chapters are split up by hotels, restaurants, shopping, and fun things to do; under each neighborhood. There are tons of website and contact information. The best feature for this book is the maps that offer the cable car, muni, and bart schedules; for those of you who are planning to walk and rely on public transporation. Frommer's always has so much info and always offers gay travel inforamtion.

Title: The Garden of Vegan
Author: Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer
Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press
Copyright: 2002
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This book not only offers great tasting recipes, but also party ideas, and vegan beauty tips. The authors are sassy and hysterical. This is a sequel to "How it All Vegan".

Title: Hide This French Book
Author: Berlitz Publishing Staff
Publisher: Berlitz
Copyright: 2004
Reviewer: Beth
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Think you learned all your French skills in the classroom? Think again! This book is excellent for language lovers who want to learn French slang. But be warned, it is uncensored!

Title: I Have Chosen To Stay and Fight
Author: Margaret Cho
Publisher: Riverhead
Copyright: 2005
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: A bit current affairs, a bit political, and a whole lot of Cho humor to make this one of the most entertaining reads in a long time.

Title: Imagining Ourselves - Global Voices From A New Generation
Author: Edited by Paula Goldman Foreword by Isabel Allende
Publisher: New World Library
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: I truly wanted to love this book. How could any feminist not love a book about Women and how they're changing the world? It's a great idea, and many different women are listed throughout this book. But I found most stories, poems or blogs uninteresting, uninspiring. I had a hard time trying to understand the overall point of the book. There are several women posted in the book with great art, or ideas; even several more women associated with the International Museum of Women, where the books idea flows over too. However, the book was a let down. I personally know women who would have made the book better, provided the books objective was more clear.

Title: Ink: the not-just-skin-deep guide to getting a tattoo
Author: Terisa Green
Publisher: New York: New American Library
Copyright: 2005
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: If you are thinking about getting a tattoo for the first time you MUST read this book. This guide book goes over every thing you need to know to get a safe, and beautiful tattoo. It covers the history of tattooing, the myths of the tattoo world, types of tattoos, flash, picking your artist, picking the right tattoo for you, placement, aftercare and do's and don't's. It even gives tips for those annoying questions like, "Did that hurt?".

Title: Inside Out SAN FRANCISCO
Author: Unknown
Publisher: ?
Copyright: ?
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: The world's smallest travel guide is also one of the best. Inside Out offers a hand held book that includes: two detailed pop out maps (easy to fold back into place), light pen, compass, and travel guide. The maps are among the best I've seen. They're super tiny so you don't look too much like a tourist trying to fold and unfold a huge map you have no place to lay flat. The travel guide list every possible neighborhood and the best places to go to. Also, it offers chapters such as Buy it, watch it, taste it, know it, note it, speak it and a directory with info on flights to transportation, web sites and annual events. All this info and tools in a guide smaller than your hands. Inside Out offers guides also to: Chicago, Hong Kong, Orlando, Paris, Toronto, & DC, etc.

Title: Into Thin Air
Author: Jon Krakauer
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 1997
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is a fascinating account of one man's journey to the top of Mount Everest. Krakauer recounts his tale from the point of view of a reporter who loves t climb. Little did he know of the tragedy that awaited his party and others as they reached the summit.

Title: Kissing in Columbus: Romantic Things To See and Do in and Around Ohio's Capital
Author: Amber Stephens and Jennifer Poleon
Publisher: Emuses Press
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: A great guide to Columbus. The book talks about unknown romantics restaurants, hotels, and adventures; along with common hot spots.

Title: Mental Floss (Bi-Monthly Magazine) ____
Author: Mental Floss, LLC
Publisher: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Okay, so Mental Floss is not a book. It is one of the most entertaining magazines on the market today! Six times a year, I look forward to sitting down with this amazing trivia filled, lists of facts about almost any subject you can imagine magazine. They have a web site with really cool items for sale, such as Freudian Slippers and a variety of t-shirts with other intellectual play-on-word sayings. They publish a number of books and have a really cool trivia game by the same name. In between all those novels you read, check out Mental Floss for a light, entertaining and intellectual distraction.

Title: The National Geographic Traveler SAN FRANCISCO
Author: Jerry Camarillo Dunn, Jr.
Publisher: The National Geographic Society
Copyright: 2000
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This travel guide had awesome photographs, great maps, and tons of history; however it lacked decent sources of things to do. The hotel suggests section was a few pages stuffed in the back. Restaurant suggests were pretty much non-existent. So if you'd rather have a full history and not get lost opposed to knowing what to do in San Francisco this is your travel guide.

Title: New Rules:  Polite Musings from a Timid Observer ____
Author: Bill Maher
Publisher: Rodale Press, Inc.
Copyright: 2005
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: A hysterically funny and politically poignant collection of “New Rules” from the HBO show Real Time host, comedian Bill Maher.  The show is one of the best on television today, mixing humor and political debate as a panel of celebrities and political personalities discuss the week’s current events.  The most popular segment of the show is Bill’s “New Rules,” where his intelligence and wit combine to make any headline or topic of concern the subject of his rant.  New Rules will make you laugh out loud and view what is happening in our world today in a different light.

Title: Secrets of the Widow's Son
Author: David A. Shugarts
Publisher: Sterling
Copyright: 2005
Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Really don't know how to categorize this book. Can someone predict the plot and techniques for Dan Brown's new book (Solomon Key) by referring to Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons? David Shugarts thinks he can. An intriguing read, I can't wait to see how close he comes.

Title: Self-Made Man
Author: Norah Vincent
Publisher: Penguin Group
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Self-Made Man goes where no woman has gone before. Norah becomes Ned and enters manhood to learn the difference between man and woman. As Ned, she joins a bowling team, is employed on a testosterone driven sales team and even dates women. She offers interesting insight as Ned, as well as Norah. She emerges back into a woman with many ideas that spark one's curiosity, "Who really has it harder, men or women?"

Title: Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs*
Author: Chuck Klosterman
Publisher: Scribner
Copyright: 2003
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Schizophrenic, opinionated but humorous; Chuck Klosterman is a highly intelligent writer with many thoughts but none all too serious. From media, to breakfast cereal, to a Guns-N-Roses tribute band you'll be angry and laughing at the same time.

Title: Grayson
Author: Lynne Cox
Publisher: Knopf
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Carol
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Lynne Cox, author of "Swimming to Antarctica", tells the story of her miraculous encounter while long distance swim training with an 18 foot baby gray whale which had gotten separated from its mother. Wonderful descriptions of ocean life add to this mysterious magical story.

Title: Suggestion
Author: Illegal Art
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Copyright: 2005
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Suggestion is a book of just that suggestions. Illegal Art walked through New York City with a suggestion box, asking the people on the street to make suggestions of any kind. Each page is a new suggestions from the serious, to the funny, to sad, to political, to the religious. Complete with grammatical errors and poor handwriting, some in other languages and some written by children. This book is a fun must have.

Title: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Author: Mark Bittner
Publisher: Harmony Books
Copyright: 2004
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: On the cover of the book it says, "A Love Story....with Wings." There really is no better way to describe this amazing book. Mark Bittner is an old soul living in San Francisco; down on his luck he discovers a flock of wild non-native parrots and falls in love with them. The story teaches about fulfilling dreams, trust and love. By the end of this book you'll be wishing to live on Telegraph Hill watching these beautiful creatures that could show the work what it is to really live and love.