Gang Leader For A Day
Sudhir Venkatesh
Penguin Press
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 9781594201509
Although this book is found in the Community and Culture section of the local bookstore, I think it could just as easily have been located under Biographies.
Gang Leader For A Day is about the author's experiences while he was writing his dissertation on the lives of people in the housing projects of Chicago. And, he had some pretty incredible experiences. The first time he visited the projects, he was thought to be a member of a rival gang and spent the entire night under threat before he was allowed to leave. Or, later on, the event that gave the book it's title, the day he spent being permitted to make the minor decisions for the gang.
One thing the book does is make very clear that its a different world that they live in. Extortion and bribery seem to be the norm.
Gang Leader For A Day is not just about the gang, but also tells the stories of other people, the parents, friends, leaders in the buildings etc, which are also affected by the gangs and their behavior.
It really is amazing that the author was able to get so close to the gang the way he did, and his experiences make for fascinating reading. I will admit that this wasn't my usual reading fare, but I think I'm going to do some more poking around in this part of the library and see what else I can find.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Squire - Tamora Pierce
Squire
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 9780679889199
In Squire, the third book in the Protector of the Small Quartet, Keladry is now a squire, having made it through her years as a page. As with Page, there are some fairly large jumps in time, but they don't affect the story any.
Keladry is the first woman to openly train as a knight in over a century. Unlike Alanna, she trains openly, in spite of all those who want her to quit and try every method, fair or foul to make it happen. By this point, most of the foul ones have been tried, and now it's up to Kel to gain the respect of those who don't think women should fight.
Unlike the other main characters Tamora has written in the Tortall world: Daine, Alanna and Beka, Keladry has no Gift, just natural talent and determination. LOTS of determination. And some good friends, both on two legs and on four.
This series is one in which each of the books gets longer, which is, in my mind a good thing.
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 9780679889199
In Squire, the third book in the Protector of the Small Quartet, Keladry is now a squire, having made it through her years as a page. As with Page, there are some fairly large jumps in time, but they don't affect the story any.
Keladry is the first woman to openly train as a knight in over a century. Unlike Alanna, she trains openly, in spite of all those who want her to quit and try every method, fair or foul to make it happen. By this point, most of the foul ones have been tried, and now it's up to Kel to gain the respect of those who don't think women should fight.
Unlike the other main characters Tamora has written in the Tortall world: Daine, Alanna and Beka, Keladry has no Gift, just natural talent and determination. LOTS of determination. And some good friends, both on two legs and on four.
This series is one in which each of the books gets longer, which is, in my mind a good thing.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Page - Tamora Pierce
Page
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 9780679889182
Page is the second book in the Protector of the Small Quartet. Kel is back and just as determined to become a knight as she was in the first book.
Keladry is the first woman to openly train as a knight in over a century. Unlike Alanna, she trains openly, in spite of all those who want her to quit and try every method, fair or foul to make it happen.
Unlike the other main characters Tamora has written in the Tortall world: Daine, Alanna and Beka, Keladry has no Gift, just natural talent and determination. LOTS of determination.
Page covers Kel's second through fourth years as a page, so there are a number of big jumps in time. Despite this though, it's filled with details of training and life from disappointments to the joys both great and small.
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 9780679889182
Page is the second book in the Protector of the Small Quartet. Kel is back and just as determined to become a knight as she was in the first book.
Keladry is the first woman to openly train as a knight in over a century. Unlike Alanna, she trains openly, in spite of all those who want her to quit and try every method, fair or foul to make it happen.
Unlike the other main characters Tamora has written in the Tortall world: Daine, Alanna and Beka, Keladry has no Gift, just natural talent and determination. LOTS of determination.
Page covers Kel's second through fourth years as a page, so there are a number of big jumps in time. Despite this though, it's filled with details of training and life from disappointments to the joys both great and small.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The First Test - Tamora Pierce
Getting a start on the backlog of books I've read this week. I've got the rest of the series after this one to write up still.
The First Test
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 1999
ISBN: 9780679889175
The first of the four Keladry novels, the Protector Of The Small Quartet. As with Tamora Pierce's other novels it's in the Childrens/Teens section of the bookstore, but that really doesn't matter.
This series is set after the Lioness Quartet and the Immortals series, although I'm not too sure how far after the latter set. Given some of the references made, it might have been helpful for me to read the final book of that series (In The Realm Of The Gods) before starting this series.
I found it to be a quick read (in part because I couldn't put it down) but a good one. The other books get longer.
Keladry is the first woman to openly train as a knight in over a century. Unlike Alanna, she trains openly, in spite of all those who want her to quit and try every method, fair or foul to make it happen.
The First Test
Tamora Pierce
Laurel Leaf Publishing
Copyright: 1999
ISBN: 9780679889175
The first of the four Keladry novels, the Protector Of The Small Quartet. As with Tamora Pierce's other novels it's in the Childrens/Teens section of the bookstore, but that really doesn't matter.
This series is set after the Lioness Quartet and the Immortals series, although I'm not too sure how far after the latter set. Given some of the references made, it might have been helpful for me to read the final book of that series (In The Realm Of The Gods) before starting this series.
I found it to be a quick read (in part because I couldn't put it down) but a good one. The other books get longer.
Keladry is the first woman to openly train as a knight in over a century. Unlike Alanna, she trains openly, in spite of all those who want her to quit and try every method, fair or foul to make it happen.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Taming The Scotsman - Kinley Macgregor
Taming the Scotsman
Kinley MacGregor
Avon Romances
Copyright: 2003
ISBN: 0380817918
After this book the only one of the brothers left unmarried is Lochlan, and he's dealt with in the next book.
While a good and extremely funny read, I found this to be the most improbable of Kinley Macgregor's books that I've read so far. Things moved a little too fast I guess. On the other hand, the characters are fun and full of life. Also we see more about all of the brothers' lives and some of the events that shaped them.
I'm not saying much more as there's a really nice cliff-hanger in the ending of this story.
Kinley Macgregor under either name is the only Romance genre author I've bought and read books from. If you're looking for a guaranteed happy ending, her books are for you.
Kinley MacGregor
Avon Romances
Copyright: 2003
ISBN: 0380817918
After this book the only one of the brothers left unmarried is Lochlan, and he's dealt with in the next book.
While a good and extremely funny read, I found this to be the most improbable of Kinley Macgregor's books that I've read so far. Things moved a little too fast I guess. On the other hand, the characters are fun and full of life. Also we see more about all of the brothers' lives and some of the events that shaped them.
I'm not saying much more as there's a really nice cliff-hanger in the ending of this story.
Kinley Macgregor under either name is the only Romance genre author I've bought and read books from. If you're looking for a guaranteed happy ending, her books are for you.
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