Opening Sentence of the Day: Pegasus Descending

"In the early 1980s, when I was still going steady with Jim Beam straight-up and a beer back, I became part of an exchange program between NOPD and a training academy for police cadets in Dade County, Florida." -- Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke Burke knows how to capture the reader's attention from the get go. This is the 15th book in Burke's Dave Robicheau series. I go on and off the series, but I am on it now. This one is very good so far -- exciting and, as always, marvelously written, but not too creepy and not so full of self-righteous sermonizing as some of them.

Review: After Dinner Speaking

Fawcett Boom's After Dinner Speaking is a short, practical book published in 1991. I picked it up in the mid-90s, when I was putting in my time with various Bar organizations and had to do my share of speaker introductions and opening remarks. Too bad I never read the book back then. I usually ended up winging it and my attempts at public speaking were always too glib, too rushed, and generally botched.

This book could have helped, mostly by its calm assurance that, if well-prepared and audience-appropriate, any speech will be a success. Boom gives general guidelines for preparing to give a speech, specific tips for particular events, samples of great speeches with an explanation of why they worked so well, and then useful quotes to work into a speech.

The book is outdated in some ways. For one thing, Boom’s suggestions for how to research seem quaint – and time consuming – when Google will give us the type of background information he talks about in a matter of minutes. Also, although Boon warns readers away from earlier books about public speaking on the grounds that they are overly formal and old-fashioned, some of his tips sound pretty hoary themselves. For example, the he suggests that rules of etiquette should be flexibly applied at modern weddings to accommodate such radical changes as “where the bride makes a speech on behalf of herself and her husband. It happens!”

This book was published in Australia, so many of the references are unfamiliar to American readers. For instance, he uses the term “hens’ night” instead of bachelorette party. And I take it that a “Parents and Citizens” group is akin to an American PTA. These cultural differences are more interesting than annoying. Nothing in the book is groundbreaking or even eye catching. But it would provide some emotional hand-holding for anyone nervous about public speaking.

Opening Sentence of the Day: The Silver Palate

"The Silver Palate was born of two women's personal desperation." -- The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins Nothing conjures up old cooking memories like this cookbook. I had The Joy of Cooking with me when I got my first apartment, but The Silver Palate Cookbook was my first "grown up" cookbook. I just love the 1980s yummyness of it. My original copy went the way of the original husband. I was very happy when my friend Tracey gave me a new copy several years ago -- as a gift when I got married for the second time (here's to both lasting longer than the first ones). Because this cookbook has so many connections and memories for me, I decided to actually read it like a book. This will count for both the Colorful Reading Challenge and the Spice of Life Challenge.

Internet Review of Books

The July issue of the always-rewarding Internet Review of Books is up and as lively as ever. My review of Wall Street is one of 13 non-fiction and five fiction reviews, a "Lasting Impressions" review of The Education of Harriet Hatfield, and the Brief Reviews section. The IRB just keeps getting better and better. They are always looking for new volunteers -- for reviews or essays -- so please contact them if you are interested in participating.

Challenge of the Day: The Spice of Life

Rebecca of Rebecca Reads is hosting a Spice of Life Challenge that hits me at just the right time because the focus is on books about food and I have been in the mood for books about food ever since my sister started culinary school in January. Find the detail of the challenge here. I have opted to participate at the "sampler" level. My choices for each of the four categories (or, should I say, "courses") are: Cookbook: The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins (which overlaps with my "silver" choice for the Colorful Reading Challenge) Nonfiction: Au Revoir to All That by Michael Steinberger Memoirs/Essays: Julie & Julia by Julie Powell Fiction: The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones (because I really, really liked her Lost in Translation book)