I've divided them into non-fiction and fiction. Beyond that, they are in the order they were read.
Non-Fiction
My rating: 5 of 5. This is a great book of formulas, recipes and instructions for making homemade food, drinks, cleaners and useful objects. I liked this book well enough that I bought a copy for myself.
My rating: 3 of 5. A Chicago-land teacher decides to eat her school's hot lunch every day for a year, and lived to tell about it. While interesting, the book offers little to solve the problem of the declining quality of school lunches.
My rating: 4 out of 5. This is one man's account of his decision to delve into the world of "makers". Not only does he describe his own experiences, but he discusses the philosphies behind what he calls the "DIY Movement" and the value of making mistakes. It was a fun read and as someone who has always been a do-it-yourselfer to some extent or another (and who doesn't think of this as a "movement" at all), it was interesting to see the processes of DIY projects from the point of view of someone who wasn't naturally called to work with his hands.
Fiction
My rating: 4 out of 5. Historical novel about one of Canada's first female physicians.
My rating: 3.5 out of 5. A 1970s rock star finds himself plane-wrecked on a tropical island, where other inhabitants include Marilyn Monroe, Amelia Earhart and other famous dead folks.
My rating: 5 of 5. What if you could travel back in time and prevent JFK's assassination? That would be a good thing. Or would it?
My rating: 5 of 5. Alt-country music fans will recognize Steve Earle as a singer/songwriter; I think he does an impressive job with his first novel. Imagine being a washed up heroin-junkie physician living with the ghost of Hank Williams. What would it take to make you go clean? (Coincidentally, this was the third novel in a row that included JFK among their casts of characters. What are the chances?)
