Ballad of Books

Book review - Perks of being a wallflower

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that the perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

Review - Curtains: Adventures of an Undertaker-in-Training Tom Jokinsen

At forty-four, Tom Jokinen decided to quit his job in order to become an apprentice undertaker, setting out to ask the What is the right thing to do when someone dies? With the marketplace offering new options (go green, go anti-corporate, go Disney, be packed into an artificial reef and dropped in the Atlantic...), is there still room for tradition? In a year of adventures both hair-raising and hilarious, Jokinen finds a world that is radically changed since Jessica Mitford revised The American Way of Death , more surprising than Six Feet Under , and even funnier and more illuminating than Stiff . If Bill Bryson were to apprentice at a funeral home, searching for the meaning of life and death, you'd have Curtains . Genres: Nonfiction Death Memoir Biography Memoir Canada Religion Adult Anthropology Humor

Hidden Horrors: Double Lives of Notorious Serial Killers

The chilling dual existence of some of history's most infamous murderers. This gripping exploration reveals how seemingly ordinary neighbors concealed their sinister secrets, blending into society while committing heinous crimes. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Estep exposes the dark realities lurking behind closed doors.

Embracing Imperfection: A Stumble into the Timeless Wisdom of 'Wabi Sabi'

In this book review we explore the profound insights of this captivating book that reveals the beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. Through evocative prose and enlightening examples, the author invites us to appreciate the subtle, often overlooked details of life, encouraging a shift in perspective that celebrates the natural cycle of growth and decay. This review delves into the core principles of Wabi Sabi, examining how they can transform our approach to aesthetics, relationships, and personal growth, offering a refreshing antidote to the relentless pursuit of perfection in modern society.

Ep. 25 - Book Spotlight: Cover To Cover - GOT and Philosophy (Where Thinking Hurts)

Game of Thrones: Where Thinking Hurts So, there's this show called "Game of Thrones", based on some thick books about knights with questionable morals and ladies with too much time for fancy hairdos. Anyway, some egghead decided this whole mess was, like, super deep and wrote a whole book on the "philosophy" of it. Murdery Kings and Family Drama – the Good Stuff: Basically, this book asks questions like, "Is it okay to murder your family if they're in the way of your throne?" and "How gross is it REALLY to sleep with your sibling?" Whoa, spoiler alert! Dragons, Ice Zombies, and...Aristotle?: They talk about dragons and magical ice monsters right alongside dudes like Plato and... some guy named Nietzsche? Who knew a show with sword fights could make your brain work so hard?