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Short Book Reviews I'd just like to publicly state that I feel like crap. I have no idea what I have right now, though it does remind me of the last illness I had recently. I am seriously hoping it is something that will go away in the next few days, however, and that it isn't Toxic Shock Syndrome. That's about the only thing I can presume I'd get due to those damn deorderant tampons. (I only bought them because it was an emergency and there was nothing else in the hospital gift shop on my ride along.) I really hope it is nothing. These damn hot and cold flashes suck. I hope I never get menopause because if this is a preview, shut me down long before then. Anyway, here are some super short book reviews of what I've been reading. If I feel better, I'll try to post something more exciting. 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers You MUST go read this book. I didn't know how ignorant of the problem I really was until I read it. The book covers the structural failings of the buildings, the poor organization between fire and police departments, and all the problems that should've been fixed to prevent such a tragedy. Personally, I find big business's need to create more floor space for rent at the expense of safety measures appalling. I used to believe that nobody could predict a disaster this massive, but I was wrong. The builders constantly bragged that the Towers could resist an impact by a 707 until, brought low by the hand of someone else in the name of God, they saw the reality. If this book needs anything else to convince you to open your mind and read it, I think the fact that Dan read it might be enough. Yes, Master of the Magazines, actually set down and read 300 pages of hardcover. It was that compelling from the first glance. Conover asks New York State nicely if he can cover a rookie Correction Officer's first year. He wants to see prison from the other side, that of those who have to keep inmates in their place. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for us, New York declines. So, Conover decides to bite the bullet and go undercover for a year. Sing-sing happens to be the training facility for new COs, as nobody wants to stay there, so Conover is headed into on the hardest and largest facilities in the nation. His impressions and attempts to stay human despite his environment make for wonderful reading, especially if you like prison literature. Plus, no matter what, Conover always remains a journalist. Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light Chocolate covers the product from its start as beans in family plantations to fine European delicacies. It also covers controversies over who makes the best chocolate, whether Hershey can be considered chocolate, and how Godiva manages to convince the public that it is premier chocolate. Rosenblum is one hell of a foodie, and he makes me wonder if I can ever find good chocolate without having it shipped. His tastes, and those he consults with, tend to appreciate high cacao content pieces and dismiss items like milk chocolate. So, although he does explore the Hershey empire, at heart he remains a chocolate snob. The book does whet my appetite for trying darker chocolate, but it also gently reminds me that I'll never find anything close to it around here. You may think you'll gain pounds reading this book, but once you realize that the stuff you can easily buy doesn't have the wonderful scents, flavors, and textures he describes you can get over your cravings. Recommended for those that like good food literature and can afford trying the real thing once in awhile. Daphne |