Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life: Review Haiku

Debunks "lizard brain"
idea, but not as clever
as he thinks he is.

Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life: A Psychologist Investigates How Evolution, Cognition, and Complexity Are Revolutionizing Our View of Human Nature by Douglas T. Kenrick. Basic Books, 2011, 256 pages.

Crazy U: Review Haiku

Hapless dad tackles
college admissions while
trying not to succumb.

Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course in Getting His Kid Into College by Andrew Ferguson. S&S, 2011, 240 pages.

Awkward Family Photos: Review Haiku

And I thought that pic
of me in pegged jeans and a
black beret was bad.

Awkward Family Photos by Doug Chernak and Mike Bender. Three Rivers Press, 2010, 192 pages.

What Happened to Goodbye: Review Haiku

Mom's betrayal means
Mclean lets no one in --

until, at last, she does.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. Viking, 2011, 402 pages.

How I Killed Pluto: Review Haiku

Astronomy has
never been so entertaining,
so cut-throat.

How I Killed Pluto (And Why It Had It Coming) by Mike Brown. Spiegel & Grau, 2010, 288 pages.

The Cookbook Collector: Review Haiku

Tech-bubble tycoon
and eco-scholar sister
navigate love, loss.

The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman. Dial, 2011, 432 pages.

Thirteen Reasons Why: Review Haiku

Searing, yet oddly
hopeful look at how we fail
those who need us most.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Razorbill, 2007, 304 pages.

Wonderstruck: Review Haiku

A fitting HUGO
follow-up: creativity
and family.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. Scholastic, 2011, 608 pages.

Smokin' Seventeen: Review Haiku

Oh, Stephanie. You
claim a cursed sex drive, but you're
quickly turning skank.

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich. Bantam, 2011, 320 pages.

Around the World: Review Haiku

Three adventurers
circumnavigate under
Phelan's trusty pen.

Around the World by Matt Phelan. Candlewick, 2011, 240 pages.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Review Haiku

Why millennial
feminists go Gaga for
Disney prosti-tots.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by Peggy Orenstein. Harper, 2011, 256 pages.

Spoiled: Review Haiku

The Fug Girls do YA,
to bitchy-keen effect.
Well played, as they say.

Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. Poppy, 2011, 368 pages.

Swimming in the Steno Pool: Review Haiku

Packaged like chick lit;
dry like academia.
Caveat reader.

Swimming in the Steno Pool: A Retro Guide to Making It in the Office by Lynn Peril. Norton, 2011, 291 pages.

Can't post. Reading.

As I did last year, I'm going to take a brief summer hiatus and catch up on some excellent reading, beach and otherwise. See you in August.

[Image found on The Book Lady's Blog]

Swim the Fly: Review Haiku

Teenage boys in all
their horny, lying, dumbass,
endearing glory.

Swim the Fly by Don Calame. Candlewick, 2009, 352 pages.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette: Review Haiku

And again I say,
why am I not a Penderwick?
Maine-ly awesome.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall. Knopf, 2011, 304 pages.

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party: Review Haiku

Maimed cattle, illegitimate
twins, new shoes, and --
at last! -- a wedding.

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith. Pantheon, 2011, 213 pages.

The Art of Immersion: Review Haiku

Takes a while to get
there, but a nifty look at
storytelling now.

The Art of Immersion: How the Digital Generation Is Remaking Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and the Way We Tell Stories by Frank Rose. Norton, 2011, 354 pages.

The Last Little Blue Envelope: Review Haiku

MJ gets it right:

love, death, longing, heartbreak --
plus the best car EVAH.

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson. Harper, 2011, 288 pages.

Sweet Valley Confidential: Review Haiku

Their wedding procession
song was from Phantom of
the Opera?!? *dies*

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal. St. Martin's, 2011, 293 pages.