Beatrice and Virgil
Beatrice and Virgil: A Novel by Yann Martel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It's hard to write a Holocaust novel. Yann Martel knows it, the main character of his novel knows it. So did Martel succeed here? I think he came closer than some of the critics believe. But still, even though the ending almost redeems the book, too much of it I found a bit tedious to get through. Luckily, it was short, so I still managed to enjoy it, just not as much as Life of Pi.
Next up is Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Overall, The Omnivore's Dilemma was a great book. The only reason I'm knocking it down a peg is because Pollan's anger in the first couple of parts kind of distracted me from his message a bit. Still, he manages to get his points across effectively, as usual. Extra kudos for inspiring our Memorial Day BBQ this year, which we are hoping will feature Polyface Farm products prominently. (It's only a couple of hours from us, close enough to make a day trip of it.)
Next up is Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel.
New Belgium 1554
Poured into a snifter glass. Nice dark brown color, with hints of ruby red when held up to the light.
Let it warm a bit to release the aromas of the roasted malt.
I'd say it tastes like chocolate, but it is quite dry, so it's more like cocoa powder. Went nicely with my banana chocolate bread. A little bit of a burnt coffee flavor too (some would say Starbucks flavor).
Quite enjoyable, really.
Overall rating: 4.1
New Belgium Fat Tire
Pale copper color, good head and lacing.
Mostly malty aroma, toasty, biscuity.
Great balance though in the flavor. More biscuity from the malt, but also a good hoppiness too. A good mouthful gets a solid bite, but small sipping shows off more of the floral nature.
The balance of the beer does it for me, making it a very sessionable beer.
Overall rating: 4.0
St. Louis Framboise
Ruby red with a nice thick pink head in my tulip glass.
Surprise, surprise, lots of raspberry aroma. Does smell a
little like "beer," as my wife would say.
So sweet on the tongue. Slight raspberry tartness but it is like drinking raspberry sorbet after it melts. Whatever beer flavor I might have thought there was is no longer available to my tongue. It is still trying to recover from the sweetness.
A good once in a while beer. I'm still surprised at how sweet it is. Sorbet beer, I tell ya. Might be good for cooking even, I imagine.
Overall rating: 3.95
The Ghost Brigades
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have to say that I really enjoy the "Old Man's War" universe. Scalzi keeps finding ways to add twists and turns to the story to make you reconsider what you thought you knew. The Ghost Brigades is no exception, and in retrospect (since I read Zoe's Tale first), it lays the groundwork nicely for the OMW novels that follow.
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