Review: Microterrors

 

Microterrors by Charles 'Tony' Hart, MBBS, BSc, PhD, FRCPCH, FRCPath is one of the world's leading experts on medical microbiology.

The hidden dangers surrounding us.Despite the confident strides of modern science, the threat of deadly unseen organisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi still grip the imagination with their ferocious intensity. For instance, resistant strains of bacteria can now survive the strongest antibiotics and deadly new biological weapons are being cooked up in laboratories worldwide.

Microterrors explores these threats as well as humanity's greatest living rivals that have been on the planet far longer than we have. The introduction covers terms, definitions and a brief natural history, including the role of viruses in human evolution, as well as bioengineering and biological weapons. Microterrors then presents the truly terrifying rogues' gallery of invisible killers. Image and summary courtesy of B&N.com

This is a well compiled visual catalog of viruses and bacteria that pose a threat to us in our daily lives. Microterrors are everywhere, in the air, water, soil, the things we eat, touch. EVERYWHERE!!!!! Whether you are a science buff or not you'll appreciate this book. It's a great coffee table piece.

Microterrors is divided into two sections: Viruses and Bacteria. Included in the introduction is an how to guide to aide in understaning the layout and icons accompanying each microorganism. For each there is a quick reference guide states origin, first identified, transmission, portals of entry and incubation period. Also included is a brief description, clinical feature, treatment and prevention. 
The pseudo-colored images are well done and beautiful. Microterrors are indeed beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

Rating: ★★★★★Awesome!!!!!
Publisher: Firefly Books
Pages: 192
Pub. Date: 2004

Review: Princess in the Spotlight

Being a teenage girl with divorced parents is hard enough without discovering you're the heir apparent to a small European country, that you must have a bodyguard tailing you at all times, and that your paternal grandmother is determined to turn you into a proper princess. Mia Thermopolis faces all that and more during her year as a high school freshman, and she shares the trials and tribulations of her hilarious life inThe Princess Diaries. B&N review.

This was a very cute book. It was an easy read and at times I found myself actually wanting to know what will happen next. Mia is an awkward freshman, trying to stay sane and navigate her high school and by the way she's a princess too. I can't remember if I ever watched the 'Princess Diaries' and am not sure if there are anymore movies based on this series.

Great to read if you're looking for something light and fun.

Summer Book Haul

Spider Bones $5.99 @ Target. I'm a huge fan of Kathy and Bones which aires on FOX. The Alienist $0.99 @ the Salvation Army, ket words serial killer, turn of the century and profiling ( pre criminal minds). Need I say more, will be a good read.

 Both $1 each @ Ollies Bargain Outlet.

Traitor $0.25 @ Ollies and Light Before Day $1.12 @ Barnes and Noble.

 All $1 each except Gob's Grief $0.25 @ Ollies

 $0.25 @ Ollies

My second venture in to YA lit. Clockwork Angel was an enjoyable book and I'm not particularly into ghouls, demons, vampires etc. I found the story flowed except for towards the end where it slowed down a bit just became too wordy. Now onto the main characters Tess and Will. Shadow hunter Will is basically James Dean and a rebel without a cause but does he have a cause, is there something from his past that causes him to basically be a reckless fool? It's hinted to in this book, which is the first installment in the Infernal Devices series. How long do we have to wait to find out what is at the root of Will's internal struggle? At least until December when book two Clockwork Prince comes out.

Now for Tess, I did not like her at all. I found her character to be a huge nag, which exhausted me as if I were Jem coming off the 'stuff'. She needed to be more focused, once she found out Will's story that's all her mind was consumed with as was evident during one 'battle'. Here vampires and shadow hunters are fighting and all she's concerned about is why did Will leave his home and refused to see his parents when thy came to the Institute. OMG! this girl needed to focus her immaturity is so obvious and it made the book unbearable at times. This is one of the main reasons why I have avoided YA books; the immaturity. I hope she 'grows up' by the next book.

I also did not agree with this portion of the synopsis on the book jacket: "She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa." This love triangle did not happen, Tess was not 'torn' between these two guy, her primary focus was on Will and although Jem had obvious feelings for her she didn't see him that way. I personally did not think this was the case. Well overall I did enjoy this book and intend to give the Mortal Instruments a read until Clockwork Prince comes out, I hope they do not disappoint.

BAT

Mailbox Wednesday #4

This is a bit late but here's another what I got in my mailbox

The Book Thief and Fallout (#3 in the Crank series, I'm currently reading this but I just can't get into it as I did for the first two).

Both for challenges I'm participating in (1) Immigration and (2) Chinese Lit challenges. Currently reading Brooklyn (review to come)

Across The Universe was for last month's Chapters Book Club. It was a good read I thought I wouldn't enjoy it since it's YA but I did, I wonder if this will be a series because I want to know 'did they ever make it to CenturiEarth? 

The Hunger Games Trilogy, I'm so excited to read these before the movie comes out.