rpavlacic
Hamilton Public Library
rpavlacic's Completed Shelf
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Seeking Social DemocracySeeking Social Democracy, BookSeven Decades in the Fight for Equality
by Broadbent, EdBook - 2023Book, 2023
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Oct 19, 2023
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Jul 19, 2023
Comment:
After reading this book, I'd have to say it's 70% factually true and 30% Harry's version of the truth. One can feel for someone who's lived his life in a fishbowl, but that perspective shouldn't cloud facts.
Sports TalkSports Talk, BookHow It Has Penetrated Our Everyday Language
by McNairn, Colin H. H.Book - 2017Book, 2017
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Jul 13, 2023
Comment:
Fairly self-explanatory subject. I was disappointed that there were no curling expressions that were listed as part of the common language.
The Girl With the Lower Back TattooThe Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, Book
by Schumer, AmyBook - 2016Book, 2016
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Jul 05, 2023
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Jul 04, 2023
Comment:
An excellent companion to "Principles" by Ray Dalio.
The Last Man on the MoonThe Last Man on the Moon, BookAstronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space
by Cernan, EugeneBook - 2009Book, 2009
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Jun 20, 2023
Comment:
There isn't much about Cernan's life in the space program - but it provides a broad sweep of aeronautics in the US from WW2 to well into the 80s. Not a bad effort from one of the insiders.
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Jun 02, 2023
Comment:
A basically average suspense novel. It's okay if you have nothing else to read, but it wasn't a winner for me.
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 30, 2023
Comment:
A surprisingly sober - even sad - book from one of America's top humourists. But he does have some pretty astute observations about the crazy world and times we live in.
My Friend AnnaMy Friend Anna, BookThe True Story of A Fake Heiress
by Williams, Rachel DeLoacheBook - 2022Book, 2022
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 29, 2023
Comment:
An honest account of someone who was a victim of the big con. But I have to say that, for someone who worked for one of the most prestigious magazines in the US (Vanity Fair), she really should have known better.
I'll Be Gone in the DarkI'll Be Gone in the Dark, BookOne Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
by McNamara, MichelleBook - 2018Book, 2018
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 29, 2023
Comment:
A great example of what true crime writing should be. Not every serial rapist turns into a serial killer (think Paul Bernardo as an example), but when he does it demands the attention of the police, who in this case were way behind the curve, until DNA linked the crimes. Interjurisdictional rivalries also plagued the investigation, and in this case gave the perp a leg up ... when there is someone this evil running around, there should be more and better cooperation between forces.
The author died before she could complete the book, but two of her researchers, as well as her widowed husband (the comedian Patton Oswalt) did a good job filling in the gaps. Two months after publication, the case was officially solved with an arrest, although it's not clear whether the book gave the police the assist they needed, or if they figured it out despite what was written.A great example of what true crime writing should be. Not every serial rapist turns into a serial killer (think Paul Bernardo as an example), but when he does it demands the attention of the police, who in this case were way behind the curve, until…
IGenIGen, BookWhy Today's Super-connected Kids Are Growing up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood : and What That Means for the Rest of Us
by Twenge, Jean M.Book - 2017Book, 2017
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 27, 2023
Comment:
I took out this book based on a recommendation from Dr. Sanjay Gupta on his blog. A bit overwhelming for me. But what am I to say? I'm Gen X.
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 26, 2023
Comment:
A fast paced autobiography. I wondered if he was going to write about the fiasco that was the game show "Pitfall." He did, and it turns out he wasn't the only one on the set who was screwed by the producers.
HelplessHelpless, BookCaledonia's Nightmare of Fear and Anarchy, and How the Law Failed All of Us
by Blatchford, ChristieBook - 2010Book, 2010
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 26, 2023
Comment:
Set aside this book was written by Blatchford and she worked at the time for the Toronto Sun, two strikes against it right there. That the residents of Caledonia were held hostage is a matter of record, and their frustration is well documented. But aside from brief conversations with the Six Nations elected council and the territory's police service (neither of which the protesters recognized as legitimate), there is nothing heard from the occupiers, why it was they were doing what they were, and what they were trying to accomplish in the short and long term. A subject like this needs a balanced approach which is totally lacking here. And history has repeated itself, although with only slightly more civility. I read the book in one sitting, and couldn't wait for it to be finished. That bad. RIP, though.Set aside this book was written by Blatchford and she worked at the time for the Toronto Sun, two strikes against it right there. That the residents of Caledonia were held hostage is a matter of record, and their frustration is well documented. But…
On the Origin of TimeOn the Origin of Time, BookStephen Hawking's Final Theory
by Hertog, ThomasBook - 2023Book, 2023
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 19, 2023
Comment:
The elusive "theory of everything" may finally have a solution, and it's not what you might expect. Professor Hawking didn't come up with it himself, but he probably found in his final years a way to prove the notion. The author, a student of Hawking, is a genius in his own right ... but he falls into Conrad Black syndrome and uses too many five syllable words when a simpler phrase would be better suited for a general audience; you may need a dictionary app to get around unfamiliar words. This book probably should be in an advanced placement physics course in high school ... but you may be bewildered even if you have a high school diploma or a GED.The elusive "theory of everything" may finally have a solution, and it's not what you might expect. Professor Hawking didn't come up with it himself, but he probably found in his final years a way to prove the notion. The author, a student of…
From Treaty Peoples to Treaty NationFrom Treaty Peoples to Treaty Nation, BookA Road Map for All Canadians
by Poelzer, GregBook - 2015Book, 2015
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 15, 2023
Comment:
This book should be read by all federal, provincial, and municipal leaders in Canada. Treaties are not inconveniences, they have legal force and must be respected. The only recourse tribes have to enforce the treaties are the courts, and they are winning as they should be. The duty to consult (known in legal terms as the "honour of the Crown") doesn't just mean sitting down for a kaffeeklatsch, it means actively involving Indigenous people at all stages of development. The "seven generations" rule isn't that hard to respect ... and it should be the law. Suffice it to say, the Indian Act should be repealed, and replaced with legislation that actually makes sense. I give it four stars because in some places it gets too technical, but otherwise is an important read.This book should be read by all federal, provincial, and municipal leaders in Canada. Treaties are not inconveniences, they have legal force and must be respected. The only recourse tribes have to enforce the treaties are the courts, and they are…
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 13, 2023
Comment:
Devastating, yet heartwarming. There aren't a lot of fiction books written in the first person that stand out as classics. Up till now, I could only think of "The Great Gatsby" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Add this to that list.
Starlight TourStarlight Tour, BookThe Last, Lonely Night of Neil Stonechild
by Reber, SusanneBook - 2019Book, 2019
rpavlacic's rating:
Added May 13, 2023
Comment:
All you can say is the Saskatoon police got caught over a long standing practice ... because a survivor called them out. Unfortunately, such "tours" well outside the limits of a city, town, or reserve, still happens in Canada, and at all times of the day. It's gotta stop.All you can say is the Saskatoon police got caught over a long standing practice ... because a survivor called them out. Unfortunately, such "tours" well outside the limits of a city, town, or reserve, still happens in Canada, and at all times of…
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Apr 23, 2023
Comment:
An amazing look at the fundamental female organ, from all aspects of what a woman experiences - and from all sides of the gurney. And if you think eugenics died out decades ago, you're in for a rude awakening.
Highway of TearsHighway of Tears, BookA True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
by McDiarmid, JessicaBook - 2019Book, 2019
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Dec 18, 2022
Comment:
This is a depressing but essential book for anyone trying to understand why Canada's Aboriginal people look upon whites with suspicion and anger. What happened along BC's infamous Highway 16, the prejudice of residents, and the incompetence of the RCMP in investigating what was almost certainly the case of a stalking serial killer and not isolated murders, should be a wake-up for those who think the "Thin Blue Line" can do no wrong, and whites can wash their hands like Pontius Pilate. What's really depressing is the snail's pace at which the missing person's inquiry recommendations are being implemented. It's as if we've learned nothing.This is a depressing but essential book for anyone trying to understand why Canada's Aboriginal people look upon whites with suspicion and anger. What happened along BC's infamous Highway 16, the prejudice of residents, and the incompetence of the…
To Kill A MockingbirdTo Kill A Mockingbird, Downloadable Audiobook
by Lee, HarperDownloadable AudiobookDownloadable Audiobook
Available
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Sep 25, 2022
Comment:
One of the defining books of the Civil Rights era. This was mandatory reading in high school, and I absolutely loved it. That so many schools and libraries have banned it is more than disappointing - you can't sweep reality (the evil that was Jim Crow) under the rug.One of the defining books of the Civil Rights era. This was mandatory reading in high school, and I absolutely loved it. That so many schools and libraries have banned it is more than disappointing - you can't sweep reality (the evil that was Jim…
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Sep 23, 2022
Comment:
It's a fairly good story, taking a venture into cybercrime. But unlike the previous installments in the Strike series, this book gets bogged down in a lot of details. A bit annoying were Twitter threads and chat room conversations, printed in very small fonts and parallel chats, which were difficult to follow. I think the story's length could have been cut by a third while retaining the clarity. But a lot of the negative publicity that preceded publication was just hype. I'd ignore the in app chats ... I found they really weren't relevant to the basic plot.It's a fairly good story, taking a venture into cybercrime. But unlike the previous installments in the Strike series, this book gets bogged down in a lot of details. A bit annoying were Twitter threads and chat room conversations, printed in very…
Nightmare ScenarioNightmare Scenario, BookInside the Trump Administration's Response to the Pandemic That Changed History
by Abutaleb, YasmeenBook - 2021Book, 2021
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Oct 16, 2021
Comment:
This book states the obvious, that Trump should have been focused on defeating the pandemic, rather than appealing to his base and getting reelected. Several opportunities existed that could have ended the tragedy, rather than spiralling out of control, but were missed or lost. The book also details how when the George Floyd scandal spawned a new civil rights movement, Trump decided to conflate the murder with the contagion, resorting to racist tropes. The conclusion is how similar mistakes that were not learned from what happened during the Spanish flu of 1918-19, which Trump kept calling the "1917 flu," were repeated. After reading the book, one will have to seriously ask if the ex-president should be tried for crimes against humanity.This book states the obvious, that Trump should have been focused on defeating the pandemic, rather than appealing to his base and getting reelected. Several opportunities existed that could have ended the tragedy, rather than spiralling out of…
Too Much and Never EnoughToo Much and Never Enough, BookHow My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man
by Trump, Mary L.Book - 2020Book, 2020
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2021
Best Places to Bird in OntarioBest Places to Bird in Ontario, Book
by Burrell, KennethBook - 2019Book, 2019
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2021
rpavlacic's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2021
Comment: