One Minute Lupin III Volume 1

Lupin III, by Monkey Punch, reviewed.  This is a fun manga, and an enjoyable anime series as well.  Lupin is a wonderful character, where even the bad stories are still interesting enough to engage, and the good stories make for great reading/viewing.  I’m thinking anime:  “Castle of Cagliostro” vs. “Gold Smuggling 101.”  With Miyazaki at the helm, Castle of Cagliostro is a masterpiece.  Gold Smuggling 101 is pure schlock, but fun to watch nevertheless. 

One Minute Furious Flycycle

The Furious Flycycle, by Jan Wahl, reviewed.  This was one of my favorite books as a kid.  I desperately wanted to be a wacky inventor, and this book appealed to the deep-seated nerdiness inherent to my soul.

One Minute Cosmicomics

Cosmicomics, by Italo Calvino, reviewed.  Full disclosure – I read three of the dozen or so short stories in the volume, then I had to turn it back in.  But for me, a short story is not that much different from a novel, in that it presents a complete work, and takes time to digest.  In fact, sometimes a short story will linger with me much longer than a novel, because of all that is left unsaid.  I’ll likely look for a copy of this book for my personal collection, so that I can read it sporadically.

One Minute Visual Aid

“Visual Aid: Stuff You’ve Forgotten, Things You Never Thought You Knew, and Lessons You Didn’t Quite Get Around to Learning” by Draught Associates, reviewed.

One Minute Semi-Homemade Money Saving Meals

Semi-Homemade Money Saving Meals (Sandra Lee Semi Homemade) by Sandra Lee, reviewed.  This is one book in a series of books showing people how to make “semi-homemade” meals.  As far as I can tell, that describes normal cooking techniques where you use canned vegetables, storebought sauces, or storebought pasta (as opposed to making your own from scratch).  Still, I like some of the tools in the book, like a basic pantry stock list (easily modified to fit your own particulars, like brands or level of organicness.)

One Minute Gross Out Cakes

Gross-Out Cakes: The Kitty Litter Cake and Other Classics by Kathleen Barlow and Britney Schetselaar, reviewed.  My favorite:  The severed arm cake.  Least favorite:  Kitty litter cake.  Blech!

One Minute Dr. Slump

Dr. Slump, Vol. 1, by Akira Toriyama, reviewed.

One Minute What Bird Did That?

“What Bird Did That?: A Driver’s Guide to Some Common Birds of North America,” by Peter Hansard and Burton Silver

One Minute Money Shot

Money Shot, by Christa Faust, reviewed.

One Minute Yume Kira Dream Shoppe

Yume Kira Dream Shoppe, by Aqua Mizuto, reviewed.