This is the first book I've zoomed through in quite a while. I enjoyed parts of it very much. It's a book that reminds the reader that there are at least as many facets to a story as there are people involved (and also just as many ways for things to go awry).
The Lonely Polygamist is set in a Mormon "plyg" family some time in the 70s in Utah but it is not about polygamy, per se. It merely uses the polygamist life to almost hyperbolize living in a big family and how alone one can feel despite being surrounded by so many others. Each of the characters the narrator zooms in on tries to cope with this loneliness in their own way.
This book was completely ridiculous at times and completely tragic at other times and completely tragically ridiculous and ridiculously tragic all the other times. What I liked best was the humanity and heart in the book -- no one character was a total saint or a complete villain. They were just people, doing people things. The reader is reminded of this just as soon as they start to think otherwise.
Brady Udall did a terrific job describing the little things -- the mundane, the awkward, the embarrassingly true. The gum part, while I have never experienced anything like it and can hardly imagine it's a common predicament a man finds himself in, seemed like it actually could happen to your neighbor, and that is exactly how he would deal with it. The noises of the house, the ever-present crowded hum of 28 yellingrunningscreaming children, the description of the "racetrack" and its wear from overuse, the smelly "Barge", all seemed very believable and very relate-able, which made the story almost believable.
The parts with Rusty were almost written from his point of view and was among the most believable of the characters' sections. There were times when Golden's (esp. w/ the Ted Leo parts toward the end) and Trish's (many parts involving Faye and the other Sister Wives...it's difficult for men to write women well--yes, i know how sexist that statement is, but it's also true) narratives wavered a bit in perspective, but Rusty always sounded like Rusty.
Most importantly, I giggled, welled up with tears, and screamed "No! Nonono! NO!! Dammit! No!" at various parts beyond my control. Read this book if you're looking for something darkly tragi-comic, entertaining, and quirky, so long as you've got an open mind.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Little Century -- 9780374192044
Not really a bad book, per se...just...didn't seem to go anywhere by the time I was half the way through. Maybe another day.
Out of the Easy -- 9780399256929
Loved it!
Ruta Sepetys' last book -- Between Shades of Gray -- was a hauntingly beautiful teen novel about a Lithuanian girl who, along with her family, gets shipped off to a work camp during Stalin's reign. I liked it so much that I was hesitant to pick up Out of the Easy, afraid that the second book could disappoint me if it didn't live up to the tremendously high expectations from the first. I don't know why this mattered, but it did.
In reality, while Between Shades of Gray was depressing and beautiful, Out of the Easy was a delight that was much different, showcasing Sepetys' talent in a range of historical settings. It had better-developed characters (most likely because they weren't limited to the confines of their circumstances at the work camp and this freedom allowed their complexity to come through better/didn't squash their humanity), and the plot was more intricate (again, because of the very different circumstances the settings allowed). I really doubted that I could care about a girl from the 50s whose mom is a prostitute in Louisiana, but I did. A lot. The only thing that could have been improved was that the ending was a little to abrupt compared to the pace of the rest of the novel.
Sepetys writes with rich description and finds hope in despairing situations. I really look forward to whatever she has coming next and highly recommend her to those who haven't yet picked her up.
Ruta Sepetys' last book -- Between Shades of Gray -- was a hauntingly beautiful teen novel about a Lithuanian girl who, along with her family, gets shipped off to a work camp during Stalin's reign. I liked it so much that I was hesitant to pick up Out of the Easy, afraid that the second book could disappoint me if it didn't live up to the tremendously high expectations from the first. I don't know why this mattered, but it did.
In reality, while Between Shades of Gray was depressing and beautiful, Out of the Easy was a delight that was much different, showcasing Sepetys' talent in a range of historical settings. It had better-developed characters (most likely because they weren't limited to the confines of their circumstances at the work camp and this freedom allowed their complexity to come through better/didn't squash their humanity), and the plot was more intricate (again, because of the very different circumstances the settings allowed). I really doubted that I could care about a girl from the 50s whose mom is a prostitute in Louisiana, but I did. A lot. The only thing that could have been improved was that the ending was a little to abrupt compared to the pace of the rest of the novel.
Sepetys writes with rich description and finds hope in despairing situations. I really look forward to whatever she has coming next and highly recommend her to those who haven't yet picked her up.
the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- 9780345391803
This is the fastest I've completed a book in a really long time (aside from the 5 picture books I read Sunday night). I would highly recommend this as a great bus book -- It's short, it's light (but not so light that it's fluffy and entirely, aggravatingly pointless), and in being both of those, I found it very easy to get into and out of within the 10 min span I have between my bus stop outside my apartment and the one I use to get to work. Also, as an added bonus, it fit in my bag in a way that still allowed me to zip it shut.
I did have two complaints though. Admittedly, both are really more problems with me than actually with the book.
The first is that I already knew a lot of the best parts of the book. At many points, it felt like watching Star Wars but already knowing that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father (sorry if I spoiled that for anyone...but only a little. Seriously, you haven't seen Star Wars?) or reading Romeo & Juliet any time after 1575. This is my fault for waiting so long to read it, but it was still disappointing.
The second is that it ended like a first book in a series. You're thinking now "but it is the first book in a series, I don't understand? what's your point?" to which I snobbily reply "yes, but I hate series." I can pretty honestly say that I cannot recall ever reading any series in its entirety. The two possible exceptions are the Fudge series by Judy Blume and The Boys Start the War series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and I am not sure if i read all of either of those.
I can appreciate the character building that goes on over the course of 3+ books and the complex story arcs the author can achieve, but I don't like the way they're usually executed and I'm not a fan of being addicted to stuff (I've already got a problem with caffeine, i don't need to acquire any more, thank you very much). Addictions are expensive. And uncomfortable. I would have much preferred the book either a) end on a more clear-cut, complete note or b) kept its current ending without any follow-ups (because then it's just open ended and some sick, twisted part of me likes the frustrating ambiguity of it all). But I know it's a set-up. There.
So that's really it. Read the book if you haven't already so that you may escape the troubles I had with knowing most of the best parts already. The end. (Until part II, the re-read)
I did have two complaints though. Admittedly, both are really more problems with me than actually with the book.
The first is that I already knew a lot of the best parts of the book. At many points, it felt like watching Star Wars but already knowing that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father (sorry if I spoiled that for anyone...but only a little. Seriously, you haven't seen Star Wars?) or reading Romeo & Juliet any time after 1575. This is my fault for waiting so long to read it, but it was still disappointing.
The second is that it ended like a first book in a series. You're thinking now "but it is the first book in a series, I don't understand? what's your point?" to which I snobbily reply "yes, but I hate series." I can pretty honestly say that I cannot recall ever reading any series in its entirety. The two possible exceptions are the Fudge series by Judy Blume and The Boys Start the War series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and I am not sure if i read all of either of those.
I can appreciate the character building that goes on over the course of 3+ books and the complex story arcs the author can achieve, but I don't like the way they're usually executed and I'm not a fan of being addicted to stuff (I've already got a problem with caffeine, i don't need to acquire any more, thank you very much). Addictions are expensive. And uncomfortable. I would have much preferred the book either a) end on a more clear-cut, complete note or b) kept its current ending without any follow-ups (because then it's just open ended and some sick, twisted part of me likes the frustrating ambiguity of it all). But I know it's a set-up. There.
So that's really it. Read the book if you haven't already so that you may escape the troubles I had with knowing most of the best parts already. The end. (Until part II, the re-read)
Me, Who Dove into the Heart of the World
There's some combination of Temple Grandin's life story mixed with Forrest Gump and the story of Genie (the feral child discovered in the 70s) happening that doesn't quite mix correctly.
I wanted this book to be better, and at times it was good. In fact, the first chapter was good. But as the book progressed, it either had too much going on or there were too many balls flying in from left field and I could not get a sense of what direction the book wanted to go in. I think it lost me for good shortly after the professor tried to make a business proposal with the main character.
I tried. The writing was unique and the premise was different enough from most other books that it really had potential to be wonderful. Maybe I'll try again in a few years but right now, it just did not resonate with me.
I wanted this book to be better, and at times it was good. In fact, the first chapter was good. But as the book progressed, it either had too much going on or there were too many balls flying in from left field and I could not get a sense of what direction the book wanted to go in. I think it lost me for good shortly after the professor tried to make a business proposal with the main character.
I tried. The writing was unique and the premise was different enough from most other books that it really had potential to be wonderful. Maybe I'll try again in a few years but right now, it just did not resonate with me.
On Beauty -- 9780143037743
So I hate boys again...
This seems to be a theme with me and books lately -- the ones I find myself unable to put down have been making me feel very strongly one way or another about either gender and this one (as did Oscar Wao) makes me hate boys. So much. Girls, too.
The best parts about the book were Smith's use of unique ways of describing things. She has a way about her words where she can describe something we've all felt about anything in a way it's never been described but gets it dead on with accuracy. I liked that.
I also, for better or worse, enjoyed being angry for a good portion of this book. Everybody's an asshole (nearly). And they do stupid, asshole things. Some of them learn, but for the most part they don't. There was a certain refreshing honesty in this lack of a full-circle "well, I'll know better next time" sort of thing. The characters' collective assholeish-ness and failure to gain any insight from anything they've experienced was something I found realistic because it was so infuriating so often.
Smith also uses "opposites" as a running motif. Everybody and everything major has a counter: The characters, the situations they get themselves into, the perspectives, the sex scenes...
I do wish that I hadn't chosen this one for a bus book though. It took more time to get back into the story than I was generally giving myself (to get from point A to point B) and I feel like I deprived myself of full comprehension of some of the more complicated scenes. It is also a book that I wish I could have read *with* somebody else so that I could talk about a few things. It's a book that begs to be talked about, whether you loved or hated it.
Forgive me for my incoherent babbling, it's past midnight which means it's well past my self-assigned bedtime and I'm really pretty useless for much other than sleep (and not even that, it seems) right now
This seems to be a theme with me and books lately -- the ones I find myself unable to put down have been making me feel very strongly one way or another about either gender and this one (as did Oscar Wao) makes me hate boys. So much. Girls, too.
The best parts about the book were Smith's use of unique ways of describing things. She has a way about her words where she can describe something we've all felt about anything in a way it's never been described but gets it dead on with accuracy. I liked that.
I also, for better or worse, enjoyed being angry for a good portion of this book. Everybody's an asshole (nearly). And they do stupid, asshole things. Some of them learn, but for the most part they don't. There was a certain refreshing honesty in this lack of a full-circle "well, I'll know better next time" sort of thing. The characters' collective assholeish-ness and failure to gain any insight from anything they've experienced was something I found realistic because it was so infuriating so often.
Smith also uses "opposites" as a running motif. Everybody and everything major has a counter: The characters, the situations they get themselves into, the perspectives, the sex scenes...
I do wish that I hadn't chosen this one for a bus book though. It took more time to get back into the story than I was generally giving myself (to get from point A to point B) and I feel like I deprived myself of full comprehension of some of the more complicated scenes. It is also a book that I wish I could have read *with* somebody else so that I could talk about a few things. It's a book that begs to be talked about, whether you loved or hated it.
Forgive me for my incoherent babbling, it's past midnight which means it's well past my self-assigned bedtime and I'm really pretty useless for much other than sleep (and not even that, it seems) right now
Pure -- 9781455503063
The ideas behind Pure and the world Julianna Baggott created were very interesting. The vehicles through which she showed these things to the reader (Pressia and Partridge, respectively) were natural and well thought out. The writing was mostly good, description and characters were good. It just needed to be better edited and tightened, it came so close to being great.
A LOT happened, looking back it sometimes felt a bit like she wrote down all these different ideas about things that were possible in this world and things that could happen and then found a way to work ALL of them into the book rather than focusing on a few that moved the plot along or really showed us something about the characters. There were also a few times where the characters figured things out a little too quickly as well as other times where the answers were plainly drawn out and the reader came to the conclusions well before the characters did, in a way that made it seem like it was supposed to have been the other way around.
There was also a lot of recursive ruminating. This, one could argue, was what made you constantly aware that the characters were all teens --in which case, it worked perfectly. Perhaps if i were also a teen, it wouldn't have felt so repetitive. When these long inner-asides went on though, i just really wanted the feelings to get to the point so we could move on with the story. They didn't always build the tension they were intended to.
Complaints aside, this is still the best piece of teen science fiction I've read in a really long time. Of course, that might be because I generally can't get past the first few chapters of most science fiction books. But Baggott's skill at crafting sentences overcame much of the aforementioned shortcomings in development. The premise is creative and creepily believable and the world is fully-realized. I just think that the opportunity to create a finely crafted teen novel was so close at hand -- and it's a gaping whole that genre desperately needs filled -- this book just needed some trimming. Pure is still something I would highly recommend to any teen who's looking for something much more substantial than Gossip Girls and who's finished Hunger Games and can't figure out where to turn next.
A LOT happened, looking back it sometimes felt a bit like she wrote down all these different ideas about things that were possible in this world and things that could happen and then found a way to work ALL of them into the book rather than focusing on a few that moved the plot along or really showed us something about the characters. There were also a few times where the characters figured things out a little too quickly as well as other times where the answers were plainly drawn out and the reader came to the conclusions well before the characters did, in a way that made it seem like it was supposed to have been the other way around.
There was also a lot of recursive ruminating. This, one could argue, was what made you constantly aware that the characters were all teens --in which case, it worked perfectly. Perhaps if i were also a teen, it wouldn't have felt so repetitive. When these long inner-asides went on though, i just really wanted the feelings to get to the point so we could move on with the story. They didn't always build the tension they were intended to.
Complaints aside, this is still the best piece of teen science fiction I've read in a really long time. Of course, that might be because I generally can't get past the first few chapters of most science fiction books. But Baggott's skill at crafting sentences overcame much of the aforementioned shortcomings in development. The premise is creative and creepily believable and the world is fully-realized. I just think that the opportunity to create a finely crafted teen novel was so close at hand -- and it's a gaping whole that genre desperately needs filled -- this book just needed some trimming. Pure is still something I would highly recommend to any teen who's looking for something much more substantial than Gossip Girls and who's finished Hunger Games and can't figure out where to turn next.
The Orphan Master's Son -- 9780812992793
The Orphan Master's Son is an exploration of the vitality of "the American Dream" in Communist North Korea. It's about a boy who grows up in an orphanage -- read "lower than pond scum" on the social hierarchy. Through a series of chance happenings he finds himself mistaken for the rival of "the Dear Leader," Kim Jong Il.
It was a very strange book. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody who cannot handle a goodly amount of graphic sexual violence (and regular violence). It's mentioned often, in moderate detail -- nothing I, personally, had difficulty reading at any one point in time, but conceptually it's pretty disturbing psychologically to the characters and the overall point of its inclusion.
There's certainly a lot to think about with this book, regarding cultural differences, politics of communist societies, propaganda, large-scale prison culture, interrogation techniques, Casablanca, Stockholm syndrome, and the endurance of human spirit in varying circumstances. Johnson approaches all of these subjects but still manages to incorporate a lot of quirky humor without negating the impact of the situation or being insulting.
Apparently this novel is fairly well-researched, as the interview included in the back of the book mentions Johnson spent a significant amount of time in North Korea and acquired accounts of real prisoners -- either through records or directly from the source, talking with former inmates.
There were a few parts that were intentionally a little melodramatic, but overall Johnson maintains pretty solid prose that kept me engaged throughout
It was a very strange book. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody who cannot handle a goodly amount of graphic sexual violence (and regular violence). It's mentioned often, in moderate detail -- nothing I, personally, had difficulty reading at any one point in time, but conceptually it's pretty disturbing psychologically to the characters and the overall point of its inclusion.
There's certainly a lot to think about with this book, regarding cultural differences, politics of communist societies, propaganda, large-scale prison culture, interrogation techniques, Casablanca, Stockholm syndrome, and the endurance of human spirit in varying circumstances. Johnson approaches all of these subjects but still manages to incorporate a lot of quirky humor without negating the impact of the situation or being insulting.
Apparently this novel is fairly well-researched, as the interview included in the back of the book mentions Johnson spent a significant amount of time in North Korea and acquired accounts of real prisoners -- either through records or directly from the source, talking with former inmates.
There were a few parts that were intentionally a little melodramatic, but overall Johnson maintains pretty solid prose that kept me engaged throughout
John Dies at the End -- 9780312659141
This book is ridiculous. The characters are amusing-enough assholes, and parts of the plot make "sense" in the world that David Wong has created, but I think there was too much going on. Either with description, plot, characters. Sometimes the tangents were interesting or relevant later on, so fine, whatever. But i wish there had been more focus. I'm curious to see how they're going to pare down this looooong pulp novel into a 2ish hr movie in a few months.
There were times where I could read a lot of the book in a short period because it was interesting/funny and other times where I was moving like molasses because I was skimming -- either because I didn't care about what was going on or I just glazed over.
I did appreciate the self-actualizing approach the author and the narrator used and it was kind of nice to read a fluffy (or, rather, sticky sour messy) candy book for once. There was a lot of "this doesn't make sense to me either, but just believe it happened" to cover up plot holes and other unexplained things. I much prefer this tactic to either trying to explain everything in intricate detail so that you can almost believe it's possible in this world or just completely ignoring them and pretending everything's fine.
The book just needed a lot of editing. I think there wasn't much because it was a blog for a while? and they just turned the blog into a book? and editing said blog to turn it into a book would have tainted the "purity" of the original medium? That's a workable excuse but not one that's going to change my mind about the need for editing.
There were times where I could read a lot of the book in a short period because it was interesting/funny and other times where I was moving like molasses because I was skimming -- either because I didn't care about what was going on or I just glazed over.
I did appreciate the self-actualizing approach the author and the narrator used and it was kind of nice to read a fluffy (or, rather, sticky sour messy) candy book for once. There was a lot of "this doesn't make sense to me either, but just believe it happened" to cover up plot holes and other unexplained things. I much prefer this tactic to either trying to explain everything in intricate detail so that you can almost believe it's possible in this world or just completely ignoring them and pretending everything's fine.
The book just needed a lot of editing. I think there wasn't much because it was a blog for a while? and they just turned the blog into a book? and editing said blog to turn it into a book would have tainted the "purity" of the original medium? That's a workable excuse but not one that's going to change my mind about the need for editing.
Full Body Burden -- 9780307955630
Full Body Burden was really interesting! It was a good blend of hardcore science and history as well as memoir narrative with some really interesting parallels. And I'm not sure if it was the book or just my hormones fluctuating at the time, but there were several instances where I nearly cried about it on the bus.
Kristen throws you right into everything talking about a near criticality at the plant at the very beginning. This is one of the first books to show the humanity in the people affected by Rocky Flats -- the workers, their families, and the genuinely ignorant townspeople.
Here is an interview that I had the privilege of conducting with Kristen before her event with us:
http://boulderbookstore.blogspot.com/...
Kristen throws you right into everything talking about a near criticality at the plant at the very beginning. This is one of the first books to show the humanity in the people affected by Rocky Flats -- the workers, their families, and the genuinely ignorant townspeople.
Here is an interview that I had the privilege of conducting with Kristen before her event with us:
http://boulderbookstore.blogspot.com/...
Carry the One -- 9781451636888
I kind of didn't finish this one. It never actually drew me in. While I generally like when I can successfully hate the characters, I felt mostly nothing about a lot of them. The time line jumped around, which is okay, I could usually follow it, but it didn't feel smooth/cohesive/natural. I guess I'm kind of disappointed because of all the indie bookseller hype there was behind this I was expecting a lot more. Maybe I'll find it more appealing at a later time in my life. I'm not abandoning it forever, it's just clearly not the book for me right now.
Everybody Sees the Ants -- 9780316186186
Liesl, our children's buyer, had bugged me and bugged me to read this book for weeks before I finally started it. I'm glad she did, it's well worth the pestering.
Lucky Linderman's parents are having marital issues and Lucky's getting bullied -- harassed and assaulted verbally, physically, and you could certainly argue sexually -- by a jerk at school for years. His father is a turtle: living in regret, loss, and confusion from not having his father around (who was a POW/MIA in Vietnam). His mom is a squid: obsessively swimming laps to physically work out her emotional frustrations. After one final blow, Lucky's mother is fed up with everything and the two of them visit her brother and Crazy Aunt Jodi in Arizona to escape what has become their reality.
I thought this was a very realistic set of characters in all-too-familiar situations that I think most teenage boys could relate to, either from first or second hand experience. It was a perfect balance of dark humor and brutal honesty.
The thing that bothered me about the book though were the dream sequences. Not that they happened, because I thought they were a very good way for Lucky to both work out his issues and demonstrate how pervasively his grandfather's disappearance affected him (through his family and their POW/MIA stuff EVERYWHERE). It gave Lucky a positive mentor. I didn't like the box that he kept everything from those dreams in. Aside from forming something for him and his dad to bond over at the end, I don't see why the dreams needed to be as "real" as they were. It just didn't further the plot along much more than a simple dream sequence could (did).
In any event, great piece of teen lit that's not about vampires, fairies, evil angels, and awful terrible girl cliques.
Lucky Linderman's parents are having marital issues and Lucky's getting bullied -- harassed and assaulted verbally, physically, and you could certainly argue sexually -- by a jerk at school for years. His father is a turtle: living in regret, loss, and confusion from not having his father around (who was a POW/MIA in Vietnam). His mom is a squid: obsessively swimming laps to physically work out her emotional frustrations. After one final blow, Lucky's mother is fed up with everything and the two of them visit her brother and Crazy Aunt Jodi in Arizona to escape what has become their reality.
I thought this was a very realistic set of characters in all-too-familiar situations that I think most teenage boys could relate to, either from first or second hand experience. It was a perfect balance of dark humor and brutal honesty.
The thing that bothered me about the book though were the dream sequences. Not that they happened, because I thought they were a very good way for Lucky to both work out his issues and demonstrate how pervasively his grandfather's disappearance affected him (through his family and their POW/MIA stuff EVERYWHERE). It gave Lucky a positive mentor. I didn't like the box that he kept everything from those dreams in. Aside from forming something for him and his dad to bond over at the end, I don't see why the dreams needed to be as "real" as they were. It just didn't further the plot along much more than a simple dream sequence could (did).
In any event, great piece of teen lit that's not about vampires, fairies, evil angels, and awful terrible girl cliques.
The Hunger Games -- 9780439023528
It took me 5 weeks to read the Hunger Games. No, not the trilogy, just the first book.
Some of this has to do with the fact that I am a very slow reader, some of it has to do with me reading it just before I went to bed (because I borrowed it and didn't want to ruin it and then have to pay for it) and I have been going to bed pretty tired lately, and some of it is because I was also reading 3 other books. A large part, I think, is because I saw this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2lRxq... before I read the book and a lot of the "page-turning plot twists" were spoiled for me. Spoiled by beanie babies.
I didn't dislike the book. The first few chapters were actually pretty engrossing and decently written for the age level. The middle is where I got a little bored with all the introspection and second-guessing and sorting through thoughts. I realize that Katniss had nobody else to talk to about these things, so part of that is fine, but it fell a little flat for me in the middle. Then in the last 1/4 of the book got really mushy and made me feel awful for Peeta.
There were a number of plot holes and things that could be better explained and even more things that didn't need quite so much explanation (mostly a lot of Katniss' more regurgitated thoughts). Sentence variety could have also been better. It's still one of the better pieces of teen fiction out there and I see why all the kids are into it; it's just not the best I've ever read and I'm not quite as enthusiastic about it as most people are.
Suzanne Collins created a very interesting and easily believable world though, commenting on the grotesque effect that television -- reality tv in particular -- has on our lives and blowing it up to a disturbing level.
Some of this has to do with the fact that I am a very slow reader, some of it has to do with me reading it just before I went to bed (because I borrowed it and didn't want to ruin it and then have to pay for it) and I have been going to bed pretty tired lately, and some of it is because I was also reading 3 other books. A large part, I think, is because I saw this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2lRxq... before I read the book and a lot of the "page-turning plot twists" were spoiled for me. Spoiled by beanie babies.
I didn't dislike the book. The first few chapters were actually pretty engrossing and decently written for the age level. The middle is where I got a little bored with all the introspection and second-guessing and sorting through thoughts. I realize that Katniss had nobody else to talk to about these things, so part of that is fine, but it fell a little flat for me in the middle. Then in the last 1/4 of the book got really mushy and made me feel awful for Peeta.
There were a number of plot holes and things that could be better explained and even more things that didn't need quite so much explanation (mostly a lot of Katniss' more regurgitated thoughts). Sentence variety could have also been better. It's still one of the better pieces of teen fiction out there and I see why all the kids are into it; it's just not the best I've ever read and I'm not quite as enthusiastic about it as most people are.
Suzanne Collins created a very interesting and easily believable world though, commenting on the grotesque effect that television -- reality tv in particular -- has on our lives and blowing it up to a disturbing level.
A Practical Wedding -- 9780738215150
Yes. I read a wedding planning book. Why? because it was free.
I was expecting the worst and as a result found myself very pleasantly surprised by A Practical Wedding. What was great was that this book was not an explicit "how to have the most perfect dream wedding ever" and it did not provide any tips on what trends were "in" for flowers, dresses, and locations. Instead, Meg calmed me down, and helped me feel more secure about the decisions I was making for myself.
Chapters 1-3 reinforced the fact that it's not so important how you do it as long as the "who" and the "why" are good. All this "traditional wedding" stuff has really only boomed in the last century, and you should just enjoy yourself with the people you want to be there.
Chapter 7 "The Hard Stuff" was amusing -- by addressing such things as "The Bridezilla Myth" and the various "F*ck it" stages -- as well as supportive, guiding the reader through a wedding after a death and sorting out cold feet. It also gave me what should be my wedding mantra: "Your wedding is NOT an imposition." I'm not yet quite so thoroughly convinced of that, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way.
All in all, Meg Keene plays the part of the level-headed friend who's there to help you listen to your heart. This is not the book with all the "must-have-" and "how-to-" -answers of the specific details, but it IS a must-have and how-to to get started planning (or not planning!) the way you want to celebrate and start your life together with your partner.
I was expecting the worst and as a result found myself very pleasantly surprised by A Practical Wedding. What was great was that this book was not an explicit "how to have the most perfect dream wedding ever" and it did not provide any tips on what trends were "in" for flowers, dresses, and locations. Instead, Meg calmed me down, and helped me feel more secure about the decisions I was making for myself.
Chapters 1-3 reinforced the fact that it's not so important how you do it as long as the "who" and the "why" are good. All this "traditional wedding" stuff has really only boomed in the last century, and you should just enjoy yourself with the people you want to be there.
Chapter 7 "The Hard Stuff" was amusing -- by addressing such things as "The Bridezilla Myth" and the various "F*ck it" stages -- as well as supportive, guiding the reader through a wedding after a death and sorting out cold feet. It also gave me what should be my wedding mantra: "Your wedding is NOT an imposition." I'm not yet quite so thoroughly convinced of that, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way.
All in all, Meg Keene plays the part of the level-headed friend who's there to help you listen to your heart. This is not the book with all the "must-have-" and "how-to-" -answers of the specific details, but it IS a must-have and how-to to get started planning (or not planning!) the way you want to celebrate and start your life together with your partner.
The Princess Bride -- 9780156035217
The Princess Bride was exactly what I was expecting. It was highly enjoyable, easy to read, and completely ridiculous. I can't tell whether I would have preferred to read the book before having seen the movie or not. I do enjoy that they're both independently entertaining. I don't really have much to comment on. :)
The Snow Child -- 9780316175678
The Snow Child was just a sweet story. It wasn't very surprising, it wasn't shocking or particularly striking in any way. But, the quiet poignancy and tone of the book made it remarkable and beautiful.
Ivey has created her own variation on the old Russian Fairy Tale of The Snow Maiden. She adapts the setting to 1920s Alaska but keeps the ambiance of a fairy tale while managing to keep this quality from becoming too oppressive or overbearing.
It felt like a comfortable hug and provided a great escape on the rides to and from work.
Ivey has created her own variation on the old Russian Fairy Tale of The Snow Maiden. She adapts the setting to 1920s Alaska but keeps the ambiance of a fairy tale while managing to keep this quality from becoming too oppressive or overbearing.
It felt like a comfortable hug and provided a great escape on the rides to and from work.
The Tiger's Wife -- 9780385343831
The Tiger's Wife was interesting and really well done when you keep in mind that it was Tea Obreht's first novel.
I thought that in general the stories were mostly interesting and she had some really good description in parts, a few snipits of poignant and intimate moments among the characters that affected me, but as a whole I was not moved the way other people seem to have been.
The story of her grandfather's town's history (in particular, the life of the titular character) was the most well done. The butcher and his wife was the most compelling plotline in the entire book-- I like that not all of the questions were answered and that she filled in gaps in fact with the townspeople's decided, preferred lore.
The storyline of the Deathless Man was surprising how it fit in to the rest of the novel, but that linking element was the part I liked best about that story. Otherwise, they felt inorganic with the rest of the story, in spite of their being framed within Natalia's grandfather's tales.
Altogether, I felt the novel lacked cohesion and fluidity among its various parts. There were linking elements, but they didn't work well enough for me to feel as though everything that was there was necessary and/or effortless. A lot of it felt contrived.
With the exception of the character of Gavran Gaile, the characters were more or less completely fleshed out and realistic. I liked the times when I was lost in the storytelling and the magical, fantastical tone that Obreht was sometimes successful in creating.
In short, I really liked what the book was trying to do, and that there were times where it almost got there, but as a whole, it fell just short of pulling it all off. ...for me
I thought that in general the stories were mostly interesting and she had some really good description in parts, a few snipits of poignant and intimate moments among the characters that affected me, but as a whole I was not moved the way other people seem to have been.
The story of her grandfather's town's history (in particular, the life of the titular character) was the most well done. The butcher and his wife was the most compelling plotline in the entire book-- I like that not all of the questions were answered and that she filled in gaps in fact with the townspeople's decided, preferred lore.
The storyline of the Deathless Man was surprising how it fit in to the rest of the novel, but that linking element was the part I liked best about that story. Otherwise, they felt inorganic with the rest of the story, in spite of their being framed within Natalia's grandfather's tales.
Altogether, I felt the novel lacked cohesion and fluidity among its various parts. There were linking elements, but they didn't work well enough for me to feel as though everything that was there was necessary and/or effortless. A lot of it felt contrived.
With the exception of the character of Gavran Gaile, the characters were more or less completely fleshed out and realistic. I liked the times when I was lost in the storytelling and the magical, fantastical tone that Obreht was sometimes successful in creating.
In short, I really liked what the book was trying to do, and that there were times where it almost got there, but as a whole, it fell just short of pulling it all off. ...for me
Century Girl -- 9780061241505
Doris Eaton Travis had such an amazing life! She did so many things and met so many people and was spunky and dancing well up into her 90s and 100s. There was so much life in her life!
Lauren Redniss (who also did Radioactive, the Marie Curie pictobiography) did an incredible job weaving her own bizarre illustrations and archival pictures into a spectacle, a work of art on every page.
Lauren Redniss (who also did Radioactive, the Marie Curie pictobiography) did an incredible job weaving her own bizarre illustrations and archival pictures into a spectacle, a work of art on every page.
Habibi -- 9780375424144
The pictures in this book were amazing and the cover is beautiful. I loved the emphasis on words and language -- perfect for the subject matter and with the important role that each plays in art and prayer in Middle Eastern culture. It took me a while to discover that the time period is more modern than historical. I had mixed feelings about the ending. I thought it was going to go a different way and then it didn't and I still like my way better. I would explain but don't want to ruin anything for future readers.
Contents May Have Shifted -- 9780393082654
I enjoyed reading this myself and would recommend it because Pam Houston is just such an engaging writer. I must admit that I liked the first half a lot more than the second half, but by the time I got to the parts I didn't like as much, I didn't care what was going on -- I just liked the way the words sounded.
I can't help but wish that the book remained a simple collection of vignettes that evoked a feeling rather than adding the sort-of plot half way through. I actually may have even accepted a plot if it had simply been the musings on getting over Ethan. I could not stand Sofree though and I didn't like the constant regurgitation of the same "feelings" discussions between her and Rick and among her friends about Pam's and Rick's Relationship (yes, with a capital 'R'). But it was realistic, so I can't complain about it too much, I guess buuut...I get enough of that silly business with my friends that I don't feel like I need to read about it from characters in my books. Especially when I know they've done so many other exciting life-changing things that were NOT the same conversation over and over and over.
This is primarily a collection of 144 vignettes and secondarily a story about getting over a bad relationship and finding "home" in a more positive relationship. It's very much a literary chick book, but it is very literary. The descriptions are tangible and luscious and quirky all at once.
I can't help but wish that the book remained a simple collection of vignettes that evoked a feeling rather than adding the sort-of plot half way through. I actually may have even accepted a plot if it had simply been the musings on getting over Ethan. I could not stand Sofree though and I didn't like the constant regurgitation of the same "feelings" discussions between her and Rick and among her friends about Pam's and Rick's Relationship (yes, with a capital 'R'). But it was realistic, so I can't complain about it too much, I guess buuut...I get enough of that silly business with my friends that I don't feel like I need to read about it from characters in my books. Especially when I know they've done so many other exciting life-changing things that were NOT the same conversation over and over and over.
This is primarily a collection of 144 vignettes and secondarily a story about getting over a bad relationship and finding "home" in a more positive relationship. It's very much a literary chick book, but it is very literary. The descriptions are tangible and luscious and quirky all at once.
The Marriage Plot -- 9780374203054
So. I didn't dislike The Marriage Plot...I just found it to be a bit of a disappointment based on what I had been hearing from nearly everybody else I had talked to who had read it and loved it.
Let me start off by saying that I generally enjoy the way Eugenides describes things and people and moments. I thought the entire first half of Middlesex was great and everybody seemed so real to me. With The Marriage Plot, there was just something that was off about the pacing, characterization, and something else I can't put my finger on because it's after 10 and therefore past my bedtime...
Madeleine was an "everygirl" and I found her to be a little too two-dimensional and developmentally stagnant for a protagonist for my tastes, to a point that's almost insulting (but not really) since she is *the* everygirl and i am...*A* girl and I hope that's not how guys really think girls are (even though, sadly, many of them are...just not the ones worth writing a novel about). Though, now that I think about it...this leads into what I'm going to touch on with Mitchell. In viewing her as the everygirl, I could see some attributes of myself in there, i guess, but a much more self-involved, selfish, sluttier, and yet more confident version of me...so quite a stretch. I found her largely unlikeable -- which is generally fine, i love to hate my characters, but I think I was supposed to sympathize with her rather than dislike her, and mostly I couldn't. Also, The Bachelorette's Survival Kit...wtf? Who does that? Especially sending it to a 14(?) year old! Ew.
Mitchell reminded me of a more introspective Gatsby, minus the American dream, self-made-man thing. Madeleine is his Daisy, his ideal which can never be obtained and then inevitably disappoints. I liked the way their relationship ultimately played out, because if things had become perfect for both of them, suddenly, i think i might have thrown up on the bus while i was reading or at least pulled a muscle rolling my eyes. However, even with the resolution of their sexual tension (maybe?), Mitchell's story felt unresolved to me. I dunno. It also seemed to be present mostly so we could have the book end the way it did. I'm also confused where the part about him and Larry having too much to drink and then the weird "was it a dream?" thing and why that was there, aside from being an introduction to Larry's coming out (but only in Europe?).
Leonard reminded me of a friend I had in college aaand THAT might be the reason why I'm so harsh with Madeleine -- cuz my situation played out so different because of who i am vs who she is (among other reasons). So quite possibly that hit a little too close to home but then manifested into something I couldn't realate to? I dunno. I liked Leonard as a character, most of the time. I like how his story ultimately played out though not necessarily how he got there. I think he is the character I cared the most about but got the least from, in terms of his point of view. We get a very short snipit of his perspective around 2/3 the way through. I thought that either should have been expanded or removed entirely. I liked having Madeleine's romanticized view of Leonard opposing Mitchell's disgust (just having these views would give Mitchell's existence more purpose). I thought the honeymoon mania (with the Casino and where it went from there) was a little over-the-top. I would have liked the focus to have been a little more on the strain you would think that the not-entirely-consensual sex on pg 357 would have had. Less fireworks than the big expensive police scene, i know, but more realistic and disturbingly typical, sadly.
Additionally, while I again generally like Eugenides descriptions, there were a number of really weird ones that felt forced or just completely out of left field. I'm way too lazy and tired to pull up any references right now, but I know there were parts that had metaphors that either didn't make sense or didn't need to exist -- especially in Mitchell's sections.
By far, my favorite parts of the book were sitting in on the Semiotics class (though not so much reading the accompanying semiotics texts). I miss getting annoyed by the kids who were trying too hard to share their uniquely meaningful insights with the class to impress everybody (especially themselves). i laughed several times from things they said and did. I miss school.
Anyways...I'm very tired and generalizing so I don't ruin some great mystery in the book for people who haven't read it. If you want to actually discuss the book with me instead of reading my criticisms. I'd like to stress again that i did not dislike the book! i just only "thought it was okay" instead of "absolutely adored every word and thing that happened.
Let me start off by saying that I generally enjoy the way Eugenides describes things and people and moments. I thought the entire first half of Middlesex was great and everybody seemed so real to me. With The Marriage Plot, there was just something that was off about the pacing, characterization, and something else I can't put my finger on because it's after 10 and therefore past my bedtime...
Madeleine was an "everygirl" and I found her to be a little too two-dimensional and developmentally stagnant for a protagonist for my tastes, to a point that's almost insulting (but not really) since she is *the* everygirl and i am...*A* girl and I hope that's not how guys really think girls are (even though, sadly, many of them are...just not the ones worth writing a novel about). Though, now that I think about it...this leads into what I'm going to touch on with Mitchell. In viewing her as the everygirl, I could see some attributes of myself in there, i guess, but a much more self-involved, selfish, sluttier, and yet more confident version of me...so quite a stretch. I found her largely unlikeable -- which is generally fine, i love to hate my characters, but I think I was supposed to sympathize with her rather than dislike her, and mostly I couldn't. Also, The Bachelorette's Survival Kit...wtf? Who does that? Especially sending it to a 14(?) year old! Ew.
Mitchell reminded me of a more introspective Gatsby, minus the American dream, self-made-man thing. Madeleine is his Daisy, his ideal which can never be obtained and then inevitably disappoints. I liked the way their relationship ultimately played out, because if things had become perfect for both of them, suddenly, i think i might have thrown up on the bus while i was reading or at least pulled a muscle rolling my eyes. However, even with the resolution of their sexual tension (maybe?), Mitchell's story felt unresolved to me. I dunno. It also seemed to be present mostly so we could have the book end the way it did. I'm also confused where the part about him and Larry having too much to drink and then the weird "was it a dream?" thing and why that was there, aside from being an introduction to Larry's coming out (but only in Europe?).
Leonard reminded me of a friend I had in college aaand THAT might be the reason why I'm so harsh with Madeleine -- cuz my situation played out so different because of who i am vs who she is (among other reasons). So quite possibly that hit a little too close to home but then manifested into something I couldn't realate to? I dunno. I liked Leonard as a character, most of the time. I like how his story ultimately played out though not necessarily how he got there. I think he is the character I cared the most about but got the least from, in terms of his point of view. We get a very short snipit of his perspective around 2/3 the way through. I thought that either should have been expanded or removed entirely. I liked having Madeleine's romanticized view of Leonard opposing Mitchell's disgust (just having these views would give Mitchell's existence more purpose). I thought the honeymoon mania (with the Casino and where it went from there) was a little over-the-top. I would have liked the focus to have been a little more on the strain you would think that the not-entirely-consensual sex on pg 357 would have had. Less fireworks than the big expensive police scene, i know, but more realistic and disturbingly typical, sadly.
Additionally, while I again generally like Eugenides descriptions, there were a number of really weird ones that felt forced or just completely out of left field. I'm way too lazy and tired to pull up any references right now, but I know there were parts that had metaphors that either didn't make sense or didn't need to exist -- especially in Mitchell's sections.
By far, my favorite parts of the book were sitting in on the Semiotics class (though not so much reading the accompanying semiotics texts). I miss getting annoyed by the kids who were trying too hard to share their uniquely meaningful insights with the class to impress everybody (especially themselves). i laughed several times from things they said and did. I miss school.
Anyways...I'm very tired and generalizing so I don't ruin some great mystery in the book for people who haven't read it. If you want to actually discuss the book with me instead of reading my criticisms. I'd like to stress again that i did not dislike the book! i just only "thought it was okay" instead of "absolutely adored every word and thing that happened.
Behind the Beautiful Forevers -- 9781400067558
MOST. DEPRESSING. BOOK. EVER. WRITTEN.
Think "Slumdog Millionaire" except true story, lots of different people, no positive ending. Katherine Boo's presentation of the everyday in the Annawadi slums of Mumbai is tragic and her accounts of the particular series of events described in the book are astounding.
Honestly, had it been fiction, I probably would have set it aside, shaking my head at how crazy it was, complaining that the author was trying too hard. But this story, more ridiculous than a Telemundo Novela Especiale, is nonfiction. It was hard to put down despite some of the parts being difficult to read (because of content and description, not because I didn't have a dictionary with me) and I kept wondering how it could possibly get worse (because I was only a few pages into the book, and then 1/4 into the book, and then 1/2 way through the book, etc.).
Boo is scrupulous, caustic, and abrasive with her delivery -- there is absolutely no sugar coating. Her point in writing this book (which she explains in the afterword) was to demonstrate how the slumdwellers (or poor in general) continue to worsen their situations by picking on and tormenting each other rather than focusing on their larger problem. The fact that this is an ongoing problem gave the book's resolution (while definite) less weight than most others; like my feeling was "oh, okay, well that's a relief for them...I guess..." with a very strong, lingering "but there are others! what about the others!?" that I still can't shake.
I'm avoiding specifics on purpose. Read the fricken book if you're at all interested in poor people, current world affairs, legal systems in other countries, India, slums, garbage, suicide as an epidemic, or feeling really great about your current situation by comparison.
If this probably sounds like a negative review; I don't mean for it to be. To say I "enjoyed" the book would be wrong, but I did find it incredibly fascinating.
Think "Slumdog Millionaire" except true story, lots of different people, no positive ending. Katherine Boo's presentation of the everyday in the Annawadi slums of Mumbai is tragic and her accounts of the particular series of events described in the book are astounding.
Honestly, had it been fiction, I probably would have set it aside, shaking my head at how crazy it was, complaining that the author was trying too hard. But this story, more ridiculous than a Telemundo Novela Especiale, is nonfiction. It was hard to put down despite some of the parts being difficult to read (because of content and description, not because I didn't have a dictionary with me) and I kept wondering how it could possibly get worse (because I was only a few pages into the book, and then 1/4 into the book, and then 1/2 way through the book, etc.).
Boo is scrupulous, caustic, and abrasive with her delivery -- there is absolutely no sugar coating. Her point in writing this book (which she explains in the afterword) was to demonstrate how the slumdwellers (or poor in general) continue to worsen their situations by picking on and tormenting each other rather than focusing on their larger problem. The fact that this is an ongoing problem gave the book's resolution (while definite) less weight than most others; like my feeling was "oh, okay, well that's a relief for them...I guess..." with a very strong, lingering "but there are others! what about the others!?" that I still can't shake.
I'm avoiding specifics on purpose. Read the fricken book if you're at all interested in poor people, current world affairs, legal systems in other countries, India, slums, garbage, suicide as an epidemic, or feeling really great about your current situation by comparison.
If this probably sounds like a negative review; I don't mean for it to be. To say I "enjoyed" the book would be wrong, but I did find it incredibly fascinating.
The Dovekeepers -- 9781451617474
So I had never read anything by Alice Hoffman when I decided to pick this up off the shelf in our break room. What intrigued me about it (and is still my favorite thing about the book) is that the time period is not one I've often encountered. The book covers 70CE-74CE (I think) when a few hundred Jews sought refuge from Roman persecution, holing out in the desert. Apparently two women and five children survived and Hoffman imagined their lives before and during their time there.
It took a while for me to get "into" the book. The story is told from the perspectives of several of the characters -- telling each of their stories, one at a time, the next character continuing the larger story from their point of view and so on -- and the first character's story didn't grab me as much as those that followed. Yael's ordeal was tragic, yes, and she had a hard life, certainly, but the description of her emotions was a little over the top and I couldn't help but view her as an obsessive teenager while she was telling her side of things. I stuck with it though because the words were assembled prettily (if not melodramatically) and I don't like putting books down.
It got better as it went on (as did Yael, with age and through other people's eyes) with the exception of a weird part in the middle where I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to believe that one of the characters can really do magic and if they then later actually performed an "exorcism" or not.
The novel proved to be more literary than average chick lit of the historical persuasion, which made it a good bus book.
It took a while for me to get "into" the book. The story is told from the perspectives of several of the characters -- telling each of their stories, one at a time, the next character continuing the larger story from their point of view and so on -- and the first character's story didn't grab me as much as those that followed. Yael's ordeal was tragic, yes, and she had a hard life, certainly, but the description of her emotions was a little over the top and I couldn't help but view her as an obsessive teenager while she was telling her side of things. I stuck with it though because the words were assembled prettily (if not melodramatically) and I don't like putting books down.
It got better as it went on (as did Yael, with age and through other people's eyes) with the exception of a weird part in the middle where I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to believe that one of the characters can really do magic and if they then later actually performed an "exorcism" or not.
The novel proved to be more literary than average chick lit of the historical persuasion, which made it a good bus book.
The Last Werewolf -- 9781847679444
Okay, to be honest, I only read four chapters.
It's almost entirely all my fault, too. I just don't get the whole supernatural/paranormal craze. The four chapters I read were MUCH better than I was expecting, it just wasn't something I felt compelled to continue reading.
It's a total guy novel, too. Very graphic, raunchy language (and not just when describing sexual things) and Glen throws you right into the fray--the first scuffle begins in the second chapter.
I passed the book along to a friend and told her I'd read it if she finished it and thought it was amazing, and I would totally recommend it to anybody who's looking to read a philosophical exploration of what it means to be a "monster" or "human" or both...and anyone looking for a unique action-packed thriller. It's just not my cup of tea. *shrug*
It's almost entirely all my fault, too. I just don't get the whole supernatural/paranormal craze. The four chapters I read were MUCH better than I was expecting, it just wasn't something I felt compelled to continue reading.
It's a total guy novel, too. Very graphic, raunchy language (and not just when describing sexual things) and Glen throws you right into the fray--the first scuffle begins in the second chapter.
I passed the book along to a friend and told her I'd read it if she finished it and thought it was amazing, and I would totally recommend it to anybody who's looking to read a philosophical exploration of what it means to be a "monster" or "human" or both...and anyone looking for a unique action-packed thriller. It's just not my cup of tea. *shrug*
Middlesex -- 9780312422158
I really enjoyed Middlesex. I definitely enjoyed the beginning more -- I felt like it flowed more naturally and the story had an interesting tone. Though there were fantastic elements in the first half of the novel, their myth-like recanting allowed my brain to enjoy rather than fixate on them. I felt like the turning point for me was where the Detroit riot fire broke out and things started to be less believable (for me). While Cal's adolescence was full of turmoil because of her unusual circumstances, I felt like the character was difficult to relate to possibly because of all of the focus on sexuality and gender and teenager-ness. Since that's what set Cal apart from most people...maybe that was the point? to be as awkward as possible for a teenager and then compound it with gender identity crisis? I didn't completely dislike the last part of the book, it just was not as good as the beginning.
Regardless, I still left the book really liking Eugenides' description. I think he did an amazing job putting the right words together in ways that held me captive for hours at a time (and made a 3 hr bus ride at 1am feel much shorter). Most of the characters were so vibrantly flushed out that I had to take a step back every now and then and remember that this was a work of fiction. The book dealt with taboo subjects in a way that was interesting and amusing without being heavy-handed.
Anywho, I am very sorry I missed the book club meeting for this one as it is a book that begs to be discussed.
The Night Circus -- 9780385534635
I thought that the world Erin Morgenstern created with the Night Circus was highly enjoyable and it's pretty impressive that I was able to suspend disbelief throughout. The characters were interesting, the plot was interesting, and I kind of breezed through the entire novel. The circus experience must have been so much more amazing in the late 1800s. I spent a large portion of the novel fantasizing about a time I never experienced. There's already a movie deal in the works for the book, I hope they don't butcher it.
It got a little mushy once the main characters were able to entertain the idea of a plausible romance. I thought that things were more interesting with the tension and frustration when they thought they could never be together. Of course, then the book never would have ended. I thought the middle was a little longer than it needed to be -- but that may have been due to character development -- but not enough that there was any time i didn't want to keep reading (I missed a bus stop the first day). I'm not sure what purpose the italics describing the circus served. They were nice, but they didn't reveal anything deeper about the story. The description could have just as easily been inserted into Bailey's storyline and been more effective.
The fact that the Night Circus is Morgenstern's first published novel is incredible though. I'm leaving all of my criticism to fall flat with that as my standard reply. It's an enjoyable book, first novel or not, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a little escapism.
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