Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult- Picoult is my favorite author. Every March I look forward to the new release she will be putting out. Somehow I forgot what month it was this year and ended up ordering this book too late from the library so it took awhile for me to get it. This story was about a unique family that was divided up many years ago but has to come together when the father is in a car accident and on life support. The father was an expert on wolf packs and was famous for living in the woods with wolves for a couple years as well as having a wolf sanctuary. He was very good at communicating with his wolves, not so good at communicating with his family. The parents divorce and the mother remarries. The son essentially runs away on or around his 18th birthday and ends up volunteer teaching in Thailand. The daughter moves back and forth between her fathers and her mother and new stepfathers home. When the daughter and the father are in a car accident the son has to come home from Thailand for the first time in many years and confront what made him leave and all his legal responsibilities since his sister is only 17 and cannot make the decisions. The book was very informative on alternative living and interesting animal information. The story line was interesting enough but just didn't have the same flow and direction that most of Picoult's novels suck readers in with. Overall it wasn't my favorite of hers but I'll still be waiting for next March to roll around for another read, assuming I don't forget again!
Book 2 will not be blogged about.
Good Christian Bitches by Kim Gatlin This is the novel of which the new abc show GCB is based on. I actually really liked the show when it first started a few months ago so I got the book. I didn't really like the book. It's the same characters and basically the pilot episode has lots in common with the book but thats about all. Maybe because I had seen more than one episode, the book felt lacking. Also though the show sort of started going a little downhill in my opinion towards the end of this season. Perhaps it will pick up again with season two but it just doesn't seem like there is much room for growth. It's the same storyline repeated week by week which is sort of how the book felt chapter by chapter.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins I tried very hard, not even really sure why, not to get into this new popular series. I saw the preview for the movie though and really thought it looked interesting, so of course I wanted to read the book first. I guess I can say I see what all the hype is about. It's a very interesting plot line, the author sucks the reader in very quickly, and although you may know the ending pretty quickly, the twists and turns to get there are still interesting enough to keep you turning the pages. I also love that the female character is the heroine and hopefully stays that way throughout the series. I am, slightly impatiently, waiting for the next two books from the library, but am hoping this series doesn't turn into a love triangle romance series, and instead can stay true to the originality of this first book. Also as a side note I read some negative comments about the movie/book and one of them was about the "glorification of child sacrifice" and how we should not have anything to do with that. I totally disagree with this comment as lots of classic novels, short stories have had similar themes. I truly don't believe the author was glorifying or even hinting at "hey lets start doing this." She just had a unique story to tell and put it to paper. My favorite short story is Shirley Jackson's The Lottery and although perhaps it was controversial it's just a unique well told story. Here's to continuing to hope Collins continues with the adventure and keeps the love crap out of it...
I Know this Much is True by Wally Lamb I really like this author. I've read many of his books and I had attempted to read this one a few times last year. It's long and I got the discs to listen to and gave up a few times before actually finishing it this month. I'm not sure why I kept stopping and restarting but I think perhaps because a lot of this books themes hit too close to home. In any case I'm glad I finally listened to it start to finish. The book starts with the narrator explaining a horrific incident in which his schizophrenic identical twin brother cuts off his own hand at a local library. We then get to hear the back stories of their horrifically abusive childhood, and the struggles of the narrator to both help his brother and put his own past to rest. The brothers do not know who their father is and that defines much of the book. The narrator's own child sadly dies and he loses his marriage as well. The irony of being an identical twin who is whole while your twin is so split makes for such a wonderful read. There were some predictable parts, but the biggest mystery of the novel, who the boys father is, is set up in such a way that you think your so smart to have figured it out right away and the author lets you think that for some time until dispelling it and leaving you just as puzzled as the boys have been. I really love this author and how he weaves the intricate stories he creates. Oh and I loved loved loved the ending. When I really like a book it's so hard to see it come to an end and always makes me sad to see it ending, but the way he wrapped this novel up was exactly as it should have been done.
All There Is by Dave Isay- This was a collection of love stories from StoryCorps. These were real stories from people who were interviewed for StoryCorps. The book was divided into three parts, the first one about finding love, the second about losing it, and the third about finding it again/holding on to it. It was a cute quick read that shared so many stories on the many many many ways and from different people that love can come into one's life from.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
March 8
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares I don't know what took me so long to read this book. I have owned it since it came out when I was in high school. I suppose there are various reasons along the way that I avoided it. For whatever reason though I picked it up and finally started the series. It's a teen read so it's light and fluffy for the most part. I think if I had read it in high school it would have had so much more meaning to it. It was still a good read though and made me think of those years and how important friendships are. It made me think of the silly traditions my own group of girls and I have. It made me think a lot about how it's sad things can't stay the way they are when you are 15 and also how it's not really that sad because things can get even better even if they change in ways you didn't expect they would. I also remembered at some point that the conclusion of the series came out last year and am still curious on what that book will be like. Will the four girls stay best friends forever which is just so unlikely. Will the same boys be mentioned at 25 that are mentioned at 15? In any case though I have to read the other ones before I can read the last one, I ordered all from the library and am now making my way through them. I'm not sure if I am rooting for the last book to have the idealistic ending of BFFs or if I want some harsh reality where one of them is no longer in the group or whatever. Life changes, you make it work or you don't and maybe in the book world it would be better if these four "sisters" could stay together. One last note on the book, I never realized it's setting was Bethesda Maryland. This is interesting as I am about to move near that area and thought it a cute sign from the book that I finally picked it up right before I move to where the book is taking place.
Peony in Love by Lisa See I did not like this book. I've at the very least liked everything else I read from this author so I was disappointed that the last book of her's that I read was not very good. I guess maybe I should have known from the start that it wasn't going to be my cup of tea because it's so unrealistic and most of the time I need to at least be able to believe that the story could happen. The story is about a young girl who is sheltered from the world beyond the gates of her home in China. She is to be married but is not allowed to associate with men before her marriage. Her father brings a production of an opera to her home and she meets a man and disobeys so much to just go outside and speak with him. She then, like the main character in the opera she sees, starves herself to literal death because she does not think she can be with this man and will have to go on and marry a stranger. This is only in the first few chapters, then the book gets weird because the girl dies but we still follow her story. I found it interesting to read about what the Chinese believe happens in the afterlife but it was a bit much to base a whole novel on this and carry the reader through the spirit world. I really, if you haven't already figured it out, did not enjoy the journey.
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares You don't see as much change in this book from the first one. The girls still seem young and immature and caught up in boys and all the silly teenage drama. This one was very much a continuation of the second book and kept the story lines very similar. I have this weird thing where I have to read a series in order so I'm glad I read this book but I have a feeling it won't be my favorite in the series.
Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates Not my favorite JCO novel. Started off pretty strong and pulled you in as a reader but then the story just never really went anywhere. The first part follows a young girl who is caught between her divorced parents, her mother fearing for her safety with her father because he is the main suspect in a murder. You hear the story of her parents marriage ending from her perspective and gain knowledge as a reader that many of the characters don't have the ability to put together as easily. The second part is then told through the eyes of the murder victims son who is around the same age as the girl and who the girl had a huge, over lasting, crush on. The third part is then oddly the conclusion that wasn't what the reader expected to hear but was not the least bit shocking or climatic. I guess I feel as though this book was bits and and pieces of some of the other JCO novels I've read, all thrown together. Not my favorite of hers, but I'm definitely still a fan.
Eat, Cry, Poop by Rick Kirkman and Jenny Scott This was a Baby Blues comic book. Not sure if counts as a read, but I'm counting it. I saw it at the library while I was picking up my reserves and figured I might as well grab it too. It was nice to sit and laugh for a few hours. I don't know why I always liked this comic strip on Sunday mornings, but I did. I loved when they made it into a TV show, but must have been one of a few who did because it was cancelled so quickly. I also liked the title of this "album" of theirs, a nice play on a certain other really popular book right now...
Girls in Pants The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares I liked the 3rd one in the series much more than the 2nd. The characters graduated high school and this story was the summer before they leave for college. The characters have shown growth now since the first and second books where they were more or less the same. It was interesting to read about the new things coming up and the ways they are taking stands in their lives. They are over the silly boy giggling phase and more into actually looking at relationships and what they want from friendships, men and college and their futures. We got some more glimpses into their families too. Who am I kidding, this one was my favorite so far because the best summer of my life was the summer before we left for college. My group of 6 was whole and we had an amazing last summer together before the big changes started taking place. I wanted very badly to be able to keep Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen stuck in this last summer. Some quotes: "...like it's demise could swallow up her whole existence- like a change in the present could wipe out the past." "Whenever you did something because 'life is too short not to,' you could be sure life would be just long enough to punish you for it."
The Ten Make That Nine Habits of Very Organized People Make That Ten: The Tweets of Steve Martin by Steve Martin Okay so this wasn't really a novel or anything but another good book of laughs. I've always found Steve Martin to be funny and he seems like a genuinely nice guy too. You don't hear anything about some crazy thing or another that he has done. This book was a collection of his twitter account. From the start when he was confused on what he was doing with this new social media to when he started to have lots of fun with it. I'm not sure who came up with the idea of throwing them into a book but it was an interesting concept to read from start to finish. Lots of laughs along the way. No real order, other then time, to the book but a nice light hearted laugh for a few hours one afternoon can't be a bad thing.
The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens I'm torn on this book. I really liked parts of it and related to a lot of it but I think overall I'm just not sure I got the message the author was trying to send. The book follows the story of a middle aged overweight woman who has only ever been with one man, her husband. On the eve of their 25th anniversary the husband disappears and the woman is on her own for the first time ever. She has never paid bills before, worked a cell phone, etc. She was totally dependent on this man. She tries to chase after him but along the way learns how to take care of herself. One maybe cool thing, I haven't decided yet, was that the author mentioned the characters of another book of hers in the beginning of the novel. She used the same town as the setting and was able to briefly mention them. I didn't really know I had read anything by this author until that reference but then I wondered why drop them in if all your readers haven't read that novel yet. It was a cool reference back but I'm not sure the purpose it served. The story was interesting and kept me entertained, but a lot of it was very unrealistic and I'm just not sure at the end of it all what the author was trying to say to her readers.
Peony in Love by Lisa See I did not like this book. I've at the very least liked everything else I read from this author so I was disappointed that the last book of her's that I read was not very good. I guess maybe I should have known from the start that it wasn't going to be my cup of tea because it's so unrealistic and most of the time I need to at least be able to believe that the story could happen. The story is about a young girl who is sheltered from the world beyond the gates of her home in China. She is to be married but is not allowed to associate with men before her marriage. Her father brings a production of an opera to her home and she meets a man and disobeys so much to just go outside and speak with him. She then, like the main character in the opera she sees, starves herself to literal death because she does not think she can be with this man and will have to go on and marry a stranger. This is only in the first few chapters, then the book gets weird because the girl dies but we still follow her story. I found it interesting to read about what the Chinese believe happens in the afterlife but it was a bit much to base a whole novel on this and carry the reader through the spirit world. I really, if you haven't already figured it out, did not enjoy the journey.
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares You don't see as much change in this book from the first one. The girls still seem young and immature and caught up in boys and all the silly teenage drama. This one was very much a continuation of the second book and kept the story lines very similar. I have this weird thing where I have to read a series in order so I'm glad I read this book but I have a feeling it won't be my favorite in the series.
Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates Not my favorite JCO novel. Started off pretty strong and pulled you in as a reader but then the story just never really went anywhere. The first part follows a young girl who is caught between her divorced parents, her mother fearing for her safety with her father because he is the main suspect in a murder. You hear the story of her parents marriage ending from her perspective and gain knowledge as a reader that many of the characters don't have the ability to put together as easily. The second part is then told through the eyes of the murder victims son who is around the same age as the girl and who the girl had a huge, over lasting, crush on. The third part is then oddly the conclusion that wasn't what the reader expected to hear but was not the least bit shocking or climatic. I guess I feel as though this book was bits and and pieces of some of the other JCO novels I've read, all thrown together. Not my favorite of hers, but I'm definitely still a fan.
Eat, Cry, Poop by Rick Kirkman and Jenny Scott This was a Baby Blues comic book. Not sure if counts as a read, but I'm counting it. I saw it at the library while I was picking up my reserves and figured I might as well grab it too. It was nice to sit and laugh for a few hours. I don't know why I always liked this comic strip on Sunday mornings, but I did. I loved when they made it into a TV show, but must have been one of a few who did because it was cancelled so quickly. I also liked the title of this "album" of theirs, a nice play on a certain other really popular book right now...
Girls in Pants The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares I liked the 3rd one in the series much more than the 2nd. The characters graduated high school and this story was the summer before they leave for college. The characters have shown growth now since the first and second books where they were more or less the same. It was interesting to read about the new things coming up and the ways they are taking stands in their lives. They are over the silly boy giggling phase and more into actually looking at relationships and what they want from friendships, men and college and their futures. We got some more glimpses into their families too. Who am I kidding, this one was my favorite so far because the best summer of my life was the summer before we left for college. My group of 6 was whole and we had an amazing last summer together before the big changes started taking place. I wanted very badly to be able to keep Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen stuck in this last summer. Some quotes: "...like it's demise could swallow up her whole existence- like a change in the present could wipe out the past." "Whenever you did something because 'life is too short not to,' you could be sure life would be just long enough to punish you for it."
The Ten Make That Nine Habits of Very Organized People Make That Ten: The Tweets of Steve Martin by Steve Martin Okay so this wasn't really a novel or anything but another good book of laughs. I've always found Steve Martin to be funny and he seems like a genuinely nice guy too. You don't hear anything about some crazy thing or another that he has done. This book was a collection of his twitter account. From the start when he was confused on what he was doing with this new social media to when he started to have lots of fun with it. I'm not sure who came up with the idea of throwing them into a book but it was an interesting concept to read from start to finish. Lots of laughs along the way. No real order, other then time, to the book but a nice light hearted laugh for a few hours one afternoon can't be a bad thing.
The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens I'm torn on this book. I really liked parts of it and related to a lot of it but I think overall I'm just not sure I got the message the author was trying to send. The book follows the story of a middle aged overweight woman who has only ever been with one man, her husband. On the eve of their 25th anniversary the husband disappears and the woman is on her own for the first time ever. She has never paid bills before, worked a cell phone, etc. She was totally dependent on this man. She tries to chase after him but along the way learns how to take care of herself. One maybe cool thing, I haven't decided yet, was that the author mentioned the characters of another book of hers in the beginning of the novel. She used the same town as the setting and was able to briefly mention them. I didn't really know I had read anything by this author until that reference but then I wondered why drop them in if all your readers haven't read that novel yet. It was a cool reference back but I'm not sure the purpose it served. The story was interesting and kept me entertained, but a lot of it was very unrealistic and I'm just not sure at the end of it all what the author was trying to say to her readers.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
February 8
The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst- Interesting plot/concept. Woman who is a famous author is also the mother of a famous rock musician. Mother and son are estranged and the reader is given only bits and pieces at a time as to why. The mother as the main character is working on her latest novel, which is really taking all her previous novels and rewriting the endings of them and putting that into a "new" book. (Still with me?) It's a bit confusing, and even more so because excerpts of the main characters books and the new endings are included. If you can get past that fuzzy part it's an interesting novel. I understand where Parkhurst is coming from in setting a theme of wanting to change endings/outcomes, especially when we learn details of the mother-son relationship and estrangement. I liked the concept of attempting to add books within books but the execution was a bit odd. I had to keep getting back into the original story line after leaving the mini stories behind. The mother and son come back together after the son is accused of murder. This mystery within the novel turned out to have a somewhat predictable solution. I will say though that I loved the ending of this book. The author ended it by fast forwarding to years later when all was settled but also staying in the present by having the characters say that of course they couldn't know at the time it would all work out that way. I get the point about endings/outcomes/revisions etc, and it definitely won points for uniqueness.
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See- Love this author. Her ability to create visual scenes that feel like they are right in front of you just by words alone is incredible. This novel shares the journey of two sisters living in Shanghai right as war breaks out with Japan in the 1930s. The girls and their mother attempt to journey to America but suffer many loses along the way. The girls once rich girls with many opportunities have to face the harsh realities of the real world and in their case there are many many difficulties to be faced. Although some of the events are somewhat predictable, mostly I found myself hurriedly flipping the pages to find out what happened next to Pearl and May. The book made me sad in many ways too to learn of a part of history I didn't know and to learn of the terrible treatment the girls received once they entered America and had to wait out being allowed in at a "camp" in the San Francisco area. I loved the scenes in this city but felt sad about what a tough life it was for so many people. The American Dream can have such high prices. The novel concludes on a sad note as well but probably intentionally as it set the stage for the conclusion to occur in the next book.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson- Okay so here is another one where I cheated and saw the movie first. Movie was strange to say the least. The book has been on my list for some time and I would have liked to have read it first but it just didn't work out that way. After seeing it I finally got it from the library and listened to it in the car. The book was equally as strange as the movie but I think after having some time to process it the story now makes more sense. The movie needed the book to tell some parts and the book needed the movie to make visual some parts. It's almost like you need to see and read it to get it. The ending of the movie also makes zero sense unless you read the book. The problem I have with both is that the most climatic part comes and goes quickly. This is especially true in the movie as it is made very clear this will be the climax. It was slightly less true in the book but odd because it happened with many chapters still left. The book was well written and certainly thought provoking at times, but overall I'm still confused...
Dreams of Joy by Lisa See- This is basically the continuation of the other novel I read by the same author this month. Pearl and May's story continues through a daughter, Joy. Joy returns to China in the late 1950s during communist times believing this is a good life that she wants. She surrenders her US identity and winds up on a commune. Joy also returns to find her birth father who oddly enough is easy to find and that part of the novel is solved immediately. The rest of the book focuses on the rest of the family's journey back to their home to find Joy and remove her from the commune. Again See does a wonderful job setting the scene for the reader. We follow Joy and Pearl on their journeys of learning about their families, where they came from, and what their futures hold. The extremely happy (possibly too happy?) ending in this novel makes up for the lack of one in the first.
Bringing Adam Home by Les Standiford- I had somewhat heard of the story of Adam the little boy who went missing in Florida in the 80s which led to new legislature and also to the TV show America's most wanted. I did not know though that he was so brutally killed. And though I knew his father ended up hosting that show, I did not realize he had no previous TV or entertainment knowledge/ability. I also did not know that it took so so so many years for his killer to be determined and unfortunately not really brought to justice. Turns out after building the case several key detectives/cops really dropped the ball. In the meantime the killer was in jail for other charges and ended up dying before they actually had the opportunity to charge him. The book was a bit gruesome especially since it is a true story. It also really made me think about the strength of Adam's parents. I feel like put in the same situation I would probably give up and that would be it. These parents incredibly found a way to move forward and worked hard on laws and never gave up hoping to find their son's killer. It's very encouraging to read about such amazing people and how much they affected the lives of countless others.
The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez- So this is also a true story book. High school senior pretends to be pregnant as her senior project to learn about stereotypes and to shed some awareness to her classmates on this issue. The book was interesting and a very quick read. Overall though, while I applaud the author for her ability to come up with such a creative project that would have such a big impact, I was left wondering a little too much. I also didn't really like a lot of the authors views and unrealistic thoughts. For instance she can't seem to grasp why everyone thought he college dreams were out the window once she was "pregnant" and seems to think it would be just as easy to continue on with life if she had actually had a baby. Rodriguez has 7 older siblings who her mom started having when she was a teen and most of those siblings had their own children in their teens. She was determined not to end up the same as her family which is commendable but I don't understand how she had such unrealistic views and hopes to pass on to other classmates. Overall an interesting story but not really enough to need to read the whole book, the news articles were more than enough.
Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard- Only a few pages in I realized I knew this author from another book of hers I read. I love her writing style and the unique way she shares and concludes a story. This book was about family secrets in a well to do family connected to a local prep school. The story unfolds and flashbacks often to bring the past into the present. Slowly secrets are revealed until the reader sees how each character wound up the way the did in the present. Some of the secrets were interesting to watch unfold but the big main secret I found to be a bit predictable. I guessed pretty early on what had happened and since it was so obvious to me it was frustrated that a few of the characters didn't seem to get it. The story centers around an incident involving the youngest son in the family. The novel is told from the viewpoint of the matriarch of the family, the oldest son, and the oldest son's wife. It's interesting that the author chose not to give the youngest son a voice, though he is such a crucial part of the whole story. Overall a good read and something that kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next to the family, even if I already suspected what that would be.
Dear Husband by Joyce Carol Oates- In general I'm a little iffy on short stories but I like JCO so I went ahead and starting listening to this book. It's a collection of I believe 14 short stories. Individually some of the stories were quite good and catchy. All together though I missed what united them to be in the same collection. Some of them I really disliked and was hoping for the next story to begin quickly. A few of them were intriguing and took unexpected turns. Overall I really like the author as a writer and even though this once wasn't my favorite book of hers, it won't stop me from continuing to read her books.
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See- Love this author. Her ability to create visual scenes that feel like they are right in front of you just by words alone is incredible. This novel shares the journey of two sisters living in Shanghai right as war breaks out with Japan in the 1930s. The girls and their mother attempt to journey to America but suffer many loses along the way. The girls once rich girls with many opportunities have to face the harsh realities of the real world and in their case there are many many difficulties to be faced. Although some of the events are somewhat predictable, mostly I found myself hurriedly flipping the pages to find out what happened next to Pearl and May. The book made me sad in many ways too to learn of a part of history I didn't know and to learn of the terrible treatment the girls received once they entered America and had to wait out being allowed in at a "camp" in the San Francisco area. I loved the scenes in this city but felt sad about what a tough life it was for so many people. The American Dream can have such high prices. The novel concludes on a sad note as well but probably intentionally as it set the stage for the conclusion to occur in the next book.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson- Okay so here is another one where I cheated and saw the movie first. Movie was strange to say the least. The book has been on my list for some time and I would have liked to have read it first but it just didn't work out that way. After seeing it I finally got it from the library and listened to it in the car. The book was equally as strange as the movie but I think after having some time to process it the story now makes more sense. The movie needed the book to tell some parts and the book needed the movie to make visual some parts. It's almost like you need to see and read it to get it. The ending of the movie also makes zero sense unless you read the book. The problem I have with both is that the most climatic part comes and goes quickly. This is especially true in the movie as it is made very clear this will be the climax. It was slightly less true in the book but odd because it happened with many chapters still left. The book was well written and certainly thought provoking at times, but overall I'm still confused...
Dreams of Joy by Lisa See- This is basically the continuation of the other novel I read by the same author this month. Pearl and May's story continues through a daughter, Joy. Joy returns to China in the late 1950s during communist times believing this is a good life that she wants. She surrenders her US identity and winds up on a commune. Joy also returns to find her birth father who oddly enough is easy to find and that part of the novel is solved immediately. The rest of the book focuses on the rest of the family's journey back to their home to find Joy and remove her from the commune. Again See does a wonderful job setting the scene for the reader. We follow Joy and Pearl on their journeys of learning about their families, where they came from, and what their futures hold. The extremely happy (possibly too happy?) ending in this novel makes up for the lack of one in the first.
Bringing Adam Home by Les Standiford- I had somewhat heard of the story of Adam the little boy who went missing in Florida in the 80s which led to new legislature and also to the TV show America's most wanted. I did not know though that he was so brutally killed. And though I knew his father ended up hosting that show, I did not realize he had no previous TV or entertainment knowledge/ability. I also did not know that it took so so so many years for his killer to be determined and unfortunately not really brought to justice. Turns out after building the case several key detectives/cops really dropped the ball. In the meantime the killer was in jail for other charges and ended up dying before they actually had the opportunity to charge him. The book was a bit gruesome especially since it is a true story. It also really made me think about the strength of Adam's parents. I feel like put in the same situation I would probably give up and that would be it. These parents incredibly found a way to move forward and worked hard on laws and never gave up hoping to find their son's killer. It's very encouraging to read about such amazing people and how much they affected the lives of countless others.
The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez- So this is also a true story book. High school senior pretends to be pregnant as her senior project to learn about stereotypes and to shed some awareness to her classmates on this issue. The book was interesting and a very quick read. Overall though, while I applaud the author for her ability to come up with such a creative project that would have such a big impact, I was left wondering a little too much. I also didn't really like a lot of the authors views and unrealistic thoughts. For instance she can't seem to grasp why everyone thought he college dreams were out the window once she was "pregnant" and seems to think it would be just as easy to continue on with life if she had actually had a baby. Rodriguez has 7 older siblings who her mom started having when she was a teen and most of those siblings had their own children in their teens. She was determined not to end up the same as her family which is commendable but I don't understand how she had such unrealistic views and hopes to pass on to other classmates. Overall an interesting story but not really enough to need to read the whole book, the news articles were more than enough.
Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard- Only a few pages in I realized I knew this author from another book of hers I read. I love her writing style and the unique way she shares and concludes a story. This book was about family secrets in a well to do family connected to a local prep school. The story unfolds and flashbacks often to bring the past into the present. Slowly secrets are revealed until the reader sees how each character wound up the way the did in the present. Some of the secrets were interesting to watch unfold but the big main secret I found to be a bit predictable. I guessed pretty early on what had happened and since it was so obvious to me it was frustrated that a few of the characters didn't seem to get it. The story centers around an incident involving the youngest son in the family. The novel is told from the viewpoint of the matriarch of the family, the oldest son, and the oldest son's wife. It's interesting that the author chose not to give the youngest son a voice, though he is such a crucial part of the whole story. Overall a good read and something that kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next to the family, even if I already suspected what that would be.
Dear Husband by Joyce Carol Oates- In general I'm a little iffy on short stories but I like JCO so I went ahead and starting listening to this book. It's a collection of I believe 14 short stories. Individually some of the stories were quite good and catchy. All together though I missed what united them to be in the same collection. Some of them I really disliked and was hoping for the next story to begin quickly. A few of them were intriguing and took unexpected turns. Overall I really like the author as a writer and even though this once wasn't my favorite book of hers, it won't stop me from continuing to read her books.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
January 6
The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I have a general rule of watching movies based on books only after I have read the book. My theory is that I want to form my own visual images of the characters and settings before allowing someone else to do it for me. Sometimes it makes me mad to even see the previews because then boom the visual is there and even though I haven't seen the movie the characters are formed. I make very few exceptions to my rule but I did make an exception for this book turned into a movie. My mom really wanted to watch it with me over the holidays so we did. I then got the book on disc to listen to since I've wanted to read it for some time. I have to say I think the people who made the movie did a great job of turning the book into a movie. The timing was way different (understandable for the time constraints of a movie) but all the important elements were in it.
In general both the movie and the book make the viewer/reader think. It's hard to imagine a time where this book would have been real and yet it was. As a viewer and a reader you cheer on the characters and hope for their victory. It's sad though because it's easy to cheer on the characters that you want to get through this tough time because it is so evident now how wrong the time they were in was. And yet the characters you don't root for, the Hilly Holbrook like characters, thought they were right at the time too. They thought they would be proved right and that the others were so wrong. It's scary because some of those people are still around. I am not naive enough to think there won't always be some group that people are prejudice against, but I wish there always was a happy ending in these situations.
The Submission by Amy Waldman- Such an interesting book. I can't recall what landed it on my to-read list but I'm so glad it ended up there. I don't quite know where to start with this book. The plot unfolds easily and yet is complex. The story takes place a few years after a terrorist attack in NYC. A committee has been brought together to vote on a memorial for the victims. The submitted memorials remain anonymous until the voting process is complete. It is then found out that a muslim man has won the rights to build the memorial. The story unfolds from here. Readers hear from several family members of victims, from the muslim man, from the head jury member who is responsible for telling the public what has happened, and many many others. My favorite character, Asma, was the wife of a man who cleaned in the towers that fell in the described terrorist attack (if memory serves me correct the author never says 9/11 though the reader can only conclude it). Asma is not a US citizen and neither was her husband. The points this brings up in the book are thoughts I never imagined having. How many victims went nameless because they couldn't be discussed? This book had so many twists and turns it kept you guessing and wanting for the ending the whole time. I have to say too that the ending was one of the best endings I've read. I tend to hate book endings and give this author immense credit for finding such an excellent way to end such a thought provoking, well written, and well thought out book.
While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarity- I didn't necessarily dislike this book so much as I didn't really get it. It told the story of a young woman over the course of a few days in her junior year of college that went terribly wrong and had a big impact on her life. I liked the way the book flashed back to unfold more to the story and sometimes even spoke from the future to give the reader an idea of how some things turned out. The story was also about the main characters mother who had recently divorced her father and was struggling to regain control of her post divorce life. One thing I truly didn't understand was that the book was told 90% from the daughters perspective and 10% from the mothers, and I might be being generous with 10%. If it was meant to have both voices in it I don't understand why one voice over powered the other so significantly. If it was meant to serve some purpose to have the mom narrate so little, I missed the purpose. Overall the book didn't really flow and led to a dull ending. I like the author and other books of hers that I've read but this one was just not a favorite.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern- This type of book is normally not my cup of tea, but I guess I better start trying new teas more often because this book was all kinds of amazing. I was immediately sucked in and didn't want to leave. It was the kind of book where you get closer to the end and start reading slower because you don't want it to end. I'm still pondering the ending to this book too and it's been several weeks since I read it. I also give the author major credit on this one for coming up with such a fantastical world. The book is unique also in that it is told by many narrators but before each section the reader is told where and when this part of the book is from. The years skip around quite a bit so that sometimes the reader knows things the character does not and vice versa. It threw me off a bit at first but after finishing it I really understand why the author did it that way, just still have no clue how she came up with the idea to do so. I also was very convinced when I first started reading this that this book was the start of a series, I was so disappointed to find out I had misunderstood, but at the same time it's almost better that it's just the one. Also in checking out the authors website there is a "trailer" but the trailer is for the book and not for a movie which I really got excited about and then extremely disappointed to realize was not in existence. Though I'm still fairly certain it's only a matter of time before this one becomes a movie. I would love love love to see it taken from all the visuals my mind has made and see it on film. I realize I have said almost nothing about the plot or characters but the fact is that this book is too good to sum up, go read it!
The Taste of Salt by Martha Southgate- This was an interesting read in lots of ways. It tells the story of a family struggling with addiction with it's male members. The main character allows for other characters to chime in every once in awhile too and it makes for an interesting writing style. One really cool part about the book for me personally was that it took place in Cleveland OH where I am from. It made it that much easier for me to visualize the childhood scenes the narrator discussed. Oddly enough she also discusses the aquarium that used to be and is no longer, only they just opened a new one! The sad ending was somewhat predictable but the story moves quickly with flashbacks and some surprising moments. The female narrator loves the ocean/water and winds up as a marine biologist as an adult which also made me feel connected to her as that was once upon a time a dream career of mine. I related a lot to the main character and really wanted a happy ending for her even though she did a great job of screwing up some things and then also had things happen way beyond her control. I still can't quite decide if the book was meant to be a sad story with a happy ending or a happy story with a sad ending. I did enjoy it though. Some quotes from the book that stuck with me enough to write down:
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh- This book seems to be wildly popular right now. I loved how it started off. The story of a foster child aging out of the system and her rough start into the adult world but that turns into finding wonderful people and starting to understand how to open up and begin a life for herself. In the meantime we get to also hear a background story of the one and only foster home she had that seemed to work out but all the time knowing she didn't stay there permanently and something tragic happened. As a social worker I laughed as the narrator told the terrible stories of her social worker and how much she hated her. As a professional I was sad to hear it but I also agreed with her assessment that she had gotten a bad worker to some extent. The story changes around the halfway point of the book and suddenly it's almost as though it's a brand new book with one underlying theme. The title refers to the meaning behind flowers and the passion the narrator has for these meanings and putting together flowers as she develops both into a young adult and a florist. I liked the book a lot until the halfway point, then I sort of got confused and felt like it changed directions so sharply. In the end though when it all came together it worked as a whole.
In general both the movie and the book make the viewer/reader think. It's hard to imagine a time where this book would have been real and yet it was. As a viewer and a reader you cheer on the characters and hope for their victory. It's sad though because it's easy to cheer on the characters that you want to get through this tough time because it is so evident now how wrong the time they were in was. And yet the characters you don't root for, the Hilly Holbrook like characters, thought they were right at the time too. They thought they would be proved right and that the others were so wrong. It's scary because some of those people are still around. I am not naive enough to think there won't always be some group that people are prejudice against, but I wish there always was a happy ending in these situations.
The Submission by Amy Waldman- Such an interesting book. I can't recall what landed it on my to-read list but I'm so glad it ended up there. I don't quite know where to start with this book. The plot unfolds easily and yet is complex. The story takes place a few years after a terrorist attack in NYC. A committee has been brought together to vote on a memorial for the victims. The submitted memorials remain anonymous until the voting process is complete. It is then found out that a muslim man has won the rights to build the memorial. The story unfolds from here. Readers hear from several family members of victims, from the muslim man, from the head jury member who is responsible for telling the public what has happened, and many many others. My favorite character, Asma, was the wife of a man who cleaned in the towers that fell in the described terrorist attack (if memory serves me correct the author never says 9/11 though the reader can only conclude it). Asma is not a US citizen and neither was her husband. The points this brings up in the book are thoughts I never imagined having. How many victims went nameless because they couldn't be discussed? This book had so many twists and turns it kept you guessing and wanting for the ending the whole time. I have to say too that the ending was one of the best endings I've read. I tend to hate book endings and give this author immense credit for finding such an excellent way to end such a thought provoking, well written, and well thought out book.
While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarity- I didn't necessarily dislike this book so much as I didn't really get it. It told the story of a young woman over the course of a few days in her junior year of college that went terribly wrong and had a big impact on her life. I liked the way the book flashed back to unfold more to the story and sometimes even spoke from the future to give the reader an idea of how some things turned out. The story was also about the main characters mother who had recently divorced her father and was struggling to regain control of her post divorce life. One thing I truly didn't understand was that the book was told 90% from the daughters perspective and 10% from the mothers, and I might be being generous with 10%. If it was meant to have both voices in it I don't understand why one voice over powered the other so significantly. If it was meant to serve some purpose to have the mom narrate so little, I missed the purpose. Overall the book didn't really flow and led to a dull ending. I like the author and other books of hers that I've read but this one was just not a favorite.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern- This type of book is normally not my cup of tea, but I guess I better start trying new teas more often because this book was all kinds of amazing. I was immediately sucked in and didn't want to leave. It was the kind of book where you get closer to the end and start reading slower because you don't want it to end. I'm still pondering the ending to this book too and it's been several weeks since I read it. I also give the author major credit on this one for coming up with such a fantastical world. The book is unique also in that it is told by many narrators but before each section the reader is told where and when this part of the book is from. The years skip around quite a bit so that sometimes the reader knows things the character does not and vice versa. It threw me off a bit at first but after finishing it I really understand why the author did it that way, just still have no clue how she came up with the idea to do so. I also was very convinced when I first started reading this that this book was the start of a series, I was so disappointed to find out I had misunderstood, but at the same time it's almost better that it's just the one. Also in checking out the authors website there is a "trailer" but the trailer is for the book and not for a movie which I really got excited about and then extremely disappointed to realize was not in existence. Though I'm still fairly certain it's only a matter of time before this one becomes a movie. I would love love love to see it taken from all the visuals my mind has made and see it on film. I realize I have said almost nothing about the plot or characters but the fact is that this book is too good to sum up, go read it!
The Taste of Salt by Martha Southgate- This was an interesting read in lots of ways. It tells the story of a family struggling with addiction with it's male members. The main character allows for other characters to chime in every once in awhile too and it makes for an interesting writing style. One really cool part about the book for me personally was that it took place in Cleveland OH where I am from. It made it that much easier for me to visualize the childhood scenes the narrator discussed. Oddly enough she also discusses the aquarium that used to be and is no longer, only they just opened a new one! The sad ending was somewhat predictable but the story moves quickly with flashbacks and some surprising moments. The female narrator loves the ocean/water and winds up as a marine biologist as an adult which also made me feel connected to her as that was once upon a time a dream career of mine. I related a lot to the main character and really wanted a happy ending for her even though she did a great job of screwing up some things and then also had things happen way beyond her control. I still can't quite decide if the book was meant to be a sad story with a happy ending or a happy story with a sad ending. I did enjoy it though. Some quotes from the book that stuck with me enough to write down:
“There’s this hollow place in me- this place that needs to be alone, this place that vibrates and can’t sit still... sometimes, in my hear, I feel that toe impatiently tapping, waiting for the other shoe to drop, lonely, scared. I don’t know how to explain that to anyone. I’m not sure how to explain it to myself.”
“I could never really believe that it didn’t matter how I behaved. That my father’s drinking had nothing to do with me.”
“The truth was not to be spoken. I got that.”
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh- This book seems to be wildly popular right now. I loved how it started off. The story of a foster child aging out of the system and her rough start into the adult world but that turns into finding wonderful people and starting to understand how to open up and begin a life for herself. In the meantime we get to also hear a background story of the one and only foster home she had that seemed to work out but all the time knowing she didn't stay there permanently and something tragic happened. As a social worker I laughed as the narrator told the terrible stories of her social worker and how much she hated her. As a professional I was sad to hear it but I also agreed with her assessment that she had gotten a bad worker to some extent. The story changes around the halfway point of the book and suddenly it's almost as though it's a brand new book with one underlying theme. The title refers to the meaning behind flowers and the passion the narrator has for these meanings and putting together flowers as she develops both into a young adult and a florist. I liked the book a lot until the halfway point, then I sort of got confused and felt like it changed directions so sharply. In the end though when it all came together it worked as a whole.
Friday, January 13, 2012
2011- 40
40 books, that's all! I'm so disappointed. Or at least I was at first when I added up the yearly total. My goal for 2011 was to read more than the 66 books I read in 2010. Well this clearly didn't happen. When I look at all I accomplished in 2011 though, it's hard to be too mad at myself. The first half of the year I finished up my Master's degree, yes I would much rather have been reading then writing final papers, redoing my resume, and taking licensing exams, but it just wasn't possible. 2012 promises to bring lots of excitement and adventure with all it's going to offer. I hope it offers more of an opportunity to read and depending on how things turn out it just might give lots of time for me to read. I know wherever these adventures lead, the first thing on my list will be to find a library ;)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
December 4
I loved Jeffrey Eugenides first two books so when I saw he had a new 3rd book The Marriage Plot out, I knew I had to read it. It's a shame Eugenides novels are so far and few between when they are just so good. Usually authors have underlying similar themes and you can find connections to writing styles/etc. Not with Eugenides, none of his novels have any similar theme running through them, but it makes it all the better to pick one up and know you are getting something truly original and well thought out. His 3rd novel follows the lives of a woman and two men after they graduate college. The love triangle has unexpected twists and turns and doesn't follow any traditional pathway. Readers get to watch the college graduates fall in and out and go on their way. The characters grow and develop in new non typical coming of age ways. Have yet to be disappointed with a novel from this author, only wish he had more out there to read.
Author Jennifer Weiner's newest book Then Came You tackled a more intense subject matter than any of her other books, but in the same light and airy way that makes her books easy pleasurable reads. This book follows four women. An egg donor, a surrogate mother, the woman who the baby is meant for, and that woman's step daughter. In general I liked the book and it's statements on the new modern non traditional families being formed all the time these days. On the negative side though many parts were just simply not believable even in a fictional reality. The novel provides the reader the opportunity to ponder what it means to be a family especially for women, which I did appreciate. This was not one of my favorite Weiner novels but it did give me a good memory and I will certainly continue to read whatever this author has to provide, as she is always good for a break from reality for a few hundred pages.
When Will There be Good News by Kate Atkinson was a confusing listen at first. I'm not sure if it was the heavy English accent of the reader or the confusing twisting plot, but it really took me a big chunk of the book to become interested. The first chapter draws readers in by flashing back to many years ago when a young girl loses her mother and two siblings and her dog in a traumatic random stabbing by a stranger. This shocking start leaves readers to wonder what happened to the sole survivor of a horrific tragedy. The book then becomes far less interested for many chapters. I'm glad I didn't give up on it though as it did get interesting again and then in such an intense way that I was unable to put the book down until I finished it. I suppose I might try another of Atkinson's books sometime, but I would definitely want it to keep my attention throughout rather than only at the start and end.
The last read of the month was a Christmas present. Woman's Best Friend edited by Megan McMorris is a collection of short stories about women and their dogs. The stories range from typical heartwarming animal stories to sad stories to the unique and interesting ways dogs affect our lives. After reading this book I starting thinking about the two dogs I have been blessed with and what they have meant to me. I tried to come up with what I might write about when it comes to the first dog we had, Daisy, or what I could write about our current dog, Laney. The fact is though that it would be so hard to sum up in just a few pages what my dogs have meant to me. As the book constantly reminds the reader, they are a part of our families, our lives, our hearts.
November 5
Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos is an interesting book about life after college and growing up into the "real world." I can't quite recall how it ended up on my to read list, but I'm glad it did. The novel was enjoyable to read and reminded me of some of my own lost friendships throughout college. The thing about friendships, especially women's friendships, is that the idea of "best friends forever" is really just not a reality for most women. I am so fortunate to have the friends I do and to continue through the years with them. But there have been plenty lost along the way. Grown apart from, full out "break-ups", or active decisions to disengage. In any of the cases parting ways with friends is never easy. The novel appealed to me in that the main character spends most of the book trying to piece together why her two best college friends and her split ways at the end of college. They are all brought back together again unexpectedly and the book often flashes back to the college years and important events while also moving forward in the present day. It wasn't a predictable journey but also some of the unpredictability meant reading some parts that just didn't seem plausible. Overall though a very enjoyable read. Some quotes from the book that stuck with me...
"Since you left there's been a you-shaped space beside me all the time. It never goes away"
"You are like me. You like your pockets of solitude, but you're not made for being alone for long...there were people... who needed the falling together, the daily work of giving and taking and talk and touch."
"She has moved on... we are only part of who she used to be, not of who she is now."
Second read for November was a light read, Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close. It took a bit to get into this book and I almost gave up on it a few times. I'm glad I didn't though as it had such appeal to me. The book is supposed to be about a group of women who are falling into that age category when their friends start to get engaged, married, and pop out babies. Some of the girls though are not falling into any of those groups and give a Sex and the City take on life without fiances, wedding planning, and baby talk. The book although given to the reader in chapters was almost to me more a book of short stories that all interconnected. Some of the girls get their own happily ever afters by the end and some get happily ever afters that don't involve men at all, imagine that! A good read, especially for anyone who is in their mid 20s and surrounded by friends who are taking steps they aren't quite ready to take yet.
Books 3 and 4 for November were mentioned in a talk show, I can't quite remember which, and I'm glad I picked them up. The Book of Awesome and The Book of (Even More) Awesome both by Neil Pasricha are fun reads about the little things in life we forget to take moments to stop and notice. Both books have a page or two devoted to then explaining the reasons these things are so awesome. Some of my favorites from the two books: the other side of the pillow, when someone lands on a hotel you just built in Monopoly, finding out your birthday is on a Friday or Saturday next year, waking up before your alarm clock and realizing you've got lots of sleep time left, picking up a q and u at the same time in scrabble, a long hug when you really need it, the smell and sound of a campfire, celebrating your pet's birthday even though they have no idea what's going on, the three-paycheck month, finding money in your old coat pocket, when it feels like the lyrics to the song you're listening to were written just for you, taking your high heels off at the end of the night and walking home in bare feet, when you open a book to the exact page you were looking for, seeing old people holding hands, the extra time you get when the clocks roll back, an inbox of personal emails when you wake up in the morning, the moment of anticipation before the first kiss, looking at the clock and seeing that it's 12:34, the airport pickup, appreciating the beauty of all your body's scars and scratches.
The last book I read (well really listened to) in November was The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates. I love Oates as an author and was drawn to this book as I also love Niagara Falls. The plot seems simple at first glance, but as with all of Oates' novels, is anything but. A bride marries and sets off on her honeymoon to Niagara Falls, her husband of one day jumps over the falls in the morning to his death. She then ends up staying in the fictional town in Niagara and marrying for a second time. The book is told from just about every characters perspective at one point or another. The story turns from being about the suicide to an almost Erin Brokovich story. It includes family relationships, religion, suicide, murder, and coming of age themes. I liked the book even though it wasn't quite what I was expecting. That being said though, Oates' doesn't give readers a clear idea of which character we are supposed to be rooting for. The protagonist continually changes and just when you think you like a character the author shows you as a reader why you shouldn't. It was tough to root for anyone, and just as I started thinking this I thought well okay you have to root for the children then, only the children are suddenly grown and also not so easy to root for. It's a bit odd to spend a novel not really liking any of the characters. The cool thing though is that after it ends it's clear on who the good guys and bad guys were, just a little odd to read through.
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