Baby Geese Booklog

The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

2008-06-22T16:55:00.002-06:00

The recent release of "Prince Caspian" prompted me to re-read these childhood favorites. In fact I am certain that I have re-read them more than 40 times. Several of them are held together by packing tape and need to be held with care to prevent the last 20 pages from falling out.

Reading these as an adult is significantly different from reading them as a child. For one, as I child the blatant Christian bent of the books was completely lost on me. I just thought they were lovely stories about a magic world, which just happened to include a magical lion. How different they are from this perspective! I can't help but feel that they are at least somewhat racist too, particularly 'The Last Battle' and 'The Horse and His Boy'. I'm sure I will always love these stories that gave me such joy in my childhood, but I remain unconvinced that I will encourage my future children to read them.

Agnes Grey - Anne Bronte

2008-06-07T16:51:00.002-06:00

I think I picked this up on the recommendation of Mimi Smartypants. As with most classical literature, I expected to have to slog through it. I think I finished it in two days. the writing style is clear and while the content is not fascinating, it is interesting enough. If you've ever had a horrible babysitting experience, this book is for you. In fact, it could be credited as the first "Adventures in Babysitting" or "Babysitter's Club" book.

Urban Shaman - C.E. Murphy

2008-05-29T16:40:00.002-06:00

I think I pulled this off of the facebook shelf of a friend who shares my taste in fantasy novels and I wasn't disappointed. While it would be a stretch to call Urban Shaman good literature, it was a good read and I was entertained, which is exactly what I was looking for.

I particularly enjoyed the main character's atypical gender roles, sarcastic wit and quick sense of humor. I plan on looking for more C.E. Murphy to read.

Water for Elephants: a novel - Sara Gruen

2008-05-11T20:44:00.000-06:00

I picked this up because it was written by one of the NaNoNovelists who wrote a pep-talk last year. My expectations were not very high but I have changed my tune.

I literally could not put this book down, I read it in one evening and stayed up far too late to finish it. It is now on my book purchase wish list. (Someone remind me to read it again shortly before NaNo this year!)

Essentially it's about a boy who drops out of vet school and joins the circus, but the story is also told from the perspective of that same boy as an old man in a nursing home when the circus comes to town. Main characters include a performer/love interest, a dwarf and his dog, a paranoid schizophrenic and an elephant.

King Rat - James Clavell (USS Book Club)

2008-05-05T18:30:00.002-06:00

I have to bear in mind that the point of being in a book club is to read books that you wouldn't ordinarily read. This one definitely falls into that category. Based on what I typically read, can you really picture me reading about prisoners in a Japanese war camp? I thought not.

The guy who picked the book asked me if I like the book and I found I had to make a distinction. I didn't like the book but I thought it was a good book. It was interesting and well written, I didn't get bogged down and have to slog through to the end, and it made me think about things that I usually don't think about. (Apparently those are my measures for a good book).

The focus of the book is a man called 'The King'. While everyone else in camp(including many of the officers and guards) are hungry, dirty, dishevelled and often in need of medical attention, he is well-kept and has resources to spare. His business acumen leads to a power position and of course everyone wants to either suck up to him or topple him from power. Most interesting was what happened to The King and the people around him when the war ended and people stopped believing that resources were scarce (it didn't take the appearance of food to make them change the way they acted, just the belief that it was coming). It was an interesting peek into psychology and sociology of war camps.

Elantris - Brandon Sanderson

2008-04-14T16:53:00.002-06:00

I picked this up after I found out that Brandon Sanderson would be writing the final Wheel of Time book from Robert Jordan's notes. I was curious about his writing style and how he would stack up against Jordan as a story teller.

Initially I was excited. The book had an interesting premise and good off to a strong start. By about the third chapter I was starting to get worried. I love fantasy, don't get me wrong, but I was overwhelmed by the excessive use of the unfamiliar vocabulary of his world. This did not bode well. Fortunately he backed off on the new words and settled down to tell the story to my satisfaction. Although it was slightly predictable, I was pleased with the overall concept and execution.

The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follet (USS Book Club)

2008-03-24T12:18:00.002-06:00

What I liked:
- the storylines
- most of the characters (some of the baddies were especially well done, particularly William)
- the shifting viewpoints
- the Aliena and Jack love story

What I didn't:
- the endless descriptions of how precisely to build a cathedral (down to measurements. No one cares! Move on!)
- the ending (Phillip was happy about whipping the King? WTF?)
- the fact that I still have no idea why it was called Pillars of the Earth

The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay

2008-03-01T23:16:00.001-07:00

I have wanted to read this book for a long time, for more than 10 years actually, since I first sang 'Mother Africa' with Wammick. I made sure to finish reading the book before watching the movie, but it turned out to be a bad plan because I got all worked up about all of the things left out of the movie and the addition of a female love interest (boo!). Overall I think I was happier with the book, but I will always love The Power of One soundtrack.

The handmaid's tale - Margaret Atwood

2008-02-14T23:05:00.001-07:00

Every time I read this novel I am stunned by how brilliantly possible it all is; the progressive motion towards controlling the population and taking away all of their rights and freedoms in a gradual series of logical-seeming moves, some of which are taking place even today, in real life. Does this mean that we're progressing to a world without reading, without sex for purposes other than procreation, without blood-family? A world where one in four babies is born massively deformed and you can be killed for talking to the wrong person about something other than the weather? A world where even the people at the top are quite miserable and just pass the misery on down? We appear to be just a few fragile steps away from the world of the handmaid's tale. Hopefully we heed the warning.

Nickel and dimed : on (not) getting by in America - Barbara Ehrenreich

2008-02-11T23:05:00.003-07:00

I'm not even sure how I found this book or why. The author goes under-cover as an unskilled labourer in different towns to find out how the other half lives. She then comes back to her regular life and supplements her first-hand experiences with data a research from other sources to demonstrate just how hard life is on the working poor.

What I found far more interesting was the personal annecdotes that illustrated how people in unfortunate situations lie to make themselves feel better about the things that are wrong in their lives. For the record, I'm not saying this is wrong (I've done it myself, on more than one occasion); I actually think that it's not only a great survival mechanism, but it also says something strong and sweet about the human spirit when we are able to find a silver lining in abysmal conditions.

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

2008-02-10T11:19:00.001-07:00

If nothing else, this novel both entertained and made me think, although I suspect that I was seldom thinking what I was supposed to be thinking. Typical.
_________________

"Hindus see the universe in terms of Karma, a process of constant circulation, which is to say that you don't really "end up" anywhere at the end of your life - not in heaven or hell - but you just get recycled back to the earth again in another form, in order to resolve whatever relationships or mistakes you left uncompleted last time. When you finally achieve perfection, you graduate out of the cycle entirely and melt into The Void. The notion of karma implies that heaven and hell are only to be found here on earth, where we have the capacity to create them, manufacturing either goodness or evil depending on our destinies and our characters." "Even in ones lifetime it's obvious how often we must repeat our same mistakes, banging our heads against the same old addictions and compulsions, generating the same old miserable and often catastrophic consequesnces." "That repetition of suffering - that's hell. Moving out of that endless repetition to a new level of understanding - there's where you'll find heaven". EPL p. 262

This actually matches my view of life incredibly well. All physical bits of our existance are recycled back into the natural cycles of the world (barring formaldehyde), why not our soul or consciousness? I wouldn't say that I believe this but I can say that I could believe this, I can make the logic work, which I can't with many other religions.

It also aligns well with what I want to believe. I like life. I like living it. I would like to keep on living it after I am dead. Heaven sounds boring; Hell sounds awful. I would like more life when I am done with this one, please.

The concept of 'The Void' scares me quite deeply. Once, when I was about 8, I tried to imagine being dead. Not being raised religiously I had no concept of any kind of afterlife so basically I started by removing my senses: nothing to see or hear or smell or taste or feel. Just consciousnes floating in a black void. This wasn't so bad: I could recall and ponder things that I had experienced in life. But wait, if I was dead I couldn't think or be aware or anything! (At this point I was starting to panic.) There was just nothing and I didn't even know it was nothing! (Panic rising...) There was no 'me' to be aware and no one was aware of me! At this point I burst spontaneously into tears and sobbed uncontrollably (and inexplicably to those outside my head) for hours. I cried for several hours and sunk into a deep depression, unable to articulate to anyone what had scared me so badly. (This is the first time I logiced myself into a depression, but by no means the last.) Finally, after about 6 hours of sobbing I was able to blurt out "I don't want to die". I was given the usual comforts applied to a child, that I was safe and no one was going to hurt me, but no one had any clue that the crisis was more of a metaphysical nature.
_____________________________________________

Sometimes I can only get a to a specific point by the long way around. If I get to a nice place quickly I'm always a bit suspicious and skeptical. Easy and nice? No way, it can't be real. You have to suffer to get to a good place. I'm the same way, sometimes, with a philosophy. If you said to me, "you might as well have fun because worrying doesn't change the outcome" I would wave you off like a pesky fly but the following very circuitous argument worked on me:

"What's it like in hell?"
"Same like heaven. Universe is a circle."
"Then how can you tell the difference between heaven and hell?"
"Because of how you go. Heaven, you go up, through seven happy places. Hell, you go down, through seven sad places. This is why it better for you to go up."
"You mean, you might as well spend your life going upward, through the happy places, since heaven and hell - the destinations-are the same thing?"
"Same in end, so better to be happy on journey."

For some reason, this finally made sense to me. If we're worm food either way, we might as well enjoy the time we have. Something just clicked in my brain this time, I guess I'm done with beating my head against the wall on this one and am finally ready to understand and move forward.
_____________________________________________

Mosquitos - If you sit outside for two hours while ravaged by mosquitos, at the end of the night you will have much more than 20 mosquito bites. Clearly the author has never been to Canada.
_____________________________________________

Unpeel - If the peel is the outer layer and removing the peel is called 'peeling' what are you doing when you 'unpeel' someone? Are you taking their clothes off or putting them back on? (This almost falls into the realm of 'unthaw' with me, but not quite.)
__________________________________________________

"The Bhagavad Gita - that ancient Indian Yogic text - says that it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection." EPL p. 95

While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, you can admire without becoming or following.
_____________________________________________

"And if Venice is sinking, I'm going under, 'Cause beauty's religion and it's christened me with wonder." Spirit of the West

The section on Venice reminded me of this song. Spirit of the West lyrics are sometimes bloody genius.
_____________________________________________

"You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight." EPL p. 115
_____________________________________________

Lord of Emperors - Guy Gavriel Kay

2008-01-19T01:02:00.002-07:00

The first half of the second book left me no more impressed than the first book did (that sentence made me dizzy). It isn't until the middle of the book that you start seeing some of the typical Guy Gavriel Kay qualities; the example that illustrates a detailed analysis of a situation that you can apply to your own life which he just slips in as if it's nothing. Brilliant!

Toward the end of the book it is also finally explained why there was so much detail in the prologue-like bit: it finally becomes relevant, if you can remember it 1,000 pages later.

I have to say that part of the enjoyment of The Sarantine Mosaic comes from the knowledge of the world in 'Lions' and the little comments that link the two together. I am torn between recommending that readers pick up 'Lions' first so that they can enjoy these and recommending that they build up to 'Lions' so that the other books don't disappoint.

I admit that I got part of what I came for with this book: I enjoyed the strong female characters and the heart-rending illustration of a true love-match. The plot was complex enough to not be too predictable. However, I felt some of the failings of the Fionavar Tapestry and Ysabel too, the distance from many of the characters, the unconvincing love match at the end. There are a few gems to be pulled out, moments crafted to perfection, but they were too few for my taste. Give me Lions, any day.

I plan on re-reading these within the next year. I'm convinced that several of my opinions will change on a second reading, now that I have a better grip on the characters.

Sailing to Sarantium - Guy Gavriel Kay

2008-01-12T01:01:00.001-07:00

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Guy Gavriel Kay (particularly 'The Lions of Al-Rassan' and 'Tigana') but for some reason I have put off reading the Sarantine Mosaic. On the glowing recommendation of another fan, I finally picked them up.

Initially I was put off by the lengthy prologue (which is not acually called a prologue, but it should have been). I spent the first book and most of the second wondering why it was included.

I realize that the character names are meant to be historically accurate but I found most of the characters difficult to distinguish since their names all sounded so similar. I suspect re-reading would solve this problem as I've now figured out who most of them are. I felt like I needed a chart.

By the end of the book I was not particularly involved but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and went on to the next. (I did enjoy the relationship between the Emperor and Empress though.)

The Glass Castle: a memoir - Jeannette Walls

2007-12-21T00:58:00.001-07:00

This novel was recommended and lent to me by a new co-worker. It's quite different from my usual fare; memoirs are not usually my cup of tea. It had a definite 'Angela's Ashes' type of feel to me, not quite as grim and sorrowful, in fact at some points it was almost comical, but it had the same kind of downward spiral into grinding poverty.

I wonder what sort of take the homeless would have on this book, since it contains two characters who claim to want to be homeless. Part of the book are just too bizarre to wrap the mind around, and parts ring true, despite surface differences.

At times I had trouble putting it down. It was a compelling read but I'm not sure what message I took home.

The mermaid chair - Sue Monk Kidd (USS Book Club)

2007-11-30T00:51:00.002-07:00

Superbly written; I think I found one word in the entire book that I would change (and in case you haven't realized it by now, I'm incredibly picky). I do wish that the husband had been more likeable, it would have increased the conflict and my empathy for him and would therefore have improved the book and made the main character's later decisions make more sense and feel less like sheer laziness. I have a feeling that the husband's main purpose in the book, since he was a psychologist, was the following contribution:

“When a person was in need of cataclysmic change, of a whole new center in the personality, for instance, his or her psyche would induce an infatuation, an erotic attachment, an intense falling-in-love. Falling in love was the most ruthless catalyst on earth. But typically you fall in love with something missing in yourself that you recognized in the other person.”

The Salmon of Doubt - Douglas Adams

2007-11-03T00:43:00.001-06:00

Compiled posthumously by his wife this novel is a bit backwards in that the whole is less than the sum of it's parts, perhaps because it was not assembled by the hands of the master.

Note to self: contains many excellent motivational quotes on writing. Remember this for next year's NaNo.

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time - Mark Haddon

2007-10-27T00:44:00.001-06:00

After so much hype about this book I was expecting to be annoyed by it but it exceeded all expectations. I couldn't put it down. It was funny and sad and thought-provoking and well written; all of the things that a good novel should be.

Slaughterhouse-five : the children's crusade : a duty-dance with death /

2007-10-15T00:50:00.001-06:00

Four months later I do not recall any deep thoughts I had about this book. Only one thought remains: this was not what I expected.

1984 - George Orwell

2007-09-16T10:10:00.001-06:00

It seemed about time to read this classic, and unfortunately it fits very well with the extreme micromanagement going on in one part of my life. I can see why this is a classic, and a brilliant one at that. If you haven't read it yet, go pick it up. Nothing I can say at this point will really contribute to the discussion, beyond the observation that no one should wait until they're 30 to read it.

Robert Fullghum

2007-09-10T10:05:00.000-06:00

I find every so often I return to Robert Fullghum when I'm in need of some positive thinking. His stories restore my faith in humanity, if not in certain specific people, and make me feel a bit younger, less cynical and pessimistic. I found that I needed this very much at the beginning of September and so I burned through the following:

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It

True Love

Uh-Oh

Maybe (Maybe Not)

There. I feel a bit better now.

P.S. Don't Forget to Fart

Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine

2007-08-24T10:11:00.000-06:00

Yes, you read that right: Douglas Adams, author of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. 'Last Chance to See' lives in the non-fiction section, rather than science fiction.

Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine travel all over our planet trying to find the last few individuals of endangered species. If you've read 'The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul' (I think it is), you know that Douglas Adams has a special place in his heart for the dodo, which made this transition from spaceships to endangered species a little easier to swallow.

In 'Last Chance to See' not only do you find stories of the search for each species, but photos of them when they could be found and insights into the local cultures and politics, as well as the obstructions in the path of those who are fighting to save the last precious few. Sometimes it's money, or time, or genetics, or the creature's own self-destructive properties. If you didn't know that 'survival of the fittest' isn't always a good thing, you will by the end of this book. Douglas Adams gives insight into the natural beauties of this world and how much poorer we will be when they are gone from it.

I was surprised to find that I was left with a startling emotional attachment to a small elderly sweet potato on a clifftop in New Zealand. This is the beauty of Douglas Adams' writing.

The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner

2007-08-06T21:27:00.000-06:00

This is a selection of short stories which don't really differ in any way from any of her other novels. The style and content are comparable and therefore predictable. I'm underwhelmed.

The Birth House - Ami McKay

2007-08-05T21:26:00.000-06:00

I think this book was a little too built up for me. It was pretty good but not amazing. I enjoyed all of the herbal remedy and midwifing stuff, as well as the basic story line. I found the characters interesting and the events of their lives pulled me in and kept me reading. While it didn't make my Top 10 list, I would still recommend it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

2007-07-21T21:14:00.000-06:00

This is actually a multiple book entry as I re-read the Harry Potters running up to the last book's release. Then we went and picked the book up at oneish (after a fun wedding celebration).

I'm not going to go into a ton of detail yet, I don't want to spoil anyone. I enjoyed most of the book, including Dumbledore's added humanity but the epilogue was just too trite for me (I know she put it in so that she wouldn't be endlessly bugged about what happened next, but bleh!). I was very upset about one of the deaths and thought that the first death was way underplayed, but overall it was a very satisfying book.

Goodnight Nobody - Jennifer Weiner

2007-06-28T08:28:00.000-06:00

I read it. I don't really remember it aside from being disappointed. I guess I need to remember to update this more often.

Sweetness in the Belly - Camilla Gibb

2007-06-13T12:11:00.001-06:00

While I wouldn't say that this is in the top 10 novels I've read, nor would I call it a well-written favorite, it is a fascinating look at a world that I never even knew existed.

Lilly's world-travelling British parents are killed leaving her alone, a white orphan in Ethiopia. She is raised by Muslin Sufis, and falls in love with an Ethiopian doctor. Somehow, during the famine and political uprising in Ethiopia in the 1980's she ends up back in England alone, living among the many refugees. It covers religion, politics, feminism and more wrapped up in hope, heartbreak and the idea of home.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards

2007-06-09T12:16:00.000-06:00

I absolutely could not put this book down, especially coming on the heels of a strange dream about bearing twins. It's the story of a couple who have twins, a perfectly healthy boy and a girl with Down's syndrome. The husband, a doctor, tells the nurse to take the girl to an institution and tells his wife that the baby girl died. The nurse can't give the child away and leaves the city to raise her on her own. This split-second decision has consequences for the rest of their lives and beyond, affecting them all in ways that noone ever anticipated.

The Fifth Elephant - Terry Pratchett

2007-06-02T12:21:00.000-06:00

I can't seem to read just one Terry Pratchett novel. This is another old favorite.

The Last Continent - Terry Pratchett

2007-05-31T12:08:00.000-06:00

I wanted some nice light reading for Cuba so I brought along a couple of Pratchett favorites. I think this one is my all-time favorite Pratchett novel. I features death by pineapple, a continent somewhat like Australia, the wizards and Rincewind and my favorite quote "Even so, there is no excuse for putting pineapple on a pizza." I may make a T-shirt.

Bloodletting and Other Miraculous Cures - Vincent Lam

2007-05-14T14:10:00.000-06:00

I think my problem with this book is that my expectations were too high. The stories were okay and some were even interesting but the characters were not particularly engaging and I didn't find the book as a whole to be at all cohesive, although it seemed to be attempting to be cohesive. Overall, I was disappointed.

The Secret - Rhonda Byrne

2007-05-12T14:45:00.000-06:00

This might be the most infuriating and senseless book that I have ever read. While it is not necessarily marketed as a self-help book, once you open it, it poses in that guise.

The basic idea of "The Secret" is that if you think about something hard enough, your brain emits a signal on a frequency that will cause the Universe to give you what you want. (Seriously. I am not making this shit up. It actually hurt me to type that.)

It includes statements like "Look at everything you like and say to yourself, 'I can afford that. I can buy that.' " Thinking this is supposed to make you rich. I wonder why we have such enormous problems with debt these days? I think the only person becoming rich is the author (who also has a movie version of this). She's making money off of all of the people who are too stupid to see through the scam. Frankly, it's brillliant. (I took it out from the library; she's not making any money off of me.)

The author also uses quotes from famous people to try to give credence to the idiocy of her message. The way that these quotes are inserted into the text twists their meaning. For example, "The good news is that the moment you decide that what you know is more important than what you have been taught to believe, you will have shifted gears in your quest for abundance. Success comes from within, not from without." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) When taken outside the context of the book, this quote inspires independent thinking, curiousity, questioning of inherited beliefs, self-confidence, and motivation. Taken within the context of the book it seems to support the idea that if you sit around that think about having money, you will get rich.

The problem with The Secret is the focus on thought over action, when a balance between the two is what is needed; The Secret caters to the lazy, tells them that action is extraneous. Postive thinking and visualization are all well and good but if there is no action, there can be no positive result. If professional athletes sat around all day thinking about making the perfect shot, winning the race but then didn't play the game or show up for the race, how can they achieve success?

I am alarmed at how many people are being sucked in by The Secret. Just because something is in print, does not mean it's true.

The Hippopotamus - Stephen Fry

2007-05-06T14:23:00.000-06:00

Continuing on my Fry kick, I picked this one up because it was supposed to be really funny. Someone has a weird sense of humor. Again, I enjoyed the basic story, which was interesting and well assembled, but there were a few things that bothered me:

1) The character Oliver, who talked constantly of taking up the butt and had the most annoying verbal tick (calling everything Sally Sunshine or Doris Desk or Patty Pimple until I wanted to scream).
2) The sex with a horse was creeepy.
3) That they didn't really explain the "hot hands". Was it psychosomatic?

Instead of a comedy, this turned out to be kind of a mystery novel, which I enjoyed, surprisingly. (I think I'm overusing commas to balance his self-admitted lack of comma use.)

Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson

2007-04-29T11:10:00.000-06:00

I absolutely loved this book as a child but had only a vague recollection as to it's actual content so I wanted to reread it before seeing the movie. Sometimes when you go back to watch a movie or read a book that you loved as a child, seeing it as an adult with all of it's flaws ruins the memory for you (I'm looking at you "Goonies"). This was not the case for Bridge to Terabithia. While I may not have enjoyed it as much as when I was a kid, it took me back for a good look at who I was then and I understood what I got out of it. I can remember sobbing at the sad parts and thrilling at the exciting parts and while these emotions did not hit me as deeply as an adult, they were still a part of the experience. This is truly a well-crafted book, deserving of its awards.

You Suck: A Love Story - Christopher Moore

2007-04-28T11:16:00.000-06:00

I didn't realize when I picked this one up that it was a continuation of Bloodsucking Fiends with a cameo of Charlie from A Dirty Job. Looking at the order in which Christopher Moore's novels were written explains a lot. The ones that I didn't like so much were his older work, which sharply improved with Lamb and progressed through Fluke, The Stupidest Angel, A Dirty Job and now, You Suck.

I found You Suck to be an entertaining and enjoyable light read. Exactly what I needed.

Ysabel - Guy Gavriel Kay

2007-04-19T11:10:00.000-06:00

I was incredibly excited that Kay, author of one of my all-time favorite books: The Lions of Al-Rassan, had finally published a new novel. Boy, was I disappointed in this one.

Ysabel was somewhat of a continuation of The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, although it wasn't advertised that way. I kind of wish it had been so that my expectations would have been lower. While the premise was good and some of the characters were interesting, it just wasn't very well executed. It felt like it needed some serious editing to realize it's potential. I was particularly turned off by the weird sexual attraction that materialized out of nowhere at the end of the story between the high school kid and the woman who acted like his mom. When the author implied that they were having sex, I almost stopped reading the book in absolute disgust. Since it was only a few pages to the end I persevered and it redeemed itself somewhat, but I was seriously not impressed. In all, this novel was a disappointment.

Moab is my washpot – Stephen Fry

2007-04-12T16:36:00.000-06:00

I didn't realize that this was an autobiographical novel until I already had it out of the library. I can't decide if I liked it or not, but judging by the expression on my face while writing this, I didn't. It definitely isn't "the story of how great I am" or "the story of how I overcame adversity", which is good because I find those a bit off-putting (and which is why I seldom read autobiographies). If there is a quota for gay reading, I have filled it in the last month. If there is a quota for reading about poo I have reached that too. I'm sad to have read this because it seems to have somewhat tainted my view of "Making History". Drat.

Making history – Stephen Fry

2007-04-11T16:33:00.000-06:00

A complete turnaround on Fry. I loved this book! I enjoyed the concept (what effect would it have on the world if you send a male contraceptive pill back in time to Hitler's father well) and the characters, who I was both interested in and attached to. What a comeback!

A Peruvian diary : rescuing the spectacled bear – Stephen Fry

2007-03-31T16:29:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd continue on my Stephen Fry kick, since I had quite enjoyed "The Stars' Tennis Balls" (which, by the way, also goes by the title "Revenge: A novel" so don't take the same book out from the library twice like I did).

I'm not sure what I was expecting but this was not it. It was his journal while making a documentary. While I did enjoy some of the facts about Peru (contains two canyons which are more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon which is really fracking deep), I did not enjoy his lengthy descriptions of diarrhea. Not my deal at all.

Island of the sequined love nun – Christopher Moore

2007-03-29T16:26:00.000-06:00

More Moore. A bit better than the last Moore. I'm still not entirely clear on who was the sequined love nun after reading the correct book but it was definitely entertaining. Really, what book that contains a cross-dressing broken-english-speaking navigator wouldn't be?

Practical Demonkeeping - Christopher Moore

2007-03-26T19:24:00.000-06:00

The first tip on reading this book is to recall the title. I took out two Moore novels from the library and I was at the end of the book before I realized that the reason I couldn't figure out who the "sequined love nun" was is that the title belonged to the other book.

In general, not bad as Moore goes but not his best. I needed something mindless to break up the heavy non-fiction reading that I'm currently doing.

The Stars' Tennis Balls - Stephen Fry

2007-03-18T21:16:00.000-06:00

I picked up this book on Devin's recommendation, having read The Count of Monte Cristo. I was pleasantly surprised by the modern twist on the classic story. I found that having read "The Count" added to my enjoyment, rather than detracting from it. I could enjoy the comparisons between the two and the creative ways that Fry incorporated the Monte Cristo characters while staying true to modern locations and character motives.

I noticed that Fry changed several of the secondary characters from male to female, but I'm not sure whether this added to the story or not as all the secondary characters were less developed. I also found that the ending felt rushed (although 'The Count' is 1200 pages of fine print, so he had a lot more space to draw things out). The end result was much less uplifting and left less room for introspection on the consequences of his actions than the original had.

While I think I still prefer the original tale, this interpretation led me to better understand portions of the original. I will definitely be picking up more Stephen Fry.

The River Why - David James Duncan

2007-03-14T21:13:00.000-06:00

It's nice, every so often, to search out other books by a favorite author. Since reading "The Brothers K" and loving it, I have meant to pick up "The River Why" and I finally did. Boy was I disappointed. I can see how writing it eventually led to "The Brothers K", but it was certainly nowhere in the same realm. If you like fishing, you would probably like this book. If you don't, you likely won't. 'Nuff said.

My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Piccoult

2007-03-07T01:12:00.000-07:00

With the continued insomnia, I found this a fast read. The subject matter was interesting and gave quite a bit of ethical/moral food for thought. The characters and plot were both engaging. I found a few of the writer's quirks, a tendency to over-dramatize and overuse of simile, a bit off-putting, but overall it was well written.

A Dirty Job - Christopher Moore

2007-03-04T01:08:00.000-07:00

I actually would say that this is one of his better novels. I enjoyed all the characters and their quirks without any of them feeling forced or that he was trying to hard to be funny or outlanding. I enjoyed this one enought to think about purchasing it. A good read!

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven - Fannie Flagg

2007-02-28T01:02:00.000-07:00

As I said, I would read more by Fannie Flagg. After this one, I'm not sure I would. It had too many qualities in common with Fried Green Tomatoes, which made it less appealing. It was an okay read to pass the time during my continuing insomnia.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg

2007-02-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

I read this on the suggestion of a co-worker, although I normally don't like reading books when I've already seen the movie (in my world, it's book first then movie). It had been long enough since I saw the movie that I remembered very little though. I quite enjoyed the book and would definitely read other books by this author.

Falling Sideways - Tom Holt

2007-02-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

This was the one that I actually picked up first, which resulted in grabbing 'Valhalla' (which I regretted somewhat). It's actually far more cohesive and the main character more likable, but it still felt like a cheap knockoff of Douglas Adams. Based on this one I would be willing to read more by this author, with low expectations.

Teach Yourself Visually: Scrapbooking - Ludens and Schmidt

2007-02-21T01:06:00.000-07:00

I'm admitting a shameful secret here: I have become one of those people who reads books about their hobbies. There. The truth is out. I have to say that I didn't learn very much from this quite basic book, but I picked up a few tips and tricks here and there that I might try out at a later date.

Streeters - Rick Mercer

2007-02-20T01:03:00.000-07:00

I actually thought that I was ordering a DVD when I put this item on hold. It was impossible to read without hearing Rick Mercer's characteristic Maritime accent, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I have my head in the political sand most of the time so I'm sure that there was more I could have gotten out of it. It was a pleasant way to fill a half hour. Comedy should be used more often in political commentary. It's the only way that it doesn't put me to sleep.

Valhalla - Tom Holt

2007-02-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

I picked this book more or less at random since none of my holds were coming in and I was low on reading material. The quote on the cover proclaimed that it was "Brilliantly funny" but maybe I just don't get his sense of humor because I found it to be more "Oddly disjointed". I guess it was fine as mindless entertainment goes, I certainly wasn't looking for any depth, but he came off as trying to copy Douglas Adams and not quite getting it right. It didn't help that I found all of the main characters (except the reincarnation of Atilla the Hun) to be whiny and annoying. Odin included.

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife - Mary Roach

2007-02-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

For some unknown reason, I keep calling it "Spook: The Scientific Search for the Soul" which I actually think is a better, if slightly less accurate, title. I had great hopes for this book, after my great enjoyment of "Stiff" but it just didn't quite live up to those expectations. I was left wanting more, both in scope of the book and her 'logic' (some of the conclusions drawn did not logically follow). An enjoyable read but if you haven't yet read 'Stiff', read 'Spook' first so that you won't be disappointed.

The Wonder Spot - Melissa Bank

2007-02-10T23:35:00.000-07:00

I started reading this book and it seemed strangely familiar. That would be because I read it before, who knows how long ago, and didn't bother to take it off my list. Clearly the title doesn't relate well to the book. Good book though.

JPod - Douglas Coupland

2007-02-02T15:33:00.000-07:00

Finally, a Coupland novel where I felt at least somewhat connected to the characters (maybe you're supposed to feel disconnected because Gen X is supposed to be disconnected? I don't know).

Unfortunately this novel had three un-redeeming features (or whatever the opposite of redeeming feature is). Firstly, the author himself had a cameo in his own novel. I'm not sure what it was supposed to accomplish but the effect was egotistical and off-putting. The second, a common feature of Coupland novels, pages filled with semi-random words and phrases in all possible fonts, sizes and directions (I have yet to discern the point of these). Thirdly, and least annoying without the additive effect of point 2, the characters kept playing "ultimate nerd" contests with the other members of JPod, for example, to find the wrong digit in the first 100,000 digits of Pi, and then he includes the numbers - all SEVENTEEN PAGES. I can only assume that there was a wrong digit. Frankly, by that point, I didn't give a damn.

The Princess Bride - William Goldman

2007-01-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

After plowing through the 12,000 plus pages of 'The Count' I was ready for some light reading and had needed to return all of my other library books. I went back to this old favorite for comfort during my casted-hand time. 'The Princess Bride' is a geat exception to books-turned-movie everywhere in that I love the movie just as much as the book (and I have not yet found anyone who hates either). It is now impossible for me to read the book without the score of the movie playing in my head, with Inigo and Fezzik's voices coming through loud and clear.

Note to self: stop reading the 'first chapter of Buttercup's Baby' portion of the book. It makes you angry and have urges to kick the author in the head.

The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (Electric Bookaloo)

2007-01-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

For some reason it was incredibly difficult for me to get started on this book. Not that the size was daunting ("Les Miserables" is one of my favorites, Robert Jordan is my favorite author) but I had so many books on my night table that looked so much more interesting (exception: books on mortgages). Finally I returned all of my other library books and just dug in. By page 100 I was hooked. The troubles of Edmond Dantes, the ingenuity of the mad Abbe, the transition from bereft pauper to vengeful millionaire: virtually every word was gripping. Who would he deem worthy of help, who would he destroy, who would destroy themselves? Brilliant!

Thud! - Terry Pratchett

2006-12-31T23:32:00.000-07:00

As enjoyable as all of Terry Pratchett's City Watch novels, both humorous and suspenseful. I will be adding it to my booky wish list.

It also has the distinction of being book entry #50 this year.

Backlog of Rereads September to December

2006-12-30T23:22:00.000-07:00

I was having a bit of a rough time this fall and felt in need of comfort so I reread all of the following beloved books:

The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
The Shadow Rising - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
The Fires of Heaven - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
Lord of Chaos - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
A Crown of Swords - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
The Path of Daggers - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
Winter's Heart- Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
Crossroads of Twilight - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)
Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)

(Doug says that the next book should be called "Spatula of Glory" but I don't think it will be).

A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
A Storm of Swords - George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
A Feast for Crows - George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire) which I received in paperback for Christmas from both my Mom and Ivy

Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett (City Watch Trilogy)
Men at Arms - Terry Pratchett (City Watch Trilogy)
Feet of Clay - Terry Pratchett (City Watch Trilogy)
Night Watch - Terry Pratchett
Monstrous Regiment - Terry Pratchett

Microserfs - Douglas Coupland

2006-09-21T09:54:00.000-06:00

So apparently I read this book three months ago and didn't finish my post about it. I remember enjoying it more than many of his books, especially the parts about the giant lego.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking - Malcolm Gladwell (Regular Strength Book Club)

2006-09-08T14:29:00.000-06:00

This book reminded be very much of Freakonomics. It gave a very interesting, and somewhat research based, look at something we don't look at all that closely: first impressions. I read it quite quickly on a day that I was sick and I plan on rereading it for closer inspection. On first read I tend to take the information at face value but with the second I plan on picking things apart to see if they hold up on closer inspection.

An interesting read that gives new perspectives on gut reactions. My gut reaction was good, let's see what closer examination brings.

The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy - Guy Gavriel Kay

2006-09-07T14:25:00.000-06:00

This isn't actually one book, it's three: The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road. Since I read them in rapid succession, I only feel the need to write about them once.

I enjoyed the storyline and the characters in Fionavar, but my major complaint is that I just wasn't attached to the five main characters from our world. I didn't feel the connections between them, I didn't feel their pain and I honestly wasn't all that upset when some of them died. I was quite attached to many of the secondary characters though, and that's what kept me reading.

I can remember loving this trilogy when I first read it, but this time I was just left a little cold.

The Last Light of the Sun - Guy Gavreil Kay

2006-08-27T17:36:00.000-06:00

The latest book in my Kay-binge. I enjoyed it, but not quite on the same level as "Lions" and "Tigana". I enjoyed all of the little side stories; when a bit character appeared instead of just playing their tiny part and moving on with the story, a summary of the important parts of their lives and the impact of the one tiny action were illustrated, up to the character's dying day.

I was far less attached to the characters and the plot than is usual with Kay's novels, although I can't quite figure out why. I was drawn to keep reading but right after I finished his words faded quickly from my mind.

Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay

2006-08-20T17:26:00.000-06:00

I enjoyed this novel far more now than when I first read it (which was immediately after devouring The Lions of Al-Rassan, one of my all time favorite books).

The characters are well illustrated and sympathetic. The concept is smart: a country so hated by a wizard that he destroyed every aspect of it from the world, including it's name. A beautiful novel, which I highly recommend. I'd forgotten how much I loved books by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Dune Messiah - Frank Herbert

2006-08-16T17:19:00.000-06:00

I have to say that after such a fantastic start to the series, I am somewhat disappointed by Dune II. It was an easier read that the first book, since much of the setting, background, and lore are already established, but I cared much less about the characters this time through (and here she goes again about only loving character-driven novels). I did enjoy the concept of Face Dancers (shapechangers) and Ghola but I was overall uninspired by the plot. I found the events in the novel either painfully predictable or I just had no investment in the outcome and therefore no attachment or interest.

I'm not sure that I will continue with the series after this one.

--------

In other news, someone reads this! Hi Chris! Thanks for the comment; I might pick up "Dune, the movie".

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain

2006-08-02T14:09:00.000-06:00

I felt liked I'd missed something while reading Huck Finn, so I picked up this book to see what I'd missed.

I have to be honest, I much preffered the Advetures of Tom Sawyer to those of Huck Finn, although I can't exactly specify why. It may partly be all of the dialects used in Huck Finn were annoying to read.

At any rate, I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to readers young and old.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach (Regular Strength Book Club)

2006-07-30T14:29:00.000-06:00

The book was just as enjoyable on second reading as on the first. This book was my selection for Book Club and I was quite pleased with how it worked out. Our discussion was well-rounded, considering feelings and experiences as well as science-based argument. It was both enlightening and cathartic and overall highly satisfying.

Polaroids from the Dead - Douglas Coupland

2006-07-28T14:17:00.000-06:00

I was disappointed with this book, at least partly because I know very little about the Grateful Dead and Deadheads, and I have to admit I don't particularly care to. I was also disappointed by the inclusion of very interesting snapshots, with no explanation as to what they were of and their relevance, either historical or to the narrative. I finished the book without any real drive to do so, and felt a bit cheated, as if my time was wasted.

Generation X - Douglas Coupland

2006-07-25T14:12:00.000-06:00

Rolling along on my Coupland fixation, I picked up Generation X. I had left my book lying on the dining room table and Paul commented sarcastically on the 'original title'. That kind of cracked me up since Coupland was the one to coin the term (Had I not known that, I would have had the same reaction as Paul did).

The book is written a bit textbook style, with definitions in the margins. Those definitions, for me, were the most entertaining part of the book. I enjoyed the story and the characters, without either of them leaving a lasting impression on me, barring one moment (the "I've always wanted to do that" kiss, which was delightful).

Emma - Jane Austen (Electric Bookaloo)

2006-07-21T11:10:00.000-06:00

As a long time loather of Jane Austen, I was not exactly looking forward to reading more. Pride & Prejudice was one of the most painful reads for my I.B. English class (along with almost anything by Margaret Laurence) during the summer before grade 11. The word 'obsequiousness' still makes me cringe.

To be honest, Emma wasn't as bad as I was expecting. The actual plot of the book was somewhat entertaining and I enjoyed a few of the characters. Some of the other characters drove me crazy (Miss Bates talks a lot. I get it. Now shut the hell up.) For me, the most frequent reason to dislike books is that I don't like, and therefore don't care about, the main character. Come on, admit it: Emma is a spoiled, self-centred, interfering little brat.

I tried very hard to keep the historical perspective in mind but in most areas that didn't really help. Where it did help is that every time I thought to myself, "This book is so freaking predictable!", I reminded myself that it was likely that Ms. Austen did it first and the reason it was predictable is that all of the authors that use similar twists and storylines have probably copied it from her.

The biggest problem I had with the book, was that class distinction was such an issue. I know that was how it was back then but it makes by eyes boil in their sockets and lava spew from my mouth in complete fury and disgust.

I guess Jane Austen is just not for me.

A Song For Arbonne - Guy Gavriel Kay

2006-07-15T10:18:00.000-06:00

Since he's the author of one of my favorite books (The Lions of Al-Rassan), I thought I would pick up a few more of his books to burn through. I wasn't disappointed by this one, but toward the end I realized that I had read it before, a long time ago.

As always, I was so involved with the characters that when a character I didn't even like was killed I cried because I was so sad for his brother. While many of his books follow a somewhat similar 'formula', although not really a formula but just using many of the same ingredients, it's a good mixture of all of the things I enjoy about his books.

Hey Nostradamus! - Douglas Coupland

2006-07-09T10:09:00.000-06:00

An interesting look at high school massacres, from the viewpoints of one of the victims, her secret husband who took the blame, his next girlfriend, and his religion-crazed father. The focus of the book is not so much the massacre but the impact that it has on people's relationships with each other with god (and it definitely had some 'prodigal son' undertones).

Dune - Frank Herbert

2006-07-07T09:57:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned, I was in a reading rut. I don't think this meant that I had to move away from Fantasy/Sci Fi though. I think I needed to get back to roots.

I first picked up Dune when I was in Junior High, maybe 12 years old. I absolutely could not understand why people thought these books were so fabulous. Reading it now, I can understand why I thought that, I just wasn't ready for these books.

I already have the second book out from the library and ready to read. Was there a movie of this? Am I crazy? (The voices in my head say: "No.") Parts of this reminded me of Tremors (one of my old boyfriend's favorite movies, seriously) but I think Tremors stole from Dune and then dumbed it down.

I was fascinated by the focus on ecology, the difference between the characters' voices, and the entire story line. I was a tiny bit put off by the volume of 'invented' words, which is a common complaint in that genre. Every sentence made me crave a tall, cool glass of water.

Frank Herbert is clearly a master of Sci Fi and the art in writing.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain (Electric Bookaloo)

2006-07-03T19:32:00.000-06:00

I found this novel surprisingly hard to get into, possibly because of all the different dialects used. Once Tom Sawyer entered the story the pace and humour picked up and I enjoyed to the end. Press on, it's worth it.

All Families are Psychotic - Douglas Coupland

2006-07-01T19:29:00.000-06:00

And I thought my family was messed up! A novel so strange you hardly believe it. The twists and turns and who caught what disease from whom held my interest to the end. An enjoyable read. Must find more (later) Coupland.

Needed an editor with better grammar - not the person who circled errors in pen in my library copy.

Girlfriend in a Coma - Douglas Coupland

2006-06-27T19:22:00.000-06:00

I was stuck in a reading rut- bored with my usual fare and the bookclub pace had slowed. At the library I was browsing through the shelves (a rare occasion for me) when I remembered that Devin had mentioned Douglas Coupland at our last book club. I promptly took out two of his books and put another two on hold.

I devoured this novel at record pace, probably due to severe literary dehydration. The concept was interesting. Best friend dies becomes ghost-thing (?). Girlfriend experiences premonition, has sex, goes into coma, is pregnant, premonitions come true. Baby is born, time passes, everyones lives are dull and meaningless. Girlfriend awakes and drama ensues. I wasn't wild about the ending, I found it kind of anticlimactic. I wasn't attached enough to the characters to feel their losses, but I wasn't bored either.

The Life of Pi - Yann Martel (Regular Strength Book Club)

2006-06-23T19:38:00.000-06:00

I first read this book when it came out in paperback several years ago. If you asked me what I thought I would just say I didn't like it, especially the end which made me feel duped and ripped off.

On second reading I enjoyed much more. The first half of the novel was interesting from both biological and religions points of view, while the second half was more entertaining because I could look for the clues that I missed the first time. I also found the epilogue more comforting this time through.

Monstrous Regiment - Terry Pratchett

2006-06-10T01:41:00.000-06:00

This is very likely my most favorite Terry Pratchett novel. The vampire hooked on coffee, troll flirting (smack him between the eyes with a rock, that'll get his attention) and various people being kicked in the sock drawer or being told to stick it up their jumper. What's not to love?

A Feast for Crows - George R.R. Martin

2006-06-09T18:44:00.000-06:00

I hate it when authors get going in a complex and involved storyline, introduce a bunch of new characters and barely even mention the old and beloved ones. If it's too big to fit in the book, then damn well make a bigger book, I say. When is the next one out? Soon I hope because book three hooked me.

A Storm of Swords - George R.R. Martin

2006-05-28T19:47:00.000-06:00

This book was the reason there is all sorts of hooplah about this series. This is the fantastic one. I actually had my jaw hanging open in complete shock near the end of this book. This book is why I bought the series and am waiting with baited breath for my hold to come up at the library.

I should also mention that I am enjoying the references to Egg and Ser Duncan the Tall built into this book. I don't know how many people caught that but if not, go and read Mr. Martin's stories in the Legends books.

Fables (Legends in exile and Animal Farm) - Bill Willingham (Regular Strength Book Club)

2006-05-23T22:51:00.000-06:00

I have to say that I wish I had read these before reading Maus. That book has ruined other graphic novels for me. The storyline was okay, although I was really struck by the boy-ness of it all (unnecessary cursing, lithe and lovely big breased nymphs prancing about in panties and sharing a bed.) I also would have enjoyed the concept more if I had not read Jasper Fforde's The Big Over Easy first.

I really need to re-read before I can comment in more detail.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister - Gregory Maguire

2006-05-10T21:06:00.000-06:00

Written from the perspective of the younger "ugly stepsister" in the Cinderella tales, this twist on a fable gives an entirely new view of the traditional fairy story. The shocking twist, the ugly stepsister doubles in the role of fairy godmother. This novel deals with the traditional issues of good versus evil, the nature of beauty, greed and greed's consequences, without losing sight of the humanity of it all. Wonderfully executed as always, Gregory Maguire is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

To Have and To Hold - Jane Green

2006-05-07T21:09:00.000-06:00

I grabbed this book on a whim by the library checkout since I was in the mood for some mindless fluff and ChickLit generally fills that need. As fluff goes it was not bad; predictable and British and a bit feel-good.

Maus - Art Speigelman

2006-05-04T04:04:00.000-06:00

The last graphic novel I tried to read left me disappointed, thinking "Well what's the difference between this and a comic book?"

Maus is not a comic book. There's no superhero, no larger than life figures; there's just a story within a story. Maus is both brilliant and subtle. I tend not to focus on the drawings but some of them irresistably drew the eye (pun intended). It was highly recommended to me and I highly recommend it in turn.

A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin

2006-05-02T01:14:00.000-06:00

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book. Maybe I didn't read it fast enough but I was much less attached to the characters and much less invested in their lives (and partly that I was over invested in Season 1 of Veronica Mars). I have gotten more used to his writing style though and that has made me more comfortable with these books. I look forward to reading further in the series.

Why do men have nipples?: hundreds of questions you'd only ask a doctor after your third martini - Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg

2006-04-30T23:01:00.000-06:00

I think my expectations were a bit too high for this book. It would probably be better reading after the third martini. The book included IM conversations between the authors, which took some getting used to. I didn't learn as much as I would have liked and it wasn't quite as funny as I expected.

Illumination Night - Alice Hoffman (Regular Strength Book Club)

2006-04-28T22:06:00.000-06:00

I think it helped that my expectations were low. I had read the library summary of the book and it sounded incredibly boring. The writing style bugged me but the story itself was okay. I liked Simon and the Giant, which I think was the intent. Definitely not a book I would have picked on my own.

Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger (Electric Bookaloo)

2006-04-22T11:08:00.000-06:00

We selected this book based on the following:
1) It's a classic
2) None of us had read it
3) People should read classics.

The result:
1) I don't understand why it's a classic
2) I can see how it inspired both the style and content of many other novels
3) I don't understand why people love this book. It made my head hurt.

If You Want To Write - Brenda Ueland

2006-04-09T21:00:00.000-06:00

This book came lowly recommended (from the blog of someone that I actually dislike quite a bit but love to hate). It met my expectations, somewhat like those wedding books where the author tells you all about her wedding and how perfect it was but very little about how to plan your own. It has that "yay me" feel to it and I didn't bother to finish it before it was due back at the library. To add to this, some twit had pencilled in exclamations of agreement in the margins. Bleah.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach

2006-04-07T20:48:00.000-06:00

Since I generally read while eating, it took me a while to get through this book and my meals.

A respectful, informative, and often funny look at what happens to a body after the light goes out (and when that moment actually is). Not only did I learn a lot and enjoy the reading, it made me think about what I might want to do with my own body when I'm done with it. I highly recommend reading this book (unless you are really squeamish).

Bee Season: A Novel - Myla Goldberg

2006-04-02T20:53:00.000-06:00

There are parts of this novel that I can't quite get out of my head. It's a fascinating view of a dysfunctional family, exploring the issues and perspectives of each member until you can see why they don't function properly but still don't see how to fix it. I had trouble putting it down but I still can't quite put my finger on why.

The Big Over Easy - Jasper Fforde (Regular Strength Book Club)

2006-03-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Or "Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed".

A murder mystery from the perspective of the Nursery Crimes Division. I enjoyed the extra dimension of picking out the bits of nursery rhymes and figuring out the ones I missed. The twists and turns of the murder mystery I just never saw coming.

I look forward to reading more Jasper Fforde.

Jingo - Terry Pratchett

2006-03-22T23:53:00.000-07:00

Jingo has got to be one of my top five favorite Pratchett novels - one of the Watch books. An island is discovered between Ankh-Morkpork and Klatch. Of course the two countries have to fight over who owns this strategically important piece of land.

Pratchett pokes fun at racists every where, gently pointing out the error of their ways by making them laugh at themselves. The book also features the absentminded genius Leonard of Quirm, one of my personal favorites.

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

2006-03-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was both excited and intrigued by this book, since I saw the trailers for the movie and I knew nothing about geisha and next to nothing about Japan. I found every part of this book fascinating, not just the story (beautiful poor girl becomes rich and powerful after overcoming many obstacles and struggles) but the insights into the culture and examples of such different ways of thinking. I was enchanted by the rich tapestry of Japanese life, and my life was enriched by learning more about it. I look forward to seeing the movie, to see how accurate the images in my mind were or if I need to readjust my perceptions yet again.

Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brashares

2006-03-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

Fluffy and girly YA fiction. Just what the doctor ordered (I read the entire book in the middle of the night when I was coughing too much to sleep). If you've read the first two books, this is more of the same. I don't feel like I need to say any more about it.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Gregory Maguire

2006-03-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

A fairy tale for grownups, this book gives you the Witch's Eye view of the story of Oz. Starting before her birth, it explains how the Wicked Witch came to be, her family, her friends and her part in the underground rebellion against the Wizard of Oz. While travelling off the beaten Yellow Brick Road, she examines Animal Rights, the nature of good and evil, god, the afterlife, love and forgiveness.

I highly recommend it, and I plan on reading more Gregory Maguire as soon as possible.

Eragon - Christopher Paolini (Regular Strength Book Club)

2006-03-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

Written by a fifteen year old, and you can tell. The best thing I can say about this book is that I can see how kids would love it. The only other good thing is that it does get better as the book progresses. I wanted to take a red pen to the entire book and fix it.

It's a mish mash of characters and plot stolen from Anne McCaffrey, Robert Jordan, and Tolkien (among others) and then watered down. It has the required dwarves, elves, dragons, kings and shades. The words "bad fantasy" were created for this book. If I didn't have to read it for my book club I would not have finished it. I thought the main character was a bit of an idiot.

In summary: Boy finds dragon egg, dragon egg hatches and (instead of biting his idiot fingers off) befriends him. They have an adventure. The End.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - Michael Chabon (Book Club II: Electric Bookaloo)

2006-02-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

In a word: brilliant.

Kavalier, a Polish Jew obsessed with Houdini, escapes Nazi rule - leaving his family behind - and comes to America where he meets his cousin Clay, a comic-obsessed young American Jew with polio-shrivelled legs. The two conspire to create a comic book hero "The Escapist" who can do all of the things they wish they could. Funny, fascinating, often heartbreaking, you won't want to put this book down. I know I didn't.

A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin

2006-02-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

The first in the series: A Song of Ice and Fire. I actually started this book in December and had to return it to the library when I was halfway done. When I tried to buy my own copy, it was sold out. Luckily Melly gave it to me for Christmas/Birthday.

It was nice to find a new fantasy author who writes well (and doesn't resort to all the stereotypes). I don't think I'll ever love his books as much as my favorites but I enjoyed both the storyline and the characters.

The book focuses on a family, the Starks; Mother, Father, two daughters, three sons, and one bastard son. Their story is interwoven with the tale of the new King and his family, the deposed king's descendants living across the ocean, and the beginning of several wars that none of them really sought.

Legends II - Edited by Robert Silverberg

2006-02-12T12:52:00.000-07:00

New short novels by the masters of modern fantasy.

Realm of the Elderlings: Homecomming - Robin Hobb

A dark and enthralling look at colonization in a new world.

A Song of Ice and Fire: The Sworn Sword - George R.R. Martin

The continuing story of Ser Dunk and Egg. A good read of standard fantasy.

The Tales of Alvin Maker: The Yazoo Queen - Orson Scott Card

I disliked the tale of Alvin Maker in the first "Legends" book so much that I didn't even read this one.

Outlander: Lord John and the Succubus - Diana Gabaldon

Too much sex to be real fantasy. (Although I did enjoy that the main character was gay, it was unexpected and refreshing.) The storyline itself was quite interesting. Somewhere between romance and fantasy and murder mystery.

Majipoor: The Book of Changes - Robert Silverberg

How did he come to the decision on who is, in fact, a master of modern fantasy since he his own stories in both books? I was fairly bored by the story of a captive poet, a poor little rich boy tale.

Otherland: The Happiest Dead Boy in the World - Tad Williams

Fascinating. A dead boy lives on in some kind of Cyberspace chasing a woman who claims he impregnated her (maybe, I'm not quite sure). I didn't follow parts of the story but enjoyed it notheless.

Pern: Beyond Between - Anne McCaffrey

A short and sweet story of bonding between rider and dragon.

The Riftwar: The Messenger - Raymond E. Feist

A small scale story, but interesting and well written. I even felt ill and exhausted when the main character did.

The Symphony of Ages - Elizaberth Haydon

A story of endings, hope, martyrdom and deception. I would like to find other books by her, since I have never even heard of this "master of modern fantasy".

American Gods: The Monarch of the Glen - Neil Gaiman

Much like American Gods; I have the same complaints of detachement from Shadow.

Shannara: Indomitable - Terry Brooks

It was okay, but not great, athough someone who had read the book that this is an add on too might have enjoyed it more. For some reason the name Kimber fills me with irrational irritation.

Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett

2006-01-31T15:26:00.000-07:00

A dying wizard passes on his powers and his staff to the eighth son of an eighth son, but doesn't actually check to see that the newborn is a boy. Not quite a witch and not quite a wizard, the young wizitch tries to find her place in a men's world. Features Granny Weatherwax, one of my favorite characters.

The end of my Pratchett kick for now.

A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

2006-01-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

I was mostly bored reading this book. The writing style is exhausting to plow through to glean the tidbits of actual story line. I quickly got tired of reading "shit" and "blood" and "vomit" and "fuck" and "cry" and "i put my arms around him and I hug him" everything else that was repeated over and over. It reads like an eight year old's journal with adult subject matter. Generally it was a waste of my time; please don't waste yours.