The Year of the Flood

Okay, post 2 for the day. This time it's The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Athwood. She wrote, most famously, The Handmaid's Tale.

The story focuses on two characters in a cult called God's Gardeners in the future- not too distant future, but probably 100 years or so from now. The God's Gardeners believ that a Waterless Flood is coming and that they know the way to survive it and what God has called them to live like.

So, the story is written both from a past and current perpective, essentially showing through these character's perspectives how the Waterless Flood comes about (and it does! Those guys were right!) and how they survived. It's written like a typical Atwood book, if you're at all familiar with her- clever, socially poignant, and with enough surprises to keep the plot interesting. Overall, the pace is slow, but still interesting enough to keep your attention.

Honestly, I don't have any complaints about the book. I didn't love it, but oh well. It was amazing for what it was, but it just isn't my favorite style.

There you have it- recommended for sure, but it's certainly not for everyone.

Happy Reading!

The Signal

Next one up (last week) was The Signal by Ron Carlson.

I finished this book like a week ago, and I just never got around to the post. I guess that lack of motivation says something about the way I feel about this book.

It was... okay. The plot is centered on a divorced couple going on a fishing trip that's been a tradition of theirs since before they were married. Not a drama necessarily, the book was more of an "ode to nature" and the Wyoming wilderness. It was written in this slow and steady pace that makes me think of an old cowboy... or Hemingway. And let me tell you, I canNOT stand Hemingway. So picturing the author as a cowboy made it easier. :)

Now, the good stuff. I really liked the plot. I liked the simplicity of the work and the way it unfolded. It was refreshing to read something that wasn't in your face- it was filled with the couple's nuances and hurt feelings.

Unfortunately, it was forgettable. That's all I really have to say... to elaborate would probably be to put the book down, and I don't want to do that. I really did like it.

So, the recommendation. Yes, of course, I would say read it. It didn't change my life, but it was interesting and endearing. If you like Hemingway's pace, Carlson's a good idea for you. If you don't like Hemingway or cowboys... well, then, skip it.

Happy Reading!

I See Rude People

Hey there! Next one up was I See Rude People by Amy Alkon. She's a syndicated advice columnist that also has a blog that apparently is really successful.

So anyways, it's a lot like the title makes it sound. Alkon, a fiery little redhead, sees rudeness and tries to make it right in some way or another. Either she calls the person out, sues telemarketers, sends bills to stores that try to survey her, or she implores others to do the same.

Now, here's the issue. Yes, some of the stories are funny, and one is downright hilarious. Alkon tracked down the person that stole her car when she wasn't getting police cooperation, and started calling him. She even got a friend of hers, MARLON BRANDO, yep, the real one, ask the guy to return her car. And he did!

So even though some stories were good... she's kind of mean. Scratch that- really mean. And she's pretty much just an angry person, giving people what she thinks they're earning. I can't get on board with that, sorry! I don't want that hunt for rudeness to define who I am, thanks.

Anyways, some of the stories are really, really funny. Some are annoying. Some are more than annoying, they're irritating. I do NOT recommend the book, unless you feel like heading straight to the story on the guy that stole her car.

So, do you disagree? Have you read this, or her column? Happy Reading!

In the Valley of the Kings

Alright, this one was In the Valley of the Kings by Terrence Holt. It was a collection of short stories (and reading short stories is a square on my library bingo card, yeah!).

Holt writes these stories that are all fascinating and a bit macabre, definitely off their collective rockers. He writes like Edgar Allen Poe, a bit, though I didn't like all of his stories as much as I tend to like Poe... So anyways. One story is about a guy whose dad is literally just a beating heart (?) that he carries around in a mayo jar... he can hear the heart talking, moving, laughing, and the heart responds to him. It's... weird. My two favorites were the first one, the title of which I can't write unless I learn how to write in Greek, and the title piece, the short story In the Valley of the Kings. The first was about a girl who has a word printed in bruises all over her body, and it was heartbreaking and endearing. In the Valley of the Kings was also heartbreaking, but extremely relatable... and majorly creepy. At least, I thought so.

So, while I really liked some of the stories, I'll be honest. I didn't "get" some of the others. I would kind of love to read this with some other people and really dissect the stories, a la high school and college English classes. But just reading them through left me scratching my head a bit, you know?

The good news is that I absolutely recommend this. I think Poe is considered a "classic" author so people say they like him, but if you reallllly enjoy the twisted mind that comes through in his work, read these stories immediately. They're thought provoking and wondrous. If you only know Poe for marrying his 13-year-old cousin, well then, you might want to pass.

So, what are your thoughts? Would you read these? Know of any authors like this? Happy reading!

Some Things That Meant the World to Me

Okay, back to the adult books, shall we? Next one on the list was Some Things That Meant the World to Me by Joshua Mohr.

I hate expectations. Unfortunately, I'm also a daydreamer, so by the time I get a book that I order for-ev-er ago, I've thought through what the book might be about, why the waiting is so long, why so many people like it, etc. Especially when a book has a title that seems so sappy, my mind runs wild. Most often I'm wrong, but rarely am I so dead wrong that I think I may have accidentally had a lobotomy. Thanks Mr. Mohr for making me feel crazy.

I pictured something totally different, something gushy and thankful, a memoir perhaps, maybe the diary of a Depression-era girl... I don't know! What I didn't expect, however, was the fictional story of a man, reliving his terrible past through nightmares and hallucinations that have made him CRA-ZY. Like, certifiable. I almost put the book down more than once, but I had accidentally read the acknowledgements in the back first (and let me tell you, I recommend it. They're funny), and that was literally the only reason I kept reading. I'm glad I did though, and here's why. Rarely have I found a book that is so... tweaked, so messed up, so sad... and with such heart. Really. And it's not sappy AT ALL! Mohr finds a way to cruelly show the abuses the character (a boy named Rhonda) goes through in all their vulgarity and still give you hope that, in some messed up way, we'll all find where we're meant to be. It was nice in a twisted sort of way.

So, there you have it. I definitely recommend it, but with a catch- it's not for those with weak stomachs, you know? It's not terrible, but I would absolutely say that you should approach it with caution. If you think you're interested, give it a shot! Happy Reading!

Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me?

Okie doke... next one on the list is... Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? by Louise Rennison. It's the tenth and final book in the diary series of character Georgia Nicolson.

It basically shows you how much I love you all, because I canNOT believe that I 1)got this book from the library, 2)read this book, 3) confessed to you that I read this book, and 4) am trying to analyze this for you. WOW.

I'll start by saying that this was better than I expected- when I saw the list, I couldn't believe that I was going to have to read a book with the word basoomas in the title, and I thought the worst. It wasn't raunchy or anything like that, so already, I was happy. Essentially, the book is the diary of a 15-year-old British girl's life. Think being one of the plastics in Mean Girls, only British.

Yeah.

Here's the problem: I literally got dumber reading this. I felt important information I gained during college slipping away, replaced by words like "basoomas" and "nunga-nungas" (a synonym to "basoomas", in case you were wondering). It was... indescribable. And really difficult to read. First of all, being the tenth in the series, there were a ton of inside jokes I had missed. Secondly, she's 15. At fifteen, my friends and I made up words too (coughcoughMelissaMealeyJulieGuerreroKatieCowanJenMosscoughcough), so that was way confusing. Then, she's British, and while I know lots of British slang (or so I thought), I don't seem to know enough. So... it took some decoding. If I had started from the first book, I might have gotten more. To her credit, Rennison puts a glossary in the back of the book, which I discovered AFTER, sadly. It would have made my life easier, but alas... So if you're reading the book, look for that. So here's an example of something she said, so you understand.

"9:17 am.
If he gets the numpty about a bit of twisting, what number on the Having a Hump Scale would he get to for accidental snogging?"

or,

"Mabs said, 'It's his hot Pizza-a-gogo blood. They get vair jealous.'
Rosie said, 'You might have to eschew Dave the Laugh with a firm hand for a bit.'
Ok, well, I can knock it on the head laaarfwise with the Hornmeister.
It's a shame.
But ho hum, pig's bum."

See how much I love you all? I kept reading this stuff. And, much to my chagrin, I kind of enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong, it was ridiculous. Absolutely unadulterated ridiculousness. But... it was quite funny. Fifteen-year-old me would have laffed her arse off. Twenty-five-year-old me laughed quite a bit as well. As a character, Georgia is funny and oblivious and opinionated and confused, and read very true as a 15-year-old. Her friends are similar, with their own awkward tendencies. They're all discovering who they are in ways that they'll be embarrassed to tell people about when they're older, like one girl and her boyfriend going to a concert in matching unitards and starting a conga line. The weird drama teacher's interpretation of Romeo and Juliet gets funnier and funnier with each passing practice, and I genuinely wanted to see what the play would look like.

So, there you have it. Unbelievably, I really liked the book... but it wasn't thought provoking or anything. So, if you want to remember being 15, if you want to give your mind a break and just be entertained, or if you know someone that would like this, I recommend starting at the beginning of the series.

Has anyone read this? Could you ever bring yourself to try it? Lemme know your thoughts!

Brooklyn

Okay, back from vacation. While away, I finished Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin. It's a story of a girl from Ireland that comes to Brooklyn in the 1950s for the work opportunities.

So, the main character, Eilis, is in her late teens/ early twenties when she moves to the US, and I loved the book's depiction of the actual moving process and how much having people you know helps. I've never moved from Ireland, I've never been across the Atlantic on a sealiner, I've never lived in Brooklyn, etc... but I still felt like this was an unvarnished, although PG-13 of what a young woman's experiences might be doing all of these things. After the actual move, the book delves into how she acclimates herself to life in America.

Alright, the verdict. I really, really liked this book. I loved the descriptions of Ireland, the travelling, the hope that she felt, the United States through Eilis's eyes... it was all interesting, refreshing, and enjoyable. It didn't change my life, but I would absolutely recommend it.

So there you go. Give it a shot, really! It was quite good. Lemme know what you think!

A mid-year update...

Hey, this is just a quick update...

So, I'm going to be gone the next few days, as we move into July, which is officially the half-year marker for this ridiculousness. Sooo, we'll pretend this is that time. As of the halfway marker in terms of time, I have:

read 32 books from the list.
read just over 10,000 pages. (Catching Fire pushed me over the edge, to 10,258.)
received 2 comments. Hahaha!
read 1/5ish of the list.

Needless to say, I'm way way way off pace. And this blog isn't exactly gathering steam the way I hoped it would. Do you have any suggestions for things that would make this a better/ more enjoyable/ more engaging blog? Have y'all gone and read any of the suggestions?

Anyhoo, that's where I'm at! Thanks to everyone that's reading!

Catching Fire

Okay, this one's a special one- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. It's the second book in The Hunger Games series, and the 3rd is coming out in August.

This one is special because my darling friend Rhonda pestered me for weeks and weeks on end, beginning in March or so, to read the series. I explained to her that I simply had too many books in line, but that in 2011 I'd give it some thought if she was lucky. She returned gloating later to inform me that Catching Fire was on the list, so I'd have to read it... and I think she may have added a few nyah nyahs in there, too.

So, Rhonda knows how I feel about the series, because after the first one, The Hunger Games, I called her and firmly announced that I hated her for getting me hooked, and then we dissected. We also did this yesterday afternoon when I finished the second book in a record 5 hours.

So, on to the book. I LOVED IT. Can't you tell? Let me explain a bit.

The Hunger Games, which is where I have to start, is about a semi post-apocalyptic country that formed in which one central government rules dictatorially over twelve districts. To show off their power, once a year, one male and one female citizen between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district (24 in all) are drawn from a hat and thrown into an arena in which they fight to the death... on television. And the Games are required viewing for the whole country.

Fascinating, right? It is. But here's my favorite part. The characters are sheer brilliance. They're endearing but human, survivalists with hearts, strong and strong-willed but compassionate... I loved every single page. The story line, which I think is genius, would have been nothing without these characters.

I know that I'm basically writing a review on The Hunger Games, not Catching Fire, but for a good reason- I needed to set the foundation. Catching Fire has the same characters, but more of the good vs. evil battle that I love so much. This was amazing and strong, a great sequel that stands alone as its own without riding on the success of the previous book.

So there, I loved it. Will you read it? I promise, it's worth it!

Ablutions

Okay, next one up is Ablutions by Patrick DeWitt. The subtitle, which I'm usually so fond of, is "Notes for a Novel". This is gonna be a short one, just like the book.

So, the premise of this book is that there's a Hollywood bartender that is, just like the subtitle says, taking notes for a novel. He takes notes on customers- former child stars, drug dealers, the whole nine yards. Everyone makes an appearance in the book.

In theory, I love this. The first couple of pages were great- the concept is interesting and thought-provoking, and many of the characters were pure genius.

Buuuuttt.... boy, I hated the book. Honestly. It got more and more depressing as the narrator's notes showed his own life spiralling out of control, the way he was wasting anything and everything, even losing his own marriage. Eventually, it just got plain gross and crude. So I stopped reading it.

There aren't many books I don't finish, but boy... it was nottt good. No thank you.

Care to disagree? C'mon, lemme know!

A Homemade Life

Hey all! Next one on the list was A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from my Kitchen Table, by Molly Wizenberg. She's the creator of the blog Orangette, which is also a major part of the book- so if you're familiar with the blog, you'll see where this is going.

I love subtitles, because so often, you know exactly what you're getting. I mean, how great is it to know just what to expect? Of course, it can't tell you everything, but still, they're pretty great.

Ahem. All that to say that even if you're not familiar with Wizenberg's blog (as I wasn't), the subtitle sums up the book pretty well- it is literally an entire book of life stories and the recipies that went with specific life experiences or phases. She's not a cook (though she could be) and she IS a writer, so this was a pretty easy, interesting read. I loved how affectionate she was about food and how, for her, it was a way to relate to things in the world. Her stories and memories were happy, sad, vulnerable, and relatable- from her dad's death to meeting her husband... it's all in there. I could identify with her, and I wanted to try all of her recipes- now that's what marks the success of a food writer, yeah? I absolutely, unequivocally, LOVED this book.

Now, the bad news. I can't try one darn thing she writes about. BUMMER. I'm 97% sure I'm super allergic to dairy (sigh) and I'm phasing it out completely, which is the only way to know for sure, yaddayaddayadda. Most of what she makes is slathered in butter or cream or something delicious that is now strictly off limits... (double sigh), so I can't even tell you if any of it is good or not. But I CAN tell you that when she described her salad with pistachios and chocolate, chocolate cupcakes with mittersweet glaze, her buttermilk vanilla bean cake with glazed oranges and creme fraiche, her French style yogurt cake with lemon (sensing a pattern here? I was attracted to her desserts...), espresso-walnut toffee, her dad's French toast, Dutch baby pancakes with lemon and sugar, her own ranch dressing, and best of all, her wedding cake... well, I had to keep myself from drooling. Maybe you aren't quite there yet, but oh, you will be...

So will someone please, please, PLEASE try these for me? I want to live vicariously through you. Anyone an Orangette follower? Would you buy this book for the recipes or for the stories?

Asterios Polyp

Hey all! Next one was Asterios Polyp, by David Mazzucchelli, the cartoonist. Asterios Polyp is the name of the main character, an architect in the 70s-ish.

So, the thing about this is that it's a graphic novel. I cringed at the thought, but this is A-MAZING. Changed my perspective on the possibilities that a graphic novel holds. This isn't like an anime graphic novel or anything- it emphasizes the word novel. Mazzucchelli is witty and interesting and detailed, dealing with serious issues that happen to be done in cartoon. As character's views or feelings change, he draws them differently, highlighting the differences in perspective. He uses different colors when illustrating past and present, making the book easy to read. I was constantly surprised, intrigued, and in suspense.

Can you tell I loved it? In short, I think Mazzucchelli's a genius.

The bad news is sort of minor, and you may not be affected by it. There were a few sex scenes that I thought were either unnecessary, or could have been less... revealing. I'm pretty conservative though, so you may not care about that at all, or be bothered by it.

Alright, so there you have it. Look into it, please. Artistically, it's stimulating and easy to follow. Intellectually, it's riveting and detailed; I could have poured over this for a long, long time, soaking in every little thing. Will you take a chance and look for it? Have you got a graphic novel favorite?

Anyways, let me know your thoughts!

The Windup Girl

Hey all, I'm back. Next one up was The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. It's a fantasy novel based in the future (who knows when), after genetic mutations have essentially diseased the world into just a few major cities that struggle to exist against diseases and warfare.

So.

Because, in the book, diseases have wiped out most of the world's natural resources, calories are considered currency- a means to survival. The beginning is fascinating, seeing people's priorities so different, with things like ice being considered a luxury because of the cost of cooling systems.

But then... I got really bored. It's set in Thailand, which I don't know much about, and the cultural customs and language tidbits Bacigalupi threw in there were, I'll be honest, overwhelming. Add to that the terminology that he uses for future technology and, well, I was done. I literally kept reading only because my other books hadn't come from the library. Things about Bacigalupi's writing irritated me and frankly, I'm a bit picky. I started keeping a tally of how many times he used certain words (he called one character "dour" five times in the first 7 chapters or so, and said "tomes" 4 in the same amount of time) because I was annoyed. But I kept reading... and I'm glad I did.

So here's the thing. I like reading about people in desperate situations. Maybe it's a little sick, but I think humans are fascinating in the way we deal with conflict, war, famine, family struggles... whatever. I love reading about, when the rubber meets the road, which survival instinct takes over. I think Bacigalupi does a great job of showing the different ways that people react in dire situations.

So do I recommend this book? Yes. I had a difficult time getting past the hundred page marker, but once I did, I was hooked. Especially if you like the idea of post-apocalyptic, futuristic survival... this one's for you.

So who are my fantasy fans out there? Anything I should know when reading fantasy in the future? I'm not that familiar with the genre; what makes a good fantasy novel? Will you give this one a shot?

Mannahatta

Next book up is Mannahatta, A Natural History of New York City by Eric W. Sanderson. This book celebrates the 400th anniversary of New York last year, 2009.

So.

The author, Sanderson, writes this book primarily as an ecological and historical tribute to New York, researching the beginnings of the city and even anticipating changes that may come in the next 400 years. He himself is an ecologist, and uses some fancy mapping program thingy to show what different parts of New York City looked like 400 years ago, and shows side-by-side comparisons of then and now. The pictures are, in a word, awesome.

Aside from the many, many pictures, Sanderson offers the history of the city, from the tribe, the Lenape, that originally occupied the land, to how industry has affected the landscape and the city. He tells myths from the Lenape and discusses the log books of those that made the earliest voyages to Mannahatta ("Island of Many Hills") and scoped it out, then settled. He is thorough, thorough, thorough, down to the flora and fauna and birds and other animals that are indigenous to New York City. He also predicts, based on science and a little bit of assuming, what NYC will look like in 2409 and what city life will include. He highlights that especially in New York, the resources simply aren't there to sustain the pace of consumption, so something will have to change. Were I an ecologist, this would be an extremely impressive collection of information.

But here's the thing: I'm not an ecologist. I'm not even a New Yorker, nor have I ever desired to be (sorry). So while I found the history absolutely fascinating, the science was... meh. I hate reducing what is OBVIOUSLY a ton of work down to a meh, but there you have it.

Here's the second drawback- this isn't a coffee table book that you can peruse, so it's only for the serious readers. You could, I suppose, just look at the pictures, but in my opinion, their significance would be lost without the text. And this book is heavy- both literally and in information. It's 243 pages of the actual book, then 60+ of appendixes and notes, and 40+ for the bibliography and citations. In the end, it's a hardcover, 350 pages monster of a book, and it costs $40. Yikes.

The good news is really, really good. If you're a New Yorker, love New York, or love science and whatnot- this is a GREAT source of information, neatly compiled into one pot of gold. It would be a great gift or investment if you're at all interested. But this book has a specific target audience, obviously.

So, what do you think? Would you look into this? Any ideas who you might get it for any other questions or comments? Happy reading!

The Anthologist

Next book on the chopping block is The Anthologist, by Nicholson Baker. For some reason, I kept thinking anthropologist, not anthologist, so I realllllly had no idea what to expect.

So, the book is basically about a man that's compiling an anthology of poems (hence that anthologist part) and is having trouble writing the introduction, so... he writes this book about how he's having trouble writing the introduction.

Thank goodness he did.

For the first chapter or so, I literally wrote down something on every page that I wanted to share as hilarious, or true, or randomly delightful. Then I realized that it seemed the whole book was going to be that way, so I'd better knock it off or I'd be copying the whole book onto a library receipt. So here are just a few...

"His name is Paul, and my name is Paul. Paul: What is that crazy U doing there? Paw- U- L" (p5).

" I've always been attracted to short women. They're usually smarter and more interesting than tall women and yet people don't take them as seriously. And it's a bosomy kind of generous smartness, often" (p7). (Truer words have never been spoken :) )

(About sending poems in to be published)"And I'll flip through the newest issue, walking back from my blue mailbox, hunting for the poem he chose over mine, and it'll be the same thing as always. The prose will have pulled back, and the poem will be there, cavorting, saying, I'm a poem, I'm a poem. No, you're not! You're an imposter, you're a toy train of pretend stanzas of chopped garbage. Just like my poem was" (p 23).

"At some point you have to set aside snobbery and what you think is culture and recognize that any random episode of Friends is probably better, more uplifting for the human spirit, than ninety-nine percent of the poetry or drama or fiction or history ever published" (p 77). (I realllllllllllllly want to continue with this one, but I won't.)

"I learn too much and it crowds out what I already know" (p116).

But seriously, I could go on and on. Have you gotten the picture? I absolutely love this book, unabashedly. It's deep without making me feel like I'm drowning, it's real and light hearted and beautiful. Baker gives us a protagonist that is endearing, randomly thoughtful, smart, and funny, though he doesn't know it. He makes this book all about poetry in his life- the way he sees it, hears it, feels it... and yet, it still reads like a novel and a peek into this guy's crazy head.

Were there things I didn't like? Not really. Another book has been added to the "gotta buy" list. For those of you that are skeptical but interested, it was easy to get from the library. I think this is the perfect summer book. Not too long (243 p), not too emotionally draining, and really, really interesting and engaging and likable. Easy to slip in a beach bag and read on a lawn chair, which I wish I had done.

So please, enjoy! Tell me what you think. Have you read any of his other books? Does the idea of a book that's primarily about poetry make you cringe? (If so... give it a shot still, please...) Just tell me your thoughts!

Lush Life

Okie doke, next one on the list was Lush Life by Richard Price, an Academy Award winner for literature and critic favorite, according to what I've heard.

Lush Life was, essentially, a crime novel about people pursuing "lush life" on the Lower East Side. The haves and the have-nots, and how crime links them.

So the good stuff first. Price is a brilliant social author. He writes the way people speak, in convincing scenarios, with realistic characters. I absolutely believe that so much of his story was taken from truth- the police department's beauracratic nonsense, the perception of the rich (and of the poor), the media gluttony that surrounds crimes, what people will do to get and stay rich, etc. I most loved the cop scenes- the red tape they went through to try to solve a crime and the way the department handled it... it was fascinating. The main cop on the case, Matty Price, shows this perfectly in a scene with his immediate supervisor, Berkowitz:
" 'This isn't good.' Berkowitz's voice an urgent murmur.
(Matty)'So you said.'
'They're all trying to find a way out.'
'I'll bet.'
'So. Who authorized this arrest?'
'(Chief)did.'
Exhaling through his nose, Berkowitz quickly scanned the barren corridor, then brought his face even closer.
'Who authorized this arrest?'
'You did?' Matty knowing what Berkowitz wanted to hear.
Another exhalation, another walleyed scan.
'One more time.'
'Are you kidding me?'
Berkowitz glared at him, Matty thinking, Okeydoke.
'I did.' (p161)"

Now, I'm not (at all)saying all departments are like this, but I thought Price did a great job of showing a subordinate's issues within a department like NYPD- in theory.

Here's the bad news, though. For an Academy Award winning author, this was a snooze fest. It was true to life, sure, and real life isn't always spectacular and grandiose. Sometimes it is what it is- going through the motions, crimes that fit the pattern, a diverse but still typical group of people... yeah, that's all true and real and Price does that wonderfully, but *yawn*... I read because I want to escape real life, all right?

So, it's up to you. I tend to lean towards slightly unrealistic books if they're more interesting, but hey, that's me. What about you? Have you read any of Price's other books? Would you read this one?

Sprout

Okay, I think this is book 21 on the list- Sprout by David Peck. The front cover shows a kid with green hair, so that's where the name comes from.

So. This is YA, which you can kind of-sort of tell. It's about a kid in high school who, like everybody, is figuring himself out amidst a ton of baggage. The author's voice is incredibly unique, which was entertaining. He writes exactly like a teenager.

Now, maybe because I read this during naptime at work, or maybe because I'm reading too many books, or maybe because I'm just lame... I thought it was a memoir at first, and I thought it was annoying. Peck wrote so much like a sixteen year old, that it wasn't until I figured out the name difference (duh) that I realized that he had just transformed himself into this character, and had done a remarkable job at it. Here are two examples:

"Since an essay to him was what a hike up Mt. Everest would be to a blindfolded paraplegic with acrophobia and asthma, he wanted revenge (p 35)."

"I'd've though I'd've flinched (there's a lot of apostrophes in that sentence , by the way; sorry)(p203-204)..."

See? Writes like a high school student. It was really engaging, and mostly funny, if not a little offputting at times. Also, the kid, Sprout, is preparing for a high school essay writing contest, which is my favorite kind of contest, so that part of the plot was so fun! I didn't love all of the plotlines, but hey, it's his life, not mine.

So here's the bad news: I don't recommend it. Honestly, without giving too much away, I didn't feel like the plot was resolved. I know I tend to want an ending, even though a cliffhanger ending sometimes is more poetic... but still. I felt like several things were up in the air at the end, and I wanted to feel like even ONE of them had some finality. No dice.

Overall? Even though the author's voice was engaging and interesting, I really didn't like the book enough to recommend it. So sorry, Mr. Peck. Your thoughts? Have you read it? What do you think about cliffhanger endings?

First Lord's Fury

Book TWENTY on the list was First Lord's Fury: Book Six of the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher.

Now, if you think like me, you might have just thought, "Book SIX?!?"

Yeah. And it's 465 pages... the other ones are also HUGE... so I didn't read them. I tried to read this one without the others, breaking my own rule. I didn't expect much- I can't imagine trying to jump into the Harry Potter series on book 6, but I reallllly just didn't have time to read the 5 previous books.

So.

I went ahead and started reading, and SURPRISE! I was lost. I read 81 pages before I realized that the two main characters, Tavi and Octavian, were the same person. Tavi's his nickname. OcTAVIan, get it? Yeesh. My bad. I also kept getting confused because there's a goddess-lady named Alera, but Alera is the name of their land... I'm sure they're related somehow, but I kept missing the point. Word to the wise- book 6 is not the time to pick up the series. Duh.

That being said, I kept reading, and NOT surprisingly, I really liked the book. Yeah, I was mostly lost, but Butcher's a great writer. It was excellent fantasy and the world he had created (painstakingly, I'm sure) over the last 6 books was just tremendous. If you like fantasy and have some time on your hands, pick these up. It's a little Lord of the Ringsesque, but fresh and interesting.

Now, has anyone read these? Does someone wanna catch me up? If you've read them, feel free to expand upon why this book is so awesome. If you haven't, would you consider taking on a series six books in?

Comment away!

Handmade Home

Alright, the next book was Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures by Amanda Blake Soule. Do I need to explain what this is? It's EXACTLY like the title says.

So, fellow crafters, I'm speaking mostly to you. I couldn't get Paul to touch this book with a ten foot pole, let alone read it. Fellas, this is a good gift idea. Or, crafty fellas, read on.

Now, I know my way around a craft book, and this one had a lot of things that I was really excited about, and some things I wasn't. The good outweighed the bad by far, but I feel like I have to start with the disappointing news first because it's kind of a deal breaker- you need to know how to sew. Obviously sewing's not a bad thing, but it's the premise for the book and this definitely isn't a beginner's guide. You need to have at least basic sewing skills and, preferably, a sewing machine. Some projects require more than basic skills, but you have to read them as they go.

What I loved:
1.The lists. It's super organized and accessible.
2. Soule advocates "thrifting" for fabrics and gives you tips and tricks on how to shop for, purchase, store, and finally, repurpose a variety of fabrics. Her experience shows.
3. There's a LOT about working with children- most of her projects are for her family in some way, and many include ways in which you can involve your kids, such as sewing letter savers that they can draw on.
4. Each pattern has listed the difficulty, length of time, tools needed, and suitability for children. That way you don't buy all the fabric for an "easy" quilt and then accidentally sew over your own thumb trying to finish it. It happens.
5. Many of the patterns are in the back for you to copy and use, and she has a ton of information on how to alter them to best suit your needs.

So I definitely recommend this for anyone who's interested *coughcoughKatieMyerscoughcough*, but it's definitely not for everyone. And take a gander at it before you buy- not all of the projects are things I want to make... AT ALL... but some are amazing, like drawn table runners and patch tree quilts. So take a look! Tell me what you think! Have you tried any of the patterns, or bought the book? Lemme know what you think!

On a side note, any other good patterns you want to share, or any hilarious craft projects you've seen?

Wolf Hall

Hey all of you who are reading... long time no write; sorry! May has been the busiest month ever, not that that's an excuse. Still, though, here's the next one. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.

Wolf Hall is historical fiction, which ideally, I love. This book is set in England in the 1500s, with a main character named Thomas Cromwell that is sort of in and out of favor with the king, loves his wife and children, and has an underdog past that he's gotten through with hard work and luck. As a character, I LOVE him. The book set him in place with Henry Tudor during the saucy Boleyn scandal, and that's obviously a really, truly interesting and sordid part of history that many people have speculated about.

So here's the thing... despite what seems to be a great book in theory, I didn't love it. I think part of the problem was that I'm better with American history than I am with European history, so some of the references were over my head. I knew I was missing key points beside the obvious things and it was... frustrating. Beyond that, it was gossipy and a little overdone- I felt like the writing was probably authentic for the time, but it nonetheless felt like doubletalk. Plus, it was 532 pages.

What I did like was this. Cromwell himself was an interesting character, witty and subtle and human at a time in history when the world was more focused on the facade of wealth than anything of actual value. He's mostly humble and kind and intelligent... frankly, there's not much not to like about him. I wanted to keep reading just for him- let's face it, we all know how the Tudor/ Boleyn thing worked out. I just wanted to know, theoretically, where this character I loved could have possibly fit into that chaos. Had I known more European history, too, this would have been an easier, more enjoyable, more exciting read- and I wish it had been that for me, because it was very, very promising. Mantel has great moments, like when she says:
"There cannot be new things in England. There can be old things freshly presented, or new things that pretend to be old. To be trusted, new men must forge themselves an ancient pedigree, like Walter's, or enter into the service of ancient families. Don't try to go it alone, or they'll think you're pirates" (p97).
HA! Clever. I liked this aspect of her writing quite a bit.

So do I recommend this? Like usual, selectively. Take what I've said and decide for yourself- if it doesn't sound like you'll like it, you probably won't. If you think you might, pleeeeeease give it a shot- it has many redeeming, interesting qualities... but I really felt like some of it was just over my head.

There you go! Are you interested? What have you been reading lately?

The Help

Alright, next book on the list was The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. It wasn't going to come up quite so soon, but it was the choice for the book club this month, so there you go. Thank goodness I looked for it now, because I was placed 391st on the list at the library! So... I bought it.

SO! Here's the scoop. I feel like in most novels, there's a point about fifty pages (or so) where I say, Yep, I'm going to LOVE this book. Once I hit this point, I'm never, ever wrong. I found that point on page three.

"She already got the blue dress on I ironed this morning, the one with sixty-five pleats on the waist, so tiny I got to squint through my glasses to iron. I don't hate much in life, but me and that dress is not on good terms" (p 3).

The author's voice, the distinct differences between the narration of the three main characters... I was in heaven. Stockett is a wonderful storyteller.

The plot, you ask? What's it about? Well, I'll keep it to the bare minimum, because you should read it for yourself and discover everything. But essentially, the story is set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi and involves the complicated relationship between white and black women in the South before integration. For such a heavy topic, the book is surprisingly lighthearted at times, with stories that are beautiful and complex.

Please, please, please... just read it. You'll thank me. As a matter of fact, let me take a second to say thanks... to Stacy for first recommending this, to Katie for picking it for the club, and to the Powell's staffer that chose it for the list. This miiiiiiight be my favorite book so far.

Will you read it? Have you already? What are your thoughts?

Mirrors

I know it's been a while... I got spoiled with a couple of short ones! This one was Mirrors: Stories of Everyone by Eduardo Galeano.

Now, apparently, Galeano is a genre all his own. I've never seen anything like him, and from what critics wrote, he's kind of turned the history writing world on its ear. Here's what he does: He take a historic fact (or a few) and writes his thoughts on it. I've chosen a few examples to illustrate the point.

"When The Liver Was The Home Of The Soul
In earlier times, long before cardiologists and balladeers, matters of the heart could easily have been called matters of the liver.
The liver lay at the heart of everything.
The Chinese believed the liver was where the soul slept and dreamt.
In Egypt, its custody was in the hands of Amset, son of the god Horus, and in Rome none less that Jupiter, the father of gods, cared for it.
The Etruscans read the future in the livers of the livers of the animals they sacrificed.
In Greek tradition, Prometheus stole fire from the gods for us mortals. Then Zeus, top dog on Mount Olympus, punished him by chaining him to a rock where everyday a vulture devoured his liver. Not his heart, his liver. Every day Prometheus's liver grew back and that was proof of his immortality. (p 37)"

or, another...

"Echo
In earlier times, the nymph Echo knew how to speak. And she spoke with such grace that her words seemed always new, never before spoken by any mouth.
But the goddess Hera, Zeus's legal spouse, cursed her during one of her frequent fits of jealousy. And Echo suffered the worst of all punishments: she was deprived of her own voice.
Ever since, unable to speak, she can only repeat.
Nowadays, that curse is looked on as a virtue. (p 39)"

I actually had a few more picked out, but that'll do. The entire book is EXACTLY like this- a few paragraphs and random thoughts about myths, history, people, etc. They're loosely grouped together- not by chapter or even section, but by a general flow and nothing more.

So here's where I stand. Galeano struck me as a guy that practically lives in a coffee shop, this book being the mental meanderings of a slightly drunk, slightly stoned sort-of genius. I sometimes a little bored, but something compelled me to keep reading. 90% of the book was interesting or funny or though provoking, and that's more than I can say of most books. I never sat and just read for hours; it simply isn't that kind of book. But I believe that if I bought it, when I was bored, this would be a great book to pick up and read a few pages of. And you know what? I talked about this book more than any other book so far on the list. Ask my poor husband- I wouldn't shut up about all the fun facts and random thoughts that Galeano presented. To a history nerd (are you surprised?), I thought this was simply delightful.

I don't have a definite answer on whether or not I recommend this book. Personally, I loved it, but I'm a huge dork. This is totally a coffee table book and conversation starter, but beyond that, I don't know how many people will love it. SO I challenge you- give it a shot. It's really, really, really interesting.
What do you think? Will you go for it?

The Water's Edge

Hey! SO... next on the list was another pretty short one, which I finished quickly. It's called The Water's Edge, by Karin Fossum- translated from Norwegian to English by Charlotte Barslund.

So, this one was a mystery- finally! I loooove crime and mystery novels, especially short ones. This author has a series based around one investigator, Konrad Sejer, and this fell in as one of his cases. You don't need to read the others for this one to make sense, which I appreciated- much like how Agatha Christie writes Miss Marple stories, or Hercule Poirot, or Tommy and Tuppence stories- all recurring protagonists with individual cases.

So anyways, the book. It was extremely well written and easy to follow. I was challenged and surprised by the outcome- like many characters, I made assumptions that often were flat out wrong.

So here's the thing. The crime was a child abduction with sexual abuse... and I didn't like it. That may sound really obvious, or too simplistic, but that's all I can think to say. There was more detail than I wanted to hear, like a gruesome episode of Forensic Files or something that happens to involve child abuse. Several chapters were written from the offender's perspective, and he explains his thoughts and feelings and... yeah. It was a struggle for me.

So do I recommend this? Yes... and no. I appreciate that I was forced to think differently. It's easy to condemn all criminals, especially when it's something so gruesome, but if I truly believe in loving ALL people, regardless, shouldn't this include those people too?

I just sat and scared at the screen of my laptop, not sure what to write. This one's hard for me. Is there more I can say? I keep trying to explain, but I suppose I'll just leave it where it is.

Anyways, your thoughts?

When You Reach Me

Howdy! I know this is a lot of blogs quickly, but what can I say? I'm making up for lost time. Oh yeah, and this one was a kid's book... it was When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

The verdict- it was wonderful! It was just less than 200 pages of preteen glory, and I relished it. Obviously it's not what I'm used to reviewing, but I'd say it's a good one for adults too.

So, the protagonist is a twelve-year-old girl named Miranda, and she's growing up in New York City. I think if I had to describe what I loved about this book, I would choose the word balance. You see, it was diverse without being obvious or soap-boxy. It was whimsical without being too out there. It was childish with adult thrown in. It was moral with some random. It was the perfect balance, for me, of important elements that, when taken too far, can make a book (especially a children's book) super stereotyped.

Oh, and did I mention that a large part of the book is a nod to Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time? No? Well then, now you know... and there's nothing that I love more than a book paying tribute to another book.

The problem?

I've never read A Wrinkle in Time. *gasp!* I know, I know- I didn't hear about it 'til junior high, and by then, I had started reading Stephen King and Anne Rice. And some H.G. Wells, of course... but I thought I was past L'Engle. Whoops.

So, I got the book without catching the references as quickly as others might, but it was still absolutely delightful. A quick, easy, entertaining, inspiring read.

Now I challenge you to read it, just for entertainment's sake. Or recommend it to a tween. Who would you recommend it to? Are there any children's books you wish you could pay tribute to?

Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong

Second post in one day- wahoo! This one was Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong, by Jen Yates.

Let me just say: Best. Coffee. Table. Book. Ever.

So, Jen Yates started a blog, called Cakewrecks.com. Go there immediately after reading this blog. This blog of hers began as a sort of joke, just for fun, and boomed into something huge, and voila, a book was born.

The great things about this book are numerous, so I'll make a list.
1. I laughed uproariously for a long, long time.
2. Not all the cakes are terrible, or misspellings.
3. There are categories, like the CCC (CupCake Cakes), or The Poo Phenomenon, Wedding Wrecks, etc.
4. Yates is a clever writer- the book is more than pictures- her thoughts are all over the pages, enhancing the photos in all their hilarity.
5. The book's only 12.99! That's a good hardcover deal.
6. It is awesome.

So I will recommend that you go to the blog first, though the book definitely has added features that I love. Unfortunately, I can't post pics of all of my favorites- from a person having a cake made for her son's first potty training moment, to "Welcome Little Swetty" and a cake that someone sent to her ex, writing, "Go Die in a Car Fire"... I think you have to see them to believe them.

So check out the website and tell me what you think! What were your favorites? Better yet, buy the book as a hilarious gift. The Powell's staffer that recommended this basically said she'd do anything for a good laugh these days, and this book delivers! Have fun, check out the book or the website (cakewrecks.com) and tell me your favorites!

Green

Next book on the list is Green by Jay Lake (a Portlander!).

So, here's the problem: I'm not sure how to explain myself without giving too much away. I might need you to just trust me... or don't, whichever is fine. But I will honestly do my best.

In a nutshell, this book made me... green. As in sick, not with envy.

Here's why. Lake begins by dedicating the book to his daughter, saying this is her story, and that he made some of it up. (It's Sci Fi, so of course it isn't all true...) The story is of a girl that is bought as a child and trained to be a princess, sort of- but really, she's just a slave. She's given valuable tools, and it's interesting to watch... until it gets creepy. There are little tidbits about how she wishes she were a man, or she should have been a man, or she changes her appearance to be a man... none of which are too surprising, given that she's kidnapped and told to be a lady and everything. I was on the fence, but when she starts fooling around (yes, like that) with her CAT LADY teacher, I thought, Sorry, Mr. Lake, I'm out. Done. Over it. And you say this is your daughter's story?

Of course, I kept reading... I'm dedicated. Unfortunately, it didn't get better. The other problem is this... I felt like there were ten books in one. He could have stretched this into several books if he had tried. Around the hundred page marker, I couldn't believe that there were 250ish more pages to get through... I felt like I'd run a race with this girl. Yikes.

The redeeming qualities were the worlds, for sure. Lake brings fictional places out of nowhere, and does a good job of artistically structuring places that are engaging. Additionally, I loved the aspect of the story that had to do with this girl and her culture- how she tried to keep culture from her home, how she dealt with people trying to (literally) beat her culture out of her. I was intrigued by this part of the story... but it didn't make up for the rest.

So, there you have it. Sorry this one's a downer- if you don't want to take my word for it, or you disagree, please let me know! I'd love feedback!

A Note to Book Borrowers

In theory, I could be writing this blog about the book I just finished for our book club, since it is a review and all. But it's not on the 2009 list- it was published in 2004- so I won't write about the story.

I will, however, write about the book - the covers, the pages, the binding.

Let me begin by saying that I adore the library, borrowing and lending books, the whole idea of literature being available to anyone without payment. A big thanks to the Tigard library and the whole Washington County Cooperative Library Services system, that ships books from other libraries to mine so even the driving isn't my own work to do.

But as I read this book, I noticed things that drove me a little crazy, and so I'm compiling an etiquette list for book borrowers.

1. Do NOT write in a book that doesn't belong to you. No little marks to keep your place, no underlines, no funny drawings.

2. If you drip food into a book, wipe it up, for heavens sake. Don't leave it in between pages that then are stuck together and rip apart. Yeesh.

3. Don't dog-ear! I was eight or nine when I loaned my Goosebumps books to my friend's brother, and he dog-eared all over the place- folding corners of the pages instead of getting a bookmark. I was appalled then, and shrieked at him until my mom freaked out. When I told her he had defiled the book, she glared at him and told him he wasn't allowed to borrow books until he learned manners. The bent corners wear faster and eventually fall off, also making buying used copies difficult.

4. Don't lose the book jacket. Someone I love dearly lost the book jacket to the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets book my brother got for his (seventh?) birthday. Sigh. It still pains me to look at. Not only are book jackets functional as bookmarks, but they're pretty and they protect the book. As a matter of fact, you probably shouldn't take the book jacket off at all.

5. If the book you borrow is from a person, not a library, and you ruin it, BUY THEM A NEW ONE. Seriously. Sign up for Border's Rewards program, wait til you get a 40% off coupon, and give them the new copy.

6. Don't loan a book you're borrowing to someone else. C'mon.

7. Return the book. Duh. Believe it or not, I'm missing dozens and dozens of books that people never gave back. I'm not a library- it's not just one of my many copies. (I am also guilty of this, according to Kelsey Garner's copy of the 4th book in the Narnia series that's been sitting on my shelf for more than a year.)

What do you guys think? I don't want this to be a rant- this was kind of fun! What do you wish you could put out there for others? What am I missing from this list?

Lit: A Memoir

So, next book in the series is Lit: A Memoir by Mary Karr. I ordered it from the library in February, and it finally arrived- huzzah!

Now, in the spirit of a memoir (hopefully), I'll be honest: I wanted nothing more than to just skim through this book, post, and then move onto the book I have to read for book club by Saturday evening and finish the baby blanket I'm working on. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't.

The short story is that I absolutely adored the book. Beyond adored- it's going onto the short list of must-buys.

The long story is not too terribly long, I hope, because I'm confident that you will go get the friggin' book and see for yourself, because I am commanding it of you. And because you'll thank me for it. But here's something to pique your interest- an explanation of sorts.

Lit is the third of Karr's memoirs, this one taking place from her late teenage years, through her messy battle with alcoholism, her divorce, and to about the age of forty. Her first two memoirs, chronicling the years before this, are The Liar's Club and Cherry, both of which I intend to read soon (a decision that should show you my vote of confidence based on how many other books I have remaining on this year's list).

I think that anybody can relate to her life- maybe not as extreme as she lived it, but in aspects, she reflects every person that's ever been hurt or done the hurting (if you've experienced neither, I would love to know your secret) in a way that is easy, understandable, and poetic. Her struggle to become a writer fascinated me particularly, especially when she writes:

"Crazed to see my name in print, which would prove poethood, I mailed to hapless editors work bad enough that- in retrospect- I'm surprised the rejections didn't come with a cyanide pill" (p52).

So there's hope for me yet?

I was also struck by how honest she was. Obviously, that's the hope for a memoirist- that this one won't be another Million Little Pieces that's praised for it's rawness, only to be proven a hoax. (Side note- I'm confident it's not, but something preternatural might happen if it were. I think I'd turn into a werewolf and rip her into shreds... verbally, of course.) She even shows, though, that she knows she cant trust her own memories.

"Whatever the case, those years only filter back through the self I had at the time, when I was most certainly- even by my yardstick then- a certain species of crazy... When I reach to grasp a solid truth from that time, smoke pours through my fingers" (p 88).

Here's what I'll leave you with, because I'm running late to work- it was absolutely worth the three month wait. If you read nothing else, accept one of my highest endorsements.

Also a side note- would you ever write a memoir? Why or why not? I thought about this a lot as I read on... still no answer.

$20 Per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better

AKKK! It's April 15th, and this is only the 3rd book for the month... lame. This time I read $20 Per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better by Christopher Steiner.

So, I'll be honest- economic speculation isn't what I do in my spare time. I know you're shocked, but it's the truth!

Now, this is the good news: the book was really, really interesting. I only felt a little bit like a financial idiot. Most of the book isn't in the code of acronyms, thank heavens. There are stories, anecdotes, and facts, each of which is pertinent and engaging. Most of the facts I hadn't heard before, and it turned out I had no basis for the feeling of dread that this would be a collection of statements of the obvious. I had no desire to read 253 pages of "People will walk more" and that kind of obvious prediction.

So, the book is organized as a series of predictions based in how the United States will change as the price of gas increases- $6, $8, $10- all the way to $20 a gallon. There are semi obvious predictions, but it's deeper than that, and I wouldn't have thought of pretty much any of Steiner's predictions. Even better, there are times when I started to lose interest- but then it quickly moves on to yet another prediction. It keeps you on your toes and looking forward to the next prediction.

The bad news is this: I don't read economic speculation books in my spare time. This is NOT my idea of interesting, and it may not be yours. These book is full of facts, stats, and references- and that definitely isn't what I read in leisure. But, even for someone that doesn't care about economics, this was interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing which of Steiner's predictions come true. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to just about anyone, but it won't stop being a book about economics, and that's not my thing.

So there you go! Interested?

There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby

Okay, on to the next one! This book was There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill her Neighbor's Baby: Scary Fairy Tales by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya. Yes, it's exactly what the title says.

So, the best way for me to explain this book is with another book (go figure). When I was a kid, I would read this series of ghost stories called Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. The sequel was cleverly titled More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and there were more with equally riveting titles. The series was by Alan Schwartz and the drawings were terrifying, but I remember one story being about a hairless dog that actually turned out to be a rat with a deadly disease *coughcoughchihuahuascoughcough*, and I remember thinking, "Really? This is scary?" Some of the stories were, indeed, scary, and those were the ones I loved. But every other story, it seemed, might have been a little scary, but it was mostly just weird. This book was like a grown up version of that.

The author is an old Russian woman that's fascinating- she had had all of her work banned in Russia so she snuck into Lithuania just to get published back in the 50s and 60s. I really, really wanted to love the stories.

The good news is, I did like some of the stories. She definitely has her own style of writing that was easy and fun to read. Some of the stories are mildly haunting in a somewhat juvenile way. She has a keen sense of irony that isn't overinflated, but rather subtle and very... lifelike. I also revisited a part of my childhood that I had long since left behind, and it was fun to enjoy once more. The writing is unique and interesting, my favorite blend on macabre and witty.

Unfortunately, much like the rat-dog story, a lot of times I started thinking, "Really?" I just... never fully got on board.

So the verdict is: I recommend the book, but selectively. For those of you that like scary stories and the macabre, go for it! It's one-of-a-kind writing. But if you don't... pass. I enjoyed myself 75% of the time!

Have any of you read her work? Any opinions? No?

Alright, on to the next...

Don't Sleep, There are Snakes

Alright, book 11, and I'm way off pace, I know. Credit goes to the Powell's bookstore staff members for not picking any wimpy books.

So this time, I read Don't Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle by Daniel L. Everett. The title itself comes from a common phrase among the tribe, the Piraha tribe, that Everett lived in for more than 30 years.

So, honestly, I wasn't that jazzed about another Amazonian story. Only a few books ago I read The Lost City of Z, about long ago and current explorers in the Amazon. Obviously, this has nothing to do with either of the books itself, but it definitely brought me back to a land that I had just left.

The great thing is this: The book is a linguistic and anthropological analysis of a tribe that's basically been untouched and almost not influenced by outside cultures. This book is an exploration of a culture that is so unique, it's baffling. I was repeatedly challenged by my cultural views as a Westerner, and I enjoyed reading about Everett's findings through living with the tribe. I don't agree with everything that he came to believe, but his findings as a linguist and an anthropologist are fascinating! The amount of time and patience that it took Everett, originally coming to the Pirahas as a missionary on behalf of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, is mindblowing. The Piraha language had, to the best of his knowledge, no link to any other language, so he couldn't simply translate- he had to learn everything from scratch.

The challenge for me personally was how I read the book. It isn't a novel. It isn't a biography, and it isn't a textbook. Rather, the book was like a long article combined with an autobiography- Everett isn't the focus of the book at all, but his own experiences both with the tribe and compared to his life as an American are useful for comparison. Interspersed were technical points, linguistic details that Everett thoroughly explains but that nevertheless become a bit overwhelming. If you love language like I do, great! This book was a treat (though it took time to read). But if you don't love language, this may not be that wonderful for you. The cultural aspects are also extremely important, but mostly in reference to how they affects the language.

Overall, I liked the book, I learned a lot, and I'm glad I read it. I'm challenged by nonfiction, and I appreciate that. Everett does a great job of making this interesting to most anybody, though it is obviously a predominantly an informational text.

Anyone interested? What are your thoughts?

Under the Dome

Alright, I'm finally back, with the next installment- Stephen King's Under the Dome.

When I first got the book from the library, a string of profanities (that I'm not proud of) ran through my head, all directed towards Mr. King. The book was- is- 1,074pages long. I was furious. I've read a lot of Stephen King before, and I knew that his work was detailed and thick, and not something I could skim. So I cursed him for writing something this large novel that I would have to pour over... and then, 37 pages later, I was eating my words.

In short, I absolutely loved the book. Within just a few chapters, I was remembering all of the things I love about his writing, and I was, once again, hooked. Only towards the very end did I actually begin to feel the weight of the book- both in my purse and in my mind- but it really kept a quick pace that was easy to read and engaging. Even in the most horrible parts, King made me laugh out loud, and I am so thankful for that. I knew I was, undeniably, in love with the book when he said:

"We have toured the sock-shape that is Chester's Mill and arrived back at Route 119. And, thanks to the magic of narration, not an instant has passed since the..."(p 37)

I won't tell you since what, obviously.

Much much later, I was sitting in a coffee shop on the Siuslaw River, enjoying a day of sunlight, when I read:

"She didn't need to finish; the pallor of her cheeks was eloquent."(p 664)

I thought, No, you're eloquent, Stephen King! Maybe it was the glorious day talking, but I was touched at King's ability to say something so poetic in such a bleak situation- and the book is littered with moments like this. The range of emotions is stunning- this isn't simply a horror story.

Now, having read his work before, I've come to believe that there are (at least) 2 basic kinds of King novels: Those that are meant to terrify the living snot out of you (re: It, The Dark Half, etc.) and then there are those that are creepy in a more thoughtful way- the kind of fear that seeps in and stays there for years to come, the kind of fear that comes from terrible things happening that are a little too realistic and hit a little too close to home.

Under the Dome was the latter.

Now, I'm going to pause here and say, NO, this was not based on the Simpsons movie. Yikes. King started writing this in 1976 and tabled it. So let's move on, shall we?

Under the Dome was so interesting, so compelling, and so complex that it made me feel... unsettled. It made me uneasy, seeing characteristics in people that were disquietingly horrible, and yet, so normal. It was amazing to watch what happened to the people that were trapped under a dome, and how quickly their lives fell apart. For the record, every single one of my (many) predictions were wrong. Not even close. But this, again, is why I love King.

Now, since I'm sure this sounds like a horrible bit of fan mail to Stephen King, I'll get on to the bad news:
It's long.

Sorry, that's all I've got- it was really, really long. It didn't feel long, but after a week of nothing but this book, I'm a little relieved to be done.

So, what do you think? Will you brave this obstacle? It's worth it, I think. If you do, do yourself a favor and read the Author's Note in the back- it was delightful.

Nazi Literature in the Americas

Hola guys! I know it's been a while, but heck, I don't even know if anyone is reading this. The next book on this list was Nazi Literature in the Americas, written in 2003 by Roberto Bolano... can't figure out how to make that n a Spanish n here on Blogger... so yeah. That's the guy. It was translated into English just this year by Chris Andrews. So that's what makes it perfect for this year's list- trust me, my reading of the Spanish version would have resulted in a very, very different blog post.

SO! Nazi Literature in the Americas was, sort of, about Nazi literature in the Americas, but not really. The book was a series of short stories, written like biographies, of writers that have vague connections to the Nazi party and are so unrealistic it was hysterical! The stories are bathed in actual history, so I had a hard time sorting out what was fact and what was fiction. The stories are intensely funny in a dark way. For example, as a side note in a story, Bolano included this:

"The opening pages introduce the reader to O'Connell's dog, a mutant, stray German Shepherd with telepathic powers and Nazi tendencies..." (p 105)

Seriously? A dog with Nazi tendencies? In another biography, one of the authors writes a book with the same number of paragraphs in each chapter, and someone finds out the he's been hiding acrostics in the first letter of each paragraph. So the first letters of each first paragraph in every chapter read things like THIS PLACE SUCKS and other more offensive messages. I laughed out loud at some moments, which is always a great thing to be able to say about a book. The stories are ironic and witty and tongue-in-cheek, and I very much enjoyed myself.

The bad news is this: The stories are fairly depressing. Most of the writers aren't successful, but can't get writing out from under their skin. Most are involved in the Nazi party in some vague way. There's murder, suicide, and all the rest. It's meant to be ironic, true, but I know for certain that this book isn't for everyone. I am SO glad it was recommended, because it's stretching my own boundaries of comfort, and I'm having fun. But I would NOT recommend this to everyone... though the people I would recommend it to would probably adore it. (re: Melissa Mason.)

So What do you think? Did I explain that well enough to help you know whether or not you were one of the people I'd recommend it to? Have you read any of his other work? Are you out there?

Also, shout out to Kyle of Enrich Design for telling me how to make this blog pretty- otherwise I'd still be on Blogger Template A.

The Lost City of Z

Next on the list was The Lost City of Z, by journalist David Grann.

The Lost City of Z was several true stories in one, centering around the last of the great explorers, Colonel Fawcett, who disappeared in the Amazon in 1925. Colonel Fawcett conjures up pictures of the explorer in the movie Up- a man determined even when no one else believed in him. The author, David Grann, was a journalist that heard about Colonel Fawcett during research for another story, and he was hooked.

The book was a tremendous adventure, and I absolutely recommend it! There's mystery, intrigue, clues galore, fraudulent claims... it leaves one contemplating the endless possibilities. A brutal account of the hardships that early explorers went through, I was disgusted by details and in awe of the people that, time and again, survived them. I'm a little afraid to tell certain people (coughcoughJeffandKevincoughcough) to read the book, for fear that they, too, would see the allure and run off to the Amazon.

Colonel Fawcett, an Englishman that had been in the army, ended up working for the Royal Geographic Society and mapped out much of Brazil and the Amazon as we know it. It's hard for me to picture a time when maps weren't accurate (especially on a century or so ago), but people died working on projects such as this. Fawcett eventually became obsessed with accounts of a lost city that he called Z, intertwined with accounts of El Dorado. I could go on and on (and on), but this is the gist of the setting of the book, so there you have it.

My favorite part was this: the history! Obviously, it's true, so there's history involved. Duh. But Grann does an amazing job of explaining the context for Fawcett's discoveries and other people that were adventuring similarly. Teddy Roosevelt's quotes come up frequently, mostly in support of Fawcett. Apparently, Fawcett was also an acquaintance of (Sir) Arthur Conan Doyle, who was also obsessed with the City of Z. Doyle, apparently, based his book The Lost World on Z, and even wrote Fawcett into one of his books as a main character. The legend of Z has permeated history in ways I would NEVER have realized, making it all the more fascinating! Many people have been bitten with "the Fawcett bug", and estimates are that over a hundred people have died trying to find out what happened to him.

What I didn't like: the thickness of the book. What I mean is that I felt like I was wading through a river in the book just getting through it. Grann does such a spectacular job of acclimating the readers with the necessary facts, that it was a little heavy. The book itself wasn't long (277 pages) but it had 60 pages of acknowledgements, citations, and even an index. It was a thick, heavy tale. I don't think it could have been written any other way, and I applaud Grann for going to such great lengths to write the story in its entirety, but boy, was it a tough one. I wish I wasn't trying to read it so quickly- I could have been kept attention by this book for weeks.

So please, let me know if you read this! And I beg you, don't go running off to the Amazon- you'll probably want to!

A side note...

Nope, A Side Note is not the name of a book. This is, quite literally, a side note. Or a rabbit trail. A meandering, if you will.

Sorry it's been a while (a week and a half- what?!?) since my last post. I had to read a book for the book club I'm in (and if you live in or around Portland, the book club you SHOULD be in) and the next few books are doozies, so I'm going to post some books that I've read this year other than the Powell's list. Just a quick list.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: I was appalled by how much I liked this at the beginning, and I definitely laughed out loud, but it got old after a while. I think it was good, but I reallllllly wanted Lydia to die, and she didn't... so that clinched it for me. I vote no.

Little Bee: I vote yes. Short and sweet, this story of a Nigerian refugee was challenging, heart-warming, though provoking... a little confusing, but still good. Get a couple of friends to read it so you can talk about it together.

Her Fearful Symmetry: I vote a resounding NO. By the same lady that wrote The Time Traveler's Wife, what started out as a truly wonderful story about twins ended up being all weird and confusing and ghost-y. Literally, ghosts. I'm serious. It came out of nowhere. If you're into that, go for it. I don't hate the idea of ghosts, it just felt out of character with the beginning of the book, so it took me by surprise. I finished only so I could find out about one particular character that I loved... otherwise, I would have thrown it out.

Arctic Homestead: Definitely a yes. It's a true story about the last female homesteader, and it was interesting and easy to read. It was the January pick for our book club (thanks Tasha!) and it got us all really excited! It was, definitely, an adventure.

The French Gardener: Ommigosh, YES. I loved it. It's darling and lovely and complicated and wonderful. It's about (yep) a French gardener. Thanks to Tammy for this month's book club choice.

So, those are some random thoughts. I may think of more that I want to talk about, but I wanted to get that all down for now. Enjoy! Let me know if you read any of them!

Garden Anywhere

This next book was Garden Anywhere: How to Grow Gorgeous Container Gardens, Herb Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, and More- Without Spending a Fortune by Alys Fowler. Long title, I know, but it really sets you up for what the book's about, which is a plus- and Fowler delivers.

This book was the first on the list that wasn't a story (or several), but it was absolutely splendid. In theory, I love gardening- but I'll be honest, it's a lot of work. Living in Southern California, anything we planted would grow, really. We had every fruit tree I could think of and flowers everywhere. Moving up to Oregon, I realized that I was going to have to relearn gardening for this region and for my yard. Thus far, I've been a bit discouraged- I had no idea where to start!

That being said, I've decided that I have to go out and buy this book. It was a wonderful combination of rules and recommendations for any circumstance. Fowler has great ideas for repurposing old boxes and pots for the garden, how to create your own garden boxes. Even if you've got an apartment that gets no sun, Fowler has ideas for what you can grow that will freshen up your space.

My favorite part was in the back, where she has a section called The Directory for the best, most useful, easiest vegetables and spices to grow. She's a wealth of knowledge and lays out the information in an easy, understandable way- even decoding what's on the tags at garden stores.

One of the things I liked the best was the layout. The pictures are beautiful- even the ones of dirt! None of the pages have the bare, white clinical feel that I feel like I get from so many gardening books- this was a pleasure to peruse.

In the interests of putting my money where my mouth is, I'll try to get Paul to build me a garden box and plant some sugar snap peas! I could apply most of the things in the book, but this is my first project. I would absolutely recommend the book to anyone, especially gardeners (and aspiring gardeners!)I will be buying this for several people as gifts! I have a feeling that this will soon become my go-to guide for years to come.

If you take a gander, let me know what you think! Did you try one of her ideas?

Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned

So next on the list was Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned, a collection of short stories by Wells Tower. There are 9 short stories, and thanks to a random turn of events, I was able to read them all today.

Though the short stories were all very different- set in different times, places, and with varying characters- they were all bound by, essentially, life being rotten. Not to say that they're all depressing (though most are); there's a fair amount of humor and irony. Most of the stories, it seemed, had to do with people making their bed and then having to lay in it.

A few of the stories were particularly enjoyable, and they were all well-written. I obviously was interested in them; I read them all in one day. I was impressed by Tower's ability to engage me in a character's lackluster life in twenty to thirty pages, and I think it's probably why more than one Powell's staffer recommended this collection. I didn't particularly love the book, but I could appreciate it. I think what struck me the most was how much the stories tended to be... real. Tower made observations based on everyday circumstances that were totally relatable and took worst-case scenarios and made them true to life. I would definitely recommend it to some of my more cynical friends (you know who you are), though I wouldn't read it again. I would probably read more of Tower's stories in the future, though.

Have you read any of these stories? Check them out and gimme some feedback! Thanks!

Lark & Termite

The next book I received from the library was Lark & Termite, by Jayne Anne Phillips, named after two of the main characters, a barely-teenage girl and her special needs brother.

So, as I read the book, I would see things and think, "Ah, that's interesting. I'll write that down for the blog." And I did, dutifully jotting down pages numbers and references on my bookmark, the library receipt dated this last Friday. (Fun fact: I'm obsessed with bookmarks, literally- but I tend to lose them, and I certainly can't write on them, so I put the receipts to good use, though it pains me to not use something prettier.) So anyways, I felt like I was starting to get the hang of this blogging thing, and that these little notes would be wonderfully helpful, and I'd be able to write something insightful and informative in less than a half an hour once I finished the book.

Here's the thing though: this list keeps surprising me. The books keep surprising me. Just when I think I've gotten something figured out, I get thrown for a loop. Lark & Termite is a wonderful example of this.

So, when I read that the book was about a girl that takes care of her special needs brother, I thought, "Oh great. Let's get the tissues ready!" But the book is so much more. Set in the 1950s, the book tells several difficult, entwined stories- that of a soldier in the Korean War, the story of sisters that were as complicated as they come, the self-discovery of a young girl named Lark, and the compelling, interesting view of a 9-year-old special needs boy, nicknamed Termite. All of these relationships and plot lines flowed seamlessly through each others' lives, dwelling in the past and stubbornly digging their heels in. More than just a war story, or a coming-of-age tale, this book is the story of bonds that are unexplainable. To put any stigma or stereotype on them would be to rob them of their depth.

Foolishly, about halfway through, I thought that sex was the major theme of the book. In a way, it is- it's ever-present and a major player in how many of the relationships were and continue to be played out. But sex is merely the tool that Phillips uses to complicate the lives of every character, allowing it to evoke self-discovery, the struggle for control, the struggle for power, and vulnerability. It was tastefully written and not vulgar, which I appreciated.

I think I liked this book. My feelings about it are complex, which is fitting. I didn't love it, but I very much appreciated its thoughtfulness. The descriptions, especially from the viewpoint of Termite, were fresh and appealing and confusing and wonderful. Lark was my favorite character though- many of the things I wrote down were from her perspective, but I realize that they don't really say anything about the book, so I'll let you discover them instead. The metaphors alone I could teach on for an entire semester, were I a professor somewhere instead of a blogger wrapped in my grandmother's crocheted blanket.

The bad news is this: I can't tell you much more than I already have. Part of what is brilliant is the unveiling of the story- the twists and turns and forks in the road. I will say that if you think any of this is remotely appealing, if you want to understand what I'm babbling about or go meandering with the characters, please, please, give it a shot. It certainly isn't for everyone, but I was glad I read it, though I'm as confused as I ever was... though somehow, it's pleasant, and I enjoyed myself.

What did you think? I would love to get feedback- I know y'all are reading! Does this make you want to read the book, or dismiss it? If you read it, what were your opinions?

Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi

Book 4 of 155 was Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer. I had very little to go on when I picked this book up from the library, but it was the opposite from what I expected.

I'll start by saying this: the book was completely pointless. My own fault was assuming that when the Powell's staffer said that it had everything- sex, drugs, death... that this would be interesting. It wasn't. Rather than have a mystery or conflict or even a plot, the book languishes in nothingness, in the meaninglessness of the disenchanted. Maybe that was the point.

First of all, when the book began, it seemed... whiny. I felt like the main character was going to be a complainer right from the beginning. I was, it turns out, right. The main character (Jeff)is a mid forties journalist that seems to have a life in the gray area- no highlights, nothing particularly terrible... just a life where he wants more, but doesn't mind his pseudo-life enough to change anything. Briefly, during the middle of the book, he meets this girl and everything is wonderful!... and then it's over. No reference back to this relationship- the book abruptly switched from Jeff's cocktails parties, graphic sex scenes, and intermittent drug use to the dingy, crowded, poor streets of Varanasi, India. Jeff is no longer the main character, though the narrator in this half is also a journalist.

The new main character, never named (that I noticed) is very like Jeff in many ways... living a life in the gray. He's sent to Varanasi for work, and decides to keep living there because his flat in London is rented out, earning him enough money to keep living in squalor in India. He also graphically describes being violently ill in a way that made me sick to my stomach. It was gross for the sake of being gross. He doesn't have to do anything, be anywhere- nothing. The book ends and pointlessly as it began.

Also, on a personal note, there are no chapters- just the two sections of the book. I suppose, from an editing perspective, this keeps with the theme of the book- the days melding together into one long journal entry- but for me, it was plain irritating. Had the book been better, I might have appreciated this as a part of Geoff Dyer's artistic license, but instead, it just annoyed me.

Now, to be fair- Geoff Dyer is talented. His writing is skilled, though I didn't like the topic. His illustrations are amusing and insightful, and wish that I hadn't been so distracted by hating a great portion of the book. Yes, I used the word- I hated the book. Even now, my lip is curled back in disgust. Bleccccccch. But, still trying to be fair, his writing in and of itself, an entity separate from the actual "plot", was compelling and interesting. He even slips in quotes from plays, movies, authors, and music that only someone reading very closely would notice. His credit to these quotes comes in his acknowledgements, and occasionally when a character notices that someone is dropping movie lines. That was a fun side note that I did enjoy.

So why did someone pick this book as their FAVORITE book of 2009? Personally, I don't know. Objectively? My best guess is this: the book embraces itself wholly. Geoff Dyer decides to make it one of life, graphic and crude as it may be, and stays true to that. I can imagine that this, in and of itself, attracts an audience that appreciates descriptive accounts of the world. Some times it was funny, others it was crass- but I know that people appreciate this too- I'm just not one of them.

If you've read this, do you disagree? Am I alone in my view of this? Let me know what you think!

Strength in What Remains

So, book 3 on the list (which I've counted out to be, removing duplicates, officially 155 books) is Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder. It was a Pulitzer Prize winner and I suppose I'll start by saying that the award was completely deserved.

The book itself is a true story, about a medical student named Deo from Burundi, told to the author while he was living in New York. Escaping attacks, uprisings, and genocides, he comes to the United States and starts over, living in parks and crack houses in order to survive. His story is compelling and heart-wrenching. While those that help him give me hope in humanity and foster a triumph of the human spirit that is unique to truly devastating stories, overall, I felt extreme sorrow. He is a survivor like few others in history, and his story isn't over. He seems to have a lot of work ahead of him- he's trying to help those like him. Like many, he sees the extreme conditions, especially in medical treatment, as part of the reason for the warring. He says:
"'By all means, let's do prevention! Prevent people from suffering! Don't wait for people to feel like their lives are not worth living. Once they feel that way, how are they going to feel about another person's life?'" (p 155)

The bad news is this: I didn't really like the book. It was wonderfully written, thought-provoking, and engulfing. Deo is a hero in a way I could never, ever be. The author writes:
"When Deo first told me about his beginnings in New York, I had a simple thought: 'I would not have survived.'"
I know how he feels- I thought that repeatedly throughout the book. It was a graphic account without being gory, detailed but not overly so. The problem is that, quite frankly, I cannot imagine this life. I know it's true for more of the world than I understand, and that disliking it doesn't make it not reality. It is quite real, and this book brings much of it to light. As a matter of fact, beyond not liking the book, I'm very glad it was written. The story of Deo, and of others like him, should be told- it needs to be told. I am being painfully honest when I say that I simply didn't like hearing it. I know that this devastation occurs, but I'm not sure I have the stomach for it. I would sit, shocked, rereading parts when he talks about wading through a river full of bodies, unable to grasp the horror of it. Almost as terrible was reading about the people that ridiculed him in the United States- one boss would poke him with a stick to get his attention because Deo spoke French, not English. I was, quite simply, appalled. The author knew the story needed to be told, but it was hard for him too. He writes:
"Sometimes I felt that to remind him of the past was to traumatize him all over again. On several occasions, I offered to stop my search for his story and let his memories die, if they would. Once or twice, I hoped he would accept my offer. But he always declined." (p 161)

The good news is that the book is marvelous. Even though I didn't like it, I'm glad-very glad- that I read it. I was challenged to see the world differently, to begin to take off the red, white, and blue tinted glasses that most Americans live with. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly, with the warning that it won't be easy to get through. Not one for nonfiction, I was glad that I read a book I wouldn't otherwise have picked up. I am in awe of the strength that it takes to survive some of the most awful things, and so thankful that the stories are being told. Please, please, give it a go. Challenge yourself with this book! If you do, or did, what did you think? I would love to hear other thoughts on this!

The Islands of the Blessed

The Islands of the Blessed by Nancy Farmer is the third in a trilogy steeped in Norse mythology and traditions, set in the 700s, all focused around a young bard's apprentice named Jack.

Taking this seriously, I decided to read the first two books in the series as well, and I'm glad I did. Each is about 450 pages though, so the series itself was a cool 1,400ish pages of Young Adult goodness. That's why there's been a delay since my last post. The first book was The Sea of Trolls, and the second was The Land of the Silver Apples.

So, on to the book. I'll start by saying that I really liked it. Sort of Harry Potter-esque, the series creates its own world that is easy to be immersed in. Nancy Farmer's creativity makes the worlds of elves, trolls, and countless other creatures come alive. The entire set was an adventure. Jack, the hero, is eleven when he's called by the village's bard (read: pagan wizard) to become an apprentice. In the first book, he and his sister are captured and held as slaves by warriors that hope for the halls of Valhalla upon their deaths. On the first of many, many adventures, Jack's character is intriguing: he has the emotions of an an eleven-year-old, but his wisdom grows and grows. He's learning to find his own strengths and gaining the humility to admit weaknesses. I believe that there will be more in this series, and I welcome them. The third book, specifically, allows him to spread his wings. Thanks to Nancy Farmer, I was so thoroughly engulfed in the book (also because I'd been reading it nonstop for three days) that I took any triumph of Jack as on of my own. It was delightful!

As a happy coincidence, I've always been enthralled by Norse mythology. I was immersed in my heritage as a child (thank goodness!) and had fairy-tale books with Norse stories and Viking runes. This series had a wonderful balance of actual mythology tied in with its own adventures.

Now for the bad news. I was a little irritated by one thing in the series: the horrible view of Christians. Now, I understand fully that the lead character, Jack, considers himself a Christian, to some extent. He was raised a Christian and struggles with the things he's seen that conflict with his religion. But for all intents and purposes, he is pagan, as is the Bard. This doesn't other me- it's a fictional story. Nor does it bother me that there are countless encounters with creatures that don't exist and follow other gods and what have you. What bothered me is is that the characters in the books that are Christian are almost all thoughtless men that are either ridiculously stupid or maddeningly power-driven. I wasn't so much offended by this as I was left unsettled, or possibly disappointed. The Bard is quick to say that not all men that are Christians are like this, and there are redeeming characters that are Christians, but overall, I wasn't thrilled with this. It was a personal feeling that I would have changed- but I didn't write the books, so Nancy Farmer has complete artistic license, and I chose to keep reading. I was never so offended that I would think of putting the books down, nor did I think that this was intended- it just happened to be Jack's encounters with the Christians of the time. This was truly my only complaint with the series, and it was minor- a sidenote even within the series.

Anyways, the final verdict.
Overall, I truly loved the series. It was fun, adventurous, enchanting, and easy to read. Now let's hope that the next book is a short one!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

The book The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie was the one that began this list for me, and I am so lucky it did.

A mystery novel by Alan Bradley, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie features a girl named Flavia de Luce that is all moxie. Fancying herself an organic chemist (a point that she proves throughout the story), she finds a dead body in her backyard and tries to solve the mystery. Needless to say, she uses her understanding of chemistry to help her along the way, most of which was far above my head.

So I'll come right out and say it. Read this book. It was wonderful! I LOVE the book and Flavia, and I was completely swept up by her eagerness to be involved in the world around her. I was sold within the first few pages, but a paragraph in chapter four sealed the deal.

" 'I've brought you some nice seed biscuits,' [Mrs. Mullet] said. 'Seed biscuits and tea and a nice glass of milk for Miss Flavia.'
Seed biscuits and milk! I hated Mrs. Mullet's seed biscuits the way Saint Paul hated sin. Perhaps even more so. I wanted to clamber up onto the table, and with a sausage in the end of a fork as my scepter, shout in my best Laurence Olivier voice, 'Will no one rid us of this turbulent pastry cook?'
But I didn't. I kept my peace." (p 49)

Isn't she delightful?

Perhaps a part of my love for Flavia had to do with the fact that I identified so much with her, but I suspect most people would. She has a knack for getting into trouble, and thinks things that are far above being an eleven-year-old (like organic chemistry). I thoroughly HATE chemistry, but I saw a part of her in myself when she said:

"As I stood outside in Cow Lane, it occurred to me that Heaven must be a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
No... eight days a week." (p 57-58)

Honestly, I adored this book. It was an easy read that made me smile and occasionally laugh out loud. I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone and everyone.

Now for what I didn't like: There's going to be a sequel.

I know that I'm alone in my feelings of this, but when I really, really love a book, I don't want to read a second one. I feel like the second books changes my perception of the first book, and that is irksome. This happened with Love Walked In by Marisa de Los Santos most recently- the sequel changed how much I loved the first one. Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think so. I think Flavia is a delightful heroine, but having a second book takes the spontaneity out of her first mystery. I don't know; I hope I'm wrong and the next book is even better.

So now please, please, let me know what you think!

What am I doing?

Hey everyone! This is my first post chronicling the ridiculous journey I've decided to take.
A few weeks ago, I got an email from Powell's Bookstore with lists from their staffers of their favorite books of 2009. I glimpsed through the list, but that was it. Then, a few days later, I was at the Tigard library and noticed one of the Powell's top picks on their bestseller shelf, and I grabbed it. It was delightful! (But more on that for the next post...) I felt so blessed to have "happened" upon a book that I would love as much as I did this one, so I was planning on taking this staffer's four other recommendations. Then I thought, "Why not all of them?" By assuming that I will or won't like certain books, or not even giving them a chance, I'm following the cliche of judging a book by its cover. These books are obviously near and dear to someone, so I'm going to take the time to see why!
The point of this whole thing, for me at least, is to go on an adventure. I love seeing what kind of journey an author's going to take me on- and usually I'm content to let them take me there, even if it's not somewhere I'd like to visit again. In addition, I'd like to stretch my own mind and allow others to help me with this. If there's a book I absolutely can't stand (which I'm sure there will be) I want to try and figure out why someone else loved it enough to put it in their top 5 picks of the year. I'd love input from other people to help me with this! Plus, my friends live all over the place- what better way to keep in touch and share in something special?
This may be a waste of time, and I'm okay with that. The list ( http://www.powells.com/staffpicks/stafftop5_2009.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=facebook_fans&utm_content=Top%20Fives%202009 ) has the picks of 35 staffers, making a delightful- and whopping- 185 books. Some are duplicates (though not many) and one unruly staffer only chose one book, so my closest guesstimation is that I'll need to read 15 books/ month (also understanding that I'm a month and a half behind). So... here I go! Join me, won't you?
If this all goes well, or even if I doesn't, I'd like to make this a tradition. Hopefully, I do this every year- so now it's time to get started!