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?