The Comfort of Strangers traces the experiences of a couple on vacation in an unnamed city (likely Venice). But this holiday is not just any vacation; the two, Colin and Maria, meet a man who promises them good food and fun at a small restaurant in town. But, as the novel progresses, you find that this is not just any man, and this is not just any holiday for Colin and Maria.
I have to admit: I found this novel to be quite the head-trip. It was a psychological novel, exploring themes of violence and violent relationships and what such experiences can do to the psyche of an otherwise-normal person. It made for a dark and foreboding novel. I've found that McEwan's novels are often intended to make the reader consider and reconsider how they understand the world around him/her. But this is no plot twist at the end of an otherwise beautiful and moving novel. The Comfort of Strangers, in other words, is by no means Atonement. In this novel (if you can imagine) is even darker, exploring what violence and masogynism can do to people in a relationship.
I don't know if I can describe this novel any other way. As usual, McEwan does a fantastic job of characterization--his "good" guys are clearly good...flawed but noble...and his "bad" guys are dark and sinister. But the characters don't seem all that important in the novel. Instead, McEwan messes with the readers' brains at the same time as he messes with the brains of his main characters. It makes the book one that I don't know if I can recommend to anyone. It took me a good long time to get the themes of the novel out of my head...but I really, really wanted to stop tripping over this novel.
My rating: 7.9/10
Other Reviews:
Farm Lane Books
Citizen Reader
Books for Breakfast
*If I don't list your review, let me know, and I'll add your review to the list!*
Up next: How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Review: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
In this novel Adichie follows the lives of Biafran people in the late 1960s, as they attempt to declare their independence from greater Nigeria and form a country of their own. She traces the lives of "real people" from all different levels of life: middle class, servants, government leadership, etc. Also, by incorporating the relationships of her main characters with people on the "other side" of the war, we see people on both sides of the fighting as they deal with the horrors of war and the losses associated with it.
I really enjoyed this novel. I think I learned a lot about a topic that I didn't see a lot in my history classes in college. In the late 1960s, the Igbo-led Biafra (in southern modern Nigeria) declared independence from the mostly Muslim Hausa-led north. The civil war leads to the separation of once-strong friendships and threatens the way of life of the intellectual middle class in Biafra. Adichie traces how the war changes people's lives. The characters are believable; each has personal flaws but enough humanity for me to absolutely fall in love with them. I cared what happened to the main characters...and the minor characters, which I think is a huge success for Adichie. I cared about the Igbo people, and I wanted them to win.
In addition to the characters, I think that the author did a fantastic job describing the horrors of war, not just the fighting, but the "collateral" damages caused by civil war: hunger, starvation, suspicion of neighbors. Adichie tackles the issues associated with the "saboteurs," or the other minority non-Igbo people in the south, who were often accused of helping the enemy. She also describes other "side-effects" of war: rape, theft, disease. But she does this in a way that allows the reader to understand some of these terrible actions in the context of war. The reader can criticize the action and the war without necessarily finding people (namely Ugwu) personally culpable for these issues.
There were some issues with the novel. In the beginning, Adichie switched back in forth in time unnecessarily. While it formed some mysteries that kept me reading, I think the novel in chronological order would have provided the same readability without creating confusion with the time lapses.
Still, in general, I think this is a fantastic novel. I would recommend it to anyone! It's also advanced my relative obsession with reading about Latin America and Africa recently. There's just something about the voice of the authors, and the heartbreaking stories they often tell that keeps me reading novels like these over and over.
My rating: 9.4/10
Source: Borrowed from my step-sister
Other reviews:
A Guy's Moleskine Notebook
Kiss A Cloud
Farm Lane Books Blog
Ramya's Bookshelf...
Up next: Whatever I decide to download with my new Kindle!!!!!!!
I really enjoyed this novel. I think I learned a lot about a topic that I didn't see a lot in my history classes in college. In the late 1960s, the Igbo-led Biafra (in southern modern Nigeria) declared independence from the mostly Muslim Hausa-led north. The civil war leads to the separation of once-strong friendships and threatens the way of life of the intellectual middle class in Biafra. Adichie traces how the war changes people's lives. The characters are believable; each has personal flaws but enough humanity for me to absolutely fall in love with them. I cared what happened to the main characters...and the minor characters, which I think is a huge success for Adichie. I cared about the Igbo people, and I wanted them to win.
In addition to the characters, I think that the author did a fantastic job describing the horrors of war, not just the fighting, but the "collateral" damages caused by civil war: hunger, starvation, suspicion of neighbors. Adichie tackles the issues associated with the "saboteurs," or the other minority non-Igbo people in the south, who were often accused of helping the enemy. She also describes other "side-effects" of war: rape, theft, disease. But she does this in a way that allows the reader to understand some of these terrible actions in the context of war. The reader can criticize the action and the war without necessarily finding people (namely Ugwu) personally culpable for these issues.
There were some issues with the novel. In the beginning, Adichie switched back in forth in time unnecessarily. While it formed some mysteries that kept me reading, I think the novel in chronological order would have provided the same readability without creating confusion with the time lapses.
Still, in general, I think this is a fantastic novel. I would recommend it to anyone! It's also advanced my relative obsession with reading about Latin America and Africa recently. There's just something about the voice of the authors, and the heartbreaking stories they often tell that keeps me reading novels like these over and over.
My rating: 9.4/10
Source: Borrowed from my step-sister
Other reviews:
A Guy's Moleskine Notebook
Kiss A Cloud
Farm Lane Books Blog
Ramya's Bookshelf...
Up next: Whatever I decide to download with my new Kindle!!!!!!!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Review: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Tipping Point is a book mixing together sociology, psychology, marketing, education, etc., etc. to create a thesis: small things really do make all of the difference. He uses just about every example possible to support his ideas, including Paul Revere's ride, Blues Clues, and the New York crime wave. Quite simply, ideas, trends, and social movements do not become popular because of their own merits; rather, they catch on because a few very important people (whom Gladwell calls connectors, mavens, and salesmen) are drawn to the idea and spread it.
I think that Gladwell does a very good job explaining his ideas, and the sheer breadth of the examples and case studies allows nearly every reader to find something that they can understand/connect with in the book. For history nuts (like me!), there's Paul Revere's ride; for amateur sociologists, there's an examination of the New York crime rate drop-off; for parents, there's Blues Clues and Sesame Street. This, however, does bring up one fundamental flaw in the book; the thesis is argued through case study. Although Gladwell alludes to patterns to look for in examples not included in the book, they're not set out in a way that can be experimented. This lack of "academic" arguments does, however, make the book much more accessible for the non-academic.
All in all, I think this is an excellent book to make you think and reconsider what you currently think to be true about popular ideas; it's not the merit, it's the people involved in spreading the word about the idea and their skills in harnessing the power of communication. It raises some important questions: do we elect presidents because of our personal support of their policies, or is it because we managed to meet and talk to someone particularly effective at spreading the word about said candidate? Can we encourage children to go to school and study hard simply because of the possible rewards of doing such a thing, or would we be fighting a losing battle against a charismatic classmate that argues for the fun that comes with skipping school? Can we fight childhood obesity by using celebrity spokespeople and warning about the health risks, or do we need to search for a particular person particularly good at persuading children that exercising is "cool"? Even if you're not a "non-fiction reader," I would suggest this book. It's accessible, and the ideas are really worth reading about.
My rating: 9.2/10
Other reviews:
Liv's Book Reviews
Dog Ear Diary
Book Addiction
A Reader's Journal
Up Next: Fury by Salman Rushdie
I think that Gladwell does a very good job explaining his ideas, and the sheer breadth of the examples and case studies allows nearly every reader to find something that they can understand/connect with in the book. For history nuts (like me!), there's Paul Revere's ride; for amateur sociologists, there's an examination of the New York crime rate drop-off; for parents, there's Blues Clues and Sesame Street. This, however, does bring up one fundamental flaw in the book; the thesis is argued through case study. Although Gladwell alludes to patterns to look for in examples not included in the book, they're not set out in a way that can be experimented. This lack of "academic" arguments does, however, make the book much more accessible for the non-academic.
All in all, I think this is an excellent book to make you think and reconsider what you currently think to be true about popular ideas; it's not the merit, it's the people involved in spreading the word about the idea and their skills in harnessing the power of communication. It raises some important questions: do we elect presidents because of our personal support of their policies, or is it because we managed to meet and talk to someone particularly effective at spreading the word about said candidate? Can we encourage children to go to school and study hard simply because of the possible rewards of doing such a thing, or would we be fighting a losing battle against a charismatic classmate that argues for the fun that comes with skipping school? Can we fight childhood obesity by using celebrity spokespeople and warning about the health risks, or do we need to search for a particular person particularly good at persuading children that exercising is "cool"? Even if you're not a "non-fiction reader," I would suggest this book. It's accessible, and the ideas are really worth reading about.
My rating: 9.2/10
Other reviews:
Liv's Book Reviews
Dog Ear Diary
Book Addiction
A Reader's Journal
Up Next: Fury by Salman Rushdie
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Review: Guernica by Dave Boling
From the Back of the Novel: In 1935, finding himself on the wrong side of the Spanish Nationalists, Miguel Navarro flees to Guernica, the most ancient town in the Basque region. In this idyllic, isolated bastion of democratic values, Miguel finds more than a new life--he finds someone to live for. Miren Ansotegui is a charismatic dancer from the town's most prominent family, and the two discover a powerful love.
But their affair is doomed to be painfully tested. On the eve of World War II, the German Luftwaffe bombs Guernica. It is a devastating experiment in total warfare and, for the Basques, an attack on the soul of their ancient nation. Seamlessly merging history and fiction, Guernica speaks to the resilience of family, love, and tradition in extraordinary circumstances.
I will admit, this is a book that will stay with me for a very, very long time. For anyone that knows the basics of the Spanish Civil War and the bombing of Guernica by the Germans as a show of support for Franco, this book is, understandably, not a happy one. What the Germans did to "test" their air force was horrific, and Boling does a fantastic job putting a human face on that tragedy. He really makes you fall in love with the characters, quirks and all, and makes you care about what happens to them. The novel acts as a fantastic introduction to the "opening acts" of World War II and the historic difficulties of the Basque people under oppressive regimes.
That being said, don't go into this one expecting an unbiased view of anything that's happening. The Basques are portrayed as vibrant, loving, intelligent...the stereotypical "good" guys of the novel. And every German or Spanish (read: fascists supporting the Franco-led rebellion against the Spanish republic) is portrayed as soulless, lazy, and, in several cases, socio-pathic. There's little attempt to understand them as people with their own families to protect. Still, I think it is rather appropriate in this novel--the descriptions of the German bombers as celebrating after the horrific decimation of the town of Guernica show just how disassociated from other people many fascists had become. They didn't think of Guernica as a town full of people with lives and families; instead, they were the enemy: a strategic target. In contrast, the British bomber portrayed reaches the understanding early in his military career that his bombing in Germany could result in the death of German women and children. I am not mentioning this in criticism; I'm just warning non-fiction readers that they shouldn't expect an unbiased view of the Spanish Civil War in this novel.
This is Boling's first novel, and, I must admit, I'm extremely impressed. I saw it on the bookshelves at Borders on the "If you like...then you might like..." displays, and I couldn't resist it, and it quickly ended up on the top of my TBR list. Boling's writing style reminds me a lot of Allende and some other Latin American and Spanish authors (but with a whole heck of a lot more of the realism and none of the supernatural). His descriptions are beautiful, and he successfully paints a picture of the horrifying event without being gory. Rather, he shows an amazing respect for all of the characters, even as they're facing their last moments or the ongoing need to deal with grief. Ultimately, the book has an excellent message and shows that even in the midst of overwhelming death and destruction, a community can rebound--even thrive.
My rating: 10/10
Other reviews:
caribousmom
Presenting Lenore
She Is Too Fond of Books
Up Next: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
But their affair is doomed to be painfully tested. On the eve of World War II, the German Luftwaffe bombs Guernica. It is a devastating experiment in total warfare and, for the Basques, an attack on the soul of their ancient nation. Seamlessly merging history and fiction, Guernica speaks to the resilience of family, love, and tradition in extraordinary circumstances.
I will admit, this is a book that will stay with me for a very, very long time. For anyone that knows the basics of the Spanish Civil War and the bombing of Guernica by the Germans as a show of support for Franco, this book is, understandably, not a happy one. What the Germans did to "test" their air force was horrific, and Boling does a fantastic job putting a human face on that tragedy. He really makes you fall in love with the characters, quirks and all, and makes you care about what happens to them. The novel acts as a fantastic introduction to the "opening acts" of World War II and the historic difficulties of the Basque people under oppressive regimes.
That being said, don't go into this one expecting an unbiased view of anything that's happening. The Basques are portrayed as vibrant, loving, intelligent...the stereotypical "good" guys of the novel. And every German or Spanish (read: fascists supporting the Franco-led rebellion against the Spanish republic) is portrayed as soulless, lazy, and, in several cases, socio-pathic. There's little attempt to understand them as people with their own families to protect. Still, I think it is rather appropriate in this novel--the descriptions of the German bombers as celebrating after the horrific decimation of the town of Guernica show just how disassociated from other people many fascists had become. They didn't think of Guernica as a town full of people with lives and families; instead, they were the enemy: a strategic target. In contrast, the British bomber portrayed reaches the understanding early in his military career that his bombing in Germany could result in the death of German women and children. I am not mentioning this in criticism; I'm just warning non-fiction readers that they shouldn't expect an unbiased view of the Spanish Civil War in this novel.
This is Boling's first novel, and, I must admit, I'm extremely impressed. I saw it on the bookshelves at Borders on the "If you like...then you might like..." displays, and I couldn't resist it, and it quickly ended up on the top of my TBR list. Boling's writing style reminds me a lot of Allende and some other Latin American and Spanish authors (but with a whole heck of a lot more of the realism and none of the supernatural). His descriptions are beautiful, and he successfully paints a picture of the horrifying event without being gory. Rather, he shows an amazing respect for all of the characters, even as they're facing their last moments or the ongoing need to deal with grief. Ultimately, the book has an excellent message and shows that even in the midst of overwhelming death and destruction, a community can rebound--even thrive.
My rating: 10/10
Other reviews:
caribousmom
Presenting Lenore
She Is Too Fond of Books
Up Next: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Quick Review: Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss
I'm just going to give a quick review of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves since I'm on my way out for rockclimbing with the inlaws :)
Let me preface this review by saying that I am a stickler (except online) when it comes to punctuation. I figure that people who take the time to make signs to advertise their goods, should at least use proper punctuation...I will never buy banana's from a grocery store.
That being said, I think this book is extremely accessible. It's a bit caustic for those who just can't seem to grasp some of the rules she explains, but she at least summarizes basic punctuation rules by using extremely funny examples of terrible punctuation in print. She also has a lot to say about what the downfall of punctuation (see grocery store signs and text message speak) can mean for human understanding of language...something I think all book bloggers should be concerned about!
My rating: 9.7/10
Other reviews:
**Please let me know if you have a review of this book posted...I couldn't seem to find any in my cursory search of my Google Reader**
Up next: Guernica by Dave Bolling
Let me preface this review by saying that I am a stickler (except online) when it comes to punctuation. I figure that people who take the time to make signs to advertise their goods, should at least use proper punctuation...I will never buy banana's from a grocery store.
That being said, I think this book is extremely accessible. It's a bit caustic for those who just can't seem to grasp some of the rules she explains, but she at least summarizes basic punctuation rules by using extremely funny examples of terrible punctuation in print. She also has a lot to say about what the downfall of punctuation (see grocery store signs and text message speak) can mean for human understanding of language...something I think all book bloggers should be concerned about!
My rating: 9.7/10
Other reviews:
**Please let me know if you have a review of this book posted...I couldn't seem to find any in my cursory search of my Google Reader**
Up next: Guernica by Dave Bolling
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Review: I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
I Know This Much Is True is an extraordinary novel about identical twin boys, one ends up schizophrenic; the other ends up troubled and burdened by life's tragedies. Lamb describes the "normal" boy's attempts to take responsibility for his brother without ending up exactly like him.
Wally Lamb is a masterful story-teller. I really felt the characters, empathized with them, even though I have lived a quiet and sheltered life compared to the trials of nearly everyone involved in the story. I thought that the characters were believable; you don't necessarily support everything that they did, but you could at least understand where they were coming from. And each one tackles some very serious issues -- schizophrenia, SIDS, diabetes, child abuse, treatment of Native Americans, racism, etc. -- but they're still people, and I appreciate that Lamb recognizes this. People can't face such over-arching hardship and live without recognizing humor...and finding love. And that is ultimately what I think this book is about: the ability to find love even among overwhelming problems.
Still, this book is not without fault. Some episodes seem to be included only to prove characters' quirkiness. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I love character-development-driven novels, but sometimes I have trouble with novels that switch back and forth between character development and plot. It seemed like sometimes the plot got too rushed while character development was long and drawn-out and at other times, the plot took a while to develop and character development was fast and forced. It made it hard to maintain my bearings.
All of this, however, does not detract from my recommendation that anyone who hasn't read this yet (and I may be the only one). I truly loved this novel; it was worth all 900 pages.
My rating: 8.9/10
Other reviews:
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
Caribousmom
Book Maven's Blog
Reading Matters
Everything Distils Into Reading
Musings of a Bookish Kitty
Up Next: Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss
Wally Lamb is a masterful story-teller. I really felt the characters, empathized with them, even though I have lived a quiet and sheltered life compared to the trials of nearly everyone involved in the story. I thought that the characters were believable; you don't necessarily support everything that they did, but you could at least understand where they were coming from. And each one tackles some very serious issues -- schizophrenia, SIDS, diabetes, child abuse, treatment of Native Americans, racism, etc. -- but they're still people, and I appreciate that Lamb recognizes this. People can't face such over-arching hardship and live without recognizing humor...and finding love. And that is ultimately what I think this book is about: the ability to find love even among overwhelming problems.
Still, this book is not without fault. Some episodes seem to be included only to prove characters' quirkiness. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I love character-development-driven novels, but sometimes I have trouble with novels that switch back and forth between character development and plot. It seemed like sometimes the plot got too rushed while character development was long and drawn-out and at other times, the plot took a while to develop and character development was fast and forced. It made it hard to maintain my bearings.
All of this, however, does not detract from my recommendation that anyone who hasn't read this yet (and I may be the only one). I truly loved this novel; it was worth all 900 pages.
My rating: 8.9/10
Other reviews:
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
Caribousmom
Book Maven's Blog
Reading Matters
Everything Distils Into Reading
Musings of a Bookish Kitty
Up Next: Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Happy Banned Books Week!!!
This week marks a very, very important week in a reader's life: Banned Books Week. I can't help but be grateful for the American Library Association's fight against people who desire to make their values force everyone else to change their behavior. I know my reading history would not be as rich and beautiful if the book-banners had won. I wouldn't have read Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God or Twain's Huck Finn.
I do remember in elementary school when some parents' complaints made the library set up a permission slip system in order for students to access the back office, which housed the Goosebumps series. I was never a huge fan...it was always a series that I read when I couldn't find anything else that I was much interested in reading, but even as a young 5th grader, I thought it seemed unfair. So many kids at that time only read Goosebumps, and there really wasn't anything all that scary or inappropriate about them. Looking back now, I think parents should have just been grateful for Goosebumps because it made their children meet their self-selected reading goals with less opposition and fighting :)
I just always thought that the arguments for banning books seemed completely ridiculous. The common citation of the "n" word as a reason to ban the book just doesn't make sense. These books, including the above-mentioned Huck Finn and Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, allow students to talk about and deal with the historical and contemporary issues surrounding race, that word itself, and what it means. I think it expands a student's understanding; it certainly doesn't make every student a racist. Funny thing is, most of the books that are banned that include the "n" word or the "f" word or many others, actually lead to students expanding their minds, opening them up to other cultures, etc (To Kill a Mockingbird, in particular, comes to mind here). Maybe that's what some parents are really afraid of: their children being challenged in school, leading to them moving away from their parents closed minds and being more accepting. And if parents really have moral issues with books in libraries or schools, maybe they should set up an alternative specifically for their children rather than force that moral issue on all students/library patrons.
What do you think? Am I too critical of book banners? How are you celebrating Banned Books Week?
I do remember in elementary school when some parents' complaints made the library set up a permission slip system in order for students to access the back office, which housed the Goosebumps series. I was never a huge fan...it was always a series that I read when I couldn't find anything else that I was much interested in reading, but even as a young 5th grader, I thought it seemed unfair. So many kids at that time only read Goosebumps, and there really wasn't anything all that scary or inappropriate about them. Looking back now, I think parents should have just been grateful for Goosebumps because it made their children meet their self-selected reading goals with less opposition and fighting :)
I just always thought that the arguments for banning books seemed completely ridiculous. The common citation of the "n" word as a reason to ban the book just doesn't make sense. These books, including the above-mentioned Huck Finn and Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, allow students to talk about and deal with the historical and contemporary issues surrounding race, that word itself, and what it means. I think it expands a student's understanding; it certainly doesn't make every student a racist. Funny thing is, most of the books that are banned that include the "n" word or the "f" word or many others, actually lead to students expanding their minds, opening them up to other cultures, etc (To Kill a Mockingbird, in particular, comes to mind here). Maybe that's what some parents are really afraid of: their children being challenged in school, leading to them moving away from their parents closed minds and being more accepting. And if parents really have moral issues with books in libraries or schools, maybe they should set up an alternative specifically for their children rather than force that moral issue on all students/library patrons.
What do you think? Am I too critical of book banners? How are you celebrating Banned Books Week?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Review: Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
I really don't know how to describe this novel. It's definitely a little different than The Bean Trees in that it seems to focus more on political and social issues rather than just the characters, but I loved it all the same. I love books that make me really think, and because of the issues raised in the novel, I had to continually reevaluate my feelings about what was happening in the novel.
Basically, the novel picks up where The Bean Trees left off. Turtle remains with Taylor in Arizona, but as the two are on vacation, Turtle saves a man who had fallen into the Hoover Dam, landing the two on talk shows, including Oprah. The Oprah show catches the attention of a Cherokee lawyer Annawake who, because of her own emotional baggage, takes Turtle's adoption as a personal affront against the Cherokee tribe and attempts to invalidate the adoption based on Supreme Court rulings to bring Turtle back to the tribe. The novel traces the family wrangling and emotional issues surrounding how Taylor, Turtle, and Annawake deal with the issues raised.
I honestly was torn throughout the novel about how I wanted it to end. I absolutely loved Taylor's character in The Bean Trees and respected her decision to step up and care for Turtle when no one else would. And I thought that Annawake, at times, completely ignored the fact that the Cherokee "family" had its chance to care for Turtle and blew it. At the same time, the history of the U.S. government's relationship with the Cherokee nation (and other Native American tribes for that matter) has been terrible, and the tribe had a right to prevent their children from being taken away. I won't tell you how the book ended, but I thought it seemed to be a bit of a cop out, allowing Kingsolver to avoid taking a stand. Still, the characterization was great, and the story brought me to tears at times. Definitely not as good as The Bean Trees, but Pigs in Heaven is still a fantastic read, especially if you've already fallen in love with the characters in the first novel (which I totally suggest you read first).
My rating: 9.2/10
I couldn't seem to find any other reviews, but a lot of you have it on your TBR page; I highly suggest you read it :)
*Let me know if I missed your review and I'll add it*
Up next: I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
Basically, the novel picks up where The Bean Trees left off. Turtle remains with Taylor in Arizona, but as the two are on vacation, Turtle saves a man who had fallen into the Hoover Dam, landing the two on talk shows, including Oprah. The Oprah show catches the attention of a Cherokee lawyer Annawake who, because of her own emotional baggage, takes Turtle's adoption as a personal affront against the Cherokee tribe and attempts to invalidate the adoption based on Supreme Court rulings to bring Turtle back to the tribe. The novel traces the family wrangling and emotional issues surrounding how Taylor, Turtle, and Annawake deal with the issues raised.
I honestly was torn throughout the novel about how I wanted it to end. I absolutely loved Taylor's character in The Bean Trees and respected her decision to step up and care for Turtle when no one else would. And I thought that Annawake, at times, completely ignored the fact that the Cherokee "family" had its chance to care for Turtle and blew it. At the same time, the history of the U.S. government's relationship with the Cherokee nation (and other Native American tribes for that matter) has been terrible, and the tribe had a right to prevent their children from being taken away. I won't tell you how the book ended, but I thought it seemed to be a bit of a cop out, allowing Kingsolver to avoid taking a stand. Still, the characterization was great, and the story brought me to tears at times. Definitely not as good as The Bean Trees, but Pigs in Heaven is still a fantastic read, especially if you've already fallen in love with the characters in the first novel (which I totally suggest you read first).
My rating: 9.2/10
I couldn't seem to find any other reviews, but a lot of you have it on your TBR page; I highly suggest you read it :)
*Let me know if I missed your review and I'll add it*
Up next: I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Age-Old Desert Island Question?
My favorite radio station XPN has been taking a survey of its listeners about the 10 songs you'd want to have with you on your low-capacity solar-powered Ipod. They'll compile it into an 885 Desert Island Songs list to coincide with their Fall fund drive. I totally forget which songs I submitted because I decided I couldn't over-think it and decided to just vote early on. Even if you're not from the Phili/Jersey/Central PA listening, you should totally check it out (Voting ends tomorrow 9/11, I believe). I'd also suggest checking into their Live Stream of the radio station so you can listen wherever! They play some fantastic new artists as well as some more national "Indie" bands. Regardless of what they're playing, they're non-commercial, meaning more listening time. Even during the fund drives, they limit fundraising to the amount of time usually taken up by commercials on "regular" radio stations. Just take all this rambling to be a whole-hearted suggestion that you check them out.
Still...it's got me to thinking. What happens if you apply this to books? Assuming the deserted island has tons of food, etc., and you'll be there for a good long time, which books would you want to have along? I decided to set some ground rules for my own list (you're free to make your own rules if you want to muse aloud about similar lists):
1. I have to have read it. Being stuck on a deserted island is not the time that I want to bring 10 unread books that turn out to be duds.
2. Series do not count as one book...if I wanted the whole Harry Potter series, I'd better set aside 7 books.
The list I decided on...and believe me, it's taken some agonizing:
1. The Giver by Lois Lowry
2. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
3. The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory
4. The World According to Garp by John Irving
5. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
6. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
7. Jazz by Toni Morrison
8. Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara
9. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
10. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
I took it pretty seriously. I figured I should put together a pretty well-rounded list with lots of different kinds of books. I picked a lot of books that I've re-read or read once but think I'll be able to pick up on even more by another couple reads on the island's beach :) Also, I avoided non-fiction because I thought I may want a bit of an escape from my lonely life by connecting with characters (of course, McCourt is the exception, but how can you read that book and not connect to the characters to some extent?).
What do you think? Which 10 books would you want to have in your backpack on your deserted island?
Reminder: you should totally check out XPN's website. They're totally awesome
Still...it's got me to thinking. What happens if you apply this to books? Assuming the deserted island has tons of food, etc., and you'll be there for a good long time, which books would you want to have along? I decided to set some ground rules for my own list (you're free to make your own rules if you want to muse aloud about similar lists):
1. I have to have read it. Being stuck on a deserted island is not the time that I want to bring 10 unread books that turn out to be duds.
2. Series do not count as one book...if I wanted the whole Harry Potter series, I'd better set aside 7 books.
The list I decided on...and believe me, it's taken some agonizing:
1. The Giver by Lois Lowry
2. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
3. The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory
4. The World According to Garp by John Irving
5. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
6. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
7. Jazz by Toni Morrison
8. Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara
9. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
10. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
I took it pretty seriously. I figured I should put together a pretty well-rounded list with lots of different kinds of books. I picked a lot of books that I've re-read or read once but think I'll be able to pick up on even more by another couple reads on the island's beach :) Also, I avoided non-fiction because I thought I may want a bit of an escape from my lonely life by connecting with characters (of course, McCourt is the exception, but how can you read that book and not connect to the characters to some extent?).
What do you think? Which 10 books would you want to have in your backpack on your deserted island?
Reminder: you should totally check out XPN's website. They're totally awesome
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
From the Back (because I can't summarize this book any better): "Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity of putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places."
I initially read this book junior year of high school for our yearly research paper. It was my first exercise in literary research, and I think it kept me from enjoying this book as thoroughly as I did during my re-read. I love Kingsolver's style: the way she has of discussing serious matters and saying something important without getting all high-and-mighty about it. The book grapples with some serious stuff--child abuse, the plight of illegal immigrants who come to the U.S. to escape persecution without the means of actually proving that persecution to U.S. immigration courts, economic disparity, friendship, love, the limits of parents' ability to protect their children, racism, etc., etc. Yet, the tone is regularly lighthearted and sweet. The only real villain is "the way things are," which, in this story, is of course frustrating. All the characters in the novel are so sweet and disarming and quirky that you have to cheer for them, especially when they're lost and making bad decisions. And the book is uplifting; without spoiling it, the ending has an excellent message and leaves you thinking, but not sobbing.
I don't think I can quite put how excellent this book is into words. It's even better the second time through (probably helped along by a bit of "life experience").
My rating: 10/10
Other reviews:
A Lifetime of Books
The Written World
**If I've missed your review, let me know via comments, and I'll add your link**
Up next: the sequel Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
I initially read this book junior year of high school for our yearly research paper. It was my first exercise in literary research, and I think it kept me from enjoying this book as thoroughly as I did during my re-read. I love Kingsolver's style: the way she has of discussing serious matters and saying something important without getting all high-and-mighty about it. The book grapples with some serious stuff--child abuse, the plight of illegal immigrants who come to the U.S. to escape persecution without the means of actually proving that persecution to U.S. immigration courts, economic disparity, friendship, love, the limits of parents' ability to protect their children, racism, etc., etc. Yet, the tone is regularly lighthearted and sweet. The only real villain is "the way things are," which, in this story, is of course frustrating. All the characters in the novel are so sweet and disarming and quirky that you have to cheer for them, especially when they're lost and making bad decisions. And the book is uplifting; without spoiling it, the ending has an excellent message and leaves you thinking, but not sobbing.
I don't think I can quite put how excellent this book is into words. It's even better the second time through (probably helped along by a bit of "life experience").
My rating: 10/10
Other reviews:
A Lifetime of Books
The Written World
**If I've missed your review, let me know via comments, and I'll add your link**
Up next: the sequel Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
I really, really wanted to love this book, but I found myself just, well, liking it. It was an excellent story, fantastically well-written, and had some excellent characters. And, believe me, between starting a job and working hard to make sure I spend time with my husband relaxing when I'm home, I really appreciated the shortness of the novel. Still, I couldn't fall in love with this book, possibly due to the fact that I had to read it in small sections during breaks/lunch/downtime at home. I definitely think I may re-read this one in the future when I'm not so busy, and I'm sure that I'll enjoy it much more that way.
The novel traces the story of four Chinese immigrant women and their U.S.-citizen daughters as they work to develop a relationship with the world and with U.S. culture, working against stereotyping in their new home and harsh memories from their old one. Each woman has their own experiences that shape the interactions between the generations. Tan does a fantastic job describing the communication gap between the younger generation and the older based upon changing ideas of social expectations, and I really enjoyed reading about the experiences of different women and comparing them to my own relationship with my mother and other inter-generational relationships I've watched in others.
The writing is simple, which allowed me to focus on the story itself rather than any sort of struggle with the structure of the novel.
I really hope that you look at these other reviews to see what others thought about it!
My rating: 8.5/10
Other reviews:
A Guy's Moleskine Notebook
Book Addiction
Ramya's Bookshelf
(If you've reviewed The Joy Luck Club and I missed you, let me know, and I'll add your review to the links!)
Up next: Maybe some non-fiction or re-reading Kingsolver's The Bean Trees so I can read its sequel Pigs In Heaven. I'll figure it out sometime this evening.
The novel traces the story of four Chinese immigrant women and their U.S.-citizen daughters as they work to develop a relationship with the world and with U.S. culture, working against stereotyping in their new home and harsh memories from their old one. Each woman has their own experiences that shape the interactions between the generations. Tan does a fantastic job describing the communication gap between the younger generation and the older based upon changing ideas of social expectations, and I really enjoyed reading about the experiences of different women and comparing them to my own relationship with my mother and other inter-generational relationships I've watched in others.
The writing is simple, which allowed me to focus on the story itself rather than any sort of struggle with the structure of the novel.
I really hope that you look at these other reviews to see what others thought about it!
My rating: 8.5/10
Other reviews:
A Guy's Moleskine Notebook
Book Addiction
Ramya's Bookshelf
(If you've reviewed The Joy Luck Club and I missed you, let me know, and I'll add your review to the links!)
Up next: Maybe some non-fiction or re-reading Kingsolver's The Bean Trees so I can read its sequel Pigs In Heaven. I'll figure it out sometime this evening.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Reading Hiatus?
I just wanted to stop in and explain my lack of posting over the last week or so. I started a new job, and my life is slowly adjusting to the incorporation of 8 hours of non-reading time into my days! It also doesn't help that this past week was chock full of family birthdays and other obligations that kept me from my reading. I think once my schedule gets more routine for me, I'll get back to reading often. I'm already reading during my lunch breaks!
I'm about 1/4 of the way through Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, and since I'm reading it in chunks spread relatively far apart, I admit I'm having problems getting into it/keeping track of the characters' roles, but I'm still generally enjoying it. Now just to find time to read...
I'm about 1/4 of the way through Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, and since I'm reading it in chunks spread relatively far apart, I admit I'm having problems getting into it/keeping track of the characters' roles, but I'm still generally enjoying it. Now just to find time to read...
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Review: His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
I finally finished reading this book, and it's one of those that I was cursing my reading limitations. I couldn't explain how much I couldn't wait for this trilogy to end--in a completely good way. The novels trace the adventures of Lyra and Will, two very special children for reasons you need to read to find out, as they work within their universe of multiple worlds to fulfill their destinies.
I absolutely fell in love with Lyra and all of the other characters (at least the ones you're supposed to fall in love with) and was rooting for them the whole way, hoping that they'd make the right decisions to help their world to reverse the various troubles caused by various government and religious authorities. That being said, as was highly publicized when the movie came out, these novels are really critical of organized religion (particularly the Catholic Church as you'll see if/when you read the trilogy) and seems to support science and personal accountability more than religious tenets, and, I'll admit, Pullman does sometimes beat you over the head with it. Still, I personally think it's possible to really enjoy this book even if you don't agree with Pullman's religious and political tenets. I also think Pullman did a really fantastic job only allowing the reader to know certain things about characters until it's really the right time for the reader to know it. Sometimes, he foreshadows and tells the story from multiple perspectives (so the reader knows a bit more than the characters about how other worlds/characters are behaving) but allows the reader to question his/her own understanding of the characters and what their role is in the story, whether good or bad.
Although His Dark Materials was technically listed as "Young Adult" at Borders, I really think that other audiences would really enjoy the trilogy. The plot moves quickly, reminding me slightly of Harry Potter (however, unlike Harry [with maybe the exception of Book 6], each individual novel in the trilogy do not stand alone and do not have their own, nicely-tied-together endings [translation: do not expect to be able to read one novel without reading them all at once]) and sucked me into the story right away. I also loved the opportunity to be able to experience "another world" much like mine but completely different in many ways. The novels also provide the ability to really consider whether the basic philosophy contained in this "fantasy" novel could actually be not so "fantastic." I really don't think I'm doing these novels justice, so please please please look at some of these other reviews to find out just how much you should read this book. :)
My rating: 9.9/10
Other reviews:
Bending Bookshelf (here and here)
Book Addiction
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
Just One More Page
Books for Breakfast Drinks for Dinner
*If I missed your review (or mis-linked it), please let me know and I'll add/fix it!
I absolutely fell in love with Lyra and all of the other characters (at least the ones you're supposed to fall in love with) and was rooting for them the whole way, hoping that they'd make the right decisions to help their world to reverse the various troubles caused by various government and religious authorities. That being said, as was highly publicized when the movie came out, these novels are really critical of organized religion (particularly the Catholic Church as you'll see if/when you read the trilogy) and seems to support science and personal accountability more than religious tenets, and, I'll admit, Pullman does sometimes beat you over the head with it. Still, I personally think it's possible to really enjoy this book even if you don't agree with Pullman's religious and political tenets. I also think Pullman did a really fantastic job only allowing the reader to know certain things about characters until it's really the right time for the reader to know it. Sometimes, he foreshadows and tells the story from multiple perspectives (so the reader knows a bit more than the characters about how other worlds/characters are behaving) but allows the reader to question his/her own understanding of the characters and what their role is in the story, whether good or bad.
Although His Dark Materials was technically listed as "Young Adult" at Borders, I really think that other audiences would really enjoy the trilogy. The plot moves quickly, reminding me slightly of Harry Potter (however, unlike Harry [with maybe the exception of Book 6], each individual novel in the trilogy do not stand alone and do not have their own, nicely-tied-together endings [translation: do not expect to be able to read one novel without reading them all at once]) and sucked me into the story right away. I also loved the opportunity to be able to experience "another world" much like mine but completely different in many ways. The novels also provide the ability to really consider whether the basic philosophy contained in this "fantasy" novel could actually be not so "fantastic." I really don't think I'm doing these novels justice, so please please please look at some of these other reviews to find out just how much you should read this book. :)
My rating: 9.9/10
Other reviews:
Bending Bookshelf (here and here)
Book Addiction
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
Just One More Page
Books for Breakfast Drinks for Dinner
*If I missed your review (or mis-linked it), please let me know and I'll add/fix it!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Internetless!
This post will be acting as my apology for using the "Mark all as read" button on my Google Reader for the last few days. Our modem died, and with job stuff and buying a new car (!), we just got around to fixing it last night. Unfortunately, what's left of this week does not contain enough time (so busy!!!) to read through all the missed posts. But I promise, I missed you guys!
Friday, August 14, 2009
I Made a Killing!
I stumbled upon a used book sale benefiting the local historical society, and I could only think one thing: Books! For a good cause! (also known as two things, but you catch my drift). So I headed to one of the cooler places in town, the Agriculture and Industrial Museum (I'm a history major; I'm supposed to think museums are cool!) and bought an ungodly number of books for $4.50...I'm serious, 10 books for $4.50. I probably could have gotten even more to shove into the $1.00 bag, but I was meeting the hubby for lunch and barely made it there on time as it was. They had a really nice set-up of about 7-8 tables containing $1.00 bag (a whole shopping bag...I'm serious!) and tables and tables inside of $0.50 paperbacks and $1.00 hardbacks. I tried to limit myself to stuff that I (a) couldn't get at the local library/was regularly on hold at the local library (b) cost more than $0.50 to buy for a Kindle (which I'm getting for my birthday/Christmas from my dad!) and (c) was highly recommended by someone/read on another's blog/actually on my book wish list/on one of my reading lists. And here's the fruits of my labor:
The books in all their glory (surrounded by way too many other books
--which I will share later)
The books in all their glory (surrounded by way too many other books--which I will share later)
Just in case some of the titles are unclear, here's the list and my justification for purchase:
1. I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb -- from the list of the Best Beach Books Ever, and was also highly recommended by several bloggers and friends. $0.50
2. Pigs In Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver -- I wrote a term paper on The Bean Trees junior year of high school and loved the book (at least, until I started researching it in our measly little high school library; total pain!) and this one is the follow-up to it. I'll probably have to re-read The Bean Trees before reading this one. $0.50
3. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields -- on the Pulitzer list and 1,001 Books list. $0.50
4. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque -- on the 1,001 Books list and something I've been wanting to read since high school but never got around to buying it/picking it up at the library. $0.50
5. King Jesus by Robert Craves -- I honestly thought this was another book on my wish list, but since I can't return it, I'm gonna read it. Plus, it says controversial in the reviews, and I tend to like those. $0.50
6. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells -- My grandma has been encouraging me to read this (she really liked both the book and the movie), and with the price, I willingly gave in. Also on the Best Beach Books Ever list. $1 bag
7. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan -- This one is on a few of my reading lists (can't remember which) and was recommended by my mother-in-law (along with The Kitchen-God's Wife). Also, not available on Kindle at all. $1 bag
8. The Magus by John Fowles -- One I haven't been able to find at my library/bookstore/Kindle. On 1,001 Books list. $1 bag
9. The Green Mile by Stephen King -- I've been wanting to read this since I saw the movie...a while ago. $0.50
10. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown -- I've been promising my good little historian self that I'd never read this book...but it showed up on the Best Beach Books Ever list, and I rationalized that since it was used, I won't be adding too much to the franchise (indeed, I'm still bitter about Brown casting this book off as "good" history early on in its publishing...). Plus, I'll donate it back next year. $0.50
Now, I just have to finish His Dark Materials and figure out which one to read next (completely ignoring those super-full bookshelves with tons of unread books on them).
1. I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb -- from the list of the Best Beach Books Ever, and was also highly recommended by several bloggers and friends. $0.50
2. Pigs In Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver -- I wrote a term paper on The Bean Trees junior year of high school and loved the book (at least, until I started researching it in our measly little high school library; total pain!) and this one is the follow-up to it. I'll probably have to re-read The Bean Trees before reading this one. $0.50
3. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields -- on the Pulitzer list and 1,001 Books list. $0.50
4. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque -- on the 1,001 Books list and something I've been wanting to read since high school but never got around to buying it/picking it up at the library. $0.50
5. King Jesus by Robert Craves -- I honestly thought this was another book on my wish list, but since I can't return it, I'm gonna read it. Plus, it says controversial in the reviews, and I tend to like those. $0.50
6. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells -- My grandma has been encouraging me to read this (she really liked both the book and the movie), and with the price, I willingly gave in. Also on the Best Beach Books Ever list. $1 bag
7. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan -- This one is on a few of my reading lists (can't remember which) and was recommended by my mother-in-law (along with The Kitchen-God's Wife). Also, not available on Kindle at all. $1 bag
8. The Magus by John Fowles -- One I haven't been able to find at my library/bookstore/Kindle. On 1,001 Books list. $1 bag
9. The Green Mile by Stephen King -- I've been wanting to read this since I saw the movie...a while ago. $0.50
10. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown -- I've been promising my good little historian self that I'd never read this book...but it showed up on the Best Beach Books Ever list, and I rationalized that since it was used, I won't be adding too much to the franchise (indeed, I'm still bitter about Brown casting this book off as "good" history early on in its publishing...). Plus, I'll donate it back next year. $0.50
Now, I just have to finish His Dark Materials and figure out which one to read next (completely ignoring those super-full bookshelves with tons of unread books on them).
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Linking to Other Reviews
As a new book blogger, sometimes I'm a little unsure of the "community" aspects of book blogging. It seems that others link to other reviews for their readers to compare, see other viewpoints, etc. How does one do that? I found the Google book blog search engine, which seems to be an excellent resource for getting these links. I've also requested on the main page of the search that my blog be included. Still, it seems like for some of the classics/older/really popular novels, there are just so many potential links to include in every post. How do you decide which ones to include, which ones not to (my Google Reader is not quite up to snuff so I don't think that would be a natural way to limit links right now)?
So, I'm hoping to get some feedback about this, since others seem much more informed about this stuff than I am. :) I added a link in my Zorro post, but I'm not even sure if I should have asked permission, etc. before adding even that. I'm currently slugging through a large (almost 1,000 pages!) book, so I'll have some time to get some feedback before I need to post another review. Let me know what y'all think, and I'll figure out some way to spread some love and provide other opinions about the books I read.
So, I'm hoping to get some feedback about this, since others seem much more informed about this stuff than I am. :) I added a link in my Zorro post, but I'm not even sure if I should have asked permission, etc. before adding even that. I'm currently slugging through a large (almost 1,000 pages!) book, so I'll have some time to get some feedback before I need to post another review. Let me know what y'all think, and I'll figure out some way to spread some love and provide other opinions about the books I read.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Rating System
I'm doing my best to try and make my rating system as simple, but specific as possible. I found that I was being really limited by the 1-5 star rating system that I had been using. I thought it took far too much for me to call a book "perfect" with a full 5/5 stars, but giving it a 4/5 would be too much like only giving it 80% credit when it probably deserved more than that.
So I'm moving towards a 10 point system, leaving myself room to use decimals as I see fit. I went back and re-labelled my other reviews with the new rating system, and I'll try this out for a while. Hopefully, I'm more satisfied with the flexibility, and I'm able to be more informative with a final rating.
Let me know what you think!
So I'm moving towards a 10 point system, leaving myself room to use decimals as I see fit. I went back and re-labelled my other reviews with the new rating system, and I'll try this out for a while. Hopefully, I'm more satisfied with the flexibility, and I'm able to be more informative with a final rating.
Let me know what you think!
Zorro by Isabel Allende
Unlike other "Zorro-themed" books that focus on the legend's adult years; Allende, encouraged by the owners of the Zorro franchise, instead sought to explain the character's younger years as he grew up in Alta California, then a Spanish colony, and was educated in Spain. It is the story of how he created his identity.
In true Allende form, the novel weaves together realistic fiction and a sort of magical/spiritual undertone with both elements being necessary to push the plot along. You do have to suspend disbelief a bit in her novels; oftentimes fate, Indian ideas of magic and communication, and other elements often seem to be sort of foreign to the typical American reader. Still, I think it is wonderful, particularly for her novels, often set in South America or the western U.S., because it seems to better capture the indigenous Indian beliefs of both areas. I really respect Allende simply because she doesn't completely disregard these beliefs.
Also, I think that Allende successfully tackles a lot of the issues of Spanish colonization in Alta California; she deals with the harsh treatment of the Native Americans and the villainous character of the wealthy Spaniard who comes to Alta California as a means to increase his own wealth by enslaving the native populations. The time this is set was not a pleasant time; Napoleon is interfering in Spanish politics, and after the return of the Spanish monarchy, the Inquisition returns as a means of stomping out the liberal ideas that the French introduced into mainland Europe. Very few things are black-and-white in this time period. Neither side of any struggle is perfect, and I think Allende does a good job of showing this--the Native Americans undertake their own mission early on in the novel to capture and kill Christian converts in the mission and--but still maintaining the reader's sympathy where the reader's sympathies should be.
That being said, I don't know that this was Allende's best work. The House of the Spirits and Of Love and Shadows seem to have a much more fluid writing style. I'm not sure if this difference was purposeful, considering which character she chooses to act as the narrator (it's not revealed until the last chapter, so I'm not going to spoil it for you!), but it was not the lovely phrasing, and long, descriptive sentences of Allende's other works. And, quite honestly, I missed it. Still, I think she does a fantastic job showing the rising star of Diego de la Vega as he grows, learns, and becomes the legend that is Zorro. Still, she shows his character as being flawed, not a perfect hero at every time; often, he is unaware of the injustices around him until something forces him to take notice. She also paints his character as being a sort of "two-in-one" deal; Diego and Zorro are two very different kinds of people wrapped up into one person. Part of this is intentional on Diego's part as a means of preventing others from discovering that he is Zorro, but I think part of it is that Diego cannot, with his wealthy upbringing, quite come to terms with the missions he undertakes as Zorro.
In general, I think that this was a fantastic novel, and, had I not read other Allende novels, would have definitely been one of my favorites. Yet, it didn't quite match my expectations considering the other novels.
Rating: 9/10
Some other reviews:
Melissa at Book Nut
Up next: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
In true Allende form, the novel weaves together realistic fiction and a sort of magical/spiritual undertone with both elements being necessary to push the plot along. You do have to suspend disbelief a bit in her novels; oftentimes fate, Indian ideas of magic and communication, and other elements often seem to be sort of foreign to the typical American reader. Still, I think it is wonderful, particularly for her novels, often set in South America or the western U.S., because it seems to better capture the indigenous Indian beliefs of both areas. I really respect Allende simply because she doesn't completely disregard these beliefs.
Also, I think that Allende successfully tackles a lot of the issues of Spanish colonization in Alta California; she deals with the harsh treatment of the Native Americans and the villainous character of the wealthy Spaniard who comes to Alta California as a means to increase his own wealth by enslaving the native populations. The time this is set was not a pleasant time; Napoleon is interfering in Spanish politics, and after the return of the Spanish monarchy, the Inquisition returns as a means of stomping out the liberal ideas that the French introduced into mainland Europe. Very few things are black-and-white in this time period. Neither side of any struggle is perfect, and I think Allende does a good job of showing this--the Native Americans undertake their own mission early on in the novel to capture and kill Christian converts in the mission and--but still maintaining the reader's sympathy where the reader's sympathies should be.
That being said, I don't know that this was Allende's best work. The House of the Spirits and Of Love and Shadows seem to have a much more fluid writing style. I'm not sure if this difference was purposeful, considering which character she chooses to act as the narrator (it's not revealed until the last chapter, so I'm not going to spoil it for you!), but it was not the lovely phrasing, and long, descriptive sentences of Allende's other works. And, quite honestly, I missed it. Still, I think she does a fantastic job showing the rising star of Diego de la Vega as he grows, learns, and becomes the legend that is Zorro. Still, she shows his character as being flawed, not a perfect hero at every time; often, he is unaware of the injustices around him until something forces him to take notice. She also paints his character as being a sort of "two-in-one" deal; Diego and Zorro are two very different kinds of people wrapped up into one person. Part of this is intentional on Diego's part as a means of preventing others from discovering that he is Zorro, but I think part of it is that Diego cannot, with his wealthy upbringing, quite come to terms with the missions he undertakes as Zorro.
In general, I think that this was a fantastic novel, and, had I not read other Allende novels, would have definitely been one of my favorites. Yet, it didn't quite match my expectations considering the other novels.
Rating: 9/10
Some other reviews:
Melissa at Book Nut
Up next: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Monday, August 10, 2009
100 Best Beach Books Ever?
As I head off to take an editing test for a job (which I would really like to have), I just wanted to post this link to the NPR website. It seems to have sparked quite a few discussions around book blogs: 100 Best Beach Books Ever. I agree; some of these books instantly make me think of summer (probably a combination of when I remember reading them/the actual plots, themes, etc. of the book) -- Harry Potter, Twilight, Garp, and The Bean Trees come to mind. But there are others that I have read that make me think, "Huh? You're including that?" In particular, Snow Falling on Cedars. What about that book makes anyone think of Summertime and the beach? The word "snow" is in its title for gosh sakes! So, personally, I don't know if I would label this book the "Best Beach Books." It seems a bit more akin to a list of books people should read from every genre (classics, romance, YA, etc.). Which, I have to admit, is a list that seems to be needed to replace some of the more stuck-up, dreary classics only lists that are floating around out there. This list, in that respect, seems oddly reminiscent of the 100 New Classics by Entertainment Weekly.
I guess all the differences come down to how people define a "beach read." I've seen people on the beach with everything from the smutty romance novel to a Tom Clancy book (that would be my husband!) to a huge tome of a classic. Since the NPR audience contributed to this list, maybe that's why there seems to be such a wide range of the kinds of books included. It's interesting for its very ability to start conversation, which is always appreciated!
What do you think: how do you define a beach read? Is it something mindless or do you prefer to have your toes in the sand with an "official" classic?
I guess all the differences come down to how people define a "beach read." I've seen people on the beach with everything from the smutty romance novel to a Tom Clancy book (that would be my husband!) to a huge tome of a classic. Since the NPR audience contributed to this list, maybe that's why there seems to be such a wide range of the kinds of books included. It's interesting for its very ability to start conversation, which is always appreciated!
What do you think: how do you define a beach read? Is it something mindless or do you prefer to have your toes in the sand with an "official" classic?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Blogging and Reading Others' Blogs
Gar, I really wanted to get Allende's Zorro done this week/weekend so I could move onto Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. But all sorts of busyness got in the way...namely climbing at Birdsboro and reading everyone else's blogs and adding to my TBR list (not exactly a good idea since I seem to take reading times few and far between these days...). So, that's why I haven't gotten a review up yet.
Still, Allende is fantastic, and I love her. A more in-depth review to come later I promise.
Still, Allende is fantastic, and I love her. A more in-depth review to come later I promise.
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