For some reason, this month was really slow going. I blame the last book- it took me forever to get through!
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I'd always heard about this book as such a great work of American literature. It definitely was a good book. But I still had some difficulty with it. When reading the author's own words, I found her to be a hauntingly beautiful writer. I mean, right out the gate, she had me. But then the characters would speak. And I have always had a problem with reading dialects. Janie is a beautiful light skinned black woman who lives in northern Florida during the early 1900's. Her grandmother marries her off at 16 to save her from herself (she'd seen Janie kissing a neighborhood boy). Janie thinks that marriage equals true love. She didn't find that with her husband. So, when silver-tongued Joe enters the picture, she leaves with him. Joe quickly establishes himself as the first mayor of the first all-black town of Eatonville, Florida. Janie realizes that she loves him far more than he loves her; to him, she is a trophy wife. When he finally passes away, she falls hard and fast for Tea Cake, a man MUCH younger than her. Their marriage, although tempestuous and filled with jealousy, finally provides her with the love she always pictured. She eventually returns to Eatonville and is faced with the gossip surrounding her relationship with Tea Cake. She proceeds to tell her story to her friend, so as to silence the gossips. I'm not going to lie, I had a hard time following some of the story (at least when it was predominately told through dialect). But when it wasn't?! Amazing. Hurston was a preeminent author during the Harlem Renaissance and I can definitely see why. Oddly enough, one of my favorite lines came near the end of the book and was said by Janie (and therefore in dialect). "Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves." Pretty deep thoughts there.
Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson. I read about this book in another book (the author read it in a book club) and decided to read it myself. I love my book club, but I sincerely doubt we would ever read something like this! The narrator of the book is nameless. You feel like you get clues about gender, but then a few pages later, there are clues that point to the other gender. Narrator is in love with Louise, a married woman who leaves her husband so they can be together. Narrator discusses some of the prior relationships Narrator has been involved in (men, women, single, married). But this love with Louise is all-consuming. Narrator eventually leaves Louise for Louise's own good, or so Narrator thinks. It's an interesting novel about love and passion, about looking at a relationship for what makes it rather than the people who are in it. It's very color/gender blind. It's about knowing another person so completely that they become a part of you. It's probably not a novel for everyone, but it was really good and a very easy read.
Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov. Another classic that I had never gotten around to reading. I've seen the movie, but that didn't nearly do the book justice. In fact, it was almost nothing like the book! Makes me wonder if the recent(ish) remake does a better job of staying faithful to the book. Anyway, Humbert Humbert is quite the pervert, as far as I am concerned. The fact that Delores Haze (aka Lolita) isn't the first young girl with whom he has become obsessed in more than a little disturbing. As is their eventual relationship. The movie merely implies a sexual relationship, candy-coating his obsession. The book is explicit. They are lovers. Period. She is 12. Disgusting. It was not my favorite book that I've ever read. Far from it. In fact, I had rather a hard time finishing it. But at least I can now say I've read it.....
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Kicking off fall with some good reading
I definitely didn't beat my record or anything, but I got some good reading done in September. And a wide range!
Starters by Lissa Price. America has been devastated by something called the Spore Wars. An entire generation has been wiped out of existence. Left are the Enders (the old people) and the Starters (the young people). They were the ones considered the most vulnerable, so they were the ones given the vaccine. Sixteen year old Callie and her seven year old brother Tyler have been on their own for three years. When Callie hears of a way to make money, she jumps at it. She agrees to rent out her body to an Ender, so that Ender can experience youth again. Something goes wrong with Callie's final renting. And she is suddenly able to hear the Ender who had rented her. Helena is on a mission. And Callie must decide whether this mission is worth risking her own life. It's a pretty cool story. One of the write-ups compared it to Hunger Games. Sure- because it's post-apocalyptic and the government is crazy (and willing to sacrifice the lives of children). But other than that, not even remotely similar! Another book in the series is coming out soon, so that should be exciting!
Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian. It's a beautiful July morning in Vermont. As Alice Hayward emerges from the lake where she has just been baptized, she looks at her minister and says "there." A few hours later, Rev. Stephen Drew remembers that word when he learns that Alice's abusive husband has strangled her and shot himself, leaving their 15 year old daughter an orphan. Heather Laurent, a popular author of books about angels, enters the scene. She can sympathize with the daughter, as her father did the same thing to her mother years earlier. But suspicions begin to arise in this small town when Stephen leaves the church. What secrets did he know about Alice and her husband? This is the second book I have read by Bohjalian and his writing style quickly pulls the reader into the story. He is also quite the master of the "holy crap, where did THAT ending come from?!" Two very enthusiastic thumbs up! And a nice break from my fairy tales and historical fiction- nothing says a break like a nice murder story....
My Favorite Fangs by Alan Goldsher. One of the funniest books I have read in a very long time! It was completely tongue in cheek and witty. Maria is a sex-crazed vampire. The abbey is full of zombies. The Baroness is a succubus. And the Nazis want to rid Europe of the undead. Several times, someone will quote a line from the musical that is completely grammatically incorrect. And they let you know that they said it that way because Hammerstein wrote it that way! Or a character will say a line that is clearly from a different musical and someone out of the scene will say, "wrong musical, whore." Unlike the P&P&Z books, this book isn't even remotely trying to take itself seriously. And that is part of the charm!
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. This was her debut novel. Gone Girl was a pretty crazy book. So was this one. Camille, a reporter for a paper in Chicago, is sent to her hometown by her editor to cover the murder of two young girls. There was a nine month lull in murders, so are they even connected? Once the second girl's body is found, it becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose. Camille has her own family related demons. I 100% thought I had the killer figured out with about 100 pages left. I was so close. But Flynn managed to pull one over on me again. Just like last book. Well played, Gillian. Well played. Next book of yours, I promise, I will actually be right about the killer!
Bared to You by Sylvia Day. Basically Fifty Shades, only without the Red Room of Terror. And with a woman who is equally as damaged as the billionaire who is obsessed with her. Eva comes to NYC to start a job at an ad agency. She has money of her own and her step-father is a wealthy man. But she wants to make something of herself. Then she meets the owner of her building (and her sort of boss) Gideon Cross. The attraction can't be denied. Yep- that's all I'm going to say about this book. I actually liked it even more than Fifty Shades.
A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay. Amazing!! This is the woman who wrote Sarah's Key, one of the most touching novels I have ever read. This book is completely different than Sarah's Key, but just as amazing. Antoine decides to surprise his sister Melanie with a trip for her 40th birthday. He takes her back to the little sea village where they used to spend summers as children. The last time they went was the summer before their mother died of a brain aneurysm. The trip brings back memories, including one that is so shocking to Melanie when she remembers it that she wrecks the car on the return trip! Antoine finally learns the truth about his mother and her death. Tatiana de Rosnay is a beautiful writer and I loved this book!
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. This was my book club book. Afghanistan has never really been known for their women wearing revealing clothes and having lots of freedom. But apparently, they did used to have some freedom. They could go to school and have jobs. To be honest, I feel like I was blissfully naive about the real Afghanistan. In the late 1990's, Kamila has just graduated with her teaching degree. She is living with her family in Khair Khana, a suburb of Kabul. Then the Taliban stages a coup to take power again. Their lives are quickly turned upside down. Women can no longer be outside the home. They can't have jobs. They can't leave the house without wearing a chadri, the full coverage burka. Refusal to comply will result in severe beatings. Kamila and her sisters eventually start their own business of dressmaking. She goes on to start a school for women and even to work with the UN. Considering she is only a few years older than me, she's more than a little bit amazing. And fortunately for her, 9/11 happened and America stepped in to help things in Afghanistan go back to normal. Really amazing story!
Starters by Lissa Price. America has been devastated by something called the Spore Wars. An entire generation has been wiped out of existence. Left are the Enders (the old people) and the Starters (the young people). They were the ones considered the most vulnerable, so they were the ones given the vaccine. Sixteen year old Callie and her seven year old brother Tyler have been on their own for three years. When Callie hears of a way to make money, she jumps at it. She agrees to rent out her body to an Ender, so that Ender can experience youth again. Something goes wrong with Callie's final renting. And she is suddenly able to hear the Ender who had rented her. Helena is on a mission. And Callie must decide whether this mission is worth risking her own life. It's a pretty cool story. One of the write-ups compared it to Hunger Games. Sure- because it's post-apocalyptic and the government is crazy (and willing to sacrifice the lives of children). But other than that, not even remotely similar! Another book in the series is coming out soon, so that should be exciting!
Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian. It's a beautiful July morning in Vermont. As Alice Hayward emerges from the lake where she has just been baptized, she looks at her minister and says "there." A few hours later, Rev. Stephen Drew remembers that word when he learns that Alice's abusive husband has strangled her and shot himself, leaving their 15 year old daughter an orphan. Heather Laurent, a popular author of books about angels, enters the scene. She can sympathize with the daughter, as her father did the same thing to her mother years earlier. But suspicions begin to arise in this small town when Stephen leaves the church. What secrets did he know about Alice and her husband? This is the second book I have read by Bohjalian and his writing style quickly pulls the reader into the story. He is also quite the master of the "holy crap, where did THAT ending come from?!" Two very enthusiastic thumbs up! And a nice break from my fairy tales and historical fiction- nothing says a break like a nice murder story....
My Favorite Fangs by Alan Goldsher. One of the funniest books I have read in a very long time! It was completely tongue in cheek and witty. Maria is a sex-crazed vampire. The abbey is full of zombies. The Baroness is a succubus. And the Nazis want to rid Europe of the undead. Several times, someone will quote a line from the musical that is completely grammatically incorrect. And they let you know that they said it that way because Hammerstein wrote it that way! Or a character will say a line that is clearly from a different musical and someone out of the scene will say, "wrong musical, whore." Unlike the P&P&Z books, this book isn't even remotely trying to take itself seriously. And that is part of the charm!
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. This was her debut novel. Gone Girl was a pretty crazy book. So was this one. Camille, a reporter for a paper in Chicago, is sent to her hometown by her editor to cover the murder of two young girls. There was a nine month lull in murders, so are they even connected? Once the second girl's body is found, it becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose. Camille has her own family related demons. I 100% thought I had the killer figured out with about 100 pages left. I was so close. But Flynn managed to pull one over on me again. Just like last book. Well played, Gillian. Well played. Next book of yours, I promise, I will actually be right about the killer!
Bared to You by Sylvia Day. Basically Fifty Shades, only without the Red Room of Terror. And with a woman who is equally as damaged as the billionaire who is obsessed with her. Eva comes to NYC to start a job at an ad agency. She has money of her own and her step-father is a wealthy man. But she wants to make something of herself. Then she meets the owner of her building (and her sort of boss) Gideon Cross. The attraction can't be denied. Yep- that's all I'm going to say about this book. I actually liked it even more than Fifty Shades.
A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay. Amazing!! This is the woman who wrote Sarah's Key, one of the most touching novels I have ever read. This book is completely different than Sarah's Key, but just as amazing. Antoine decides to surprise his sister Melanie with a trip for her 40th birthday. He takes her back to the little sea village where they used to spend summers as children. The last time they went was the summer before their mother died of a brain aneurysm. The trip brings back memories, including one that is so shocking to Melanie when she remembers it that she wrecks the car on the return trip! Antoine finally learns the truth about his mother and her death. Tatiana de Rosnay is a beautiful writer and I loved this book!
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. This was my book club book. Afghanistan has never really been known for their women wearing revealing clothes and having lots of freedom. But apparently, they did used to have some freedom. They could go to school and have jobs. To be honest, I feel like I was blissfully naive about the real Afghanistan. In the late 1990's, Kamila has just graduated with her teaching degree. She is living with her family in Khair Khana, a suburb of Kabul. Then the Taliban stages a coup to take power again. Their lives are quickly turned upside down. Women can no longer be outside the home. They can't have jobs. They can't leave the house without wearing a chadri, the full coverage burka. Refusal to comply will result in severe beatings. Kamila and her sisters eventually start their own business of dressmaking. She goes on to start a school for women and even to work with the UN. Considering she is only a few years older than me, she's more than a little bit amazing. And fortunately for her, 9/11 happened and America stepped in to help things in Afghanistan go back to normal. Really amazing story!
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