by Kazuo Ishiguro
After reading this book, I can see clearly how it could become a staple of literature courses everywhere. It's the most human science fiction story I've ever read--so human, in fact, that it doesn't feel one iota like science fiction at all.
The story follows the path of students from an English boarding school. They are completely sheltered from the outside world, and told by their school guardians that they are special. The nature of their uniqueness is revealed gradually, gracefully, and eloquently. The characters are complex, though Ishiguro's writing style is simple and not over-embellished.
If you like plenty of action this isn't your book. But if you appreciate layered, mysterious plots peppered with sophisticated characters, this is an excellent choice.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Dont Be Shy!!
Writing on a Blog can be a great time to get away from the daily grind. You may not be a writer, but most of you are readers that know how to write. Give your thoughts about books that you have read and possibly how it related to you and your life. If you think that a certain book that you read was a total piece of crap, please let everyone know and why you thought that. I just got done reading a pop-up book and it was great. Although, one pop-up did startle me!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
This is another book I read this year that was startlingly, interestingly, different. The Book Thief is the story of a young girl in pre-WWII Germany who is sent to live with a new family after her mother was declared a Communist and sent away for "re-education." Soon Hitler has brought Germany to war with Europe, and Liesel struggles to find happiness with so many obstacles before her: war, a myserious new family, poverty, haunting memories, Nazi youth camp, and a Jew hiding in the basement. Her one source of happiness is books, which she resorts to stealing when times get tough. The kicker? The novel is narrated by Death.
The plot recap sounds dismal, but don't let that scare you off. It's eloquent and beautiful, and Zusak creates a world in which you care deeply about his characters. The book is advertised for young adults in the US, but is marketed to an adult audience in every other country (the author is Australian). I really believe it's an adult novel, and written in a lyrical and true style. This may be the best book I've read this year.
This is another book I read this year that was startlingly, interestingly, different. The Book Thief is the story of a young girl in pre-WWII Germany who is sent to live with a new family after her mother was declared a Communist and sent away for "re-education." Soon Hitler has brought Germany to war with Europe, and Liesel struggles to find happiness with so many obstacles before her: war, a myserious new family, poverty, haunting memories, Nazi youth camp, and a Jew hiding in the basement. Her one source of happiness is books, which she resorts to stealing when times get tough. The kicker? The novel is narrated by Death.
The plot recap sounds dismal, but don't let that scare you off. It's eloquent and beautiful, and Zusak creates a world in which you care deeply about his characters. The book is advertised for young adults in the US, but is marketed to an adult audience in every other country (the author is Australian). I really believe it's an adult novel, and written in a lyrical and true style. This may be the best book I've read this year.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
by Kim Edwards
This novel is the story of a doctor who delivers his own twins--a healthy boy, and a girl with Downs Syndrome. He makes a life-altering decision to give away his daughter while his wife is unconsicous, and tells her instead that the baby was stillborn.
The story follows the parallel lives of the doctor's family, always shadowed by their missing daughter, and the nurse who takes the daughter and raises her as her own.
I thought the premise for this book was great. It starts with two emotional, gut-wrenching decisions, but fails to keep that level of intensity throughout the novel. After awhile I started to wonder why the author followed the two families for so dang long. Do we need to see the doctor's family on vacation? To know about the nurse's wooing by a trucker? A novel that moves through decades should show you the poignant, key events that shape the lives of the main characters, bringing the reader to the ultimate conclusion of the story. Though the book itself isn't long, I felt like I spent too much time with these characters at odd points in their lives. The connections we're given don't really drive the plot. They are more mile markers along The Memory Keeper's Daughter highway.
It's not a bad book, but I was a little underwhelmed.
This novel is the story of a doctor who delivers his own twins--a healthy boy, and a girl with Downs Syndrome. He makes a life-altering decision to give away his daughter while his wife is unconsicous, and tells her instead that the baby was stillborn.
The story follows the parallel lives of the doctor's family, always shadowed by their missing daughter, and the nurse who takes the daughter and raises her as her own.
I thought the premise for this book was great. It starts with two emotional, gut-wrenching decisions, but fails to keep that level of intensity throughout the novel. After awhile I started to wonder why the author followed the two families for so dang long. Do we need to see the doctor's family on vacation? To know about the nurse's wooing by a trucker? A novel that moves through decades should show you the poignant, key events that shape the lives of the main characters, bringing the reader to the ultimate conclusion of the story. Though the book itself isn't long, I felt like I spent too much time with these characters at odd points in their lives. The connections we're given don't really drive the plot. They are more mile markers along The Memory Keeper's Daughter highway.
It's not a bad book, but I was a little underwhelmed.
From Potter's Field
by Patricia Cornwell
I've been on a Patricia Cornwell kick lately. She's one of the original forensic science writers, and many of her stories are similar to those you'd see on CSI or Law & Order. I like to pepper them through my reading list so I don't overdose on literary fiction. Cornwell books are like brain sorbet for my reading palate, and I mean that in a good way.
Of her Kay Scarpetta series, I'd also recommend Postmortem and The Body Farm. They're older books, but worth revisiting if crime fiction is your kind of reading.
I've been on a Patricia Cornwell kick lately. She's one of the original forensic science writers, and many of her stories are similar to those you'd see on CSI or Law & Order. I like to pepper them through my reading list so I don't overdose on literary fiction. Cornwell books are like brain sorbet for my reading palate, and I mean that in a good way.
Of her Kay Scarpetta series, I'd also recommend Postmortem and The Body Farm. They're older books, but worth revisiting if crime fiction is your kind of reading.
Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen
This book is different from anything I've read in awhile, both in plot and characters. It tells the tale of a Depression-era young man who decides to skip town after a family tragedy, and finds himself stowing away on a circus train, where he becomes the vetrinarian for the exotic animals. Along the way he meets characters just as exotic as the animals, and even more engaging.
I wasn't as smitten with the ending as I was with the rest of the book, but it wasn't enough to change my opinion about the book as a whole. Water for Elephants grabs you right away, and takes you down the tracks for a wild ride. It's definitely worth a read!
This book is different from anything I've read in awhile, both in plot and characters. It tells the tale of a Depression-era young man who decides to skip town after a family tragedy, and finds himself stowing away on a circus train, where he becomes the vetrinarian for the exotic animals. Along the way he meets characters just as exotic as the animals, and even more engaging.
I wasn't as smitten with the ending as I was with the rest of the book, but it wasn't enough to change my opinion about the book as a whole. Water for Elephants grabs you right away, and takes you down the tracks for a wild ride. It's definitely worth a read!
Zunafish
One of the ways I feed my reading habit is by using Zunafish, a simply awesome website that lets you trade media (paperbacks, CDs, DVDs, etc.) with others.
I had a ton of paperbacks that I had read and knew that while I enjoyed them, I wasn't going to read them over and over. Along came Zunafish, and I was able to trade these books for gently-used titles that were fresh reads for me!
It's easy to use and well worth the short time it takes to create an account and list your books. You can find it at www.zunafish.com.
I had a ton of paperbacks that I had read and knew that while I enjoyed them, I wasn't going to read them over and over. Along came Zunafish, and I was able to trade these books for gently-used titles that were fresh reads for me!
It's easy to use and well worth the short time it takes to create an account and list your books. You can find it at www.zunafish.com.
Welcome!
As a word nerd, my two favorite things are reading and writing. I've decided to smush them together, peanut-butter-and-chocolate style, into quick reviews of the books I'm reading.
If you're reading good books too, share the goodness!
If you're reading good books too, share the goodness!
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