pilliebee.books

Books of 2011

2012-01-05T20:05:00.000-08:00

Another sleepy year on the book blog, but I'm hoping for that to change. At least a little.

The good news is I did it this year. To read more books than the previous year I needed to complete 27 books. Thanks to a fairly relaxing holiday in Vietnam the official 2011 total is: 28!

So the bar wasn't set very high... but let's not worry about that.

Here are my books for the year:
1. Empire Falls by Richard Russo (483)
2. Half the Sky: How to Change the World by Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn (278)
3. Sheik's Batmobile: In Pursuit of American Pop Culture in the Muslim World by Richard Poplak (333)
4. Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (335)
5. The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart (393)
6. Made in America by Bill Bryson (509)
7. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (326)
8. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (256)
9. Married to a Bedouin by Marguerite van Geldermalsen (279)
10. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (241)
11. 101 Reasons Why I'm a Vegetarian by Pamela Rice (204)
12. Between the Assassinations by Aravind Adiga (351)
13. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (292)
14. Clemetine, Friend of the Week by Sara Pennypacker (161)
15. The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago (205)
16. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (137)
17. Starter for Ten by David Nicholls (473)
18. Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson (196)
19. Hector and the Search for Happiness by Francois Lelord (167)
20. The Help by Katheryn Stockett (522)
21. A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews (324)
22. The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson (287)
23. Silas Marner by George Eliot (384)
24. Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell (307)
25. The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith (419)
26. Them: Adventures with Extremists by Jon Ronson (328)
27. One Day by David Nicholls (448)
28. Freefall by Oran Canfield (336)

Even better news is that I'm already about to finish my second book for 2012!

Empire Falls

2011-01-23T08:55:00.001-08:00

A friend loaned me Empire Falls by Richard Russo over the summer. I brought it back to Abu Dhabi with me and opened it up a few weeks later. Finally... I've finished.

The story of Empire Falls is the story of a small once robust New England town that is diminishing each day. Not too much happens in Empire Falls but it all seems to be orchestrated by the wealthiest resident, Mrs. Whiting. The protagonist, Miles Roby, feels the weight of Mrs. Whiting the most. As the story unfolds, Russo reveals deeper connections between the townspeople.

This story felt a bit like a meander to me. Perhaps it's that I was only able to read small bits at a time and never fully felt absorbed. I kept at it, enjoying the mellow storyline enough. Finally, near the end of the story a big event occurs that was able to hold my attention.

Recommedation: It's a Pulitzer Winner, but not for me.

Books of 2010

2011-01-01T06:19:00.000-08:00

Ouch. This blog fell into such a deep sleep that it rolled off the bed and kept on snoozin'.

Oh, and I failed again. I should have read 62 books to beat 2009's reading list. Do I get credit for my actual count being the reverse? No?

Only 26 books in 2010.

I like to think I'm really just setting myself up for success in 2011. Surely I can read 27 books this year. Surely...

Here are my books for the year:

1. Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore (280)
2. Fluke or I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore (383)
3. The Private Diaries of Catherine Deneuve: My Life Behind the Camera with Luis Bunuel, Francois Truffaut, Roman Polanski, and Lars Von Trier by Catherine Deneuve (164)
4. Raise High the Roof Beams, Carpenters by J.D. Salinger (92)
5. A Million Little Pieces by James Frey (432)
6. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (272)
7. The Other Hand by Chris Cleave (374)
8. Towelhead by Alicia Erian (319)
9. Flush by Carl Hiaasen (295)
10. My Friend Leonard by James Frey (375)
11. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (288)
12. Love in a Headscarf: Muslim Woman Seeks the One by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed (263)
13. Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby (249)
14. Population: 485 Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Michael Perry (234)
15. Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer (325)
16. Arthur & George by Julian Barnes (505)
17. Barcelona Plates by Alexei Sayle (215)
18. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire (495)
19. Misconception by Ryan Boudinot (214)
20. Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk by Tony Dushane (214)
21. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl (514)
22. Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson (259)
23. The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot: His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred by Carl-Johan Vallgren (282)
24. The 19th Wife: A Novel by David Ebershoff (514)
25. Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer (270)
26. May Contain Nuts by John O'Farrell (392)

My Friend Leonard

2010-03-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

I picked up My Friend Leonard by James Frey a few weeks ago in Dubai. It caught my eye because I recently read his first book, A Million Little Pieces.

Here's the thing. This book is horrible.

I'm sure you remember the hubbub over these books. Frey was endorsed by Oprah for A Million Little Pieces... that is until the Smoking Gun revealed that the majority of the book is absolute junk. Still, it was fun to read the book and try to decipher the real from the fake.

By the time I read My Friend Leonard, the novelty had worn off. Before the book begins a note explains to the reader that hefty chunks of the book were made up. Not the best way to start a memoir.

So here's the story:

James is just being released from his fictional jail time. Unfortunately, he's a day too late to prevent his girlfriend from committing suicide. (That's honestly not a spoiler). The rest of the book is James putting his life back together with the help of Leonard, his mobster friend from rehab. James earns money illegally and then decides to be an honest man... trying to make his living as a writer. After a move to Los Angeles James makes an attempt at filmmaking.

Doesn't really sound that interesting, does it? Yeah, it's not. In addition to reading like straight bull****, some of the sentences were actually painful. I could just imagine Frey reading these lines with deep intensity... gross. An example:

"The pain I feel the sadness and sorrow and grief that are with me all day every second in every breath and beat of my heart in every thought in every step in everything I see and hear there is nothing but pain and sadness and sorrow and grief and I know drinking will make it go away."

Yep, that's one sentence.

Recommendation: Not.

The Other Hand / Little Bee

2010-02-18T19:48:00.000-08:00

Last summer a few friends came through town for a visit and waffle sandwiches. Quickly the conversation turned to my friend's new book. Naturally, I asked, "What's it about?" "I can't tell you" she very quickly replied, "but you have to read it." It seems that the editor believed so strongly in the unfolding of the story that she requested readers not spoil it for others.

Several months later I came across The Other Hand by Chris Cleave while browsing the bookshop. I flipped to the back and read, "We don't want to tell you what happens in this book." Immediately I thought of that summer day eating our waffles at a picnic table and my friend's very mysterious book recommendation.

After a little research I discerned that indeed it was the same book only under a different title. It was published as Little Bee in North America and The Other Hand worldwide. (Why?)

Since I can't give you a recap of the story... here's a bit more from the back of the book from where I left off:

"It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it so we will just say this:

This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice. Two years later, they meet again - the story starts there...

Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your frinds about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds."

So there you have it.

Recommendation: When you're ready for a quick engaging read that just might possibly give you night sweats, let this be it.

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters

2010-02-17T08:41:00.000-08:00

I've suddenly found that my reading resources are somewhat... limited. Not only are books expensive in this bit of the world, the title selection is lacking. Since I've kept track of the books I've read over the past few years, I've learned that I have quite the eclectic reading habit. I might be reading a biography one day and children's literature the next. Not having such a wide variety to choose from led me to the classics section while I was looking for a book to bring with me to Thailand. Thankfully I noticed a new-to-me title in the petite J. D. Salinger section... and that's how I found, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters.

This publication is bundled with another short story, Seymour: An Introduction... but I won't mention that here.

Raise High is another story detailing the life of members of the Glass family. A family whose dinner table I would love to join, for the record. This time Buddy is telling about Seymour's wedding. Buddy attends the wedding and later finds himself in a stuffy car with the bride's aunt, the angry matron of honor and her husband, and a small man in a dashing top hat. What an uncomfortable place to be for the brother of the absent groom! You see, Seymour never arrived...

The bulk of the story is comprised of the time spent in the car and the intrigue is housed in the question of whether the party will discover Buddy's connection to the groom... a fact he has skillfully sidestepped.

As with all of Salinger's writing, I was immediately captivated. I appreciated being let in on Buddy's "little joke" of a concealed identity and almost forgot the fictitious nature of the Glass family, in general.

And I can't close without mentioning Salinger's death just days before my reading of the selection. I didn't learn of the news until after returning from Thailand but was saddened altogether to hear it.

Recommendation: Fans of Salinger will be delighted but start with Nine Stories if you haven't yet.

Books of 2009

2010-01-01T09:31:00.001-08:00

Well, I didn't do it.

I think I had to read 80+ books in 2009 in order to meet my standing resolution: Read more books than the previous year.

I only finished 61.

But I did pack up my life, move to the other side of the world, and start a new job, so... can we call it even?

Here are my books for the year:

1. The Kid in the Red Jacket by Barbara Park (113)
2. Looking for Bapu by Anjali Banerjee (162)
3. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (232)
4. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (568)
5. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (485)
6. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (134)
7. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell (116)
8. Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke (209)
9. Rules by Cynthia Lord (200)
10. Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker (150)
11. The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman (146)
12. The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin (134)
13. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (335)
14. A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32 by Joan W. Blos (144)
15. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart (440)
16. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (217)
17. Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (230)
18. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (161)
19. Anchored In Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash by John Carter Cash (197)
20. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (194)
21. The Mysteries of Pittsburg by Michael Chabon (336)
22. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry (174)
23. Youth in Revolt: The Journals of Nick Twisp by C. D. Payne (498)
24. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney (217)
25. Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander (310)
26. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (128)
27. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (297)
28. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (307)
29. Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (244)
30. Tracks by Robyn Davidson (254)
31. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (270)
32. The Giraffe, and the Pelly, and Me by Roald Dahl (80)
33. The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women by Jessica Valenti (216)
34. On Subbing: The First Four Years by Dave Roche (121)
35. Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman (80)
36. Rock On: An Office Power Ballad by Dan Kennedy (224)
37. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney (217)
38. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (190)
39. Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women by Cornelia Meigs (197)
40. The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs (332)
41. The Kid: An Adoption Story by Dan Savage (246)
42. A Reenchanted World: The Quest for a New Kinship with Nature by James William Gibson (254)
43. Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah (360)
44. The Awful Truths: Famous Myths, Hilariously Debunked by Brian Thomsen (246)
45. 40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, OyxContin, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania by Matthew Chapmen (288)
46. Culture Smart! UAE by John Walsh (164)
47. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (216)
48. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
49. Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi (262)
50. In America by Susan Sontag (387)
51. Q & A by Vikas Swarup (318)
52. Magical Thinking: True Stories by Augusten Burroughs (268)
53. The Twenty One Balloons by William Pene Dubois (180)
54. The Motel Life by Willy Vlautin (206)
55. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore (444)
56. Super Sunday in Newport: Notes From My First Year in Town by Matt Love (157)
57. Simple Guide to Islam by Neal Robinson (120)
58. The Southern Gates of Arabia by Freya Stark (237)
59. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne (216)
60. The Wave by Morton Rhue (107)
61. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (209)

Around the World in 80 Days

2009-12-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne is another great book to read while traveling or living abroad. I picked it up at a used book shop in Dubai the other day. Although this copy was marked as a children's classic the shop keeper couldn't find any mention of it being abridged.

Do you know the story? I thought I did. Turns out I was close but had a few silly notions in my head from the film version. When the daily paper announces it is now possible to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, Phileas Fogg enters a bet with his fellowss at the Reform Club to do just that. He sets off later that evening with his new yet loyal servant, Passepartout, determined to arrive back in London in exactly 80 days.

The story itself is quite exciting. It's easy to imagine readers keeping tabs on Fogg when the story first appeared in serial form. The love story is a bit dry... but I supposed ol' Jules wasn't much of a lover.

Recommendation: A fun read when you're adventuring to a new place or just wishing you were.

The Southern Gates of Arabia

2009-12-05T07:21:00.000-08:00

I was searching for travel writing centered in or around the United Arab Emirates when I came across Freya Stark's writings. Intrigued by Stark herself, known as the "Last Romantic Explorer", I couldn't decide which of her books to purchase. Since I had plopped myself down in front of the Middle East section blocking the fairly limited selection, I made the acquaintance of a British woman who spent a large portion of her life living in Jordan. She fully endorsed Stark's writings and claimed I couldn't choose unwisely.

Well, I kinda did. The Southern Gates of Arabia is Stark's retelling of her search for the lost city of Shabwa, located in present day Yemen. Although Stark is truly captivated by her surroundings, I wasn't entirely captivated by her writing, despite her talent with words. Perhaps I was feeling too restless? Or had too high of expectations?

I will probably read more of Stark in the future... and plan to research more about her life. From my limited knowledge I already know she's someone I admire. I mean... she learned Arabic.

Recommendation: I really want someone to fall in love with this book. I'm sorry it wasn't me.

The Twenty-One Balloons

2009-12-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois has such a charming premise, I couldn't help but add it to the stack of books I was planning to pack for travel. A good chunk of the book I consumed on the floor at JFK, waiting for my connecting flight. I think it was the perfect selection.

Beginning with these words: "There are two kinds of travel. The usual way is to take the fastest imaginable conveyance along the shortest road. The other way is not to care particularly where you are going or how long it will take you, or whether you will get there or not." The opposite page features a delightful sketch of a hot air balloon. What better way to inspire a traveler?

The story of The Twenty-One Balloons centers on Professor William Waterman Sherman and his loyalty to The Western American Explorer's Club. You see, Professor Sherman has been on a very big adventure. Setting off in a giant balloon with the aim of crossing the Pacific Ocean, Sherman was discovered three weeks later a bit distressed and in the Atlantic. How could this be, the entire country wants to know. Sherman vows that his colleagues of explorers be his first audience and he is raced to the West Coast amid the country's eagerness to hear his tale.

Recommendation: A delightful tale of exploration and adventure.

Newbery List

2009-08-28T00:20:00.000-07:00

One of my lifetime goals is to read all of the Newbery Award winners. I love printing off the list of titles and highlight each book I've read. Unfortunately, I also keep losing the list. The book blog seems like a pretty good place to keep track of where I am on my goal. Naturally, this post will be updated as new titles are read or added. 35 down.

Newbery Winners:

2009: ~~The Graveyard Book~~ by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Dave McKean
2008: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
2007: ~~The Higher Power of Lucky~~ by Susan Patron, illus. by Matt Phelan
2006: ~~Criss Cross~~ by Lynne Rae Perkins
2005: ~~Kira-Kira~~ by Cynthia Kadohata
2004: ~~The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread~~ by Kate DiCamillo
2003: ~~Crispin: The Cross of Lead~~ by Avi
2002: A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
2001: A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
2000: ~~Bud, Not Buddy~~ by Christopher Paul Curtis
1999: ~~Holes~~ by Louis Sachar
1998: Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
1997: ~~The View from Saturday~~ by E.L. Konigsburg
1996: ~~The Midwife's Apprentice~~ by Karen Cushman
1995: ~~Walk Two Moons~~ by Sharon Creech
1994: ~~The Giver~~ by Lois Lowry
1993: Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
1992: Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
1991: ~~Maniac Magee~~ by Jerry Spinelli
1990: ~~Number the Stars~~ by Lois Lowry
1989: ~~Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices~~ by Paul Fleischman
1988: Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
1987: ~~The Whipping Boy~~ by Sid Fleischman
1986: ~~Sarah, Plain and Tall~~ by Patricia MacLachlan
1985: The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
1984: ~~Dear Mr. Henshaw~~ by Beverly Cleary
1983: Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt
1982: A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard
1981: ~~Jacob Have I Loved~~ by Katherine Paterson
1980: ~~A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-1832~~ by Joan W. Blos
1979: ~~The Westing Game~~ by Ellen Raskin
1978: ~~Bridge to Terabithia~~ by Katherine Paterson
1977: ~~Roll of Thunder, Hear My~~ Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
1976: The Grey King by Susan Cooper
1975: M. C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton
1974: The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
1973: ~~Julie of the Wolves~~ by Jean Craighead George
1972: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
1971: Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
1970: Sounder by William H. Armstrong
1969: The High King by Lloyd Alexander
1968: ~~From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler~~ by E.L. Konigsburg
1967: Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt
1966: I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
1965: Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska
1964: It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville
1963: ~~A Wrinkle in Time~~ by Madeleine L'Engle
1962: The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
1961: ~~Island of the Blue Dolphins~~ by Scott O'Dell
1960: Onion John by Joseph Krumgold
1959: ~~The Witch of Blackbird Pond~~ by Elizabeth George Speare
1958: Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith
1957: Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
1956: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
1955: The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
1954: ...And Now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold
1953: Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark
1952: ~~Ginger Pye~~ by Eleanor Estes
1951: Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates
1950: The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
1949: King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
1948: The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois
1947: Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
1946: ~~Strawberry Girl~~ by Lois Lenski
1945: Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
1944: ~~Johnny Tremain~~ by Esther Forbes
1943: Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
1942: The Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds
1941: Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry
1940: Daniel Boone by James Daugherty
1939: Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright
1938: The White Stag by Kate Seredy
1936: ~~Caddie Woodlawn~~ by Carol Ryrie Brink
1935: Dobry by Monica Shannon

1934: ~~Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women~~ by Cornelia Meigs

1933: Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Lewis
1932: Waterless Mountain by Laura Adams Armer
1931: ~~The Cat Who Went to Heaven~~ by Elizabeth Coatsworth
1930: Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field
1929: The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
1928: Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji
1927: Smoky, the Cowhorse by Will James
1926: Shen of the Sea by Arthur Bowie Chrisman
1925: Tales from Silver Lands by Charles Finger
1924: The Dark Frigate by Charles Hawes
1923: ~~The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle~~ by Hugh Lofting
1922: The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon

In America

2009-08-26T23:26:00.000-07:00

I was desperate for a book last week and in a time crunch at the library. I actually clicked on one of those handy links the librarians made and browsed through the National Book Award winners. That list is what narrowed my focus down on In America by Susan Sontag. When the little blurb mentioned the word "commune" I was racing to get my library card to the check out desk before lights out (literally, they start turning out the lights on you!).

I've always been fascinated by communes and the people who choose to live communally. It completely amazes me that although communes always fail, groups of people are constantly setting out to create their own little utopia. It's what I think of when I hear the Rocky Votolato lyric, "there's a holy grail of a simple life led somewhere." Personally, I love the idyllic nature of communes although I think I'm far too independent to happily live in one.

Oh, but I was telling you about In America...

To boil it down, Maryna is a very successful Polish actress in search of the "simple life." At first she's complacent to nestle up in a small mountain village on a seasonal basis. However, her fame popularizes the village and it ceases to be a charming natural locale. Still craving a new life, Maryna and friends travel from Poland to Southern California to live simply on a winery. Like all communal experiments, it doesn't last long. The financial failure of the endeavor drives Maryna to the America stage where she is elevated to megastar status.

Perhaps it was my eagerness to get to the commune that made reading Chapter 0 such a chore. I did a lot of eye rolling and mouthed a few "What are you talking about?"-s. Luckily, once you hit the actual story the characters begin to show hints of their future worthiness. Without a doubt my favorite section of the plot took place on the commune. Sontag could have rattled on for pages about that and I would have gladly read on. In fact, if I had my wish, I would replace the chapter of Maryna's long long long stream of conscious hysterics and just talk more about the change in relationships, identity, and needs brought on by the living experiment. I would have even liked to know more about their menu. But really, I've never been one for histrionic female leads in the first place.

Recommendation: It won the National Book Award for Fiction so you have to at least give it a shot starting at Chapter 1.

The Awful Truths

2009-07-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

I noticed The Awful Truths: Famous Myths, Hilariously Debunked by Brian Thomsen at Powell's the other day and thought it might be a nice quick summer read. It was ok.

Some of the "myths" I wasn't even aware of... so their debunking wasn't all that "hilarious" ... or I wasn't familiar with the famous people involved.

An example: "The Awful Truth is that these famous cartoon characters...Tigger and Dick Dastardly were voiced by Paul Winchell (inventor of the artificial heart)."

My reaction to some of these was, "Oh, that's neat."

And I do have to point out one mistake in the book. In a chapter devoted to explaining how many teen movies were actually based on older works of literature (I didn't think that was a secret), Thomsen states that the movie 10 Things I Hate About You (based on The Taming of the Shrew) takes place in a "Califorian 90210 high school." Anyone who grew up in the Pacific Northwest knows that the movie actually took place in Seattle... and the high school in question is located in Tacoma.

Recommendation: More of a browser.

A Reenchanted World

2009-07-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

I heard the author, James William Gibson, of A Reenchanted World: The Quest for a New Kinship with Nature speak on a podcast of To The Best of Our Knowledge a week or two ago. The topic was radical gardening. Gibson's words about reconnecting to the natural world convinced me to find his latest book at the library.

A Reenchanted World makes the case that as a society we need to rediscover the vital connection between humans and nature while nature still exists. Gibson explains how many key players in environmental activism came to value nature. In many instances, the person encountered a large mammal be it whale, wolf, or bear... and suddenly realized the awe of nature, the power of nature, the importance of nature.

My favorite section of the book is entitled "Troubles in Paradise." It details the ways in which humans "love nature to death" ... for example, enthusiasts for off-road vehicles love nature so much they tear it up and often refuse to stay out of protected areas. Another chapter describes imitation wilderness like zoos or wildlife parks. Also fascinating was the look at some Native American casinos... did you know that some tribes have found loopholes in their treaties that allow them to trade their sacred land for land better suited to casino profits? (Wow, I can't even count the number of issues involved there...)

The book ends with these words: "The reenchantment of nature-- if coupled with the political courage to act-- offers a chance to remake the world." Gosh.

Recommendation: It's always interesting to hear about successes and failures of the environmental movement. Plenty of inspiration between the pages.

Peter Pan

2009-06-14T21:16:00.001-07:00

So, Peter Pan is kind of an asshole. There's actually another word I'd like to call him, but it doesn't seem very blog appropriate. My mom's been making the case for years that Peter Pan is just a little brat, but I wasn't fully convinced (suspected, yes) until I actually read James M. Barrie's story.

The story, I'm sure you know. Peter lures Wendy, John, and Micheal to Neverland so that Wendy can be a mother to the Lost Boys. After a surprisingly long flight, the children arrive and set up a happy little home until the Pirates, lead by Captain James Hook, decide that Wendy should be their mother instead. You already know who saves the day.

So here's the thing: Peter is supposed to be the personification of youth... cocky, selfish, defiant... but Barrie neglects to weave in the genuine kindness that children also possess. For me, Peter was downright unlikeable. Few redeeming qualities. He forgets Wendy, John, and Michael on the flight to Neverland and only runs into them again by chance. He refuses for the Lost Boys to know things he does not or even eat if he's not in the mood. The entire island exhales when he travels away.

I also despise the compromise between Peter, Wendy, and Mrs. Darling. It is agreed that Wendy will go with Peter to Neverland every spring so that she can do Peter's spring cleaning. Really? And I'm not sure if it makes it any better that Peter actually forgets to come for Wendy, his maid...

All of that being said, I did enjoy Barrie's writing style. It is well suited to fantastical adventures. He adds little details to the main plotline, like adding a little nook to the story. My favorite is the description of the tree trying to grow in the children's underground house. They chop it down to make space for playing but it grows just enough to then serve as a table for supper.

Recommendation: If you can suspend all notions of political correctness, feminism, and ignore Peter, it really is an otherwise charming story

On Subbing

2009-05-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

I first noticed On Subbing: The First Four Years by Dave Roche back in November while browsing at a satellite Powell's store. I sort of put it in the back corner of my mind and didn't think much about it again until this past weekend. Some friends in town suggested we stop in at Microcosm, an independent publisher. Sitting outside the door waiting for me was the latest copy of On Subbing.

This book is crush inducing. Compiled from the zines that were compiled from journal entries, Dave shares with us his experiences as a sub in Portland public schools from 2000-2004. Having moved from Los Angeles to Portland, Dave decided to try out substitute teaching... except in Oregon he wasn't qualified to sub in general education classrooms. He could, however, sub as an Educational Assistant in special education rooms... so that is what he did. Through Dave's journal entries you witness his growth as an advocate for children with severe disablities and/or behavioral challenges. It's clear that Dave wants to connect with students and let them know he's an ally. Of course, Dave's punk so he does it in his own (often hilarious) way.

I loved picturing a vegan, punk, straightedge guy walking into elementary schools and sitting down to work with kindergarteners. I also loved his anecdotes about trying to convince students' he was the dad of various kids who look nothing like him, ie: African Americans. But my favorite parts were when Dave would describe how his jokes and little signs of respect really registered with the students.

Unfortunately, a lawyer for the district came across some of his zines and asserted that Dave didn't enjoy working with the students. Dave eventually moved on from Portland.

Recommendation: If you've ever subbed in any capacity, you'll love this little collection.

The Graveyard Book

2009-05-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman... meh. Wasn't into it. I know, I know... it's the 2009 Newbery recipient which automatically means it's amazing... except, not really. And despite all the amazing reviews I keep reading, I know I'm not alone.

The plot is as follows: Toddler's family is gruesomely murdered for an inadequately explained reason you don't learn of until the last few pages. Toddler is lucky enough to escape into a nearby graveyard because for some reason he felt the need to toddle out the front door that murderous night. The ghosts of the graveyard agree to take in the child and keep him safe until adulthood. Then there are some random trips into Hell and a pawnshop. Time moves forward. An all too obvious character shows up and the you-know-what hits the fan.

Honestly, I only managed to finish this book because it was due back to the library (yesterday actually, oops. Don't tell my students I have an overdue book!).

I do like the cover of the book, which I just realized after reading a review features Nobody's silouette. I do like that Gaiman drew inspiration from The Jungle Book. I don't like the book.

Recommendation: If you like the macabre, sure. If you want to read all the Newbery's, sure. If you want a book to dive into, this wasn't it for me.

Silent Spring

2009-04-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson is one of those books you always hear about, but never read. I knew it was groundbreaking and important... it had to be to show up so many times in my science textbooks and I never took the time to read it, because I totally knew what it was all about. Like water quality and stuff. Turns out, I never quite knew what Silent Spring was about... until I read it.

For some reason, I always thought the title referred to a spring of water, and it was silent in the "silent but deadly" way because the water was secretly poisoned. Um, you probably already knew this... but "silent spring" refers to the season of the year and its silence... because the insecticides have killed off all the wild life. I'm glad to have gotten that all cleared up.

Alright, so Silent Spring was/is an amazing look at how arrogant humans are in their dealing with nature. How humans have disrupted the natural workings of the ecosystem in an attempt to manipulate a system that has developed over millions of years. How humans most often attempt the "easy fix" of using harsh chemicals to fix an otherwise minor nuisance. More than once I wanted to bang my head against the wall and shake the shoulders of the decision makers of the 1950s and '60s. In some communities, dead wildlife and pets covered the land in the days after spraying... but some other culprit was to blame. Seriously?

This passage on sheep (taken from the Natural History Survey) really got to me, not to mention the robins.

The sheep were lead to graze in a pasture across the road with one that had been treated with dieldrin.

"They lost interest in food and displayed extreme restlessness, following the pasture fence around and around apparently searching for a way out... [They] refused to be driven, bleated almost continously, and stood with their heads lowered; they were finally carried from the pasture... They displayed great desire for water. Two of the sheep were found dead in the stream passing through the pasture, and the remaining sheep were repeatedly driven out of the stream several having to be dragged forcibly from the water."

All that... and they were only NEXT TO a treated pasture. Shocking proof that chemicals cannot be contained and have a larger impact than calculated.

Recommendation: Naturally on the list of any environmentalist. I would have liked to read the anniversary edition, because I suspect it might mention the fallout of Silent Spring's publication over the years.

[I can't turn off the italics, it's driving me crazy!]

Youth in Revolt

2009-04-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Youth in Revolt: The Journals of Nick Twisp by C. D. Payne starts off with a bang and takes you on a wild ride. The first two parts I couldn't stop reading it... did not want to put it down. The third and final part took a little more effort... but that could be a matter of taste. I've never been entertained by crossdressing.

Nick is your typical 14 year old loser who very diligently keeps a journal. We are lucky enough to read his entries from July to January. The entries reveal that Nick is longing for independence and most desperately a girlfriend. When his mother and her truck driver boyfriend take Nick on vacation to a lakeside trailer park, Nick meets the girl who will soon become his unraveling. In a matter of days Nick is in love... although it's not quite clear how Sheeni feels about him. The remaining 350 pages detail the lengths Nick is willing to go to .

Although the story was entertaining and wildly far-fetched, it's difficult to empathize with the main character (Nick) when he's ruining his life for a highly annoying and phony character (Sheeni). Yet, it is clear that Payne intends for Sheeni to give this impression, perhaps to highlight how motivating love can be?

Good news for Michael Cera fans! Youth in Revolt is becoming a movie with Cera taking on the role of Nick (I would assume). This follows Cera's role as Nick in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, another young adult novel. I'm a little curious how producers will manage to take a nearly 500 page book and movie-ize it when large chunks went missing in the 200 pager.

Recommendation: Teenage angst is teenage angst but it's even more entertaining to read about teenage angst circa 1993.

The Willoughbys

2009-04-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

The Willoughbys is a delightful little book by the ingenious Lois Lowry. I first came across it while browsing in a Scholastic catalog. The cover alone was enough for me to put it on my to be read list.

The Willoughbys are old fashioned children trying their best to become old fashioned orphans. Lowry pokes fun of classic chidren's literature by drawing on common elements to create absurd situations in her latest novel. I read this book on a plane ride (finishing right as we landed) and noticed myself laughing out loud several times. A few favorite parts include the Willoughby's reaction to a baby being left on their doorstep and Tim's (the eldest) cleverly devised games.

Lowry's word choice is delightfully old fashioned and sophsitcated. She provides a kid-friendly glossary at the end, which was a pleasure to read. There are always those words that you know the meaning of... but could never explain. Examples include: obfuscate, odious, irascible, and lugubrious. Beautiful words we don't hear very often.

In addition to the glossary Lowry includes a bibliography of all the books she references in The Willoughbys. My favorite was her description of Little Women:

"Sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy live with their mother, whom they call Marmee, while their father is off in the Civil War. They have many adventures and some misfortunes. Meg is mature and sensible. Jo is literary and boyish. Amy is vain and foolish. Beth is saintly and dies."

How matter of fact. I love it.

Recommendation: Do read it. You'll find yourself chuckling along.

Coraline

2009-03-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

I didn't even realize we had this book in the library at work until a week or so ago. A girl came up to me to renew Coraline by Neil Gaiman and my next thought (after "we have that?") was... "Sweet!" Ok, so I sometimes read on the job. But really... it kind of actually is my job. Part of my duties as librarian is to know the collection... just like part of my duties as "Media Specialist" is to crawl around on the floor unplugging and plugging things. All of that to say... I read Coraline during my down time at work yesterday.

Creepy. Really. It goes like this: Coraline's life is a bit blase. Luckily she discovers a passage in her apartment that takes her to another world with her other family waiting for her. The most noteworthy aspect of her other family (and the other people) are their shiny black button eyes. Coraline soon realizes that this other world is hella creepy (excuse my language, but really, I do mean "hella"). Too bad she's locked in. Now Coraline must locate her true parents, free the souls of dead captive children, and defeat her evil other mother... not to mention the singing rats. And all the while the other world is retracting into a two dimensional drawing... Creepy. In a good way.

Gaiman is also the author the 2009 Newbery award winning The Graveyard Book. I haven't read it yet since it was deemed a bit too scary for the elementary crowd, but I hope to soon. The dude is a bit twisted.

Recommendation: When you're in the mood for something dark but still want to keep it light and easy.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

2009-03-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to lie. I first became interested in reading this book while in a friend's kitchen. I picked it up and quickly fell upon the phrase, "pelvic pump." I knew it was going to be good. It took me several months to get back to The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, but it was worth the wait.

Unfortunately, I also waited awhile before writing up this review... and a lot of the details are hazy. Basic plot line, Oscar is a loser growing up in a culture that does not allow for losers. I mean, you can be a totally jacked up person, as long as you are romantically inclined. Oscar is not. [Oscar actually reminds me of an extreme Dominican version of several boys that lived in my dorm]. Only adding to the trouble is the curse that has followed Oscar's family for several generations.

Diaz expertly weaves a collection of viewpoints, time lines, and stories into one cohesive novel.

Recommendation: Keep a Spanish dictionary handy.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

2009-01-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is another book I was immediately attracted to because of the cover. I mean, look at it. It's so intricate and well planned but clearly hand drawn. For several weeks I was so in love with the cover that I was too nervous to read the book. What if the words didn't live up to the pictures? I finally caved in and ended up devouring this mammoth of a children's book.

Let's start with the story. Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance all answer an ad in the newspaper asking, "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?". After a series of tests and riddles, the children are introduced to Mr. Benedict, a man on a mission to save the world. Together the children form The Mysterious Benedict Society and set out for the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, the site of some very bad and mysterious happenings. Can the children stop the evil Mr. Curtain from broadcasting signals of confusion to the masses in order to appoint himself Master of the Universe? One thing's for certain, in order to achieve anything, they'll have to work together.

So let's set aside how awesome the concept of a secret society is and move onto the themes of this book. Love and belonging, huge. The concept of creating your own family, huge. Good over evil, big one. Ingenuity, there. Working together, bingo. All those lovey positive ideals we want our children to come away with, but presented in a smart little adventure.

Other features of amazingness:
1. The cool badass character is a girl.

Kate is the go-to-girl when you need to get a job done. She carries a utility bucket with her at all times filled with basic tools you just might need, like rope, marbles, a slingshot, or a penlight. How refreshing to have the physically heroic figure be a female. Woot, Kate! (She's not the fall down when the going get's tough type, like Princess Buttercup.)

2. The illustrations are by Carson Ellis.

She illustrates the album covers for The Decemberists, which is why I was drawn to the book in the first place. What's more, she is the supposed subject of my favorite Decemberists' song, Red Right Ankle.

3. The book's website.

The Curiousity Chronicle gives us the scoop on the latests news coming from TMBS. Plus, there are riddles and neat little bookmarks to download (I totally made one). You can even read the first few pages, here.

4. There's a sequel.

The Mysterious Benedict Society is back in action with The Perilous Journey. I've already put it on hold at my public library.

5. The book is full of riddles.

Most of the riddles I could solve ahead of the team, I mean, I am a grown-up and all. But there's still one hanging on that I cannot solve!

Recommendation: This book is so the total package.

The Corrections

2009-01-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

Thanks to 6 cumulative hours on the train this past weekend, I was able to finally finish The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. I sort of chose a hefty book to bring me back to my own age group... so several hours of focused train reading was the perfect strategy to make some progress.

Originally I chose this book as part of the 1% Well-Read Challenge. However, I don't think I'll meet the deadline. So instead I'll say this book was recommended to me by a friend in college who may or may not have also been on my huge long crush list sophomore year. (Totally was).

Ok. The Corrections is the story of a dysfunctional (?) family trying to come together for one last Christmas together before the father's health completely deteriorates. The large chunk of the book is devoted to back story explaining why the idea of one last Christmas is either so horribly important (Enid's view) or so horribly taxing (the rest of the family).

I didn't overlook the deeper meaning or the "correction" connections, but I am having a hard time verbalizing my thoughts. Maybe this is a book we should talk about over tea?

Recommendation: Hang in there for the juicy bits and the somewhat tidy ending.

Looking For Bapu

2009-01-09T23:24:00.000-08:00

I will admit it. I totally judged this book by it's cover. I'm super glad I did. Looking for Bapu by Anjali Banerjee definitely lived up to it's pretty cover design.

The basic outline of the story goes like this: Anu (called Anus by schoolyard bullies) is extremely close to his grandfather, Bapu. One day while the pair are out birdwatching, Bapu suffers a massive stroke and dies shortly thereafter at the hospital. Anu is deeply stricken with guilt. When Bapu's ghost appears, Anu sets out on a frantic mission to reestablish contact with his beloved grandfather.

3 Things I Loved About This Book:
1. It's based locally in Seattle, Washington

The Mystery Museum, a major location in the story, is modeled after Ye Olde Curiousity Shop.

2. It's the first book I've read that talks about September 11th from the perspective of a young person who is unjustly discrimated against [as an Indian-American].

Banerjee includes incidents where Anu is called Osama Bin Laden by his classmates as well as other Indians being interrogated at the airport. Anu even overhears one of the EMTs reluctance to care for his grandfather because he looks "like that damn Bin Laden." Whoa, hello prejudice.

3. The topic is unbelievably unique.

Ok death and dying is written about all the time. But what about a boy who goes to such great lengths to contact his dead grandfather that he attempts to become a sadhu, a Hindu holy person. Anu shaves his head, embarks on a fast, and becomes a holy roller...literally. He starts to roll, as in somersault, to school. Through Anu's pursuits to become holy and therefore gain a line to the deceased, the reader learns about Hinduism and Indian culture, without feeling like you're reading a complicated explanation.

All parts of Looking for Bapu are equally endearing.

Recommendation: A book this unique that addresses important topics should not be overlooked.

(I actually am reading a grown-up book right now... but kid's books are just so tempting. Being surrounded by them all day doesn't help the problem.)

Books of 2008

2009-01-01T11:26:00.001-08:00

I love that I've found a New Year's resolution I can actually keep: Read more books than I did during the previous year.

2008 kicked the pants off of 2007. This year I needed to read 58 books... well I read 81! Next year I better at least read 82.

1. Frindle by Andrew Clements
2. Speaking with the Angel edited by Nick Hornby
3. Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff
4. Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen
5. Six of One by Rita Mae Brown
6. Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project edited by Dave Isay
7. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
8. The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta
9. Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks
10. The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell
11. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
12. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
13. Compost by Clare Foster
14. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
15. Mike McGrath's Book of Compost by Mike McGrath
16. Slam by Nick Hornby
17. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
18. King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography by Chris Crutcher
19. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
20. The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher
21. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
22. I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert
23. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
24. Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes
25. Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler
26. Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
27. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
28. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
29. The Moffats by Eleanor Estes
30. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
31. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
32. When I Was Elena by Ellen Urbani Hiltebrand
33. Control Theory in the Classroom by William Glasser
34. Holes by Louis Sachar
35. How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, & Zahara Heckscher
36. Strider by Beverly Cleary
37. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
38. The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth
39. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
40. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
41. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
42. Skipping Towards Gomorrah: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Pursuit of Happiness in America by Dan Savage
43: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson
44: The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
45: Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
46: The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck
47: When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris
48. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
49. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
50. Hold On To Me Tightly As If I Knew The Way by Bryan Charles
51. Dishwasher by Pete Jordan
52. God's Harvard by Hannah Rosin
53. Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
54. Bachelor Girl: 100 Years of Breaking the Rules, A Social History of Living Single by Betsy Israel
55. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
56. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
57. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
58. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
59. Shopgirl by Steve Martin
60. Geek Love by Kathrine Dunn
61. Little Children by Tom Perrotta
62. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
63. Criss Cross by Lynne Mae Perkins
64. Mountain Man Dance Moves: The McSweeney Book of Lists by the editors of McSweeney
65. Amy's Answering Machine: Messages from Mom by Amy Borkowsky
66. Cringe: Teenage Diaries, Journals, Notes, Letters, Poems, and Abandoned Rock Operas edited by Sarah Brown
67. Tales from the Teacher's Lounge by Robert Wilder
68. Stories from a Moron: Real Stories Rejected by Real
Magazines by Ed Broth
69. Recycle with Redworms: The Red Wiggler Connection by Shelley C. Grossman & Toby Weitzel
70: Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
71. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
72. My Own Two Feet by Beverly Cleary
73. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
74. The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
75. Crazy Lady! by Jane Leslie Conly
76. The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer
77. Who is Stealing the Twelve Days of Christmas? by Martha Freeman
78. The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
79. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
80. Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles
81. Everything On A Waffle by Polly Horvath

Year One Visitors

2008-12-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

My map of visitors for the first year. Thanks for stopping by!

(Click to view larger)

Gathering Blue

2008-12-23T16:44:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I had the pleasure of hearing Lois Lowry speak. I walked away from that afternoon with a goal to read all of her books. Well, that hasn't exactly happened, but the intention is still there. That's why I put her book, Gathering Blue, on my list for the Young Adult Challenge.

Gathering Blue is a companion to The Giver, which nearly everyone in my generation read in elementary or middle school. I can't even count the number of times I've brought up that book, only to hear, "Oh man! I loved that book!" Naturally, I was curious about the companion novel.

According to Lowry, she wanted to write two books about a time other than our own. Each novel tells the story of what life would be like if civilization's technology progressed (The Giver) or regressed (Gathering Blue). What a fascinating idea.

Gathering Blue is Kira's story. In Kira's community the disabled are discarded, women are forbidden to read, and people are governed out of fear of beasts. In many ways, this setup could be compared to M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. In short, not an enlightened crowd. Kira is nearly thrown out of the village due to her twisted leg until the council discovers her special gift of threading. She is allowed to stay, but at what price?

As with all science fiction, it's kind of hard to explain. It sounds a little out there unless you read it. Luckily, Lowry has the gift of creating intricate yet easy to understand microcosms of life. Not to mention a little premonitoin of 9/11. Eerie.

Recommendation: Starts out slow and picks up speed. Fans of The Giver will definitely be interested in a possible cameo.

Who Is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas?

2008-12-18T19:38:00.000-08:00

So I'm really caught up in childrens literature. It must have something to do with being surrounded by it 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. But I'm not complaining. To prepare for a book talk tomorrow morning with some fourth and fifth graders, I read Who Is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas by Martha Freeman.

Something strange is happening on Chickadee Court. Every year the 12 houses each display one day of Christmas in an elaborate staging of The Twelve Days of Christmas. This year, someone is up to no good. One piece of decoration is stolen each night. Who would steal the Twelve Days of Christmas? And could it be related to a string of toy store robberies in the area? Alex and Yasmeen are desperate to find out... well, Yasmeen a little more so than Alex.

In the process of solving the mystery, the story touches on several themes: guilt, prejudice, community, friendship, and getting your buns off the couch and experiencing real fun!

Recommendation: A fun read aloud to kids of all ages for the month of December. Who doesn't want to try their hand at solving a mystery?

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

2008-12-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

Although I'm almost certain Hollywood has damaged another good young adult novel, I will give it credit for bringing my attention to Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. I didn't realize it was a book until I saw it on display at Powells... a feature it was given I'm sure due to the movie release.

I added it to my list of books for the Young Adult Challenge, and I'm glad I did.

In alternating chapters, Cohn (writing as Norah) and Levithan (Nick) tell the story of Nick and Norah over the course of one night. They meet in a club when Nick asks Norah to be his 5 minute girlfriend when his recent ex shows up with her new guy. Norah only agrees because Nick's ex is also the last person she wants to see at the moment. When Nick's friends secretly pay Norah to entertain Nick for the night... a series of events takes off that just may shape up as a new relationship between the two.

The structure of the book is similar to Flipped except that Flipped retells almost the exact same moment from the other perspective, while N&N moves the story forward in each chapter. I really like the potential to teach perspective with books like these.

Ok. This book is so angsty. Norah is all over the place I probably wouldn't want to hang out with her... but Nick seems into it. The two find similiar interests in music and being sorta Straight Edge. Since when do Straight Edge kids make it into novels? Even if they're only the sorta kind. As a sorta Straight Edge kid myself, works for me.

Now, I haven't seen the film adaptation, but I suspect it differs. My impression of the trailers is that Nick and Norah are trying to track down a drunk friend all night. This doesn't really happen in the book. I also don't really see Michael Cera portraying the book version of Nick. And I wonder if all the racy bits were kept in? I was actually a little surprised with the details. I don't think I'll ever look at the ice room at a hotel the same ever again.

Recommendation: Doesn't everyone want to see the joining of two battered hearts?

Chester

2008-11-28T20:56:00.000-08:00

Seriously, as part of my job duties I had to sit down and read the 20 books nominated for the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award. It didn't take me long to find my personal favorite and predicted winner... Chester by Melanie Watts. See, there's already a spot for the medal on the cover.

Ok, I laughed and laughed and laughed out loud. I've been plotting how to read it aloud to the kids for maximum giggles.

You see, Melanie is trying to write a story about a mouse... but her cat Chester will have none of that. He constantly interrupts the story by breaking in with red marker. The text moves back and forth from Melanie in black and Chester in red..."dueling author/illustrators".

I loved this book so much I've convinced a few others to give it as a gift, plus added it to my own Christmas list.

Recommendation: Even if you're not a child, you'll be smiling and giggling as you witness Chester's power plays.

My Own Two Feet

2008-11-25T20:20:00.001-08:00

About a year ago when I was working in a library, I picked up My Own Two Feet by Beverly Cleary. Having recently read Clementine, which reminded me of Ramona, I was inspired to track down another copy and finish it.

My Own Two Feet continues her autobiography first tackled in A Girl From Yamhill. In this portion, Cleary tells about her college experience in California during the Depression, her wedding to husband Clarence, her diverse experience as a librarian, and finally the writing of her first book.

Cleary shares a lot about her relationship with her mother, which is very strained. There's nothing like reading about a real-life tense mother-daughter relationship to make me realize how lucky I am. Cleary's mom was a real biddy! Impossible to please.

An aspect of this book I really enjoyed is that you feel like Cleary is simply talking to you. The writing isn't anything fancy. It just is what it is.

Recommendation: If you are as amazed with Beverly Cleary as I am, surely you'll want to know more about her life story.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

2008-11-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie for like, ever. Ok, so it was only published a year ago... but a year is a long time to wait for a novel of this magnitude. It's only won about a billion awards, or 18 by my count. Impressive. In all, a perfect choice for the Young Adult Reading Challenge.

The novel tells the story of Junior, a 14 teen year old cartoon drawing basketball playing Spokane tribal member. Life on the reservation is bleak. Junior realizes that his only hope is to attend high school off the rez... at the white school. Faced with his tribe practically disowning him and his white peers ostracizing him, Junior experiences some of the lonelist days of his life. Slowly, Junior builds rapport with his schoolmates and eventually experiences limited acceptance. Like he says, he's a "part-time Indian".

The amazing thing about Junior is that he's faced with so many obstacles... brain damage, poverty, his father's alcoholism, the death of 3 very important people in his life, (I could keep going), but he maintains his drive, determination, and sense of humor. Did I mention this book is based on Alexie's life? Good golly.

Recommendation: An easy poignant read that will leave you wanting to give Junior a big hug.

Clementine

2008-11-19T16:47:00.000-08:00

I think I may have found a character as delightful as Ramona Quimby, and that's saying a lot considering Beverly Cleary is pretty much my idol. (Portlander and children's librarian!) So you know I'm not kidding around here. Having seen Clementine by Sara Pennypacker in various school libraries, I finally picked it up after I noticed it on the Sasquatch Book Award list.

It is charming. Clementine is having a bad week and it all started when Margaret got gum stuck in her hair and attempted to cut it out. Clementine, being the good friend that she is, helped Maragert even out her new haircut by lopping off the rest of her hair. Of course this lands Clementine in the principal's office... and it's all down hill from there.

Clementine's narration is absolutely adorable. Like this:
"Then I got busy working on my project so I wouldn't have to hear any "Clementine-pay-attention!"s. Except I did anyway. Which was unfair because each time, I was the only person in the whole art room who was paying attention. Which is why I could tell everyone right in the middle of the Pledge of Allegiance that the lunchroom lady was sitting in the jantior's car and they were kissing. Again. No one else saw this disgusting scene, because no one else was paying attention out the window!"

Recommendation: YES!

(Read a really great review: here by E. R. Bird)

Recycle With Earthworms

2008-11-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

I've been vermicomposting for about six months now. Lately I realized I hadn't really done much research on the subject other than checking out a few websites and skimming the worm chapters in other composting books. I came home from the library with Recycle With Earthworms: The Red Wiggler Connection by Shelley C. Grossman and Toby Weitzel yesterday and devoured the entire book. It's pretty short.

As you could imagine, this slim little book is all about using red wigglers to put your food waste back into the earth. These ladies offer a very thorough look at worms in general... then provide a tutorial on vermicomposting. There's even a chart to help you problem solve your own bin!

I learned I have a little work to do. My worms were probably due a harvest a few months ago... sorry little buds!

Recommendation: If you want to "feed the earth, starve a landfill," this book is a good start.

Cringe

2008-10-31T00:15:00.000-07:00

I came across Cringe: Teenage Diaries, Journals, Notes, Letters, Poems, and Abandoned Rock Operas edited by Sarah Brown while browsing through the library catalog the other day. This is a companion book to the Cringe live performances. You know, people getting on stage to read embarrassing bits from their teenage diaries.

It's the same idea as Mortified... I really couldn't tell you what makes each project unique. But I recently saw a snippet of a Mortified performance on This American Life (tv version), and hope to go to a live show soon... so I was kinda excited for Cringe.

I was maybe too excited... at a few points I found myself struggling to read the handwriting of middle schoolers (too much like my day job) and skimming over the entries. That being said... it is funny. You will definitely cringe.

Like this little bit of a love poem written to impress a girl:
"I wish I could be your maxi-pad / Behind which you hide your prize." WTF?

or the love letter addressed to: "The face that launched my bicycle many times."

and the treasured bits taken from a series of entries over the course of a summer:

"June 28th 1991. This morning I met the other CITs. One of them is named Laura. She has some Jewish last name I can't remember. Also, I think she's got double C cups. They're huge.

July 23rd 1991 ... I didn't really sleep much which is good because otherwise I might have had a wet dream and that would be really embarrassing to clean out of a sleeping bag."

Recommendation: Much less painful than actually reading through your own teenage diary but find it at your local library, not the bookstore.

Criss Cross

2008-10-22T20:05:00.001-07:00

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins was my ninth read for the Young Adult Challenge. I loved it. I would have read it in one sitting if trivial little things like cooking dinner hadn't of gotten in the way. It was one of those books where you tell yourself you'll just read for 30 more minutes... but those 30 minutes only feel like 5, so you keep going. And then you've read so far you might as well just finish the book... Good.

The story swirls around a group of friends who are 14 with Debbie getting the most page time (Hector in second). Debbie wishes for something good to happen to her. Hector is learning guitar. Both are entertaining their first exchanges with love as well as realizing subtle changes in their friendships. I'm struggling to explain the plot because I want to do it justice. It's hard to describe authentic characters who are not purposefully tied down to gimmicks.

You'll probably just have to read it.

(Note: I'd place this book on the border of Middle Reader / Young Adult.)

Recommendation: There's a reason it won a Newberry.

The Wordy Shipmates

2008-10-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

I love Sarah Vowell. Sadly, her latest book, The Wordy Shipmates, is now known to me as "Strike Two for Favorite Writers Disappointing Me Lately." (The first being Sedaris). Perhaps I should blame the build up and not the actual book. I've been waiting for this release for at least a year. I've listened to excerpts on This American Life. I was even the first person to check the book out of the library for goodness sakes! As someone who rarely ventures into the territory of brand new books, that's kinda a big deal. But still.

The Wordy Shipmates is all about those crazy Puritans that came to the New World in the 1630s. Vowell purposely chooses to focus on the Puritans of post-Pilgrim/Thanksgiving days, and pre-Witch/Extra-Crazy days. And really, I approve of her subject. And I like history too. But what I realized I really like about Vowell's writing is all the personal stuff she squeezes in between the historical factoids. It's lacking in this book. (Although I did enjoy knowing she wore ballet flats in the snow while seeking out the site of John Winthrop's house.)

In short, the good bits of the book were already featured on This American Life's "What I Learned From Television" episode. Other interesting bits include the few pages about the Pequot War and Anne Hutchison. The rest of the time I was trying to keep track of each stuffy player in early American history.

Recommendation: If you're a Sarah Vowell fan, I can't stop you from reading it (because you still should), if you're just getting to know her... start with Assassination Vacation.

Geek Love

2008-10-12T08:48:00.001-07:00

Three years ago I saw a girl from my statistics class on the bus reading Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. As the quarter progressed and we became friendly, I realized she was a girl with unique interests and tastes... and she always complimented my tights. I haven't seen her in years but her book on the bus that day has been camping in the back of my mind.

Geek Love is one of those books that makes you wonder about the author. Like, what would it be like to have Dunn over for dinner? How is her house decorated? Does she have children? Because really, this book is messed up. And good. I mean, there's a reason it was a finalist for the National Book Award.

The Binewski family is the talent behind the famous Fabulon traveling carnival/freak show. Al Binewski orders his wife Lily on a regimented diet of drugs during pregnancy in order to expertly craft a child with deformities. In other words, the next showstopper. If the baby looks like a norm, the baby goes and the process repeats. You can see how the set up here boggles the mind.

The story is told through Olympia Binewski, an albino hunchback dwarf, as she looks back in time to muster the courage and explain her need to save her "orphaned" daughter. She plays back the events in her life that changed her safe and loving home into the nightmare of a fanatic cult devoted to her older brother Arty, who is without arms and legs and instead has finlike apendages.

It's sort of hard to explain. Let's call it... dysfunctional family with a fantasy carnival destructive twist.

Recommendation: Just go with it.

The House on Mango Street

2008-09-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

Good golly. I loved this book. Last December or so I went about spending a graduation gift in the way of used books. I picked up The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros for a dollar. One dollar!

Well. I finally got around to picking it up tonight. Only a few pages in I had to stop to rave about it to my roommate. That doesn't happen very often.

The House on Mango Street is a story told to us by Esperanza, a young Latina girl coming of age in a rough neighborhood in Chicago. She lives in a "sad red house, the house I belong but do not belong to." Through Esperanza's observations and retellings we come to know the various characters in the neighborhood: Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut and Papaya Juice on Tuesdays, Sally, and Minerva, are a few who come to mind. Before she tells us, we know Esperanza is a poet... speaking in similes and metaphors and images.

A few of my favorite passages:

"In English my name means hope. In Spanish it means too many letters. It means sadness, it means waiting. It is like the number nine. A muddy color. It is the Mexican records my father plays on Sunday mornings when he is shaving, songs like sobbing."

"You can never have too much sky. You can fall asleep and wake up drunk on sky, and sky can keep you safe when you are sad. Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky. Butterflies too are few and so are flowers and most things that are beautiful. Still, we take what we can get and make the best of it."

"People who live on hills sleep so close to the stars they forget those of us who live too much on earth."

I finally get what's such a big deal about Sandra Cisneros.

Recommendation: Please read this book.

Brian's Winter

2008-09-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

All of elementary school I was convinced Hatchet by Gary Paulsen was a "boys book". I've never had strict gender role delusions, but it still didn't seem like it would be interesting to a girl. Last summer I finally picked it up and discovered a vastly complex novel aimed at middle readers and young adults but with some very grown-up themes. Brian Robeson is in a horrific plane crash that leaves him stranded and alone in the Canadian wilderness. Brian must call upon strength he didn't realize he had to try to survive the summer. Hatchet was so popular that Paulsen wrote several other companion books to tell more of Brian's story, one of which is Brian's Winter, one of my choices for the Young Adult Reading Challenge.

Brian's Winter takes on the premise of, "What is Brian isn't/wasn't rescued and had to survive a winter in the Canadian wilderness?" It's a short read (for an adult). Pretty graphic too... but really, what vegetarian doesn't want to read the details of killing, skinning, chopping, cooking, and eating wild animals? Along with collecting firewood, the book is consumed with Brian's hunting pursuits. But, I suppose when you're in survival mode, there's not much else to do.

Recommendation: If you liked Hatchet and had any lingering thoughts about Brian, Brian's Winter will give you plenty more to think about.

Mrs. Dalloway

2008-09-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly I'd never read any Virginia Woolf before... I'd always meant to...

So I put Mrs. Dalloway down on my list of 1% Well-Read Challenge books.

The novel plays out a single day in the life of Mrs. Dalloway, a London socialite, as she prepares for a party and struggles with the reappearance of an old love.

I can't lie. It wasn't a smooth reading experience... always. I started the book and struggled with focusing on all the characters and all the happenings. The novel plays out over a single day without any natural breaks. It's hard to find good stopping places! (Which is probably why I put the book on hiatus and read 5 others.)

When I had the time and mental clarity to enjoy the book, I really really did. I liked the transitions between characters and all of the connections between the players. It's like one long tracking shot, which is one of my favorite techniques in film to watch develop.

Recommendation: If you had the time and patience to read it in all one sitting, I think it'd be an amazing reading experience. If you don't, try to keep your mind from wandering. It will save you a lot of rereading.

Kafka on the Shore

2008-09-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

I was pretty excited to read this book. A teacher friend of mine who knows I love reading, emphatically recommended it to me by yelling across the library. Of course I wrote it down. Then I saw it on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list and popped it on my choices for the 1% Well-Read Challenge. When my roommate and I decided to have a traveling book club this summer, she bought me Kafka and I couldn't wait.

Noted: This was probably not the best book to bring to Peru. Naturally, it was read in short spurts during the peak of exhaustion. Murakami deserves much closer attention than that... especially his novel that John Updike refers to as a "meta-physical mindbender." Due to lack of sleep, overexertion, and the excitement of travel... my mind was already bent.

That being the case... I enjoyed the beginning of the book. There are two distinct plots that gradually intertwine as the novel progresses. The odd chapters follow Kafka, a fifteen year old boy who is facing a series of crises and discovering that life rarely makes sense (but I think it made more sense to him than it did to me). The even chapters follow Nakata, a friendly elderly man with an unusual developmental delay and the ability to talk to cats. Each character sets out on a journey and the reader follows.

I'm not going to pretend like I understood this book. Talking it over with my roommate we both agreed that there was a whole lot more going on than what we picked up. One element we struggled with: all the sex! There's a very graphic retelling of a sex dream in a letter that doesn't relate to much, and a few different potentially incestuous relationships (Kafka and a girl he suspects to be his older sister, and Kafka and an older woman he suspects to be his mother). I'm not against sexuality in books, but I do like to know why! The only explanation in my friend's bookclub for it was, "Well, the book was written by a man." But surely, there must be more to it. Murakami himself describes the book as being written in riddles that have no answers, but that the riddles themselves will take you closer to the meaning of the book. He also notes that the book requires more than one reading.

Seriously, why did I read this in transit?

Recommendation: If you've read other Murakami books successfully, you'll probably be thrilled. If you don't have the time or energy for close and multiple readings, wait until you do.

Non-Fiction Five Wrap Up

2008-09-02T16:13:00.001-07:00

So I finished all five of my non-fiction books awhile ago. But, true to form, I took my sweet time with the blogging. I thought I stayed pretty close to my original list, but really just 3/5.

Revised List:
1. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman (review here)
2. How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Josheph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher (review here)
3. Control Theory in the Classroom by William Glasser (review here)
4. When I Was Elena by Ellen Urbani Hiltebrand (review here)
5. Skipping Towards Gomorrah by Dan Savage (review here)

Favorite Book: Skipping Towards Gormorrah... I just love Dan Savage.

Least Favorite Book: Control Theory in the Classroom... I knew that going in. You can't read a book that was cutting edge in the '80s without thinking, "Oh please... who doesn't know that?"

I was disappointed not to read Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating... it seemed to have disappeared from the library. Perhaps having moved to a larger city (although less vegan friendly) will increase my odds of finding it.

Thanks to Joy for another lovely challenge!

Skipping Towards Gomorrah

2008-08-28T10:01:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm pretty much a fan of the foul mouthed, sex-posi, (just about) anything goes Dan Savage. His podcast is the perfect background for baking or cooking or when you feel the need to make an uptight roommate a little uncomfortable. Therefore, reading his book Skipping Towards Gomorrah: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Pursuit of Happiness in America was a happy substitute in my original line up for the Non-Fiction Five Challenge.

Savage uses his book to take a stab back at the virtuecrats. This country was founded on a basis of "the pursuit of happiness" so what's the problem if adults want to smoke pot, swap sexual partners, or gamble away their life savings? It makes them happy! Of course it's not that simple. Savage digs a little deeper to make interesting points in his book as he investigates the Seven Sins by attending a swingers convention (lust), visiting Vegas (greed), exploring Pot (sloth)... those are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Basically, if you like Savage, you'll like this book since it's an extension of the views he routinely shares via print and podcast. If you're a bit uptight or listen to Dr. Laura... it's probably not for you.

Recommendation: Entertaining for liberals. Irritating for conservatives.

When You Are Engulfed In Flames

2008-08-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

So. I was really excited to read When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris. I really like him. I even paid to watch a video-feed of him speak when he came to my college 2 years ago. (And I really enjoyed watching the parents and grandparents walk out on him, [it was Parents' Weekend]).

But. I really did not like this book. Usually Sedaris' books are laugh-out-loud, "oh my, let me read this to you", I can't put it down type books. Seriously. I only chuckled out loud maybe 3 times. Lousy record.

A couple of the essays I enjoyed most were: The Smoking Section and Solution to Saturday's Puzzle.

Recommendation: If you're already a fan of Sedaris you'll read this because you must. If you're new to Sedaris, start with Naked or Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.

Control Theory In The Classroom

2008-08-03T13:51:00.001-07:00

I crammed Control Theory in the Classroom by William Glasser before a job interview.

Ugh. What was I thinking? Don't bother unless you have a functioning time machine. Outdated. But it did fit nicely with the Non-Fiction Five Challenge.

Numbers Challenge Wrap-Up

2008-07-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

Wow. I need to do a better job of keeping track of my books and challenges. Especially of reviewing books right after I read them... and not say... 3 months later. Or so.

For example, I finished the Numbers Challenge quite awhile ago and really that calls for some sort of announcement or celebration, right? My first completed challenge!

My Selection:
1. Six of One by Rita Mae Brown (review here)
2. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (review here)
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (review here)
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (review here)
5. One Hundred Years of Solitute by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (review here)

Favorite: Probably Slaughterhouse-Five. I don't know why it took me so long to read it.

Least Favorite: The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I knew it was a bad idea, but sometimes peer pressure gets to the best of us.

Thanks to Callista for hosting a great challenge!

When I Was Elena

2008-07-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

I came across When I was Elena by Ellen Urbani Hiltebrand this spring when my mother's friend passed it along to me. She had heard the author speak and thought I would enjoy the story. Feeling like I was under pressure to return the book, I moved it straight to the top of my pile. It just so happened it coincided nicely with the Non-Fiction Five Challenge.

When I Was Elena is the story of Hiltebrand's experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer during the early 1990s in Guatemala. In addition to describing the adventures in her life, she also includes several chapters told from the perspective of Guatemalan women, women without voices.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. Hiltebrand was faced with some amazing challenges... all of which fueled a little anxiety I took with me to Peru. However, I did find myself more and more curious about the details of her Peace Corps assignment, which are sprinkled through the pages sparingly.

Recommendation: If you like to read about adventure from the safety of your own home, When I Was Elena offers plenty.

Note: I wish I could give a more detailed review. I read this book several months ago and returned it to the original owner. I'm working on pure memory.

Boy Meets Boy

2008-07-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'd seen Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan pop up in middle schools and high schools over the past year. The Young Adult Challenge gave me an excuse to read it. I'm glad I did.

Welcome to the bizarre world of Paul, a gay sophomore in high school. At Paul's school the cheerleaders ride motorcycles, the debate team simultaneously bowls, the quarterback is a guy turned girl, and homosexuality is embraced and heartily represented. Nothing like my school where maybe 3 people were openly gay... a few we found out about later. In short, it is a school where everyone fits in... not very believable. But it fits the story, so all is forgiven.

Boy Meets Boy details the drama of life when you're in high school and everyone is discovering who they are, who they love, and who to trust. Paul meets Noah and it's a perfect match... but when Paul's ex Kyle steps back in the picture, things get confusing. On top of that, a rumor surfaces that Paul is secreting dating his best friend Tony... which relationship will Paul pursue, or will he ruin it all? His fellow students are placing their bets.

Recommendation: For a unique take on high school love, Boy Meets Boy presents a nearly fantastic background for real world problems.

Checking Out

2008-06-14T07:57:00.001-07:00

I'm off on a Peruvian adventure for a few weeks.

Delivering school supplies and exploring.

1% Well-Read Challenge

2008-06-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

I came across this challenge the other day, and was so very nerdily excited to join. The challenge is based on the list from 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. All you have to do is challenge yourself to read 1% of the list, which... is 10 books! The challenge runs for 10 months, starting back in May and going through February '09. So very manageable. (1% Well-Read Challenge)

When I came across this challenge I immediately downloaded the list so I could highlight the books I have already read, and mark potential titles. (See what I mean about my nerdy excitement?) Turns out I've already read 5.9% of the list, so 59 books. I was feeling pretty good about that until I noticed how many books other people have already read! Oh well!

Potential Ten Titles:
1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
2. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
3. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
4. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran
5. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
6. Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
7. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
8. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
9. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I'm almost certain this list will mutate over the next few months.

Six of One

2008-06-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

Six of One by Rita Mae Brown was actually the first book I read for the Numbers Challenge... way back in January. I've been putting off reviewing it for months... and months. No real reason. Since the details are no longer fresh in my mind, I'll share the bits I liked the most and therefore remember.

1. The novel includes the stories of several generations of women. It bounces back and forth between 1980 and the memories of Louise and Julia, two women who grew up in the early 1900s.

2. The novels portrays sexuality as fluid and natural during a time when it was not considered so. I like thinking about this little pocket of people in the south who are so caring and accepting of women's sexuality and homosexuality, when the same could not be said of the country at large.

Recommendation: It took a few chapters to draw me in but overall was an enjoyable read.

How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas

2008-06-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

As someone who often feels like she's in that quarter-life crisis mode... you know, you graduate college and the world just won't stop handing you swift kicks to the gut? Then there's the bounce between..."I'm only 23 and I'm supposed to decide these things?" and "I'm already 23 and I haven't decided these things!" Needless to say, I've been exploring options.

How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Josheph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher definitely offers food for thought when thinking over the possible adventures to include in life.

Basically, the book is the combined research of 3 well-traveled and experienced international volunteers. It provides numerous thought provoking questions for the potential volunteer. For example, it suggests thinking about your views on development and making sure they are compatible with your volunteer organization and their projects. Seems simple, but that honestly had not crossed my mind.

The book also includes an extensive overview of the Peace Corps (confirmed my suspicions, more bad than good), as well as profiles over 100 volunteer organizations.

The best tip I gleaned from the book to aid in my upcoming trip to Peru: If traveling with a partner, pack half of your clothing in your partner's pack. If the airlines lose your luggage, you won't be left with nothing. Smart.

I decided to substitute this book into my selections for the Non-Fiction Five Challenge.

Recommendation: If you've ever wanted to go somewhere to do something, this is a good book to help you clarify your goals and put your "adventure" into perspective.

Holes

2008-06-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

I've been curious about the story of Holes by Louis Sachar for quite some time. It was published after I passed through the middle reader/young adult genres. And yes, I admit, I didn't know much about it until the movie. I didn't see the movie, so I still didn't know much other than that the Newbery committee thought it was pretty good. The Young Adult Challenge gave me a reason to give it a look.

Holes is the story of Stanley Yelnats, a boy who is accused of stealing the sneakers that fell out of the sky. Turns out they were a famous pair of sneakers. The debacle leads Stanley to a stint as a hole digger at Camp Green Lake, a corrections facility for juveniles.

The story introduces some interesting storylines. It mentions interracial relationships, race relations, Old World/New World philosophies, homelessness, and identity, to name a few.

I could have done without the derogatory remarks towards Girl Scouts, and the stereotypical use of cosmetics regarding the Warden and Kissin' Kate, but maybe that's just me?

Recommendation: A book that feels all over the place becomes nicely packaged in the last few chapters. Delightful.

Slaughterhouse-Five

2008-05-25T21:35:00.001-07:00

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is one of those books that I can't believe I didn't read sooner. Luckily, the Numbers Challenge gave me just the motivation I needed to jump it to the top of the To-Be-Read list. Not to mention, a friend had "So it goes." tattooed to his arm. I had to figure out what that was all about!

Slaughterhouse-Five is the great anti-war novel with a sci-fi twist. I never read sci-fi. This was a stretch... but I'm glad I did it. Billy Pilgrim is a veteran of World War II and a witness of the bombing at Dresden. He is also at the mercy of the aliens of Tralfamadore who have gifted him with the ability to travel to different points in his life (although he cannot control it!). The story is told by whipping around to different stages of Billy's life, a very effective and surprisingly not confusing technique. The repeated refrain of "So it goes." helps to move the novel forward, despite the many tragedies it details. (However, at each "So it goes." my mind would automatically reply, "Kevin...Kevin's tattoo...")

One of my favorite bits of this book, is the alternate title. "The Children's Crusade: A Duty Dance with Death"

Reccomendation: Now is the perfect time for a classic anti-war novel.

Ex Libris

2008-05-23T17:54:00.000-07:00

I first heard about Anne Fadiman while listening to Nancy Pearl on NPR. Pearl was actually reviewing a different work by Fadiman, At Large and Small: Familiar Essays. However, when Pearl was asked which Fadiman essay was her favorite, she referenced a piece from Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader. The essay she spoke of sounded so charming (the moment she officially felt married was when her and her husband merged libraries), I added it to my choices for the Non-Ficition Five Challenge.

Now, I like to read... but I made the fatal mistake of comparing my reading habits and knowledge to Fadiman's. No contest. Reading this book made me feel like an ignorant novice. Many of the anecdotes were cute and thoughtful... but others left me thinking, "Now I'm sure I've heard of that book before...or have I?" Fadiman assumes her reader has read it all... at least twice.

Recommendation: Unless you are a fanatical reader, don't choose Ex Libris as your first Fadiman selection. That being said, the cover is adorable.

A Passage to India

2008-05-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

About a month and a half ago I was offered a really fun opportunity at work. Would I like to join the Culinary Roadtrip going to Surrey, BC to learn about Indian culture and Indian food and get paid to do so? Um... sure! We visited a variety of Indian businesses and sampled some delicious Indian food and sweets. Not surprisingly, this trip reinvigorated my interest in A Passage to India by E.M. Forster.

This is one of those books where you keep reading and turning pages, but not a lot is really happening. It is the story of a young British woman, Adela Quested, who travels to India to decided whether or not she'd like to marry a childhood friend, Ronny Heaslop. Heaslop is a civil servant deeply tangled in the British ruling society of Chandrapore. In a desire to see "the real India," it is arranged for Miss Quested to meet several local Indian figures, including Dr. Aziz.

The turning point in the book occurs when Dr. Aziz takes Miss Quested on an excursion to the Marabar Caves. It is interesting to note that even during the turning point of the novel (Miss Quested accuses Dr. Aziz of attacking her in a cave) nothing really happens as Forster cleverly leaves the encounter vague. When Dr. Aziz is put on trial, the tension between the ruling British and the oppressed Indians elevates beyond the British comfort level.

Forster examines the disdainful attitude of the British towards the Indians, and the complex attitude of the Indians towards the British. It is interesting to following the fluctuating emotions of Dr. Aziz as he feels frustration, an eagerness to please and feel valued, and finally an intense hatred of Brits and British rule.

This book took me longer than usual to finish. (Even my roommate noticed!) I think it must be due to the relatively subdued narration. I also noticed myself craving Indian food.

Recommendation: If you're not in a rush, A Passage to India is an insightful read, worthy of it's lasting reputation.

Non-Fiction Five Challenge

2008-04-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Joy from Thoughts of Joy has come up with another lovely book challenge that begged me to join it. I couldn't say no.

The Non-Fiction Five Challenge

The premise is to read 5 non-fiction books between May and September. At least one needs to be a different genre than the rest. I've had a few non-fiction books floating around in the back of my mind, so making the list was pretty easy. It's quite eclectic.

1. Playground Politics: Understanding the Emotional Life of Your School-Age Child by Stanley I Greenspan
2. When I Was Elena by Ellen Urbani Hiltebrand
3. Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating by Erik Marcus
4. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
5. Control Theory in the Classroom by William Glasser

Fahrenheit 451

2008-04-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is one of those books that was required reading for everyone in high school... everyone but me. I'm actually a little shocked that it took me so long to read. The Numbers Challenge gave me the motivation I needed.

The novel is a futuristic look at censorship. In the future firemen no longer quell the flames. Instead they use their massive kerosene hoses to ignite fires in the homes of those who hoard books. While the firemen are busy starting fires and the book hoarders are busy hiding, the rest of the people are busy living their lives in front of their television screens (which now take up all four walls in living rooms).

When a rogue fireman, Guy Montag, becomes entranced by books his life quickly becomes a whirlwind of confusion.

The scenario presented by Bradbury is an interesting look at the dangers of censoring intellectual freedom. To be honest, I'm still digesting all the implications of this novel.

In the afterward Bradbury talks further about his characters. In Beatty's words: "I ate them like salad, books were my sandwich for lunch, my tiffin and dinner and midnight munch."

Recommendation: Give this book the time it requires. Read it with a friend or when you have time for proper digestion.

Anatomy of a Boyfriend

2008-04-15T21:35:00.000-07:00

I like the YA genre. And I've been enjoying the Young Adult Book Challenge. But... good golly, I need a break from this stuff. Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky was the book that helped me see that.

The book isn't awful. To be honest, I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't had such a heavy influx of YA lately. However, it is heavily cliched... in the most annoying of ways.

Let's count, here we go: Girl meets boy in chivalric moment (1). Girl initiates online conversation with boy, eventually declares her love (after a week?). Boy does not respond, girl's life is over (2). Oops, just an internet error, boy likes girl too. Girl's world becomes boy (3). Girl changes interests to suit boy (vegetarianism, track, his dog) (4)...

That's just the beginning. I haven't even mentioned how they have sex for the first time on prom night. Really?

Perhaps another annoying feature of the book, is how closely it resembles my life at that age. Beginning a relationship in the last year of high school, freaking out about where to go to college, going to different colleges, trying to make it work even though you both know you're drifting apart, getting blindsided and dumped. All happened to me too.

But let's be clear... the cliche bits, did not happen to me. The general plotline, my life at 18.

Oh and... the book is dedicated to Judy Blume, and I suspect some extra raunchy bits were included in her honor.

Recommendation: It may be a decent book on its own, but don't read it in a string of young adult.

Slam

2008-04-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to find out that Slam by Nick Hornby was a young adult novel...but that was okay with me...it went right on the list for the Young Adult Book Challenge.

In full disclosure, I happen to be a big Nick Hornby fan. How to Be Good, High Fidelity, A Long Way Down (review), Speaking with the Angel (review)... all are good. Hornby is so skilled at developing quirky yet realistic characters and his dialogue is superb. In fact, I think I'll put About A Boy on my to be read list (I think the only one I haven't read yet).

But getting back to Slam. Slam tells the story of Sam, a teenage skater living in London. Sam is experiencing a high point in his life. Not only does he have a beautiful girlfriend (sex!), he has his own "guardian angel", Tony Hawk. But true to life, when you finally realize that things are going right... it's about time for things to go wrong. The big wrong in Sam's case. His girlfriend becomes pregnant. Did I mention that Sam himself is the son of a teenage mother? Yikes.

Hornby incorportates both realistic and supernatural elements in Sam's life. The conflict that erupts post pregnancy... very real. Tony Hawk "whizzing" Sam into the future... not quite.

Hornby proves he's a writer for all ages. And honestly, reading along as Sam takes excerpts from Tony Hawk's autobiography as gospel... hilarious.

Recommendation: If you're a Hornby fan to being with, Slam is no exception. If Hornby is new to you, Slam is a decent first start.

Peaches

2008-04-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

I first saw Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson on the shelf at Powell's. I like to browse the children's/young adult section from time to time. Ok, a lot of the time! I didn't think too much about it until I was revising my list for the Young Adult Book Challenge. I popped it on.

It's a cute book. The plot outline is pretty basic. Three girls. All different. Hate eachother. Overcome differences. Work together. Best friends! Of course there's a bit more to it than that...

Here's a quote from the back of the book: Together these three very different girls will discover the secret to finding the right boy, making the truest of friends, and picking the perfect Georgia peach. So you have to expect it to be a little sappy, right?

I could see girls in the 12-16 range really enjoying this book. And considering it's a national best seller, it seems like they do. There's also a sequel, The Secrets of the Peaches. I probably won't bother with it.

Recommendation: If you're a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants fan (I'm not), you'll like the taste of these Georgia peaches.

Flipped

2008-03-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen was one of my choices for the Young Adult Book Challenge. I kept seeing it in middle school libraries and it seemed popular with the students. Having now read it, I understand why!

Flipped is told from the perspective of two different characters alternating between chapters. As soon as you think you know what happened, everything is "flipped", and you see it from the other perspective. I enjoyed this technique because it kept the narration from becoming stale (not that that was a concern), but it also made me think about all those times I've had embarrassing run-ins, and wondering what the other perspective might have been.

The story is told by Juli Baker and Bryce Loski. Juli has a mega crush on Bryce, and has since the first moment she met him. Bryce did not feel the same. The book focuses on the romantic angles, but throws in other issues as well. As the events progress a nice compare and contrast between families appears. I have to say, one of my favorite elements is Juli's relationship with a tree. It's a special tree that makes her feel alive in a special way. Personally, I seem to have this connection with trees as well. I'll admit to crying when they cut down the trees at my elementary school... even the one we played Little House on the Prairie under. And I'll admit to having a slight panic attack when I couldn't remember if "Nathaniel's Tree" had been spared... it was! (In first grade our school planted a tree to remember a fourth grader, Nathaniel, who was hit by a car). So we can say I had a deep connection to Juli.

Talking about this book with a 4th or 5th grade student (multi-age class, you never really know!), I found it interesting that one of the aspects of the book that I liked so much (the changing perspective), was a point of confusion for her. "I could never figure out what was happening... I thought I'd know and then it would change." She solved the problem by rereading (nice strategy!) and in the end really enjoyed the book.

Recommendation: If you like the somewhat unique delivery and don't mind running through all of your own awkward adolescent encounters, Flipped is well worth a read.

One Hundred Years of Solitude

2008-03-29T20:28:00.000-07:00

One of my selections for the Numbers Challenge is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gariel Garcia Marquez.

For some reason I had a really wrong impression of this book. It was recommended to me a few years ago by a boy I sat by in middle school band when I was bumped from first chair sax to second. (At least I think that happened, I definitely sat at first far longer than deserved.) At the time of the recommendation I assumed the book had an Indian theme. (In my defense, he didn't tell me the name of the author...) So I had a little misinformation. The next thing I knew, it was an Oprah's Book Club title. If you've read this post, you know how I feel about that.

Regardless, I gave it a try. I'll be honest. I'm still digesting this book.

As I started to read the first few chapters, I struggled to explain the mood, the casual tone of the narrator, despite the many mystifying events. When I read Marquez's explanation, of course it made perfect sense. I must quote.

"The tone I eventually used in One Hundred Years of Solitude was based on the way my grandmother used to tell stories. She told things that sounded supernatural and fantastic, but she told them with complete naturalness."

He goes on to describe his grandmother's facial expression during her stories. It didn't change. He realized he had to tell the story with a "brick face."

But what is the story? One Hundred Years of Solitude tells of the rise and fall of the village Macondo through the lives of the Buendia family. There's love, death, war, incest... and miracles. Not to mention a fairly complicated and difficult to follow family tree due to the recycling of names and aforementioned intrafamilial hook-ups.

I found myself looking forward to whatever new fantastic occurrence would happen next and the family's subdued reaction.

Recommendation: If you enjoy long meandering books and surrealism, One Hundred Years of Solitude is definitely worth a look.

I Am America (And So Can You!)

2008-03-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

I was the 44th hold on I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert. It came relatively quickly. Probably because it's one of those books you can't put down. It went to the laundromat with me.

Hilarious. Read it.

Recommendation: If you love the show, you'll love the book. If you don't love the show and only watch it if it happens to be on in the same room, you'll love the book.

Oh, Hello Blog

2008-03-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

I am way behind in reviews, and I swear I'll start reading grown-up books again... soon. I may have already started.

Bond Children's Literature Conference

2008-03-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was the 5th annual Bond Children's Literature Conference at Western Washington University. I went last year to hear Lois Lowry speak. It was fantastic. Did you know part of her childhood she grew up in Japan, living in a completely Americanized sector?

This year a far-off friend wanted to meet up for the conference. When I found out the speakers... I was more than happy to pay out my hard earned money. To put it bluntly, it was a sausage-fest of a conference.

Christoper Paul Curtis, Newbery Award winner
John Rocco, illustrator linked to Shrek (the movie)
Eric Rohmann, Caldecott Award winner
Chris Crutcher, banned book author extraordinaire.

As most conferences go... some speakers are good, others are great, and some you kinda wonder what they are talking about and why. That being the case, I'll focus on the highlights.

Christopher Paul Curtis:
Not only an incredible writer, but an incredible public speaker as well. He told his story of going from a factory worker to Newbery award winner, with humor and humility. To summarize a bit... right after high school he entered the factories of Flint, Michigan. During down time on the job he took up writing. When he fell in love with a girl several miles away and killed two cars visiting her, he took up writing. When that same girl told him to take a year off work to take up writing, he was in heaven. He also has extremely large hands. When he signed my book we shook. Just big hands, that's all. His works include: The Watson's Go to Birmingham 1963, Bud, Not Buddy, and Elijah of Buxton. Curtis was a real treat.

Chris Crutcher:
Now probably my main draw to the conference was Chris Crutcher. In high school my favorite teacher was highly distraught that the book Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes was being challenged or banned somewhere (I have no idea where). Now, I didn't have the slightest clue as to what this book was about, but I figured if it was being banned... I better read it. Crutcher has many many challenged and banned books. There's even a pamphlet for teachers about teaching banned books with his photograph on it! I was dying to know what he would say to defend/explain/justify/glorify his writing. Ok, so he didn't really do that. At all. But he did read excerpts from his autobiography, King of the Mild Frontier. Luckily, I'd purchased it that morning on a hunch because his reading was hilarious and all the copies sold out. Reading the book now I have Crutcher's voice in my head, making all the delightful bits that much more delightful...("I was working my sphincter muscles like a body-builder.") I also like how he explains moments in his life that later play into his writing. Plus, his unique background as a family therapist enriches the characters and situations he writes in his books. I love banned books. They only make adolescents want to read them all the more.

Other conference notes:
Next year, bring own lunch. Two years in a rough of tough eggplant and soggy bread sandwiches are enough for me. Plus, my sandwich was half the size of my friend's.
Next year, don't drink water at lunch. No matter how hard you try you can't get down to empty before the speakers come on... and hearing stories about someone nearly wetting their pants does not take the focus off your own situation.

My purchases:

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2008-02-24T09:07:00.001-08:00

I spent the morning yesterday doing some TLC on my compost bin. Later in the day I couldn't pass the library without stopping in to snatch a few books on compost, organic gardening, and our ecological impact. There's nothing like sunny 50 degree weather to affect your reading regimen.

I finished Compost by Clare Foster this morning, excellent.

Please Bury Me in the Library

2008-02-16T15:54:00.001-08:00

I spotted the book, Please Bury Me in the Library by J. Patrick Lewis, in Village Books several weeks ago. I loved it so much I politely sent a little note to my mom suggesting it would make an excellent birthday present. Luckily, she agreed.

This book is so cute. It is a collection of poetry for children about books and reading. Some of these will definitely be posted in my classroom and around my library (when that joyous day comes).

Here's my favorite:

Great, Good, Bad

A great book is a homing device
For navigating paradise.

A good book somehow makes you care
About the comfort of a chair.

A bad book owes to many trees
A forest of apologies.

Recommendation: If you have a soft spot for children's literature, or reading in general, you'll enjoy these cute little literature inspired poems.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

2008-02-15T16:46:00.001-08:00

I knew it was a bad idea. But see, I'm doing this Numbers Challenge... and everyone else has read it. But really... I knew it was a bad idea.

So clearly, before picking up The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom I was biased. It just seemed so... Oprah's Book Club. You know, before she did the revamp and "discovered" Steinbeck. Plus, my horrible horrible roommate had it as a fixture on her desk in our dorm room. (Thank goodness those days are long over). This wasn't going to be a book I'd like.

But I had to try it because... 1. It was a national best seller / everyone's read it and 2. I did enjoy Tuesdays with Morrie.

Starting out I surprised myself. I didn't mind it. Lately there's been the circus/carnivale setting trend going around, I like it. (Water for Elephants, Carnivale, etc) I enjoyed hearing about the old time pier amusement park, all that. And I even started to wonder who Eddie would meet in heaven. But that's about it...

The second half of the book I had to force myself through. I actually set a time limit.

My complaints? ... I've been trying to figure that out. I think I felt like Albom was trying too hard. It was too sentimental? It didn't work for me. Sorry I can't be more eloquent.

Recommendation: If you are the one other person out there who hasn't read this book, skip it.

The Chocolate War

2008-02-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

My first book crossed off the list of the Young Adult Challenge.

When I first heard about The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, I didn't realize it was a young adult book. It just sounded like a really good book. Maybe that's proof that people of all ages can enjoy really good literature. That being said, I guess I'm still pretty close to the age group cornered by "young adult" writers. Even so.

The Chocolate War takes place in New England at a Catholic private high school in the 1970s (at least the copyright is '74). The school is unofficially led by a secret society, The Vigils, and officially led by Brother Leon, the stand-in for the ill headmaster. When Brother Leon calls upon the boys to sell double the number of boxes of chocolates at double the price during the school's annual chocolate sale, things start to heat up. The magnitude of the venture requires The Vigils' participation. So what was Jerry Renault to do when The Vigils, infamous for giving out risky "assignments" to the student body, ordered him to refuse to sell chocolates? Furthermore, what's Jerry to do when his assignment is over and the words from his mouth continue to refuse to sell the chocolates? Finding inspiration from a poster hanging in his locker he ponders the question, "Do I dare disturb the universe?"

The Chocolate War is a quick read exploring powerful themes including: death, peer pressure, sexuality, violence, power, and personal identity. As a result, parents around the country have attempted to have it banned. What better way to encourage students to read a book than try to prevent them from reading it! Here's an interesting (if somewhat outdated) article explaining one circumstance of the book's controversy. My own opinion aligns with the authors: The bits of the book parents object to (swear words and masturbation), are the bits of the book that give validity to the characters. And heaven forbid young teenagers read a swear word or brief descriptions of masturbation... because we'd hate to "encourage them". But really... wouldn't we rather have them masturbating than potentially reproducing? Not to diverge too much here.

Another bit I learned recently is that the story was inspired by the author's own son.

(Just a brief note on the cover shown: This is not actually the cover of the copy I own. I only mention that because the cover on the copy I own is way better! It's a dejected looking boy (Jerry Renault) in football uniform alone on the ball field with the school looming in the distance.)

Recommendation: If you enjoy the setup of an all boys private school (which I seem to) and you appreciate young adult books that tackle tough themes, The Chocolate War will not disappoint.

Listening Is an Act of Love

2008-01-24T21:07:00.000-08:00

You know when you read a really great book and want to stop people on the street to tell them about it? This is that book.

Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project is a phenomenal collection of stories gathered by the ingenius people at Storycorps. Storycorps sets up booths around the country and people make appointments to interview friends and loved ones about important moments in their lives. At the end of the interview, two cds are made. One goes to the participants, the other goes in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

David Isay, the creator (and editor of this book), takes the philosophy that history should be told from the bottom up (the lives of everyday people) instead of the top down (celebrities, politicians, etc.). I completely agree and it makes for amazing reading. It's like what it would be like if you could actually talk to all the people Howard Zinn references in A People's History of the United States.

Sometimes I feel like there's a lot to be down about in America these days. Want a few examples?
1. parking lots
2. housing developments with identical houses 3 feet apart from each other
3. million dollar condos blocking free views
4. consumption
5. library cutbacks

And I get really frustrated in general with people because if we could all decide to make small changes, we could change the world. I get frustrated with the apathy (I'm guilty too, I know!).

Reading the stories in Listening is An Act of Love reminded me of Anne Frank's profound quote, "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." And that's a wonderful piece of positive thinking.

I was especially moved by the stories in the last section of the book, "Fire and Water," about September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. I sat in a Starbucks (where you can buy the cd I believe) and cried through the last several pages. When I got back to work I quickly read the afterward and got that funny feeling in my stomach that I only get from holding back emotion.

And if a book can do all that...!

Recommendation: If you cry easily, grab a tissue. This book is full of touching stories to make you consider the elements of our everyday lives.

PS. Subscribe to the podcast!

Peter Pan

2008-01-21T15:41:00.001-08:00

I can't say I'm a huge fan of Peter Pan. I mean, as a kid I enjoyed the story and watching various productions. But somehow, looking at it through adult feminist eyes... I don't see much appeal in a boy refusing to grow up and take responsibility while at the same time convincing a girl to take care of him and his friends. Like, what?

However, I am a huge fan of this cover.

Speaking with the Angel

2008-01-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

I came across Speaking with the Angel edited by Nick Hornby while I was trying to find some light books for holiday reading. It proved to be a good find.

The book is a collection of short stories by several prominent writers in today's (well, late 90's early 2000) scene. Each writer contributed a story to make a collection that benefits Treehouse, a school for children with autism. Hornby's own son has autism and attends the school. In the introduction Hornby describes children who have autism and the amazing ways Treehouse is able to reach them. Worthy cause, right?

On top of appreciating the purpose of the collection, the stories were really great as well. The writers include Helen Fielding, Irvine Welsh, Dave Eggers, Colin Firth (yes, Mr. Darcy!), and Hornby himself.

Here's a recap of a few of my favorites:
Last Requests by Giles Smith is the story of a prison cook who prepares the inmates' last supper. It took me a few pages to catch on... and then the premise coupled with the cook's attitude struck me as so absurd and delightfully funny.

PMQ by Robert Harris is the hilarious explanation by the Prime Minister as to why his "mental breakdown" was not a mental breakdown at all... simply a series of coincidences and unfortunate events.

Catholic Guilt (You Know You Love It) by Irvine Welsh begins as a somewhat disturbing look into a young homophobic man's life. However, by the end, you'll be chuckling at his "Catholic" punishment and the scheme that he's laid out.

Recommendation: If you like the British literati and are impressed by unique points of view, you'll enjoy this book.

Frindle

2008-01-12T21:36:00.000-08:00

All over school libraries I kept seeing books by Andrew Clements with the blurb, "By the author of FRINDLE" ... really now. It was getting annoying. What was this Frindle all about? I had to know.

So I bought it, I read it, I love it.

Frindle by Andrew Clements is a very lovable little book for middle readers.

Nick is now in 5th grade and his teacher is tough. She's in love with words and in love with the dictionary. When she makes a point to Nick, "dog means dog because you say it does" (ok, I'm paraphrasing there)... Nick decides to explore how far he can push the limits of language. When the whole 5th grade, then the school, then students at other schools, join in... can it ever be stopped?

It's been especially fun to be in classrooms and meet students who are reading the book.

Books of 2007

2008-01-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

I tend to be someone who actually keeps New Year's resolutions. Maybe I just don't set the bar too high? The past few years my resolution as been the same: Read more books than the previous year.

To succeed for 2007 I needed to read 48 books (I think). I did. I read 57 actually. Here they are:

Books of 2007
1. Is There No Place On Earth for Me? by Susan Sheehan
2. Global Woman: Nannies, Maids and Sex Workers in the New Economy edited by Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild
3. Inside Organized Racism: Women in the Hate Movement by Kathleen M. Blee
4. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
5. Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by John Krakauer
6. Living Among Meat Eaters: The Vegetarian's Survival Handbook by Carol J. Adams
7. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
8. My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
9. Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser
10. I Thought My Father Was God and Other Tales from NPR's National Story Project
11. Pipi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
12. Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement by Lauren Sandler
13. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
14. A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small In Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel
15. Vegetarianism: A History by Jon Gregerson
16. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
17. She Got Up Off the Couch and Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel
18. The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works- and How It's Transforming the American Economy by Charles Fishman
19. Love Is a Mix-Tape: Life and Loss, One Song At a Time by Rob Sheffield
20. The Lost Daughters of China by Karin Evans
21. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
22. 101 Reasons Why I'm a Vegetarian by Pamela Rice
23. Making Kind Choices by Ingrid Newkirk
24. The Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser
25. What Is the What by Dave Eggers
26. Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules edited by David Sedaris
27. Night by Elie Weisel
28. Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan
29. Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
30. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
31. Have You Heard of Wes Anderson? by Joshua Young
32. The Kiss: A Memoir by Kathryn Harrison
33. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
34. Bad Blood: A Memoir by Lorna Sage
35. The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost
36. The Littlest Hitler: Stories by Ryan Boudinot
37. Am I Thin Enough Yet? The Cult of Thinness and the Commercialization of Identity by Sharlene Hesse-Biber
38. The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
39. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
40. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
41. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
42. The Night in Question by Tobias Wolff
43. Gossamer by Lois Lowry
44. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
45. Ida B by Katherine Hannigan
46. Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti
47. The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
48. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
49. In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made by Norman Frank Cantor
50. The True History of Chocolate by Sophie D. Coe and Michael D. Coe
51. The Book of General Ignorace by John Mitchinson and John Lloyd
52. St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves: Stories by Karen Russell
53. Take the Cannoli: Stories from the New World by Sarah Vowell
54. Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
55. The American Way of Death Revisited by Jessica Mitford
56. Wigfield: The Little Can-Do Town that Just May Not by Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, & Stephen Colbert
57. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

The Numbers Challenge

2008-01-02T20:08:00.000-08:00

I've also joined the Numbers Challenge, hosted by Callista. I'm pretty excited to get started. The goal is to read 5 books with a number in the title by June. I can do it!

The List:
1. Six of One by Rita Mae Brown
2. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
5. One Hundred Years of Solitute by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I think I'm going to start Six of One as soon as I finish Frindle and a few library books I had waiting for me after the holidays.

Book Shopping

2007-12-31T16:03:00.001-08:00

So I did a little book shopping over the past few days while visiting my family for the holidays. It was my first time in Cover to Cover Books (I had a gift certificate to spend). I really enjoyed it. Great prices. The House on Mango Street was only $1.

Of course I had to hit Powell's while I was in the area. And despite getting ripped off in the parking garage, it was another wonderful experience. I grabbed a few young adult books to start off the Young Adult Challenge, and The View from Saturday because it's such a powerful book for middle readers.

I just don't know where to put them when I get back home. Bookshelf overload as it is.

A Long Way Down

2007-12-30T15:43:00.001-08:00

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

I couldn't have picked this novel up at a better time of year. A Long Way Down tells the story of four strangers who meet on a rooftop on New Year's Eve under distressing circumstances. Told from the alternating point of view of each character, their back stories unfold: a confused teenager, a has-been (never was?) musician, a tv talk show host fresh out of prison, and a middle-aged mother.

The interaction between the characters is the heart of the novel. And here comes in the dialogue that Hornby is known for. (Ever wonder why High Fidelity the film is at times word for word the novel? Because the writing is genius.) For a girl who will always enjoy good British slang, the exchanges between Jess and Martin, in particular, are bloodly brilliant...Sorry Maureen!

Reccomendation: A pleaser for Hornby fans and those to yet experience his delight as well.

Wigfield: The Can-Do Town that Just May Not

2007-12-29T21:40:00.000-08:00

Wigfield: The Can-Do Town that Just May Not by Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, & Stephen Colbert

I don't really know what to say about this book. I was looking for an easy humorous read for the holidays and stumbled across Wigfield. (Not sure how!) I was familiar with Amy Sedaris having read her book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. And of course I knew Stephen Colbert from the Colbert Report. Paul Dinello... I don't know much about him, but I can guess.

Basically, the book is the story of Wigfield, a small "town" in the shadow of a dam. It's told from both the perspective of journalist Russel Hokes and the townspeople themselves. The town is distraught over the government's proposal to tear down the dam and obliterate the town. What will the residents of Wigfield do?

It would be an understatement to say this book is crazy. I would honestly say it's out of control. Although it was a humorous read, the same effect could have been accomplished in half as many pages.

Recommendation: If you have time to spare, give it a try. If you're not into off-the-wall humor, stand back.

Young Adult Book Challenge (Revised)

2007-12-27T20:33:00.000-08:00

I've done some reworking of my list. I weeded out the young ones... but I am keeping a few that are borderline because I've seen them on other people's lists!

The List:
~~1. Misadventures of Maude Marche: Or Trouble Rides a Fast Horse by Audrey Couloumbis~~
1. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
~~2. Stumptown Kid by Carol Gorman~~
2. Slam by Nick Hornby
3. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
~~4. Chicken Boy by Frances Oroa Dowell~~
4. Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
~~5. Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata~~
5. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
6. Criss Cross by Lynn Rae Perkins
~~7. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron~~
7. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
8. Holes by Louis Sacher
9. ~~Frindle~~ by Andrew Clements
9. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
10. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
11. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
12. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I picked up Holes and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn over the past few days. Now I'm really excited to get started!

Young Adult Book Challenge

2007-12-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to join the Young Adult Book Challenge.

After taking a closer look and thinking over my list, I realized it's really more on the Juvenile Fiction side of things. Especially considering I created it based on Newbery Award winners and Young Reader's Choice nominees, (in addition to other books). But... I haven't come across an "Upper-Intermediate Grade Level Almost Young Adult Book Challenge" so hopefully no one protests. (And I really kinda like that it's 2/3 female authors.)

The List:
1. Misadventures of Maude Marche: Or Trouble Rides a Fast Horse by Audrey Couloumbis
2. Stumptown Kid by Carol Gorman
3. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
4. Chicken Boy by Frances Oroa Dowell
5. Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
6. Criss Cross by Lynn Rae Perkins
7. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
8. Holes by Louis Sacher
9. Frindle by Andrew Clements
10. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
11. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
12. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I can't wait to get started.

A Book Blog?

2007-12-24T10:53:00.001-08:00

Books. Books. Books.

I love books so much that often I feel overwhelmed. I walk into Powell's and feel joyful, excited, distracted, and often a sudden urge to pee. I know, inconvenient for one, overshare for two.

Recently, I rerouted my career path a bit. Instead of heading straight into the classroom for the next 40+ years... I'm heading into the classroom, back out for graduate school, and then into the library as a Media Specialist (Librarian!).

Generally, I keep long lists of the books I've read in random-ish places. This blog is a place to organize my reading. It will also serve as my "memory" for books. As my sister will verify, my memory is... lacking. Hopefully this blog will help me remember all the wonderful details of my favorite books... making it easier to recommend and discuss books with others.