The Other Hand / Little Bee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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