Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Uh oh!
So it looks like I haven't read in over a month...I promise that's not the case. In fact, I have 4 reviews I need to write. Life has just gotten extremely busy. To come: Catching Fire (Book 2 of The Hunger Games), Sense and Sensibility, Sarah's Key, and Under The Tuscan Sun. Please don't give up on me!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Magicians
Have you ever been so excited to start reading a book, then the more you read it, you think, why is this happening, the author is ruining the story!?!? Welcome to The Magicians. With a Harry Potter meets the Chronicles of Narnia storyline, it has such a promising start but then chaos ensues.
The book is divided into four sections. Part 1 introduces us to Quentin, a teenager living in New York who is just not satisfied with his life. He loves his best friend's girl and constantly feels like a 3rd wheel. Everything changes when he magically transports to Brakebills College, a Hogwarts-like school where magic is taught. He takes his entrance exam, is accepted, and begins his magical training along with Penny and Alice. Along the way, he meets Eliot, Janet, and Josh, other students at the school. Unlike the Harry Potter books, Quentin's 4 year education is only the first half of this story.
Part 2: After graduation, Quentin and his now-girlfriend Alice move to New York where their other friends are living. They have no responsibility and drink away their days and nights. Fanatic fans of a children's series about travels to a land called Fillory (enter the Chronicles of Narnia connection), the whole group gets excited when Penny shows up with a way to travel there.
Part 3: What ensues is not for the light-hearted. The group travels to a land, only to find it in a time of uncertainty. The group assumes the task of finding the crowns of Fillory (for just as in Chronicles, only humans can rule the land). After being led by two guides to the hiding place of the crowns, the group faces many obstacles. A battle ensues (of course) and there are casualties.
Part 4: Once Quentin makes it back to New York, he swears off magic. He gets a job, tries to be a mature adult and do the right thing. At the very end, old friends turn up with the proposition of returning to Fillory.
I can't decide why I didn't like the book.
a) It might have been Quentin's constant effort to remain unhappy and depressed. When something goes wrong, he easily blames everyone else but himself. When he's unhappy, thinks something will make his life better, and receives it, he remains unhappy. It is frustrating to read about a character that doesn't take responsibility for his life or actions.
b) It might have been the fact that I still had questions remaining once the story was over. Some of the events are neatly wrapped up in a magic explanation which feels like a cop out in the plot. Some characters' outcomes are left in question.
c) It could have just been the lack of happy ending that I usually prefer to a story. The book did have closure, but also ended with a perfect set up for a sequel, or even a series, and I admit, I will be reading on (if possible) to see if some of my questions might be answered in the future.
If you like happy little stories rolled up in a neat package, this book is not for you. If you like intrigue, suspense, and some action (and don't mind the vulgarity of a teenage mind), then you will enjoy this story. Just accept that it is filled with teenage angst and real-world cynicism.
The book is divided into four sections. Part 1 introduces us to Quentin, a teenager living in New York who is just not satisfied with his life. He loves his best friend's girl and constantly feels like a 3rd wheel. Everything changes when he magically transports to Brakebills College, a Hogwarts-like school where magic is taught. He takes his entrance exam, is accepted, and begins his magical training along with Penny and Alice. Along the way, he meets Eliot, Janet, and Josh, other students at the school. Unlike the Harry Potter books, Quentin's 4 year education is only the first half of this story.
Part 2: After graduation, Quentin and his now-girlfriend Alice move to New York where their other friends are living. They have no responsibility and drink away their days and nights. Fanatic fans of a children's series about travels to a land called Fillory (enter the Chronicles of Narnia connection), the whole group gets excited when Penny shows up with a way to travel there.
Part 3: What ensues is not for the light-hearted. The group travels to a land, only to find it in a time of uncertainty. The group assumes the task of finding the crowns of Fillory (for just as in Chronicles, only humans can rule the land). After being led by two guides to the hiding place of the crowns, the group faces many obstacles. A battle ensues (of course) and there are casualties.
Part 4: Once Quentin makes it back to New York, he swears off magic. He gets a job, tries to be a mature adult and do the right thing. At the very end, old friends turn up with the proposition of returning to Fillory.
I can't decide why I didn't like the book.
a) It might have been Quentin's constant effort to remain unhappy and depressed. When something goes wrong, he easily blames everyone else but himself. When he's unhappy, thinks something will make his life better, and receives it, he remains unhappy. It is frustrating to read about a character that doesn't take responsibility for his life or actions.
b) It might have been the fact that I still had questions remaining once the story was over. Some of the events are neatly wrapped up in a magic explanation which feels like a cop out in the plot. Some characters' outcomes are left in question.
c) It could have just been the lack of happy ending that I usually prefer to a story. The book did have closure, but also ended with a perfect set up for a sequel, or even a series, and I admit, I will be reading on (if possible) to see if some of my questions might be answered in the future.
If you like happy little stories rolled up in a neat package, this book is not for you. If you like intrigue, suspense, and some action (and don't mind the vulgarity of a teenage mind), then you will enjoy this story. Just accept that it is filled with teenage angst and real-world cynicism.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
In Cold Blood
What I love most about reading is the ability to escape reality and be entertained for awhile. No matter what is wrong in the 'real world,' a good plot can make you forget all that for awhile. Every once in a while, a book doesn't fit into that category. The story is sad and poignant; it's moving but not lighthearted. Even less often, a story like that is true. Enter In Cold Blood. A true story, this novel by Truman Capote follows the murder of the Clutter family and the tracking, trial, and execution of the murderers. On November 15, 1959, Herby, Bonnie, and their two younger children, Nancy and Kenyon, were tied up and shot with a shot gun. Why? Dick and Perry thought they would find thousands of dollars in a safe in the study. They left the house with less than $50.
The novel is in four parts: 1. The Last to See Them Alive, 2. Persons Unknown, 3. Answer, and 4. The Corner. Part 1 sets the scene with wonderful description of the town of Holcomb, character profiles of the Clutter family and close friends, and a general idea of the way of life in a small town in the 1950's. Capote is talented at grabbing readers' attention right away and drawing them into the story. Several times in this first section, he makes comments like 'unaware that it would be his last [day].' Reading all of this, you can't help but be filled with a sense of dread as each chapter switches between the Clutter family's last day alive and the murderers preparing for their trip to Holcomb.
Part 2 follows Dick and Perry (the murderers)to Mexico after the fact and gives a more detailed glimpse into their childhoods. Due to a shortage of funds and the lower minimum wage in Mexico, they decide to return to the states. It amazes me the small things that happen that cause their capture. Would this case have ever been solved if Dick and Perry had stayed in Mexico? The KBI officers are also introduced, and it is revealed how little evidence they have to work with.
Part 3 follows Dick and Perry throughout the US as they travel around bored and looking for easy money. The KBI officers work really diligently to find them. Dick and Perry are finally captured in Las Vegas. It's not until this point that a true description of what happened 'that night' is given. It is truly disturbing what happened in the house. The first time I read this book, back in high school, I had to put the book down for a couple of days. The title of the book is incredibly appropriate when Perry and Dick each describe so matter-of-factly how they killed each family member.
Part 4 gives details of the trial and then Dick and Perry's time on death row before their execution. I think the saddest part is the last scene. While one of the KBI agents is at the execution (which didn't happen until April 1965, 5.5 years after the murders), he recalls a memory that had happened the year before at the cemetery in Holcomb. While visiting his father's grave, he stops by the Clutters' graves and sees Nancy's close friend, Susan. She is in college now and reveals that Nancy's boyfriend is now married. She has to run off, late for an appointment. It was this short scene that truly upset me. Nancy and Kenyon were completely robbed of these experiences: college, falling in love, marriage, a family of their own.
This was a wonderfully written book. Capote gives wonderful description of people and places. He presents a horrible crime in a very unbiased view. I don't think I could say that I love this book--it is truly a horribly story--but it is a great piece of literature that I would recommend to anyone.
Note: Eventually there will be additional blogs reviewing the two movies, Capote and Infamous.
The novel is in four parts: 1. The Last to See Them Alive, 2. Persons Unknown, 3. Answer, and 4. The Corner. Part 1 sets the scene with wonderful description of the town of Holcomb, character profiles of the Clutter family and close friends, and a general idea of the way of life in a small town in the 1950's. Capote is talented at grabbing readers' attention right away and drawing them into the story. Several times in this first section, he makes comments like 'unaware that it would be his last [day].' Reading all of this, you can't help but be filled with a sense of dread as each chapter switches between the Clutter family's last day alive and the murderers preparing for their trip to Holcomb.
Part 2 follows Dick and Perry (the murderers)to Mexico after the fact and gives a more detailed glimpse into their childhoods. Due to a shortage of funds and the lower minimum wage in Mexico, they decide to return to the states. It amazes me the small things that happen that cause their capture. Would this case have ever been solved if Dick and Perry had stayed in Mexico? The KBI officers are also introduced, and it is revealed how little evidence they have to work with.
Part 3 follows Dick and Perry throughout the US as they travel around bored and looking for easy money. The KBI officers work really diligently to find them. Dick and Perry are finally captured in Las Vegas. It's not until this point that a true description of what happened 'that night' is given. It is truly disturbing what happened in the house. The first time I read this book, back in high school, I had to put the book down for a couple of days. The title of the book is incredibly appropriate when Perry and Dick each describe so matter-of-factly how they killed each family member.
Part 4 gives details of the trial and then Dick and Perry's time on death row before their execution. I think the saddest part is the last scene. While one of the KBI agents is at the execution (which didn't happen until April 1965, 5.5 years after the murders), he recalls a memory that had happened the year before at the cemetery in Holcomb. While visiting his father's grave, he stops by the Clutters' graves and sees Nancy's close friend, Susan. She is in college now and reveals that Nancy's boyfriend is now married. She has to run off, late for an appointment. It was this short scene that truly upset me. Nancy and Kenyon were completely robbed of these experiences: college, falling in love, marriage, a family of their own.
This was a wonderfully written book. Capote gives wonderful description of people and places. He presents a horrible crime in a very unbiased view. I don't think I could say that I love this book--it is truly a horribly story--but it is a great piece of literature that I would recommend to anyone.
Note: Eventually there will be additional blogs reviewing the two movies, Capote and Infamous.
The Time Traveler's Wife part 2
I went to the movies tonight with some of the girls from book club A. Movies on a Tuesday? Oh yes!! The theater offers a 'stimulus package' of $1 popcorn and $1 drinks on Tuesdays. I think we'll start going more often. Anyway, we went to see The Time Traveler's Wife since we had just read the book and were really looking forward to seeing how they made such a different story into a movie. We were not disappointed. The movie jumped right in, showing an important part of Henry's life as a 6 year old and then switching in the next scene to a 28 year old Henry meeting Claire. Despite these early variations from the novel, the movie is mostly true to the story. Any changes are not major enough to disappoint fans of the book (compared to The Bourne Identity trilogy), and at the end of the movie, you get the same closure despite the slightly different ending. Don't worry, by slightly different, I just mean setting, not completely different story line!
I was thoroughly impressed with how well this book was transformed into a movie. A true book lover, I rarely like the movie more, but I have to admit, this was on par with how great the novel was. I'm so glad Hollywood was able to take a wonderful book and make a wonderful movie without giving it a 'Hollywood' ending or making completely unnecessary changes that affect the plot (again Bourne Trilogy, Angels and Demons, even New Moon of the Twilight series). These books are on best-seller lists for a reason, don't mess with a recipe that works!!! It was a truly enjoyable night out with the girls!
I was thoroughly impressed with how well this book was transformed into a movie. A true book lover, I rarely like the movie more, but I have to admit, this was on par with how great the novel was. I'm so glad Hollywood was able to take a wonderful book and make a wonderful movie without giving it a 'Hollywood' ending or making completely unnecessary changes that affect the plot (again Bourne Trilogy, Angels and Demons, even New Moon of the Twilight series). These books are on best-seller lists for a reason, don't mess with a recipe that works!!! It was a truly enjoyable night out with the girls!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Hunger Games
Sometimes, I have no self control and I stay up really late reading books. This used to occur a lot over the summer with some sort of romance novel (usually Nora Roberts). Last night (a 'work' night) it happened with a young adult book, The Hunger Games. It's your average story line where boy meets girl, boy likes girl, girl has no idea, and boy and girl get chosen to participate in a government organized fight to the death match with 22 other kids. Whoa! Seriously?
I got into bed at 11 thinking I would read a couple of chapters (for book club A) and go to sleep. Four and a half hours later, I'm finishing the book and wishing it were September 1st so I could buy the sequel, Catching Fire. The Hunger Games was a sweet surprise of a book (and is so popular, they are already in movie talks despite the fact that the second book has not been released yet). At first, I thought the writing style was somewhat juvenile, but I made myself get over that and fell into the plot. It moves surprisingly fast and you easily get caught up in the excitement of the games.
Katniss and her younger sister Primrose live in the 12th district of a futuristic America. There are 13 districts, each with a special product or talent. District 12 is a coal mining district. The thirteenth district was destroyed by the capital for organizing an uprising. Since then, the Hunger Games have occurred. Starting at age 12, every boy and girl puts their name in a drawing, increasing in amount each year till the age of 18 when the name goes in 7 times. The lottery is cumulative so the name is actually in there 28 times. A boy and a girl from each district are chosen to participate in a fight to the death to earn glory and prizes for his or her district. Similar to reality tv gone bad, the games are broadcast for every citizen to watch. The story begins with Prim's first lottery. Her name is chosen, but Katniss steps in for her and heads to the games with a boy named Peeta. The games that ensue are violent, scary, and surreal. Not to ruin the plot, but with two books following this one, it is obvious that our heroine Katniss lives through the games.
I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who needs a fast, easy, and fun read. Just be careful, it'll leave you begging for more!
I got into bed at 11 thinking I would read a couple of chapters (for book club A) and go to sleep. Four and a half hours later, I'm finishing the book and wishing it were September 1st so I could buy the sequel, Catching Fire. The Hunger Games was a sweet surprise of a book (and is so popular, they are already in movie talks despite the fact that the second book has not been released yet). At first, I thought the writing style was somewhat juvenile, but I made myself get over that and fell into the plot. It moves surprisingly fast and you easily get caught up in the excitement of the games.
Katniss and her younger sister Primrose live in the 12th district of a futuristic America. There are 13 districts, each with a special product or talent. District 12 is a coal mining district. The thirteenth district was destroyed by the capital for organizing an uprising. Since then, the Hunger Games have occurred. Starting at age 12, every boy and girl puts their name in a drawing, increasing in amount each year till the age of 18 when the name goes in 7 times. The lottery is cumulative so the name is actually in there 28 times. A boy and a girl from each district are chosen to participate in a fight to the death to earn glory and prizes for his or her district. Similar to reality tv gone bad, the games are broadcast for every citizen to watch. The story begins with Prim's first lottery. Her name is chosen, but Katniss steps in for her and heads to the games with a boy named Peeta. The games that ensue are violent, scary, and surreal. Not to ruin the plot, but with two books following this one, it is obvious that our heroine Katniss lives through the games.
I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who needs a fast, easy, and fun read. Just be careful, it'll leave you begging for more!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Time Traveler's Wife
I have a confession. I am in three book clubs. Yes, three! It all started out when I learned I was staying in Winston-Salem after a 6 month training program. I had hoped to move to Charleston (SC) where my fiance is in med school, but the fates were against me, so in WS I stayed. Some of the guys I work with were also staying in WS, and they let me know about a book club their wives had started. So now I was in book club A. Maybe a month later, some of the girls I know from the training program approached me about their book club. I thought, what the heck!? I'm in a town where I may know 10 people tops...this is a great way to have a social life since the fiance is 4.5 hours away. Now I'm in book club B. The last book club is my favorite (sorry A and B!). There is a kitchen store/catering business not five minutes from my home. The owner's father is a pretty famous chef. Chef Don McMillan has cooked for several famous people (Maya Angelou, Oprah, Julia Child to name a few) and now teaches classes at The Stocked Pot. One of the series of classes is a book club where he chooses a book that has some aspect of cooking in it and then plans a menu for a class around the book. So now I am in book club C.
Wow, to make a short story long, I read The Time Traveler's Wife for book club A. I had seen the preview for the movie at the theater and fell in love. I was really pleased when book club A decided to read the book for the month of August (as well as The Hunger Games, but that will be a later post). The book did not disappoint. I was fairly confused the first couple of chapters, but I eventually got into the plot and fell in love with the characters. I am anxious to see how they are portrayed on the big screen. I had minor issues keeping up with the time travel issues; for example Henry at 40 something will visit child Clare so then in their 20's she'll know something about him that hasn't happened yet. Anyway, it's trivial when you consider the story is about their life together. It's a very moving story, and despite some slightly vulgar phrases (not that I'm a prude), I would recommend this book to EVERYONE!!! I only hope the rest of A enjoyed is like I did. I'll find out next Thursday.
9/1/09
I've decided, looking back on this post, that I need to do more summarizing of the book reviews, so here is my feeble attempt:
Henry is a time-traveler (hence the title). He meets Clare at the age of 28 (she's 20) in the library where he works. She knows who he is because when he is older, he visits her in the meadow near her childhood home throughout her childhood. They eventually get married and Clare struggles with the seemingly constant absence of her husband. They struggle to have a baby and experience continuous miscarriages due to the baby traveling out of the womb. Eventually, Henry figures out how he dies, and it's just a countdown till that day. The bittersweet part of it is that sometimes he travels outside his lifetime and spends time with Alba. He also sees Clare again as an older woman.
Trouble I had with the story:
1. Would they really have ended up together? She only talks to him at the library because he visited her later in his life when she was a child. He only visits her as a child because she's in his adult life. Circular logic?
2. Clare only gets 15 true years with Henry, and he even disappears during that time. Is 15 years enough after waiting her whole childhood and then having the rest of your life to live without him!? Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? Or: Ignorance is bliss?
Things I loved about the book:
1. Henry still gets to spend time with Alba and see her grow up through traveling.
2. Clare's absolute faith and love of Henry perseveres even through the hard times and knowing his end comes too soon.
3. Clare trying to house-hunt and Henry turning them all down until he finds the one he's already seen from time-traveling. I wish I could find a house that way!
Wow, to make a short story long, I read The Time Traveler's Wife for book club A. I had seen the preview for the movie at the theater and fell in love. I was really pleased when book club A decided to read the book for the month of August (as well as The Hunger Games, but that will be a later post). The book did not disappoint. I was fairly confused the first couple of chapters, but I eventually got into the plot and fell in love with the characters. I am anxious to see how they are portrayed on the big screen. I had minor issues keeping up with the time travel issues; for example Henry at 40 something will visit child Clare so then in their 20's she'll know something about him that hasn't happened yet. Anyway, it's trivial when you consider the story is about their life together. It's a very moving story, and despite some slightly vulgar phrases (not that I'm a prude), I would recommend this book to EVERYONE!!! I only hope the rest of A enjoyed is like I did. I'll find out next Thursday.
9/1/09
I've decided, looking back on this post, that I need to do more summarizing of the book reviews, so here is my feeble attempt:
Henry is a time-traveler (hence the title). He meets Clare at the age of 28 (she's 20) in the library where he works. She knows who he is because when he is older, he visits her in the meadow near her childhood home throughout her childhood. They eventually get married and Clare struggles with the seemingly constant absence of her husband. They struggle to have a baby and experience continuous miscarriages due to the baby traveling out of the womb. Eventually, Henry figures out how he dies, and it's just a countdown till that day. The bittersweet part of it is that sometimes he travels outside his lifetime and spends time with Alba. He also sees Clare again as an older woman.
Trouble I had with the story:
1. Would they really have ended up together? She only talks to him at the library because he visited her later in his life when she was a child. He only visits her as a child because she's in his adult life. Circular logic?
2. Clare only gets 15 true years with Henry, and he even disappears during that time. Is 15 years enough after waiting her whole childhood and then having the rest of your life to live without him!? Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? Or: Ignorance is bliss?
Things I loved about the book:
1. Henry still gets to spend time with Alba and see her grow up through traveling.
2. Clare's absolute faith and love of Henry perseveres even through the hard times and knowing his end comes too soon.
3. Clare trying to house-hunt and Henry turning them all down until he finds the one he's already seen from time-traveling. I wish I could find a house that way!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Prologue
Where to begin.... It was the best of times and it was the worst of times...no, that won't work. It is a truth universally acknowledged...nope. Ok, seriously...I had the idea to create a blog like this after reading/seeing Julie and Julia. No offense to Julie, I wasn't wild about the book, but I absolutely ADORED the movie. This is mainly because I adore both Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. Anyway, not the point. I thought it was so cool that Julie was able to take something she cared about and become crazy famous from it, not that that's my goal with this, because honestly, who would want to watch a movie about reading books, but now I'm getting ahead of myself. Julie wanted to make something of herself and used her love of cooking to do it. I want to share a part of myself, and because I'm no great cook, I decided to share my love of reading.
I have always loved to read. My mom never had to force me to read as a child. In fact, the title of the blog is inspired from a bookmark I had as a kid with Longfellow's quote: "The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,and all the sweet serenity of books." I've always looked at reading that way, as a way to escape the world with a good story.
So now, I want to share with the world, or that small handful of friends who will read this blog because they love me, the books I read. I hope to share a book a week that I've read. This shouldn't be too hard since I'm in two book clubs and attend a really neat cooking/class book club every once in a while. I'd also like your opinions on books and possible suggestions for future reads.
So in the infamous words of LeVar Burton..."I'll see you next time."
(Reading Rainbow people!!!!)
I have always loved to read. My mom never had to force me to read as a child. In fact, the title of the blog is inspired from a bookmark I had as a kid with Longfellow's quote: "The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,and all the sweet serenity of books." I've always looked at reading that way, as a way to escape the world with a good story.
So now, I want to share with the world, or that small handful of friends who will read this blog because they love me, the books I read. I hope to share a book a week that I've read. This shouldn't be too hard since I'm in two book clubs and attend a really neat cooking/class book club every once in a while. I'd also like your opinions on books and possible suggestions for future reads.
So in the infamous words of LeVar Burton..."I'll see you next time."
(Reading Rainbow people!!!!)
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