Saturday, March 01, 2008
2007 Reflections on the Year's Reading
Saturday, December 29, 2007
2007 is almost over. I've looked over my reviews for the past year; and I've read a lot of really good books and a number of not-so-good books. 109 total books!! It's understandable that I accomplished nothing this past year with my nose in a book so often. This was the year of book mooching and paperback swapping. I've mooched about 75 books and given away about that many. So I really didn't gain much additional space on the shelves. I've also finished 17 challenges. That seems almost unbelievable to me until I saw that I have already joined 8 challenges for 2008 and am continuing to work on my personal Book Around the States Challenge. I only read seven States books this past year; but if I finish all the books I have listed for other challenges, I'll read another fifteen. My reading included a splendid diversity ranging from non-fiction to fantasy, mysteries to westerns, and don't forget the classics. I read my first vampire book, first science fiction and first western. Here is a list of the books I rated a five for my own personal and very subjective reasons:
*******************************************************************************************************
Far and away, the best book I read this year: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
*******************************************************************************************************
Other 5's:
Trinity by Leon Uris
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Louis Albert Urrea
Zazoo by Richard Mosher
Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
Random Harvest by James Hilton
The Quiet Heart by Patricia Holland
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audry Niffenegger
More Than You Know by Beth Gutcheon
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brinks
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
The Boxmaker's Son by Donald Smurthwaite
East by Edith Pattou
English Creek by Ivan Doig
The Story Girl by L M Montgomery
Bridge to Terabithia by Kate Patterson
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Other great books that were not quite five's:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
Path Between the Seas by David McCullough
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
River Secrets by Shannon Hale
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Scarlett Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Posted by Framed at 12:45 PM
14 comments:
Nymeth said...
wow, 17 challenges! That's a lot!
I keep seeing people listing The Book Thief as their favourite... it makes me really excited about reading it!
12/29/2007 1:21 PM
BookGal said...
The Book Thief seems to be on everyone's list. I need to see what it's all about. I'm awed at the number of challenges you completed!
12/29/2007 1:31 PM
Marg said...
I've enjoyed a couple of the books on your list as well. The Book Thief and The Hummingbird's Daughter and The Time Travellers Wife.
12/29/2007 1:49 PM
Charley said...
I Am the Messenger is one of my Top 5 books of the year. I can't wait to read The Book Thief.
12/29/2007 8:34 PM
Tristi Pinkston said...
I just copied and pasted this whole blog onto my TBR list. Thanks for the recommendations! I did read Stardust and didn't enjoy it (the romp in the grass sorta threw me off) but I'm looking forward to the rest of them.
12/29/2007 11:52 PM
Literary Feline said...
I hope to read The Book Thief this next year. I committed myself to reading War and Peace January through April and so my plan to read The Book Thief the beginning of this year has fallen a bit by the wayside. You never know though!
You fit in a lot of books this year! And many good ones! I hope your reading this next year is even more worthwhile and fun!
12/30/2007 1:45 PM
Les said...
The Book Thief was my #1 read a couple of years ago. Glad you enjoyed it so well. Let's see, of the others you rated highly, I've read:
Ender's Game (liked), The Time Traveler's Wife (loved), and More Than You Know (don't remember much). I plan to read I am the Messenger and Stardust in 2008.
I read about half the number of books as you, but my numbers are way down this year, thanks to my wonderful job that cuts into my reading time! And, I only had one perfect 5/5. I'll get my list up later this week.
12/30/2007 4:00 PM
Booklogged said...
What a good reading year - so many good books.
12/30/2007 7:30 PM
Wendy said...
I am so with you on The Book Thief. It is on the top of my list this year too - and actually, it makes the top of my all-time favorites. What an amazing book.
I printed your list of 5's and almost 5's. I think you and I pretty much like the same stuff :)
12/31/2007 12:03 PM
gautami tripathy said...
I plan to read the Book Thief this year. I am impressed by your list!
Have a great reading year 2008!
1/01/2008 3:07 AM
Framed said...
For those of you who haven't read The Book Thief, enjoy, it's so wonderful.
About the challenges, I read someone's blog who did 31. WOW!
Tristi, if the romp in the grass was too much, avoid The Time Travelers Wife. It's very explicit. Too bad because it is so well-written and creative.
1/01/2008 10:12 AM
Andrea said...
The Book Thief is on my TBR challenge list! I also enjoyed The Time Travler's Wife. I see you have a lot of books by Shannon Hale, is she a YA author? Somehow her name seems familiar but I haven't read any of these books. I've written down the titles you have listed here to look up at the library later.
1/04/2008 12:42 PM
Maw Books said...
I also loved The Book Thief! It's sitting right here on my desk as I'm right in the middle of typing up a review that I hope to have up sometime this weekend. I borrowed it from the library, but now I think I must buy it to put in my library!
Thanks for the great list. I love lists!
1/19/2008 3:02 PM
Terri B. said...
I absolutely LOVED East by Edith Patou. I didn't realize at the time how much I liked it until months later I'm still thinking about it!
I really like Shannon Hale's YA books too and I can't wait to read Good Omens by T. Pratchett and N. Gaiman.
Love your list of reads.
2007 is almost over. I've looked over my reviews for the past year; and I've read a lot of really good books and a number of not-so-good books. 109 total books!! It's understandable that I accomplished nothing this past year with my nose in a book so often. This was the year of book mooching and paperback swapping. I've mooched about 75 books and given away about that many. So I really didn't gain much additional space on the shelves. I've also finished 17 challenges. That seems almost unbelievable to me until I saw that I have already joined 8 challenges for 2008 and am continuing to work on my personal Book Around the States Challenge. I only read seven States books this past year; but if I finish all the books I have listed for other challenges, I'll read another fifteen. My reading included a splendid diversity ranging from non-fiction to fantasy, mysteries to westerns, and don't forget the classics. I read my first vampire book, first science fiction and first western. Here is a list of the books I rated a five for my own personal and very subjective reasons:
*******************************************************************************************************
Far and away, the best book I read this year: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
*******************************************************************************************************
Other 5's:
Trinity by Leon Uris
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Louis Albert Urrea
Zazoo by Richard Mosher
Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
Random Harvest by James Hilton
The Quiet Heart by Patricia Holland
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audry Niffenegger
More Than You Know by Beth Gutcheon
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brinks
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
The Boxmaker's Son by Donald Smurthwaite
East by Edith Pattou
English Creek by Ivan Doig
The Story Girl by L M Montgomery
Bridge to Terabithia by Kate Patterson
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Other great books that were not quite five's:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
Path Between the Seas by David McCullough
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
River Secrets by Shannon Hale
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Scarlett Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Posted by Framed at 12:45 PM
14 comments:
Nymeth said...
wow, 17 challenges! That's a lot!
I keep seeing people listing The Book Thief as their favourite... it makes me really excited about reading it!
12/29/2007 1:21 PM
BookGal said...
The Book Thief seems to be on everyone's list. I need to see what it's all about. I'm awed at the number of challenges you completed!
12/29/2007 1:31 PM
Marg said...
I've enjoyed a couple of the books on your list as well. The Book Thief and The Hummingbird's Daughter and The Time Travellers Wife.
12/29/2007 1:49 PM
Charley said...
I Am the Messenger is one of my Top 5 books of the year. I can't wait to read The Book Thief.
12/29/2007 8:34 PM
Tristi Pinkston said...
I just copied and pasted this whole blog onto my TBR list. Thanks for the recommendations! I did read Stardust and didn't enjoy it (the romp in the grass sorta threw me off) but I'm looking forward to the rest of them.
12/29/2007 11:52 PM
Literary Feline said...
I hope to read The Book Thief this next year. I committed myself to reading War and Peace January through April and so my plan to read The Book Thief the beginning of this year has fallen a bit by the wayside. You never know though!
You fit in a lot of books this year! And many good ones! I hope your reading this next year is even more worthwhile and fun!
12/30/2007 1:45 PM
Les said...
The Book Thief was my #1 read a couple of years ago. Glad you enjoyed it so well. Let's see, of the others you rated highly, I've read:
Ender's Game (liked), The Time Traveler's Wife (loved), and More Than You Know (don't remember much). I plan to read I am the Messenger and Stardust in 2008.
I read about half the number of books as you, but my numbers are way down this year, thanks to my wonderful job that cuts into my reading time! And, I only had one perfect 5/5. I'll get my list up later this week.
12/30/2007 4:00 PM
Booklogged said...
What a good reading year - so many good books.
12/30/2007 7:30 PM
Wendy said...
I am so with you on The Book Thief. It is on the top of my list this year too - and actually, it makes the top of my all-time favorites. What an amazing book.
I printed your list of 5's and almost 5's. I think you and I pretty much like the same stuff :)
12/31/2007 12:03 PM
gautami tripathy said...
I plan to read the Book Thief this year. I am impressed by your list!
Have a great reading year 2008!
1/01/2008 3:07 AM
Framed said...
For those of you who haven't read The Book Thief, enjoy, it's so wonderful.
About the challenges, I read someone's blog who did 31. WOW!
Tristi, if the romp in the grass was too much, avoid The Time Travelers Wife. It's very explicit. Too bad because it is so well-written and creative.
1/01/2008 10:12 AM
Andrea said...
The Book Thief is on my TBR challenge list! I also enjoyed The Time Travler's Wife. I see you have a lot of books by Shannon Hale, is she a YA author? Somehow her name seems familiar but I haven't read any of these books. I've written down the titles you have listed here to look up at the library later.
1/04/2008 12:42 PM
Maw Books said...
I also loved The Book Thief! It's sitting right here on my desk as I'm right in the middle of typing up a review that I hope to have up sometime this weekend. I borrowed it from the library, but now I think I must buy it to put in my library!
Thanks for the great list. I love lists!
1/19/2008 3:02 PM
Terri B. said...
I absolutely LOVED East by Edith Patou. I didn't realize at the time how much I liked it until months later I'm still thinking about it!
I really like Shannon Hale's YA books too and I can't wait to read Good Omens by T. Pratchett and N. Gaiman.
Love your list of reads.
Birds in Fall by Brad Kessler
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Canadian Book Challenge: Nova Scotia
This book begins with Russell, an ornithologist, telling about his flight from New York to Holland when something goes seriously wrong. In that first chapter, you get a slight introduction to several of the ill-fated passengers on the plane. The next chapter, we meet Kevin, an innkeeper on Trachie Island who sees the plane as it hits the water. Kevin and his partner, Douglas, gear up for the newly arriving guests, friends and family of the victims. The main character from this point is Ana, Russell's wife, and a fellow ornithologist. From that first gripping chapter, through the arrival of the grieving families, to five years later, we are taken on a journey through grief, acceptance, and moving on. Along the trip, Kessler weaves in facts about the migratory habits of the birds who pass over the island each spring and fall. Even though the subject matter is incredibly sad, Kessler maintains a matter-of-fact level that keeps the novel from becoming too maudlin. The characters are easy to identify with and their situations and manner of dealing with their losses make sense and are never over the top. And the bird facts are fascinating and a lyrical addition to this beautiful novel. I love this particular quote:
"How is a story like a bird? It keeps us aloft. It flies. It goes from one place and lands at another, seemingly at random. But its movements are carefully choreographed, and if you look closely, you'll know exactly where it will next perch."
I truly enjoyed Kessler's style of writing and look forward to reading other books he has written.
Rating: 4.5
Posted by Framed at 11:11 PM
4 comments:
John Mutford said...
Though I haven't read it, Edward Riche's Rare Birds, set in Newfoundland, also intertwines bird trivia into the story. Sounds good.
12/26/2007 7:13 AM
Literary Feline said...
I read another blogger review of this book not too long ago. It does sound like a worthwhile read. Thank you for the great review!
12/26/2007 10:12 AM
Booklogged said...
Very nice review. I liked this book, too.
12/30/2007 7:04 PM
Crafty Green Poet said...
this sounds like a book I need to read, I love reading about birds, especially when they're woven well into a story
Canadian Book Challenge: Nova Scotia
This book begins with Russell, an ornithologist, telling about his flight from New York to Holland when something goes seriously wrong. In that first chapter, you get a slight introduction to several of the ill-fated passengers on the plane. The next chapter, we meet Kevin, an innkeeper on Trachie Island who sees the plane as it hits the water. Kevin and his partner, Douglas, gear up for the newly arriving guests, friends and family of the victims. The main character from this point is Ana, Russell's wife, and a fellow ornithologist. From that first gripping chapter, through the arrival of the grieving families, to five years later, we are taken on a journey through grief, acceptance, and moving on. Along the trip, Kessler weaves in facts about the migratory habits of the birds who pass over the island each spring and fall. Even though the subject matter is incredibly sad, Kessler maintains a matter-of-fact level that keeps the novel from becoming too maudlin. The characters are easy to identify with and their situations and manner of dealing with their losses make sense and are never over the top. And the bird facts are fascinating and a lyrical addition to this beautiful novel. I love this particular quote:
"How is a story like a bird? It keeps us aloft. It flies. It goes from one place and lands at another, seemingly at random. But its movements are carefully choreographed, and if you look closely, you'll know exactly where it will next perch."
I truly enjoyed Kessler's style of writing and look forward to reading other books he has written.
Rating: 4.5
Posted by Framed at 11:11 PM
4 comments:
John Mutford said...
Though I haven't read it, Edward Riche's Rare Birds, set in Newfoundland, also intertwines bird trivia into the story. Sounds good.
12/26/2007 7:13 AM
Literary Feline said...
I read another blogger review of this book not too long ago. It does sound like a worthwhile read. Thank you for the great review!
12/26/2007 10:12 AM
Booklogged said...
Very nice review. I liked this book, too.
12/30/2007 7:04 PM
Crafty Green Poet said...
this sounds like a book I need to read, I love reading about birds, especially when they're woven well into a story
The White Dawn by James Houston
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Challenge - Canadian Book Challenge - Nunavat
This book takes place on Baffin Island in 1896. While the Eskimos have heard of the men from the south with light skin, they have never seen one. Into their orderly village lives come three such men who were swept overboard and managed to reach the island. Two men are light-skinned, the other black, but their appearance into the village of twenty or so Eskimos, manages to change things immensely. The story is told by a young, crippled man who lives on the outskirts of village life because of his disability. While telling how the three strangers are taken in and cared for, Avinga also shares many details of how the Eskimos lived and how their society functioned. Houston also made small sketches of utensils and snow houses throughout the book. Even though this is a novel, the facts about the people are historically correct and absolutely fascinating. It's quite humorous when Avinga discusses the white men's (dog children) strange customs because they seem so normal to me. What the story eventually comes to share is how a society which worked so well for these people becomes corrupted by the influence of the outsiders. My main advice for anyone planning to read this book is to do it in the summer. I really struggled with page after page of blowing, blinding snow and frigid temperatures while I'm suffering with the cold from hell in frosty Vernal, UT. I know I've got it easy. Thank heavens for my furnace, soft bed and down comforter. No dark, musty snow house warmed only by a seal-oil lamps and sleeping on a snow shelf wrapped in caribou skins for me. Not to mention the bathroom facilities. Ycch.
Rating: 3.75
Posted by Framed at 7:56 PM
3 comments:
Susan Helene Gottfried said...
I read this a few years ago and simply loved it. What a great book! Glad to see you've discovered it, too.
12/22/2007 1:32 PM
John Mutford said...
I recently read his Whiteout and just about despised it. Perhaps White Dawn is much better, but I'll have to take your word on it.
12/23/2007 3:02 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds like summer would definitely be a better time to read this chilly tale.
Challenge - Canadian Book Challenge - Nunavat
This book takes place on Baffin Island in 1896. While the Eskimos have heard of the men from the south with light skin, they have never seen one. Into their orderly village lives come three such men who were swept overboard and managed to reach the island. Two men are light-skinned, the other black, but their appearance into the village of twenty or so Eskimos, manages to change things immensely. The story is told by a young, crippled man who lives on the outskirts of village life because of his disability. While telling how the three strangers are taken in and cared for, Avinga also shares many details of how the Eskimos lived and how their society functioned. Houston also made small sketches of utensils and snow houses throughout the book. Even though this is a novel, the facts about the people are historically correct and absolutely fascinating. It's quite humorous when Avinga discusses the white men's (dog children) strange customs because they seem so normal to me. What the story eventually comes to share is how a society which worked so well for these people becomes corrupted by the influence of the outsiders. My main advice for anyone planning to read this book is to do it in the summer. I really struggled with page after page of blowing, blinding snow and frigid temperatures while I'm suffering with the cold from hell in frosty Vernal, UT. I know I've got it easy. Thank heavens for my furnace, soft bed and down comforter. No dark, musty snow house warmed only by a seal-oil lamps and sleeping on a snow shelf wrapped in caribou skins for me. Not to mention the bathroom facilities. Ycch.
Rating: 3.75
Posted by Framed at 7:56 PM
3 comments:
Susan Helene Gottfried said...
I read this a few years ago and simply loved it. What a great book! Glad to see you've discovered it, too.
12/22/2007 1:32 PM
John Mutford said...
I recently read his Whiteout and just about despised it. Perhaps White Dawn is much better, but I'll have to take your word on it.
12/23/2007 3:02 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds like summer would definitely be a better time to read this chilly tale.
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Canadian Book Challenge - Ontario
This book is set in Northern Ontario in a very small farming community. Kate Morrison lives on a small farm with her parents, much older brothers, Luke and Matt, and her baby sister, Bo. The family seems fairly normal if a touch bit reserved and undemonstrative. Then tragedy strikes. As the narrator, Kate tells the story of her youth interspersed with the present. It's interesting because you can see a direct correlation between what happened when she was seven and how it affects her twenty years later. "Crow Lake" is beautifully written, never melodramatic, but emotional. There is humor mixed in to many sad moments and a wealth of wonderful characters. I loved the description of Mrs. Stanovich, the large-bosomed neighbor who likes to hug the reticent Kate, and who cries at the drop of a hat. The novel really illustrates how misunderstandings can become overblown, how we can resent those who gives us the most, and mostly the importance of family love.
Rating: 4.25
Posted by Framed at 9:51 PM
9 comments:
John Mutford said...
Wow, this book has almost become an official selection of the Canadian Book Challenge. I think you captured a lot of the appeal when you wrote "never melodramatic, but emotional." Not an easy task, but I agree she pulled it off. Any plans on reading Other Side of the Bridge now?
12/15/2007 10:16 PM
gautami tripathy said...
Thanks to you, I got to read this book. I am very glad I did. I even passed it around to few of my friends.You summed it up so well!rootedreading room
12/16/2007 7:01 AM
Joy said...
Hi Framed! I'm glad you enjoyed this one, too. I'm picking up The Other Side of the Bridge very soon.
12/16/2007 8:00 AM
Lauren said...
I loved this book!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it too! :)
12/16/2007 10:05 PM
Stephanie said...
Nice review!! I have this on my list for the Canadian Challenge as well. Man, I really need to get to work on this one!!
12/18/2007 5:56 AM
Les said...
I've read both this and The Other Side of the Bridge. This was the better of the two, but I did enjoy both. I thought the humor Bo provided helped keep this from being too terribly depressing, didn't you? I look forward to her next novel. Let's hope it's soon!
12/18/2007 5:55 PM
adam said...
Hello I just entered before I have to leave to the airport, it's been very nice to meet you, if you want here is the site I told you about where I type some stuff and make good money (I work from home): here it is
12/19/2007 1:29 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds good. Are you mooching this book off? If not, can I borrow it?
12/30/2007 7:15 PM
Framed said...
Booklogged, I was planning to mooch it but you can borrow it first.
Canadian Book Challenge - Ontario
This book is set in Northern Ontario in a very small farming community. Kate Morrison lives on a small farm with her parents, much older brothers, Luke and Matt, and her baby sister, Bo. The family seems fairly normal if a touch bit reserved and undemonstrative. Then tragedy strikes. As the narrator, Kate tells the story of her youth interspersed with the present. It's interesting because you can see a direct correlation between what happened when she was seven and how it affects her twenty years later. "Crow Lake" is beautifully written, never melodramatic, but emotional. There is humor mixed in to many sad moments and a wealth of wonderful characters. I loved the description of Mrs. Stanovich, the large-bosomed neighbor who likes to hug the reticent Kate, and who cries at the drop of a hat. The novel really illustrates how misunderstandings can become overblown, how we can resent those who gives us the most, and mostly the importance of family love.
Rating: 4.25
Posted by Framed at 9:51 PM
9 comments:
John Mutford said...
Wow, this book has almost become an official selection of the Canadian Book Challenge. I think you captured a lot of the appeal when you wrote "never melodramatic, but emotional." Not an easy task, but I agree she pulled it off. Any plans on reading Other Side of the Bridge now?
12/15/2007 10:16 PM
gautami tripathy said...
Thanks to you, I got to read this book. I am very glad I did. I even passed it around to few of my friends.You summed it up so well!rootedreading room
12/16/2007 7:01 AM
Joy said...
Hi Framed! I'm glad you enjoyed this one, too. I'm picking up The Other Side of the Bridge very soon.
12/16/2007 8:00 AM
Lauren said...
I loved this book!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it too! :)
12/16/2007 10:05 PM
Stephanie said...
Nice review!! I have this on my list for the Canadian Challenge as well. Man, I really need to get to work on this one!!
12/18/2007 5:56 AM
Les said...
I've read both this and The Other Side of the Bridge. This was the better of the two, but I did enjoy both. I thought the humor Bo provided helped keep this from being too terribly depressing, didn't you? I look forward to her next novel. Let's hope it's soon!
12/18/2007 5:55 PM
adam said...
Hello I just entered before I have to leave to the airport, it's been very nice to meet you, if you want here is the site I told you about where I type some stuff and make good money (I work from home): here it is
12/19/2007 1:29 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds good. Are you mooching this book off? If not, can I borrow it?
12/30/2007 7:15 PM
Framed said...
Booklogged, I was planning to mooch it but you can borrow it first.
The Shepherd, The Angel and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Challenge: Christmas Theme Books
Our narrator, Doug, is a twelve or thirteen-year-old telling about his life in 1960, with special emphasis on the Episcopal Christmas pageant that year. The story is a wonderful one for those who wax nostalgic for a simpler time. And because the writing is very basic, it's also a great book to read your children at Christmas time. At first, I found Barry's style a bit boring as it was obviously geared toward a much younger audience; but as the story progresses, I became caught up in the humor of adolescent boys' antics and the love of a dog. The story contains tender moments and tearful moments, and a hilarious finale at the pageant.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 9:20 PM
2 comments:
Debi said...
Hello!I'm stopping by to let you know that I've set up a separate blog for the What's in a Name? challenge. I hope you'll be able to stop by once in while to see what contests are going on and to leave links to any reviews you write. Thanks again for joining!--Annie
12/13/2007 10:29 AM
Bookfool said...
Dave Barry's style is kind of nerdy, elbow-in-the-ribs humor. I think that's what I like about him. You don't have to do a whole lot of thinking and you get some great laughs.
Challenge: Christmas Theme Books
Our narrator, Doug, is a twelve or thirteen-year-old telling about his life in 1960, with special emphasis on the Episcopal Christmas pageant that year. The story is a wonderful one for those who wax nostalgic for a simpler time. And because the writing is very basic, it's also a great book to read your children at Christmas time. At first, I found Barry's style a bit boring as it was obviously geared toward a much younger audience; but as the story progresses, I became caught up in the humor of adolescent boys' antics and the love of a dog. The story contains tender moments and tearful moments, and a hilarious finale at the pageant.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 9:20 PM
2 comments:
Debi said...
Hello!I'm stopping by to let you know that I've set up a separate blog for the What's in a Name? challenge. I hope you'll be able to stop by once in while to see what contests are going on and to leave links to any reviews you write. Thanks again for joining!--Annie
12/13/2007 10:29 AM
Bookfool said...
Dave Barry's style is kind of nerdy, elbow-in-the-ribs humor. I think that's what I like about him. You don't have to do a whole lot of thinking and you get some great laughs.
Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast Pillow Book by Bill Richardson
Monday, December 10, 2007
Canadian Book Challenge: Manitoba
This hilarious book is the the third in a series about twin brothers living on a island, who turn their home into a bed and breakfast for readers. Sounds appealing, doesn't it? Don't ask me why I started with No. 3, but I fully intend on reading the other two as soon as I can get my hands on them. The brothers, Virgil and Hector, are over fifty and wonderfully eccentric. Actually, all the characters in this delightful novel are, well, characters. There's Hector's girlfriend, Altona, who paints his toenails while he sleeps; Caedmon Harker, the handyman; Mrs. Rochester, the parrot who has a fitting quote or scripture for every situation; as well as neighbors, past patrons who write letters, and interesting pets. Then there are the quotes from a local deceased author's book, "Hygiene for Boys." Don't read this poem if the subject of zits makes you queasy:
When you find a pimple, lads,
You mustn't make a fuss,
Although I know you're eager, boys,
To see that gush of pus.
Leave the nasty welt alone--
Don't give the thing a squeeze.
And if temptation proves too great,
Then wipe the mirror, please.
So I was totally grossed out, but rolling on the floor laughing. Along with the chuckles and guffaws, I enjoyed Richardson's style of writing. He uses such a wonderful variety of words, words that I knew and understood, but don't come across very often. I wish I had such a awesome command of the language. Here are some passages of the many that I particularly responded to:
From the chapter: Hector's books for bathroom browsing ----- "There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't seek to enliven the time we spend attending to the baser dictates of biology. Nor is there any reason why we shouldn't feed, or a least tickle, the mind while we disabuse ourselves of the slag for which the body has no further use. A good bathroom book (as opposed to a good bathtub book, which is something else altogether) should be provocative, enduring, entertaining, educational, and sufficiently pithy that it can be absorbed in brief spurts. It should be easy to put down and inviting to come back to, but not so enthralling that it keeps the reader enthroned for hours at a stretch, mindless of the queue that might be forming outside the door."
Virgil's rant about the world's move away from sentimentaility: "When did "sentimental" become a perjorative barb? I do not at all share the notion that a piece of music, or a poem, or a film that bypasses the brain and aims straight for the heart, and canvasses for an emotional rather than an intellectual response, should automatically be heaped with scorn. I think it is symptomatic of a sad and dangerous impoverishment of spirit."
After many years, Hector conquers the hula hoop: On this frabjous day I won an unexpected victory and made the wounded welkin ring with raucous cries of praise and thanksgiving. Glory be! Hallelujah! Laud creation! Hot damn! Given that no historian will consider my accomplishment worthy of attention, and as I am certain it will rate not even a footnote in the eventual annals of these, our perilous times, I will set down the news here. Perhaps some future curiousity seeker will read it and be coaxed haltingly to the understanding that the thunderous, flesh-tearing, terrain-sundering doings of the generals and industrialists are not what power the turning of the planet, but rather the dull, quotidian and largely overlooked progressions of ordinary pilgrims."
Along with these marvelous passage are some great chapters that I must mention: A letter from a former guest who tells of the bittersweet experience of visiting his childhood home to find his parents have changed everything; Virgil's books for baby Matirna's first five years; the letter from a woman whose bookclub had recently visited the B & B; and Hector's chapter, "A dishwasher is a wonderful thing." BBBPB was such a fun book to read, with memorable gentle characters, and beautiful writing. I recommend it for when you need something lighthearted and funny.
Rating: 4.75
Posted by Framed at 9:48 PM
7 comments:
Candleman said...
Great little poem, I'm going to have to memorize that one.
12/11/2007 4:54 AM
Cassie said...
This sounds like a fun read, I'll have to borrow it from you, so no mooching.
12/11/2007 8:52 AM
Carrie K said...
Oh, I'd forgotten about these books! Or more properly, I didn't realize there were more.
12/11/2007 6:07 PM
Stephanie said...
This is one of the books I want to read for this challenge. I liked the Title!! Sounds like a good one!
12/12/2007 10:13 AM
Les said...
I loved the first in the series, but didn't care too much for the sequels. If you loved this one, you're in for quite a treat (and lots of laughs) with the first. Enjoy!
12/12/2007 5:00 PM
John Mutford said...
Your the second participant to go for this book this month. I agree it's a funny book- and one most booklovers would be into.
12/12/2007 7:37 PM
Nan - said...
I think I am the other one John means, but I didn't read the third; I read the first. Speaking just for me, the second and third were too "over the top" for me. I preferred the more serious tone of the first book, though there was humor, it wasn't quite so broad.
Canadian Book Challenge: Manitoba
This hilarious book is the the third in a series about twin brothers living on a island, who turn their home into a bed and breakfast for readers. Sounds appealing, doesn't it? Don't ask me why I started with No. 3, but I fully intend on reading the other two as soon as I can get my hands on them. The brothers, Virgil and Hector, are over fifty and wonderfully eccentric. Actually, all the characters in this delightful novel are, well, characters. There's Hector's girlfriend, Altona, who paints his toenails while he sleeps; Caedmon Harker, the handyman; Mrs. Rochester, the parrot who has a fitting quote or scripture for every situation; as well as neighbors, past patrons who write letters, and interesting pets. Then there are the quotes from a local deceased author's book, "Hygiene for Boys." Don't read this poem if the subject of zits makes you queasy:
When you find a pimple, lads,
You mustn't make a fuss,
Although I know you're eager, boys,
To see that gush of pus.
Leave the nasty welt alone--
Don't give the thing a squeeze.
And if temptation proves too great,
Then wipe the mirror, please.
So I was totally grossed out, but rolling on the floor laughing. Along with the chuckles and guffaws, I enjoyed Richardson's style of writing. He uses such a wonderful variety of words, words that I knew and understood, but don't come across very often. I wish I had such a awesome command of the language. Here are some passages of the many that I particularly responded to:
From the chapter: Hector's books for bathroom browsing ----- "There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't seek to enliven the time we spend attending to the baser dictates of biology. Nor is there any reason why we shouldn't feed, or a least tickle, the mind while we disabuse ourselves of the slag for which the body has no further use. A good bathroom book (as opposed to a good bathtub book, which is something else altogether) should be provocative, enduring, entertaining, educational, and sufficiently pithy that it can be absorbed in brief spurts. It should be easy to put down and inviting to come back to, but not so enthralling that it keeps the reader enthroned for hours at a stretch, mindless of the queue that might be forming outside the door."
Virgil's rant about the world's move away from sentimentaility: "When did "sentimental" become a perjorative barb? I do not at all share the notion that a piece of music, or a poem, or a film that bypasses the brain and aims straight for the heart, and canvasses for an emotional rather than an intellectual response, should automatically be heaped with scorn. I think it is symptomatic of a sad and dangerous impoverishment of spirit."
After many years, Hector conquers the hula hoop: On this frabjous day I won an unexpected victory and made the wounded welkin ring with raucous cries of praise and thanksgiving. Glory be! Hallelujah! Laud creation! Hot damn! Given that no historian will consider my accomplishment worthy of attention, and as I am certain it will rate not even a footnote in the eventual annals of these, our perilous times, I will set down the news here. Perhaps some future curiousity seeker will read it and be coaxed haltingly to the understanding that the thunderous, flesh-tearing, terrain-sundering doings of the generals and industrialists are not what power the turning of the planet, but rather the dull, quotidian and largely overlooked progressions of ordinary pilgrims."
Along with these marvelous passage are some great chapters that I must mention: A letter from a former guest who tells of the bittersweet experience of visiting his childhood home to find his parents have changed everything; Virgil's books for baby Matirna's first five years; the letter from a woman whose bookclub had recently visited the B & B; and Hector's chapter, "A dishwasher is a wonderful thing." BBBPB was such a fun book to read, with memorable gentle characters, and beautiful writing. I recommend it for when you need something lighthearted and funny.
Rating: 4.75
Posted by Framed at 9:48 PM
7 comments:
Candleman said...
Great little poem, I'm going to have to memorize that one.
12/11/2007 4:54 AM
Cassie said...
This sounds like a fun read, I'll have to borrow it from you, so no mooching.
12/11/2007 8:52 AM
Carrie K said...
Oh, I'd forgotten about these books! Or more properly, I didn't realize there were more.
12/11/2007 6:07 PM
Stephanie said...
This is one of the books I want to read for this challenge. I liked the Title!! Sounds like a good one!
12/12/2007 10:13 AM
Les said...
I loved the first in the series, but didn't care too much for the sequels. If you loved this one, you're in for quite a treat (and lots of laughs) with the first. Enjoy!
12/12/2007 5:00 PM
John Mutford said...
Your the second participant to go for this book this month. I agree it's a funny book- and one most booklovers would be into.
12/12/2007 7:37 PM
Nan - said...
I think I am the other one John means, but I didn't read the third; I read the first. Speaking just for me, the second and third were too "over the top" for me. I preferred the more serious tone of the first book, though there was humor, it wasn't quite so broad.
A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
Saturday, December 08, 2007 2nds Challenge "A Wind is the Door" is the sequel to L'Engle's fabulous "A Wrinkle in Time," and the perfect way to finish my 2nds Challenge. I think I liked Wind even better than Wrinkle. Maybe I find becoming microcosmically tiny and inhabiting one of your younger brother's cell structures more appealing than being transported off in space to face a menacing brain. Like Wrinkle, Wind is a classic tale of good versus evil. With the help of cherubim and farandolae, Meg and her friend, Calvin are able to triumph over the evil Echthroi and save Charles Wallace's life in the process. Even though this story is a sequel, there is no reference to the previous book, and I thought it odd that Megg seemed so surprised and disbelieving when a dragon shows up in their garden. Even so, the characters are appealing and L'Engle's writing is creative and entertaining. The messages are loud and clear: Love is necessary to overcome adversity and wrong; and even the tiniest personality can have universal impact. Who can argue with that? Rating: 4.75 Posted by Framed at 8:54 AM 5 comments: Nymeth said... I bought A Wrinkle in Time just the other day. I have it on my list for the YA challenge and I really look forward to reading it. This sounds like a wonderful series. 12/08/2007 9:54 AM Sandy D. said... I loved the appearance of the principal in this book. Mr. Jenkins just stole the show!My son and I are now in the middle of "A Swiftly Tilting Planet", and it's just not as satisfying for us as the first two. It's still good, though, and we'll be reading "Many Waters", too. :-) 12/08/2007 4:20 PM Candace E. Salima said... Mmmm, sounds like I'll have to pick that up and add it to my library.By the way -- the six finalists for the Best Husband in the World contest are posted on my blogspot. Please pop on over, read through them (they really are wonderful men), vote and then spread the word far and wide. Merry Christmas! 12/10/2007 7:16 AM Shelley said... A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorite books; but I've never read the others in the series. Thanks for the recommend. 12/10/2007 11:13 AM Tristi Pinkston said... I love this whole series -- anyone who hasn't read them is seriously missing out |
Latitudes of Melt by Joan Clark
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Read for The Canadian Challenge
A baby girl is found on an iceberg floating in the ocean east of Newfoundland. The family who takes her in, names her Aurora and raises her as their own child. The book follows her life from that point to old age. Having been born in Newfoundland myself, I was so interested in the history and character of the island that was captured in this story. Joan Clark writes beautifully. Her descriptions of the landscape and the ocean are quite breathtaking. However, the story of Aurora herself didn't touch me very much. The book covers a period of over eighty years, including the sinking of the Titanic, and the birth of Aurora's children and their lives. The beginning of Aurora's story seemed a little magical and the rest of the book was quite prosaic. But Clark weaved the story of Newfoundland into Aurora's story wonderfully, and I really liked how she did that. I do recommend the book as it was interesting and well written.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 8:53 PM
6 comments:
Literary Feline said...
This does sound like it would be good. Thanks for the great review, Framed.
12/05/2007 10:11 PM
Carrie K said...
Nice review! I'd probably have been really disappointed at the magical beginnings being dropped.
12/07/2007 1:41 PM
Booklogged said...
Clark does give a good feeling for Newfoundland. I read somewhere that there really was a baby from the Titanic found alive on an ice pan.
12/07/2007 6:53 PM
Laura said...
I read this book a few years ago when it first came out. I checked it out of the library, and liked it so much I bought a copy. I agree with your assessment, but one of the things I liked about Aurora was that she read an entire set of The Book of Knowledge, and that's something I've always wanted to do!Anyway, I thought Latitudes of Melt was worth recommending to my daughters, and so far three of them have read it, too. Thanks for the concise review!
12/08/2007 10:45 AM
John Mutford said...
This post has been removed by the author.
12/10/2007 10:23 PM
John Mutford said...
It's been a while since I read this, but your summary seems pretty accurate to what I remember. Her Audience of Chairs is supposedly pretty good, too, but I haven't read that yet.
Read for The Canadian Challenge
A baby girl is found on an iceberg floating in the ocean east of Newfoundland. The family who takes her in, names her Aurora and raises her as their own child. The book follows her life from that point to old age. Having been born in Newfoundland myself, I was so interested in the history and character of the island that was captured in this story. Joan Clark writes beautifully. Her descriptions of the landscape and the ocean are quite breathtaking. However, the story of Aurora herself didn't touch me very much. The book covers a period of over eighty years, including the sinking of the Titanic, and the birth of Aurora's children and their lives. The beginning of Aurora's story seemed a little magical and the rest of the book was quite prosaic. But Clark weaved the story of Newfoundland into Aurora's story wonderfully, and I really liked how she did that. I do recommend the book as it was interesting and well written.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 8:53 PM
6 comments:
Literary Feline said...
This does sound like it would be good. Thanks for the great review, Framed.
12/05/2007 10:11 PM
Carrie K said...
Nice review! I'd probably have been really disappointed at the magical beginnings being dropped.
12/07/2007 1:41 PM
Booklogged said...
Clark does give a good feeling for Newfoundland. I read somewhere that there really was a baby from the Titanic found alive on an ice pan.
12/07/2007 6:53 PM
Laura said...
I read this book a few years ago when it first came out. I checked it out of the library, and liked it so much I bought a copy. I agree with your assessment, but one of the things I liked about Aurora was that she read an entire set of The Book of Knowledge, and that's something I've always wanted to do!Anyway, I thought Latitudes of Melt was worth recommending to my daughters, and so far three of them have read it, too. Thanks for the concise review!
12/08/2007 10:45 AM
John Mutford said...
This post has been removed by the author.
12/10/2007 10:23 PM
John Mutford said...
It's been a while since I read this, but your summary seems pretty accurate to what I remember. Her Audience of Chairs is supposedly pretty good, too, but I haven't read that yet.
The Cat Who Dropped a Bomb by Lillian Jackson Braum
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
I listened to this book on my way to Salt Lake and back on Sunday. Like the rest of the "Cat Who" series, the mystery takes a back seat to the interplay and oddities of the inhabits of Moose County, "400 miles north of everywhere." There's a lot of strange people up in those woods. Not to mention a couple of extraordinary cats. The story revolves around the planning and exeuction of those plans for Pickaxe City's 150th year celebration. Jim Qwilleran, of course, is totally involved and manipulates things with a light hand. Whenever funds are needed, the K Foundation is ready to cover expenses. The actual murder happens quite near to the end of the book and is solved almost immediately, so you can see it is only incidental to the book. Even so, reading or listening to these books takes very little time or thought. When you want an amusing, light read, pick this one up.
Rating: 3
Posted by Framed at 8:41 PM
2 comments:
SuziQoregon said...
My husband and I use this series for road trip listening. We giggle about it being dangerous to live in Moose County, particularly if you help Jim Qwilleran ;-)
We haven't listened to this one yet.
12/06/2007 8:54 AM
Booklogged said...
I like listening to these stories, too. Qwilleran is a great character.
I listened to this book on my way to Salt Lake and back on Sunday. Like the rest of the "Cat Who" series, the mystery takes a back seat to the interplay and oddities of the inhabits of Moose County, "400 miles north of everywhere." There's a lot of strange people up in those woods. Not to mention a couple of extraordinary cats. The story revolves around the planning and exeuction of those plans for Pickaxe City's 150th year celebration. Jim Qwilleran, of course, is totally involved and manipulates things with a light hand. Whenever funds are needed, the K Foundation is ready to cover expenses. The actual murder happens quite near to the end of the book and is solved almost immediately, so you can see it is only incidental to the book. Even so, reading or listening to these books takes very little time or thought. When you want an amusing, light read, pick this one up.
Rating: 3
Posted by Framed at 8:41 PM
2 comments:
SuziQoregon said...
My husband and I use this series for road trip listening. We giggle about it being dangerous to live in Moose County, particularly if you help Jim Qwilleran ;-)
We haven't listened to this one yet.
12/06/2007 8:54 AM
Booklogged said...
I like listening to these stories, too. Qwilleran is a great character.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sudden Death by David Rosenfelt
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Challenge: 2nds
Andy Carpenter's affair with Laurie and how that relationship progresses is a sidebar to the main courtroom action of Andy defending a famous football player from the charge of murdering a player from a rival team. A Hollywood screenwriter sent to write about a previous case that Andy had won, helps with that defense; finding a series of deaths that may get Andy's client off the hook. In this novel, I found Andy's insecurities about Laurie out of character with his expertise and cunning as a trial lawyer. His whining was annoying and often the dialog, flat. But, as in the first book, the investigation and courtroom antics were riveting and entertaining. And Andy's love for his dog, Tara, is quite endearing. While I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one, I'm willing to read more of the series since I've heard so many good things.
Rating: 3.5
Posted by Framed at 9:56 AM
4 comments:
Literary Feline said...
That's too bad that this one didn't quite live up to its predecessor. Hopefully future books in the series will be better.
11/24/2007 5:06 PM
Carrie K said...
I love Andy and Tara's relationship. Laurie's? Not so much.
11/26/2007 4:50 PM
Bellezza said...
Please consider joining my Japanese Literature Challenge. The details came be found at:http://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/2007/11/youre-invited.htmlI'd love to talk more books with you!
12/01/2007 7:29 AM
Booklogged said...
I won't add this series to my list until you read 1 or 2 more. I'll let you continue to test the waters before I jump in.Just thought I'd let you know that since Candleman has retired he's regularly posting on his blogs, Carpe Crustulum. They are interesting posts and he would love to hear from you.
Challenge: 2nds
Andy Carpenter's affair with Laurie and how that relationship progresses is a sidebar to the main courtroom action of Andy defending a famous football player from the charge of murdering a player from a rival team. A Hollywood screenwriter sent to write about a previous case that Andy had won, helps with that defense; finding a series of deaths that may get Andy's client off the hook. In this novel, I found Andy's insecurities about Laurie out of character with his expertise and cunning as a trial lawyer. His whining was annoying and often the dialog, flat. But, as in the first book, the investigation and courtroom antics were riveting and entertaining. And Andy's love for his dog, Tara, is quite endearing. While I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one, I'm willing to read more of the series since I've heard so many good things.
Rating: 3.5
Posted by Framed at 9:56 AM
4 comments:
Literary Feline said...
That's too bad that this one didn't quite live up to its predecessor. Hopefully future books in the series will be better.
11/24/2007 5:06 PM
Carrie K said...
I love Andy and Tara's relationship. Laurie's? Not so much.
11/26/2007 4:50 PM
Bellezza said...
Please consider joining my Japanese Literature Challenge. The details came be found at:http://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/2007/11/youre-invited.htmlI'd love to talk more books with you!
12/01/2007 7:29 AM
Booklogged said...
I won't add this series to my list until you read 1 or 2 more. I'll let you continue to test the waters before I jump in.Just thought I'd let you know that since Candleman has retired he's regularly posting on his blogs, Carpe Crustulum. They are interesting posts and he would love to hear from you.
The Secret of Lsot Things
Sunday, November 18, 2007
"The Secret of Lost Things" was one of the first audio books that I downloaded to my new Ipod. Unfortunately, I'm severely challenged with this new technology. The other book I downloaded skipped after a minute of each track which was terribly annoying and I finally gave it up. With "Secret", only the first two or three tracks skipped, so I was able to follow the storyline quite well. But about halfway through, it started back on the tenth track and did that a couple of times. I gave up and checked the book out from the library so I could finish it. Because I desperately wanted to know how it turned out. The novel is the story of Rosemary Savage who loses her mother when she is eighteen and never knew her father. She decides to leave her native Tasmania for New York City. Shortly after arriving, she lands a job at the Arcade, a huge bookstore which specializes in rare and antique books. Listening to this part was fascinating because the narrator did the accents so well, and Hay makes each character memorable. Besides the naive but lovely Rosemary, we meet among others: Oscar, the handsome manager of the nonfiction section, who only loves the quest for knowledge; Pearl, the transsexual with a heart of gold who will shortly have his/her life altering surgery; Mr. Mitchell, the overweight fatherly figure from the Rare Books room; and Walter Geist, the lonely, extremely odd albino who is the general manager of the Arcade. With such a varied and eclectic cast, who can blame me for being slightly ?? put out when my Ipod starting acting up. Hay takes her time building up these characters and setting the scene for the intrigue that follows as they try to obtain a lost manuscript that would be incredibly valuable. I especially loved that most of the action takes place in a bookstore that is chaotic and as eccentric as the staff who works there. Upon visiting the city library, Rosemary says: "I knew books to be objects that loved to cluster and form disordered piles, but here books seemed robbed of their zany capacity to fall about, to conspire. In the library, books behaved themselves." The conflict at the heart of the book builds up to a crashing crescendo that I probably would have enjoyed even more if I had listened to it instead of reading it. The lost manuscript becomes an allegory for the losses that Rosemary suffers during the year covered by the novel. At the end she holds an unopened present given to her by a friend when she left Tasmania. "There it was in my lap: a secret that told me that nothing is truly lost, but is simply replaced." This was such an interesting, well-written book that I'm sure I would have liked better if I had been able to read or listen to it all in the same medium. There is one weird and disturbing sexual encounter and I found the ending a little flat, otherwise, this was a really good book.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 5:43 PM
3 comments:
Booklogged said...
Sounds good. Maybe we should get together and see if we can figure out what's wrong with the iPod. (I mean with the help of kids who are more techno-wise than we are.
11/19/2007 12:46 AM
Cassie said...
I'll have to take a look at your ipod when I come home and see what's going on.
11/19/2007 8:52 AM
Carrie K said...
Glad my iPhone isn't doing that. But I did go and buy the book I was listening to on it because it was just taking too darn long to hear it! Secrets sounds interesting. I'll have to check it out.
"The Secret of Lost Things" was one of the first audio books that I downloaded to my new Ipod. Unfortunately, I'm severely challenged with this new technology. The other book I downloaded skipped after a minute of each track which was terribly annoying and I finally gave it up. With "Secret", only the first two or three tracks skipped, so I was able to follow the storyline quite well. But about halfway through, it started back on the tenth track and did that a couple of times. I gave up and checked the book out from the library so I could finish it. Because I desperately wanted to know how it turned out. The novel is the story of Rosemary Savage who loses her mother when she is eighteen and never knew her father. She decides to leave her native Tasmania for New York City. Shortly after arriving, she lands a job at the Arcade, a huge bookstore which specializes in rare and antique books. Listening to this part was fascinating because the narrator did the accents so well, and Hay makes each character memorable. Besides the naive but lovely Rosemary, we meet among others: Oscar, the handsome manager of the nonfiction section, who only loves the quest for knowledge; Pearl, the transsexual with a heart of gold who will shortly have his/her life altering surgery; Mr. Mitchell, the overweight fatherly figure from the Rare Books room; and Walter Geist, the lonely, extremely odd albino who is the general manager of the Arcade. With such a varied and eclectic cast, who can blame me for being slightly ?? put out when my Ipod starting acting up. Hay takes her time building up these characters and setting the scene for the intrigue that follows as they try to obtain a lost manuscript that would be incredibly valuable. I especially loved that most of the action takes place in a bookstore that is chaotic and as eccentric as the staff who works there. Upon visiting the city library, Rosemary says: "I knew books to be objects that loved to cluster and form disordered piles, but here books seemed robbed of their zany capacity to fall about, to conspire. In the library, books behaved themselves." The conflict at the heart of the book builds up to a crashing crescendo that I probably would have enjoyed even more if I had listened to it instead of reading it. The lost manuscript becomes an allegory for the losses that Rosemary suffers during the year covered by the novel. At the end she holds an unopened present given to her by a friend when she left Tasmania. "There it was in my lap: a secret that told me that nothing is truly lost, but is simply replaced." This was such an interesting, well-written book that I'm sure I would have liked better if I had been able to read or listen to it all in the same medium. There is one weird and disturbing sexual encounter and I found the ending a little flat, otherwise, this was a really good book.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 5:43 PM
3 comments:
Booklogged said...
Sounds good. Maybe we should get together and see if we can figure out what's wrong with the iPod. (I mean with the help of kids who are more techno-wise than we are.
11/19/2007 12:46 AM
Cassie said...
I'll have to take a look at your ipod when I come home and see what's going on.
11/19/2007 8:52 AM
Carrie K said...
Glad my iPhone isn't doing that. But I did go and buy the book I was listening to on it because it was just taking too darn long to hear it! Secrets sounds interesting. I'll have to check it out.
Vision of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Challenge: Christmas Theme
Book Around the States - New Jersey
I thought it would be fun to read this book for the Christmas Theme Book Challenge plus it was one of the few books that I found set in New Jesery. And I have always found the Stephanie Plum novels to be fun, light, and slightly bawdy reading. But the elements that I truly enjoyed: the relationship of Plum with her boyrfriend, Joe Morelli, and her attraction to the very dangerous Ranger were missing from this novel. The Elements that annoyed me: her raucous and dysfunctional family were a key ingredient. Granted this is a book about Christmas and should play up the family angle, but I didn't enjoy it. The mystery and the Christmas cheer were slight. True, there was a good-looking male for Plum to spar with, but the humor seemed flat to me. All in all, not what I expected. What a letdown.
Also, even though the book is set in Trenton, New Jersey; the flavor of that city was missing from this particular Plum novel.
Rating: 2
Posted by Framed at 9:04 PM
3 comments:
Literary Feline said...
I've come to believe that the non-numbered books may not be worth reading. I was less than impressed with Visions of Sugar Plums also. As you said, it was missing some of the elements that I like in the series.
11/15/2007 11:02 PM
Joy said...
I've only stuck with her numbered series. This confirms my decision. :)
11/16/2007 6:36 AM
Lynne said...
I haven't been thrilled with the between-the-number books either. I want more Joe and Ranger!
Challenge: Christmas Theme
Book Around the States - New Jersey
I thought it would be fun to read this book for the Christmas Theme Book Challenge plus it was one of the few books that I found set in New Jesery. And I have always found the Stephanie Plum novels to be fun, light, and slightly bawdy reading. But the elements that I truly enjoyed: the relationship of Plum with her boyrfriend, Joe Morelli, and her attraction to the very dangerous Ranger were missing from this novel. The Elements that annoyed me: her raucous and dysfunctional family were a key ingredient. Granted this is a book about Christmas and should play up the family angle, but I didn't enjoy it. The mystery and the Christmas cheer were slight. True, there was a good-looking male for Plum to spar with, but the humor seemed flat to me. All in all, not what I expected. What a letdown.
Also, even though the book is set in Trenton, New Jersey; the flavor of that city was missing from this particular Plum novel.
Rating: 2
Posted by Framed at 9:04 PM
3 comments:
Literary Feline said...
I've come to believe that the non-numbered books may not be worth reading. I was less than impressed with Visions of Sugar Plums also. As you said, it was missing some of the elements that I like in the series.
11/15/2007 11:02 PM
Joy said...
I've only stuck with her numbered series. This confirms my decision. :)
11/16/2007 6:36 AM
Lynne said...
I haven't been thrilled with the between-the-number books either. I want more Joe and Ranger!
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
2nds Challenge
**I was so impressed with Zusak's "The Book Thief" that I wanted to read some of his other works; and "I am the Messenger" did not disappoint.
**Ed Kennedy is your basic nineteen-year-old loser. He drives a cab because his best friend, Audrey, got him the job. He lives in the same town where he grew up even though his father died a year ago and his mother hates him. His home is a prefab shack where he lives with a smelly dog, The Doorman, inherited from his dad. The book begins with Ed lying on the floor of a bank with his friends, Marv and Ritchie, while a robbery takes place. The robber is incompetent and Ed ends up apprehending him. This act leads to a chain of events in which Ed receives four cards, beginning with the Ace of Diamonds and ending with the Ace of Hearts. Each card has clues which Ed must decipher and take action on. How Ed's life changes along with those he comes in contact with is at the heart at this fascinating novel.
**I really like the way Zusak writes and how he draws you into the lives of his characters. Ed Kennedy is a truly sympathetic and entertaining character. Some of his antics were funny, some sad and some a little scary, but always engrossing. While this book did not have the same emotional impact as "The Book Thief", it was very thought provoking and rewarding.
Rating: 5
Posted by Framed at 1:53 PM
11 comments:
raidergirl3 said...
I really loved this book too, I think I liked it even more as I remembered it afterwards. I loved Ed's faith, to do the right thing, and trust in himself to figure out what to do. Zusak is amazing - and I haven't even read The Book Thief yet, but I plan to.
11/13/2007 6:18 PM
Booklogged said...
That Zusak kid is really talented, isn't he. Both books are so different but both are so good. Hubby liked this one even better than Book Thief. I think I favored Book Thief most.
11/13/2007 8:25 PM
SuziQoregon said...
Woo Hoo!! I've got this one planned for next month for a couple of challenges. I'm really looking forward to it.
11/13/2007 9:51 PM
Joy said...
Hooray...another positive for Zusak! :)You've made me want to get to it sooner rather than later.
11/14/2007 5:28 AM
Nymeth said...
He really sounds like an author I will like. I'm going to read The Book Thief next year, and then this one at some point in the future.
11/14/2007 6:08 AM
gautami tripathy said...
I think I will read him in the new year. I have wanted to for some time now.
11/14/2007 9:16 AM
Framed said...
I envy those who get to read the Book Thief for the first time. Much as I like Messenger, I liked The Book Thief even more.
11/14/2007 8:25 PM
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
This sounds really good. I haven't read The Book Thief - I'll have to add these both to my Mountain!
11/15/2007 9:34 AM
gautami tripathy said...
I need to read both!!
11/17/2007 10:40 AM
Stephanie said...
I just picked up this book from the library!! I read the first chapter last night after work, and I can tell I'm going to love it!!
11/18/2007 10:30 AM
Les said...
I must read this!! Soon!!
2nds Challenge
**I was so impressed with Zusak's "The Book Thief" that I wanted to read some of his other works; and "I am the Messenger" did not disappoint.
**Ed Kennedy is your basic nineteen-year-old loser. He drives a cab because his best friend, Audrey, got him the job. He lives in the same town where he grew up even though his father died a year ago and his mother hates him. His home is a prefab shack where he lives with a smelly dog, The Doorman, inherited from his dad. The book begins with Ed lying on the floor of a bank with his friends, Marv and Ritchie, while a robbery takes place. The robber is incompetent and Ed ends up apprehending him. This act leads to a chain of events in which Ed receives four cards, beginning with the Ace of Diamonds and ending with the Ace of Hearts. Each card has clues which Ed must decipher and take action on. How Ed's life changes along with those he comes in contact with is at the heart at this fascinating novel.
**I really like the way Zusak writes and how he draws you into the lives of his characters. Ed Kennedy is a truly sympathetic and entertaining character. Some of his antics were funny, some sad and some a little scary, but always engrossing. While this book did not have the same emotional impact as "The Book Thief", it was very thought provoking and rewarding.
Rating: 5
Posted by Framed at 1:53 PM
11 comments:
raidergirl3 said...
I really loved this book too, I think I liked it even more as I remembered it afterwards. I loved Ed's faith, to do the right thing, and trust in himself to figure out what to do. Zusak is amazing - and I haven't even read The Book Thief yet, but I plan to.
11/13/2007 6:18 PM
Booklogged said...
That Zusak kid is really talented, isn't he. Both books are so different but both are so good. Hubby liked this one even better than Book Thief. I think I favored Book Thief most.
11/13/2007 8:25 PM
SuziQoregon said...
Woo Hoo!! I've got this one planned for next month for a couple of challenges. I'm really looking forward to it.
11/13/2007 9:51 PM
Joy said...
Hooray...another positive for Zusak! :)You've made me want to get to it sooner rather than later.
11/14/2007 5:28 AM
Nymeth said...
He really sounds like an author I will like. I'm going to read The Book Thief next year, and then this one at some point in the future.
11/14/2007 6:08 AM
gautami tripathy said...
I think I will read him in the new year. I have wanted to for some time now.
11/14/2007 9:16 AM
Framed said...
I envy those who get to read the Book Thief for the first time. Much as I like Messenger, I liked The Book Thief even more.
11/14/2007 8:25 PM
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
This sounds really good. I haven't read The Book Thief - I'll have to add these both to my Mountain!
11/15/2007 9:34 AM
gautami tripathy said...
I need to read both!!
11/17/2007 10:40 AM
Stephanie said...
I just picked up this book from the library!! I read the first chapter last night after work, and I can tell I'm going to love it!!
11/18/2007 10:30 AM
Les said...
I must read this!! Soon!!
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Thursday, November 08, 2007
"I Capture the Castle" has been on my TBR list for ages so it was great that I could read it for the Book to Movie Challenge. The book is composed of Cassandra Mortmain's journal entires over a six-month period. Her family lives in a crumbling castle on the edge of poverty as her father has suffered from writer's block for 13 years. Big sister, Rose, wants to marry a wealthy man and escape hunger, cold and old clothes. Younger brother, Thomas, is quite a wise soul, but we really don't get to know much of him until the end of the book. Step-mother, Topaz, is a free-spirit with a hard-working housewife's soul. Stephen is a boarder whose wages keeps the family from starving. He is also incredibly good-looking and in love in Cassandra. And Cassandra herself is seventeen and dreams of being a writer. Enter two rich brothers from America who have inherited the castle along with a nearby manor home. I enjoyed reading Cassandra's thoughts and enjoyed the glimpses into the workings of her English, teen-age mind. But when she decides she's in love with the wrong man, I was a bit disenchanted. I guess I was rooting for Stephen. Sigh. I found the book to have the flavor of "Pride and Prejudice" and really enjoyed most of it. I just thought the ending was unsatisfying.
Rating: 4.00
Posted by Framed at 7:18 PM
5 comments:
Cassie said...
I felt the same way.
11/09/2007 8:33 AM
Booklogged said...
Oh, darn. I've been wanting to read this for a long time, too. Sorry to hear it was disappointing.
11/09/2007 2:03 PM
Nymeth said...
I really look forward to reading this one. It's too bad the ending was disappointing. But it sounds worthwhile all the same.
11/09/2007 3:21 PM
Melanie said...
I actually loved the ambiguity of the ending. Early in the book Cassandra says that she likes books in which there are some loose ends, so that you keep wondering about the characters after the book is over. I wondered if that was really the author's opinion of a good book, considering the ending of this one!
11/15/2007 5:40 PM
Shelley said...
I very recently read this and was rooting for Stephen too! I would link you to my review, but I don't know how!
"I Capture the Castle" has been on my TBR list for ages so it was great that I could read it for the Book to Movie Challenge. The book is composed of Cassandra Mortmain's journal entires over a six-month period. Her family lives in a crumbling castle on the edge of poverty as her father has suffered from writer's block for 13 years. Big sister, Rose, wants to marry a wealthy man and escape hunger, cold and old clothes. Younger brother, Thomas, is quite a wise soul, but we really don't get to know much of him until the end of the book. Step-mother, Topaz, is a free-spirit with a hard-working housewife's soul. Stephen is a boarder whose wages keeps the family from starving. He is also incredibly good-looking and in love in Cassandra. And Cassandra herself is seventeen and dreams of being a writer. Enter two rich brothers from America who have inherited the castle along with a nearby manor home. I enjoyed reading Cassandra's thoughts and enjoyed the glimpses into the workings of her English, teen-age mind. But when she decides she's in love with the wrong man, I was a bit disenchanted. I guess I was rooting for Stephen. Sigh. I found the book to have the flavor of "Pride and Prejudice" and really enjoyed most of it. I just thought the ending was unsatisfying.
Rating: 4.00
Posted by Framed at 7:18 PM
5 comments:
Cassie said...
I felt the same way.
11/09/2007 8:33 AM
Booklogged said...
Oh, darn. I've been wanting to read this for a long time, too. Sorry to hear it was disappointing.
11/09/2007 2:03 PM
Nymeth said...
I really look forward to reading this one. It's too bad the ending was disappointing. But it sounds worthwhile all the same.
11/09/2007 3:21 PM
Melanie said...
I actually loved the ambiguity of the ending. Early in the book Cassandra says that she likes books in which there are some loose ends, so that you keep wondering about the characters after the book is over. I wondered if that was really the author's opinion of a good book, considering the ending of this one!
11/15/2007 5:40 PM
Shelley said...
I very recently read this and was rooting for Stephen too! I would link you to my review, but I don't know how!
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
I read this book for the 2nd's Challenge. It continues the story of Clair Randall who mistakenly falls through a time portal in Scotland two hundred years earlier. This book tells us the story through Claire's words as she relates her experiences to her daughter and a friend in 1970's Edinburgh. Again, it is a great romantic love story. Most of the time, the bond between Claire and the Scottish laird, Jamie Fraser, is beautiful and believable. There were times when it did get a bit treacly, and I skipped the sex scenes. As in the first book, Jamie seemed too good to be true especially for a 22-year-old Scots who was raised in a much cruder and male-dominated society. Still, Gabaldon conveys a good sense of the way people lived in 18th century Paris and Scotland. All in all, it was a fun travel through time.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 9:10 PM
4 comments:
Cassie said...
I don't know when but I will read this series some day. The books are somewhat daunting looking but if it's got romance then I am all in for that.
11/07/2007 9:28 AM
Carrie K said...
I enjoyed the series but DG seems to have abandoned Claire & Jamie. When she finishes the series, I'll read the last few books.
11/07/2007 1:27 PM
Booklogged said...
Treacly - that's going to be one of my new words. Jamie does seem too good to be true, I guess that's why he's such a dream. They are quite the hefty books, aren't they? I have book 4 but who knows when I'll get to it.
11/07/2007 2:34 PM
gautami tripathy said...
I have this book somewhere. All lost and forgotten. Yet to read. Now I will search for it and read. Thanks for your review!
I read this book for the 2nd's Challenge. It continues the story of Clair Randall who mistakenly falls through a time portal in Scotland two hundred years earlier. This book tells us the story through Claire's words as she relates her experiences to her daughter and a friend in 1970's Edinburgh. Again, it is a great romantic love story. Most of the time, the bond between Claire and the Scottish laird, Jamie Fraser, is beautiful and believable. There were times when it did get a bit treacly, and I skipped the sex scenes. As in the first book, Jamie seemed too good to be true especially for a 22-year-old Scots who was raised in a much cruder and male-dominated society. Still, Gabaldon conveys a good sense of the way people lived in 18th century Paris and Scotland. All in all, it was a fun travel through time.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 9:10 PM
4 comments:
Cassie said...
I don't know when but I will read this series some day. The books are somewhat daunting looking but if it's got romance then I am all in for that.
11/07/2007 9:28 AM
Carrie K said...
I enjoyed the series but DG seems to have abandoned Claire & Jamie. When she finishes the series, I'll read the last few books.
11/07/2007 1:27 PM
Booklogged said...
Treacly - that's going to be one of my new words. Jamie does seem too good to be true, I guess that's why he's such a dream. They are quite the hefty books, aren't they? I have book 4 but who knows when I'll get to it.
11/07/2007 2:34 PM
gautami tripathy said...
I have this book somewhere. All lost and forgotten. Yet to read. Now I will search for it and read. Thanks for your review!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Jeeves in the Morning by P G Wodehouse
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Last spring I asked for suggestions of humorous books to read; and Tristi Pinkston recommended this one. I'm so glad she did. There were some laugh-out-loud moments while I was reading; and, like sometimes while watching British comedy, a sense of irritation at the slapstickishness (New Word Alert). However, I keep revisiting scenes in my mind and chuckling over them. Just like I need a dictionary for Australian slang, I find It would be nice to have one for English slang as well. What on earth does "bung a spanner" mean? or "gas and gaiters?" Jeeves, of course, is the epitome of the "veddy proper" British manservant and is famous for his knowledge and gift of solving every dilemna. His employer, Bertie Wooster, is charming, aristocratic, vaguely cowardly, and totally inept. He reminds me of Melrose Plant of the Richard Jury series. And the young Boy Scout, Edwin, cracked me up. As I read, I kept picturing the story being played out on PBS. I wonder if I will be disappointed when I finally get around to watching it. I will definitely pick up Wodehouse any time I need a quick giggle.
Rating: 3.75
Posted by Framed at 7:49 PM
11 comments:
GeraniumCat said...
Not sure about the context of "bung a spanner" here, but if you say someone has "bunged a spanner in the works" it means they have done the equivalent of throwing a large piece of unyielding metal in the working parts of an engine, thereby causing considerable disruption.
Senior Church of England clergymen used to wear gaiters - they were made of black cloth and buttoned to the knee (they wore breeches with them). So "all gas and gaiters" referred to the tendency to excessive wordiness of these individuals.
Any more? :)
10/26/2007 3:51 AM
Framed said...
Thanks, Geraniumcat. I checked the context and it was "bung a spanner in the works." Now it makes perfect sense. I couldn't find "gas and gaiters", but there were some characters in the book that definitely fit this description.
10/26/2007 7:57 AM
Cassie said...
Sounds interesting and I rarely come across funny books. Everyone is so serious these days. Is this a series? If not, then I may add it to my list.
10/26/2007 8:56 AM
Tristi Pinkston said...
I'm so glad you liked it, Framed!
10/26/2007 4:11 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds good. I had the same problem with English slang when reading Spot of Bother. Unfortunately, I didn't mark any of the phrases. Bung a spanner in the works is a great phrase and one I could use often.
10/26/2007 9:11 PM
Candace Salima (LDS Nora Roberts) said...
Tristi is a great one for recommending books. Framed, if you ever want to review one of my books, let me know and I'll email you a copy.
10/28/2007 7:01 AM
gautami tripathy said...
I love Wodehouse any time. He was a prolific writer and there are lot many books to read.
I even own 6 of his rare books.
This I read long time back. I think I will read it again.
10/29/2007 7:45 AM
SuziQoregon said...
This sounds fun. I've never read any of Wodehouse's books. Maybe I can work one into the Decades Challenge for 2008.
10/29/2007 9:47 PM
Bookfool said...
I love, love, love Wodehouse. And, there are actually British slang books available. I've got a British English/American English dictionary and a couple of other books about the language differences (all of which have been helpful, although there's nothing like having an English friend to "translate").
You will soooo not be disappointed in the series. It's hilarious. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry were perfect in the roles of Wooster and Jeeves. The only annoyance was that they changed some of the actors, from season to season. Madeleine (the woman who says goofy things like, "The stars are God's daisy chain") was played by three different actresses. Ugh. But, fortunately, Fry and Laurie were consistent as Jeeves and Wooster and they were the most important characters.
10/29/2007 10:06 PM
gautami tripathy said...
I received crow lake by mary lawson and finished reading too. I really like it. Thanks!
10/30/2007 10:17 AM
Framed said...
Cassie, it is a series but I think they can be enjoyed on an individual basis. This isn't the first in the series and I didn't feel like I missing something. Better yet, let's get the series and watch it together.
Tristi, thanks for the recommend.
Booklogged, can you say "bung a spanner in the works" with an British accent. I don't think it will work otherwise.
Candace, I would love to review one of your books. However, my computer is so slow that I would never try to download a book.
Gautami, Wow, you got the book so quickly. And read it already. I haven't even opened my copy yet. I'll be visting to read the review.
SusieQ, great choice for the Decades Challenge. Maybe I should add Jeeves to my Decades list.
Bookfool, I really want to watch the series. Sounds hilarious.
10/30/2007 4:28 PM
Last spring I asked for suggestions of humorous books to read; and Tristi Pinkston recommended this one. I'm so glad she did. There were some laugh-out-loud moments while I was reading; and, like sometimes while watching British comedy, a sense of irritation at the slapstickishness (New Word Alert). However, I keep revisiting scenes in my mind and chuckling over them. Just like I need a dictionary for Australian slang, I find It would be nice to have one for English slang as well. What on earth does "bung a spanner" mean? or "gas and gaiters?" Jeeves, of course, is the epitome of the "veddy proper" British manservant and is famous for his knowledge and gift of solving every dilemna. His employer, Bertie Wooster, is charming, aristocratic, vaguely cowardly, and totally inept. He reminds me of Melrose Plant of the Richard Jury series. And the young Boy Scout, Edwin, cracked me up. As I read, I kept picturing the story being played out on PBS. I wonder if I will be disappointed when I finally get around to watching it. I will definitely pick up Wodehouse any time I need a quick giggle.
Rating: 3.75
Posted by Framed at 7:49 PM
11 comments:
GeraniumCat said...
Not sure about the context of "bung a spanner" here, but if you say someone has "bunged a spanner in the works" it means they have done the equivalent of throwing a large piece of unyielding metal in the working parts of an engine, thereby causing considerable disruption.
Senior Church of England clergymen used to wear gaiters - they were made of black cloth and buttoned to the knee (they wore breeches with them). So "all gas and gaiters" referred to the tendency to excessive wordiness of these individuals.
Any more? :)
10/26/2007 3:51 AM
Framed said...
Thanks, Geraniumcat. I checked the context and it was "bung a spanner in the works." Now it makes perfect sense. I couldn't find "gas and gaiters", but there were some characters in the book that definitely fit this description.
10/26/2007 7:57 AM
Cassie said...
Sounds interesting and I rarely come across funny books. Everyone is so serious these days. Is this a series? If not, then I may add it to my list.
10/26/2007 8:56 AM
Tristi Pinkston said...
I'm so glad you liked it, Framed!
10/26/2007 4:11 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds good. I had the same problem with English slang when reading Spot of Bother. Unfortunately, I didn't mark any of the phrases. Bung a spanner in the works is a great phrase and one I could use often.
10/26/2007 9:11 PM
Candace Salima (LDS Nora Roberts) said...
Tristi is a great one for recommending books. Framed, if you ever want to review one of my books, let me know and I'll email you a copy.
10/28/2007 7:01 AM
gautami tripathy said...
I love Wodehouse any time. He was a prolific writer and there are lot many books to read.
I even own 6 of his rare books.
This I read long time back. I think I will read it again.
10/29/2007 7:45 AM
SuziQoregon said...
This sounds fun. I've never read any of Wodehouse's books. Maybe I can work one into the Decades Challenge for 2008.
10/29/2007 9:47 PM
Bookfool said...
I love, love, love Wodehouse. And, there are actually British slang books available. I've got a British English/American English dictionary and a couple of other books about the language differences (all of which have been helpful, although there's nothing like having an English friend to "translate").
You will soooo not be disappointed in the series. It's hilarious. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry were perfect in the roles of Wooster and Jeeves. The only annoyance was that they changed some of the actors, from season to season. Madeleine (the woman who says goofy things like, "The stars are God's daisy chain") was played by three different actresses. Ugh. But, fortunately, Fry and Laurie were consistent as Jeeves and Wooster and they were the most important characters.
10/29/2007 10:06 PM
gautami tripathy said...
I received crow lake by mary lawson and finished reading too. I really like it. Thanks!
10/30/2007 10:17 AM
Framed said...
Cassie, it is a series but I think they can be enjoyed on an individual basis. This isn't the first in the series and I didn't feel like I missing something. Better yet, let's get the series and watch it together.
Tristi, thanks for the recommend.
Booklogged, can you say "bung a spanner in the works" with an British accent. I don't think it will work otherwise.
Candace, I would love to review one of your books. However, my computer is so slow that I would never try to download a book.
Gautami, Wow, you got the book so quickly. And read it already. I haven't even opened my copy yet. I'll be visting to read the review.
SusieQ, great choice for the Decades Challenge. Maybe I should add Jeeves to my Decades list.
Bookfool, I really want to watch the series. Sounds hilarious.
10/30/2007 4:28 PM
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
I couldn't believe it when I started this book. It's another stark, bleak, dark novel with a choppy narrative. Is this the writing of the future? The first two pages contain these gargantuan sentences that fill an entire long paragraph. I couldn't make heads or tails of what was being said. And most of the book is dialogue. Jeez. You would think I really hated this book, wouldn't you? Nada! John Grady Cole is such an interesting and intense character. At the age of sixteen, he and his friend, Rawlins, ride their horses down to Mexico to make a living. Just before crossing the border, they run into Blevins, a thirteen-year-old boy riding a gorgeous bay. Letting Blevins tag along is the worst mistake of many they make while in Mexico. And John Grady is such a capable old soul that I keep forgetting he is only sixteen. In fact, you have to suspend belief a little to think a boy his age would survive all his experiences. Even though this is not my favorite style of writing, McCarthy pulls you into the story. I felt the grit in my teeth as the three boys ride across the Mexican desert. My muscles ached after John and Rawlins spend three days breaking sixteen horses. The despair was real when John is pulled away from his love, Alejandra, and sent to a Mexican prison. And I felt the romance of horses that I knew when I was ten. "The old man shaped his mouth how to answer. Finally he said that among men there no such communion as among horses and the notion that men can be understood at all was probably an illusion. Rawlins asked him in his bad spanish if there was a heaven for horses but he shook his head and said that a horse had no need of heaven. Finally John Grady asked him if it were not true that should all horses vanish from the face of the earth the soul of the horse would not also perish for there would be nothing to replenish it but the old man only said that it was pointless to speak of there being no horses in the world for God would not permit such a thing." I can understand why "All the Pretty Horses" was a National Book Award winner. I have another book by McCarthy that, at one point, I wasn't sure I would read, but now I'm sure I will. The book has also been made into a movie with Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz which I think I will try to see. Is it any good? A few complaints: There were too many dialogues in Spanish that I didn't understand and the punctuation or lack of it made me a little crazy. It's don't not dont. And the too-long sentences.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 6:51 PM
11 comments:
Literary Feline said...
I haven't yet read a book by this author, but I do have a couple of his books in my TBR collection. I've heard such great things about him recently. Maybe if I like the two books of his I have, I'll try this one. Your comment about feeling the grit between your teeth, is very promising, even with the flaws. Thanks for the review!
10/23/2007 11:11 PM
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
I think this is the style of his writing - The Road is the same but does have good punctuation. :)
10/24/2007 7:29 AM
Cassie said...
i saw the movie a while ago so I don't really remember it but Matt Damon was good in it and I think it was sad.
10/24/2007 8:21 AM
Jeane said...
I actually have seen this book on shelves many times and always passed it up. You've made it sound so interesting I'm putting it on my TBR.
10/24/2007 2:35 PM
Les said...
I loved this book when I read it a few years ago. I thought it was beautiful/lyrical and was pleasantly surprised, as I wasn't expecting to like it so well. I remember that the untranslated Spanish was a bit bothersome, although I was able to figure some of it out by the context. Funny, I don't remember the punctuation (or lack thereof) problem. Maybe I was used to it having recently read Plainsong (Kent Haruf).
10/24/2007 3:25 PM
Booklogged said...
I've never been tempted to read McCarthy even with his awards. I may have to reconsider after that great review. Or maybe not, because I have so many books already sitting around wanting to be read. Sigh...
10/24/2007 7:00 PM
Joy said...
I'm interested in reading another McCarthy, but it's not this one. (Can't remember the title right now.) Although, I'm glad to know that this one is good, too.
10/25/2007 6:16 AM
Framed said...
Maybe I exaggerated the punctuation. I do know that the word don't was never printed with an apostrophe. Funny how such a little thing can bug you. I discovered I have two other McCarthy books on my TBR list.
10/25/2007 7:43 PM
hellomelissa said...
i actually liked the film more than the book. that's rare!
10/27/2007 3:04 PM
Carrie K said...
I saw and liked the movie despite Penelope Cruz (I hate her quite unreasonably) but picked up the book hoping it would explain the movie. It didn't, but they did lift huge passages verbatim from the book, which I found oddly heartening.
10/30/2007 6:27 PM
Lotus Reads said...
Hi, Framed!What Melissa said. I, too, preferred the movie over the book. The soundtrack is absolutely wonderful too!
I couldn't believe it when I started this book. It's another stark, bleak, dark novel with a choppy narrative. Is this the writing of the future? The first two pages contain these gargantuan sentences that fill an entire long paragraph. I couldn't make heads or tails of what was being said. And most of the book is dialogue. Jeez. You would think I really hated this book, wouldn't you? Nada! John Grady Cole is such an interesting and intense character. At the age of sixteen, he and his friend, Rawlins, ride their horses down to Mexico to make a living. Just before crossing the border, they run into Blevins, a thirteen-year-old boy riding a gorgeous bay. Letting Blevins tag along is the worst mistake of many they make while in Mexico. And John Grady is such a capable old soul that I keep forgetting he is only sixteen. In fact, you have to suspend belief a little to think a boy his age would survive all his experiences. Even though this is not my favorite style of writing, McCarthy pulls you into the story. I felt the grit in my teeth as the three boys ride across the Mexican desert. My muscles ached after John and Rawlins spend three days breaking sixteen horses. The despair was real when John is pulled away from his love, Alejandra, and sent to a Mexican prison. And I felt the romance of horses that I knew when I was ten. "The old man shaped his mouth how to answer. Finally he said that among men there no such communion as among horses and the notion that men can be understood at all was probably an illusion. Rawlins asked him in his bad spanish if there was a heaven for horses but he shook his head and said that a horse had no need of heaven. Finally John Grady asked him if it were not true that should all horses vanish from the face of the earth the soul of the horse would not also perish for there would be nothing to replenish it but the old man only said that it was pointless to speak of there being no horses in the world for God would not permit such a thing." I can understand why "All the Pretty Horses" was a National Book Award winner. I have another book by McCarthy that, at one point, I wasn't sure I would read, but now I'm sure I will. The book has also been made into a movie with Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz which I think I will try to see. Is it any good? A few complaints: There were too many dialogues in Spanish that I didn't understand and the punctuation or lack of it made me a little crazy. It's don't not dont. And the too-long sentences.
Rating: 4
Posted by Framed at 6:51 PM
11 comments:
Literary Feline said...
I haven't yet read a book by this author, but I do have a couple of his books in my TBR collection. I've heard such great things about him recently. Maybe if I like the two books of his I have, I'll try this one. Your comment about feeling the grit between your teeth, is very promising, even with the flaws. Thanks for the review!
10/23/2007 11:11 PM
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
I think this is the style of his writing - The Road is the same but does have good punctuation. :)
10/24/2007 7:29 AM
Cassie said...
i saw the movie a while ago so I don't really remember it but Matt Damon was good in it and I think it was sad.
10/24/2007 8:21 AM
Jeane said...
I actually have seen this book on shelves many times and always passed it up. You've made it sound so interesting I'm putting it on my TBR.
10/24/2007 2:35 PM
Les said...
I loved this book when I read it a few years ago. I thought it was beautiful/lyrical and was pleasantly surprised, as I wasn't expecting to like it so well. I remember that the untranslated Spanish was a bit bothersome, although I was able to figure some of it out by the context. Funny, I don't remember the punctuation (or lack thereof) problem. Maybe I was used to it having recently read Plainsong (Kent Haruf).
10/24/2007 3:25 PM
Booklogged said...
I've never been tempted to read McCarthy even with his awards. I may have to reconsider after that great review. Or maybe not, because I have so many books already sitting around wanting to be read. Sigh...
10/24/2007 7:00 PM
Joy said...
I'm interested in reading another McCarthy, but it's not this one. (Can't remember the title right now.) Although, I'm glad to know that this one is good, too.
10/25/2007 6:16 AM
Framed said...
Maybe I exaggerated the punctuation. I do know that the word don't was never printed with an apostrophe. Funny how such a little thing can bug you. I discovered I have two other McCarthy books on my TBR list.
10/25/2007 7:43 PM
hellomelissa said...
i actually liked the film more than the book. that's rare!
10/27/2007 3:04 PM
Carrie K said...
I saw and liked the movie despite Penelope Cruz (I hate her quite unreasonably) but picked up the book hoping it would explain the movie. It didn't, but they did lift huge passages verbatim from the book, which I found oddly heartening.
10/30/2007 6:27 PM
Lotus Reads said...
Hi, Framed!What Melissa said. I, too, preferred the movie over the book. The soundtrack is absolutely wonderful too!
The Bridge to Terabithea by Kate Paterson
Sunday, October 21, 2007
I can't believe I have never read Katherine Paterson before now. She writes so wonderfully and captures the joy and angst of the pre-teen years so well. I imagine everyone has read this story or seen the movie (except me) so I won't tell it again. I'll just say that it's a beautiful tale for young adults. I read it quickly but was thoroughly entertained and touched by it. And surprised. I had seen trailers for the movie and now I'm glad that I read the book first. It was not at all what I had expected. And the ending . . . well, if you haven't read it, I don't want to give it away. It was very unexpected. I will gladly add this to my collection of books that I can't wait to share with my grandchildren someday. I think I've been most impressed with the Newbery books that I've read for the Book Award Challenge than any of the others. Maybe I'm still a kid at heart myself.
Rating: 5
Posted by Framed at 6:27 PM
8 comments:
3M said...
I love this book as well.
10/21/2007 8:02 PM
Booklogged said...
I read this one years ago and really liked it. When the trailers came on tv I began to wonder if I had the right story in mind. So I reread it and then watched the movie. The movie was good, but the book was better, I thought.
10/21/2007 10:24 PM
Nymeth said...
I read this for the first time a few months ago and I agree with everything you said.
10/22/2007 10:25 AM
Bellezza said...
I've picked this up, and laid it down, so many times I can't remember. Knowing that this book is sad, sad, sad keeps me from fully experiencing it, which I know is just plain ignorant. Someday I hope to finish it...
10/22/2007 3:07 PM
Literary Feline said...
I hope to get to this one before the year is out, but I have my doubts. :-) I am glad you enjoyed it so much. I read another of the author's books years and years ago. I really liked it and still have the copy on my shelf to this day.
10/22/2007 9:39 PM
Stephanie said...
It's so funny you mentioned the trailer in your review. I just read this and reviewed it about a week ago. I had actually seen the movie, although the ending surprised me in the movie. I thought the trailers were so misleading. People that saw them could pick up the book thinking it was high fantasy...and it just wasn't. But it was a fantastic book!
10/23/2007 1:54 PM
Tristi Pinkston said...
"Come Sing Jimmy Jo" by the same author was also very good.
10/26/2007 4:11 PM
michelle said...
I thought the trailers were misleading as well. The book was wonderful though! Glad you enjoyed it.
I can't believe I have never read Katherine Paterson before now. She writes so wonderfully and captures the joy and angst of the pre-teen years so well. I imagine everyone has read this story or seen the movie (except me) so I won't tell it again. I'll just say that it's a beautiful tale for young adults. I read it quickly but was thoroughly entertained and touched by it. And surprised. I had seen trailers for the movie and now I'm glad that I read the book first. It was not at all what I had expected. And the ending . . . well, if you haven't read it, I don't want to give it away. It was very unexpected. I will gladly add this to my collection of books that I can't wait to share with my grandchildren someday. I think I've been most impressed with the Newbery books that I've read for the Book Award Challenge than any of the others. Maybe I'm still a kid at heart myself.
Rating: 5
Posted by Framed at 6:27 PM
8 comments:
3M said...
I love this book as well.
10/21/2007 8:02 PM
Booklogged said...
I read this one years ago and really liked it. When the trailers came on tv I began to wonder if I had the right story in mind. So I reread it and then watched the movie. The movie was good, but the book was better, I thought.
10/21/2007 10:24 PM
Nymeth said...
I read this for the first time a few months ago and I agree with everything you said.
10/22/2007 10:25 AM
Bellezza said...
I've picked this up, and laid it down, so many times I can't remember. Knowing that this book is sad, sad, sad keeps me from fully experiencing it, which I know is just plain ignorant. Someday I hope to finish it...
10/22/2007 3:07 PM
Literary Feline said...
I hope to get to this one before the year is out, but I have my doubts. :-) I am glad you enjoyed it so much. I read another of the author's books years and years ago. I really liked it and still have the copy on my shelf to this day.
10/22/2007 9:39 PM
Stephanie said...
It's so funny you mentioned the trailer in your review. I just read this and reviewed it about a week ago. I had actually seen the movie, although the ending surprised me in the movie. I thought the trailers were so misleading. People that saw them could pick up the book thinking it was high fantasy...and it just wasn't. But it was a fantastic book!
10/23/2007 1:54 PM
Tristi Pinkston said...
"Come Sing Jimmy Jo" by the same author was also very good.
10/26/2007 4:11 PM
michelle said...
I thought the trailers were misleading as well. The book was wonderful though! Glad you enjoyed it.
The Sea by John Banville
Sunday, October 21, 2007
"The Sea" is a short book (195 pages) and takes place mostly in a seaside resort in Ireland. The narrator, Max Morden, returns to the Cedars and reminisces about his childhood vacation there, his meeting with his wife and her death. I was very disappointed in this novel. Banville overuses highbrow words which I didn't even feel like looking up in the dictionary. They just didn't seem that appealing. He draws analogies constantly some of which I found to be dead on and others making no sense to me at all. Almost every description, analogy and character is negative, unpleasant or sad. "My life seemed to be passing before me, not in a flash as it is said to do for those about to drown, but in a sort of leisurely convulsion, emptying itself of its secrets and its quotidian mysteries in preparation for the moment when I must step into the black boat on the shadowed river with the coin of passage cold in my already coldening hand." Wonderful analogy this time, but how dark can you get? Even the descriptions of the Irish seaside were disparaging. While this was touted as a book about grief, mortality, death, childhood and memory, I found Banville's elegant and precise prose to be too exact, the book more about the words he wrote than about the feelings he was trying to convey. He jumps from memory to memory, from present to distant past to recent past in a way that took me most of the book to catch on to. In fairness, I am going to share a passage about a storm that I thought was very powerful: "I enjoyed it outrageously, sitting up in my ornate bed as on a catafalque, if that is the word I want, the room aflicker around me and the sky stamping up and down in a fury, breaking its bones. At last, I thought, at last the elements have a pitch of magnificence to match my inner turmoil! I felt transfigured, I felt like one of Wagner's demi-gods, aloft on clashes of celestial cymbals. In this mood of histrionic euphoria, fizzing with brandy-fumes and static, I considered my position in a new and crepitant light." For such a short book and a winner of the Man Booker Prize, it took almost a week to read because I really had to force myself to it. I acknowledge that I am not a fan of the dark, depressing and overly cerebral novel. Obviously others are and this may be the perfect book for them. However, I don't plan on reading any more books by this author.
Rating: 1.5
Posted by Framed at 1:15 AM
2 comments:
Booklogged said...
Beautiful passages, but I would hate to read a whole book like that. Very cerebral. I'm glad you shared the one about the storm because that's an awesome passage. It's refreshing to read a review and not feel compelled to add the book to my list. Thanks, Framed.
10/21/2007 5:14 PM
Stephanie said...
I can't agree with you more. I HATED this book!!
"The Sea" is a short book (195 pages) and takes place mostly in a seaside resort in Ireland. The narrator, Max Morden, returns to the Cedars and reminisces about his childhood vacation there, his meeting with his wife and her death. I was very disappointed in this novel. Banville overuses highbrow words which I didn't even feel like looking up in the dictionary. They just didn't seem that appealing. He draws analogies constantly some of which I found to be dead on and others making no sense to me at all. Almost every description, analogy and character is negative, unpleasant or sad. "My life seemed to be passing before me, not in a flash as it is said to do for those about to drown, but in a sort of leisurely convulsion, emptying itself of its secrets and its quotidian mysteries in preparation for the moment when I must step into the black boat on the shadowed river with the coin of passage cold in my already coldening hand." Wonderful analogy this time, but how dark can you get? Even the descriptions of the Irish seaside were disparaging. While this was touted as a book about grief, mortality, death, childhood and memory, I found Banville's elegant and precise prose to be too exact, the book more about the words he wrote than about the feelings he was trying to convey. He jumps from memory to memory, from present to distant past to recent past in a way that took me most of the book to catch on to. In fairness, I am going to share a passage about a storm that I thought was very powerful: "I enjoyed it outrageously, sitting up in my ornate bed as on a catafalque, if that is the word I want, the room aflicker around me and the sky stamping up and down in a fury, breaking its bones. At last, I thought, at last the elements have a pitch of magnificence to match my inner turmoil! I felt transfigured, I felt like one of Wagner's demi-gods, aloft on clashes of celestial cymbals. In this mood of histrionic euphoria, fizzing with brandy-fumes and static, I considered my position in a new and crepitant light." For such a short book and a winner of the Man Booker Prize, it took almost a week to read because I really had to force myself to it. I acknowledge that I am not a fan of the dark, depressing and overly cerebral novel. Obviously others are and this may be the perfect book for them. However, I don't plan on reading any more books by this author.
Rating: 1.5
Posted by Framed at 1:15 AM
2 comments:
Booklogged said...
Beautiful passages, but I would hate to read a whole book like that. Very cerebral. I'm glad you shared the one about the storm because that's an awesome passage. It's refreshing to read a review and not feel compelled to add the book to my list. Thanks, Framed.
10/21/2007 5:14 PM
Stephanie said...
I can't agree with you more. I HATED this book!!
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
"Cloudstreet" is a book that I purchased at least a year ago and hadn't gotten around to yet. When I saw that it matched the criteria for three of the challenges I had entered, I decided this was a great time to read it.
Unread Authors Challenge I had never even heard of Tim Winton before I picked this book up. His writing is such a turn-about from the last book I read (The Story Girl) that I had a difficult time with it. L M Montgomery has this wonderful, flowing, flowery, descriptive prose while Winton writes in a stark, abrupt, choppy manner. The book contains a lot of dialogue without the standard punctuation (absolutely no quotation marks). Montgomery's book is filled with innocence, naivete, familial affection, and imagination. There is very little innocence or naivete in any of Winton's characters. In fact, they are wise and cynical. It highlights family dysfunction, but is no less imaginative even though it takes a completely different tack. Because of the three challenges, I was determined to plow through the book even though I was disillusioned at the first. Somewhere along the line though, I got caught in the cadence of Winton's writing and the sad story of his characters. Then I found it be well-written and compelling.
Armchair Traveler Challenge This book is set in western Australia, mostly in the city of Perth. It was certainly not written for the purpose of attracting visitors to that part of the world as the setting is almost as bleak as the story. And I had a hard time understanding the Australian dialect. Carn, bonzer, orright, cod my wallop, are just some examples. Some I never did figure out. In a way, it was fun trying to figure out what was going on.
Book Award Challenge "Cloudstreet" won the Miles Franklin Award. I have never heard of this award so I'm not sure what it's criteria is. But like many award-winning books, it does not tell a pretty tale. It is a saga of two completely different families: The Pickles, an alcoholic mother, gambling father, anorexic daughter and two odd bothers; and the Lambs, a large, noisy family, with an emotionally distant, hardworking and intense mother, an easy-going father, three sisters and three brothers, whose existance revolves around the handicapped brother and the accident that caused his handicap. These two disparate families come to inhabit the same large haunted home, and the book follows their lives over the course of twenty years. Even though it was rough going, the book eventually captured my attention as the families grow and come together and find their love for each other even if they fight that love all the way. By the time, I finished the book, I had become involved with the characters and the story. I can see why it would have won an award.
I really only liked two characters: Quick Lamb and his father, Lester, but Winton took you into the mind of several characters so you knew them and understood them, even though I could never quite understand some of their self-destructive antics.
I'm glad I read the book. It was interesting and very different from most of the books I read. Quite a look into human nature from a dark point of view. I probably would have liked it better if I had read it after another darker novel like "The Ambidextrist." As is, I can't say I enjoyed the experience very much.
Rating: 3.75
Posted by Framed at 10:42 PM
5 comments:
Cassie said...
Sounds a little like something I might like to read, only because I love dark but I'll probably pass on this one.
10/18/2007 9:31 AM
Bookfool said...
You need a Dinkum Dictionary. There is so much incomprehensible slang in Australian books that I bought myself a book to translate! I've only read a couple of the Miles Franklin award winners, but I enjoyed them. I think I just love the setting. Australia's way up there on the top of my wish list of places to go.
10/18/2007 7:29 PM
Booklogged said...
I think I can pass on this one, too. The Dinkum Dictionary sounds good, tho.
10/18/2007 10:01 PM
gautami tripathy said...
Thanks for the review. I do go for dark books...But not horror genre..:D
10/19/2007 11:17 PM
Framed said...
Gautami, I wouldn't call put this book in the horror genre. A ghost appears in maybe two paragraphs. It was an odd inclusion having very little to do with the story. It's appearance causes an accident which could have happened from any number of catalysts. Really odd.
"Cloudstreet" is a book that I purchased at least a year ago and hadn't gotten around to yet. When I saw that it matched the criteria for three of the challenges I had entered, I decided this was a great time to read it.
Unread Authors Challenge I had never even heard of Tim Winton before I picked this book up. His writing is such a turn-about from the last book I read (The Story Girl) that I had a difficult time with it. L M Montgomery has this wonderful, flowing, flowery, descriptive prose while Winton writes in a stark, abrupt, choppy manner. The book contains a lot of dialogue without the standard punctuation (absolutely no quotation marks). Montgomery's book is filled with innocence, naivete, familial affection, and imagination. There is very little innocence or naivete in any of Winton's characters. In fact, they are wise and cynical. It highlights family dysfunction, but is no less imaginative even though it takes a completely different tack. Because of the three challenges, I was determined to plow through the book even though I was disillusioned at the first. Somewhere along the line though, I got caught in the cadence of Winton's writing and the sad story of his characters. Then I found it be well-written and compelling.
Armchair Traveler Challenge This book is set in western Australia, mostly in the city of Perth. It was certainly not written for the purpose of attracting visitors to that part of the world as the setting is almost as bleak as the story. And I had a hard time understanding the Australian dialect. Carn, bonzer, orright, cod my wallop, are just some examples. Some I never did figure out. In a way, it was fun trying to figure out what was going on.
Book Award Challenge "Cloudstreet" won the Miles Franklin Award. I have never heard of this award so I'm not sure what it's criteria is. But like many award-winning books, it does not tell a pretty tale. It is a saga of two completely different families: The Pickles, an alcoholic mother, gambling father, anorexic daughter and two odd bothers; and the Lambs, a large, noisy family, with an emotionally distant, hardworking and intense mother, an easy-going father, three sisters and three brothers, whose existance revolves around the handicapped brother and the accident that caused his handicap. These two disparate families come to inhabit the same large haunted home, and the book follows their lives over the course of twenty years. Even though it was rough going, the book eventually captured my attention as the families grow and come together and find their love for each other even if they fight that love all the way. By the time, I finished the book, I had become involved with the characters and the story. I can see why it would have won an award.
I really only liked two characters: Quick Lamb and his father, Lester, but Winton took you into the mind of several characters so you knew them and understood them, even though I could never quite understand some of their self-destructive antics.
I'm glad I read the book. It was interesting and very different from most of the books I read. Quite a look into human nature from a dark point of view. I probably would have liked it better if I had read it after another darker novel like "The Ambidextrist." As is, I can't say I enjoyed the experience very much.
Rating: 3.75
Posted by Framed at 10:42 PM
5 comments:
Cassie said...
Sounds a little like something I might like to read, only because I love dark but I'll probably pass on this one.
10/18/2007 9:31 AM
Bookfool said...
You need a Dinkum Dictionary. There is so much incomprehensible slang in Australian books that I bought myself a book to translate! I've only read a couple of the Miles Franklin award winners, but I enjoyed them. I think I just love the setting. Australia's way up there on the top of my wish list of places to go.
10/18/2007 7:29 PM
Booklogged said...
I think I can pass on this one, too. The Dinkum Dictionary sounds good, tho.
10/18/2007 10:01 PM
gautami tripathy said...
Thanks for the review. I do go for dark books...But not horror genre..:D
10/19/2007 11:17 PM
Framed said...
Gautami, I wouldn't call put this book in the horror genre. A ghost appears in maybe two paragraphs. It was an odd inclusion having very little to do with the story. It's appearance causes an accident which could have happened from any number of catalysts. Really odd.
