All Consuming : bjh2108

A story about "East of Eden (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:28 GMT

East of Eden (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)

by John Steinbeck

I don’t quite know how to even summarize this book. It really is the story of one man’s life—but it’s a sprawling story. It follows the life story of Adam Trask and his family, and interweaves the stories of the people who shape Adam and his children throughout their lives.

I went into my reading having heard people say they’d really enjoyed the book, but not knowing much about it. And really, that’s enough. There’s not a huge plot hook to draw you in, but East of Eden is a really, really good book.

What stands out to me is the way the main characters are so fully developed. Yet Steinbeck does this so slowly throughout the course of the narrative, that I didn’t think about it until I finished the book and realized how well I knew each of the characters. I loved so many of them-~~Lee, Adam, Aron, Abra, Cal. Often, I was frustrated with them and yet I felt like I loved and understood them at the same time. There are so many parallels in the family relationships~~-between brothers and fathers and sons—and yet each relationship is very much distinct and different.

As I was reading it, someone asked me if it was depressing…classic question for a Steinbeck novel…and I have to say no very emphatically. If I gave a run-down of some of the many horrible things that happen throughout the novel, I guess you might think it was depressing, but the book is by no means heavy in tone. I felt like it was overwhelmingly hopeful.

Yes, there are parallels to be made between the generations of Adam’s family and the family of the biblical Adam…there are themes of good and evil…but what interested me the most was the recurring idea of growth, formation, and influence-~~who and what a man can become, and why. “Timshel~~-thou mayest!”

A story about "Good in Bed"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:26 GMT

Good in Bed

by Jennifer Weiner

Don’t laugh. I read it, I liked it, say what you will. Yes, it’s chick lit. But it was…enjoyable.

A story about "So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:26 GMT

So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading

by Sara Nelson

The premise of this book is that it’s the chronicle of a year in the life of a passionate reader. Sara Nelson set out at the beginning of 2002 to read a book a week and chronicle her thoughts on each one. And, pretty much, she does accomplish this. Her stated goal is to do more than just this, though; her desire was to observe the reading process and the ways books intersect with our lives. And those observations are exactly what I liked about this book.

I enjoyed the way Nelson mentions various reading quirks that I often see in myself—like “double-booking,” and the aversion to re-reading (when there is the guilt of so many unread books looming overhead). Also, the way we have “public books,” you know…the ones that you’re proud of reading, so you’re more apt to let yourself be seen reading them. Unlike guilty pleasures like Good in Bed and Bridget Jones’ Diary, both of which I read at home on the weekend.

I really liked So Many Books, even though I realized that Nelson’s and my own taste in books probably don’t intersect too much. Nelson says, “If a particular book I mention makes you want to head off to the nearest bookstore, great; if not, maybe what I say about it will spark a memory or suggest a topic that seems honest or interesting or true” (7). And, it did. That’s what I love about books and talking about books—the springboard effect. Books can bring up common experiences and ideas, and provide ways for us to connect with each other personally, as well as through discussion of the book itself. And you don’t always have to have read a book to be able to have a conversation about it.

A story about "The Biographer's Tale: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:18 GMT

The Biographer's Tale: A Novel

by A.S. Byatt

I’m kind of on hiatus from this one. I was totally in the right mood for it when I started it, but I got distracted by other books…so I’ve set it aside for now.

A story about "The Battle of Evernight (The Bitterbynde, Book 3)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:17 GMT

The Battle of Evernight (The Bitterbynde, Book 3)

by Cecilia Dart-Thornton

I liked this volume the least of the trilogy. I had few quibbles with the way the events played out, I just felt cheated by the ending. I felt like it was tacked on. It deserved much more attention, especially given the writer’s style and pace up until the last couple of chapters.

With that said, I liked this trilogy. The author relies a lot on folk tales for the supernatural creatures that appear throughout the books, and sometimes that reliance was a little too obvious. Her writing style requires patience-~~the narrative often gets lost in description~~-but I enjoyed the story. I just wanted more out of the ending. I felt like I’d invested in the story, and the first two books were far stronger than the last installment.

A story about "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:16 GMT

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)

by J.K. Rowling

I’m re-reading this in anticipation of the movie. I think it’s still my favorite Harry Potter as far as the story goes.

Now that I’m coming to this one after most recently reading Order of the Phoenix, I’m noticing a difference in Rowling’s writing. As the books progress, she’s not trying so hard to make them stand-alone, and I think they’re better books for it. We don’t need a re-explanation of Quiddich in every single volume, thank you very much!

Anyway, all of that said, I love how these books can suck me in and distract me from whatever else I’m reading. Great fun.

A story about "The Song Reader"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:15 GMT

The Song Reader

by Lisa Tucker

I was initially very intrigued by the concept behind this book: the idea that you could figure out people’s problems by examining the song lyrics that run through their heads. It ends up being more than just that idea—there’s more of a story here than I expected. And in the end, I really enjoyed the story Tucker built around the concept that drew me in.

The characters were well developed-~~especially the teenage narrator, Leeann, and her older sister Mary Beth (the “song reader”). The story of their family drew me in and kept me reading. It did feel like a first novel in places~~-there were times I felt the imagery or situations were a little too obvious. But overall, it was a quick, good read.

A story about "A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:15 GMT

A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali

by GIL COURTEMANCHE

I gave up on this one. It sounded compelling. But the characters were completely flat, and I honestly didn’t care about any of them by the time I hit page 50. So it’s going back to the library.

A story about "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:14 GMT

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel

by Gregory Maguire

I really enjoyed this. I was worried that it would be more of a spoof, more cartoonish than it is. It isn’t. It’s really pretty good.

There’s a focus on art that I didn’t expect. That theme and the Dutch setting remind me-~~oddly enough~~-of Vreeland’s Girl in Hyacinth Blue and Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring.

A story about "The Center of Everything"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:13 GMT

The Center of Everything

by Laura Moriarty

I didn’t get into this one before I had to return it to the library. I may pick it up again sometime, though.

A story about "Purple Hibiscus"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:13 GMT

Purple Hibiscus

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I loved this book. It’s narrated by a young girl whose father is an obsessively strict Catholic. He holds the family to impossibly high standards, meting out harsh punishment when they don’t measure up. The father refuses to associate with “heathens”—a category which includes his father.

The book reminds me a lot of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart—it echoes a some of the same themes, exploring the conflict between Christianity and the Igbo culture and traditions. Excellent, excellent book.

A story about "Windows of the Soul"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:13 GMT

Windows of the Soul

by Mr. Ken Gire

This started out well, but I felt like Gire carried on too long with a concept that could have been dealt with in much less space. I’m glad my small group is finished with it!

A story about "Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:12 GMT

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

by Lynne Truss

This book is hilarious. What can I say—I love punctuation humor, and I will freely admit to being the type of person who calls attention to public grammar errors. The British humor certainly doesn’t hurt.

A story about "Sixpence House"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:11 GMT

Sixpence House

by Paul Collins

This is sort of a memoir-ish account of Collins’ move from San Francisco, California to Hay-on-Wye, the famous “Town of Books” in Wales. I visited Hay-on-Wye in 2000, and found the place delightful. I have fond memories of browsing for books in the shadow of Hay Castle.

The book was great fun. Collins incorporates references to obscure books throughout his narrative, as well as observations on life in Britain. A favorite passage involves a meditation on water pressure in British showers.

Another favorite passage:

“If a book cover has raised lettering, metallic lettering, or raised metallic lettering, then it is telling the reader: ‘Hello. I am an easy-to-read work on espionage, romance, a celebrity, and/or murder.’ To readers who do not care for such things, this lettering tells them: ‘Hello. I am crap.’”

You may be interested to note that Sixpence House has no raised lettering, metallic lettering, or raised metallic lettering on its cover.

A story about "The Rape of the Fair Country"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:06 GMT

The Rape of the Fair Country

by Alexander Cordell

I started this and then went to Wales. Lousy reason for getting distracted, but there you go. Once I get through Foucault’s Pendulum, I’ll pick it up again.

A story about "Jesus I Never Knew, The"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:06 GMT

Jesus I Never Knew, The

by Philip Yancey

I keep getting distracted from this one, as often happens to me with nonfiction. I’ll get back to it at some point.

A story about "Coraline"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:06 GMT

Coraline

by Neil Gaiman

I listened to this on CD on my drive to LA this weekend. Gaiman is a great reader. It’s a wonderful and slightly creepy tale. Loved it.

A story about "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:05 GMT

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants)

by Ann Brashares

I re-read this over the weekend. It was just as good the second time. I’ve gotta get the second one…

A story about "The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:03 GMT

The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy

by T. A. Barron

Just finished this. It’s not Tolkien, but it was pretty good. I tore through the bulk of it quickly and really enjoyed the story, though the themes weren’t always very subtle. A couple of the more minor characters were quite annoying, but the two main characters, Elli and Tamwyn, were very likable. I want to hear more about Elli in particular as the series continues. I’m interested to read the next installment.

A story about "I Capture the Castle"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:03 GMT

I Capture the Castle

by Dodie Smith

Loved it.

I Capture the Castle is made up of a series of three journals written by 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain, who lives with her family in a dilapidated castle. Her father wrote one innovative, groundbreaking novel many years ago, but hasn’t written anything since. The family has little income, and Cassandra’s older sister is determined to marry rich. When the Mortmain’s castle is inherited by a rich young American…well, you can see where this might go.

I like the way the book maintains the immediacy of a journal, and yet allows some narrative distance by having Cassandra narrate events a few days or weeks after the events occur. What I don’t like about journal narratives is that the narrator has little room to reflect on events with any real perspective, but this book managed that quite well. Cassandra is an amazing, insightful narrator, and this is an amazing book.

The movie’s a pretty good adaptation, too.

A story about "Someone To Run With : A Novel (Sifriyah Ha-Hadashah Li-Menuyim, 2000 (1).)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (bjh2108) — Wed, 25 May 2005 15:58:02 GMT

Someone To Run With : A Novel (Sifriyah Ha-Hadashah Li-Menuyim, 2000 (1).)

by David Grossman

I loved this. I finished it on Sunday, and will post more thoughts later. (Saving those for my book club discussion!)