03 November 2006
The Lady and the Unicorn
By Tracy Chevalier
In the same vein as her book Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Lady and the Unicorn is a fictional account of the story surrounding the creation of the famed Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries, now housed at the Musée national du Moyen-Age (Musée Cluny) in Paris. This topic was particularly intriguing to me, since I'd seen the tapestries in person back in 2001.
While the book provides a really interesting up-close look at the design and weaving processes, I could have done with out the rest of the story, which was fairly bawdy. I didn't really care about the characters—just the tapestries. :D It's a good read if you want to find out how it was done (keeping in mind that it's not really a history book) and don't mind the bawdiness, but I wouldn't exactly recommend it to my mother.
...who of course, now, has received the book as a gift and is currently reading it. Go fig.
Rating: ***
The Chronicles of Narnia
By C.S. Lewis
I finally got around to reading these all the way through. I'm pretty sure I read through book 4 when I was much younger, but really, it was a different experience reading them as a twenty-something. I vividly remember the moment several years ago when my mother and I were watching a televised version of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe... and suddenly made the connection that the whole thing was a giant allegory with Aslan as Jesus. We just looked at each other going, gee, this is sounding very familiar all of a sudden. Well, if you think that particular book smacks you across the face with Christian metaphors (and obviously as a small child I didn't pick up on this at all), wait til you hit some of the later books (especially The Last Battle).
The end of the series is COMPLETELY MINDBLOWING. I understand the whole thing was a Christian allegory to begin with, but HOLY COW. I will try not to spoil it here, but... it's vaguely creepy to see how enthusiastic they are, and also horrible to think that Susan is now left behind. I did read that Susan's fate is meant to be an example, that rather than showing that she is now damned/unable to someday go to New Narnia, her fate is left open—if she repents and returns to believing in Aslan, and asks him for forgiveness, she will be able to join her family. Still creepy and shocking though.
You can also see in A Horse and His Boy how harshly Lewis contrasts the Calormenes with the Narnians. The Calormenes are repeatedly referred to as "dark," "smelling of garlic and onions," with "curved swords..." he even says their poetry is far inferior to the Narnians'. The picture he is trying to paint here is painfully obvious, as all the Calormenes' culture reflects that of the Middle East (whereas the Narnians are obviously very similar to medieval England). It's a seriously bigoted world view, one that I'm sure was more acceptable at the time the books were written, but now is rather jarring to read.
I did enjoy reading these books. I'd thought them awfully dry the first time through—stuffy English children in a fairly entertaining magical land, etc... The difference this time was, I watched the 2005 movie first. The movie completely blew me away, and while reading the first book (and even the succeeding books which involve the Pevensie children) I was able to imagine those warm, courageous and yet flawed children in place of the stuffy English ones, and it added a wonderful new dimension to the story. It was enough to carry me through the boks I didn't like as much, and made me enjoy my favorites even more (those would be The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Horse and His Boy).
Overall, I'd recommend them (they're a super-quick read too, you could probably finish one in a single day if you tried), but only after viewing the 2005 film first. :D Can't wait til movie #2!
Rating: *****
31 July 2006
Aquamarine
By Alice Hoffman
Ok, on its own, this book is okay. It's very short, but the story has interesting subject matter; it just seems like there's not much to it.
Then again, I watched the movie first, and that may have made a LOT of difference. Despite its intended audience being, oh, let's say the 10-14 set, I really enjoyed it. So imagine my surprise when I get the book out of the library, and the only things that are the same are:
1) There are two girls, Hailey and Claire, one of whom is being forced to move away.
2) There is a mermaid named Aquamarine who ends up in the pool of a beach club.
3) There is a guy named Raymond.
That's about it. I have never seen a movie SO LOOSELY based on its book, with the exception of maybe Last of the Mohicans. Honestly, I'd say go rent the movie if you want a story with a bit more depth (no mermaid puns intended).
Rating: *
Girl With a Pearl Earring
By Tracy Chevalier
I first started reading this book during several visits to Barnes and Noble; I got about halfway through, but never finished it. Then a friend brought the movie over, and I was just flabbergasted at how the film captured the essence of Vermeer's paintings. This regenerated my interest in the book, so, it was off to the library. Now I'm considering buying it. While it doesn't have the advantage of stunning visuals like the film, Chevalier's comfortable writing style makes it hard to put the book down. I was intrigued by Griet and her relationship with the Vermeer family. Of course, it didn't hurt that I was already a huge fan of Vermeer—I was fortunate enough to catch a traveling exhibit of Vermeer and the Delft School at the National Gallery in London in 2001. Vermeer's work is incredible. The entire Delft School was painting the same subject matter in the same colors, but you can just see that Vermeer is the only one who gets it exactly right.
Now that I've gushed over the relationship between Vermeer and the book... it's back to the old argument over whether writers should "create" fictional events using real people. I don't think that very much is known about Vermeer and certainly not about his model for "Girl With a Pearl Earring." Still, the story is an interesting "what if," and I found myself just enjoying it on its own merits and separating it in my mind from the actual painter and painting. Really, I think that's the key with all works of historical fiction. I'd most definitely recommend the book.
Rating: *****
She Goes To War
By Edith Pargeter
A wartime tale about a 28-year-old woman, Catherine Saxon, who joins the Women's Royal Naval Service ("Wrens") in England during WWII. It is very interesting to follow the path of "Saxon" as she learns to cope with wartime society and her own feelings on the state of the world. Reading this book at the present time really brings home just how distant the current war in Iraq is for us. Those who do not have a loved one involved can practically ignore it if we choose (not that we should)... it certainly doesn't require the sort of whole-hearted effort and attention needed in WWII England. I kept wondering, as I read, just how autobiographical the book really was. I know that the author joined the Wrens herself, and most likely had first-hand experience with bombings and communal living. I'm not sure where Catherine Saxon starts and the author leaves off. All of this said, the book is extremely wordy and rather political, but very worth reading. I have two more of hers to go, and I'm sure I'll get to them although I've been taking a break for some fluff in between!
Rating: ** and 1/2
The Pelican Brief
By John Grisham
My dad gave me this book after reading it himself. I hadn't seen the film (still haven't) so I really didn't know what to expect other than the usual John Grisham qualities: action, intrigue, and, well... lawyers. It was a fun read and kept my interest. I may have to check out some other Grisham books as well (I'll just borrow from the large collection I've procured for my brother at yard sales). I have to say though, it's a good thing Grisham explained where all of Darby's funds are coming from... I certainly would have wondered, what with all the plane-hopping, hotel-jumping and clothes-buying. Poor law student, HA.
Rating: *** and 1/2
30 July 2006
The Lovely Bones
By Alice Sebold
I got this at a yard sale. I'd heard that it was a huge best-seller, so I thought I'd give it a try. It's an intriguing book with a unique premise: the main character, 14-year-old Susie Salmon, has been murdered and is narrating the book from heaven. This really is an interesting novel, and I got really wrapped up in the story of the Salmon family, their struggles with grief, and the murder investigation which surrounded Susie's death. The progression is interesting, and the end is satisfying... a good summer read.
Rating: **** and 1/2
Bad Twin
By Gary Troup
Ok, if you don't know anything about The Lost Experience, this isn't going to interest you much. It's supposedly written by Gary Troup (uhh.. it's an anagram for 'purgatory'), a passenger on Oceanic flight 815 who didn't make it to the island. It's a fairly fast-paced mystery which involves the Widmore Corporation, and the Hanso Foundation is (of course) a shadowy figure in the background. If you're into the Lost Experience, certainly give it a read-through. If you're not, well, it's probably enough to keep you interested anyway.
Rating: ***
Knit One, Kill Two
By Maggie Sefton
Okay, it's total fluff. And it's pretty much cashing in on the giant knitting craze. But if you're a knitter who likes to read, give it a whirl—it's not a bad mystery. There's no deeply technical knitting involved either, so I'd recommend it as a light read even if you're not a knitter. Who knows—you might find yourself wanting to pick up a pair of needles.
Rating: ***
The Education of Little Tree
By Forrest Carter
In this book, Forrest Carter tells the story of his childhood, growing up in the 1930s, the grandson of Cherokee Indians. It's an intriguing situation—the time period, the players, and the social interactions between Carter's family and the surrounding neighbors and townspeople. It focuses on a time that was tumultuous for everyone, but maybe more so for the remaining Cherokee people, and certainly for this boy, who lost his family and then was taught a whole new way of life. It is most decidedly not a happy book, but it has some important things to say.
Rating: ***
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded
By Samuel Richardson
I remember way back in one of my English classes, hearing that Pamela was considered the first novel. It is an epistolary novel, which started out as an entertaining story for Richardson's family. It's obviously a morality tale, with Pamela given as a shining example of what remaining virtuous against all odds can do for you; but I found it to be pretty unbelievable—not that she could remain virtuous, but that she could go from fearing her master's lascivious intent to revering him as her husband. *shrug* It was a different time, I suppose, and it is a work of fiction. Anyway, it is a long, long journey to get through this book. I confess that I skimmed in parts, because "Mrs. Pamela" is extremely wordy in her letters, and the story gets very, very repetitive. Did I mention the story is repetitive?
Rating: ***
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
By Ian Fleming
Another book borrowed from my parents' "to sell" pile. This is a fast read—an adventure story involving a family with an amazing car. A family whose father would think nothing of putting his whole family in danger to try and catch criminals. Hmm. I think Mr. Fleming's numerous Bond storylines may have seeped into this story a bit.
Rating: **
Under the Black Flag: The Romance and Reality of Life Among the Pirates
By David Cordingly
Ok, I admit it. I read the first four chapters or so word-for-word, but I sort of skimmed the rest. It pretty much reads like a textbook, and though the subject matter was interesting, I found myself looking to quickly pick out the best bits and move on to something else. I did find out a lot about the differences between pirates and buccaneers, famous pirates like Captain Morgan and Anne Bonny, and piratey places like Tortuga. I'd recommend getting it out of the library if you're interested.
Rating: **
01 October 2005
My parents recently weeded out their books. I ended up taking home about 50 of them to read; I'll probably keep some of them, and the others will be returned to the pile. They're almost entirely kids' books, being that my mother is an elementary school librarian.Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
By Roald Dahl
After watching the new movie, and enjoying the first movie for many years, I decided I'd go back and read the books again. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a REALLY fast read, and very enjoyable. It's interesting to see what things they chose to use in the new movie vs. the old, and the story and characters are enjoyable in themselves. The second book, however, took a lot longer to get through. The story is like one of my weirder dreams, and as it turns out, the 3 bed-ridden grandparents (remember, Grandpa Joe is up and about now) are at least as selfish and obnoxious as any of the kids who visit the chocolate factory. I guess I'd recommend reading the first book and leaving it at that.
Rating: **** for the first book; ** for the second.
Finally, a new post!
The Da Vinci Code
By Dan Brown
As with Angels & Demons, the hype surrounding this book is unbelievable. Having read A&D I knew what to expect from Dan Brown this time around. Once again, the setting was interesting, and the concept was somewhat intriguing, but the execution left something to be desired. It's certainly stirred up a storm of controversy in the Catholic Church.
I hear they're making a movie (big surprise)... somehow I can imagine the role of Robert Langdon going to someone like Bill Pullman; and yet, they've cast Tom Hanks. Huh. I'm sure I'll see the movie at some point, but I don't know if it will be in the theater.
Rating: ****
03 May 2005
Marathon Man
By William Goldman
Obviously my attraction to this book was based on the author - William Goldman, author of The Princess Bride. Unfortunately, I didn't get what I was hoping for. Marathon Man is fairly dark and frankly rather disturbing in some respects; it does have many interesting plot twists that I really didn't expect, but I didn't find the main character to be sympathetic enough to really concern myself with him. (Besides... I had to skip the whole dentist scene just on principle.)
I'd still recommend The Princess Bride in a heartbeat, but I don't think I'll be picking up another of Goldman's books anytime soon.
Rating: **
Star Trek The Next Generation/X-Men: Planet X
By Michael Jan Friedman
Hahahahaha. I read this just purely to see how bad it could possibly be, and for entertainment value. It didn't disappoint on either count. It is BAD, but in an amusing way. What else would one expect from a ST:TNG/X-Men crossover novel? Friedman pulled it off decently well and it was a fun diversion after Pattern Recognition. :D
Rating: ***
Pattern Recognition
By William Gibson
The fact that I read this book at all is completely Jesse's fault. He was teaching it in his Freshman English class, and wanted someone to discuss it with outside of class, so... I was the sucker he talked into reading it. :D
Well. If I thought Angels & Demons insulted my intelligence, I was certainly put in my place by THIS book. It uses such intellectual language and references that it made my brain hurt at the start. The writing flowed well and the characters were engaging. The story was also fascinating, but somehow I was a little disappointed by the end. After the entire book's worth of buildup, it seemed a little mediocre. Or maybe I was just expecting more twists after reading Dan Brown. :) Someday I might try another Gibson book, but it probably won't be anytime soon.
Rating: ****
Angels & Demons
By Dan Brown
Ok. So, this book has gotten a semi-ridiculous amount of hype, outdone only by its sequel, The Da Vinci Code. Everyone I know has read this book, so I figured I might as well jump on the bandwagon. The story itself was interesting and involved many intriguing locations and events. I am very interested in art and history. I also studied art history in college so some of the works and locations Brown wrote about were familiar to me.
I guess the two problems I had with the book were as follows:
1) I just don't really LIKE Robert Langdon. The way he's written, it's like Brown is just writing his ideal version of himself into his books (a Mary Sue, as fanfic writers would put it). His case is not helped by the fact that he's wearing a tweed jacket in his author picture.
2) Because he is writing for a mass-market audience, Brown has to explain EVERYTHING in great detail. It drove me crazy reading his lengthy explanations of things that seemed obvious to me. I understand that it was probably necessary based on his wide market... but it was frustrating.
I am going to read The Da Vinci Code at some point here despite the fact that certain people *coughJESSEcough* keep telling me it's a) terrible and b) worse than Angels & Demons. I might as well, and besides, my parents LOVED it so I know they'd love to be able to discuss it with me.
Rating: ***
01 May 2005
The Last of the Mohicans
By James Fenimore Cooper
While not the first, this is certainly the most well-known of the five Leatherstocking Tales written by James Fenimore Cooper. Having seen the movie, I thought I would give the book a try. In addition, living in the Finger Lakes area made this book that much more interesting, because I could easily visualize the landscape behind Cooper's story. I really, really liked the characters. Prior to reading the book I had no idea that Hawkeye and Natty Bumppo were the same person... and it's still a little hard for me to accept due to the movie image - somehow Daniel Day Lewis doesn't really fit that name. :) Still, the "man without a cross" kept things interesting and added a sort of swashbuckling element to the story. All the characters are well-written - Uncas and Chingachcook, Magua, Alice, Cora, Heyward, and even Munro. It did take a while to get into this book, but it was enough to make me want to read the other four.
The biggest shock for me was that the ending is almost the complete opposite to the film, in regards to life, death and relationships. Basically, they just did whatever they wanted with the film story, threw in the names of the major characters, and slapped the book's title on their creation. I still appreciate the movie as being entertaining, but the two really don't have much to do with each other.
I am looking forward to reading the other four books, especially The Pathfinder, some of which takes place at Fort Oswego and Fort Ontario. I went to college at Oswego, and toured Fort Ontario, which is still standing (although it's been rebuilt a few times since then).
Rating: ****
13 October 2004
Prey
By Michael Crichton
Obviously I'm on a Michael Crichton kick. Found this in the bargain books at Barnes and Noble. Once again, it's rather technical, but Crichton explains himself in a fairly straightforward manner, so that even concepts that would normally go way over my head are understandable. This particular book focuses on 'distributed-agent programming' and the convergences of nanotechnology, genetics, and biology - and what happens when an experiment gets out of control. It was a quick, engaging read, like Timeline and Airframe, but the main character kind of annoyed me. He seemed like a vehicle for Crichton to give us pointers on being the Perfect Dad. Anyway, I'd still recommend it, but I doubt any Crichton book will beat out Timeline on my list of favorites.
Rating: ** and 1/2
19 September 2004
Tailchaser's Song
By Tad Williams
I seem to remember a friend of mine reading this back in high school (mind you that was.... nearly 10 years ago now). The protagonist is a young cat, Fritti Tailchaser, who is searching for his dear friend Hushpad. On the way he finds a much bigger adventure than he'd planned, and manages to save cat-kind (and the whole world, really) from an ancient enemy. The book is well-written and well-paced. My only complaint was that the book took too long between the climax and the end. By that point I'd already figured out what would happen, even if Tailchaser hadn't. Still, I liked the book and would give some of the author's other books a try.
Rating: ****
No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting
By Anne L. MacDonald
This book was chock full o' interesting subject matter, but was written just like every one of my undergrad and graduate papers:
Statement. 12 quotes you've dug up in support of said statement. Closing sentence for paragraph (in rather formal language) that tries to be witty but doesn't usually succeed, such as, "Surely they had had enough!"
Repeat 129830198490814 times. There was much discussion of wartime knitting, something near and dear to my heart. We're not knitting for the guys who are in the desert right now, but I understand that pressing urge to do anything and everything you can for the men who are fighting in foreign lands! I would recommend this book very highly as a research tool, and also for casual perusal. You may not want to read it cover-to-cover as I did -- it took forever.
Rating: *** and 1/2
23 August 2004
Airframe
By Michael Crichton
An interesting read. Focuses on the investigation that follows an incident aboard a commercial airliner. The details about airplane manufacturing and the air transport industry in general were fascinating. Considering how much information Crichton puts into this book, it could have been incredibly dry; instead, I had a hard time putting it down. There are lots of twists and turns in the investigation, and the ending is satisfying. I would say that overall, it's not as good as Timeline, but it's a fast, satisfying read.
Rating: *** and 1/2
15 August 2004
Timeline
By Michael Crichton
I wasn't expecting this book to suck me in. I bought it at a yard sale for a dollar, and pulled it out just for the heck of it. Let me tell you, I'm glad I did, because it's WONDERFUL. Being a history major I appreciated the historical context (although that also allowed me to fully appreciate the attitude some people had toward the 'academics' in the book), and yet it was balanced nicely by the near-constant action. The characters were so well-written... and despite the end being predictable, it just felt so right that I wouldn't possibly complain. (Made me cry, too.)
Just to be clear - the book and the movie are NOTHING alike... I rented the movie just to see how badly they butchered the story, and boyyyy did they ever. Marek with a Scottish accent? And who is this Francois guy? Chris is not only the son of the professor, but he's not even a history student? It was laughably bad. ONLY watch it if you've read the book already.
Rating: *******
(Hmm... I seem to be getting a bit arbitrary in my ratings... ahh well, sometimes 5 stars just won't do!)
Transformers Series
By David Cian, Scott Ciencin
Yes, these are most definitely fluff, and I was amazed at the number of errors in typography and grammar. Still... they're a fun read. Besides, I read them before sending them on to my boyfriend in Iraq, who's a HUGE Transformers fan. :)
Rating: **
Sorcery and Cecilia; Or, the Enchanted Chocolate Pot
By Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
This is a cute book. First of all, it grew out of the "letter game" played skillfully by the two authors (meaning, they wrote letters to each other in character, neither knowing ahead of time where the story was going). The two protagonists are clever and engaging, and their story involves not just Regency-style intrigues, but also wizardry and magic, which seem to be accepted as a normal fact of life.
Wrede is already one of my favorites thanks to her Enchanted Forest Chronicles, and the two women seem to work well together. I'm a big Jane Austen fan as well, so I enjoyed reading about this particular time period. Although it got a bit predictable in the end, I'm still looking forward to the sequel, which I do believe has been published by now.
Rating: ****
02 May 2004
Bonne and Clyde: A Love Story
By Bill Brooks
I got this book out of the library on a whim, strolling around the New Books section. Part of what drew me in was the cover art - it's very nicely done. But, as we know... can't judge a book by its cover, right? I breezed through it in a little over a day. Brooks has a very fluid writing style. I could read chapter after chapter and not really find a good stopping place. The story is tumultuous, emotional, and at times violent (but really not very graphic).
While I enjoyed the book, it does bring up a point I raised earlier when discussing Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were real people. I'm not sure what gives Brooks the right to write a book about their love story, nor how accurate it is; the author cited no sources for his information or interpretation. All I know for sure is, he used the real names of Bonnie and Clyde's associates/relatives etc. There is a brief postscript which tells what happened to the major players, and that's it. Did Bonnie really keep a journal like she does in the book? Were the letters written to her mother based on real letters? Does the book accurately follow the path the couple took through the South? There's no way to know, because Brooks basically just ignores the fact that someone might be wondering these things. Come on... I'm a history major. :)
All in all, if you're looking for an interesting, quick read, I would certainly recommend this book.
Rating: ***
30 April 2004
Mythological storytelling.
Hart's Hope
By Orson Scott Card
This was an interesting read. I'm a big fan of OSC, but my biggest complaint is that his books are pretty predictable. This one wasn't. It is written almost in the style of a myth or legend; the entire tale is being retold by one of the characters to another, and the feats achieved by the main characters certainly represent the heights of both heroism and evil. I felt the most connected to Orem, but OSC also gives you an insight into the lives of Palicrovol, Beauty, and Weasel. It's a twisted tale, and the end perhaps leaves something to be desired, with a "The Lady or the Tiger?"-type non-ending.
I did enjoy it, moreso by the end than I would have thought at the beginning. It's a new direction for Orson Scott Card, at least from what I've read.
Rating: ***
12 April 2004
Comments.
Added a comments feature. I will probably finish my current book within the next day or so.07 April 2004
Some of the best books I've ever read.
The Farseer Trilogy
The Liveship Traders Trilogy
The Tawny Man Trilogy
(also known as "the Assassin books, the Ship books, and the Fool books")
By Robin Hobb
I'm not sure I can say enough to convey my love for these books. Starting with Assassin's Apprentice, they tell the story of FitzChivalry Farseer, bastard pseudo-prince of the Farseer line (with a detour to Bingtown in the Ship books, but read them anyway - it's important). One thing I love about these books is how people are named after personality traits: Chivalry, Verity, Shrewd, Regal, Patience, Modesty.... etc. After a while you completely forget they aren't just names. :)
Robin Hobb's writing style is *marvelous.* She writes very eloquently, using a sophisticated vocabulary but never in a way that sounds pretentious. She describes her characters so vividly, and examines their feelings and reactions with such a sympathetic eye, that you can't help but feel for them. Fitz in particular is a human character, sometimes painfully so. And believe me, when you invest the reading of 9 books into someone, you really care what happens to them. I laughed out loud, and cried very hard at times. They're just wonderful. I'd recommend them for anyone at all, but probably most for fantasy fans.
Rating: ***********
(out of print - but there are used copies around)
Desolation Road
By Ian McDonald
This book is ....indescribable. I read it because my boyfriend read it years ago and said it was really entertaining. I suppose it was, but... there's just so many characters and strange tangents that it's difficult to follow at times, and even when you DO understand what's going on, it doesn't make much sense. There are some interesting characters, and some amusing parts; I may give it another try later on, now that I know what to expect.
Rating: **
04 April 2004
Wuthering Heights
By Emily Brontë
The orphan Heathcliff receives a home, and basically everything goes downhill from there. T_T Okay, maybe there's more to it than that. Heathcliff and the daughter of the house, Catherine, grow up together and fall in love, but nothing goes right for them. Eventually Catherine is dead, Heathcliff basically goes mad... it's bad piled upon worse, and furthermore, they're not even nice people who I could feel sorry for. I really, really couldn't stand this book.
Rating: Zero. Yes, zero.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
By Thomas Hardy
Tess Durbeyfield is a young girl from an ancient but degenerated rural family. Upon discovery of the family's ancestors high heritage, Tess is sent to seek assistance from her supposed relatives, the D'Urbervilles. What follows is tragedy upon tragedy. I knew going into it that anything Thomas Hardy wrote wasn't going to be cheerful, but I can't say as I really enjoy a book where the good-hearted, intelligent main character seems to get screwed at every turn. It's well-written and a well-crafted story with some twists and turns, but don't read it if you want something happy.
Really, what impressed me the most about this book was the cover image of my particular edition (left), which I think captures Tess perfectly: her youthful innocence, but also the deep sadness of her tragic life. The image is A Girl's Head by British painter Sir George Clausen.
Rating: **
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus
By Orson Scott Card
This is one of those "what-if" historical novels. In the future, scientist-historians have devices which can observe the past close-up. One scientist in particular begins to realize the amount of suffering caused by one particular event: Columbus' discovery of America. I mean, think about it: it wiped out nearly all the cultures originally in the Americas and forced those who survived into slavery; it allowed for Europe to dominate the world for all the years to come. Tagiri, the scientist, is on a mission to determine whether it would be better to stop Columbus from returning to Europe, and if so, to intervene in the past. This was a fascinating read and must have taken an incredible amount of research! However, it brings up a very controversial issue: the portrayal of non-fictional characters in a fictional work. My boyfriend and I discussed this at length, and I came to realize that I get very angry when authors write stories like this and portray a real person in a negative light; but I'm okay with it when it's positive. How hypocritical of me. I guess I think it's something that should probably be stayed away from, really. And yet... I'm reading this author's Tales of Alvin Maker series, which does just that to a mind-bending degree. *shrug*
Rating: ***
The Ender's Shadow Series
(Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, Shadow of the Giant)
By Orson Scott Card
These books are a parallel series to Ender's Game, etc. In fact, the first book is mostly a retelling of Ender's Game, but following the character of Bean rather than Ender. Bean is a bean-sized boy with a giant-size intellect, the product of genetic experimentation. It's fascinating to get the behind-the-scenes view of some of his interactions with Ender - the differences in how they interepreted their conversations, perceived vs. real motivations for their actions, etc. Again, these books get very philosophical and intellectual sometimes. I did really enjoy the codebreaking and problemsolving Bean encounters. My only complaint about these books (and really, the original Ender Series as well) is that the overall plot gets pretty predictable. In some ways it's like watching a Disney movie, where you just know everything is going to turn out right in the end. Still, the series is a marvelous, engaging read.
Rating: *****
The Ender Series
(Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind)
By Orson Scott Card
In book 1, Earth is in grave danger from an alien race that has come close to destroying humanity. They've taken to breeding military geniuses and training them at a Battle School from a very young age, trying to find the one child who can lead Earth's forces to victory. The books follow Ender Wiggin through Battle School, then through his later exploits as a Speaker for the Dead. I can't praise these books enough; they are some of the best I have ever read and I couldn't put them down. They get quite intellectual and philosophical, but not enough that it becomes overbearing.
Rating: *****
Ethan Frome
By Edith Wharton
Ethan Frome is a man of mystery to the narrator, who is a newcomer to Starkfield. Bit by bit, the narrator learns (as does the reader) Ethan's sad story. He's had a hard life, caring for a sick mother and then a sickly wife, but there's an ironic twist which explains much more about his sorrow. Edith Wharton's writing style is formal (it was written in 1911), and I had a hard time remembering that the characters don't have English accents, since Wharton is an American author. This is my first read by this author, and I think I'll tackle The Age of Innocence next (well, someday).
Rating: *** and a half
03 April 2004
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
By AVI
Another 13-year-old, Miss Charlotte Doyle, is set to take a voyage across the Atlantic, following her family back to their home in Providence, Rhode Island. However, her fellow passengers don't show up, and even the porters on the dock run away when they see her chosen vessel. Charlotte is plunged into an adventure on the high seas, trying to find where her loyalty lies: with the gentlemanly Captain Jaggery or with the sea-hardened crew. I read this in one sitting, and very much enjoyed it. I'll have to check out more of AVI's books in the near future. And just think... I read this before the giant pirate craze created by Pirates of the Caribbean. :)
Rating: *****
Behind the Bedroom Wall
By Laura E. Williams
13-year-old Korinna Rehme, a German schoolgirl, is an enthusiastic member of the Hitler Youth, along with many of her friends. Convinced that Hitler is "the most wonderful man," she must make a tough decision when she discovers that her parents are "traitors," and are hiding Jews behind her bedroom. This book gave a keen insight into the Hitler Youth organization and how it was able to garner so much support among the children of Germany. It also helps the reader better understand what life was like for Jews in hiding.
Rating: *****
Peyton Place
By Grace Metalious
The town of Peyton Place is rocked by a series of events which don't belong in the typical image of a small town. However, author Grace Metalious reminds us that just because something isn't supposed to happen, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I read this because we watched part of a documentary on the '50s in class which talked a lot about this book. Recommended if you don't mind slightly perverse fiction. It really does offer a look at the dichotomy of '50s society: reality vs. the image everyone chooses to portray and believe.
Rating: *** and a half
The Galway Chronicles
(Book 1: Only the River Runs Free; Book 2: Of Men and Angels)
By Brock and Bodie Thoene
A miracle is foretold for the small Catholic town of Ballyknockanor; a stranger comes to town, and a struggle takes place against a cruel landlord. I really enjoyed this book. I've been reading a lot of books set in Ireland lately; I think it's time to dig out my history, folk tale, and poetry books from the Irish culture class I took a couple of years ago. :D Anyway, this book is the first of a series (it has four books so far) by Brock and Bodie Thoene, well-known authors of many series of Christian fiction books. This is the second book of theirs I have read, and I think I enjoyed this one more than the first. It reads very easily and the characters are endearing, yet realistically flawed. The end surprised me, although the series plot as a whole is a little predictable, and by the end of book 2 there's a feeling of "What HASN'T happened to this family?!?" It's not so much a question of knowing exactly what's going to happen, but of knowing that no matter what, they're going to get screwed. :p I still would like to read the other two books.
Rating: **** and a half
Memoirs of a Geisha
By Arthur Golden
Tells the story of a young girl's training and career as a geisha. I also read this over winter break, in early January 2001. What confused me at first was that I couldn't tell if the book was fictional or an actual memoir. I mean, there's even a translator's note supposedly written by the man who sat down with Sayuri (the geisha) and listened to her life story. Sounds real, right? (There's a debate on that.) Golden writes as though he was really there, listening to a woman describe the story of her life as a geisha in Kyoto's Gion district. It's fabulous. It flows very easily... I finished it in only a couple of days. For anyone wondering what the life of a geisha was really like, I would definitely point them in the direction of this book.
Rating: *****
Circle of Friends
By Maeve Binchy
I read this over my winter break, in December 2000. I couldn't put it down! It sucks you right in, and you get to know the characters so well that they practically become real people to you. A couple of my friends have read the book as well, and when we discuss the book we talk about Benny and Eve as if they're people we know. I must say though, I was so mad at the way the book ended that I threw it across the room and cried on my bed for ten minutes when I was done. Yikes. Still, I've mellowed a bit since then, and realized that it is still a marvelous book. I almost started it again a few days afterward (and would have if I didn't have a box full of books I haven't read yet). It's also much better than the film, which is not a very faithful rendition in some major respects.
Rating: *****
The Cadfael Chronicles
The Cadfael Chronicles
(Book 1: A Morbid Taste For Bones; Book 2: One Corpse Too Many)
by Ellis Peters
Brother Cadfael, a Benedictine monk who came late to the cloister, uses his knowledge of herbs and of people to solve mysteries. These books are set in medieval England, during the period in which the Empress Maud and King Stephen were vying for the throne. In the midst of this turbulent time, Brother Cadfael works quietly in his herb garden, making medicines and enjoying the peaceful abbey life after being abroad in the world for a great number of years. When a mystery is at hand, he uses his detective skills to root out whoever is to blame. These books are a fun read, and quite well written. Cadfael, the Abbot, and several other characters are very well-created. Several of the stories were made into a TV series on PBS, starring Sir Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael (very well cast, I might add). For more information, please visit my Yahoo!Club, Cadfael's Herbarium.
Rating: **** and a half
Welcome!
Welcome to Readbooks, a book review blog. I'm an avid reader of all kinds of books, from historical fiction (and non-fiction) to sci-fi/fantasy. It's not likely you'll find a book here that is on the NYTimes best-seller list, but you will most certainly find some interesting reads. That said, it's on to the reviews!The Neverending Story
by Michael Ende. Translated by Ralph Mannheim.
Bastian Balthazar Bux is a quiet, awkward, fat little boy who gets beat up by the bullies at school on a regular basis. But when he reads the Neverending Story, he becomes a hero, a prince, and has incredible adventures of his own! This book was originally in German, and I think the translator did a fantastic job; the text flows well and tells the story very vividly. I watched the movie again after reading the book, and the movie is *NOTHING* in comparison. Definitely read the book.
Rating: *****
