Okay people, the thing is that I do read books, just slowly and distractedly and I have a hard time finishing them. In the meantime, I read the April issue of The Sun. My favorite part was the interview with Connie Rice, who works with cops and gangs in LA to reduce violence. It was an intriguing and inspiring interview. 48 pages.
-Tamie
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Books I've Read While Housesitting
The Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz second in a series. i think they are fun. (409 pages)All Shall Be Well; and All Shall Be Well; and All Manner of Things Shall Be Well by Tod Wodicka good. (272 pages)
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah Good Story -- follows two women from the start of their friendship in 1974 (as 14 year olds) into the 21st century. I cried several times. Tam, I thought of you constantly while I was reading this -- partly simply because of the span of their relationship -- and thought how lucky you and I are.(479 pages)
Also started but didn't finish The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra (82 pages)
Buffy in Denver
These are the books I've read
"Whitethorn Woods" by Maeve Binchy (449 pages)
"Vargtimmen" by Denise Mina (358)
"mig äger ingen" by Åsa Linderborg (294)
"Växa och upptäcka världen-sju utvecklingssprång under barnets första levnadsår" by Hetty van de Rijt & Frans X. Plooij (263)
For the record, these are the books I've read. :) /Anna
"Vargtimmen" by Denise Mina (358)
"mig äger ingen" by Åsa Linderborg (294)
"Växa och upptäcka världen-sju utvecklingssprång under barnets första levnadsår" by Hetty van de Rijt & Frans X. Plooij (263)
For the record, these are the books I've read. :) /Anna
Friday, April 18, 2008
Catching Up
Jeremy here. I've been so busy reading I haven't had time to post, so I wanted to at least get title, numbers, a one-sentence description, and a review up before I forget them all.
1. Queen of Dreams, Chita Divakaruni. The second-generation daughter of Indian parents struggles with her mother's apparent divinatory powers, her divorce and with her thirteen-year-old daughter, and post 9/11 reconceptions of what it means to be an American. Well-written and insightful but with an unsatisfyingly abrupt and arbitrary ending. 352 pgs.
2. Duma Key, Stephen King. After a construction accident, an ordinary middle-class guy relocates to a mysterious Florida Key and realizes the power for his art to affect reality. An interesting premise, and some heart-stopping moments around page 400 or so, but we'll say 592 pages could have been 200 easily. Once you get famous, evidently you don't need an editor anymore.
3. All Shall Be Well, All Shall Be Well, All Manner of Things Shall Be Well, Tod Wodicka. A wonderful and quirky book about a man who embraces living in the medieval period as much as possible - we learn why as the book unfolds. Hildegard von Bingen, homemade mead, ethnic identity, and freeform jazz. Read it. 272 pgs.
4. People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks. I realize that if a book has anything to do with religion in any tangential way, I can justify it as research. I've actually recommended this one to several of my textual criticism friends - the main character is a book conservator dealing with the (historically real) Sarajevo Haggadah, a Jewish prayer book illuminated in a curiously Christian manner and saved during World War II by a Muslim curator. As she finds relevant artifacts in the book (a bloodstain, a butterfly wing), short stories within the text reveal more of the book's history and its constant interconnection with these three monotheistic faiths. Very nice - and it can go in my bibliography somewhere. 384 pgs.
5. Capote in Kansas, Kim Powers. Buffy asked me whether she should read this book, and I didn't have an answer. It's strange in a way that invites me to sit down and think about it more so that I can answer that question meaningfully, but I'm not likely to do so. Maybe one of you should. At any rate, it explores the fact that Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, and Truman Capote, the author of In Cold Blood, grew up as friends in the same town, and the influence they may have had on each other's work, as well as issues of their sexuality, of death, o race, poverty and violence. All the great themes here, folks - read it and perhaps we can have a conversation. 304 pgs.
And for my theology colloquium:
1. Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers. Famous German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher, the "father of modern theology," was hanging out with his Romantic friends (he was roommates with Schlegel for a while), and they said, "Fritz, you're a fascinating and charming, intelligent, art-loving guy. What's all this religion crap about?" Schleiermacher wrote this book in response. Nice and lyrical in a way that the later analytical Schleiermacher isn't - religion is "lying on the bosom of the earth" and being caught up in rhapsodic perception of the interconnectedness of all things. I think Schleiermacher has a lot to say to many "cultured despisers of religion" today - if you ignore most of the problematic last chapter. 200 pgs.
2. David Tracy, Analogical Imagination. It may seem strange for a Mennonite theologian to be drawing on a Roman Catholic for most of his work. But I do. Tracy outlines a method for Christian theologians to engage meaningfully in a pluralist society without giving up the very important pieces of their identity, centered around the idea of the "classic" and how it speaks to the questions of existence we all have. This guy will help me write my dissertation (not really - but through his book). 467 pgs.
Keep on goin', fellow readers!
1. Queen of Dreams, Chita Divakaruni. The second-generation daughter of Indian parents struggles with her mother's apparent divinatory powers, her divorce and with her thirteen-year-old daughter, and post 9/11 reconceptions of what it means to be an American. Well-written and insightful but with an unsatisfyingly abrupt and arbitrary ending. 352 pgs.
2. Duma Key, Stephen King. After a construction accident, an ordinary middle-class guy relocates to a mysterious Florida Key and realizes the power for his art to affect reality. An interesting premise, and some heart-stopping moments around page 400 or so, but we'll say 592 pages could have been 200 easily. Once you get famous, evidently you don't need an editor anymore.
3. All Shall Be Well, All Shall Be Well, All Manner of Things Shall Be Well, Tod Wodicka. A wonderful and quirky book about a man who embraces living in the medieval period as much as possible - we learn why as the book unfolds. Hildegard von Bingen, homemade mead, ethnic identity, and freeform jazz. Read it. 272 pgs.
4. People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks. I realize that if a book has anything to do with religion in any tangential way, I can justify it as research. I've actually recommended this one to several of my textual criticism friends - the main character is a book conservator dealing with the (historically real) Sarajevo Haggadah, a Jewish prayer book illuminated in a curiously Christian manner and saved during World War II by a Muslim curator. As she finds relevant artifacts in the book (a bloodstain, a butterfly wing), short stories within the text reveal more of the book's history and its constant interconnection with these three monotheistic faiths. Very nice - and it can go in my bibliography somewhere. 384 pgs.
5. Capote in Kansas, Kim Powers. Buffy asked me whether she should read this book, and I didn't have an answer. It's strange in a way that invites me to sit down and think about it more so that I can answer that question meaningfully, but I'm not likely to do so. Maybe one of you should. At any rate, it explores the fact that Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, and Truman Capote, the author of In Cold Blood, grew up as friends in the same town, and the influence they may have had on each other's work, as well as issues of their sexuality, of death, o race, poverty and violence. All the great themes here, folks - read it and perhaps we can have a conversation. 304 pgs.
And for my theology colloquium:
1. Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers. Famous German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher, the "father of modern theology," was hanging out with his Romantic friends (he was roommates with Schlegel for a while), and they said, "Fritz, you're a fascinating and charming, intelligent, art-loving guy. What's all this religion crap about?" Schleiermacher wrote this book in response. Nice and lyrical in a way that the later analytical Schleiermacher isn't - religion is "lying on the bosom of the earth" and being caught up in rhapsodic perception of the interconnectedness of all things. I think Schleiermacher has a lot to say to many "cultured despisers of religion" today - if you ignore most of the problematic last chapter. 200 pgs.
2. David Tracy, Analogical Imagination. It may seem strange for a Mennonite theologian to be drawing on a Roman Catholic for most of his work. But I do. Tracy outlines a method for Christian theologians to engage meaningfully in a pluralist society without giving up the very important pieces of their identity, centered around the idea of the "classic" and how it speaks to the questions of existence we all have. This guy will help me write my dissertation (not really - but through his book). 467 pgs.
Keep on goin', fellow readers!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Just Barely Staying Between Phoenix and Jeremy!
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
Lovely story about a woman who is taken from Africa as a 12 yo, sold into slavery in S. Carolina. Throughout the book she travels to Canada, Sierra Leone, and England. Ends with her as an elderly woman living in England. Good story. 487 pages
Instead of Education: Ways to Help People Do Things by John Holt
from the back cover: "Holt lays out the foundation for un-schooling as the vital path to self-directed learning and a creative life. . . . packed with examples of how to create learning opportunities outside the established educational structure, as well as fascinating stories of people who choose to self-educate, non-compulsory schools . . . Holt's most direct and radical challenge to the educational status quo and a dramatic appeal to parents to save their children from schools of all kind." This book was first published in 1976 (the year I was born) and I wonder if that is part of the reason I don't find it the most interesting book I've read on this subject... Still good, though. I also read it in two halves, with several weeks separating the reading, that probably didn't help....222 pages
Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, Terrific Ninety Days: An Almost Completely Honest Account of What Happened to Our Family When Our Youngest ... Came to Live with Us for Three Months
Meh. This was okay. I don't really recommend it. 113 pages
~buffy in denver
Lovely story about a woman who is taken from Africa as a 12 yo, sold into slavery in S. Carolina. Throughout the book she travels to Canada, Sierra Leone, and England. Ends with her as an elderly woman living in England. Good story. 487 pages
Instead of Education: Ways to Help People Do Things by John Holt
from the back cover: "Holt lays out the foundation for un-schooling as the vital path to self-directed learning and a creative life. . . . packed with examples of how to create learning opportunities outside the established educational structure, as well as fascinating stories of people who choose to self-educate, non-compulsory schools . . . Holt's most direct and radical challenge to the educational status quo and a dramatic appeal to parents to save their children from schools of all kind." This book was first published in 1976 (the year I was born) and I wonder if that is part of the reason I don't find it the most interesting book I've read on this subject... Still good, though. I also read it in two halves, with several weeks separating the reading, that probably didn't help....222 pages
Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, Terrific Ninety Days: An Almost Completely Honest Account of What Happened to Our Family When Our Youngest ... Came to Live with Us for Three Months
Meh. This was okay. I don't really recommend it. 113 pages
~buffy in denver
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Welcome Aaron!
Welcome Aaron -- you have a great start! (though I must ask -- is there really such a thing as a gratuitous amount of reading?)
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Place in the World by Eric Weiner
Another great non-fiction read. Author is an NPR correspondent and self-described grump. Very interesting, the discussion of what makes happiness. Each chapter describes his visit to a different country (India, Bhutan, Qatar, England, etc) Iceland is one of the happiest places on Earth -- who knew? 329 pages
The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon
This is the companion book for the Outlander series (It feels a little redundant to say that.) Some parts were more interesting to me than others -- like any good companion book, probably. I didn't read the last part, which was excerpts of books I haven't read yet. Given the chance to do over, I probably wouldn't read this one. 402 pages read.
Buffy in Denver
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Place in the World by Eric Weiner
Another great non-fiction read. Author is an NPR correspondent and self-described grump. Very interesting, the discussion of what makes happiness. Each chapter describes his visit to a different country (India, Bhutan, Qatar, England, etc) Iceland is one of the happiest places on Earth -- who knew? 329 pages
The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon
This is the companion book for the Outlander series (It feels a little redundant to say that.) Some parts were more interesting to me than others -- like any good companion book, probably. I didn't read the last part, which was excerpts of books I haven't read yet. Given the chance to do over, I probably wouldn't read this one. 402 pages read.
Buffy in Denver
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
I Am Far Behind Dawgs!
Well sorry it has taken so long to post but this is Aaron. If this does not work I am sorry as I don't know how to work this confounded thing as my life philosophy is anti-myspace, anti-facebook, and anti-blog. As for those of you who have read gratuitous amounts I must encourage you to keep reading, as reading is good, but for everyone's sake stop reading. Thanks. Lets get on to business.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson- A laid back read that overall I enjoyed 256 pages Baby!!!
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah- Depressing but good 226 pages
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss- Best book on turtle stacking ever 72 pages
Open Your Eyes and Soar by Cuban Women- Great stories written by Cuban women 102 pages
Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut- Amazing, go read it now 135 pages
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver- 2nd read and still awesome 400 pages
Gig by Jon Bowe- Americans essays about their jobs from garbage collector to doctors 49 pages
The Prince by Machiavelli- Ahhh Machiavelli 71 pages
A Collection of Primary Documents by Spikard- Collection of great historical writings 133 pages
1491 By Charles Mann- Good Book on Native American's impact on the enviroment 40 pages
Total that is 1444 as of now. I may have forgotten stuff and if I did I will add them later. Also if any of my professors happen to glance at this page I have read Woodrow Wilson by Thomson, The Cuban Missile Crisis by Munton and Welch and A Concise History of Modern India by Metcalf and Metcalf along with various other writings and primary documents.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson- A laid back read that overall I enjoyed 256 pages Baby!!!
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah- Depressing but good 226 pages
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss- Best book on turtle stacking ever 72 pages
Open Your Eyes and Soar by Cuban Women- Great stories written by Cuban women 102 pages
Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut- Amazing, go read it now 135 pages
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver- 2nd read and still awesome 400 pages
Gig by Jon Bowe- Americans essays about their jobs from garbage collector to doctors 49 pages
The Prince by Machiavelli- Ahhh Machiavelli 71 pages
A Collection of Primary Documents by Spikard- Collection of great historical writings 133 pages
1491 By Charles Mann- Good Book on Native American's impact on the enviroment 40 pages
Total that is 1444 as of now. I may have forgotten stuff and if I did I will add them later. Also if any of my professors happen to glance at this page I have read Woodrow Wilson by Thomson, The Cuban Missile Crisis by Munton and Welch and A Concise History of Modern India by Metcalf and Metcalf along with various other writings and primary documents.
Gerald Ford, Stephanie Plum, and Gemma Doyle
Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford by Thomas M. Defrank
The author was a Newsweek correspondent for many years and interviewed Ford many times with the understanding that nothing would be published until after his (Ford's) death. Interesting stuff about Watergate, his relationship with many other former presidents, etc.
250 pages.
Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
pure fluff and very short. I feel better about posting it when it's proceeded by something slightly weightier. ;)
166 pages.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
New young adult fiction, the first in a series (a trilogy?) I liked it, but not sure if I'll read the rest or not.... 1895, English girl living in India, returns to England after her mother is killed, goes to boarding school, has supernatural visions....
403 pages.
Buffy in Denver
The author was a Newsweek correspondent for many years and interviewed Ford many times with the understanding that nothing would be published until after his (Ford's) death. Interesting stuff about Watergate, his relationship with many other former presidents, etc.
250 pages.
Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
pure fluff and very short. I feel better about posting it when it's proceeded by something slightly weightier. ;)
166 pages.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
New young adult fiction, the first in a series (a trilogy?) I liked it, but not sure if I'll read the rest or not.... 1895, English girl living in India, returns to England after her mother is killed, goes to boarding school, has supernatural visions....
403 pages.
Buffy in Denver
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Reading backlog
It's Michelle. Here's the news from the front:
During holy week, I read Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott (272 pgs). It is a hilarious and inspirational read. Whenever I need a smile, I read the story about her "Aunties" that she takes to the beach.
In the fifth grade, I've been reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (144 pgs) during their silent reading time. It is a beautiful book that I wish I had read when I was younger. It is about a girl during World War II who helps protect the Jewish family next door during the Nazi occupation.
In the sixth grade, they get to choose between several novels to read. Although Wayside Stories is a good read, I choose The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis (224 pgs). Funny and has ridiculously long chapter titles.
And finally today I spent 4 hours finishing The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (543 pgs). It pokes at everything in the world that need to be poked at. Religion, food production, politics, health, school. If you haven't read it, go read it now.
During holy week, I read Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott (272 pgs). It is a hilarious and inspirational read. Whenever I need a smile, I read the story about her "Aunties" that she takes to the beach.
In the fifth grade, I've been reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (144 pgs) during their silent reading time. It is a beautiful book that I wish I had read when I was younger. It is about a girl during World War II who helps protect the Jewish family next door during the Nazi occupation.
In the sixth grade, they get to choose between several novels to read. Although Wayside Stories is a good read, I choose The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis (224 pgs). Funny and has ridiculously long chapter titles.
And finally today I spent 4 hours finishing The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (543 pgs). It pokes at everything in the world that need to be poked at. Religion, food production, politics, health, school. If you haven't read it, go read it now.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Behaving Badly and Behaving Well
A smorgasbord from Jeremy as spring break winds up and we spring back into comprehensive exam action. Wish me luck on the philosophy exam, friends.
1. Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories. The master of the short story - and I do mean short, some of them three pages, ranging from the existential to the absurd. As I understand, Tamie and Buffy share a high school memory from one particular story: "I am not well, and Shotwell is not himself." Recommended, especially for future fiction writing graduate school students. 480 pgs.
2. Neil Labute, Seconds of Pleasure. The question I have to ask myself after reading a book of short stories like this is, Why do I continue to seek out misanthropic fiction? There is no answer, but I know I need to stop, for my own well-being if not Mr. Labute's. 224 pgs.
3. Tyler Knox, Kockroach. All right, so this one was misanthropic too, but in a good way. Knox inverts Kafka's famous story in which Gregor Samsa wakes up as a giant cockroach, and instead tells the story of a cockroach who wakes up as a tall and creepily attractive human. He is particularly successful in crime; given this fact, you can guess in what political office he ends up. Readable and grim. 368 pgs.
4. Larry Doyle, I Love You Beth Cooper. Kind of an American Pie in novel form; each chapter begins with a caricature of the nerdy hero's increasingly bedraggled face. Nice in concept, dull in realization. 272 pgs.
5. Marie Phillips, Gods Behaving Badly. Fun, light novel about the Greek gods barely hanging on in the 20th century; Artemis walks dogs, Apollo is a TV psychic, and Dionysius owns a night club. Refresh your mythology and read semi-chick-lit at the same time! 304 pgs.
6. In a complete reversal from the previous book, Immanuel Kant's Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone. Final book for my comprehensives. Kant argues philosophically for the necessity of a religion based solely on obedient moral behavior. Yes, I know it's more complicated than that. 352 pgs.
1. Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories. The master of the short story - and I do mean short, some of them three pages, ranging from the existential to the absurd. As I understand, Tamie and Buffy share a high school memory from one particular story: "I am not well, and Shotwell is not himself." Recommended, especially for future fiction writing graduate school students. 480 pgs.
2. Neil Labute, Seconds of Pleasure. The question I have to ask myself after reading a book of short stories like this is, Why do I continue to seek out misanthropic fiction? There is no answer, but I know I need to stop, for my own well-being if not Mr. Labute's. 224 pgs.
3. Tyler Knox, Kockroach. All right, so this one was misanthropic too, but in a good way. Knox inverts Kafka's famous story in which Gregor Samsa wakes up as a giant cockroach, and instead tells the story of a cockroach who wakes up as a tall and creepily attractive human. He is particularly successful in crime; given this fact, you can guess in what political office he ends up. Readable and grim. 368 pgs.
4. Larry Doyle, I Love You Beth Cooper. Kind of an American Pie in novel form; each chapter begins with a caricature of the nerdy hero's increasingly bedraggled face. Nice in concept, dull in realization. 272 pgs.
5. Marie Phillips, Gods Behaving Badly. Fun, light novel about the Greek gods barely hanging on in the 20th century; Artemis walks dogs, Apollo is a TV psychic, and Dionysius owns a night club. Refresh your mythology and read semi-chick-lit at the same time! 304 pgs.
6. In a complete reversal from the previous book, Immanuel Kant's Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone. Final book for my comprehensives. Kant argues philosophically for the necessity of a religion based solely on obedient moral behavior. Yes, I know it's more complicated than that. 352 pgs.
First book for April
The Secret School by Avi
short-ish chapter book about Ida, a 14 year old girl in rural Colorado in 1925. When her teacher has to leave before the school year, Ida decides to become the teacher (the school board decided to simply close the school instead of finding a new teacher). A good story, I would've like it when I was 10, certainly. 153 pages.
Buffy in Denver
short-ish chapter book about Ida, a 14 year old girl in rural Colorado in 1925. When her teacher has to leave before the school year, Ida decides to become the teacher (the school board decided to simply close the school instead of finding a new teacher). A good story, I would've like it when I was 10, certainly. 153 pages.
Buffy in Denver
Thursday, April 3, 2008
So that's how you do it...
I've been wanting to post my updated numbers forever, but I haven't known how. This month, Tamie was kind enough to post instructions for morons like myself. Thanks, Tamie!
And I feel unreasonable pride at keeping pace with the out of control kids we know as B&J (not sure what your kid's name is but I hope it starts with P because than your family acronym can be a sandwich :-)). I'm kind of secretly hoping to break my leg or come down with mono so I have an excuse to lay in bed and catch up for real. Plus, you lot (speaking to the general posting public now) have been reading some good books lately! If I could read all the books you have liked lately, I'd be a happy camper.
Not a lot of new books this month, but I did reread the Chronicles of Narnia. I do that about once a year. More to the point, I did not read one single classic! Oh, it was good, my friends. I still can't talk about it. Need more time to process the relentless joy.
Clan of the Cave Bear, Jean M. Auel
This was a recommendation from a friend, and it's the first in a series that I initially mistook for a children's epic, but upon reading, changed my mind. It's pretty violent and intense in certain parts. It's about a young girl names Ayla who lives in prehistoric times when the world is split up between partially evolved humans (Clan, or "flatheads") and pretty much evolved humans ("Others"). Ayla is one of the Others, but when an earthquake kills her family and leaves her nearly dead, a Clan woman takes pity on her and raises her as one of their own.
The book is multilayered and quite a fascinating study of identity, family, home, humanity, love, and faith. This book, the first of three, details Ayla's life with the Clan and how she finds love there, despite never fitting in and always feeling/looking different. 495 pages.
Valley of the Horses, Jean M. Auel
Continuing the saga of Ayla, who finds herself alone once again, without her family and completely vulnerable to the elements-- though a good deal better equipped as a woman of fourteen than she was as a child of five. Much of the book deals with her solitary journey as well as that of another important character. Eventually, their paths cross.
As much as the first book was about family and love and what it means to belong to someone, this book was about self-sufficiency versus loneliness and it resonated with me right now. Ayla is fine going it alone, she can do it all herself and thrive, actually, as an independent strong woman. But she doesn't like it. She doesn't savor it, she doesn't relish it. The ability to go it alone does not the desire to go it alone make. How well I know. 544 pages.
Love Is A Mix Tape, Rob Sheffield
This was a very poignant, sweet book written by a young widower about the wife of his youth. Rob is a funny guy, and obviously something of a music fanatic as was his late wife, Renee. The book tells all about their relationship, and the whole thing was written while he was wrestling with his own grief (his wife died suddenly, of a brain aneurysm, completely out of the blue).
It's not deep, it's not groundbreaking, it's not witty or smart or Nobel Prize material by any means. It's just honest, and authentic. It's very heartfelt, and a lovely tribute to a woman who must have been something wonderful. 219 pages.
I'm going to read some of the books all of you have been writing about this month. Keep up the recommendations!
-Phoenix
And I feel unreasonable pride at keeping pace with the out of control kids we know as B&J (not sure what your kid's name is but I hope it starts with P because than your family acronym can be a sandwich :-)). I'm kind of secretly hoping to break my leg or come down with mono so I have an excuse to lay in bed and catch up for real. Plus, you lot (speaking to the general posting public now) have been reading some good books lately! If I could read all the books you have liked lately, I'd be a happy camper.
Not a lot of new books this month, but I did reread the Chronicles of Narnia. I do that about once a year. More to the point, I did not read one single classic! Oh, it was good, my friends. I still can't talk about it. Need more time to process the relentless joy.
Clan of the Cave Bear, Jean M. Auel
This was a recommendation from a friend, and it's the first in a series that I initially mistook for a children's epic, but upon reading, changed my mind. It's pretty violent and intense in certain parts. It's about a young girl names Ayla who lives in prehistoric times when the world is split up between partially evolved humans (Clan, or "flatheads") and pretty much evolved humans ("Others"). Ayla is one of the Others, but when an earthquake kills her family and leaves her nearly dead, a Clan woman takes pity on her and raises her as one of their own.
The book is multilayered and quite a fascinating study of identity, family, home, humanity, love, and faith. This book, the first of three, details Ayla's life with the Clan and how she finds love there, despite never fitting in and always feeling/looking different. 495 pages.
Valley of the Horses, Jean M. Auel
Continuing the saga of Ayla, who finds herself alone once again, without her family and completely vulnerable to the elements-- though a good deal better equipped as a woman of fourteen than she was as a child of five. Much of the book deals with her solitary journey as well as that of another important character. Eventually, their paths cross.
As much as the first book was about family and love and what it means to belong to someone, this book was about self-sufficiency versus loneliness and it resonated with me right now. Ayla is fine going it alone, she can do it all herself and thrive, actually, as an independent strong woman. But she doesn't like it. She doesn't savor it, she doesn't relish it. The ability to go it alone does not the desire to go it alone make. How well I know. 544 pages.
Love Is A Mix Tape, Rob Sheffield
This was a very poignant, sweet book written by a young widower about the wife of his youth. Rob is a funny guy, and obviously something of a music fanatic as was his late wife, Renee. The book tells all about their relationship, and the whole thing was written while he was wrestling with his own grief (his wife died suddenly, of a brain aneurysm, completely out of the blue).
It's not deep, it's not groundbreaking, it's not witty or smart or Nobel Prize material by any means. It's just honest, and authentic. It's very heartfelt, and a lovely tribute to a woman who must have been something wonderful. 219 pages.
I'm going to read some of the books all of you have been writing about this month. Keep up the recommendations!
-Phoenix
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
One last book for March
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
What a great book -- I've discovered that I'm really interested in economics, or at least behavioral economics. I laughed out loud while reading this book -- should you really do that when reading a non-fiction econ book? The author is a prof at MIT who "explains how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible, seemingly illogical forces skew our reasoning abilities" (from the book flap). 254 pages
Buffy in Denver
What a great book -- I've discovered that I'm really interested in economics, or at least behavioral economics. I laughed out loud while reading this book -- should you really do that when reading a non-fiction econ book? The author is a prof at MIT who "explains how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible, seemingly illogical forces skew our reasoning abilities" (from the book flap). 254 pages
Buffy in Denver
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