Scads of Books

Last Reads of 2010

2011-01-28T23:46:00.000-08:00

#13 A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter: I had grown up watching a movie version of this book so reading the actual story was quite enlightening and of course the movie took many liberties with the character. While it was a sweet story and I liked it, there were some long, long cheesy speeches.

#14 Train to Potevka by Mike Ramsdell: The first part of the book was the most interesting part. The author is LDS and a spy during the cold war. The climax of the book was at the beginning and then it kind of just goes along. Then he got a little too spiritual for my taste. So it was an okay read but nothing special. A good writer though.

#15 The First Princess of Wales by Karen Harper: I really liked this book. It chronicles Joan of Kent's life from when she first goes to court and immediately catches the eye of the Prince of Wales, however though their passion for each other is strong, Joan is sidetracked by marriages and family issues, but eventually she weds the Prince, her true love. A sweet romantic story.

Two more books under my belt

2010-11-12T13:50:00.001-08:00

#11 History of Love by Nicole Krauss: I really really liked this book. It was a great weaving of three stories brought together at the end. All the characters were so interesting to read but never really overpowered the story. Really sweet.

#12 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt: This is a very loose non-fiction about famous murder trial. Although the author takes a very long time even getting to the murder. It was an interesting look at Savannah and makes me want to visit there all the more, but it amazed me that if this was non-fiction how much information the author was privy to. He does say he takes some liberties. It's very much an ode to Savannah then about this trial.

Next couple of books

2010-09-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

#9 The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry: I really liked this book a lot. It had two stories going on that the same time in two different time periods. The writing was really good. The ending was somewhat disappointing in that it was a little easy and contrived, but getting to it was still very enjoyable.

#10 Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins: I liked this book though I still think the first of the series was the best book. What I love about these books is that though there is a romantic element it is not the basis for the whole book, there are bigger issues. I think this is the one time that I didn't like that the book was from the main character's point of view because a lot of key elements were left out or hurried. Though the boy I wanted to get the girl did, it was very anticlimactic and hurried. The whole ending was very rushed. So it left me a little disappointed.

Catch-Up Post

2010-08-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

I don't know what's wrong with me, but blogging just doesn't seem to appeal to me anymore. I must not have much to say. But I wanted to document the books I've read so far this year. There's not a lot of them. Hopefully, I can remember them all.

#2 Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen (came super close to finishing, but got too bored)**
#3 Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout ***
#4 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jame Ford ***
#5 The Icing on the Cake by Elodia Strain **
#6 The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale ***
#7 Generation Me by Jean Twenge (Not quite finished, but will.)
#8 Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert ****

Not too many, if I remembered all of them.

#1 The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2010-01-17T23:38:00.000-08:00

I loved this book. The story is told from the point of three different characters, two are black maids working in Mississippi in the sixties and the other is a white woman who sees the harshness of the black community a lot more than her fellow society friends. I loved how into the characters you get and the way the author writes as them. It was so interesting and sad to read. It's so hard to believe that such treatment was tolerated and encouraged only such a short time ago and even still goes on in some parts of the country. I highly reccommend this book. Such a wonderful read.

2009 Catch Up

2010-01-17T23:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, Here is a quick run down with star ratings on the last few books I read in 2009.

#14 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak ***
#15 Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins ****
#16 Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech ****
#17 Sunshine by Robin McKinley **

I didn't get very much read this year. I got really involved in watching tv series on the internet before I go to bed which is usually when I do most of my reading. I hope to be better this year.

#13 Devil in the White City

2009-10-09T23:34:00.001-07:00

I really really liked this book. I love the mix of the non-fiction with fiction, because maybe things really did happen this way. I think authors are brave to take that on. I had never really cared about eighteenth century America very much. It just seemed very industrial to me. But this book revealed to me all the wonderful things that came from the world's fair that I still appreciate today. Then set against that backdrop the story of a serial killer who was just conniving and evil. I listened to most of this book on c.d. and it made it more enjoyable than reading. The history came to life for me and then it was so eerie, like listening to a scary story when the tale reverted to the serial killer. It was so well written and done. Even though the two stories are intertwined, there is still a separateness which at time became confusing, but I forgave it that pretty quickly. I look forward to reading more from this author.

#12 Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

2009-08-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

I read this book last year and I loved it so much that I picked it for my book club book. There were mixed reviews with it. I think most people couldn't keep up with the different story lines and the British wit. It was just as fun to read the second time and I picked up on even more. It really has become a favorite.

#11 The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

2009-08-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

This is my first into venturing into the Discworld series. It was interesting and I like Pratchett's style mostly. There are just a few times where the story suddenly changes and it's almost like brain whiplash trying to figure out what just happened. I had to read one part several times to figure out what just happened. I'll probably read a couple more books in the series to determine if I want to keep going. I love the wit and humor in the book, which could make up for the random, chaotic storytelling style. The whole story was very imaginitive.

#10 Lone Survivor by Marcus Lattrell & Patrick Robinson

2009-05-28T15:55:00.001-07:00

This book was a little hard to get into, but once I got to the meat of the story, it was a little more interesting and pretty amazing. It's an autobiographical account about the survival of one man and the brave deaths of four his fellow navy seals after a mission in Afghanistan goes really bad. It was an alright read if you like military books. A couple people in my book club thought Marcus Luttrell, the survivor, extremely arrogant in his writing. We had a pretty good discussion about what we we would have done in his position and what choices we would have made. Definitely a different book than I used to.

#9 Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

2009-03-23T16:36:00.002-07:00

This book was given to me by two people a year or so ago and i figured I should get it read. It was quite a beautiful story and elegantly written I think. It's the point of view of a young girl in China in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. It's a whole coming of age process from her having her feet bound to make tiny feet where the the four small toes are forces to wrap under the foot. Oh that chapter was painful to read. Then she goes through her life with her arranged best friend. I didn't realize that they even arrange best friends, but they love each other and are there for each other or try to be. It's quite sad and painful the way things end up but their friendship is really beautiful to read about.

#8 As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason

2009-03-23T16:36:00.001-07:00

The final and completely non-dissapointing conclusion to the Gardella series. I really loved this whole series. Vampires, hot vampire hunters led by a sexy, powerful woman in Victorian England, what's not to love? I think the plot was really good throughout the whole thing and really kept you guessing most of the time. Plus, the steamy sex scenes were nothing to sniffle at either but they are so well done for a romance I think. They still leave a lot to the reader's imagination and they don't occur every other page just to fill up the story, they have a purpose. So a romance, sure but a very enjoyable read nonetheless.

#7 Confessions of a Shopaholic

2009-03-23T16:30:00.001-07:00

I decided I wanted to read this book before I saw the movie, so I started reading the day before I was going. My roommate told me it was nothing like the movie so I would be okay, good thing because the book was bigger than I thought. And she was right, there were lots of differences. The gal, umm I can't remember her name was actually a little more likeable than in the movie and seemed smarter. The romance part also didn't just suddenly happen like it did in the movie so that was more enjoyable to read. I don't know if I'll read the sequels but it was a fun little read.

#6 The Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons

2009-02-26T22:40:00.000-08:00

When I saw the previews for the upcoming movie I was really excited. It looked super cool. Then when I found out it was based on a graphic novel, I thought neat, maybe I should read that. I wasn't really planning on it but the preview was so obscure and the more I heard about it the more I thought that I might be lost if I don't read the graphic novel. So I read it and it was really good and now I am super excited for the movie. Looks really good. The imagery in the illustrations are amazing. The level of detail that goes into each panel. I used to really love to read comics. I wasn't super into them but I loved Archie and spiderman. But access to them was kind of difficult so I didn't read very many. I got most of my super-hero knowledge from the cartoons. I love almost all of the new comic book movies. Reading this novel was liking looking at storyboards for the movie and I've seen several shots that mirror exactly whats in the book. I'm really excited to see it on the big screen.

#5 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

2009-02-15T23:46:00.001-08:00

Oscar Wilde is another arthur who I really enjoy their writing. He is probably one of the wittiest writers I have read. As I think about it, it's amazing to me that I haven't read more of his work. I read Picture of Dorian Gray in highschool. I don't remember if it was witty but I remember really enjoying it, mostly because it was really dark. Anyway, Loralee wanted to pick this for bookclub however she didn't realize it was a play and that it was very very small. So she combined it with The Great Gatsby. I had already seen the movie version and really enjoyed it and already knew a lot of the witty lines and repartee. But it was fun to read to. I think it would be so fun to perform. I plan on reading An Ideal Husband soon.

#4 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2009-02-15T23:41:00.000-08:00

I love Fitzgerald. Ever since I got a copy of his collection of short stories I have really enjoyed his writing so I was excited when The Great Gatsby was picked for our February book club book. It did not disappoint. Though I thought the plot of the story wasn't really up to par with some of his short stories, the way he tells it makes it still very enjoyable. He has such a way with phrases and descriptions. Really enjoyed reading this book and it gave me more motivation to read on in my short story book (it's quite large).

#3 Tess of the D'Ubervilles

2009-02-03T22:50:00.000-08:00

I've seen two versions of this book made into a film so I knew what happened. Though I was surprised that the heinous act of her losing her innocence was only alluded to. And how much she thought it was her fault. It's quite a sad story with only a small moment of happiness in it. I'm not sure how much I liked the writing style. And unfortunately I read this book a few weeks ago and now I can't really remember too much of what I thought of it. Could be the fact that I pretty late as well.

#2 Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

2009-01-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

This is Shannon Hale's newest novel, I think, but I've had it for a while. I was a little worried to read it so soon after Enna Burning, even though they are completely unrelated, because I'm so used to to her writing style and I was a little bored with Enna Burning. There were moments of boredom and of course you can predict the end, not necessarily the means to the end which makes the story interesting.

I've decided not to synopises for the books I read because I figure you can look them up on Amazon or something for that if you find you want to read what I like. So anyway, Dashti is a good character, though loyal to a fault and I think somewhat stupid because honestly why would you think that the handsome khan who is kissing you, believing you are another is suddenly going to be okay to accept the real thing in your place. I just couldn't wrap my head around that logic but it was still cute. I liked the journal style writing, it made me think how fun it would be to write my journal like that. Like a story. Of course everything works out in the end. I was thinking most books are pretty predictable. The protaganist will almost always overcome his/her obstacles to a happy end, but I guess its how they get there is the interesting part. My friend thought Hunger games was so predictable because of course the main girl was going to win, but you don't know how she wins and I think that is the great challenge of writer to keep us interested in how they get to the predictable end.

#1 Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2009-01-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

This book was a great read about a post apocalyptic world where everything is ruled by the Capitol and there are twelve districts that are subject to its tyranny. Story revolves around Katniss, a sixteen year old girl who has to hunt illegally in the woods to feed her mother and little sister. She is very independent and has only one friend, her hunting partner Gale. This is the time of dread for all the districts because one boy and one girl from each district is chosen to represent in the Hunger Games where there is only one victor and the others will never return. A great young adult thriller but it is the beginning of series with a definite cliffhanger at the end of the book so you may have to wait a year or so to find out what happens next. It was my book club book so I probably would have waited to read it until more books were out but now I can't wait to see what happens next.

Books to Review

2008-09-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

Well, my reviews are pretty much non-existent these days. But I'll just give my ratings on these books I've read lately.

Memory Keeper's Daughter; Kim Edwards- ***
Uncle Tom's Cabin; Harriet Beecher Stowe-August bookclub-****
Breaking Dawn; Stephenie Meyer-***
When Twilight Burns; Colleen Gleason-***
West with the Night; Beryl Markham-September bookclub-**
Good Omens; Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett-*****
Count of Monte Cristo; Alexandre Dumas-October bookclub-***
Once upon a marigold; Jean Perris-****
There is No Death; Sarah Menet-November bookclub-**
Enna Burning; Shannon Hale-***
Fugitive Pieces; Anne Michaels-December bookclub-**
Star Girl; Jerry Spinelli-****

Quick post on past books I've read

2008-07-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

Martin Eden by Jack London: I really liked the style of writing of Jack London. However, this book was quite long and somewhat depressing where the lead character toils away on his dream of becoming a writer. Sometimes to the point of extreme poverty. I found myself on the side of his friends and family who just wished he would take a normal job and give up after he had given it a good go. I was probably wrong in this feeling but I'm a lot more practical than artist types.

Boy, Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl: This autobiography of Roald Dahl's childhood was really entertaining to read. It was like reading any of his other stories and it was great to pick out where his ideas for books like Charlie and the Chocolate factory came from. I reccommend this book very much if you have read and enjoyed Roald Dahl's other books.

Danny, Champion of the World: I read this after the biography which I think made the book even more fun as I could see where the ideas had come from. Danny lives with his father in an old train car. His dad owns and operates an auto shop but secretly at night goes off and poaches pheasants on the richest man in town's property. Lots of fun shenanigans go on with this secret and how the whole town is involved. Really fun from one of Dahl's lessor known books.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger: This book is about a small family whose oldest son is in trouble for murder but they all back him as it was somewhat justifiable. They pack up into the airstream to follow after him once he escapes. Lots of things work out for them to aid them in their chase which seems to come from some spiritual power that the dad holds. It was a really engrossing book I think once you get into it. It has laughs and tears, more on the tears side but so good. I recommend it.

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume: This is on the verge of a trashy romance novel. The girl who picked this for our book club hadn't read it so didn't know it was about what it was about. The story wasn't too bad. It's about two girls who are friends over the summer. One is shy and insecure and the other is confidant and mischievious. The story starts from when they are eleven to adulthood and how they discover their bodies and sex. There are definitely a wide range of characters, to an incestuous feeling brother to selfish and criticizing mother. You could probably skip this if you want.

An Unquiet Mind by Kay Bedfield Jamison

2008-04-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

An Unquiet Mind is a non-fiction book about the author's life in dealing with her own manic-depression disorder. She explains in interesting detail about her ups and downs and thoughts on how she and society views people with this disorder. She becomes a psychoanalyst and treats people who have the same problem that she is dealing with at the same time. Because of her career she tries to keep her disorder secret but lets in a few key people until she feels that she can trust a person. It was very interesting to learn of different people's reactions. Some were close friends who then were different toward her and others were very understanding and some were pretty ignorant and mean. I really liked how she explained the need for medication but the reasons why so many manics don't take it or stay on it. She had a ten year struggle before she got the right dosage of lithium to keep her stable but also feel like herself. I learned a lot.

This is probably not a book I would have normally read and some thing were hard to understand because I have never felt that depressed or that manic. Also, sometimes I would get a little lost with some of her medical discussions but overall I thought this book was very well written.

Our discussion at book club was really interesting and we even posed the question of how different the world would be without people with this disorder. Most of the great genius' in history had this disorder. Society has definitely benefited from the effects of this disorder, I think and yet we as a society tend to head in the other direction when confronted with it. Mostly, because I think we don't understand and it can be scary. Anyway, if anyone is interested in learning about this disorder I would highly recommend this book.

Reread: Austenland by Shannon Hale

2008-03-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Just felt the urge to reread this amusing book for a quick read before I needed to read my next book club book. You can see my original review of this book here. I feel pretty much the same.

The Other Boelyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

2008-03-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

I read this book within a few days because I was trying to get it mostly read before I went to see the movie. I was really excited for the movie but thought I should read the book first. I am glad I did. The time of King Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I is one of my favorite times in history to read about or watch movies about. This book deals with the two Boelyn sisters and their relationship with the king and each other and how depending on who is the favorite in the king's eyes must serve one another. One of them truly falls in love with the kind and the other convinces the king he is so in love with her that he will do anything to have her, even split the country apart.

The book goes into so much detail about life at court and how marriage vows mean very little if the king wants something. No one has a life of their own, especially if you're a girl, only the life the king wishes to grant you. It was very well told and so much better than the movie. I think if I hadn't read the book beforehand I might have been lost and the characters are very miscontrued from the book. So definitely check out the book. I think I might read Philippa Gregory's other books that deal with the first wife of King Henry VIII (The Constant Princess) and the book that follows the time after The Other Boelyn girl.

Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason

2008-02-26T10:54:00.003-08:00

Okay, I'm going to post really quickly about all the books I have been reading in the last two months. I'm terrible about keeping up with my reviews but I still want to keep track of what I read and when. So here we go.

Bleeding Dusk is the third installment in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles. I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first two though the cliff hanger at the end annoyed me to no end that I have to wait until August for the next one. Maybe I'm getting so used to the characters and how they act that it is getting a little predictable. I don't let myself predict things so I was still surprised, but it just wasn't all that suspenseful. And okay I'll say it, the romance was lacking a little. Even when Victoria gets kissed by Max, it didn't progress anything in their relationship. Anyway, I'll keep reading the series because I'm hooked now but I can stand the wait.

Scroll down if you are interested in the other books I have read.

photo from Amazon.com

The Samurai Garden by Gail Tsukiyama

2008-02-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

This was our February book club book. I liked this book about a young chinese man who goes to live at a family beach house in Japan when the two countries on the verge of war to recover from TB. He befriends many people there including a leperous woman and learns a lot about his family and these people who accept him into their lives. This book was very peaceful to read. Even though there is a war going on in China, it never seems to really affect the characters other than a mention here or there. It's all about the main characters getting to know each other and it's nice. It's almost like reading an interesting story from a grandparent's journal.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

2008-02-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

I heard about this book from reading a friend's blog. I think she has good taste so I thought I would check it out sometime. My mother gave me a copy for Christmas and not quite ready to delve into the next book club book I decided to pick this one up to read really fast.

The story was absolutely amazing. It's a true story of how Jeannette Walls grew up, which was pretty much as poor as you can possibly be. The amazing thing is how the children had to take care of themselves and take care of their parents. I love how Jeannette tries to make a stand to her parents about changing the way they live but to no avail. Her parents are free spirits and probably a lot of fun at times but mostly they seemed to be very selfish and didn't want to do anything they didn't want to do even if their kids were starving and homeless. It wasn't that means weren't available to perhaps jump them into wealth either, the mother especially was completely stubborn when it came to things she thought or wanted. One of the things their parents did give them was intelligence. Their parents were incredibly smart people and relayed everything they knew to their kids.

I highly recommend this book. The way most of the kids pull themselves out of the gutter to move themselves to New York and make their own way was truly amazing. This book also made me look at poor people in different ways and how it is such a stigma in this society. The only problem is that the Walls parents chose to be that way.

photo from BarnesandNoble.com

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

2008-01-21T17:06:00.000-08:00

I've had many people tell me about this book and how good it is that I finally read it. I have all of Shannon Hale's books but have yet only read two and now three so far. This is the first in her series and I really liked it. At times, I would predict how things would turn out but then had to second guess myself until the truth was revealed and I learned my predictions were right. Mostly, though I didn't know what would happen and the way the story unfolded was brilliant. Everyone should read this book.

photo from BarnesandNoble.com

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

2008-01-09T23:49:00.003-08:00

This was January's book club book. I like this book. I think it is interesting how Albom's book seems to be about death in a way. My favorite parts in the book were when the main character, I forget his name, writes about the times he didn't stand up for his mother and the times his mother stood up for him. It really makes you think how as kids you treat your parents because they are supposed to be the strong ones and can take care of themselves but who knows how often you may have hurt them by your actions or inactions. It was pretty quick read. I think liked Five People You Meet in Heaven a little more but this author doesn't necessarily blow me away. I don't know if I'll read any of his others.

photo from BarnesandNoble.com

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

2008-01-09T23:49:00.001-08:00

This was our December's book club book. This book was really interesting about a father and son traveling through a post-apocalyptic world trying to survive evil people, starvation and the cold. The book chronicles their journey to the sea and all the trials and horrors that they face along the way. The reader never finds out what happened to the world or even the characters' names, yet I was really drawn into their relationship and how much this father cares for his son and is willing to give up his own morality to protect him and keep him fed. I would recommend this book as an interesting read but would caution that it does allude to some pretty horrible things. It also sparked a great discussion on food storage in our book club and how we will all survive the apocalypse or disasters.

photo from BarnesandNoble.com

Dracula by Bram Stoker

2007-12-27T23:48:00.000-08:00

The story of Dracula is a classic and has been told over and over again. Since I have always been quite enthralled with vampires, I thought it might be nice to read the classic story. I had enjoyed the movie when I was younger and was pretty sympathetic to Dracula then. However, the movie is very different from the book. He is not a sympathetic creature at all, but selfish, heartless and has no qualms about killing anyone. I would assume that most people know the basic story so I'm not going to give a synopsis. I thought the book was very well written. Slow at times and as the story is told through reading character's diaries and correspondence it is sometimes hard to keep the time frame together but you get used to it eventually. The male characters are all very noble and good and have high admiration for the women in their lives. Mina, who gets bitten by the vampire tries to help all she can even though she is struggling with changing into a vampire and all the guys are dedicated to destroying Dracula and risking their own lives to save her as they were unable to save their own love, Lucy. I highly reccommend this book and now having seen the movie again since I've read it, I'm not sure how I ever liked it. Okay I know how but, it has definitely fallen in my esteem now that I know how the true story was told and how much it deviated from it and even made the characters so much less likeable.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

2007-10-31T23:47:00.000-07:00

"Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her harsh, unyielding father, Lily Owens has shaped her entire life around one devastating, blurred memory - the afternoon her mother was killed, when Lily was four. Since then, her only real companion has been the fierce-hearted, and sometimes just fierce, black woman Rosaleen, who acts as her "stand-in mother."

When Rosaleen insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily knows it's time to spring them both free. They take off in the only direction Lily can think of, toward a town called Tiburon, South Carolina - a name she found on the back of a picture amid the few possessions left by her mother.

There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters named May, June, and August. Lily thinks of them as the calendar sisters and enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey, and of the Black Madonna who presides over this household of strong, wise women. Maternal loss and betrayal, guilt and forgiveness entwine in a story that leads Lily to the single thing her heart longs for most."--Taken from Barnes and Noble.com

I really liked this book. I thought the sisters were such interesting and diverse characters. Lily's interaction with each of them makes her learn so much about herself and how everyone's lives aren't what they seem. It's such a wonderful story about women and what they are capable of.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

2007-10-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Five Love Languages has been a topic of conversation many times in my house since I moved in. We use them in our friendships and in our dating life. It seems to help understand the people in our lives as well as ourselves. Every person has a love language or how they feel loved. They are Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Receiving Gifts, Physical Touch, and Acts of Service. It is important for everyone to learn the language that their spouse or friends are in order to make that person feel loved. This could be a great benefit for all relationships. Even though you may be doing things for someone that is you showing you how much you love them, if it isn't in their love language they won't recognize it.

The structure of the book explains each love language and delves even deeper into different dialects for each language. This is to help you in deciding what your love language is. Then it gives some stories in how to use your knowledge of each language to determine your significant other's language or to make them aware of your love language. I liked this book (I know shocker, me liking a self-help/relationship book). It made a lot of sense to me. I learned that my love language is quality time followed by receiving gifts. I've always known that Words of Affirmation was my last. Words don't mean anything to me really, sometimes depending on the occasion. But actions definitely speak louder for me. Check this book out and figure out what your language is and the people who you have relationships with. Maybe it will be make those relationships even better.

The Alchemist by Paul Coelho

2007-10-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

This book is about a young shepherd who is pointed on a path to achieve his own Personal Legend. Everyone has one but not everyone achieves it. The shepherd goes through many hardships and even gets stalled on his journey but he perseveres. This book was interesting to read and though it was pretty much a self-help book in story format, the story kept me going. I liked how it illustrated that even though when we try to achieve our dreams that some things get in the way and if we let it can block our path forever. But if we have the desire, once the opportunity arrives again we will return on our journey to fulfill our Personal Legend. Here are some quotes that I liked:

"Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own."

"that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie."

So I hope everyone will be inspired to fulfill their Personal Legend after reading this book. I know that I am definitely in a stalling period so hopefully I'll find my path again soon.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

2007-10-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

I finished this book a while ago but haven't gotten around to writing about it. This was my pick for the September book club book. It was given to me as a gift for my birthday and so I thought what the heck. I loved the movie. It was chilling.

Anyway, Rebecca is about this young woman (her name is never revealed) who falls suddenly in love with an older man in France while she is working as a companion to an older lady. Maxim de Winter is moody and serious and the narrator is willing to leave his past in the past (once she has heard that his previous wife, Rebecca, had died a year before). After a week or so they elope and spend a few months honeymooning. But the romance seems to be over once they return to Maxim's home Manderley in England. It is a grand home with lots of history. Here the past seems to catch up with the current wife as Rebecca's touch is all over the house. Mrs de Winter constantly compares herself to the late wife (as does everyone else) as she is put into her shoes and is not assertive enough to make any changes. Maxim's attention changes once they are back home and she believes he will never love her as much as she loves him, which she is willing to live with. Obviously, he loved Rebecca very much as did everyone else but he is unwilling to discuss his past or how Rebecca died. A mystery creeps in to destroy the peacefulness of the house and a loyal servant to Rebecca is determined to make Mrs. de Winter's life in the house miserable.

The feedback I'm getting from those who are reading the book is that it is very hard to get into. I didn't really find that but most of these people haven't seen the movie like I have so I kind of knew what was coming even though it has been a while. Though it was interesting to see the expanded view of the story, I feel like I liked the movie better. The book does move slowly and I found myself getting irritated with the main character rather than sympathizing with her. I just wanted her to grow a backbone already. It was frustrating. It is meant to be a suspenseful book so maybe if I hadn't seen the movie and knew that something was coming it would have been good. I like du Maurier's writing style, however, and that made reading the book enjoyable for the most part.

Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir

2007-09-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

The whole title is Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Prison. This a true story told by the eldest daughter of the Oufkir family. Malika grew up around royalty. Her father was a general and highly favored advisor to the King of Morroco. Malika was adopted by the king at the age of five and lived in the palace until she was fifteen as a playmate for the king's daughter. Meanwhile she had five other syblings at home. A new king was in place once she went home and two years later her father led a coup te tat to remove the king, which failed and he was killed. The whole family was then put into prison. The youngest child being only three years old. They lived in the most rotten conditions for fifteen years eating little and soon seperation. The eldest boy in one cell, Malika and her sisters in another and their mother and the youngest son in another. There was a period of eight years where they didn't see those in the other cells for eight years. Then they had five years of confinement under house arrest before they were finally released.

This story was a little difficult to get through as it was very fact based writing and didn't really have a flow to it. It was hard to get any emotion out of it even though I was reading about horrible things. Also, there was no suspense buildup. Oufkir always gave anything that was about to happen. The story is amazing and the things that they had to go through was terrible. I had to keep reminding myself that they were getting older as I read because their maturation pretty much just stopped once they were in prison. Even though she almost forty by the time they were released, the way she talked sounded like a young girl telling the story. Their final release was just in 1993 so it's amazing that things like this still happen around the world. I'm glad I read it. It was very eye opening although not the most enjoyable read.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

2007-09-05T13:43:00.000-07:00

The classic tale of tragic love and loss. The story is based around Heathcliff and Katherine. The two grew up together and were extremely selfish creatures. Heathcliff was sort of adopted into the family and Katherine's older brother treated him like an animal. Heathcliff and Katherine were best friends up until the Linton's were introduced into their lives. Edgar fell in love with Katherine over the years and though she wasn't necessarily in love with him she knew that he would be able to provide for her handsomely. She hoped she would still be able to keep Heathcliff as a friend but he was extremely hurt by her choice that he left the country. Three years later he returns wealthy and proceeds to reek havoc on everyone who ever made life difficult for him. He steals visits with Katherine much to the chagrin of her husband. His whole plan in life is to make life hell for everyone else. The funny thing is that seems to be all out of love for Katherine.

I listened to this book on c.d. and I think I may want to actually read it sometime. I liked this book for it's quality of writing. I think it's interesting how it explores the selfish, dark side of love. Heathcliff will use anything or anyone to get what he wants. Katherine only feels for her own suffering and though she loves Heathcliff she ultimately wants everyone to love her. The story has a sort of happy ending but it takes a lot of heartache and deaths for this to come about. This probably isn't one of my favorites because there are only a few likeable characters and they all seem to be towed under by the others. But the writing style is very good and the story very well played out.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

2007-09-05T13:27:00.001-07:00

This is the third installment in the Twilight series. Again it was a page turner and very frustrating. Do not read on if you haven't already read the book and plan to as storylines will be given away. Bella and Edward are back together again (thank goodness, the second book was not as good for lack of Edward). Bella finds it increasingly difficult to maintain her friendship with Jacob while pursuing a relationship with Edward as they are natural enemies. Edward is overprotective but wants to make Bella happy and is willing to accept the friendship however Jacob is not as understanding, especially since he wants Bella for himself. While this love triangle is going on, Bella is still trying to convince Edward to make her a vampire however some new conditions have arisen and Victoria is back and still out for Bella's blood.

So many emotions flying througout this book. I've never been a fan of Jacob. I feel he is a very manipulating character, but maybe I just don't understand him. I read on Meyer's website a short summary of Twilight and New Moon as from Jacob's perspective to see if I would like him any better. It helped only a little. I am just so on Edward's side and want the two to be together that anyone who gets in the way is wrong.

Now I have to wait a whole year for the fourth book. Will the torture never end?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

2007-08-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

There have already been so many things said about this book that this review is going to be very short. I love love loved it. I laughed. I cried. There were a couple things that bugged me a little but they are just me and my silly self. I'm sad that it is over but glad too. What a run these books have had. Anyway, of course this last book brings the story to a close very nicely and now I can't wait for the movie.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

2007-08-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

This book is read from the point of view of four sisters and occasionally their mother, who have been forced to move to the Congo by their preacher father who is determined to bring all the natives to Christ. The oldest Rachel is sixteen and extremely selfish and despises her parents for bringing her into this insect infested jungle. Leah and Adah are twins. Adah is a little defective from birth and so walks with a significant limp. She has chosen to not speak, ever, is very observant of the world around her and draws many insights out of it. Her favorite pastime to read words backwards and make other meanings out sentences. Leah is her father's daughter, though he couldn't be less aware of her. She hangs on his every word and knows the Bible almost as well as he does. The youngest is Ruth May, who is just a little girl and like most children wanders off and plays with who ever will play with her. Their mother Orleanna is the very picture of a wife who has been forced down into submission by her husband. She rarely speaks her mind and when she does, her husband gets very angry. All she knows is just to take care of her children the best she can while maintaining some semblance of normalcy in the jungle whose world turns upside down with the shout of independence.

This book was very intense and it was a slow read for me. I really liked Kingsolver's writing style. She really gave each of the girls their own characters and it was interesting to read from each of their perspectives. They go through so many hard times in the jungle. Sickness, animal ants, hunger, and political turmoil. Having finished it, I can't say that it is one of my favorite books but I appreciate it and what it says. It puts America in a not so great light, which is interesting to read about and not entirely unplausible. Though most of us in the book club really disliked Rachel, she is the one we most identified with. Why would anyone want to live such a hard life if you had the choice not to? There really was no ending and it seemed like no one was completely happy in their lives, which makes it more real but a little sad too. I would reccommend this book but it would not be at the top of my list. I'm kind of just in "I'm not sure how I feel about it" kind of thing. After hearing some of the things my fellow book clubbers said I might want to read it again to see the things they saw in it but not anytime soon.

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

2007-06-26T15:25:00.001-07:00

Being in the mood for vampire books these days I took a cue from my aunt's review and decided to give this series a try. This is the first book. I was a little wary that I found it in the romance section of the bookstore, but I figured my aunt wouldn't reccommend a book that was too steamy and she seems to be way more sensitive then I would be. I actually don't mind a good romance.

This book did have some romance novel quirks to it but mostly nothing premarital so how can you fault that? (: Anyway as far as the story goes, Victoria Grantworth has taken on her family's legacy of becoming a Venator, someone who hunts and kills vampires. However she finds it difficult to balance her Societal duties of finding an eligible husband and protecting the innocent. She does manage to catch the eye of the most sought after bachelor, the Marquess Rockley. He is everything she would wish for but can he understand her destiny or will she have to constantly deceive him.

This book was fun to read. Definitely a good summertime novel. I'm sure I'll move on to the second book here pretty soon. It's pretty much what you would expect to get out of a book like this, not a work of art by any means but it can be engrossing and good for a non-thinker or if you just want something frivolous to read.

House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

2007-06-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Go here for a synopsis of the book. I didn't actually read this book for the book club. I read it a while ago and reccommended my roommate read it also and she picked it for this month's bookclub book. Only three of us actually finished the book by the time of the meeting. The language of Hawthorne's writing was a bit of struggle to get into.

I am a big fan of Hawthorne and this is one of slower books. It takes almost 3/4 of the book settting up the exciting ending. I think most people will enjoy it once they lose themselves in the language. Hawthorne takes his time in order to get the reader to really care about the characters and you become so familiar with their mannerisms. Anyway, I liked this book and I think I may need to read it again after hearing it discussed and reading over some of my highlighted quotes. Unfortunately I don't have the book with me otherwise I would share some with you. You'll just have to trust me and pick up the book for yourself.

Twilight + New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

2007-06-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

I read both of these books in five days (both around or over 500 pages) if that is any indication as to how good they are. Bella, moves to Forks, Washington, a town she hates, to live with her father so that her mother can spend time with her new husband. As she settles into school and making new friends and turning away multiple advances from boys she ultimately falls for a mysterious classmate with amazing ability to save her life time and time again. Turns out he is a vampire. Their love is very passionate, but rocky as Edward Cullen tries to keep Bella safe from enemies and himself.

In the sequel New Moon, Bella and Edward are happy together at the beginning of a new school year other than the constant argument they have over whether she should be turned into a vampire. Edward refuses to let that happen though Bella is more than willing. A little accident that puts her life in danger, not from enemies but one of Edward's family drives him and his family away. Edward convinces Bella that he doesn't love her anymore and wants to keep her safe from any more harm so they leave, supposedly for forever. Driven to living a pathetic, sad life while she grieves for her loss, she is suddenly pulled out of her depression by a welcome voice and her new best friend Jacob Black, who soon becomes a little more than human as well.

Though I had been told by several of my friends how good this book, I just had no idea how good. I can't remember the last time, it pained to have to put a book down to go to sleep, or to work. Every page is filled with suspense and wonderment at how this relationship between a human and a vampire will work as well as all the action that takes place. The sequel isn't quite as good as Edward is gone for most of it and even though Jacob Black is a wonderful character he just isn't quite the substitute for the reader or for Bella either, but you make do as she does. Also, some of the surprises were a little predictable but I was able to get past that as there were other things to make me jump with a renewed verve for reading. I'm a little sad that it's over though I do have the third and final book to look forward to which comes out in August. Ugh, I have to wait two months. Seriously read these books. I'm feeling really into vampire stories right now. I think I'll read Dracula next.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

2007-06-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

This is a book after my own heart and pretty much anybody else who has ever read or seen Pride and Prejudice. It tells the story of a young woman, Jane, who has been disappointed in love many times which drove her to be comforted by watching Pride and Prejudice. She became obsessed with the idea that if a man couldn't compare to Mr. Darcy then he wasn't worth being with. She is ashamed of her obsession and so hides her DVDs in her houseplant. Found out by her aunt she is bequeathed a all expense paid vacation to Pembrook Park, where people go to pretend they live in 1816. Jane is going for therapy, to indulge in her obsession, to then be able to leave it behind. She soon becomes immersed in the period however, and finds herself falling for the Darcy-esque Mr. Nobley as well as the gardner.

I was worried as I began the book that I wouldn't like the story. That the way Jane is so obssessed about Pride and Prejudice seemed a little cheesy and unbelievable, but once she arrives at Pembrook Park and other characters are introduced the story becomes really fun. I laughed out loud several times, especially when modern day occurrences disturbed the serenity of Regency period living. I wouldn't mind going to Pembrook Park myself, especially if you are guaranteed that one of the handsome gentleman will fall in love with you.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

2007-06-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, this book was cute. It left me wanting more at the end. I read it really quickly too. I finished it last night around one in the morning. The story is about a girl who lives in a mountain village and learns that she among other girls in the village must attend a princess academy. When the prince of the land is of age the priests divine which town the future princess must be chosen from and this time Mount Eskel is chosen. Because mountain people are somewhat uneducated and looked down by the lowlanders the academy is begun to turn the girls into proper, educated young ladies. After a year the prince will come and choose his bride from among the girls. Miri, who has never felt like she has added anything to the village since her father refuses to let her work in the quarry with everyone else, works really hard while enduring cruelty from her teacher to win the title of Academy Princess and get the first dance with the prince. During this process, Miri is outcast from the girls but soon makes new friends and learns what she wants to do with her life, but ultimately she must decide if she really wants to be a princess if she is chosen. I'm excited to read Shannon Hale's other books.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

2007-06-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

This was our May book for my book club. I had heard about this book many times but never felt the urge to read it. I'm glad it was chosen now. It was such a great read. Heartbreaking and redeeming. The writing style was so awesome. I plan on reading this book again someday and pick out all the great quotes that I just skimmed over this time. If you haven't read it you should.

"I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in
the winter of 1975." So begins The Kite Runner, a poignant tale of two
motherless boys growing up in Kabul, a city teetering on the brink of
destruction at the dawn of the Soviet invasion.
Despite their class
differences, Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman, and Hassan, his devoted
sidekick and the son of Amir's household servant, play together, cause mischief
together, and compete in the annual kite-fighting tournament -- Amir flying the
kite, and Hassan running down the kites they fell. But one day, Amir betrays
Hassan, and his betrayal grows increasingly devastating as their tale continues.
Amir will spend much of his life coming to terms with his initial and subsequent
acts of cowardice, and finally seek to make reparations.
Hosseini's
depiction of the cruelty children suffer at the hands of their "friends" will
break your heart. And his descriptions of Afghanistan both before and after the
war will haunt readers long after they've read the last page. The Kite Runner is
a stunning reminder that the dark hearts of adults are made, step-by-step, by
the hatred they learn as children, and that all it takes for evil to triumph is
for a good man to stand back and do nothing. --Barnes and Noble review.

The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner

2007-04-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

I liked this book, however it is very different than the movie. This was a suggested book for my book club. The book covers Chris Gardner's life from birth to his early fifties. He had an extremely rough childhood being constantly afraid for his mother who was beaten, sometimes nearly to death, by his stepfather. Still, his mother was a very strong woman and a great role model for him and made it known to him that he could be anything he wanted.

It was interesting reading about his life. He really did overcome a lot in his life. Though I think the movie makes him out to be a better man than he is. Not that he is a terrible person, but he made a lot of mistakes in his life that helped him become homeless. Just like anybody would have. The impressive thing is that when he did get his chance for anything he took it and worked as hard as he could to make it work at least in his career, he made some mistakes in his personal life until his son was born and then everything he did was for him. Also, he has amazing determination which rose him in the ranks of one of the most renowned brokerage firms.

The only thing that this book didn't need was intimate details of his sex life which he was very forthcoming, though it did show he was easily distracted by it, and there was a lot of swearing. I don't know if I would necessarily recommend it but it was an interesting read.

Believing Christ by Stephen E. Robinson

2007-04-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved this book. It could possibly change my whole way of thinking and my life as a consequence. I might need to read it every six months or so to remind myself of its teachings. Believing Christ portrays the meaning of the atonement in such a simple way. I don't think I had ever really understood it before. The basic premise is that all humans are sinners. There is just no way around it. However, God will not allow anyone with sin into his celestial glory. This is a problem. Only with the atonement of Jesus Christ can we overcome this. He suffered for all our sins so that we would be clean enough to live with our Heavenly Father. I always thought that it was up to me to become perfect or at least really close before that could happen. This book helps me to not let the guilt of my sins overcome me to the point that I think there is no point and that I will never reach my heavenly glory. All I have to do is have faith that Jesus Christ will save me as long as I do the best I can.

I think everyone should read this book especially those who are close to losing hope because they are so hard themselves for their sins. I have never had anything explain this concept to me so well.

Quotes that I love:

"What the Lord is saying here is this: 'It doesn't matter what you did. Whatever it was, no matter how horrible or vile, is not the issue. The issue here is that whatever your sin was or is, I can erase it, I can clean you up and make you innocent, pure, and worthy, and I can do it today; I can do it now.'"

"We all fail by differing degrees, but we all fail. That is why we all need help, why we all need a Savior, and why needing help and needing a Savior are no disgrace."

"..he never requires more than I am able to give, and what he does require of me is always appropriate to my knowledge and circumstances....My obligation is to give all I have, not all someone else has, to be as good as I can be, not as good as someone else is."

There are many many more great things in this book. I found myself crying while reading at a bus stop because the words touched my heart and soul so deeply. I really felt that what I had read was true. That I can be saved, as long as I do my best.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

2007-04-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

I don't really have to much to say about this book because I feel like I have talked until I was blue in the face. It was interesting to read, but I wasn't very motivated to read it. Probably the stigma I have for self-help books. Don't ask me to explain where the stigma comes from, I've talked until I was blue in the face about that as well. But after much prodding, I finished it. Basically the secret is "The Law of Attraction." Positive thoughts attract positive things into our lives. If you really focus on what you want in life in a positive way then you will attract it to you. I agree that having positive thoughts will make your life happy, but as far as just bringing stuff to you, I don't know. I'm trying to apply its teachings and not think negatively but I'm still a little skeptical so I'll probably never find out if it really works.

Anyway since this book is so widespread and popular, I'm sure you all will read it and come up with your own conclusions. My book club for the most part liked it but had the same concerns that some people might take everything in this book for fact and not be able to discern what is the good and what is the bad. We also felt there was a definite implication of needing to be selfish in order to apply these principles. Anyway, I now have read a self-help book cover to cover and I may never read another one or I may. You could say the book I am reading right now is a self-help book but I'm not looking at it like that.

Quotes in Year of Wonders

2007-03-08T17:35:00.000-08:00

I forgot to put some really great quotes from this book. Good stuff about God.

"Like the ore that must be melted all to liquid to find the pure metal, so must we be rendered in the fiery furnace of this disease. As as the smith tends his furnace, all through the night if need be, to secure the valuable ore within, so is God here, near to us, nearer, perhaps thean He has ever come, or ever will come, in all our lives."

"Good yield does not come without suffering, it does not come without struggle, and toil, and yes, loss."

"And so, as generally happens, those who have most give least, and those with less somehow make shrift to share."

"How do we tumble down a hill? A foot placed incautiously on an unsteady rock or loosened turf, an ankle twisted or a knee buckled, and of a sudden we are gone, our body lost to our own control until we find ourselves sprawled in indignity at the bottom. So it seems apt indeed to speak of the Fall. For sin, too, must always start with but a single misstep, and suddenly we are hurtling toward some uncertain stopping point. All that is sure in the descent is that we will arrie sullied and bruised and unable to regain our former place without hard effort."

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

2007-03-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

Wow! Good job, mom for giving me this book. This book takes place during the seventeenth century when a The Plague hit a small village in England. The story is told through Anna, a single mother who has a small sheep farm and works as a maid. A man who is renting a room in her house suddenly dies of a sickness no one really understands. Proper measures are not taken and soon the infection spreads quickly throughout the village. The clergy man urges everyone to stay in the village so as not to spread the disease to other towns. They make an oath but keeping this oath proves tragic for most. Whole families die or might just leave one small orphan left. Anna, along with the Rector and his wife do what they can for the people of the village. Anna is forced to take on many roles that she never dreamed she could ever do such as midwifery, create medicines from herbs and even a little mining. She is very self-sacrificing in her actions as in most of her thoughts but like everyone she grows tired and looks to ease her own pain but is roused back to service by her great friend the rector's wife. Social statuses dissolve and as people die some wounds are healed and some are opened.

This book was very well told. The whole story was so enthralling. My only disappointment was throughout the whole story there is no detailed reference to sex. Don't get me wrong, I'm not easily put off by a sex scene but I was remember thinking half way through the book that this book could have so much sex in it if the author chose but it didn't. It didn't need it and I thought that marked a good book that didn't have to rely on sex. Well, then comes my disappointment when toward the end there it is. It was very tastefully done, I will say. I don't think anyone would blush too much. I just didn't quite believe it of the characters. But I guess they had just gone through the Plague so it could have changed them, well it did change them I guess. I just felt the sex scene was put in just to move along the story to a particular end and it bothered me somewhat.

Other than that though this book was fabulous. I think I'll see what else of Geraldine Brooks would be interesting to read.

Heart of Darkness & The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad

2007-03-01T22:12:00.000-08:00

I never really expected to like this book. It's about sailing through the Congo and not a love story in sight, why would I bother? Well, it's on the AP list. But actually, I did like this book. The writing is fantastic. It's quite a dark book and it the writing really captures that. My only flaw was that the story didn't flow very well. There were moments that just jarred you out of the story, maybe that was in part to give you a break or something but it got a little annoying.

The book opens with Marlow telling a story to four comrades while they are sailing on a yaht on the River Thames. He tells them about a time when he took a job to captain a river boat down through the Congo to retrieve a man who is running one of the inner stations. Marlow describes the cruelty that he observes the whites inflict on the Africans. Also, there is immense corruption. Kurtz, the man Marlow is there to retrieve, is said to be the only humanitarian in the Congo. Even though Marlow has never met Kurtz, his anticipation to meet such man is evident. Through his journey he learns a lot about human nature and he has many surprises revealed to him.

Here is quote I really liked:

"No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in a breeze....It takes a man all his inborn strength to fight hunger properly. It's really easier to face bereavement, dishonor, and the perdition of one's soul--than this kind of prolonged hunger."

There were lots of great passages in this book that I wish I could tell you about, but you'll just have to read it. I think I will read it again someday because I didn't fully understand the impact of this novel. I read the introduction by A. Michael Matin where he says "The aspects of Marlow's storytelling method that impede our efforts to arrive at an unambiguous understanding of his tale's meaning also hinder us from gaining a clear apprehension of the events themselves, something attested to by many first-time readers of the text who have difficulties following the plot." Reading the introduction after reading the novel helped a lot.

The Secret Sharer

This is a short story about another Captain of a ship who hides a stowaway who has escaped from his own ship because he killed a man. The story constantly reminds the reader of the duality of these two characters. The Captain sees this man as his double and soon I began to wonder if this person was just something produced in the mind of the Captain, but it is never made obviously clear. It was an interesting story and again the writing was wonderful. The way Conrad can write suspense and anticipation is amazing.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

2007-02-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

This was a book club book. We will be discussing it next week. I was tempted to wait to review until after that so I could give you their thoughts too but I couldn't wait anymore. I finished this book two weeks ago.

I loved this book. The premise was so interesting. A guy who time travels involuntarily and meets his future wife when she is six. He visits her many times as she grows up but he is varied in age. Then when they meet in real time and get together you read about their struggles with dealing with genetic disorder and trying to start a family. The book was a little hard to get used to at first but I love that Niffenegger tells the year and everyone's ages to make it easier to keep things straight. If you read this you reallly need to pay attention to those or you'll probably get lost.

The characterization in this book was wonderful. The book is told from the point of view of Henry (the time traveler) and Claire (his wife). I really grew to love these characters and when sad things happen to them I felt really sad for them. Okay I cried in some spots. I also loved that beside the whole time traveling thing the book seemed very realistic. They were having problems that I would think that other married couples would have and the way they rallied for each other was so beautiful.

One caveat is that this book has a lot of swearing (constant use of the F-word) and a lot of sex scenes. I was able to move past those pretty easily. Sometimes it would jar me out of the book but I tried to just ignore it.

Here are a couple of quotes. There are many great lines in this book but when I'm into a story I don't like to stop to find a highlighter.

This is when it is the anniversary of his mother's death and Henry hates to focus or think about. He wants to time travel to another time. "But then I feel guilty for wanting to avoid the sadness; dead people need us to remember them, even if it eats us, even if all we can do is say I'm sorry until it is as meaningless as air."

I just loved this description of when Henry is going into a bar and hears the music on the street as he enters. "...as I open the door someone starts to blow a trumpet and hot jazz smacks me in the chest. I walk into it like a drowning man, which is what I have come here to be."

To Be Read List

2007-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

So I have finally created my "To Be Read List." It took a little time and checking things out on Amazon. I mainly took most of these books from my mom's (most know her as "framed and booked) and my aunt's (booklogged) TBR lists and then I eliminated ones that didn't really appeal to me. Which mostly meant mysteries so I was able to cut a lot down from booklogged's list. Anyway if you are curious I have it set up on another blog thanks to my aunt's help. There are two lists actually: The TBR list which is made up of everything and a list compiled by my AP English teacher. When I was in high school I made it my goal to read every book on that list. Still have a lot to go. They are mostly classics and literary achievements. The lists are here.

Franny & Zooey by J.D. Salinger

2007-01-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

I know that some readers may hate me for this review. I was excited but then also wary about reading this book. I really liked Catcher in the Rye, but I remember not quite understanding it so I went into it thinking to take a closer look. Well, I guess I wasn't in the mood to think deeply and mainly just read for the story which of course was quite odd. There were moments of wonderful speeches and eye opening perspectives but I only glanced at them it seems.

Volume containing two interrelated stories by J.D. Salinger, published in book form in 1961. The stories, originally published in The New Yorker magazine, concern Franny and Zooey Glass, two members of the family that was the subject of most of Salinger's short fiction. Franny is an intellectually precocious late adolescent who tries to attain spiritual purification by obsessively reiterating the "Jesus prayer" as an antidote to the perceived superficiality and corruptness of life. She subsequently suffers a nervous breakdown. In the second story, her next older brother, Zooey, attempts to heal Franny by pointing out that her constant repetition of the "Jesus prayer" is as self-involved and egotistical as the egotism against which she rails.
Review by The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

This was a book club book and the girl who chose it is a J.D. Salinger fan and has read everything he has written and everything about him. She did an amazing job leading the discussion, raising questions that I hadn't thought about and shedding a bit more light on to the themes of the book. That helped me appreciate the book somewhat. I think I will read this book again someday when I feel like being deep and analyzing themes. Who knows when that will be. For some people, an understanding of J.D. Salinger comes naturally, but I am not one of those people.

Just to let you know...

2007-01-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

I read 22 books last year!! I'm pretty proud of myself. I think I had a goal of 25 but still 22 is pretty good for me. I hadn't read for my own pleasure for such a long time.

Eldest by Christopher Paolini

2007-01-13T15:08:00.000-08:00

This is book two in the Inheritance trilogy. I didn't really know it was a trilogy so about half way through I peeked at the back of the book to see if it said there would be another book coming. I was sad to see that there was. Only because this series is so good that I am sad that I now have to wait to read the third one.

The story continues with Eragon going to the Elf kingdom of Ellesmera to continue his training as a Rider. Meanwhile Roran, Eragon's cousin, has returned to home to find his father dead and house completely demolished. Anger towards Eragon builds up in him as the village faces hardships because of Eragon's decisions. Dangerous and magical creatures called the Ra'zac come to claim Roran but the village protects him and soon he becomes their leader in a deadly battle. I can't really tell too much because I don't want to give anything away. That's one thing I really loved about this sequel. You learn so much more about the different races of people throughout Alagaesia, while learning about Eragon and Roran and how they feel about the responsibilities placed upon them. Also, there are so many twists and turns. One thing that does bother me is that these books remind me a lot of Star Wars in some places but mostly the story is quite original. I don't have any quotes because I was so engrossed in the story I didn't want to stop to find a highlighter, but they were many times that I read something and thought that is mighty profound for a 21 year old to write. I highly reccomend this series. It's my first in coming back to fantasy and it has not disappointed.

A Room with A View by E.M Forster

2007-01-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

I was a somewhat disappointed in this book. I have seen and love the movie but the book didn't evoke as much emotion as the movie did. It's been a little while since I've seen the movie so I didn't remember a lot of events in the book but some parts I can replay and replay in my mind. Most likely because I rewound the video several times to watch a particular part over and over again. The book did not do these favored sections justice. They fell flat. Okay so the parts I am talking about are the kissing scenes. Okay, I'm just a silly girl who adores a good kiss here and there (watching and receiving (:). In the movie you can feel the passion, as the music swells and he takes her in his arms. The book it was like, he crossed over to her and kissed her. How bland is that? I've gotten way better kissing scenes out of books before.

The rest of the story is fine. It's about a young girl who goes on a trip to Italy and sees some of the wildness of the world, in one aspect is this young man. The way she greets these experiences seems pretty dull. I felt like she was bored all the time or maybe it was just me. The book was not very long so it didn't take very long for me to read. Basically save yourself some time and just watch the movie with a caveat that there is some male frontal nudity, completely innocent in nature.

Expecting Adam by Martha Beck

2006-11-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

I liked this book a lot. It is a nonfiction about Martha Beck (daughter of Hugh Nibley) dealing with being pregnant with a down syndrome baby. At the time, she and her husband are getting their doctorates at Harvard. They already have one child which has made things difficult enough to compete in the intellectual world of the Harvard. Everyone at Harvard is hard core for learning it seems and looks down on anyone with kids. So when Martha finds out that her second baby will be born with down syndrome she faces many difficulties. Let's just say that the word abortion is mentioned several times by several people. But while she was expecting Adam, she experienced so many amazing things.

I learned so much from this book about what women go through while being pregnant. It does not make it sound pleasant, but yet it does it in a way that you know it will be worth it. Also, there is a little bit of anti-mormon talk in there, but it is very subtle. What boggles my mind is that as I read all these things that Martha experienced, some I would call out and out miracles, she passes them off as bunraku puppeteers looking out for her and doesn't even seem to fathom that it is God that is looking out for her. It seemed like such a waste in some ways which is like a part in the book when Martha wonders why all these wonderful things are happening to her. Why is she being saved when there are others out there who are suffering? How does God choose who receives his help. This is one of the main reasons, I think why she will not accept a God who can pick and choose without any sort of criteria, or at least that she doesn't know the criteria.

I do reccommend this book because it is quite amazing all the things Martha experiences and sees. It is wonderfully written and it gave me a better appreciation of a God who loves us, whether we accept him or not.

Quotes:

"Baby talk is found in all nations, all cultures; it is the original Mother Tongue. It translates across any language barrier because it is more about music that about words; the sounds themselves, not their meaning, give comfort and support."

"One of the great myths of our society is that when women are left with small children, they are not alone. The truth is that mother left with babies is far more alone than she would be without them; every bit of energy, attention, protectiveness, and care she might use to meet her own needs must first be directed toward the needs of her children."

"This is the part of us that makes our brief, improbable little lives worth living: the ability to reach through our own isolation and find strength, and comfort, and warmth for and in each other. This is what human beings do. This is what we live for, the way horses live to run."

"The Taoist saying that 'when two great forces collide, the victory will go to the one that knows how to yield.' The idea is that a fluid substance, like water, may seem to give in to a rigid substance, like stone--but in the end, it is the water that shapes the stone, and the other way around."

Series of Unfortunate Events: The End by Lemony Snicket

2006-11-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

Well, the series has finally been wrapped up, well about as far as it can be. As the book puts it there can never really be an end because the Baudelaire's story will continue even after the book is written and their story will link to someone else's story and so on and so on. That's how we all are.

Well, this was an okay series. In some ways I wish I hadn't started it. I had this foreboding feeling that the book was going to end with no resolution at all. Well, it didn't really but it concluded enough to my satisfaction. At least they weren't entirely unhappy when it ended. But some people bad people and some good people died. There were some mysteries revealed and some not.

I wouldn't really recommend this series that much. The writing is clever and the story is unique but most of the time I got irritated with the repetitiveness. So if you are already into you might as well keep going but if not, no need to start.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

2006-11-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

Another book for my book club for which I have already seen the movie. That's four in a row. What does that say? That I watch too many movies....Nah!

I really liked this book and having already seen the movie didn't detract from it at all. In fact I couldn't even really remember much of it, just the basic premise. Which is: A poor family in 1948 England who live in a run-down castle. The father is a well-known author who published only book and doesn't intend on ever writing again due to some unknown depression causing reason. The step-mother is an ex-portrait model for artists who spends her time fretting over her husband and communing with nature in the nude. Two daughters, Rose and Cassandra and one son Thomas.

The book is written in the form of Cassandra's journal. It is very interesting to read which makes me think if I wrote my journal like that 1. I would be more apt to actually write in my journal and 2. It would more enjoyable to be read later, by myself or progeny. It tells the story of the family meeting two young American boys who have inherited the land which the castle is on. Everyone pins their hope on Rose (the eldest and prettiest daughter) to land the elder son in marriage which will solve all their problems. However complications arise. Cassandra finds herself in love with the elder son while pushing away the affections of Stephen, their unpaid servant boy. Along the way is Cassandra trying to find a way to help her family be more happy while setting her own happiness aside. Wonderful story even though it left me a bit disappointed.

Quotes:
After the girls have just met the Americans and Rose is already determined to marry Simon, the elder brother. "I have an idea that it is a game most girls play when they meet any eligible young men. They just...wonder." Meaning wonder how it would be to marry that person. Just a little later she says "There is something revolting about the way girls' minds so often jump to marriage long before they jump to love. And most of those minds are shut to what marriage really means."

Cassandra walks down to the Vicar and contemplates religion as she is feeling very low over her situation with Simon. Her and her family do not attend church. "a person as wretched as I was ought to be able to get some sort of help from the Church. Then I told myself that as I never gave the Church a thought when I was feeling happy, I could hardly expect it to do anything for me when I wasn't. You can't get insurance money without paying the premiums." This thought has been in my mind many times and she says something of this nature to the Vicar and here is his reply. "It'd be most unfair not to---(rush to church when one is miserable) you'd be doing religion out of its very best chance."

Talking about Prayer: "Prayer's a very tricky business....Well, for inexperienced pray-ers it sometimes is. You see, they're apt to thing of God as a slot-machine. If nothing comes out they say 'I knew dashed well it was empty'--when the whole secret of prayer is knowing the machine's full."

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

2006-10-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

Another gem by Hawthorne. I wasn't too excited to read this book but it seemed small and I figured I could use it as a filler inbetween books. I had seen the movie and figured I would know pretty much everything. Well I did know the main things but the book is so different. It all takes place after the adultery has occurred and the heartache that Hester Prynne has to go through to remain in her town and raise her illegitimate child.

This book was really moving and I love the way Hawthorne writes. I loved the dichotomy of seeing how one person deals with sin that is completely exposed to the world and how another deals with it where it is hidden. There is so much emotion in this book and I found myself relating to both characters, not their sin of course but to their agony when I have sinned. Really good book and definitely a classic.

Quotes:

This is when the minister is dealing with his pain in hiding his sin. "It is the unspeakable misery of a life so false as his, that it steals the pith and substance out of whatever realities there are around us, and which were meant by heaven to be the spirit's joy and nutriment. To the untrue man, the whole universe is false,--it is impalable,--it shrinks to nothing within his grasp. And he himself, in so far as he shows himself in a false light, becomes a shadow, or, indeed ceases to exist."

This is during the part where Hester and the Minister are expressing their love for each other after seven years of silence and the gloom of the forest is beginning to brighten by the sun. "Love, whether newly born, or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create a sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance, that it overflows upon the outward world."

"Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!"

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

2006-09-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

Another book club gem! First the summary: The story is based around Pip. A poor boy who is raised by his very mean sister and her extremely nice husband. He is given the opportunity to go to the Miss Havisham's house (the rich, crazy old lady of the town) to sort of entertain her and be tortured by her adopted daughter Estella who Pip can't help falling in love with even though she pretty much has no care of other's feelings. As he grows older he is told that someone has given him expectations (a way for him to come into property and money). He draws many conclusions as to who and why he would be given this and goes to London to become a gentleman, his dream in life. Truths are revealed and dark plots darken our main character's life.

That's not really a great summary, but I really loved this book. I was surprised because I didn't think I would like Dickens. I think I read some of the Christmas Carol and though I love watching it portrayed in film or on stage I don't think I was really taken with reading the story. But this book has made me change my mind. My summary above makes this book seem like a dark drama but really Dicken's can be quite funny. I found myself giggling at some of his lines many times. The story was great and though I sort of knew what it was because I had seen the latest movie the book was very different in a lot of ways and better. I really hated the main character of Pip though. Well loved him and hated him. Loved him because he was written as a great character but as the the character hated him. Well, maybe that is a little strong. In the beginning I liked him because I felt sorry for him and how he was treated. Then he became rich and was a real jerk. Treated his friends terribly and they still loved him. Though he was conscious of his actions and felt a little bad he didn't do anything about it. Which I find in myself all the time. Then in the end I guess he becomes a little more redeeming. Well, I guess that is Dicken's point to show how social distinctions can affect us. I would highly recommend this book. The writing style and comedy is so wonderful. The characters are so inventive. My favorite I think was Wemmick. A clerk in Pip's lawyers office who lives dual lives of at the office and at home and neither can co-exist in the same time and space. Once Pip asks him a question while at the office and gets a very direct and intelligent answer but then Pip says What if I were to ask you at home and the guy won't give him an answer and says that he doesn't know what the answer would be because he is at the office. Later Pip asks him at home and gets a completely different answer. It was great.

Quotes:

"I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong."

After being told by Estella that he is course and common, Pip wants to be a gentleman in order to be worthy of her. He is very stressed out over the situation as in his mind it his hopeless and doesn't understand how he can love someone as cold as she is. " In short, I turned over on my face when I came to that, and got a good grasp on the hair on each side of my head, and wrenched it well. All the while knowing the madness of my heart to be so very mad and misplaced, that I was quite conscious it would serve my face right, if I had lifted it up by my hair, and knocked it against the pebbles as a punishment for belonging to such an idiot." I thought this was very funny, just the way it is written.

Continuation of other post (see other blog)

2006-08-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

So our book club meets tomorrow, but since I live with Loralee who is choosing our next book I got found out early what to read. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Loralee told me that she bought it for herself and Joni, this girl in our bookblub whose birthday it was yesterday (referenced on other blog) and that it was so cheap because all the Barnes and Noble classic series were 50% off. They are already really cheap already so I was like awesome. Time to add to my already unread library.

I didn't really set a restriction on myself like I know I should when I go into bookstores. Well, right from the door, do I head to the classics section? No, I go to Journals. I've been wanting to buy a new journal, leather bound and really cool looking. Something that says "this has got some really interesting life stories in it" to my future progeny. Boy will they be disappointed. Especially, if I never write in it which I don't keep a consistent journal. I think the last time I wrote in a journal was over a year ago. I wanted to start one on my birthday and then every year my gift to myself would be a new journal but that didn't happen. Well, back to the journal section. I saw this really cool one that to me said what I wanted it to say but it wasn't leather bound and I really wanted a leather bound one too. As you can see I said too as in also. Yes I bought two journals. They were not that cheap either. One of them will be my travel journal that I take to Europe with me and I think whenever I travel anywhere. It's a small leather bound book so it won't be too cumbersome to take with me.

Okay now it was time to head over to the classics section. I knew exactly where it was because I have bought several things from there. Its not really a section more like a display. I was afraid that it would have ones that I already had but lo and behold it had lots I didn't have but are on my list to read. So I loaded up with Les Miserables, Great Expectations, Heart of Darkness, Count of Monte Cristo, Walden Pond, The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, and Canterbury Tales. There might be another one in there but I can't remember it at the moment. So I am set for some major classic reading and my arms were overflowing But that's not all. Oh no. I needed to check one more thing.

Our neighbor and Loralee's whatever, David, was telling us (or really Loralee, I was just there) about his reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short stories and how good they were. He brought the book over and it is pretty thick with over twenty stories to read. So I decided to see if the store had it. They did but a little pricey. Ah to heck with it, I'm sure I'll really like it. I had never read anything by Fitzgerald before but I decided to be adventurous. Might have been smarter to start off with a smaller more economical book of stories to read but I guess time will tell. Okay that's all. I new I was going to be spending a pretty penny on all these books so I tried talking myself out of getting one of the journals. But I would not be budged. I promised myself that I would write in them and fill up each and every page. My progeny would not be disappointed, well at least not in the fact that there is something to read.

Well, got up to the register and requested that the clerk tell me how much we were at after ringing in all the classics. He did $20. Not bad for all those. So I said keep going. It felt kind of like I was on the Price is Right but I knew I was already gonna lose (hello the prices are right on the books). Next came the Fitzgerald book. That doubled it. "Ooooh" I could hear the audience in my head say as I had possibly made a bad decision. But I said I'm gonna continue, Bob. Don't think that was really the clerk's name but go with me. So next came the journals. Another $35.00. With a grand total of $76.82. "Oh, Cassie, I'm sorry but you have overbid and lost the game", says Bob, "but we have some nice consolation prizes fo ryou, which are these books and a nice debit out of your checking account." Crap I gave him the wrong card.

The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan

2006-08-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

I'm not big into non-fiction. Well, in other words it is not usually my first choice of what to read. I first became introduced to non-fiction my first two years of college because I had to read certain books: the biographies of Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglas, Jihad vs. Mcworld, and another book about surviving in America on minimum wage or something like that. I came to find that they were all really interesting and enjoyable to read.

And this one was no exception. I have not read any of Amy Tan's books even though I have wanted to read The Joy Luck Club and I loved the movie. Basically I was just going off my mother's reccommendation. It is made up of a collection of essays, speeches and stories of her life. So at times she get repetitive because she talks about the same thing in a lot of speeches but some delve more deeper than others.

This book was extremely interesting and covered a lot of different topics. Mothers and daughter relationships, friendships, dealing with medical issues in ourselves and in our loved ones, and even racism in the world of writing. Though all of these topics are serious things to consider she knows when to put in a little bit of her humor to cut the tension. One of my favorite parts was when she explains how people analyze and her books, college students write there thesis on her, not just on her books, but on her. It was so fun to hear her refute their findings. It makes you think of how complicated you look into books that you are told are great masterpieces when the author was just trying to tell a story and it's just a coincidence that patterns arise. I thought it was hilarious.

Another enjoyable part about reading this book was that I had borrowed my mother's copy so it had some lines underlined and they were quite interesting read as her daughter. For example: "My mother believed in reincarnation and she believed I was someone from her past, a woman she had obviously wronged. Why else had I come back as her daughter to torment her so?" "How could I have been so stupid not to know this all these years. It had been so simple to make my mother happy. All I had to do was say I appreciated her as my mother." Okay so that's really the only two, but I thought that it was quite funny and a little offended to read and see it underlined. Later, after I became less self-centered, I realized maybe she was looking at herself as a daughter. It's hard to think of my mother as a daughter sometimes. Not that she was one that tormented her mother or anything, but she had some sort of a relationship with her mother. Which it has recently become interesting to observe other girl's relationships with their mother and how different they all are. Amy Tan had a traumatic relationship with her mother but it ended well sort of. My mom is like my best friend and it surprises me when others don't have the same relationship.

Other quotes that my mom underlined but I liked them too and so I was just a little lazy to underline any of my own. Get off my back.

"And I guess that is the role of both an editor and a friend--to have that confidence in another person, that the person's best is natural and always possible, forthcoming after an occasional kick in the butt."

"Memory feeds imagination, and my imagination is glutted with a Thanksgiving of nightmares." I have never had the experience of a Thanksgiving nightmare, well there is the one time that I was so distraught that I missed all the gorging and I had to heat up a plate because the family couldn't wait. I had to go and cry in the pantry. It was the first time I felt like I had missed Thanksgiving. But other than that my Thanksgivings have been really pleasant but I guess others have really bad ones. I have yet to see a movie about Thanksgiving that was pleasant all the way through.

"Who would be frank enough to warn that my husband might exchange me for a younger woman unless I forced him to buy me jewels so expensive it would be impossible for him to leave both me and gems behind?"

Persuasion by Jane Austen

2006-07-24T00:10:00.000-07:00

AAh Jane Austen, how she captures my romantic heart. This story is about two people who fell in love when they were young, Anne Elliott and Captain Frederick Wentworth (isn't that a great name?) but her family was against it and persuaded her to give him up for the good of the family. He went away broken hearted and she nurtured hers as well. Eight and a half years go by and they are suddenly thrown together by circumstance and she is having to deal with seeing him seemingly court a girl of her acqaintance and her feelings of still being in love with him. While he maintains a civil but cold air towards her. At times she feels she has lost him forever and others she feels he looks at her as if he may still have feelings for her.

It is beautifully written. I read this book in record time, for me anyway (less than a week). I already knew what basically happened having seen the movie but it had been a while so details were new to me. I thought that since I had seen the movie I wouldn't like the book as much but how could I doubt Jane Austen. She always delivers. But I found that I was reading the book to get to the parts that I remembered from the movie. The great parts that I love in Jane Austen novels: the various encounters of characters, letters between the lovers filled with beautiful language, etc. There are a few paragraphs that argue the constancy in love of men vs. women. I loved it. Good points are made on both sides, but in the end I think women pull just slightly ahead of men. Though I would not call this my favorite Jane Austen novel, it is still very good.

Only have one quote that struck me (well there more but they were whole paragraphs and it would give away the story) "One man's ways may be as good as another's, but we all like our own best."

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

2006-07-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Well, this wouldn't be a book club book without a little controversy now would it. Most people started reading this book but only a few actually finished. My roommate for one couldn't get passed the creep factor that set in in the first few chapters, which was the same for the others as well. I admit that I felt it too but pushed on through.

The story is told by a 14 year old girl, Susie, while she is in heaven looking down on earth. She was raped and murdered by a man who lived in her neighborhood and you come to find that she was not the first nor the last. (Enter in the creep factor) Susie watches her family and friends as well as others from heaven and sees how they deal with her death. She is constantly worrying about them and wanting to help them through their grief. The book spans about a 10 year period and shows how Susie's death changed the lives of everyone who knew her. Her family is torn apart. The killer escapes. Two of her classmates form an unlikely bond. Will they all be able to let go of the pain and be able to reconnect with each other?

Well, I didn't dive too deep into this book. It was an interesting story. My bookclub discussion was completely different. Instead of focusing on the dark and sad things of the book we focused on the aspects of heaven and how we think heaven will really be like. Then it sort of turned into a discussion of ghosts and what not but still it made me look at the book differently. We touched briefly on the relationships of the characters. I don't know that this was a favorite of the book club. It didn't seem to elicit as much discussion as we have had for other books. I don't necessarily think it is a must read. There are some pretty weird parts in it and I don't really like the style of writing. And no good quotes.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

2006-07-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

*Post about "The Lovely Bones" coming soon.

I decided to read this book 1. because it seemed like a quick read and 2. After reading The Great Divorce, I was interested to read something else of C.S. Lewis'. This book was recommended to me by several people as being very good but not as difficult as others. So I read it (which took me longer than I wanted mainly because I didn't priortize reading in my life) and loved it. The book is set up in the form of letters being written by Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood. They are both devils and Wormwood is a tempter working on getting the soul of a young man in England. Screwtape offers advice and techniques to help Wormwood achieve his goal in each of these letters.

It was so amazing how so many of the tactics that the devil may use as illustrated in this book are things I have experienced or am experiencing right now in my life. We hear it all the time that the devil works in very subtle ways and creeps temptations into our lives. It had never really sunk home until I read this book. As I read this book I thought about how the man or "patient" as screwtape refers to him will turn out. Will he give in to the temptation thereby damning his soul or will he overcome and turn to God?

One of my favorite parts of the book was when Screwtape was advising his nephew on how to use someone's "Unselfishness" against them. I found that my group of friends falls into this sort of thing. There is a story about how a group of people decide to have tea in the garden. One of the group makes it be known that he doesn't want to do that but out of his 'Unselfishness' he will for the sake of the others. But then the others don't want to give him the satisfaction of his 'Unselfishness' so they say they won't. Anyway "passions are aroused" and everyone ends up fighting but in the defense of the other person. I just thought that happens so much and had never thought about how it could ultimately affect me.

Other quotes of interest:

"One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth, He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself--creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sones. We want to suck in, He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct."

"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."

Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan

2006-06-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh this book was really good. Its another one that makes you wonder if the story being told is true. I don't know why but for some reason my book club loves books like that. Anyway this book is about an older woman, early fifties, who is invited on a walkabout (walking barefoot across 1400 miles of rugged terrain) with the last true Aborigine tribe in Australia. Its kind of a shock to her that she goes and she endures many hardships, most of which is amazing. She learns so much about these people and what they think of the outside world and "the mutants" as they call her and us. The longer she is with them (a total of four months) she understands the beauty of how people can be without judgment or greed.

This book gives great insights into society roles and how to value people. In this tribe everyone has a talent and it is used at the right time and celebrated. In this group they do not celebrate birthdays because getting older is not an accomplishment. They celebrate getting better and the person who has grown better announces when he or she wants to have celebration. Also, the importance of understanding our own bodies. That emotion and physical wellness go hand in hand.

I reccommend this book to everyone. It is a quick read. I read it in a day. Now for my favorite part the quotes section:

She explains to the tribe several things about our culture such as gravy and they always find symbolism in it.
"Instead of living the truth, Mutants allow circumstances and conditions to bury universal law under a mixture of convenience, materilism and insecurity."

Symbolism of Frosting
"It seemed to symbolize how much time, in the one-hundred-year Mutant life span, is spent in artificial, superficial, temporary, decorative, sweetened pursuits. So very few actual moments of one's life are spent discovering who we are, and our eternal beingness."

"Why can't Mutants see, if my song makes one person happy, it is a good job? You help one person, good job. Can only help one at a time anyway."

"People are nonliving when angry, depressed, feeling sorry for themselves, or filled with fear. Breathing doesn't determine being alive. I just tells others which body is ready for burial or not!"

There are tons more that I loved. There is pretty much something good on every page. So everyone read it.

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

2006-06-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

A classic novel about a young boy fighting in the American Civil War. He finds himself pondering whether he will be able to handle his first battle. Will he run or will he hold his ground? Well, he ultimately runs and in this despises himself and feels shame in front of his other comrades who have no idea what he has done. He tries to justify it but in the end his anger towards himself and his superiors for treating him and the other soldiers like expendable animals drives him to become a quite a warrior.

I don't think I gave this book the attention it deserved. I was just kind of reading it to read it. So as I was reading my mind wandered sometimes and usually when that happens I backtrack and reread what I missed but I didn't do that here because I really didn't care. The only times I did backtrack was when I was so lost about what was going on and I had no idea what the characters were talking about.

Not to say that this wasn't a good book but it was just kind of a filler for me until my book club picked the next book. The imagery and use of color was very interesting especially the color red was symbolic all throughout the book. The last chapter really hit me. I love it when books have good endings. So I'm kind of on the fence about this one. Its a quick read.

Life of Pi by Yann Martell

2006-06-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

This was the second book chosen for my book club. It was an extremely good book and one I don't think I would have ever read if not for the book club. The story touches on so many aspects: science, religion, zoology, survival techniques. Its quite a story interlaced with good philosophies. For those who don't know this book is about a sixteen year old boy who is the only one to survive a shipwreck on a lifeboat with several zoo animals one of which being a tiger. It tells the story of how he is able to co-exist with this tiger and face all the dangers of the sea. It was really exciting to read.

Now there was a debate at my book club whether or not this was a true story. I don't think it is even though there is an author's note and everything (that was my roommate's point). I have read and heard of several books who use this trick to make their books more interesting. And I have found an article written by the author talking about how he came up with the story. If you have read the book, you should read this article. It was very interesting.

Yann Martel is an excellent writer. Though this book can be graphic and intense at times he also mingles in some comedy that relieves the stress you feel. Also, I love his defense of zoos. How they have become so unpopular nowadays with animal rights activists and he compares it to religion in that being against either is to have an illusion of freedom. Having the main character practice three religions at the same time was quite funny and inspirational.

Not to ruin anything but if anyone who has read this book sees you reading this book they will almost always say "The end is so good. There's a real twist." Now when I got to the end I didn't have a "oh my gosh" moment. I just thought it was interesting. Maybe because I had high expectations or something. The end is very interesting and the reader is asked to make an internal choice. My book club was split on the choice. I believed the second choice. Maybe because I am more negative towards the human race. Still this book makes you think. Now on to some of my favorite quotes:

As he realizes that the tiger is still on board and fully takes it in here is Pi's thought (one of the funny quotes):
"You might think I lost all hope at that point. I did. And as a result I perked up and felt much better."

"Some of us give up on life with only a resigned sigh. Others fight a little, then lose hope. Still others--and I am one of those--never give up. We fight and fight and fight. We fight no matter the cost of battle, the losses we take, the improbability of success. We fight to the very end. It's not a question of courage. It's something more constitutional, and inability to let go. It may be nothing more than life-hungry stupidity."

"It is simple and brutal: a person can get used to anything, even to killing."

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

2006-05-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

*Warning: this post contains loads of sarcasm, read carefully.

I listened to this book on c.d. while doing my work at funnily enough, work. I usually like Nicholas Sparks. Okay so I've only read The Notebook (years before the movie came out, I might add). I guess what I mean is that I really like the movies that they adapt from his books. This book wasn't that good to me. The plot was pretty weak and a way cheesy ending that made me want to puke, me who if you read my other blog know I live for that crap.

The story revolves around Jeremy Marsh, a New York columnist who investigates supernatural phenomenons in order to disprove them. Well, his work takes him down to a small southern town which claims to have ghosts in their cemetary. Well where else would they be? These "ghosts" are exhibited by lights that show up when there is a dense fog. During his time down south, a whole four days, he meets and falls in love with a feisty librarian, Lexie, who in turn falls in love with him despite much, okay some, really very little resistance. However, obstacles ensue in the fact that he lives in New York and she lives there. Okay so there is one obstacle, but seemingly unovercomeable (not sure if that is a word but oh well.) Even when he tells her that he loves her and they can work it out whatever it takes, she refuses to believe and pushes him away. And he goes. Finishes his research which unearths a small scandal involving the town and mayor which if Jeremy releases the information, Lexie will never speak to him again. Tough decision. Well, you can guess what happens. Its pretty predictable... Okay they go their separate ways and Jeremy wanting to forward his career over his love life outs the mayor (not homosexually) which makes him super famous and he marries a supermodel while Lexie settles for the town deputy who has been love with her since childhood. Sorry I didn't mean to spoil it for you.

Suffice it to say Nicholas Sparks could have done and has done better. Well, at least in the Notebook, I already admitted I hadn't read anything else of his. Jeez.

House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

2006-05-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

I really liked this book. I already knew the story because I had seen the movie (which I had forgotten until I got finished with the first couple of chapters) but the way Edith Wharton writes is quite nice. She does overuse a few words here and there but I got passed it.

So anyway the story is about a girl (Lily Bart) in her late twenties who lives off of her rich relations and friends and has the life goal of finding a rich husband to keep in her the life to which she has become accustomed. She has many opportunities but she tends to flake out and then she puts herself into compromising positions. The main reason for her diverting her attention from her goal is for the opinion of one man who sees who gold digging ways as a terrible thing and he tells her so. But she lives in a world where that is the life that is laid out for her.

Then she puts herself foolishly into a bad position where she owes money to a married man (who fell in love with here and wanted to paid back in other than money) She runs of course. Then she is crossed by her friend who is notorious for having affairs and only has Lily around in order to distract her husband. Lies are told and she is forced into poverty and only has a coupld of friends. In this she finds how unfullfilling her desires were but she is unable to let it go. She just goes into a downward spiral of depression. It is quite a sad book but beautifully told. It makes you wonder at a woman's position back in those days. Completely dependant on men and money.

Here is a quote that I think is a much true to today as it was back then for men and women:

"If I were shabby no one would have me: a woman is aked out as much for her clothes as for herself. The clothes are the background, the frame, if you like: they don't make success, but they are a part of it. Who wants a dingy woman? We are expected to be pretty and well-dressed till we drop-and if we can't keep it up alone, we have to go into partnership."

I like this quote too but because one of the reasons that Lily Bart can't pull herself up out of her depression is because the man she loves lost his faith in her and if he hadn't then maybe she could have been a better person.

"It is so easy for a woman to become what the man she loves believes her to be!"

This wasn't a very good review of the book but I did really like it. If you don't feel inclined to read it then rent the movie because it was pretty good too.

Turn of the Screw by Henry James

2006-05-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

I read this book a couple months ago but forgot to do a reveiw of it so here it is. This book wasn't really that good. A short read about a ghost story. I think maybe I didn't like this book because I didn't read with as intelligent of thought as I should have.

It opened really nicely and with a gentleman saying has a ghost story that really happened to someone he knows that wrote it all down and the party anxiously wants to hear it. So a nice bookend right? Trust me it was.

So the story is about this young woman who takes a job being the governess for two young children with the stipulation that she is never to bother their guardian about anything. He lives somewhere else. So she goes to the children and finds how beautiful and charming they are. They are the perfect children in her eyes but then she starts to see images of people in random places. She knows that they are not really there. Ghosts! And she believes that the children know that they are there too but won't speak of them. So the book is mainly about her fears that these ghosts are influencing these children toward some evil and how she can protect them.

I went onto some websites to get more insight into this book and I have learned more about it but I was a little dissappointed in this book. Maybe just a little too deep for me.

Oh and the nice bookend? It didn't happen. the book just ended.

Book Club!

2006-04-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

I recently joined a book club. It wasn't really an intentional thing but my roommate had mentioned that she needed to read this book for a book club and I was like "What book club and what book" So I just threw myself into it. The Great Divorce was the first book that we read. The meeting went great. Its all girls and everyone had really good points and picked out great passages. I was glad I thought to bring my highlighter. I like book clubs even though I don't think I have as many astute points as others do. Sometimes I forget that I am trying to get something out of reading these books besides entertainment. So I will try harder with the next book which is The Life of Pi. I've heard many things about it and I wasn't sure I wanted to read it but this gives me an excuse. Another reason why I like book clubs, it forces me to read books that I would never think to read myself. I usually stick to same genre or whatever. I've only recently seen how great nonfiction books can be but they are still not my book of choice. We are reading one in a few months (although the debate is out as to whether it is nonfiction or not, something on the back cover calls it fiction but my roommate and others who have read it are adament that it has to be true, I thought the same thing about Memoirs of a Geisha though so one must be careful.)

Well, I have to finish House of Mirth before I read Life of Pi. Hopefully I'll get done in time. I'm doing better at spending my break time and lunch hour reading instead of surfing the net (except at this particular moment). So review to be coming soon on that one.

Incidentally, I get to choose what book we read in August. I'm debating to do a book that I've never read but want to or to reccomend Memoirs of Geisha or some other book that I have read so I can have that month free to read whatever I want. Sneaky eh? We'll see.

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

2006-04-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

Imagine you're in a town that is all dull and grey where the people are waiting for the sun to rise but it never does. Also, everyone fights with everyone. Lots of bickering. Then you get on a bus and go up into the air and arrive at this very bright country where you find that you are transparent and the ground and plants and everything is extremely hard and heavy. It hurts to walk on the grass. This is the setting of this book. The main character is one of these transparent people and his experience wandering around this bright country overhearing other ghosts having conversations with solid people. The reader comes to find out that where he was was Hell and this bright place is Heaven. Its possible to go from Hell to Heaven (to become solid) by letting go of whatever it was that was your sin. So the main character overhears conversations about everyday things that most people are guilty of for example: vanity, arrogance, pessimism,...among others. It was really interesting to see how all these people sound so familiar to other things you hear everyday. To think because we hold on to these thoughts that it imprisons us in a kind of hell on Earth and if we want to gain a higher place we have to let it go. The book doesn't go into too much detail about how that is done. The solid people try to explain but most of the ghosts are so wrapped in themselves they can't understand so they just argue. It becomes quite sad in some instances.

This whole book is so good and it is pretty easy reading according to my roommate who has read other C.S. Lewis books. I was wary of reading a C.S. Lewis novel. I have read the Narnia series and this book kind of falls into that difficulty of reading. But my roommate has told me about other of his books that are extremely difficult and are along the self-help type of writing, which I don't really like. But I may give another of his more difficult ones a try to see.

This book is full of good quotes.....but I was lazy and didn't highlight them because I pretty much would have been highlighting pages and pages. But here are a couple of passages that I thought were interesting.

This is from a ghost who is an intellectual type and is trying to find explanations for the religious aspects that his solid friend is trying to explain to him. I've always thought it would be interesting that when all these intellectuals finally get to the afterlife and all is revealed then they will just kick themselves but maybe they will still hold on to their beliefs and never be able to know the joy of what God can offer them. Anyway he is telling about this paper he is writing.

"I'm going to point out how people always forget that Jesus was a comparatively young man when he died. He would have outgrown some of his earlier views, you know, if he'd lived. As he might have done, with a little more tact and patience. I am going to ask my audience to consider what his mature views would have been. A profoundly interesting question. What a different Christianity we might have had if only the Founder had reached his full stature!"

Just as I am rereading some parts to find quotes there is so much good stuff. I love all the conversations.

"There is but one good, that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to Him and bad when it turns from Him. And the higher and mightier it is in the natural order, the more demoniac it will be if it rebels. It's not out of bad mice or bad fleas you make demons, but out of bad archangels. The false religion of lust is baser than the false religion of mother-love or patriotism or art; but lust is less likely to be made into a religion."

I reccommend this book. I think everyone should read it. It doesn't take very long either. I read it in a little over a week, but I could have read it in a couple of days but I get distracted. So there you go. Sorry this post is so long.

If I Eat I Feel Guilty, If I Don't I'm Deprived.....

2006-04-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

By Natasha Josefowitz. This is a small book of hilarious poems. It puts into words of how feel many times when it comes to eating and my struggle with weight issues. It talks about other daily dilemmas as well which I relate too but the poems about overeating are great. I highly reccommend this book of poems to everyone. My mom bought this for me just because and I read it all in a day. Here are a few of my favorite poems.

Diets

No bread
with strawberry jam
no rich desserts
no candy
no chocolate ice cream
no french fries
no chips

INSTEAD

Carrot sticks
raw cauliflower
with a low-fat yogurt dip
broiled fish
cottage cheese
lettuce with a diet dressing
half a grapefruit
one salt-free cracker

Even if I don't live longer
it certainly will seem longer.

Thin Tricks

If I take many small slivers of cake
instead of one large slice,
I am really eating less.
If I keep evening out
the uneven edges of the pie,
I'm not really eating it.
If I eat off your plate,
I'm not eating off mine.
If I finish the children's leftovers,
it doesn't count.
If I don't order a meal,
but taste everyone else's,
I won't gain weight.
So how come
I'm not thin?

Meeting New Men

When I meet a new man,
the more handsome he is
the less attractive I feel;
the more intelligent he is
the stupider I sound;
the smoother he is
the more awkward I seem.

In other words,
when I meet a man
I really like,
I become this blubbering idiot
and he will have nothing to do with me.

When I meet a man
I'm not interested in,
I am beautiful, brilliant,
witty and fun,
so he falls madly in love
with me,
but I will have nothing to do
with him.

The trick is to be dull
with the men I don't like
and sparkling with ones I do,
but for some reason,
it's always the other way around.

There are lots more but I'll stop now. Maybe you'll see one or two on my new feature: the poem of the day.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

2006-04-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

This book was very good. I have always been a fan to Fantasy and this didn't overdo it. There was a lot of intrigue and mystery and as it is a series a lot of things left unsolved. The wonderful thing about this book is the depiction of a boy and his dragon. They communicate through telepathy and it is a very loving and fun relationship.They can be playful as well as serious. It was very refreshing that they didn't have to be constantly concerned with the dangers they were facing but took time to make a joke or two. It begins from his finding her egg and hatching to being set on a mission of revenge that turns to his learning magic, swordplay, and the history of The Riders which he is now apart. The whole burden of the world is put upon his shoulders as he realizes that he will have to make some serious decisions as to whom to trust and where his allegiance lies. It was mostly geared toward kids but it was still fun to read and I look forward to reading the sequels but I will wait until the second book has gone to paperback.

One amazing thing about this book is that the author was only fifteen when he first started writing the book. His family self-published the novel at seventeen or eighteen. I am so impressed by that. I highly reccommend this book for an entertaining adventure if you like fantasy. Here is pretty much the only quote that I was hit with. It is when Eragon's uncle is giving his fatherly speech to his son who is leaving for a job in another town (it was also intended for Eragon as well).

"First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered. One may be a free man and yet be bound tighter than a slave. Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not. Consider none your superior, whatever their rank or station in life. Treat all fairly or they will seek revenge. Be careful with your money. Hold fast to your beliefs and others will listen. Of the affairs of love...my only advice is to be honest. That's your most powerful tool to unlock a heart or gain forgiveness. "

Lots of stuff that can apply to all of us in there. Pretty astute for a fifteen year old.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

2006-03-28T12:21:00.000-08:00

This book had its moments but I would not reccommend it to everyone. It was interesting in its take on the Wizard of Oz story from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West. It goes from her birth (she is born green, complete shock to her parents) to her death. She is not the nicest person but not the meanest either. She just likes to be left alone and left to her own ideals. The reader ends up liking her and her death is okay because it is really an accident blown out of proportion. The wizard is really a tyrant who orders her death in order to silence her. The book is mostly a satire for how we may see people who want change because they view their government as wrong. They must be evil if we do not agree with them.

The book does leave a lot of things unanswered and maybe they are answered in the sequel "Son of a Witch". Haven't decided if I care enough to find out. I have a feeling that they may not be. Also, there is a lot of questionable nature in this book, stuff right out of a harlequin romance novel. I do like books that look at the darker side of things and help to understand a villain more. But this book didn't do that great of a job. It was just okay.

Memoirs of a Geisha

2006-03-25T13:35:00.000-08:00

I really loved this book. It was so beautiful the way it described the Japanese way of life for these women. You learn that they are not prostitutes which is the normal misconception but are just paid for their company. Yes at times they do have sex for money but they get to decide who after their virginity is lost and it is not very often. The story is around Sayuri (Chiyo is her real name) and her becoming a Geisha and living that life during major changes in Japan. Her drive to become a Geisha is to find a man that she met when she was a child who made her feel special and the more she thinks of him as she grows up, she falls in love with him. So when she finally does meet him again all she does is in order to become closer to him. Of course obstacles ensue and you find yourself wondering if they will ever get together because she must do what society dictates.

The author is very tricky because when you read the book it sounds like it could be real. That she is a real person and the people she encounters are real. I even found myself looking up an artist she talks about painting her picture to see if his art was online. Sure enough I found his name but it was only from a chat site where women had done the same thing as me and discovered that this book is completely fiction. But that didn't really detract from my love of this book too much.

The movie that recently was released is very good too but I would highly reccommend reading the book first before watching it because the book will fill in all the holes that the movie doesn't catch. Read this book. Its soo good.

Brothers Karamazov

2006-03-22T11:59:00.000-08:00

To start off this year of reading I will tell about Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I really started it in December but I finished the majority of it in January. Plus I want people to know that I read such a long and challenging book.

I liked this book to a point. The first third is really good because it brings out philosophy of the author while telling the story. The next third goes more just into the story. Which you know what happens in the story within the first few chapters. The patriach of the Karamazovs is supposedly killed by one of his sons. So the book deals a lot with the horror of patricide but the last third deals with the mystery of whether or not the son actually killed his father. He denies it of course but can he be believed since he is such a scoundrel and has pretty much said that he has wanted to kill his father.

Like I said I like the first third the best. It talks a lot about how society pretends to hate violence but really they create it in order to make their lives more interesting. Which I think is so true. Personally I myself abhor violence but how many times do I want to see the gruesomeness of a car accident or like to watch action movies. I don't want to be apart of the violence except to the point of being able to witness it.

My one other gripe about the book is that sometimes it veers a little to tell a story that doesn't really have anything to do with the main plot. So once you finally get into the story it pulls away (yes building suspense but not every effectively) to something else introducing new characters and so by the time you rejoin the main narrative you have to contemplate what the point of that was.

Here are some of my favorite passages. There were a lot dealing with religion but too many to get into or explain. So these just deal with the ways of man. And they are rather long as well so bear with me.

"A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself as well as for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love and, in order to divert himself, having no love in him, he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest forms of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal, in satisfying his vices. And it all comes from lying---lying to others and to yourself. A man who lies to himself, for instance, can take offense whenever he wishes, for there are times when it is rather pleasant to feel wronged--don't you agree? So a man may know very well that no one has offended him, and may invent an offense, lie just for the beauty of it, or exaggerate what someone said to create a situation, making a mountain out of a molehill. And although he is well aware of it himself, he nevertheless does feel offended because he enjoys doing so, derives great pleasure from it, and so he comes to feel real hostility toward the imaginary offender..."

"Today everyone asserts his own personality and strives to live a full life as an individual. But these efforts lead not to a full life, but to suicide, because, instead of realizing his personality, man slips into total isolation. For in our age mankind has been broken up into self-contained individuals, each of whom retreats into his lair, trying to stay away from the rest, hiding himself and his belongings from the rest of mankind, and finally isolating himself from people and people from him. And, while accumulates material wealth in his isolation, he thinks with satisfaction how mighty and secure he has become, because he is mad and cannot see that the more goods he accumulates, the deeper he sinks into suicidal impotence. The reason for this is that he has become accustomed to relying only on himself; he has split off from the whole and become an isolated unit; he has trained his soul not to rely on human help, not to belive in men and mankind, and only to worry that the wealth and privileges he as accumulated may get lost. Everywhere men are turning scornfully away from the truth that the security of the individual cannot be achievd by his isolated efforts but only by mankind as a whole."

"And what we must fear above all is our growing general tolerance of crime, rather than this or that criminal act committed by an individual. What is the reason for our indifference, for our strangely mild reaction to certain crimes that are the signs of the times and that promise us an extremely unenviable future? Are we to look for it in our cynicism or in the premature exhaustion of the intellect and the imagination of our still very young, yet already decrepit, society? Does it lie in the weakening of our moral principles or simply, perhaps, in a lack of such principles? I cannot answer these questions, disturbing though they are. I can only say that every citizen out--indeed, must--concern himself with them."

"But now we are either horrified at what we see or we pretend we are horrified, while in reality we relish the spectacle, as connoisseurs of strong and eccentric sensations that rouse us from our cynical and lazy apathy; or else we are like children who wave off frightening apparitions, bury their faces in their pillows, and wait until the frightening phantoms are gone, so that they can quickly forget them in their games and cheerful laughter. But there comes a moment when we, too, must face our reality soberly and thoughtfully, examine both ourselves and our society, and try to understand the problems facing this society of ours, or at least come to grips with those problems."

Joining the Fray

2006-03-20T17:08:00.001-08:00

Okay so I know that there are several other book blogs out there but I thought maybe people might like to know what I've been reading and what I liked or didn't like about it. And if you don't, well then its for me to keep track for myself. I don't have a challenge for myself or anything. Or a really composed list. I do have a list of classics that my highschool teacher made up and I will choose from them pretty often because I want to read all the books on that list. (So I guess that is a little bit of a challenge but I don't have a time frame) But then I plan to read books that can be pure entertainment to give my brain a rest. Also, I want to read a poem every day so if one strikes me then I will include it here as well. Well, enjoy and if you want to make recommendations please feel free.