Book hiatus

I'm feeling kind of done with this blog for a while. I appreciate anyone who checks out my posts, but I've realized that my favorite part of the whole experience is actually reading the books, not writing about them. I plan to continue on the Time list, but for now (or perhaps permanently) I am going to take a break from this blog. Recently I read Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs and The Happiness Project. I'm working on The Friday Night Knitting Club and Sense and Sensibility.

That being said, I am spending a lot of time baking, and I've been thinking of posting my photo and the recipe online, as well as comments on the treat. Again, not sure if I'll enjoy that part as much as the actual process of baking. I find that so calming and therapeutic, as well as rewarding with a delicious masterpiece to share at the end of the process. for now, I'm just posting photos of my baking adventures on facebook.

Thanks for reading.
Signing off for now,
Mary

More on eReaders

Another interesting articles on eReaders. I can't believe these stats!
- 15% of Americans use eReaders (up from 8% last year)
- 16% of Americans read 11-20 books a year, but Americans with an eReader read a lot more - 32% read 11-20 books

http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/study-e-reader-use-continues-grow?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=mary.malphurs@target.com&utm_content=RT-NLE-RT-AM-09-20-11&utm_campaign=Retailing%20Today%20Daily%20Edition%3A%2009/20/11

Bookless Libraries

photo credit: zole4 http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/  

I love Facebook. It is a cool way to get connected with old friends and acquaintances. It's also a great way to find links to topics you might not otherwise see. My former classmate Ann Heys-Caffrey posts a lot of neat articles. For example, she posted this article by Time on the concept a bookless library and this one about the future of e-readers from NPR.

For me, I am able to separate the idea of a library with no books, and a book in e-reader form. The idea of a library in electronic form, doesn't seem that crazy. According to Merriam Webster, the definition of a library is a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials (as books, manuscripts, recordings, or films) are kept for use but not for sale. This doesn't speak to the physical manifestation of the materials. An electronic library seems akin to listening to music that is record to CD or MP3 versus live music. There's something to be said for experiencing music live, but one can certainly glean a great amount of satisfaction and emotional response from recorded music. It feels like it can be the same thing for books, you can still absorb information from an electronic format, like you can from a hard or soft cover book. It's also easier to sort through information electronically with search terms and key words to get right to the information you are trying to find.

That being said, the idea of living in a world without real physical books is so disappointing to me. I can't imagine growing up without experiencing the comfort of a physical book. The feel, smell, weight and even the font of a book in one's hands is not replaced by internet reading or a Kindle. The experience is more tactile and feels more real. The book feels almost like a friend you can take from place to place, without the need for a power cord. And that sense of accomplishment when you turn the final page can be so exhilarating. In reading a physical book, I generally savor the words. I find I'm much more likely to skim when I read something electronically. Electronic formats feel more like work, since I do emails all day long. For me, it's not very relaxing to stare into a glowing screen (or a Kindle screen) to absorb my Barbara Kingsolver. Also I learn better with the physical act of highlighting passages in text books, or editing a hard copy of an article for Junior League.

I know e-readers may be the future in terms of textbooks, research materials and even novels. But I for one will continue to buy physical books when reading for pleasure. The experience of a physical book cannot compare to the packaged consumerized version delivered electronically.

Check two off the Time list!

An American Tragedy:
After MONTHS of reading, procrastinating and trips to the library, I finally finished An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser. I thought this book was well written, but it took me so long to get through since I didn't really relate to any of the characters, I felt like there was too much build up in Book 1 that wasn't very relevant to the story and I don't love courtroom dramas.

I did, however, find it so interesting that a true story that was the inspiration of this fictional piece. The was a murder on a lake in New York in 1906, where a man offed his pregnant lover. His name was Chester Gillette. In the book, the main character is named Clyde Griffiths, and I think it's so neat how the initials were the same. The novel follows the true story to a tee. It seems that only the peripheral characters had much development outside the original news story.

I don't think I would recommend this book. It was too long, and I felt like the main character was so trite and one dimensional - his mantra (not that he could conceive of something like this) was: follow his penis to the highest society woman he can get. He couldn't really come to grips with the fact that what he was doing to his estranged lover Roberta was wrong, and once he was convicted, he did everything he could to make it look like he had changed his moral core. To me, Griffiths was a symbol of the American Dream gone all wrong. He was able to climb up through society even with a past and a poor family, but then when his lust got the better of him, he couldn't own up to the situation and make things right.

Catch-22:
I also read Catch-22 by Joseph Heller over a weekend on vacation in Florida. It wasn't a great beach read since it's a complex story, not just a pleasure read. It took me quite a while to get into the humor of the situations and appreciate the character development. My favorite characters were the doctor and the minister. There was something so sweetly sad about the deaths of Yossarian's comrades during WWII. Although it was initially confusing, I really liked the out-of-sequence story telling.

The definition of a Catch-22, now a part of modern day language is this (thanks wikipedia for citing this passage):
There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he were sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. (p. 46, ch. 5)


I know this novel has been analyzed a lot, and I don't feel I will be able to do justice to this work without extensive dialog with a discussion group. I read this book from the view point of a curious fly on the wall. I focused on the behaviors of the men, the immoral actions that were directly in conflict with their mental state (or vice versa). The juxtaposition of how the characters acted compared to how you expected them to act was really interesting. I felt like most of the characters were cowards. But then you have to think - these are young men in a very serious war. That is pretty scary stuff and would likely make anyone act a boastful and yellow at the same time.


I'm reading The Happiness Project for book club, as well as Sense and Sensibility. More to come soon!

The Help - Guest Post

My husband wrote an interesting post on The Help. We just saw the movie this weekend and have been in discussion with his brother-in-law. Read on for more!

http://malphurs.blogspot.com/2011/08/help-simple-movie-about-complicated.html

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky

On our trip back to Ohio a few weeks ago, I read  The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow. This was recommended to me by a girl in my book club, as a novel they were considering to read in her high school English class. After reading the book, she (and I) both decided this was pretty difficult subject matter for for teaching to high-schoolers. Lots of sex for the wrong reasons. It would have been interesting to discuss in college though.

I enjoyed reading this book about a biracial girl who is the only survivor of a family tragedy. I thought the characters were interesting, the sexual undertones felt reminiscent of girls in my high school, and the wrong choices seemed realistic for teenagers. I also thought the drug induced decisions of the adults seemed like something that typically happens in bad neighborhoods. I would recommend this book, but after just a couple weeks the story is already fading from my mind.

I'm working through An American Tragedy now. It's slow work. It's written well, but I'm just having a hard time staying focused. More to come soon!

Perfect Peace

I read two great books while traveling to/from my hometown for my mom's birthday. It always feels like an accomplishment to me when I finish a book at the end of the a trip or on a long weekend.

Perfect Peace by Daniel Black - warning, this is a spoiler
This book was recommended by Amazon when I put Wench into my cart. It's a story about a mother in the 1940s-1960s in the South, who has had enough of giving birth to sons. When her final baby arrives, she proclaims he to be a she, despite the obvious signs pointing to the gender. Emma Jean raises the baby, named Perfect, above everyone else in the family. As the only daughter, Perfect is showered with all the gifts and experiences Emma Jean wishes she had as a child, including a doll of her own, a yellow party dress with matching ribbons, and a birthday party.

The story line moves through the early days where Perfect spends her early childhood as a beautiful girl adored by many, to the great metamorphosis back into the boy Paul at the tender age of eight, to the subsequent transition into manhood. Additionally, the book highlights each of Perfect/Paul's six brothers and the struggles they have with her/his as well as their own lives.

This book had such an explosive ending. So many things happened in the last 50 pages, and it created an engaging storyline that was hard to put down. I loved that each of the brothers played a specific role in the family, and they each had been conditioned in the same environment. I found it so incredible that each boy could turn out to become such a different person, simply based on the favor they received from the parents Emma Jean and Gus.

It was interesting to me how the concept of sex and sexuality was positioned in the book. For Emma Jean, it was a means to a daughter. For her husband Gus, it was a way to satisfy his urges (and only his urges). For Perfect/Paul, it was about the security of being wanted, and as she/he only felt truly wanted when being praised for beauty or when desired for physical closeness. Even the adult relationships, either perceived by he childhood friends or in describing the adult brothers/lovers, seemed to mostly be missing the thing that makes love work in the real world. To me, sexuality is innate, but it is not the thing that governs my relationship with my husband. I think of sexuality/sex as a form of expression used to display trust and is a tool to build a connection. A relationship is built on affection, surely, but it also requires common interests/goals, emotional support, and mutual respect to be successful. Many of the relationships in this book were one-dimensional, which is why the characters were so often unhappy in their one-sided partnerships.

Another theme of this book was the relationship between Emma Jean and her mother. Emma Jean was treated like Cinderella, while her mother doted on her two older sisters. I can certainly see how a relationship like this would make Emma Jean want to give Perfect all the things she missed out on as a child. What I don't understand is why the mother is the voice in Emma Jean's head when she becomes mentally unravelled. It doesn't make sense to me that the woman she hated for so many years become a voice of reason and support, that ultimately drives her to a point of no return.
I recommend this book. It was a departure from normal reading of that time in our nation's history, as well as a departure from the typical African American historical fiction that I read more commonly. In fact, I found the similarities in the characters to remind me of Middlesex. Cal in that novel goes through what feels like a more traumatic experience to me, because of the many twists and turns through her/his entire life.

I also finished The Girl Who Fell from the Sky last weekend, and will be posting on this book soon. As the Back to School advertisements are popping up on TV, I have gravitated towards more serious reading. I am in the middle of Sense and Sensibility (first time) and I just checked out a Time book from the library. I'm going to try An American Tragedy again. Lots of great stories ahead!

What are you reading?

The Hunger Games - Guest Post!

Have you read The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins yet? My husband and I just finished reading all three books, and we are pretty enamored by them. I haven’t seen Kevin this excited about a book since he read American Wife a few years ago. Due to his overwhelming enthusiasm for the series, I asked Kevin to guest blog on my site. You can see his blogs here: personal and the Utah Jazz blog if you’d like to learn more about his other favorite thing, sports.

We’re planning to build an online book club to salute these books. If you’re interested in participating, add a comment to this post, and I’ll send you the information!

For me, I loved book #2, Catching Fire, the best. If you’ve read Ender’s Game, The Giver, or 1984 you will like The Hunger Games books. Now, read on for Kevin’s take on this dystopian society.

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NOTE: The below contains multiple plot spoilers. If you have not already finished The Hunger Games trilogy then this probably isn’t the post for you. However, if you have finished all three books, then I welcome your thoughts on my review.

One of the first things anyone says about The Hunger Games book series is that it is very addicting. From the beginning you are thrown into the world of Panem, and are immersed in the strange names, rules and social norms that are essential to the story. The vivid descriptions of the brutality of the Capital are epitomized by the “competition” that comes from the title The Hunger Games. Every year each of the 12 Districts ruled by the Capital have to send two children (called tributes) to fight to their death until only one child remains as the victor. These games are barbaric in design and also in execution, since they are televised in a way that would remind some people of March Madness. As a reader, you are introduced to the games by the narrator and first person perspective of the District 12 tribute, Katniss. The defining personality traits of Katniss are her problem with authority, protectiveness of her family, naivety of people’s emotions and ultimately her ability to survive. How she uses these personal traits helps make her an inspirational character in a world devoid of many role models.

The fact that Panem felt completely foreign wasn’t much of a surprise considering the unique nature of the world. However, what was not expected was that this dystopian world also felt relatable. One of the main analogies that I took from the series was how the world of Panem related to corporate culture in America. The Capital could be a stand in for corporate headquarters in the same way that the individual offices represented the Districts. Also, while there weren’t any reapings or Hunger Games in corporate America there are earnings reports (broadcast for everyone to see) and furloughs/lay-offs. It might be a stretch to make that comparison, but I saw some parallels.

Anyway, that was one thing I took away from the book, but the other main themes I found prevalent were the importance of context, luck and intelligence as well the examples of sacrifice and the commentary on reality TV. Below is each theme in a little more detail.

Importance of Context
Most of the characters act as you would expect based on the situation they are in, whether the character is in the Games, in the streets of the Capital or in the District. Their actions are a direct result of their surroundings. When “kill or be killed” is the context, then it isn’t surprising when kids act like blood thirsty maniacs. However, the author does a great job with the main characters, who do not conform to the behaviors you might expect based on the context. When a character zigs when they are supposed to zag, it helps reveal an important moment or personality trait. One of the main characters, Peeta, talks about this in the first book on the night before he is supposed to enter the arena. He describes how he wants to die in a way that shows that the Capital hasn’t changed him. Despite the context of a brutal arena, he wants to stay authentic to himself. This was a powerful moment in the book because it is one of the few examples of someone being aware of how their surroundings affect them.

Importance of Luck
This one seemed the most obvious of all the themes. Katniss had the bad luck of growing up in District 12 and watching her sister, Prim, get picked for the Hunger Games. However, she also had the good luck of escaping death numerous times throughout the books. That leads to another theme of the book, and that is managing luck. Katniss was one of those characters, who often seemed to have the wrong side of luck, but through determination and persistence she was able to survive. Other characters weren’t so fortunate. Luck’s fingerprints were all over the book as Collins seemed to be saying that no matter what you do, sometimes things don’t work out. The last example of the importance of luck in the books has to be the Hunger Games catchphrase “May the odds be ever in your favor.”

Importance of Intelligence
The tributes in the Hunger Games did not have the Capital upbringing and most of them weren’t trained for the competition. However, so many of the characters showed remarkable intelligence despite being in a high stress environment. Katniss was certainly clever in how she competed, but one can also look at Foxface, Beetie and Peeta as well. Each one of them had skills they learned in day to day life and were able to utilize in the arena. It would have been a much different book if the Hunger Games focused more on strength and athletic ability. Those both were worthwhile attributes, but it seemed clear to me that the most important characteristic to survival was intelligence.*

*That being written, I have some reservations about Katniss intelligence. She seemed to be oblivious to many things, such as Gale and Peeta’s romantic feelings towards her. Also, her rational mind seemed to wilt when she was agitated. However, she did have some very intelligent moments and lest we forget she is 16 years old in the book. Was Katniss intelligent? I would certainly put her behind Gale and Peeta with one of them showing incredible analytical skills (Gale) and the other showing great interpersonal skills (Peeta). I would say that yes she was really smart and that maybe the only reason I am thinking she might not be is because the book was written from her point of view. First person allowed us an insight into her doubts, questions and insecurities. Sometimes people (myself included) equate doubt with a lack of intelligence, but I don’t think that is generally or in this case true.

Examples of Sacrifice
The story starts off with a great sacrifice story as Katniss steps in for Prim to compete in the Hunger Games. Considering there was a 96% chance (23 out of 24) that Katniss was going to die, then it is clear she was giving up her life in order for her sister to life. After that moment there are many other examples of people sacrificing themselves for others. The main beneficiary of this was Katniss, who had people like Peeta, Mag and Finnick willing to give up their lives in order for her to live. As the Mockingjay, she was the symbol for the cause to defeat the Capitol. The rebels wanted her to survive, and they readily sacrificed themselves to save her.

Commentary on Reality TV
Quoting Wikipedia “Collins says the idea for The Hunger Games came from channel surfing on television. On one channel she observed people competing on a reality show and on the other she saw footage of the Iraq War.” This was a constant theme as every aspect of the Hunger Games was televised and how acting was considered such an important part of survival. Also, the propos introduced in Mockingjay were considered highly critical to the Rebel’s success. Reading the book, I could almost hear certain people say “perception is reality.”

Other thoughts on The Hunger Games:

• What happened to the rest of the world? Asia? Europe? Does the Capital talk to them? How does Panem relate in the global world?
• Was Prim’s death at the end necessary to the plot? I know that plenty other people had died, but that was the final straw that solidified that the there was going to be no happy ending to the Hunger Games. The main character failed her primary goal in keeping her family safe. Maybe that was the point that there was no happy ending in a place like Panem.
• Rue’s death was probably the most compelling part of the book. Her character occupied only a small part of the overall trilogy, but she was critical in the plot and the themes.
• I was angered by the Quarter Quell in Catching Fire, since a 2nd straight Hunger Games for Katniss seemed a little excessive. Also, the vote at the end when President Coin suggested the Hunger Games for the Capital kids was ridiculous. I didn’t believe for a second that these victors would vote yes after having gone through two Hunger Games.
• The ending of the final book saddened me – the trio of Katniss, Gale and Peeta was broken down to a duo and a solo. The fact that a choice had to be made, and that Gale made it for Katniss made the conclusion bittersweet.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the three books. There were captivating and certainly a conversation starter with a lot of friends. I had some complaints about the plot twists and turns (too many in my opinion), but those are minor. Now, my curiosity turns to how the book is turned into a movie. Opening in March of next year, it will hopefully be a good representation of the book.

Favorite Books from my Childhood

Inspired by the facebook 30 Books in 30 Days challenge, I loved the idea of thinking through my favorite books. I am not typically someone who re-reads books, so it's usually just one really impactful read that I remember for years. I find that I can't normally remember the whole story end to end, but there are moments and passages that resonate with me. In no particular order, here are my top books/series from my childhood. Keep your eyes peeled soon for my top list for adult reads.

• The Phantom Tollbooth by Jules Feffier - I read vividly remember reading this book in EPP class in elementary school. I loved the cities of Digitopolis and Dictionopolis, the literalness of the reasoning in the towns. I can practically still taste the letters the main character Milo bought at the market. I remember the slow bummer of the Doldrums, thinking how easy it can be to slip into a major case of the dumps. The characters represented many different personalities, like main character "everyman" Milo, the princesses Rhyme and Reason, the watchdog Tock, and the Humbug. This is one book I have read over and over, it's all tattered. Early in our relationship Kevin and I asked each other to read our favorite books. This was what I gave him, he gave me Moneyball. Needless to say, neither of us finished either book since our styles are so different.
• Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery - This was a book series that I actually saw first as a TV movie that I loved. My friend Amanda and I would watch this repeatedly on summer vacations. Once I learned that the story was initially a book series, I devoured my mom's copy of book #4 Anne of Windy Poplars. Just looking this book up for a link, I discovered that there are actually 13 books about the precocious orphan, Anne. I may have to check a few of those out of the library. The main character has such spunk and confidence, I can't help but think that a bit of her rubbed off on me.
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum - Another book from elementary school, I remember sitting in my forth grade teacher's reading circle. She would read to us every day, funny kid books like Bunnicula and one about a terrible teacher the kids always outsmarted. But my favorite she read was Oz. I would disappear into the story, not feeling connected to my body (even though girls used this time to braid each other's hair and draw on backs) and being in awe of this magical place. I read several of the other books in the series as well, but none captured me the way The Wonderful Wizard of Oz did.
• Andrew Lang's Fairy Books - The Brothers Grimm were a bit to intense for me as a child, so I developed my love of fairy tales by reading Andrew Lang's "colored books". My school library had the Red Book and the Yellow Book, and I remember checking these books out repeatedly to lose myself in the tales of animals, kings and queens, and witches. I always have a place in my heart for this genre, and it led me to The Once and Future King, about King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone.
• Miss Hickory by Carol Sherwin Bailey - This was a random book I checked out many times, and I found it a couple years ago at a bookstore going out of business sale. I instantly remembered the cover, and couldn't wait to read the book again. But then I remembered, it's such a crazy book! The main character is a stick doll who gets her nut-head plucked off and eaten by a squirrel! Check out the link to the book, it's a really funny review by someone who obviously read this book and remembered the quirkiness in a rosy light, just like I did!
• Shel Silverstein poetry books - Who didn't love The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends or A Light in the Attic? I read these books many times with a reading light late at night. Some of my favorite poems include Jimmy Jet and his TV Set, Hector the Collector, Sick, The Crocodile's Toothache, Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out, Melinda Mae, The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt, It's Hot, Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony, Twistable Turnable Man, Deaf Donald, Skin Stealer, Ladies First, and Almost Perfect. Silverstein's drawings are unforgettable and add so much to the silly poems.
• Berenstein Bears books - My favorites were Too Much Junk Food, Get the Gimmies, The Truth. Good morals, characters I could relate to, and you could even meet them in person at the amusement park Cedar Point! Berenstein Bear Country was open from 1985-98, and how now been replaced by Camp Snoopy, an even more wonderful cast of characters.
• Matilda and The BFG by Roahl Dahl - Dahl's books are magical. I know a lot of people probably loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach more, but my favorites were these. The books are empowering to children, full of interesting characters and zainy storylines. I have even read some of his adult stories, including Henry Sugar and Six More and Boy. He's a gifted writer who takes us away from normal life and into a fantasy land. The drawings added so much to the story too, that is exactly how you envisioned the story taking place.

So that's the list. Any one else fall in love with these books? What are your favorites?

The Poisonwood Bible

Have you ever been to Africa? Have you ever wanted to? It isn't a country I wanted to see, other than the Pyramids in Egypt. But after reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, I was transfixed by the vivid colors, scents, and sounds of Central Africa.

This was an amazing read set in the Congo from 1960s-1980s. It's about the Baptist Price family that goes to the Congo for a mission. The Price family is overwhelmed by changes from their lifestyle in Georgia, for seemingly simple things like shopping at the market and preparing meals, to dealing with more dramatic events such as droughts, floods, and ant plagues. Add in Father Price's incessant "my way or the highway" preaching, things just don't go right for the family.

The country breaks free of Belgium rule during the mission, and this changes life for all. There is civil unrest in the country and all whites are encouraged to leave. But most of the Price family stays, and their lives are forever changed by the pivotal events that follow.

I really liked how the narrators of the book were the mother and four children (all girls). Each chapter was told from the perspective of one of these women. I found it really interesting how as the girls grew into women, their voice maintained the same confidence, but their perspective changed based on all that they had experienced. I resonated with Leah the most when she was a girl, and with the mother as all of her chapters were written after she left Africa.

I'd rank this is one of the best books I have read in the last six months, maybe even the last year. It was a great read and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking to learn about a new part of the world.

I'm reading Catching Fire, the second in the series about The Hunger Games. Nest post coming soon!

Vacation Reading

Kevin and I just got back from an 8 day trip to Mexico with my family. It was awesome to relax, sightsee, spend time with my parents, and eat and drink lots of wonderful things. Check out Kevin's blog for photos from our trip. Many photos are posted on facebook too.

On the trip, I had lots of time for reading! Here are the books I was able to get through...

The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston
This non-fiction account of the serial killer in Florence for over two decades was a pretty good read. I can't believe that the real killer hasn't been caught! The book was written by fiction writer Preston and the primary reporter of the story. I was more drawn in for the first half of the book, than the second half. Who dunnit? We don't know.

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafini
There are a lot of books about women's plights in the Middle East, but I thought this memoir had an interesting point of view. The author is a professor (in Islamic Republic of Iran for the story, currently in the US). She tells of the life of herself and her students during the tumultuous time of the Iranian revolution and Iraq/Iran war in the 1980s-90s. I loved how she broke the book into four sections, based on the books she taught in class: Lolita by Nabokov, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James books, and Jane Austen books. I have ready Lolita (see my blog post on it here) and The Great Gatsby in high school. I found the writing a bit over my head, she does a very intellectual deep dive on the novels. But I enjoyed the comparisons of Iranian life to the novels and all the wonderful character description Nafini did.

Madame Tussaud: A Life in Wax by Kate Berridge
This biography felt like stepping into time in France in England during the times of Marie Antoinette. I was captivated by the first third of the book, learning about the life and times in France and England in the late 1700s to early 1800s. The book is quite a deep study on Madame Tussaud, but I remember seeing the museum in college, and being amazed at how life-like the models looked. In Madame's time, she touted her show as anatomical replicas, not wax figures, and she used the show to illustrate the prominent figures and news of the time. I thought this was an interesting read, out of my normal zone.

Room by Emma Donoghue
We read this for July's book club (my pick). I am really underwhelmed. I thought this was going to be a fantastic eye-opening read. I correctly guessed the reason the boy Jack was in his situation before even starting the book, and the whole story lacked the deep emotion I was expecting. I liked how the story was told through the voice of five-year-old Jack, that was a nice take. Overall, I'm pretty disappointed, since this book is a top seller.

I just started The Poisonwood Bible today (our flight got cancelled from Chicago to Minneapolis yesterday, sop I had ample reading time today). I'm enjoying it a lot so far.

Keep your eyes peeled for a guest blog soon - Kevin just read The Hunger Games and can't wait to discuss!

Bossypants

I read Tina Fey's Bossypants last week on the bus. What a great read! Tina is clever and is appropriately self deprecating. She tells stories that feel like something you experienced yourself, except her stories are a lot more interesting and funnier than the way you would tell it.

I especially liked the first part of the book, leading up to and during her SNL days. I can't get over the fact that she wrote the SNL skit for Mom Jeans. Remember that gem!? Also, she talked a lot about the Sarah Palin skits. My favorite is the first Sarah Palin/Hillary Clinton joint announcement.

I'm glad we chose this book for book club, it was such a fun read. It made me curious about what all goes in to writing sketches, since there is a bit of a formula that goes into making jokes that rile up the audience. I admire comedians, there is a skill and a confidence required to be successful.


In other news, I gave up on Working with You is Killing Me - I feel like my work environment isn't as defunct as some of the relationships discussed in the book. And that's a good thing. I also started reading The Monster of Florence. It is a non-fiction book about the Italian Jack the Ripper serial killer. It's really fascinating so far! Check out the wiki link for more info.

Colorful bird sightings this morning

Unrelated to books, but related to my new birding hobby which I read a book for... I saw two neat birds this morning!

In our back yard there were 4 male House Finches with either a female House Finch or a Sparrow.



And on the bus, a Baltimore Oriole flew past my window. What a blur of color!
 

I love the new Audubon online birding guide! These photos are from that site, such a great resource!

Books from April and May

The Disapparation of James - Anne Ursu
This was an interesting book by a local author. The book is about an ordinary family who are touched by an extraordinary event. The son vanishes during a magic act at a circus, and cannot be found. The magician says he doesn't have the ability to perform a true disappearing act, the police are clueless, and the family is a wreck. I thought the characters were well formed, and the story was an interesting concept, but I wasn't that wowed by the ending... POP, the son returns. No explanation, no details. I have read another book by this author and felt similar about that one. Ursu's novels are a bit like sci-fi in the concepts, but the explanation for the weird events never is confirmed as paranormal. I liked the book, but probably won't read another as I felt like a true conclusion in terms of the "whys" were missing.

Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri
I read this book on the way to India in December 2010, and missed it on my novel list from the end of the year. It was a collection of stories of Bengalis (from the city of Bangalore, where I was going) of modern day Indian relationships. The core of the book focuses on the differences and difficulties of American raised children/adult children of Indians  I loved this book, it was a great window into how I imagine many of my coworkers are perceived by their parents after spending years in America.


I'm currently reading two books...

Working with you is Killing Me - Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elser
I'm reading this to learn some new tricks to better deal with my frustrations at individuals and teams that are very trying at work. I've enjoyed the breathing techniques and the examples of different relationships. The book does a nice job walking you thought exercises on how to identify issues and resolve them.

Madamde Tussaud: A Life in Wax - Kate Berridge
I picked up this biography on Madame Marie Tussaud at the Albertville Outlet Mall, just because I don't know anything about the woman who created the famous waxworks. I'm about a third of the way through the book, and I love how the author incorporates such rich information about the way of the world in Paris when Marie was growing up and developing her talent. The focus on fashion and the monarchy opens up a time I didn't know much about.

Book Club, Just for Fun, and a New Hobby

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
We read this novel for book club, and I was floored by the depth of the story. The novel begins in the late 1800s, when Hawaii was still independent, and not yet a part of the United States. However, due to contact with foreigners and foreign diseases, Hawaiians were getting sick from bacteria that was no longer affecting the American population. One of these diseases was Leprosy (now called Hansen's Disease).

The story is historical fiction about a the life of a Hawaiian woman, Rachel, who is diagnosed with as a child with Leprosy. In order to limit exposure, inflicted individuals are treated for a period of time to try to eradicate the bacteria. If not successful (it often was not), the patient was sent to the island of Moloka'i in an effort to isolate the disease from the rest of the population. An official discovers Rachel's red rash at the age of seven. After unsuccessful treatment at the local hospital, she is sent to Moloka'i. Communication with her family is severed, although her father still maintains contact throughout the rest of his life. She is not alone on the island, as all girls and young women are required to live in the grounds monitored by nuns. She also has a favorite uncle who was sent to the island years earlier.

What I found so incredible about this novel, is that the story is true - people with Leprosy were sent away, essentially to die. So few were ever cured, that the island was full of graves for those lost. But the most fascinating part to me, was that despite the disease, people were able to find joy and make a complete life on the island. Rachel took up surfing, fell in love, made great friends, became a mother, and lived through the deaths of many others. This story even talks about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the dark part of US history where Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of ancient Hawaiian ancestors/religion compared to Catholicism. And the bond between friends and foster families was so touching.

I highly recommend this book, as a triumph of the spirit and the body against great odds.


Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster
I have read several of Jen's books, and have always enjoyed her spunky style. If I wrote a memoir of my life, it would probably come off like her books. Small stories added together to create a whole persona. However, I had gotten tired of her shallow tales after the last book, so I've been on hiatus for a few months.

This book was unique though, in that each chapter was centered around an article of clothing that marked the event in her life. I love how she started with childhood and went into her early 40s with the book.

This is a fun read, but I preferred her other books more. The shock of her frank attitude is so fresh upon first discovering her books!


Birds of North America by Jeffrey Glassberg, Sheri Williamson, and Tom Wood
I have decided I wanted to start a new hobby. For the last few months I've been joking with Kevin about starting to bird watch. We even had a few spectacular sightings in the evenings last fall of a Hairy Woodpecker and a Barred Owl. So I am deeming myself a new "birder" and want to start this hobby in earnest! I checked out a book that looked like a good beginner guide to learn about bird groups, migratory paths, bird behavior, and the basics of identification.

This book had great photos and was good in that it didn't have pictures of every single kind of bird in North America. It covered all bird groups, but focused on a few images of birds within the category. Now I feel like I know what I'm looking for when I'm spying in the trees. I am now looking forward to a field guide with a bit more detail on all species, and there are many books available. I think I'm going to like looking for owls best, they are so elusive and I remember the thrill of hearing owls and dissecting owl pellets as a child at camp. I've also been mulling over where we could put a feeder that would draw birds but not our local squirrels or the outdoor cats.

Wench

I just finished reading Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. I loved that this book told the story of the Underground Railroad, such a fascinating and sad time in our nation's history. USA Today heralded this novel as intriguing as The Help, which I didn't find to be the case. It didn't pull me in with as much reckless abandon - I was able to put it down, but did read it in a week. I enjoyed reading from the slave woman's point of view. When I was in eighth grade, I did a project on the Underground Railroad in Ohio. This novel took place in Ohio and Tennessee, and felt very familiar to what I read years ago. It was a work of fiction, but I love how the author took the facts of a true time in history, and a true location, as well as how the vacation spot of Tawanda House fit into history. Perkins-Valdez did a really nice job weaving a fictional story into facts.
As is to be expected, this story was filled with rapes, which were somewhat graphic and difficult to read.

One concept I found particularly striking was how the masters viewed the children from couplings with their slave mistresses. These children were recognized as blood relatives of the master, but were property before they were thought of as family. I can't imagine being able to make this distinction in one's mind.

Long awaited book reviews

I have been busy wrapping up the publication for Junior League, so I haven't been able to get my post updated as quickly as I hoped. I thought it might be best to do a few sentences on each of the queued up books.

Books from 2010:

Be Pretty, Get Married, and Always Drink Tab - Gigi Anders ~ C
This book had a lot of promise, as I love memoirs and enjoy learning about other cultures. I was surprised how deep the story became, but I didn't feel a connection with the main character.

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert ~ C
Everyone was talking about this book and movie last year. This one felt like it was overrated. I read another book by Gilbert, Committed, and was a bit disappointed by that one as well. I think my problem is that the author is so unlike me. Although I have moments of doubt, I have never felt so lost or fearless. I read the book while in India, hoping to reach some enlightenment over the yoga sections. I was able to see the movie on the flight back to the US, and felt it was uninspired.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson ~ B
I don't normally read mysteries, but this was a fantastic story! I read this for book club. I have never had as strong of a reaction as I did to the violent sex scene between The Girl and her case worker. I literally felt sick, had to stop reading, and asked for water from the flight attendant since I was stuck hundreds of miles in the air.

The Road - Cormac McCarthy ~ B+
I haven't been able to shake this book from my mind for the last few months. The subject of the story, a post apocalypse world, is so disturbing, the "others" are so horrendous that I often find my mind wandering when I'm home alone. This story reminds me a lot of the movie I Am Legend which creeped me out for weeks.

Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer ~ B-
I still think the first book is the best in the Twilight series, but these are good books for beach reads.

Kabul Beauty School - Deborah Rodriguez ~ B+
I loved this memoir. The author has a great voice and she accomplished amazing things, in the face of great adversity. A hairdresser is sent to Afghanistan to support international volunteers. She ends up helping the women of Kabul learn hairdressing skills by opening a beauty school which taught many women to become self sufficient. The hardships she suffers come alive through her vibrant language and wide cast of characters.

Books from 2011:

Their Eyes were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston (Time book!) ~ B-
The first two thirds of this book were pretty dull to me, I had read more impactful novels from Toni Morrison. However, the last portion of the book was fantastic, with the flood of biblical proportions. Most of the characters didn't resonate with me as I had hoped they would. I didn't understand why the main character did so most things she did. But I can see why this novel was on the Time list, and enjoyed the latter portion of the story immensely.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins ~ A-
This is a great story, addictive in the way Harry Potter and the Twilight series are, but the topic was so dark. It was about humans, not wizards, vampires, and werewolves. The story is set in post war dystopia America, with a dictator government. Children from each district are selected to compete against each other in war zone. The goal is for one child to emerge a winner and as the only survivor. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff ~ A-
This is another book club book. Polygamy has always fascinated me. I love watching Big Love and Sister Wives. I thought the story did a great job fictionalizing Ann Eliza's life, the famed 19th wife of Brigham Young. And the juxtaposition with a modern day 19th wife, as told by her gay son, was a good comparison. I cannot wrap my mind around why a woman would buy into this type of religion or society. It amazes me what the woman gives up, and what the man gains in return. The misogynistic culture is that is not self sustaining. Population needs men and women to procreate, but boys get kicked out by their fathers when they reach puberty and become competition (and a threat). I really recommend this book, it's a great read and definitely thought provoking.

Long time no write...

After quite a break from the blog, I have a few book reviews to add. I'm also considering a revamp of the blog, so it's updated more regularly. For one thing, I'm planning to discuss any book I read, not just the Time list. Additionally, I have been toying with the idea of posting on new recipes I try. Thanks to Junior League Dinner Club, I have a lot of new dishes to try out! A random combination, I know, but it's stuff I like. We'll see.

Book reviews to follow, but for now, check out the rating system and titles.
Ratings will be ranked A through F, like school.

Books from 2010:
Be Pretty, Get Married, and Always Drink Tab - Gigi Anders ~ C
Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert ~ C
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson ~ B
The Road - Cormac McCarthy ~ B+
Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer ~ B-
Kabul Beauty School - Deborah Rodriguez ~ B+

Books from 2011:
Their Eyes were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston (Time book!) ~ B-
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins ~ A-
The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff  ~ A-