by Yasmina Khadra
Introduction and Acqusition: Picked it up at the end of my wedding/honeymoon week.
Time and Circumstance: Fall 2006, to satiate that need to get lost in someone else's world.
What's cool: It's short and sweet and poignant and sad. A book that expanded my universe just a bit, that taught me something about the whole Taliban/Afghanistan history, which is relevant to the current global concerns. Another heart-wrenching story that made me care about the characters, that made the people of this other culture very real, and human, rather than images on CNN.
What kinda sucked: Not much. Don't read this expecting a happy ending.
Leftover Thoughts: Sad and tragic.
Monday, April 23, 2007
The Keep
by Jennifer Egan
Introduction and Acquisition: New York Times book review, definitely, is when I first got wind of the book.
Time and Circumstance: Fall 2006, at the start of SFDS. My foray into modern literature. After reading the book we saw her do a reading at the Writer's Studio's anniversary shindig. Did not change my opinion of the book, or of the author.
What's cool: I could not put the book down! I read it all in one setting, which kept me up through the wee hours of the morning. If someone has stopped me in mid-read and asked my opinion, I would have said "eh, it's okay." and yet - I could not put it down. There's something to say about that. The language is simple, no fancy gimmicks here. Her plot was twisty, and I appreciated the Escher-like bends.
What kinda sucked: There was nothing that really sucked, so much that I can only say it was okay. It's like seeing a movie that did not necessarily waste your time seeing, but one that you left at the movie theater. Nothing soul-penetrating.
Leftover Thoughts: I like this author. Not love, merely like. But she's a keeper on the periphery of my Like-circle.
Introduction and Acquisition: New York Times book review, definitely, is when I first got wind of the book.
Time and Circumstance: Fall 2006, at the start of SFDS. My foray into modern literature. After reading the book we saw her do a reading at the Writer's Studio's anniversary shindig. Did not change my opinion of the book, or of the author.
What's cool: I could not put the book down! I read it all in one setting, which kept me up through the wee hours of the morning. If someone has stopped me in mid-read and asked my opinion, I would have said "eh, it's okay." and yet - I could not put it down. There's something to say about that. The language is simple, no fancy gimmicks here. Her plot was twisty, and I appreciated the Escher-like bends.
What kinda sucked: There was nothing that really sucked, so much that I can only say it was okay. It's like seeing a movie that did not necessarily waste your time seeing, but one that you left at the movie theater. Nothing soul-penetrating.
Leftover Thoughts: I like this author. Not love, merely like. But she's a keeper on the periphery of my Like-circle.
Teahouse Fire
by Ellis Avery
Introduction and Acqusition: The author is an acquaintance of a friend of mine. We saw her do a reading at Three Lives bookstore in the West Village, which is where I bought the book and got it signed.
Time and Circumstance: Early Spring 2007; Am heading to Japan in mid-May, and wanted to gain some familiarity with the country before going there. Plus, as mentioned above, we had just seen her do a reading which whetted my appetite for the book.
What's cool: A great introduction the Japanese culture for those beginners or even novices. For those with some experience with Japanese culture, this provides a wonderful look into the world of the tea ceremony. There is a great amount of respect and admiration for the tea ceremony in this book, as it is so lovingly portrayed.
What kinda sucks: While is is a great novel for a first time author, it still contains some (very few) first time author details. At times I thought the main character's difficulty with the language - even after 5 years in the country - was unbelievable. And occasionally the author would be describing or referencing something that happened, an in the attempts at being twisty about it, she lost me. I had no idea what the author was talking about. The last chapter was fatal in its lack of necessity. The story would have been better off it if ended with Uranko just leaving Japan. The lesbian bit at the end felt gratiutious, and frankly left an icky taste in my mouth.
Leftover Thoughts: The book stuck with me, the art of simplicity and beauty in everything. The time I spent reading the book was not only entertaining, but educational, about a whole different culture, about the mysteries behind such a beautiful culture, and about a significant chapter in the history of its evolution from the old ways to the new Westernization of the east.
Introduction and Acqusition: The author is an acquaintance of a friend of mine. We saw her do a reading at Three Lives bookstore in the West Village, which is where I bought the book and got it signed.
Time and Circumstance: Early Spring 2007; Am heading to Japan in mid-May, and wanted to gain some familiarity with the country before going there. Plus, as mentioned above, we had just seen her do a reading which whetted my appetite for the book.
What's cool: A great introduction the Japanese culture for those beginners or even novices. For those with some experience with Japanese culture, this provides a wonderful look into the world of the tea ceremony. There is a great amount of respect and admiration for the tea ceremony in this book, as it is so lovingly portrayed.
What kinda sucks: While is is a great novel for a first time author, it still contains some (very few) first time author details. At times I thought the main character's difficulty with the language - even after 5 years in the country - was unbelievable. And occasionally the author would be describing or referencing something that happened, an in the attempts at being twisty about it, she lost me. I had no idea what the author was talking about. The last chapter was fatal in its lack of necessity. The story would have been better off it if ended with Uranko just leaving Japan. The lesbian bit at the end felt gratiutious, and frankly left an icky taste in my mouth.
Leftover Thoughts: The book stuck with me, the art of simplicity and beauty in everything. The time I spent reading the book was not only entertaining, but educational, about a whole different culture, about the mysteries behind such a beautiful culture, and about a significant chapter in the history of its evolution from the old ways to the new Westernization of the east.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
by Marissa Pessl
Introduction and Acquisition: A NYTimes article, I'm fairly certain of it. The reviews sounded promising, as I'm drawn to the quirkiness that it offered. I was also a fan of Donna Tartt's Secret History, to which the book was favorably compared.
Time and Circumstance: We just formed SFDS in late 2006, and I really wanted to start reading lots of books, wanting to immerse myself in literature, especially modern literature.
What's cool: Well, let's give Pessl an A for effort. She tried. She tried a lot. We have evidence of her effort in pages and pages and endless pages. I give her kudos for trying out a new shtick, the fiction tied into constant bibliographical references. If it was a short story, it might have been funnier. I did like the twist in the end - signs of author cleverness, very promising. Uhm... I liked the cover art.
What kinda sucked: The book was in sore need of an editor. It was unnecessarily long, and contained far too many of these 'shticky' bibliographical references to the point it drew irritation. It was not about the reader but about the author's ego, because the author seemed to underestimate the reader's intelligence that we couldn't get her shtick in the first place, thereby smacking us on the head over and over again with it. Yes, we get it - please stop. The supporting characters - the father, the teacher, the friends - were two-dimensional, and the main character did not hold my sympathies at all. And being a fan of Donna Tartts's Secret History, I am doubly offended at what looked like shameless plot-lifting.
What sucked most of all was the ridiculous amount of hype the book got, which was far beyond the actual quality of the book. It was amatuer at best, and there are far more interesting, intelligent, clever first time novelist debuts out there. This one did not by any means deserve the kudos it got.
Leftover Thoughts: I have introduced this book to my writing group as an example of what not to do as a first time author. I would probably feel less vehement about my dislike if not for the constant kudos the book receives. It was NOT that good, it was NOT worthy of such press. It reeks of politics in the publishing world, and has made me rather suspicious of the New York Times for putting it on their 2006 Most Notable Books list. Disgusting.
Introduction and Acquisition: A NYTimes article, I'm fairly certain of it. The reviews sounded promising, as I'm drawn to the quirkiness that it offered. I was also a fan of Donna Tartt's Secret History, to which the book was favorably compared.
Time and Circumstance: We just formed SFDS in late 2006, and I really wanted to start reading lots of books, wanting to immerse myself in literature, especially modern literature.
What's cool: Well, let's give Pessl an A for effort. She tried. She tried a lot. We have evidence of her effort in pages and pages and endless pages. I give her kudos for trying out a new shtick, the fiction tied into constant bibliographical references. If it was a short story, it might have been funnier. I did like the twist in the end - signs of author cleverness, very promising. Uhm... I liked the cover art.
What kinda sucked: The book was in sore need of an editor. It was unnecessarily long, and contained far too many of these 'shticky' bibliographical references to the point it drew irritation. It was not about the reader but about the author's ego, because the author seemed to underestimate the reader's intelligence that we couldn't get her shtick in the first place, thereby smacking us on the head over and over again with it. Yes, we get it - please stop. The supporting characters - the father, the teacher, the friends - were two-dimensional, and the main character did not hold my sympathies at all. And being a fan of Donna Tartts's Secret History, I am doubly offended at what looked like shameless plot-lifting.
What sucked most of all was the ridiculous amount of hype the book got, which was far beyond the actual quality of the book. It was amatuer at best, and there are far more interesting, intelligent, clever first time novelist debuts out there. This one did not by any means deserve the kudos it got.
Leftover Thoughts: I have introduced this book to my writing group as an example of what not to do as a first time author. I would probably feel less vehement about my dislike if not for the constant kudos the book receives. It was NOT that good, it was NOT worthy of such press. It reeks of politics in the publishing world, and has made me rather suspicious of the New York Times for putting it on their 2006 Most Notable Books list. Disgusting.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
One Hundred Years of Solitude
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Introduction and Acquisition: Was not distinct introduction so much as the gradual recognition of a book that was frequently trumpted. I was intrigued by the description of "magical realism" and thought I would enjoy the fantastical bit of the story. I picked it up time and again, but for some reason it would always leave my hands after only a few bites.
Time and Circumstance: Soon after the formation of SFDS, I finally got possession of this book - purchased this time, so it would not leave my hands - and set about immersing myself in it. Winter 2006.
What was cool: The ending. The Ending! Never read a better ending. Never. It was tied up so neatly, so simply, with a twist that made me cry out loud "Ah!", and laugh at the ingenuity of it. Like a fine dessert that makes the entire meal shine. Amidst the large number of characters there were some unforgettable ones, like the Beauty and the large Jose who returned after years in the war.
What kinda sucked: It was a journey to read through, and I got a little lost as to who was who with all the characters so named after one another. It was put-down-able, though, as evident by the half dozen or so times I picked it up from the library only to return it with a mere 5 pages read. I suppose books with opening pages about firing squads and long Latino names don't grab me - it's just me I think. Got a tad tedious in the middle, and I wondered where it was all going.
Leftover thoughts: I enjoyed recalling some of the characters and attaching mythological archetypes to them. One really had to patient wait until the end of the book to be truly rewarded by its genius - but what a long wait!
Introduction and Acquisition: Was not distinct introduction so much as the gradual recognition of a book that was frequently trumpted. I was intrigued by the description of "magical realism" and thought I would enjoy the fantastical bit of the story. I picked it up time and again, but for some reason it would always leave my hands after only a few bites.
Time and Circumstance: Soon after the formation of SFDS, I finally got possession of this book - purchased this time, so it would not leave my hands - and set about immersing myself in it. Winter 2006.
What was cool: The ending. The Ending! Never read a better ending. Never. It was tied up so neatly, so simply, with a twist that made me cry out loud "Ah!", and laugh at the ingenuity of it. Like a fine dessert that makes the entire meal shine. Amidst the large number of characters there were some unforgettable ones, like the Beauty and the large Jose who returned after years in the war.
What kinda sucked: It was a journey to read through, and I got a little lost as to who was who with all the characters so named after one another. It was put-down-able, though, as evident by the half dozen or so times I picked it up from the library only to return it with a mere 5 pages read. I suppose books with opening pages about firing squads and long Latino names don't grab me - it's just me I think. Got a tad tedious in the middle, and I wondered where it was all going.
Leftover thoughts: I enjoyed recalling some of the characters and attaching mythological archetypes to them. One really had to patient wait until the end of the book to be truly rewarded by its genius - but what a long wait!
Tonio Kroger
by Thomas Mann (the short story in Death In Venice and Seven Other Stories)
Introduction and Acquisition: Picked up this book at the library sale, I believe, maybe a few years ago. Of course read Death in Venice in college, but never bothered with the seven other stories. This book was sitting on my shelf, and I wanted something to read.
Time and Circumstance: First warm weekend of spring, 2007, late April. First weekend after finishing graduate school. We were planning to sit outside at his parent's house, and I wanted something good to read.
What was cool: Manns' prose makes me slow down, the sentences are thick and without fluffly fillers and phrases. I have to stop skimming as I normally do, and read it word for word. That causes frustration at first, but it also makes me sit up and notice.
What sucked: Not being familiar with Mann's works other than Death in Venice, and having no idea what Tonio Kruger was about, I asked my DH after the first few pages, "Does Thomas Mann write about nothing but homosexual relationships?" - [after finishing story] Honestly, the end was a let-down. Not so much a story as some philosophical spewing. I got bored with the grown up Tonio's speech to Lisabeta, and skipped most of it, which was apparently a rather significant part. Anti-climactic ending.
Leftover thoughts: Might be better if I was in the mood for philosophizing.
Introduction and Acquisition: Picked up this book at the library sale, I believe, maybe a few years ago. Of course read Death in Venice in college, but never bothered with the seven other stories. This book was sitting on my shelf, and I wanted something to read.
Time and Circumstance: First warm weekend of spring, 2007, late April. First weekend after finishing graduate school. We were planning to sit outside at his parent's house, and I wanted something good to read.
What was cool: Manns' prose makes me slow down, the sentences are thick and without fluffly fillers and phrases. I have to stop skimming as I normally do, and read it word for word. That causes frustration at first, but it also makes me sit up and notice.
What sucked: Not being familiar with Mann's works other than Death in Venice, and having no idea what Tonio Kruger was about, I asked my DH after the first few pages, "Does Thomas Mann write about nothing but homosexual relationships?" - [after finishing story] Honestly, the end was a let-down. Not so much a story as some philosophical spewing. I got bored with the grown up Tonio's speech to Lisabeta, and skipped most of it, which was apparently a rather significant part. Anti-climactic ending.
Leftover thoughts: Might be better if I was in the mood for philosophizing.
Anil's Ghost
by Michael Ondaatje
Introduction and Acquisition: ebay! One of my very first and few ebay purchases. For a mere $.99 (minus shipping and handling costs). Loved his book The English Patient, was enamoured of his writing style, and finally got around to getting this book.
Time and Circumstance: End of March to mid-April, 2007, in the midst of my few final acts for graduate school. Shamelessly used as distraction and procrastination against the dreariness of exams and such.
What was cool: Ondaatje's prose, the way he writes, his wonderful turn of phrases, his precise, succint descriptions that, like an ant, carry far heavier loads than one would think possible. His characters are fully fleshed, as minor as some are to the story. It stops being so much about the story as it is this rich, beautifully detailed painting - all with words, merely with words. With black and white, he creates vivid colors.
And you know what? It made me cry. This book made me cry.
What kind of sucked: Not much. If anything, I was left wanting to know more about the character he wrote. I wanted Anil to be a better person, to be happier. I wanted the ending to be happy, I wanted the last page to be about them all riding off into the sunset. But this book is about ghosts, after all - hollowed shells, dusty barren places, barren souls.
Due to the circumstances under which I read it, the book would be put down and away for a long time(like weeks, rather than days or hours) before picking up the threads of the story again. Which caused me to sort of forget exactly what happened and who these people were and who was doing what at the time. So minor warning - don't put this book down for long! You may get lost trying to pick it up again.
Leftover thoughts: I have always found it difficult to describe exactly what it is about Ondaatje's writing that affects me so. It is written and unfolds the way in which one discovers other people in real life - tiny bits of detail float to the surface, revealing glimpses of them bit by bit. Eventually the whole tale is told, or sometimes it is merely left to mystery and imagination. The reader is introduced to the character as he or she is right here, right now. Along the journey, along the way you find out how and why they came to be. It's the world presented as is, and I like that about his books.
Introduction and Acquisition: ebay! One of my very first and few ebay purchases. For a mere $.99 (minus shipping and handling costs). Loved his book The English Patient, was enamoured of his writing style, and finally got around to getting this book.
Time and Circumstance: End of March to mid-April, 2007, in the midst of my few final acts for graduate school. Shamelessly used as distraction and procrastination against the dreariness of exams and such.
What was cool: Ondaatje's prose, the way he writes, his wonderful turn of phrases, his precise, succint descriptions that, like an ant, carry far heavier loads than one would think possible. His characters are fully fleshed, as minor as some are to the story. It stops being so much about the story as it is this rich, beautifully detailed painting - all with words, merely with words. With black and white, he creates vivid colors.
And you know what? It made me cry. This book made me cry.
What kind of sucked: Not much. If anything, I was left wanting to know more about the character he wrote. I wanted Anil to be a better person, to be happier. I wanted the ending to be happy, I wanted the last page to be about them all riding off into the sunset. But this book is about ghosts, after all - hollowed shells, dusty barren places, barren souls.
Due to the circumstances under which I read it, the book would be put down and away for a long time(like weeks, rather than days or hours) before picking up the threads of the story again. Which caused me to sort of forget exactly what happened and who these people were and who was doing what at the time. So minor warning - don't put this book down for long! You may get lost trying to pick it up again.
Leftover thoughts: I have always found it difficult to describe exactly what it is about Ondaatje's writing that affects me so. It is written and unfolds the way in which one discovers other people in real life - tiny bits of detail float to the surface, revealing glimpses of them bit by bit. Eventually the whole tale is told, or sometimes it is merely left to mystery and imagination. The reader is introduced to the character as he or she is right here, right now. Along the journey, along the way you find out how and why they came to be. It's the world presented as is, and I like that about his books.
This Is About...
First blog entry- am getting used to this. This one, this time, this room, this tiny section of the vast internet pie, focuses on literature. Books, to be so plain. Well yes mostly books, rather than say magazines or poetry or other blogs (is that now of the literature ilk?) dloqi's thoughts, opinions, preferences, scorns and praises for those books consumed....
Some consistent categories I'll try to include in each entry...
Some consistent categories I'll try to include in each entry...
- Introduction and Acquisition
- Time and Circumstance
- What's cool
- What kinda sucks
- Leftover Thoughts
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