The summer referenced in the title refers to the time spent by the narrator in her small Minnesota hometown, trying to come to terms with her husband'...moreThe summer referenced in the title refers to the time spent by the narrator in her small Minnesota hometown, trying to come to terms with her husband's recent infidelity back in New York City. The women she spends time with include her elderly mother and her closest friends, a young neighbor with two small children and an abusive husband, and a group of middle school girls taking a poetry class. The narration is filled with the raw pain and shock of dealing with betrayal after thirty years of marriage. The author tries to pack an awful lot (perhaps too much?) into this slim novel. There is a good deal of neuroscience and somewhat-rambling philosophy (the husband's field of study, and a special interest of Hustvedt's), the abuse subplot, an elderly friend of her mother's with a long-held secret she chooses to share with the narrator alone, and the whole "Mean Girls" subplot (perhaps the most forced part of the novel) -- certainly ambitious for 182 pages. On the other hand, I'm the one who always complains that novels today are way too long, and that twenty years ago most novelists said what they had to say in roughly 200 pages. (less)
Inevitably, this story invites comparison to Alexander MacCall Smith's "Ladies Detective" series. Set in East Africa (in this case, Kenya), ...moreInevitably, this story invites comparison to Alexander MacCall Smith's "Ladies Detective" series. Set in East Africa (in this case, Kenya), it is a gentle tale of a shy man's pursuit of east African avian species, but more importantly, of the woman who leads the local weekly bird walks. The cast of endearing characters reflects the racial diversity of the country (our hero is of Indian descent, and the object of his adoration is a Scotswoman who has lived in the area for most of her life). While it does bear many similarities to the No. 1 Ladies, the tone and narrator's voice/perspective are different enough to let the book stand on its own. This should appeal to non-birders and casual birders alike; hardcore birders looking for extensive detail about the species may be a bit disappointed, as the birding adventures feature less prominently than the human ones. A light, fun read overall.(less)
McNees has written a believable, easily-digested tale of the summer that the Alcotts lived in Walpole, New Hampshire. The author has done her homework...moreMcNees has written a believable, easily-digested tale of the summer that the Alcotts lived in Walpole, New Hampshire. The author has done her homework, studying Alcott's journals and reading a number of biographies. In choosing to write of Louisa's summer of 1855, about which little is known or written, she has given herself the freedom to insert a totally fictional cast of local Walpole characters, chief among them Joseph Singer. In the spirit of romantic tales of the era, the two are strongly attracted to each other, but fate ultimately intervenes to change their path. [Spoiler]
Of course, to remain true to history, Louisa, unlike Jo March, does NOT end up married, but, in the words of Truman Capote, "that's not the way it happened, so why should you lie?"(less)
I wish I had known about this book when Himmer appeared recently at our local bookstore (Bank Square Books). Having missed him, I picked the book up ...moreI wish I had known about this book when Himmer appeared recently at our local bookstore (Bank Square Books). Having missed him, I picked the book up on my way out of town for vacation, intrigued, and it more than lived up to my expectations. The narrator, an unobtrusive, corner cubicle drone spends his days fabricating imaginary blogs, as well as the bloggers themselves, complete with back-stories. Suddenly it all comes crashing down and he is fired -- only to be rehired not long after by the mysterious and powerfully wealthy owner of the very company that just fired him. His new job ... to live as a hermit on the boss's huge, carefully gardened estate. As improbable as it all sounds, it somehow works, and we watch our narrator struggle, ruminate, contemplate and grow as he carries out his new job. And while there is plenty of philosophy, and a fairly slow storyline, it somehow remains engaging and yes, even funny. A book like this lives in severe danger of taking itself way too seriously (anyone remember Ishmael ?), but Himmer and his wisecracking, self-deprecating narrator have avoided that pitfall. Yet there's still plenty of serious material to think about and discuss. This would make an excellent book club title.(less)
What little I know about artists and art history centers around the Impressionists and post-Impressionists (having had to self-educate prior to chaper...moreWhat little I know about artists and art history centers around the Impressionists and post-Impressionists (having had to self-educate prior to chaperoning a trip to France with a group of ninth graders a few years ago). I'm always a little nervous about reading historical fiction about those artists, fearing that the author hasn't done his/her homework thoroughly enough. No problem in this case, as Wallace fairly recently completed her Masters Degree in Art History, and includes an afterword clearly spelling out those instances where she took her own artistic license with the known facts. Her story is told from the point of view of Dr. Paul Gachet, the doctor who was keeping an eye Van Gogh during the last few months of his life in Auvers, a farming village outside of Paris. Gachet was particularly interested in the developing field of mental illness, which was in very rudimentary stages at that point in time. He was also an amateur artist himself. Using Van Gogh's extensive correspondence with his brother, Theo, and the known facts about Gachet as her foundation, Wallace creates totally believable, living breathing characters, and fills in the probable course of events during Vincent's final months. Her descriptions, through Gachet's artistic eyes, of Van Gogh's paintings are so full of color and motion themselves that it's pretty easy to envision the paintings, even some of the lesser-known ones. (Still, I kept wishing I had them in front of me -- now here's a perfect place to make use of technology - an e-book version with embedded links to the artwork). In her afterword, Wallace does mention the wonderful resource of Vincent's letters recently transcribed and put on line, along with the paintings mentioned in them, by the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam (vangoghletters.org/vg/). We all know how the story ends, of course, but the journey there is compassionate and compelling.(less)
It took me a few tries to really get going on this book, but I'm glad I did. I first knew E.O. Wilson's name as a scientist when I was an undergrad st...moreIt took me a few tries to really get going on this book, but I'm glad I did. I first knew E.O. Wilson's name as a scientist when I was an undergrad studying ecology at Connecticut College. He is an entomologist from Harvard, so I was curious to see how he would fare as a novelist. The first and last thirds of the story cover the childhood and adulthood respectively of Raferty (Raff) Cody, a native of southeastern Alabama. Raff's mother is from a moderately well-to-do southern family, while his father is more of an easy-going, pick-up driving, beer-drinking man. As for Raff, he spends much of his childhood and teen years out in the local woods (the Nokobee Tract) learning all he can about the creatures that live there, and avoiding any tension between his parents in the process. In the last third of the book, he attends Florida State University, influenced by an old family friend who becomes his mentor as he studies biology more formally. His honors thesis centers around the ants and anthill of the title, and basically makes up the middle third of the book. Eventually he heads to Harvard Law School, and returns home to walk the tightrope between conserving his beloved Nokobee Tract and working as a lawyer for one of the perspective developers of the same land. It's nice to read a book with an environmental bent that isn't preachy or totally one-sided. This probably won't be everyone's cup of tea; you may end up initially skipping the middle section, as my husband did, and you may or may not return to it (he eventually did), depending upon your level of interest in natural history. For me personally, the development of the "Super Colony" made for pretty interesting read! Oh, and I swear that the entomology prof was modeled after Bill Neiring, my ecology professor at Conn.(less)
Author Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrator Peter Sis and their book designers have created a true work of art in the biographical novel The Dreamer. A fi...more Author Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrator Peter Sis and their book designers have created a true work of art in the biographical novel The Dreamer. A fictionalized account of the childhood of Neftali Reyes (who later adopted the pen name Pablo Neruda), the book is both a physical and emotional jewel. Its iridescent blue/green/silver cover brings to mind the startling beetle that Neftali excitedly discovers on his first visit out into the jungle with his father, and the unusual text color echos the poet's own choice -- Neruda wrote in green ink, we are told, "the color of hope." Threaded through the narrative are Sis's signature stippled illustrations and successive staznas of Ryan's "I Am Poetry." Neftali is a painfully shy, stuttering child being raised by his loving grandmother and his rigid, imperious father. Despite the fact that older brother Rodolpho is a talented singer, and that Neftali clearly has an unusual gift for keen observation and a particular talent for writing, their father is determined that they pursue business and medicine respectively. As Rodolpho keeps a protective eye on his younger brother, so Neftali tries to shelter his little sister Laurita from Father's wrath throughout the story. As we know, Neftali did eventually find the strength and voice to pursue his poetry, even in the face of the tyranny of both his father and the Chilean government. Despite the fact that the events of the narrative are generally stark, the reader is ultimately left with a sense of hope, and Sis's illustration of a small boy astride a winged pen brings to mind Emily Dickinson's "thing with feathers" -- poetry is the voice and relief for the tormented soul.(less)
Terry Pratchett is a genius! This book is the fourth in the Tiffany Aching Adventures, and my favorite so far, I think. Tiffany is a sixteen-year-old ...moreTerry Pratchett is a genius! This book is the fourth in the Tiffany Aching Adventures, and my favorite so far, I think. Tiffany is a sixteen-year-old witch, self-assured and very wise beyond her years, yet still down to earth (or, in her case, chalk) and still sixteen. She is once again joined by her small, blue, kilted, ale-drinking, fist-fighting, hygienically challenged, oft-invisible clan of Nac Mac Feegles who provide the story's comic relief. Her nemesis this time is the Cunning Man--the pure, stinking essence of evil left eons ago when a witch-burning fanatic was drawn into the flames himself by one of his young victims. Tiffany realizes that a bit of him exists in all of us as the seed of doubt, fear and xenophobia that can grow into hatred, prejudice and mob violence all too easily. She finds herself facing off against him at a time of change and transition; the old Baron has died peacefully, just a few days before his son, Roland, is to be married. Several of Tiffany's witch sisters arrive for the occasion including Mistress Weatherwax, her severe but ultimately caring mentor, and the bawdy Nanny Ogg (who most willingly fills the bride-to-be in on some wedding night secrets and advice, wink-wink nudge-nudge). As usual, Pratchett had me in alternating tears of hilarity and tenderness and empathy. And, as always, the book ends with the reader feeling a cathartic cleansing, and the sense that Tiffany Aching is in her place, doing her job the best she knows how, and all is right with the world.(less)
**spoiler alert** Wow! An extremely powerful memoir by David Small, award-winning children's book illustrator. While presented in a graphic art format...more**spoiler alert** Wow! An extremely powerful memoir by David Small, award-winning children's book illustrator. While presented in a graphic art format, this is no children's book! Small recounts memories, formative incidents, and nightmares from his childhood and early adulthood in Detroit. Raised by a cold, undemonstrative mother with her own dysfunctional past and an equally taciturn radiologist father, Small, at age fourteen, goes in for "minor surgery" for a "cyst" in his neck and awakens less one vocal chord. It is left to him to accidentally discover on his own that the "cyst" was actually a cancerous tumor. Other equally upsetting discoveries await him, but with the eventual help of a caring psychiatrist, Small begins to process his grief and make his way in the world. While I'm not usually a huge graphic novel fan, in this case the illustrations, with their varied perspectives, take you right into the author's head and emotional state. Like the teenage Small, you may find yourself speechless at the end of this story, but its images will stay with you, and in many cases, haunt you.(less)
I think I might go 4.5 stars on this if that were an option. This got great reviews and was recommended for purchase by Jon M., one of our science tea...moreI think I might go 4.5 stars on this if that were an option. This got great reviews and was recommended for purchase by Jon M., one of our science teachers. I sat down to catalog it yesterday and ended up pretty much reading the whole thing. It has been many a year since I had to think about Chemistry, but even if I had zero background in the subject I think I still would have found the book fascinating.
First of all, it's just a thing of beauty - black background pages with photos that just pop out at you (more on that later), of objects made from each element. There's also a chunk of text spelling out the most intriguing tidbits about the properties and history of the element in question, always ending with a clever segue into the next element. (While I imagine some might find that to be a little forced by the time the last element rolls around, I really enjoyed the humor, and it also served to reinforce the importance of the placement of the elements in the table; just as with the Dewey Decimal System, similar topics/elements sit side-by-side ).
Speaking of humor, there were several places where I found myself laughing out loud, e.g., under the description for europium: "With the invention of europeum-based red phosphors, color television could suddenly become bright and vibrant, thus contributing even more effectively to the rotting of children's minds the world over."
Now about that 3-D effect... If you go to the author's website (periodictable.com) you can see the photographic periodic table and click on the element of most interest to you. There, you can view a video of the object of your choice rotating in space, and/or move it around with your keyboard. But, to go one step even better, for those of you with iPads you can install an app that lets you access the book and turn the objects around using your finger! I do appreciate it when a technology is used for something it is uniquely suited to do, and this seems to be such an instance. Can't wait to try it on an iPad - Sharan?
This is one of those rare professional books that inspires yet doesn't intimidate, as it's filled with practical, easily implemented ideas. It made me...moreThis is one of those rare professional books that inspires yet doesn't intimidate, as it's filled with practical, easily implemented ideas. It made me think: : "Hey, I'm definitely on the right track - but here are some really cool ideas I could add to my bag of tricks." While it's geared towards English teachers, many of the ideas could be used directly in the library as well. Layne emphasizes the importance and value of collaboration with the school librarian, I was pleased to see. The overriding goal? To combat aliteracy - not those who can't read (illiteracy), but those who don't choose to read once they've acquired the skills. I read this online at the publishers' website, but I plan to buy at least three copies to share around our English department.(less)
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