Of the dozens of books I've read this year (most of which have been unrecorded; I vow to change that in 2012), two in particular stand out: The Human ...moreOf the dozens of books I've read this year (most of which have been unrecorded; I vow to change that in 2012), two in particular stand out: The Human Stain by Philip Roth, because it's an amazing story told in an amazing way, and then Tete-a-Tete by Hazel Rowley. Tete-a-Tete is a biography of the lifelong relationship between Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. Although the two were undeniably committed to one another, their relationship was unconventional. They never married nor had children, never lived together, and had multiple lovers (some of their lovers seemed content to be shared, whereas others were kept in the dark as to the extent of the relationship between the two philosophers.)
In particular, I was most intrigued by de Beauvoir's story. Simone de Beauvoir, like Sartre, was a champion of freedom and publicly outcried the social shackles thrust upon women, and yet she still struggled with many of these shackles, herself. Despite the open relationship with Sartre, she struggled with jealousy. Despite claims that she was true to herself, she kept details of her lesbian relationships hidden from the public. Through the well-layed out biography, we witness the effects of age on de Beauvoir's thoughts and well-being and, like Sartre, her tendency to surround herself with young, beautiful people, attracted to the vitality she herself had in her youth.
The two were reckless with both themselves (especially in the case of Sartre, whose obsessions with work, smoking and drinking cast a major toll on his body) and with others, lying frequently to their lovers and shuffling them around based on personal convenience. These lies when made public had tragic consequences, and some of their friendships were forever stained by the dishonesty. However, de Beauvoir and Sartre clearly cared for these individuals. Many of Satre's current and past lovers were financially dependent on him for decades, to the extent that he found himself destitute by the end of the month.
The reader sees the effects of World War II on the philosophies and works of both writers, as well as the effects of fame on their daily lives. Above all, though, the reader is provided with an incredibly detailed glimpse into an intense, productive, loving relationship. Many of my friends will be receiving this book as gifts, and I'm already looking forward to re-reading it. (less)
Despite (or because of) the hype surrounding the Hunger Games Trilogy, I put off reading the books for a very long time. However, I was intrigued, and...moreDespite (or because of) the hype surrounding the Hunger Games Trilogy, I put off reading the books for a very long time. However, I was intrigued, and when my friend texted me on Christmas Eve to let me know that the first book was only $5 on Kindle, I knew it was time to cave and give it a shot. The postapocalyptic book is set on the continent once known as North America, and twelve districts are ruled by a cruel Capitol. To reiterate their power, the Capitol annually forces each district to send two of it's children to the Hunger Games--a televised fight to the death. In the first book, Katniss from District 12 volunteers to go to the arena to save her sister, and forms an unlikely friendship with her teammate (and a person she will be forced to kill if she wants to survive), Peeta. The book ends with an act of defiance that turns the Capitol against Katniss, and she and Peeta are forced into the arena again in the second book. Despite all odds, she once again survives, and in the third book the Capitol is hunting her down and the districts are revolting. Throughout it all, Katniss must deal with her feelings for both Gale, her best friend from the district and hunting companion, and Peeta, who professed his love with her from the very beginning. Additionally, countless lives are lost on behalf of Katniss, who has become the symbol of the revolution--she must decide whether those lost lives are worth the price of future freedom, or if she should stop fighting to protect those around her.
The book is surprisingly violent for being targeted to the young adult audience, but the story line is engaging, the characters are likeable, and the love triangle helps balance the brutality. I'm definitely disappointed to be finished with the series, and have a feeling it will be re-read at one point... (less)
A friend of mine asked me recently what was up with all of the memoirs--perhaps they're tied to our voyeuristic obsession with reality television? We ...moreA friend of mine asked me recently what was up with all of the memoirs--perhaps they're tied to our voyeuristic obsession with reality television? We just can't get enough of the lives of others? Regardless, this seems to be the era of the memoirs, and The Mighty Queens of Freeville is Amy Dickinson's ("Ask Amy") story of raising her daughter as a single mother. Amy Dickinson comes from a family of strong women who share one unlucky trait: They've all been left by men. Dickinson divorces when her daughter, Emily, is a toddler, and raises her alone as she serendipitously moves from writing freelance articles to writing her own column to filling the void left by the death of America's beloved Ann Landers.
What's refreshing about this memoir is the tone. It isn't a bitter tale of divorce or lost love, but an uplifting tale of the power of family and inner strength. Dickinson remains cordial with her ex-husband and is able to raise an independent young woman while enjoying personal success and fulfillment as a writer. The story is not without it's tearful moments (namely the loss of the family cat), but overall, Dickinson's tone is light and carefree. As the book concludes, Dickinson has even found love. It's a heartwarming ending that offers hope and suggests that love will find us eventually, even if it doesn't come as quickly as we'd like. (less)
"A marriage that survives and thrives in today's climate of choice is likely to be far more satisfying, fair, and effective for the partners and ...more"A marriage that survives and thrives in today's climate of choice is likely to be far more satisfying, fair, and effective for the partners and their children than in the past."
Written in response to reporters and academics proclaiming the death of marriage, Coontz's book details the history of marriage and the economic, social and political forces that have transformed it into what it is today. Yes, marriages may have lasted longer in the past, but divorce was always present in some form or another, and for centuries women were subservient to their husbands. Men and women are no longer dependent on one another for survival, and when there is no need to stay together, there is no need to stay in an unhappy relationship. Coontz doesn't think marriage is doomed, as the above quote attests; it's just different than what it once was. It may take us longer to get married than it used to, and it may take us more than one marriage to find the relationship that works, but marriage isn't going anywhere anytime soon. (Don't lose hope, single ladies!)
The only reason I gave it a 3 is because non-fiction is SO much slower than fiction! I enjoyed it, but I definitely had to force myself to get through it near the end. The beginning was fascinating because of the implications that a particular marriage had for a family or a community or, in some cases, entire countries, but I thought it got a little dull when we got to the 1950s. (less)
I'm not sure why I read this as a child. Sometimes I think I may have, because parts of it seemed pretty familiar, but I don't know if that's because ...moreI'm not sure why I read this as a child. Sometimes I think I may have, because parts of it seemed pretty familiar, but I don't know if that's because I had actually read it before, or because the story is just so well-known at this point. I thought it was fun, and I want to read more Carroll now. He had a rich imagination, and it's good sometimes to let yourself go to some completely made-up, unrealistic place. (Says the 31 year old who has been under a tad too much stress at work...)
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Eloise is still a pill in this book, but I loved it because I want to go to Paris, and I LOVE how she'll throw in French words with English. It was ac...moreEloise is still a pill in this book, but I loved it because I want to go to Paris, and I LOVE how she'll throw in French words with English. It was actually much cuter than the original book, and I think this one will definitely get passed along to the niece!(less)
This was cute, although I don't think my six year old niece will enjoy it, which is a shame, because I wash hoping to pass it along. Eloise is this qu...moreThis was cute, although I don't think my six year old niece will enjoy it, which is a shame, because I wash hoping to pass it along. Eloise is this quirky six-year old living in a hotel in New York and basically running amock. I probably would have enjoyed it more in my younger years; at 31, I just thought about what a pain in the ass it would be to be staying in a hotel with a little girl running wild. :-)(less)
This book was just what I needed; it was sweet and sentimental, and took me back to easier times. It reminded me of a cross between Anne of Green Gabl...moreThis book was just what I needed; it was sweet and sentimental, and took me back to easier times. It reminded me of a cross between Anne of Green Gables and Daddy-Long-Legs. Rebecca Randall, the 2nd of 7 children, is sent from her impoverished family farm to live with her two spinster aunts, one who is sweet and one who is hard. Rebecca has "pluck"--she has imagination, wit, courage, a strong moral code and a general joie de vivre that impacts all those around her (even that hard old Aunt of hers!) Once, while helping friends sell soap to raise money, she has a particular impact on the older, handsome Adam Ladd, who remembers Rebecca and her best friend every Christmas, and whose appearances become more frequent as she approaches adulthood (enter the Daddy-Long-Legs similarity. I suppose it's romantic, but I also think it's creepy that they met when she was, like, TWELVE and he was 28 or something, and then the second she turns 17 he's all in love with her and it's so *clear* they're going to get married. Ewww.) Rebecca runs into slight bumps along the way, but they're never too large and she always hurdles them with aplomb. The ending, as you would expect, is a little too neat, but isn't that why we read books like these? I almost wish there was a sequel! (Even though it would inevitably involve the Lolita-esque romance between Rebecca and Adam Ladd.)
It makes me want to revisit Emily of New Moon...(less)
Periodially, I try to go vegetarian. I'm sure this pisses my friends off (ok, mainly the boyfriend), because I'll be all into it for, like, a week, an...morePeriodially, I try to go vegetarian. I'm sure this pisses my friends off (ok, mainly the boyfriend), because I'll be all into it for, like, a week, and then inevitably I cave. I can say now, though, that I have been *pescatarian* for three whole weeks! Yay! (And the ultimate goal is to give up seafood, as well, but that'll take a little longer. For now, I'm eating it about once a week.) Anyway, what started it all this time was an essay a friend passed along about moral obligation and responsibility. I know conditions at factory farms are horrible--not only are conditions dirty, but animals are just treated awfully, plain and simple. Why, then, am I still eating a hamburger?
So, I shed the chicken, turkey, beef and pork (and I have to say, at this point, it has been remarkably easy. I mean, I had a 21 mile run a week ago and didn't even crave meat afterwards!) And then I made the mistake of picking up "Eating Animals," by Jonathan Safran Foer. For the most part, there's nothing new in here, but it is an incredibly graphic, well-written, empathetic look at the meat industry. Yes, some family farms have it right, but the vast majority of farms do not. I won't get into it here, because by now we should all know what conditions are like for the vast majority of animals who find their way onto our plates, but I will say this: Parts of the book literally made me sick to my stomach. Being a writer, and not just a lover of animals who wanted to write a book, Foer manages to give the animals their own story, just as he manages to give a story to the vegetarian who raises cattle for slaughter, or employees of factory farms.
This book doesn't say "go vegetarian" (although I think it would be hard not to if you read it), but it does give you a very thorough description of the meat industry in America, and it's not pretty. The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because it was just *so* gut-wrenching; I had a hard time getting through it. However, I'll definitely read it again if I find myself craving meat...(less)
I think one of the worst decisions I've ever made was to have the New York Times Book Reviews delivered to my kindle each week. Every Monday on the me...moreI think one of the worst decisions I've ever made was to have the New York Times Book Reviews delivered to my kindle each week. Every Monday on the metro I find myself adding to this ever growing "To Be Read" list, and I'm not sure how I'll ever find the time to get through them all! That being said, when I saw the reveiw for Room, I knew I had to move it to the top of my list. Being a fan of true crime shows on tv, I was immediately grabbed by the premise: A woman and her five-year old son, Jack, have been trapped in a small room for Jack's entire life. "Room" is all Jack knows--he feels that some things, like parks and leaves, are only made-up things found in television. His mother has divided the day into myriad activities, limits his television watching, and is trying to give him as normal a life as she can within the confines of the four walls.
Jack is seemingly content, but through his narration we're able to see the sacrifices his mother has had to make, as well as her misery: Often, she'll give most of her meal to him, telling him she isn't hungry (which he believes), she relies on pain killers for a throbbing tooth and a broken wrist that was never given the chance to properly heal, and periodically she'll sink into depression and be unable to leave her bed for the day. Each evening, Jack is sent to sleep in Wardrobe as his mother awaits the arrival of "Old Nick," who is their sole provider and only connection to the outside world. Nick brings them groceries each week and various other necessities, but he is temperamental, and will cut the power off or deny them food if he is angry.
In desparation, his mother finally tells Jack the truth, and the two together plan a successful escape. To Jack, the escape is traumatic, and he must learn to accept a world much bigger than the small room he called home. Not only must he accept this new world, but he must also accept his new mother, who is yearning to be the person she was before being kidnapped. Through their love for one another, the two must make this new world their own.
Room is a true page-turner and I couldn't put it down. It is a haunting story, but it didn't lack humor, and it was an interesting glimpse at the world through the eyes of a very sheltered child. (less)
I'm ashamed to admit I read this book, but it's nearing the end of the year, people, and I need to knock out the rest of my Gilmore Girls list! This b...moreI'm ashamed to admit I read this book, but it's nearing the end of the year, people, and I need to knock out the rest of my Gilmore Girls list! This book was horrible. Absolutely horrible. I came into it with high hopes. I was expecting it would be like "Almost Famous," and was excited to read about the real-life Penny Lane.
Nope. It was just gross. First of all, Pamela Des Barres can't write to save her life. She would throw in random quotes from rock songs (i.e. "Girl, we couldn't get much higher") to prove, "I was there! I was SO in the rock scene!" And she's crass. Near the end, when she meets her (now ex) husband, she talks about how she knows he's THE ONE when he gives her an, um, "intimate disease," and she doesn't even care. EWWW. And as my friend Jenn mentioned, she just never grows up. She never matures and moves past this high school mentality of needing attention. I'm frustrated that this book is as popular as it is (and what's worse is the fact that she's published MULTIPLE books.)
Anyway, I'm now reading the Unabridge Journals of Sylvia Plath. I feel the need to cleanse the palate...(less)
This collection of short stories written by Bukowski for an LA newspaper is brutal, depraved and surprisingly readable. Like William Burroughs or Hunt...moreThis collection of short stories written by Bukowski for an LA newspaper is brutal, depraved and surprisingly readable. Like William Burroughs or Hunter S. Thompson, Bukowski reveals the under belly of life: Self-destruction, prostitution, alley fights, bar fights, domestic violence, city filth and straight up bad luck. The stories are violent and many involve murder; they are fantastical yet depressingly realistic at the same time.
All of that said, I couldn't put it down and read it in an afternoon. You never knew what you were going to get with each new page--a man with wings who wants to play baseball, a man who wakes up to find himself covered in polka dots and goes on a shooting spree, or a woman who, in a fit of rage, releases hundreds upon hundreds of her husband's exotic birds into a dark, ugly neighborhood. It was engaging and thought-provoking, and oddly, I want to read more Bukowski.
That being said, I can't possibly imagine who among my friends would read and enjoy this. (less)
**spoiler alert** I'm in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald. I read The Great Gatsby once a year, and Tender is the Night is another book that can be read ...more**spoiler alert** I'm in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald. I read The Great Gatsby once a year, and Tender is the Night is another book that can be read time and time again. The brilliant, handsome Dick Diver falls in love with and marries his gorgeous, rich, schizophrenic patient Nicole. For years, he is both her nurse and her husband. Each attack of Nicole's takes a little more from Dick, and as Nicole improves, Dick's health recedes and he becomes but a shadow of the man he used to be. He destroys himself professionally and emotionally, becomes an alcoholic, and goes from being the life of the party to the man that nobody wants to invite anymore.
Fitzgerald's wife, Zelda, struggled with mental illness for many years, as well, and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia. It is said that the hospital where the preliminary introduction of Dick and Nicole takes place is based on the hospital where Zelda was ultimately placed. There are clear autobiographical undertones, and it is hard to distinguish Dick Diver from F. Scott Fitzgerald. (less)
Somehow, I've mad it thirty years without reading Frankenstein. Of course, I knew the story; we all know the story. A man creates a living, sentient b...moreSomehow, I've mad it thirty years without reading Frankenstein. Of course, I knew the story; we all know the story. A man creates a living, sentient being (seen as a monster because of his differences), and then that being goes on to destroy all those beloved by his creator.
I have to say I wasn't a huge fan. The story was well-written, but the overarching themes didn't resonate with me. I felt the moral of the story was, "See?! This is what happens when you have ambitions and follow your dreams! All those you love will perish and it will be ALL YOUR FAULT!" In fact, Shelley pretty much says that exact same thing at the end of the novel..."Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries."
And even if I get past this distrust of science, the relationship between Frankenstein (the creator, not the monster) and his sister slash cousin slash wife is just gross. When Frankenstein was but a mere boy of the age of 6, his parents swooped up a gorgeous blonde girl from an impoverished family and brought her home (if only adoption were that easy, right?) Frankenstein feels like the girl, who is his age, is a gift to him, and therefore "his." Objectification, much? So, they're raised as brother and sister, but he is to call her his cousin, and he was madly in love with her his entire life and couldn't wait to get married to her (which he did, but thankfully the monster intervened before any consummation could take place.) Perhaps that sort of life long family love/romantic love just doesn't translate well to the year 2010.
All of that said, it was a fun read. Plus, it was one more check off of my Gilmore Girls list AND it was a freebie on the kindle!(less)
I love short stories, and was excited to finally get around to Alice Munro's "Too Much Happiness: Stories." Although I know the collection w...moreI love short stories, and was excited to finally get around to Alice Munro's "Too Much Happiness: Stories." Although I know the collection was well-reviewed, I hadn't actually read any of the reviews before diving in, and I was naive enough to think that the stories were, indeed, about happiness. In a way, they are, but it's a different, quieter, more dignified happiness. The ten stories involve dark, sometimes tragic, subject matter, and yet despite these tragedies, Munro's characters manage to move forward, put the past behind them as best they can and, in a way, find happiness (or something that can be somewhat construed as "happiness.")
I was most intrigued (and horrified) by "Child's Play"--a story exploring the cruelty of children, their capacity (even eagerness) to inflict harm on another, and the ability of individuals to maintain terrible secrets throughout one's lifetime. The final story, "Too Much Happiness," was significantly longer and didn't seem to fit in as well with the rest (although it was still a pleasure to read.) In this last story, Munro describes the events leading up to the death of Sophia Kovalevski, a mathematician and novelist in the nineteenth century struggling with success, ambition, love and the constraints placed on women of the time period..."She was learning, quite late, what many people around her appeared to have known since childhood--that life can be perfectly satisfying without major achievements."
Munro's stories are hauntingly realistic and show the darkest side of humanity. However, they're carefully counterbalanced, and we also see strength, perseverance, and the capacity to forgive, forget and move forward.(less)
Emma Hunt, author of an advice column, is struggling to single-handedly bring up her two sons: Jacob, 18, who is diagnosed with Asperger's, and his br...moreEmma Hunt, author of an advice column, is struggling to single-handedly bring up her two sons: Jacob, 18, who is diagnosed with Asperger's, and his brother, Theo, who is 15 and beginning to engage in delinquent behavior. Although Jacob is incredibly intelligent, he is a slave to routine and prone to fits, sometimes violent ones, when something is disrupted. The only people he has grown close to is his mother and his social skills tutor, Jess. Jacob is fixated on forensic science--he watches crime shows regularly and keeps detailed notebooks on each crime. He knows so much, in fact, that he is able to help cops solve a case. However, when someone in town gets murdered, Jacob suddenly becomes a suspect. The symptoms of Asperger's--inability to make eye contact or nervous tics--suddenly seem like symptoms of guilt. Police find themselves questioning whether Jacob knows so much about the crime scene because of his interest in the subject, or because he was the one who created it.
As with all of her novels, Jodi Picoult clearly invested a lot of time into researching both forensic science and Asperger's, and the reader is given a unique insight into the mind of someone with this disorder. (However, it seemed like a strong link was made between Asperger's and vaccination, which is still hotly debated.) Also, her cast of characters is easy to connect with: Emma, a woman who gives advice for a living but is barely hanging onto her own life by a thread, Oliver, the young lawyer with no experience who finds himself thrown into a murder trial because of his colorful ad in the yllow pages, etc. Theo is perhaps slightly less developed than the other characters. Despite his delinquent behavior in the beginning, he is quickly moved to the outskirts and we hear little from him.
Although the story it essentially a murder mystery, it is pretty evident about halfway through what exactly happened the day of the crime. However, you find yourself moving forward, anyway. It's not the suspense that drives you forward, but the curiosity of how the Hunts will survive the trial, and whether the truth will become apparent to all involved by the end. Like many of Jodi Picoult's novels, you find yourself asking "What if?" What if this were my life? What if I had a son diagnosed with Asperger's and charged with murder? How would I handle it?
This was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone who has at least a slight interest in individuals with Asperger's or autism, and anyone (like me!) who spends a little too much time watching true crime television...(less)
"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." This is Michael Pollan's simple solution to American obesity and our alarmingly high rates of "...more"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." This is Michael Pollan's simple solution to American obesity and our alarmingly high rates of "Western diseases" (cardiovascular diseases, cancers, etc.) I know I'm a little late on the Michael Pollan train; everyone and their mother has read this book by now. In fact, the book is so huge at this point that they've actually made a companion version for children. Yes, you read that right: A nutrition book for children. Although it upsets me that children are struggling with food issues at such a young age, Michael Pollan raises some good points. Mainly, food has become too complicated. Everything is over-processed and every year there's a new nutrient that we HAVE to be getting and something else we HAVE to be avoiding. Pollan tries to simplify our food choices by laying down some basic, commonsense rules. At the end of the day, you'll be doing alright by yourself if you stick with "whole foods" (you know, the real peaches versus the kind packed in heavy corn syrup) and go back to eating the way it should be. Sit at a table. Take your time to eat so you know when you're full. Oh, and don't digest anything that's incapable of spoiling (i.e. Twinkies or McDonald's burgers. Do you REALLY want that in your system?)
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I'm a big fan of eating slowly and at tables. I don't eat a lot of processed foods. I eat virtually NO fast food. I'll give myself beef when I'm craving it, but that's not too frequently. So, although I enjoyed the book, I'm not sure I learned anything ground-shattering, and I'm not sure I'll alter any behaviors because of it. I agree that families need to spend more time cooking and eating together and less time eating on the run (although I'm not convinced "mom" needs to be the one doing it), and I agree that by putting success and money above everything else, our society is doing a grave disservice to its members. That being said, I don't think this book will influence enough people to truly change the way things are in America. He's preaching to the choir, and I wish I could find stories about people who have changed their lives around because of this book, but I'm afraid I won't. At the end of the day, we're just too busy, or too unwilling to change. As interesting as this book was, it is one of many that offers promise, but then is ultimately forgotten.
Sorry, Michael. The people just aren't ready. (less)
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