The Dog Stars blew me away. I read it and then I bought it again on audio and listened to it on a few long runs through the Palisa...more
MINOR SPOILERS ALERT
The Dog Stars blew me away. I read it and then I bought it again on audio and listened to it on a few long runs through the Palisades. The Road is one of my favorite books, and I felt in Peter Heller's story that same gritty beauty Cormac McCarthy gives us, but The Dog Stars went deeper into beauty, I think. Peter Heller must have a huge heart. When Jasper died my heart broke. The description of that bond between man and dog felt just right to me. But more, the way, over the course of the story, our narrator Hig grew to care for Bangley; the love he let himself feel at the end of the book really moved me. He just never let the horror crush him. Well, at times it almost overwhelmed him, but he was always creative and bighearted enough to find something to hang onto. Though, all those crazy marauders aside, Hig's world seemed like a perfect place to me: a dog, a plane, a dude who lives to keep your perimeter clear, plenty of homegrown veggies, a good supply of venison and fish, the mountain hikes, the streams and cool pools. There's a line in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, the kid says something like, "I wouldn't mind if I was the only person left in the world. I wouldn't mind at all." I definitely feel that way too sometimes--probably not the healthiest mindset! But the description/setting was in some ways so fiercely beautiful, I could see how Bangley didn't mind being cut off from (what little remained of) civilization. I loved the name Hig. That idea of Higgs boson, that it's "the God particle" that binds all matter, seems just the thing to incorporate into our narrator's character, the way he binds himself to all that he sees and allows himself to be a part of it, to acknowledge that magic that connects all life, all matter; that bond, even to the bad/destructive stuff. Though when Hig is feeling low, in that Shangri-La valley in the last third of the book, the old man keeps calling him Higgs, and Hig keeps telling him, "Not Higgs. Hig. Just Hig." The everyman God particle. Nice touch. Apparently the scientific community (per Wikipedia anyway) disapproves of calling the boson "the God Particle," and maybe Peter Heller had that in mind as he was writing. Given his attention to detail, his nailing every sentence with clarity, no frills, I'm guessing he did. Enough about the Hig/Higgs thing--The Dog Stars was a truly great book, and I'm putting it on my favorites shelf--and hey, look at that: it rests somewhere between Faulkner and Hemingway, right where Peter Heller should be. (less)
David's best book yet and my favorite book of the year. Heartbreaking, thrilling, dazzling. David Levithan is the most empathic man on the planet. Rea...moreDavid's best book yet and my favorite book of the year. Heartbreaking, thrilling, dazzling. David Levithan is the most empathic man on the planet. Read Every Day twice already, the kind of book you'll go to every year or so, just to revive your faith in the human spirit. An unforgettably beautiful character caught up in a rocket ride of a plot.(less)
I saw Barry read from IHK at the NYC YA festival this past month, and both he and the characters he read were amazing. IHK is both a thriller with a w...more I saw Barry read from IHK at the NYC YA festival this past month, and both he and the characters he read were amazing. IHK is both a thriller with a wicked pace and a literary novel. It reminded me of Cormac McCarthy's No Country For Old Men. This is great writing coupled with great storytelling. When we get inside Billy's and Jazz's heads, it's terrifying and somehow beautiful and beautifully lyrical at the same time. A stunning novel by a fearless writer writing at the top of his game. Bravo. (less)
Coe Booth has been one of my very favorite storytellers ever since I read Tyrell. Kendra also was magnificent. Bronxwood blew me away. Every word comi...moreCoe Booth has been one of my very favorite storytellers ever since I read Tyrell. Kendra also was magnificent. Bronxwood blew me away. Every word coming from Tyrell's mind rings so true. I could be walking in my neighborhood, hearing 16-yr old kids talk. Coe never judges her characters. She lets them be who they are. She never preaches or tries to teach a lesson. She lets you decide for yourself whether or not the characters are on the right track. Whether or not you "like" what the characters are up to, you love them. You feel for them in such an immediate way. You laugh with them a lot too--the humor is so great, relayed by a wise soul of a writer. Coe's ear for dialogue, her characters' voices--all remarkable. And she gives the characters a fast-placed plot to live in. Bronxwood is devastatingly awesome, an absolutely phenomenal read. I loved this book. -Paul Griffin, NYC, 10-15-2011(less)
Loved TGWTDT. Such a fast read, terrific characters, reminded me of S. King. Tough subject matter handled perfectly--just enough detail to let you kno...moreLoved TGWTDT. Such a fast read, terrific characters, reminded me of S. King. Tough subject matter handled perfectly--just enough detail to let you know how truly destructive some people can be in their dealings with other people. (less)
Sometimes the "How things work" books can be hard to understand and depressing, but, like Carl Sagan, Professor Greene makes the learning super fun--a...moreSometimes the "How things work" books can be hard to understand and depressing, but, like Carl Sagan, Professor Greene makes the learning super fun--and he left me with a hopeful picture of where we're headed, particularly when he talks about the malleability of time. I came away thinking life is eternal--maybe not THIS life, but the life force in general. Very inspiring book. (less)
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