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September 25
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Ashley
is currently reading:
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
by Terry Pratchett
bookshelves:
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September 09
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Ashley
gave
to:
The World Without Us (Hardcover)
by Alan Weisman
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my rating:
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read in September, 2008
Ashley said:
"This book is basically what the title claims it to be--a look at the world if humans were to suddenly become extinct. Wesiman provides a very thorough analysis of what would happen to our homes, cities, waste, etc once we are gone. He also explores w...more
This book is basically what the title claims it to be--a look at the world if humans were to suddenly become extinct. Wesiman provides a very thorough analysis of what would happen to our homes, cities, waste, etc once we are gone. He also explores what would become of the world's oceans, plants, and animals.
I thought this book was very well researched. Not only does Weisman use speculation from very knowledgeable scientists the world over, but he takes a look at the real history of people including the evolution of man and the rise and fall of now extinct cultures such as the Mayas. By looking at this history it is perhaps easy to see what present-day man has in store for the future.
One of the central themes of this book is that humans are dying out and that this is an inevitable fact. Everything on the planet including plants and animals goes through these cycles--it has been happening for millions of years. It is only reasonable to assume that man will eventually be gone as well. What makes Wesiman's book interesting is not the fact that much of modern humanity will disappear into the undergrowth of forests and rivers, but it is what will stick around after we are gone. Things such as plastic and nuclear waste have the potential to last for hundreds of thousands of years after we are gone. Yes, some great human achievements such as the carvings on Mount Rushmore and the Chunnel will stick around for awhile but according to Weisman these great accomplishments will be small in comparison to the tons of plastic particles and other waste that will continue floating through the oceans and in landfills. It seems sad that we can uncover wonderful treasures from great civilizations such as the Egyptians, the Romans, and the Maya--awesome temples, pyramids, ceramics, and art--and the only truly viable remains of our great civilization will most likely be Barbie dolls and highly toxic chemical waste. Oh and some radio and television broadcasts that are floating light years away in space.
I liked this book but it did have a very strong "humans are destructors of nature" theme. It seemed that in just about every chapter Weisman comes back to this--if it weren't for man screwing things up we would have this wonderful world of large magnificent animals, sparkling waters, and great diversity. As much as it offended me--he probably is right in some respects. Yes, humans have the right to consume just as any other plant or animal has the right to take what it needs from the environment. But what if what we are taking is more than we need and what we are giving back is not so helpful to our environment? This is the theory that Weisman explores--if humans can live with nature (as opposed to rapidly consuming it) then we might have just a little bit more time here and our impact on the future of the planet may be a little bit less harmful. But I think most people are aware of this. The problem is most of us are just too lazy to make that trip to the recycling bin or take public transportation instead of using our cars. We are so separated from our environment that it is difficult to understand the huge impact we are having by our simple daily consumption. When will we get to that breaking point where we realize that there are too many of us and not enough resources? I mean would our society really be able to implement population controls like countries such as China? What if the future survival of the human race depended on it? Should we start now? This book indicates that the answers to questions such as this should be yes, but like a good environmental treatise the author leaves this for the reader to infer.
This book is great if you are interested in the topic and it provides some good insight into the history and future of our planet once we are gone. The author provides some good facts and posits some interesting questions, but of course it is up to the reader to take that next step whatever that may be.
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August 28
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Ashley
gave
to:
A Great and Terrible Beauty (Hardcover)
by Libba Bray
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my rating:
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read in August, 2008
Ashley said:
"I think if I was younger I may have liked this book a little bit more, even though there were some "adult" moments. Nevertheless I do think it was a fairly engaging story with some strong female characters. I really think Bray captured the ...more
I think if I was younger I may have liked this book a little bit more, even though there were some "adult" moments. Nevertheless I do think it was a fairly engaging story with some strong female characters. I really think Bray captured the cattiness of teenage girls very well. Admittedly the girls Gemma, the main character, encounters are cruel and mean in varying ways, and Gemma vacillates between trying not to care and caring what they think. I like that Gemma does not automatically bend to their ways and stands up for herself. I think that's really hard to do--especially being the new girl in school. In terms of the girls who do the torturing, I am glad that Bray does not let the reader get away with completely hating them. I think she does a good job of showing their own insecurities which are ultimately responsible for them acting the way that they do.
As for the story itself, well, it was okay. I liked that it was fast-paced but I feel as if I just wasn't quite getting some of the finer details. I mean I understand that Gemma has this special power but why? I also wanted to know more about the runes that transfer power to the girls so that they can take it out of the realms. What causes the power transfer and why does it wear off? Bray never really explains this. She also never explains Gemma's futuristic visions--why she has them--other than the fact that she's a "chosen one" of sorts.
I haven't read the other books in the series and perhaps if I do read them they'll explain more, but after reading the first book I have to say the author didn't really leave me wanting more. But that's just my opinion...
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Ashley
read and liked
honestly mem's
review of A Great and Terrible Beauty:
"A Great and Terrible Beauty is neither great nor beautiful, though it is indeed -- wait for it! -- terrible.
The characters are simple and one-dimensional, their actions both petty and selfish. I find it difficult to believe any one ...more
A Great and Terrible Beauty is neither great nor beautiful, though it is indeed -- wait for it! -- terrible.
The characters are simple and one-dimensional, their actions both petty and selfish. I find it difficult to believe any one of the four girls at the heart of the story cared for one another, much less anyone else. The story meanders, often digressing into lengthy passages that do little if anything to advance the characters or the story. As the story progresses, drawing to its predictable and dissatisfying conclusion, it becomes clear that Ms Bray has mistaken style for subtance and that her prose is not stylish enough to support this belief.
Most offensive, however, is the racial and sexual content within the book. The male lead (a young man from India) is sexualized and fetishized for his "exotic" appearance and culture; other Indian characters are shown as either submissive or violent. The Romani people wandering the schoolgrounds suffer from even greater stereotyping: the men are portrayed as slovenly, ignorant, and sexually aggressive towards the white schoolgirls; the women are docile and suitably mystical.
Her treatment of the female characters is also questionable. Though these Victorian girls wander about with decidedly un-Victorian sensibilities and though Ms Bray makes a weak attempt to decry the injustices of a society so quick to condemn the expression of feminine sexuality, the story itself does not support this modern take on the Victorian era. The girls submit to their male counterparts or pine helplessly from a distance. Sexual and romantic relationships between men and women often contain obvious and disturbing power imbalances (or violent undertones). The relationship between the four girls is emotionally shallow and deeply petty, motivated by mutual dislike and composed of backstabbing and bullying tactics. And though Ms Bray is quick to condemn the indignities and horrors of an arranged marriage, she is also quick to condemn her protagonists when they dare to act instead of react. It's a confusing mix of self-righteous pulpit pounding and misogyny, with the end result being I wanted to put my fist through the admittedly lovely and eyecatching cover.
My one relief is that I had the sense to borrow this from the library instead of buying it outright. I do not recommend it....less
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August 23
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Ashley
read and liked
Sydney's
review of The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
This is the story of Carrie Bell, a recent college graduate who's life seems to be at a stand-still. She's got a fiance Mike, who she's been with since they were 14, a mediocre job at the University Library, ...more
****This review contains SPOILERS****
This is the story of Carrie Bell, a recent college graduate who's life seems to be at a stand-still. She's got a fiance Mike, who she's been with since they were 14, a mediocre job at the University Library, a group of friends she's had since high school who are equally at a stand-still. But she begins to question her life. Just as she's about to ask, "Is this it? Is this the life I'm destined to lead?," tragedy strikes. Her fiance dives into shallow water and ends up paralyzed from the chest down.
Everything changes in an instant. But as much as she wants to be there for Mike, she finds herself looking for an escape plan. Things had been chilly between the two of them in the months before the accident, but how can she leave him now? What will people think? What will she think of herself?
Then she does the unthinkable... she leaves, getting as far away from her old life as she can.
This was an interesting read. It was definitely darker than I expected. I've read some reviews where people had no sympathy for Carrie, but I believe she's worthy of sympathy. She is in an impossible situation, where everyone wants to see her as this rock for Mike, his stability in an unstable situation. But that's a lot to ask someone at any age, let alone at age 23, when you were already contemplating life without your fiance and an accident leaves him paralyzed.
The author did a great job of showing how tormented Carrie was by her actions, her decisions, and their consequences.
I was disappointed by the ending of the book, because although Carrie did grow, she ended up right back where she started. I think it would have been a much more interesting story if Carrie had resolved things with Mike, with her best friend, and her mother and then headed back to NYC to make a new life for herself. That's my only beef with the book....less
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August 12
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Ashley
marked as to-read:
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex (Hardcover)
by Mary Roach
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
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August 05
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Ashley
added Twilight
to the book list The worst books of all time
add a comment »
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August 04
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Ashley
read and liked
Amanda's
review of Breaking Dawn (Twilight Series, Book 4):
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
i feel that being mature enough i am able to take the book as more than a "negative message" (as the Amazon customers have said) and find it to be purely made for entertainment purposes. never being a fan of bella and edward i found it highly disturbing that she still ended up in the arms of her undead lover and ended up with a rapidly aging child who was neither mortal or immortal. the spawn the seemed so convincingly evil, suddenly turned lovable was as disturbing for me as it was Jacob. i followed from his p.o.v to find that the story was much more likable through his eyes, oddly....less
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July 30
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Ashley
marked as to-read:
Luthiel's Song: Dreams of the Ringed Vale (Paperback)
by Robert Fanney (Goodreads author!)
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
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July 29
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Ashley
marked as to-read:
Common Places: Readings in American Vernacular Architecture (Paperback)
by Dell Upton
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
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Summer Lovin' Book Geeks/Lovers
— 8 members
— last activity 24 days ago, 07:42AM
