Anika’s
Comments
(group member since Dec 25, 2011)
Anika’s
comments
from the Reading with Style group.
Showing 1,821-1,840 of 2,801
10.3 Real PlaceA Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea by Eunsun Kim
"Eunsun Kim" (she said in the forward that she couldn't use her real name or the real names of several characters in order to protect family still in North Korea) has lived a tremendous life: her grandparents and father died in the great famine in the 1990s leaving her mother, older sister, and herself to fend for themselves. In order to escape starvation, her mother makes the bold decision to escape North Korea.
I can't wrap my head around the courage that would take: to have NOTHING--no money, no food, no home or assets to sell, no transportation, no familial support--except for love of your children and sheer courage to escape a murderous regime.
This was a truly incredible story and an eye-opening look at the isolationist country.
While I responded to the story itself, the story telling (the text of the book itself, which is what I am rating) itself was not very good, thus the 3 star review.
+10 Task ("North Korea")
+10 Review
+10 Combo (20.5: her mother was single, widowed head of household--at one point she was sold to a man who wanted her to bear his son, but he never married her and they were attached to his household for only a short time; 20.10: A thoUsand mIles tO frEedom)
Task total: 30
Season total: 1760
10.5 Pet DayCandide by Voltaire
This whole book feels like the build up to a long joke ("Six kings walk into a bar..."), though how it can feel that way when it is filled with murder, war, rape, slavery, stolen fortunes, stolen futures, heartless Inquisitors, and pirates and, well, everything bad you can think of, I don't know how it's possible. Perhaps the joke is on on us: despite all of the horrors and things lost along the way, Candide maintains that "this is the best of all possible worlds." (It's so funny: when I first read this years ago, I felt like that statement was made somewhere in every single chapter, that it was the main theme of the book, that this book could not exist without that sentence--now, with Kindle, I can instantly find out exactly how many times it was said: FOUR?!)
The closest thing I can equate this to is Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels on fast-forward. Every chapter is a step in Candide's journey to be reunited with his love, Cunegonde. It's a ridiculously quick read and quite funny (sadly, much of the contemporaneous satire is lost to time, despite the footnotes' attempt to make sense of it), though perhaps I enjoyed it because we have a history ("this is the best of all possible world" may or may not have been my tongue-in-cheek personal motto my freshman year as a result of reading this...).
+10 Task (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...)
+10 Review
+20 Oldies (first pub. 1759)
+5 Combo (20.7)
Task total: 45
Season total: 1730
10.6 NoirYou Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
I've read two of Abbott's noir books so far this season and quite enjoyed them. This one isn't noir (set in the present day, revolves around a gymnastics prodigy and her family), but it still includes all of the best parts of her noir: strong female characters, tightly wound suspense, shocking revelations delivered in a gloriously understated manner. I loved the slow unfolding of the truth--it was brilliantly paced.
Devon is the rockstar of her gymnastics community and all of the other gymnasts, parents (not just her parents--ALL the parents), coaches hang on her every move. She's a good kid: focused, dedicated, hard-working, talented. Everyone is training for a big meet (a crucial one for Devon), when someone in their tight-knit gym-family dies under mysterious circumstances and causes turmoil in entirely unforeseen ways. That's the best way to describe it, but even though Devon is the axis on which all of the characters rotate, I felt like she was almost absent for most of the book. She was talked about and observed and we even hear bits of her journal, but she felt very two-dimensional to me...which makes the way things turn out all the more shocking (I felt, anyway). Quite enjoyed this (but still like Abbott's noir better).
+10 Task
+10 Review
Task total: 20
Season total: 1685
10.9 9, 10, 11In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History by Mitch Landrieu
While the title would lead one to think that the main focus of the book would be about the taking down of four statues commemorating Confederate soldiers, very few pages are dedicated to that topic. Most of the book explains the history of the city, which lays the groundwork as to why the statues coming down was crucial and why it was so hotly contested.
I love the passion this man has for his city and all of the work he has done to raise it up. I love that he's not afraid to call out certain politicians for their failures to live up to their oaths of office. I love that he did not back down despite mounting opposition by ignorant, hate-filled terrorists who would shout him down, threaten his family and the families of those hired to remove the statues (even burning the car of one of the contractors!?), and bring frivolous lawsuits to delay the removal of statues that stand only for hate and intimidation. In this current political climate where it is far more common to see those in power lying, obfuscating, and making excuses for not getting anything done, it was refreshing to see one man's integrity and how he used his political power to build up the people of his city rather than build up his own personal interests.
+10 Task ("Southerner"=10 letters)
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.5--https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... ; 20.10--In thE shAdow Of statUes)
Task total: 30
Season total: 1665
20.9 ArkansasThe Awakening by Kate Chopin
[I thought I'd be able to finish this up yesterday--HA! Yesterday was my first time ever having anesthesia...I couldn't keep my eyes open to save my life for the rest of the day!]
I read this book in college and loved it--though the only thing I remember about that reading was the last page. It was so interesting to revisit it now that I'm at a completely different point in my life. It's also interesting to read this book set in Louisiana (much of it in New Orleans) while I'm concurrently reading another book set in a much different New Orleans (In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History)--I was more aware of the way race was treated by Chopin because it has been covered in the history described by Landrieu. (I hope that made some semblance of sense--if not, I'm blaming the pain meds!)
I think I loved it so much when I first read it 20+ years ago because the feeling of being trapped on a path and making a conscious choice not to keep going down that path resonated with me. While I still love that theme, Edna makes me a little crazy. I realize a lot of that stems from being a modern reader and imperfectly attempting to see her through the eyes of history, but all I could see this time was her destructive selfishness.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Oldies (1899)
+15 Combo (10.5--https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... 10.9--"awakening"=9 letters; 20.7--MPE is 195 pages)
Task total: 55
Season total: 1635
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Anika wrote: "(i’m trying to see how far i can get on a complete second RwS Finish and have already posted a second 20.10.) "Well, that's exciting in and of itself. When you near the end, if you ..."
It’s probably not going to happen, but i’ve been finding books i can’t put down and end up rushing through and when i’d realized that we’re at the halfway mark and i was already done, (much like Forest Gump after running from one coast to the other, then turning around and running back) i thought i’d start the whole process all over. i’m having surgery (tonsillectomy) tomorrow and am in for at least a week in recovery where i won’t be able to talk at all, so books will be the perfect escape!
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Anika wrote: "Would In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History work here? It is an insider’s account of the removal of 4 Confederate statues and the racial storm..."I’m not very far into the book so was looking for advice from others who’d read it, but my guess is your assessment is correct. I’ll definitely be finishing it and posting it elsewhere. Thanks for the suggestion of 10.9–i didn’t even recognize that as a possible option! (i’m trying to see how far i can get on a complete second RwS Finish and have already posted a second 20.10.)
Would In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History work here? It is an insider’s account of the removal of 4 Confederate statues and the racial storm it ignited. So far, it seems more about politics, race relations, and historical foundation-laying surrounding the removal of the statues without much “memoir”...
20.5 Singled OutThe Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
Cait has blogged the major changes in her life: getting out of massive consumer debt ($30,000!), quitting alcohol, losing 30 pounds, and then her year of “no” shopping (food and toiletries are allowed along with a few strictly established items). This book came about as a result of the blog. I don’t read her blog, but based on what she talks about, a lot of this material would be covered therein—though she adds some very personal stories that she never shared on her blog. Despite the fact that this is about a year abstaining from consumer culture, it spends far more time discussing her other addictions. When she does actually talk about not shopping, I loved her use of metrics to show exactly how much it was changing. I also enjoyed hearing about her psychology of spending—I found it relatable and hope to be able to make some similar changes to my attitude toward spending and our commercial culture.
+20 Task (Cait is single, never married head of household)
+10 Review
Task total: 30
Season total: 1580
10.4 BookshelvesCalifornia by Edan Lepucki
Another dark book...man, I somehow stepped into a whole slew of those this season: ecologically bleak, apocalyptic, politically upsetting, murdery, I’ve run the whole gamut of dark. I started this one mid-September and had to take a break from it for some lighter fare—not that it was the darkest of the books I’ve read, but I’d definitely reached my saturation point!
I started out really loving this one: atmospheric, believable, interesting premise...then it felt very Walking Dead Season 3 (minus the zombies). The second half dragged for me—but that could have been because I’d lost my momentum after the long break from it. Didn’t really love the characters, downright hated the fact that one had my name and she was pretty haggard (I’m still not used to encountering characters with my name...it’s a little unnerving to read about “Anika” and not take it personally). I loved the last paragraph, though. It was exactly perfect.
+10 Task (The Best Next Book Club list)
+10 Review
+20 Combo (10.3, 10.8, 10.9, 20.5–Anika is single head of household)
Task total: 40
+100 RwS Finish
+200 Mega Finish
Season total: 1550
10.9 9, 10, 1117 Carnations: The Royals, the Nazis and the Biggest Cover-Up in History by Andrew Morton
Andrew Morton is best known for his celebrity biographies—which I never would have guessed from reading this. While the book does follow Wallis and Edward, it’s far more about the machination of the international political machines (Hitler as matchmaker?!), the intrigues and cover-ups (specifically of the Windsor Papers, which exposed Edward’s Nazi sympathies, but it also talked about the royals sending out courtiers to do the dirty work of retrieving scandalous/questionable letters), the petty actions of those in power (it even threw in a bit about A.A. Milne calling out P.G. Wodehouse as a Fifth Columnist). I was impressed with the amount of research that went into this and enjoyed looking at history from a slightly different perspective than I’d been exposed to previously.
+10 Task (“carnations”=10 letters)
+10 Review
+5 Combo, 20.2
Task total: 25
Season total: 1210
15.10 AbBY, Chronological 1985-1989The Beginning of Everything (930 Lexile) by Robyn Schneider (1986)
+60 Task
Task total: 60
AbBY Finisher Bonus +100
Season total: 1185
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Post 337 Anika wrote: "20.10 Fall EquinoxTales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs (940 Lexile)
(I read this thinking I had somewhere found the author’s birth year a..."
I really need to be better about reading *all* the requirements for a task (I was focusing solely on the <200 pages aspect)! I’ve updated the -5 combo in my records.
15.9 AbBY, Chronological 1980-1984Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi (1984)
+45 Task
Task total: 45
Season total: 1025
20.10 Fall EquinoxTales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs (940 Lexile)
(I read this thinking I had somewhere found the author’s birth year as 1980 and that I’d be one step closer to my AbBY completion...nope! Foiled again!)
I don’t know if you’re familiar with the Miss Peregrine universe created by Ransom Riggs...if not, you’re missing out! If you love the gorier aspects of Grimm, the elaborate race building of Tolkien, the glorious tongue-in-cheekiness of Gaiman, then you should check this out. This is a collection of fairy tales which is frequently referenced throughout the series, so it’s kinda fun to read the primary source (like reading “Tales of Beedle the Bard” after having read Harry Potter).
This was a quick read and had gorgeous woodcut illustrations at the beginning of each story. The stories stand alone well, so you don’t really have to be familiar with the rest of the series to enjoy them.
+20 Task (tAles Of thE pecUlIar)
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.2, 10.5–https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...)
Task total: 40
Season total: 980
15.8 AbBY, Chronological (skipped 1970-1974) 1975-1979The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn (1979--thanks again, Elizabeth, for your help finding this!)
+45 Task
Task total: 45
Season total: 940
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Anika wrote: "I can't find a birth year for A.J. Finn (a.k.a. Daniel Mallory) anywhere. Wondering if you have one up your sleeve (you have magical resources that I have yet to figu..."You are amazing!!! Thank you!
I can't find a birth year for A.J. Finn (a.k.a. Daniel Mallory) anywhere. Wondering if you have one up your sleeve (you have magical resources that I have yet to figure out!)...I have to read The Woman in the Window for my RL book club and am hoping to fit it in the subchallenge...
10.5 Pet DayZeitoun by Dave Eggers
Wow. I'm still reeling from this one. I'd be disturbed if it were fiction, but the fact that this is a biography makes my skin crawl.
Abdulrahman Zeitoun is a Syrian who, after traveling the world, made a home in New Orleans. He established a successful painting and contracting business. He purchased and fixed up properties to rent out. He married Kathy, adopted her son, and together they had three more children. Their life was good.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina began her inexorable march up the U.S. Coast, gaining strength on her way to New Orleans. Kathy decides to take her kids to stay with family in Baton Rouge and Zeitoun (as most people refer to him, as they can't pronounce his first name) stays in New Orleans to protect their properties and business. As the storm makes its way over the city, Zeitoun is relieved that it isn't as bad as the news had made it sound...until the levees and flood walls are compromised and all hell breaks loose. Zeitoun has a canoe and goes about the city, helping people, feeding dogs that have been left behind. He feels like he was destined to be in this city in this moment to be an agent of good and salvation. Then the unimaginable happens (view spoiler).
I knew Katrina was a s*%! show, that it was a GIANT failure on every level--FEMA, local law enforcement, all relief efforts, basic human rights being violated left and right by people in power--but hadn't ever heard a story of this magnitude, that close to the epicenter.
+10 Task (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...)
+10 Review
+15 Prizeworthy
Task total: 35
Season total: 895
Also, while I'm at it, I was hoping to get California by Edan Lepucki approved (as it's not clear from the GR blurb that it's cli fi).From the book: "She wondered if he'd struck out for the wilderness before the earthquakes...L.A. never recovered from the destruction. Nor had San Francisco, six months later...If August hadn't seen the reports of wildfires in Colorado and Utah, or, later those snowstorms across the Midwest and the East Coast or the rainstorms north of here, he would have no idea how battered the world was." (The snowstorms killed off 2/3 of the population of the Midwest, the earthquakes left the largest population centers of California uninhabitable, most of the people on the Eastern seaboard have died from resulting epidemics.)
