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What I read in February -2015
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Can't believe that February is over already!This month I read:
Amnesia Moon by Jonathan Lethem 4-stars
This was the first of his books that I've read. I loved it. The dystopian world, the dreaminess of everything, blended together really well.
The Door by Magda Szabó 5-stars
A wonderful story, set in Budapest, during the 1960s-1980s. It's basically the friendship that develops between two women but it's so much more than that.
A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker 3-stars
Meh. I like how Dekker used true history to shape his story but Maviah made for such an unlikely heroine and Yeshua (Jesus) comes across a crazy mystic....more creepy and hypnotic than holy.
A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters 3-stars
I enjoyed this murder mystery set in medieval England & Wales. Some funny lines, good characters and a fun story.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd 4-stars
I listened to the audio while jogging. This was a warm, loving story about a young girl facing a lot of issues. I really enjoyed it.
Nice month, Petra !Your post reminds me that I should get back into downloading audiobooks from the library for my walks.
The Door sounds very interesting. I am adding it in my TBR notebook. Thanks !
Alias Reader wrote: "Nice month, Petra !Your post reminds me that I should get back into downloading audiobooks from the library for my walks.
The Door sounds very interesting. I am adding it in my ..."
I am almost done with The Door Alias. It's good!
Julie wrote: I am almost done with The Door Alias. It's good! ..."I must be the last one to hear about this book as I see there are a dozen holds on it at my library.
Thanks again for bringing it to my attention.
My copy is 3 days overdue....I can't renew it because there are several holds. There weren't any when I got it though. So as soon as I can get myself off this stupid computer I will finish it! :-)
Petra wrote: "Can't believe that February is over already!This month I read:
Amnesia Moon by Jonathan Lethem 4-stars
This was the first of his books that I've read. I loved it. The d..."
I've read Motherless Brooklyn by Lethem and absolutely loved it. He's definitely an author I want to read more of
I was able to read 4 books this past month and enjoyed them all.Waiting by Ha Jin. 4/5
Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories by Sandra Cisneros 4/5
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell 4/5
About a Boy by Nick Hornby 4/5
I'm on the Waiting List for The Door. Glad to hear it is worth it. Short month & even shorter list. While i completed 4, two were quite short.
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett. There was much potential for this book, which zeroes in on a thief and a bookseller who tried to catch him. Unfortunately, the author didn't live up to the material and seemed to want to become a part of the story. Sadly, as well, i didn't learn as much as i'd hoped about the topic.
Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill contained chapters with short paragraphs, note even fully developed, for the most part. The female is referred to as "the wife", etc. Still, considering all that Offill still managed to express interesting thoughts about childrearing and marriage.
Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley was short and sweet. An almost 40 year old single woman purchases a wagon, horse and dog with merchandise in order to sell books. In all she doesn't travel far from her home, which she shares with her author brother, but her world opens much, much wider. I liked it for the sweet ditty it was. Many references to books, which, naturally, i treasured.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, written by John Fox Jr. in the early 1900s. This was something of a romance and a western, although it was really only set near the border of Virginia and Kentucky. A "furriner" (foreigner, meaning not of that valley) comes to the Gap to develop the area for coal and other mining. He meets a young teenager, sees that she is smart, so pays to have her educated for years, ending in NYC. Meanwhile the town has a boom, the feuds between clans simmer and life alters. I liked the book because the hills themselves became a character as the story developed.
Finally, i began & had to abandon, due to returning to Texas, Harlem Renaissance, written by Nathan Irvin Huggins. It was full of info about this era, its history, music and literature. I was reading the reissued edition (2007), so the intro by Arnold Rampersad served me well, too. I'll have to buy the book, as no libraries here have it, so wanted to add it, lest i forget. :-)
I'm also adding The Door to my to read list. It would have to be one of the highest ranked books I've seen on Goodreads!
I finished three books in February:War And Peace: 3 Volumes - 5/5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, as it was great on a basic storytelling level, a broader national/international historical level and an intellectual level. I loved that the main characters grew and changed because of their experiences and that the relationships were about people finding someone who "fits" with them. The issues raised included interesting discussions of free will/determinism, leadership, bravery, war, work, etc.
Native Son - 4/5 stars
Although I was a little late with the Group Read for January, I really enjoyed (if that's the right word!) reading this one. The scenario was complex, given the racial underpinnings of the story. So many times, I found myself talking to the characters in the book! Sad, violent, scary in some ways - the book was a good read. I wish there had been a bit more depth in the character development or in the story - it just seemed to lack a little something.
The Count of Monte Cristo - 4.5/5 stars
Just a fun book. Full of betrayal and revenge and love and insane wealth and power - it's a great way to live out your fantasy of getting back at those who wronged you! A man is framed for a crime and unjustly put in the dungeon for 14 years before escaping - in the end, the good guys find happiness and the bad guys get their due.
More notes on all three books in my Determination List thread.
Jon wrote: "I was able to read 4 books this past month and enjoyed them all.Waiting by Ha Jin. 4/5
Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories by Sandra Cisneros 4/5
[book:Winter's B..."
Thanks for sharing, Jon ! I am so happy you joined our group. :)
madrano wrote: "I'm on the Waiting List for The Door. Glad to hear it is worth it. Short month & even shorter list. While i completed 4, two were quite short.
[book:The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True St..."
As always, nice eclectic mix, Deb. Thanks for sharing with us.
Susan from MD wrote: "I finished three books in February:War And Peace: 3 Volumes - 5/5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, as it was great on a basic storytelling level, a broader national/international h..."
Three classic, Susan. Nicely done. I'm glad to see you enjoyed them all.
Where did the month go, indeed !Seems I only managed to finish one book.
The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America--Amy ChuaNon fiction
Rating- 4
I enjoyed this book and thought it had a lot of interesting ideas and stats I never knew. The author is famous from her last book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
Alias Reader wrote: "Where did the month go, indeed !Seems I only managed to finish one book."
I'm right there with you. I managed to finish Tristam Shandy, started back around the new year, and read the entirety of The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr.
Other than that, it's been slow going. I picked up a bunch of lighter fare at used bookstores this week, though, so March might be a good reading month.
Susan, it's great that the books you completed are all on your DL. Good start to the new year. Alias, that book sounds as though it might be interesting. Thanks for the title.
Mkfs, congratulations on completing Laurence Sterne's novel. Did you like it?
My February reads wereThe Girl of His DreamsbyDonna Leon
Rating 4/5
The First Phone Call from HeavenbyMitch Albom
Rating 4/5
madrano wrote: "Mkfs, congratulations on completing Laurence Sterne's novel. Did you like it?"Actually, yes, though it took a couple hundred pages for the humor to really sink in -- the bulk of it is running gags.
I recommend it as a slow read: maybe a chapter or two a night, but make sure you have something else to read for when Sterne begins to tire you.
Hoffman's homage to Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tomcat Murr, was not very good.
Books I finished in February:The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman: A couple, Tom and Isabel, isolated from the Australian mainland due to Tom's job as a lighthouse keeper, have been trying to years to have a child but suffer miscarriage after miscarriage. One day a boat washes up on their island carrying a dead man -- and a living baby. Isabel sees the baby's arrival as fate, as God's gift to them. Tom thinks they should report it to the authorities. But he caves in to Isabel's wishes, and they pretend to the world that the baby is theirs. All goes well for a time. Until it doesn't. This book is awash in moral dilemmas. And I'm sure it is a good one for book club discussions. I gave it 3/5 stars.
The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings: A novel about a man whose wife is dying after a boating accident (which happens before the book begins -- no spoiler) and he has to gather the family and friends to say good-bye. And then he discovers that his wife had been cheating on him. So he takes to the road to find his wife's lover so that man can say good-bye as well. This book was made into a movie starring George Clooney in 2011 (I didn't see it). It was a quick read. I thought it was interesting that the author managed to make the wife such a major character in the book, even though she was in a coma for the entirety of it. 3/5 stars
Hild by Nicola Griffith: Historical fiction based on the life of the real woman who became St. Hilda of Whitby in 7th-century Britain. Set in the time when Christianity was making its way into the region, often with violent results. I enjoyed it for most of the book, but then my attention started to flag about 75 pages from the end. I think it was too long and could have been helped by a good edit. 3/5 stars
Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America by Edward Samuel Behr: A history of the 13 years of Prohibition in the U.S. Some of the information was interesting, but I found the narrative to be uneven. 2/5 stars
Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman: Read this for a reading challenge ("read a graphic novel"). This one takes the the Marvel Universe characters (the X-Men, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, etc) and drops them more than 400 years into the past (in 1602 England). It's only the second graphic novel I've ever read. I am still not a fan of the genre. But my son, who is a fan, read it and enjoyed it. Unrated by me/Recommended by my son.
Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson: A thriller about a woman who loses her memory every night when she goes to sleep and has to recreate the pieces of her life every morning when she wakes up. A quick, fairly fun read. 3/5 stars
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka: A slim novel that packs a big punch. It's the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as “picture brides” nearly a century ago. Each chapter details the lives of the brides -- one chapter is the wedding night to their stranger husbands, another chapter is learning a new language and customs, another chapter is the birth(s) of children, etc. The author tells the women's stories in the first-person plural ("we") throughout, which I thought would irritate me but which I found really added to the universality of the women's stories. Using "we" made the stories that much more powerful, in my opinion. 4/5 stars
Amy wrote: "Books I finished in February:The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman: A couple, Tom and Isabel, isolated from the Australian mainland due to Tom's job as a light..."
I read this one for a library book club and thought it was just okay. The others in the club seem to enjoy it.
Nice month, Amy. Thanks for sharing with us. :)
Almost done with my queue of books coming off hold! 6 this month, one from my DL, one for work, and 4 from the library.I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban 4/5 - What an inspiring young woman. Despite everything, she is determined to educate herself and to fight for women's education in her homeland. The book itself was a bit scattered in organization but was an amazing insight into the culture and history of Pakistan.
Where She Went 3/5 Sequel to If I Stay told from the boyfriend's perspective. He's needier than I imagined him from the first book, and the story was convenient, but it was a satisfying ending to the pair and an easy read.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail 4/5 - Incredibly brave and naive woman takes to the PCT to break up the dangerous spiral her life has become. Not a lot of trail, interesting interactions with other hikers, and may see the movie sometime as I like Reese Witherspoon.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2/5 - Kids may like this, but I found the protagonist to be more whiny and lazy than wimpy.
Python: Create - Modify - Reuse 2/5 - Teaching myself some new skills. Book had a good overview of the language (for people who know other scripting languages, like Perl), and lots of sample programs, though they weren't in line for my current needs.
Orphan Train 4.5/5 - Standout read - hard to put down, and a lot of historical perspective for something that actually happened but I'd never heard of before. Predictable storyline but still a very satisfying read.
Emma and Amy, you both had good reading months. Amy, was Before I Sleep made into a movie with Nicole Kidman in it? It sounds familiar. Imagine that situation!Emma, thanks for the comment on the Gayle Forman sequel. I was wondering if i wanted to read it. I liked the first one but thought it was perfect as it was.
Mkfs, thanks for your additional comment. I think i missed that the Hoffman was an homage to the Sterne.
Emma wrote:Orphan Train 4.5/5 - Standout read - hard to put down, and a lot of historical perspective for something that actually happened but I'd never heard of before. Predictable storyline but still a very satisfying read. ..."
My neighbor just reiterated the other night to me that I need to read this book. It's on my TBR list.
Nice month, Emma !
As usual in this group, there is a fantastic array of great books read. These monthly threads add more to my TBR than any other discussions.
Here are my completed reads last month.A Patchwork Planet I may have been in the wrong frame of mind for this one. I don't actually recall much about it now.
The Paying Guests a young couple move into a London house as boarders; a love affair and murder follows. Predictable I thought, and way too long. 2 stars.
1Q84 book 1. On audio. Set in Tokyo, parallel stories involving a male writer and a woman seeking revenge. Exciting, strange. This audio version was about 14 hours or so, and I felt a great sense of achievement when I finished it, until I realised it is only book 1 - there are two more to follow. Not sure when I will get around to the rest. This is my second Murakami novel and he is growing on me. 3 stars.
Fight Club Again, I didn't write notes, but see I gave it 2 stars. This had quite a cult following or maybe that was the movie adaption. Not sure.
Serve the People!: A Novel Satire set in Chairman Mao's 1967, an officer's wife has an affair with her house orderly. References to the propaganda and corruption made it interesting. Book was banned in China; not sure if it is still. 3 stars.
Pride and Prejudice I listened to this on audio then followed this up by watching the TV adaption with Colin Firth. I enjoyed it, finding it very funny at times. I think I read it at school but don't recall much from anything I read back then! 4 stars.
Revolutionary Road Bored with their suburban Connecticut lives this young couple yearn for something more. I found it moving and really like that it was not overwritten. I thought Yates did well to capture the thoughts of the 20-something April Wheeler. Looking forward to watching the movie adaption with Kate Winslett and Leonardo Di Caprio when I get hold of a copy. 5 stars!
Miss Chopsticks Based on real lives, this is the story of three rural sisters as they adapt to their new lives in Nanjing, China, in order to support their family and create a better future for themselves. Some interesting content, but it seemed to read like a children's book. 2 stars.
Missus audio. Set in 1920's rural NSW, Irish migrant families make choices in their new country amongst the drought and hardships. A prequel to Harp In The South which I really liked. 2 stars.
Lesley wrote: "Here are my completed reads last month.A Patchwork Planet I may have been in the wrong frame of mind for this one. I don't actually recall much about it now.
"
When I started my book journal in 1999, Patchwork was one of the first books I read that year. Back than I used a 0-4 rating and I gave it a 3.
Sorry you didn't like it. I read it so long ago that I don't recall the plot now.
Lesley wrote: "Here are my completed reads last month.A Patchwork Planet I may have been in the wrong frame of mind for this one. I don't actually recall much about it now.
[book:The Paying Guests..."
I read 1Q84 a couple of years ago. I felt as if I had really accomplished something. I don't know if I could have followed it on tape.
Lesley wrote: "1Q84 book 1"I agree with Bobbie - I've read several Murakami (not this one yet) and can't imagine listening. He's one of my favorite authors, but I find myself flipping back several pages to reread sections for better understanding. Props to you for listening for 14 hours!
Wow, did February ever pass fast! I am happy to report that once again, I managed to read eleven books this month. :) Now I just need to keep it up!
Journey
4/5
Well-written, likable characters, true to life
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School
3/5
Interesting recipes, humourous points
Scandalous
3/5
Witty banter, tricky little plot twist, unusual heroine
Midnight is a Lonely Place
4/5
Creepy, atmospheric, made me jump once or twice, sad when it was over
Outcast of Redwall
3/5
Excellent descriptions of food, neat character names, wonderfully descriptive language
An Uncommon Heroine: Scarlett, Edna, Sula--And More Than 20 Other of the Most Remarkable Women in Literature
2/5
Dull, dry, made me put a couple new titles down on my TBR though
The Dragonet Prophecy
4/5
Interesting plot, neat fantasy world, cool characters
All I Want is Everything
2/5
Same as the previous "Gossip Girl" books, easy read
A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog
3/5
Dry at times, a little too spiritual for me, easy to put down
The Apprentice
3/5
Less exciting than the first one, good descriptions
Irresistible
2/5
Hated the heroine, really hard to get through, dry
Journey
4/5
Well-written, likable characters, true to life
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School
3/5
Interesting recipes, humourous points
Scandalous
3/5
Witty banter, tricky little plot twist, unusual heroine
Midnight is a Lonely Place
4/5
Creepy, atmospheric, made me jump once or twice, sad when it was over
Outcast of Redwall
3/5
Excellent descriptions of food, neat character names, wonderfully descriptive language
An Uncommon Heroine: Scarlett, Edna, Sula--And More Than 20 Other of the Most Remarkable Women in Literature
2/5
Dull, dry, made me put a couple new titles down on my TBR though
The Dragonet Prophecy
4/5
Interesting plot, neat fantasy world, cool characters
All I Want is Everything
2/5
Same as the previous "Gossip Girl" books, easy read
A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog
3/5
Dry at times, a little too spiritual for me, easy to put down
The Apprentice
3/5
Less exciting than the first one, good descriptions
Irresistible
2/5
Hated the heroine, really hard to get through, dry
Maggie wrote: "Wow, did February ever pass fast! I am happy to report that once again, I managed to read eleven books this month. :) Now I just need to keep it up!Journey
4/5
Well-written, likable ..."
Eleven books ! Well done. Sorry they all weren't winners. However, still a very nice month.
Tell the Wolves I'm Home-5 starsComplicated, well developed characters in a moving book about human emotion and how it makes people act. Loved it.
Columbine-5 stars
This is a good book about the Columbine school shooting
The Door-5 stars
The complicated relationship between the narrator and Emerence and Emerence's mysterious character made this a very interesting read.
Audio:
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness-3 stars
Interesting, but seemed a little longer than it needed to be to me...and I was never quite sure how sure she was of events and how much was "filled in" since she doesn't really remember much.
Julie wrote: "Columbine-5 star..."
I am so happy to see you gave Columbine 5 stars. I thought it was a terrific book. It would make an excellent discussion book.
I particularly like the way the author dispelled many of the myths that surrounded the case. I also appreciated that the vast majority of the book is the lead up to the crime. Mr. Cullen tries to explore the why of the crime. He doesn't exploit the crime and tells it simply and quickly.
I did think he went a bit easy on Dylan.
I would definitely read more by this author.
I am also adding, Tell the Wolves I'm Home, to my TBR list. Thanks !
I got the impression from the book that Dylan wouldn't have done it without Eric. Eric, on the other hand, was an outright psychopath.
Lesley, that looks like a good month of reading. I liked Fight Club, appreciating how different it was. Afterwards, i read several more novels by him (Chuck Palahniuk) . While I still liked his work, sometimes i felt he was trying too hard.Good reading month for you too, Maggie. You mentioned a couple I'd like to look at, very least. Thanks.
Julie wrote: "I got the impression from the book that Dylan wouldn't have done it without Eric. Eric, on the other hand, was an outright psychopath."That may be the case. However, to me, he still did it. So I just didn't have any sympathy just because he was a follower and not a leader.
Still, a terrific book.
Alias, i understand what you mean. Are we supposed to just forget that they followed? Look at the present Boston bombing trial...ok, he "just" followed. Are people any the less dead? Had he not followed, would his brother have executed the plan? And on.
What I read and still reading is Written in my Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon. I used to be able to fly through books but with my astigmatism as bad as it is I can only handle so many pages a night.
Three for me this month, but all pretty good:
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson - this was my 'Longread' for the month. About a third of the way in I almost gave up because it was a bit forcefully miserable for me. But I persevered and ended up enjoying it quite a lot. It could have been shorter and lost some sections entirely, but the characters sucked me in and by the end of it I was rather attached to Ursula's many journeys. (Full review on my DL thread). FOUR STARS
Angel by Elizabeth Taylor - This was an odd and intriguing book. It is about a woman who becomes a writer as a cynical, fantasy-driven teenager and the life she leads from there. Angel is an odd, unpleasant character with absolutely no sense of humour and delusion for miles. But she was dark and compelling and an excellent portrait of a 'difficult' person with little to redeem them. We see these type of protagonists seldom and it helped remind me that so long as the writer is good, the character does not have to be at all good to be interesting. FOUR STARS
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed - I really liked this, despite thinking the author was a bit nuts to do what she did. In the end I was willing her on and admiring of the strength she found to finish something I would never dream of starting. Strayed isn't the same kind of person as me in her actions, but I empathized with her making mistakes and idea of escape, and the spirals some people sometimes descend into after a trauma. Plus I liked the flashbacks about her mother and family. She writes very well and has good insight into her own self (I have previously read some of her Dear Sugar columns on The Rumpus and some of those are just beautiful, true and sad). FOUR STARS
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson - this was my 'Longread' for the month. About a third of the way in I almost gave up because it was a bit forcefully miserable for me. But I persevered and ended up enjoying it quite a lot. It could have been shorter and lost some sections entirely, but the characters sucked me in and by the end of it I was rather attached to Ursula's many journeys. (Full review on my DL thread). FOUR STARS
Angel by Elizabeth Taylor - This was an odd and intriguing book. It is about a woman who becomes a writer as a cynical, fantasy-driven teenager and the life she leads from there. Angel is an odd, unpleasant character with absolutely no sense of humour and delusion for miles. But she was dark and compelling and an excellent portrait of a 'difficult' person with little to redeem them. We see these type of protagonists seldom and it helped remind me that so long as the writer is good, the character does not have to be at all good to be interesting. FOUR STARS
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed - I really liked this, despite thinking the author was a bit nuts to do what she did. In the end I was willing her on and admiring of the strength she found to finish something I would never dream of starting. Strayed isn't the same kind of person as me in her actions, but I empathized with her making mistakes and idea of escape, and the spirals some people sometimes descend into after a trauma. Plus I liked the flashbacks about her mother and family. She writes very well and has good insight into her own self (I have previously read some of her Dear Sugar columns on The Rumpus and some of those are just beautiful, true and sad). FOUR STARS
Orders from Berlin by Simon Tolkien - on audio - five starsAs this is a suspense book, you know the culprit from the outset of the story. Set in World War Two in London during the Blitz, the English Secret Service has a spy working for the Germans. As an intercepted message might give him away, he needs to murder the former head of the Secret Service. Due to this Scotland Yard is also involved in the case.
While inspector Quaid is convinced that this is a simple open-and-shut case involving a family dispute, his assistant Trave is not so sure. Trave decides to investigate this case on his own. Needless to say, that the Secret Service isn't so pleased with Trave's visits to their offices.
In the meanwhile the double spy receives orders from Berlin to kill Churchill.
This book involves around the questions: why the spy in question hates his country and Churchill so much that he wants his country to lose the war? And will Trave be able to solve the case in time?
Really loved this one. The last 150 pages really gave me goosebumps.
The Eyewitness by Ernst Weiss - four stars
The protagonist in this book written in 1938 is a doctor who worked in a field hospital for the mentally ill during the Great War. One of his patients is a certain corporal Adolf Hitler, who simulates he is blind. Before the doctor tells us more about Hitler and his rise to power, he tells us about his reasons for becoming a doctor, his studies and his family situation.
What struck me in 'The eyewitness' was the influence of Freud. Not that odd, when you know he was a friend of the writer. Nonetheless 'The eyewitness' is a very readable book, in which Weiss paints a probing picture of an era.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - four stars
This book made me wonder how true a true story needs to be for me. At times I found it a bit too calculated. It seemed to me Capote was more concerned about the way in which he told this story rather than in being truthful. Nevertheless, I liked it. And some extra searching on the internet learnt me that he probably caught the dynamics between Perry and Dick very well.
What the Day Owes the Night by Yasmina Khadra - four stars
Younes Maheddienne, now an old man looks back upon his life. His story starts in the thirties of the former century. After his father, Issa, has lost his harvest and land, the family moves to Oran. In Oran, the family is forced to live in a slum. Although Mahi, Issa’s younger brother can support the family, Issa is too proud to accept any help. Followed by bad luck, Issa is forced to surrender his only son, Younes to the care of his uncle Mahi.
Mahi is happily married to Germaine, a catholic woman. The childless couple accept Younes as their son. As Germaine can’t pronounce Younes, she calls the boy Jonas. Because of his political sympathies for the nationalists Mahi is arrested by the police. After his release, he, Germaine and Younes move to Rio Salado. In Río Salado, the young Jonas forges a lifelong friendship with three other boys, Simon, Fabrice and Jean-Christophe. The four boys are like four teeth in a fork. The bond between the four boys however is challenged by the beautiful Emilie and the Algerian struggle for independence.
Due to his blue eyes, his education, clothing and Western name Younes is often mistaken for a European. Yet at the end of the day, he is seen as an Algerian. It is difficult however for Younes to choose between the two different worlds: the European and the Algerian. Khadra knows to express this duality brilliantly, and at the same time he gives us an interesting and fascinating look into the history of Algeria.
Child of the Jungle: The True Story of a Girl Caught Between Two Worlds by Sabine Kuegler - three stars
I first read Call of the Jungle which is actually the sequel. This book taught me more about the reasons why the Kuegler family went to live among the Fayu. At times this was a very funny book. Halfway however Sabine doesn't seem to care about explaining certain things which is a pity. I had liked to learn more about her time in Indonesia when she was not with the Fayu due to her education. Nevertheless, happy I read this one.
Sandra J. wrote: "What I read and still reading is Written in my Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon. I used to be able to fly through books but with my astigmatism as bad as it is I can only handle so many pages a ..."----------
Sorry to hear about your astigmatism, Sandra. :(
Nice month, Soph !I guess I am in the tiny minority on Wild. I just didn't care for the author.
Danielle wrote:In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - four starsThis book made me wonder how true a true story needs to be for me. At times I found it a bit too calculated. It seemed to me Capote was more concerned about the way in which he told this story rather than in being truthful. Nevertheless, I liked it. And some extra searching on the internet learnt me that he probably caught the dynamics between Perry and Dick very well. "
Very nice reading month, Danielle !
I am happy to see you give 4 stars to our Group Read.
As to the writing, ICB broke new territory with the "nonfiction novel" style. Personally, I like it.
Soph wrote: "Angel by Elizabeth Taylor - This was an odd and intriguing book...."Soph, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book. I've read a couple of books by Taylor and liked them. Here in the states her books aren't often mentioned, which is a pity. The two i know for sure i've read (i was thinking there were more) are Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont and Blaming. I think Angel will be next, although i'm not sure when.
Danielle, you read some interesting books last month. The Kuegler books sound good. I'm glad you shared.
Sandra, my daughter has astigmatism, too. As an avid reader, it's been a problem on & off for years. However, it's been several years since it's caused her issues, thankfully. Her work requires much reading...well, copy editing...so you can imagine the relief when they aren't a problem. I hope yours eases more often than not.
deborah
I love reading what everyone reads! I don't always post mine but should. I loved Columbine as well! Superb book!
Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality 3 stars-it is about a hotel clerk and his life working in hotels. Cracked me up because I did human resources for hotels for many years and could relate to a lot of what he said.
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner 4 stars-very good book about the short term experience of pathologist. It was incredibly detailed to the point of just too graphic for me but I don't want to take away from the fact that this was a fascinating book.
The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents 2 stars-it was quite snarky and you could tell which Presidents the author liked and it felt very one sided and not well researched. It felt like he had an agenda in writing this book.
Thanks for sharing with us, GJS. I didn't read Head in Beads but I did recommend it to someone who is a hotel manager. He enjoyed it.
I haven't heard of the books you listed, GJS, but each sounds informative, in its own way. As one who has been spending much time in hotels this past 12 months, Heads in Beds sounds good to me.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner (other topics)Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality (other topics)
The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents (other topics)
Blaming (other topics)
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sabine Kuegler (other topics)Yasmina Khadra (other topics)
Ernst Weiss (other topics)
Truman Capote (other topics)
Simon Tolkien (other topics)
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