Sarah's IR blog

Hunger Games Catching Fire

2011-05-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed The Hunger Games Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins as much as the first book. It was extremely well paced; there were neither slow spots nor any confusion. I am eager to start the 3rd novel of the trilogy, for this one ended on such a cliff hanger. However, because Collins has such a specific style, I would prefer to read another book before completing the series, because Katniss’s (the narrator) voice can become tiring. The unanswered question that plagued me throughout the book was Katniss’s feelings for Peeta. Her actions suggest that she loves him, but she claims she truly loves Gale. I wonder if this will be pursued in the last book

The Elephant Vanishes: stories

2011-04-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

The Elephant Vanishes: Stories by Haruki Murakami is a peculiar collection of short stories, each differing from its predecessor in its odd plot line, but I found the characters in each story to be oddly similar, yet poorly developed. For the most part, each was narrated by a male or female bored but content with their repetitive life style. In most of the stories, the narrator was married, but rarely had children. When describing their husband or wife, the narrator seemed detached and often uncertain of their love. The narrator was always comfortable, but their perception of that comfort differed. My favorite story in the collection is about a man who dreams of a dancing gnome. The gnome inhabits his body in order for the narrator to be able to dance to woo a pretty colleague on the condition that if the narrator speaks, the gnome will steal his body. The gnome turns the woman into a rotting mess of maggots and puss to encourage the narrator to speak, but the narrator triumphs. These deranged premises are unlike anything I’ve ever read and each had a message to uncover between the weird occurrences.

Extremely Loud and Indredibly Close

2011-04-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer is an incredible story of a young boy, Oscar, suffering from the devastating death of his father after September 11th, and the intertwining pasts of his relatives. Looking through his father’s belongings, Oscar finds a key in an envelope labeled “Black”. Oscar decides to find the key’s lock by contacting everyone with the surname “Black”, hoping to gain closure. The story is alternated with letters: letters written by Oscar’s mute grandfather to his son (which were never sent) and letters telling of the almost-love story between Oscar’s grandparents. Although I found this confusing at first, not knowing who was writing what and to whom s/he was writing to, but as the story progressed, everything cleared up. I think this added to the reader’s insight of how Oscar perceives events. When Oscar’s grandfather described his devastating memories of the bombing of Dresden, I found it interesting to draw parallels between this event and September 11th and the varying effects it had on its victims. The novel is extremely well written and depicts a very real situation with the emotion and sentiment it deserves.

Poisonwood Bible

2011-04-09T18:50:00.000-07:00

Although I really like the concept and general plot of The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, I have decided to take a break from reading and temporarily abandon the book. The premises of the book—a southern Christian family moving to Africa—is fascinating, but the plot is too slowly paced. I also find the characters of the book to be interesting, as they rotate narrator. However, I really only particularly like one of the characters (Adah), as the rest seem to describe their uneventful lives, tainted with racism and complaint. I plan on returning to this book when I have more time to read.

Margaettown

2011-04-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

Margarettown by Gabrielle Zevin is an interesting book, following the intricate love story between Maggie and a narrator called N. The book sought to express that nothing is what it appears at face value. It described that reality is simplistic and irrelevant. Mostly narrated by N. (it jumped between several subplots narrated in the third person) on his deathbed, the novel was a letter to his daughter, informing her to reject what people say about her mother. N speaks of the town in which Margaret and her “family” live in. Maggie’s family consists of variations on “Old Margaret”—the same woman at different stages of her life. Zevin literalized a metaphor, never distinguishing between reality and perception, while conveying that the distinction is unimportant. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the plot twists of Margarettown more than any other book I have read this year.

The Hunger Games

2011-03-31T12:40:00.001-07:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a faced pace read, exciting to the end. I found it to be a nice break from The Poisonwood Bible’s interesting but uneventful plot. Collins does a wonderful job describing a perverse peek into a future version of North America called Panem. Each scene brought a vivid picture to my mind. Because I knew there were books following the first, I assumed Katniss would survive to the end. I figured this might make the book less interesting, but I was constantly asking how she was going to survive, rather than if. Katniss’s relationship with Peeta intrigued me in midst of a game of survival. It would have been very interesting to read the novel from Peeta’s perspective, since his thoughts are never fully divulged. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

Of Mice and Men

2011-03-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

I was mildly disappointed by the classic novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, although I did enjoy many aspects of the book. I disliked the anticlimactic plot line, but the growth of the characters is what caused me to read to the end. Although the book had its minor conflicts and resolutions throughout the book, there was no overarching problem that had the reader on the edge of his or her seat. However, while the ending was certainly sad, I enjoyed what Steinbeck accomplished by it. I felt it to be a refreshing change from the typical happy ending books. I like the message that Steinbeck portrayed when George killed Lennie; by killing Lennie, George killed their joint hope of their dream life, throwing George into the group of men lacking any sort of aspiration. I also feel that Lennie’s death allowed him to accomplish his dreams better than anything he would have done in life. Because he died thinking about their farm, Lennie perpetually will be with it. Although the novel did not have me turning pages to discover what’s next, I respect the way Steinbeck developed his characters and chose the ending.

Water for Chocolate

2011-02-27T11:14:00.001-08:00

Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel is written in an interesting format, pairing the characters’ love affairs with meals. Each chapter described the latest news in the struggling relationship between Tita and her sister’s husband, Pedro, in addition to a recipe dispersed throughout the story. As the book’s cover describes it, it is “A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies”. In addition to the unique format, I also enjoyed how Esquivel used metaphors to explain what couldn’t really be explained. It seems as if the story was passed through several generations. For example, at one point in the story, Esquivel describes sparks flying between bodies to demonstrate the chemistry between Tita and Pedro. All of a sudden, the room that they are in catches fire because of the heat of their love. I thought these impossibly literal descriptions added to the novel’s charm. My only complaint of the book is how underdeveloped Tita and Pedro’s relationship was. From the start of the book, it is clear that they are in love, but their love is never shown through anything but acts of jealousy and passion. John, another man courting Tita, is described in depth about his kind hearted personality and his care for Tita. I wish that Pedro was portrayed as having a personality other than how he acts when with Tita. Despite this one flaw, I really enjoyed this book.

The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To

2011-02-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To by D.C. Pierson was an oddly entertaining read, although it was not usually the kind of book I tend to read. I think the best part of the book was how well developed the characters were. Pierson wrote about each as if he had known them personally. I think what bugged me about the book was that if the characters existed, they would be the type of people to bug me. That being said, the two main characters (Darren and Eric) did grow on me as the book progressed. In the novel, Eric confesses his inability to sleep to Darren. To release whatever it is that people do when they dream, Eric has “bad days” where he cannot differentiate reality from hallucination. During these days, parts of his hallucinations become reality—an idea difficult to grasp at first, but an interesting concept that Pierson explains well. I found it interesting that Eric may have, in fact, created his enemy in reality (a figure called “the man”). I think this is true on several levels. Pierson took the idea of creating one’s own problem to the most literal sense by personifying the issue. This is what intrigued me most about the book, although I wish it had been a theme throughout more of the book, rather than just the end.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

2011-01-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

The Particular Sadness of Lemmon Cake by Aimee Bender was different than I expected, but I enjoyed it all the same. I first heard about the book several years ago on npr, and picked it up at a book store in hopes of fulfilling my memoir/nonfiction requirement. As I started reading, it followed the plot line I anticipated—a young girl claims to identify the feelings of the chef when she ate his or own food. Slightly bored by the narrator’s rants about how all food disappointed her, except for those from vending machines, the novel abruptly turned into a fulfillment of my fantasy requirement. I’m not sure exactly when it was that I realized that the book most certainly was not a true account of the author’s childhood—perhaps it was when she correctly discovered her mother was having an affair by biting into a homemade dinner. Maybe it was when she found her brother, after he disappeared for weeks, in his apartment with chair legs in his shoes, rather than his own flesh. Or maybe it was when her father told her that it seemed everyone in their family had a “power” of some sort, which caused him to never enter a hospital. He felt he would discover his power, which would bring unhappiness to him as it did to his own father.
As a reader, I never actually figured out what supernatural ability a hospital would bring about the father, nor did I really find out why the brother disappeared or why he was missing legs that one time. Similar to several other ideas in the novel, much was left unfinished. There were too many loose ends, in my opinion. Although the father’s issue was never divulged or even hinted, I admit I did enjoy pondering why the brother acted the way he did. From what the author did reveal, I drew my own conclusions which, looking back on, was part of the fun of reading.

Knife's Edge

2011-01-06T12:24:00.001-08:00

Knife’s Edge by Malorie Blackman, a novel hypothesizing a world in which people with black skin (called Crosses) are superior than those with white skin (Naughts), was equally as exciting as its prequel, Naughts and Crosses. Although both books switched narrators with every chapter, the reader learned the aftermath of the first book from a different perspective. The first book was narrated by Callum, a naught and by his friend and love, Sephy, a cross. The book resulted in the execution of Callum, obviously eliminating him from the list of narrators in the sequel. Having the more one sided view of similar scenarios changed the readers’ minds as they read the sequel.
The only aspect of Knife’s Edge that I disliked was the very ending. After Sephy holds her baby, Rose, a bit too tight, she begins to choke. As Rose’s grandmother comes to perform CPR, the book ends with the grandmother shouting “please breathe, Rose”, leaving Rose’s vitality ambiguous. I understand the rationale behind leaving the reader with something to ponder, but I found this ending to be more of an annoyance than an excitement.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo--- to the end.

2011-01-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

The last few hundred pages of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson brought a much welcomed new intensity and excitement to the book. Although the book had its slow spots, the very end of the book had the reader on the edge of their seat. Although I enjoyed the surprise of finding out that Martin Vanger was the serial killer and rapist, I was slightly annoyed about the lack of foreshadowing up to the event in Martin’s basement. I realize the book is intended to be a thriller, rather than a mystery, but it would have been far more satisfying to be just slightly suspicious of Martin Vanger. I did, however, appreciate the surprise of Harriet being alive. I look forward to discover the interactions between Berger, Harriet and Salander in books to come. The three women seem to be polar opposites, but all seem to have unique relationships and feelings about one another. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to see how this progression plays out.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-- about 390 pages in.

2010-12-18T12:58:00.001-08:00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson started out as a slow read, but has proven itself to be an interesting and complex mystery. I think that any book that has gained such a terrific reputation is bound to only skim the reader’s expectations. Extremely confused, initially, I wondered why my classmates and family were enjoying a book about financial and legal scandals. Once I got past that part, I started to really enjoy the book. I think the novel is so popular because it appeals to an audience not necessarily within the aimed demographic, like me. However, my eyes still do glaze over when dollar signs (or rather, Kronor signs) reappear.

My favorite character in the book is, of course, Lisbeth Salander. She intrigues the reader with mysteries she presents about herself, as she solves those of others. This causes the reader to question her past, rather than take interest in that of her cases. Salander is the outcast of the book, which makes her so relatable. I think this contributes to the books wide appeal. Everyone—from teenage girls, to my parents to my grandparents—can connect to being an outsider. She embraces this trait not as a flaw, but as something she just is. I look forward to finishing the book, hopefully learning more about Salander in addition to the Harriet case.

Eat, Pray, Love-- about 230pages through

2010-11-10T14:00:00.000-08:00

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert has proven to be a somewhat cheesy, although meaningful novel describing the author's path to enlightenment as she travels the globe after a divorce. I think this book gained so much press and popularity becuase of how easily most readers can relate to it. Even as a teen not going through an early midlife crisis, I can connect to how the narrator (Liz) feels, when she describes this feeling of restlessness and need to just go somewhere. The difference between her and her empathetic readers? Liz actually gave into this restlessness and did go somewhere. She was at a breaking point in her life--everything seemed to be ending, while nothing was beginning. For Liz, the timing was perfect; for so many of her readers, it never will be.
What I found most interesting in this book is Liz's relationship with her sister. She often goes off on tangents about her sister's life and how it differs from her own. It seems as though it was "expected" that the rolls each of them play in this world was "supposed" to be reversed. This relationship alone describes the sentiment of the entire book.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

2010-10-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon in order to fulfill one of my genre requirements—mystery. However, the book was more than just a mystery. In fact, the mystery stated in the title was solved just half way through the book. It was about a 16 year old boy named Christopher and his journeys: his journeys through taking “Math Level A”, finding out who murdered his neighbor’s dog and his ultimate journey of finding his mother. Each was a bit of a mystery in itself but together, each part of Christopher’s story created an interesting inscrutability.
The novel was narrated by Christopher, which is particularly interesting because of Christopher’s unique thought processes. It seems as if Christopher has a mental disorder, for he has difficulties with social skills but is an intellectual genius. His take on his world is different than how I would have ever viewed things. While reading, one must often look at something with different perspective, rather than Christopher’s, to discover the true significance of what is occurring. Because of Christopher’s distinct narration, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime is a fascinating book, putting the world in new light.

Nanny Returns

2010-10-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

Taking a break from oppression in Afghanistan, I chose to return to New York and decided to read the Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. The book was mediocre in comparison to its prequel, The Nanny Diaries. Expecting a continuation of a college student’s journey after being forced out of the archetypal upper Manhattan nanny life style, I was surprised to be greeted by the same character, Nan, 10 years later and married. The book returns to the same family (the Xes) as its prequel, showing the results of a child growing up in such a life. It was interesting to re-meet Grayer, the child Nan nannied. He drops by unannounced, drunk, to uncover why the only person he looked up to as a child—Nan—had left him. I think while the neglecting of infants by their parents (creating the job of a nanny) is commonly acknowledged, the often unfulfilled need for love teenagers experience without parents that are around is often un-thought of. However, I would have liked to see the end of Nan’s struggles through college as she searches for a job after nanny-ing.

Samira and Samir- Abandoned!

2010-09-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

What started out as a fantastic book, Samira and Samir by Siba Shakib gradually grew dull and monotonous. I think it was just the idea of the plot that intrigued me. The idea of a young girl (named Samira) in Afghanistan forced to grow up as a boy (called Samir), so not to ruin her father’s honor was something I had never heard of. The beginning was mostly about Samira’s parents, and the focus slowly turned to Samir’s relationship with her male friend, Bashir. At first, their peculiar interactions were exciting, but then they seem to stand still in age—nothing much happens developmentally, and the author begins to ramble. I couldn’t read more than 10 or so pages at night, for there was nothing to keep me going and the book is quite grim. Tragic tale after tragic tale was told and stories of rape were repeated. It wasn’t that I couldn’t keep track of what was happening, but I just lost interest in knowing. Unfortunately, I have decided to abandon this book, 201 pages into the 280 page book. Perhaps I will later return to finish up the last bit, but for now I will move onto a book with a lighter topic and more of a grab. However, I cannot credit this book for nothing. The topic still interests me, and is something I’d be willing to possibly read more about. In fact, the New York Times just wrote an article on how common females disguised as males so to avoid oppression are in Afghanistan.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

2010-09-13T14:05:00.001-07:00

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin offers a theory about what happens after one dies. Zevin describes an afterlife in which all age backwards until the dead reach infancy again. At infancy, the dead are shipped back down a river to be reborn on earth. Initially, I saw this theory as quite optimistic, but I was soon proved wrong. While this would be a wonderfully satisfying afterlife for one who already lived a long life on earth, it is only full of missed opportunities for a dead teenager such as the main character, Liz. Dead at 15, Liz never has the chance to get her driver’s license, go to prom or to her best friend’s wedding. She becomes addicted to looking through lenses at the observation deck, where she can see into the lives of her loved ones who are still alive, destroying her mental and social health. Although Zevin describes the after world (often called “elsewhere”) with great detail, she neglects to give Liz much of a personality. Liz has few distinct features. I can’t help but wonder whether this was intentional, rather than lazy writing. Possibly Zevin meant to make Liz’s life and afterlife applicable to every teenage girl, without turning her into a complete stereo-type or cliché. Zevin illustrates her ideas of life after death through a generic girl, putting a twist on the idea of heaven.

Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

2010-09-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman explores an interesting concept of roll reversal of skin colors. In the novel, people with light skin tones (nicknamed the Naughts) were second class citizens to those with darker skin tones (nicknamed the Crosses). Despite the advances that have been made in civil rights and in the mindset of the citizens, there are numerous ideas pertaining to skin color that many have never given much thought to. For example, the traditional color of a band-aid is tan, to blend with a white person’s skin tone. Blackman described a Naught applying a brown band-aid, which stuck out on his pale skin. Why is it that with all of the ethnic variety in America, no one has put other color skin tone band-aids on the market? The book made the reader question other products and ideas that he or she has just always accepted. It became clear throughout the novel that it was irrelevant who was being forced to live a second class life; all should live equally, although that is an unrealistically optimistic ideal.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2010-06-03T13:01:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter and the Oder of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling is a book of many layers, each one revealed each time one reads it. My favorite aspect of this Harry Potter novel in particular is the way the reader gets a better feel for the true personalities of the characters. When reading the book the second time, I could focus on the little things about the characters rather than the plot. Specifically, Hermione’s goody two-shoes nature seems only to be from the comparison to Harry and Ron. Ron also branches out of his “side-kick” archetype, and begins playing Quidditch when Harry gets kicked off the team. Harry, on the other hand, is sinking further into his “hero” archetype, which is even used by his enemy, Voldemort, as his weakness. Voldemort intelligently uses this one weakness, and thereby magnifying the weakness to the readers. Harry’s fame-seeking side and desires to “save the day” are his krypotonite in this book, making his character not so lovable to the readers.

Gods behaving badly

2010-04-18T10:20:00.001-07:00

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips is a peculiar book, much different than I expected and most certainly followed the hero cycle. The book described several of the Olympian gods who become entangled with two young mortals’ (Alice and Neil) lives. The book is full of witty banter and cute sub-plots until Zeus murders one of the mortals, under Appolo’s command because she would not love him. Then, Appolo (god of the sun) falls into a coma, bringing the world into a life with no sun. The rest of the book contains Neil and Artemis (Goddes of hunting)’s journey to the underworld to bring Alice back, and to reason with a river (yes, a river) to return the sun. The book ends in an extremely cheesy gathering of Alice’s friends and family, representing the “Resurection” part of the hero cycle, for they quite litterally are resurrecting Alice. For the “Return with the Elixir”, Alice discovers that it is the lack of belief in the Gods that is diminishing their power. Overall, Gods Behaving Badly was unexpectedly an adventure tale, following the hero cycle precisely.

Nightlight

2010-04-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

Nightlight, a parody of Twilight written by the Harvard Lampoon, is a hysterical book and added much-needed insight to Stephanie Meyer’s overly popular series. The short book gave a detailed summary of the vampire love story, while adding a twist on the plot, making the reader aware of just how silly certain parts of Twilight are. The writers not only revealed Twilight for what it really is, but revealed the true nature of the book’s zany characters. For example, Belle Goose (based off of Bella Swan) was given an exaggeration version of her qualities, like her neediness, whininess, and vanity. The distorted version of Twilight provided a much needed wake-up call to those die-hard twitards.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

2010-04-09T04:03:00.000-07:00

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein is a unique look at life through a dog's perspective. Although I expected the typical dog book, expressing the narrator's need to chase squirrels and such, this book took a look at the lives of those around the dog, Enzo. What makes the story truly different is Enzo's desire to become a man, for he is discontent with his inability to have a larger impact on his master's life. Enzo told a fairly unbiased description of the dramatic events that Denny, his master, faces. However, the one abstract element of the book was Enzo's conflict with a stuffed zebra that belongs to Denny's daughter, Zoe. The zebra taunts him; it causes him to act like a dog, and not like a human. The zebra is essentially Enzo's id, his animal instincts which he tries so hard to overcome. When Enzo tears the toy up, he is scolded--he cannot deny the dog inside of him, despite his efforts, and when he does, there are consequences. The book was mostly a "Voyage and Return" story, although it had bits of both comedy, tragedy and rebirth in it. I found this book to be an interesting read, for it included many plot lines, that just happened to be told by a dog.

Gossamer

2010-03-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

Gossamer by Lois Lowry is a sweet story, and contrary to the child-oriented writing style, the book is appropriate for any generation. Further, I think that every age group can take something different out of the story. The book describes how “fragments” of our lives are collected through our treasured belongings by tiny nameless creatures and then “bestowed” through our ears. The most intriguing aspect of the book to me was what these creatures actually were, a question commonly pondered by the main character, “Littlest One”. The end of the book addressed the question, but ultimately put the answer up to the reader’s interpretation. Littlest One is told, upon yet again asking “what are we?”, that she is imaginary and that she lives “within…Within the stories. Within the night. Within the dreams,” (150). I also found the time frame of the book and how it affected Littlest One quite interesting as well. The exact period of the book is unknown, but it seems like it takes place over a mere week or two. As Littlest One gains knowledge and the ability to bestow, she does not grow, but instead turns more and more opaque, as she was born translucent. After she is done with her bestowal training, she is fully opaque and granted a new name—Gossamer. I think Littlest One/Gossamer’s transformation is applicable to growing up in out society. Gossamer was a pleasant read, yet triggered thoughts and questions of how the bestowers’ world paralleled to our own.

The Truth about Forever

2010-03-04T12:40:00.002-08:00

The Truth about Forever, by Sarah Dessen, was a fun read, which was quite interesting to read a second time. I had previously read the book several years ago, but found I understood it better and enjoyed it more the second time. One thing I picked up on the second time was the structure of the chapters, and how they were parallel to the plot. At the beginning of the book, the first several chapters were consistently about either her parents or her job at the library—two boring, and connected topics. For the majority of the novel, however, Dessen alternated chapters between the parents/library theme and an exciting job at “Wish Catering” and the unusual people there. Overall, the book was about the main character’s, Macy, struggle balancing these two parts of her life. Towards, the end of the book, these topics collided. The last several chapters were about how her mother reacted with her new life at Wish, and how she dealt with her mother’s reaction. Chapters did not and could not alternate, for they began to mesh together, just like Macy’s two separate lives.

Casals and the Art of Interpretation

2010-03-04T12:40:00.001-08:00

I found Casals and the Art of Interpretation by David Blum interesting and informative, but the writing could have been better. The ideas Blum presented are fascinating, but he often clouded them with unnecessary repetition and the reminiscing of his own life stories. The book was not exactly a “light” read, making it difficult to get through the many pages. It could have easily been shortened up, by combining chapters. The concept of the book itself is unique, as is the way he organized it. The book is not a biography of Pablo Casals, as the title may suggest, but about Casals’s ideas, comments, and construal of many pieces. It is not about Pablo Casals’s thinking as a cellist, but as a musician. Blum wrote the book in chapters, each one a favorite musical concept of Casals’s phrased as a quote from Casals’s. This remained true for a majority of the chapters. However, the last few chapters were more specific to Casals’s himself. Among these was an entire chapter dedicated to “Casals and Bach” concerning Bach’s cello suite mostly, which I found particularly interesting while currently playing the 3rd suite. Casals’s insight contained some of what I already knew, some of what I had never heard, and some that contradicted ideas that I thought I knew. Casals and the Art of Interpretation was a slow and slightly dry read, yet presented some ponderous ideas.

The Day of the Pelican

2010-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson was an interesting read, alerting me to a worldly conflict I’d never even heard of before. An Albanian Kosovar, Meli, tells the story of how their family fled their homeland from the Serbs, and eventually looked to America for a new beginning. The book was slightly confusing for me at first, as I had no background knowledge of that area of the world, but ultimately, I think it may have been more effective to read the book with that ignorance—The Day of the Pelican was narrated by a young girl, who did not know much more than I about why she was being attacked. My only complaint of the book is that everything seemed to go unrealistically wrong, but perhaps that was reality for some Albanian families. I found it interesting to learn that the book was based on an actually family, that was taken in by Vermonters, just as Meli’s family was. Further, I was surprised that the book portrayed the family’s welcomers in America as slightly inhospitable and unaware of Albanian culture, because Paterson learned about the family from these same people. I’m glad to have read this book, for it made me aware of horrible events that occurred in my life time, if not shortly before.

Paper Towns by John Green

2010-01-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

Paper Towns by John Green is a satisfyingly unrealistic story, describing the journey of a graduating senior following the clues to find a girl he thinks he knows better than he actually does. The title in its self, a metaphor and recurring theme for the entire book, drew me in immediately. “Paper towns” are made up towns placed on maps, to prevent copying a company’s map; if the map design is stolen, the original company can identify because their imaginary town, or paper town, is on the map. When Quentin, a social outcast, sets out to find his neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelman, a dizzying, rebellious and popular girl, who has mysteriously disappeared (and not for the first time), he recalls the one night she took him on an adventure. He remembers she said that Florida, where they live, is all just a paper town—it looks beautiful, yet plastic from far away, but so full of flaws and destructible when you take a closer look. This term, paper towns, has multiple meanings, creating confusion in the search for Margo. The book leaves the reader awakening to realism—you can’t always have what you want. The only aspect of this book that was disappointing was John Green’s characters were identical to those in his other book, Looking for Alaska, just with a different setting and plot line.

Under the Big Top

2009-12-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

“Under the Big Top” by Bruce Feiler was an excellent read, revealing the intricate social hierarchy of the circus. Feiler joined the circus and over the course of that one year, went from being a complete outcast to becoming an accepted insider. Throughout his time with the circus, he interviewed every performer. I found what each performer had to say fascinating. They each differed from each other on many levels, but there were always several ideas tying them together. Most of them had a love/hate relationship with the circus. The remaining few just hated it—it was their back-up plan, their alternative, and they had many places they rather be, but had neither the will nor the money to leave. One character I found particularly interesting was in this group. However, what set him apart from the rest is that he did find a way out. He left the circus. But, he came back, not telling why he really left or returned. It was unspoken, yet understood, that although he grieved about the circus, he couldn’t live with out it, which is a theme repeated throughout the book. Feiler captured the spirit and character of the circus, by getting to know the performers, who had a life time of experience to share with him.

A review on a review for Under the Big Top

2009-12-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

After reading a review by Sarah Rachel Egelman about Under the Big Top by Bruce Feiler, I do not feel as if she captured the more important aspects of the book. She discusses what it’s about, how it’s honest and fun, but ends up giving more of a summary than writing about the meaning, moral, and significance of events. However, she does a great job in describing the tone and mood of the book. For example, she wrote “All the circus employees knew he was writing a book about them, but he was also allowed to travel as a performer. Thus the perspective of this book is unique, both insider and outsider”. Feiler’s status in the circus is indeed fascinating. In fact, the book is equally about him fitting in to the circus hierarchy than the hardships and joys of the circus. On the other hand, Egelman did not pick on Fieler’s subtle hints of his opinion. In fact, she even stated that he “refrains from taking sides on the issue” of animal rights. I found that Feiler makes his views quite clear, not through his own words necessarily, but through the quotes he chooses to include in his novel, and through actual incidents. He does this so sneakily and effectively, that he leads the reader to believe that animal rights activists are all lunatics and that animals should be a part of the circus. Egelman’s reviews on Under the Big Top do tell the book’s story, but she neglected to read between the lines, and discover Feiler’s attitude, which I view as the most interesting part of the book.

Feed, by M.T. Anderson

2009-11-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

Feed by M.T. Anderson was an intriguing book, describing the possible consequences of allowing media to infest themselves into our lives. Bringing the situation to a fatal extreme, the eerie novel leaves the reader knowing the importance of being unique. The book also provides a peek into the future—a place of flying “up-cars”, new slang, partying on the moon, and a personal shopper, instant messenger, and reference book, installed into almost everyone’s brain (called “the feed”). However, what seems to be amusing era of awesome technology turns out to be a manipulating and deadly one, especially when malfunctions occur. Anderson creates a tone and mood that makes the reader feel like they really are in the future. His theme, of nonconformity, can be applied to any decade, but it is the setting that really makes the book wonderful. He concentrates on every aspect of the time, from house design, to technology, to fashion, to education. However, he maintains connection with the reader, by showing that, despite all this, people will always act the same towards each other. Anderson’s interesting outlook on originality and the results of giving in to “the system” is combined with a thrilling tragedy to make for a page-turner.

The end of Toby Tyler

2009-11-12T12:22:00.001-08:00

Toby Tyler, by James Otis describes the adventures of a young boy who ran away from home to join the circus. What is a simple story of “The grass is always greener on the other side” can be dissected further through analyzing symbolism throughout the novel. For example, Toby’s pet monkey, whom he befriended at the beginning of his journey, symbolizes naivety or immaturity. During Toby’s first day at the circus, he latched on to this monkey (named Mr. Stubbs) that he was sure could understand every word he said, for what he needed the most at the time was a friend—this proves Toby’s initial naivety and simple outlook. However, at the end of the book, when Toby runs away from the circus, with a new perspective on life, Mr. Stubbs is shot, representing the end to Toby’s naivety and immaturity. One thing I never completely understood about the novel was why Toby ran away in the first place. At the start of the book, he described there being little to eat, and that he was not treated very nicely by his guardian. However, at the end, Toby is thrown into his guardian’s arms who expresses his love for Toby in an affectionate manor. But then, it is referenced that Toby’s friends predict that his guardian will whip Toby every day because he ran away. James Otis seems to jump around about Toby’s guardian’s personality, but possibly it is to demonstrate the imagination and exaggeration of Toby. Toby Tyler was a fun book to read, but, because of simplicity, it gave the reader an opportunity to examine and scrutinize the book more carefully.

2009-11-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

Toby Tyler by James Otis is a simple story about a young boy who runs off and joins the circus, only to be displeased with his new life. Despite the simplicity, when one takes a deeper look at Toby’s relationships with those he meets along the way his journey, Toby’s inner feelings and traits are revealed. For example, up until a point, everyone Toby met was unusually cruel, so he resorted to befriending a monkey. The monkey, who he’s named Mr. Stubbs, does not judge Toby; the monkey does not threaten Toby; S/he does not do anything but listen to Toby, something no one else has done for Toby throughout his life. Toby is convinced that Mr. Stubbs understands every word he says. This shows Toby’s naivety and childishness. When Mr. Ben, a member of the circus with whom Toby travels with, attempts to convince Toby he is only imagining the monkey’s “responses”, that Toby claims to see (such as a tug at his coat, and a wink). He tells Toby that the monkey is completely oblivious to every word Toby says. Instead of being upset with the realization, Toby argues with Mr. Ben, holding true to what he thinks is right and standing up for his new friend. This displays Toby’s persistence. Although Toby Tyler tells a small tale about the American child dream—running away to join the circus—his small acts of immaturity expose his personality.

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye-- Up to page 200/298

2009-10-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti brings the old expression “Money doesn’t by happiness” to a whole new level. In return for honest advice, a plea to stop smoking and some good coffee, a very rich man gives Indigo, an 18-year-old waiter at a local diner, the biggest tip of her life: two and a half million dollars. Being a down to earth and reasonable woman, Indigo is not yet changed negatively, but it has started to affect her family, friends and boyfriend. Her mother keeps pestering her about making plans, her friend calls her constantly, and her boy friend keeps buying things—like a paint job for his car named Bob. However, Indigo has acquired a streak of confidence, which she has used to tell off two rude customers at the diner. While reading, one starts to realize why it is said that money turns people into divas. It is not the person who changes, but the ones around them. The money itself does not change Indigo directly, but the people around her certainly will. So no, money does not buy happiness—it buys a bit of confidence and odd behavior from everyone you know.

The Secret of Peaches-- Beginning

2009-10-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

The beginning of The Secret of Peaches is woven with mini plot lines and keeps the reader enthralled by the characters and issues that many can connect to. The three main characters, Birdie (the nice farm girl), Leeda (the pretty one) and Murphy (the bad girl) interact in ways more like sisters than just friends, creating an understanding of how three completely different girls can get along. In the recent pages of the book, the characters have all been consumed in their own conflicts, and in result, have been acting oddly to each other. For example, when Leeda gives the cold shoulder to Murphy, who is often not there for her friend, the two remain best friends and neglect the obvious awkwardness. Thinking of my own life, I know many friendships that are no longer because of much more minor issues. However, when I think of particular friends, I can understand how Leeda and Murphy’s friendship is still strong, because of what I’ve been through with my own friends. What is awkward, uncomfortable and annoying at the time, is often laughed at later. Because of the connection to the characters that the author, Jodie Lynn Anderson, creates, the book continues to keep me wanting to find out what happens next.

2009-10-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

I Am a Cat intrigues me with its unique topic, yet bores me with the writing style, and so I have decided to not continue reading the book. The book is moving at such a slow pace, that I find myself looking at the page numbers more than I do the text. In whole, the entire book seems interesting, but I refuse to read almost 500 pages of what could most likely be summarized in about 50. I blame whoever translated the book. I Am a Cat was originally written in Japanese, and I find the English translation to be butchered and monotonous. Possibly, in Japanese, the book is fluent and well written, for the Japan Quarterly called it “A well-loved work by a Japanese writer of genius”. However, I think that some of my peers may enjoy the book. I know some people are perfectly content with reading about a life style. Personally, I cannot stand books with no build-up to a climax and then a solution to a problem. I felt that the first half one of my favorite books, The Kite Runner, was like this as well, but, because of recommendations and the blurb, I stuck to it and did not regret it. The second half was far more thrilling and exciting. Another of my favorites, Water for Elephant, was also more about a way of life. However, it was a way of life I have a connection to. I was fascinated by the tales about how that way of life, which I have heard many first-hand accounts of, was many years back. I could connect what I knew to what I was learning, which kept me engrossed in what otherwise would have been a dull book.
Then why, one may ask, am I choosing not to continue this book if I have learned it is best to stick with books? Well, the past 45 pages, or so, have described purely how ignorant humans are, in addition to the narrators childish arguments with a neighboring cats, which are essentially about nothing—something I cannot say I enjoy reading, and I have little hope that the book will change much in the near future. To replace this book, I have begun reading The Secret of Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson, which has been proven to be a page turner.

I am a Cat- beginning

2009-10-01T18:02:00.000-07:00

“I am a Cat” by Soseki Nasumer observes people in their everyday life from the point of view of a cat. The cat—who has no name—often judges humans, but really the cat is a prime example of human nature. For example, the cat considers all people to be narrow minded. However, the cat does not look at things from others point of view, and therefore is narrow minded his self. This hypocrisy and naïveté of the cat is exactly what humans tend to do—judge someone on the exact characteristics that they them selves are exhibiting. This trait is far more flattering on an innocent cat than it is on a human, causing the reader to feel sympathetic for the forlorn cat. As much as I enjoy reading about this bit of irony, I do not care for the writing style. The book was originally written in Japanese, and as with any translated novel, some of the style is lost, making for a slightly choppy and a very slow read. Despite the poor writing quality, due to translation, I find reading about a cat’s perspective on life quite interesting .

Outliers- finished!

2009-09-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

At the finish of the book, Outliers by Malcom Gladwell, I am left feeling satisfied and well-informed, but also asking questions with a newfound curiosity for the topics. This, in my opinion, is exactly what an author should do. While Gladwell discusses factors that make one successful— birthday, timing, practice, ethnicity, parents, and a lucky set of opportunities— he tends to neglect the idea of going against the odds. He often says that success is a result of luck, which, in part, is true. However, I am interesting in knowing about those successful people who are luckless: the ones who were born in a bad year, brought up in the wrong society, and were not presented with numerous opportunities. I want to read about the ones who went against the odds and became a success. At the end of the book, Gladwell claims that “The outlier, in the end, is not an outlier at all” (285). I contemplate whether or not this is true. It seems awfully pessimistic to say that success is luck, and is not awarded to those who necessarily deserve it. It seems almost cynical to claim that miracles do not occur. I am also left wondering the definition of success. This definition is different for everyone, and I'm curious to know if that contributes to ones "success". Overall, Malcom Gladwell did a wonderful job in researching and writing about how the successful came to be, and left the reader with a new outlook on success and a thirst to learn more.

Outliers

2009-09-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

Outliers by Malcom Gladwell is not a book I would have thought to read, but I started it when I was on vacation in the Middle East, where I had few choices of books that were in English. However, because of Gladwell’s, choice of topic areas and unique style of writing, I find myself enjoying the book. Outliers is “The story of Success” according to the front cover. Throughout the book, Gladwell describes what it takes to be successful (such as 10,000 hours of practice) and how who you are determines how accomplished you will be. A section of the book that I found particularly interesting is about plane crashes and what it takes to be a successful pilot. Gladwell uses quotes from recordings of pilots before they crash, which makes an otherwise boring chapter, quite interesting. He analyzes these quotes so deeply that he discovers that it is typically the pilot or captain’s personality that causes a plain crash. Gladwell also uses the pilot or captain’s personality to characterize their nationality. For example, according to Gladwell, Americans are generally direct people, and Koreans have many very polite cultural traditions—to be a good pilot, you need to be able to plainly point out your superior’s mistakes. Those who are overly polite have a difficult time doing this, making Americans the better pilot, by nature. Gladwell’s bluntness makes Outliers both controversial and fascinating. By digging deeper into analysis, Gladwell shares with the reader his discoveries about seemingly simplistic events.