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

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

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.

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

“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!

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

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.