Yikes! The end of the second month already! February did not see as many books read as I would like at all, but I will have to write that off to it being a shorter month and an especially busy month. Not to mention the extensive class reading. If I could count required reading on this list we would be talking about a whole different story, but then it would miss the point of encouranging pleasure reading, right? And, anyway, spring break is around the corner and I have set aside the vast majority of those two weeks for nothing but reading...ahhhh...
But, at least I have finished book #10 and thus achieved 10 percent of my goal! And what a delightful book it was! Let's check out the stats:
Title: The Forbidden Daughter
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
Publisher: Kensington Books
Date: 2008
My start date: 2/18/10
My finish date: 2/27/10
This book was another success for Bantwal. As mentioned a couple of posts ago, I had read this author's previous book and loved it. Well, Bantwal has shown her consistency and produced yet another winner. Her strength: great characters. She writes stories about young Indian or Indian-American women in tough situations and they are so believable and real. You want them to succeed right from the beginning. Unlike other books that I read, which have characters with whom I can't at all identify, even if their lives are theoretically much closer in nature to mine, these women draw me in and make me understand them even though their lives are galaxies away from mine. That is really a talent on Bantwal's part. And her male leads are so lovable!! In both books I have come away completely taken with the male character and cheering for the two to get together. But perhaps best about Bantwal's characters is their realism and personal strength. I am talking about a lot of aspects here, but what I want most to highlight is the fact that Bantwal doesn't have her couples chasing a typical cheesy ending. Her women are strong and learning to be independent, against the odds of a society that really hasn't let them stand on their own before. As mentioned in the beginning, I try really hard not to give things away about the plots of these books, so there won't be spoilers for people who want to read them, but let's just say that I love how the women don't just fall into the arms of the men. They want to stand on their own and make sure that any relationship is on their own terms. But that doesn't mean you won't find a good love story!
On that note, my other praise is for Bantwal's talent at seamlessly weaving a thrilling mystery or adventure story with a sweet love story. She really writes the best of both worlds. It is almost like two seperate plot lines which effortlessly dovetail together in the end. And don't let the early tendency to put the romance on the front burner deceive you. By the time you reach the last third of the book, the suspense is so high that you will not be able to put the book down. Total page turner. Like I said, the best of both worlds.
Bantwal specializes in confronting social issues which haunt traditional Indian society and she does her research. This book confronts the issue of selective female abortion in societies which cherish male children over females. She provides some chilling facts. I think it is great that she is using what is clearly an excellent literary talent and her ability to tell a captivating story to spread the word that there are still things going on in the world that most of us don't know about. This book definitely enlightens you.
So, yet another winner from Shobhan Bantwal! As already said, she has another book out that looks great and also announced this week that her fourth book will be out in August. You can expect to see both of them on this blog eventually.
Ok, a horrible cold prevented me from posting as soon as I had finished yesterday and it still hasn't relinquished its hold on my head, so that about wraps things up for today and I plan on falling directly in to bed to sleep this thing off. However, I have started another book, so look for more soon on Lauren Wiesberger's Chasing Harry Winston.
In the meantime...
Happy reading!
Sarah
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Far Pavilions
Ok, I am not quite finished yet with Bantwal's excellent tale of love and mystery, The Forbidden Daughter, but I hope to be by tomorrow. In the meantime, after my last post I have been thinking a lot about my favorite book, which I mentioned, M.M. Kaye's The Far Pavilions. I usually read it annually, but probably won't be able to do that this year due to the extensive size of it. As I had said, it is nearly as long as Clarissa and takes two or three weeks to read, which obviously isn't condusive to this little project I have going. So, I thought I would dedicate one post to thinking about such a great book anyway.
From the very first time I read this book, when I was thirteen, it took my breath away. I should mention that I grew up on stories of India as my fairytales, which definitely helped. In her school years, my mom had spent some time in India and loved it. So I have thought of India in romantic and adventurous terms since early childhood. However, Kaye's epic saga really doesn't even need any prepping to love it. Yes, it is long, but so is Harry Potter and do we really notice it? When a novel pulls you in so thoroughly, you don't even register the fact that you are churning through hundreds of pages.
The setting is colonial India, mid 19th century to be exact, and spans around thirty years. You might say this is a sort of Bildungsroman, but I am not sure that category truly fits. The story follows the life of Ashton/Ashok Pelham-Martin, a young British man born to a wandering British professor and his young inexperienced wife. However, immediately in the first pages, events necessitate his being carried away and hid by his Hindu nanny, who then raises him disguised as her own son. Although the plot runs the course from birth to adulthood, Kaye's writing is brilliant enough and so completely full of passion, intrigue and adventure that every stage of life sucks you in. You will fall completely in love with the main character and experience his ups and downs of love and battle just as passionately as the characters themselves. The one thing you must remember when reading this is to just surrender to it. Allow the vivid imagery Kaye provides to draw you in, forgive yourself for dreaming that the characters might just be real and simply live this book.
Speaking of realistic characters, many of them are just that. I don't mean just believable, but rather, I mean they are real. Kaye did TONS of research and the plausibility of this work does not just stem from the details her early life lived in colonial India allowed. One of the main characters in Ash's life was in fact her actual relative. In fact, with the exception of the two main characters, a great many of the people and facts are based in reality. If you ever wanted to know more of India/Pakistan/Afghanistan's history during this period, this is a great way to take it in. In fact, in light of our current American engagement in the area (Afghanistan and to an extent, Pakistan) I think more people should read this. The details of the Second Anglo-Afghani War as described here are pretty truthful. In my readings since 9/11 I have found this book has actually made me understand the situation over there somewhat better. Also, when reading, keep in mind that many of the main areas discussed in this work and labeled as India, are actually in Pakistan today. It was all the same thing in the 19th century. If you can, try to get ahold of a copy with the map in the front, although I think those are harder to get these days.
This epic was so beloved in its heyday that multiple attempts to dramatize it have been made. To my knowledge, there has been a mini-series/film made as well as a Broadway style play which ran in London for awhile. Although I have heard that the play was somewhat better, to my understanding, neither comes close to the greatness of the book. I know the film at least, and I suspect the play as well, only works with the first half of the book up through the culmination of the love story and completely disregards the part dealing with the war. While that first part happens to be my favorite, you must read the whole thing once. I admit to not having seen either (both hard to come by), but seriously, just give in and surrender yourself to the book. I mean, really, has any filming of a book really done it justice??
So, that is my one post tribute to the greatest literary work to come across my path. If you read nothing else from my blog this year, read this one. It is truly one of the greats. If you didn't catch it earlier, the link to this book is located in the previous post. Go find yourself a copy and set aside some time to plunge headfirst into Kaye's India.
Happy reading!
Sarah
From the very first time I read this book, when I was thirteen, it took my breath away. I should mention that I grew up on stories of India as my fairytales, which definitely helped. In her school years, my mom had spent some time in India and loved it. So I have thought of India in romantic and adventurous terms since early childhood. However, Kaye's epic saga really doesn't even need any prepping to love it. Yes, it is long, but so is Harry Potter and do we really notice it? When a novel pulls you in so thoroughly, you don't even register the fact that you are churning through hundreds of pages.
The setting is colonial India, mid 19th century to be exact, and spans around thirty years. You might say this is a sort of Bildungsroman, but I am not sure that category truly fits. The story follows the life of Ashton/Ashok Pelham-Martin, a young British man born to a wandering British professor and his young inexperienced wife. However, immediately in the first pages, events necessitate his being carried away and hid by his Hindu nanny, who then raises him disguised as her own son. Although the plot runs the course from birth to adulthood, Kaye's writing is brilliant enough and so completely full of passion, intrigue and adventure that every stage of life sucks you in. You will fall completely in love with the main character and experience his ups and downs of love and battle just as passionately as the characters themselves. The one thing you must remember when reading this is to just surrender to it. Allow the vivid imagery Kaye provides to draw you in, forgive yourself for dreaming that the characters might just be real and simply live this book.
Speaking of realistic characters, many of them are just that. I don't mean just believable, but rather, I mean they are real. Kaye did TONS of research and the plausibility of this work does not just stem from the details her early life lived in colonial India allowed. One of the main characters in Ash's life was in fact her actual relative. In fact, with the exception of the two main characters, a great many of the people and facts are based in reality. If you ever wanted to know more of India/Pakistan/Afghanistan's history during this period, this is a great way to take it in. In fact, in light of our current American engagement in the area (Afghanistan and to an extent, Pakistan) I think more people should read this. The details of the Second Anglo-Afghani War as described here are pretty truthful. In my readings since 9/11 I have found this book has actually made me understand the situation over there somewhat better. Also, when reading, keep in mind that many of the main areas discussed in this work and labeled as India, are actually in Pakistan today. It was all the same thing in the 19th century. If you can, try to get ahold of a copy with the map in the front, although I think those are harder to get these days.
This epic was so beloved in its heyday that multiple attempts to dramatize it have been made. To my knowledge, there has been a mini-series/film made as well as a Broadway style play which ran in London for awhile. Although I have heard that the play was somewhat better, to my understanding, neither comes close to the greatness of the book. I know the film at least, and I suspect the play as well, only works with the first half of the book up through the culmination of the love story and completely disregards the part dealing with the war. While that first part happens to be my favorite, you must read the whole thing once. I admit to not having seen either (both hard to come by), but seriously, just give in and surrender yourself to the book. I mean, really, has any filming of a book really done it justice??
So, that is my one post tribute to the greatest literary work to come across my path. If you read nothing else from my blog this year, read this one. It is truly one of the greats. If you didn't catch it earlier, the link to this book is located in the previous post. Go find yourself a copy and set aside some time to plunge headfirst into Kaye's India.
Happy reading!
Sarah
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Chicken Curry Cravings
Well, I still only had a couple hours today in the end to read fun stuff, so I don't have much yet to say on Bantwal's The Forbidden Daughter. I can say so far that once you get started in it, it becomes a page turner and I nearly had trouble putting it down to go do my errands today. Also, I love her discussions, brief as they are, of the food her characters eat, which is typical to her native area and which always makes me hungry! Thinking about the Chicken Curry and Chapatis she describes nearly had me breaking my diet and heading to the nearest Indian restaurant! But alas, I was good and ate Subway instead...
One thing I can already note is the way in which Bantwal's books, both that I have read thus far, are excellent at bringing to life the culture, lifestyle, and especially the issues of her native country. I have been fascinated by India since childhood. My favorite book of all time takes place in colonial India and I have been obsessed with the country ever since. The book, M.M. Kaye's The Far Pavilions, is a breathtaking epic, nearly as long as Clarissa. But it is such a wonderful read, it hardly feels the length and you get totally swept up in the adventure and romance until you utterly forget that there is a real world. You absolutely must read it. However, this is India in a bygone century. Bantwal's books bring me into the country of my childhood obsession as it is today. I love it. She has a third book out as well that you can count on seeing on this blog at some point.
Anyway, school work calls. Although, let's be honest, I am probably going to go read fun stuff instead. ;-)
Happy reading!
Sarah
One thing I can already note is the way in which Bantwal's books, both that I have read thus far, are excellent at bringing to life the culture, lifestyle, and especially the issues of her native country. I have been fascinated by India since childhood. My favorite book of all time takes place in colonial India and I have been obsessed with the country ever since. The book, M.M. Kaye's The Far Pavilions, is a breathtaking epic, nearly as long as Clarissa. But it is such a wonderful read, it hardly feels the length and you get totally swept up in the adventure and romance until you utterly forget that there is a real world. You absolutely must read it. However, this is India in a bygone century. Bantwal's books bring me into the country of my childhood obsession as it is today. I love it. She has a third book out as well that you can count on seeing on this blog at some point.
Anyway, school work calls. Although, let's be honest, I am probably going to go read fun stuff instead. ;-)
Happy reading!
Sarah
It is done...
I am now in the elite group of people who have actually read all of Clarissa. Whew!
I plan on spending all (or most at least) of today pleasure reading to celebrate. I hope to post about that later. In the meantime...
Happy Reading!
Sarah
I plan on spending all (or most at least) of today pleasure reading to celebrate. I hope to post about that later. In the meantime...
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Almost done...
No real progress this weekend on pleasure reading because I am in the final push of Clarissa!! Status update: page 1379 out of 1499. By this time tomorrow it will all be finished and I will be in the elite group of people who can claim to have read the whole thing.
However, I just looked at our next book for that class. It is only a little more than half as long (800ish pages), BUT we only have a little more than half as long to read it. Sigh. So, that will probably take some time too. However, it is a Henry Fielding work, (Tom Jones) and his novels are always hilarious and fun to read, so maybe it will be easier going.
Check back tomorrow for maybe a little introductory taste of my next book, Shobhan Bantwal's The Forbidden Daughter. I have been excited about this one for a while. I read another of Bantwal's books, The Dowry Bride, right before the new year, so I couldn't count it on here, but I LOVED it!! Bantwal writes novels about her native India and the issues that affect that country and she tells them beautifully. You won't be able to put it down. The one I read previously dealt with the issue of a dowry being exchanged for a bride and the practice of arranging an "untimely accident" for brides whose families fail to pay up. Yet, with all that mystery and intrigue, Bantwal still manages to weave in a great love story. I can't wait to see what the next one holds for me. So far, having read the prologue and first chapter, I doubt she will fail to impress me a second time. Check back later to find out!
Happy reading!
Sarah
However, I just looked at our next book for that class. It is only a little more than half as long (800ish pages), BUT we only have a little more than half as long to read it. Sigh. So, that will probably take some time too. However, it is a Henry Fielding work, (Tom Jones) and his novels are always hilarious and fun to read, so maybe it will be easier going.
Check back tomorrow for maybe a little introductory taste of my next book, Shobhan Bantwal's The Forbidden Daughter. I have been excited about this one for a while. I read another of Bantwal's books, The Dowry Bride, right before the new year, so I couldn't count it on here, but I LOVED it!! Bantwal writes novels about her native India and the issues that affect that country and she tells them beautifully. You won't be able to put it down. The one I read previously dealt with the issue of a dowry being exchanged for a bride and the practice of arranging an "untimely accident" for brides whose families fail to pay up. Yet, with all that mystery and intrigue, Bantwal still manages to weave in a great love story. I can't wait to see what the next one holds for me. So far, having read the prologue and first chapter, I doubt she will fail to impress me a second time. Check back later to find out!
Happy reading!
Sarah
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Life at Le Cordon Bleu
The days of Clarissa are winding down. I think I might actually miss it...
I finally finished my latest read last night, so let's talk about it. Here are the stats for The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry.
Author: Kathleen Flinn
Publisher: Penguin
Date: 2007
My start date: 2/12/10
My finish date: 2/17/10
Another one of those fun memoirs of someone deciding to change their life and jump free of the boring track, this is a story that will make you simultaneously hungry and travel-happy. After Flinn is laid off from a corporate job she didn't like, she decides not to mourn the loss and heads off to Paris to pursue her dream of learning to cook the French way. This is another one of those motivational books that will make you want to follow suit. However, in the fairness of full disclosure, there were some things I wanted to note. Most of us imagine these stories involving people like most of us, people who travel little (at least not anymore) and who spend their days in a boring cubicle job making just enough to pay bills. We have little or no exposure to the hobby we dream of pursuing. So running off to Paris would be a huge leap for the average person. I think it is only fair to point out that Flinn was already working in London when she was laid off from this job and that as a journalist, she had already spent a good amount of time in places throughout Europe and Asia. Further, her early career started as a line cook in a restaurant and she had once upon a time been a restaurant reviewer. So, this wasn't a huge jump out of her comfort zone. But the important thing to remember here, is that this is something she had dreamed of since childhood and something that she had the courage to go for, despite the financial burden. It doesn't matter if your dream is not that far out of your comfort zone, you need to just do it! And it doesn't hurt that her dream just happened to make a great read!
If you like or have ever liked food, you must read this. If you like or have ever liked Paris, you must read this. Flinn takes you through the three levels of certification at Le Cordon Bleu, interweaving her experiences in the kitchen, some hilarious, some touching, some flat out horrifying, with the lessons she is learning about herself at the same time. Again, this might not have been a huge leap for her, but pursuing this dream did allow her to learn some good stuff about herself. And her talent for juxtaposing food with people is great! The anecdotes can be quite funny!
One very small thing to keep in mind, however, is that some background knowledge in the world of all things culinary might be helpful. For a start, you should at least know that Le Cordon Bleu is one of the most famous, if not the most famous, cooking schools in the world and that Julia Child trained there. However, perhaps even a little more knowledge really might be assumed. I should confess that I am a HORRIBLE chef and actually shunned from our kitchen for fear that I might ruin another of my husband's expensive pots as I did previously by putting water on to boil (with salt) and then accidently falling asleep while waiting. No joke. I should not ever enter a kitchen. However, my husband was a professional chef and did study culinary arts at one point in time, so I had vicariously learned some of the things that seemed presumed knowledge in this book. For example, George Escoffier is mentioned, but not explained. If I wasn't married to a chef, I wouldn't have known that Escoffier is basically the father of French cuisine. I don't think it would have totally ruined the book for me had I not known that, but it certainly didn't hurt either. When in doubt, don't be afraid to wikipedia it. And I just love that wikipedia has somehow become a verb, don't you?
As mentioned, I am not culinarily inclined, but nonetheless, by the end of this book I was literally looking up prices to attend myself. (NOT cheap, by the way) I would not want to pursue Flinn's same course, as stuffing varying process meats and organs into various fatty wrappings is really not my taste, but they do have a tempting patisserie program that involves chocolate making... I wonder how much damage I could do with melted chocolate in a pot?
One last note. In my ongoing effort to recommend "if you like this book, you might like this book" type things, I was often reminded in reading this book of the self discovery and dream pursuing tales of Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love. Might be fun too. Of course, you might not want to read both back to back, because I can not be held responsible if you suddenly quit life and head off for the exotic to eat and think about life.
Happy reading!
Sarah
I finally finished my latest read last night, so let's talk about it. Here are the stats for The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry.
Author: Kathleen Flinn
Publisher: Penguin
Date: 2007
My start date: 2/12/10
My finish date: 2/17/10
Another one of those fun memoirs of someone deciding to change their life and jump free of the boring track, this is a story that will make you simultaneously hungry and travel-happy. After Flinn is laid off from a corporate job she didn't like, she decides not to mourn the loss and heads off to Paris to pursue her dream of learning to cook the French way. This is another one of those motivational books that will make you want to follow suit. However, in the fairness of full disclosure, there were some things I wanted to note. Most of us imagine these stories involving people like most of us, people who travel little (at least not anymore) and who spend their days in a boring cubicle job making just enough to pay bills. We have little or no exposure to the hobby we dream of pursuing. So running off to Paris would be a huge leap for the average person. I think it is only fair to point out that Flinn was already working in London when she was laid off from this job and that as a journalist, she had already spent a good amount of time in places throughout Europe and Asia. Further, her early career started as a line cook in a restaurant and she had once upon a time been a restaurant reviewer. So, this wasn't a huge jump out of her comfort zone. But the important thing to remember here, is that this is something she had dreamed of since childhood and something that she had the courage to go for, despite the financial burden. It doesn't matter if your dream is not that far out of your comfort zone, you need to just do it! And it doesn't hurt that her dream just happened to make a great read!
If you like or have ever liked food, you must read this. If you like or have ever liked Paris, you must read this. Flinn takes you through the three levels of certification at Le Cordon Bleu, interweaving her experiences in the kitchen, some hilarious, some touching, some flat out horrifying, with the lessons she is learning about herself at the same time. Again, this might not have been a huge leap for her, but pursuing this dream did allow her to learn some good stuff about herself. And her talent for juxtaposing food with people is great! The anecdotes can be quite funny!
One very small thing to keep in mind, however, is that some background knowledge in the world of all things culinary might be helpful. For a start, you should at least know that Le Cordon Bleu is one of the most famous, if not the most famous, cooking schools in the world and that Julia Child trained there. However, perhaps even a little more knowledge really might be assumed. I should confess that I am a HORRIBLE chef and actually shunned from our kitchen for fear that I might ruin another of my husband's expensive pots as I did previously by putting water on to boil (with salt) and then accidently falling asleep while waiting. No joke. I should not ever enter a kitchen. However, my husband was a professional chef and did study culinary arts at one point in time, so I had vicariously learned some of the things that seemed presumed knowledge in this book. For example, George Escoffier is mentioned, but not explained. If I wasn't married to a chef, I wouldn't have known that Escoffier is basically the father of French cuisine. I don't think it would have totally ruined the book for me had I not known that, but it certainly didn't hurt either. When in doubt, don't be afraid to wikipedia it. And I just love that wikipedia has somehow become a verb, don't you?
As mentioned, I am not culinarily inclined, but nonetheless, by the end of this book I was literally looking up prices to attend myself. (NOT cheap, by the way) I would not want to pursue Flinn's same course, as stuffing varying process meats and organs into various fatty wrappings is really not my taste, but they do have a tempting patisserie program that involves chocolate making... I wonder how much damage I could do with melted chocolate in a pot?
One last note. In my ongoing effort to recommend "if you like this book, you might like this book" type things, I was often reminded in reading this book of the self discovery and dream pursuing tales of Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love. Might be fun too. Of course, you might not want to read both back to back, because I can not be held responsible if you suddenly quit life and head off for the exotic to eat and think about life.
Happy reading!
Sarah
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
French longings
Ahh, France. Wouldn't we all like to just take off to France and live the French life for awhile.
Busy weekend behind me with three major (for us, anyway) holidays in as many days. But I did manage to work in a lot of good reading. I am not quite done with my latest read, but could be soon, maybe tonight, if I get off the computer. So just a really quick tease about tomorrow's discussion.
I am working on The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn. This is a charming memoir of life after corporate, something with which I can surely identify. Having lost her corporate management job, Flinn decides not to waste time mourning over something she never really liked in the first place, cashes in her savings and heads to France to study at Julia Child's alma mater, Le Cordon Bleu. Not only do I feel like I am getting increasingly fat just reading this book, but as a lifelong francophile with a personal dream to live in Paris, I am very jealous!
More later, must read now!
A bientot!
Keep reading...
Sarah
Busy weekend behind me with three major (for us, anyway) holidays in as many days. But I did manage to work in a lot of good reading. I am not quite done with my latest read, but could be soon, maybe tonight, if I get off the computer. So just a really quick tease about tomorrow's discussion.
I am working on The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn. This is a charming memoir of life after corporate, something with which I can surely identify. Having lost her corporate management job, Flinn decides not to waste time mourning over something she never really liked in the first place, cashes in her savings and heads to France to study at Julia Child's alma mater, Le Cordon Bleu. Not only do I feel like I am getting increasingly fat just reading this book, but as a lifelong francophile with a personal dream to live in Paris, I am very jealous!
More later, must read now!
A bientot!
Keep reading...
Sarah
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Young Adult Gold
Busy, busy time of the quarter, but I finally get a break to update on my latest read. Here are the stats for Running For My Life:
Author: Ann Gonzalez
Publisher: Westside Books
Date: 2009
My start date: 2/10/10
My finish date: 2/11/10
Now, many might be wondering at my decision to include young adult fiction in my reading. Well, first of all, yes, it is still a long enough work to be counted as a novel. This book was 234 pages, which is roughly the same as most of the novels. Some have been a little (or a lot) longer and some have been less. Obviously it is a quicker read that some others, but that is not necessarily a product of it being easier. Being still rather burned out on certain other required readings, I tried where possible during the earlier part of this week to ignore all responsibility and just read. Plus, this book was hard to put down! But, back to the question at hand. I do not at all feel that adults are too old to read YA lit. We were all teens at some time. We have all experienced those things. And a lot of these books have lessons that some of us still need to learn...
In the case of this book, the material is actually rather adult in many ways, I think. The story revolves around a teenage girl dealing with life after her mother succumbs to schizophrenia. On the one hand, she still has to deal with normal teenage life and wants very much to feel normal. If only everyday teen problems were the worst of it! Yet, she is dealing with conflicting feelings about seeing a therapist and being unsure how she can and should feel about a mother whom she loves and of whom she has fond memories, but who is now often violent and hurtful. The author infuses great depth into her main character, and is all the more believable because she can write from personal experience.
I especially recommend this novel for its target audience of young adults. I worked as a teacher in the public school system (not anywhere around Seattle, I didn't always live around here) and I think this book could really help a lot of the young people I worked with, and not just the ones with parents suffering from mental illness. There is a lot to identify with in general here.
I will say, this book was especially fun to read, because the author is also my writing class teacher. And no, that is not the reason I would recommend it. It really is a great resource for teens dealing with issues and learning to be ok with needing help. But, as I was saying, this is the first time I have actually known the author. I mean, sometimes if I really like an author I will facebook friend them (including some of the authors mentioned on this blog), but that isn't like I know them personally. In this case, if I had a question or a thought about the book, I could ask her in person. That really added to the reading.
So, my first YA of this blog and it was a really powerful one. Sometimes I like YA for pure entertainment, but this one really has a little something more. Don't be embarrassed to grab this one for yourself, but if you know a teen, any teen, insist that they read this one!
A few papers and presentations due in the next several days, not to mention the ever-present, never-ending Clarissa... But I have already started another memoir. This time I will be following a woman as she quits her day job and heads for Paris to study cooking! And I am sure I will be getting increasingly jealous. More on this one later!
Until then, keep reading!
Sarah
Author: Ann Gonzalez
Publisher: Westside Books
Date: 2009
My start date: 2/10/10
My finish date: 2/11/10
Now, many might be wondering at my decision to include young adult fiction in my reading. Well, first of all, yes, it is still a long enough work to be counted as a novel. This book was 234 pages, which is roughly the same as most of the novels. Some have been a little (or a lot) longer and some have been less. Obviously it is a quicker read that some others, but that is not necessarily a product of it being easier. Being still rather burned out on certain other required readings, I tried where possible during the earlier part of this week to ignore all responsibility and just read. Plus, this book was hard to put down! But, back to the question at hand. I do not at all feel that adults are too old to read YA lit. We were all teens at some time. We have all experienced those things. And a lot of these books have lessons that some of us still need to learn...
In the case of this book, the material is actually rather adult in many ways, I think. The story revolves around a teenage girl dealing with life after her mother succumbs to schizophrenia. On the one hand, she still has to deal with normal teenage life and wants very much to feel normal. If only everyday teen problems were the worst of it! Yet, she is dealing with conflicting feelings about seeing a therapist and being unsure how she can and should feel about a mother whom she loves and of whom she has fond memories, but who is now often violent and hurtful. The author infuses great depth into her main character, and is all the more believable because she can write from personal experience.
I especially recommend this novel for its target audience of young adults. I worked as a teacher in the public school system (not anywhere around Seattle, I didn't always live around here) and I think this book could really help a lot of the young people I worked with, and not just the ones with parents suffering from mental illness. There is a lot to identify with in general here.
I will say, this book was especially fun to read, because the author is also my writing class teacher. And no, that is not the reason I would recommend it. It really is a great resource for teens dealing with issues and learning to be ok with needing help. But, as I was saying, this is the first time I have actually known the author. I mean, sometimes if I really like an author I will facebook friend them (including some of the authors mentioned on this blog), but that isn't like I know them personally. In this case, if I had a question or a thought about the book, I could ask her in person. That really added to the reading.
So, my first YA of this blog and it was a really powerful one. Sometimes I like YA for pure entertainment, but this one really has a little something more. Don't be embarrassed to grab this one for yourself, but if you know a teen, any teen, insist that they read this one!
A few papers and presentations due in the next several days, not to mention the ever-present, never-ending Clarissa... But I have already started another memoir. This time I will be following a woman as she quits her day job and heads for Paris to study cooking! And I am sure I will be getting increasingly jealous. More on this one later!
Until then, keep reading!
Sarah
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Quick note on commenting
Ok, I figured out how to release commenting ability to any user, rather than the default setting which only allows registered users to leave comments. Enjoy!
I'm still here!...
Ok, WAY too long of a break,I know. Wow, Clarissa is an undertaking. Just to make my weekly reading assignments on that book, I have been reading six or more hours a day. And that is just on that book, we aren't even acknowledging what must be done for other classes, let alone the daily necessities of living. Good grief! Anyway, Clarissa progress update:816/1500 pages. The end is in sight! And, no more week long blog breaks, promise.
So, having hit a wall on Monday, at which point I concluded it was physically impossible to continue reading a single line more of Clarissa, I went on strike and dedicated the entire day to reading nothing but my pleasure reading. I covered over 300 pages and now am ready to talk about Andrew Davidson's The Gargoyle. Some stats for you:
Author: Andrew Davidson
Publisher: Anchor Books
Date: 2008
My start date: 1/31/10
My finish date: 2/9/10
I believe that makes it the longest duration so far, and puts me behind, however, Clarissa....not to mention that this is also the longest novel I have read yet this year, being over 500 pages long. Not sure why I thought it a good idea to start a long novel in the middle of Clarissa, but...oh well.
During my week of absence, I thought about a LOT of topics I wanted to cover about this book, but I am not sure they will all end up in this blog. We will see what directions my thoughts flow.
First, this book is intense. No, I mean INTENSE. The very first scene puts you in shock due to the intensity and brutal quality of description. This is not an author to sugar coat things and the main character is not necessarily one to love. I don't think Davidson intends for you to like the character. This style continues throughout. In the beginning, I was horrified and almost disgusted by the direction things were taking. Warning: the back cover of this novel gives you no idea what you are in for! Which led me to two questions I am posing to the world in general, answer as you are inclined.
The first question involves the opening sequence. In my writing class, we discuss the two main camps of fictional openings. There are those who argue that you must have a shocking or exciting scene right away in the beginning in order to draw in your reader. This novel certainly falls into this camp. However, more recommended these days are those who argue that you must introduce your character and the problem before jumping headlong into something shocking, otherwise your reader doesn't really know who is who and what to look at yet. What do you think? Think on the books you have read and which is more comfortable to you. Or is it really a question of comfort? Perhaps it is discomfort that keeps you reading. Anyway, this book does not make you comfortable! But it works here, regardless of what the literary consensus on openings turns out to be. You will be hooked.
My second question involves offensive literature. What, if anything, is too far? Now, I should preface by saying that I am very hard to throw. Not much offends me. But this main character has a lot of problems and isn't shy to discuss them, nor is this character going to discuss things in pretty language. This is a to the point, facts are facts type of person. Unless you are really and truly unshockable, this character will get you, or at least cause you to raise an eyebrow. However, rude and vile as it may at times seem, again, it works here! This story would not work with anyone else! And I realized as the novel went on that it went both ways. Not only was the language and imagery of the bad rich and full, but the good is exquisite as well. I think I could best describe the writing as RAW. It doesn't let the reader sit there and passively experience the story. It reaches into you and strips emotion out, poking you and taunting you until you must react. Food is a big thing in this story and it is described in full. Love is the key focus of this novel and you can't help but dive into each love story (and there are several) ready to be swept away. The richness of description works well with the sarcastic style. While at times rude and offensive, the sarcasm at other points is just plain hilarious. When reading, watch for the funny add ins when the narrator is listing the foods served at a Christmas party. Read carefully here, don't start skimming. I had started skimming and when I checked myself and noticed a few things I ended up literally laughing out loud. Basically, just take the bad with the good and let yourself get pulled into the experience.
Just a quick note on the style similarities. This author mentions in his suggested reading and further information section that Susskind's Perfume is among his favorites. You can definitely see the connection in rawness with Susskind's work. I read that book in the German original and was so started by it that I often had to stop and double check words to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting something. If you like this raw and shocking style, which I admit at times I do, I highly recommend Perfume. It is a movie now, but please, please, read the book too. Movies NEVER do justice to the books. And this one is worth reading.
One final thought on this work for now (maybe I will come back to it another time, there is so much to say). One of my key qualities in a good pleasure novel is the escapist quality. Reading allows me to travel and see things that, quite frankly, I simply can't afford to see, or at least can't afford to now. And when there is the factor of different time periods, well, obviously no amount of money will ever take me there. Davidson did TONS of research, years of it in fact. He is very thorough. This novel is packed to the brim with stories in a number of countries, using a number of languages and traditions and myths. If you want a quick way to experience as many different things as possible, this is your pick.
Ok, one final final thing, I guess. I admit, I have not read Dante's The Inferno. The work is central to this story and while I fared just fine without it, I would imagine a richer experience if I had read it. In fact, I will likely reread this at some point after I read Dante. You can just tell it would make a difference. So, consider that.
So, although I still have around seven hundred (oh. my. gosh.) pages left in Clarissa, I have already started another novel. This time I am working in the Young Adult genre, which I am especially interested in at the moment because I am taking a course on writing for that particular audience. And what is especially cool about this book is that the author happens to be my teacher! (and yes, it is still pleasure reading, she didn't assign it or anything, I was just curious). So, check back tomorrow for some thoughts on Ann Gonzalez's Running For My Life.
In the meantime, keep reading!
Sarah
So, having hit a wall on Monday, at which point I concluded it was physically impossible to continue reading a single line more of Clarissa, I went on strike and dedicated the entire day to reading nothing but my pleasure reading. I covered over 300 pages and now am ready to talk about Andrew Davidson's The Gargoyle. Some stats for you:
Author: Andrew Davidson
Publisher: Anchor Books
Date: 2008
My start date: 1/31/10
My finish date: 2/9/10
I believe that makes it the longest duration so far, and puts me behind, however, Clarissa....not to mention that this is also the longest novel I have read yet this year, being over 500 pages long. Not sure why I thought it a good idea to start a long novel in the middle of Clarissa, but...oh well.
During my week of absence, I thought about a LOT of topics I wanted to cover about this book, but I am not sure they will all end up in this blog. We will see what directions my thoughts flow.
First, this book is intense. No, I mean INTENSE. The very first scene puts you in shock due to the intensity and brutal quality of description. This is not an author to sugar coat things and the main character is not necessarily one to love. I don't think Davidson intends for you to like the character. This style continues throughout. In the beginning, I was horrified and almost disgusted by the direction things were taking. Warning: the back cover of this novel gives you no idea what you are in for! Which led me to two questions I am posing to the world in general, answer as you are inclined.
The first question involves the opening sequence. In my writing class, we discuss the two main camps of fictional openings. There are those who argue that you must have a shocking or exciting scene right away in the beginning in order to draw in your reader. This novel certainly falls into this camp. However, more recommended these days are those who argue that you must introduce your character and the problem before jumping headlong into something shocking, otherwise your reader doesn't really know who is who and what to look at yet. What do you think? Think on the books you have read and which is more comfortable to you. Or is it really a question of comfort? Perhaps it is discomfort that keeps you reading. Anyway, this book does not make you comfortable! But it works here, regardless of what the literary consensus on openings turns out to be. You will be hooked.
My second question involves offensive literature. What, if anything, is too far? Now, I should preface by saying that I am very hard to throw. Not much offends me. But this main character has a lot of problems and isn't shy to discuss them, nor is this character going to discuss things in pretty language. This is a to the point, facts are facts type of person. Unless you are really and truly unshockable, this character will get you, or at least cause you to raise an eyebrow. However, rude and vile as it may at times seem, again, it works here! This story would not work with anyone else! And I realized as the novel went on that it went both ways. Not only was the language and imagery of the bad rich and full, but the good is exquisite as well. I think I could best describe the writing as RAW. It doesn't let the reader sit there and passively experience the story. It reaches into you and strips emotion out, poking you and taunting you until you must react. Food is a big thing in this story and it is described in full. Love is the key focus of this novel and you can't help but dive into each love story (and there are several) ready to be swept away. The richness of description works well with the sarcastic style. While at times rude and offensive, the sarcasm at other points is just plain hilarious. When reading, watch for the funny add ins when the narrator is listing the foods served at a Christmas party. Read carefully here, don't start skimming. I had started skimming and when I checked myself and noticed a few things I ended up literally laughing out loud. Basically, just take the bad with the good and let yourself get pulled into the experience.
Just a quick note on the style similarities. This author mentions in his suggested reading and further information section that Susskind's Perfume is among his favorites. You can definitely see the connection in rawness with Susskind's work. I read that book in the German original and was so started by it that I often had to stop and double check words to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting something. If you like this raw and shocking style, which I admit at times I do, I highly recommend Perfume. It is a movie now, but please, please, read the book too. Movies NEVER do justice to the books. And this one is worth reading.
One final thought on this work for now (maybe I will come back to it another time, there is so much to say). One of my key qualities in a good pleasure novel is the escapist quality. Reading allows me to travel and see things that, quite frankly, I simply can't afford to see, or at least can't afford to now. And when there is the factor of different time periods, well, obviously no amount of money will ever take me there. Davidson did TONS of research, years of it in fact. He is very thorough. This novel is packed to the brim with stories in a number of countries, using a number of languages and traditions and myths. If you want a quick way to experience as many different things as possible, this is your pick.
Ok, one final final thing, I guess. I admit, I have not read Dante's The Inferno. The work is central to this story and while I fared just fine without it, I would imagine a richer experience if I had read it. In fact, I will likely reread this at some point after I read Dante. You can just tell it would make a difference. So, consider that.
So, although I still have around seven hundred (oh. my. gosh.) pages left in Clarissa, I have already started another novel. This time I am working in the Young Adult genre, which I am especially interested in at the moment because I am taking a course on writing for that particular audience. And what is especially cool about this book is that the author happens to be my teacher! (and yes, it is still pleasure reading, she didn't assign it or anything, I was just curious). So, check back tomorrow for some thoughts on Ann Gonzalez's Running For My Life.
In the meantime, keep reading!
Sarah
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Kindle
I finally have some spare time for pleasure reading and thus will not spend overly much of it goofing off on here. However, I had promised some links for people with Kindles, and have to touch on that subject.
I started to create a post with links to all of these books on Kindle. However, for whatever reason, the system that allows me to link to most other products in Amazon (including the Kindle technology itself), will not actually allow a link to the Kindle ebooks. Weird, I know. Only the classics will work, so some of the required reading I am doing shows up and I will post Clarissa for anyone interested. If you really just must have the electronic forms, I am sure the book links have a redirect option to purchase the same thing digitally.
One note though on the Kindle. By posting these links I am not saying I prefer the Kindle to any other reader. As a matter of fact, I use the Sony eReader, acquired from Best Buy and absolutely love it. However, many of my friends, family and so on use the Kindle and really love that system too. In short, I have no preference in regards to which electronic reading device you might choose to use. The Kindle links are solely a reflection of my use of Amazon on this blog, chosen for reasons previously explained.
That said, I will make a quick note on the topic of electronic reading devices. I struggled with this one. As you can imagine, I am obsessive about books. I love them and always have. The reading is not by any stretch the only aspect of the experience for me. I adore the books themselves: how they look (especially lined up on rows of shelves in my library, ahhh), how they feel, how they smell, all of it. I find sanctuary in bookstores and libraries. I cringe whenever I hear talk of reducing libraries in favor of electronic media. I truly cherish the book.
But...
Let's just take my of-late much discussed Clarissa. That sucker is HEAVY. And large. And if I am running errands and need to take my reading on the road, do you really think I want to carry it around?? No. You better believe I have the book on my eReader for back up. Trust me, it saves some trouble. These devices weigh nothing, fit in a purse or small bag and can store hundreds of books. When I have to fly across country (or worse still, internationally) I don't necessarily want to stuff six novels in my carry-on. (disclaimer: although such devices will make in-transit reading significantly easier, I must warn that no amount of nifty devices can remedy the horrors of air travel these days. A moment of silence for the good old days when air travel was fun and convenient...) Also, it is helpful that these things usually have the ability to change the size of the font, so people like me, who get motion sick at the drop of a pin, can blow up the font to a huge size and thus read while in transit or working out without incurring a headache or other undesirable malady.
Bottom line: nothing, and I repeat, NOTHING will ever replace the aura of the book. I think it will always be important and necessary. However, adding one of these devices to your library can only compliment and perhaps expand your reading pleasures.
I have rambled on far too long. Here is the link. Should I find a way to add the others at some point, I certainly will. Anyway, my reading calls!
Keep reading!
Sarah
I started to create a post with links to all of these books on Kindle. However, for whatever reason, the system that allows me to link to most other products in Amazon (including the Kindle technology itself), will not actually allow a link to the Kindle ebooks. Weird, I know. Only the classics will work, so some of the required reading I am doing shows up and I will post Clarissa for anyone interested. If you really just must have the electronic forms, I am sure the book links have a redirect option to purchase the same thing digitally.
One note though on the Kindle. By posting these links I am not saying I prefer the Kindle to any other reader. As a matter of fact, I use the Sony eReader, acquired from Best Buy and absolutely love it. However, many of my friends, family and so on use the Kindle and really love that system too. In short, I have no preference in regards to which electronic reading device you might choose to use. The Kindle links are solely a reflection of my use of Amazon on this blog, chosen for reasons previously explained.
That said, I will make a quick note on the topic of electronic reading devices. I struggled with this one. As you can imagine, I am obsessive about books. I love them and always have. The reading is not by any stretch the only aspect of the experience for me. I adore the books themselves: how they look (especially lined up on rows of shelves in my library, ahhh), how they feel, how they smell, all of it. I find sanctuary in bookstores and libraries. I cringe whenever I hear talk of reducing libraries in favor of electronic media. I truly cherish the book.
But...
Let's just take my of-late much discussed Clarissa. That sucker is HEAVY. And large. And if I am running errands and need to take my reading on the road, do you really think I want to carry it around?? No. You better believe I have the book on my eReader for back up. Trust me, it saves some trouble. These devices weigh nothing, fit in a purse or small bag and can store hundreds of books. When I have to fly across country (or worse still, internationally) I don't necessarily want to stuff six novels in my carry-on. (disclaimer: although such devices will make in-transit reading significantly easier, I must warn that no amount of nifty devices can remedy the horrors of air travel these days. A moment of silence for the good old days when air travel was fun and convenient...) Also, it is helpful that these things usually have the ability to change the size of the font, so people like me, who get motion sick at the drop of a pin, can blow up the font to a huge size and thus read while in transit or working out without incurring a headache or other undesirable malady.
Bottom line: nothing, and I repeat, NOTHING will ever replace the aura of the book. I think it will always be important and necessary. However, adding one of these devices to your library can only compliment and perhaps expand your reading pleasures.
I have rambled on far too long. Here is the link. Should I find a way to add the others at some point, I certainly will. Anyway, my reading calls!
Keep reading!
Sarah
Hazardous Reading
Just a quick "for fun" note involving tales of injury from Clarissa. This giant tome of 18th century intrigue weighs in at 3lbs, which doesn't sound like much until you realize that this is a book. Most novels are under a pound. So many of us have already complained of the dangers of reading this while reclining. We have all already experienced the joy of falling asleep while reading and waking to three pounds of epistolary greatness slamming into our faces. Today we had a tale from a classmate of being caused to fall when the book shifted in her bag and caused a loss of balance. Then there is the story of the student who began having nightmares that the book would never end. Seriously. All true tales. Come on guys, jump on the Clarissa bandwagon!
Speaking of which, I am thinking of doing a retelling of the Clarissa story as a modern story in blog/facebook form. Could be fun.
Back to class now...
Keep reading!
Sarah
Speaking of which, I am thinking of doing a retelling of the Clarissa story as a modern story in blog/facebook form. Could be fun.
Back to class now...
Keep reading!
Sarah
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Clarissa explains it ALL...
Well, I have made almost no progress at all on a new pleasure book because I have been reading around the clock on Clarissa trying to make the deadline on the first volume in time for class tomorrow. So, even though it doesn't count towards my goal, I figured I could at least talk about it a bit.
Some background information:
This giant of a novel was written by Samuel Richardson in 1747 and is among the first works to be considered a novel. Richardson's first work, the previously mentioned Pamela, generally holds the title of first novel. It is in the epistolary form, which means that it is basically just a collection of letters, well, a BIG collection of letters. The "editor" or narrator in this form doesn't break into the story much, if at all, you just move from one letter to the next and it tells the story. The style was all the rage in the 18th century, has come up a few other times in history, but really isn't seen much anymore. I mean, do we really write letters much these days? But I guess you can kind of compare it to the forerunners of blogs. This particular epistolary novel is told in letters between the heroine, Clarissa, and her friend, as well as letters between Mr. Lovelace, her suitor and his friend. Lovelace is the original playboy though and his goal is really to seduce Clarissa and remove her of the burden of her "virtue", a hot topic in the period. Sounds like a fun enough story, right? And it is! However, Richardson goes into perhaps more detail than needed. This book is 1600 pages, full size, not novel sized and has tiny print. If Clarissa had ever really existed and written to such an extent, her hand would have fallen off. So you really have to commit yourself to this undertaking. However, I am sure the feeling of accomplishment at the end will be worth it. I will let you know. Or, you can join in the crusade to complete one of the greatest works of fiction in history and work towards membership in a very elite group of people who can say they have read this important novel in full (and not the abridged). Should you dare to undertake this challenge with me, you are welcome to comment on here and I will even put up a wall of fame for those who finish. Book link below.
As to pleasure reading (not that Clarissa's claim to her virtue isn't entertaining) I have started the first chapter of a book called The Gargoyle. GREAT intro, we will see how it plays out.
For now, keep reading!
Sarah
Some background information:
This giant of a novel was written by Samuel Richardson in 1747 and is among the first works to be considered a novel. Richardson's first work, the previously mentioned Pamela, generally holds the title of first novel. It is in the epistolary form, which means that it is basically just a collection of letters, well, a BIG collection of letters. The "editor" or narrator in this form doesn't break into the story much, if at all, you just move from one letter to the next and it tells the story. The style was all the rage in the 18th century, has come up a few other times in history, but really isn't seen much anymore. I mean, do we really write letters much these days? But I guess you can kind of compare it to the forerunners of blogs. This particular epistolary novel is told in letters between the heroine, Clarissa, and her friend, as well as letters between Mr. Lovelace, her suitor and his friend. Lovelace is the original playboy though and his goal is really to seduce Clarissa and remove her of the burden of her "virtue", a hot topic in the period. Sounds like a fun enough story, right? And it is! However, Richardson goes into perhaps more detail than needed. This book is 1600 pages, full size, not novel sized and has tiny print. If Clarissa had ever really existed and written to such an extent, her hand would have fallen off. So you really have to commit yourself to this undertaking. However, I am sure the feeling of accomplishment at the end will be worth it. I will let you know. Or, you can join in the crusade to complete one of the greatest works of fiction in history and work towards membership in a very elite group of people who can say they have read this important novel in full (and not the abridged). Should you dare to undertake this challenge with me, you are welcome to comment on here and I will even put up a wall of fame for those who finish. Book link below.
As to pleasure reading (not that Clarissa's claim to her virtue isn't entertaining) I have started the first chapter of a book called The Gargoyle. GREAT intro, we will see how it plays out.
For now, keep reading!
Sarah
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