I guess Forrest Gump was right-- you really never do know what you're going to get...
Tom Hanks seems like a pretty cool dude. So, when I needed to choose a new book, I figured I'd go with a classic Tom Hanks character. The film Forrest Gump was so fantastic, I couldn't even begin to imagine how great the book would be!
Well, it turns out that Tom Hanks's Forrest is a much kinder and better person than the author intended Forrest Gump to actually be. The original Forrest swears like a trucker, he's vulgar, he's uncouth, and he's not necessarily a nice guy. He is self-centered and kind of a pig. What a disappointment.
Winston Groom's concept was interesting enough. The book is written the way Forrest would speak. Words are misspelled, misused, and misunderstood. Forrest wants to start a "srimp" company, for example. It's clever and really brings you in to Forrest's life. And, like in the movie, Forrest did play football and he did love Jenny Curran. But, most of the book is very different from the film, and not in a good way. Forrest still bumbles from place to place, but he now does so with a Chimpanzee named Sue. He's arrested 3 or 4 times. He becomes a professional wrestler. He meets Nixon who freaks out when he thinks that Forrest is calling him a liar.
There were two things that bothered me about this book. First, as I said, Forrest isn't a good guy. It was rather hard to root for him to succeed because he's just not likable. Because the book is Forrest's story, you become immersed in the story right away. But, rather than hoping Forrest will win Jenny's heart, I found myself saying "Jenny, you can do better!" That's not what Forrest Gump is supposed to be about! You're supposed to cheer on Forrest, to tell him "Run, Forrest, RUN!" Instead, I was cheering for the bully to give him a pounding.
The other thing that bothered me was the implausibility of the story. Ok, I get it, the movie was fairly implausible. But, somehow, it worked. In the book, the facts just didn't add up. Forrest is sent to space with Sue because he was arrested and NASA wants to experiment on him. They crash land in a cannibal colony where they live for four years. Forrest is later put on a movie set in Hollywood where he ends up accidentally ripping Raquel Welch's dress off and he, Raquel, and Sue end up on the LA Freeway together. I mean, REALLY? It's just too unrealistic and the events don't flow. Somehow, I always felt the movie flowed.
So, what it comes down to is this: for once, I'm instructing you to Skip the Book, Watch the Movie Instead.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
SEW Good!
I haven't posted an entry to this blog in almost two years! But, I recently received a comment that someone had found it on StumbleUpon and it made me decide to start it back up again. Though I've not been writing about books, I've sure been reading them!
In the last two years, my favorite book has absolutely been The Time In Between, by Maria Duenas. I've read this book twice in the past year, and given copies to my mother and husband.
It's such an interesting story and a fascinating read. The story is that of a young woman, Sira, who grew up as a seamstress. As her life takes on new twists and turns, she continues to sew for interesting people at a pivotal time in history.
Sounds pretty basic, right? Oh, trust me, this story is the exact opposite of basic! Even on my second reading, I found myself staying up late at night because I had to know what happened next (even though I already knew!) Sira, a Madrid native, traverses the world of Morocco in the 1920s, she interacts with powerful people in the Franco regime during the Spanish Civil War, and she immerses herself in a world of mystery as the Franco dictatorship takes control. Her life is fascinating and exciting and I lived very much vicariously through her on every page. (And, no, not JUST because I can hardly sew a button...)
It's hard for me to write this post because I love this story SO much that I want to talk about every bit of it. I want to share with you how confused Sira and I were when she awoke in the hospital. I want to describe the clicking of the typewriter keys I heard as she browsed in the store that would change her life. I want to shake out the smoke from my clothes after Sira goes to visit the Commissioner in the police station.
Duenas is an exceptional writer and storyteller and I don't want to give away any of her story. So, instead, I'll just beg you to read it yourself and then email me so we can discuss! It is just SEW good!
In the last two years, my favorite book has absolutely been The Time In Between, by Maria Duenas. I've read this book twice in the past year, and given copies to my mother and husband.
It's such an interesting story and a fascinating read. The story is that of a young woman, Sira, who grew up as a seamstress. As her life takes on new twists and turns, she continues to sew for interesting people at a pivotal time in history.
Sounds pretty basic, right? Oh, trust me, this story is the exact opposite of basic! Even on my second reading, I found myself staying up late at night because I had to know what happened next (even though I already knew!) Sira, a Madrid native, traverses the world of Morocco in the 1920s, she interacts with powerful people in the Franco regime during the Spanish Civil War, and she immerses herself in a world of mystery as the Franco dictatorship takes control. Her life is fascinating and exciting and I lived very much vicariously through her on every page. (And, no, not JUST because I can hardly sew a button...)
It's hard for me to write this post because I love this story SO much that I want to talk about every bit of it. I want to share with you how confused Sira and I were when she awoke in the hospital. I want to describe the clicking of the typewriter keys I heard as she browsed in the store that would change her life. I want to shake out the smoke from my clothes after Sira goes to visit the Commissioner in the police station.
Duenas is an exceptional writer and storyteller and I don't want to give away any of her story. So, instead, I'll just beg you to read it yourself and then email me so we can discuss! It is just SEW good!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
What NOT to Read
When I got my Kindle, I immediately downloaded a bunch of books I'd been dying to read. After a while, though, my "need to read" list ended; I've become adept at sifting through the list of titles and finding some real literary gems. Unfortunately, not every book has been fantastic. Some, in fact, were downright awful. Here's a list of what you should NOT read:
Just Kids, Patti Smith: I didn't know much about about Patti Smith or Robert Mapelthorpe, but I heard an interview with Smith on NPR and I thought their relationship sounded interesting. He was a gay artist/photographer and she a straight poet/singer and they were together for years. I thought it would be a unique look into New York in the 70s and 80s, as well as a peek into the lives of some well-known artists.
In reality, it was a dull book about dull people. Smith never explained how she got into singing.
She just mentions in passing that, one day, she decided to start a band. She never talks about
her feelings when she discovers that Mapelthorpe is sleeping with men for money while still dating
her. She never goes through her process when she realizes that he's gay. Instead, the book
glosses over everything important, like a diary you're afraid your parents might read. I wanted an
intimate portrait and got nothing more than what I could have read on Wikipedia. Don't waste
your time.
Broken, Daniel Clay: The only word I can think of to describe this book is Creepy. This novel was billed as a story based on To Kill A Mockingbird. Like many, Harper Lee's classic is one of my favorite books, so I was interesting in this British re-telling. I wondered, what would the modern version of this story look like? Would Scout's innocence be as refreshing, or would she seem naive in today's culture? Would the story have the same heart when retold by a man?
Just Kids, Patti Smith: I didn't know much about about Patti Smith or Robert Mapelthorpe, but I heard an interview with Smith on NPR and I thought their relationship sounded interesting. He was a gay artist/photographer and she a straight poet/singer and they were together for years. I thought it would be a unique look into New York in the 70s and 80s, as well as a peek into the lives of some well-known artists.
In reality, it was a dull book about dull people. Smith never explained how she got into singing.
She just mentions in passing that, one day, she decided to start a band. She never talks about
her feelings when she discovers that Mapelthorpe is sleeping with men for money while still dating
her. She never goes through her process when she realizes that he's gay. Instead, the book
glosses over everything important, like a diary you're afraid your parents might read. I wanted an
intimate portrait and got nothing more than what I could have read on Wikipedia. Don't waste
your time.
Broken, Daniel Clay: The only word I can think of to describe this book is Creepy. This novel was billed as a story based on To Kill A Mockingbird. Like many, Harper Lee's classic is one of my favorite books, so I was interesting in this British re-telling. I wondered, what would the modern version of this story look like? Would Scout's innocence be as refreshing, or would she seem naive in today's culture? Would the story have the same heart when retold by a man?
What a disappointment. Clay didn't base his story on To Kill a Mockingbird as much as he just
stole character details from Lee. Instead of Scout, the main character is Skunk. Jem is Jed. Dill is
Dillon. To me, that's not creativity, that's just pure laziness. The story opens with Skunk in a
coma, and somehow her neighbor, whom they call Broken, is involved. He's broken because he
was severely beaten by another neighbor an becomes mentally ill. In fact, he starves Dillon to
death. It was such an awful story, I couldn't finish the book. It was just creepy. Don't read this book!
Disgrace, J.M. Coetzee: Coetzee has won the Booker Prize and the Nobel Prize for literature, so I thought I was in good hands with his novel. I probably should've known the book would be weird when the cover bragged that the book is now a film starring John Malkovich. Really, has he ever starred in any role that didn't require him to be a dirtbag?
Disgrace, J.M. Coetzee: Coetzee has won the Booker Prize and the Nobel Prize for literature, so I thought I was in good hands with his novel. I probably should've known the book would be weird when the cover bragged that the book is now a film starring John Malkovich. Really, has he ever starred in any role that didn't require him to be a dirtbag?
In this book, the protagonist is a twice-divorced professor in South Africa who is fired after having
an affair with a student. He leaves town to go live with his lesbian daughter on her farm in a
dangerous part of the country. What ensues, misery, rape, adultery, is not entertaining. I understand that not all novels are written to make us feel better about life. I see the benefit of educating us about the world's problems through well-told stories. That said, I think there are better mechanisms for the story than the one Coetzee used. His characters aren't likable. His story doesn't follow an understandable pattern. Rather than open my eyes to the injustices of the world, Coetzee made me sympathize with the enemy. Most disappointingly, the book ends on such a middle note that, while I was thrilled it was over, I was left completely unsatisfied. There was no real conclusion, except my own: this book was a waste of my time.
I'll be the first to state that not every book is for every person (somehow, I can't see Fa enjoying Bossypants, for example.) But, these books went a step beyond that. These books held no redeeming value. There was no substance to Smith's bland memoir, no class to Clay's knock-off novel, and no soul in Coetzee's sad story. In our busy lives, reading is such a luxury; to be truly entertained, I recommend against these books.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Books for the Beach
It's rainy and mid-60s today in Boston. Perfect weather to think about what to read on that beach vacation coming up!! Here's a list of my top five recommendations for your next beach vacation!!
- Bossypants, Tina Fey-- This isn't just another silly memoir. This book gives us fabulous insight into a strong, caring, and incredibly funny woman. I laughed out loud so many times that the dogs started barking at me! :)
- Heads You Lose, Lisa Lutz and David Hayward-- Lisa Lutz is one of my favorite authors (she wrote the Spellman Files) and here she collaborated with an ex-boyfriend to create a strange and unique experience for her readers. She and Hayward alternated chapters in this comical murder mystery and they left in their notes to each other at the end of each chapter. Truly an entertaining read!!
- The Lincoln Lawyer, Michael Connelly-- This was a rather poorly written book, but I'm recommending it anyway. The story is interesting and the character is developed enough to allow us to actually develop an opinion about him. If you can get past sentences like "he looked down the hallway and she was standing at the end of the hallway," then I actually think you'll find it a pretty good read.
- Slammerkin and The Sealed Letter, Emma Donoghue-- Donoghue wrote Room, which got a lot of attention earlier this year for it's unique premise. But, long before she ripped the premise of that novel from the Jaycee Dugard case, Donoghue was using headlines as inspiration. Both Slammerkin and The Sealed Letter are novels based on newspaper articles written in the 1860s in London. Personally, I've never found that genre overly interesting (Jane Austen aside, of course) but Donoghue's books are really good!! Unique, intense, gripping, and entertaining, I had a hard time putting either one down.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ooh, la la-- The Paris Wife
Paula McLain's novel, The Paris Wife, doesn't feel like a novel. In fact, it feels more like a memoir, and, it almost is. From the first page, we're invited into a world so full of details that it doesn't seem possible that McLain wasn't seated next to her characters on the beach in France. Hers is an intimate and vivid portrayal of a family whose patriarch made my life a living hell for a month in high school.
I'm referring, of course, to Ernest Hemingway, whose novel The Old Man and the Sea was the bane of my existence for a month in 10th grade. Thankfully, McLain's novel takes place decades before Hemingway ever began to think about that awful book. The Paris Wife isn't even Hemingway's story, it's his wife's. Hadley Richardson was the second woman Hemingway ever loved and the first he married. Unfortunately, she wasn't the last. But, their relationship was so pure and beautiful that it remains relevant even today. In researching whether the book had much basis in truth (which it does,) I came across a quote attributed to Hemingway. He once said that he wished he'd died before he ever fell out of love with Hadley. While that's sad on so many levels, to me it's also wonderfully romantic. It suggests that theirs was a love that made him feel like he had lived his entire live in the short time they were together. Theirs was a relationship that made him so happy that nothing else compared. There's something heartbreaking and wonderful about that concept.
The book is written in Hadley's voice. It is she who tells us about Hemingway's struggles to become a famous writer, about the demons he battled, and the life they led together. They met and married shortly after World War 1, when the flapper age came to light. They had no money, but they had each other, as cliche as that is. And, they had the wonderfully artistic world of Paris. They gallivanted around with Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and even Don Stewart, who later wrote my favorite movie, The Philadelphia Story. They had no money, but they wintered in Austria and summered in Spain. They visited art museums, spent their days in cafes and their evenings at concerts. Makes me wish I had no money...
The Hemingways were an interesting and fun couple and the book teaches us a lot about Papa himself. If I had one complaint, it would be that I never really felt that I understood who Hadley was. Though the book is her story, I never really understood what makes her special. But, then, I wonder if that's what happens whenever we look at life through someone's eyes. Perhaps we never have the ability to see what makes ourselves special, so it's impossible to really convey that in our own story. Or, perhaps McLain didn't develop Hadley enough for my liking. I'm not really sure which is the case.
What I do know is that Hadley and Hem got more out of life in their five years together than many people get in a lifetime. Their relationship benefitted us all because, without Hadley, Hemingway would never have gotten the support he needed to begin his career. And, Old Man and the Sea aside, we're all luckier for having read Hemingway. That is an amor tres important.
I'm referring, of course, to Ernest Hemingway, whose novel The Old Man and the Sea was the bane of my existence for a month in 10th grade. Thankfully, McLain's novel takes place decades before Hemingway ever began to think about that awful book. The Paris Wife isn't even Hemingway's story, it's his wife's. Hadley Richardson was the second woman Hemingway ever loved and the first he married. Unfortunately, she wasn't the last. But, their relationship was so pure and beautiful that it remains relevant even today. In researching whether the book had much basis in truth (which it does,) I came across a quote attributed to Hemingway. He once said that he wished he'd died before he ever fell out of love with Hadley. While that's sad on so many levels, to me it's also wonderfully romantic. It suggests that theirs was a love that made him feel like he had lived his entire live in the short time they were together. Theirs was a relationship that made him so happy that nothing else compared. There's something heartbreaking and wonderful about that concept.
The book is written in Hadley's voice. It is she who tells us about Hemingway's struggles to become a famous writer, about the demons he battled, and the life they led together. They met and married shortly after World War 1, when the flapper age came to light. They had no money, but they had each other, as cliche as that is. And, they had the wonderfully artistic world of Paris. They gallivanted around with Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and even Don Stewart, who later wrote my favorite movie, The Philadelphia Story. They had no money, but they wintered in Austria and summered in Spain. They visited art museums, spent their days in cafes and their evenings at concerts. Makes me wish I had no money...
The Hemingways were an interesting and fun couple and the book teaches us a lot about Papa himself. If I had one complaint, it would be that I never really felt that I understood who Hadley was. Though the book is her story, I never really understood what makes her special. But, then, I wonder if that's what happens whenever we look at life through someone's eyes. Perhaps we never have the ability to see what makes ourselves special, so it's impossible to really convey that in our own story. Or, perhaps McLain didn't develop Hadley enough for my liking. I'm not really sure which is the case.
What I do know is that Hadley and Hem got more out of life in their five years together than many people get in a lifetime. Their relationship benefitted us all because, without Hadley, Hemingway would never have gotten the support he needed to begin his career. And, Old Man and the Sea aside, we're all luckier for having read Hemingway. That is an amor tres important.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Perfect Stories-- The Imperfectionists
I've never really been much of a fan of short story collections. I usually find that the stories don't fit together well and, often, that the author slipped in a line or two to completely unrelated subject matters in order to create a collection. (I'm talking to you Olive Kitteridge...)
Luckily, that was not the case with Tom Rachman's novel The Imperfectionists. Rachman gives us an insight into many of the personalities who run a fictional English Language newspaper set in Rome. We meet several reporters, the publisher, a few editors, and even the paper's accountant. Each has a separate story focusing on his or her personal life. And, yet, each story melds together so well because we're introduced to the various characters throughout the novel. For example, the editor who seems so cold-hearted to one reporter is really dealing with a cheating spouse and has no energy to deal with his reporter's incompetence. Or, the obituary writer is not as lackluster and useless as everyone seems to believe, he simply was uninspired by his tasks.
There is a message to the varied perspectives Rachman offers us, I believe. The myriad cliches that are swirling through my mind are those about walking in another's shoes or not knowing what goes on behind closed doors. But, I don't think it's accidental that this book takes place in a newsroom. No, I think that Rachman wanted us to understand that there are two sides to every story. That we must force ourselves to remain objective about other people and their situations until we know all the details. The fact is, as a general rule, we all believe we're the front page story in everyone's life. We are confident that our every mistake, our every word and our every action is scrutinized by others with as much intensity as we look our ourselves. The truth is, most of us are lucky if we earn any typeface at all in another's newspaper. We'd all do well to remember that everyone has their own front page story and their interactions with us are complicated by the headlines in their world.
It's hard for me to accept this view of the world, of course. I like believing that K Mart was named for me (though I'd prefer Target was my store instead. And, really, if we're making stores mine, let's go big. How about Kottery Barn or Krada...?) I like living in a world where every time a person gives me a dirty look it's because they're reacting to me. The truth is, to paraphrase Paulie Bleeker (from Juno!!), they probably aren't giving me a dirty look, it's probably just the way their face is.
Rachman's stories remind us that the world is bigger than we are. That's a pretty perfect message for this imperfect world...
Luckily, that was not the case with Tom Rachman's novel The Imperfectionists. Rachman gives us an insight into many of the personalities who run a fictional English Language newspaper set in Rome. We meet several reporters, the publisher, a few editors, and even the paper's accountant. Each has a separate story focusing on his or her personal life. And, yet, each story melds together so well because we're introduced to the various characters throughout the novel. For example, the editor who seems so cold-hearted to one reporter is really dealing with a cheating spouse and has no energy to deal with his reporter's incompetence. Or, the obituary writer is not as lackluster and useless as everyone seems to believe, he simply was uninspired by his tasks.
There is a message to the varied perspectives Rachman offers us, I believe. The myriad cliches that are swirling through my mind are those about walking in another's shoes or not knowing what goes on behind closed doors. But, I don't think it's accidental that this book takes place in a newsroom. No, I think that Rachman wanted us to understand that there are two sides to every story. That we must force ourselves to remain objective about other people and their situations until we know all the details. The fact is, as a general rule, we all believe we're the front page story in everyone's life. We are confident that our every mistake, our every word and our every action is scrutinized by others with as much intensity as we look our ourselves. The truth is, most of us are lucky if we earn any typeface at all in another's newspaper. We'd all do well to remember that everyone has their own front page story and their interactions with us are complicated by the headlines in their world.
It's hard for me to accept this view of the world, of course. I like believing that K Mart was named for me (though I'd prefer Target was my store instead. And, really, if we're making stores mine, let's go big. How about Kottery Barn or Krada...?) I like living in a world where every time a person gives me a dirty look it's because they're reacting to me. The truth is, to paraphrase Paulie Bleeker (from Juno!!), they probably aren't giving me a dirty look, it's probably just the way their face is.
Rachman's stories remind us that the world is bigger than we are. That's a pretty perfect message for this imperfect world...
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The GodMOTHER- The Company She Keeps
The Company She Keeps-- Georgia Durante
Something about the mafia has always interested me. I'm obviously not alone or The Godfather, Goodfellas or The Sopranos would never have become such massive hits. But, as much as I may joke about my grandmother's connections to the Chicago mafia, I'd never actually want to be associated or friendly with anyone who was in the mob.
Georgia Durante obviously didn't have the same conviction. From a young age, the former model was considered a staple in the Rochester Mafia scene. If her story is to be believed, and I do believe her only because there are too many names in this book for her not to have written the absolute truth, then she's led a hell of a life.
We all make choices we sometimes regret, but Durante's created a life built upon regrets. From Rochester, she moved to New York and California, all with her wife-beating, cheating, mafia-connected husband in tow. She surrounded herself with bad people, acted as the get-away driver for various mob-related hits, and found herself in relationship after relationship with some really screwed up men.
In an effort to straighten out her life, Durante created a professional stunt-driving business and now does much of the stunt work we see in commercials and film. Though not without obstacles, her business has become successful and she is reputed to be among the best female stunt-drivers in the world.
Durante's story is really interesting! Many a time, I wanted to climb into the book, sit her down and say "listen, girlfriend, you don't need to go back to him." Or "He's LYING you idiot!!" But, it was fascinating to read about her choices from the perspective that age has given her. Like The Sopranos gave us insight into the life of a mafia boss, so, too, does The Company She Keeps give us a window into the life of a beauty queen, a battered wife, and a successful businesswoman. It's an interesting view and one worth peeping into. Just don't let the cops know you're watching...
Something about the mafia has always interested me. I'm obviously not alone or The Godfather, Goodfellas or The Sopranos would never have become such massive hits. But, as much as I may joke about my grandmother's connections to the Chicago mafia, I'd never actually want to be associated or friendly with anyone who was in the mob.
Georgia Durante obviously didn't have the same conviction. From a young age, the former model was considered a staple in the Rochester Mafia scene. If her story is to be believed, and I do believe her only because there are too many names in this book for her not to have written the absolute truth, then she's led a hell of a life.
We all make choices we sometimes regret, but Durante's created a life built upon regrets. From Rochester, she moved to New York and California, all with her wife-beating, cheating, mafia-connected husband in tow. She surrounded herself with bad people, acted as the get-away driver for various mob-related hits, and found herself in relationship after relationship with some really screwed up men.
In an effort to straighten out her life, Durante created a professional stunt-driving business and now does much of the stunt work we see in commercials and film. Though not without obstacles, her business has become successful and she is reputed to be among the best female stunt-drivers in the world.
Durante's story is really interesting! Many a time, I wanted to climb into the book, sit her down and say "listen, girlfriend, you don't need to go back to him." Or "He's LYING you idiot!!" But, it was fascinating to read about her choices from the perspective that age has given her. Like The Sopranos gave us insight into the life of a mafia boss, so, too, does The Company She Keeps give us a window into the life of a beauty queen, a battered wife, and a successful businesswoman. It's an interesting view and one worth peeping into. Just don't let the cops know you're watching...
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
"I'm Siiii-ick..." Ah-choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold
It's only February and I've already had the flu and two colds this year. I don't get it! I use hand sanitizer like it's going out of style, eat well, sleep tons, and never share food/drinks. Why am I getting so sick???
Jennifer Ackerman has some of the answers for me. Her book, Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold, looks into, you guessed it, the common cold (which, by the way, isn't one strain of a virus, but a plethora of viruses. That's why we can get sick over and over again...) I'm sure I'm not alone when I complain that we can put a man on the moon and yet we can't cure the sniffles. Ackerman meets with the people who have devoted their lives to solving that very problem. Did you know there are people who volunteer to get colds?? People sign up for studies in which they're given germs and then studied. Sometimes the researchers give the subjects drugs to test. Other times, the subjects are studied for the symptoms they present with, the ways in which they spread germs, or the duration of their illnesses. In return for their suffering, they're given financial compensation. I really hope I never need money that badly!
Ackerman also tells us how to avoid, and how to treat, the common cold. To stay healthy, don't touch your nose and eyes. While many germs can be passed by oral contact- which is why it's never a good idea to share drinks- colds are most commonly transmitted via the nasal and ocular passages. If you can avoid touching these areas, you greatly enhance your ability to fight off colds. If you're like me, however, and wear contacts, well, good luck not touching your eyes...
Ackerman's research on treating the symptoms of colds was, in my opinion, both disappointing and useful. She tells us that all those hundreds of cold remedies available at CVS really are worthless. You'll be just as healthy without Airborne as you would be with it. Zicam can't lessen the duration of your cold.
Advil Cold and Sinus does nothing but pile a bunch of drugs you don't need in a pill with two you do.
To treat a cold, researchers all offer the same advice:
1- Sudafed or another first generation anti-histamine. These help dry you out. The newer stuff doesn't work. Claritins and Zyrtecs may help with allergies, but they won't help your cold symptoms.
2- Ibuprophen. The sinus pain associated with colds can be much alleviated with proper pain medications.
3- Sleep. You're much better off taking a day off work and sleeping off your cold than trying to power through. (Wish I'd followed my own advice here. I went to work with both my colds and, boy, was it tough going...)
4- Chicken soup. Yes, it's true, grandma's old adage really does help. The liquids in the soup help prevent dehydration and the nutrients from the veggies are good for your body. And, let's face it, who doesn't feel better with a little chicken soup??
Here's wishing you all a healthy 2011 and beyond!
Jennifer Ackerman has some of the answers for me. Her book, Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold, looks into, you guessed it, the common cold (which, by the way, isn't one strain of a virus, but a plethora of viruses. That's why we can get sick over and over again...) I'm sure I'm not alone when I complain that we can put a man on the moon and yet we can't cure the sniffles. Ackerman meets with the people who have devoted their lives to solving that very problem. Did you know there are people who volunteer to get colds?? People sign up for studies in which they're given germs and then studied. Sometimes the researchers give the subjects drugs to test. Other times, the subjects are studied for the symptoms they present with, the ways in which they spread germs, or the duration of their illnesses. In return for their suffering, they're given financial compensation. I really hope I never need money that badly!
Ackerman also tells us how to avoid, and how to treat, the common cold. To stay healthy, don't touch your nose and eyes. While many germs can be passed by oral contact- which is why it's never a good idea to share drinks- colds are most commonly transmitted via the nasal and ocular passages. If you can avoid touching these areas, you greatly enhance your ability to fight off colds. If you're like me, however, and wear contacts, well, good luck not touching your eyes...
Ackerman's research on treating the symptoms of colds was, in my opinion, both disappointing and useful. She tells us that all those hundreds of cold remedies available at CVS really are worthless. You'll be just as healthy without Airborne as you would be with it. Zicam can't lessen the duration of your cold.
Advil Cold and Sinus does nothing but pile a bunch of drugs you don't need in a pill with two you do.
To treat a cold, researchers all offer the same advice:
1- Sudafed or another first generation anti-histamine. These help dry you out. The newer stuff doesn't work. Claritins and Zyrtecs may help with allergies, but they won't help your cold symptoms.
2- Ibuprophen. The sinus pain associated with colds can be much alleviated with proper pain medications.
3- Sleep. You're much better off taking a day off work and sleeping off your cold than trying to power through. (Wish I'd followed my own advice here. I went to work with both my colds and, boy, was it tough going...)
4- Chicken soup. Yes, it's true, grandma's old adage really does help. The liquids in the soup help prevent dehydration and the nutrients from the veggies are good for your body. And, let's face it, who doesn't feel better with a little chicken soup??
Here's wishing you all a healthy 2011 and beyond!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Mockingbird: Harper Lee's Story
I loved To Kill A Mockingbird the moment I started the book! I loved the characters, the story, the messages. Atticus Finch is such a wonderful role model; Scout is the type of kid I wanted to be. I wanted a Boo Radley in my neighborhood (I may have gotten my wish after all these years...) The story was so vivid and real; I always wondered how much of the story was based on Ms. Lee's real life. (And, yes, she is Ms. Lee to me. She's the epitome of a southern lady; referring to her in any other manner would be, to me, a sign of disrespect for my favorite author.)
Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee answers a lot of my questions. Although there are no first person accounts from Harper Lee herself, the author Charles J. Shields, researched her life so thoroughly that he left little to question. Lee has had a fascinating life; much of her childhood made its way into her novel. From friendship with Truman Capote to her experiences in New York City, it would be easy to imagine that she lives the high life after publishing one of the most cherished books of the Twentieth Century. Instead, Ms. Lee has spent the majority of her life immersed in her small Alabama hometown living with her older sister and attending the yearly church bazaar. Her life is small and compact and, by all accounts, she loves it.
Mockingbird describes Ms. Lee's childhood, illustrates her process for writing and publishing her beautiful story, and details how the book changed the world, for no one more so than Ms. Lee herself. I've always wanted another Lee novel and Mockingbird explains why it never came to fruition. More than that, though, Mockingbird tells us what happened to the real Scout when she grew up. And, just as I always imagined, she grew up to create a wonderful life for herself, her own way.
Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee answers a lot of my questions. Although there are no first person accounts from Harper Lee herself, the author Charles J. Shields, researched her life so thoroughly that he left little to question. Lee has had a fascinating life; much of her childhood made its way into her novel. From friendship with Truman Capote to her experiences in New York City, it would be easy to imagine that she lives the high life after publishing one of the most cherished books of the Twentieth Century. Instead, Ms. Lee has spent the majority of her life immersed in her small Alabama hometown living with her older sister and attending the yearly church bazaar. Her life is small and compact and, by all accounts, she loves it.
Mockingbird describes Ms. Lee's childhood, illustrates her process for writing and publishing her beautiful story, and details how the book changed the world, for no one more so than Ms. Lee herself. I've always wanted another Lee novel and Mockingbird explains why it never came to fruition. More than that, though, Mockingbird tells us what happened to the real Scout when she grew up. And, just as I always imagined, she grew up to create a wonderful life for herself, her own way.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sheer British, Sheer Fun-- Sheer Abandon
I've never been an Anglophile. Though I enjoy a spot of tea, find British Humor (or Humour) wonderfully entertaining, and found the greatest boot shop in the world in London, I've never put much thought into immersing myself in the culture. I know that may seem odd, as many of my favorite books are written by British authors and set in England (Atonement, Gurnsey Potato Peel, Saturday, One Day, etc...) So, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised that i was so wildly entertained by Sheer Abandon, a novel by Penny Vincenzi. Nonetheless, I found myself rapidly immersed in the story and was genuinely disappointed when I finished the book.
Sheer Abandon is the story of 3 women, Jocasta, Martha and Clio, who meet at age 18 on a post-high school trip to far East. Although they had the best of intentions, they don't remain in contact after their trips and instead meet up again by chance sixteen years later. As is the case in books like these, all three are incredibly successful and beautiful and everyone around them is equally successful and beautiful.
The book was not, in my opinion, very believable. Everyone falls in love, everyone has a happy ending (well, almost everyone...) and everyone makes the right choices at the right time. I usually hate books like these (Jodi Picault, I'm speaking to you) because life doesn't work that way. Actions have consequences and in stories like these, those consequences are always positive. Usually that frustrates me.
For some reason, I liked Sheer Abandon in spite of-- or perhaps because of-- it's flawed positivity. What struck me most about the story was the ability of the characters to forgive and to act so welcomingly towards people they barely knew, or those who had wronged them. As a person who is not easy to get along with and one who expects her friends to give of themselves as much as she is willing to give to them, I found these women to be completely fictionalized. However, for some reason, I was willing to suspend my belief and even my criticism, a feat much more rare than it should be. I liked that these women opened their hearts and their homes to others, I liked that they forgave so quickly and I liked that they so easily empathized. While I normally want to throw the book out the window when I read about characters who are so ridiculously unrealistic, I actually wished to be more like them. I credit Vincenzi; her writing is easy enough that I enjoyed suspending reality for a bit.
Vincenzi also gives us an intimate portrait of London in a way that many other English writers haven't. She immerses the reader so thoroughly in the British culture that I actually found myself telling Andrew that we should put the groceries in the boot of our car. I felt as if I was an official Brit. All of the sudden, I wanted to listen to the BBC and eat blood pudding, well, minus the blood pudding... and the BBC...
The point is- Sheer Abandon will never win awards for it's story line, nor will it change any lives. But, we need books like this from time to time. The opportunity to read a light book that is well written is a welcome change from some of the heavier books out there. I highly enjoyed my literary visit to the UK and recommend you all travel there as well.
Sheer Abandon is the story of 3 women, Jocasta, Martha and Clio, who meet at age 18 on a post-high school trip to far East. Although they had the best of intentions, they don't remain in contact after their trips and instead meet up again by chance sixteen years later. As is the case in books like these, all three are incredibly successful and beautiful and everyone around them is equally successful and beautiful.
The book was not, in my opinion, very believable. Everyone falls in love, everyone has a happy ending (well, almost everyone...) and everyone makes the right choices at the right time. I usually hate books like these (Jodi Picault, I'm speaking to you) because life doesn't work that way. Actions have consequences and in stories like these, those consequences are always positive. Usually that frustrates me.
For some reason, I liked Sheer Abandon in spite of-- or perhaps because of-- it's flawed positivity. What struck me most about the story was the ability of the characters to forgive and to act so welcomingly towards people they barely knew, or those who had wronged them. As a person who is not easy to get along with and one who expects her friends to give of themselves as much as she is willing to give to them, I found these women to be completely fictionalized. However, for some reason, I was willing to suspend my belief and even my criticism, a feat much more rare than it should be. I liked that these women opened their hearts and their homes to others, I liked that they forgave so quickly and I liked that they so easily empathized. While I normally want to throw the book out the window when I read about characters who are so ridiculously unrealistic, I actually wished to be more like them. I credit Vincenzi; her writing is easy enough that I enjoyed suspending reality for a bit.
Vincenzi also gives us an intimate portrait of London in a way that many other English writers haven't. She immerses the reader so thoroughly in the British culture that I actually found myself telling Andrew that we should put the groceries in the boot of our car. I felt as if I was an official Brit. All of the sudden, I wanted to listen to the BBC and eat blood pudding, well, minus the blood pudding... and the BBC...
The point is- Sheer Abandon will never win awards for it's story line, nor will it change any lives. But, we need books like this from time to time. The opportunity to read a light book that is well written is a welcome change from some of the heavier books out there. I highly enjoyed my literary visit to the UK and recommend you all travel there as well.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wowza!!!!-- ROOM
Holy guacamole, what a story!! Sometimes I wonder where these authors come up with the concepts for their books. Emma Donaghue's novel, Room, takes the reader into an incredibly disturbing world but makes her feel completely at home in this world. Donaghue tells a story from the perspective of a 5 year-old boy, Jack. In doing so, we come to view the events that unfold with the same innocence that he does.
Without giving away much of the plot, I can tell you that Jack's world is very small. He knows two people but his universe has many characters. Jack's imagination brings him so far beyond his physical limits that I'd venture to say that he's seen more than I have. His Ma has created for him such a lovely life.
When we discover why Jack's world is so compact, it's hard to maintain a comparable level of optimism and joy for his lifestyle as Jack. But here is the brilliance of Donaghue's writing-- she helps us see clearly; through Jack's eyes, we understand that it's not what but who we have that matters in life.
This novel isn't one in which it's easy to find the bright side. It's a difficult story and doesn't get any easier as circumstances change for Jack and his Ma. But, I think that's necessary-- we live in a 24-hour news cycle culture. We give attention to people's lives only when they're sensational, over the top and dramatic. But, once we've deemed another bit of news more interesting, we move on, we forget, we ignore. But, the original story continues, even without the news coverage. And, sadly, just because the paparazzi have moved on doesn't mean that the drama has ended. Readjusting, rebuilding, renewing one's life is a challenging and difficult task. Unfortunately, it's one that doesn't often allow for much imagination.
Jack's story is powerful and heart-wrenching. It's one that will draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat until you finish. There was actually a moment when I gasped out loud. (Unfortunately, Andrew was asleep at the time and I woke him up. That's a true sign of a good book!!) Read it. And tell me you don't close the cover and say "wowza..."
Without giving away much of the plot, I can tell you that Jack's world is very small. He knows two people but his universe has many characters. Jack's imagination brings him so far beyond his physical limits that I'd venture to say that he's seen more than I have. His Ma has created for him such a lovely life.
When we discover why Jack's world is so compact, it's hard to maintain a comparable level of optimism and joy for his lifestyle as Jack. But here is the brilliance of Donaghue's writing-- she helps us see clearly; through Jack's eyes, we understand that it's not what but who we have that matters in life.
This novel isn't one in which it's easy to find the bright side. It's a difficult story and doesn't get any easier as circumstances change for Jack and his Ma. But, I think that's necessary-- we live in a 24-hour news cycle culture. We give attention to people's lives only when they're sensational, over the top and dramatic. But, once we've deemed another bit of news more interesting, we move on, we forget, we ignore. But, the original story continues, even without the news coverage. And, sadly, just because the paparazzi have moved on doesn't mean that the drama has ended. Readjusting, rebuilding, renewing one's life is a challenging and difficult task. Unfortunately, it's one that doesn't often allow for much imagination.
Jack's story is powerful and heart-wrenching. It's one that will draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat until you finish. There was actually a moment when I gasped out loud. (Unfortunately, Andrew was asleep at the time and I woke him up. That's a true sign of a good book!!) Read it. And tell me you don't close the cover and say "wowza..."
Monday, January 17, 2011
Giving A Damn: GONE WITH THE WIND
GONE WITH THE WIND-- Margaret Mitchell
Scarlett was not a heroine in the traditional sense. She was a strong, intelligent and independent woman. She knew what she wanted, worked hard to accomplish her goals, and achieved finanical and professional success as a result. Yet, she was not likable, kind or someone who evolves into a better person. Throughout the novel, she carries with her a distain for others and remains incredibly unhappy. Let's be fair, few could have endured what Scarlett did and be supremely happy, but Scarlett continued to lose the relationships that mattered most to her as a result of her actions. Scarlett eschewed traditional values in return for financial stability and her relationships suffered as a result. To me, it appears as though Margaret Mitchell created a cautionary tale for all Southern women-- play within the system and you'll be happy. Try to break the rules and you'll regret it.
In many ways, I see pieces of myself in Scarlett. I'm fiercely independent and have always done things my own way. While I adore my friends and family, I do realize that I can be a bit cold sometimes, especially to my mum, my closest ally. While Scarlett was a bit more bold and callus than I'd ever be, I hope I'd have her strength of conviction were I ever faced with similar challenges. Scarlett had many admirable qualities and yet these are what led to her downfall. Mitchell seems to send the message that women should be servile and docile in order to be happy.
Mitchell balances Scarlett's insubordination with Melanie's fierce loyalty to her friends and her Confederacy. Melanie was everything that Scarlett was not-- kind, ladylike, docile, and seemingly weak minded. In reality, we come to discover that Melanie was an incredibly strong woman, but she often chose to hide that strength in order to fit within the order of Southern society. To Melanie, it was more important to be a Southern Lady than to be anything else. Just as Scarlett was wealthy and unhappy, Melanie was rich only in her friendships and was, as a result, happy in many ways. Certainly friends over money is a wonderful concept. However, Mitchell makes it clear that Melanie is intelligent and hard-working. Had she chosen to work outside the home, she could have succeeded in having both money and friends. But, Mitchell's implication seems to be that a lady's place is behind her husband; a lady is to be seen and not heard and she should never act in any way that butts against the values of the South or the norms of a Southern society.
I could go on for many more days about this novel. Mammy, Pork and the other slaves represented such an important historical perspective. So, too, did Rhett. His work in trying to tame Scarlett, in helping her succeed within his own limitations, and his frustrations when she didn't fit in to the mold of a Southern wife, it was reminiscent of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. I have no doubt that Rhett's character could also represent the South as a whole (shunned from its English forefathers, forced to succeed on its own, finally accepted and lauded for its strengths and class.) But, you know, this was Scarlett's story, her chance to stand up against the South and its often backward traditions. So, really, about Rhett, I just don't give a damn.
I have always assumed that a character could not become a staple of popular culture if she were not a heroine. Even Scrooge, miserly though he was at first, ended his miserable night having been redeemed.
Gone With The Wind was, to me, a commentary on the roles of both Southern Norms and Values and of women. I will speak to the latter first.
In many ways, I see pieces of myself in Scarlett. I'm fiercely independent and have always done things my own way. While I adore my friends and family, I do realize that I can be a bit cold sometimes, especially to my mum, my closest ally. While Scarlett was a bit more bold and callus than I'd ever be, I hope I'd have her strength of conviction were I ever faced with similar challenges. Scarlett had many admirable qualities and yet these are what led to her downfall. Mitchell seems to send the message that women should be servile and docile in order to be happy.
Mitchell balances Scarlett's insubordination with Melanie's fierce loyalty to her friends and her Confederacy. Melanie was everything that Scarlett was not-- kind, ladylike, docile, and seemingly weak minded. In reality, we come to discover that Melanie was an incredibly strong woman, but she often chose to hide that strength in order to fit within the order of Southern society. To Melanie, it was more important to be a Southern Lady than to be anything else. Just as Scarlett was wealthy and unhappy, Melanie was rich only in her friendships and was, as a result, happy in many ways. Certainly friends over money is a wonderful concept. However, Mitchell makes it clear that Melanie is intelligent and hard-working. Had she chosen to work outside the home, she could have succeeded in having both money and friends. But, Mitchell's implication seems to be that a lady's place is behind her husband; a lady is to be seen and not heard and she should never act in any way that butts against the values of the South or the norms of a Southern society.
I could go on for many more days about this novel. Mammy, Pork and the other slaves represented such an important historical perspective. So, too, did Rhett. His work in trying to tame Scarlett, in helping her succeed within his own limitations, and his frustrations when she didn't fit in to the mold of a Southern wife, it was reminiscent of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. I have no doubt that Rhett's character could also represent the South as a whole (shunned from its English forefathers, forced to succeed on its own, finally accepted and lauded for its strengths and class.) But, you know, this was Scarlett's story, her chance to stand up against the South and its often backward traditions. So, really, about Rhett, I just don't give a damn.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
"House Rules" Doesn't
House Rules- Jodi Picault
I've always hated to admit that I've been a Jodi Picault fan. Even though she's no Danielle Steele, I always feel somewhat ashamed that I am reading such formulaic and predictable writing. To me, a Picault book embodies Chick Lit, and not very original Lit at that. Each story is the same-- there is some issue, usually somewhat controversial, there's usually a single mother (for the romance angle), and there's always a twist. That said, The Pact was a fun, albeit sad, read and 19 Minutes was an incredibly good story.
Her latest book, House Rules, received a bit more publicity than some of her others. The main character, Jacob, has Asperger's Syndrome and Picault's illumination of the Autism Spectrum created a lot of interest within the educational community. Knowing very little about the Spectrum, I was intrigued.
Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to the hype. I was actually quite disappointed and, after a few weeks of reflection, I've narrowed down my frustrations into three categories: Predictability, Problematic Characters, and Inaccuracies.
First, Picault has become much too reliant on her formulary. It's really not enjoyable reading a book knowing that there will be a twist but it's even worse when you figure that twist out super early in the story. Good books are about characters and plot; I was too busy noticing the various hints to really enjoy the story.
Of course, the story wasn't very good, mostly because the characters were really annoying. Jacob himself was fine, I suppose. Having no familiarity with Aspergians, I can't say whether or not Picault created a realistic character. Having familiarity with overprotective and annoying mothers (no, not my own. I'm speaking in general, as there are many out there...) I can state with certainty that Jacob's mother, Emma, was the poster child for overprotective and annoying. She coddled her son, ignored her other child, used Jacob's syndrome as a crutch, fought when she should have listened, and stayed silent when she should have tried to fight. I know that I'm neither perfect nor a mother, but I truly hated Emma. Thus, I spent a great deal of my time yelling at the book and telling Emma how stupid she is! Due to the fact that I often read books in public places, Emma's stupidity was a problem not just for me, but for everyone around me!
Lastly, the story focuses on a murder and how the police proceed. For the three of you who may still want to read the book, I won't give you details. But, I will say that I've watched enough Law and Order to know that Picault's police and district attorney were far more lenient on the suspects than would have been the case. Charges of Obstruction, Hindering Prosecution, Breaking and Entering and many others would have been leveled at the suspects. Because she chose to put plot points above accuracy, Picault lost my respect.
So, what it comes down to is this: 19 Minutes rules. House Rules doesn't...
I've always hated to admit that I've been a Jodi Picault fan. Even though she's no Danielle Steele, I always feel somewhat ashamed that I am reading such formulaic and predictable writing. To me, a Picault book embodies Chick Lit, and not very original Lit at that. Each story is the same-- there is some issue, usually somewhat controversial, there's usually a single mother (for the romance angle), and there's always a twist. That said, The Pact was a fun, albeit sad, read and 19 Minutes was an incredibly good story.
Her latest book, House Rules, received a bit more publicity than some of her others. The main character, Jacob, has Asperger's Syndrome and Picault's illumination of the Autism Spectrum created a lot of interest within the educational community. Knowing very little about the Spectrum, I was intrigued.
Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to the hype. I was actually quite disappointed and, after a few weeks of reflection, I've narrowed down my frustrations into three categories: Predictability, Problematic Characters, and Inaccuracies.
First, Picault has become much too reliant on her formulary. It's really not enjoyable reading a book knowing that there will be a twist but it's even worse when you figure that twist out super early in the story. Good books are about characters and plot; I was too busy noticing the various hints to really enjoy the story.
Of course, the story wasn't very good, mostly because the characters were really annoying. Jacob himself was fine, I suppose. Having no familiarity with Aspergians, I can't say whether or not Picault created a realistic character. Having familiarity with overprotective and annoying mothers (no, not my own. I'm speaking in general, as there are many out there...) I can state with certainty that Jacob's mother, Emma, was the poster child for overprotective and annoying. She coddled her son, ignored her other child, used Jacob's syndrome as a crutch, fought when she should have listened, and stayed silent when she should have tried to fight. I know that I'm neither perfect nor a mother, but I truly hated Emma. Thus, I spent a great deal of my time yelling at the book and telling Emma how stupid she is! Due to the fact that I often read books in public places, Emma's stupidity was a problem not just for me, but for everyone around me!
Lastly, the story focuses on a murder and how the police proceed. For the three of you who may still want to read the book, I won't give you details. But, I will say that I've watched enough Law and Order to know that Picault's police and district attorney were far more lenient on the suspects than would have been the case. Charges of Obstruction, Hindering Prosecution, Breaking and Entering and many others would have been leveled at the suspects. Because she chose to put plot points above accuracy, Picault lost my respect.
So, what it comes down to is this: 19 Minutes rules. House Rules doesn't...
Friday, January 7, 2011
Exceptionally Good Book-- Water for Elephants
Water for Elephants -- Sara Gruen
It happens once every few years- the planets align just so and the result is that I err. I know, I know, you're shocked. But, rest assured, it really is a rare occurrence. Some examples of my errors are as follows: "John Edwards seems like a really great family guy." Or, "Facebook is stupid- only 16 year old high school girls use it." Or, my personal favorite "this dog is so sweet. I'm sure it won't disrupt our lives too much to give Copper a little sister..." What makes this particular case rare is that it was a double whammy-- on one single day I made TWO mistakes: I decided that I really HAD to have a bologna sandwich, even though I had a really bad stomach flu, and I thought that I'd not be at all interested in a book about the circus. On the bright side, at least when I'm wrong, I'm really wrong!!
Water For Elephants is Jacob's story as he tells it from his nursing home seventy years later. It's a love story, but not a traditional one. Jacob loves Marlena, yes, but also Rosie, Bobo, Camel, Queenie, Silver Star, and so many others. Suddenly thrust into the role of veterinarian of a second-rate circus during the Depression, Jacob finds himself learning about life in a very unusual manner. Like many of us, Jacob finished college not at all certain of who he was or what he wanted. Unlike most of us, though, he stowed away on a train car and changed the track of his future (pun fully intended.) During his summer with the Benzini Brothers circus, Jacob discovers the depth of his character, learns what makes a person strong, and, most importantly, what makes someone good. Perhaps the best lesson Jacob learns, though, is that words matter but not nearly as much as actions. My mother always said that pretty is as pretty does-- Jacob learns about true beauty.
Jacob's 90 (or 93, he doesn't know for sure) year-old self yearns for the days of his youth. Yet, he doesn't seek to return to legs that can sprint or to delicious steak dinners, though he misses both. He wants to relive the joy that comes from surrounding himself with love. As I sit here with Copper to my right, Ramona to my left and Andrew on the couch across from me, I can understand his desire. There is nothing more special than the love of family, regardless of what species make up that family. I may not ever eat bologna again, but about this, I am certain I'm not wrong.
It happens once every few years- the planets align just so and the result is that I err. I know, I know, you're shocked. But, rest assured, it really is a rare occurrence. Some examples of my errors are as follows: "John Edwards seems like a really great family guy." Or, "Facebook is stupid- only 16 year old high school girls use it." Or, my personal favorite "this dog is so sweet. I'm sure it won't disrupt our lives too much to give Copper a little sister..." What makes this particular case rare is that it was a double whammy-- on one single day I made TWO mistakes: I decided that I really HAD to have a bologna sandwich, even though I had a really bad stomach flu, and I thought that I'd not be at all interested in a book about the circus. On the bright side, at least when I'm wrong, I'm really wrong!!
Water For Elephants is Jacob's story as he tells it from his nursing home seventy years later. It's a love story, but not a traditional one. Jacob loves Marlena, yes, but also Rosie, Bobo, Camel, Queenie, Silver Star, and so many others. Suddenly thrust into the role of veterinarian of a second-rate circus during the Depression, Jacob finds himself learning about life in a very unusual manner. Like many of us, Jacob finished college not at all certain of who he was or what he wanted. Unlike most of us, though, he stowed away on a train car and changed the track of his future (pun fully intended.) During his summer with the Benzini Brothers circus, Jacob discovers the depth of his character, learns what makes a person strong, and, most importantly, what makes someone good. Perhaps the best lesson Jacob learns, though, is that words matter but not nearly as much as actions. My mother always said that pretty is as pretty does-- Jacob learns about true beauty.
Jacob's 90 (or 93, he doesn't know for sure) year-old self yearns for the days of his youth. Yet, he doesn't seek to return to legs that can sprint or to delicious steak dinners, though he misses both. He wants to relive the joy that comes from surrounding himself with love. As I sit here with Copper to my right, Ramona to my left and Andrew on the couch across from me, I can understand his desire. There is nothing more special than the love of family, regardless of what species make up that family. I may not ever eat bologna again, but about this, I am certain I'm not wrong.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Too Many Books, Too Little Time!!!!
It's been a while since I posted, but not since I last finished a delicious book! Because I've read so many lately, I decided to give you a quick update on all there is to read out there.
So, below are a series of books I've read recently. After each, you'll find two letter grades- one for the quality of the writing and one for the quality of the story. Those that received good grades earned themselves dedicated blog posts in the near future. Also, I've put stars next to the ones I suggest you read first. Enjoy!
After the Fall, Kylie Ladd-- Writing: B, Story: B+
Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of your Common Cold, Jennifer Ackerman-- Writing: A, Story: A
The Company She Keeps, Georgia Durante-- Writing B-, Story: A
Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell-- Writing: A, Story: A
**The Help, Kathryn Stockett-- Writing: A, Story: A
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced, Nujood Ali-- Writing: B, Story: A
I Know This Much Is True, Wally Lamb-- Writing: A, Story: A
**I'd Know You Anywhere: A Novel, Laura Lippman-- Writing: B+, Story: A
**Little Bee, Chris Cleve-- Writing: B+, Story: A
A Question of Attraction: A Novel, David Nicholls-- Writing: A-, Story: B
**Room: A Novel, Emma Donoghue-- Writing: A, Story: A
A Scattered Life, Karen McQuestion-- Writing: B, Story: B
A Secret Kept, Tatian de Rosnay-- Writing: A-, Story: B+
Solar, Ian McEwan-- Writing: A, Story: C
Summer at Tiffany, Marjorie Hart-- Writing: B, Story: B+
The Understudy: A Novel, David Nicholls-- Writing: B+, Story: B
******** Water for Elephants: A Novel, Sara Gruen-- Writing: A, Story: A+
Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher-- Writing: B, Story: A-
So, below are a series of books I've read recently. After each, you'll find two letter grades- one for the quality of the writing and one for the quality of the story. Those that received good grades earned themselves dedicated blog posts in the near future. Also, I've put stars next to the ones I suggest you read first. Enjoy!
After the Fall, Kylie Ladd-- Writing: B, Story: B+
Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of your Common Cold, Jennifer Ackerman-- Writing: A, Story: A
The Company She Keeps, Georgia Durante-- Writing B-, Story: A
Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell-- Writing: A, Story: A
**The Help, Kathryn Stockett-- Writing: A, Story: A
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced, Nujood Ali-- Writing: B, Story: A
I Know This Much Is True, Wally Lamb-- Writing: A, Story: A
**I'd Know You Anywhere: A Novel, Laura Lippman-- Writing: B+, Story: A
**Little Bee, Chris Cleve-- Writing: B+, Story: A
A Question of Attraction: A Novel, David Nicholls-- Writing: A-, Story: B
**Room: A Novel, Emma Donoghue-- Writing: A, Story: A
A Scattered Life, Karen McQuestion-- Writing: B, Story: B
A Secret Kept, Tatian de Rosnay-- Writing: A-, Story: B+
Solar, Ian McEwan-- Writing: A, Story: C
Summer at Tiffany, Marjorie Hart-- Writing: B, Story: B+
The Understudy: A Novel, David Nicholls-- Writing: B+, Story: B
******** Water for Elephants: A Novel, Sara Gruen-- Writing: A, Story: A+
Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher-- Writing: B, Story: A-
Monday, December 13, 2010
No Dragon Tattoos Here-- THE ICE PRINCESS
THE ICE PRINCESS-- Camilla Lackberg
As is apparently everyone and their mother (except MY mother who would HATE them!) I am a huge fan of the Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson. I loved the characters, was enthralled by the drama, and found myself constantly trying to solve the mysteries-- though usually inaccurately, as I decided that Larsson had thrown us off and that Berger was the real bad guy! (And, no, that is NOT a spoiler alert...) The problem with a great series is that it must come to an end. As with The Spellman Books, I really hate saying goodbye to my new BFFs, or, in the case of Salander, to the crazy chick that kinda scares me!
To that end, I was thrilled to discover Camilla Lackberg's The Ice Princess. Lackberg is also a Swedish crime novelist. So, just as all American authors of the same genre write the same stories (I often confuse the works of Louisa May Alcott and Danielle Steele, don't you??) I figured this book would easily fill the void left by Salander's departure.
Obviously, I was wrong. Lackberg isn't Danielle Steele, but she writes a much less enthralling story than does Larsson. To put it in context, my mother could read this book. She's also not quite as strong of a writer as Larsson. That said, I really enjoyed this book and was very happy with the follow up, The Preacher, as well. Her mysteries are solvable, but interesting. Her story lines are well plotted and her characters are well developed.
The title character in the first book is a woman named Alex who is found dead (and, as you'd expect, frozen) in her small town on the Swedish coast. The book attempts to find out who killed her and why. Much of the story actually focuses on Alex's childhood best friend, Erica, who is kind, generous, and good. She is an infinitely more likable character than Salander, though not nearly as interesting.
I'll leave the plot there for you to discover on your own. This book and it's companion aren't going to change your world, make you laugh or become classics. But, they're good and hearty, will fill you up and satisfy. Much like a Swedish meatball...
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sarah Silverman writes a book and I'm not in it...
THE BEDWETTER: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee-- Sarah Silverman
This past summer, our dear friends got married in Nantucket. While wandering around the island the morning of the wedding, we ran into Sarah Silverman. In fact, I showed her where to get coffee (yeah, I'm just that cool...) She was kind, personable and very self-deprecating. I totally wanted to be her BFF!
So, I was so excited to read her memoir, The Bedwetter. Given what I knew of her, I was fully prepared for a book fully of references to bathroom habits, funny noises and dirty jokes. What I got instead was an honest and fulfilling review of Sarah's youth and a commentary on the major events that have taken place in her life to date.
Don't get me wrong- the book was hilarious! She begins with a foreward written by, yup, Sarah Silverman. She states how honored she was when she asked herself to write the foreward of her book. She says she's always been a fan of her work and was so excited to be a part of her own book. I laughed out loud throughout.
More than that, though, I got to learn more about what made Sarah into the witty, sharp and pottymouthed woman she is. She focused on many childhood issues that most of us would still be too embarrassed to talk about. For example, she wet the bed. It was an issue she struggled with until she was a teenager. But, rather than allow the incident to define who she was, she chose to make it only a part of her. Obviously, it's hard to be social when you fear you'll have an accident any time there's a sleep-over party. It's challenging to make friends when you're carrying an embarrassing secret. But, Sarah's humor wasn't a defense mechanism; she was funny before she had a secret. As a result, her humor is, I think, deeper and more thoughtful. Sarah's humor doesn't try to hide facets of her being, but instead illuminates aspects of her life-- and ours-- that are silly or inexplicable.
Because many comedians turn to comedy as a means of coping, it's assumed that they develop fairly thick skin. And, frankly, I've come to believe that many are kind of mean-- the world's been unkind to them, so they're unkind in return. Sarah's memoir reminds us that she doesn't have the layer of armor that many of her peers do, probably because she has enjoyed a fairly normal, stable and, usually, a happy life. While that makes her fabulous and a great candidate for a BFF, it also means that the cruelties that can accompany fame hit her harder than some. Because Sarah doesn't aim to be mean or to hurt anyone, she has a fairly deep reaction when someone is offended by her acts. It's not that she's weak, she simply comes to comedy from a different perspective.
Sarah doesn't aim to be a role model and she didn't write the book to boast about all that's she's accomplished. In many ways, I think she wrote the book as an explanation-- this is what I am and this is why I've done what I've done. She writes about her highs and lows, her disappointments, and her proudest achievements. Hers is an immensely fun and readable story from a truly funny person... who really should be my BFF!
This past summer, our dear friends got married in Nantucket. While wandering around the island the morning of the wedding, we ran into Sarah Silverman. In fact, I showed her where to get coffee (yeah, I'm just that cool...) She was kind, personable and very self-deprecating. I totally wanted to be her BFF!
So, I was so excited to read her memoir, The Bedwetter. Given what I knew of her, I was fully prepared for a book fully of references to bathroom habits, funny noises and dirty jokes. What I got instead was an honest and fulfilling review of Sarah's youth and a commentary on the major events that have taken place in her life to date.
Don't get me wrong- the book was hilarious! She begins with a foreward written by, yup, Sarah Silverman. She states how honored she was when she asked herself to write the foreward of her book. She says she's always been a fan of her work and was so excited to be a part of her own book. I laughed out loud throughout.
More than that, though, I got to learn more about what made Sarah into the witty, sharp and pottymouthed woman she is. She focused on many childhood issues that most of us would still be too embarrassed to talk about. For example, she wet the bed. It was an issue she struggled with until she was a teenager. But, rather than allow the incident to define who she was, she chose to make it only a part of her. Obviously, it's hard to be social when you fear you'll have an accident any time there's a sleep-over party. It's challenging to make friends when you're carrying an embarrassing secret. But, Sarah's humor wasn't a defense mechanism; she was funny before she had a secret. As a result, her humor is, I think, deeper and more thoughtful. Sarah's humor doesn't try to hide facets of her being, but instead illuminates aspects of her life-- and ours-- that are silly or inexplicable.
Because many comedians turn to comedy as a means of coping, it's assumed that they develop fairly thick skin. And, frankly, I've come to believe that many are kind of mean-- the world's been unkind to them, so they're unkind in return. Sarah's memoir reminds us that she doesn't have the layer of armor that many of her peers do, probably because she has enjoyed a fairly normal, stable and, usually, a happy life. While that makes her fabulous and a great candidate for a BFF, it also means that the cruelties that can accompany fame hit her harder than some. Because Sarah doesn't aim to be mean or to hurt anyone, she has a fairly deep reaction when someone is offended by her acts. It's not that she's weak, she simply comes to comedy from a different perspective.
Sarah doesn't aim to be a role model and she didn't write the book to boast about all that's she's accomplished. In many ways, I think she wrote the book as an explanation-- this is what I am and this is why I've done what I've done. She writes about her highs and lows, her disappointments, and her proudest achievements. Hers is an immensely fun and readable story from a truly funny person... who really should be my BFF!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Death by Disease and Indecision: NEMESIS- Philip Roth
NEMESIS -- Philip Roth
I get a flu shot every year and I'm addicted to hand sanitizer. I never share drinks or eat off someone else's plate and I keep my house clean. But, what if that weren't enough? What if I could get sick just by walking outside? What if I didn't know where the threats were and how to avoid them? Can you imagine how terrifying life would be if we weren't able to protect ourselves from invisible, microbiotic killers?
Philip Roth could. In his latest novel, he imagines what would have happened if there had been a Polio outbreak in Newark during the Summer of 1944. Roth has an interesting set of writing habits. He often writes from the perspective of the same omniscient protagonist, Nathan Zuckerman, and always writes about Jewish communities, typically in New Jersey. Though Zuckerman doesn't make an appearance in this book, the Jewish section of Newark is the epicenter of the story. This time, the protagonist is a student at the Weequahic Middle School who, along with many of his playmates, contracts polio.
The story focuses on the gym teacher, Mr. Cantor, and his experiences that summer. Mr. Cantor has terrible vision and, therefore, wasn't able to head off to the war. He berates himself for his imperfections and feels considerable guilt at not joining his peers in fighting for his country. He's further tormented by the polio outbreak and his inability to save his students.
To me, the book's title reflects not only the polio virus, but also our own internal enemies. We all have visions for ourselves, goals, expectations that are sometimes too high to achieve. We can put such pressure on ourselves that we lose sight of reality and of who we are. We become so bogged down in evaluating our past decisions that we can lose sight of what's ahead. In fact, our whole future can be redirected because we lose the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
There are some inevitable facts in life. There will be diseases. People will get sick. Good people will be taken from us much too soon. But, we cannot allow our fear of sickness to prevent us from living our lives to the fullest. We cannot spend more time reviewing our past than living in our present. We all make choices that we regret later. But, if we don't accept our mistakes and move forward, we will ruin ourselves. We will become our own nemesis.
I get a flu shot every year and I'm addicted to hand sanitizer. I never share drinks or eat off someone else's plate and I keep my house clean. But, what if that weren't enough? What if I could get sick just by walking outside? What if I didn't know where the threats were and how to avoid them? Can you imagine how terrifying life would be if we weren't able to protect ourselves from invisible, microbiotic killers?
Philip Roth could. In his latest novel, he imagines what would have happened if there had been a Polio outbreak in Newark during the Summer of 1944. Roth has an interesting set of writing habits. He often writes from the perspective of the same omniscient protagonist, Nathan Zuckerman, and always writes about Jewish communities, typically in New Jersey. Though Zuckerman doesn't make an appearance in this book, the Jewish section of Newark is the epicenter of the story. This time, the protagonist is a student at the Weequahic Middle School who, along with many of his playmates, contracts polio.
The story focuses on the gym teacher, Mr. Cantor, and his experiences that summer. Mr. Cantor has terrible vision and, therefore, wasn't able to head off to the war. He berates himself for his imperfections and feels considerable guilt at not joining his peers in fighting for his country. He's further tormented by the polio outbreak and his inability to save his students.
To me, the book's title reflects not only the polio virus, but also our own internal enemies. We all have visions for ourselves, goals, expectations that are sometimes too high to achieve. We can put such pressure on ourselves that we lose sight of reality and of who we are. We become so bogged down in evaluating our past decisions that we can lose sight of what's ahead. In fact, our whole future can be redirected because we lose the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
There are some inevitable facts in life. There will be diseases. People will get sick. Good people will be taken from us much too soon. But, we cannot allow our fear of sickness to prevent us from living our lives to the fullest. We cannot spend more time reviewing our past than living in our present. We all make choices that we regret later. But, if we don't accept our mistakes and move forward, we will ruin ourselves. We will become our own nemesis.
Friday, November 5, 2010
A Book For Fa To Read: Indignation- Philip Roth
INDIGNATION -- Philip Roth
Many years ago, I read Philip Roth's delicious novel, The Human Stain. I loved everything about it, the premise, the writing, the characters, the twists, everything. Since then, I've found myself diving head first into multiple Roth novels, only to discover the water too shallow for me to immerse myself completely. That is- no other Roth novel has captured me like The Human Stain.
My Fa says that I don't write about books that appeal to him, so I decided to give Roth another try. This time, I chose Indignation. Marcus is a kosher butcher's son from Jersey who leaves home for a small midwest college. The story chronicles his year at the school.
All Roth books deal with some heavy concepts. This one studied the fears an American young man faced during the Korean war. It was a fairly simple choice-- go to college or go to war. But, for Marcus, there were other issues at play. Like all of us, Marcus was learning about himself through his interactions with others. Like all of us, Marcus found college to be an awakening; the world was so much more than he'd ever imagined in his Newark neighborhood.
Of course, discovering the world can be a bit daunting and, sadly, can often be quite disappointing. The crux of the novel focuses on that disappointment. I won't give away details, but suffice it to say the novel doesn't end happily.
I can't say I loved this book. I can't even say I liked it. It was one of those books that leaves a feeling of discomfort in the pit of your stomach. It's heavy and challenging and more realistic in its evaluation of life and personality. But, I think sometimes its good to read a book that will push me out of my comfort zone. Such novels make me question myself-- do I have as much conviction as someone like Marcus? Do I want to have as much passion, however misguided Marcus may be, for certain issues? I honestly don't know. But, that's why I keep reading Roth's books.
Many years ago, I read Philip Roth's delicious novel, The Human Stain. I loved everything about it, the premise, the writing, the characters, the twists, everything. Since then, I've found myself diving head first into multiple Roth novels, only to discover the water too shallow for me to immerse myself completely. That is- no other Roth novel has captured me like The Human Stain.
My Fa says that I don't write about books that appeal to him, so I decided to give Roth another try. This time, I chose Indignation. Marcus is a kosher butcher's son from Jersey who leaves home for a small midwest college. The story chronicles his year at the school.
All Roth books deal with some heavy concepts. This one studied the fears an American young man faced during the Korean war. It was a fairly simple choice-- go to college or go to war. But, for Marcus, there were other issues at play. Like all of us, Marcus was learning about himself through his interactions with others. Like all of us, Marcus found college to be an awakening; the world was so much more than he'd ever imagined in his Newark neighborhood.
Of course, discovering the world can be a bit daunting and, sadly, can often be quite disappointing. The crux of the novel focuses on that disappointment. I won't give away details, but suffice it to say the novel doesn't end happily.
I can't say I loved this book. I can't even say I liked it. It was one of those books that leaves a feeling of discomfort in the pit of your stomach. It's heavy and challenging and more realistic in its evaluation of life and personality. But, I think sometimes its good to read a book that will push me out of my comfort zone. Such novels make me question myself-- do I have as much conviction as someone like Marcus? Do I want to have as much passion, however misguided Marcus may be, for certain issues? I honestly don't know. But, that's why I keep reading Roth's books.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Little Bee
LITTLE BEE: A Novel -- Chris Cleave
I had a bad day on Wednesday. Someone was mean to me and it hurt my feelings. I wanted to wallow in self-pity and self-doubt and lament over how terrible life was. I climbed into bed early that evening and picked up my new book, Little Bee. I decided a story about a Nigerian girl and the British couple she met on the beach would be a nice escape for the misery that was my life.
Two days later, I am ashamed at how selfish and self-centered I am. After reading Little Bee's story, I am reminded about the real horrors of life and, more importantly, the true heros whose stories we may never know. We've been taught to believe that a hero must be larger than life; he must save the world in some outrageous gesture that lands him on the cover of People Magazine. To us, heros are people who end up with book deals, Dateline specials and a reality show (not to mention a Lifetime movie...) We reward heros, we laud their moment of action and grace, we place them on pedestals as an example of what we all should aspire to be.
Little Bee will never be a cover model. She will never be the Emcee of an awards show, she'll never walk the Red Carpet at the Espys. (I should probably point out that, yes, I realize that she is a fictional character. But, she represents so many nameless refugees whose stories have yet to be discovered.) Yet, Little Bee is a heroine. I don't want to give you any details of the story because I really want you to read the book with an open mind, as I did. But, I will say this- there are those who look at their situation and become overwhelmed. They turn in on themselves and allow whatever hardships face them to defeat them. Then there are those who accept the challenge their struggles present, who rise to face them head on, who survive. Little Bee survives.
If Little Bee and I were to trade places, I know I would not survive. And, I know, too, that Little Bee would look at my Wednesday and be grateful for all that she has- a wonderful husband who loves her, great friends, the world's best dog. It's so easy to look at all the negative in life, to focus on the mean people and the rainy weather. Little Bee doesn't ignore these facets of life, she simply chooses to accept them for what they are and to move on. Her strength comes from this acceptance and from her ability to make her own choices. Little Bee creates her fate instead of allowing others to do so. In that way, she teaches us what it truly means to live.
I had a bad day on Wednesday. Someone was mean to me and it hurt my feelings. I wanted to wallow in self-pity and self-doubt and lament over how terrible life was. I climbed into bed early that evening and picked up my new book, Little Bee. I decided a story about a Nigerian girl and the British couple she met on the beach would be a nice escape for the misery that was my life.
Two days later, I am ashamed at how selfish and self-centered I am. After reading Little Bee's story, I am reminded about the real horrors of life and, more importantly, the true heros whose stories we may never know. We've been taught to believe that a hero must be larger than life; he must save the world in some outrageous gesture that lands him on the cover of People Magazine. To us, heros are people who end up with book deals, Dateline specials and a reality show (not to mention a Lifetime movie...) We reward heros, we laud their moment of action and grace, we place them on pedestals as an example of what we all should aspire to be.
Little Bee will never be a cover model. She will never be the Emcee of an awards show, she'll never walk the Red Carpet at the Espys. (I should probably point out that, yes, I realize that she is a fictional character. But, she represents so many nameless refugees whose stories have yet to be discovered.) Yet, Little Bee is a heroine. I don't want to give you any details of the story because I really want you to read the book with an open mind, as I did. But, I will say this- there are those who look at their situation and become overwhelmed. They turn in on themselves and allow whatever hardships face them to defeat them. Then there are those who accept the challenge their struggles present, who rise to face them head on, who survive. Little Bee survives.
If Little Bee and I were to trade places, I know I would not survive. And, I know, too, that Little Bee would look at my Wednesday and be grateful for all that she has- a wonderful husband who loves her, great friends, the world's best dog. It's so easy to look at all the negative in life, to focus on the mean people and the rainy weather. Little Bee doesn't ignore these facets of life, she simply chooses to accept them for what they are and to move on. Her strength comes from this acceptance and from her ability to make her own choices. Little Bee creates her fate instead of allowing others to do so. In that way, she teaches us what it truly means to live.
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