A Handmaid's Tale

Rating: Four stars

It turns out that I have an emerging love for dystopian novels, and I could not get enough of this book.  Atwood's tale was totally believable, totally horrifying, and extremely creative.  Imagine if the most right-wing extremist Christian sect you can think of took over the U.S. government in one fell swoop, relegated women to "their place", and on top of everything, there was a global fertility problem.  The solution being for the few fertile women that existed to be made Handmaids, and  given to the leaders and their wives.  My overly succinct summary does not do it justice!  I promise it's worth reading.

A Clash of Kings

Rating: Four Stars

I really liked this second book in Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series.  I have to say I didn't love it quite as much as the first one...there was a lot of setup and not as much action, which isn't always bad, but for a book this long I felt like there needed to be a little more balance of that.  That said, the action that WAS there was beyond stellar (the ships on the river and the hellfire!), and of course the character development is beyond compare.  I also like the bits of fantasy he weaves in, it is still so lightly dealt with, I am interested to see if the fantasy (magic) becomes a bigger deal as I keep reading.  Because keep reading I most definitely will - though I will take these in stride as they are all epic tomes!

The Stranger

Rating: Three Stars

This book was not at all what I thought it was about.  But after spending almost the entire reading time with a look of consternation on my face, I did end up liking it, quite a lot.  It helped also to discuss it with my sister.  I mostly like that it showed what it would be like to live life in such a different way - which is exactly the whole idea of the existential movement of that time.  It also helped to attempt to put it in context and remember the place and timeframe it was written in - which was France right at the beginning of WWII when the Germans were starting to occupy there.  But the main character's apathetic and almost sociopathic behavior was what was most fascinating...especially if compared to the things that made him actually have an emotional reaction, as he did toward the end.  Along those lines, here is one of my favorite quotes, showing off Camus' beautiful writing:  

(spoiler alert, stop here if you don't want a hint at the ending)

"As if that blind rage has washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, I that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much life myself - so like a brother, really - I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate."

Beatrice and Virgil

Rating: Two Stars

It was ok.  I really liked Life of Pi, so Yann Martel's new book seemed an easy one to throw to the list of books to read for our book club.  Unfortunately this book left me with an unpleasant, dark, sad, unsatisfied feeling.  For several sections of the book I felt confused and in sometimes outright bored…not sure where he was going or why, but often disturbed by some of the imagery of violence to animals.  Note - I had not looked up the story, the plot or anything about it, and casually disregarded some of the early foreshadowing in the story.

I liked the main character, which seemed perhaps a literary avatar for Martel, so I was willing to go with him on this weird, seemingly random journey to hang out with an antisocial taxidermist who's writing a bizarre play about a donkey and a howler monkey (Beatrice and Virgil).  Toward the end, as the ultimate meaning and direction he was going started to dawn on me, I began to brace myself.  I don't particularly enjoy something as awful as the Holocaust sneaking up on me - preferring instead to be given the chance to gear up for the desperateness of the event.  This is not to shy away from it (because it  should be faced), but merely for a little protection of the mental and emotional jarring experienced with going from lightheartedness to evil.

That said, I believe I understand his point (survival during evil times, and a unique perspective of the Holocaust), and thus why he did it.  As it all came together the book did have more meaning, and I will say it was craftily done (which is why it isn't getting one star). The other positives are his ability to turn out truly beautiful sentences and compositions….and I really did like Beatrice the donkey and Virgil the howler monkey.  But the last fifth of the book is extremely dark - visiting both the evils of the Holocaust, and then a deeply unsatisfying disconnected climax with no resolution…at least for me.  Again, I understand that such an ending is the literary device he chose to use to illustrate his idea….but such is not my cup of tea.  I suspect if I had known it was about the Holocaust from the beginning, I would have been able to appreciate it a little bit more, given the art and allegory used to craft the tale.  But too late.

The Joy Luck Club

Rating: Three and a Half Stars

I know this book has been out for some time, so I'm a little late to the party.  But I really quite liked it.  It took me a while to get into it…but I ultimately really loved the stories of mothers and daughters - how they saw the world so differently.  The stories of the mothers growing up in China and then having children here in America, and then the daughters that were raised here, not understanding their mothers.  There are many beautiful and heart wrenching stories, but I appreciate how the stories were told, seemingly random but ultimately tying the stories of mothers and daughters together in a beautiful way.  I also really enjoyed reading the mothers' stories, how the they see the world is beautiful, unique and proud.  It was in many ways inspiring.  I also have to say Amy Tan does an amazing job telling the stories though such specifically distinct voices - old and young - old world and new world.  Beautifully written.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

Rating:  Three Stars.

I recently saw David Sedaris live and laughed my ass off.  So funny.  I thought I would give yet another of his books a try, thanks to the recommendation of a friend.  This one was good, it made me laugh out loud often, and I loved that it was so much about his family and growing up years.  I loved the smoking chapter as well.  Some of the stories are hit or miss for me, but I'm glad I read it.

Bossypants - Tina Fey

I've always really liked Tina Fey, and I really enjoyed her book.  She is a mother, a writer, an actress, a wife, and she describes it all.  She made me laugh out loud several times - I loved her easy writing style and total honesty.  It was a fascinating look into the world she works in, and I totally loved her insights into her family.  There were certain parts of the book that felt a little forced, but I still really enjoyed reading it.  Three and a half stars!

Angel of Darkness

Not quite as good as his first one (The Alienist) but Carr still wrote a thoroughly enjoyable sequel.  Reaffirming the 1890s as one of my favorite time periods, I love how he weaves in the history, politics, and peoples of the time in with such dark mysteries and discoveries.  I loved that it focused on a woman as the villain, given that was so unheard of at the time.  I really enjoyed it and gave it another four stars!

ROOM

I read this today in one sitting. I couldn't put it down...literally. I loved this little five-year-old boy and Ms. Donoghue did an amazing job telling the story entirely from his perspective. This little boy only knows his Room because he and his mother are being held captive there...but he doesn't know anything is wrong, he just knows he lives in Room, sleeps in Wardrobe, and eats at Table. The story of the mother and son is beautiful, even though it's sad. Being with him as he learned and processed everything that happened was the best part for me....it was rather eye-opening. I gave this book 4 stars.

The Help

This book made me soar. It is full of awful and sad things, but more importantly, inspiring and beautiful things. Once I got going, I couldn't put it down. The story Ms. Stockett weaves between the black and white women in the Mississippi of 1964 is phenomenal. I was touched reading about each of their lives, each different and yet similar, each struggling with their own personal issues underneath the heavy strain of a separatist state. I loved the small steps toward enlightenment taken on all sides of the main characters…watching them have those revelatory thoughts and moments that made them (and me) grow. Then watching those small but important thoughts lead to small but important actions was thrilling. I am quite attached to a few of the characters and wish I could read more about them right this minute, even though I just finished it! This book deserves every one of the five stars I gave it.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary

Weird, hilarious, upsetting, confusing, creative and awesome. That's pretty much this little book in a nutshell, David Sedaris' books keep doing that to me. But I think that is how they are designed! He always keeps me guessing and while sometimes it is clear he is making a social commentary, sometimes he makes me snort with laughter. Well, I don't really snort, but I do laugh out loud. I have to say that while a little unnerving at times, it was fun to read about all of these symptoms of society from the viewpoint of these crazy animals. I gave this book 3 stars.

Good In Bed

I found this book fun and refreshing. The main character is a plus-size woman, which is just flat out unusual, but very welcome. I enjoyed her point of view on life, and was hooked by her likable, funny, quirky personality. I cared about her, felt for her, related to her, and desperately wanted things to end well for her. I won't tell you if they do, but I will tell you it was a totally satisfying and enjoyable read. Perfect for a day at the beach, which is exactly where I read most of it! I gave this book 4 stars.

The Bell Jar

I was really glad that I read this so close to The Catcher In The Rye. Their stories are similar, only this is a female version of the confessional type story. Only in m opinion this one is a little bit more tragic as it follows the main character's mental break with reality. Even more sad that it is semi-autobiographical and Ms. Plath ended up taking her own life. But I found her journey still compelling - a young woman, achingly trying to figure things out in that society and for herself, another example of just how hard that can be. It was also pretty interesting to read of the practice of psychiatry at the time. Once she got around to describing what the title meant in relation to the story, the bell jar became one of my favorite literary images. I won't spoil it, but do think it could apply to everyone in one way or another, not just those with mental illness. All in all, a very worthwhile read.

The Catcher In The Rye

This book was not at all what I thought would be. All I knew going into it was how controversial it was, that it is still high up on the banned list, and was carried by the assassin who killed John Lennon when he fired the deadly shot. Given all that, I expected something totally outrageous, borderline (if not outright) offensive, and practically a promoter of anarchy. I was pleasantly surprised - to me, it was none of these things.

What it turned out to be is a well-written, funny, realistic and relatable story of male teenage angst and desperation in 1950s New York. I really quite liked Holden Caulfield, angst and all. I appreciated his totally raw thought processes and his acute self awareness. I appreciated his intolerance for phonies, and his love of his little sister. There is some language, and a few F-words at the end, and sex is a very casual topic (though not sexually explicit). From what I have read these are a few of the reasons it is such a controversial book, and I personally don't quite understand it. I for one, am very glad I read it.

The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

Oh these were just a thrilling read. The Girl Who Played With Fire was great because you get to know Lisbeth Salander better, and she is a wonderful, strong, quirky female lead character. I was really impressed with Larsson's ability to weave such a web spanning all three books, complete with subplots and Swedish craziness. I think the reason I loved it most was because of Lisbeth though. How he managed to come up with her I'll never know. But yet again, he manages to keep you on your toes right up to the very end…

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

A fabulous book with an unlikely name. It was so fun to read…written almost entirely in the unique perspective of a reading the characters' written correspondence. It was an interesting way to follow a story, but still compelling. I had never heard of the island of Guernsey, and the history of the German occupation in WWII on a British Isle was interesting. But the characters are really what make this book…they are truly delightful. I wanted to be Juliet, have a boss like Sydney, and be friends with all of the islanders. Most of all, it made me really wish we still wrote letters like that!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

At the last minute, I grabbed this book to take with me on a trip I took alone. I am so glad I did - I couldn't put it down! I have to say I was skeptical and hesitant to jump on the bandwagon given at how popular this series is, but I found that it was deserved. A warning to more sensitive readers - there are definitely several disturbing scenes in it, but I found it worthy nonetheless. It does have a slow start, but once you're hooked he keeps you hooked all the way until the end. I can't wait to read the next one.

Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil

I really wanted to like this book. I like the idea of it being set in Savannah, I vaguely remember seeing the movie with Kevin Spacey in it, and...it fell short for me. Of course it might have helped if I'd known that it was a non-fiction novel the whole time I was reading it...but somehow I missed that bit of info until the very end when the author's note mentioned that every character was a real person. There were a few really interesting, eccentric characters, including the city of Savannah itself - also unique and eccentric (and I admit I'd like to see it). But I often felt bored, like I was just constantly waiting for something to happen - it was more like a day-in-the-life type story. When something did finally happen, it still seemed lacking somehow. But again, that might have been because I was coming to it from the wrong perspective...though now it's too late and I'll never know. Though I have to say...the voodoo bits were really fun and fascinating. And there were definitely other good parts, but all in all I'm kind of glad I'm finished.

East of Eden

This book has always looked overwhelming to me. It's not small, not short, and a literary classic (which may or may not mean it's cryptic and difficult to read). After I got through the first couple of overly descriptive chapters, I was hooked. I liked his characters and the way they were portrayed very much. He is able to let you get to know his characters so deeply - both what they are thinking, and how others perceive and deal with them. I think the thing that really got me the most was his exploration of the human character - it was so thoughtful and I think right on. I loved what I perceived to be one of his main themes - the nature of humans to have varying levels of light and dark in them, how that light or darkness may be created and inflamed, or may just exist - and ultimately how man's own free agency weaves through all of that. I really enjoyed his portrayal of what life might look like to people of all varying shades. He was not afraid to explore the darkest of the dark - a sociopathic character in whom the evil seemed to just exist, but also exploring those with mostly light in them - innocent and naive, and not entirely suited to the real world in all of its complexities. The rest of his characters were more in the middle, and easier to like and relate to. It covers a lot of life and a lot of history, and of course I love the 1890s as a time period generally (though of course it ends past the turn of the century). Some of the other themes and topics he discusses in his book seemed really weird or random, but by the end I could see the masterpiece he wove using some of those seemingly random discussions or themes as a later way to bring home the point. I just loved it, and found it worthy. And to any of you thinking you might to read it...timshel...but I think you should.

The Hunger Games Trilogy

I was lucky enough read these only once the whole trilogy was released. I devoured all three in about 2 weeks. I'd had friends try to explain the premise (as I have since), and it always comes out confusing and paltry compared to the actual story. Suzanne Collins does a wonderful job sucking you into this post-apocalyptic world with it's wilting dystopian society. The story of Hunger Games about knocked me over with its innovation...it is very clever and imaginative. Though it did made me think a wee bit of a kid version of The Running Man. I was also impressed at how Ms. Collins did not shy away from the violence and awfulness given the age of her target readers, but instead made them matter-of-fact, a tool for pulling you along. I also of course LOVED her main character - a very strong, smart, totally kick-ass girl, and yet one with significant faults. She is so unlike other leading love-sick female characters of recent fame, it was almost refreshing. Though that in itself makes it more ironic that she ends up in an entertaining love-triangle, another aspect of what keeps pulling you along.

The first two books were definitely the best, in my opinion. Her descriptions of the societies, the mix of just surviving with the futuristic aspects woven in was well done. Everything leading up to the Hunger Games was absolutely fascinating, then the Games themselves were enthralling - totally messed up of course, with the whole kids killing kids thing - but I think that's partly why it was so captivatin. Not to mention the other characters of the book you couldn't help but get attached to. You were just pulling for Katniss to win, and yet somehow figure out how to save everyone else you cared about. So well done.

The third book was very different...since I was able to read all three together in such a short amount of time I think it helped me see more of the continuity of the story, and I think maybe it had to be quite different by nature. And there were definitely things I loved (the parts in the Capital for instance), but it mostly seemed so sterile compared to the others. And it was missing characters that kind of helped make the first two a hit. I also thought the ending came pretty fast and wrapped up a little too neatly, but I still didn't mind it too much, it would be difficult to find a perfect ending to such a story. All in all, I still highly recommend!