Jessica's Booklist

Even More Re-Reading!

2009-09-29T18:03:00.001-07:00

Yeah...perhaps it is me being budget conscious or just a strong desire to re-visit some past stories, but I am at it again. I finished up the 2 Tuscany books by Frances Mayes I adore (I really need to go to Tuscany someday), and now I am diving back in to the Harry Potter series.

There was a brief interlude while I read one of my husband's fantasy books, Legend by David Gemmel. It was an easy read, but not so memorable. Set in a Conan type world there was a fair number of heroes, under-dogs and mystical monks. You know...that sort of book.

But on to another go at Hogwarts...it is pretty amusing to re-read and see Harry Potter as the plucky young misfit again. It will also be a treat to read all of the books back to back and not have to wait for the next one to be released!

Too, too long!

2009-08-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

It been ages since I updated my reading list...oops!

I feel like there may be one or two books I have forgotten since it has been so long since my last update, but if I figure it out I will add them in later. In all of the time that has passed I have done a fair share of re-reading old favorites like the Hitchiker's series by Douglas Adams and Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes as well as devouring a new favorite...the Twilight Saga!

One of my best friends since kindergarten brought her set along when went on vacation for a week down in Sea Isle, NJ. I didn't start reading until mid-week and let's just say devour is the right word! I read Twilight in just under 24hrs, New Moon around the same speed, but slowed down with Eclipse as we had to head to my home town and throw a surprise party for my Dad's 60th b-day. If I had a block of time I probably would have sped through that too!!! And unfortunately I left the 3rd book at my parents which caused another slight delay (right before the action starts of course) so I ended up buying the box set for my self at Words so that I could get to the exciting parts of Eclipse and get rolling on Breaking Dawn. Yes, all 4 books were read in under a week!

Now, I can not say that these are the best books I have ever read but they are like literary crack...completely addicting! Some parts are completely predictable and some what formulaic from book to book, but perhaps it taps in to the geeky high school feelings and the need to belong coupled with the perfect guy (albeit an un-dead guy) that makes these books so compelling to girls of all ages.

Off to a good start!

2009-02-15T13:59:00.000-08:00

This year I am starting off with a bit of classic sci-fi. I already mentioned The Revenants by Sheri S. Tepper and it was an interesting book with a very slow build up and all too quick of an ending. I might have preferred a more even spread of interest. It is impossible to discuss my favorite parts with out spoiling some of the surprises. There are many twists I did not see coming in the final chapters which seem completely obvious in hind-sight (and I am usually pretty good at spotting these sorts of things!

Next on the night stand was The Other Wind by Ursula LeGuin. It is part of the Earthsea Tales which I read ages ago but for some reason never followed through. I would like to go back a re-read the series in order one after another because I felt like there were references (although thoroughly explained in this book) that I could have better remembered if I had read all of the books more recently. It was a nice conclusion story that wrapped up story lines while weaving its own independant tale.

Now I am reading another collection of stories under one cover by Ursula LeGuin entitled, Wolrds of Illusion and Exhile: Three Complete Novels of the Hannish Series. It is set in the universe of another LeGuin novel, The Left Hand of Darkness which I read for a sci-fi/gender studies course in college. I can't really recall much about the book, but I must have liked it to hold on to it for 12 years! I am through the first two stories which do not take place in the same time frame but the second references the first as part of an ancestry. Both stories tell tales of space travelers exploring their universe and chronicaling worlds to join the "League" (yes- similar to Star Trek only less time in space, more time stranded on planets). The tales have far more to do with interspecies relations (parallel to racial relations in our world) and the consequences of war, quests, and that ilk. My plan is to re-read The Left Hand of Darkness to see how the stories relate to each other.

Books in 2009

2009-02-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

1. The Revenants by Sheri S. Tepper (started in '08, finished in '09)
2. The Other Wind by Ursula LeGuin
3. Worlds of Exile and Illusion by Ursula LeGuin
4. Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland
5. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (3rd or 4th time re-reading!)
6. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams (3rd or 4th time re-reading!)
7. Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams (3rd or 4th time re-reading!)
8. So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish by Douglas Adams (3rd or 4th time re-reading!)
9. Young Zaphod Plays it Safe by Douglas Adams (3rd or 4th time re-reading!)
10. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
11. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
12. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
13. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
14. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
15. Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes
16. Legend by David Gemmel
17. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling (re-reading)
18. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling (re-reading...in progress)

Winding Down...2008

2008-12-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

I finished Lion Among Men and found it to be another intriguing book in the Wicked series. With out giving away too much of the ending I can say that there are more questions raised than answered and while we learn a great deal about the "cowardly" lion I felt like I only had a glimpse and there must be so much more that is going untold. I know there were several references to past events that made me want to re-read the three books in the Wicked series back-to-back to see if there were connections that I was grasping to make.

The last book to grace my nightstand this year is The Revenants by Sheri S. Tepper. The husbeast and I were clearing out some of his old boxes from high school/college and a few older books he deemed not worth keeping were tossed in a box marked for recycling. It was not until I knew that I was almost done with Lion Among Men that I gave a peak in to the box and realized I recognized the author of one of the books. Back in college I read Gate to Womens Country in a lit course I took and figured I could give it a try. It is too early to form an opinion at this point...but I will close out the year in between the pages of this old paper back.

Oops...

2008-11-02T15:26:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention in my last post that I re-read The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger which is another great book on my shelf. It is a love story, tale of time travel and a nice way of blending two perspectives of a story into one. I also could not resist re-reading the rest of the Josephine B. stories by Sandra Gulland. I imagine I will read all three before I move on to A Lion Among Men!

In looking at my list for this year I am glad to see I am averaging a book or more per month. I love reading and my goal is to read no less than 12 books per year. It was tough the past few years with all of the academic reading (which I often included) but I hope to up the numbers each year to keep my imagination and brain going!!!

More Re-Reading

2008-10-26T11:40:00.001-07:00

Perhaps it is a sign of the times, but I have been buying fewer books, and with less time to go to the library I have hit my own bookshelf to read old favorites once again. Both Intrusions by Ursula Hegi and The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland are books I read quite a while ago, have moved with me several times and I thought deserved a re-read.

Intrusions did not hold up quite as well as I hoped, but was entertaining none the less. I love that the story is told from the perspective of an author writing a book and her characters intrude and try to influence the story. Apparent to no one else, there is the obvious line being walked between sanity and delusion. There is also the distinct dated feeling about parts of the book that were almost more humorous than the actual story events. The book was only written 11 years ago but the missed commuications and complications that occur (which would never happen now because most people have cell phones) feels odd.

I adore The Josephine Bonaparte Collection by Sandra Gulland. The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. is the first of three books written in a journal/letter set up. Some how Gulland is able to almost immediately create a a bond (esp. for me) between reader and characters. This book is filled with vivid imagining of the time of the Revolution in France and Josephine's life prior to her life with Napolean. Gulland's research and attention to historical facts are artfully blended with fictional interpretation. It has been nearly 10 years since this book came out and I used to be so disappointed that Sandra Gulland had not published any further books...until today! I was on amazon.com looking up her name and I see that a new book came out in June 2008!!! It appears that Mistress of the Sun is a tale of Louis XIV's mistress, Louise de la Vallière. I did not blink twice before adding it to my wish list! There is also a much older book about Anne Boleyn that is most likely out of print that I will try to dig up as well.

Meh...

2008-08-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Right now I am finishing up Wyrmhole which is a good passive read...it is a bit cheesy and a blend of far too many genres, but not a bad read. Hey- cheese can be good, I like cheese. As for genre identity crisis this story is a sci-fi/futuristic, super-natural crime investigation story. Huh? Yeah.

Basically the central character, Jack Stein, is a psychic investigator hired by a corporation to find out what happened to some miners who disappeared from a site on another planet. His investigative powers are heavily based on his dreams (the psychic part) and his cunning detective skills. The futuristic place the story is set is interesting and the author includes it almost like another character rather than a backdrop. There are links to alchemy and ancient symbols that pop up and right now are seemingly unrelated but I am sure will influence the outcome.

We shall see how this turns out. It is a book I received in a swap and not something I would normally read, but it is a good light summer read for sure.

Before this book I re-read Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje which I forgot I had already read. I liked Amazon.com's description better than my own so here is a quote:

In his Booker Prize-winning third novel, The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje explored the nature of love and betrayal in wartime. His fourth, Anil's Ghost, is also set during a war, but unlike in World War II, the enemy is difficult to identify in the bloody sectarian upheaval that ripped Sri Lanka apart in the 1980s and '90s. The protagonist, Anil Tissera, a native Sri Lankan, left her homeland at 18 and returns to it 15 years later only as part of an international human rights fact-finding mission. In the intervening years she has become a forensic anthropologist--a career that has landed her in the killing fields of Central America, digging up the victims of Guatemala's dirty war. Now she's come to Sri Lanka on a similar quest. But as she soon learns, there are fundamental differences between her previous assignment and this one:

The bodies turn up weekly now. The height of the terror was 'eighty-eight and 'eighty-nine, but of course it was going on long before that. Every side was killing and hiding the evidence. Every side. This is an unofficial war, no one wants to alienate the foreign powers. So it's secret gangs and squads. Not like Central America. The government was not the only one doing the killing.

In such a situation, it's difficult to know who to trust. Anil's colleague is one Sarath Diyasena, a Sri Lankan archaeologist whose political affiliations, if any, are murky. Together they uncover evidence of a government-sponsored murder in the shape of a skeleton they nickname Sailor. But as Anil begins her investigation into the events surrounding Sailor's death, she finds herself caught in a web of politics, paranoia, and tragedy.

I loved reading The English Patient and Ondaatje's way of slowly telling a story so that you not only care deeply about the characters, you are shattered by the book ending. I have only read these two books of his and I look forward to reading more.

When I love an author I tend to want to read all of the books they have written. So is the case with the next book on my night stand. Tim Robbins is one of my favorite authors. His quirky, often irreverent stories are a rouse for a much deeper, more meaningful situation with in the story. Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas is a title that alludes to more of what I have loved in the past.

I first got hooked on Robbins when I was in college. I was working my summer job at the mall is a cutesy country craft decor store that hardly anyone would visit. Someone had left a promo mini-book with a few chapters of Skinny Legs and All which I read out of boredom at first. I read it, liked what I saw and filed away the name for a future read. It wasn't until many years later that I finally bought the book and loved it. It is my most favorite book of his and I would recommend it heartily!

Better as a movie?

2008-05-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

I am always wary of saying a book would make a great movie. There is always so much that is lost in translating the fabulous images in your head that are created by the words presented by the author, but in the case of Resistance: A Novel by Anita Shreve I actually think the movie version would be wonderful if done right.

Please do not think that I did not enjoy this book, I certainly did. It was by far one of the quickest reads I have had in a long time. I adored the characters of Claire and Ted who are thrown together in the uncertain circumstances of WWII Belgium. I have always been fascinated by stories set in WWII and this is no exception. Ted is an American bomber pilot that crashes in Claire's home town in Belgium. Claire and her husband are members of the resistance movement to the occupying Nazi forces and are charged with saving the pilot from the Nazi's. Through the course of events Claire's husband must go into hiding to protect the movement. Ted and Claire's relationship evolves (and so does the story) in to a romance.

There are so many possible points that went under-developed and the story is weaker for it. I also believe that since this is how most books-turned-movies end up there is so much potential for a wonderful movie. Movies can visually convey information in ways that a book cannot. And for that reason I can imagine further plot development through looks, glances and panoramas that currently are only imagined in my mind.

I am in the process of moving and I realized as I finished this book faster than anticipated that I am with out something to read...only magazines at the moment. I am sure there may be a book yet to be packed, but perhaps a trip to the library in order. Who knows what I will read next...your guess is as good as mine.

Bewitching

2008-05-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished Son of a Witch, by Gregory Maguire, and found it to be an intriguing book. I never quite knew where the story was going which could have been confusing but I found it to keep the story captivating. There were a few loose ends I would have liked tied together or at least gone in to greater depth. Essentially this is a self discovery story and we follow the coming of age of Liir, who may or may not be Elphaba's son. Liir's story begins where Elphaba's ends in Wicked and immediately thrusts him into situations and journey that leads him into what feels like a series of accidental activism. It is almost as though he finds causes to fight for that are the key to unlocking a piece of himself.

I would have really liked to have learned more about Nor and Candle. We never really meet Nor, who may have been Liir's sister, but find out bits and pieces (perhaps another spin off book?) and I was quite disappointed on this point. There was also very little development of Candle when she was clearly deeply ingrained in Liir's story. The thought that nags me is that they may have been the same person but nothing every really relates them.

Overall I did like the book, but again, wished for more. Wicked is a hard act to follow and certainly set the bar high for related stories such as this.

On the nightstand now is a break from the fantasy that has been all I have been reading for quite a while. My mom gave me Resistance by Anita Shreve. The book is set in World War II Belgium and has started off with an American plane crashing in a small town.

Catching Up

2008-04-01T17:00:00.001-07:00

It took quite a while to finish Mists of Avalon but I am so glad that I re-read it. Every time I read it I find new things I never realized previously in the story. Even though I know what happens the thrill is still there.

I have also ventured in to the world of podiobooks (audio books released in podcast format). I have listened to two books written by Mur Lafferty. Playing for Keeps and Heaven Series great stories that had me hooked and waiting impatiently for each podcast release.

To quote Mur's website (http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com) for Playing for Keeps, "tells the story of Keepsie Branson, a bar owner in the shining metropolis of Seventh City: birthplace of super powers. Keepsie and her friends live among egotistical heroes and manipulative villains, and manage to fall directly in the middle as people with powers, but who just aren't strong enough to make a difference. Or that's what they've been told. As the city begins to melt down, it's hard to tell who are the good guys and who are the bad." The quirky superpowers of the characters and the sinister agenda that unravels is well worth the listen.

The same can be said for her the series Heaven. I won't butcher the description and again quote her sites..."Heaven is a magical realism audionovel about two friends who wander the afterlife together after their untimely deaths. Kate and Daniel find the Christian Heaven a bit too perfect for their liking and receive metaphysical passports to travel to the afterlives of different mythologies, different religions - even different species. As their travels continue, they discover there may a grander plan to their travels than they previously suspected." (quoted from http://www.murlafferty.com/heavennovel) The trials, tribulations and adventures Kate and Daniel deal with are more addictive than chocolate!

Do check out Mur Lafferty on http://murverse.com/.

The actual book reading I just finished was The Ravens of Avalon which is a "prequel" to the Mists of Avalon. Set in the age when Rome invaded British soil, this novel follows the lives of Druids who are rocked by the power of Rome and the bloody battles that ravaged Britain. I was particularly attached to the story of Boudica and her coming of age as she choices against becoming a priestess and instead opts to make a change through her marriage. Must of the story is a build up with a sharp twisted ending. As with other books Diana Paxson has posthumously published for Marion Zimmer Bradley, the Bradley's ideas feel diluted. Not to say the stories are not interesting, because they are, but only strong glimpses of Bradley shine through. Now that I have (I think) all of the Avalon books I would like to read them sequentially to see how the flow works from one book to the next since I think they were not released in any sort of order.

Next on the night stand is Son of a Witch, the book following Wicked. I am looking forward to revisiting the world of Oz as translated by Gregory Maguire.

Books in 2008

2008-01-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

1. Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
2. Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafftery (audio book via podcast - in progress)
3. Heaven by Mur Lafferty (audio book via podcast)
- Season One- Heaven
- Season Two- Hell
- Season Three- Earth
- Season Four - Wasteland
4. Ravens of Avalon by Diana L. Paxson and Marion Zimmer Bradley
5. Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire
6. Resistance: A Novel by Anita Shreve
7. Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
8. Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje (re-read)
9. Wyrmhole by Jay Caselberg
10. Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas by Tom Robbins
11. Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (re-read)
12. Intrusions by Ursula Hegi (re-read)
13. Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland (re-read)
14. Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe by Sandra Gulland (re-read)
15. The Last Great Dance on Earth by Sandra Gulland (re-read)
16. A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire
17. The Revenants by Sheri S. Tepper (in progress 2008, finished 2009)

Hello 2008!

2008-01-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

A new year and a new list to start! Last year I managed to read 17 books for a nice average of 1.4 books per month. I would love to make the number 24 books (or approx. 2 books per month) my goal for this year so let's see how the year is going so far!

I have been expanding the media in which I consume books (podcast books) and revisiting old favorites. At the close of 2007 I picked up The Mists of Avalon again. I have read several of Marion Zimmer Bradley's books and this is by far my favorite. This is my third time reading Mists and it still feels fresh and exciting. There are always details I have forgotten and things that seem to make more sense. The movie adaptation aired on TNT again very recently and the differences are staggering (plot lines blending, omissions, alterations) but I can see why the choices were made for a TV movie. The book is rather lengthy and it is impossible to include everything.

I have a little bit left to read and will soon be cracking open the sequel to Wicked... I received Son of a Witch and will be picking that up immediately after the last page of Mists. The link between TV movies and books I am reading has another (albeit indirect) connection. Sci Fi channel produced a mini-series that is a unique spin on the Wizard of Oz called Tin Man. I have always been a fan of the land of Oz and the great stories that are set there. When I was young I was able to read my Dad's books that he and his siblings had when they were kids. I know they are somewhere and I would love to read them again. This probably is a good explanation for why I am so enamored with Wicked and anxious to read Son of a Witch.

I mentioned that I am getting my books in alternate formats these days. Through a podcast that I listen to I discovered a few books written by Mur Lafferty that are available for free via podcast. The first, Playing for Keeps, is still being released a few chapters (or episodes?) at a time and tells the story of a group of people with super powers that are not so typical and not considered up to par for the Academy that designates super hero status. If you have any interest in tales of super heroes, sci fi and that sort of genre I recommend checking it out, Mur Lafferty definitely spins a good tale.

Mur's novellas Heaven, Hell, and Earth are also worth a listen. I have only heard Heaven and Hell, but will probably get through Earth very soon! The site says a 4th installment is underway so I am anxious to see where Kate and Daniel (the main characters who find adventures in the afterlife) go next.

Work Related...

2007-12-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

The last few books I have picked up are definitely related to my new career as a teacher. Both books, Reluctant Disciplinarian: Advice on Classroom Management From a Softy who Became (Eventually) a Successful Teacher by Gary Rubenstein and Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay and David Funk are in response to my continuing struggle with some of my classes that I teach.

Reluctant Disciplinarian provided some good insight but not as much practical solutions as I had hoped. More than anything it has helped me see how some classes are responding to my teaching style which is most likely drastically different than their classroom teacher and heightened by my inexperience as a first year teacher. If nothing else it gave me lots to think about and made me feel 100% normal.

Teaching with Love and Logic is filled with philosophy, student management ideas and much more. It is not everything I am looking for but I understand and am trying some of the "experiments" to see how students respond. This has been alot of serious (and much needed) professional development reading and the next book is sure to be for fun!

Speaking of which, before embarking on school related reading, I did finish up On the Road by Jack Kerouac. It was a fabulous story and I am glad I finally took the time to read it. I will say that I had high expectations for this beat classic and although I didn't think I had preconceived notions about what the book was about, it was not exactly what I thought it would be like.

I found Sal to be an adventurer seeking the freedom of the open road...the various people he meets and travels with tended to disturb me a bit. The story was definitely set in a specific time period, but the antics could just as well have been written today.

On another note I have once again decided to end my booksfree.com membership. It is taking me too long to read books to make it a value, especially since I have a wonderful public library at the end of my street that I pass whenever I walk to & from the train. I can even search the library catalog online. I think booksfree.com is a wonderful chance to get books, but I am pinching pennies and if I have a free method of getting books (at booksfree you are basically paying postage) I need to take advantage.

Surely there was another book or two...

2007-10-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

It seems like I have slowed down a bit with my reading...possibly due the inability to read more than a page or two a night as a result of "first year teacher" exhaustion. I also should start carrying books with me again since I have a nice hour and change commute to work (and back).

So what have I read since the end of July?

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf was next on the reading list from BooksFree.com. I had never read anything by Woolf and thought I should. I enjoyed the story immensely although I did find it challenging to realize when the story shifted to a different character's perspective. Once I was able to quickly recognize the transfer the reading went smoothly. I should have written about it while it was fresh but the most prominent themes that left an impression on me were the feelings of "what could have been" and need to "keep up appearances."

I finished Lost by Gregory Maguire more recently and this was an interesting blend of the Jack the Ripper and Scrooge. Unlike Maguire's other re-tellings, this story was contemporary with links (familial and of the super natural kind) to Jack the Ripper and Scrooge. This story was compelling and kept me reading for sure, but the interconnectedness was not as strong as in the other books. This book also had a few suspenseful/scary parts which are not my personal favorite. The main character, Winnie, has an emotional tale that unfolds throughout the book which in itself is mysterious and keeps you wondering.

I just started On the Road by Jack Kerouac. This is another book that has been collecting dust on my shelf that I meant to read ages ago.

Magical...

2007-07-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

I just finished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell last night with a brief interruption by another fantastically popular magical book...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

I had pre-ordered my copy of the new Harry Potter book from Amazon so I had it in my hands on the release date. It probably goes with out saying that I sat right down and devoured it! If I had not had to drive to Washington, DC on Sunday I probably would have finished it with in 24 hours. Since I did spend a good chunk of time in the car driving I read it every other spare minute and turned the last page around 11pm Monday.

Since I was adamant about not hearing spoilers I will not even come close to spilling the beans for anyone who has yet to finish their copy. I will say that I loved this book as much or more than the others. I greatly appreciate Rowling's ability to fully suck me into the story and make it nearly impossible to stop reading. Brilliant! I now want to go back and read the entire Potter series to see how all of the books work with each other.

But back to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell!!! Another fine book about magicians. This is an interesting book for many reasons. One of which is the scholarly style the book is written complete with footnotes. I love that the book is set in the 19th century and actually historical events are warped into the story. There were more than a few dragging moments in this rather long book, but just as I began to wonder if I should stop reading something intriguing would propel me forward.

I am now going to move on to Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. If I am not mistaken this book is the (imagined) tales told by Marco Polo to Kublai Khan about the cities Khan's empire. I am told there are fantastic descriptions of cities that reside in the fantasy of imagination. I look forward to starting!

Persepolis

2007-06-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. Both were such good graphic novels in terms of story and illustration. These books had come up in several of my classes that dealt with Feminism, adolescence, multiculturalism and global perspectives and it was nice to finally be able to read them both back to back.

I have a college friend who grew up in Iran and moved to the US to attend college and is most likely just a bit younger that Satrapi. After our many conversations and hearing the disturbing current news about Iran it is nice to have another peak into this country's history.

It is most definitely a personal narrative and I can in no way verify the accuracy of the events portrayed, but to gain a glimpse into a country that the US has a questionable relationship with is fascinating. My personal existence has been pretty vanilla...and to think of a life that includes a war that takes place locally, cultural revolutions and all that comes with it boggles my brain.

These books are on my recommendation list for sure. I am also very interested in checking out Satrapi's related book Embroideries that is a collection of tales she overheard from her female relatives. I only recently found Embroideries on Amazon.com so I can not say more about it.

Daughter of Fortune

2007-05-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finished Daughter of Fortune by Isabelle Allende. I was originally intimidated by the thickness of the novel, but in fact I finished it in ten or so pre-sleeping reading sessions. I did take it along with me on my train ride into the city to visit with a friend because I was so close to finishing and had to find out what might happen next.

The book started a bit slow in the build up, but around the moment you think the story is starting to get tedious it takes off like a rocket and whirls you through an intricately woven tale of love, social expectations, the California gold rush and family secrets.

There was one or two moments where I literally was shocked in to saying "Holy Crap" because Allende really drops bombshell revelations into this fantastic story. There are several interwoven stories all integral to the novel. One common theme is that of women struggling with their 19th century existence and wanting more. So many of the female characters fight the traditional role of women during the time and not with out consequences (mostly social) but with some personal satisfaction in spite of the norm.

I was certainly not expecting to love this novel based on my lack of interest in early North/South American history. However, Allende so masterfully creates a tale that taps into the raw emotions and racial tension that it is impossible not to immerse yourself in the life of the characters.

Dreams...

2007-05-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

I finished Einstein's Dreams the other day and picked up Daughter of Fortune. It is a bit of an intimidating book only because it is quite thick (not the actually text, just the measurement of the book).

Einstein's Dreams was a very nice quick read and thought provoking. There were so many different concepts of time I could not possibly pick a favorite or describe a majority of them since they intermingled in my head. That must be what happens when you read Dreams before doozing off.

School's Nearly Done...

2007-05-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

And I am reading!!! I have been able to read so much more latelt...it is great!

I fininished Ancestors of Avalon, by Diana Paxson, and ended up enjoying far more than I anticipated. Some parts I felt a bit distracted from the break in typical style of the Avalon books, but really over all if you have been considering reading this book I would say do it...you may not love it all, but you probably will enjoy it.

Next up on the nightstand was Little Earthquakes bu Jennifer Weiner. I have already read Weiner's Good in Bed and In Her Shoes so I was looking forward to reading this book. Considering all of the new babies that have and will be arriving lately it was a humorous look into the life of a group of friends brought together by motherhood. This is also a nice lighter read than many of the books that I have picked up lately (exactly what I needed among the stress of the end of my final semester of school).

Right now I am reading Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman. It is a very short book that has chapters about different concepts or possibilities for time based loosely on Einstein's theories. Since I am in no way a physics expert I can not say if they are anything close to Einstein's theories, but they are fascinating. The idea of people living far away from to center of the earth on stilted cities to slow down time or the current moment is the only time known (no memory) is presented in short chapter essays that tickle the imagination and satisfy sci-fi fantasies. A teacher I worked with used this as source material for an art project for her seniors. I also have another book that this teacher used which is a collection of fictional tales told by Marco Polo to Kublai Khan titled Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. Also in the stack is Perfume, a murder mystery, and both will wait until I read my BooksFree.com books.

Since I am back to my increased consumption of books I have opted to re-join BooksFree.com to be a bit economical about my reading habits. In the interest of full disclosure, I am not receiving money for an endorsement of this service so I feel that my opinion is relatively unbiased. This website offers a subscription based book borrowing service much like NetFlix. I used this service prior to going back to school and liked the convenience of having a few books arrive every so often. The downside is that many of the books I want to read are not available but selection is pretty decent. One plus is the customer service is pretty good. One set of books did not arrive so they quickly got my next books in que shipped out and due to a shipping issue they bounced back so the company sent those books plus the next two on my list to make up for the problems. I have received Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Daughter of Fortune, and the graphic novels Persepolis and Persepolis 2.

There should be much to report in the next few months!

Sweet Reflections, Although with Some Tarnish

2007-04-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

I zoomed right through Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire. I can say that while this may not be my favorite book written by Maquire it is certainly an interesting re-telling of Snow White. I really do enjoy the way Maguire reaches back into history, grabs a glimpse of reality and weaves it into a story that is strangely familiar yet the result is entirely unexpected. After finishing this tale of Bianca de Nevada as Snow White I am intrigued by the historical characters that have a inkling of truth.

I found Mirror Mirror to take some time for me to feel engaged in the story and the compulsion to continue wasn't fueled so much by a compelling story, but by the anxiousness to find the connection to the fairy tale that I had been fed through storybooks and the Disney movie. There was a shift half way through the book that placed the intrigue on this story rather than the fairy tale and I wanted to have so much more information about the characters. I can only imagine an editor dissuaded Maguire from over-writing the story which is a shame. At least I hope this is the case since I think Maguire is fully capable of creating intricate characters with in an intricate story.

For all that I feel that Mirror Mirror lacked, there is so much that I enjoyed about this story. My particular favorites are the descriptions of the stone-like creatures which are the dwarfs and there evolution through the story. A story just about the dwarfs would have been strong all on its own! I love the Bianca sees what she expects or knows of a house come into view the longer she spends with the dwarfs. It is almost like her will creates the details Bianca sees.

This book is definitely worth reading, but if it is your first book by Maguire and you do not feel a connection to the story do not turn away from his other books. There is something special in each of his books for different readers so try another!

Next on my night stand is Ancestors of Avalon, which is Diana Paxson's release of Marion Zimmer Bradley's story. I believe this was published after Bradley's death and I have no idea to what extent Paxson has used Bradley's work. I get the sense that there may have been story notes, perhaps some development of the story but I am having trouble finding the voice of Bradley in the story. I am a passionate Bradley fan starting with my first exposure to her classic Mists of Avalon. I have read her other mystical tales that relate to Avalon and Atlantis and while Mists is the most powerful, I am having difficulty finding the power that the other stories had over me.

Perhaps it is too early to pass judgement. All I can say for now is that Paxson is dedicated to continuing the legacy of Bradley's Avalon which is admirable, but I doubt she can recreate the voice that held so much magic. We shall see...

Too Good...

2007-03-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

I finished Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and it was as good as I hoped. There is the heart wrenching connection to the lead character and his family magnified by the fact that he is most likely my age or slightly older. Eggers describes many pop culture references that bring back my final years as an undergrad and my first years in New York City (despite his life in California) and ring so true. This is the sort of book where I mourn the loss of a friend when I have to leave the characters at the end of the book. Eggers wraps you up in has world so well, you can imagine the storyline continuing and the characters living on but you are unable to be a part of that world once the pages run out.

I have now moved in to the world of Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire. I have become a fan of Maguire's and have already read Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. His stories blend my love of historical fiction with fairy tales in a way that makes these tales believable...as though they very well could be the source of the fairy tales. Mirror Mirror, like the two other books by Maguire I have read, has a story that evolves in a mysterious and evocative manner but they are by no means formulaic! I am not half way through yet, but I am on pins and needles to see how this tale will play out.

Next!

2007-02-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

Last week I wrapped up Skinny Legs and All which was a nice book to re-read for the second or third time (can't recall exactly). It was interesting to see the relevant storyline of the issues in the Middle East as they are playing out now compared to the fictionalized issues that I am sure grew out of the conflicts in the late 80's early 90's when the book was first written. All I can think of is two overly used quotes which are still so poignant... "the more things change the more they stay the same" and "those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it." Sad but true.

Now I am on to A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. This book had an interesting set of preface writing which was witty and sharp. I am just getting into the first couple of chapters, which so far are a bit depressing. Friends who have read this book have loved it and I trust their opinions...I am not sure what to expect from the book other than it is going to be good.

The stack of books beside my night stand is surely going to keep me occupied for a while but I will admit that I am anxiously awaiting the release of the next (and final) Harry Potter book. I have seen all of the pre-order info on Amazon.com and in the larger bookstores. The time seems to be flying so I am sure it will be here before I realize it. (Mental note: don't forget to pre-order!)

Books in 2007

2007-01-29T21:26:00.000-08:00

1. Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins (re-read)
2. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
3. Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
4. Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors of Avalon by Diana L. Paxson
5. Little Eathquakes by Jennifer Weiner
6. Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman
7. Daughter of Fortune by Isabelle Allende
8. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
9. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi
10. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
11. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
12. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino (paused)
13. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
14. Lost by Gregory Maguire
15. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
16. Reluctant Disciplinarian: Advice on Classroom Management From a Softy who Became (Eventually) a Successful Teacher by Gary Rubenstein
17. Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay and David Funk

A new year and new books...yeah!

2007-01-29T21:09:00.000-08:00

At the end of 2006 I ran out of new titles to read and made use of the holidays and my birthday to re-stock the reading pile. I have definitely increased my knitting book stash but that isn't necessarily the sort of reading I am referring to on this blog.

I did pick up Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins to re-read before I got any new books. I read this book around the time I first moved to NYC. It started my appreciation for Tom Robbins.
It is funny, witty, and especially poignant with all of the "issues" in the Middle East right now. The quote from Library Journal on Amazon.com sums it up quite nicely: "A painter's struggle with her art, a restaurant opened as an experiment in brotherhood, the journey of several inanimate objects to Jerusalem, a preacher's scheme to hasten Armageddon, and a performance of a legendary dance: these are the diverse elements around which Robbins has built this wild, controversial novel."

I have so many new books to read I am not sure I can remember them all to list!!! Here is a quick list of the titles I can remember...
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Little Earthquakes, Mirror Mirror, Einstein's Dreams, Invisible Cities, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, and Ancestors of Avalon.

Happy reading!

Wrapping Up 2006..a little late!

2007-01-29T20:50:00.000-08:00

The end of the year was a little nutty...finishing classes, the home stretch of student teaching, the holidays. Blah blah blah! I did manage to finish two books in to the end of the year. The first took me quite a while since reading seemed to be difficult with eyes that would not stay open at the end of the day!

First on the list is Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis. This book let me geek out just a bit...or a lot depending on how you look at it. It is a humorous and informative look at tournament Scrabble and the authors growing interest (perhaps obsession) with the game.

I must admit that reading the book made we want to play Scrabble (I can't say that I have played a proper game) thus prompting the hubby to get my both the deluxe game board and player's dictionary for my birthday. This could be dangerous.

Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris is a book from my shelf that I thought I had not yet read but actually realized I had after a few pages. It is a wonderful book by the author of Chocolat. Both books are charming and day-dreamy in that dramatic fiction sort of way. It was nice to re-read the book especially since I did not have anything new to read. (Ack!) I was transfixed by rural French countryside where the main character impulse buys a farmhouse for much the same reason I love Frances Mayes non-fictional descriptions of life in Tuscany.

Please tell me this will be an easier read...

2006-09-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

I finished Bookseller of Kabul the night before last...and I picked up In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. I enjoyed Good in Bed so I look forward to this book as well. After reading The Dew Breaker and Bookseller I am desperate for something a lot less socially conscious (not that it is a bad thing) and less intense. My two previous reading endeavors were emotionally difficult and mentally taxing. I enjoy those two qualities in books immensely, but I really should have spaced them out.

I have yet to see the film version of In Her Shoes so I have no comparison to make at this time. Undoubtedly the book is better...I shall need to take in both to make the appropriate judgment!

Thoroughly Wonderful Reads...

2006-08-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

Since I last posted (it took awhile I know) I finished Color, sped through The Dew Breaker and just started The Book Seller of Kabul.

Color was better than I could have expected. I was constantly reading passages that left me saying "huh, so that is where that color comes from" or giggling. Finlay's stories are educational, funny, and travel inspiring. What a fantastic time she must have had doing the research and traveling. It is one of those books that made me think "Gosh, I wish I was her!" Considering my artistic side I imagine that this is a more interesting and humorous version of a science elective that was never offered during my under-grad days (it was something like "The Chemistry of Art").

The Dew Breaker was intensely emotional and curious. The book is set up like a series of short stories that are seemingly unrelated and revolving around Haiti and a "dew breaker." Speaking to my artistic side again, the first story is about a young artist delivering a statue to a patron with her father. Danticat was highly recommended and I actually picked up a different book than my friend recommended (it was Breath, Eyes, Memory) but I will definitely put that on my list!

I just started Bookseller and I can see this being a book that I will zoom through. I am only in the first or second chapter and I am anxious to read more. I tend to only read before bed now that knitting has become a new passion or addiction depending on who you ask. This book may need to travel with me for when knitting is not possible.

Either way having a reading and knitting addiction leads to good things...productivity, creativity and knowledgability. With both habits I am using my creativity, imagination and intellect. The only downside to either is the cost...but both can be done at a discount!

Reading for fun...what a concept!

2006-05-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

The semester is over and I can spend a little time reading for amusement rather than homework (sigh of relief). I am not sure how much reading I will need to do over the summer for my classes but it will not be even close to what I had this past year.

Before I started my latest book I re-read a few essays from Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell. This is another book that I "borrowed" from the woman I was subletting from when I first moved to NYC. This was one of the books that Abby & Ming, the couple who let my best friend and I rent their apartment while they went on tour with their dance company, had on the shelves. Animal Dreams and The Bean Trees were a few others. I always think of Abby & Ming fondly because their books and cd's gave me alot of comfort my first few turbulent weeks in this crazy city. Their possessions were cooler than I would ever have chosen for myself...I wanted to be them. In retrospect so many aspects of my life were modeled in that apartment. I am no dancer and I do not live in the East Village (close but not quite) but I still strive to create a cool life like they had!

But back to the book...the essays are charming and a fascinating look into old New York. Even after only a few weeks in New York City I already recognized names and neighborhoods mentioned on these pages. This connection made me feel like a real New Yorker. Plus it satisfied my desire for historical grounding in my new home. Re-reading these stories is like re-connecting to my home city all aver again.

I have picked up a few more books which I will post about as I begin reading them. The first is another non-fiction book which totally speaks to my art-loving self! Color : A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay is a wonderful look into the science and history of pigment and paint. So far what I have read is intriguing and thoroughly appeals to my geeky side! I am reading it with an eye on any possible applications in my teaching because inspiration comes from many places. Hey ya never know...there could be an awesome lesson idea for high school students.

As I mentioned the other two books I have on my nightstand will be mentioned later. I want to save my thoughts for after I have started reading them. In the mean time I shall finish these fine works of non-fiction.

That was quick!

2006-04-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

I finished Animal Dreams...I forgot how much that book touched my heart. It was so nice to read it again. I hate to say it, but I really enjoy Barbara Kingsolver's earlier books more than her more recent ones. It is not that I do not like them, I just found Animal Dreams, The Bean Trees and Pigs in Heaven to be more to my liking than Prodigal Summer and Poisonwood Bible.

I also zipped through another book...not school related...yeah! Well, I can use it for school but that is not the original reason I got it! I finished The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. It is a interesting twist on the tale of Odysseus.

I am a fan of Margaret Atwood and I was excited to see that she was part of a myth project that involved the re-telling of well known tales. I will probably look into the others as well...but the semester is almost over so we will have to see how crazy life is.

I did like The Penelopiad. Then again I love the Odyssey so the tale from the point of view of Penelope was sure to appeal. I was hoping that there would be a bit more in depth view of the relationship with the twelve maids that were killed...but there wasn't. Oh well... I enjoyed it all the same. And it was a very quick read which helps with my crazy reading style right now!

Book List...

2006-04-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

On my other blog page I added a list of books that I want to read...several I have been able to tick off the list, but there are quite a few classics that I need to get to. There are also so many more that I haven't even been able to note.

I guess this was a sampler...what I really need to do is keep a notebook with an ever evolving list since there are so many I read and want to read. This log is my chronicle for things read... I just need to get my self in gear and find new things I want to read!

A nice change...

2006-03-31T20:45:00.000-08:00

While I am still bogged with school reading and working my way through The Feminine Mystique, I have had a couple of good reads...for school of course!

For my Feminist Perspectives in Literature class I read Lysistrata, a comic play by Aristophanes. This jist of this play is that the women of Greece decide to put an end to war by refusing to sleep with their husbands and lovers (as well as take over the treasury). It is a baudy, witty, and provacative play that toys with stereo-types, sex and the battle for peace. It was a quick read, but since I am in grad school for education I have to write a unit of lesson plans based on Lysistrata. Since I am not a lit major but and art major this could be interesting!

The second fun reading I am doing is a re-read of Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. I read this ages ago but it fits a reading assignment I need to do for my Exploring Cultures class. I need to read a novel based on cultural struggle and/or social justice and write a response as it relates to the class. This book will do the trick nicely! It is nice to read an old favorite. It is like getting re-acquainted with a friend you haven't seen in many years.

Oh how the time flies...

2006-03-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't really been able to move on to a new book yet. I am jumping around from article to article and chapter to chapter of school reading with very little time to read Ms. Friedan!!! It is a little frusterating, but I know that homework comes first. The ironic thing is that often topics and themes in my course work is reflected in The Feminine Mystique. It surprises me that what would seem like a totally unrelated discussion pops off the pages.

What makes me really sad is that I was not able to do any fun reading over my Spring Break. No rest!!! It was all research projects and lesson planning. On that note I better get back to work.

In Honor of a Feminist Icon

2006-02-05T20:50:00.000-08:00

This past week we lost one influential woman that was a historic figure in the Women's Rights movement. Betty Friedan, author and founder of NOW (National Organization for Women), is a woman I have always admired. Her birthday, also the day of her passing, was on Feb. 4th.

The phenomenon of being born and dying on the same date has always fascinated me. Another famous author who came and went on his birthday was Mark Twain. But that is not where I want to go with this entry.

I have just completed Under the Tuscan Sun and rather than move on to another novel, I am going to stop putting off reading Friedan's Feminine Mystique, which has been collecting dust and gone unread for far to long. As my memorial to this Feminist Icon, I will finally read this seminal piece of literature in the 2nd wave of the women's Movement. It is a classic and I have not excuse not to read it. Especially since I own it!!!

Next!

2006-01-23T12:12:00.000-08:00

I know I am about to get swamped by course work so I am trying to get one more pleasant read in before the hardcore educational reading comences. I finished Manifesta which is actually school work (yet enjoyable) and needed something light. Not that Under the Tuscan Sun is what I would call "light," it is a book I have read before and adored.

Back when Ms. Mayes Tuscan lovin' books came out and before the movie, I too fell for her artful descriptions of Italy. I have yet to go to Tuscany but boy do I want to!!! If I could live like she does with a house, a garden, and the onderment of the region it would be a dream. I imagine a visit someday will have to do.

Until then I have my book and the visions of cyprus trees swaying in my head!

Books I've Read in 2006

2006-01-14T13:12:00.000-08:00

The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson
Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
Being Adolescent by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Reed Larson (for a class)
Lysistrata by Aristophanes
Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell
Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay
The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis
Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris (re-read)

Do you read books?

2006-01-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

This has to have been one of the worst pick-up lines I ever witnessed. Unfortunately one of my best friends was the victim of this line...and yes indeed she does read books. In fact we both read alot of books! I'll admit it...I love books! I have a couple of bookshelves full, which I have a resoltion to purge in order to make room for more books.

I wanted to create a record of what I read in a year and maybe provide a platform for informal reviews so that others can find inspiration. I read a pretty wide variety of fiction and non-fiction titles...but I do tend to be a book snob. Rarely do I read cheesy romance novels or thrillers. The NY Times best-seller list is my guide, supplemented by the Oprah's Book Club and other literati-type lists. I guess you could say I am an urban-fem lit sort of girl with smidge of geeky non-fiction thrown in for good measure. Yes- I do indulge in a few creativity stimulating self-help type of books too.

So what am I reading right now? Well, since I am about to start my second semester of grad school I am trying to get a head start on a few books for a Feminist Literature course I am taking. I rang in the New Year with The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson and moved on to Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards. I have not been disappointed by either. I am really looking forward to taking this class since it is going to be a refreshing break from the educational theory and artistic development texts I will also be consuming. I have been lucky that all of the books I had to read for last semester were pretty interesting...no complaints about any of it!!!