these are the books in my to-read stack--rewards for finishing the "inspirational fiction" i am reading for class.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Monday, March 21, 2005
spring holidays
my favorite conversation of today (so far) involved this weekend's holidays. it turns out unc has off for easter weekend, as an official university holiday--so friday is not one of the days where the library is closed but i'm there working anyway. this is awesome timing, b/c of course purim starts thursday night and this means i can spend friday making hamentashen! [and as jodi just pointed out, thursday night i MUST go to happy hour, since it IS a mitzvah to drink. no excuses this week, kids! it's a religious thing!]
to back up a little: i only just figured out today why easter is a full month earlier than passover--b/c it follows the regular lunar calendar, whereas the jewish calendar is modified so that the harvest holidays stay in the correct seasons, and of course that extra month adar II was added in this year, pushing everything back a month. i always thought easter did that too, since it makes sense to have easter and passover at the same time, but i guess not.
which i think is sort of a shame--b/c now easter is the same weekend as purim (or as i affectionately call it, "drunk jewish halloween") and purim really doesn't have the same gravity as easter does. passover and easter--obviously!--fit together thematically, but this year, all the christian kids will be all reverent while the jewish kids are getting drunk and eating dessert. (i almost want to say: "ha ha, suckers!" except that passover is my favorite holiday--besides the whole no corn syrup hassle, and the occasional lack of birthday cake--and i'm sad that it's still a month away. and yes, i probably will be having a seder again this year. i have four jewish or part-jewish friends to attend now!)
and that brings me back to hamentashen--jodi and i will be baking a bunch on friday, probably of the cherry, apricot, and chocolate chip varieties. let me know soon if you want some and i will try and accomodate your request. jews and part-jews get first dibs! :) door-to-door delivery of these mashloach manot is also a possibility, since they're supposed to be given out on purim day.
now, back to reading my christian book for popular materials. sigh. it will be a purim miracle if my head doesn't explode while reading it.
to back up a little: i only just figured out today why easter is a full month earlier than passover--b/c it follows the regular lunar calendar, whereas the jewish calendar is modified so that the harvest holidays stay in the correct seasons, and of course that extra month adar II was added in this year, pushing everything back a month. i always thought easter did that too, since it makes sense to have easter and passover at the same time, but i guess not.
which i think is sort of a shame--b/c now easter is the same weekend as purim (or as i affectionately call it, "drunk jewish halloween") and purim really doesn't have the same gravity as easter does. passover and easter--obviously!--fit together thematically, but this year, all the christian kids will be all reverent while the jewish kids are getting drunk and eating dessert. (i almost want to say: "ha ha, suckers!" except that passover is my favorite holiday--besides the whole no corn syrup hassle, and the occasional lack of birthday cake--and i'm sad that it's still a month away. and yes, i probably will be having a seder again this year. i have four jewish or part-jewish friends to attend now!)
and that brings me back to hamentashen--jodi and i will be baking a bunch on friday, probably of the cherry, apricot, and chocolate chip varieties. let me know soon if you want some and i will try and accomodate your request. jews and part-jews get first dibs! :) door-to-door delivery of these mashloach manot is also a possibility, since they're supposed to be given out on purim day.
now, back to reading my christian book for popular materials. sigh. it will be a purim miracle if my head doesn't explode while reading it.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
iron chef america
all this talk about cheese made me think it was a sign when tongiht's iron chef america battle was the battle of the CHEESE!! (italian cheeses, specifically.) often i root hard for the challengers on iron chef america, b/c i think bobby flay is a cocky jackass, but tonight iron chef mario batali won my heart with his humor and his intriguing use of cheese (he had a little too much veal for my taste. but the challenger used a FEMUR in one of his dishes--which the judges loved! EWWWW!).
the best part is that alton brown's comments are somehow always in earshot of batali, so when floor commentator kevin brausch asks alton something like, "have you ever deep-fried a calzone?" and alton replies, "kevin, there are few foodstuffs i haven't put into a deep fryer," batali is primed to say in an exaggerated accent, "that's becuz i'm from the south!" to which kevin replied, "alton, i think the iron chef is making fun of you." hee.
also, i like when ted allen (from queer eye) is a judge. he always says such neat things about the food--and he will always be in my heart for the queer eye opening credits, where he purposefully grabs a whisk and strides away.
food network is really on fire tonight (metaphorically speaking): now they're having a pizza competition! what is better than cheese? cheese on bread with STUFF! food network, i love you. but you make me so darn hungry!
the best part is that alton brown's comments are somehow always in earshot of batali, so when floor commentator kevin brausch asks alton something like, "have you ever deep-fried a calzone?" and alton replies, "kevin, there are few foodstuffs i haven't put into a deep fryer," batali is primed to say in an exaggerated accent, "that's becuz i'm from the south!" to which kevin replied, "alton, i think the iron chef is making fun of you." hee.
also, i like when ted allen (from queer eye) is a judge. he always says such neat things about the food--and he will always be in my heart for the queer eye opening credits, where he purposefully grabs a whisk and strides away.
food network is really on fire tonight (metaphorically speaking): now they're having a pizza competition! what is better than cheese? cheese on bread with STUFF! food network, i love you. but you make me so darn hungry!
2005 book 29
frieda arkin's hedwig and berti
the story starts in 1938, when a londoner is startled by the arrival of a women who is apparently his cousin (along with her timid husband) fleeing from germany. hedwig is something of your large german braided stereotype, stuck in her family's glorious past. their family routine is changed when she gives birth to a daughter who turns out to be an extremely ill-tempered piano prodigy, and the novel follows the family from london to new york to kansas. i have to say this story threw me for a loop--the "twist" toward the end was entirely predictable, and followed by another twist i never saw coming. the ending is a little bit weak and feels a little bit rushed, but on the whole this was a pretty incredible book, with the character of the daughter being particularly interesting and slightly tragic.
the story starts in 1938, when a londoner is startled by the arrival of a women who is apparently his cousin (along with her timid husband) fleeing from germany. hedwig is something of your large german braided stereotype, stuck in her family's glorious past. their family routine is changed when she gives birth to a daughter who turns out to be an extremely ill-tempered piano prodigy, and the novel follows the family from london to new york to kansas. i have to say this story threw me for a loop--the "twist" toward the end was entirely predictable, and followed by another twist i never saw coming. the ending is a little bit weak and feels a little bit rushed, but on the whole this was a pretty incredible book, with the character of the daughter being particularly interesting and slightly tragic.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Friday, March 18, 2005
2005 book 28
francine prose's a changed man
the folks over at bookslut have been praising this book to the heavens, so i figured i'd give it a go myself, despite my leeriness re: its subject matter. it's about a white supremacist who shows up at a human rights organization run by a well-known Holocaust survivor, claiming he's had a change of heart and wants to "save guys like me from becoming guys like me," and he ends up staying with the organization's divorcee fundraiser and her two teenage sons. i mean, it sounded like it could be more than a little bit tacky--but it isn't! it's actually rife with dark humor (i laughed out loud a few times) and the characters are really compelling. the tension of the book also works well--you just know those white supremacist guys aren't going to let a guy off the hook who steals a truck and cash and drugs and then goes and joins a human rights foundation. this is definitely one of the best books i've read this year--i even found its resolution satisfying, when it easily could have gotten smarmy. don't let its weird-looking cover throw you off--it's worth the read.
the folks over at bookslut have been praising this book to the heavens, so i figured i'd give it a go myself, despite my leeriness re: its subject matter. it's about a white supremacist who shows up at a human rights organization run by a well-known Holocaust survivor, claiming he's had a change of heart and wants to "save guys like me from becoming guys like me," and he ends up staying with the organization's divorcee fundraiser and her two teenage sons. i mean, it sounded like it could be more than a little bit tacky--but it isn't! it's actually rife with dark humor (i laughed out loud a few times) and the characters are really compelling. the tension of the book also works well--you just know those white supremacist guys aren't going to let a guy off the hook who steals a truck and cash and drugs and then goes and joins a human rights foundation. this is definitely one of the best books i've read this year--i even found its resolution satisfying, when it easily could have gotten smarmy. don't let its weird-looking cover throw you off--it's worth the read.
chapel hill comics
today i decided to walk home, b/c it was so nice out and i didn't have anywhere in particular to be--and b/c i wanted to check out the new chapel hill comics location. guys, seriously, the new store is gorgeous. they did a great job painting and the layout is really nice--and of course they still have all the same great comics!
today i got:
--fables #35--part 2 of the jack story
--love and rockets #13--i'm really enjoying the hopey stories especially
--hopeless savages b-sides--a really cute one-shot about how zero's band got together
--blue monday #4--more crazy teen antics! bleu confesses her crush to her teacher!
--street angel #5--i liked the blaxpoitation parody, could have done w/o the limbs being sliced off
--plastic man #15--was actually funny!
aaaaannnd an AWESOME new anthology put out by the people who did the also awesome project: telstar anthology--this one is called project: superior and has superhero-related stories by bryan lee o'malley, farel dalrymple, jeffrey brown, paul pope, jim mahfood, rob ullman, scott morse, and many other cool people.
in short: BUY STUFF AT THE NEW CHAPEL HILL COMICS STORE. they have a bright blue and yellow awning so they're easy to find. if i hadn't left my camera at home, i'd have taken pictures of the awesomeness.
today i got:
--fables #35--part 2 of the jack story
--love and rockets #13--i'm really enjoying the hopey stories especially
--hopeless savages b-sides--a really cute one-shot about how zero's band got together
--blue monday #4--more crazy teen antics! bleu confesses her crush to her teacher!
--street angel #5--i liked the blaxpoitation parody, could have done w/o the limbs being sliced off
--plastic man #15--was actually funny!
aaaaannnd an AWESOME new anthology put out by the people who did the also awesome project: telstar anthology--this one is called project: superior and has superhero-related stories by bryan lee o'malley, farel dalrymple, jeffrey brown, paul pope, jim mahfood, rob ullman, scott morse, and many other cool people.
in short: BUY STUFF AT THE NEW CHAPEL HILL COMICS STORE. they have a bright blue and yellow awning so they're easy to find. if i hadn't left my camera at home, i'd have taken pictures of the awesomeness.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
2005 book 27
michael chabon, ed., mcsweeney's enchanted chamber of astonishing stories
the nice things about anthologies like this is that you can put it down for a few days, and pick it up again when you're in the mood for a semi-creepy story, and not have to worry about forgetting major plots or themes. and this anthology was satisfying on the whole--i like ghost-y stories, and especially enjoyed the david mitchell, ayelet waldman, and heidi julavits selections. the china mieville one was interesting too, and joyce carol oates does a pretty fair impression of poe. there were only a few letdowns; the worst story by far is the one by stephen king (disappointing! his different seasons is pretty good), which echoes misery in its stupid-sounding curse-word substitutions ("smucking"? come ON) and which isn't the least little bit scary or even tense. you're slipping, old man! and being in an anthology with all these awesome younger writers only shows it more. i think i liked kelly link's stories better, but there were some tasty tidbits in here that made sleeping a little bit harder some nights. :)
the nice things about anthologies like this is that you can put it down for a few days, and pick it up again when you're in the mood for a semi-creepy story, and not have to worry about forgetting major plots or themes. and this anthology was satisfying on the whole--i like ghost-y stories, and especially enjoyed the david mitchell, ayelet waldman, and heidi julavits selections. the china mieville one was interesting too, and joyce carol oates does a pretty fair impression of poe. there were only a few letdowns; the worst story by far is the one by stephen king (disappointing! his different seasons is pretty good), which echoes misery in its stupid-sounding curse-word substitutions ("smucking"? come ON) and which isn't the least little bit scary or even tense. you're slipping, old man! and being in an anthology with all these awesome younger writers only shows it more. i think i liked kelly link's stories better, but there were some tasty tidbits in here that made sleeping a little bit harder some nights. :)
farmer's market
the carrboro farmer's market opens this weekend! my favorite part of the farmer's market (besides buying cheese from the chapel hill creamery, and of course assorted fruits and veggies) is giving dirty looks to the people who park in my parking lot. BECAUSE I LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE FARMER'S MARKET!!! take that, suckers!
if you're my friend you can park here though. i'm hospitable that way.
if you're my friend you can park here though. i'm hospitable that way.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
2005 book 26
calvin trillin's feeding a yen
trillin is one of my favorite food writers--well, one of my favorite writers in general. he has such a light and easy, funny tone that it's hard not to love his work. this is a collection of his food-related essays, several of which have appeared in the new yorker and other magazines (i particularly remember the ones where he visits his new granddaughter in san francisco, and where he tries to get a hold of louisianan boudin). these essays made me hungry and also made me want to travel around the world, sampling local cuisine, so i can be a chowhound like trillin. yum.
rash update: still itchy.
trillin is one of my favorite food writers--well, one of my favorite writers in general. he has such a light and easy, funny tone that it's hard not to love his work. this is a collection of his food-related essays, several of which have appeared in the new yorker and other magazines (i particularly remember the ones where he visits his new granddaughter in san francisco, and where he tries to get a hold of louisianan boudin). these essays made me hungry and also made me want to travel around the world, sampling local cuisine, so i can be a chowhound like trillin. yum.
rash update: still itchy.
Monday, March 14, 2005
2005 book 25
edwidge danticat's the dew breaker
another short summary brought to you by allergic rash: day three. this book of interconnected stories has been nominated for like every literary award, so i figured i'd check it out, and i certainly wasn't disappointed. the premise is that an adult daughter discovers that her father wasn't the past political prisoner she believed him to be--he was actually a guard in a prison, who took delight in torturing prisoners. most of the stories touch on these characters only indirectly, but read as a whole, they form a pretty compelling picture of a complicated family in a time of political turmoil.
i have vague recollections of writing a paper on papa doc and baby doc for a class in college on civil war and genocide, but knowledge of haiti's chaotic political situation isn't a prerequisite for enjoying danticat's tales.
another short summary brought to you by allergic rash: day three. this book of interconnected stories has been nominated for like every literary award, so i figured i'd check it out, and i certainly wasn't disappointed. the premise is that an adult daughter discovers that her father wasn't the past political prisoner she believed him to be--he was actually a guard in a prison, who took delight in torturing prisoners. most of the stories touch on these characters only indirectly, but read as a whole, they form a pretty compelling picture of a complicated family in a time of political turmoil.
i have vague recollections of writing a paper on papa doc and baby doc for a class in college on civil war and genocide, but knowledge of haiti's chaotic political situation isn't a prerequisite for enjoying danticat's tales.
st patrick's day at king's
for those of you who were too lame to make it to the great cover-up in december, you have another chance to catch the best performance of the year! the dudes who did the little river band are playing at king's on thursday for st patrick's day. featuring dudes from torch marauder, razzle, sorry about dresden, erie choir, chamber corps, plus jeffy h .and other local luminaries, this is NOT TO BE MISSED.
(i meant to post this on friday but forgot due to being allergic to antibiotics and heavily drugged with benadryl.)
(i meant to post this on friday but forgot due to being allergic to antibiotics and heavily drugged with benadryl.)
ayelet waldman
the new biweekly column in salon by mystery writer ayelet waldman (who is also the wife of michael chabon) started today.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
2005 book 24
marilynne robinson's housekeeping
very short summary, due to insanely itchy rash brought on by allergies to my new shower gel (or adversely, to my antibiotics--the jury is still out). anyway: this is the story of two sisters whose mother abandons them and then commits suicide. eventually their aunt comes to raise them, though her increasing need for transience and the younger sister's quest for normalcy threaten to tear their little family apart. very good coming-of-age craziness, very different than robinson's gilead.
very short summary, due to insanely itchy rash brought on by allergies to my new shower gel (or adversely, to my antibiotics--the jury is still out). anyway: this is the story of two sisters whose mother abandons them and then commits suicide. eventually their aunt comes to raise them, though her increasing need for transience and the younger sister's quest for normalcy threaten to tear their little family apart. very good coming-of-age craziness, very different than robinson's gilead.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
pop culture round-up
--seriously--why was jenny mccarthy hosting the brady bunch reunion special on tv land? i am not sure what qualified her for this position, besides her fawning fandom. of course, it was still worth watching--christopher knight saying "pork chops and applesauce" never does get old. peter was always the cute one . . .
--i saw a commercial the other day for america's next top model--they're doing tryouts at nc central this week. go apply! all sizes and shapes are welcome--as long as you're between 18 and 27, and over 5'7". now i'll never be a teen model!
--the extremely in-depth dissection of karaoke revolution three over at pamie.com is the funniest thing i have read in weeks.
--alton brown will always be my hero. his episode on nuts--complete with a wacky squirrel puppet--made me hungry AND giggly.
--i bought some comics last week but haven't gotten around to writing about them yet. the scheherezade women's comic collection was ok--it didn't have any major problems w/ legibility, despite editor megan kelso's apparent disavowal of the project, but i didn't think most of the stories were worth reading. off the top of my head, the only one i can remember liking a lot was ellen forney's (no surprise there), but i know there were one or two others. it's not a great track record for an anthology, though. i'm honestly not sure if it had to do w/ choice of contributors (there were definitely some deserving artists who weren't included) or w/ lackadaisical editorship, but i found the whole thing sort of disappointing.
--dude, the E! thing where they reenact the michael jackson trial is really weird.
--i saw a commercial the other day for america's next top model--they're doing tryouts at nc central this week. go apply! all sizes and shapes are welcome--as long as you're between 18 and 27, and over 5'7". now i'll never be a teen model!
--the extremely in-depth dissection of karaoke revolution three over at pamie.com is the funniest thing i have read in weeks.
--alton brown will always be my hero. his episode on nuts--complete with a wacky squirrel puppet--made me hungry AND giggly.
--i bought some comics last week but haven't gotten around to writing about them yet. the scheherezade women's comic collection was ok--it didn't have any major problems w/ legibility, despite editor megan kelso's apparent disavowal of the project, but i didn't think most of the stories were worth reading. off the top of my head, the only one i can remember liking a lot was ellen forney's (no surprise there), but i know there were one or two others. it's not a great track record for an anthology, though. i'm honestly not sure if it had to do w/ choice of contributors (there were definitely some deserving artists who weren't included) or w/ lackadaisical editorship, but i found the whole thing sort of disappointing.
--dude, the E! thing where they reenact the michael jackson trial is really weird.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
neko case
according to chapter 13 of this book, "deep red bells" was inspired by the green river killer.
besides the (SO COOL!!) chapter on neko, the book also features information on gram parsons, joe ely, kris kristofferson, steve earle, lucinda williams, and tons more (chapter 8 is called "More Red": Revved-Up Jug Band Music and Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful--which really just makes me think of Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, the only holiday special i actually really like. my dad loves it too, b/c emmett otter is awesome, as is jug-band music).
besides the (SO COOL!!) chapter on neko, the book also features information on gram parsons, joe ely, kris kristofferson, steve earle, lucinda williams, and tons more (chapter 8 is called "More Red": Revved-Up Jug Band Music and Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful--which really just makes me think of Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, the only holiday special i actually really like. my dad loves it too, b/c emmett otter is awesome, as is jug-band music).
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
harry potter 6
somehow i got on the borders bookstore email list--really, i have no idea how, but as of this moment i no longer mind, b/c they just emailed me a picture of the cover for the new harry potter book!
here, see for yourselves:
i think i dreamed about the new harry potter book the other night. or maybe i just got sleepy while watching the first harry potter movie on tv. i don't really remember anymore.
is it july yet????
here, see for yourselves:
i think i dreamed about the new harry potter book the other night. or maybe i just got sleepy while watching the first harry potter movie on tv. i don't really remember anymore.
is it july yet????
bookslut/trivial pursuit
the new issue of bookslut is up today, with an awesome and hilarious feature on the book lovers' trivial pursuit that came out last summer.
i of course bought it, being a big nerd, and my friends and i played it at christina's exactly once (my team didn't win, much to my chagrin). i'm pretty sure it didn't take an hour for any of us to get a wedge, although i do dimly recall that after two-plus hours of play we were nowhere near done, and were forced to institute a tie-breaker round just so we could get the hell home.
anyway, the article is pretty funny--be sure and click on the pictures, too.
now i kind of want to play again!
i of course bought it, being a big nerd, and my friends and i played it at christina's exactly once (my team didn't win, much to my chagrin). i'm pretty sure it didn't take an hour for any of us to get a wedge, although i do dimly recall that after two-plus hours of play we were nowhere near done, and were forced to institute a tie-breaker round just so we could get the hell home.
anyway, the article is pretty funny--be sure and click on the pictures, too.
now i kind of want to play again!
Sunday, March 06, 2005
2005 book 23
nicholas shakespeare's snowleg
this is one of those searching-for-identity and searching-for-lost-love stories all combined with heady political chaos in east and west germany in the 1980s (shakespeare does seem to like the male characters getting stuck in political intrigue while longing for some woman or another). anyway, the main character here is a british boy named peter, who discovers on his 16th birthday that the man who has raised him is not his father, but that his biological father is a german prisoner who his mother knew for just one day. this spurs him to study in germany, where on a weekend trip to leipzig, he falls in love with the titular character and then publicly disavows her--something he regrets for the next twenty-plus years, and something that poisons all of his relationships, including those with his family. the end is not entirely unpredictable but is still ultimately satisfying--for most of the book, i kept thinking, "i liked the dancer upstairs better," but by the end, i was pretty pleased with this story.
this is one of those searching-for-identity and searching-for-lost-love stories all combined with heady political chaos in east and west germany in the 1980s (shakespeare does seem to like the male characters getting stuck in political intrigue while longing for some woman or another). anyway, the main character here is a british boy named peter, who discovers on his 16th birthday that the man who has raised him is not his father, but that his biological father is a german prisoner who his mother knew for just one day. this spurs him to study in germany, where on a weekend trip to leipzig, he falls in love with the titular character and then publicly disavows her--something he regrets for the next twenty-plus years, and something that poisons all of his relationships, including those with his family. the end is not entirely unpredictable but is still ultimately satisfying--for most of the book, i kept thinking, "i liked the dancer upstairs better," but by the end, i was pretty pleased with this story.
2005 book 22
ruth reichl's comfort me with apples
this week's popular materials assignment was to read a work of non-fiction--pretty broad, no? i tend to like memoirs and biographies of the literary types, and i also like food a lot, so reichl's memoir seemed like a good bet. i remembered liking her first memoir, tender at the bone, and by page two i realized that i had also read this one--well, it came out four years ago! i can't be expected to remember every book i've read, if it's not on my bookshelf to remind me! or maybe i'd only read an excerpt. it all just seemed so . . . familiar. anyway, reichl is a pretty engrossing writer--she's had an interesting life, and it's pretty cool to read about her experiences meeting and eating with wolfgang puck before he was famous, and danny kaye, and california food luminaries i'd never heard of. her travelogues are also pretty exciting, and she doesn't seem to hold back when it comes to discussing her personal life either. every chapter ends with a recipe, so it's basically the perfect combination of memoir and cookbook.
anyway, now i have this blog entry to remind me that i've read it before, and i might seek out a different non-fiction work for thursday--rereadings just feel like cheating somehow, even if it is inadvertent!
this week's popular materials assignment was to read a work of non-fiction--pretty broad, no? i tend to like memoirs and biographies of the literary types, and i also like food a lot, so reichl's memoir seemed like a good bet. i remembered liking her first memoir, tender at the bone, and by page two i realized that i had also read this one--well, it came out four years ago! i can't be expected to remember every book i've read, if it's not on my bookshelf to remind me! or maybe i'd only read an excerpt. it all just seemed so . . . familiar. anyway, reichl is a pretty engrossing writer--she's had an interesting life, and it's pretty cool to read about her experiences meeting and eating with wolfgang puck before he was famous, and danny kaye, and california food luminaries i'd never heard of. her travelogues are also pretty exciting, and she doesn't seem to hold back when it comes to discussing her personal life either. every chapter ends with a recipe, so it's basically the perfect combination of memoir and cookbook.
anyway, now i have this blog entry to remind me that i've read it before, and i might seek out a different non-fiction work for thursday--rereadings just feel like cheating somehow, even if it is inadvertent!
Saturday, March 05, 2005
2005 book 21
gish jen's the love wife
another fine novel from jen, this is the story of a mixed-race family with two adopted daughters dealing w/ upheavals after the birth of a son, the death of a mother-in-law, and especially the arrival of a relative from mainland china. it's narrated by all the characters in chunks--not chapter by chapter, more usually page by page, which is very effective at times, as though they're all interrupting each other while telling the story. things do go a bit haywire toward the end, as a big ol' plot twist comes up and things get somewhat dramatic, but on the whole i enjoyed this story, and especially thought the characters of the two daughters were well-done.
another fine novel from jen, this is the story of a mixed-race family with two adopted daughters dealing w/ upheavals after the birth of a son, the death of a mother-in-law, and especially the arrival of a relative from mainland china. it's narrated by all the characters in chunks--not chapter by chapter, more usually page by page, which is very effective at times, as though they're all interrupting each other while telling the story. things do go a bit haywire toward the end, as a big ol' plot twist comes up and things get somewhat dramatic, but on the whole i enjoyed this story, and especially thought the characters of the two daughters were well-done.
Friday, March 04, 2005
amy krouse rosenthal
oh my! amy krouse rosenthal made cnn! i loved her latest book, a memoir in encyclopedia form.
also, when you visit her website, you can send away for a sample of the perfume she wears, which she mentions in the book. i actually did this, always in search of a perfume i'll wear, and i really like it! i'm wearing it now, as a matter of fact.
i don't know ms. rosenthal or have any affiliation with her in any way, and yet i got all happy and proud when i saw this cnn article. now than cnn supports my recommendation, you all should definitely check out encyclopedia of an ordinary life.
also, when you visit her website, you can send away for a sample of the perfume she wears, which she mentions in the book. i actually did this, always in search of a perfume i'll wear, and i really like it! i'm wearing it now, as a matter of fact.
i don't know ms. rosenthal or have any affiliation with her in any way, and yet i got all happy and proud when i saw this cnn article. now than cnn supports my recommendation, you all should definitely check out encyclopedia of an ordinary life.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
bruce campbell
bruce campbell's new book, how to make love the bruce campbell way, will be released on june 1st! yay!
but according to this interview from the beat, it's not actually a relationship guide . . . but a mockumentary mad caper sort of novel. i will read it anyway, b/c i am the sort of nerd who loves bruce campbell. his first book rocked!
campbell also talks about evil dead 4 in this interview, and the proposed evil dead 1 remake. will they keep the tree-rape, i wonder?
but according to this interview from the beat, it's not actually a relationship guide . . . but a mockumentary mad caper sort of novel. i will read it anyway, b/c i am the sort of nerd who loves bruce campbell. his first book rocked!
campbell also talks about evil dead 4 in this interview, and the proposed evil dead 1 remake. will they keep the tree-rape, i wonder?
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
i know a celebrity!!!
the multi-talented david connerley nahm (of audubon park) had a a story in mcsweeney's today!! D.C. NAHM IS THE COOLEST MAN ALIVE.
2005 book 20
peter beagle's tamsin
this week's assignment for popular materials was a sci-fi or fantasy novel--beagle, of course, is the author of one of my all-time favorite books (fantasy or otherwise), the last unicorn, but i'd never read any of his other works. this is a more conventional modern fantasy book--your awkward 13-year-old girl moves from new york to england when her mother remarries, and in the midst of adjusting to her new life, discovers all sorts of "old weirdness" in the old house her family is restoring. fans of harry potter will recognize some of the british folklore--the black dog is similar to rowling's grim, although here it serves as more of a warning than as an omen of death, and boggarts appear as well, although as little mischievous elf-types, they are hardly the embodiments of fear one finds in potter. my favorite mystical creature was the pooka, a shape-shifting troublemaker. of course, the major weirdness that jenny runs into is the ghost who inhabits her third floor--the troubled titular tamsin, who, despite being dead for 300 years, is in great danger, and jenny has to help her remember why. really a great story (though there were several typos! WHYYYYY!) and now i must seek out more of beagle's works. you're 2 for 2 w/ me, peter!
this week's assignment for popular materials was a sci-fi or fantasy novel--beagle, of course, is the author of one of my all-time favorite books (fantasy or otherwise), the last unicorn, but i'd never read any of his other works. this is a more conventional modern fantasy book--your awkward 13-year-old girl moves from new york to england when her mother remarries, and in the midst of adjusting to her new life, discovers all sorts of "old weirdness" in the old house her family is restoring. fans of harry potter will recognize some of the british folklore--the black dog is similar to rowling's grim, although here it serves as more of a warning than as an omen of death, and boggarts appear as well, although as little mischievous elf-types, they are hardly the embodiments of fear one finds in potter. my favorite mystical creature was the pooka, a shape-shifting troublemaker. of course, the major weirdness that jenny runs into is the ghost who inhabits her third floor--the troubled titular tamsin, who, despite being dead for 300 years, is in great danger, and jenny has to help her remember why. really a great story (though there were several typos! WHYYYYY!) and now i must seek out more of beagle's works. you're 2 for 2 w/ me, peter!
random pop culture withdrawal
tonight is the first of four veronica mars-less weeks. NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! life without veronica mars is hardly life at all.
also i just found out that ida cancelled their march 6 show here. again: NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! i have been waiting to see them live for years! and with erie choir opening, it was going to be even awesomer!
at least i have law and order reruns to sustain me. and a good book, which probably i will post about later tonight, after i recover from an indian food coma.
also i just found out that ida cancelled their march 6 show here. again: NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! i have been waiting to see them live for years! and with erie choir opening, it was going to be even awesomer!
at least i have law and order reruns to sustain me. and a good book, which probably i will post about later tonight, after i recover from an indian food coma.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
book meme
hey, it's exactly the same as that music meme, but it's about books.
1) Total number of books in your house:
approximately 1200, not counting the bookshelf (and boxes) of graphic novels
2) The last book you bought was:
i think it was the dancer upstairs, which i bought last weekend at nightlight. most of the other books i've gotten recently have been from the library.
3) What was the last book you read before reading this message?
see below. :)
4) Write down 5 books you often read or that mean a lot to you.
a. mark helprin's winter's tale. i used to read this annually, although i haven't done it in the last couple of years. i always loved the mix of fairy tale and big-city immigrant story and rich people shenanigans. helprin really is a great writer.
b. john irving's the hotel new hampshire. i read this book probably 20-some times through middle and high school and college--it was the first irving i'd read--my dad gave me his old copy, i imagine forgetting the whole incest subplot. i liked it anyway, and proceeded to read every other irving (except the 158 pound marriage, which my dad would not let me read when i was 13ish, and which doesn't really appeal to me anyway). it's not irving's best, but i always liked it for some reason.
c. sharon creech's love that dog. a kids' book, told all in poetry, about a boy's love for his dog. i cry every single time i read it.
d. haruki murakami's hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world. i first read this in asian lit in college, and i've reread it many times since. it's still my favorite murakami.
e. ann patchett's bel canto. one of the most amazing books i read before i started to keep track of the books i've read. i haven't reread it yet (my mom still has my copy) so maybe it won't hold up, but in my head it's absolutely brilliant and moving.
5) Who are you going to pass the stick to (to three people) and why?
david n. if he wants to. john m., if he does things like this. i don't know who else talks about books, really. :)
1) Total number of books in your house:
approximately 1200, not counting the bookshelf (and boxes) of graphic novels
2) The last book you bought was:
i think it was the dancer upstairs, which i bought last weekend at nightlight. most of the other books i've gotten recently have been from the library.
3) What was the last book you read before reading this message?
see below. :)
4) Write down 5 books you often read or that mean a lot to you.
a. mark helprin's winter's tale. i used to read this annually, although i haven't done it in the last couple of years. i always loved the mix of fairy tale and big-city immigrant story and rich people shenanigans. helprin really is a great writer.
b. john irving's the hotel new hampshire. i read this book probably 20-some times through middle and high school and college--it was the first irving i'd read--my dad gave me his old copy, i imagine forgetting the whole incest subplot. i liked it anyway, and proceeded to read every other irving (except the 158 pound marriage, which my dad would not let me read when i was 13ish, and which doesn't really appeal to me anyway). it's not irving's best, but i always liked it for some reason.
c. sharon creech's love that dog. a kids' book, told all in poetry, about a boy's love for his dog. i cry every single time i read it.
d. haruki murakami's hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world. i first read this in asian lit in college, and i've reread it many times since. it's still my favorite murakami.
e. ann patchett's bel canto. one of the most amazing books i read before i started to keep track of the books i've read. i haven't reread it yet (my mom still has my copy) so maybe it won't hold up, but in my head it's absolutely brilliant and moving.
5) Who are you going to pass the stick to (to three people) and why?
david n. if he wants to. john m., if he does things like this. i don't know who else talks about books, really. :)
Friday, February 25, 2005
2005 book 19
nicholas shakespeare's the dancer upstairs
wow, this book was pretty freakin' riveting. it starts with a journalist in peru who wants to write the story of the minister of intelligence, famous for capturing a notorious guerilla leader after 12 years of terror. unable to get the interview and despondent, he randomly goes to a cafe, where he meets the police detective who tracked the guerilla down, and whose story is pretty fascinating. if this wasn't a work of literary fiction, but was a more genre-related mystery, it probably would have a line on the back like, "but will his obsession w/ his daughter's dance teacher get in the way of his investigation?" rejas, the detective, is an extraordinarily well-written character, and the story is a compelling one, highlighting the political chaos in latin america while relating the tale of a man falling in love.
wow, this book was pretty freakin' riveting. it starts with a journalist in peru who wants to write the story of the minister of intelligence, famous for capturing a notorious guerilla leader after 12 years of terror. unable to get the interview and despondent, he randomly goes to a cafe, where he meets the police detective who tracked the guerilla down, and whose story is pretty fascinating. if this wasn't a work of literary fiction, but was a more genre-related mystery, it probably would have a line on the back like, "but will his obsession w/ his daughter's dance teacher get in the way of his investigation?" rejas, the detective, is an extraordinarily well-written character, and the story is a compelling one, highlighting the political chaos in latin america while relating the tale of a man falling in love.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
that darn pope
so the pope is in the hospital again. i used to really like that guy, b/c when i was living in israel he came to visit, and he very respectfully put a note in the Wall, ostensibly asking forgiveness for the Church's inaction during the Holocaust. i thought that was pretty freakin' classy and thereafter thought the pope was an adorable old man.
well, that dude is just totally addled with old-ness these days. i mean, first there was that whole "dignity of women" debacle, where he talked about women's great sensitivity and i believe implied women should be nicer to their husbands (i can't find the references right now). but when i saw this on bookslut this morning i about screamed. ok, pope, i get that you are against gay marriages b/c you're the pope. whatever. but there is no need ever to compare abortion to the Holocaust. (for one thing, there are plenty of actual genocides to compare to the Holocaust.) this is just as un-classy and insensitive as the anti-abortion protestors who were outside eisenhower auditorium when elie wiesel was speaking back when i was a little college freshman. their signs also compared abortion to the Holocaust--and also features MUCH-larger-than-life photos of fetuses.
my point is this: it's your own business if you think abortion is a huge crisis. maybe you should take a more proactive stance re: abortion if it bothers you that much--you know, give kids condoms and stuff, or adopt all the babies that would otherwise be aborted. but the one thing you shouldn't do is co-opt a completely unrelated tragedy to try and make your own position more sympathetic. abortions are nothing like the Holocaust--there is no band of women out there going, "hey, i hate fetuses! let's all get knocked up and then abort them!" the Holocaust--and all genocides really--is a disgusting piece of history because one group specifically targeted another for extermination. abortion is a personal issue for each woman--it's not a campaign of hatred. it's not deliberate. so SHUT UP, pope!
god, what if his successor is worse?!
well, that dude is just totally addled with old-ness these days. i mean, first there was that whole "dignity of women" debacle, where he talked about women's great sensitivity and i believe implied women should be nicer to their husbands (i can't find the references right now). but when i saw this on bookslut this morning i about screamed. ok, pope, i get that you are against gay marriages b/c you're the pope. whatever. but there is no need ever to compare abortion to the Holocaust. (for one thing, there are plenty of actual genocides to compare to the Holocaust.) this is just as un-classy and insensitive as the anti-abortion protestors who were outside eisenhower auditorium when elie wiesel was speaking back when i was a little college freshman. their signs also compared abortion to the Holocaust--and also features MUCH-larger-than-life photos of fetuses.
my point is this: it's your own business if you think abortion is a huge crisis. maybe you should take a more proactive stance re: abortion if it bothers you that much--you know, give kids condoms and stuff, or adopt all the babies that would otherwise be aborted. but the one thing you shouldn't do is co-opt a completely unrelated tragedy to try and make your own position more sympathetic. abortions are nothing like the Holocaust--there is no band of women out there going, "hey, i hate fetuses! let's all get knocked up and then abort them!" the Holocaust--and all genocides really--is a disgusting piece of history because one group specifically targeted another for extermination. abortion is a personal issue for each woman--it's not a campaign of hatred. it's not deliberate. so SHUT UP, pope!
god, what if his successor is worse?!
des_ark
aww, the duke chronicle cares about local music! check out this article on des_ark.
by the way--the cd release party saturday at 506 is free (more money to spend on booze at the bar! thanks, glenn!) and work clothes is opening. we just got their new cd at wxdu, but i haven't heard too much of it yet. suffice it to say: this show is going to be awesome.
by the way--the cd release party saturday at 506 is free (more money to spend on booze at the bar! thanks, glenn!) and work clothes is opening. we just got their new cd at wxdu, but i haven't heard too much of it yet. suffice it to say: this show is going to be awesome.
tob semifinals
roth vs. ozick.
i read and enjoyed both of these books, so figured i'd throw this link up, even though i got bored w/ linking to the tob every day (i mean, it's not like i'm bookslut). but i really agreed w/ the assessments here and was pleased with the outcome.
i fully predict that cloud atlas will kick that dumb wolfe novel in the rear, and then triumph over roth for the title of BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR! if i had to pick just one, that's how it'd come out for me, anyway. i mean, the roth scared me so badly i was shaking--but the ending was a little bit weak. david mitchell just amazed me through and through.
i read and enjoyed both of these books, so figured i'd throw this link up, even though i got bored w/ linking to the tob every day (i mean, it's not like i'm bookslut). but i really agreed w/ the assessments here and was pleased with the outcome.
i fully predict that cloud atlas will kick that dumb wolfe novel in the rear, and then triumph over roth for the title of BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR! if i had to pick just one, that's how it'd come out for me, anyway. i mean, the roth scared me so badly i was shaking--but the ending was a little bit weak. david mitchell just amazed me through and through.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
2005 book 18
sarah vowell's take the cannoli
well, yay to the unc library for having this book that i've been wanting to read. though actually, i didn't like it quite as much as partly cloudy patriot. for one thing, there was wayyy too much frank sinatra in this book. but it did have some high point for me--i really liked the first couple of essays, about her dad and her experiences in band, and the one about the chelsea, as well as the last couple of essays, especially the one about learning to be goth. that was pretty hilarious. the one about making mix tapes rang pretty true--and of course i loved when she said her boyfriend would call her "the second he'd finished reading a novel and just had to tell me about it, and i know it sounds hokey and librarian-ish to say so, but i just swooned when he did that." hee. well anyway, she also has some essays in here about american history and traveling and whatnot--the one on the trail of tears starts off strong and veers a little too much into self-indulgence for my tastes, but really, the goth story made up for everything.
well, yay to the unc library for having this book that i've been wanting to read. though actually, i didn't like it quite as much as partly cloudy patriot. for one thing, there was wayyy too much frank sinatra in this book. but it did have some high point for me--i really liked the first couple of essays, about her dad and her experiences in band, and the one about the chelsea, as well as the last couple of essays, especially the one about learning to be goth. that was pretty hilarious. the one about making mix tapes rang pretty true--and of course i loved when she said her boyfriend would call her "the second he'd finished reading a novel and just had to tell me about it, and i know it sounds hokey and librarian-ish to say so, but i just swooned when he did that." hee. well anyway, she also has some essays in here about american history and traveling and whatnot--the one on the trail of tears starts off strong and veers a little too much into self-indulgence for my tastes, but really, the goth story made up for everything.
more 80s (and 70s) nostalgia
ha! look what just came across my desk at the music library! the photos are amazing.
chapter five is called "drag."
I LOVE MY JOB.
chapter five is called "drag."
I LOVE MY JOB.
good music this weekend
friday night at the cradle: various local acts doing an elliot smith tribute. ash bowie is performing, and erie choir i think (the audubon park blog will have more details, i'm sure).
saturday night at local 506: des_ark and bellafea are both releasing their long-awaited cds! this is girls' night out for sure, so forgive me if you see me and i'm extra-loud and giggly--my ladies and i will be going out for drinks beforehand. and probably will get drinks during, as well. :)
saturday night at local 506: des_ark and bellafea are both releasing their long-awaited cds! this is girls' night out for sure, so forgive me if you see me and i'm extra-loud and giggly--my ladies and i will be going out for drinks beforehand. and probably will get drinks during, as well. :)
Monday, February 21, 2005
seriously, watch veronica mars
this week's episode (featuring guest star alyson hannigan, from buffy) looks to be totally amazing. there will be an 80s dance. logan will be dressed as tom cruise in risky business. veronica will be in a madonna-esque ensemble. and i imagine the writing quality will be as consistently smart, funny, and riveting as every other episode has been.
so why aren't you watching yet?
so why aren't you watching yet?
Sunday, February 20, 2005
2005 book 17
connie mason's the pirate prince
in case you couldn;t tell from the title, this is the romance novel i read for class. and first, let me commend david nahm on his recommendation of pta thriftshop as a romance-buying locale--their selection of books was pretty remarkable, and i only paid 50 cents for this one (a quarter more than the herman wouk book i picked up!). also, props to jodi, who is letting me use her computer to blog this from skylight, since i did not bring mine with me.
and onto the plot! it is a historical romance, taking place in turkey in 1564, and revolves around a prince who takes to piracy after his evil brother kills all their other brothers to maintain hold on the empire. as revenge, prince dariq hijacks (or whatever pirates call it) a ship carrying "a great treasure" destined for his brother--an virginal englishwoman with lush pink lips, destined to be his brother's concubine! gasp! dariq decides to trade the enticing englishwoman for his mother, still trapped in his evil brother's castle, but finds himself unable to resist her womanly charms. the typical plot twists ensue, along with an extremely large number of sex scenes (kate a. once told me that one of her college classes read romance novels and one thing they all had in common was no sex before page 100--that held true here, although there was a LOT of sex after page 100). i spent most of this book snickering and sharing the especially lusty passages with my homework-doing cohorts, so i guess you could say i enjoyed it. :)
for those interested in other exotic and racy romance novels, this author apparently has one about gypsies due out in may.
in case you couldn;t tell from the title, this is the romance novel i read for class. and first, let me commend david nahm on his recommendation of pta thriftshop as a romance-buying locale--their selection of books was pretty remarkable, and i only paid 50 cents for this one (a quarter more than the herman wouk book i picked up!). also, props to jodi, who is letting me use her computer to blog this from skylight, since i did not bring mine with me.
and onto the plot! it is a historical romance, taking place in turkey in 1564, and revolves around a prince who takes to piracy after his evil brother kills all their other brothers to maintain hold on the empire. as revenge, prince dariq hijacks (or whatever pirates call it) a ship carrying "a great treasure" destined for his brother--an virginal englishwoman with lush pink lips, destined to be his brother's concubine! gasp! dariq decides to trade the enticing englishwoman for his mother, still trapped in his evil brother's castle, but finds himself unable to resist her womanly charms. the typical plot twists ensue, along with an extremely large number of sex scenes (kate a. once told me that one of her college classes read romance novels and one thing they all had in common was no sex before page 100--that held true here, although there was a LOT of sex after page 100). i spent most of this book snickering and sharing the especially lusty passages with my homework-doing cohorts, so i guess you could say i enjoyed it. :)
for those interested in other exotic and racy romance novels, this author apparently has one about gypsies due out in may.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
2005 book 16
a.l. kennedy's paradise
one of the nice things about being a little bit sick is that between all the naps and sniffling and coughing, there is some time to do some just-for-fun reading. although kennedy's latest novel is fairly dark--it's the story of an alcoholic who gets involved with another alcoholic--it certainly qualifies as reading enjoyment. it's somewhat circular and confused--which makes sense, as the narrator begins the story having just emerged from a blackout, and has to piece together her recent activities and her life in general. never having been an alcoholic, i can't really say whether or not the characterizations are accurate, but they're certainly very powerful and gripping. this is probably kennedy's best novel to date, although it is slightly more distressing than her other works. still, i'd highly recommend it.
one of the nice things about being a little bit sick is that between all the naps and sniffling and coughing, there is some time to do some just-for-fun reading. although kennedy's latest novel is fairly dark--it's the story of an alcoholic who gets involved with another alcoholic--it certainly qualifies as reading enjoyment. it's somewhat circular and confused--which makes sense, as the narrator begins the story having just emerged from a blackout, and has to piece together her recent activities and her life in general. never having been an alcoholic, i can't really say whether or not the characterizations are accurate, but they're certainly very powerful and gripping. this is probably kennedy's best novel to date, although it is slightly more distressing than her other works. still, i'd highly recommend it.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
2005 book 15
andy duncan's beluthahatchie and other stories
the mysterious john m., fellow avid reader, left this for me to read. and i have to say, i enjoyed it pretty thoroughly. duncan, who has local ties, only missteps in the two stories where he writes in dialect--although the title story, about a blues guitarist who takes a train to the suburbs of hell and runs into the devil, is engaging enough to get past this. his stories are a mix of fantasy and dark humor and romance and history and good ol'-fashioned mountain music--highlights for me were "the executioner's guild," about a traveling electric-chair operator, "the premature burials," about a wife who makes her husband promise to be buried with her when she dies, "the map to the homes of the stars," about cars and lost childhood and things of that nature, and "liza and the crazy water man," about a girl from the carolina mountains with an amazing singing voice. if those descriptions don't give you the hint, i'll point out that duncan's stories really have a surprising range, meaning that most readers could find something enjoyable in here somewhere. thanks for the recommendation, john; i'll return the book tomorrow. :)
the mysterious john m., fellow avid reader, left this for me to read. and i have to say, i enjoyed it pretty thoroughly. duncan, who has local ties, only missteps in the two stories where he writes in dialect--although the title story, about a blues guitarist who takes a train to the suburbs of hell and runs into the devil, is engaging enough to get past this. his stories are a mix of fantasy and dark humor and romance and history and good ol'-fashioned mountain music--highlights for me were "the executioner's guild," about a traveling electric-chair operator, "the premature burials," about a wife who makes her husband promise to be buried with her when she dies, "the map to the homes of the stars," about cars and lost childhood and things of that nature, and "liza and the crazy water man," about a girl from the carolina mountains with an amazing singing voice. if those descriptions don't give you the hint, i'll point out that duncan's stories really have a surprising range, meaning that most readers could find something enjoyable in here somewhere. thanks for the recommendation, john; i'll return the book tomorrow. :)
tob/philip roth
round two of the tournment of books has begun. i actually got a little bored w/ posting links to the tournament, especially since i hadn't read some of the books, but i think maud newton really nails just why roth's novel was so frightening and effective. again, i did read it jsut before the election and was terrified out of my wits, but even a reviewer reading it in february should have picked up on the allusions to the present administration. kudos to maud newton!
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
romance novels
i have to read a romance novel for my popular materials class next week. does anyone know of one that might entertain me, as opposed to making me want to claw my eyeballs out? i mean, i'm not totally a terrible book snob (i did think that mystery book i read was fun), but romance novels always seem extra silly and formulaic. i am pretty sure chick-lit doesn;t count, which is fine, b/c i don't really like chick-lit (it is jsut as formulaic and silly as regular romance books, but everyone is so much more fashionable and adorably neurotic!). i mean, if i'm going to read some torrid love story, i'd rather there at least be some bodice-ripping and maybe some horses for scenery.
as a side note, does anyone know where i can obtain a romance novel? the kids at nightlight made fun of me for buying that mystery book, until i defensively explained that it was for homework.
as a side note, does anyone know where i can obtain a romance novel? the kids at nightlight made fun of me for buying that mystery book, until i defensively explained that it was for homework.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
2005 book 14
michael ondaatje's in the skin of a lion
this novel left me with only the vaguest impression of plot--but i certainly don't mean that in a bad way, as it's beautifully written. characters sort of float in and out, but everything comes full circle by its memorable end. apparently two of the characters here appear in another ondaatje novel (the english patient? i can't remember, it's been years since i've read it), which sort of intrigues me. anyway, the highlight here is definitely the language--it's a dreamy story with romance, languor, actresses, and jailtime. pretty awesome.
this novel left me with only the vaguest impression of plot--but i certainly don't mean that in a bad way, as it's beautifully written. characters sort of float in and out, but everything comes full circle by its memorable end. apparently two of the characters here appear in another ondaatje novel (the english patient? i can't remember, it's been years since i've read it), which sort of intrigues me. anyway, the highlight here is definitely the language--it's a dreamy story with romance, languor, actresses, and jailtime. pretty awesome.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Saturday, February 12, 2005
bizarro world
finally picked up my copy of the bizarro world anthology today (along with the latest issue of fables) and was pretty pleased with it. like the last one, it was sort of hit and miss, but there were some great bits. the highlights for me were the dylan horrocks/faryl dalrymple one (and i also loved the supergirl one that dylan horrocks did the art for), the leela corman one, the justice league take your kids to work day one, and the last two stories as well. it was also nice to see contributions from evan dorkin, craig thompson, beto hernandez, and andi watson, and the jaime hernandez cover was cute, but i really could have done w/o the dave cooper, whose art just gets more and more grotesque as time goes by. bleah.
Friday, February 11, 2005
local music love
for anyone in the triangle area who is sort of intrigued by the concept of local music, but doesn't know where to begin, a new comp aimed at local college kids is a good place to start. the cd release party fun for heard together began last night with the sames, portastatic, the comas, and the rosebuds at the cradle--all the bands were in top form, all had great new material, and the rosebuds nearly rocked the roof off. other bands appearing on the comp play tongiht at local 506 (schooner, gerty, some others) and saturday night at the cave. click that link for info and track listings--even though the font is hella hard to read, i have ascertained that these songs are all pretty awesome.
another great local comp is the compulation that pox world empire put out a year or so ago--all new stuff from all amazing bands, and volume two is in the works (i am sooo excited for volume two). i can't praise the compulation highly enough--it was required listening in my car for months on end and some of my most-played itunes tracks are from it. :)
both of these cds should be available in local record stores, if you're curious.
another great local comp is the compulation that pox world empire put out a year or so ago--all new stuff from all amazing bands, and volume two is in the works (i am sooo excited for volume two). i can't praise the compulation highly enough--it was required listening in my car for months on end and some of my most-played itunes tracks are from it. :)
both of these cds should be available in local record stores, if you're curious.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
audio culture
just got this really interesting book of essays at the music library. authors include brian eno, glenn gould, john zorn, chris cutler . . . and umberto eco?!
i found the sections on electronica and electronic "(re)production" to be most fascinating, but there are some other gems in there as well.
i found the sections on electronica and electronic "(re)production" to be most fascinating, but there are some other gems in there as well.
tournament of books continues
round one gets more awesome as cynthia ozick's latest novel is thrown into the mix.
another of my top ten books of 2004 is being judged tomorrow--cloud atlas. it had better win!
(also, i'm not sure how that new tom wolfe book even made it to the tournament, but i really hope it goes down in flames when it comes up for judging next week. granted, i have not read it, but that's b/c the excerpts were TERRIBLE).
another of my top ten books of 2004 is being judged tomorrow--cloud atlas. it had better win!
(also, i'm not sure how that new tom wolfe book even made it to the tournament, but i really hope it goes down in flames when it comes up for judging next week. granted, i have not read it, but that's b/c the excerpts were TERRIBLE).
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
2005 book 13
janet evanovich's hot six
for popular materials next week, we have to read a mystery. a couple of girls in my class recommended janet evanovich's stephanie plum series, noting that it features transvestites, ex-hookers, and dudes who loved ducks. i called my mom--a connoisseur of mysteries--to get her take on the series, and she about died of excitement, noting that "when i read those, i laugh so hard i practically pee my pants!" this was a pretty ringing endorsement, so when i won a round of trivia last week and had a 1/2-off gift certificate at nightlight, i picked up the 6th book in the series (the only one they had on the shelves). and it was actually pretty funny and entertaining. it was about the fastest read ever, and the plot mainly involved the main character (a bounty hunter) being thwarted every time she tries to have sex with her boyfriend (a cop) b/c of this wacky case involving murders and guns, and also b/c her grandmother is staying with her. she has a pet hamster named rex, so i was all about that character. i did laugh out loud a few times, even, although there was no pants-peeing.
don't worry--i'll be back to the usual literary fiction asap. :)
for popular materials next week, we have to read a mystery. a couple of girls in my class recommended janet evanovich's stephanie plum series, noting that it features transvestites, ex-hookers, and dudes who loved ducks. i called my mom--a connoisseur of mysteries--to get her take on the series, and she about died of excitement, noting that "when i read those, i laugh so hard i practically pee my pants!" this was a pretty ringing endorsement, so when i won a round of trivia last week and had a 1/2-off gift certificate at nightlight, i picked up the 6th book in the series (the only one they had on the shelves). and it was actually pretty funny and entertaining. it was about the fastest read ever, and the plot mainly involved the main character (a bounty hunter) being thwarted every time she tries to have sex with her boyfriend (a cop) b/c of this wacky case involving murders and guns, and also b/c her grandmother is staying with her. she has a pet hamster named rex, so i was all about that character. i did laugh out loud a few times, even, although there was no pants-peeing.
don't worry--i'll be back to the usual literary fiction asap. :)
bookslut etc
the new issue of bookslut is up: the highlight for me was definitely this month's judging a book by its cover, which takes on romance novels. hee. there is also a review of outwitting history, which i read and loved.
also, the tournament of books continues.. i really liked this review. i forgot to post yesterday's; i can't even remember what it was about, which maybe means i hadn't read either of the books. either way, there probably is a link from today's judging.
i might post some stuff about tv later, or not. i'm tired and have classes this afternoon and evening. :)
also, the tournament of books continues.. i really liked this review. i forgot to post yesterday's; i can't even remember what it was about, which maybe means i hadn't read either of the books. either way, there probably is a link from today's judging.
i might post some stuff about tv later, or not. i'm tired and have classes this afternoon and evening. :)
controversy: million dollar baby
re: this metafilter thread (all about how pissed people are about reviewers and headlines ruining the end of million dollar baby):
actually, i'm kind of glad to know what the movie is about--now i'm a lot more inclined to see it. i couldn't figure out why everyone was giving such good reviews to some sports drama, but suddenly it seems a lot more interesting.
actually, i'm kind of glad to know what the movie is about--now i'm a lot more inclined to see it. i couldn't figure out why everyone was giving such good reviews to some sports drama, but suddenly it seems a lot more interesting.
audubon park
is, for real, the best live band in the triangle area. ross grady even says so! tonight proved no exception. i would write a lovely coherent entry about their awesomeness and fun-ness, but they let me come out drinking w/ them at fuse (formerly henry's, and basically the same, only w/ crazy art. i mean, the robots are ok, but the fucked=up version of guernica is just not cool) (OMGGGGG i went drinking w/ the band they are sooooo COOOOLLL!!! hee. ok.) and i had a couple drinks at 506 and really, i am not up to coherent right now. suffice it to say that whether i'm sober or tipsy, they are the nicest, funniest, most talented guys, and everyone should come see them when they play again. i seem to recall writing down a march date but i can't remember when or any details really.
don't worry guys, i made it home jsut fine. :)
robert, i owe you a drink! remind me! :)
ps--don't think i'm tipsy enough to forget that dave volunteered you guys to come over and move my stove so i can get to my water heater to adjust it! seriously, i really need for the hot water to last more than ten minutes. i'm a girl, you know. and you are several strapping young men! so move my appliances, dammit! :)
don't worry guys, i made it home jsut fine. :)
robert, i owe you a drink! remind me! :)
ps--don't think i'm tipsy enough to forget that dave volunteered you guys to come over and move my stove so i can get to my water heater to adjust it! seriously, i really need for the hot water to last more than ten minutes. i'm a girl, you know. and you are several strapping young men! so move my appliances, dammit! :)
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
veronica mars
hey everyone! don't forget that new episodes of veronica mars start up again tonight (9 pm, upn). it's the best, cleverest, most intense, and most adorable show on television--although tonight's episode (guest-starring anthony anderson) doesn't look as exceptional as the past few episodes (probably i will be pleasantly surprised, b/c i always am). alyson hannigan guest-stars on the 22nd so start watching now and be prepared!
i actually will be at the aududon park/rogue wave show at 506 at 9 pm tonight--but don't worry, i'm taping it and will stay up as late as necessary b/c i couldn't stand the suspense of waiting till tomorrow to watch it.
i actually will be at the aududon park/rogue wave show at 506 at 9 pm tonight--but don't worry, i'm taping it and will stay up as late as necessary b/c i couldn't stand the suspense of waiting till tomorrow to watch it.
Monday, February 07, 2005
reference books
we just got the newest edition of this at the music library.
Volume 1: Aaliyah to Lynyrd Skynyrd
Volune 2: MC Hammer to ZZ Top
Volume 2 also includes topical essays and relevant indexes (i swear the correct pluralization is "indices"). The topical essays include "Grunge: A Brief History of a Hard Rock Genre," "Rap's Emergence into the Mainstream," "The Transformation of Commercial Radio," and "The Music Industry: Economics, Marketing, and New Artist Development."
It's pretty entertaining.
Volume 1: Aaliyah to Lynyrd Skynyrd
Volune 2: MC Hammer to ZZ Top
Volume 2 also includes topical essays and relevant indexes (i swear the correct pluralization is "indices"). The topical essays include "Grunge: A Brief History of a Hard Rock Genre," "Rap's Emergence into the Mainstream," "The Transformation of Commercial Radio," and "The Music Industry: Economics, Marketing, and New Artist Development."
It's pretty entertaining.
tournament of books
(via bookslut)
the first round has been judged!
anthony, seriously, what's wrong w/ your sister? plot against america was one of the best books i read last year. granted, it was probably a lot more chilling when read by a jewish girl right before the election, but still. it terrified me. and i'm not really a roth fan! maybe 21 year old girls don't have the gravity to be book judges. just kidding, i'm just jealous b/c i want to judge books.
the first round has been judged!
anthony, seriously, what's wrong w/ your sister? plot against america was one of the best books i read last year. granted, it was probably a lot more chilling when read by a jewish girl right before the election, but still. it terrified me. and i'm not really a roth fan! maybe 21 year old girls don't have the gravity to be book judges. just kidding, i'm just jealous b/c i want to judge books.
bookslut
the guardian had a feature on bookslut this weekend. that's awesome--bookslut is one of my favorite reads! i love that the webmagazine part has a column on book covers, and that jessa reads as many comics as i do.
maybe someday i'll get free books b/c of this blog. spread the word, tell your friends! make people think i'm influential! please?
maybe someday i'll get free books b/c of this blog. spread the word, tell your friends! make people think i'm influential! please?
deborah lipstadt
deborah lipstadt's book history on trial (about her lawsuit with Holocaust denier/ bad-historian david irving, who sued her for libel) is reviewed in salon today.
i'm not sure if reading it would make me too angry and depressed, so i might not seek it out. but charles taylor's review is worth reading, for sure.
i'm not sure if reading it would make me too angry and depressed, so i might not seek it out. but charles taylor's review is worth reading, for sure.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
2005 book 12
suad amiry's sharon and my mother-in-law
i really wanted this to be a book i could recommend to people to let them try and understand some of the major problems w/ israeli occupation, and why palestinians should have their own state already, goddammit. i read a great review of this in the guardian, but it really didn't live up to my expectations. not b/c of amiry's (completely justifiable) bitterness and anger, but b/c she's just not a very good writer. i really wish whoever had written that guardian story had done a book about amiry, b/c amiry (a professor of architecture and the founder of the centre for architectural conservation in ramallah) is just not that great with the prose. first of all, the little vignettes are all pretty short, so it's difficult to learn anything about the characters, including amiry herself. it would be so easy to show the pathos of living under israeli occupation, and amiry's anger is very evident, but she just doesn't do a very good job of making herself and her family sympathetic. the only remotely interesting anecdotes involve how she got her little dog, and the two short chapters where her mother-in-law is staying with her. i jsut wish amiry wasn't so heavy-handed or something . . . i mean, i could quote endless examples of how clunky her writing is, but it seems pointless. i'm pretty disappointed with this book, as more stories from the palestinians need to be publicized, but having poorly written stories doesn't really help their case much, unfortunately.
i really wanted this to be a book i could recommend to people to let them try and understand some of the major problems w/ israeli occupation, and why palestinians should have their own state already, goddammit. i read a great review of this in the guardian, but it really didn't live up to my expectations. not b/c of amiry's (completely justifiable) bitterness and anger, but b/c she's just not a very good writer. i really wish whoever had written that guardian story had done a book about amiry, b/c amiry (a professor of architecture and the founder of the centre for architectural conservation in ramallah) is just not that great with the prose. first of all, the little vignettes are all pretty short, so it's difficult to learn anything about the characters, including amiry herself. it would be so easy to show the pathos of living under israeli occupation, and amiry's anger is very evident, but she just doesn't do a very good job of making herself and her family sympathetic. the only remotely interesting anecdotes involve how she got her little dog, and the two short chapters where her mother-in-law is staying with her. i jsut wish amiry wasn't so heavy-handed or something . . . i mean, i could quote endless examples of how clunky her writing is, but it seems pointless. i'm pretty disappointed with this book, as more stories from the palestinians need to be publicized, but having poorly written stories doesn't really help their case much, unfortunately.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
2005 book 11
david mitchell's ghostwritten
although i didn't like this one quite as much as his other two books, it was still a solid story. each section revolves around a new character (from a poison-gas-using cult member in osaka to a late-night dj in nyc), with a tenuous connection to the one before (and often, minor characters from one section appear as minor characters in another section). it's really interesting to see how mitchell's novels have evolved, especially in terms of structure--and there's even a mention of a comet-shaped birthmark in this one. definitely a great book, though of course it would be hard to surpass cloud atlas for sheer ingenuity and devourability. :)
although i didn't like this one quite as much as his other two books, it was still a solid story. each section revolves around a new character (from a poison-gas-using cult member in osaka to a late-night dj in nyc), with a tenuous connection to the one before (and often, minor characters from one section appear as minor characters in another section). it's really interesting to see how mitchell's novels have evolved, especially in terms of structure--and there's even a mention of a comet-shaped birthmark in this one. definitely a great book, though of course it would be hard to surpass cloud atlas for sheer ingenuity and devourability. :)
Friday, February 04, 2005
graphic novels and mix cds
sadly, the bizarro world anthology has not made it to chapel hill this week, but i consoled myself w/ berlin #11 (i've of course forgotten the entire plot since the last issue came out--time to go dig them out!), runaways vol 2 (still a cute series), and the latest masterwork to come from pantheon, gemma bovary (michiko kakutani reviews it in the ny times here). it's really a great take on the madame bovary story, with soft wash-style drawings interspersed with paragraphs of text . . . anyway, i recommend it highly, plus i have no idea what kind of paper they used, but it smells REALLY good. like the way a book SHOULD smell.
lots of reading and movie-watching is on the agenda for the weekend--and making mix cds! one for my dad, and one for jenny w., who i always think of as the coolest girl in school. fun projects!!
ps, and on an entirely unrelated note: i am all sad that ossie davis died. that guy was awesome and totally made me cry when i saw bubba ho-tep. seriously, i loved him in that movie (and in the many other things he's done that i've seen).
lots of reading and movie-watching is on the agenda for the weekend--and making mix cds! one for my dad, and one for jenny w., who i always think of as the coolest girl in school. fun projects!!
ps, and on an entirely unrelated note: i am all sad that ossie davis died. that guy was awesome and totally made me cry when i saw bubba ho-tep. seriously, i loved him in that movie (and in the many other things he's done that i've seen).
Thursday, February 03, 2005
2005 book 10
amy krouse rosenthal's encyclopedia of an ordinary life
rosenthal used to have a column on amused.com--a handwritten thing with lots of little drawings--and i loved it. i was sad when she no longer seemed to be updating online anywhere--i even considered buying a book she wrote about parenting, b/c i enjoyed her work so much. and lo and behold, she comes out w/ a memoir! it's really quite lovely, but in terms of presentation and of writing--the jacket is great, the illustrations are perfect. it's organized like an encyclopedia, sort of like an irreverent, non-fiction see under: love. its short entries make the book quick reading--i read half last night, and half while i ate leftover curry in the student lounge--but now i wish it had lasted longer. her writing is just so affable and sweet and adorable, and every so often i found myself saying, "yes, that is SO TRUE!" although she says her life is pretty ordinary, that's what makes this book so great--she's not ordinary at all.
rosenthal used to have a column on amused.com--a handwritten thing with lots of little drawings--and i loved it. i was sad when she no longer seemed to be updating online anywhere--i even considered buying a book she wrote about parenting, b/c i enjoyed her work so much. and lo and behold, she comes out w/ a memoir! it's really quite lovely, but in terms of presentation and of writing--the jacket is great, the illustrations are perfect. it's organized like an encyclopedia, sort of like an irreverent, non-fiction see under: love. its short entries make the book quick reading--i read half last night, and half while i ate leftover curry in the student lounge--but now i wish it had lasted longer. her writing is just so affable and sweet and adorable, and every so often i found myself saying, "yes, that is SO TRUE!" although she says her life is pretty ordinary, that's what makes this book so great--she's not ordinary at all.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
this one's for the ladies
the ten cutest comic book creators of 2004. (via the beat)
speaking of comics, i got a good haul today. by the way, for those of you not on the chapel hill comics mailing list, they're moving into the old love and peace storefront on franklin street (by moshi moshi and med deli, across from cd alley and internationalist), probably sometime in march.
here's what i got (i haven't read it all yet):
--y the last man #30--oh man, i really like this series.
--powers #8--ditto!
--fables #33--again!
--luba #10--crazy melodrama! (not in the bad way.)
--sip #70--katchoo and david got married. i hardly even care about this anymore, sadly.
--plastic man #14--meh.
--pigtale #1--looks to have cute art. i haven't read it yet.
i also got the ex machina trade, and as long as i was on a vaughn kick, i picked up the first little book from his old marvel series (runaways). it's about a group of kids who discover their parents are supervillains and i quite liked it. i also picked up the first dork collection (who's laughing now?) b/c i don't have much of that material, and the first trade from the new ashley wood series, lore, which looks pretty interesting, if it doesn't go too over the top.
but alas, homework beckons, and comic-reading must wait for the moment.
speaking of comics, i got a good haul today. by the way, for those of you not on the chapel hill comics mailing list, they're moving into the old love and peace storefront on franklin street (by moshi moshi and med deli, across from cd alley and internationalist), probably sometime in march.
here's what i got (i haven't read it all yet):
--y the last man #30--oh man, i really like this series.
--powers #8--ditto!
--fables #33--again!
--luba #10--crazy melodrama! (not in the bad way.)
--sip #70--katchoo and david got married. i hardly even care about this anymore, sadly.
--plastic man #14--meh.
--pigtale #1--looks to have cute art. i haven't read it yet.
i also got the ex machina trade, and as long as i was on a vaughn kick, i picked up the first little book from his old marvel series (runaways). it's about a group of kids who discover their parents are supervillains and i quite liked it. i also picked up the first dork collection (who's laughing now?) b/c i don't have much of that material, and the first trade from the new ashley wood series, lore, which looks pretty interesting, if it doesn't go too over the top.
but alas, homework beckons, and comic-reading must wait for the moment.
P1290050
i put some more knitting pictures up at flickr--this is a close-up shot of a scarf i knitting longways--an alpaca border around some awesome handspun yarn from mypapercrane.com.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
2005 book 9
laura esquivel's like water for chocolate
along with the last book i read, my popular materials assignment required reading a bestseller written after 1990. i noticed yesterday that the one i'd chosen had 897 pages, and my paper is due thursday. finishing the book in time was theoretically possible, but those weren't really odds i wanted to play. luckily, i did own three bestsellers from 1990+, and since i hadn't read this one since college, and since it sort of fit thematically with the rachel field novel, it seemed like a good choice.
actually, i didn't like it as much as i remembered (despite the humor of my stupid marginal notes from comp lit 101), mainly due to the ending (which i didn't remember at all). still, it's an easy and fun read, and i do like the framing device of the different recipes. some parts are downright sexy, some are pretty dramatic (in the good way), and all of it is mouth-watering. it's a nice sunday morning sort of book.
along with the last book i read, my popular materials assignment required reading a bestseller written after 1990. i noticed yesterday that the one i'd chosen had 897 pages, and my paper is due thursday. finishing the book in time was theoretically possible, but those weren't really odds i wanted to play. luckily, i did own three bestsellers from 1990+, and since i hadn't read this one since college, and since it sort of fit thematically with the rachel field novel, it seemed like a good choice.
actually, i didn't like it as much as i remembered (despite the humor of my stupid marginal notes from comp lit 101), mainly due to the ending (which i didn't remember at all). still, it's an easy and fun read, and i do like the framing device of the different recipes. some parts are downright sexy, some are pretty dramatic (in the good way), and all of it is mouth-watering. it's a nice sunday morning sort of book.
Friday, January 28, 2005
another reason i love my job
the new issue of popular music and society (28/1, February 2005) has an article called "What is Indie Rock?"
its abstract:
This article defines the music category "indie rock" not just as an aesthetic genre, but as a method of social differentiation as well as a marketing tool. Using Pierre Bourdieu's concept of "cultural capital," it draws a parallel between indie rock and high art, both of which depend upon a lack of popularity for their value, and require specialized knowledge to be fully appreciated. In its attempt to locate indie rock at the intersection of various artistic, social, and commercial phenomena, the article engages in detailed analysis of particular artists [Lou Barlow, Sigur Ros, Godspeed You Black Emperor, mainly--ed.], songs, lyrics, websites, and reviews, from which it concludes that this relatively new genre is part of an old and familiar social structure.
why didn't i write this article?!
its abstract:
This article defines the music category "indie rock" not just as an aesthetic genre, but as a method of social differentiation as well as a marketing tool. Using Pierre Bourdieu's concept of "cultural capital," it draws a parallel between indie rock and high art, both of which depend upon a lack of popularity for their value, and require specialized knowledge to be fully appreciated. In its attempt to locate indie rock at the intersection of various artistic, social, and commercial phenomena, the article engages in detailed analysis of particular artists [Lou Barlow, Sigur Ros, Godspeed You Black Emperor, mainly--ed.], songs, lyrics, websites, and reviews, from which it concludes that this relatively new genre is part of an old and familiar social structure.
why didn't i write this article?!
the importance of grammar
why is the word genocide in single quotation marks in the headline of this story?
it's not like this lawmaker is the first person to call it genocide. and the use of quotation marks makes it seem like he's the only one calling it that.
it IS genocide. it's not "genocide" (please visualize extra-exaggerated finger quotation marks there) by any stretch of the imagination.
apparently the gov't is considering invading iran now, or something (i was reading during the daily show the last few nights and may have missed key points). hello, if you want to fuck with other countries, can't you go intervene in a place where people won't get as mad about it? stopping genocide is generally a good idea, in my opinion. better than invading countries and starting wars for no reason whatsoever . . .
i'm also vaguely dismayed not to see more people speaking out about what's going on in sudan. these promises of "never forget" are great, but only if you use the memories to prevent evil crap from happening again.
i guess people will always hate each other though, and always find someone else to blame for everything that's wrong in the world. maybe it's not actually possible to stop genocide--i haven't seen much in the history books to suggest otherwise.
sorry, i swear, i will stay on topic next time! but you guys know how i am about misused apostrophes and things. :) these misused quotation marks are just as annoying, at least from my current political perspective. :)
it's not like this lawmaker is the first person to call it genocide. and the use of quotation marks makes it seem like he's the only one calling it that.
it IS genocide. it's not "genocide" (please visualize extra-exaggerated finger quotation marks there) by any stretch of the imagination.
apparently the gov't is considering invading iran now, or something (i was reading during the daily show the last few nights and may have missed key points). hello, if you want to fuck with other countries, can't you go intervene in a place where people won't get as mad about it? stopping genocide is generally a good idea, in my opinion. better than invading countries and starting wars for no reason whatsoever . . .
i'm also vaguely dismayed not to see more people speaking out about what's going on in sudan. these promises of "never forget" are great, but only if you use the memories to prevent evil crap from happening again.
i guess people will always hate each other though, and always find someone else to blame for everything that's wrong in the world. maybe it's not actually possible to stop genocide--i haven't seen much in the history books to suggest otherwise.
sorry, i swear, i will stay on topic next time! but you guys know how i am about misused apostrophes and things. :) these misused quotation marks are just as annoying, at least from my current political perspective. :)
Thursday, January 27, 2005
2005 book 8
rachel field's all this, and heaven too
for my popular materials class, we had to read a bestseller written between 1930 and 1950--i suppose it's ok to count school books toward my total when they're novels. :) anyway, i was pretty excited about this one--a historical fiction potboiler sort of thing was going on. it's about this french governess--played by bette davis in the movie version, apparently--who has to deal w/ the very jealous wife of her employer. i was sort of expecting the wife to die of a fit or something--it takes place in 1844, and people always die of mysterious maladies in books from that period--but instead her husband murders her brutally, and poor french governess henriette is caught in the middle of a sensational murder trial just as the restored monarchy is losing popular support. she ends upfleeing to america just after napoleon III comes to power and there she hobnobs with the literary and political elite of the period. there was so much name-dropping that i began to suspect the story must be true--the introduction,by field, is ostensibly by french governess' great-niece--and sure enough, the acknowledgements at the end indicate that this melodramatic potboiler is based on FACT! it's a pretty interesting story--one strong, sort of sassy woman's life amid tons of political turmoil, the civil war, and the atlantic cable. pretty entertaining stuff.
for my popular materials class, we had to read a bestseller written between 1930 and 1950--i suppose it's ok to count school books toward my total when they're novels. :) anyway, i was pretty excited about this one--a historical fiction potboiler sort of thing was going on. it's about this french governess--played by bette davis in the movie version, apparently--who has to deal w/ the very jealous wife of her employer. i was sort of expecting the wife to die of a fit or something--it takes place in 1844, and people always die of mysterious maladies in books from that period--but instead her husband murders her brutally, and poor french governess henriette is caught in the middle of a sensational murder trial just as the restored monarchy is losing popular support. she ends upfleeing to america just after napoleon III comes to power and there she hobnobs with the literary and political elite of the period. there was so much name-dropping that i began to suspect the story must be true--the introduction,by field, is ostensibly by french governess' great-niece--and sure enough, the acknowledgements at the end indicate that this melodramatic potboiler is based on FACT! it's a pretty interesting story--one strong, sort of sassy woman's life amid tons of political turmoil, the civil war, and the atlantic cable. pretty entertaining stuff.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
graphic novels!
very exciting news about an upcoming imprint of graphic novels. great talents--jessica abel, matt madden, sara varon, eddie campbell . . . *drool*
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
a successful mix cd/random rambling
i made this awesome mix cd a couple weeks ago, but had been unable to get it to play in my car successfully. behold! a sunny day and a drive to/from durham = the key ingredients to make it go!
here is the track listing, for the curious. this cd's theme was "songs i rated with five stars on itunes that i've never had on a mix cd before." instant sing-along classic!
1. the cannanes-astra
2. cinerama- 10 denier
3. jens lekman- you are the light
4. galactic heroes-payphone country
5. lou barlow-home
6. hutch and kathy-you're on
7. the smittens-capucine
8. comet gain-movies
9. kings of convenience-homesick
10. stranglers-golden brown
11. robyn hitchcock-sometimes a blonde
12. audubon park-tonight! the church van
13. american music club-myopic books
14. mirah-cold cold water
15. annie hayden-slip is showing
16. erie choir-favorite fotos
17. owl & the pussycat-tigers
18. pacific ocean-i tell you my heart could split
19. lambchop-sunrise
i think keith's axiom that unhappy songs are better than happy ones holds true for this cd, though some of these tracks are super-catchy and adorable (perhaps, most notably, the audubon park. seriously, i find myself singing, "and i will inch my sleeping bag/ a little closer to yours!" ALL THE TIME. dude, seriously, that is so my life! jewish youth groups had similar events, you know!).
also note: jens lekman is playing the duke coffeehouse in february. as is erie choir.
now to work on another mix cd for my dad! i think sorry about dresden may have been a little much for him last time, so i will think harder about what to include this go-round. :)
here is the track listing, for the curious. this cd's theme was "songs i rated with five stars on itunes that i've never had on a mix cd before." instant sing-along classic!
1. the cannanes-astra
2. cinerama- 10 denier
3. jens lekman- you are the light
4. galactic heroes-payphone country
5. lou barlow-home
6. hutch and kathy-you're on
7. the smittens-capucine
8. comet gain-movies
9. kings of convenience-homesick
10. stranglers-golden brown
11. robyn hitchcock-sometimes a blonde
12. audubon park-tonight! the church van
13. american music club-myopic books
14. mirah-cold cold water
15. annie hayden-slip is showing
16. erie choir-favorite fotos
17. owl & the pussycat-tigers
18. pacific ocean-i tell you my heart could split
19. lambchop-sunrise
i think keith's axiom that unhappy songs are better than happy ones holds true for this cd, though some of these tracks are super-catchy and adorable (perhaps, most notably, the audubon park. seriously, i find myself singing, "and i will inch my sleeping bag/ a little closer to yours!" ALL THE TIME. dude, seriously, that is so my life! jewish youth groups had similar events, you know!).
also note: jens lekman is playing the duke coffeehouse in february. as is erie choir.
now to work on another mix cd for my dad! i think sorry about dresden may have been a little much for him last time, so i will think harder about what to include this go-round. :)
news items that make me go "grrrrr!!!!"
i know that normally i avoid posting news thingies here, unless it's about books or something, but really, i think these three stories are hints that the apocalypse is coming:
item number 1: rolling stone magazine says, "hey, sure, we'd love to advertise your hip new bible after all!" i remember this hip new bible from when i worked at cokesbury--more specifically, i remember looking at it and rolling my eyes.
item number 2: 20 members of one of the russian houses of parliament want to outlaw jewish organizations, claiming that jews provoke anti-semitic attacks.
item number 3: like madonna, britney spears is into that superneat kabbalah stuff! so to show her new supercool spirituality, she got a "hebrew symbol" tattooed on the back of her neck (confirmation from some fan site here). classy! (it would be funny if mem-hay-shin meant something like "skank," but it doesn't mean anything.)
this reminds me of a ride home on the bus last week, where two jewish frat boys were looking at the photos of one's recent trip to israel.
frat boy one: that photo is from tsfat.
frat boy two: (has obviously never heard of the city, or never heard the name spoken out loud) ts-fad?
fb1: yeah, that's where, like, they invented kabbalah. it's the center of jewish myticism. see this synagogue here? ashton kutchner was there just last week!
item number 1: rolling stone magazine says, "hey, sure, we'd love to advertise your hip new bible after all!" i remember this hip new bible from when i worked at cokesbury--more specifically, i remember looking at it and rolling my eyes.
item number 2: 20 members of one of the russian houses of parliament want to outlaw jewish organizations, claiming that jews provoke anti-semitic attacks.
item number 3: like madonna, britney spears is into that superneat kabbalah stuff! so to show her new supercool spirituality, she got a "hebrew symbol" tattooed on the back of her neck (confirmation from some fan site here). classy! (it would be funny if mem-hay-shin meant something like "skank," but it doesn't mean anything.)
this reminds me of a ride home on the bus last week, where two jewish frat boys were looking at the photos of one's recent trip to israel.
frat boy one: that photo is from tsfat.
frat boy two: (has obviously never heard of the city, or never heard the name spoken out loud) ts-fad?
fb1: yeah, that's where, like, they invented kabbalah. it's the center of jewish myticism. see this synagogue here? ashton kutchner was there just last week!
Sunday, January 23, 2005
2005 book 7
joan leegant's an hour in paradise
this book has it all--rabbis and mysterious siamese twins and mysticism and illegitimate children and deadbeat sons and newly religious jews and a little bit of romance (the last story was especially adorable). leegant's short stories are compelling and sweet and i enjoyed every one of them. they're all pretty jewish-centric, but of course i have no problem with that--it's pretty much just a reminder that i should call my bubbe. :)
this book has it all--rabbis and mysterious siamese twins and mysticism and illegitimate children and deadbeat sons and newly religious jews and a little bit of romance (the last story was especially adorable). leegant's short stories are compelling and sweet and i enjoyed every one of them. they're all pretty jewish-centric, but of course i have no problem with that--it's pretty much just a reminder that i should call my bubbe. :)
Thursday, January 20, 2005
2005 book 6
haruki murakami's kafka on the shore
man, i love murakami. i mean, not unconditionally. i like some of his books much more than others. i loved this one up until the end, when it sort of trailed off a little. parts of it really worked, but some of it felt a little bit forced to me. still, being murakami, it's better than a lot of other books i've read recently. it's mainly about a 15-year-old boy who runs away from home, renaming himself "kafka" in the process. he's sort of hunting for his mother and sister, who left home when he was four, but mostly just trying to escape his father, who has cursed him oedipus-style. meanwhile, an old man who once fell into a mysterious coma and, when he regained consciousness, had lost his entire memory and never did manage to re-learn to read and is now pretty much a total innocent (who talks to cats) gets tangled up in some crazy stuff and soon his path and kafka's start to intersect. the story is told in alternating chapters (a la hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world, which brings up all sorts of possible symbolism), although there is one totally out of place chapter at the very end. the story didn't go where i expected it to go, whcih isn't a bad thing, but i think i was hoping for a little more resolution for kafka. still, i don't think this book merits all the mediocre reviews i've been seeing; i did quite like it (and i adored the old man's road trip with the trucker especially).
man, i love murakami. i mean, not unconditionally. i like some of his books much more than others. i loved this one up until the end, when it sort of trailed off a little. parts of it really worked, but some of it felt a little bit forced to me. still, being murakami, it's better than a lot of other books i've read recently. it's mainly about a 15-year-old boy who runs away from home, renaming himself "kafka" in the process. he's sort of hunting for his mother and sister, who left home when he was four, but mostly just trying to escape his father, who has cursed him oedipus-style. meanwhile, an old man who once fell into a mysterious coma and, when he regained consciousness, had lost his entire memory and never did manage to re-learn to read and is now pretty much a total innocent (who talks to cats) gets tangled up in some crazy stuff and soon his path and kafka's start to intersect. the story is told in alternating chapters (a la hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world, which brings up all sorts of possible symbolism), although there is one totally out of place chapter at the very end. the story didn't go where i expected it to go, whcih isn't a bad thing, but i think i was hoping for a little more resolution for kafka. still, i don't think this book merits all the mediocre reviews i've been seeing; i did quite like it (and i adored the old man's road trip with the trucker especially).
best book award ever
this award even has brackets! everyone loves brackets.
plus, three of my own top ten appear on this list, along w/ some other books i enjoyed a whole lot. ooh, a tournament! how exciting!
plus, three of my own top ten appear on this list, along w/ some other books i enjoyed a whole lot. ooh, a tournament! how exciting!
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
los bros interview
i'm sure this interview w/ los bros hernandez has been blogged extensively elsewhere already, but i figured i'd throw the link up for anyone who missed it. also, this gives me the chance to further bitch about the treatment their work has received in these big collected volumes (which everyone but me loves, but whatever).
granted, i don't have the palomar book yet, but i don't think i'm going to rush out anytime soon--according to this interview, the whole poison river story isn't in there! i'm sorry, but luba's backstory is critical to the development of the series, and there are so many references new readers won't understand without it. the character gorgo makes little to no sense without those stories, just as one example.
i thought the locas book was bad enough, with the first few mechanics issues missing, and without any of the izzy stuff, but it's seriously a crime to exclude poison river. not only is it some of beto's best work, but it's crucial to understanding the structure of the series and of the characters' lives.
/comic-book-geekery
granted, i don't have the palomar book yet, but i don't think i'm going to rush out anytime soon--according to this interview, the whole poison river story isn't in there! i'm sorry, but luba's backstory is critical to the development of the series, and there are so many references new readers won't understand without it. the character gorgo makes little to no sense without those stories, just as one example.
i thought the locas book was bad enough, with the first few mechanics issues missing, and without any of the izzy stuff, but it's seriously a crime to exclude poison river. not only is it some of beto's best work, but it's crucial to understanding the structure of the series and of the characters' lives.
/comic-book-geekery
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Saturday, January 15, 2005
2005 book 5
david mitchell's number9dream
well, wow. comparisons to murakami are pretty spot-on, so of course i loved this book (i was expecting nothing less, considering it was david mitchell). it was interesting to see the use of stories-within-stories and dreams-within-stories here after the interesting story-in-a-story structure of cloud atlas. anyway, this is about this twenty-year-old kid, eiji miyake, who moves to tokyo to try and find his absent father, whose name he doesn't even know. as the story unfolds, more of his past is revealed--abandoned by his alcoholic mother, he and his twin sister were raised by their grandmother until his sister's death at the age of 11--and he unwittingly gets involved in various yakuza shenanigans while trying to hunt down his father. very high-drama and fun and even a little romantic! seriously, i devoured this book--it even distracted me from the akc national dog show, and i love watching dog shows (periodically, outbursts of "aww, puppy!!!!" involuntarily emerge from my lips). uh, yeah, this one is highly recommended.
well, wow. comparisons to murakami are pretty spot-on, so of course i loved this book (i was expecting nothing less, considering it was david mitchell). it was interesting to see the use of stories-within-stories and dreams-within-stories here after the interesting story-in-a-story structure of cloud atlas. anyway, this is about this twenty-year-old kid, eiji miyake, who moves to tokyo to try and find his absent father, whose name he doesn't even know. as the story unfolds, more of his past is revealed--abandoned by his alcoholic mother, he and his twin sister were raised by their grandmother until his sister's death at the age of 11--and he unwittingly gets involved in various yakuza shenanigans while trying to hunt down his father. very high-drama and fun and even a little romantic! seriously, i devoured this book--it even distracted me from the akc national dog show, and i love watching dog shows (periodically, outbursts of "aww, puppy!!!!" involuntarily emerge from my lips). uh, yeah, this one is highly recommended.
Friday, January 14, 2005
2005 book 4
david b.'s epileptic
normally, for whatever reason, i don't count graphic novels toward my book total. however, this one was classed as literature at the bull's head and clocks in at 361 pages, so book 4 it is. anyway, it's a deeply personal story of how david's older brother's epilepsy affected their family--all the different treatments they tried, from massage to macrobiotics to psychotic-rage-inducing drugs--and especially how it affected david's own life and his relationship with his brother. apparently the french title (david is french) was "the rising of great evil," which better reflects the darkness and violence in the story. david, one of the founders of the l'association comic collective, uses his art to highlight the fear and imagination of a family burdened by an illness they can't cure. stylistically and topically, comparisons to art spiegelman are inevitable, but david doesn't come off the worse for such comparisons.
normally, for whatever reason, i don't count graphic novels toward my book total. however, this one was classed as literature at the bull's head and clocks in at 361 pages, so book 4 it is. anyway, it's a deeply personal story of how david's older brother's epilepsy affected their family--all the different treatments they tried, from massage to macrobiotics to psychotic-rage-inducing drugs--and especially how it affected david's own life and his relationship with his brother. apparently the french title (david is french) was "the rising of great evil," which better reflects the darkness and violence in the story. david, one of the founders of the l'association comic collective, uses his art to highlight the fear and imagination of a family burdened by an illness they can't cure. stylistically and topically, comparisons to art spiegelman are inevitable, but david doesn't come off the worse for such comparisons.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
the holy consumption
here's an article profiling the four artists of the holy consumption, one of my daily reads (the site houses work by jeffrey brown, paul hornschemeier, anders nilson, and jonh hankiewicz).
speaking of these amazing guys, i have been dying to get my hands on a copy of jeffrey brown's wolverine meets zombies comic.
(article link from bookslut)
speaking of these amazing guys, i have been dying to get my hands on a copy of jeffrey brown's wolverine meets zombies comic.
(article link from bookslut)
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Monday, January 10, 2005
P1100024
new shoes--just in time for the first day of school!
on a completely different (and random) note, my ipod was playing the audubon park cover of ghost of rock's "old haunts" as i was walking home today--i adore both versions of the song, but really audubon park could do, like, raffi covers and i would love it--and i was thinking it would be fun if more local bands covered each other's songs. that evil weiner tribute comp last year was amazing, and i'd like to see more in that vein.
maybe the audubon park/erie choir/hotel motel/the nein/cold sides collective can start this sort of fun fucking around, since they're already in each other's bands and all.
ok, that's just my pipe dream of the day. :) carry on!
i'm off to enjoy the 67 degree weather some more . . . north carolina is the best state ever.
on a completely different (and random) note, my ipod was playing the audubon park cover of ghost of rock's "old haunts" as i was walking home today--i adore both versions of the song, but really audubon park could do, like, raffi covers and i would love it--and i was thinking it would be fun if more local bands covered each other's songs. that evil weiner tribute comp last year was amazing, and i'd like to see more in that vein.
maybe the audubon park/erie choir/hotel motel/the nein/cold sides collective can start this sort of fun fucking around, since they're already in each other's bands and all.
ok, that's just my pipe dream of the day. :) carry on!
i'm off to enjoy the 67 degree weather some more . . . north carolina is the best state ever.
Friday, January 07, 2005
2005 book 3
jenny mcphee's no ordinary matter
i saw a positive review of this somewhere-or-other, so picked it up today while killing time at bull's head. it's basically the story of two sisters, lillian and veronica, and how they start to make sense of their somewhat bizarre family life. lillian, a seemingly cold neurologist, gets herself pregnant by an out-of-work actor (without informing him), who soon becomes a character on the soap opera for which veronica writes. veronica begins an affair with the guy, and at the same time the sisters decide to hire a private detective to find out if their dead father had a second, secret family. lillian's pregnancy, veronica's secret affair, and the private eye's findings all lead to a pretty neat series of twists and turns, none of which i was expecting. it's kind of a light read, but definitely enjoyable and surprising.
anyway, i read it in one sitting, so obviously i was engaged.
i saw a positive review of this somewhere-or-other, so picked it up today while killing time at bull's head. it's basically the story of two sisters, lillian and veronica, and how they start to make sense of their somewhat bizarre family life. lillian, a seemingly cold neurologist, gets herself pregnant by an out-of-work actor (without informing him), who soon becomes a character on the soap opera for which veronica writes. veronica begins an affair with the guy, and at the same time the sisters decide to hire a private detective to find out if their dead father had a second, secret family. lillian's pregnancy, veronica's secret affair, and the private eye's findings all lead to a pretty neat series of twists and turns, none of which i was expecting. it's kind of a light read, but definitely enjoyable and surprising.
anyway, i read it in one sitting, so obviously i was engaged.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
2005 book 2
michael ondaatje's anil's ghost
this lush and beautiful novel is primarily about anil, a forensic anthropologist who is sent to her childhood home in sri lanka by a human rights organization. of course she begins to uncover things the government--still embroiled in civil war, with massacres happening on both sides--does not want to get out. meanwhile, the novel touches on issues of family, national identity, love, and loss. the characters are all compelling and i admit to getting weepy more than once while reading. i'll definitely have to track down more works by ondaatje--i've only read the english patient before this one.
this lush and beautiful novel is primarily about anil, a forensic anthropologist who is sent to her childhood home in sri lanka by a human rights organization. of course she begins to uncover things the government--still embroiled in civil war, with massacres happening on both sides--does not want to get out. meanwhile, the novel touches on issues of family, national identity, love, and loss. the characters are all compelling and i admit to getting weepy more than once while reading. i'll definitely have to track down more works by ondaatje--i've only read the english patient before this one.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
top ten books of 2004
in the order i read them, not in any ranked order, b/c narrowing it down to ten was hard enough! i don't think these were all published this year, but these were ten books i really enjoyed reading in 2004.
i think the reason most of them are from the second 50 is b/c those are fresher in my mind. :) these are the books i'm still talking about and recommending to people, so i guess they deserve my tiny accolades.
7--February 18, 2004--Susan Fromberg Schaeffer's The Snow Fox
there was a great review of this book in the new york times a couple weeks ago, so i went and picked it up (and actually, when i got it, the dude at the regulator raved about how gorgeous the cover is). who knew someone named susan fromberg schaeffer could write such a lovely and sad novel about three people in japan nearly one thousand years ago? the major characters are a powerful clan leader and the two people he trusts and loves most--his ward/consort, the most beautiful and intelligent woman around, and his best warrior. of course the two end of loving each other, being separated, and finally reuniting (that's not giving any plot points away, don't worry, the discerning reader figures it out long before it happens). in the meantime, there's a lot of death, battling, intrigue--and poetry. there are also two personable foxes, and maybe that's a weird adjective to describe foxes, but it's apt. now i'm even more excited to knit my vegan fox stole, whenever the yarn gets here. anyway: two thumbs up and an enthusiastic recommendation! i'd say "two thumbs up anda big grin," but really i was pretty thoughtful and somber when it ended.
39--May 25, 2004--Ruth Ozeki's My Year in Meats
this is the aforementioned awesome book, which i finished in the time between doing laundry and waiting for my radio show to start. i will first give the warning that non-vegetarians might not want to read this (and vegetarians might want to give it to unsuspecting meat-eating friends to show them some of the dangers inherent to the modern meat industry). but anyway, this is a very funny and sweet novel about a woman working on making a documentary tv show in america to market meat to japanese housewives. i laughed out loud a few times reading it, especially at the end. seriously, i highly recommend this, and will probably read everything i can find by ozeki in the coming weeks.
46--June 9, 2004--Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife
the last few times i've been to the regulator, i've casually picked up this book and set it back down. it looked moderately interesting, and the main character is a librarian (i feel a certain solidarity w/ librarian characters now, and this one is even a punk rock librarian), but the title was so off-putting! i mean, really, it sounds like a bad science fiction book. but then the new york times named it one of its notable books/books to check out during that summer reading binge, so i finally capitulated and bought it. and devoured it. like a few other books i've read, it's one i wish i could read again for the first time, for the pleasure of discovering each event unfolding. i don't want to describe it in much detail, b/c i don't want to give anything away, but trust me, it's worth the read. it's a very lovely book.
77--August 25, 2004--John Harwood's The Ghost Writer
i started this book before class today and only reluctantly put it down to learn stuff. i was glowing with the joy of reading it, planning to rush straight home after school to finish it, and then blog about it with heavy use of the adjective "brilliant." ok, the initial thrill has worn off a little, but still, this was a pretty fucking great book. there are new twists and turns constantly, and even though i guessed the big twist at the end, it was no less satisfying. the title is pretty apt--and it's a very creepy story. oh, i think the thrill is back again! this was so worth buying in hardback!
83--September 7, 2004--Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
this book is being touted as a cross between harry potter and jane austen, or as harry potter for grownups. i suppose comparisons to harry potter are inevitable--the main characters are magicians, plus it really does hit that epic note that harry potter hits as well. the jane austen thing i get less, partially b/c i'm not really an austen fan--i think that's just due to the time period (1806-1817, more or less). but this is all beside the point! the point is that for me, this book lived up to all the raves i've been reading (or skimming, so as not to be overly influenced by any reviewers). yes, i told myself i'd stop reading at 11 b/c i have class in the morning, and then 11 came and i said, well, another half hour, and it kept on like that till finally i said, screw class, i want to know how this ends NOW!--as all the best books have made me feel. i can wholeheartedly recommend this to any fantasy lovers, any history lovers, anyone who loves a good story with interesting characters and lots of surprises and a satisfying feeling all around. it's 782 pages but it does go quickly! or maybe i'm just a nerd!
91--October 1, 2004--David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas
wow. wow, wow, wow. this book definitely deserves the booker prize. first, let me comment on its brilliant structure--stories sandwiched within stories, like nesting dolls--or as mitchell himself writes, regarding a score being composed by one of the characters, "in the first set, each solo is interrupted by its successor: in the second, each interruption is recontinued, in order. revolutionary or gimmicky? shan't know until it's finished, and by then it will be too late . . . " (445). trust me when i say it doesn't come off as gimmicky--all the stories are tied together, and each one revolves around an entirely different world than the one before. they interrupt each other at moments of high tension, which at first annoys ("but i want to know what happens to that character!") but then i was too wrapped up in the new story to care about the one before. don't worry, it all cycles back through to a lovely conclusion.
95--October 16, 2004--Philip Roth's The Plot Against America
this is probably the most terrifying book i've ever read, and definitely roth's best (not that i have read all of his books, but still). the salon.com reviewer totally and completely missed the point. interestingly, there's biographical information on all the historical figures he uses in a postscript in the back. i can't really say anything else right now--i'm still processing the story, and how it relates to the political situation now--but that this wasn't nominated for the national book award is the biggest travesty of the year.
101--November 12, 2004--Kelly Link's Stranger Things Happen
here's another book david n. recommended--though actually, it had been on my amazon wishlist since salon reviewed it in 2001. i was glad to have the excuse to finally order it--and it was sooo worth it. these stories are creepy and lovely. link brings in some fairy tale favorites and totally skews them (most notably in "the girl detective," one of my favorites) but it's her other stories that are most memorable--i really think "the specialist's hat" and "louise's ghost" might make it hard to fall asleep tonight, and "survivor's ball" was also a doozy. and on a mostly unrelated note, the cover art for this book is pretty awesome. high marks all around, 5/5 cute star-gazing, coffee-drinking bunnies, or whatever i decided that my rating scale would be. i am really quite glad i finally read this book! don't wait three years to read awesome books, people!
109--December 4, 2002--Miriam Toews' A Complicated Kindness
wow, wow, wow. this book was really, really good. it's about a young mennonite girl whose older sister ran away from home, and whose mother left shortly thereafter, and now the girl and her father are falling apart at the seams. i don't really want to say anymore about the plot, b/c it unfolds slowly and i don't want to give any of it away, but, i don't know, i like the books about teenage rebellion and angst that aren't all trite and boring. nomi is going through a crazy spiritual and familial crisis in this story, on top of all the regular teenage crap. anyway, toews really blew me away with this book--the writing is simple and honest and lovely. i'm definitely going to look for her other novels now.
111--December 15, 2004--Marilynne Robinson's Gilead
this novel is a letter that a dying pastor is writing to his young son, detailing his life and family history and his complicated relationship with his best friend's son, who happens to be his namesake. but you know what? nothing i can say to explain it will really get to the heart of what a great book it is, so next time you're at a bookstore, pick it up and flip through it, and if it seems appealing, you should read it. i'd give it five coffee-drinking bunnies, or whatever my ratings scale is.
honorable mention/authors i read (bunches of) books by and really enjoyed: robertson davies, a.l. kennedy, ann patchett, suzan-lori parks, and . . . well, lots of others. :)
i think the reason most of them are from the second 50 is b/c those are fresher in my mind. :) these are the books i'm still talking about and recommending to people, so i guess they deserve my tiny accolades.
7--February 18, 2004--Susan Fromberg Schaeffer's The Snow Fox
there was a great review of this book in the new york times a couple weeks ago, so i went and picked it up (and actually, when i got it, the dude at the regulator raved about how gorgeous the cover is). who knew someone named susan fromberg schaeffer could write such a lovely and sad novel about three people in japan nearly one thousand years ago? the major characters are a powerful clan leader and the two people he trusts and loves most--his ward/consort, the most beautiful and intelligent woman around, and his best warrior. of course the two end of loving each other, being separated, and finally reuniting (that's not giving any plot points away, don't worry, the discerning reader figures it out long before it happens). in the meantime, there's a lot of death, battling, intrigue--and poetry. there are also two personable foxes, and maybe that's a weird adjective to describe foxes, but it's apt. now i'm even more excited to knit my vegan fox stole, whenever the yarn gets here. anyway: two thumbs up and an enthusiastic recommendation! i'd say "two thumbs up anda big grin," but really i was pretty thoughtful and somber when it ended.
39--May 25, 2004--Ruth Ozeki's My Year in Meats
this is the aforementioned awesome book, which i finished in the time between doing laundry and waiting for my radio show to start. i will first give the warning that non-vegetarians might not want to read this (and vegetarians might want to give it to unsuspecting meat-eating friends to show them some of the dangers inherent to the modern meat industry). but anyway, this is a very funny and sweet novel about a woman working on making a documentary tv show in america to market meat to japanese housewives. i laughed out loud a few times reading it, especially at the end. seriously, i highly recommend this, and will probably read everything i can find by ozeki in the coming weeks.
46--June 9, 2004--Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife
the last few times i've been to the regulator, i've casually picked up this book and set it back down. it looked moderately interesting, and the main character is a librarian (i feel a certain solidarity w/ librarian characters now, and this one is even a punk rock librarian), but the title was so off-putting! i mean, really, it sounds like a bad science fiction book. but then the new york times named it one of its notable books/books to check out during that summer reading binge, so i finally capitulated and bought it. and devoured it. like a few other books i've read, it's one i wish i could read again for the first time, for the pleasure of discovering each event unfolding. i don't want to describe it in much detail, b/c i don't want to give anything away, but trust me, it's worth the read. it's a very lovely book.
77--August 25, 2004--John Harwood's The Ghost Writer
i started this book before class today and only reluctantly put it down to learn stuff. i was glowing with the joy of reading it, planning to rush straight home after school to finish it, and then blog about it with heavy use of the adjective "brilliant." ok, the initial thrill has worn off a little, but still, this was a pretty fucking great book. there are new twists and turns constantly, and even though i guessed the big twist at the end, it was no less satisfying. the title is pretty apt--and it's a very creepy story. oh, i think the thrill is back again! this was so worth buying in hardback!
83--September 7, 2004--Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
this book is being touted as a cross between harry potter and jane austen, or as harry potter for grownups. i suppose comparisons to harry potter are inevitable--the main characters are magicians, plus it really does hit that epic note that harry potter hits as well. the jane austen thing i get less, partially b/c i'm not really an austen fan--i think that's just due to the time period (1806-1817, more or less). but this is all beside the point! the point is that for me, this book lived up to all the raves i've been reading (or skimming, so as not to be overly influenced by any reviewers). yes, i told myself i'd stop reading at 11 b/c i have class in the morning, and then 11 came and i said, well, another half hour, and it kept on like that till finally i said, screw class, i want to know how this ends NOW!--as all the best books have made me feel. i can wholeheartedly recommend this to any fantasy lovers, any history lovers, anyone who loves a good story with interesting characters and lots of surprises and a satisfying feeling all around. it's 782 pages but it does go quickly! or maybe i'm just a nerd!
91--October 1, 2004--David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas
wow. wow, wow, wow. this book definitely deserves the booker prize. first, let me comment on its brilliant structure--stories sandwiched within stories, like nesting dolls--or as mitchell himself writes, regarding a score being composed by one of the characters, "in the first set, each solo is interrupted by its successor: in the second, each interruption is recontinued, in order. revolutionary or gimmicky? shan't know until it's finished, and by then it will be too late . . . " (445). trust me when i say it doesn't come off as gimmicky--all the stories are tied together, and each one revolves around an entirely different world than the one before. they interrupt each other at moments of high tension, which at first annoys ("but i want to know what happens to that character!") but then i was too wrapped up in the new story to care about the one before. don't worry, it all cycles back through to a lovely conclusion.
95--October 16, 2004--Philip Roth's The Plot Against America
this is probably the most terrifying book i've ever read, and definitely roth's best (not that i have read all of his books, but still). the salon.com reviewer totally and completely missed the point. interestingly, there's biographical information on all the historical figures he uses in a postscript in the back. i can't really say anything else right now--i'm still processing the story, and how it relates to the political situation now--but that this wasn't nominated for the national book award is the biggest travesty of the year.
101--November 12, 2004--Kelly Link's Stranger Things Happen
here's another book david n. recommended--though actually, it had been on my amazon wishlist since salon reviewed it in 2001. i was glad to have the excuse to finally order it--and it was sooo worth it. these stories are creepy and lovely. link brings in some fairy tale favorites and totally skews them (most notably in "the girl detective," one of my favorites) but it's her other stories that are most memorable--i really think "the specialist's hat" and "louise's ghost" might make it hard to fall asleep tonight, and "survivor's ball" was also a doozy. and on a mostly unrelated note, the cover art for this book is pretty awesome. high marks all around, 5/5 cute star-gazing, coffee-drinking bunnies, or whatever i decided that my rating scale would be. i am really quite glad i finally read this book! don't wait three years to read awesome books, people!
109--December 4, 2002--Miriam Toews' A Complicated Kindness
wow, wow, wow. this book was really, really good. it's about a young mennonite girl whose older sister ran away from home, and whose mother left shortly thereafter, and now the girl and her father are falling apart at the seams. i don't really want to say anymore about the plot, b/c it unfolds slowly and i don't want to give any of it away, but, i don't know, i like the books about teenage rebellion and angst that aren't all trite and boring. nomi is going through a crazy spiritual and familial crisis in this story, on top of all the regular teenage crap. anyway, toews really blew me away with this book--the writing is simple and honest and lovely. i'm definitely going to look for her other novels now.
111--December 15, 2004--Marilynne Robinson's Gilead
this novel is a letter that a dying pastor is writing to his young son, detailing his life and family history and his complicated relationship with his best friend's son, who happens to be his namesake. but you know what? nothing i can say to explain it will really get to the heart of what a great book it is, so next time you're at a bookstore, pick it up and flip through it, and if it seems appealing, you should read it. i'd give it five coffee-drinking bunnies, or whatever my ratings scale is.
honorable mention/authors i read (bunches of) books by and really enjoyed: robertson davies, a.l. kennedy, ann patchett, suzan-lori parks, and . . . well, lots of others. :)
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
death of a giant
will eisner has died.
i swear i will post something besides links soon. i will probably pick up some new comics today, and i even have a new book to read.
i swear i will post something besides links soon. i will probably pick up some new comics today, and i even have a new book to read.
Monday, January 03, 2005
books to remember
via the bookslut blog--posted here for my own reference. :) an article listing some cool-lloking books coming out in 2005. i am most excited for harry potter, although i will probably get the ishiguro, horby, and mcewan books in hardback as well. :)
not the foer though (dammit, i really liked his first book), and definitely not the eggers.
not the foer though (dammit, i really liked his first book), and definitely not the eggers.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
2005 book 1
it's weird to be back at the beginning again. :)
orhan pamuk's snow
the story of a turkish poet who returns to a tiny town to investigate a series of muslim girls committing suicide--but really to try and fall in love with a woman he once vaguely knew--and whose writer's block suddenly ends, this novel derails a little as a smarmy actor helps lead a political coup during a big snowstorm. there's a lot of conflict b/w the westernized actor and various political islamicists, with the poet caught in the middle. there's also a lot of speechifying. the body of the story is good but some of the political elements take center stage for far too long for my own taste, and the conceit of the story being narrated by the poet's friend after the poet's death (which is never satisfactorily explained) has potential that it never reaches. however, i did love the phrase "heart full of oatmeal" to describe the poet, and may have to try and use that in my own conversations.
orhan pamuk's snow
the story of a turkish poet who returns to a tiny town to investigate a series of muslim girls committing suicide--but really to try and fall in love with a woman he once vaguely knew--and whose writer's block suddenly ends, this novel derails a little as a smarmy actor helps lead a political coup during a big snowstorm. there's a lot of conflict b/w the westernized actor and various political islamicists, with the poet caught in the middle. there's also a lot of speechifying. the body of the story is good but some of the political elements take center stage for far too long for my own taste, and the conceit of the story being narrated by the poet's friend after the poet's death (which is never satisfactorily explained) has potential that it never reaches. however, i did love the phrase "heart full of oatmeal" to describe the poet, and may have to try and use that in my own conversations.
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