Steven Hall's The Raw Shark Texts
This has been getting a lot of positive reviews, but I wasn't really that into it. It's heavily inspired by Haruki Murakami (especially Hard-Boiled Wonderland, and you'd be better off reading that). It's being described as, like, "A man wakes up one day without any of his memories; he soon discovers he has a weird psychological disorder dtemming from the accidental death of his girlfriend. But as he delves into his past, he realizes things aren't what they seem!!" Sounds intriguing, right? But after the first hundred pages, it starts getting all metaphysical or something, with all these weird word-sharks (don't ask--though there is a nice bit of graphic imagery with a word-shark toward the end of the book). Like I said, the whole thing is very reminiscent of Murakami, as though a Murakami fan sat down and wrote a first novel. Which apparently one did. B-.
On another note, I saw Blades of Glory this afternoon, and it was way more enjoyable than this book. It was sweet!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Saturday, April 07, 2007
2007 book 44
Bennett Madison's Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls
This was a cute little YA book about a rich girl who gets caught up in a mystery. She and her friends are fun characters, and most of the YA-type drama feels true enough. It wraps up neatly, and I liked it well enough to give it a B+ and to put its sequel on hold at the library.
This was a cute little YA book about a rich girl who gets caught up in a mystery. She and her friends are fun characters, and most of the YA-type drama feels true enough. It wraps up neatly, and I liked it well enough to give it a B+ and to put its sequel on hold at the library.
Friday, April 06, 2007
2007 book 43
Laura Lippman's What the Dead Know
This mystery story focuses on a woman involved in a hit and run accident; when police confront her, she announces that she's one of a pair of sisters who disappeared thirty years earlier. As the police attempt to discover whether or not she's telling the truth about her identity, her story and the aftermath of the girls' disappearance are told in flashbacks. There are a few twists and turns, and the ending was very satisfying, so I give it a birthday A.
This mystery story focuses on a woman involved in a hit and run accident; when police confront her, she announces that she's one of a pair of sisters who disappeared thirty years earlier. As the police attempt to discover whether or not she's telling the truth about her identity, her story and the aftermath of the girls' disappearance are told in flashbacks. There are a few twists and turns, and the ending was very satisfying, so I give it a birthday A.
Monday, April 02, 2007
2007 book 42
China Mieville's Un Lun Dun
I've read a few of China Mieville's short stories in various anthologies and liked them well enough, so when his first YA novel started getting some press attention I figured I'd check it out. Guess what--it's good! It's the typical chosen-pre-teen-girl-must-save-a-bizarre-and-magical-world story . . . but then it sort of turns on its head. Lots of great secondary characters, including an extreme librarian and a very lovable milk carton, and the heroine is both believable and likable. Totally an A.
I've read a few of China Mieville's short stories in various anthologies and liked them well enough, so when his first YA novel started getting some press attention I figured I'd check it out. Guess what--it's good! It's the typical chosen-pre-teen-girl-must-save-a-bizarre-and-magical-world story . . . but then it sort of turns on its head. Lots of great secondary characters, including an extreme librarian and a very lovable milk carton, and the heroine is both believable and likable. Totally an A.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
2007 book 41
Natalie Danford's Inheritance
This novel is about a young American woman whose Italian father dies; while going through his things, she discovers the deed to a house in his hometown. She travels to Italy to learn about her father; meanwhile, his own story is told in alternating chapters. I was pretty "meh" on this book. There's a lot going on in barely 200 pages, and the daughter's romantic interest feels really shoehorned in. Also, I guess the ending was supposed to be a big reveal, but it was ridiculously obvious the whole time. I liked the father's chapters but the daughter didn't have much personality. B-/C+.
This novel is about a young American woman whose Italian father dies; while going through his things, she discovers the deed to a house in his hometown. She travels to Italy to learn about her father; meanwhile, his own story is told in alternating chapters. I was pretty "meh" on this book. There's a lot going on in barely 200 pages, and the daughter's romantic interest feels really shoehorned in. Also, I guess the ending was supposed to be a big reveal, but it was ridiculously obvious the whole time. I liked the father's chapters but the daughter didn't have much personality. B-/C+.
2007 book 40
Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
This is our last book club book; it's actually a book of short stories, so as usual it took me a while to slog through (there's no "what happens next??" with short stories, you know?). A lot of characters do recur, so the reader does get a pretty good feel for them, but a few of the more experimental stories were on the weaker side. Anyway, I had no idea this was only published in 1992. I guess I always thought Alexie was older, since he's been in the canon for so long. OK, I'll give this a B, jsut to grade it and wrap this up.
This is our last book club book; it's actually a book of short stories, so as usual it took me a while to slog through (there's no "what happens next??" with short stories, you know?). A lot of characters do recur, so the reader does get a pretty good feel for them, but a few of the more experimental stories were on the weaker side. Anyway, I had no idea this was only published in 1992. I guess I always thought Alexie was older, since he's been in the canon for so long. OK, I'll give this a B, jsut to grade it and wrap this up.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
passover
Epicurious has been posting Passover features all week, which are collected here. I am very intrigued by the concept of matzah baklava (in the Israeli menu), but will probably stick with my delicious (and easy!) chocolate-covered matzah. It's like a candy-bar-coated piece of matzah! Yum!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
2007 book 39
Nancy Pickard's The Virgin of Small Plains
So this was a sort of mystery about a young woman who was found naked and dead in a snowstorm in the 1980s by a teenage boy, his brother, and his father. Her mysterious death and her lack of identity haunt the town, who come to believe she can perform miracles. Meanwhile, yet another teenage boy, who left town the day after she was found, has returned after almost 18 years. What will his high-school sweetheart thing? Will the mysterious girl's death ever be solved? What were all their parents covering up?!?!??? Anyway, I liked the way the mystery wrapped up, but the book's ending was more than a little sappy. B.
So this was a sort of mystery about a young woman who was found naked and dead in a snowstorm in the 1980s by a teenage boy, his brother, and his father. Her mysterious death and her lack of identity haunt the town, who come to believe she can perform miracles. Meanwhile, yet another teenage boy, who left town the day after she was found, has returned after almost 18 years. What will his high-school sweetheart thing? Will the mysterious girl's death ever be solved? What were all their parents covering up?!?!??? Anyway, I liked the way the mystery wrapped up, but the book's ending was more than a little sappy. B.
Monday, March 26, 2007
2007 book 38
Tawni O'Dell's Sister Mine
This was a sweet book, about a former cop/cab-driving woman who lives in a central PA coal-mining town, and suddenly her sister who's been missing for 18 years comes to town, followed by all sorts of shady characters. It has predictable twists and endings, but it was satisfying anyway. B+.
This was a sweet book, about a former cop/cab-driving woman who lives in a central PA coal-mining town, and suddenly her sister who's been missing for 18 years comes to town, followed by all sorts of shady characters. It has predictable twists and endings, but it was satisfying anyway. B+.
2007 book 37
Pam Lewis' Speak Softly, She Can Hear
Jenny really liked this so I thought I might too, but I didn't. The protagonist is really stupid and I saw the big twist ending coming from chapter one. Oh well. C-.
Jenny really liked this so I thought I might too, but I didn't. The protagonist is really stupid and I saw the big twist ending coming from chapter one. Oh well. C-.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
2007 book 36
Hisham Matar's In the Country of Men
The narrator of this novel reminded me of the one from The Kite Runner,, maybe b/c they're both jerky children. This one is living in Libya in 1979, with his secretly-alcoholic mother and his often-gone father. Everyone's all up in arms b/c revolutionaries are afoot, everyone is being watched, blah blah. I liked the ending but wasn't really into the rest of it--slightly clueless, unsympathetic narrators are really hard to pull off. B-.
OK, back to avoiding writing a paper.
The narrator of this novel reminded me of the one from The Kite Runner,, maybe b/c they're both jerky children. This one is living in Libya in 1979, with his secretly-alcoholic mother and his often-gone father. Everyone's all up in arms b/c revolutionaries are afoot, everyone is being watched, blah blah. I liked the ending but wasn't really into the rest of it--slightly clueless, unsympathetic narrators are really hard to pull off. B-.
OK, back to avoiding writing a paper.
Friday, March 23, 2007
revolutionary road
I can't believe they're making a movie of Revolutionary Road! That book is DARK. Also, I have pretty mixed feelings about that casting--I'm not sure Leo can pull off the whole smarmy 1950s ad exec kind of guy. Kate Winslet, of course, can do anything she wants (although I wouldn't have pictured her in this role).
newsflash
Jonathan Safran Foer is still a tool.
(Of course, I'm still a fan of the classic Maxwell House Haggadah.)
(Of course, I'm still a fan of the classic Maxwell House Haggadah.)
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
2007 book 35
Dana Spiotta's Eat the Document
One of the other librarians at work loaned this to me, and I have to say, she has my taste pretty pegged, b/c I loved it! It's basically about a young couple who were involved in radical protests in the 1970s; when something goes wrong, they both go underground. Most of the story actually takes place over twenty years later, when the girl is the mother of a teenager. It's not clear at first which of several middle-aged dudes her former boyfriend is, which is one of many fascinating things about the novel. Anyway, several major characters emerge as their stories flash back in forth in time, as as their identities start to unravel. Maybe this description sounds cheesy--I was a little leery when I read the back cover--but, aside from some awkward dialogue, it's really well-written. And actually, once I got really into the story, I stopped noticing any possible flaws and just wanted to know what was going to happen--which is, of course, the mark of an excellent story. A.
One of the other librarians at work loaned this to me, and I have to say, she has my taste pretty pegged, b/c I loved it! It's basically about a young couple who were involved in radical protests in the 1970s; when something goes wrong, they both go underground. Most of the story actually takes place over twenty years later, when the girl is the mother of a teenager. It's not clear at first which of several middle-aged dudes her former boyfriend is, which is one of many fascinating things about the novel. Anyway, several major characters emerge as their stories flash back in forth in time, as as their identities start to unravel. Maybe this description sounds cheesy--I was a little leery when I read the back cover--but, aside from some awkward dialogue, it's really well-written. And actually, once I got really into the story, I stopped noticing any possible flaws and just wanted to know what was going to happen--which is, of course, the mark of an excellent story. A.
2007 books 33 and 34
Anthony Pinn, ed. Noise and Spirit: The Religious and Spiritual Sensibilities of Rap Music
This anthology was really hit or miss for me, but the essays by Ralph Watkins and Mark Taylor were pretty good. You'd probab;y be better off just reading Michael Dyson's book on Tupac.
Heather Hendershot's Shaking the World for Jesus
This was last week's book for class, but I forgot to write about it. It's mainly about mass media being produced by evangelical Christians; there's a chapter on Christian music which is pretty good, but could really have been amazing if it was stronger and better-supported. She has some interesting things to say about Veggie Tales, though.
This anthology was really hit or miss for me, but the essays by Ralph Watkins and Mark Taylor were pretty good. You'd probab;y be better off just reading Michael Dyson's book on Tupac.
Heather Hendershot's Shaking the World for Jesus
This was last week's book for class, but I forgot to write about it. It's mainly about mass media being produced by evangelical Christians; there's a chapter on Christian music which is pretty good, but could really have been amazing if it was stronger and better-supported. She has some interesting things to say about Veggie Tales, though.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Multimedia message
Yay!! I got to see the Broken West tonight!! And they were really, really nice guys--I'm not just saying that b/c before their last song, they publicly thanked me for making them cookies. :)
The evening started off with some comedic misadventures as we attempted to identify which of the shaggy-haired hipsters hanging around might be members of the band (we correctly picked out two of them before Ross figured out who I was, saving me from the embarrassment of approaching random dudes and saying, "Um, are you in the band? I have cookies for you . . . "). Thank you to Christina for your valiant text-messaged assistance!
The opening band was really good too--called Ferraby Lionheart, and they totally had a trombonist! I picked up their EP and was thankful I'd put off making a mix cd, b/c one of their songs will definitely be on it.
Then Broken West played!!!! Tall dudes kept standing directly in front of me (whyyyyyy?!?) but I was not thwarted from totally rocking out. The Broken West are my new rock star crushes. I would totally be that dork who wears the band t-shirt the day after the show, but I'm not sure I can pull it off as work attire till casual Friday.
Anyway, thank you guys for playing in Tallahassee!!!! It was SO GREAT to get to see you live!
The evening started off with some comedic misadventures as we attempted to identify which of the shaggy-haired hipsters hanging around might be members of the band (we correctly picked out two of them before Ross figured out who I was, saving me from the embarrassment of approaching random dudes and saying, "Um, are you in the band? I have cookies for you . . . "). Thank you to Christina for your valiant text-messaged assistance!
The opening band was really good too--called Ferraby Lionheart, and they totally had a trombonist! I picked up their EP and was thankful I'd put off making a mix cd, b/c one of their songs will definitely be on it.
Then Broken West played!!!! Tall dudes kept standing directly in front of me (whyyyyyy?!?) but I was not thwarted from totally rocking out. The Broken West are my new rock star crushes. I would totally be that dork who wears the band t-shirt the day after the show, but I'm not sure I can pull it off as work attire till casual Friday.
Anyway, thank you guys for playing in Tallahassee!!!! It was SO GREAT to get to see you live!
etgar keret
Here is a great piece on Etgar Keret, who has been receiving even more buzz than usual lately (I think b/c the graphic novel he wrote with one of the Hanuka brothers in their comic Jetlag has been made into a a movie starring the kid from Almost Famous and Tom Waits. Note that the movie's title is lame, and the original story was called Pizzeria Kamikaze). Anyway, I was pleased to see a mention of "Hat Trick", which is something I read back in college when I was doing an independent study on Israeli short stories; looks like it's being translated into English for the first time now, which is great, b/c I've had a helluva time trying to prove its existence before now. No one has ever believed that a story involving a magician pulling a dead baby out of a hat actually existed (though dead baby jokes were really in vogue back when I was in college. Ah, nostalgia. Just kidding, eww.).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
