Title: Never Let Me Go
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
ISBN: 9781400078776
Pages: 304
Release Date: April 4, 2005
Publisher: Vintage
Genre: Literary Fiction, Science Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4.75 out of 5
Summary:
Never Let Me Go is a book that is very difficult to summarize, especially without giving away parts of the mystery that surround this novel. It begins with Kathy reminiscing about her days at the enigmatic Hailsham Academy and evolves into a novel about ethics, morality, and the beauty of relationships.
Review:
I’ve heard a lot of amazing things about Kazuo Ishiguro, and have been wanting to read his books for a long time. I chose Never Let Me Go to read first because I thought it sounded incredibly interesting, and happily it was. This was a beautifully written novel that I had a lot of trouble putting down.
Ishiguro’s writing in Never Let Me Go was simply breathtaking. He cloaked even the most unpleasant moments of the novel his his beautiful prose. I would venture to say that even if the book had been boring or unpleasant, Ishiguro’s writing would more than make up for it. However, I didn’t have to face that problem as the book is as gripping as it is well-written.
Never Let Me Go is a dystopian novel, though it’s hard to tell what is going on at the beginning. The mystery of what is happening to these students, of their role in society is really the driving force in this novel. However, the book itself focuses on real life – its simplicity, and in some ways, its mundanity. It’s a novel of details. Though the mystery arches over the entire novel and is really the main point of it, it’s not Ishiguro’s primary focus as the book progresses. Instead, he chooses to hone in on relationships, specifically that of the main character, Kathy, with her friends Ruth and Tommy. The characters in this book aren’t necessarily likeable (especially Ruth), but they are all very three-dimensional and incredibly well-written.
In a lot of ways, Never Let Me Go is told in pieces. The narrator, Kathy, is telling the story through flashbacks, so it’s up to the reader to take the disparate clues and put them together in such a way as to see the big picture. It’s very creative and amazingly vivid. Ishiguro really makes the reader think and contemplate their beliefs while reading Never Let Me Go. It’s an amazing piece of fiction that I can’t recommend highly enough.
Here are reviews of some of the books I read during the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon.
Title: The Demon King and I Author: Candace Havens Genre: Fantasy Rating: 4/5
The Demon King and I is a fantasy meets chick lit book. As a result, it’s fun, sexy, and full of fighting and slaying. Havens did an excellent job setting up the mythology and history of the book. She doesn’t go into so much details as to alienate chick lit readers, but it should satisfy fantasy readers looking for something a little lighter. The main character, Gillian, is well-written and sympathetic. Arath, the Demon King, is very appealing and a real mystery. Havens knows how to keep readers hooked, and those who don’t take this book too seriously will really get a kick out of it.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about French Milk, so I was looking forward to picking it up. I thought it was really cute, and the drawings were great. I also loved that Knisley mixed in photographs with her drawings – it really made France come to life for me. This was an incredibly easy memoir to read, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to read more non-fiction, but has trouble getting through regular memoirs.
Though I’ve heard great things about Gigi Levangie Grazer’s books, this is the first time I’ve actually picked one up. I honestly wasn’t that interested in the subject matter of this book, but I decided I would go ahead and give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Queen Takes King. The characters were well-written, the plot was engaging, and the book was funny. I was pleased at how well it kept my interest, and will definitely give more of Grazer’s books a try in the future.
Title: The Season Author: Sarah Maclean Genre: Historical Fiction, Teen/YA Rating: 4.5/5
I’ve been wanting to read The Season for awhile, and I’m glad I finally got the chance to pick it up. Because this is a historical fiction teen novel, it’ll inevitably be compared to The Luxe. I actually think I enjoyed it more than The Luxe – the mystery was fun, and the main character was very appealing. It was also much less gossip-y, with more endearing characters and a great romance. This is one I highly recommend, whether you’re a fan of YA or historical fiction.
Title: The Lost Recipe for Happiness
Author: Barbara O’Neal
ISBN: 9780553591682
Pages: 464
Release Date: December 30, 2008
Publisher: Bantam Discovery
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Elena Alvarez has been fired from her job at sous chef at a successful restaurant…again. She knows her firing was personal, rather than professional, because the head chef was jealous of an editorial on the restaurant that had featured her, rather than him. She also knows that she’ll be rehired sooner rather than later.
However, before she gets an apology, Elena is approached by Julian Liswood, a celebrity who enjoys opening restaurants, and has successfully done so several times. He wants her to move to Aspen and start a new restaurant with him. Will Elena take a chance, risking everything for professional success and a chance at personal healing?
Review:
The Lost Recipe for Happiness was an entertaining women’s fiction novel about a woman who seems to have everything on the surface, yet she is broken underneath. Elena is a world-class sous chef at the beginning of this book. She seems to be completely satisfied professionally, and her life gets even better when she’s offered the position of Executive Chef at Julian Liswood’s new restaurant.
However, Elena is very broken physically and emotionally. She has physical problems because of a car accident she was in when she was seventeen, and as a result she is in constant pain – not a good thing for a chef, who has to be on her feet most of the time. Additionally, Elena is emotionally stunted from the death of her sister in that same car accident, which she still hasn’t really dealt with.
Barbara O’Neal does an amazing job developing characters in The Lost Recipe for Happiness. The novel is told from both Elena’s and Julian’s points of view, and they’re both very compelling characters. O’Neal gets the reader involved with their lives, which becomes the main driving force in the novel. These are characters you can really get to know and love, which is perfect since the book revolves around them.
The details about running a restaurant and being a chef were engrossing, and only serve to increase the reader’s interest in The Lost Recipe for Happiness. It was interesting to watch Elena’s ideas about the restaurant and recipes come to fruition.
There are very detailed and explicit love scenes in this novel, which may bother some readers if you are sensitive to that sort of thing. While it didn’t bother me, they seemed unnecessary. Additionally, there is a storyline that involves Elena’s past and the ghost of her sister, and while it is interesting at some times, at others I felt like it took away from the main storyline. I also thought the ending of this plotline was a little rushed.
The Lost Recipe for Happiness was an enjoyable read that really warms the reader to the core. Women’s fiction fans won’t be able to get enough of Elena and Julian; like me, they’ll be eagerly anticipating Barbara O’Neal’s next novel!
Title: Ash Author: Malinda Lo ISBN: 9780316040099 Pages: 272 Release Date: September 1, 2009 Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Genre: Teen, Fantasy Source: Amazon Vine Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Review:
Ash is a re-telling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella, except not as you’ve ever seen it before. Malinda Lo recreates the story in her own way. As a result, it barely reflects the traditional story. Aisling (nicknamed Ash) is the main character. After her mother dies, her father marries a woman with two daughters. Then Ash’s father dies and her stepmother puts her to work cleaning the house because she claims Ash’s father left her in debt, though that claim is questionable. That is where the similarities between the two stories end.
Malinda Lo creates an amazingly vivid and creative world in Ash. This is a magical place where there are fairies, though most people don’t believe in them anymore. Ash’s mother did, and therefore Ash does. She hopes that one day they will steal her away as they do in the stories she was told as a child, that they will kidnap her from the horrible life she is forced to lead.
The fact that this world was so incredible is part of the problem with Ash. This is by no means a long book. Therefore, there isn’t a lot of space to devote to the intricacies of developing a fantasy world. There is so much going on in this novel, and it’s so amazing. Yet the fact that Lo didn’t devote more time to detailing and explaining the world actually took away from the novel. It made things seem jumbled and difficult to understand at times.
The relationships in the novel are interesting. Though I had trouble sympathizing with Ash, I liked both of her love interests. Sidhean the fairy was intriguing; I would have loved to have learned more about him, and more about the fairies in general. Kaisa was also an endearing character. The fact that one of these relationships was same-sex was really unique and incredibly well-handled. In the book, it’s never an issue, which I loved. No explanation was required in this world that Malinda Lo created.
Ash was an enjoyable book that had a lot of potential. Though the story has its flaws, the re-telling is very unique and Malinda Lo is clearly a talented author. I look forward to seeing what she does next.
Welcome to the Thursday Tunes! Each week, I will showcase music, whether new or old. Hopefully you will find something that interests you here!
My family absolutely loves Christmas music (yes, it is ironic because we’re Hindu). Part of it probably comes from the fact that both my sister and I attended Catholic school in middle and high school – but part of it is that the music is just so good! While I love the classic versions of all the Christmas songs, here’s a Christmas playlist with versions of these wonderful songs you may not be familiar with.
1) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan Album: Barenaked for the Holidays – Barenaked Ladies
2) Do You Hear What I Hear? – Kristin Chenoweth Album: A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas – Kristin Chenoweth
3) O Come, O Come Emmanuel – Enya Album: And Winter Came - Enya
4) O Holy Night – Celtic Woman Album: A Christmas Celebration – Celtic Woman
5) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Sarah McLachlan Album: Wintersong – Sarah McLachlan
6) The First Noel – Josh Groban & Faith Hill Album: Noel – Josh Groban
7) All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey Album: Greatest Hits – Mariah Carey
8) Boughs of Holly – Trans-Siberian Orchestra Album: The Christmas Attic – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
9) White Christmas – Otis Redding Album: Love, Actually (Soundtrack)
10) I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Michael Buble Album: The Christmas EP – Michael Buble
Title: Firefly Lane Author: Kristin Hannah ISBN: 9780312537074 Pages: 528 Release Date: February 4, 2008 Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Genre: Women’s Fiction Source: Personal Copy Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Thirteen year old Kate Mularkey didn’t really have any close friends until Tully Hart moved in across the street. Though Tully seemed to have it all, she was just as lost as Kate and in need of someone to support her and believe in her. As the years pass and Kate and Tully grow, they remain inseparable. They have their ups and downs, until Tully betrays Kate in a way she never thought possible.
Review:
Firefly Lane is a gripping and heart wrenching novel about the importance and power of friendship. Tully and Kate are lost souls at the beginning of the novel. Kate is a “good girl” – she does her homework and doesn’t stay out late. But she doesn’t have anyone to share her good times with, no one to understand her. Tully is beautiful and she seems so put together, but underneath, she’s broken. Her mom shows much more interest in smoking pot than in her own daughter. Tully find a home with Kate, someone to love her unconditionally.
A book like Firefly Lane is very character driven, and it simply wouldn’t work without engaging and lifelike characters that the reader really roots for. Luckily, Kristin Hannah is very good at that - Kate and Tully were both well-written characters. It’s not difficult to sympathize with Kate, who’s always overshadowed and never in the spotlight. She’s glad to step aside for Tully, but at the same time she hurts every time she does. I loved it when Kate finally decided to step out of Tully’s shadow, to begin to live for her own and was glad that it didn’t take too long to happen.
Tully was a little more difficult of a character. Because she’s the star, it’s hard to sympathize with her as much. Tully is by no means unlikeable, but she makes poor decisions a lot of the time, and she could be very selfish. Though she wanted to be a good friend to Kate and cherished her very much, it was clear that Tully tended to put herself first, or at least to not think about situations from her dear friend’s point of view.
Firefly Lane is a novel that tugs at your heart strings. It’s meant to make the reader cry, and it certainly does. In some ways, the drama is over the top. However, Kristin Hannah knows her audience well; she knows how to hook them, how to keep them reading. Despite the length, this is a book you’ll stay up late into night to finish. Fans of women’s fiction should definitely pick this one up.
Title: Far From Home Author: Anne deGrace ISBN: 9780061728808 Pages: 288 Release Date: November 10, 2009 Publisher: Avon A Genre: Contemporary Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 3.5 out of 5
From the publisher’s website:
After a shocking family betrayal and an unexpected pregnancy, Jo leaves home, college, and everything she knows. Far from home, she finds her way to Cass's Roadside Cafe, an isolated diner on a mountain pass. Cass's seems as good a place as any for Jo to get her bearings, as near to nowhere as it is possible to be. Here, Jo finds a rough sort of kindness in diner regulars such as Archie, a long-haul trucker, and Bob, a cop with a secret. But Cass's is also a way station through which an odd assortment of travelers blow: the water witcher, coming to terms with a talent he'd denied; the old woman who expected to die, and didn't; and the hippie whose rule of the road is to let the wind blow him where it will. The stories of these strangers open Jo's eyes to life lessons, and what it really means to follow your heart—and, ultimately, give Jo the strength to face her past, and find the direction she needs to step into her future.
Far From Home is the story of a disparate group of individuals. The only thing that they have in common is that they pass through Cass’s Roadside Cafe, a diner off the side of the highway. Some are regular customers, others are one time visitors. But all of them have a story.
This book had a lot of promise, especially with the foundation of Jo’s story. She was a sympathetic character who dealt with a lot before she chose to leave home. Her story was an intriguing one and her development through other characters was very satisfying to watch. It was interesting to watch Jo come to terms with what had happened to her – I continually wanted more of her story, to get to know Jo more.
However, Far From Home didn’t really come together for me quite like I hoped. There were simply too many characters. Jo and Cass were the foundation, and they were interesting and sympathetic. The author could have left it at that, or added two or three other characters to round out the story. But instead, she made the book like a diner, if that makes sense – characters who drop in, stories of people who stop by the place once and then continue on their journeys. It’s too difficult to keep track of the characters. Additionally, since the author doesn’t have a chance to develop most of the people fully, it’s difficult to connect with many of them. As a result, readers may find their attention wandering during some of these stories and have to fight the urge to skip sections of the book.
Though Far From Home didn’t quite live up to my hopes, Anne deGrace has a lot of potential. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Title: Knit the Season Author: Kate Jacobs ISBN: 9780399156380 Pages: 272 Release Date: November 3, 2009 Publisher: Putnam Adult Genre: Women’s Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Knit the Season is the latest novel in the Friday Night Knitting Club series, begins one year after the end of Kate Jacobs’ last novel, Knit Two. It revisits all the beloved characters from the two previous novels, such as Dakota, James, Catherine, and Peri.
Review:
When Knit Two was released, I wasn’t really sure about the prospect of a sequel to The Friday Night Knitting Club. I enjoyed the book but I didn’t really know if Jacobs could turn it into a series. With Knit the Season, she has put all my doubts to rest.
What I liked about Knit the Season was the fact that it wasn’t about earth-shattering events. It seemed much more about every day life. These characters were friends – since I already knew them, Jacobs didn’t have to sell them to me. She didn’t need to create drama in order to keep me interested. However, she didn’t take advantage of that either. She wrote engaging storylines for each character, plots that had to do with the times in between rather than just the dramatic moments that novels tend to focus on.
However, Jacobs also isn’t afraid allow her characters to grow and develop, even if the direction they head is apart from one another. Often in series novels, authors make sure everything stays the same so they can write another book after the current one. In the real world though, people’s lives go on, but that doesn’t mean they have to move on from one another. Jacobs demonstrates this very effectively in Knit the Season.
I really enjoyed Knit the Season and I certainly hope this won’t be the last book in the Friday Night Knitting Club series. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
I was very busy this week, but I don’t really know why! I had a lot going on at work, and the normal amount going on at school – I just felt like I was really stressed this week, yet when I reflect on what I did and what I had going on, I can’t really think of anything out of the ordinary. It’s frustrating because I know I was very busy, yet I can’t begin to tell you what I was doing and why I got so little done.
This week, I finally posted an intro/FAQ and sign-ups for the South Asian Author Challenge that I’ve been teasing for so long. I hope you’ll consider joining – the smallest participation level is just 3 books over the entire year.
Title: America’s Prophet: Moses and the American Story
Author: Bruce Feiler
ISBN: 9780060574888
Pages: 368
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Non-Fiction, History
Source: Amazon Vine
Rating: 4 out of 5
From the publisher’s website:
Bruce Feiler’s New York Times bestsellers Abraham, Walking the Bible, and Where God Was Born brilliantly explored the roots of faith. With America’s Prophet, Feiler looks at Moses and the essential role the prophet has played in our nation’s history and development. Bruce Feiler’s most fascinating and thought-provoking book to date, America’s Prophet delves deeply into how the Exodus story and America’s true “Spiritual Founding Father” have inspired many of the most important figures and defining events in this country’s history—from the Mayflower Pilgrims to the Civil Rights movement—and how Moses can provide meaning in times of national crisis, even today.
I absolutely love Bruce Feiler’s books. I’ve read most of them so far, and I find them compelling and incredibly interesting. His books Walking the Bible, Where God Was Born, and Abraham are amazing works of non-fiction in which Bruce Feiler actually goes to the Middle East and visits locales from the Bible and tries to make a spiritual connection with them. Though I’m not Christian or Jewish, I’ve always been very interested in the Bible, and his books really captured my imagination.
America’s Prophetis a very interesting book about the figure of Moses in the history of America. When I first got this book, I was a bit confused because I didn’t think Moses had much of a place in American history. I can’t believe how wrong I was – again and again, Moses comes up as a figure of inspiration, someone to lead us through troubled times to a Promised Land. Americans see themselves in the story of Moses, even now. It’s really incredible to read about.
My favorite part of America’s Prophet was when Feiler retraced part of the Underground Railroad. He went out in the middle of the night and literally darted between alleyways and buildings, trying to get a sense of what it was like. Of course, he only followed a very short part of the Railroad, but I was so impressed by his need to become part of the story. I’ve admired and been a fan of Bruce Feiler’s for a very long time, but this really showed me how much he immerses himself in the stories he’s writing about.
If you are interested in the Bible, even just in a secular sense like me, you must pick up Bruce Feiler’s books. Though he is Jewish, his words about faith and spirituality cross all religious boundaries. His travels to find and connect with actual places in the Bible are wonderful to read about, and his discussion of history is simply fascinating. Even if you don’t normally like non-fiction, you should try Bruce Feiler’s books. He really is a not-to-be-missed author, and America’s Prophet is no exception. I enjoyed it very much and already can’t wait for his next book to be released!
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010 Goal: 25 books
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010 Goal: 25 books
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010 Goal: 52 books – Authors & Titles
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010
Young Adult 1. 2.
TBR 1. 2.
Shiny & New 1. 2.
Bad Bloggers 1. 2.
Charity 1. 2.
New in 2010 1. 2.
Older than You 1. 2.
Win! Win! 1. 2.
Who Are You Again? 1. 2.
Up To You – Graphic Novels 1. 2.
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010 Goal: 350 books
I realize 350 is less than what I’ve read so far this year, but I may not have as much time to read in 2010! I do hope to surpass it, but realistically I don’t know if that’s going to happen.
Title: I’ll Scream Later Author: Marlee Matlin ISBN: 9781439102855 Pages: 336 Release Date: April 14, 2009 Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction Source: Library Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Summary:
Marlee Matlin is an Oscar-winning actress who also happens to be deaf. This is her memoir about her life which includes her tumultuous relationship with actor William Hurt, her drug-filled early years in show business and her recovery, and the joys and difficulties of being deaf.
Review:
I didn’t know much about Marlee Matlin before picking up her memoir. I saw and loved her on The West Wing, which is the reason I was interested in this book. I also knew she was deaf and that she’d won a Best Actress Oscar at a young age. I had no idea what kind of crazy life she’d led until I started reading I’ll Scream Later.
This was definitely a tell-all book. There were parts where I was horrified, parts where I was completely shocked, and parts where I was just in disbelief. However, throughout the book, I really admired Marlee for her bravery. I can only imagine how difficult it was for her to relive some of these memories, much less write about them in a book that was going to be read by the general public.
Additionally, Marlee’s relationship with the deaf community is both incredibly interesting and really sad. Since she is one of the most prominent deaf people in Hollywood, she is both loved and vilified by the deaf community. Everything she does is scrutinized and often criticized. She has been such an activist for the community (if you don’t believe me, follow Marlee on Twitter – her new cause is trying to get Netflix to caption their Watch Instantly streaming movies), so it’s sad that she hasn’t found acceptance with them.
However, I’ll Scream Later also has its flaws. The editing is poor, and as a result it makes the book less fun to read. It didn’t really flow naturally. Additionally, when Marlee chronicles the people in Hollywood she’s met, it sounds a lot like name-dropping.
I’ll Scream Later was an interesting read, despite the problems I had with it. It can be slow and frustrating at times, especially when Marlee is discussing her relationship with William Hurt, but it’s incredibly honest and is an interesting read.
I recently finished a few challenges, so I decided to wrap them all into one post in order to spare you the misery of having to read three separate posts about it in a span of a few days!
I’ve finished the A to Z challenge! This was a fun challenge, though I definitely had some trouble finding books and authors. Funnily enough, a “Z” author wasn’t difficult, I had a lot to choose from! But I had to read a book I wouldn’t normally read to work a “Q” author in – I expected “Q” to be easy and “Z” to be difficult!
I enjoyed the A to Z Challenge and will be participating again next year.
Authors
A: Alt, Carol - This Year's Model [review] B: Brashares, Ann - 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows [review] C: Chase, Ella March - The Virgin Queen's Daughter [review] D: Dajani, Nadine - Fashionably Late [review] E: Enright, Anne - The Gathering [review] F: Faber, Michael - The Fire Gospel [review] G: Graham, Jo - Black Ships [review] H: Harris, Charlaine - Dead Until Dark [review] I: Ishiguro, Kazuo – Never Let Me Go J: Jacobs, Kate - Knit Two [review] K: Koomson, Dorothy - Marshmallows for Breakfast [review] L: Lehr, Leslie - Wife Goes On [review] M: Mlynowski, Sarah - Bras and Broomsticks [review] N: Newmark, Elle - The Book of Unholy Mischief [review] O: Olsson, Linda - Sonata for Miriam [review] P: Porter, Jane - The Frog Prince [review] Q: Quick, Amanda – Second Sight R: Ryman, Geoff - The King's Last Song [review] S: Shumas, Holly - Love and Other Natural Disasters [review] T: Tokunaga, Wendy - Midori by Moonlight [review] U: Ulliver, Daphne - Super in the City [review] V: Vida, Vendela - Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name [review] W: Wiggs, Susan - Just Breathe [review] X: Maxwell, Robin – Signora da Vinci [review] Y: Falling Out of Fashion – Karen Yampolsky [review] Z: Zama, Farahad – The Marriage Bureau for Rich People [review]
Book Titles:
A: Apollo Moon Missions: The Unsung Heroes - Billy Watkins [review] B: Bound South - Susan Rebecca White [review] C: Conscience Point - Erica Abeel [review] D: Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries - Neil deGrasse Tyson [review] E: Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi - Nanci Kincaid [review] F: Frenemies - Megan Crane [review] G: The Ghost Writer – John Harwood [review] H: The Heretic's Daughter – Kathleen Kent [review] I: In Other Rooms, Other Wonders - Daniyal Mueenuddin [review] J: Just Between Us – Cathy Kelly [review] K: The Kingmaking - Helen Hollick [review] L: The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi 1857 - William Dalrymple [review] M: The Mighty Queens of Freeville - Amy Dickinson [review] N: North of Beautiful – Justina Chen Headley [review] O: One More Year - Sara Krasikov [review] P: The Pluto Files - Neil deGrasse Tyson [review] Q: The Queen’s Man – Sharon Kay Penman [review] R: Real Life & Liars - Kristina Riggle [review] S: Sister Wife - Shelley Hrdlitschka [review] T: The Tsarina's Daughter - Carolly Erickson [review] U: The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett [review] V: The View from Garden City - Carolyn Baugh [review] W: What Happened to Anna K - Irina Reyn [review] X: Pictures at an Exhibition – Sara Houghteling [review] Y: The Year of Fog – Michelle Richmond [review] Z: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith
This was my first time participating in the RIP IV Challenge and I really liked it! I didn’t have much trouble completing this one and will definitely be doing it again next year.
The Support Your Local Library Challenge was actually more difficult than I expected. I was on a roll at the beginning of the year, but as the year progressed and more review copies were coming in, I began to use the library less and less. I actually had to make it a point to go to the library and check out books in order to complete the challenge. Therefore, I will definitely be doing this challenge again because I want to use the library more!
1. What Happened to Anna K - Irina Reyn [review] 2. The Tsarina's Daughter - Carolly Erickson [review] 3. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett [review] 4. Fire and Ice - Julie Garwood [review] 5. The Fire Gospel - Michael Faber [review] 6. The Pluto Files - Neil deGrasse Tyson [review] 7. The School of Essential Ingredients - Erica Bauermeister[review] 8. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch [review] 9. The Seance - John Harwood [review] 10. Pictures at an Exhibition – Sara Houghteling [review] 11. Wake – Lisa McMann [review] 12. The Billionaire's Vinegar – Benjamin Wallace [review] 13. The Ghost Writer – John Harwood [review] 14. Caravaggio's Angel – Ruth Brandon [review] 15. Gifted – Nikita Lalwani [review] 16. The Luxe – Anna Godbersen [review] 17. Revenge of the Spellmans – Lisa Lutz [review] 18. The Queen’s Man – Sharon Kay Penman [review] 19. Tattoo – Jennifer Lynn Barnes [review] 20. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins [review] 21. If I Stay – Gayle Foreman [review] 22. Rumors – Anna Godbersen 23. I’ll Scream Later – Marlee Matlin 24. The Music Room – Namita Devidayal 25. The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness
Title: Commencement Author: J. Courtney Sullivan ISBN: 9780307270740 Pages: 336 Release Date: June 16, 2009 Publisher: Knopf Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
Bree, Celia, April, and Sally couldn’t be more different when the meet for the first time as dorm-mates at Smith College. At first, they are wary of one another, but as circumstances bring them together, they form a strong bond that lasts through their four years of college. But once they are faced with the trials and tribulations of real life, will their friendships still be as unbreakable as they were when they were young?
Review:
When I first heard about Commencement, I thought it would be a satisfying women’s fiction novel, and I knew that I really wanted to read it. What I didn’t expect, though, was a beautifully written work of literary fiction that dealt with a multitude of women’s issues and also a wonderful tribute to friendship.
All four characters in Commencement were well written and very interesting to get to know. They were all incredibly different, which is a good thing in a book like this. Any reader will be able to identify with one of these women, but all of them are written very sympathetically. My favorite character was Bree, and her dilemma between her conservative family and the woman she seems to be in love with. April was the character I understood least, and though I admired her activism, her decisions really frustrated me. She was such a strong, capable woman, yet she allowed herself to be manipulated so easily.
The women’s issues discussed in Commencement are compelling and really take the novel to the level of literary fiction, rather than simply women’s fiction. Rape, sexual abuse, death, prostitution – these are just some of the issues discussed in depth within the pages of this novel. However, they never make it heavy or drag it down. Sullivan has a real talent at deftly writing difficult situations without making the book depressing.
This was an impressive novel if only because it’s so smart – the dialogue is witty and all four of the women are intelligent and resourceful. But Commencement is so much more than that too – it’s funny, sincere, and it has a lot of heart. These women and their lasting friendships are really worth reading about – I suggest you give this book a try as soon as you can!
Title: What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures Author: Malcolm Gladwell ISBN: 9780316075848 Pages: 432 Release Date: October 20, 2009 Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Genre: Non-Fiction, Essays Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
What the Dog Saw is a collection of Malcolm Gladwell’s essays from The New Yorker, written over the same time period as his hit books Blink, The Tipping Point and Outliers.
Review:
What the Dog Saw is an essay collection that is very similar in style to Malcolm Gladwell’s previous books. Each of these essays is a smaller version of his books in a lot of ways – they challenge conventional wisdom and ask the reader to think about how they look at things. It’s divided into three sections, each with a different theme.
Like any essay collection, some of the pieces in What the Dog Saw are more entertaining than others. That’s not to say they are of different quality – Gladwell has proven himself to be a competent writer through his previous books, and these essays are of similar to those. But different subject matters will appeal to different readers. My personal favorite was the title essay, What the Dog Saw, in which Gladwell discusses the “dog whisperer” Cesar Milan.
Some of these essays require stretches of the imagination, especially when Gladwell’s logic becomes convoluted. Additionally, you might want to skip a couple of essays completely, depending on your tastes and interest level. But overall, this is a solid collection essays that are both educational and interesting. They’ll make you look at ordinary things such as ketchup and the birth control pill in completely different ways. This is a great book for anyone who’s a fan of Malcolm Gladwell, or those who are looking for an introduction to his work.
Welcome to the Thursday Tunes! Each week, I will showcase music, whether new or old. Hopefully you will find something that interests you here!
Last week, I was chatting on Twitter with Rebecca from The Book Lady’s Blog and a few others, and we began discussing the band Counting Crows. (Actually, if I remember correctly, they were discussing it and I jumped in – the wonder that is Twitter!) I never seriously considered Counting Crows for Thursday Tunes because my main goal is to showcase artists and albums that are lesser known. I figured Counting Crows was incredibly well known.
Imagine my shock when most of the people on Twitter hadn’t even heard of Counting Crows, or only knew one song by them! Rebecca suggested doing Counting Crows as my Thursday Tunes one week, and I definitely agree that more people need to know about this amazing band. Though August and Everything After is my favorite album by them, I’m choosing their greatest hits album Films About Ghosts for Thursday Tunes. Though it doesn’t have all of my favorite songs on it, it’s a great showcase of their range.
My favorite songs off of Films About Ghosts are “Mr. Jones,” “A Long December,” “Anna Begins,” and “Hanginaround.” You may also remember the song “Accidentally in Love” – it got a lot of airplay because it was on the Shrek soundtrack.
Films About Ghosts can be purchased from the Amazon MP3 Store for $9.49.
Title: The Magicians Author: Lev Grossman ISBN: 9780670020553 Pages: 416 Release Date: August 11, 2009 Publisher: Viking Adult Genre: Fantasy, Satire Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Quentin has never really fit in, at school or in his life at home. His parents are too busy for him and he only has two friends, neither of which seem overly concerned about him. He finds solace in fantasy books from his childhod about the magical land of Fillory. When Quentin is admitted to Brakebills Academy, a school for those who can use magic, he feels as if his childhood dreams are coming true. But what he doesn’t realize is that a world with magic in it can still be a dark and dangerous place.
Review:
I was really intrigued by the prospect of The Magicians, so I was very excited when my book club chose it for our November read. I’ve seen it billed as a Harry Potter for adults. I was very curious as to what it was like.
I have to say, the marketing around The Magicians did it a disservice. This is not really a fantasy book; it’s a book about fantasy books. Grossman pays homage to multiple fantasy works in The Magicians – The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and T.H. Whyte’s The Once and Future King just to name a few. Reading it as a satire or an homage really changes the experience of it for the better.
The first half of The Magicians worked well. It was slow at times, but Quentin’s experiences at Brakebills were fascinating. The parts after Quentin leaves Brakebills were a little less appealing, in part because the two halves of the book are so different from one another, bridged by a rather unlikeable middle part. I think The Magicians may have worked better as two separate books. That would have given Grossman the ability to go into more depth and explore each world more. That might have been more satisfying.
There were a lot of dropped plot lines in The Magicians, which was definitely frustrating. Something would happen that would seem to have lasting repercussions for the storyline, yet it would never be revisited. Additionally, a lot of aspects of the book weren’t explained clearly, and that vagueness was frustrating.
All of these complaints may make it seem like I hated the book, which I surprisingly didn’t. I actually enjoyed the experience of reading it. Grossman is a talented writer, even if this story wasn’t as tight as it could have been. The book went quickly for me, and I never was bored, even during the slow parts. The Magicians definitely had its flaws, but I still think it’s an interesting book. Above all, this is a book written for those who loved all those childhood fantasy novels.
A last note, I think The Magicians made a wonderful book club read. Some of us loved it, some of us hated it, but we all had something to say so the discussion was very lively.
Title: The Secret of Joy Author: Melissa Senate ISBN: 9781439107171 Pages: 352 Release Date: November 17, 2009 Publisher: Downtown Press Genre: Chick Lit Source: Author Rating: 4.75 out of 5
Summary:
Rebecca Strand’s father is dying of pancreatic cancer and there is nothing she can do to help him. So when he asks her to try on her boyfriend Michael’s mother’s wedding dress because it’s the only chance he’ll get to see her in one, she complies with his request without a single word of protest. But what Rebecca isn’t expecting is her father’s deathbed confession while she’s wearing that wedding dress – that her father had an affair and had an illegitimate daughter that he’d never met named Joy. All of a sudden, Rebecca is faced with the prospect of a sister, and all that comes with it.
Review:
Chick lit has been in a rut lately. Some say that it is disappearing, merging into women’s fiction. While that isn’t necessarily true, chick lit on the whole has been less than impressive recently – this coming from someone who really enjoys it. There are some major exceptions, but the entire genre seems to be suffering from overused storylines, tired plot devices, and stereotypical characters. But those who say that chick lit is dead, and that new things can’t come out of this genre haven’t read Melissa Senate’s The Secret of Joy.
What I liked best about The Secret of Joy, and Rebecca in particular, was that she was honest. As I was reading the book, something would happen and I would think, “Rebecca isn’t going to be honest about this and that’s going to be a major plot point in the story.” And Senate proved me wrong every time. Not only did she defy my expectations at every turn, she also made me love Rebecca. Even when Rebecca makes mistakes, she’s up front and clear about them. Senate created tension within the plot organically, rather than forcing it in through overused plot devices such as dishonesty.
I really loved The Secret of Joy. I thought it was creative, well-written, and it had me hooked from beginning to end. Melissa Senate both shows she is a master of chick lit, as well as breathes new life into the genre with this book. Even if you aren’t a fan of chick lit, I encourage you to give The Secret of Joy a chance. Melissa Senate might surprise you with this one.
Of course you guys knew I was going to join my own challenge, right? I’m not going to make a list of books for the challenge, but I will tell you what I have on my SAAC shelf at this point, in case you’re curious!
I’m going to be joining the challenge at the 10 books level, though I’m hoping to read much more than that.
My SAAC shelf:
Babyji – Abha Dawesar Everything Happens for a Reason – Kavita Daswani The Sari Shop – Rupa Bajwa Goddess for Hire – Sonia Singh The Age of Shiva – Manil Suri Bitter Sweets – Roopa Farooki Between the Assassinations – Aravind Adiga White Tiger – Aravind Adiga Blue Boy – Rakesh Satyal Unaccustomed Earth – Jhumpa Lahiri Sacred Games – Vikram Chandra Brick Lane – Monica Ali An Equal Music – Vikram Seth Slumdog Millionaire – Vikas Swarup The Space Between Us – Thrity Umrigar Bollywood Nights – Shobhaa De Madras on Rainy Days – Samina Ali The Mango Season – Amulya Malladi The Toss of a Lemon – Padma Viswanathan
Review Copies:
Atlas of Unknowns – Tania James The Prayer Room – Shanthi Sekaran The Wish Maker – Ali Sethi Bombay Time – Thrity Umrigar Sea of Poppies – Amitav Ghosh
And there’s one of my Indian shelves which contains some unread books:
Fury – Salman Rushdie Shalimar the Clown – Salman Rushdie Grimus – Salman Rushdie Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie Shame – Salman Rushdie The Namesake – Jhumpa Lahiri
And kep in mind, this doesn’t even include books I’m planning on buying/checking out from the library in the next year!
Title: Valeria’s Last Stand Author: Marc Fitten ISBN: 9781596916203 Pages: 272 Release Date: April 28, 2009 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Genre: Literary Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Valeria’s Last Stand is set in a Hungarian village in the post-Communist era. As the town is trying to take advantage of capitalism and find prosperity, Valeria, a woman who is hated by the townspeople, begins to notice the potter. Though they have known each other for years, Valeria find the potter more and more attractive, incurring the wrath of Ibolya, the woman who runs the town bar. The tale of these larger-than-life characters make up the story that runs through Valeria’s Last Stand.
Review:
I originally was interested in Valeria’s Last Stand because one of the reviewers or the blurbs on the book compared it to Salman Rushdie, saying that Rushdie fans would enjoy Marc Fitten. Since Salman Rushdie is my favorite author, I jumped at the change to review Valeria’s Last Stand.
Valeria’s Last Stand has a fable-like quality to it. All of the characters are larger-than-life and are very funny. Additionally, the overarching message – that of change versus things staying the same – makes a good “moral” for the end of the fable. Valeria herself is unpleasant, yet endlessly amusing. As a result, she grows on the reader quickly, and proves herself to be incredibly well-developed and entirely three-dimensional. In a lot of ways, Valeria is the best part of this book because she is so complicated, yet so well-written.
While I did enjoy Valeria’s Last Stand, and understand why Fitten was compared to Salman Rushdie (the fable quality of the book), it is a disservice to Fitten to compare him to Rushdie. When one author is compared to another, the reader goes in with certain expectations, expectations they likely would not have had if that comparison had not been made. I was expected beautiful and fluid writing like Rushdie’s, and when I didn’t get that, I was disappointed. That is not to say that Fitten’s writing is bad at all – he is a good writer and a great storyteller. I should have given Fitten a chance to prove himself on his own terms, rather than coming in with expectations. It’s a good illustration of the danger of comparing authors, especially comparing a debut author to Salman Rushdie.
Valeria’s Last Stand was an entertaining book that I definitely enjoyed. I liked the depiction of small town life in Hungary; Fitten created a wonderful atmosphere simply through his words. Additionally, the communism versus capitalism discussion was very interesting. This was a fun work of literary fiction that I recommend, but I definitely would tell you not to go in with the expectations that I did!
Please visit this post to sign up for the 2011 South Asian Challenge
For details on the South Asian Author Challenge, please visit this post.
Sign up for the South Asian Author Challenge here! Please link directly to your sign-up post, not to your main blog page. Also, please state what level of the challenge you are signing up for in your sign-up post. You are not required to post a list, but feel free to post books you're considering, if you want! You won't be held to a list if you decide to create one.
If you don’t have a blog/website, leave a comment on this post with the information for the challenge, along with an e-mail address. Use the link to the comment (hover over the date/time of the comment and copy that link) as your URL for Mr. Linky.
If you sign up for this challenge by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2009, you will be automatically entered in a special giveaway (U.S. only – sorry!). You will be given a choice of three books that qualify for the challenge, donated by Harper and Picador: Burnt Shadowsby Kamila Shamsie, Madras on Rainy Days by Samina Ali and Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra. I will pick three winners – the first will get their pick, the second will get their pick from the two that are left, and the third will get the last one! Please note you can sign up anytime after the challenge begins, you just won't be eligible for this giveaway.
This challenge is to encourage people to read books by South Asian Authors – South Asia being India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Please not that it does not include the Middle East! The books can be from any time period, contemporary or classic. If you want to talk about the challenge on Twitter or tweet your reviews, use the hashtag #saac.
What books qualify for the South Asian Author Challenge?
There are two requirements for a book to qualify for the South Asian Author Challenge, both of which must be met:
1) The author must be of South Asian descent. It doesn’t matter if they’re third or fourth generation, or are only half South Asian – I’m pretty flexible on this issue.
2) The book must be about South Asia in some way. It doesn’t have to be set in South Asia, as long as it’s about the culture or history in some way. On the other hand, it can be set in South Asia and not be about South Asians.
As an example, The Blue Notebook is an amazing book about India by James Levine. But because James Levine isn’t from South Asia, the book wouldn’t qualify for the challenge.
Another example: Amulya Malladi is a South Asian author, but her book The Sound of Language wouldn’t qualify because it’s about a girl from Afghanistan.
However, the book The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar would qualify because, although it is about non-Indians, it’s set in India.
If you’re still confused on this point, please feel free to contact me and ask if a particular book would qualify for the challenge, or leave a comment on the list of South Asian authors page.
What are the dates of this challenge?
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010
How many books do I have to read for the South Asian Author Challenge?
There are four different commitment levels:
3 books
5 books
7 books
10 books
You can sign up at any of these levels, but please specify which level you’re participating at in your sign-up post.
Do you have a list of suggested authors or reads for this challenge?
Do I have to make a list of books when I post my sign-up post?
No, definitely not. Part of the point of this challenge is to discover new authors through other’s reviews. Being forced to create a list at the beginning would be counterproductive!
Do I have to review every book I read for this challenge?
No, you don’t. I really hope you’ll choose to review the books you read, but it’s not a requirement!
Can I participate even if I don’t have a blog?
Absolutely!
Are there any prizes for this challenge?
YES! There will be a prize for those who sign up before January 1, and another for those who complete it. Additionally, I hope to host some South Asian Author Challenge-exclusive giveaways while the contest is going on. Unfortunately, I will be up front about the fact that most of these giveaways will be U.S. only, with some including Canada, because I can’t afford to send books internationally.
Can I use books I read for this challenge for other challenges? (Are crossovers allowed?)
Yes, definitely!
Can I change challenge levels after January 1?
You can’t move down (change from 10 to 7 – that defeats the purpose of it being a challenge!) but you can move up if you find you just love South Asian authors and want to read more of them than you expected!
Why are you hosting this challenge?
Because there are a lot of great Indian authors out there! While I love Salman Rushdie and Jhumpa Lahiri, some people don’t find their work accessible. I want to show people that Indian authors write every genre – non-fiction, YA, chick lit, historical fiction, as well as literary fiction!
Can the books I read be in translation?
Yup, definitely!
Do re-reads count?
Absolutely! The point of the challenge is to read South Asian authors – if you’re reading a book you’ve already read, you’re still reading a book by a South Asian author!
You’ve convinced me – how do I sign up?
I’ll be posting sign-ups later this week (hopefully tomorrow), so keep an eye out for it!
In the comments below, you state that you don’t want people to read YA. What do you have against YA? Is it eligible for this challenge? Why don’t you want people reading it?
YA is completely eligible for the South Asian Author Challenge – the remark I made about YA in the comments of this post must be taken in context! Someone left a comment on this post stating “So you want people to read YA authors?” I was a bit confused because this is a South Asian Author Challenge, not a YA author challenge, so I clarified that it’s not YA authors I want people to read, but South Asian authors. If the South Asian authors you choose to read write YA, that’s great! I was simply clarifying the parameters of the challenge for the commenter because it seemed like they were a bit confused. I apologize if the comment made it seem like I am hostile to YA books – that was not my intent, and I certainly don’t have anything against YA!
Where are the buttons?
Here they are. I’ve included codes so you can put them on your own site.
Welcome! I’m Swapna Krishna, and this is where you’ll find my book reviews. Feel free to look through my review database. I also host the South Asian Review Database and run the South Asian Challenge, which promote the authors and literature of the region.
I do accept books for review, but please take a look at myreview policy before pitching me a book. If you have any questions, please contact me.
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