Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Man, what a letdown.

I am a crazy die-hard Potter fan.  I've read each book at least ten times, devouring them each for the first time in a 24 hour time period, and I've seen every movie just as often, never missing an opening weekend.  I envy J. K. Rowling's imagination and ability to bring the world of Harry Potter so vividly alive for people.  I also envy her ability to write young adult books that teach positive messages in such a unique way - a way that attracts people far beyond young adult age.

It is with this passion that I downloaded J.K. Rowling's new book, The Casual Vacancy, intended for an adult audience.  Perhaps that is where I went wrong - my expectations were already way too high.  Unfortunately, those were not met.

Okay, this is coming from a person who loves sad books... but this book was just so sad.  One of my friends said that all the ills of society are in this novel and she's right.  You don't finish the book with much hope for humanity.  For some reason, the overall storyline that connects the characters didn't interest me either.  Basically it is about a town divided when one of the major leaders dies suddenly from an aneurysm.  They fight over who should take his spot and what to do with "The Fields," an area of town that most people want redistricted.  I don't know, it just kind of bored me.

In fairness, I did finish the book so it wasn't awful.  It is, of course, well-written, but that was never a question for me.  It focuses on several different characters who collide at the end and their individual stories are interesting.  I guess, if you can forget it is by J. K. Rowling and you just want something to read, it isn't bad.  But don't expect the greatness that was Harry Potter or you will be disappointed.

Perks of Being a Wallflower

It seems to me that at least half of the movies released in the last few years - at least, the most popular - were based on novels.  With each movie, you have a large group of people walking into the cinema with high expectations because they're already huge fans of the book (although rarely does the movie, regardless how fantastic it is, live up to those expectations - as they say, books are always better). I am one of those people.  As a matter of fact, if a novel is turned into a movie, I will read it purposefully before seeing the movie (or reread it, as usually the case).  My most recent project is Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

I read this book years ago when it was published, but it was recently released on the silver screen - featuring none other than Emma Watson - so I picked it back up. It was as great as I remembered it.

The book is an epistolary novel (10 points to the person who knows what that means!) -- it is written entirely in letters.  The main character writes these letters to an unnamed person as he goes through his first year of high school.  He is a "wallflower" who struggles to fit in anywhere except with a stepbrother and stepsister who embrace him and all his weirdness.  What follows is an honest, heartbreaking tale of his freshman year as he encounters drugs, sex, love, heartbreak, etc.  He is one of the kindest, most sincere characters in a novel, and yet also one of the saddest.  This book is a sad book (do I read another type?) but it's a great book. One of the greatest quotes from the book is "We accept the love we think we deserve," which I find so true.

I'm not lucky enough to have watched the movie yet - it never came close to home.  But I definitely will.   For those of you like me, waiting the arrival of the movie in a Redbox, check out the book in the meantime.  After all, don't forget, books are always better.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Punished: A mother's cruelty. A daughter's survival. A secret that couldn't be told.

I just finished teaching a unit on personal narratives to my sophomores, so throughout the unit we read excerpts from various published memoirs.  For one particular unit, I found 10 different introductory paragraphs to memoirs to show them how to write a strong introduction.  After going through my very short list of memoirs I've read, I started just searching "memoir" in Amazon and reading samples of any book I found.  Punished was one of those books.  I found the first chapter suspenseful, used it in my lesson, and purchased the book.

I'm still not sure why I read it, though.

The book describes a girl who, throughout her entire childhood, suffers from serious physical and sexual abuse.  It's a more mature version of A Child Called It.  The horrendous punishments the child's mother inflicted on her get worse every time you think they can't.  Then, her grandfather sexually abuses her while her mother sits back and knowingly allows it to happen.

Was the book interesting?  Sure.  Did it keep me turning the pages?  Yes.

But here is my overall problem with this memoir - nothing happens to the "bad people."  In fictional stories, I can deal with sadness and cruelty and evil characters.  But I do not want to read a true story that ends with the antagonist simply getting away.  I think one of my main motivations for turning those pages and suffering through the descriptions of this person's life was the anticipation for that moment when justice would be served.  But it never was.  The father (who also turned a blind eye to the physical abuse) dies of cancer.  The grandfather dies of heart disease.  The mother lives a long life and dies naturally, with her daughter by her side.  No one is punished.  Everyone is forgiven.

I am a Christian person and I believe in forgiveness... but I also am a mother and I believe in hanging someone up by their fingernails (or worse) when they treat children this way.

If you enjoy memoirs, this book is well-written and it is an interesting story.  Just don't go into it expecting a happy ending.  The author turns out all right in the end, but that's all the happiness you'll get.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Since our days of dating, my husband and I have debated over our two favorite authors, Hemingway and Fitzgerald.  They were wrote during the 1920s and both were expatriates in Paris - but their resemblance seems to end there.  Hemingway's writing reflects his history with journalism as he writes with short sentences and his stories lack superfluous details.  Fitzgerald, on the other hand, writes stories rich with symbolism and imagery.  I recently read The Sun Also Rises for the first time and found it, well, disappointing.  I kept throwing the book down and asking Jesse, "What's the point?!".  Honestly, I was bored.

After finishing it, I began The Paris Wife, a book someone mentioned to me over the summer.  And it was this book that made me interested in Ernest Hemingway while simultaneously refueling my love of Fitzgerald.

The Paris Wife is a popular nickname for Hadley Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway's first wife, because she is the woman to whom he was married while living in Paris and starting his writing career. This novel of the same name is written from Hadley's point of view and, although it's fiction, is based on factual events and correspondence between the Hemingways.  I found it thoroughly fascinating.

The book begins when Hadley meets Ernest and ends right after their divorce.  Shortly after their marriage, the two moved to Paris and started friendships with several other authors, including Gertrude Stein and the Fitzgeralds.  They struggle financially while Ernest tries to make a living of his writing, but they travel constantly.  

I had read that The Sun Also Rises was based on real events of Ernest's life, and this novel describes that trip from Paris to Spain and the friends upon whom Ernest based his novel.  It was interesting to read the "other side" immediately after reading the story.

The entire time I read The Paris Wife, I felt like it was an autobiography.  So much of the book sounded familiar to me from my studies of the Lost Generation writers.  I looked up Hadley Hemingway after finishing the book and discovered the book is based entirely on true events.  The only fictional part of the novel are the emotions of the characters and the conversations they have (although even some of those are based on real correspondences).

It's a great novel, especially for someone interested in the 20s, in Paris, in Spain... in reading.  Sure, it made me appreciate The Sun Also Rises, and I'm sure that after I research that novel more and I teach it, I'll grow to understand its significance in the literary world - but for now, I'd recommend The Paris Wife first.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Truth About Butterflies by Nancy Stephan

So I've already confessed my morbid interest in books about school shootings.  I may have reached a new level of morbidity with my latest book choice, The Truth About Butterflies: it is a memoir about a mother's loss of her only daughter.

The thing is, it isn't just about that.  The author, Nancy Stephan, also describes her struggles with losing her own mother, being put into foster care, and dealing with the racism that comes from being interracial.  Of course, the majority focuses on the loss of her daughter, Nicole, who was diagnosed with diabetes at an early age and had medical troubles for years after.  She details the battles they faced in the hospitals with dialysis and then later when Nicole was put on a ventilator.  The book slips in and out of chronological order so you are never really bogged down with the sad, medical stuff or Nicole's death.

I think Nancy wrote with just enough emotion - it wasn't overly sentimental, it wasn't depressing, it was matter-of-fact, detailed, interesting, and yet, you definitely feel the sadness and the bond between this mother and her daughter.

If you don't mind such heavy topics, I do recommend the book.  It's a free read on Kindle, so there's an added bonus!

Monday, July 23, 2012

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner

The Bachelorette has become one of my guilty pleasures.  I blame it on the combination of Jesse always working late on Monday nights, leaving me home alone and bored, and the numerous #Bachelorette tweets on my feed.  I was to weak to resist.
One particular set of tweets were retweets from someone who followed Jennifer Weiner, a successful author who is just as widely known for her live tweets of the Bachelor and Bachelorette.  The tweets were hilarious, so I started following her myself.  As the season progressed, when Jennifer wasn't tweeting about the show, she tweeted about the release of her new book, "The Next Best Thing."  Although I thought she obviously had a great sense of humor, her self-promotion (although necessary) annoyed me, so I wasn't too curious to buy the book.
Then one of her short stories (Swim) popped up as a free read from Amazon.  I read it and really liked it, and, as it turned out, her novel was based on the main character from the short story (nice job, Amazon).  So of course, I wanted to know what had happened to Ruth, the girl who's face was severely scarred from a car accident that killed her parents.  This girl, this insecure yet witty girl who swam as an escape and who struggled with life in LA after heartbreak and rejection.  I had to know - did she find her happy ending?

So I purchased and read "The Next Best Thing"... and, at the end, left thinking I should have stuck with the tweets and short stories of Jennifer Weiner's.  Although the storyline was unique and interesting, and I applaud Jennifer for having a nontraditional hero (which she states is one of her main reasons for choosing to continue Ruth's story), I just didn't care for the book overall.

Ruth writes a sitcom which gets picked up by a network.  The process of being chosen to being on air was interesting, and probably realistic since the author has experience writing a television show, and that kept me reading.  But the descriptions were overdone (remember, I enjoy Fitzgerald's concise characters and details), causing me to flip and skim more than read.  For example, when Ruth enters the main office of what later becomes her mentors, it is described as, "I shook my head, looking around as Dave helped himself to a Fresca and the little dog - Pocket - crunched up her treat, licked her lips, then began chewing on a cylinder of red rubber.  The office, up on the eighth floor overlooking Alameda Avenue, was large and sunny, with big windows that let in plenty of light.  It was equipped with couches and chairs and beigey-gray carpet that had most likely come from some office supply warehouse........."  It keeps going and going.  I'm sure some readers enjoy this - they get a clear picture of the setting and the characters.  It just isn't for me.

My only other complaint with the book is there were two sex scenes that seemed completely random and out of place.  The book just didn't feel like "that kind of book" and it totally threw me when those scenes began.  It didn't seem necessary.

Regardless, as I stated earlier, Jennifer Weiner is to be applauded for choosing characters that are more "real" (Ruth isn't the only one - the love interest in a man in a wheelchair).  It's refreshing to see that.  And her storyline is unique and intriguing.

However, I don't know that I'd recommend her.

Well, unless you like the Bachelorette.  Then by all means, follow her on Twitter.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

A friend of mine, Holly Wooten, recently posted a Facebook status that read: "If you would like to read a book this summer that does not involve vampires, teenagers fighting for their lives, or a shade of grey, try Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan. Great read."  

Well, with the exception of the "teenagers fighting for their lives" part, I felt as if Holly was speaking directly to my soul.  She knows me well, because just a few days later, she was pulling in my drive to deliver Maine, confident that I would enjoy it.  She was right.

Maine is not a book you read for the plot - there were no twists and turns, no detective work or real suspense.  It is a book you read for the characters.  This particular book focuses on four different characters: the elderly mother, Alice, who has wrestled with demons from her childhood her entire life, who is sarcastic and sometimes hateful and yet, lovable; her daughter, Kathleen, a recovering alcoholic who lives in California on a "worm farm" and who really doesn't like her mother much; her daughter-in-law, Ann Marie, the perfect stay-at-home mother who decorates doll houses, cooks everything from scratch, and wants desperately to find peace; and her granddaughter, Kathleen's daughter, Maggie, a twenty-something who finds herself pregnant, single, and confused.

Each of the girls has her own problems, her own struggles with life, but more importantly, her own way of expressing how much she loves her family.  Almost any woman can identify with one of the characters in some way (Holly liked Ann Marie, I liked Maggie...  and I wonder if our choices somehow reflect our own personalities or struggles).

Holly put it best.  If you would like a 'great read' without the drama or the sex, pick up Maine.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road is yet another book I stubbornly refused to read for awhile, even after a glowing recommendation from an intelligent former student.  I listened to him describe it and downloaded it that very night - but after a couple of pages, I grew bored, stopped reading, and forgot all about it.
Then, the book started getting attention in the world of AP English.  I kept hearing the title from other teachers and my curiosity piqued.  I decided to try it again.  Man, am I glad I did.  
But you wanna talk about depressing?  Read this book.  Better yet, watch this movie.  You may not smile for days.  The book is worth it.  The movie? Eh, not as much.  But that review is for someone else to write...

The book is a post-apocalyptic novel focusing on a father and son's journey to the south.  Although it is never revealed what destroyed most of the earth, and killed almost everyone, the setting is described as covered in ash and it seemed to happen over night.  The father and son are two of the only "good guys" left in the world, as most humans have resulted to cannibalism in order to survive.  They are headed south in order to find warmer weather because the father does not think they can survive another winter in their current location.  

Some of the scenes described in this book are so haunting - and the fact that it is 2012 makes the book even more troubling.  Although the entire book is about these two people walking down a road, right when you think you've read too much description, BAM, you are smacked in the face with a horrific even that carries you through the next few pages and makes you desperate for another, simpler paragraph.  

McCarthy's style is very unique.  He pays no attention to proper sentence structure (although the short, incomplete sentences seem to fit right along with the tone).  He does not use any punctuation except commas and periods, and a very occasional colon.  He does not even use quotation marks.  

I watched an interview with McCarthy about this novel and he said it was a love story to his son.  If you do read it, keep that in your mind.  He did not write this book to describe how he envisions the end of the world - he wrote to describe a beautiful relationship between a father and his son.  That is the shining light in this dark novel.

I reread the book this past year when my AP class read it and found an even greater appreciation for it.  I started to notice the frequent use of biblical language, I paid more attention to the changes in the son, and I relished some of the language he uses.  For all the ugliness described, it is a beautiful book.


Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Maybe I'd asked for a book recommendation.  Maybe I was scanning her bookshelf.  Maybe she just recognized a budding reader in me.  I don't remember.  What I do remember, though, is my junior English teacher, Mrs. Jayne Hogan, giving me a book by Mary Higgins Clark and telling me I should read it.
I did, and I was immediately hooked.
For the next several years, I read every one of her books I could get my hands on.  I loved the thrill of the mystery, trying to figure out "whodunit" before the end of the book.
However, after years of analyzing classic literature in my pursuit of an English degree at Bellarmine, I started to lose my passion for Mary Higgins (and others I'd grown to love such as Iris Johansen).  I forgot the thrill of the mystery, and instead discovered the thrill of symbolism, complex characters, and surprising plots.  
However, I recently asked my dad, an avid reader, if he ever read my blog.  He said, "Yes, but I think you should write about the authors I like!  What's wrong with authors like James Patterson?"

Challenge accepted.

That night, I downloaded the cheapest Patterson book I could find on Amazon - Along Came a Spider (just $3.99!) and I've kept my nose ... to the Kindle.. ever since.  So Dad, this blog is for you, and all you other mystery-lovers out there. (but here is your warning - I cannot write about him with the knowledge of my dad!)

As soon as I started this book, I knew I'd read some of Patterson's before because I remembered his character of Alex Cross.  Cross, a detective/psychologist, is the main character and one of the many narrators in the novel, and I think he appears in several of Patterson's works.  This particular book focuses on one of the most evil villains (Gary Soneji) I've ever read about.  Since he also narrates several chapters, you see just how demented he is - he takes pride in his killings and his intelligence makes him incredibly dangerous.  The book focuses mainly on the investigation behind a kidnapping of two children; although it seems obvious that Soneji is guilty of the kidnapping, it gets much more complicated throughout the story.  With lots of twists and surprises, the book is definitely a page-turner.  Right when you think you've figured it out, and things are about to be resolved, another surprise occurs.  

The storyline is disturbing -- I actually had a nightmare last night in which I killed someone and I blame that entirely on the fact that I fell asleep with my Kindle in my hand - but it keeps you on your toes.  

If you enjoy mysteries, definitely check out some James Patterson.  Or Mary Higgins Clark. She's pretty awesome too. 

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Classic #1: The Great Gatsby

I can no longer ignore it.

I can no longer ignore the itch to write about the classics.  They are, after all, books that I not only read more frequently, but read so often I can blog about them with ease.  So, to keep you from wasting your time reading posts about books from which you were happy to escape upon graduation, I promise to include "Classic" in the title.  Feel free to ignore these posts completely.

The first classic is my favorite:  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  I am slightly obsessed with this book and, as a result, its author.  When I watched the movie Midnight in Paris, my jaw dropped to the floor when F. Scott appeared on the screen.  I felt like I was meeting a celebrity, or seeing a best friend who had passed away (this was quickly followed by a serious and sincere conversation with my husband on ways we could name a son - if we're blessed to have one - "F. Scott").

More than likely, you were required to read this novel in high school.  I say to you now - go read it again.  Then consider reading it again after that.  I have read this novel probably 20 times or more, and yet I find something new and interesting every time I pick it back up.

Notice the way Fitzgerald characterizes people.  Instead of the overdone "She was 5'4", blue-eyed with brown hair, freckles covering her face," he gives you one or two characteristics that magically transform into a character you can not only visualize but feel like you know.  For example, this is how Daisy is described when we first meet her:

She laughed again, as if she said something very witty, and held my hand for a moment, looking up into my face, promising that there was no one in the world she so much wanted to see. That was a way she had. ... (I’ve heard it said that Daisy’s murmur was only to make people lean toward her; an irrelevant criticism that made it no less charming.) ... It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again. Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget: a singing compulsion, a whispered “Listen,” a promise that she had done gay, exciting things just a while since and that there were gay, exciting things hovering in the next hour.


I mean seriously.  Pure beauty.  Can't you picture her?  This girl with this voice ... that is all you need.  The rest - how tall she is, what color her eyes are - are up to you because they don't matter.  At this point, you already know Daisy.


The language continues like that in his descriptions and even in his one-liners.  His book famously ends with the quote, "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" which is so true.  But many people forget how the book begins:  "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.  'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.'"  What great advice to live by.


I could keep going, but I'll stop here (you can imagine what my classroom is like during the three weeks we read this novel).  If you want to read a classic, let this be your first (and second, and third, and fourth...).






Friday, June 22, 2012

Emily Griffin - light, fun, summer reads

Someone asked me today for a book recommendation because she was headed to the beach and wanted a light, easy read.  I thought about all the books I've written about and realized none of them are very "beachy" or your typical "summer" reads.  I promise I don't always read Debbie Downer novels.  Sometimes even I get too deep into this fictional sadness and I have to crawl my way out with a good, lighthearted read.  

I am doing that now, actually.  After posting about it, I reread Nineteen Minutes, and afterwards decided that I just can't do it anymore.  Between that and We Need to Talk About Kevin, I caught myself feeling sad and stressed - so I'm switching it up and reading one of my favorite "light" authors, Emily Griffin.

Emily Griffin is probably best known for her series of books entitled Something Borrowed and Something Blue.  I read them awhile ago, and honestly barely remember the plot, but I remember really enjoying them - so much so that I recommended them to my sister and she liked them as well.  I remember one is about a girl about to turn 30 and she isn't married (I remember this because I, too, was in that exact situation and was therefore drawn to the book).  I think she falls in love with her best friend's boyfriend or something.  I'm guessing that was the Something Borrowed. :)

I read Baby Proof awhile back and enjoyed it also.  All of Emily Griffin's books focus on telling the stories of different characters, all of whom end up intertwining at some point.  Her chapters change points of view.  Baby Proof focused on four different women - one who recently lost a child, and three who were having babies.  Of course, the other three were nothing alike - one was married to a rich, professional athlete, one was slightly overweight and middle class, and one wanted to be the perfect mother.  The four of them form an unlikely bond and the book focuses on their struggles and stresses of motherhood and marriage (mostly).

I'm currently reading Heart of the Matter.  I'm only 25% into it (thanks to Kindle, I no longer speak in pages), but it's already gotten addictive.  This one, so far, is about a girl who has decided to be a stay at home mom and her husband is a pediatric plastic surgeon.  The other leading character is a single mom whose little boy gets burned at another boy's house while roasting marshmallows.  Her son ends up as a patient for the plastic surgeon.  I know these two mothers' paths will cross soon, but I'm not there yet.

So if you want a light-hearted read, you know, as opposed to school shootings and the mistreatment of Arabic women, try Emily Griffin!  And see my next post for other ideas.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Room by Emma Donoghue

Wow, this book....
When I first started reading this book, I actually didn't like it.  It is narrated by a little boy, and that annoyed me.  But as the story progressed, I got sucked in.  This is one of those books that I got so emotionally into, Jesse had to ask me to put it down for a little while.  I would be lying on the couch reading, and would suddenly sit up, looking completely stressed, and proclaim to my Kindle, "No, you can't do that!"  It gets pretty intense.

It is about a woman and her son who are being held captive in a room.  The boy's entire life has been lived in this room.  As a result, he personifies everything, calling it Table and Bed, describing the objects like people.  It is understandable, considering his situation, but that - and his ignorance to his situation - is what annoyed me at first.  Eventually, though, I got used to it and could focus more on the story.

The way the young woman and the boy end up in this room is frightening.  Honestly, with the recent terrible news of the Russell County woman who was murdered while running with her sister, some people may even want to avoid this, for now.  (You can use your context clues there to figure out a little of the story)  But it is a good book, and one worth the time to read.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Two years ago, I allowed my AP students to read a novel of their choice instead of one I assigned.  To assess that they were reading, each week, the students had to copy an excerpt from the novel and then analyze a device used in the paragraph and its effect on the overall novel.  Most students chose books I recommended, that I knew could be used on the AP exam, but one student, Madeline Peterson, chose "The Book Thief."  After just two weeks of grading her homework, I started looking forward to the days she turned in her paragraphs so I could read more of the book.  With just a few excerpts, I was hooked.  The writing was so unique, it immediately drew me in.

The book is set in Germany during the Holocaust; however, instead of focusing on Jewish families, the main characters are Germans.  When I tell people this, they frequently ask me if I've read Boy in the Striped Pajamas, which also focuses on Germans during the time of the Holocaust.  I finally did read it, but really, the comparison ends there.  In Striped Pajamas, the boy's father is part of Hitler's army and the boy remains very ignorant about the war and the concentration camps.  In this book, the German family does not agree with Hitler, although they are forced to pretend like they do, and they help to hide a Jew.

Another unique factor of the book is the narrator: it is narrated by Death.  Death becomes interested in the main character Liesel and,  this book is the story of her life.  Some people may not like the unique style.  Not only is it narrated by death (who, by the way, is portrayed as compassionate and witty), but it had random interruptions in the novel where Death gives you a sidenote or announcement.  It is not frequent, but it's there.  It did not bother me at all, though.

Let me give you an example of the language that drew me into this novel.  Below is a quotation from the book.  Liesel has just spat some hateful words to a woman who has been kind to her.  This is how her reaction is described:  "Blood leaked from her nose and licked at her lips.  Her eyes had blackened.  Cuts had opened up and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of her skin.  All from words.  From Liesel's words."

One more example which shows Death as a narrator, describing what he sees when he comes to pick up people's souls:  "I witness the ones that are left behind, crumbled among the jigsaw puzzles of realization, despair, and surprise.  They have punctured hearts.  They have beaten lungs."

These probably aren't the best excerpts, but I don't have my annotated print version with me, so I'm relying on quotes from the internet.  The first example I gave, though, is from a scene that remains my favorite.  It's one of the best written scenes I've ever read, but I think you need to read the entire book to appreciate it.

So go ahead.  Read it.

the Hunger Games trilogy

I can no longer avoid it.  I have to talk about the Hunger Games trilogy.

As I admitted earlier, I am a book snob.  As a result, I used to vehemently refuse to read any book that was the latest craze.  I even denied Harry Potter until I took a Children's Lit class which required us to read the first novel (I quickly and immediately devoured the second one and have read all of them probably 10 times each now).  Recently, I've taken a different approach and I choose to read these books - but I approach them with a bias, reading them more out of curiosity and the desire to be able to discuss the books rather than thinking they will be masterpieces.  I'm always pleasantly surprised when these crazes end up impressing me.  Hunger Games was one of those.

For months, people told me I should read them.  For some reason, I refused.  Until one day, a male friend of mine - one who still surprises me when he talks about books - walked up to me right before Christmas break, placed the first book in my hand, and said, "Seriously.  Read this."  I couldn't ignore this recommendation and it came at the perfect time, right at a break.  So I read it.

24 hours later, I purchased the second book on my kindle.

24 hours later, I purchased the third book on my kindle.

I thought the trilogy was fantastic, especially Catching Fire (the second one).  I enjoyed how the author, Suzanne Collins, kept the main character, Katniss, true to her age, making her flawed and confused.  At the same time, she tackled a difficult subject of repression and rebellion, set in a futuristic time.  The series takes place somewhere in America, though it is never directly stated, in the future.  Only 12 districts still exist and they are controlled by the Capitol.  In the past, the districts tried to rebel against the Capitol.  As a reminder of this, every year the Capitol hosts the "Hunger Games," where each district has to choose one boy and one girl, between the ages of 12-18, to enter the games, where they must fight to their death until there is one winner.  The games take place in an arena built by the technologically advanced and cruel-minded people of the Capitol.

To me, the movie helped me better understand that part - the idea of people controlling the arena and what happens inside of it.... kind of like the Harry Potter movies helped me visualize Quidditch.

But I digress.  Although it may not be the best written work of all time, I loved it.  I decided to teach it to my sophomores this year, and it became one of my favorite books to read.  I only taught the first one, and almost every student finished the series.  Then, at parent teacher conferences, numerous parents told me they decided to read it too, after hearing their children talk about it.  There's no greater pleasure to an English teacher's ears!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist

This is one of those books that is the reason for this blog - as I read it, I was dying to talk to someone about it, but didn't know of a single other person who had read it (and, unfortunately, after reading this post, I'm pretty sure I still won't find someone).

This is also one of those books similar to The Leftover by Perrotta that grabbed my attention because of the concept.  Check it out:

The Unit is a futuristic book, sadly, in my opinion, not all unrealistic.  In this time, once someone turns a certain age (I think 50, but I can't exactly remember), if they have no dependents (no spouse or children), they are required to move into the "unit."  From that point forward, their purpose in life is to help others - those with dependents - live.  They are used to test new medications.  They are required to give their organs to someone on the outside who needs it.  They do this until they die.  While they wait, they are given a great life.  The unit includes restaurants, a movie theater, a beautiful walking area, etc.  Although they can never leave the unit, it is not like they are in prison.  However, they know their purpose there and, although they make friends and even lovers, they lose them quickly.

Awesome idea for a book, right?  And what a concept to discuss!

Unfortunately, for me, the book did not live up to the idea.  (A for effort, F for execution, as my husband frequently says).  I'd say the first half of the book is great.  After that, the idea wears off.  I got bored.  I actually didn't finish it, which is rare for me.  I got, according to Kindle, 74% through it and just quit.

But if you decide to read it, even part of it, or if you just want to discuss that idea, comment below.  This is definitely one worth discussing.

Jodi Picoult

Since it's summer time, most people are looking for some light reading.  I haven't helped much in that category yet, so let me share with you a jewel (that, more than likely, you probably already love): Jodi Picoult.  She is another author whose works I can usually depend upon and whose style I enjoy.

She always writes from different characters' point of views, alternating with each chapter.  She also always (or at least most of the time) involve court proceedings - frequently with the same attorney whose name has presently escaped me.  The only downfall of Picoult's that I have found is that I cannot read several of her works back to back - they are almost too similar and begin to feel predictable.  But after a little break, it is always a joy to return to one of hers.

Here are some of my favorites (besides Nineteen Minutes, which is my all time favorite).

Perfect Match - this one is about a mother trying to figure out who sexually molested her son, who has become mute after the tragedy.  It is mostly about the lengths a mother will go to in order to protect her son.

The Pact - this one is about two families struggling after losing their children to a suicide pact.  Picoult gives the now deceased children's perspectives, as well as the parents', throughout the chapters.

Keeping the Faith - this one is about a nonreligious woman whose child suddenly claims that God is talking to her.  This deals with a custody battle as well as a battle with the paparazzi once this child's secret gets out.  I found this one the least "sad" of her books, since the underlying drama isn't a suicide pact or sexual harassment, but a child hearing the word of God.

Salem Falls - this one is about a teacher accused of harassing a student, but the teacher swears he is innocent.  It all takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, the famous town know for its witchcraft, which comes into play in the novel (not in a Harry Potter/sci fi kinda way, but it relates).

One of her novels that actually disappointed me was House Rules.  It is about a boy with autism, and honestly now I can't remember why I didn't enjoy it as much as the rest, but I remember ending it feeling a little let down.

Although most of her subjects are controversial and heavy, her books are enjoyable and easy to read.

Tom Perrotta

I hate when I have nothing to read.  There are very few people who's book recommendations I trust (I am a book snob, through and through), and I rarely like the most popular crazes.  So when I finish a book, I always have a sense of loss until I stumble upon another great read.

That is why I love finding authors whose works I consistently enjoy.  They're like best friends - you can always depend on them.  

One such author is Tom Perrotta.  The first book of his that I read is called Little Children (this was also turned into a film).  It has been so long since I read it, I can't recall the details and honestly, when I just read the back of the book, the plot didn't even sound familiar.  But I do remember liking it.

I liked it enough to buy another of his books, The Abstinence Teacher.  This book is about a sexual education teacher who finds resistance to her teachings, especially from another man who was recently saved at his evangelical Christian church.  It seems a common style of Perrotta's is writing from different characters' perspectives until they all collide.  Again, it has been awhile since I read this one also, but I remember enjoying the story.

Recently, Sarah Dessen (a young adult writer I really enjoy) tweeted that Tom Perrotta had a new book, so I immediately bought it on my Kindle.  It is called The Leftovers.  I loved the idea behind this novel.  It takes place in a small town that has just suffered a tragedy - one day, numerous people in town suddenly disappeared into thin air.  Most people thought it was The Rapture, where people are sent up to heaven and others are just left behind.  The book focuses on how different people in town respond to being "left behind."  What a concept - the idea itself kept me turning the pages.  Of course, some people responded with jealousy and began pointing out every sin of the deceased; others became obsessively religious, joining a cult with strange behaviors; still other just struggled to exist, always questioning why it happened and why they weren't included.  

I enjoy Perrotta's novels.  They're a little less depressing than some of the ones I will write about, although of course there's plenty of drama.  Check him out if you're looking for a new author to follow.  

Other Middle Eastern novels: Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns

Speaking of historical novels, you have not read Kite Runner AND A Thousand Splendid Suns, you should.  Both of these novels are by Khaled Hosseini, and are set in Afghanistan.

Kite Runner is the more popular of the two novels, probably because it was turned into a movie (and a beautiful play by Actors Theatre!).  It focuses on the life of a young boy, Amir, who lives in Afghanistan, then moves to America when the his country is invaded by the Russians.  Amir is not a lovable protagonist - honestly, many people don't like him at all.  As a child, he is desperate for his father's love and approval, so he allows something cruel to happen to his best friend and servant.  He is spoiled and selfish, contrasting with the kindness of his friend.  That action, though, haunts Amir the rest of his life, even after he moves to America.

I learned so much about Afghanistan from this novel, especially about the Taliban regime.  In our country of freedoms, it is hard to fathom the hardships other countries endure.  This book helps to enlighten you on that.  The author grew up in Afghanistan and later moved to America, similar to the main character, so his descriptions are based in reality.

One word of caution, though: this book is sad.  Even for me, a lover of sad books.  Do not read it as a pick me up.  There are few shining moments and no comic relief.  But it is beautifully written.

The other novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is actually my favorite of the two.  This may be because it focuses on women, but it is also because there is a little bit more light in this dark tunnel.  In this novel, the main characters, two women married to the same man, never leave Afghanistan.  Similar to the book I just wrote about, it focuses mostly on the treatment of women regarding their husbands and children (when Lois Jean recommended the other book to me, she said it's like A Thousand Splendid Suns, but true, and she was right).

Both of these books are interesting, well-written, and can teach you just how lucky we are to live in America.

Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

I never really enjoyed history classes in high school or college.  In my mind, it was just a bunch of random facts and people and dates that I had to memorize.  However, since I began teaching American Literature, and discovering historical fiction, I've discovered a new love of history.  Books, both fiction and nonfiction, have proven to be the best history "teachers" I've ever had, inspiring in me a desire to learn more about certain time periods and countries.

Couple that with my pride of being half-Lebanese, and this book was a perfect choice for me.  It is a nonfiction book, written by Jean Sasson, about a princess in Saudi Arabia.  The full title is Princess:  A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia.

It is written as a memoir, from the Princess's perspective, set mostly around the mid-1950s.  It begins with a prologue describing the different rules regarding women in various Arabic countries (I was so proud to read that, in Lebanon, "women enjoy equal civil rights and attend colleges and universities in large numbers").  Then it centers on the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia as Princess Sultana shares experiences from her life and her friends'.

The book is written in fairly short chapters, with no excessive description.  There are a few Arabic words, but not so many it is difficult to understand.  It focuses mainly on telling the stories in a firsthand account.  You learn about the rights of women (or lack of) when it comes to marriages, traveling, clothing, etc.  Although you've probably "heard" about most of the laws regarding women in Saudi Arabia, it comes to life in this book.  You will feel sympathy for these women (and to think, this is from a princess's perspective...), but most of all, you will feel anger and shock that this is happening in our world today.  The punishments young girls receive for things such as marrying a non-Muslim, getting pregnant after being raped by several boys, or traveling without her husband's permission are grotesque and inhumane.

It isn't all negative, though.  The lavish lifestyles of the royal families in Saudi Arabia were also interesting to learn about.  One of the most jaw-dropping was the expenses and troubles the princess's husband went to when she gave birth... you won't believe it.

This is the kind of book you'll want to talk about.  You'll find yourself scoffing at the book, and sincerely disgusted with the people and actions described.

Go read it.

note: sincere thanks to Lois Jean Lanham for this book recommendation

Monday, June 11, 2012

Basic Training by Kurt Vonnegut

You know how, after famous musicians die, sometimes people still release new music of theirs? When it happens, you feel as if they've come alive again, if even for a moment (or, in 2Pac's case, you get further convinced he never really died). That is how I felt when I saw a new Vonnegut book released on my Kindle recently. (RIP Kurt, you crazy genius). However, this book is very non-Vonnegut, at least in what we have come to expect in his popular books (evidently a young Vonnegut wrote this novella in the 40s). There is no sci-fi, no Kilgore Trout appearance, no sarcasm. There are traces of old man Vonnegut, though. The main character, an adolescent boy named Haley, has to move in with relatives, including a man who makes his children call him General. Haley is a sweet, artistic boy who is lost in this military-style, stereotypical-manly place (he's like a young, sane Billy Pilgrim). Haley had a difficult time adjusting to this new life. According to the description on Amazon, Vonnegut was influenced by Salinger, and I can see the resemblance (though Haley isn't bitter and negative like Holden and the book isn't written with terrible grammar). I loved the book. The story was great, as well as getting back in touch with Vonnegut.

Other Books About School Shootings

Since I have already discussed my morbid obsession with books about school shootings, I thought I'd share two of my favorites...because, you know, it's summer time and everyone is looking for some light reading, right? One of my all time favorites - a book I wish all teachers and high school students were required to read - is Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. Similar to We Need To Talk About Kevin, this book focuses more on the background of the shooter's life than it does the shooting itself. There is a huge difference between the books, though. In this book, the main character is bullied and misunderstood his entire life. It has been years since I read it, so I can't give details, but it is a great read. Picoult is a talented writer. Her books usually involve a legal battle and some twists, including this one. It is sad, but powerful. The other book is actually nonfiction: Columbine by Dave Cullen. Cullen wrote this book based on countless interviews, police reports, the boys' own tapes, etc. It is over 350 pages, but a book so enthralling you won't want it to end when it does. It addresses a misconception about the famous story of the "girl who said 'yes,'" it explains the controversy behind the way the police handled the shooting, and it provides a chilling and detailed description of the killers. I don't normally read nonfiction but this is one I highly recommend.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Although it is cliche to "never judge a book by its cover," let's be honest - most of us judge a book by its cover.  And that is how I discovered this book.  I was flipping through my Kindle recommendations, desperate for a new book to read, when this cover grabbed my attention:


As it turns out, the book was almost as mysterious and interesting as the cover (and I mean that as a compliment).  There were times the book felt a little predictable and juvenile, but something kept me turning the pages.  Throughout the book are photographs which, according to the author's  note at the back, are real photographs on which he based the book.  They are mostly portraits of "peculiar children": One is a small girl looking into a pool and she has two reflections.  Another is a boy elevating.  Another is a girl who looks stuck in a bottle.  These portraits are the possession of the main character's grandfather, which he claims were his friends.  When the grandfather passes away, the main character goes in search of these children.

There are some unbelievable pieces to the plot, but it is, overall, an interesting story enhanced by beautiful photographs.  It is unusual and of course requires you to stretch your imagination a little.  It was a nice break for me because I usually read very dark stories.  Overall, I enjoyed it and read it quickly.  A good summer read.

Fifty Shades of Grey

Note: this post is more for people who have read the books...

This series has swept the nation.  It is the latest Twilight (and is as well-written), but in adult form.  I simply could not stand the series, and I read all three, and here is why.

Personally I thought it was poorly written, even for a "fun read."  The main character's "inner goddess" who frequently pops up to nod in approval or shake her head in disdain was more than annoying and got repetitive.  Once Christian and Anastasia get married, I felt like the plot was forced.  A random stalker and a random car wreck felt like feeble attempts for enough drama to fill 3 books.  Their relationship, and Christian's disturbing background, were far more interesting.

Which leads me to what I did enjoy about the book - I found Christian's story intriguing.  What he went through as a child, and how it has affected him as an adult, was what got me through the three novels.

The book includes lots of graphic sex scenes, which I honestly flipped through without reading.  It did not offend me, but again, I felt it was repetitive in its description.  That's just me.

But here is the real reason I could not stand the series and I get so personally offended when people defend it: Christian's possessiveness and jealousy drove me crazy.  When I say that to people, they always say, "But he gets better!  You have to read them all!"  So I did.  And in my opinion, it doesn't really get much better.  Let me explain, using evidence from strictly the third book.

It begins on their honeymoon.  Anastasia teases Christian by asking if she should take off her top.  Of course he says no, but he continues to say he doesn't like the fact that she is already showing so much skin to people in her bikini (possessive trait number one).  Later, after she actually does take off her top and falls asleep like that, he covers her in hickeys so that she cannot go out in her bathing suit again (number 2).  Further into the book, her father is in a car accident and she rushes to the hospital.  She sits there freezing so her best friend from college offers her his jacket.  When Christian arrives, he is steaming.  He knows better than to mention it in that particular situation, but he does reveal later that he didn't like it (number 3).  When Anastasia does not want to change her maiden name at work, he is so infuriated that he shows up at her office.  Why is she ashamed for the world to know that she belongs to him?  Of course, she eventually changes it to please him.  Last but not least, he never warms up to her best friend, Kate.  Why?  In my experience, it's number 4, a trait that goes with any possessive man.  He doesn't like anyone his significant other cares about because he/she is competition for attention.

I do not want to offend anyone with my opinions on this book.  I am glad people are reading - any time people are talking about books, the English teacher in me is smiling.  I just do not like the fact that Christian is suddenly everyone's dream man when he is, in fact, overly jealous and possessive.  Personally, it offends me, for reasons I will keep to myself (although anyone who knows my past can guess why).

There.  Maybe now I will quit throwing fits in public when people mention this book.  It's off my chest. :)

We Need to Talk About Kevin

My husband and I used to love going to bookstores together.  Our perfect dates were a good dinner followed by quiet time in a bookstore.  (I say "used to" and "were" because, since having a baby, dating is rare... but that's for another blog).  While on these dates, we rarely bought books, but spent time roaming the aisles and reading blurbs on books of interest.

On one particular date, I was drawn to a book called We Need To Talk About Kevin.  I have a strange obsession with books about school shootings, and this particular book had a unique twist: it was from the perspective of the parent of a child who kills his teammates at school.  I was immediately drawn in from the first chapter which described the mother scraping red paint off of her front porch - an act of vandalism from the local community members still angry with her because of her son.  After reading a few pages, it was time go to, so I put the book down and left.

But the book stayed with me.  Months later, I returned to a bookstore and hunted down the book, although I didn't know the author's name and couldn't exactly remember the title.  I finally read it.  In fairness, that was years ago, but I just came across the movie (which stays incredibly accurate to the book from what I can recall) and, just like the book, it has stayed with me.

As I stated, the book focuses on the mom of the child who commits these awful murders.  The book isn't about the violence, though.  It is more about the child's background.  It follows him, through snippets of memories, from birth until that particular moment, and after.  It is not told in chronological order, but rather follows the mind of the mother as she tries to continue living her daily life while overwhelmed with these memories.

Kevin, the child, was evil from birth.  No exaggeration.  As I watched the movie, and when I read the book, I found myself cussing this child.  With no remorse.  He is simply that much of a villain.  He is cold-hearted in a way that you hope no child has the ability to be, and without reason.  Even worse, he turns it off and on whenever he wants, so he completely charms his father.

The movie is shot just like the book is told, in and out of the present and past times, brief memory after memory interrupted by the mother's daily life.  It is beautifully shot and focuses even less on the violence than the book (it barely shows the scene at the school).  It is not technically a "school shooting" as Kevin kills his classmates with a bow and arrow... yet another unique twist to what could be an overdone subject.

The book and the movie are haunting.  I felt myself struggling to remember my life is peaceful and my child is happy and that Kevin isn't someone I actually know.

I recommend the book if you're willing to get lost in a book that will stir your emotions.  Watch the movie too.  Then comment on here because I haven't found a single other person who has read the book!