By Willa Cather
This book was surprisingly a slower read than expected for a Cather book. It took me much longer to get into than I expected. Perhaps the reading circumstances are to blame (I was away from home when I started it). Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable read, with all the underlying themes and criticisms. It's interesting how she combined two story lines, that of Tom Outland, which she wrote first, and the that of the professor's, which envelopes that of Outland's. [258 pp.]
Link to book
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Sunday, December 8, 2019
The Redeemed
By Tim Pears
The third and final book of the West Country Trilogy. Like the other two, this book was a pleasure to read, for the most part. And like the first two, it also included some gruesome descriptions which were not pleasant to read at all, mostly during the Great War. Leo is now a diver in the Royal Navy, and what happens to him during the war was inspired by the writer's grandfather's experiences. After leaving the Navy, he joins a historic person by the name of Ernest Cox, who ran a salvage operation of German ships that were deliberately sunk after the war. Meanwhile, Lottie becomes the estate's veterinarian, though without the whole official training (though she is one of two female vet students who are allowed to participate in some courses for 6 months). Finally, toward the end **spoiler alert** we can finally relax and enjoy the reunion of Leo and Lottie. [400 pp.]
Link to book
The third and final book of the West Country Trilogy. Like the other two, this book was a pleasure to read, for the most part. And like the first two, it also included some gruesome descriptions which were not pleasant to read at all, mostly during the Great War. Leo is now a diver in the Royal Navy, and what happens to him during the war was inspired by the writer's grandfather's experiences. After leaving the Navy, he joins a historic person by the name of Ernest Cox, who ran a salvage operation of German ships that were deliberately sunk after the war. Meanwhile, Lottie becomes the estate's veterinarian, though without the whole official training (though she is one of two female vet students who are allowed to participate in some courses for 6 months). Finally, toward the end **spoiler alert** we can finally relax and enjoy the reunion of Leo and Lottie. [400 pp.]
Link to book
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Houses
By Borislav Pekic
It took me a long time to finish this book. Firstly, because it has no chapters. It's one long stream-of-consciousness thing told by an old confused guy who jumps from memory to real time without much announcing. While I was reading I thought that it was just me who has trouble understanding what's going on, but reading the introduction at the end (as I found is the logical thing to do), I realized it wasn't me -- it was the book. Anyway, I'm glad I finished it. There were some interesting things. But it did take me 9 weeks (not including 2.5 weeks in the middle when I read another book) to finish only 212 pages.
Link to book.
It took me a long time to finish this book. Firstly, because it has no chapters. It's one long stream-of-consciousness thing told by an old confused guy who jumps from memory to real time without much announcing. While I was reading I thought that it was just me who has trouble understanding what's going on, but reading the introduction at the end (as I found is the logical thing to do), I realized it wasn't me -- it was the book. Anyway, I'm glad I finished it. There were some interesting things. But it did take me 9 weeks (not including 2.5 weeks in the middle when I read another book) to finish only 212 pages.
Link to book.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
The Atomic Weight of Love
By Elizabeth J. Church
This is another one of those books I picked up based on the cover. It was covered with birds, so really, I had no choice. I was a little disappointed with how the story went. It seemed like for the longest time nothing really happened in terms of character development, and it all sort of ended up coming up at the end. But I do have to say, it seemed very realistic. Like the author got the story from an actual person who had lived this life. I also couldn't help but identify somewhat with the protagonist, Meridian, who started out as a biologist (animal behavior, no less!) and later picked up art and poetry. The book highlights the prevalent notions at the time (1940s - 1970s) and changing views regarding gender equality. Now that I think about it, this might have been the whole point of delaying Meridian's development. Or maybe I'm over analyzing. [352 pp.]
Link to book.
This is another one of those books I picked up based on the cover. It was covered with birds, so really, I had no choice. I was a little disappointed with how the story went. It seemed like for the longest time nothing really happened in terms of character development, and it all sort of ended up coming up at the end. But I do have to say, it seemed very realistic. Like the author got the story from an actual person who had lived this life. I also couldn't help but identify somewhat with the protagonist, Meridian, who started out as a biologist (animal behavior, no less!) and later picked up art and poetry. The book highlights the prevalent notions at the time (1940s - 1970s) and changing views regarding gender equality. Now that I think about it, this might have been the whole point of delaying Meridian's development. Or maybe I'm over analyzing. [352 pp.]
Link to book.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Unsheltered
By Barbara Kingsolver
Two characters, separated by 150 years, but share the same space, are the heroes of this book. One of them interacts with an actual historic figure, Mary Treat, and the other learns about her through her attempts to save her home. As with many of her books, there's a lot of complexities and discussion of social issues. One thing that bothered me a little was her discussion on corsets, which seemed a bit misinformed, which is very uncharacteristic of her. [462 pp.]
Link to book
Two characters, separated by 150 years, but share the same space, are the heroes of this book. One of them interacts with an actual historic figure, Mary Treat, and the other learns about her through her attempts to save her home. As with many of her books, there's a lot of complexities and discussion of social issues. One thing that bothered me a little was her discussion on corsets, which seemed a bit misinformed, which is very uncharacteristic of her. [462 pp.]
Link to book
Saturday, August 17, 2019
War and Turpentine
By Stefan Hertmans
A powerful story of war and love. Love between a child and his grandfather; a son and his parents; a man and a woman who dies too young. Love for painting. This is based on the life of the grandfather of the author, and part of the book is some sort of relay of the stories written by the grandfather of his life during WWI. This part was hard for me to read. I felt relieved to finish that section. I love the way the author writes about his discovery of his grandfather's life. We often think we know people, but when they're from a different generation, we don't always know what their lives have been before we were born, and we might discover things about them that really surprise us. Reading this book felt like that. A journey of discovery of a man we know nothing about (unlike the author), and grow to love.
Link to book
This story actually inspired me to paint something based on a scene in the grandfather's story. At the beginning of the war he sees a German zeppelin in the sky, and likens it to a weirdly-shaped fish.
A powerful story of war and love. Love between a child and his grandfather; a son and his parents; a man and a woman who dies too young. Love for painting. This is based on the life of the grandfather of the author, and part of the book is some sort of relay of the stories written by the grandfather of his life during WWI. This part was hard for me to read. I felt relieved to finish that section. I love the way the author writes about his discovery of his grandfather's life. We often think we know people, but when they're from a different generation, we don't always know what their lives have been before we were born, and we might discover things about them that really surprise us. Reading this book felt like that. A journey of discovery of a man we know nothing about (unlike the author), and grow to love.
Link to book
This story actually inspired me to paint something based on a scene in the grandfather's story. At the beginning of the war he sees a German zeppelin in the sky, and likens it to a weirdly-shaped fish.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
I'm Still Here (Je Suis La)
By Clelie Avit
A love story between a man feeling lost after his brother accidentally kills 2 14-year old girls, having driven drunk, and a woman mountain climber who got into a coma after an avalanche-related fall. This absurd situation is made very nicely believable at the hands of the author. But I did have a bit of beef with the translator and editor. First, there's the very literal translation of chez toi/chez vous and chez moi. Basically, they translated it as at yours and at mine, respectively. This sounds very awkward. Why didn't they use your/my place? And I checked. This edition was published by a US-based publisher. They should know better. Secondly, there's the use of lay vs. lie. To their credit, they did not use lay when they meant lie. BUT, they also used lie when they should have used lay, and not just once. Again, editors, where were you??? I know this kind of thing doesn't bother most people. What can I say? This is why it was my dream to learn as many languages as possible, so I could read a book in its author's language.
Anyway, it's a very readable book otherwise. And very touching, too. [247 pp.]
Link to book
A love story between a man feeling lost after his brother accidentally kills 2 14-year old girls, having driven drunk, and a woman mountain climber who got into a coma after an avalanche-related fall. This absurd situation is made very nicely believable at the hands of the author. But I did have a bit of beef with the translator and editor. First, there's the very literal translation of chez toi/chez vous and chez moi. Basically, they translated it as at yours and at mine, respectively. This sounds very awkward. Why didn't they use your/my place? And I checked. This edition was published by a US-based publisher. They should know better. Secondly, there's the use of lay vs. lie. To their credit, they did not use lay when they meant lie. BUT, they also used lie when they should have used lay, and not just once. Again, editors, where were you??? I know this kind of thing doesn't bother most people. What can I say? This is why it was my dream to learn as many languages as possible, so I could read a book in its author's language.
Anyway, it's a very readable book otherwise. And very touching, too. [247 pp.]
Link to book
Friday, July 19, 2019
The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb
By Melanie Benjamin
Despite the title, this book is a novel. Based on the life of an actual person (who actually started writing her own biography), but fiction. It's easy to forget this while reading the book. It's very immersive and based on a lot of research, so when you read it, you want to believe every single word of it, though for some, as the author admits, there's no actual evidence. It is the fascinating life story of Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump Stratton, made famous as Miss Lavinia Warren, and then as Mrs. General Tom Thumb. She was 'a perfect lady in miniature', a proportionate dwarf, but her dreams, and the life her dreams led her to, were very big. But through her story, you get to see what America (and also, a little bit, the world) was like during her life, in the mid- and late 19th century. Also you learn about the people closest to her, like her sister Minnie Warren, and P.T. Barnum. [440 pp.]
Link to book.
Despite the title, this book is a novel. Based on the life of an actual person (who actually started writing her own biography), but fiction. It's easy to forget this while reading the book. It's very immersive and based on a lot of research, so when you read it, you want to believe every single word of it, though for some, as the author admits, there's no actual evidence. It is the fascinating life story of Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump Stratton, made famous as Miss Lavinia Warren, and then as Mrs. General Tom Thumb. She was 'a perfect lady in miniature', a proportionate dwarf, but her dreams, and the life her dreams led her to, were very big. But through her story, you get to see what America (and also, a little bit, the world) was like during her life, in the mid- and late 19th century. Also you learn about the people closest to her, like her sister Minnie Warren, and P.T. Barnum. [440 pp.]
Link to book.
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Awayland, Stories
By Ramona Ausubel
Some stories were weirder than others, but that's expected with short stories. I admit that I didn't quite understand what was going on in the last one. Some were quite endearing. Most of them were inviting. [240 pp.]
Link to book
Some stories were weirder than others, but that's expected with short stories. I admit that I didn't quite understand what was going on in the last one. Some were quite endearing. Most of them were inviting. [240 pp.]
Link to book
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
The Wanderers (#2 in the West Country Trilogy)
By Tim Pears
The story follows Leo and Lottie on their now separate ways. They both have problems and they are deeply attached to each other, but it's hard to ignore the vast difference between their problems, with their belonging to such different casts. Reading Leo's parts (and of course, he is the main hero of the story) was a lot more interesting to me. Anyway, looking forward to their reunion, but afraid there will be a war in between. [384 pp.]
Link to book
The story follows Leo and Lottie on their now separate ways. They both have problems and they are deeply attached to each other, but it's hard to ignore the vast difference between their problems, with their belonging to such different casts. Reading Leo's parts (and of course, he is the main hero of the story) was a lot more interesting to me. Anyway, looking forward to their reunion, but afraid there will be a war in between. [384 pp.]
Link to book
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe
By Alexander McCall Smith
I was a bit worried when I realized this book is part of a series, and not the first one, either (in fact, the 15th!). But in fact, I had no difficulty understanding, or ever felt like I was missing some useful information. It seems these books are stand-alones as they are a part of a series (though to know the latter for sure I will need to read more of them). In any case, the book is filled with wisdom of human nature, even as the humans are those of faraway countries and distant cultures. It is enjoyable, if sometimes a bit drifting, far into people's thoughts and memories, and you wish them to get back to the point they're supposed to be making. [227 pp.]
Link to book
I was a bit worried when I realized this book is part of a series, and not the first one, either (in fact, the 15th!). But in fact, I had no difficulty understanding, or ever felt like I was missing some useful information. It seems these books are stand-alones as they are a part of a series (though to know the latter for sure I will need to read more of them). In any case, the book is filled with wisdom of human nature, even as the humans are those of faraway countries and distant cultures. It is enjoyable, if sometimes a bit drifting, far into people's thoughts and memories, and you wish them to get back to the point they're supposed to be making. [227 pp.]
Link to book
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
A Robot In The Garden
By Deborah Install
I have to admit, the first part of the book read like a first draft. It reminded me of the process of writing during NaNoWriMo, where you just put on paper (well, digital paper) whatever comes to your mind, because you have to reach a certain word count. Things might make sense, but they don't necessarily read right. But by the end of the book I thought it was quite worth the read. It was a fun read, not too deep, but also not too shallow. [315 pp.]
Link to book
I have to admit, the first part of the book read like a first draft. It reminded me of the process of writing during NaNoWriMo, where you just put on paper (well, digital paper) whatever comes to your mind, because you have to reach a certain word count. Things might make sense, but they don't necessarily read right. But by the end of the book I thought it was quite worth the read. It was a fun read, not too deep, but also not too shallow. [315 pp.]
Link to book
Thursday, May 16, 2019
The Insides
By Jeremy P. Bushnell
Another evidence for the effectiveness of judging a book by its cover. This book is very accessible and sort of fast-paced, almost like an action movie, but with an actual plot and events that make sense. Mixing people's inner lives with reality and magic, the book tells the story of two women who come in the path of a power-seeking man. [286 pp.]
Link to book
Another evidence for the effectiveness of judging a book by its cover. This book is very accessible and sort of fast-paced, almost like an action movie, but with an actual plot and events that make sense. Mixing people's inner lives with reality and magic, the book tells the story of two women who come in the path of a power-seeking man. [286 pp.]
Link to book
The Horseman
By Tim Pears
I was just about to say that the ending of this book would only make sense if it there were to be a sequel, and indeed, I just found out that it is a part of a trilogy. Well, I guess now I have to look around for the next ones... It was interesting, but I felt the end was sort of sudden. The boy who is for years being groomed by his adored father as a horse-handler prodigy is, seemingly out the blue, being cast away. [320 pp.]
Link to book
I was just about to say that the ending of this book would only make sense if it there were to be a sequel, and indeed, I just found out that it is a part of a trilogy. Well, I guess now I have to look around for the next ones... It was interesting, but I felt the end was sort of sudden. The boy who is for years being groomed by his adored father as a horse-handler prodigy is, seemingly out the blue, being cast away. [320 pp.]
Link to book
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
The Door
By Magda Szabo
A beautiful story about the complex relationship between two women in mid-to-late 20th century Hungary. One is a bit childish, the other very private and secretive, but they both carry great care for each other. Makes me wonder how much of it is biographical. [262 pp.]
Link to book
A beautiful story about the complex relationship between two women in mid-to-late 20th century Hungary. One is a bit childish, the other very private and secretive, but they both carry great care for each other. Makes me wonder how much of it is biographical. [262 pp.]
Link to book
Friday, March 22, 2019
Landed
By Tim Pears
This book started out very interesting, with different reports and points of view dealing with the same person, Owen, intermingled with background stories of him as a child. But the second part was quite confusing and not as credible. The end was especially baffling. [240 pp.]
Link to book
This book started out very interesting, with different reports and points of view dealing with the same person, Owen, intermingled with background stories of him as a child. But the second part was quite confusing and not as credible. The end was especially baffling. [240 pp.]
Link to book
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
How Hard Can It Be?
By Allison Pearson
Quite a scary tale (especially to those of us approaching middle age) of a woman who lies about her age in order to find a job, after taking a long break to take care of her mother. While she was still freelancing on the side, and acquiring many important skills as a mother of teens and care-taker of elders, she soon finds that these assets are not as important when she's a woman of a certain age. Despite the horror of perrimenopause, she manages to do well, in addition to attracting a past almost-lover, who turns out to be a Prince Charming to boost.
Though I found the book entertaining and enjoyable to read (apart from the scary, disconcerting age-related bits), I thought the guy was just a bit too perfect. But I guess it's okay for a fairy tale. [352pp.]
P.S. Apparently, this is a sequel to I Don't Know How She Does It, but it reads well as a standalone. I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading the first one.
Link to book
Quite a scary tale (especially to those of us approaching middle age) of a woman who lies about her age in order to find a job, after taking a long break to take care of her mother. While she was still freelancing on the side, and acquiring many important skills as a mother of teens and care-taker of elders, she soon finds that these assets are not as important when she's a woman of a certain age. Despite the horror of perrimenopause, she manages to do well, in addition to attracting a past almost-lover, who turns out to be a Prince Charming to boost.
Though I found the book entertaining and enjoyable to read (apart from the scary, disconcerting age-related bits), I thought the guy was just a bit too perfect. But I guess it's okay for a fairy tale. [352pp.]
P.S. Apparently, this is a sequel to I Don't Know How She Does It, but it reads well as a standalone. I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading the first one.
Link to book
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Kitchens of the Great Midwest
By J. Ryan Stradal
This is another book I picked up solely based on the cover. It's so beautiful and inviting, and clearly says: this is about women and food. In fact, I was a bit disappointed when I found out the author is not a woman. But my disappointment dissolved as I kept reading. Each chapter is told from someone else's perspective. Sometimes years apart. But there are a couple of common threads: one is food, of course, and the other is a character, Eva, whose story this is after all. Though each chapter has its own hero. In the last chapter, most of them come together, sort of. [312 pp.]
Link to book
This is another book I picked up solely based on the cover. It's so beautiful and inviting, and clearly says: this is about women and food. In fact, I was a bit disappointed when I found out the author is not a woman. But my disappointment dissolved as I kept reading. Each chapter is told from someone else's perspective. Sometimes years apart. But there are a couple of common threads: one is food, of course, and the other is a character, Eva, whose story this is after all. Though each chapter has its own hero. In the last chapter, most of them come together, sort of. [312 pp.]
Link to book
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Henderson the Rain King
By Saul Bellow
The story of Henderson, who, despite his age, still has some coming-of-age to do. And despite his riches and formidable physique, is very restless. This restlessness brings him to Africa, where he becomes the Rain King of a tribe that is quite secluded from the West, yet he befriends their leader, who has quite extensive Western education.
This book took me a long time to complete. I started it before leaving to Israel, whereupon I had to return it to the library, because someone had reserved the only copy of it they have. When I came back, I had to wait until the book is returned by the other people who had reserved it, so it was at least 6 weeks in between reading the first 100 pages and the rest. [330 pp.]
Link to book.
The story of Henderson, who, despite his age, still has some coming-of-age to do. And despite his riches and formidable physique, is very restless. This restlessness brings him to Africa, where he becomes the Rain King of a tribe that is quite secluded from the West, yet he befriends their leader, who has quite extensive Western education.
This book took me a long time to complete. I started it before leaving to Israel, whereupon I had to return it to the library, because someone had reserved the only copy of it they have. When I came back, I had to wait until the book is returned by the other people who had reserved it, so it was at least 6 weeks in between reading the first 100 pages and the rest. [330 pp.]
Link to book.
Death Comes to the Archbishop
By Willa Cather
I don't believe I didn't put it down in here when I finished reading it! It was a few months ago...
Anyway, unlike most of her other novels I read, this book is not about women, but rather men. Old religious men. Well, I guess they weren't always old. It was interesting nonetheless. It has beautiful descriptions of the New Mexico, which I am not completely familiar with, especially not the way it looked back then, in the 19th century. It also has interesting characters and stories of their lives, which are somewhat based on the actual lives of the main two characters. [297 pp.]
Link to book.
I don't believe I didn't put it down in here when I finished reading it! It was a few months ago...
Anyway, unlike most of her other novels I read, this book is not about women, but rather men. Old religious men. Well, I guess they weren't always old. It was interesting nonetheless. It has beautiful descriptions of the New Mexico, which I am not completely familiar with, especially not the way it looked back then, in the 19th century. It also has interesting characters and stories of their lives, which are somewhat based on the actual lives of the main two characters. [297 pp.]
Link to book.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
A House Full of Daughters (A memoir of seven generations)
By Juliet Nicolson
A very intimate look into the lives of seven generations of a famous family to which the author belongs, focusing on the daughters of the family. I was not familiar with the family, and was solely attracted to the book because of the cover and the intriguing title. It was nice to learn about the family, and through it, about parts of history of England and the US in the time frame presented. It was also interesting to see repetitions and breaks from repetition in the different generations' acts and behavior, and the progress made in society throughout the century and a half of the story. [326pp.]
Link to book
A very intimate look into the lives of seven generations of a famous family to which the author belongs, focusing on the daughters of the family. I was not familiar with the family, and was solely attracted to the book because of the cover and the intriguing title. It was nice to learn about the family, and through it, about parts of history of England and the US in the time frame presented. It was also interesting to see repetitions and breaks from repetition in the different generations' acts and behavior, and the progress made in society throughout the century and a half of the story. [326pp.]
Link to book
Monday, January 7, 2019
Summer
By Edith Wharton
The story of Charity Royall, a young woman who feels out of place, the summer of thoughtful romance she has with Lucious Harney, and the consequences of this affair. [255 pp. (incl. introduction)]
Link to book
The story of Charity Royall, a young woman who feels out of place, the summer of thoughtful romance she has with Lucious Harney, and the consequences of this affair. [255 pp. (incl. introduction)]
Link to book
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
By Christopher Moore
This is a funny tale, trying to fill in the gap found in the new testament. As a young teenager, Josh (Jesus) and Biff go on a journey to find the tree wise men who visited Mary when Jesus was born. Josh just wants to know what he's supposed to do. In the process, they find the divine spark, bacon, and judo (JewDoh). Despite the obvious fictionality, the amount of research that went into writing this book is quite impressive. [444 pp.]
Link to book
This is a funny tale, trying to fill in the gap found in the new testament. As a young teenager, Josh (Jesus) and Biff go on a journey to find the tree wise men who visited Mary when Jesus was born. Josh just wants to know what he's supposed to do. In the process, they find the divine spark, bacon, and judo (JewDoh). Despite the obvious fictionality, the amount of research that went into writing this book is quite impressive. [444 pp.]
Link to book
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
