By Khaled Hosseini
An interesting story about two women in Afghanistan as their lives change and merge with the historical changes that occur their from the '70s to just a couple of years ago.
I found myself wanting to come home early from work to finish the book. It was tense at times, and had scenes that I absolutely would not want to see in a movie. Books are so much better in this regard - I can take a lot more when I don't have to see it (and can use my imagination to make it less horrible, I guess).
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
World Cup Wishes (Mish'ala Achat Yamina) - Hebrew
by Eshkol Nevo
A really interesting story about friendship between four guys and how it changes over time from one world cup soccer championship to another, as told by one of the friends. Set in Israel during the second Intifada but also looks back to the first one.
A really interesting story about friendship between four guys and how it changes over time from one world cup soccer championship to another, as told by one of the friends. Set in Israel during the second Intifada but also looks back to the first one.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Jewish Dog (Hakelev Hayehudi) - Hebrew
by Asher Kravitz
There was a time when I wanted to write a book from the point of view of a dog. "A dog's life" I thought I'd call it. But then Paul Auster (Timboktu) and Asher Kravitz beat me up to it. The difference between their books and mine, however, would be that theirs are mostly sad. I wanted mine to be funny.
This book tells the story of the Jewish haulocost and world war II through the eyes of a dog who grew up in a Jewish family, and despite many fate turnovers, he always felt like a jew. Even when he had to bit up jews as the pet of the son of a Nazi officer. Even when he was stationed in Treblinka in the service of the Nazis.
It was mostly sad, but interesting.
There was a time when I wanted to write a book from the point of view of a dog. "A dog's life" I thought I'd call it. But then Paul Auster (Timboktu) and Asher Kravitz beat me up to it. The difference between their books and mine, however, would be that theirs are mostly sad. I wanted mine to be funny.
This book tells the story of the Jewish haulocost and world war II through the eyes of a dog who grew up in a Jewish family, and despite many fate turnovers, he always felt like a jew. Even when he had to bit up jews as the pet of the son of a Nazi officer. Even when he was stationed in Treblinka in the service of the Nazis.
It was mostly sad, but interesting.
Monday, June 2, 2008
The Poisonwood Bible
By Barbara Kingsolver
What a masterpiece! Reminded me of "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth, in that it told the story of a nation through the story of a family, with a lot of parallels. It also boggles my mind to see more evidence to the horrible behavior of US government all throughout the last few decades, all because of some fear of communism. A behavior that cost many lives and left most of the developing countries under-developed. It's really infuriating.
Anyway, when I got the book (from the same store I got B. Kingsolver's other book, because of the cat) I thought it would be like her two other books I read (the second, without my knowing, turned out to be a sequel of the first) which I really liked. It was different but I wasn't disappointed at all! Seemed to be more complex, but just as easily read and fascinating as the others.
What a masterpiece! Reminded me of "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth, in that it told the story of a nation through the story of a family, with a lot of parallels. It also boggles my mind to see more evidence to the horrible behavior of US government all throughout the last few decades, all because of some fear of communism. A behavior that cost many lives and left most of the developing countries under-developed. It's really infuriating.
Anyway, when I got the book (from the same store I got B. Kingsolver's other book, because of the cat) I thought it would be like her two other books I read (the second, without my knowing, turned out to be a sequel of the first) which I really liked. It was different but I wasn't disappointed at all! Seemed to be more complex, but just as easily read and fascinating as the others.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Who Killed Palomino Molero
by Mario Vargas Llosa
A short story told mostly from the point of view of Lituma, a simple Guardia Civil man, a cholo, about his and his boss's attempts to solve a horrible crime - the torture and murder of a young handsome and talented singer, Palomino Molero. The story is set in 1950s and it's interesting to see the tensions between the "whites" and the "cholos". Lots of racism going on... And the power of rumors.
A short story told mostly from the point of view of Lituma, a simple Guardia Civil man, a cholo, about his and his boss's attempts to solve a horrible crime - the torture and murder of a young handsome and talented singer, Palomino Molero. The story is set in 1950s and it's interesting to see the tensions between the "whites" and the "cholos". Lots of racism going on... And the power of rumors.
Yours, Sandro (Shelcha, Sandro) - Hebrew
by Zvi Yanai
An interesting compilation of letter the author writes to his long lost brother, that for an unknown reason was left in a foster home. Through letters that Zvi (Sandro) writes to his brother Romulo, citing letters to their mother, we learn what happened to that particular family during the years 1930-1944 in Italy and Hungary, and then a little bit about their years in Israel. Hebrew.
An interesting compilation of letter the author writes to his long lost brother, that for an unknown reason was left in a foster home. Through letters that Zvi (Sandro) writes to his brother Romulo, citing letters to their mother, we learn what happened to that particular family during the years 1930-1944 in Italy and Hungary, and then a little bit about their years in Israel. Hebrew.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
!HUGO! The Hugo Chavez Story from Mud Hut to Perpetual Revolution
By Bart Jones
What a fascinating book about such an amazing person!
Having watched a movie about Hugo Chavez a few years ago (The Revolution will not be Televized) followed by a discussion with history professor who seemed very favorable of the man, but then only hearing bad things about him, in the mainstream media and even from South American friends, I felt confused - what should I believe? Bart Jones help me get to a conclusion. But also he made me think of all the lies governments and media tell us. In the case of Chavez - incredible lies and propaganda that seems absolutely ridiculous when confronted with the facts, nonetheless, if it is not (and it usually isn't) it can be very easily considered as the truth by most people.
And that's really scary. What else are they lying to us about?
This book has opened my eyes to all the horrible things US governments were involved in over decades in Latin America. I heard some anecdotes here and there, but never knew to what extent it was striving (and still is) to get rid of leftist leaders. I think it's good to know these things. Better than to be blind.
How can anyone still listen to Bush's lies and not get enraged? I wonder...
What a fascinating book about such an amazing person!
Having watched a movie about Hugo Chavez a few years ago (The Revolution will not be Televized) followed by a discussion with history professor who seemed very favorable of the man, but then only hearing bad things about him, in the mainstream media and even from South American friends, I felt confused - what should I believe? Bart Jones help me get to a conclusion. But also he made me think of all the lies governments and media tell us. In the case of Chavez - incredible lies and propaganda that seems absolutely ridiculous when confronted with the facts, nonetheless, if it is not (and it usually isn't) it can be very easily considered as the truth by most people.
And that's really scary. What else are they lying to us about?
This book has opened my eyes to all the horrible things US governments were involved in over decades in Latin America. I heard some anecdotes here and there, but never knew to what extent it was striving (and still is) to get rid of leftist leaders. I think it's good to know these things. Better than to be blind.
How can anyone still listen to Bush's lies and not get enraged? I wonder...
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