By Barbara Gowdy
What a marvelous book! It's been a long time since I felt this way about a book. Something I did not expect when I glanced at the picture of the author on the book sleeve's back flip. (She looks too young and groomed - how could she possibly write a good book??)
Such an amazing dive into the life of elephants and Africa. Unfortunately I ended up reading one of the saddest parts while at the Greyhound terminal in El Paso. I couldn't help shedding some tears.
The book is so touching, learned (during the time I was reading it, I came across an article about the cognitive abilities of non-primate animals, and a lot of the things they said about elephants I recognized in the book), and well-written. I can't recommend it enough. One of my very favorites for sure. [336 pp.]
Book link
Friday, July 8, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
White Ghost Girls
By Alice Greenway
The story of two sisters whose father is sent to photograph the war in Vietnam, so they live with their mother in Hong Kong, a relatively safe place. But then things get hotter in Hong Kong, and the girls get in trouble until the inevitable tragic end.
I found the book very slow at first. It was difficult for me to get into it. And then, all of a sudden, something really horrible happens. It really seemed like it was very sudden, even though I'm sure there were hints all along, it was just too boring for me to notice them. After that the book stopped being boring, but it was still somewhat annoying. I don't know exactly why. Maybe because it was overly dramatic. [168 pp.]
Book link
The story of two sisters whose father is sent to photograph the war in Vietnam, so they live with their mother in Hong Kong, a relatively safe place. But then things get hotter in Hong Kong, and the girls get in trouble until the inevitable tragic end.
I found the book very slow at first. It was difficult for me to get into it. And then, all of a sudden, something really horrible happens. It really seemed like it was very sudden, even though I'm sure there were hints all along, it was just too boring for me to notice them. After that the book stopped being boring, but it was still somewhat annoying. I don't know exactly why. Maybe because it was overly dramatic. [168 pp.]
Book link
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Godless Morality: Keeping Religion Out of Ethics
By Richard Holloway
Actually I finished this book two or three weeks ago, and I forgot most of what I wanted to write about it. All I remember is this: I looked at the back cover after I started reading the book, and was very surprised to learn that the author is a bishop. His views are so similar to mine in almost all aspects discussed in the book, that it gives me hope (although I'm sure he's in the minority). [163 pp.]
Book link
Actually I finished this book two or three weeks ago, and I forgot most of what I wanted to write about it. All I remember is this: I looked at the back cover after I started reading the book, and was very surprised to learn that the author is a bishop. His views are so similar to mine in almost all aspects discussed in the book, that it gives me hope (although I'm sure he's in the minority). [163 pp.]
Book link
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Working in the Shadows
- A year of doing the jobs [most] Americans won't do -
By Gabriel Thompson
The author spent 2008 working 3 different jobs (2 months each): picking lettuce (which actually involves a lot of cutting!) in Yuma, AZ; dumping heavy tubs of chicken parts in Russellvile, AL; and delivering for a restaurant in New York City. All jobs were very hard and not well paid, but to me it seemed the one in the chicken plant was probably the hardest, though the most physically demanding was cutting lettuce. He also spent a couple of days working at a flower shop with crazy owners, who ended up firing him because he smiled too much. Although everybody probably knows that these jobs are hard and not well paid, it's hard to understand how hard they really are without experiencing it yourself. And through Thompson, it's easy to see that what I consider hard work is nothing compared to what people who have to do these jobs all the time have to go through.
The books seems fairly balanced and objective - there's no slamming on the companies or obvious exaggerations of injustices - and does a good job and detailing many aspects of the life of the workers. And even though he starts out intending to focus on illegal immigrants, he concludes that they are by no means the only ones suffering in the system as it is.
There were a couple of inconsistencies that had me go back and look at details in the book (like the time lag between the Yuma and Russellville jobs - it seemed from the narration that he was still recovering physically from picking lettuce when he started the chicken job, but in fact it was about 3 months; and the 3rd day of his work at the restaurant, where he said he was still in training - but according to what the lady told him when he just started, training was supposed to last 2 days).
However, all-in-all the book is well written and very interesting. So if you want to know more about where your food comes from and what involves in getting it to your supermarket (or doorstep), this book may answer more questions than you think you have. [312 pp.]
Book link
By Gabriel Thompson
The author spent 2008 working 3 different jobs (2 months each): picking lettuce (which actually involves a lot of cutting!) in Yuma, AZ; dumping heavy tubs of chicken parts in Russellvile, AL; and delivering for a restaurant in New York City. All jobs were very hard and not well paid, but to me it seemed the one in the chicken plant was probably the hardest, though the most physically demanding was cutting lettuce. He also spent a couple of days working at a flower shop with crazy owners, who ended up firing him because he smiled too much. Although everybody probably knows that these jobs are hard and not well paid, it's hard to understand how hard they really are without experiencing it yourself. And through Thompson, it's easy to see that what I consider hard work is nothing compared to what people who have to do these jobs all the time have to go through.
The books seems fairly balanced and objective - there's no slamming on the companies or obvious exaggerations of injustices - and does a good job and detailing many aspects of the life of the workers. And even though he starts out intending to focus on illegal immigrants, he concludes that they are by no means the only ones suffering in the system as it is.
There were a couple of inconsistencies that had me go back and look at details in the book (like the time lag between the Yuma and Russellville jobs - it seemed from the narration that he was still recovering physically from picking lettuce when he started the chicken job, but in fact it was about 3 months; and the 3rd day of his work at the restaurant, where he said he was still in training - but according to what the lady told him when he just started, training was supposed to last 2 days).
However, all-in-all the book is well written and very interesting. So if you want to know more about where your food comes from and what involves in getting it to your supermarket (or doorstep), this book may answer more questions than you think you have. [312 pp.]
Book link
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Idiot
By Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Finally finished, after many months. I liked the beginning, with some interesting ideas and unusual settings, but then it started to become tedious. Like a 30-page monologue by an insignificant and annoying character. Quite a few of the characters were annoying, actually. That was probably on purpose, but it still made the read less inviting.
All in all, I was quite disappointed. I really liked Crime and Punishment, and expected The Idiot to be as good. [688 pp.]
Book link
Finally finished, after many months. I liked the beginning, with some interesting ideas and unusual settings, but then it started to become tedious. Like a 30-page monologue by an insignificant and annoying character. Quite a few of the characters were annoying, actually. That was probably on purpose, but it still made the read less inviting.
All in all, I was quite disappointed. I really liked Crime and Punishment, and expected The Idiot to be as good. [688 pp.]
Book link
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Noble Brute (Pere Atzil; Hebrew)
By Dudu Bussi*
I decided to take this book with me on my trip to NC and back, because I didn't want to take a delicate library book on the bus (if I lose or damage it, I'll have to pay a $165 fine!). I already read it a while back (sometime in 2003-2004). I didn't realize it was that long ago. Indeed, I was amazed I didn't really remember many of the details, as much as I liked the story. Nothing seemed too familiar when I read it the second time around. I'm especially surprised that I didn't remember how tragic the story is. Anyway, the important thing is that I liked it again, and if you haven't read it yet - go ahead and do so. [
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* He spells it as Busi on Facebook
Book link
I decided to take this book with me on my trip to NC and back, because I didn't want to take a delicate library book on the bus (if I lose or damage it, I'll have to pay a $165 fine!). I already read it a while back (sometime in 2003-2004). I didn't realize it was that long ago. Indeed, I was amazed I didn't really remember many of the details, as much as I liked the story. Nothing seemed too familiar when I read it the second time around. I'm especially surprised that I didn't remember how tragic the story is. Anyway, the important thing is that I liked it again, and if you haven't read it yet - go ahead and do so. [
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* He spells it as Busi on Facebook
Book link
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