36. Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber, M.D.
Not everyone loves the "Ferber Method," but since it's a method of handling childhood sleep issues that I follow naturally anyway, I really liked this book. I read it because we'd been having some problems with Garrett's bedtime routine that we needed to fix in preparation for transitioning Caleb into his bedroom, and Dr. Ferber's outline of the human sleep cycles, as well as his suggestions for solving sleep problems, really helped us to take control of them. I highly, highly recommend this book, whether or not your child currently has difficulty during the night.
37. The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got that Way by Bill Bryson
If the study of linguistics, especially historical linguistics, interests you, you'd probably like this book. First of all, it's Bill Bryson, so it's hilarious. Also, it's incredibly fascinating. I could have done without the chapter on swear words. (In fact, I did. After reading a couple pages, I realized that finishing it would neither add or detract from any other part of the book, so I skipped it altogether.) Definitely an excellent read.
38. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson
I read this one on my mom's recommendation. Again, it's Bill Bryson, so again I was rolling on the floor in laughter. This book is his memoir of growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, in the 1950s. His childhood is about as ordinary as they come, but he aligned it up with major cultural and political events of the decade, and that is what I think made it so interesting. Though I could have done without the profanity he sprinkled throughout, I've learned over the years that I'm the sort of reader who often brushes things like that aside when the rest of the book is worth reading.
39. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
It seems like everyone has been reading -- and recommending -- this book, so as my last book of the year, I finally jumped on the bandwagon. And, oh, I am so glad that I did. For the few of you out there who haven't read this one yet, it's a story set in Nazi Germany, and it's narrated by Death personified, which made for a very interesting twist. Zusak's writing is musical, and his characters (even Death) have this way of touching readers in a profound way (which unfortunately makes the ending all the more tear-jerking). If you haven't read it yet, resolve in 2010 to do so. You won't regret it.
Showing posts with label book reports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book reports. Show all posts
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
the seventh five
I have finished the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
31. In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith
32. Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith
33. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith
34. The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith
35. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
And I'm not sure what else to say about them that I haven't said already. Except to maybe say again that they were more than worth the time it took to work my way through every book. Seriously. Go read them and find out for yourself.
The final book, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, had one passage that I thought was worth sharing. At this particular point in the story, Mma Ramotswe has just been pondering what she hopes Clovis Andersen, author of Principles of Private Detection, would include in an updated edition of his book.
And you wonder why I loved these books. Ha!
31. In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith
32. Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith
33. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith
34. The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith
35. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
And I'm not sure what else to say about them that I haven't said already. Except to maybe say again that they were more than worth the time it took to work my way through every book. Seriously. Go read them and find out for yourself.
The final book, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, had one passage that I thought was worth sharing. At this particular point in the story, Mma Ramotswe has just been pondering what she hopes Clovis Andersen, author of Principles of Private Detection, would include in an updated edition of his book.
"But where was he, this Clovis Andersen, who knew so much about private detection? Somewhere in America, she imagined, because he sometimes mentioned famous cases in American cities that sounded so exotic to her ears that she wondered whether they really could exist. Where was this place called Muncie, Indiana? Or Odgen, Utah? Or, most intriguing of all, this town called Mobile, Alabama? Did that town move from place to place, as the name suggested? What happened there? Would they have heard of red bush tea, she wondered. Would they have heard of Gaborone?"
And you wonder why I loved these books. Ha!
Thursday, October 08, 2009
the sixth five
Just so we're clear, I'm not the rigidly strict killjoy my last post might have made me appear. While I am an organized person who thoroughly enjoys an order to my life, I'm also remarkably flexible. If I wasn't both, I'd go crazy. (And so would my children.)
Now that we're all on the same page, let's get on with the book report, shall we?
26. The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
Ever since I read Winchester's other book, The Professor and the Madman (which was absolutely fascinating), I've been interested the history of the OED. The Meaning of Everything talks about the making of that great dictionary from start to finish, focusing especially on James Murray's time as editor. I thought the book was fascinating, though I could have done without Winchester's long and overly complicated sentences.
27. I Am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson
I've had this one on my shelf for a while, and I packed it in my bag for something to read during my hospital stay after Caleb's birth. Yes, it was a totally appropriate book to read for the circumstances. And yes, I chose that one on purpose. I'd read excerpts of this book shortly after its publication in a couple different magazines and enjoyed Johnson's stance on motherhood enough to be interested in reading the rest of what she had to say. For a quick read of the type that one would feel comfortable quoting in a talk for church, it was good.
28. Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith
29. The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith
30. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
The rest of my five books this round are more installments in the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I tell you, these books just keep getting better and better. All the hype for this series is completely well-deserved. The writing is poetic and the storytelling is uplifting, the characters are believable and the situations they find themselves in are humorous, and his descriptions of and devotion to Botswana are lovely and genuine. Don't be too surprised if my next five books are all from this series. I'm hooked.
Now that we're all on the same page, let's get on with the book report, shall we?
26. The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
Ever since I read Winchester's other book, The Professor and the Madman (which was absolutely fascinating), I've been interested the history of the OED. The Meaning of Everything talks about the making of that great dictionary from start to finish, focusing especially on James Murray's time as editor. I thought the book was fascinating, though I could have done without Winchester's long and overly complicated sentences.
27. I Am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson
I've had this one on my shelf for a while, and I packed it in my bag for something to read during my hospital stay after Caleb's birth. Yes, it was a totally appropriate book to read for the circumstances. And yes, I chose that one on purpose. I'd read excerpts of this book shortly after its publication in a couple different magazines and enjoyed Johnson's stance on motherhood enough to be interested in reading the rest of what she had to say. For a quick read of the type that one would feel comfortable quoting in a talk for church, it was good.
28. Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith
29. The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith
30. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
The rest of my five books this round are more installments in the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I tell you, these books just keep getting better and better. All the hype for this series is completely well-deserved. The writing is poetic and the storytelling is uplifting, the characters are believable and the situations they find themselves in are humorous, and his descriptions of and devotion to Botswana are lovely and genuine. Don't be too surprised if my next five books are all from this series. I'm hooked.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
the fifth five
I wasn't kidding when I mentioned that last week was spent doing a lot of reading lately. It's only been 2 weeks since my last book report, and I'm ready again to report on the next five.
21. Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
For a memoir about childhood years during the Great Depression, this one was surprisingly optimistic. Definitely a breath of fresh air, given the category. What I loved about this book was how straightforward Kalish was on practical issues of frugality and resourcefulness. I don't necessarily have access to the same resources she and her family did on their farm, but the principles she shares can nonetheless be applied to my penny-pinching life in the city. In her chapter on cooking she shares some interesting recipes, among them one for homemade head cheese (which I'm not interested in experimenting with) and one for applesauce cake (which I definitely do want to try). I also loved her descriptions of laundry day. It certainly made my weekly three-block walk to the laundromat seem like a piece of cake. Pick this one up if you want to hear about some happy times during the Great Depression.
22. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
I wanted to read this one after being fascinated by Gladwell's first book, The Tipping Point. In some respects, this one was better. As it deals with individual decision making (Gladwell calls it "a journey into the wonders of our unconscious"), the topic is certainly more applicable to a broader range of people. The book focuses mostly on the problem of being surrounded, and consequently overwhelmed, by too much information. It teaches readers how we unconsciously make snap judgments and decisions, then prompts us to act and change things for the better. It was very interesting and well-written. If you like books on popular psychology, this is a great one to read.
23. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
My mom passed on this book to me quite a while ago and I've just now gotten to it. While it was well-written, and yeah, probably deserving of its classic status (it was originally published in the '50s), I'm not too sad about having waited so long to read it. Why? Well, because it was sad. Downright depressing at times. All I could think of as I read it was how similar a story this was to Pearl Buck's The Good Earth, only this story takes place in poverty-stricken India rather than China. I kept hoping for the character's life situation to get better (they were, after all, hardworking and definitely deserving people), but it didn't. And then it ended. Read it at your own risk.
24. A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
People have been telling me for years -- years -- to read this book. I don't know why it took me so long. While we lived in Indiana I had even made several attempts to get a copy from the library because the story was set in a part of that state not too far from where we lived and I'm such a sucker for reading books that take place where I live. Anyway, I read it, and I liked it. Though, I think I would have liked it better if my first attempt at reading it had happened when I was, oh, 13. Some aspects of the plot were a little too romantically over the top for my now more developed tastes. But it's certainly a classic, and I don't regret reading it.
24.5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
After watching -- and enjoying -- the recent movie adaptation, I found the original in a collection of Fitzgerald's short Jazz Age stories. I'm only counting this as half of a book because it was the only short story in the collection that, quite honestly, I cared to read. It was good (Fitzgerald is always good), but it was, as I'm sure you can imagine, very different from the film version. In some ways I actually liked the movie better; the liberties they took with the story line were for the most part, I thought, improvements.
25. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White
This is a book that everyone -- everyone -- should be required to read. Especially if you're writing things that other people will be reading (um, blogging, anyone?). It concisely outlines things like basic grammar rules, misused words and phrases, and basic style guidelines that, when applied to your writing, are more than helpful. I especially enjoyed the style guidelines (which I believe was, aside from editing, White's contribution to the book) and the idea expressed throughout the book to choose your words wisely. It's definitely a book that should be read in small doses so as to allow the knowledge to sink in some, but either way, it doesn't take long to get through this slim volume (it's only about 85 pages). One thing I loved about it was how humorously it was written, as if both Strunk and White were giving us permission to laugh at ourselves for our silly grammar mistakes. While the book is short, it is full of more information than one person can easily swallow and digest in a short amount of time. I don't feel that amateur writers (um, bloggers, anyone?) should stress about getting all of it right all of the time. At the same time, however, we should all be aware of the technicalities of our language and, for the sake of our audience, make an effort to get it right at least some of the time.
***
And on a totally unrelated note: To all those of you with late August or early September birthdays: be extra kind to your mothers. The ninth month of pregnancy in the sweltering heat of late summer is seriously the pits.
21. Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
For a memoir about childhood years during the Great Depression, this one was surprisingly optimistic. Definitely a breath of fresh air, given the category. What I loved about this book was how straightforward Kalish was on practical issues of frugality and resourcefulness. I don't necessarily have access to the same resources she and her family did on their farm, but the principles she shares can nonetheless be applied to my penny-pinching life in the city. In her chapter on cooking she shares some interesting recipes, among them one for homemade head cheese (which I'm not interested in experimenting with) and one for applesauce cake (which I definitely do want to try). I also loved her descriptions of laundry day. It certainly made my weekly three-block walk to the laundromat seem like a piece of cake. Pick this one up if you want to hear about some happy times during the Great Depression.
22. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
I wanted to read this one after being fascinated by Gladwell's first book, The Tipping Point. In some respects, this one was better. As it deals with individual decision making (Gladwell calls it "a journey into the wonders of our unconscious"), the topic is certainly more applicable to a broader range of people. The book focuses mostly on the problem of being surrounded, and consequently overwhelmed, by too much information. It teaches readers how we unconsciously make snap judgments and decisions, then prompts us to act and change things for the better. It was very interesting and well-written. If you like books on popular psychology, this is a great one to read.
23. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
My mom passed on this book to me quite a while ago and I've just now gotten to it. While it was well-written, and yeah, probably deserving of its classic status (it was originally published in the '50s), I'm not too sad about having waited so long to read it. Why? Well, because it was sad. Downright depressing at times. All I could think of as I read it was how similar a story this was to Pearl Buck's The Good Earth, only this story takes place in poverty-stricken India rather than China. I kept hoping for the character's life situation to get better (they were, after all, hardworking and definitely deserving people), but it didn't. And then it ended. Read it at your own risk.
24. A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
People have been telling me for years -- years -- to read this book. I don't know why it took me so long. While we lived in Indiana I had even made several attempts to get a copy from the library because the story was set in a part of that state not too far from where we lived and I'm such a sucker for reading books that take place where I live. Anyway, I read it, and I liked it. Though, I think I would have liked it better if my first attempt at reading it had happened when I was, oh, 13. Some aspects of the plot were a little too romantically over the top for my now more developed tastes. But it's certainly a classic, and I don't regret reading it.
24.5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
After watching -- and enjoying -- the recent movie adaptation, I found the original in a collection of Fitzgerald's short Jazz Age stories. I'm only counting this as half of a book because it was the only short story in the collection that, quite honestly, I cared to read. It was good (Fitzgerald is always good), but it was, as I'm sure you can imagine, very different from the film version. In some ways I actually liked the movie better; the liberties they took with the story line were for the most part, I thought, improvements.
25. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White
This is a book that everyone -- everyone -- should be required to read. Especially if you're writing things that other people will be reading (um, blogging, anyone?). It concisely outlines things like basic grammar rules, misused words and phrases, and basic style guidelines that, when applied to your writing, are more than helpful. I especially enjoyed the style guidelines (which I believe was, aside from editing, White's contribution to the book) and the idea expressed throughout the book to choose your words wisely. It's definitely a book that should be read in small doses so as to allow the knowledge to sink in some, but either way, it doesn't take long to get through this slim volume (it's only about 85 pages). One thing I loved about it was how humorously it was written, as if both Strunk and White were giving us permission to laugh at ourselves for our silly grammar mistakes. While the book is short, it is full of more information than one person can easily swallow and digest in a short amount of time. I don't feel that amateur writers (um, bloggers, anyone?) should stress about getting all of it right all of the time. At the same time, however, we should all be aware of the technicalities of our language and, for the sake of our audience, make an effort to get it right at least some of the time.
***
And on a totally unrelated note: To all those of you with late August or early September birthdays: be extra kind to your mothers. The ninth month of pregnancy in the sweltering heat of late summer is seriously the pits.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
the fourth five
It's been a challenging week in my world, due mostly to things like trying to keep a toddler and my ever-pregnant self simultaneously as happy and comfortable as possible in thickly oppressive and non-air conditioned heat and humidity. And then there were the contractions I was having a few days ago that were so painful I was scared into getting my hospital bag packed. Consequently, I've been keeping my feet up as much as possible, which has allowed for me to also do a lot of reading. Here, then, is my report to you of my next five books.
16. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
This is the second book in the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and it was just as wonderful as the first. I think my favorite part was when Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's secretary (who scored an impressive 97% on her secretarial college examinations), was promoted to assistant detective. Oh, and also that part where the diamond was actually cubic zirconia. The popularity of this series is making it rather difficult for me to get my hands on the additional books in the series, but I am excited to continue reading them.
17. Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith
18. Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith
19. The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith
These are the additional books in the 44 Scotland Street series, and because the plotlines of them have all run together in my head, I'm clumping them together in my review. I was a little wary of this series when I read the first book, but I have since been completely converted. Seriously, you all need to read these. The characters are delightful and the subtle humor with which their stories are told allows for readers to believe the bizarre events that they encounter as they unfold. My favorite storylines are, hands down, Domenica's anthropological excursion to Malaysia to study pirates, as well as anything involving Bertie and his wacky and overbearing mother, Irene.
20. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
This book has been recommended to me over and over by so many people, and for good reason. It's absolutely fascinating. Throw in the fact that Gladwell just might be one of the best non-fiction writers currently publishing, and you've got a winner. The book focuses on the reasons why some social epidemics "tip," become suddenly trendy or successful, while others don't. I really appreciated Gladwell's patient approach as he taught his readers the psychology behind tipping points; it allowed for me to consider examples beyond what he shared that I have encountered personally. He has two other books out right now, Blink and Outliers, both of which I will be reading soon.
The contractions seem to have subsided and, thank heavens, so has the humidity (at least for the time being). I still, though, have a large pile of books from the library waiting for me to tackle, and while I'm not stupid enough to wish back the contractions or the heat, I am hoping for opportunities to plow through the stack on my nightstand. So, 'til next time, everyone!
16. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
This is the second book in the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and it was just as wonderful as the first. I think my favorite part was when Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's secretary (who scored an impressive 97% on her secretarial college examinations), was promoted to assistant detective. Oh, and also that part where the diamond was actually cubic zirconia. The popularity of this series is making it rather difficult for me to get my hands on the additional books in the series, but I am excited to continue reading them.
17. Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith
18. Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith
19. The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith
These are the additional books in the 44 Scotland Street series, and because the plotlines of them have all run together in my head, I'm clumping them together in my review. I was a little wary of this series when I read the first book, but I have since been completely converted. Seriously, you all need to read these. The characters are delightful and the subtle humor with which their stories are told allows for readers to believe the bizarre events that they encounter as they unfold. My favorite storylines are, hands down, Domenica's anthropological excursion to Malaysia to study pirates, as well as anything involving Bertie and his wacky and overbearing mother, Irene.
20. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
This book has been recommended to me over and over by so many people, and for good reason. It's absolutely fascinating. Throw in the fact that Gladwell just might be one of the best non-fiction writers currently publishing, and you've got a winner. The book focuses on the reasons why some social epidemics "tip," become suddenly trendy or successful, while others don't. I really appreciated Gladwell's patient approach as he taught his readers the psychology behind tipping points; it allowed for me to consider examples beyond what he shared that I have encountered personally. He has two other books out right now, Blink and Outliers, both of which I will be reading soon.
The contractions seem to have subsided and, thank heavens, so has the humidity (at least for the time being). I still, though, have a large pile of books from the library waiting for me to tackle, and while I'm not stupid enough to wish back the contractions or the heat, I am hoping for opportunities to plow through the stack on my nightstand. So, 'til next time, everyone!
Monday, July 06, 2009
the third five
11. The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton
This is a lost classic that is back in print after its original publication in the 1960s. It follows the story of the Soames family of Western Missouri during the first half of the 20th century. It's divided into sections, each one devoted to the point of view of a specific family member, that build on each other as the story's timeline progresses. Though it took me a little while to get into it and used to Carleton's writing style, by the middle I was hooked. The end, with its twist that left a few particularly heated issues up in the air, was fabulous. It is rare, I think, to read about seemingly ordinary people with absolutely fascinating lives, but The Moonflower Vine does just that.
12. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
This book, which delves into the intricacies of a life of transience, was very interesting. It's the story of two girls who, after their mother kills herself, are raised first by their grandmother, and ultimately by their eccentric aunt who makes an attempt to leave behind her hobo ways to take care of her nieces. She's not, however, incredibly successful at settling down, and it was interesting to watch how one of the girls follows her aunt, while the other opts for a more "normal" lifestyle. It's a pretty philosophical read, but so beautifully written.
13. The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
My mom has been telling me for some time now that I really needed to just jump on board with this series, so I was glad when my friend and I decided to read it for our little book club. After reading (and absolutely loving) McCall Smith's Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, I had a feeling I'd enjoy this bestseller, and by only a few pages into it, I realized why everyone who reads this falls in love with Mma Ramotswe and her Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency -- the only one of its kind in all of Botswana. The characters are endearing, the humor is subtle, and the issues it raises are tenderly dealt with. I've already read the second book in the series (which will be discussed in a future book report), and I plan to continue on with the rest.
14. 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
This is another series by McCall Smith that is also full of interesting characters and subtle humor. It was originally written and published as a serial novel in a Scottish newspaper; consequently the chapters are very short and, until you get more into the stories of the different characters (who all live in the same apartment building), it has a rather choppy feel to it. Don't let that deter you, though -- it's definitely worth reading and finishing. The storyline of Bertie, the 5-year-old boy genius and his nutty mother, Irene, is probably the best one, though I also came away a big fan of Domenica. At any rate, I'm currently reading the second in this series and, like with the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, plan to continue on with the rest. Alexander McCall Smith is addicting like that.
15. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
If you pay any attention at all to what's making the book club circuit these days, you've probably heard of this book. The story, about the Nazi occupation of the Channel Island of Guernsey, is told entirely through letters -- an element which had me hooked before I even started. It always amazes me how well you can learn about and grow to love a handful of characters simply by reading their mail. If you have not already joined the "I've Read This Book" club (I myself was late to hop on this bandwagon), then you really need to drop everything and get your hands on a copy. You won't be sorry.
This is a lost classic that is back in print after its original publication in the 1960s. It follows the story of the Soames family of Western Missouri during the first half of the 20th century. It's divided into sections, each one devoted to the point of view of a specific family member, that build on each other as the story's timeline progresses. Though it took me a little while to get into it and used to Carleton's writing style, by the middle I was hooked. The end, with its twist that left a few particularly heated issues up in the air, was fabulous. It is rare, I think, to read about seemingly ordinary people with absolutely fascinating lives, but The Moonflower Vine does just that.
12. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
This book, which delves into the intricacies of a life of transience, was very interesting. It's the story of two girls who, after their mother kills herself, are raised first by their grandmother, and ultimately by their eccentric aunt who makes an attempt to leave behind her hobo ways to take care of her nieces. She's not, however, incredibly successful at settling down, and it was interesting to watch how one of the girls follows her aunt, while the other opts for a more "normal" lifestyle. It's a pretty philosophical read, but so beautifully written.
13. The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
My mom has been telling me for some time now that I really needed to just jump on board with this series, so I was glad when my friend and I decided to read it for our little book club. After reading (and absolutely loving) McCall Smith's Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, I had a feeling I'd enjoy this bestseller, and by only a few pages into it, I realized why everyone who reads this falls in love with Mma Ramotswe and her Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency -- the only one of its kind in all of Botswana. The characters are endearing, the humor is subtle, and the issues it raises are tenderly dealt with. I've already read the second book in the series (which will be discussed in a future book report), and I plan to continue on with the rest.
14. 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
This is another series by McCall Smith that is also full of interesting characters and subtle humor. It was originally written and published as a serial novel in a Scottish newspaper; consequently the chapters are very short and, until you get more into the stories of the different characters (who all live in the same apartment building), it has a rather choppy feel to it. Don't let that deter you, though -- it's definitely worth reading and finishing. The storyline of Bertie, the 5-year-old boy genius and his nutty mother, Irene, is probably the best one, though I also came away a big fan of Domenica. At any rate, I'm currently reading the second in this series and, like with the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, plan to continue on with the rest. Alexander McCall Smith is addicting like that.
15. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
If you pay any attention at all to what's making the book club circuit these days, you've probably heard of this book. The story, about the Nazi occupation of the Channel Island of Guernsey, is told entirely through letters -- an element which had me hooked before I even started. It always amazes me how well you can learn about and grow to love a handful of characters simply by reading their mail. If you have not already joined the "I've Read This Book" club (I myself was late to hop on this bandwagon), then you really need to drop everything and get your hands on a copy. You won't be sorry.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
the second five
These last few months have been busy, leaving me with little time to plow through books. I have, however, finished reading my second five books of 2009. Here is my report:
6. A Childhood in Brittany Eighty Years Ago by Anne Douglas Sedgwick
This is an old book, published in 1919, which I believe is currently out of print. I found my copy at a library book sale in Muncie, Indiana, but if you're interested in reading it, copyright laws have allowed for it to be published in its entirety online. (Click here for one such copy.) The book is written in the first person, leading the reader to believe it is a memoir. However, according to a short paragraph on the flyleaf, it is instead "a little sheaf of childish memories [...] put together from many talks, in her own tongue, with an old French friend." The author goes onto say that the names of relatives have been changed or slightly altered "while preserving the character of the Breton original." The memories themselves, collected in this little book, are absolutely delightful, and the accompanying illustrations are sweet. Those of you who either love France, French history, or childhood memoirs devoid of life-altering trauma would probably enjoy this one.
7. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
I read this one for book club, and really enjoyed it. It's Kingsolver's first novel, a story about a girl from Kentucky who, along with an abandoned child she picks up along the way, makes a new life for herself in Arizona. The characters are believeable, as is the setting she creates, which for me is a sign of a good book. However, if you've never read a Kingsolver novel, and want to be truly drawn into her style, I'd read The Poisonwood Bible first. This one, however, comes in at a close second.
8. The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas
This story, chronicalling the tight-knit friendship of a Depression-era prairie town quilting circle as it relates to some local drama, was wonderful. A good friend of mine recommended it to me long ago, and my aunt recently let me borrow her copy, which I spied sitting on her shelf. Quilters especially would be drawn to this one, but that hobby is far from being a requirement for enjoyment.
9. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Just as the painting, this book has long intrigued me. I read the entire thing but only half-heartedly enjoyed it. The fictional story behind the actual Vermeer painting seemed to me, at times, more than a little far-fetched. I still love the painting, but the book? Not so much.
10. A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel
This was a re-read for me, and those of you who know me well, or who have been reading this blog for a while, know that it's one of my all-time favorites. Seriously, if you have not read this book, drop what you're doing and go pick yourself up a copy. (And then, when you're done, read the sequel.) This memoir is delightfully hilarious and, because of my time spent living in Indiana, it is especially close to my heart. Muncie is only about a half an hour away from tiny Mooreland, and Blake and I visited there several times, including twice during the Mooreland Free Fair where, yes, we cast our penny vote for the Fair Queen. In fact, I knew some people who knew the author's family, and to hear them tell it, it's a wonder that Kimmel was able to be so positive about her childhood. I know that I, for one, am glad for her optimistic, laugh-out-loud spin on her growing up years, which make the hard times, visible between the lines, easier to swallow.
6. A Childhood in Brittany Eighty Years Ago by Anne Douglas Sedgwick
This is an old book, published in 1919, which I believe is currently out of print. I found my copy at a library book sale in Muncie, Indiana, but if you're interested in reading it, copyright laws have allowed for it to be published in its entirety online. (Click here for one such copy.) The book is written in the first person, leading the reader to believe it is a memoir. However, according to a short paragraph on the flyleaf, it is instead "a little sheaf of childish memories [...] put together from many talks, in her own tongue, with an old French friend." The author goes onto say that the names of relatives have been changed or slightly altered "while preserving the character of the Breton original." The memories themselves, collected in this little book, are absolutely delightful, and the accompanying illustrations are sweet. Those of you who either love France, French history, or childhood memoirs devoid of life-altering trauma would probably enjoy this one.
7. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
I read this one for book club, and really enjoyed it. It's Kingsolver's first novel, a story about a girl from Kentucky who, along with an abandoned child she picks up along the way, makes a new life for herself in Arizona. The characters are believeable, as is the setting she creates, which for me is a sign of a good book. However, if you've never read a Kingsolver novel, and want to be truly drawn into her style, I'd read The Poisonwood Bible first. This one, however, comes in at a close second.
8. The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas
This story, chronicalling the tight-knit friendship of a Depression-era prairie town quilting circle as it relates to some local drama, was wonderful. A good friend of mine recommended it to me long ago, and my aunt recently let me borrow her copy, which I spied sitting on her shelf. Quilters especially would be drawn to this one, but that hobby is far from being a requirement for enjoyment.
9. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Just as the painting, this book has long intrigued me. I read the entire thing but only half-heartedly enjoyed it. The fictional story behind the actual Vermeer painting seemed to me, at times, more than a little far-fetched. I still love the painting, but the book? Not so much.
10. A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel
This was a re-read for me, and those of you who know me well, or who have been reading this blog for a while, know that it's one of my all-time favorites. Seriously, if you have not read this book, drop what you're doing and go pick yourself up a copy. (And then, when you're done, read the sequel.) This memoir is delightfully hilarious and, because of my time spent living in Indiana, it is especially close to my heart. Muncie is only about a half an hour away from tiny Mooreland, and Blake and I visited there several times, including twice during the Mooreland Free Fair where, yes, we cast our penny vote for the Fair Queen. In fact, I knew some people who knew the author's family, and to hear them tell it, it's a wonder that Kimmel was able to be so positive about her childhood. I know that I, for one, am glad for her optimistic, laugh-out-loud spin on her growing up years, which make the hard times, visible between the lines, easier to swallow.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
the first five
A lot of my friends in the blogging community give regular books reports on what they've been reading. I like the accountability this requires of a reader, and I like sharing with you the things I've been reading, so I've decided to do the same. For every five books I read, I'll write up a quick report. Other than maybe a sentence or two telling you what the book was about, I won't be writing up summaries; rather, I'll tell you things like why I read the book, what I enjoyed about it, and whether or not I'd recommend it.
Today I finished the fifth of my first five books of 2009, so here is my first report.
1. Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck
I read this on the strong recommendation of my mom, and I'm glad I did. I've long been a fan of Steinbeck, and I wouldn't hesitate to rate this short work of non-fiction among his best. It's the travelogue Steinbeck wrote about his drive across the country with his dog, Charley. He drove east to west, then back again, making sure he stopped to interact with the locals. His thoughts and meditations of his journey are often profound and always beautifully written. I'd recommend this one to anyone who'd like to learn about America from something more than just a history textbook.
2. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
For the last while, I've noticed this one making the local book club circuit, so I thought I'd join the club. It is the straightforwardly-told true story of Greg Mortenson's personal mission to build schools in Pakistan after a failed attempt to summit K2. Aside from the fact that education can change lives, I took away from this book the reminder that you can't judge a country by their handful of terrorist freaks. The people Mortenson meets and befriends during his years working in Pakistan are among the friendliest in the world. It honestly was a privilege to get to know each one of them and to learn more about their culture. If world and culture-based stereotypes -- especially about that war-torn region -- are ever going to change, we ourselves need to become more educated, so I definitely recommend this book.
3. Marley and Me by John Grogan
This book has been sitting on my shelf waiting for me to read ever since my mom passed along her copy, oh, probably going on two years now. The movie version (which, no, I have not seen) didn't make me read it, but it may have pushed it up higher on the priority list. Besides, I got a kick out of Garrett's barks everytime he saw me curled up on the couch with it. It was a lighthearted true story about a man and his horribly behaved Labrador retriever. I've never had a dog, and I don't truly understand dog love, but I did really enjoy this book. There were some especially lovely passages towards the end where Grogan states that perhaps if humans were more like dogs in how they unabashedly show affection without the care of outward appearance, maybe the world would be a better place. Recommend? Yes.
4. The Mother in Me edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper
My mom sent this for my birthday, and it couldn't have been a more well-suited gift. I'd heard about this book, and had wanted to read it, but since it was regional, I wasn't sure how I'd get my hands on a copy (this was before I knew it was available on Amazon). It's a collection of essays on motherhood written by the incredibly talented writers at Segullah. I cried through most of it (the tears were, you should know, sad and happy), and I commiserated through the rest. It was really, really good, and a perfect read for where I'm currently at in my life. My favorite essay was called "Creation out of Chaos" by Heather Herrick, a NYC mother of two young children. Oh how I loved what she had to say about lugging grocery-laden strollers through the streets and up and down subway steps: "When I said I love transportation in New York because I don't have a car to worry about, I wasn't thinking about times like these, when the load of groceries hanging off the back of the stroller adds another twenty pounds of weight. The experts say I should have more energy and a longer life due to these treks, but in the moment I don't exactly feel grateful." I couldn't have said it better. If you are or will be a mother, you should read this book.
5. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
I am related to a good amount of Dave Ramsey followers, but this was my first encounter with him. My cousin sent me this book a couple years ago, but until now, I'd never done more than skimmed through it. I liked what he had to say, but I can't say that I've joined these family members in their undying love for his methods. I am a very frugal person by nature, and so is Blake (though whether he is by nature or by marriage is up for debate). The only debt we have is his graduate school student loan, which we've been steadily working to pay off. I do think, though, that there are certain financial areas where we should be kicking it into a higher gear, and Ramsey offered some good suggestions to do so. The book is full of testimonials and rah-rah, but it certainly wasn't a waste of my time. If you're looking to spruce up your financial life, this is a good method to refer to.
And now I think it's time to go read a piece of fiction. See you after the next five!
Today I finished the fifth of my first five books of 2009, so here is my first report.
1. Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck
I read this on the strong recommendation of my mom, and I'm glad I did. I've long been a fan of Steinbeck, and I wouldn't hesitate to rate this short work of non-fiction among his best. It's the travelogue Steinbeck wrote about his drive across the country with his dog, Charley. He drove east to west, then back again, making sure he stopped to interact with the locals. His thoughts and meditations of his journey are often profound and always beautifully written. I'd recommend this one to anyone who'd like to learn about America from something more than just a history textbook.
2. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
For the last while, I've noticed this one making the local book club circuit, so I thought I'd join the club. It is the straightforwardly-told true story of Greg Mortenson's personal mission to build schools in Pakistan after a failed attempt to summit K2. Aside from the fact that education can change lives, I took away from this book the reminder that you can't judge a country by their handful of terrorist freaks. The people Mortenson meets and befriends during his years working in Pakistan are among the friendliest in the world. It honestly was a privilege to get to know each one of them and to learn more about their culture. If world and culture-based stereotypes -- especially about that war-torn region -- are ever going to change, we ourselves need to become more educated, so I definitely recommend this book.
3. Marley and Me by John Grogan
This book has been sitting on my shelf waiting for me to read ever since my mom passed along her copy, oh, probably going on two years now. The movie version (which, no, I have not seen) didn't make me read it, but it may have pushed it up higher on the priority list. Besides, I got a kick out of Garrett's barks everytime he saw me curled up on the couch with it. It was a lighthearted true story about a man and his horribly behaved Labrador retriever. I've never had a dog, and I don't truly understand dog love, but I did really enjoy this book. There were some especially lovely passages towards the end where Grogan states that perhaps if humans were more like dogs in how they unabashedly show affection without the care of outward appearance, maybe the world would be a better place. Recommend? Yes.
4. The Mother in Me edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper
My mom sent this for my birthday, and it couldn't have been a more well-suited gift. I'd heard about this book, and had wanted to read it, but since it was regional, I wasn't sure how I'd get my hands on a copy (this was before I knew it was available on Amazon). It's a collection of essays on motherhood written by the incredibly talented writers at Segullah. I cried through most of it (the tears were, you should know, sad and happy), and I commiserated through the rest. It was really, really good, and a perfect read for where I'm currently at in my life. My favorite essay was called "Creation out of Chaos" by Heather Herrick, a NYC mother of two young children. Oh how I loved what she had to say about lugging grocery-laden strollers through the streets and up and down subway steps: "When I said I love transportation in New York because I don't have a car to worry about, I wasn't thinking about times like these, when the load of groceries hanging off the back of the stroller adds another twenty pounds of weight. The experts say I should have more energy and a longer life due to these treks, but in the moment I don't exactly feel grateful." I couldn't have said it better. If you are or will be a mother, you should read this book.
5. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
I am related to a good amount of Dave Ramsey followers, but this was my first encounter with him. My cousin sent me this book a couple years ago, but until now, I'd never done more than skimmed through it. I liked what he had to say, but I can't say that I've joined these family members in their undying love for his methods. I am a very frugal person by nature, and so is Blake (though whether he is by nature or by marriage is up for debate). The only debt we have is his graduate school student loan, which we've been steadily working to pay off. I do think, though, that there are certain financial areas where we should be kicking it into a higher gear, and Ramsey offered some good suggestions to do so. The book is full of testimonials and rah-rah, but it certainly wasn't a waste of my time. If you're looking to spruce up your financial life, this is a good method to refer to.
And now I think it's time to go read a piece of fiction. See you after the next five!
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