Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

This lovely book is a quiet and understated look at the immigrant experience. The author uses wonderfully minimal language and a humble tone to tell the engrossing story of Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who is sent to live in Brooklyn in the 1950s. There are no job opportunities for Eilis in her small Irish town, so her older sister Rose, who wants a better life for Eilis, works with a visiting priest from America, Father Fludd, to find Eilis a job and a place to lodge in Brooklyn.

When Eilis arrives in America she finds herself living in a boarding house run by Mrs. Kehoe, another Irish immigrant. Suffering terrible bouts of homesickness, she dutifully goes to her job at Bartocci’s department store and attends classes in bookkeeping at Brooklyn College. The routine of her life stems the sadness that overtakes her, but the routine is broken when she meets Tony, an Italian plumber, at a dance. Experiencing her first relationship, Eilis finds happiness, but events in Ireland soon draw her back to her homeland. Will she stay with her family in Ireland or return to the land that has molded her into a confident, capable woman?

Toibin is a master of drawing the reader into Eilis’ world, whether it’s the slow pace of her life in Ireland or the heat, bustle and noise of Brooklyn.

His writing style is straightforward and pristine, uncluttered of useless description or unnecessary commentary. For instance, the departure scenes (when Eilis leaves Ireland) are unusual for the way they’re written. Toibin doesn’t write about the good-byes between Eilis and her family members – they are skipped over. I found it disconcerting at first, as I’m not used to this type of sparseness, but I can see that this strategy was more effective that gushing accounts of crying and sadness. Over the course of the novel I came to love Toibin’s style.

As for characterization – it is fabulously nuanced and layered. No character is all good or all bad and their actions can’t be predicted. Eilis is a well-rounded and fascinating character and Toibin does a marvelous job of depicting her shifting and fluctuating thoughts and opinions. Tony, Eilis’ boyfriend, is one of my favorite characters in the novel and I loved discovering his character as it is slowly unfolded for Eilis as well as for the reader.

I could go on for quite a while about this amazing book. It would be the perfect novel to discuss with someone (hint, hint). I absolutely loved everything about it and will definitely read more of Colm Toibin.

The Big Read Audio CDs

The Big Read is a countrywide program funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. It is similar to the One Book, One Community event where a community reads the same book and comes together to discuss it. Each Big Read book has an accompanying radio program and I recently discovered that my library has these programs on CD. At only around 30 minutes each, the programs contain excerpts from the book (read by a celebrity), comments from scholars and authors, a brief bio of the author and appropriate musical selections. This week I listened to the programs on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and My Antonia and today I started A Farewell to Arms. I love listening to these! It is fascinating to hear about the backgrounds of these famous novels and to hear about the lives of their authors and what events influenced them and in turn influenced their work. It feels like I am back in college in my literature classes. I feel energized and excited by literature after listening. So far, I’ve really enjoyed the program on My Antonia the best – it was very moving. I did cry. And now I must read My Antonia all over again! If you get a chance to hear any of these programs, do. They’re really quite wonderful. You can listen to all of them on the NEA website.

The White Garden by Stephanie Barron

Think of a lazy Saturday afternoon when you don’t have much going on. You start flipping through the tv channels and come across that hit movie from a couple of years ago that you never saw in the theater, but now, as you have nothing else to do, you lie down on the couch to watch, for what you know will be two hours of mediocrity, filled with stereotypical characters, impossible situations, yet which will provide you with a few genuine laughs and semi-suspenseful moments. The White Garden by Stephanie Barron is the literary equivalent of that movie.

Jo Bellamy is a 30-something gardener who’s been commissioned to recreate the famous white garden originally cultivated by Vita Sackville-West. A few months before she leaves for England to study the garden her beloved grandfather Jock commits suicide. In a crazy twist of fate, her grandfather’s death is connected to Sissinghurst, the home of V S-W and to the supposed suicide of Virginia Woolf, V S-W’s one-time lover. While in England, Jo unenthusiastically researches the garden. She also starts digging around to find out information about Jock’s time at Sissinghurst and happens upon a forgotten fragment of a diary written by Virginia Woolf. Enter Jo’s employer who is scheming to bed her, a sexy Sotheby’s employee, a beautiful, yet cruel English professor, and a madcap race ensues to discover the truth about Virginia Woolf and her death.

Like that afternoon film, this is extremely enjoyable in the moment, yet it is ultimately unsatisfying. I did truly enjoy the characterization, but the plot is so unbelievable that it had me gnashing my teeth. And as always when portraying real people in a fictional setting the author gambles on the result being believable, which in this case was only slightly successful. Read this if you are looking for an interesting take on Virginia Woolf, her husband Leonard, and the rest of the Bloomsbury set, or if you want a fast and amusing way to spend an afternoon.

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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

When You Reach Me won the Newbery award on Monday. On Wednesday evening I was fortunate enough to read this lovely and engrossing novel.

It's the 1970's and Miranda Sinclair is twelve, a single child of a single mother, living in NYC. When the book opens she is perplexed by her best friend Sal's abandonment of their friendship. However, it doesn't get her down for long and she quickly becomes friends with two classmates, Annemarie and Colin. Miranda's contentment is suddenly disrupted when she begins receiving mysterious notes from someone in the future, someone who predicts events in Miranda's life before they happen. While the reader tries to puzzle out who these notes are from, the plot moves along with Miranda's adventures. Throughout, she keeps her fears about the notes hidden, until an unexpected ending reveals all.

Miranda is a wonderful character; fearless yet cautious, respectful, but a tad rebellious, a normal girl who experiences an extraordinary event. The other characters in the novel are also wonderfully real and believable. There are many themes introduced in the book and there are lots of issues to discuss with any child who reads this. The chapters are short and it's written in a straightforward style, perfect for reluctant readers. The time travel aspect should interest readers who might not otherwise be enticed by this story. A true gem, this is fully deserving of the Newbery award.

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

Many book bloggers have mentioned this novel as being brilliant, so I decided to read this Pulitzer winner over the weekend. My feelings were mixed. I can't say that this was an enjoyable read because the suffering of the various characters is rendered so realistically that it was painful to read, but the writing is very luminous and wonderful to read.

The book contains the stories of 3 different characters; Virginia Woolf in 1923, Mrs. Dalloway in the '90s, and Laura Brown in 1949. Each narrative details a day in the life of each woman much as the novel Mrs. Dalloway, written by Virginia Woolf, does. Though I have yet to read Mrs. Dalloway, I gather that the writing style is also quite similar - a stream of consciousness style that slips over and around the thoughts of the characters as they go about their day. Each character faces death in this novel and there doesn't seem to be any joy at all to look forward to or past happiness to dwell on. I found the whole thing horribly depressing! The best part, in more ways than one, was the ending. The author allows a small glimmer of hopefulness to scuttle through the cracks. Why do people love this novel so much? It must be the writing. I thought it was unbearably ambiguous and too full of despair for my liking and, aside from the Virginia Woolf character, I really had no sympathy for anyone else in the novel. Reading this wasn't a complete waste of time, but it wasn't an experience that I would want to repeat.

Teaser Tuesdays

"Oryx had been a younger child, often pushed to the side, but suddenly she was made much of and given better food than usual, and a special blue jacket, because the other village women were helping out and they wanted her to look pretty and healthy. Children who were ugly or deformed, or who were not bright or couldn't talk very well - such children went for less, or might not be sold at all."

- from Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

When I Was 19 - January

A few weeks ago, my dad reminded me that I had some boxes in my parents' storage closet that had been left there when I moved to Austin - almost 10 years ago! I brought two of the boxes home with me and, while rummaging through, found a reading log I kept from the age of 19 through 22. Some of the books I remember quite well and some I have absolutely no recollection of ever reading. I thought it might be amusing to list those books here on our blog. So, here is what I read in the month of January from 1993-1996.

January 4, 1993 - Italian Days by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

January 12, 1993 The Radiant Way by Margaret Drabble

January 3, 1994 - In the Shadow of the Crown by Jean Plaidy

January 5, 1994 - Coming Home Crazy: An Alphabet of China by Bill Holm

January 19, 1994 - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World ed. by Peter Clayton

January 6, 1995 - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ( my only reading of this novel - maybe it's time to read it again?)

January 20, 1995 - The Firm by John Grisham

January 21, 1995 - The Pelican Brief by John Grisham (I remember having absolutely nothing to read at this time and so I turned in desperation to these books owned by my dad)

January 19, 1996 - Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman (no recollection - who is Alicia?)

Remarkable Creatues by Tracy Chevalier

As soon as I read the premise of Remarkable Creatures a few months ago, I knew it was a book for me. Set in the early 19th century, this novel revolves around the lives of two very different women who are brought together through their love of hunting fossils. I've always had an interest in and fascination for fossils and love reading about geology. 

Mary Anning is a young girl who's family makes the majority of their living by finding and selling fossils in the seaside town of Lyme Regis. Elizabeth Philpot is one of three spinster sisters who are sent to live in Lyme Regis when their brother marries. Elizabeth, looking for something to occupy her time, takes to the beach to look for fossils and there befriends Mary. As the years progress and Mary discovers more and more important fossils, including ichthyosaurus and plesiosaurus, her world opens up to embrace scholars from around the country who come to meet and learn from her. Elizabeth lingers on the fringes of Mary's ambitions, protecting her and rescuing her family from various disasters. Soon, however, one of Mary's scholars comes between them and their friendship is torn, perhaps never to be repaired. Told in first-person by Mary and Elizabeth in alternating chapters, we get a sense of each character's thoughts and experiences apart from each other. Elizabeth's voice is much stronger than Mary's and, I felt, more authentic. I found myself enjoying the chapters told in Elizabeth's voice and being jarred when Mary's chapters arrived. I did find Mary to be a fascinating character, however, and was intrigued to discover that both she and Elizabeth really existed. This novel is based on true facts and people, which I should have known as I think Chevalier often uses history as the basis for her novels. Anyhow, I wasn't blown away by this book - it was merely pleasant. I wasn't convinced that their friendship was as important to either of them as the author makes it out to be and I really think Mary's voice was off.

Teaser Tuesdays

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

"Upstairs in my room I sat for a few minutes, allowing my head to catch up with what my heart had already decided. Then I drew the curtains to dim the room, and arranged cushions under my bedclothes so that anyone peeking in would think they were seeing my sleeping form." 

From Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Another paranormal teen romance, Beautiful Creatures, is a cut above the rest. With a Southern Gothic flavor and a male narrator, this novel had more to interest me than the average supernatural thriller.

Ethan Wate, our narrator, is sixteen and has lived in Gatlin, South Carolina his whole life. Gatlin is everyone's stereotype of the small Southern town; Civil War obsessed, sports obsessed, conservative, with a hint of voodoo underlying it all. It's the first day of school and Ethan wakes from a strange dream about a gorgeous, green-eyed girl who is in some kind of trouble. Later that day he meets the new girl in town, Lena Duchannes, and recognizes her from his dream. The plot then follows the budding relationship between Lena and Ethan and his discovery of the sinister dark side of his hometown. Lena is not accepted by the majority of townspeople and Ethan chooses to turn his back on them and bond with Lena, who he learns has a secret. On her sixteenth birthday she'll participate in an incredible ceremony that will determine the path the rest of her life will take. I won't say more, but it involves a choice between light and dark. The chapters count down the days until her birthday and follow Ethan's and Lena's efforts to extrapolate her from this ritual. Essentially a classic tale of the struggle between good and evil, with a sweet romance thrown in, Beautiful Creatures is chock full of side-plots that enliven the novel and engaging characters that enhance its Southern flavor (including a character called Marian who is a librarian). My only irritation with the novel was that the authors tried to cram almost too much into this book and it therefore was much too long. I think it could have been chopped by about 100 pages and been just as effective. Also, the ending bordered on the ridiculous and nearly ruined the entire book for me. The writing was not as well-constructed as in the bulk of the book and it was almost  laughable at times. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I found it to be extremely readable. I'm not surprised that it ended up on several "Best Books of 2009" lists.

Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D. James

I used to be a mad inhaler of all British mystery novels. I loved Ruth Rendell, Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin, and P.D. James especially. For a couple of years now, though, I've really cut down on the amount of mysteries I read, but I will always read the latest P.D. James. The woman is a master of the genre and a wonderful writer. This latest non-fiction book by Baroness James is a short history and discussion of the detective novel that she wrote to raise funds for the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The first half of the book summarizes the history of detective writing (the first true detective novel: The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins), and details the importance of the Golden Age of mysteries to the development of the genre. Her discussion of the four big female names of the Golden Age - Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayres, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh - is very enlightening and spurs me to want to read more about these ladies. The second half of the book discusses the elements of the detective novel including setting and viewpoint and the future of detective fiction. This half is not as strong as the first and it seems that James really enjoyed writing about the historical aspect of mysteries and didn't really care much for writing about the current state of the genre. However, she does provide some tidbits about her own writing and style that are interesting. For instance, she doesn't know how to use a computer and still writes all of her novels by hand. Despite the letdown of the second half of this book, I found it an engaging way to spend my time at the car dealership waiting for my oil to be changed. I don't think it will rekindle my love of reading mysteries, but it did provide some nostalgic reflection, 

My Only Reading Challenge This Year

Reading challenges really don't work for me. I NEVER manage to stick to them. I am a spastic reader and must go where my whims take me. That is why I am so happy that I've found a reading challenge to join that is not too rigid and that I am sure I can complete. I've joined the 2010 Pub Challenge. All that's required is to read 10 adult fiction or non-fiction books throughout the year that are published in 2010. Last year I had a goal of reading more new books and started out strong. I think I did pretty well. I believe that it is important for librarians to read new books to be able to discuss with patrons the hot books of the moment and to suggest titles when asked for recommendations. So, this challenge is a good one all around! Read more about the challenge here.

Reading Resolutions for 2009

I do have some reading resolutions for 2009. I'll list them according to priority.

1. Read my scriptures every day and STUDY them at least 2 days a week.
2. Re-read Love and Logic Magic for ages 2 through 6. Sarah is running me ragged these days and I'm just tired of yelling and being a grouch.
3. I also would like to read more of the books I already own before I buy anymore!

I think 3 is plenty considering I've made so many other resolutions this year! The overall purpose of my goals is to waste less time reading empty calorie books. This does not include such masterpieces as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but you know the kind of books I'm talking about.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! Do you have any reading resolutions for 2010?

I have a few:

1. I want to start the year by reading the latest biography of Louisa May Alcott.
2. I want to buy fewer books and read the ones I already own.
3. I'd like to read more!
4. Finish Middlemarch sometime in the first half of the year.
5. Read more young adult fiction.
6. Continue reading Victorian fiction.
7. Read a few more non-fiction books than I did last year.

To start 2010 I went on a book buying spree. This is what I came home with:

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
The Warden by Anthony Trollope
The Duke's Children by Anthony Trollope
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Adam Bede by George Eliot
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Let the reading commence! I hope everyone has a wonderful reading year!

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte is a remarkable novel told from the viewpoint of the author of Jane Eyre, Villette and other tomes. I was wary of reading this as I was afraid that it would be cheesy or poorly written or just plain ridiculous. However, I was treated to a fantastically written and fascinating story. The novel is narrated by Charlotte and details not only her life at Haworth with her parson father, sisters Emily and Anne and brother Branwell, but her two years in Belgium. I had known a bit about the Brontes before I read this, but I discovered through this novel just how hard their lives were yet also how resilient the family was and what literary genius they possessed. Charlotte's story is not a truly happy one, though she did have moments of pleasure in her life. I found myself really admiring this amazingly talented woman and author and sobbing over her terrible losses. Jane Eyre is one of the best novels ever written, in my opinion, and Charlotte deserves accolades for this feat alone. If you are a Bronte fan or want to learn more about this extraordinary family, I highly recommend this brilliant novel . Syrie James has done a wonderful job of portraying life from Charlotte's viewpoint and I am looking forward to reading her first novel, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver was one of the most talked about teen books this year. An intriguing story about a girl who is in love with a werewolf, this novel was a challenging read for me.
At 7, Grace was dragged into the woods by wolves and nearly killed. She's only alive because one of the wolves saved her. Since that day, she's watched the wolf every winter and he's watched her. She's always felt a connection with him. When circumstances in her town become perilous for the wolves she, in turn, saves her special wolf, but he's not a wolf anymore; he's a human. Sam has been shot and has changed into a man. Now a teen, Grace takes him in and they begin an intense and dangerous romance.
I liked nearly everything about this book except for the romance aspect! The author created an action-filled plot that takes some surprising twists and turns. Her explanation of werewolves and how they change and live is captivating and her character development is admirable. However, I sometimes felt that this was just another unrealistic and annoying teen romance a la Twilight. I fear for the teen girls who read these novels and hope that they realize that relationships are not really this intense or drama-filled. I know that real relationships do not make for good literature, but I really cringe reading about these obsessive connections. I almost gave up on this book about 2/3 of the way in, but I feel the author did a good job of pulling back from the "staring into each other's eyes" moments and amped up the action. The ending was good and I would like to see where the sequel takes us.

My Favorite Books of 2009

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrow and Mary Ann Shaffer

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt

Coventry by Helen Humphreys

Delicate, Edible Birds by Lauren Groff

Columbine by Dave Cullen

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James (Post coming soon)

This Week's Purchases

These are all Christmas gifts to myself!

Persuasion by Jane Austen
The Sister by Poppy Adams
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym
The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Armin
March by Geraldine Brooks.

Merry Christmas to me!

“Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching towards infinity… we cherish books even if unread, their mere presence exudes comfort, their ready access, reassurance.”
- A.E. Newton

Yes, My Darling Daughter by Margaret Leroy

While perusing the new books shelf at work the other day I came across this interesting title and remembered that it had been on Oprah's summer book list. After rereading the synopsis I decided this would be the perfect book to wedge in between my current Bronte binge. A very suspenseful tale of reincarnation and murder, I devoured it in 2 days.
Grace is a single parent to Sylvie, a daughter she conceived with a much older, married man who is no longer around. Sylvie is 4 and is causing Grace no end of embarrassment and trouble. She screams without stop whenever she is near water, even if it is just splashed on her, she is strangely mean to her best playmate. and often throws fits at her nursery school. Her behavior alienates Grace's friends and dates and gets her expelled from school. More disturbing, she longs for her "real family", only draws pictures of a lonely looking cottage, and when she encounters a picture of a town in Ireland she sleeps with it under her pillow and begs Grace to take her there. At wit's end, Grace reads an article in the local paper about a professor who researches reincarnation,especially in children. Adam Winters is an attractive man who agrees to study Sylvie. He urges Grace to take Sylvie to Coldharbour, the town she loves in Ireland, in order to free Sylvie from her nightmares and memories. They end up going together, with Sylvie, to Ireland and step into a murder mystery.
I really enjoyed the first half of the novel when the author details Sylvie's problems and Grace's frustration with her. The author does a nice job of developing Grace's anger, sadness and bewilderment. When they get to Ireland, however, the plot focuses more on the murder mystery and the character development gets lost. Adam is a very two-dimensional character and I think the author even loses sight of him at times. The mystery is neatly solved and there are great moments of suspense, but in the end I thought this book was just okay.

I Bought More Books

I went shopping with Niesa today and picked up four new books:

Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
Emma by Jane Austen

These were all bought at Half Price Books so I feel that it was okay because I spent less than $20 whereas at Barnes & Noble I would have shelled out closer to $50 for all four.
You can see that 3 of my four selections have Bronte associated with them - I will write about my current Bronte obsession in a future post.
The Emma I bought is a nice, clean copy with largish print. I already own a version of Emma, but the print is so tiny that it makes reading it a chore (I think it may be time to get my eyes checked) and I want to read this novel before it is shown on Masterpiece Classic in January.

Book Buying Binge

You would think that because I work in a library that I would never need to purchase books, right? WRONG. I have a serious problem at the moment. I have been going to Barnes & Noble every other day and just in the past week I have bought:

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

and a book each for Olivia and Bella.

There are also a few others that I've contemplated purchasing, but they either weren't available or didn't speak to me when I actually held them in my hands.
I never used to buy books, but in the past year I've bought quite a few. I have a huge stack (ask Niesa) of unread books that won't fit in my book case.
I have also begun an expensive MAC makeup habit, but that's a whole different story...

2010 Masterpiece Classic

I'm very excited about the new year's Masterpiece Classic series. The schedule was recently posted online. It is starting in December this year with a repeat of Cranford and goes directly into Return to Cranford. There are also repeats of Northanger Abbey (quite good) and Persuasion (hideous). There are some interesting selections this year, including The Diary of Anne Frank. I'm most looking forward to Return to Cranford and the new version of Emma (to the left), which will start at the end of January.

Sacred Scars

I read the second installment in the Resurrection of Magic series while I was in Pueblo (thanks to their lovely library inventory). When I read reviews people complained about it being slow, and it's often the complaint with a middle book in a series, but I thought it was an excellent book. It left me even more anxious for the third book in the series. After trying to escape with the kidnapped street boys, Sadima wakes up in the slums of a city with hair that will only grown the length of eyelashes, an inability to cross the boundaries of the slums, and no memory of who she is or how she got there. And one other thing: she never gets any older. After many years of cycling between hiding and running a cheese shop, she becomes part of an anti-magic movement known as the Errideans (sp?). Hahp and Gerrard are still surviving the rigors of the wizard school with their tentative pact, but things are getting harder. Hahp soon realizes he will have to involve all the students if they are to succeed in destroying Somas and his wizard school. A dangerous thought because one of the students can't be trusted. As it was only the 2nd book, it left a lot of questions unanswered, but I found it enjoyable and can't wait for the 3rd book.

The Face on Your Plate by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

This book is a battle cry for veganism. A fast, easy read it is packed with a very persuasive argument against eating any animal based products. There are chapters discussing the gruesome and inhumane way animals are slaughtered for our eating pleasure, how factory farming is helping to destroy the environment and how eating a plant-based diet is healthier for us. The last chapter of the book describes the author's own personal diet and eating habits. I liked this personalization of the book. Statistics and examples of horrible animal deaths are spurring, but I want to know how someone really lives with the choice to become a vegan. I can't say I enjoyed this book because it is very disturbing and horrific, but I appreciate the author's efforts to persuade us to stop eating animals.

War at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks

This is another graphic novel I picked up recently at the library. It is set at a private girls' boarding school and centers on Juniper, called Jun, a scholarship student who stirs up trouble when she dares to challenge the queen bee of Ellsmere, Emily. Who doesn't enjoy a classic tale of dork triumphing over the popular set? I know I do and I did enjoy this GN. I really liked the subtle, yet grin-inducing jokes and the antics of Jun and her roommate Cassie. The black and white drawings are extremely expressive and detailed. Fabulous.

New Moon

I saw New Moon down in Yuma last night with Kyla and Niesa. Sybil, we wish you could have been there, though the movie was less than stellar. True to form, most of the characters were whiny, the dialogue was simplistic, Edward was ridiculous and there was no chemistry between the two main stars of the film. The only bright spot was Jacob and the other La Push werewolves. That storyline is ten times more intriguing than that of the Cullens. The filmmakers have inadvertently made Edward look like a weak, hideous freak by glorifying the beauty and charisma of the Jacob character. I think there are many more girls willing to play for Team Jacob these days than for Team Edward.

The Good Neighbors V.1 by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh

This graphic novel was recommended to me by a friend at work. This is the first book in a series of GNs by the author of the Spiderwick Chronicles. Rue is a teen who's mom has disappeared and who's dad has lost all will to live. When the GN opens she is pretty carefree, despite her family problems. When she starts seeing things, like fairies, and her dad is arrested for the murder of one of his students, she discovers that she has ties to the fairy world and her entire life is changed - but is it in a good way? This was a great, quick read with very expressive black and white drawings. I enjoyed the storyline and its novelistic feel.

Reading Roundup

I've lost momentum with my reading lately. I'm still plodding away at Middlemarch, but I gave up on Her Fearful Symmetry. I should have known better - I hated The Time Traveler's Wife. I have also checked out a few YA books and should get to them soon. Honestly, I don't know what I've been doing with my spare time lately.

Victorian Painter Alfred Stevens

I recently discovered the paintings of Alfred Stevens, a Belgian artist who painted during the Victorian era. I really love his work; it is beautiful and detailed and I like how he brought Victorian women to life. His depiction of their clothing is amazing. Every little ruffle, fold, drape and pleat is highlighted. His paintings have helped me imagine what the characters in Middlemarch would have looked like.You can view many of his paintings here.

The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote

Another great holiday-themed story from Capote. This tale was more humorous than his Christmas story, but just as bittersweet. Featuring the same characters from A Christmas Memory, Buddy and Miss Sook, this story depicts the Thanksgiving preparations in their unique household and the arrival of an unexpected guest. I truly enjoyed reading both the holiday stories by Capote and they have spurred me to seek out other Christmas tales.

In Honor of Veterans' Day

Anthem for a Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

--Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

 Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons. 

No mockeries for them from prayers or bells,

 Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

 And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?

 Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

 The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of silent minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

This short, charming story is an autobiographical tale of a Christmas in Alabama in the 30's. The narrator, Buddy, and his distant, elderly cousin are best friends who plan and save every year in order to purchase and make fruit cakes for various friends, including Mrs. Roosevelt. They also spend lots of time on finding the right Christmas tree and in decorating it like "a Baptist window". I was struck by the thriftiness of the characters: almost everything they created was from scratch, they scrimped all year to even come up with $12 to buy their ingredients with, their gifts were homemade. How different life is now! I loved this story and its warmth and humor. I have a soft spot for Truman Capote and have enjoyed almost everything I've read by him. Next, I'm going to read his The Thanksgiving Visitor.

Goal Post

I am posting today to fufill my goal of posting at least every other day in November, but I don't have much to say. I'm still reading Middlemarch - that might be a long-term project. I really admire it, but after reading about 4 or 5 pages I have to turn to something else. I am also reading Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger and a couple of books about brain development. I still want to read the list of Victorian classics suggested by Sarah Waters so after Middlemarch I'll start Great Expectations.

Disappointed

I've loved Andre Agassi since I was 14 and became a tennis fan. I always rooted for him to beat Pete Sampras in their legendary matches. I loved his flair, his passion, his showmanship and, most of all, his heart. When he retired a few years ago and played his last match at the U.S. Open I bawled. So I was excited when I discovered that he was writing an autobiography - I was really looking forward to reading it. I'm not now, however, after the revelation was leaked last week that he was a meth user for a year DURING his tennis career, lied to tennis officials about it and has also stated that he hates tennis. Hmmm... I try not to be judgemental and I still think he is an amazing person, but the fog has lifted. I don't have any interest in reading about him now. Is there no one left in the world who deserves the praise of humanity???

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett

Published in 2004 this memoir has smacked against my windshield a few times, but it seemed that in every instance I felt an urgency to read it, it was checked out. It splattered once again this past week while I was on my quest for something special to read and this time, it was on the shelf.

Truth and Beauty entranced me from the first paragraph. Ann Patchett has a very clear, honest, shining voice and the story of her intense friendship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy is a fierce beacon to the reader's soul. Lucy Grealy was a poet who suffered from cancer as a child and lost the lower half of her jaw. She and Patchett meet in college and become roommates when they both attend grad school in Iowa. Lucy is an extraordinary person, larger than life and spontaneously vibrant. Her severe anxiety about her facial abnormality does not stop her from pursuing her goal of becoming a writer, yet she suffers from unbearable depression and loneliness throughout her life that debilitates her progress. I think anyone who has ever felt unattractive, lonely, and unloveable will understand Lucy's intense feelings of inadequacy, but most of us will also identify with Patchett, the long-suffering, loyal stalwart who can do nothing to heal her friend's ruptured self-worth. At the start of the book, I felt more in tune with Lucy but as it neared its end and Lucy tumbled into mental illness and drug abuse, I felt myself align with Ann. Patchett neatly times the reader's response to Lucy; I started to become exasperated with Lucy at exactly the point in the book when Ann nearly ends their friendship. I admired Ann's faithfulness throughout. I've never been called upon to serve a friend the way she served Lucy. She is an amazing example of true friendship. I enjoyed this beautifully tragic true tale.

November Goal

I have a goal this month to post on our blog at least every other day. I find writing down my thoughts about reading and books helps me sharpen my insights and refine my scattered musings. I am reading a lot right now since I have chosen lately to be homebound and haven't felt particulary sociable. I'm sure this is due to the weather changing and it getting dark so soon. It is dark now when I get off of work and it makes me want to flee to the coziness and comfort of home. This time of the year also makes me reflective and more willing to ponder the "big questions" about life. So, I will be thinking and reading and will share my thoughts here throughout the month. Happy November!

World War Z

Anbo, I read this book a long time ago, but it was featured in one of your shared items. I REALLY liked this book. It was written as reports to the government from different people all over the world after the zombie outbreak has been, for the most part, contained. One thing I thought was really interesting: it told of the rebuilding of civilization and people like construction workers, electricians and plumbers were directing workers that might have included CEOs of major companies. Their skill sets were more valuable than corporate know-how when it came to starting over. I remember there was lots of swearing, but overall, my all time favorite zombie book. I'm looking forward to the movie they're making of it. Kind of. They always ruin books when they make a movie.

Quite Beautiful

These Penguin Classics designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith are so lovely. Ten of them recently became available in the U.S. and yesterday I acquired my first one. I now own the gorgeous looking  The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. As funds permit, I intend to buy all of them. I think books that are works of art on the outside, as well as the inside, are hard to resist.

The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt

I loved this book with all of my heart. And I love A.S. Byatt for creating such a fantastic, marvelous, riveting journey for her readers. I really have no words to describe the amazing experience I consider this book to be, but I will try to impart some of my thoughts on it.
The book opens in the 1890's and centers around a middle class family called the Wellwoods. Humphry is a banker and Olive is a famous writer of children's books. As the book begins, Olive is visiting Major Cain, an employee of the Victoria & Albert Museum and has brought her son Tom along. Tom and Cain's son Julian discover a boy, Philip, who has been living in the basement of the museum, drawing its contents and dreaming of becoming a potter. The Wellwoods take Philip home and set him up with a famous potter of their acquaintance and we are now introduced to all of the families who inhabit this novel. 
The subsequent plot is a luscious exploration of the myriad characters, how they develop over the years and how the changes in society affect them and how they live. It doesn't sound very engaging, and there are many readers who hated this novel for its meandering storyline, but I loved the minutiae and the discussion of societal and cultural influences in England at this time in history. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was its focus on fairy tales and German puppetry, but there were so many other things that stirred my senses, piqued my curiosity, and delighted my soul. 
Byatt's writing is not for everyone. You have to have patience and a love of detail to really enjoy her novels. As much as I loved this book, there were times when I was exhaused reading about the history of various socialist organizations operating in England and Germany at the time. However, the payoff is worth the effort it takes to read her. The Children's Book is one of the best books I've read this year and I am so glad I took the time to do it.

Still Victorianing

I'm still on my Victorian kick, reading Middlemarch and The Children's Book. I am currently stuck in the section of Middlemarch that describes Dr. Lydgate and his character and views on medicine. It is slow going. I'm finding The Children's Book to be fascinating and lovely, though it is definitely not a novel to be read haphazardly - it must be savored. So, I'm not sure when I will have a book to post about, but be assured that I AM reading. No reading funk is happening here!

New List

While surfing the Internet today, I discovered this list of "Sarah Waters's Top 10 Victorian Novels", published in the Guardian back in 2002. Since you all know that Sarah Waters is one of my favorite authors does it surprise you that I feel I must read all of the novels she has suggested here? Of course, I've already read Jane Eyre,The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula, and The Woman in White, but it never hurts to read them again. The others will be new to me. I am currently reading Middlemarch, a Victorian novel not on her list, so once I finish that I will start with Jane Eyre, which I just happen to have sitting on my couch as we speak. I got a hankering for Jane the other evening and read the first chapter, which then led me to decide to finally read Middlemarch. I am definitely a Victorifan!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Dad got me this for my birthday and gave it to me early so they wouldn't have to wait for Thanksgiving before they could give it to me. It was very silly. A lot of the book is straight Pride and Prejudice, but some parts were altered to make it more zombie friendly. Charlotte Lucas was bitten by a zombie and slowly turned and had to have her head chopped off by Mr. Collins, who then hanged himself. Lady Catherine was foremost in the country for zombie slaying and when she comes to deny her consent to the marriage, she and Elizabeth have a duel. Mr. Darcy cripples Mr. Wickham and Lydia has to spend the rest of her life changing his soiled pants, etc. Overall, an interesting read. If you love Pride and Prejudice and have no care for zombies, don't read this. You will be very sad to see Jane's book mangled so. But if you can handle a little poking fun, even at Jane Austen, and the frequent mention of vomit, you might enjoy this book.

She Didn't Win

The amazing Sarah Waters did not win the Man Booker Prize for The Little Stranger. The prize went to Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I have the winning book on hold and am eager to read it, but how can it be better than The Little Stranger? I am also reading The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, which was also nominated for the prize. Set during  the Victorian and Edwardian eras, my favorite periods to read about, it is dense and full of details that bring these eras vividly to life. I will write more about it when I finish.

I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan

From the Ultimate Teen Bookshelf list

It seems everyone is familiar with this story, either from reading the book or seeing the movie. Up to this point in my life I had done neither, though I knew the basic premise - four teens after a night partying in the mountains, strike and kill a young boy riding his bicycle on a dark country road. They make a pact with each other that night to never tell anyone what happened. A year later they all begin receiving notes and cards that leads them to believe that someone knows their secret. After one of the group is shot they realize that this person is serious about punishing them for what happened and the violence escalates until he is caught.

I thought this novel was okay. It was published in the early '70s and was definitely dated in its language usage, concepts of relationships and treatment of women. I don't think teens today would enjoy it fully since it is almost a historical novel. Knowing a movie was made from the book might draw some teens to it, but I can't see it being a huge hit, although the reviews on Barnes & Noble are pretty good. So, perhaps teens would still like it? Well, they can, but I didn't.

Losing It

Today, I had to pay for a book I lost. I know, embarrassing! But, contrary to what you might think, librarians do not have to sign a contract stating that we will never lose or damage items. We are human! This is the third item that I've lost in 5 years and I think that is a pretty good record considering that I usually have about 30 items checked out at a time. The sad thing this time is that I never even read the book. Oh, well. Have any of you ever had to pay for a lost or damaged library item?

It's Happening Again

I'm in another mini reading funk this week. I just haven't been able to read. I haven't really been interested in TV either so that leaves... daydreaming? I don't know what I've been doing with myself. I need to find something good to read for this weekend or I'll be sad.

All the Colors of Darkness by Peter Robinson

Mr. Robinson's latest Inspector Alan Banks detective novel illustrates how wonderful a writer he has become. His first book was published in 1987 and I've tried to read his early Banks novels with little success. I find them lacking imagination and extremely routine. Yet his novels that have been published in the past 10 years or so are outstanding. He just keeps capitalizing on his experience and knowledge to create intricate, well-plotted, intriguing novels.

The lastest Alan Banks mystery finds Alan and DS Annie Cabot investigating the murder of a wealthy, ex-civil servant in Eastvale. The same day he is found murdered his boyfriend, a set designer for the local theater, is found in the woods hanging from a tree. They quickly deduce that it was a case of murder-suicide, but something doesn't sit right with Banks and, though he is forbidden to investigate further, he goes to London to track down several clues that could break the case open and send it in an entirely different direction. This novel was unique in that the mystery was solved within the first 50 pages, but the loose ends were the main focus of the book. I enjoyed Banks' investigations, but there were several sideplots that were distracting and unnecessary, including a terrosist attack on London that was kind of weirdly wedged in. There also wasn't enough of Annie, whose character I like and want to read more about. I also had issues with the ending, which seemed melodramatic and just didn't work. Overall, though, another excellent novel from Peter Robinson, who I will continue to read.

If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson

Another Ultimate Teen Bookshelf entry.

Do NOT read this, I repeat, DO NOT read this if you are PMSing! This is one of the saddest YA books I've ever read. Basic story: Ellie and Jeremiah are both new at their posh Manhattan school. When they meet in the hall one day it is love at first sight, but will their racial differences derail their relationship before it begins? A tragic, yet beautifully written love story from a very insightful writer. Teens who like the intensity of a Twilight-like love affair will devour If You Come Softly, however it doesn't end well and there are no vampires. Nevertheless, it is a gut-wrenching tale that many teen girls will identify with and take to heart.

Awards News

One of my favorite books so far this year, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, has been nominated for the Man Booker literature prize. If you haven't read it yet, save it for a time when you can stay up late reading because you won't want to put it down! A fantastic book!

The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin

This is another selection from the Ultimate Teen Bookshelf.

David Yaffe is eighteen and heading to Boston to live with his aunt and uncle and attend a private school for his senior year. Given snippets of information about his former life in Baltimore, the reader surmises that David was acquitted of murdering his girlfriend, Emily, and has come to Boston to escape attention and publicity. He moves in with his Uncle Vic, Aunt Julia and 11-year-old cousin Lily. They have a 3 story house and have remodeled the attic floor into an apartment where David will live while he attends school. His mother and Aunt Julia have never liked each other and when David arrives, Aunt Julia won't speak to him. He quickly finds out that Aunt Julia is also not speaking to Uncle Vic and that Lily is the go-between for her parents. He also discovers that Lily is a very strange and scary child. When David tries to discuss her behavior with his aunt and uncle, their relationship goes downhill and we learn how dysfunctional this family really is. I liked The Killer's Cousin. It was suspenseful and creepy and despite us knowing that David has killed someone, I liked his character. I would suggest this to a teen who wants to read a thriller and who wouldn't get too freaked out by murder and all-around evil. There were parts of the book that could have been better developed - some plotlines and characters are definitely left hanging. All in all, though,this was enjoyable.

Internet Down

Just a quick message to let you know my Internet is down at home so I haven't been able to post about any books this week. It should be back up either tomorrow or Friday. I've read a few books in the past week and I can't wait to tell you all about them!

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff

This YA novel is on the Ultimate Teen Bookshelf list that I am trying to read through. When I read the synopsis it sounded okay, but it is better than okay - it is fabulous!

LaVaughn is fourteen and lives with her single mom in a disadvantaged neighborhood. In order to earn money for college LaVaughn takes a job babysitting for Jolly, a seventeen-year-old mother, who has two kids, Jeremy and Jilly. Jolly's apartment is filth-encrusted and cockroach infested, but LaVaughn loves the kids and becomes Jolly's friend. When Jolly gets fired LaVaughn continues to babysit for free while Jolly tries to find a job, much to LaVaughn's mother's disapproval. After months of unemployment, Jolly is finally convinced by LaVaughn to return to school and earn her GED. LaVaughn witnesses the desperation and mistrust that fill Jolly, yet also the accountability and capability Jolly accepts when she "takes hold" (as LaVaughn's mother says) and becomes responsible for her life and her childrens' lives. After a dramatic event that nearly takes Jilly's life, Jolly and LaVaughn go their separate ways and LaVaughn is left to ponder the nature of their relationship and why it had to end, as is the reader.

Written in a free-verse style and told in first person by LaVaughn, this short novel powerfully tells the story of two teens who are from the same neighborhood, but who take dramatically different paths in life. The evolution of Jolly's character is extremely well-done and so is the rendering of a poor neighborhood and school. I was very happy to find out that there is a sequel that focuses on LaVaughn - I can't wait to read it.

Color Your Future

This was a surprisingly awesome book. I thought it was going to be a lot like The Color Code, separating out the colors and building from there but it was a book to all the colors on strengthening character. Very inspiring. My favorite quote from the book: "The less time and energy you spend on those you love, the less capable you are of loving them." This quote has haunted me since I read it. Hope it does the same for you :)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I may be the last librarian in America to have read this book. Since being published last year, this YA novel has taken everyone by storm and the last time I checked there was still a waiting list for it at my library. I know that Kyla and Megan read it and both recommended it so I hope I can discuss it with one of them soon.

Katniss Everdeen lives in a fractured, post-apocalytic North America called Panem that is now divided into districts. Most of the districts are poor and people die of starvation, including in Katniss' District 12. This district is known for its coal mining and Katniss' father was killed in a mining accident when she was young. Katniss had to become the provider for her mother and little sister Prim and has therefore learned how to hunt, fish, trap and forage for food. Little does she know that these skills will be paramount to her survival in a brutish, bloody, fight to the death spectacle called the hunger games. The hunger games occur once a year and each district must send 2 teen participants to compete, one boy and one girl. This year, Katniss is chosen to compete along with Peeta Mellark, a boy who once saved her life. The suspense then begins as we follow Katniss into the arena as she tries to become the winner of the hunger games and return to her mother and Prim. 
This description doesn't do the book justice at all as there are so many undercurrents running through the novel and I can't describe them without giving the novel away. I can only say that you should read it to discover one of the most suspenseful, thrilling, touching YA books I've read in a while. It definitely lived up to the hype and I have a hold on the next book in the series, Catching Fire, which will be released on Tuesday.

Pet Peeve

A pet peeve I've had for a while now which doesn't make sense to me, but bugs me nonetheless is inappropriate names for female characters. What I mean specifically is generationally incorrect names. I find it so annoying when characters who are from my generation are named Edith, Joan, Carol, etc. I don't know anyone born in the 70's who has a name like this! Jennifer, Michelle, Stacy, yes. Linda, Susan, Cindy, NO! The same goes for characters who are born in the 80's. Jessica, Amanda, Ashley, yes! Judy, Shirley, Betty, NO! If I ever write a book, you can bet that my names will fit the generation the character was born in.

Watchers by Dean Koontz

I have read this book at least 10 times, and I still love it! I read it again because I was procrastinating finishing The Mill on the Floss and wanted a quick read. This is a great story about two escaped lab projects. One, a golden retriever with the intelligence of a human and one a hideous, intelligent monstrosity, called The Outsider, designed to be a killer. The dog ends up with Travis, a disillusioned and depressed veteran and brings him together with Nora, a beautiful, albeit timid, woman who was raised to be a spinster. The dog changes their lives and becomes part of their family, but The Outsider has a compulsive need to track and kill the dog who was the "favored son" of the Francis Project that produced them both. Then there's always the looney out of left field that seems a recurring element in Koontz's novels. A man named Vince who is a contract killer believes he absorbs the lives of those he kills. He also believes he will someday achieve immortality and that owning the dog is part of his destiny. So we have the NSA, The Outsider, and Crazy Vince after the dog, Einstein, and Travis and Nora trying to keep the dog safe and free. Exciting read, and only a little funny for having been written in the late '80s.

My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr

This short, but powerful novel is listed on the Ultimate Teen Bookshelf list that was recently put out by the American Library Association. Since I've switched over to youth services I thought I'd try to read as many of these as I can in order to have a better background in YA literature.
My Heartbeat describes the plight of Ellen, a freshman in high school, and her brother Link and his best friend James. Link and James are older and wiser and allow Ellen to hang out with them on occasion. Ellen has had a crush on James for a while (which he knows about) and admires her brother. When a fellow student asks if Link and James are "a couple" Ellen reevaluates her view of their relationship and decides to ask them. Her probing changes the dynamics of all of their relationships and Ellen and James eventually start dating, while Link has to deal with his confused sexual identity. The writing in My Heartbeat is beautiful and the material is thought provoking. Freymann-Weyr examines the issues of love and who you love in a, mostly, open-minded way. I definitely wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is offended by frank discussion of sexual identity or the opinion that it doesn't matter who you love, as long as you love.

Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes

In the spirit of Under the Tuscan Sun, Bella Tuscany continues the story of Frances Mayes' restoration of her house in Cortona. Since the house is mostly complete in this book, we journey with Frances and her husband Ed as they explore other parts of Italy including Naples and Sicily. I very much enjoy Mayes's writing style and love her lush descriptions of everything she comes into contact with. This is a beautifully written as well as informative book.

Reading Makes Me Sick

Not really! I've just had a continuous massive, migraine-like headache this entire week and when I get home I can barely watch TV, let alone read. Pain-killers don't seem to help, so I haven't done much reading, except for a few picture books, lately. I've never gone this long without reading much and I hope it goes away soon. I think I've been too stressed out over switching jobs that I've lost all interest in everything that normally makes me happy. Maybe when I settle in to the new job I will be able to focus more.