I rated this book a five, for its ability to keep my interest, and make me want to read it. At the same time, would I recommend it? I'm not sure.
It definitely gave great insight into what the mind of a depressed person looks like, and the prose of her just not wanting to continue living was very well written.
The book has a silver lining ending... but Silvia Plath doesn't, as it is well known that she does eventually end her life, and that makes you leave the book on a down note, because you know that the author eventually stays stuck inside her bell jar, and I pity her.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Me Talk Pretty One Day
I have never actually been on a blind date, but based on what I see on tv, this book was like a bad blind date.
Reviews sounded great, talked up how funny it was, got good reviews... but the book and I just didn't click.
The things he found funny, I didn't, and his personality just rubbed me the wrong way. Like a blind date, others might like the book... it just wasn't the right kind of humor for me.
I laughed a few times, but didn't walk away with any great truths, and just felt "eh" at the end.
Reviews sounded great, talked up how funny it was, got good reviews... but the book and I just didn't click.
The things he found funny, I didn't, and his personality just rubbed me the wrong way. Like a blind date, others might like the book... it just wasn't the right kind of humor for me.
I laughed a few times, but didn't walk away with any great truths, and just felt "eh" at the end.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Deleted
In some ways, deleting any books from "the list" defeats the whole purpose. But the list in my head varies from the official list in one major way. Most official "Gilmore Girls Book Lists" talk about being the books that Rory read, and that was a big part of the reason I decided to do this challenge: to feel a kindred spirit with this fictional character who also loved to read.
A deeper look reveals something about "the list." The books listed are simply all of the books referred to or seen on the show, not necessarily ones that she read. For the sake of time, I am not double checking every book of the list, finding how they occurred in the show and then deciding to read them or not. But if there are books that are less than favorable reading material... yeah, I am going to make sure that it was Rory herself who read or referred to the book (as one she had read).
A big delete made in this way is the series by Kagan on Greek history. It was going to be big, fat, boring history books, quite a challenge. I checked on it. Turns out these books were given to Rory's grandfather as a gift... NOT read by Rory herself. So... delete!
Robert's Rules of Order<-- 800 page book on how to run a meeting. Checked the reference in the show, Paris lectured someone about it, not Rory, and doesn't sound like a reading book as much as a reference book. So, delete.
A deeper look reveals something about "the list." The books listed are simply all of the books referred to or seen on the show, not necessarily ones that she read. For the sake of time, I am not double checking every book of the list, finding how they occurred in the show and then deciding to read them or not. But if there are books that are less than favorable reading material... yeah, I am going to make sure that it was Rory herself who read or referred to the book (as one she had read).
A big delete made in this way is the series by Kagan on Greek history. It was going to be big, fat, boring history books, quite a challenge. I checked on it. Turns out these books were given to Rory's grandfather as a gift... NOT read by Rory herself. So... delete!
Robert's Rules of Order<-- 800 page book on how to run a meeting. Checked the reference in the show, Paris lectured someone about it, not Rory, and doesn't sound like a reading book as much as a reference book. So, delete.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Catch 22 and Ella Minnow Pea
I didn't intend to juxtapose these two books when I chose to read them close together. But I'm glad I did.
On the surface level, both are silly, ridiculous books that are so far from reality they can be reviewed as pointless, dumb books.
But at a deeper level, both are a commentary on government, albeit in different ways.
It took towards the end of Catch 22 for me to enjoy it, the rest was too ludicrous for my taste (think Monty Python silly).
On the other hand, I very much enjoyed the quick read of Ella Minnow Pea and highly recommend it. A brilliant feature is the author's ability to write with increasingly less of the alphabet and still bring across an interesting story.
Both, if looked at from the deeper level, leave you thinking about the problems inherent in government and bureaucracy and while knowing that things aren't quite as bad as these books portray, it makes you wonder if we aren't almost as bad.
Bottom line as a review- read Ella Minnow Pea. If you choose to try to battle through Catch 22, make it to the end to get the book's many ongoing jokes/ story lines.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
The Art of War
This was an interesting one. I had heard of the book many times before, but until this challenge, I didn't have the slightest inclination to read it. As I went through the list, I read other people's reviews of it, and found it intriguing.
I put a hold on it at the local library and was first struck by how small of a book it was!
This is not a huge dense book, but very concise.
The majority of it was, in my mind, strictly military, but there were gems that were applicable to anyone that I liked.
The best actually corresponds with a piece of advice that I got from my sister in law, who in turn, got it from a book (which I don't remember what book she got it from). The basic idea is to stay quiet in confrontation. Our tendency is to lash out, fight back, defend ourselves, but there are times that this defense actually hurts us, and it is better to just take the other person's anger (especially when it is unjustified) and allow them to calm down and come around to your side.
The quote from Art of War that gives similar advice is this:
This is not to say that others should be allowed to walk all over you, but simply pick your battles wisely. In relationships, it isn't death, but it could hurt the relationship, and many times it is simply better to walk away from a fight as "anger may in time change to gladness."
I put a hold on it at the local library and was first struck by how small of a book it was!
This is not a huge dense book, but very concise.
The majority of it was, in my mind, strictly military, but there were gems that were applicable to anyone that I liked.
The best actually corresponds with a piece of advice that I got from my sister in law, who in turn, got it from a book (which I don't remember what book she got it from). The basic idea is to stay quiet in confrontation. Our tendency is to lash out, fight back, defend ourselves, but there are times that this defense actually hurts us, and it is better to just take the other person's anger (especially when it is unjustified) and allow them to calm down and come around to your side.
The quote from Art of War that gives similar advice is this:
Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. No ruler should put troops in the field just to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.
This is not to say that others should be allowed to walk all over you, but simply pick your battles wisely. In relationships, it isn't death, but it could hurt the relationship, and many times it is simply better to walk away from a fight as "anger may in time change to gladness."
The Joy Luck Club
My short goodreads review: "Sad at times, but felt very real and helped me understand two different cultures more. Kept my interest throughout."
This book is many things, and that is probably why it was/is so popular.
It has an element of historical fiction as you hear the stories of the mothers, but it also has somewhat historical fiction even with the daughters at this point.
It it about the complex relationships between parents and their children, which hits close to home for me as I can sympathize with both the daughters and the mothers as I am now a mother myself. You, as a mom, want so much for your kids, but you know that ultimately they have to make their own choices in life. At the same time, I have felt as a daughter the friction caused by a difference of opinion between my mom and myself.
It was mostly eye opening in the knowledge of what it feels like to grow up so mixed between the culture of your parent's country compared to the country that is your own county. I have no personal knowledge on that front, having never experienced that kind of a culture clash within the home, but I found it very interesting.
This book is many things, and that is probably why it was/is so popular.
It has an element of historical fiction as you hear the stories of the mothers, but it also has somewhat historical fiction even with the daughters at this point.
It it about the complex relationships between parents and their children, which hits close to home for me as I can sympathize with both the daughters and the mothers as I am now a mother myself. You, as a mom, want so much for your kids, but you know that ultimately they have to make their own choices in life. At the same time, I have felt as a daughter the friction caused by a difference of opinion between my mom and myself.
It was mostly eye opening in the knowledge of what it feels like to grow up so mixed between the culture of your parent's country compared to the country that is your own county. I have no personal knowledge on that front, having never experienced that kind of a culture clash within the home, but I found it very interesting.
Brick Lane
The biggest themes from this book are about fate and having the power to choose your own path.
It made me think a lot about marriages and relationships. The main character is forced into an arranged marriage, that like any marriage, has its ups and downs.
I wonder who my parents would pick for me, and if I would approve of their choice. On the other hand, another character in the story chose her own husband, against the wishes of her parents, and her story doesn't go as she intended either.
I think the author is trying to make a point of the contrast that neither is absolutely true. We don't have to surrender our lives to the will of fate or God and sit back passive and let life pass us by, but we also can't believe that we control everything. Whatever name you give to it, there are always going to be circumstances beyond your control that you then can make choices based on those uncontrollable actions.
It made me think a lot about marriages and relationships. The main character is forced into an arranged marriage, that like any marriage, has its ups and downs.
I wonder who my parents would pick for me, and if I would approve of their choice. On the other hand, another character in the story chose her own husband, against the wishes of her parents, and her story doesn't go as she intended either.
I think the author is trying to make a point of the contrast that neither is absolutely true. We don't have to surrender our lives to the will of fate or God and sit back passive and let life pass us by, but we also can't believe that we control everything. Whatever name you give to it, there are always going to be circumstances beyond your control that you then can make choices based on those uncontrollable actions.
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