About Books

A Learning Experience

2012-02-05T07:34:00.000-08:00

A new friend sent a book which was a quick, easy, enjoyable read. Indian Creek Chronicles by Peter Fromm (1993) is well worth your time. As a young college student, the author became enchanted with the "romance" of the mountain men of the past century.. Circumstances led him to accept a Fish and Game job living in a remote canyon in Idaho where his job was to keep watch over the two and a half million salmon eggs which had been planted in one of the streams that eventually connected to the Pacific ocean. The strong appeal was because he'd be living by himself for seven months during the winter season, He envisioned himself as a modern-day mountain man, until he was faced with the reality of complete isolation. Then it was an "Oh my God" situation. He made a lot of dumb mistakes and endured some less-than-wonderful experiences. But he learned -- and that's the beauty of the story.

A Disappointing Bestseller

2012-01-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

There is nothing wrong with this book.It won the National Book Award,and had many enthusiastic reviews.It was only disappointing to me, and that's because of my own circumstances. The book is The Year of Magical Thinkingby Joan Didion (2006). In it, she tells the story of the death of her husband and her gradual recovery from the shock of it. She went on "automatic pilot" and she coped well, but internally, she was anticipating his return. That's the extent of the "Magical Thinking". My circumstances are that my own husband died less than two years ago and because of that, my thinking has changed a great deal. I bought the book hoping to read that someone else had experiences similar to mine. I'm in the process of writing my own book which will have a lot more of what some would call "magic", but I don't. I call it "contacts". Ms Didion is an excellent writer and award winner. I'm not.

You need to know about this one

2011-12-27T07:29:00.000-08:00

My poor blog! This past year, I've been so caught up in my own life that I've only written about a couple of the excellent books that I've read. Time passes and you forget even the name of a good one because you're involved in something new. That is not the case with YOU'RE NOT YOU. Written in 2006 by Michelle Wildgen, the book tells the story of two women, one of whom has Lou Gehrig's disease, and the other, who is hired to take care of her during the husband's working hours. The caretaker has a lot to learn beginning with understanding the unclear speech of the afflicted lady. Does it sound a bit grim? It isn't. It's a story of growth and change and trust. Personally. I loved it.

A writer redeemed

2011-10-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

A lot of years ago, I read Scott Turow's PRESUMED INNOCENT and loved it.The scene near the end of the book when we find out what really happened completely surprised me. I was so impressed with Mr. Turow's talent, and was delighted to find his next one, THE BURDEN OF PROOF -- which I hated. I decided that the author had one good book in him and I had already read it. I didn't even glance at the books that bore his name until this past week when book titled INNOCENT caught my eye in our public library. I saw Turow's name, but decided I could at least read the inside front of the cover to see what the book is about. It's about the same people that were in the book that I loved, and this one is every bit as good as the original. So much so, that I hated to see it end. Go find INNOCENT by Scott Turow (2010). If you haven't read the original, read it first and that way you'll have double the pleasure.

I hated for it to end...

2011-08-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so impressed with the writers of the world, and am lucky in getting to read their wonderful stories. The latest super fantastic fabulous book that has come my way is LITTLE BEE by Chris Cleave (2008). The story has two locations -- London and Nigeria -- and two voices -- the recently widowed British mother who is also a career-woman, with the other voice that of an African girl who has escaped the horrors of her own country. The interactions of the main characters will keep you riveted, but the tender and funny part is between the mother and child.There are unforgettable events in this book. Do look for it.

They were right

2011-07-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

Two different people told me that they had just finished reading a great book and that I needed to read it too -- I'd love it! Aside from proving that my friends have great taste in books, I'm so glad that they told me about it; I would have hated to miss it. I've joined the ranks of all the people who have read this book -- We ALL love it. The object of all this praise is THE HELP a novel by Kathryn Stockett (2009).
The book is telling stories of the American South in the sixties and shares the experiences of black women working as housekeepers, cooks and nursemaids for white women. Much of the book is told in modified dialect as the women tell their stories to each other and to the unlikely young woman who is cautiously trying to collect the stories into book form.
Now I've told you. Go find it and enjoy -- You're gonna love it too!

How about weather?

2011-03-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

This is being written in very early spring, so right now we're all very conscious of weather, both good and bad. I just finished a book that was mostly about weather, and it was all good. The book is ISAAC'S STORMby Erik Lar (1999).It tells the story of the hurricane that almost destroyed Galveston, Texas in 1900, and left 8,000 or more people dead. At the same time, it's telling the personal story of the principal weather forecaster for that area, and the mistakes made by the newly-formed U.S. Weather Bureau.It's a good look at how things were more than 100 years ago, and is interesting from an historical point of view, but it is also a well-told tale.

Another Winner

2011-03-05T16:43:00.000-08:00

The book I just finished (and truly enjoyed) is entitled " THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, but it isn't about the circus. Written by Richard Dawkins, published in 2009, it can keep you entranced. While I said that it isn't about the circus, maybe it is --- and that circus is evolution and how we all came to be what we are. I'll admit that the book gets a bit heavy in a few places to those of us who are non-scientists, but overall, it is so very readable. I always like Mr. Dawkins works. Yes, he's a non-Christian, but then, so am I.

An Old Favorite

2010-11-30T06:33:00.000-08:00

The book I just finished, COME AGAIN NO MORE by Jack Todd (2010) was so enjoyable. One of his previous books, Sun Going Down, was critiqued on the back cover and compared quite favorably to Lonesome Dove, which is an all-time favorite of mine. That, in itself, is a funny thing as I don't like any of the other McMurtry books. I started reading Mr. Todd's book with no expectation of it being anything like Lonesome Dove. But it is! Hooray, Hooray! Now I've got to find Sun Going Down. If you like Lonesome Dove, or if you like McMurtry's books, you'll like this one.

Yeah for you, ladies

2010-11-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

What a tremendous task our next writer set out for herself! She wrote a book about a female writer and the characters who line up outside her door every night, waiting for their turn to be written about. One man is so eager to have his story told that he jumps the line and gets into her house to plead with her about telling his story now. That's all fine, except that there is no story to be told until she writes it. The chapters go back and forth between him coming to her house and discussing upcoming possibilities, and the other chapters where he lives out what she has written. All this is told so smoothly that it's almost believable. The name of the book is BROKEN, written in Norwegian by Karin Fossum, translated by Charlotte Barslund (2006, 2008).
This is a very impressive piece of story-telling. We should all do so well.

Biochemist and Doctor???

2010-11-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here's another one that is somewhat unusual, and also well- written. This one is HEALER by Carol Cassela (2010). It's the story of a small family with problems. The father is a biochemist who developed a new blood test for ovarian cancer, and its wide acceptance made the family rich. The mother is an almost-medical-doctor, who suspended the last tiny bit of her residency to take care of her premature baby, and never went back. The baby is now a healthy fourteen-year-old with more the the usual amount of disdain for her mom. In his enthusiasm for a new drug he has developed, the dad has mortgaged most of the family's possessions to get the money necessary for start-up expenses. Oh, oh.
They've lost their home and have had to move into a run-down house in the country that they had bought as a vacation home and intended to fix up. That's enough to tell you. It's a good book, and if you try it, you'll probably like it.

An Opportunity to Learn

2010-10-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

Way back in the Dark Ages when I first wrote on this blog, the first one I tried to bring to your attention was Barbara Kingsolver's Animal.Vegetable,Miracle. In it, she told a fascinating story, but the book was essentially about food.
The one I just finished was about food also, but told in a completely different way. This was The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan (2006). What a writer this guy is! This book tells you about growing corn, feed-lots and cattle, growing grasses, and hunting wild pigs and mushrooms, but it does it in such a way that you're glued to every word. Even if the idea doesn't interest you, if you'll take a look at the book, it will probably captivate you -- just as it did me.

A Cut Above

2010-10-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Once in a while, you read a book that even though it's set in the past, is perfectly in tune with present-day happenings. That was the case with one I just finished. The title of this down-to-earth, no-nonsense bit of realism is The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss (2007). I had the opportunity to read this while I was spending two weeks at my daughter's home in Northern New Mexico. My daughter has a contract with the Forest Service to gentle the mustangs that they capture on public lands. Her entire approach to these wild beauties is with positive reinforcement, and sometimes in as little as two or three weeks, the horses she works with are ready to be adopted into a new home and receive further training. This gentle and loving attitude is almost the same as the attitude displayed by the main character in Ms. Gloss's book. The period of time was in the early 1800's, and horse training at that time was more "breaking" than "gentling". The book is very well-written, and is not one of those that romanticize the animals or the people. Give it a try -- It's excellent!

Change of Pace

2010-10-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

I've just finished a good book that was full of fun. It is THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS by Sophie Kinsella (2005). In this book, an overworked, stressed young woman who is an attorney working for a top-notch firm, makes an error which costs someone a great deal of money and costs the young woman her job. When she realizes what has happened, she runs from the office building, hops on a train, and rides until she arrives at a small town, but along the way has several alcoholic beverages to try and calm herself. Aside from being slightly inebriated, she has developed a headache, so she knocks at the door of a lovely home to see if they would give her an aspirin and some water. The lady of the house thinks her caller has been sent by an agency to apply for a job as a domestic housekeeper and cook. Through a series of circumstances our girl gets the job. Egad! This kid can't even boil water! The book is loads of fun and I recommend it to anyone who would enjoy a good laugh.

Another Winner

2010-10-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

At last, one that inspires me to sing its praises. The book is THE NOTEBOOK OF LOST THINGS by Megan Staffel (1999). The title got my attention, but I had no idea what the book might be about. It is about the memories of a brave woman who lost everything except her child in the bombing of Dresden during World War II. She found that in writing short descriptions of the way things used to be, she could release those memories and no longer have to hold them inside herself. Her story is told in flashbacks and by being remembered by persons who loved her, as she is no longer alive when the story takes place. She raised a magnificent daughter and loved a man who felt unworthy of being loved by anyone. It's a beautifully written book, with the story told in a simple and direct manner. It's well worth looking for.

Did you miss me?

2010-06-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

Since my last posting I've read a lot of good books, but only today am I impressed enough to write about not just one, but two books that I'd like to recommend. Oddly enough, they're both about boys.
The first one is classified as for "young adults" which I'm decidedly not, but it doesn't say that older persons can't read and enjoy it too. The name of the book is Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Saenz (2009). The story is about a high school student who is really messed up emotionally, and because of his heavy drinking is sent to a rehab place to dry out and hopefully gain some insight into his own actions. The "monster" referred to in the title is the fear that lives within this young man and serves to isolate him from those who would care about him. I want you to find out about this story on your own, so I'm telling you very little, except that there are many characters that you come to care about, and though there are tears awaiting you at the end of the book, they're tears of joy. And the author's picture at the back of the book shows him with a smile so captivating that you simply have to smile back.
The other book is What I Was by Meg Rosoff (2007). When I finished it, I said aloud to myself "What a magnificent book!". This, too, is about a fairly young boy, but it's set in England. There's not much "English" about it other than boarding school. This boy is a bit of a misfit and is happier alone than with his peers. He comes across another boy away from the school and this boy seems to represent all that our main character wants to be. The book is so well written and enjoyable throughout. You'll never suspect what's awaiting you near the end, so read it and find out.

It's Simply Beautiful

2009-11-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

I just finished Paula, written by Isabel Allende, and translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden (1995). This book has just about everything. The main story is about not the death of, but the dying of Ms Allende's adult daughter. During the daughter's hospitalization, the mother (who was already a successful and famous writer) began writing her family history for the daughter to read when she awakens from her coma. Much of the story takes place in Chile, Venezuela or other South American countries. There's quite a bit of well-told history, as well as romance, betrayal, superstition, spirituality, hope and despair. It's a beautifully written book. If you haven't read it, you're missing a wonderful story of the love between a mother and daughter.

A Relationship

2009-08-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

But not, as you might guess, between a man and a woman. This relationship is between a woman and a coyote. It's a true story, and it's wonderful! The book is The Daily Coyote by Shreve Stockton (2008). In it, she tells the story of moving to a small town in Wyoming, and being given a tiny coyote pup. Not only is Ms Stockton an excellent writer, she's also a photographer, and the book is filled with pictures of the animal and of the Wyoming countryside. I enjoyed every image and every word of it.

Ah yes, it's Barbara again....

2009-07-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that I have undying admiration for Barbara Kingsolver. Well, I just re-read The Poisonwood Bible (1998), and am absolutely awed by this woman's talent. I strongly urge you to read it if you haven't, or to re-read it for pure pleasure. As a slight refresher, here's just a hint of it. The story is that of a family who is moved to a tiny village in Africa as the choice of the father who is a preacher turned missionary. There are five voices in the book: the mother, the eldest daughter, the tomboy twin, the handicapped twin (another girl), and the youngest girl, who is about five.
Each time any one of the characters tell a segment of the story, it is told perfectly in that person's voice. The females get older, but the essence of each remains the same.
There's a lot of heartbreak in the story, but only because this magnificent writer makes us care so much.

A Favorite Author

2009-05-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Anna Quindlen is such a good writer. I always enjoy her books, and this last one borrowed from Marilyn, is no exception. The book is Rise and Shine (2006). In it, she tells a story of two sisters, orphaned at an early age, who each went on to be successful in her chosen field, but always remained fiercely loyal to each other. The eldest is a celebrity TV personality and lives that horrible life of always being in the spotlight. The younger woman runs a center for helping women and children escape from poverty and abuse. They are modern women, funny, and frank, and outspoken --- sometimes to their detriment. It's a good story and well-told, with some truely loveable characters.

About as good as it gets

2009-05-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed reading every word in the third one of the books loaned by Marilyn.
The book is Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan, self-published in 1991, then picked up by HarperCollins. In it, she, an American woman, tells the true story of visiting Australia and being invited to go on a walkabout with the Aborigines. She had been working with half-caste, suicidal adults in a major city on one side of Australia when she was invited to come to the coast on the other side of the continent to meet with a group of true Aborigines. She was expecting to simply address them; instead, she was invited to shed her clothing, put on a robe, and go walkabout with them. Wearing high heels, yet! The shoes quickly fell apart, and her bare feet finally toughened up. They walked across Australia in approximately three months, with no water and no food. She learned to eat unusual things, and that water can be found if you know where to look. The most treasured part of the experience was the spiritual growth and understanding of these persons who call themselves "The real people"
How much did I like this book? Enough that I instantly went to Amazon.com and bought my own copy.

And the next...

2009-05-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

What a change from the previous book! This one was Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (2002). The book is a memoir, but it's hard for me to believe that people could actually behave as they are said to have done. Everyone in the book is nuts! The least nuts is the kid who is telling the story, but some of his screws could probably use a little tightening as well. He has horrible parents (one is certifiable, the other an icicle), and as if they're not bad enough, he is placed in the custody of a psychiatrist who should have been locked in a padded cell.
I was uncomfortable in reading details of the first homosexual encounter, and didn't enjoy reading about the psychiatrist's delight in displaying his bowel movements. Nonetheless, It's a good book, and well written. We just don't have to believe it.

The first of Marilyn's books

2009-05-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

My friend, Marilyn, is an avid reader, as I am. We pass books and recommendations back and forth frequently. Since I haven't posted anything on this blog for a while, I thought I'd report on each of the four books I chose from her library the last time I visited her home. These were not recommendations from her, just what I chose on my own.
The first one I tried was The Shack by Wm. Paul Young (2007). I had read some of the promotional blurbs about the book, and knew it was about a man whom God had invited to meet Him in a shack. I also knew the book had been #1 on the NYT Bestseller list, so I expected a good read. Boy, was I disappointed! I couldn't even read it.
I read maybe 50 pages carefully, then knew I couldn't stand much more. It was poorly written, and really what my generation calls "corny". I skimmed far enough ahead to arrive at the meeting of the man and the author's depiction of God. Suffice it to say I was not impressed.
Don't waste your money, and don't even borrow it. It stinks.

Even Better Than the Others

2009-02-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

I belong to a book club which has several intelligent women who are avid readers. Ours is a little different from the usual book club. Each of us reads whatever, and then reports on a chosen book or two at the monthly meeting. While the books cover a wide range of topics, including fiction, nobody ever reports on mysteries or courtroom drama. The women read them, but dismiss them as "mind candy". I've limited my choices for this blog in pretty much the same manner.
The book I just finished impressed me so that I wanted to share it with you. It is The Quiet Game by Greg Iles (1999). In it, the main character is a former prosecutor, who has become a best-selling author. His wife has died recently, and in an attempt to help his four-year-old daughter cope with the loss, he returns to his childhood home, where his parents are still living. Without going into the complexities of the situation, I'll just say that he becomes involved in searching for the killer of a man who was murdered 30 years previously. Aside from a whale of a good story, Mr Iles showed so much sensitivity in writing about the man's feelings about the women in the story.
This is an excellent book. If it's "mind candy", who cares? I loved it.

It's Not Always Good

2009-01-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Between Here and April by Deborah Copaken Kogan (2008). The book was sitting on one of the shelves in the "New arrivals" section of the library. There was the title, and the cover showing a child's swing, and a partial view of the faces of a smiling mother and daughter. I had no idea what it was about, and I would never have guessed.
The book tells the story of an adult woman who is the mother of two daughters, but who, because of circumstances in her own life, suddenly remembers another little girl who was her friend in the first grade. The friend suddenly disappears, and no one will tell the younger children why. The "why" is because they were killed by their own mother, who also took her own life while cuddling them. The book is pretty much of a heart breaker, but it gives the reader some insight as to how these things can happen.

It's Better Than "Not Bad"

2008-12-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how I feel about the book I just finished. In the first portion, I liked it a lot. I didn't like the middle, and almost quit reading, but enjoyed the last segment where it all got tied together. The book is In The Fall, by Jeffrey Lent (2000).
It tells the stories of three generations of one family, starting near the end of the Civil War. There is a blending of races in the story with much of the conflict of those earlier times. The young author seems to have a lot of knowledge and a unique writing style.
I wish I could recommend it more enthusiastically. Give it a try. You might love it.

A Different World

2008-11-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

Have any of you read J. Maarten Troost's Lost on Planet China? This new book (2008) has a subtitle of "Or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid".
This is one adventurous guy! His previous books are entitled "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" and "Getting Stoned with Savages", so you can see he really gets around.
His books are not travel books, but a recounting of the things that befell him while he lived in different cultures.
He had a receptive attitude to all things Chinese (well, mostly) and managed to do well while getting around this enormous country, despite not speaking the language (s).
It's a good fun book, and I'll be looking for more of his writing.
And yes, he really did eat not one, but several.

Not the Least Bit Gruesome ( to me)

2008-11-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

I just finished a book that I really enjoyed. The cover has a picture of the soles of a person's feet ----- with a toe-tag attached. The name of the book is simply Stiff , subtitled The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. It was written by Mary Roach, and published in 2003.
The author is able to tell you everything you always wanted to know ( or at least, have wondered ) about what happens to human bodies after death. She did not rely on information from others, but instead, attended an embalming, a cremation, an autopsy, and visited a field where bodies were put out to decompose under varying conditions. You name it, she attended it.
The amazing part is that while she is factual, and always, always respectful of the dead, she is also just so doggone funny. I laughed aloud many times.
I had read a little previously about what happens to bodies after burial, but didn't know for sure what was going on with the remains of people that I have loved. Well, now I know, and while it isn't pretty, it is somehow comforting to know what has happened to them. Mary Roach has done us all a service in sharing this information.

Perfect Companions

2008-08-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Lots of us read more than one book at a time, and usually, they have nothing in common. The two I recently finished are exceptions. They fit together perfectly.
The first one to mention is Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth (2005)
This book has received a lot of publicity, as it was selected to be part of Oprah's Book Club. A good friend thought it so worthwhile that she bought several copies and distributed them among friends and family.
While I loved the first chapter, I kind of lost interest after that, and only read about half a chapter at a time.
Then the other book arrived.
This is The Mystery of 2012 (2007) and is a compilation of "predictions, prophecies and possibilities" by various authors.
The end of the Mayan calendar has long been of interest to me, and I wanted to know more about the current thinking on the subject.
It was fascinating. You get a bit of astronomy, astrology, mathematics, new age stuff, religion and even chaos theory.
My very favorite chapter was entitled The Alchemy of Time by Jay Weidner. Wonderful!
So since the majority of persons writing about 2012 are convinced there will be an expanded consciousness, it tied in perfectly with Tolle's book.
I read some of one, then some of the other, and now I'll go back and read them both again.

Warm and Tender

2008-07-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

The older I become, the more I truly love my fellow human beings. Women, however, have a special place because we're the ones who can talk to each other.
The book I've just finished is a great example of that.
It is The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs (2007)
The main character, Georgia, is an almost middle age woman who owns a small yarn shop. Her primary focus is her twelve-year old daughter, whom she is raising alone. Sometimes women who are learning to knit hang around her shop in the late afternoons so that if they run into a problem with what they're knitting, Georgia can help them out.
This evolves into a regular meeting place which Georgia feels she has to tolerate because the women are, after all, her customers. She ends up loving the group.
There are several women's stories wound through this book, and while the book has sorrow, it is offset by the love it contains.
That's love, not mush.

THIS ONE'S POLITICAL

2008-06-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

I'll readily admit to being a George Stephanopoulos fan. I try to never miss his Sunday TV program. I don't always like his guests, but I always enjoy him
All of the above is probably why his book in our local library caught my eye. The cover not only has his name in big, bold print, but it also has his picture. Not only is he Greek (which is a big thing with me); he's also good looking.
The book was printed in 1999, but I had never heard of it.
The name of the book is All Too Human, and it tells of George's involvement in the first Clinton Presidential campaign, and the experiences of working in the white house.
Like many of us who care deeply about politics, Stephanopoulos was quite idealistic, and the book details his growing disenchantment with political life.
I loved every word in it, even the sad ending.

This Time, it's About Iran

2008-06-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

I just finished a really good book, loaned by another friend. She had brought the book by my house at a time when I had almost an embarrasement of paperbacks I hadn't read which my husband had collected when he was away for a month. My friend's book was put at the bottom of a big stack. I finally finished with all the courtroom dramas and mysteries, so I could unenthusiastically start on my friend's book.
I loved it! The book is The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer (2007). This is a first novel by a writer that I hope we hear a lot more from.
In it, she tells the story of an Iranian Jewish family as the country is taken over by the religious fanatics after the Shah was deposed. The family had become quite wealthy, which was a cause for envy and resentment, and the father was wrongly accused of spying, and thrown into prison where his captors tried to torture him into making a false confession. The book tells the story of the larger family, both the aging parents, and the wife and children, who were not even told that the man had been arrested.
It all sounds rather grim, but though the story is, the book isn't. It's just damn good.

Another Winner

2008-05-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

Once again, I followed the recommendation of a friend, and was rewarded by getting to read a really good book. This one was bel canto by Ann Patchett (2001).
A brief overview of the story can't give you any idea of how much this writer gets the reader really involved in the story and really caring about the outcome.
A very posh dinner party in a small, unnamed country is invaded by a band of terrorists who plan to hold the very important guests hostage until the terrorist's demands are met.
Problem is: The government and law forces don't seem to have any intention of doing so.
So there they sit.
There's quite a variety in the confined personages. An internationally acclaimed opera star, the Vice-President of the small country, a Japanese business tycoon, his gifted translator, Russian businessmen, and then there are the captors. There are a lot of characters, but the book is so well-written that there's no problem in remembering who's who.
So if you add my recommendation to the one from my friend, you now have two people who think you'd like this book.

How About Paleoanthropology?

2008-03-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

A friend loaned me her copy of Almost Adam by Petru Popescu (1996). What a neat story! A dedicated young scientist who has lived and studied in Africa for a few years is attracted to a remote area because of the possibility of discovering the remnants of a prior civilization. Not only does he find some anthropological history, he also encounters a boy showing every indication of being an example of an earlier evolutionary stage of humankind. They find ways to communicate, and develop a real fondness for each other.
There's a lot more to the story including treachery, overthrow of an African government, romantic love, and sex among the aborigines.
Did I get your attention?
Give the book a try. It's really excellent.

WAY DIFFERENT

2008-03-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

I read a lot of mysteries and courtroom dramas because they're entertaining, and no heavy-duty thinking is required. Occasionally one comes along that teaches the reader a lot while still filling the entertainment aspect.
Such a mystery novel is In Cold Pursuit by Sarah Andrews (2007). The story is set in the Antarctic in the current era. In my opinion, it started out rather slowly, and I wasn't sure that I'd want to read all of it, but little by little, it captured my attention, and ended up being good enough that I wanted to share it with any reader that might stumble onto this website.
The fascinating part is really not the mystery, but instead, learning about how people manage to live at the South Pole. In addition to all the clothing, the insulation, the air-locks on all buildings, and other bits of trivia, you might be interested in knowing that persons in that situation have to consume about a zillion calories every day just to keep warm. And they never gain an ounce!
Had we all known that earlier, we might have chosen a different career.
The author spent two months at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and seems to have loved it.

This one's terrific!

2008-01-24T09:28:00.000-08:00

I belong to a couple of different book clubs and have to restrain myself from ordering all the good books offered in their monthly catalogs. However, I couldn't pass up The World Without Us by Alan Weisman (2007).
In it, the author envisions what would happen to this planet if we humans were suddenly no longer here. In addition to the imagination required to produce a book like this, it also had to take a lot of research. There are chapters on what happens to the city, the country, the oil refineries, the nuclear energy plants, and more. If you're not already aware of the dangers of over-population, this book might get your attention.
As a non-scientist, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but I'm also sure that my daughter, who is a scientist, will find it equally engaging.

Too Good to Pass Up

2007-12-27T09:36:00.000-08:00

I realize that I haven't reported on any books for a long time.
I've certainly read a lot of them. Many were excellent (some were not), but none made me feel compelled to write about them.
At last, I've read one that touched me so much that I'd feel like a dirty skunk if I didn't share a bit of it with you.
The book is Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards (2006).
On the cover it says "How a broken horse fixed a broken heart". That may strike you as overly-sentimental, but the story isn't.
A lonely, fortyish woman takes in a starving horse and foal. The story takes off from there. It isn't a romanticized "National Velvet" kind of story. This has horse poop, illness, alcoholism and the possibility of sex.
Bet you get teary at the end, just like Mike and I did.

This time, it's a book...

2007-11-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

OK, no whining this time.
A good, fun book to read is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert ( 2006).
This first-person memoir was written by a young woman who recognized that she was quite unhappy, and set out a schedule for herself to bring about changes.
Fortunately, she had the financial wherewithall to be able to afford this.
First, she went to Italy for a certain amount of time, where she learned the language and ate a lot of pasta. Next, off to India for a while in an Ashram, where the expansion was not of the waistline, but of the spirit. Finally, she journeyed to Indonesia, to be loved.
It's interesting, and worth reading.

The bad thing about blogs

2007-11-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

If anyone besides me reads this, you'll notice a real reduction in the number of posts as time has passed.
It isn't that I'm not reading; I'm just not writing about it.
The reason is: the lack of comments from readers. My daughter told me right at the beginning to not set myself up for disappointment by expecting comments, but when there are none, I feel that no one even looks here.
I write this to share recommendations about books that I've read, as many of those books have been recommended to me. The difference is that I tell people "Wow! I really liked that book", but seldom does anyone report back to me.
So, to those few of you who do: You're treasured!

Do I have great friends, or what?

2007-10-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

I hope that any of you that read this blog realize that I don't find all these excellent books by myself. I have wonderful friends that lend or recommend or even bring books to my house. Yesterday, I finished reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (1996). You may have heard of this book, as they just recently released a movie that was based on it.
This is the true story of a young, idealistic, financially secure college graduate who gave away all of his possessions and his money to set out alone looking for adventure, self-reliance, and equality with his fellow human beings.
He eventually ended up in the Alaskan wilderness where he starved to death. I'm not giving anything away by telling that; there's been a lot of publicity.
Sounds grim, doesn't it? Surprisingly, it's not. The book is very well written, and though the ending leaves you sad, you're also somewhat awed by the single-minded resolution of this young man that any of us would have been proud to know.

Scary Title

2007-10-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

It caught my eye in the library. A softcover in the "New Books" section with a picture of a pile of brown dirt against a backdrop of blue sky. A hand holding a shovel can be seen throwing dirt skyward, which seems entirely appropriate for a book entitled Gravedigger. It was written by Peter Grandbois, and published in 2006.
It tells the story of a man in a small Spanish village whose inherited job it was to dig graves. The unusual part is that the recently deceased visits him while he is preparing the grave to tell him the story of their life, which he, in turn, passes on to the bereft family for their comfort.
We not only hear the stories from the dead, but also we learn his story, and that of his daughter. It's a well-written book telling an interesting tale.

An Exception --- At last!

2007-10-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

I've gone quite a while between postings because although I've been reading a lot, none of the books were anything I cared to write about. They weren't bad, just kind of run-of-the-mill.
Finally, a friend loaned an excellent book.
It's The God of Animals by Aryn (that's a girl) Kyle (2007).
This book tells the story of a young girl/woman growing up on her daddy's horse ranch. The father was a horse trainer whose big dreams got in the way of any practicality. The mother was severely depressed and confined herself to her upstairs bedroom. There was an older sister who had been the darling of the ranch community because of her innate ability to ride, perform and bond with horses.
Then there's Alice, the younger girl. Alice's sister had run away with a young cowboy, leaving Alice and her dad trying get a little financial stability out of their ranch. Eventually, they were desperate enough to offer to board horses for the wealthy young matrons of the community. There's such a contrast between the lives of the characters in this book, and I can't imagine that it would fail to hold the interest of any reader.
This is Aryn Kyle's first novel. Let's hope she writes a whole lot more.

Just Plain "WOW"!

2007-09-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted anything for a while because I've been reading a really big book (think "Hawaii"). This one was almost 800 pages, and that's in fairly small print. The book is AZTEC, by Gary Jennings (1980). Thanks to a good librarian, this came to my attention.
The story traces the entire lifespan of an Indian native to Mexico prior to and during the Spanish invasion. The narrator, Mixtli, is telling of his life and of his country to a group of priests who have commanded him to do so.
The story is divided into segments as transcribed by the priests to be sent to His Excellency, the Emperor of Spain. The book is so well done that not only do you learn about Mixtli, you also get several chuckles about the priests.
I'm so glad I got to read this book. I feel that it's probably pretty accurate historically, but it's also darn good entertainment.

A lot more than just history

2007-09-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

I am not a lover of history --- except sometimes, and on certain subjects. I don't know a lot about the depression except that my parents lived through it, and that I was born near the end of it. And other than seeing The Grapes of Wrath several times over the years, I don't know much about the American Dust Bowl which happened in the same period of time.
But now, thanks to Timothy Egan, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, I know a whole lot more about each of them. His book, The Worst Hard Time (2006), covers both grim subjects in an enjoyable manner.
Are you aware that more land was ruined in Kansas than in Oklahoma? Do you know that the major cause was greed? How about Americans starving to death? Ever hear of a soil temperature of 142? And no matter what your political persuasion, I believe this book will lead you to a lot of admiration for Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
I'm sure this review could not make you eager to read the book, but I was very impressed with it. Give the book a try. I bet you'll agree with me.

This was way different...

2007-09-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

A close friend loaned another good book to me. It is Solar Storms by Linda Hogan (1995). The book won the Colorado Book Award for Fiction in that year. The narrator is a teen-age Native American almost-woman, who has been separated from her family and raised in foster homes. She bore the facial scars of an early injury, but no knowledge of how she had been hurt, nor of why she had been given away by, or taken away from, her mother. After making a connection with her grandmother, she also found a great-grandmother, her grandfather's first wife, other relatives, and eventually, her mother and a sister.
The three older women and the girl make a long and hazardous journey by canoe through the upper waters of Minnesota.
The book is written in a simple and beautiful manner. I liked it a lot.

More than Memorable

2007-09-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

I recognize that I probably sound overly enthusiastic in my book reviews, but I seem to be going through a cycle of only being exposed to excellent, one-of-a-kind books.
My latest love affair is with Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (2006). The author's picture on the inside of the book's back cover shows her to be a pretty, young woman -- so how could she possibly portray the old (90 or 93, he's not sure which) man in a retirement home with such bull's-eye accuracy? I hope I'm not infringing on the copyright to quote just a small segment.
*******************************************************************************
" There's dead silence in the room. I look around. All eyes are trained on me. "What?" I say loudly. "Is that so much to ask? Doesn't anyone else here miss real food? Surely you can't all be happy with this ... this ... pap?" I put my hand on the edge of my plate and give it a shove.
Just a little one.
Really.
My plate shoots across the table and crashes to the floor. "
**********************************************************************************
Isn't that great! I'm going to drive the library nuts trying to get her other books.
Anyway, the basic story is about a young almost-veterinarian who ends up caring for the animals in a circus train during the depression years. The narrator is the old man who is remembering.
You'd have to be a real pickle-puss not to enjoy this one. Remember her name. Sara Gruen.

Awed by an Author

2007-08-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

I feel so fortunate in living at this time, in this place in the world where I have access to magnificent books, and good friends who recommend them. At the same time, I feel a lot of guilt about being so unaware of the actual suffering of other women. Not that I could have done anything, but women as a group could have, and we should have known.
I love our country deeply, but hate the fact that we Americans allow ourselves to be so isolated from the rest of the world. Try learning anything of any depth from the ordinary media. Ha!
All the above was inspired by reading two books written by Kahled Hosseini. They are Kite Runner (about 2005), and A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007)
Both books were heart-breakers. They are set in Afghanistan in the very recent past.
Kite Runner tells the story of two boys who grew up together in an Afghan city. The narrator was the son of a rich man; the other boy the son of a servant. Their friendship is shattered by a betrayal, but the love continues, though unrecognized by one of them. I feel certain that the book is at least somewhat autobiographical, but don't recall any confirmation of that.
A Thousand Splendid Suns tells of two women. We meet them as children of very different backgrounds, but as a young adult (15!), each of them is married to the same man, who is a miserable excuse for a human being. The book tells of living under the Soviet occupation, the Taliban, and all the way to the current situation.
I am not getting old and easily moved to tears, but the author makes you love these women and care deeply about what happens to them. Read it!

Not a book, but a movie

2007-08-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

Mike, my husband, and I watched the movie Kelly's Heroes in 1970. Admittedly, that was 37 years ago, but we remembered it as a good, funny movie. I remembered Donald Sutherland as a spaced-out hippie, I remembered his tank that shot paint and played loud music, and I remembered that that these army guys were trying to get some gold bars that were in a German bank behind enemy lines (the movie was set in WWII).
Since we subscribe to Netflix, and love it, we thought we'd like to see this movie again.
Decades make a big difference in perspective.
Yes, it had funny moments, and it's still a good movie. I don't know about Mike, but what I saw was greed, death and destruction.
The earlier memory was more fun, but this realization was more accurate.

Old, New (to me) and Wonderful

2007-08-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

Since the last post, I read a couple of mysteries by Harlan Coben, whose books are always good. However, since I read so many mysteries, I instantly forget the plot, and sometimes buy (as a used book) or check out the same one. If it's a library book, I simply return it, or I use a purchased one as a trade-in.
As a change of pace, I then read Final Gifts -- subtitle: Understanding the special awareness, needs, and communications of the dying -- by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley (1992). I believe the subtitle tells you probably as much as you might want to know about this one, other than that I found it gentle, factual and worthwhile.
The main subject of this post, though, is High Tide in Tucson by Barbara Kingsolver (1995). I thought I had read most of her books, but somehow, I missed this one. Why didn't any of you guys tell me about it??? I don't remember enjoying a book this much in a long, long time , if ever. This is a collection of essays Barbara has written over the years. She writes of a hermit crab; weather in Tucson; her career; childhood; a secret slut society; divorce; living in Spain; a visit to Africa; traversing a volcano in Hawaii; being in a rock band; and well, you get the idea. I love her attitude about almost everything. If I had to be lost on that mythical island with only one book, I take this one. It gives you so darn much to think about.

I'm not THAT zippy!

2007-08-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking "Wow! A review on the 4th, the 5th and the 7th. This person is one fast reader". I am a fast reader, but didn't read three books in four days. I was reading them all at the same time.
The God Delusion was heavy, so I read some, then started another book which I also couldn't stay with steadily, so I read (part of) the Cornwell book as an alternative. Here's a short report on the middle one.
It was Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (2003).
I liked and didn't like it, though never doubting that it's a good book. The author is a professor of literature, and while I would have adored her as an instructor when I was much younger, discussions of and analyses of major fiction aren't exactly my cup of tea now. That said, let me say that I very much enjoyed the stories that disclosed so much of life in Iran. The women in the book were bold and courageous -- and very likeable.
If for no other reason, you should read the book to learn a little about Iranian women.

A Different Perspective

2007-08-05T10:20:00.001-07:00

I always think I read everything that comes along, but have come to realize that I really don't. I don't read romances, westerns, regular detective stories, and not much in the self-help line anymore (Could I have given up?).
If those are your kind of books, please don't look here for any reviews of them.
I do read lots of political books, courtroom dramas, quality mysteries -- Richard North Patterson, John Grisham, and others -- and books about religion. Most of the latter are negative, but I read a spiritual one every now and then for balance.
I just finished The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (2006). Dawkins is a famous biologist who is known also as an atheist. The book got a little over my head in the middle (physics??!), but that was the only part that I didn't enjoy.
It was extremely well-written, and leaves you with much to think about.
Coming soon: one on spirituality.

Big Disappointment

2007-08-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

Most of us who enjoy a well-written mystery have enjoyed Patricia Cornwell's novels for several years. We've known her main character, Kay Scarpetta, so well that she seems real to us. While I've forgotten the title (too many years ago), I'll never forget the impact of reading about the brutal slaying of Kay's lover, Benton. I actually cried, and there are very few books that can affect me that way.
I felt angry and somehow cheated, or at least manipulated when the next book revealed that Benton's death had been a hoax.
In subsequent books, Kay has moved, her life has changed, and so have the other characters that surround her. In my opinion, the books have not been as good as the earlier ones, but they're still written by Patricia Cornwell, so how could that be bad?
I just found out. The latest (as far as I know), At Risk, stinks. All the characters are new, unlikeable, and boring. I gave up at about the halfway point.
I didn't think Patricia Cornwell could write a bad book. I was wrong.

A Recent Find

2007-07-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I share a common interest in "religious sightings", such as The Holy Tortilla, The Chocolate Virgin, Jesus on Grilled Cheese, and others. So when I saw a library book titled The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard (2006), of course I had to try it.
Hey, it's a really good book. Small Plains is a small town, and the female in the title is not a virgin. When the townspeople find a young woman's body which they are unable to identify, they give her a Christian burial, and as years go by, a legend grows that she was a virgin and is subsequently credited with performing miracles for those who pray to her.
There is another story being told at the same time about two teenagers who are truly in love. The scene where they decide to consummate their relationship is one of the sexiest I've ever read. I'm not a fan of gratuitous sex scenes written to sell books, but this is instrumental to the story. You can almost feel the heat between these two.
I have since read sever books by Nancy Pickard, and she's always good. I liked this best of all.

And just a little more...

2007-07-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

I hadn't quite finished the book when I wrote that first post, because this is not the type of book you read quickly. I have now finished it, and am more impressed than ever. Barbara considers the viewpoints of both the vegetarian and the carnivore fairly, and gives the reader a lot to think about. Their family eats meat and shares in the responsibility of converting a living animal into food. She doesn't try to pretty it up, which leaves me full of admiration for the frankness and honesty. While many readers may go "Eeeewww", my feeling is 'Get over it. Didn't you know that's how the chicken starts it's journey to your grill?'
You can learn a lot from this book, and there are many laughs along the way.

First, Best, Current, Important

2007-07-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (2007)
Many of us are familiar with Kingsolver's earlier work -- The Bean Trees, The Poisonwood Bible, and other excellent fiction. This one is fact.
She tells the story of when their family moved from Tucson, Arizona (around 2003) to a farm in Appalachia, where, as a family they made a committment to eating only locally produced food. Each family member was allowed to choose one item that couldn't be grown locally. The father chose coffee. Barbara chose spices. The elder daughter chose dried fruit, while the younger one had to have her hot chocolate. They learned to produce their own food, or to buy from local farmers. Barbara and the girls even became proficient at making cheese.
Anyone who likes gardening will enjoy the seasonal stories, and persons who are interested in health aspects of organic food will enjoy the rest.
My short description doesn't, of course, do the book justice, but let's hope I get better at this. Suggestions would be welcome.
The book is excellent, and probably available in your local library.