13 - Behind the Beautiful Forevers, by Katherine Boo, 254 pages, Random House, 2012
WHY I PICKED IT: It's my Toronto Book Club's next book
ELAPSED TIME: 1 week
RATING: Very Good
This book, that reads like fiction, is actually a compilation of 4-years of research by Katherine Boo. Sitting on the edge of the Mumbai airport, Annawadi is (was?) a relatively small slum. Katherine Boo follows many of the inhabitants as they go about their lives... portraying their good and bad sides, and explaining their motivations from their own perspectives.
The family of hardworking recyclers... particularly the socially misfit oldest son.
The woman who uses politics and influence to bring herself up, and get a college education for her daughter.
The college educated child who wants to do good, but knows better than to challenge the paradigm of a dutiful daughter.
The scrap metal thief.
These, and other characters, are woven together to tell their stories... and the challenges of living on the fringe of one of the world's largest cities.
This blog is a simple review of every book that I read... For all books I’ll tell you why I picked it, how long it took me to read it, and give it a rating (burn it, not good, meh, good, very good, and required reading). I ask (encourage?) all readers of my blog to post their thoughts of any of the books in my comments :). Thanks!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
2012-12 - A Voyage for Madmen, by Peter Nichols
12 - A Voyage for Madmen, by Peter Nichols, 289 pages, Harper Collins, 2001 oks, 2003
WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by my friend Sean Donovan
ELAPSED TIME: 5 days
RATING: Very Good
Telling the tale of the race to be the first to circumnavigate the world in a sailboat... without putting to shore... alone! In 1968, 9 men tried, only one made it home. This is their story.
In some cases, their lack of experience to take on the task was shocking. In others, their boat choices (which Nichols explains without distracting from the adventure) was not only scary... but the advice from "experts" was clearly flawed and likely biased. In all cases, the decision to take to sea was one that they undertook with seeming lightness... and yet followed through with a resolve that was oftentimes disproportionate with that initial decision.
If you like Travel Adventure, you will love this book.
WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by my friend Sean Donovan
ELAPSED TIME: 5 days
RATING: Very Good
Telling the tale of the race to be the first to circumnavigate the world in a sailboat... without putting to shore... alone! In 1968, 9 men tried, only one made it home. This is their story.
In some cases, their lack of experience to take on the task was shocking. In others, their boat choices (which Nichols explains without distracting from the adventure) was not only scary... but the advice from "experts" was clearly flawed and likely biased. In all cases, the decision to take to sea was one that they undertook with seeming lightness... and yet followed through with a resolve that was oftentimes disproportionate with that initial decision.
If you like Travel Adventure, you will love this book.
Friday, March 16, 2012
2012-11 - True Notebooks, by Mark Salzman
11 - True Notebooks, by Mark Salzman, 326 pages, Random House Vintage Books, 2003
WHY I PICKED IT: Re-Read because my Vancouver Book Club is discussing it on Monday
ELAPSED TIME: 2 Days
RATING: REQUIRED READING
Although I typically remember the gist of a book, the details tend to blur, leaving behind a general impression. For that reason, re-reading True Notebooks was truly enjoyable. Salzman's experience teaching a creative writing class in LA County Juvenile Detention ... for violent offenders no less, was eye opening.
I have long believed that the criminal justice system is flawed. That the need for rehabilitation inside prison and need for a social safety net are both sorely lacking in our society. This book reaffirmed my opinion. What is interesting is that the students actively acknowledge that they have done (very) bad things, but also recognize that the structure that they're asked to survive within does not allow for them to change how they behave. They can't survive in jail, if they don't stay within their gang... and their gang demands more criminal behaviour.
This phenomenal book needs to be read by more people.
WHY I PICKED IT: Re-Read because my Vancouver Book Club is discussing it on Monday
ELAPSED TIME: 2 Days
RATING: REQUIRED READING
Although I typically remember the gist of a book, the details tend to blur, leaving behind a general impression. For that reason, re-reading True Notebooks was truly enjoyable. Salzman's experience teaching a creative writing class in LA County Juvenile Detention ... for violent offenders no less, was eye opening.
I have long believed that the criminal justice system is flawed. That the need for rehabilitation inside prison and need for a social safety net are both sorely lacking in our society. This book reaffirmed my opinion. What is interesting is that the students actively acknowledge that they have done (very) bad things, but also recognize that the structure that they're asked to survive within does not allow for them to change how they behave. They can't survive in jail, if they don't stay within their gang... and their gang demands more criminal behaviour.
This phenomenal book needs to be read by more people.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
2012-10 - The Bangbang Club, by Greg Marinovich and Joao Silva
10 - The Bangbang Club, by Greg Marinovich and Joao Silva, Perseus Books, 225 pages, 2000
WHY I PICKED IT: Really enjoyed the movie
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: Very Good
This is one of the most gripping war experiences I have ever read. Written from the perspective of Greg, although including Joao's memories as well, this tells the tale of these two war photographers along with Ken Oosterbroek and Kevin Carter during the final days of South African Apartheid. These friends would go into the Townships and photograph the conflict between the government-supported Zulu / Inkatha and the ANC, and as the conflict rises between the white renegades, the white army, and the ANC.
The emotional trauma of watching but not engaging, of worrying about the photograph first, and the humanitarian situation second takes a toll on all of them... especially as Ken loses his life in the last day of the conflict and Kevin commits suicide a few months later.
Greg and Joao do a fantastic job of balancing the historical context of the conflicts and the adrenalin of the job itself. I'm more aware now of the nuanced differences between the groups (why the Zulu would accept white apartheid government support) ... and am more aware of the challenges of the job they undertook.
I highly recommend this book.
WHY I PICKED IT: Really enjoyed the movie
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: Very Good
This is one of the most gripping war experiences I have ever read. Written from the perspective of Greg, although including Joao's memories as well, this tells the tale of these two war photographers along with Ken Oosterbroek and Kevin Carter during the final days of South African Apartheid. These friends would go into the Townships and photograph the conflict between the government-supported Zulu / Inkatha and the ANC, and as the conflict rises between the white renegades, the white army, and the ANC.
The emotional trauma of watching but not engaging, of worrying about the photograph first, and the humanitarian situation second takes a toll on all of them... especially as Ken loses his life in the last day of the conflict and Kevin commits suicide a few months later.
Greg and Joao do a fantastic job of balancing the historical context of the conflicts and the adrenalin of the job itself. I'm more aware now of the nuanced differences between the groups (why the Zulu would accept white apartheid government support) ... and am more aware of the challenges of the job they undertook.
I highly recommend this book.
Monday, March 5, 2012
2012-09 - The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes
09 - The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes, Random House, 150 pages, 2011
WHY I PICKED IT: It won the Man Booker
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: Not Good
Wow, what a pain in the butt to read! This is the tale of Tony Webster ... looking back on his youth, his friendships, his loves, ... striving to uncover a truth about some history, whilst acknowledging that his memory is fundamentally flawed.
Barnes either writes old people really well (slow and meandering), or he is a thoughtful considered person whose friends suffer through long meandering explanations ... so despite a few great thoughts and phrases, the tale is a painful bore to get through.
The great thoughts and phrases include:
a) "The fact that we need to know the history of the historian in order to understand the version that is being put in front of us" ... awesome thought (and applies equally well to journalists, no?).
b) "History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation." ... love it. (and it's Barnes' quoting someone else).
Regardless... If you're asking me, spend your time and money somewhere else.
WHY I PICKED IT: It won the Man Booker
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: Not Good
Wow, what a pain in the butt to read! This is the tale of Tony Webster ... looking back on his youth, his friendships, his loves, ... striving to uncover a truth about some history, whilst acknowledging that his memory is fundamentally flawed.
Barnes either writes old people really well (slow and meandering), or he is a thoughtful considered person whose friends suffer through long meandering explanations ... so despite a few great thoughts and phrases, the tale is a painful bore to get through.
The great thoughts and phrases include:
a) "The fact that we need to know the history of the historian in order to understand the version that is being put in front of us" ... awesome thought (and applies equally well to journalists, no?).
b) "History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation." ... love it. (and it's Barnes' quoting someone else).
Regardless... If you're asking me, spend your time and money somewhere else.
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