WHY I PICKED IT: Wanted something light and quick as I came to the end of my vacation
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: Meh
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: Meh
The only good thing about this book is that it was a really quick read.
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, June 29, 2012
2012-24 - Rigged, by Ben Mezrich
24 - Rigged, by Ben Mezrich, 320 pages, Harper Perennial, 2008
Ben tells the tale of a middle class kid who worked his way through Oxford and Harvard ... who found himself working for the New York Mercantile Exchange, where billions of dollars of crude oil is traded each week. This is the story of how he (quickly) got promoted to VP Strategy (at the age of 25!), and sought to revolutionize the industry... while struggling to understand the hard and fast lifestyle of the young and extremely rich.
The only good thing about this book is that it was a really quick read.
The only good thing about this book is that it was a really quick read.
2012-23 - 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami
23 - 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami, 1184 pages, Random House Vintage, 2011
WHY I PICKED IT: I read everything by Murakami
ELAPSED TIME: 8 days
RATING: Good
Telling the story of Aomame and Tengo, briefly held hands as children... their lives are about to intersect in this parallel universe in the year 1984. Aomame (a personal trainer / serial killer) and Tengo (a math teacher / novelist) were social outsiders as children... 25 years later, they still prefer lives of relative solitude. The story isn't straightforward or easy to understand, but the characters (including all of the ancillary ones) have depth, Murakami's style is readable, and the story is engrossing. If you liked Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart, you'll enjoy 1Q84.
WHY I PICKED IT: I read everything by Murakami
ELAPSED TIME: 8 days
RATING: Good
Telling the story of Aomame and Tengo, briefly held hands as children... their lives are about to intersect in this parallel universe in the year 1984. Aomame (a personal trainer / serial killer) and Tengo (a math teacher / novelist) were social outsiders as children... 25 years later, they still prefer lives of relative solitude. The story isn't straightforward or easy to understand, but the characters (including all of the ancillary ones) have depth, Murakami's style is readable, and the story is engrossing. If you liked Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart, you'll enjoy 1Q84.
Monday, June 18, 2012
2012-22 - The Thieves of Manhattan, by Adam Langer
22 - The Thieves of Manhattan, by Adam Langer, 259 pages, Spiegel and Grau, 2010 WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by the clerk at the bookstore on Granville Island in Vancouver.
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: Meh
Ian is a failing novelist. His characters are good, but his stories lack action. His girlfriend, Anya, is a Romanian whose stories draw upon her (much more interesting) life ... are much better. Blade Markam is an ex-gang banging author who has made it big with his autobiographical tale. Ian hates the publishing industry for selling the sizzle (Blade) and ignoring the steak (Ian). Things get worse when Anya leaves Ian... as her career takes off. Ian is then invited to participate in an elaborate confidence scheme, designed to scam the publishing world...
This book is an entertaining enough read. But the literature won't astound you, the ideas won't captivate you, and the characters won't follow you. All in all, an entirely forgettable novel.
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: Meh
Ian is a failing novelist. His characters are good, but his stories lack action. His girlfriend, Anya, is a Romanian whose stories draw upon her (much more interesting) life ... are much better. Blade Markam is an ex-gang banging author who has made it big with his autobiographical tale. Ian hates the publishing industry for selling the sizzle (Blade) and ignoring the steak (Ian). Things get worse when Anya leaves Ian... as her career takes off. Ian is then invited to participate in an elaborate confidence scheme, designed to scam the publishing world...
This book is an entertaining enough read. But the literature won't astound you, the ideas won't captivate you, and the characters won't follow you. All in all, an entirely forgettable novel.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
2012-21 - Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
21 - Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, 400 pages, Scholastic Press, 2009
WHY I PICKED IT: Wanted to finish the trilogy.
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: Good
WHY I PICKED IT: Wanted to finish the trilogy.
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: Good
I remember an interview with George Lucas a long time ago, stating that the (original) Star Wars Trilogy was really a simple three act play: in Episode 4, he introduced the characters; in Episode 5, he put them into a tough spot; and in Episode 6, he got them out of it and wrapped up the tale. The Hunger Games seems to follow the same model, but with an ending that is less satisfying. Perhaps that was the intent, to show that the effects of war are not satisfying. That some outcomes have unintended far-reaching effects. That good people lose their lives. That happiness is relative.
To be honest, I’m not sure I know how I feel about this book. It’s a fairly easy read, and somewhat gripping… but not in a way that I enjoyed. Truly, for portions of the book, I just wanted it to be over already. If I were to recommend, I’d suggest a reader stop after book one… but if that reader is anything like me, I doubt they would be able to follow that suggestion.
Friday, June 15, 2012
2012-20 - Something Fierce, by Carmen Aguirre
20 - Something Fierce, by Carmen Aguirre, 277 pages, Douglas and McIntyre, 2011WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by my friend Alexis
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: REQUIRED READING
Wow, this book is fantastic. Carmen is 6 when a CIA-backed coup places Pinochet in power in Chile. Her parents join the resistance movement and are forced to run to Vancouver (with her and her sister). A few years later, her Mom, her new Stepfather, and the two girls return to South America... this book is that story.
Carmen is an engaging writer with a gripping tale. The path she takes from passionate child to revolutionary is ... brilliant, and to be honest, quite disturbing. Her continued struggle to maintain emotional control when terror is her constant state of being is palpable ("The body cannot take chronic terror; it must defend itself by refusing to harbour the spirit that wants to soar through it and experience life to its fullest," page 224).
... and in the epilogue she acknowledges a lesson that she learned: "... you don't have to let your beliefs consume you. You have your loves and your lives and your activism, and you don't have to let anybody dictate to you what you can do." (page 272).
A couple other nuggets:
a) The Oath that she takes to join the revolutionaries is ... interesting (page 193)
b) The banging of pots and pans by protestors who are not allowed to congregate to do so publicly is mentioned in passing here. The CBC did a piece on it last month, as the student protestors in Montreal have picked up this tactic. Brilliant :).
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: REQUIRED READING
Wow, this book is fantastic. Carmen is 6 when a CIA-backed coup places Pinochet in power in Chile. Her parents join the resistance movement and are forced to run to Vancouver (with her and her sister). A few years later, her Mom, her new Stepfather, and the two girls return to South America... this book is that story.
Carmen is an engaging writer with a gripping tale. The path she takes from passionate child to revolutionary is ... brilliant, and to be honest, quite disturbing. Her continued struggle to maintain emotional control when terror is her constant state of being is palpable ("The body cannot take chronic terror; it must defend itself by refusing to harbour the spirit that wants to soar through it and experience life to its fullest," page 224).
... and in the epilogue she acknowledges a lesson that she learned: "... you don't have to let your beliefs consume you. You have your loves and your lives and your activism, and you don't have to let anybody dictate to you what you can do." (page 272).
A couple other nuggets:
a) The Oath that she takes to join the revolutionaries is ... interesting (page 193)
b) The banging of pots and pans by protestors who are not allowed to congregate to do so publicly is mentioned in passing here. The CBC did a piece on it last month, as the student protestors in Montreal have picked up this tactic. Brilliant :).
Thursday, June 14, 2012
2012-19 - Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
19 - Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins, 400 pages, Scholastic Press, 2009
WHY I PICKED IT: The first book in the trilogy was entertaining.
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: Meh
Picking up the story of Katniss from The Hunger Games, this book tells the story of what happens after Katniss wins the 74th annual Hunger Games (with Peeta). The second book in the trilogy was not nearly as gripping as the first. Perhaps because it seemed to be a long setup for a final third book. Despite this, having committed the time to the series, I will read the third (although I'll take a break first and read something else.
WHY I PICKED IT: The first book in the trilogy was entertaining.
ELAPSED TIME: 3 days
RATING: Meh
Picking up the story of Katniss from The Hunger Games, this book tells the story of what happens after Katniss wins the 74th annual Hunger Games (with Peeta). The second book in the trilogy was not nearly as gripping as the first. Perhaps because it seemed to be a long setup for a final third book. Despite this, having committed the time to the series, I will read the third (although I'll take a break first and read something else.
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