55 - My Other Life, by Paul Theroux, 456 pages, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996
WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by my friend Tony
ELAPSED TIME: 4 days
RATING: Very Good
This is the (admittedly fake) autobiography of Paul Theroux... this tale follows the 35 years of Paul's life, from 15 to 50. Rather than telling us just what's going on, he tells the story through the major influences in his life at different stages, his uncle, his boss, his benefactor, his best friend, etc. It's a great read (if not a bit long in the middle), but a bit too melancholic for my tastes.
Minor spoiler alert (consider not reading): If I were going to fabricate my autobiography, I'd make it just a bit more upbeat at the end... rather than conveying all kinds of contentment in the middle and discontent at the end, wouldn't you?
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, December 30, 2011
2011-54 - The Myth of You and Me, by Leah Stewart
54 - The Myth of You and Me, by Leah Stewart, 276 pages, Three Rivers Press, 2005
WHY I PICKED IT: Picked it up in Powell's Books in Portland
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: REQUIRED READING
Cameron meets Sonia when she was 15, and they became best friends... from high school, college, and starting their lives. Now, 8 or 9 years later, they've not spoken since just after college ... this is that story. The friendship between two women, the reasons they broke up, and the paths that their lives took.
A brilliant tale that sucks you in and reminds you of your own faded friendships... so much so that the author has a place on her website for just such stories (some of which she includes in an appendix to the book).
(as an aside, how much of enjoying a book is being in the right frame of mind to enjoy it? how many "bad" books were simply because I was a "bad audience" when I tackled it? how many brilliant books are simply the right message at the right time?)
WHY I PICKED IT: Picked it up in Powell's Books in Portland
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: REQUIRED READING
Cameron meets Sonia when she was 15, and they became best friends... from high school, college, and starting their lives. Now, 8 or 9 years later, they've not spoken since just after college ... this is that story. The friendship between two women, the reasons they broke up, and the paths that their lives took.
A brilliant tale that sucks you in and reminds you of your own faded friendships... so much so that the author has a place on her website for just such stories (some of which she includes in an appendix to the book).
(as an aside, how much of enjoying a book is being in the right frame of mind to enjoy it? how many "bad" books were simply because I was a "bad audience" when I tackled it? how many brilliant books are simply the right message at the right time?)
Monday, December 19, 2011
2011-53 - The Long Walk, by Slavomir Rawicz
53 - The Long Walk, by Slavomir Rawicz, 273 pages, Globe Pequot,1956
WHY I PICKED IT: Picked it up in Powell's Books in Portland
ELAPSED TIME: 4 days
RATING: REQUIRED READING
The gripping tale of Rawicz' experience in the Siberian Gulags... from being arrested (for being middle class and Polish before WWII) through his torture, transport to the prisons, time there... and most gripping of all, the harrowing escape. There are portions of the story that are a little unbelievable, but mostly we fall in love with the people with whom he encounters and escapes.
Looking back on it - Given when it was initially published, I would not be surprised if the story was funded by a US Government intent on sharing stories of the evils of "Communist Russia." This doesn't take away from the gripping story that sucks you in and doesn't let go until they clear the Gobi Desert and Himalayan Mountains into India.
SPOILER ALERT (don't scroll down if you may read this book).
That he never saw his fellow escapees again, after release from the hospital in Calcutta is a bit heartbreaking. But I guess that's just life.
WHY I PICKED IT: Picked it up in Powell's Books in Portland
ELAPSED TIME: 4 days
RATING: REQUIRED READING
The gripping tale of Rawicz' experience in the Siberian Gulags... from being arrested (for being middle class and Polish before WWII) through his torture, transport to the prisons, time there... and most gripping of all, the harrowing escape. There are portions of the story that are a little unbelievable, but mostly we fall in love with the people with whom he encounters and escapes.
Looking back on it - Given when it was initially published, I would not be surprised if the story was funded by a US Government intent on sharing stories of the evils of "Communist Russia." This doesn't take away from the gripping story that sucks you in and doesn't let go until they clear the Gobi Desert and Himalayan Mountains into India.
SPOILER ALERT (don't scroll down if you may read this book).
That he never saw his fellow escapees again, after release from the hospital in Calcutta is a bit heartbreaking. But I guess that's just life.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
2011-52 - The Perfect King, by Ian Mortimer
52 - The Perfect King, by Ian Mortimer, 402 pages, Random House, 2006
WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by my friend Monika C.
ELAPSED TIME: 3-weeks
RATING: Good
This biography of Edward III of England is an intense read... but easily 200 pages too long. The first 150 pages, describing his family, his childhood, and his upbringing were painful... I was worried it would be another Alexander of Macedon (looong boring look at what should be an interesting character); but like Peter Green's work, Mortimer writes the wars extremely well.
Edward's strategic view of war and his expansion into France was gripping. Edward was courageous, leading his men into battle rather than directing them into it... his tactical view was phenomenal, but it was his strength and confidence is what inspired his men and enabled them to successfully take on armies many times their size.
That he outlived almost all of his friends and most of his family is really sad and an end un-befitting ... and reaffirmed my view that a long life is not to be desired. Better to burn out than to fade away... right?
WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by my friend Monika C.
ELAPSED TIME: 3-weeks
RATING: Good
This biography of Edward III of England is an intense read... but easily 200 pages too long. The first 150 pages, describing his family, his childhood, and his upbringing were painful... I was worried it would be another Alexander of Macedon (looong boring look at what should be an interesting character); but like Peter Green's work, Mortimer writes the wars extremely well.
Edward's strategic view of war and his expansion into France was gripping. Edward was courageous, leading his men into battle rather than directing them into it... his tactical view was phenomenal, but it was his strength and confidence is what inspired his men and enabled them to successfully take on armies many times their size.
That he outlived almost all of his friends and most of his family is really sad and an end un-befitting ... and reaffirmed my view that a long life is not to be desired. Better to burn out than to fade away... right?
Friday, November 18, 2011
2011-51 - Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie
51 - Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie, 184 pages, Random House, 2001
WHY I PICKED IT: Picked it up in Powell's Books in Portland
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: Very Good
This story was both a learning experience and a joy to read. I didn't know of Mao Zedong's "re-education" efforts of sending the children of the bourgeois to remote villages to learn the value of real work... the lost intellectual opportunity for a generation of children through the rejection of literature and science is sad.
Despite this backdrop, the protagonist and his best friend Luo, survive and find joy in secreted books (including Balzak's Ursule Mirouet), and a friendship with the daughter of the region's tailor.
I enjoyed this story and would wholeheartedly recommend it.
WHY I PICKED IT: Picked it up in Powell's Books in Portland
ELAPSED TIME: 2 days
RATING: Very Good
This story was both a learning experience and a joy to read. I didn't know of Mao Zedong's "re-education" efforts of sending the children of the bourgeois to remote villages to learn the value of real work... the lost intellectual opportunity for a generation of children through the rejection of literature and science is sad.
Despite this backdrop, the protagonist and his best friend Luo, survive and find joy in secreted books (including Balzak's Ursule Mirouet), and a friendship with the daughter of the region's tailor.
I enjoyed this story and would wholeheartedly recommend it.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
2011-50 - The Descendents, by Kaui Hart Hemmings
50 - The Descendents, by Kaui Hart Hemmings, 283 pages, Random House, 2011
WHY I PICKED IT: Picked it up in Powell's Books in Portland
ELAPSED TIME: 2days
RATING: Very Good
This is a melancholic story of a man who is trying to connect with his daughters, while saying goodbye to his wife (who is being taken off the ventilators, as directed by her living will).
The drama of the story is poignant and quite real. The experience of their interaction is phenomenally well constructed:
- That someone would "forget" that their wife and mother is slowly dying in a hospital bed, and sharing a laugh for a moment is a completely believable (especially when you consider the book starts more than 2 weeks into the Joanie's coma).
- That the death of his wife is the awakening of Matthew... that he now understands that he is responsible for his family, and for their future.
I strongly recommend this book.
WHY I PICKED IT: Picked it up in Powell's Books in Portland
ELAPSED TIME: 2days
RATING: Very Good
This is a melancholic story of a man who is trying to connect with his daughters, while saying goodbye to his wife (who is being taken off the ventilators, as directed by her living will).
The drama of the story is poignant and quite real. The experience of their interaction is phenomenally well constructed:
- That someone would "forget" that their wife and mother is slowly dying in a hospital bed, and sharing a laugh for a moment is a completely believable (especially when you consider the book starts more than 2 weeks into the Joanie's coma).
- That the death of his wife is the awakening of Matthew... that he now understands that he is responsible for his family, and for their future.
I strongly recommend this book.
2011-49 - One Day, by David Nichols
49 - One Day, by David Nichols, 435 pages, Random House Vintage Books, 2009
WHY I PICKED IT: Ling Sian recommended it
ELAPSED TIME: 6 days
RATING: Required Reading
This is the second time I've read this book, and I'm rating it higher than the initial read... The story is of Dexter and Emma's friendship... on July 15th of each year for 20-years from graduating from University, through to building careers, and figuring their way in the world.
Dex and Em are people to me now, and I will miss having them in my life.
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