whitewavedarling's 2010 wander through books...

Well, in 2008 I read 117 books, and in 2009 I read 114 (though I suspect the page count was higher). I know this means I should switch groups, but because I'm not only accustomed to everyone here, but attached to you all, I'm going to stick around for at least one more year if you'll have me :) There's also the fact that as behind on posting and reading as I got This year, there's no way I would have had time to keep up with a busier group, so my new year's resolution is just to keep up with everyone here, and with my own reading and posts! I finished my first book of 2010 this morning, so here goes. Like last year, I'll add letters to those books I read which are NOT for school, so in the end I'll have a total number, and easily be able to keep track of how much I read for myself. My subgoal last year was to read 50 non-school related books for myself, and I ended up with 59, so I'm going to try to meet that goal again. We'll see....

1a. Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

I picked this one up a few days ago because some of my friends are interested in seeing the movie coming out this year (March maybe, but I'm not sure), so I imagine I'll end up going along. It's a beautifully written book, and an author I'll come back to, but I'm not sure how they'll make it into a movie since the heart of the novel is a careful character study of one man. It's graceful and unpredictable (though you think otherwise at quite a few points), but probably isn't in the end something I'll ever come back to. Still, if you want a quiet read to escape into for a few hours (it's a quick read, 186 pages that can easily be read in one or two long sittings), it's not a bad choice. I suspect that it has more of an impact if you do try to read it in one or two long sittings instead of many shorter ones.

PS. HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! And good luck with the new challenge year! :)

I'm glad you are staying in this group (no matter how many books you read), as I enjoy reading your post.

Happy reading in the new year!

I'm glad, and thank you! :)

2. Herland and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Both "Herland" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" are impossible to put down, and Gilman's prose is both wrenching and engaging. The short collection is a quick-read, but bears re-reading (and possibly re-reading after that) since the ideas are in many ways still as fresh as when they were originally written. There's no doubt that a feminist philosophy influences the prose and and development here, but there's a great deal more than that to be appreciated, particularly for readers who enjoy either utopian fiction or philosophy. The one frustration I have with both texts is that I'm left wanting more in each case. Her endings make sense, even as I find them dissatisfying, but on some level I'm still left disappointed and waiting as the last sentences pass. Again, I see the point, but because of her style in ending works, I can't give these a full five stars as I otherwise would, or whole-heartedly enjoy them as much as I think I could otherwise. Still, both of these works which I think everyone should read once, and once the first page is opened, I'm betting that most readers will be hooked.

3b. A Coney Island of the Mind by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Poetry that everyone should read, for both entertainment and inspiration, particularly the title poem--wonderful, unique, and vibrant.

I will give A Coney Island of the Mind a try. I very seldom read poetry,but like to experience different things sometimes. I think the only book of poetry I own is a Robert Frost collection for children. Thanks for the recommendation.

You're welcome :) I will say though that it's about as far from Robert Frost as poetry gets. He has a beautifully playful way with words though that reminds me of some of the children's poetry I loved when I was a kid.

4. Black No More by George S. Schuyler

This was a re-read for a class--there's a full review written already. In brief, it's an interesting satire, and I enjoyed it the first time, but it's certainly not anything I needed to reread....

Hmmm, I was considering picking up Herland during a recent bookstore visit and passed it up. You've convinced me to add it to the wishlist.

I'm glad--it was well worth the time, and if it was something that you were interested in upon seeing, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

5c. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 1) by Rick Riordan

I've written a full review, but in brief, this is GREAT YA fantasy, and I'd highly recommend it to any fans of YA literature, fantasy, or Harry Potter. Engaging, unique, and fully conceived. I can't wait to pick up the next book, and it gives me an excuse for a trip to the bookstore tomorrow :)

Thank you for stopping by on my thread! Have got you starred now. And I think I shall try and find the book of Ferlinghetti poems. The only poem I know by him is Two Scanvengers In A Truck, Two Beautiful People In A Mercedes.

I haven't read a great deal by him, but he's one I'll be picking up more work by when I get the chance :) Thanks for coming around in the meantime!

My 10 year old loves the Percy Jackson series. He wrote a book report on The Lightening Thief which included the task of sending a letter to the author. Rick Riordan wrote him back, and while it was basically a form letter, my son was thrilled. He also got an autographed bookplate, which is now proudly stuck in his copy of The Last Olympian.

That's good to hear :) I went out yesterday and bought the next two in the seriess, so I am indeed a fan along with him (though I'm a near 30 year old English teacher)!

Well, he is encouraging his middle aged dad (who wants to return to the classroom as an English teacher) to become a fan too, so I'll probably read them sometime soon.

>wrmjr66: I'm glad! They're quick reads, but incredibly entertaining and humorous as well.

Meanwhile....

6. Solar Storms by Linda Hogan

Soon after starting this book, I realized that I'd read it once before, soon after it was published. That said, there's a reason I'd allowed myself to forget it. While I can see how some readers might find this book a renewing story of celebrating life and embracing the natural world, for this reader, it's anything but.

The book is beautifully written, with striking images. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those images are centered either on endangered nature, brutality, or approaching death. The book presents a bleak view of nature and the human condition, though ironically, the main characters of the book are always moving beyond trauma, and rarely facing trauma. As a result, they seem to be too easily recovered, too easily moving forward, and the book as a whole comes across as simplifying issues which cannot (and should not, in my opinion) be simplified. It's true that the power of love, family, and heritage are presented as a vehicle toward recovery and knowing the natural world, but at the expense of the individual and realism, to the extent that it's far from believable.

Peace of mind or spirit isn't easy, and this book comes across as a rather didactic treatise on grief, mourning, and appreciation for life. As a result, while there's beauty in the language, this was one of the more depressing and false-feeling books I've read, and the images of animals dying and lost were often too much for me considering especially how easily the humans all managed to survive the natural world around them.

In the end, this book is one which certainly promotes a wide range of opinions, but it's not for me, and I can't recommend it. There's enough grief and sadness in the world without my reading a book which does little more than dictate that I should be aware of the natural world and move beyond grief.

I think I'm going to risk it and put it on my TBR despite all of the grief and sadness. It sounds like a powerful and beautiful book...besides, I do tend to have a somewhat unhealthy love for depressing books :)

Most of the folks in my class Really enjoyed it. I think that I took it more personally than others; I have a heavy backgroundin environmental science and environmental lit., and because of that I often felt like the narrator was condescending. After class, though, I realized that much of my reaction may be based on my science and activism backgrounds. Let me know what you think in any case--I'll be curious to hear :)

Meanwhile....

7. Theory of the Leisure Class by Thorstein Veblen

I'm not versed in economic theory, so I was worried about making it through this one, but it ended up being extremely readable. It's a bit flat to read in long marathon sessions instead of a chapter here and there, but Veblen does a good job of balancing much needed explanation with more technical discussions of terminology and historical development. At times, there's some repetition, but for the most part it's necessary (at least for a layperson like myself). It's dry at times, but at other times it's a bit horrifying, especially when you realize that much of Veblen's discussion can apply to our society, despite the passage of time.

In the end, I do recommed this if you're interested in American History or the economic drives behind society and societal norms--at times, it really is frightening how on target Veblen's analysis seems in the connections he makes.

8d. Islands of Instability by M.C. Miller

This is a bit like a mix of James Rollins and David Morrell or Michael Crichton--the writing isn't as polished, but the action is here, and the book as a whole is a good read for the most part. It moves like an action movie, and generally the flow of the book is smooth. At the same time, I do think a bit more heavy editing and a more focused approach might have benefited the book as a whole, since the plot had so much potential that the writing just didn't quite live up to at times.

There are some aspects of writing that grated on my nerves after a while (enough that I won't reread this, whereas I will reread James Rollins or David Morrell), but on the upside, I can see Miller moving beyond them in later books. The first was quotes---at times, the book was just trying too hard to be literary instead of allowing itself to just live up to its own potential. As such, characters and notes regularly spouting famous and not-so-famous quotes got old quickly, as did some description that ventured too close to cliches. Other than that, I'd only say that the book's one frustration is that, for the number of characters Miller introduces, the book needed to be longer, or needed to focus in on fewer characters instead of attempting to make all of them both memorable and sympathetic. I think the book would have been stronger for more time spent wih a few characters and less with others, or else with a more balanced approach that didn't try to move back and forth between being a traditionally-diagrammed romance and technical action novel. It seemed as if two books were crushed into one at times, and I felt that I was being asked to sympathize with or understand some characters who just weren't there enough for me to really understand or care for.

On the whole, though, I enjoyed this enough to venture into Miller's later work, at least long enough to read a chapter or two and see if the writing has reached the next level. If you do enjoy James Rollins or action-romance books in general, this might be a good choice for a relaxing read.

9e. The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 2) by Rick Riordan

Wonderful young adult fantasy, and even better than the first--highly recommended!

10f. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 3) by Rick Riordan

I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the second, but still very good :)

11. Women and Economics by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Not really my cup of tea, but interesting enough. For a class, of course.

Full reviews written for all of the above, though admittedly rather short compared to my usuals...

12. A'Quiver with Significance by Marianne Moore

This is a beautiful and nicely put-together collection of Moore's work that not only shows her talent, but showcases her development as an artist by following some of her pieces through to their final developments. Highly recommended for any fans of poetry and for readers who simply enjoy new images of the natural world--her descriptions of animals are unequalled in poetry as far as I'm concerned. Lovely, and highly recommended.

Thanks for the recommendation. I need to add some Moore to my collection (I've only read her work in anthologies). I'll keep an eye out for this one and add it to my wishlist.

Sorry it took me so long to notice this--my month has been crazy! It's a lovely connection, but you might have to order it. The good news is that it's such a great edition that it sounds like plenty of 20th C. poetry classes are picking it up, for grad. students at least, so you can probably find fairly cheap used copies online :)

Wow, this semester has been crazy. I've got about six more books that need to be added beyond these, but for now, these are the ones I've had time to get in reviews for! I hope all are doing well :) Meanwhile, fuller reviews are written for all the works below!

13g. Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw

An action/thriller, and not badly written. I finished up the book not entirely attached to any of the characters, but the plot and action kept me entertained throughout. Well-built for a mainstream thriller, probably comparable to James Rollins and Dan Brown in the end, though a bit less hefty, and with more focus on plot than character. I'll try Brokaw's work in the future, certainly.

14h. Pillage by Brantly Martin

A crazy ride, well worth the time--something of a mix of Clockwork Orange and writing by Denis Johnson (Jesus' Son in particular). This is built for an adult audience, with quite a few tangents into discussions of drugs and sex. It's not for every reader, but if it is for you, you'll enjoy it immensely. I'll be wandering back to it, I'm sure.

15i. When She Sleeps by Leora Krygier

Lyrical and beautifully written; fascinating ideas.

16. How the Other Half Lives by Jacob A. Riis

17. You Have Seen Their Faces by Erskine Caldwell

18. The Ghetto and Other Poems by Lola Ridge

19. The Hamlet by William Faulkner

There are full reviews written now for each of the above works, but as a quick overview to let you know if you're interested in those....

I read all of these books as a part of the Literature & Economics class I'm taking, and while they're all worthwhile reads, I'm not sure that I'd recommend any of them to readers who aren't already interested in the genre OR material presented. Ridge's poetry is graceful and worthwhile, and comes closest to a work that I'd recommend indiscriminately. It might be especially worthwhile for beginning poets, as its both accessable and in depth in its look at the world as Ridge experienced it. This is also the best work I've read by Faulkner, I believe, though certainly not the most experimental.

As for the first two books, they're both non-fiction documentary projects marrying nonfiction prose with photographs and quotes to document poverty in America in the early 20th Century--Riis in the city, and Caldwell (and Bourke-White) as focused on sharecroppers and tenant farmers: both worthwhile if you're interests lead you in that direction, but probably not of much interest to the casual reader wandering by...

20j. Scrambled Eggs and Whiskey by Hayden Carruth

Wonderful wonderful poetry, recommended to everyone! Full review written :) These are humorous, graceful, and worth returning to. I'll be coming back to this collection repeatedly for both entertainment and inspiration...

21k. Irreparable Harm by Lee Gruenfeld

So, so good; this is the first five-star pleasure read I've had the pleasure of finding in some time. If you want a fast suspenseful page-turner that's well-written and well-built, or you're remotely a fan of psychological suspense, this one's for you. And part of the fun of it? As much as I kept on thinking I knew Just what was coming...I kept on being wrong, and loving every moment of every twist. This is one good read, and I'm astounded it's his first novel.

Full Review:

Unpredictable, engaging, and masterfully written and constructed.

When I was fifty or so pages into this, I thought to myself, 'alright, so it's predictable, but I was looking for simple pleasure reading when I picked it up'. A hundred pages (or so) later, I thought to myself, 'well, I was wrong about my prediction, but NOW I know what's going to happen--that's alright though; I'm enjoying myself'. A hundred pages later, I thought the exact same thing, and so on, and so on, until right at the end with Gruenfeld's conclusion.

What's marvelous here, though, is that even in the end, I never felt as if I'd been played by the author. The plot was masterfully constructed, and readers uncover the mystery of the plot and characters just as the protagonists do. There's no point where I felt Gruenfeld was unfairly playing his audience or creating false suspense. Simply, the book is suspenseful and beautifully constructed. The characters and situations are as believable as they are unique and horrifying, and every twist is unpredictable, even as it makes perfect sense upon re-examining the novel.

On the whole, this might be the best psychological thriller I've read, and it's one of the better thrillers I've read in recent years. I was shocked upon finishing it to realize that this was Gruenfeld's first novel, but you can be sure that I'll be picking up his other work. If you're looking for suspense, this is a great choice.

Highly, highly recommended.

21l. Point Omega by Don DeLillo

This review is a bit out of date--I thought I'd put this book down a month ago (and written the review), and somehow just never got around to it--oh, what a semester!

This was a quick engaging read that took me in more and more over the course of the reading. Brought together with careful character sketches/constructions and lyrical prose, DeLillo's work here was both memorable and thought-provoking. It stood up to (and perhaps even surpassed) the works of his I've read in the past, and I have no doubt that it's a work I'll come back to. It's something you'll likely read in one sitting, and it will likely also stick with you. Recommended.

22. Shut Up Shut Down by Mark Nowak

This is an interesting marriage of experimental poetry and poetry of witness, and Nowak has some beautiful turns of phrase and innovative forms, but in the end I was hoping for a bit more from the collection. At times, it felt more caught up in experiment than witness or communication. It packs something of an impact, but I'm not sure that it's something I'll come back to nevertheless. I would, however, recommend it to anyone interested in experimental poetics or experimental literature, as well as anyone interested in economics or depressions as portrayed through literature.

23. Ghostly Parallels: Robert Penn Warren and the Lyric Poetic Sequence by Randolph Paul Runyon

Runyon's work is a detailed and fascinating exploration of Warren's poetry, focused on the compilations of sequences: how they've been arranged, what's been included and left out, and how the connections between poems (and sequences) work together. Looking at the poems singly and as a unified work, Runyon works from close examinations of the poem's themselves as well as Warren's correspondence with friends and other writers. Examinations of repetition, image cycles, structure, and language all come into play as Runyone explores the way the poems reinforce and echo one another in theme, sound, and meaning. The ultimate result of the collection as a whole is a close examination of an author's poetry and poetics, well worth the time, and absolutely readable.

I'd recommend this to anyone interested in the compilation of poetry sequences or collections, as well as to any fans of poetry sequences or Warren's work in particular. The inclusions of his work here are well chosen, and I'll be reading Warren's poetry in full in the future, as I'd looked up this work primarily for the focus on sequences as opposed to Warren himself. Regardless, absolutely recommended!

24. Don't Let Me Be Lonely by Claudia Rankine

This is a short but fascinating work of poetry and prose that works with issues of identity, depression, media and representation, and self-definition. Comical at times, heartbreaking at others, Rankine's work here is a cross-genre look at the individual as alienated from society by the absurdity of life, death, and media. Readers should be aware that the first few sections are extremely serious--perhaps to the extent of being off-putting--but that the issues that figure heavily in the beginning, including terminal illness, are less central as the text moves forward.

For anyone interested in cross-genre work, this is a must read, but it's also simply an interesting text filled with beautiful language that lingers somewhere between philosophy and narrative, poetry and prose, in a form that makes it both accessable and memorable for perhaps any reader. If you're in a contemplative mood, or looking for a short work to while away an afternoon with, I'd recommend this, though it's meditations on life and death are, in a way, desperately earnest, and at times difficult to take. Still, it's a worthwhile book, and beautiful when given enough time and consideration.

25m. The Australia Stories: A Novel by Todd James Pierce

enh--this one ended up falling somewhat flat for me. Regardless, there is indeed a full review written...

26n. 600 Hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster

I didn't plan on reading this book yesterday, but after reading one paragraph, I was hooked, and ended up reading the full book in a single day. The main character, as foreign as he may be to readers' understandings, is utterly likable and sympathetic, and the book itself will have you laughing and touched at too many points to name. Writing-wise, this stands up to most any first novel I've read, with a great balance of movement, depth, and simple poetry. Stylistically, it might take you a few pages to get used to, but once you're in, I'm willing to bet you're in for the full read. And, without a doubt, it will be worth your while. Don't let the subject-matter scare you away--it might have been a deterance for me had I paid more attention to what I was picking up, and yet, I'm so glad it came into my hands. Anything else Lancaster writes, I'll be in line for.

In a nutshell: inspiring, beautiful, and worth any reader's time. Buy it for yourself and for a friend as well.

27o. By Heart: Poetry, Prison, and Two Lives by Judith Tannenbaum and Spoon Jackson

There's a full review posted on this one, but in brief....

As someone who is incredibly addicted to both writing poetry and teaching, and someone interested in working with underprivelaged youth and prisoners through arts classes, this book fell directly in line with my interests. Because of that, I feel like I should start out by making clear my bias--I'm not sure this book is meant for everyone, but for the right reader, it's well worth the while. That said, for readers who are interested in the power of poetry OR the need for arts and personal development classes in prisons OR memoir, this is well worth your time. In general, it's a book worth reading IF you're interested in the material. I think that at times it is trying to be too optimistic, too focused toward inspiring as opposed to documenting, but the project as a whole is a project of witness as much as anything else, and of awareness. In those views, it's well conceived, and well executed. Certainly, I'm glad it came my way in the end.

So, summing up, the last three books?

Don't read The Australia Stories.
DO Read 600 Hours of Edward.
And read By Heart: Poetry, Prison, and Two Lives if the subject appeals.

smiles, and good reading to everyone--I'm offline for a vacation for the next five days or so, so I'll see you all when I get back :)

28p. Flight of Shadows: A Novel by Sigmund Brouwer

Brouwer's world here is fully conceived and well worth journeying into. The writing is solid, and the characters are both believable and engaging. My one criticism might be that at various points I wanted more depth--the book moves so quickly, but what's contained here could easily have spanned twice the length page-wise and never lost its fascination. Depth-wise, it felt somewhat like a young adult novel at times because of this, though the subject-matter was regularly more adult. As quickly as it moved, there were some more peripheral characters that seemed to be left by the side of the book instead of being fully fleshed-out, and I'll hope that if the series continues Brouwer will slow down enough that that won't happen. As a side note, it's worth noting that this is the sequel to an earlier science fiction novel by Brouwer, Broken Angel, though it can easily be read by itself. In general, I'd recommend it to fans of distopian or light non-tech sci-fi. It was a relaxing read, and worth sinking into, though I don't know that it's something I'd come back to for a second read.

29q. Compliance & Conviction: The Evolution of Enlightened Corporate Governance by Curtis J. Crawford

There's a full review on this one, but here I'll just say my reaction was luke-warm. I got this through the member giveaway program, but the blurb (and later the dustjacket) led me to believe I'd be getting into something meant more for the layperson than the executive, which wasn't really the case in the end...

Stopping by to say Hi. I just finished By Heart Poetry, Prison and Two Lives. I think this is the 6th ER book I have received and the first one that I actually liked. I agree with you though. I made the book last about 3 weeks, I think because I was hoping for more.
Happy Reading---- Tammy

I'm glad you liked it at least :) I hope you start having better luck with the ER books--I've had two horrid ones, but other than that I've had mostly good experiences. I admit, though, that unless a story sounds phenomenal, I tend to make sure I'm not requesting from the vanity publishers.

30r. Desperate Characters: A Novella in Verse and Other Poems by Nicholas Christopher

The poems here are interesting, and full of arresting images, but they often seem more like short narratives of prose formed into verse, and not fully realized. The long title poem is worth exploring especially, but more as an experiment in noir than a truly successful long poem. Each is a unique side-trip, with the short ones feeling more complete if less realized, but I'm not sure that I'd feel need to come back to any of Christopher's poetry from this volume. I'd recommend pursuing his prose first, regardless, as what I see as the best elements of this work are shown ten-fold in his fiction.

Well, I was quite behind on reporting here And reviewing, but I'm finally caught up! Now, to catch up on threads :)

All books below, with full reviews now posted!

31s. Mozart and Leadbelly by Ernest J. Gaines

Stories and essays on writing, all well worth the time.

32t. Finny by Justin Kramon

Utterly traditional, and rather predictable in nearly every respect. Also awkward at various points. You might read my mini-rant of a review for entertainment, but I wouldn't try the book.

33u. The Wild Things by Dave Eggers

Yep, inspired by Where the Wild Things Are and the movie version, but a bit more serious than the children's book and more touching than the movie, as Max is rather more understandable and likable on some level than in the movie. If you're interested, I'd recommend it; it's what you expect, but it's worth the time.

34v. Hour of the Mango Black Moon by Laurence Lieberman

Mostly narrative poetry inspired by Caribbean art which is beautifully represented in the poetry volume. If you're interested in ekphrastic or heavily image-based (or location based) work, this collection might very well be just up your alley...

So, I'm currently in the thick of a stint teaching creative writing at a performing arts camp--it's hilariously wonderful, and takes up nearly all of my time, but I had to post a quick note that I'm currently reading Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men...and I'm COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. It's the best novel I've picked up in a very long time. Every page breathes, and I'm enjoying each page so much that I just had to jump on and say that if this book is sitting in your tbr pile, it needs to move to the top. And, if it's not already in your stack or on your list, you should really really put it there. I don't usually recommend or rave like this before I'm done, but this is one of those you just have to pass on. And, ignore the length--it may be long, but it sure doesn't feel like it...well, except perhaps to my wrists! (It's about 600 pages in large paperback format). However, it's also PHENOMENAL :) That's all--I'm just really excited about this book! There shall be a review whenever it's finished, but that likely won't be til early next week. For now, I'm about to crash--good reading, everyone!

Wow that's quite a recommendation. They filmed the movie in my town and around the general area, it was a hoot knowing so many people used as extras, LOL I had a lot of messed up haircuts to fix afterwards as well. It's a book I never considered reading but now I'll have to re-think it.

Hi Jennifer, added All the King's Men to my list.

I hope you guys enjoy it :) I've got about a hundred pages left, and I'll be sorry to see it end, even if it does mean there's one more book marked off of the work I have to get through this summer! Whenever you get around to it, drop back in and let me know what you think!

35. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren

Phenomenal--poetic, page-turning, humorous, unpredictable, and fulfilling. I can't think of when I read such an engaging and beautifully written novel. I can't do it justice in a review, probably until I've thought about it for at least a few weeks, but I've written one in the meantime anyway since this is one crazy summer for me, and I may not remember if I don't do it now. I'll try to come back to it later though, and certainly I'll be rereading the book and have multiple opportunities. In brief? Highly highly highly recommended.

Full Review, for what it is:
A reviewer for The Boston Globe wrote that "Many passages are famous, but just about every page has something in it that deserves to be." I admit, when I read that review on the first page of my edition, tucked into other reviews, I nearly rolled my eyes: what higher praise could there be? Yet, at a few points in the novel, I remembered the quote, and still, having finished the book....I wholeheartedly agree.

Warren's book is an epic book in scope, language, character, depth. From page one, his language sucks you in, and this book kept me up reading on more than one night. Besides having an intricate and engaging plot that you can't help getting involved with (which you can't predict), and that you can't help feel is as relevant today as it was sixty years ago--the book was originally published in 1946--the characters Warren creates are heartbreakingly real.

Yet, for an epic and serious tale, there's humor on nearly every page, and the dialogue Warren creates is utterly memorable. I can't remember the last time I left a book feeling so full and satisfied, so renewed by language and poetry, and so much looking forward to exploring the rest of an author's library (for yes, this was my first dive into Warren).

In closing, I can't really do the book justice. This book is what every literary author strives for, and what so few reach, and it is both beautiful and awesome in every respect. It is without doubt something to read, remember, and return to.

36. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Cisneros' prose is lyrical and fast-moving; I read through this collection quickly, and enjoyed it quite a bit. The stories from a girl's point of view are both telling and engaging, and the poetry built into each clouded observation is memorable for both beauty and mystery. At the same time, it is sparse brief writing, and the book is built of short prose snippets loosely called short stories, but as much prose poetry as fiction in many ways. The inter-connectedness works well, but at the same time, I never truly connected with any of the characters, and I'd say that detachment came from the structure and sparing nature of the work. In the end, I certainly found it enjoyable, but it's nothing I'd go back to. I can see why it's known, and why it's taught in high schools, but neither of those observations are entirely complimentary. Yes, it accomplishes various aims and giving voice to marginalized characters, and yes, the writing is lovely.....but as a complete and engaging work of fiction that has lasting literary value and the power to draw in and engage readers? Well, I'm not entirely sure about that last. I can certainly see coming back to certain sections of it, though, while teaching writing, as a method of examining language as a working and detailing mechanism in still smooth-flowing prose. In the end, I suppose I'm not sure what to make of it. The writing is lovely, and I enjoyed it for what it was....but I was never really swept away or awed by any aspect of it, and I never particularly cared about the characters or the action within.

Well, a little over halfway through the year, and it looks like I'm not quite on target after all. I've read 36 books, and I'll read more the second half of this year, so I imagine I'll still read 100 books this year, but the harder goal of reading 50 NON-SCHOOL/pleasure books...well, that one's going a bit slower. I'm currently at 22 books in that regard, and since I'm going into the exam phase of my doctoral program, I'm guessing I won't get beyond 40, but we'll see.

Meanwhile? I suppose I'll give a quick personal update as well: I GOT MARRIED!!!! The planning phase finally ended, my teaching for the year finished up, and we got married on Saturday. The wedding was at 2, the reception started (for us) around a quarter of 4, and us and many of our friends danced away the evening until just before 11! It was a complete success--we just wanted a big party, and it was more than we ever could have dreamed or asked for :) Now, I'm focused on school and reading for the next month or so (though for much of it I won't be online at all, just studying while staying at my grandmother's house to get in some visiting), and then in August will take our honeymoon in Maine :)

I hope all of you had as wonderful a weekend as I did! Good reading, all :)

congratulations and best wishes for the future! And where in Maine are you honeymooning?

Congratulations Jennifer!!!!

Thanks guys--we're honeymooning in Newry...though I'm not sure of the spelling truthfully. It's off outside of the cities I believe since our plans are mostly hiking and wildlife based :)

Well, I'm back with more updates! First, an early review book which was, frustratingly, one of the most frustrating and disappointing books I've ever read. If you know how to read critically or care about education, DON'T pick up this book...though you might be entertained by the review. I could have been more biting and gone on longer as well: every time I read more than twenty pages of this book, I grew as mad as I've ever been at Rosen's gall (or stupidity--I don't know which) for writing/publishing this.

37w. Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way they Learn by Larry D. Rosen PhD.

While I was looking forward to exploring this book, it quickly became a chore to complete, and if it hadn't been an early reviewer book, I never would have made my way through it. The information that Is worthwhile here is clouded by extreme generalizations, oversights, and a simplistic view of education and students (across generations) which makes me as a teacher (of secondary and college students) cringe. That said, I'll do my best to outline the major problems I found with the book, and hope that others don't blunder into it. If too many people take this book too seriously, I'd shudder to think what would become of public secondary education.

1. First, Rosen's focus on the so-called igeneration is more than a focus based on age. It's based on privilege. Many students included in Rosen's supposed focus-book don't have a computer for their own use or any type of mp3/music device, or even necessarily a cell phone. In fact, I had a few college students this past year who didn't have cell phones. When I looked at Rosen's statistics dealing with teenage technology use, I was confused and flabbergasted. Students who have tvs, video game systems, and personal computers in their bedrooms, and stay up to all hours textmessaging? Not the families I know. This discrepancy can be partly explained by the fact that all of Rosen's research was done through online surveys, so obviously he didn't have access to the students who didn't have computers, let alone free time online. The truth, though, is that the digital divide affects even teenagers. The parents I know can't afford to take off two days of work to wait in line for their teenagers so that they can be the first to have a new game system, and they wouldn't let their teenagers sleep on a sidewalk to get said game system. They take any owned cell phones away, specifically because teenagers too need their sleep, and personal computers are generally shared by all students in the family, online time conducted in the living room---a six year old exploring online by himself and shocking his mother with his techno-savvy simply wouldn't happen.

Treating this generation as if they can all afford these technologies--indeed, already know them--is both dangerous and irresponsible. The students who don't have these technologies are the ones who need extra care in schools, and they're precisely the students who would be left behind when an optimistic or ignorant teacher assigned internet based homework that required online access to a game or discussion board.

2. Teenagers don't necessarily know what's best for them, regardless of what they might say. Rosen has a disturbing habit of relying on teenagers to tell him what they think is best, which he then translates into supposed nonfiction research results. He writes that this generation MUST multi-task. Later, he admits that they Can uni-task (contradiction ignored), but don't need to--if they do, they'll realize this and do so. Well, um...no. I have students who openly admit their papers would be stronger if they focused in on the paper and left behind all other distractions for the interim, but they still don't. They KNOW they need to; they just don't. The highschooler who says they can't do their math worksheet because they're too distracted by what a friend across the room is text-messaging them doesn't Need to multi-task. She Wants to multi-task because text-messaging is more fun than math. Rosen treats this as a break-through in inter-generational understanding, when instead it's simply rather absurd. I wish luck to any secondary teachers who encourage text-messaging in their classrooms. Rosen seems to think it's a great idea, irregardless of the length of time added to homework and the errors made, but then, his first priority seems to be keeping students happy.

Similarly, a sincere concern that many parents and teachers experience is whether or not the tiny screens and letters that come with texting, and the constant use of said technology, are unhealthy for eyesight, particularly when combined with reading and answering emails on such tiny screens. Rosen's answer? He quotes a teenager who tells him it doesn't hurt his eyes. He'd have done better to ignore the concern all together. Of course it doesn't hurt the teenager's eyes right now---our question is, how will their eyesight be when they're thirty or forty? What is this generation walking into, and what are the side effects of growing up like this?

3. Rosen is disturbed that students are bored by school. Well, I hate to tell you, but every generation has on some level proclaimed boredom with school. It's that simple. You have to be there, and at 15 or 16, nothing seems less interesting for most teenagers, whether they're growing up and experiencing the world in 1950 or in 2010. Working to make every class interesting to this generation is not only an impossible feat, but a goal that puts aside education in favor of entertainment. School is SUPPOSED to take some work; eliminating the work element might make for a happier generation, but it will also spell a sad state for the future.

4. Rosen isn't describing teachers in this book--he's describing lab assistants. He praises the schools that have their students spend time on educational video games, and notes how excited and engaged the students are. I remember those days, though--yeah, we loved going to the lab to play games, but we learned all there was to learn from a game in our first session, and after that, it was all entertainment. Of course we were enjoying ourselves. And of course we told the teachers it was fun and worthwhile--it was neither, but it was also easy and we got to waste time on the learning clock. My apologies to the optimistic Dr. Rosen, but it's true--teenagers don't always tell the truth or know what's best for them, and if you give them a way to waste time on a video game, however boring it might be in a different setting, they will. In most cases like the one I'm mentioning that Rosen would praise, those computers just turn into babysitters who give teachers a break.

5. Schools cannot afford to keep up with technology. Powerpoints were boring when they made it into secondary education partly because teenagers experienced them in school, but partly because it takes time for schools to buy technology and train teachers--the students are ahead. Rosen's idea that the school system needs to keep ahead (or at least in step with) teenage technological savvy is simply unreasonable, at least in the country's current economical climate.

6. Media literacy is an are taught seriously in other countries, but it's not often taught until college in the United States, and it's not an automatic understanding that teenagers happen onto. They often take the easy route with quick-fixes such as wikipedia and google, and if schoolsystems follow Rosen's recommendations, that will only get worse, with critical thinking and any idea of in depth study going out the window.

In Conclusion, I want to add that I push my students to push themselves, and one of the results is that I regularly have students who thank me for doing so. They accomplish what they didn't think was possible through focus and hardwork--either of which is anathema to Rosen. They are capable of focusing, and they need to get better at it, a fact they know when they're truly honest with themselves. Rosen's ideas would raise a group of students who couldn't understand the nature of hard work, and would would likely fail (miserably) in any real college setting. Besides extending the poverty and digital divides, his philosophy caters to making kids happy, and helping so-called educators make kids happy...not helping anyone learn or teach in a meaningful way.

So, yes, I was incredibly frustrated and disturbed by this book. Any critical reader will poke various holes in it, and significant ones. Sadly enough, I truly hope that he published this book because he Could, and not because he thought it should be out there making a difference. In my opinion as a teacher and a student who believes in public education And the igeneration, i must humbly submit that this book's overgeneralizations and simplistic view, combined with a privileged focus group, make the book all but worthless for someone wanting serious information.

All of the following, fully reviewed: all recommended to one reader or another, as well! (Unlike the last, as noted above!)

38x. Taroko Gorge by Jacob Ritari

39y. Snake Poems: An Aztec Invocation by Francisco X. Alarcon

40. Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor (reread)

41. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (reread)

42. The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer

I think I'm finally caught up now...

I am interested--and largely convinced--by your skewering of Rosen's book. While I was more generous with my score and in my appreciation of some of his ideas, I really feel that he is so unconnected from what teachers face daily in the classroom as to make his book nearly useless for middle and high school teachers. Your critique of the lack of a socio-economic appreciation in Rosen's book is one I particularly agree with.

Thanks for such a thorough review.

Thanks for your note! I read the other reviews after writing mine, and I think one of the differences may be that I've had to read enough texts/theory on teaching that it really did seem as if everything worthwhile was only what I already knew--that, for me, made some of it more frustrating. It's also probably worth noting that the highschool teaching job I have is a program that takes innercity students from Brooklyn (many of whom have never left Brooklyn) down to northern Virginia, outside of the city, to participate in intensive creative classes (dance, creative writing, music, etc.) and "meet" nature. Including those students in the igeneration Rosen talks about, regardless of what their age or atunement to itunes is, is somewhat absurd. Anyhow, that's a long-winded way of saying thank you! Good reading!

Catching up, all of the next few are fully reviewed, and highly recommended, with the slight warning that Another Country has a few x-rated scenes (none of which were found to be over-the-top or offensive). In any case, All recommended!

43. Another Country by James Baldwin

44. Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks

45. The Moviegoer by Walker Percy

Hi Jennifer, Some more interesting reads! I added The Moviegoer to my list and still have All The King's Men on top of the imaginary pile.

I think All the King's Men was my favorite from the summer, so you'll eventually have to let me know :) The Moviegoer is still somewhat of a mystery to me--it's such a quiet book, and one I didn't actually expect to enjoy, but after twenty pages or so, it had me! Enjoy! (Oh--just one warning--if you do enjoy The Moviegoer, just be wary of Percy's other works; they may all be up your alley also, but the one that I've read (Lancelot) was as different as could be aside from setting....

To all you booklovers, an amusing anecdote:

So, I'm about to go into my exams this year, and I've been tracking down used copies of all sorts of books over the summer. I'll end up getting some from the library, but since I may end up teaching and restudying many of them, I want to have used copies where I can afford them so I can write my notes in the volumes. Well, one book that ended up on my list was Love Among the Ruins by Evelyn Waugh; the touchstones for the title don't work, but that's no surprise since it only seems to have been published a few times, regardless of how popular the author is (he wrote Brideshead Revisited among many other wonderful works). Well, the cheapest that I found online showed the book at 80.00, so I gave up on it. I gave the title to my then fiance' (now husband) to look for in used bookstores in his hometown this summer, but then he found one that popped up on amazon some time after I looked. So, he bought it for 12.00 and gave it to me as a surprise after our honeymoon. So, it turns out it's a first edition hardback in perfect condition, published in London by Chapman and Hall with original illustrations by the author and others. My mom and I were paging through it, and my fiance comes in asking, "that's the right book, right?" Well, we tell him it is, but try to tell him (very happily and rather shocked) that it's also a limited run first edition, so I won't be writing in it. He asks if that wasn't the point, very confused. We tried to explain that this is not only the right book, but even better, but he stayed rather befuddled. I eventually promised him I'd use post-it notes or pencil so he'd feel better.....but of course this one will end up coming from the library anyway!

That is fantastic! You are so lucky!

I am--for both my husband and my new book :)

46. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Less than I expected, but worth reading. Full review written.

47. The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

Far more fulfilling (for me) than Slaughterhouse-Five, the last book on my school list, though also far more difficult. Still, this was a strange, humorous, and compelling journey. I'm going to have to consider it for a bit, talk it over a bit, and then likely reread it! Still, there's a full review written for now.

Now? I'm on to some slightly more traditionally structured reads, and looking forward to the slight brain break after those last two!

48z. In the Company of Angels by Thomas E. Kennedy

Sidenote: The touchstone for the title doesn't seem to work, though the author appears correct.

I'm so thankful that this book from Early Reviewers finally arrived--it's utterly beautiful, and for a work that incorporates some extremely violent material, it somehow managed to allow me a bit of peace from worries each time I picked it up. In the end, the message here and throughout is, without a doubt, one of hope. There's a full review written, but I'll at least say here that either the characters, the writing, or the story would make this book worthwhile---but, the three together make it a treasure. Highly highly recommended for any lover of literature or beautiful prose.

Meanwhile, a challenge note: it's early September, and my subgoal doesn't appear to be in reach. I'd hoped to read 50 books for pleasure this year, and I've been counting toward that fifty with a letter attached to each non-school book. I think I reached 47 last year. If I reach zz after a number I'll meet the goal, but considering that as of today, September 12th, I just got to 26/z....well. At least the challenge is all in fun!

49. Of Love and Dust by Ernest J. Gaines

A quiet and smooth novel of debilitation, defiance, and hope. For fans of Gaines' more recent work such as A Lesson Before Dying, the themes and racial tensions here will be recognized, though stylistically Of Love and Dust clearly comes from a less experienced writer. Still, though the writing here is slightly less mature than Gaines' readers might expect, the story is as powerful as ever, and his characters just as much a drive to tension and story. This is a quiet worthwhile journey. Recommended.

50. The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty

My only exposure to Welty had been through her short stories, which impressed me as well-written, but not particularly memorable, and certainly not enough to drive me to pick up her other work (the short stories having been read for classes). Well, now I'll be picking up her other book--this short book was a marvelous surprise, and one I'll come back to.

Full Review:
A beautiful and heartbreaking and hopeful surprise, this little book is reminiscent of Mark Twain in voice and subject, though lighter in tone--a touch of Flannery O'Connor, minus the violence. The humor here, combined with the emotion, make for a surprisingly touching book, and one which might be read on a quiet day for a single afternoon's vacation. It is a quick book, but not one to be forgotten or left aside in the past. Highly recommended.

Sidenote: Well, I'm at 50! Only about half of those are non-school books, so we'll yet see if I reach my goal of 50 non-school books, but I'm still going to try!

51. Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed

I can't remember the last time I struggled so much with just the straight comprehension of a novel. In fact, I'm not sure I have. Part of the problem? It lost my interest pretty quickly, and the experimental nature of the whole just didn't work for me. There's a full review written for what it is, but this isn't something I'd recommend to anyone But the reader searching for satire on American society, open to extremely experimental and cinematic text, and ready for what might be the most difficult text they've encountered. Regardless, I'm afraid this one just wasn't for me. If not read for school, it probably wouldn't have been finished.

52aa. All is Forgotten, Nothing is Lost by Lan Samantha Chang

One of the more significant disappointments I've gotten from the Early Reviewers Program, though I know exactly why I got it; and, notably, for the first time the disappointment wasn't based on a lack of editing (which happened with two books). Sigh. Anyhow, moving on, though you might find the review entertaining.

Full Review:
This is a quick read, and nicely written, but it was also a huge disappointment. Why? Well, if you told someone to write a story spanning decades and take as its subject three students in a prominent writing program, along with one of their teachers....this is exactly what ANY one of those writers would end up with, assuming they didn't use much imagination, and relied on MFA-built stereotypes and suggestions. I'm afraid that's about all I can say. There's nothing wrong with it, but there's not a lot right either--what's done well is cliched in reality if not in fiction, or else perfectly predictable based on the scenario set forth. I read the book in one sitting, but out of boredom and ease while listening to football (and because this was an early reviewer book) as opposed to interest. It's an easy uncomplicated read that's easily relaxed into...but it's neither memorable nor recommendable when it comes right down to it.

On a last note side note , as someone who's been seriously writing for more than a decade, and who seriously considered going the MFA path, the beginning of the book was familiarly imagined (and warned of) territory. In fact, I was particularly warned that Iowa (where the author works) sports the sort of academic setting explored in the first part, which makes me even more disappointed with the book. I think the book might be less of a disappointment to readers who don't write and haven't seriously considered writing programs. Otherwise, I suppose if nothing else it stands as a commentary on different versions of the "writing life", however unuseful or expected they might be.

53. Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow

At first, I didn't know what to make of this book; for the first fifty pages or so, I felt I was being presented with a collage of history and fiction, and too many characters to make sense of the novel as a whole when it came right down to it. Without my realizing it, though, the book suddenly came together into something completely different. The collage became a tapestry, and I hated having to put the book down. In the beginning, I hadn't expected to care at any point in the novel--the ultra-objective style of narration had left me feeling detached; sooner than later, though, I was swept up in the way that Doctorow had woven each character's story together with the world around them.

In the end, this was an incredibly touching and humorous novel, wonderful both for its reality and an odd sort of optimism that comes out by the conclusion (at least for this reader). As a statement on history and America, as an escape, and as a piece of art, this really is a wonderful novel and a deceptively quick journey. Absolutely recommended.

54bb. Red as Blood by Tanith Lee

These are lovely other-worldly fairy tales that give fresh twists to tales already long known. The tones are quiet enough, and the atmospheres generally similar enough, that I wouldn't recommend reading all of these stories straight through. I'd enjoy them most when I read one occasionally, having been away from the book for a while. This would be a five star collection for me, except that at times I wanted a bit more suspense to pull me along, whereas generally these are more like relaxing bedtime stories for adults (NOT for children, for the most part). Regardless, I'd recommend it to fans of re-imagined fairy tales and legends, or for fans of fantasy-based short stories.

55. Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston

While the writing here was enjoyable enough, and some of the portions interesting, I had a hard time really engaging with or enjoying Kingston's work here. Parts of the book that move into talk-stories and are presented more like legends were the ones I found most unique and interesting, but the more realistic parts of the book left me somewhat bored, and ready to be finished. The characters just weren't all that likable, and there wasn't enough depth to get a feel for anyone in the story but the speaker. I could appreciate the structuring and goals of the work, but for similar effects and writing, I'd recommend Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street or work by Amy Tan instead. I can't see myself recommending this as a full work, though I might recommend the second part of the book by itself, which is the one portion here that I truly enjoyed and found worthwhile.

56. Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien

In the clear footsteps of Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead, this is a powerful and subtle work. Exploring the aftermaths of trauma and the faultlines in characters exposed to war and violence, O'Brien shows himself at his best here. As a novel of the Vietnam War, as a novel of character, as a novel of journeying, and as a novel of fascinating excellent prose and imagination: this work excels in every regard. Absolutely recommended.

57. Storyteller by Leslie Marmon Silko

A cross-genre work combining conventions of fiction, poetry, song, memoir, and documentary, this cinematic journey explores Native American legend and life in the twentieth century. The style of the work changes to fit each exploration within the text, allowing Silko's work to be an exploration of Native American philosophy and celebration even as it forms itself to be the memoir of a family, of individuals, and of a time. For anyone interested in Native American literature or cross-genre works, I'd highly recommend this. For others, this is something unique and worthwhile--an engaging journey outside of the normal read.

58. Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko

This is a powerful and poetic work, exploring ideas of legacy and PTSD through a Native American war veteran who struggles between cultures and between generations. Silko's language and artful style combine here into a collage of legend and narrative, creating a unique journey that lends itself to a quiet and disarming read. While the book comes across in the beginning as a quiet exploration of cultures and history, it quickly becomes more---this book is worth reading.

59. Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

I've been reading quite a bit of Native American literature lately, but this is the stand-out novel so far. I'll be picking up work work from Erdrich.

Erdrich's prose is memorable and poetic, and the novel here is built from fascinating character studies and voices that weave together into a subtle narrative of families and individuals searching for a way of belonging and for personal understood identity. With all of the characters here, the book takes concentration and steady reading to give its full impact, but the journey is worth the time and focus. Sweet, memorable, and poetically powerful---it's an exploration word for word that captures you from page 1.

Hi Jennifer, Looks like you've been reading some good books. I haven't read anything by Erdich yet, but would like to. Thanks for mentioning her and reminding me! Hope you're having a good weekend!!

I'd been meaning to get around to her for a long time as well--I'm glad I finally did! I'm taking a break from reading now to watch a hockey game, but it is indeed a good relaxing and reading weekend, so I hope yours is too :)

60. Beloved by Toni Morrison

When I first read this, years ago, I didn't think much of it. Now, reading more quickly, and as an older reader, I think I was simply too young for it then. There's no doubt this is one of Morrison's masterpieces, and may well end up being one of literature's most memorable ghost stories.

Haunting and memorable, this is Morrison's most complicated and mature work, exploring issues of freedom and slavery, love and fear. It's not a work I'd recommend for young readers, but it's a work worth reading and exploring--in fact, I read this for the first time at 21, and I'd say that I was too young then. For mature searching readers, however, this is a magical, poetic, and frightening work.

61. So Far From God by Ana Castillo

Fast, fun, and weird, this is one of those addictive books that sweeps you in and leaves you breathless. It's a wacky ride, as humorous as it is heartbreaking as it is surreal, but one which is surprisingly touching for all of its fast-paced explorations. This is plot-driven Chicana literature with fascinating personalities, as beautiful as it is strange, and worth the read on a quiet day that needs something outside of the norm. Come with an open mind, ready to enjoy the surprises.

62. Solar Storms by Linda Hogan

This was a re-read. There's a full review written, but I have to say---I liked it rather less the second time around.

63. The Known World by Edward P. Jones

It's a funny thing--I read this book some years ago, and the experience left me dreading the reread that I knew would be coming this month or next. Yet, though I feel easily why I so dreaded the book, I'm glad to have been made to reread it, and it's now a work that I feel strongly is something of a masterpiece.

First, it's a painful read. More than any other artistic or nonfiction rendering of slavery that I've come across, this book is utterly unflinching. Its apparent objectivity and detachment, facets that drove me away when I first came across Jones' work, end up elevating the straightforward rendering of history and character; the book could be written no other way. I cringed reading it at various points, but at its most painful, the book was honest to itself and to history, and harder and harder to put down as it unfolded.

There's no question that this is a difficult read not simply because of content. Jones embraces a conversational and wandering structure for his narrative, one which at times is more of a tapestry than a novel, and emblematic of what might happen were many characters to get together over a weekend and recall a time period or a set of histories, as opposed to the linear structure readers are more accustomed to. Too, there are many many characters, and even the apparently sidelong characters have close connections to all of the others, making it necessary to work to keep hold of each through the reading of the novel. In other words, you have to concentrate to read this book, and it's likely best read when you can explore it in long stretches close together. This is Not the book to read during occasional waiting room sittings. Instead, it's the book to escape into for a weekend or a period when you're stuck indoors.

In the end, while this is a painful and uneasy read, I recommend it whole-heartedly. It is both heartbreaking and heart-opening, and something of a masterpiece in both history and narrative. More than any other work I've read, I feel like Jones put history above his readers, and the book shows that honor even through the author's clear brilliance.

Just stopping by to say HI!

Hi back :) This next one combined with an old friend's visit to slow me down quite a bit, but you all should be seeing at least a few more posts in the next few days!

64. Libra by Don DeLillo

I see that this book took serious thought, real research, and a dedication to history and imagination that comes through on each page......but, while I'm normally a fan of Delillo, I had a rough time getting through this book. I'd recommend it to those interested in dense creative nonfiction and conspiracy theory, and of course to those interested in the stories built up around the JFK assassination, but otherwise, this isn't one I'd pass on. For this reader, it was just too dense and focused a text. I can appreciate the goal, the writing, and the experiment.....but this read like a wandering conspiracy theory, and I was ready for it to be done fairly early on.

Hi Jennifer!! I moved to the 75 group. Hope you come see me over there!!!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/101354

I'll try to come visit :) I have a hard time just keeping up with this thread--I always say that when I have more time I"ll move over there too!

65. The Damnation Game by Clive Barker

A re-read. The most halloween-appropriate book I could imagine, frighteningly gruesome, and the smartest horror novel I know of. Not something for everyone, or even most readers, but if you like horror fiction and can deal with a bit of gore, you can't beat Barker's early novels. Full review written.

66. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Another re-read, and perhaps my favorite collection of short stories, reminding me that I truly need to get around to her second collection of stories. Each one here is so complete and elegant, and a world in itself. This is the perfect book for a quiet cool night when a calm escape is needed. Highly highly recommended.

PS. re. #66: I can't imagine why the touchstones don't work on this book, but there is a full review written. Meanwhile, it truly is a worthwhile collection of short stories, even if they're not usually your chosen fare. One quick warning though: more than any other short story writer I know: Lahiri fluidly incorporates smells and tastes of delicious food into her stories---plan to eat a good dinner after a bout of reading these stories!

Delurking to say that Interpreter of Maladies is the first book I think of when considering collections by a single author.

Does that mean you read it and enjoyed it, or that you're still tempted....? (and, glad to have you lurking or delurking!)

67cc. Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mecum

I picked this up on a whim, and had wandered into its covers repeatedly for a quick laugh or to use in my freshman composition classes (long story, but it works!). Then, while I was preparing to be a part of a gothic panel that was going to touch on the text, I finally got around to reading it all the way through one night. In ways, it didn't quite hold up as well as the occasional perusal, but in other ways, it surprised me. This book is a little bit smarter than it first appears, and quite a bit more striking. Half way through, I admit I was finding it gruesome enough that I didn't want to keep reading it, and that's rare for me. I'd recommend it to fans of the odd niche book, and to fans of horror and zombie related writing and media. In a way, I'd almost say this is more like a film than a book of poetry, but one way or another, it's an interesting little volume that might well draw me back to its pages one of these days, for lesson planning if not a straight read-through....Still, for what it is, this is entertaining :)

68dd. The Boys from Little Mexico: A Season Chasing the American Dream by Steve Wilson

I finished this one a week or so ago for Early Reviewers, and just forgot to list it here--even though it's one of the few non-school books I've finished lately! Anyhow, I did enjoy it, so for anyone curious....

Full Review:
This book works to accomplish a great deal, not only following the ups and downs of a season of youth soccer for one Oregon highschool team, but also exploring the lives and worries of the team's members, most of whom are either illegal Mexican immigrants or the children of immigrants. As such, the book both succeeds and fails on various levels. As a sports book exploring the culture and lives of a single team, Wilson's writing has a good mix of depth, detail, and overview; as a reader who's only marginally familiar with soccer (but enjoys sports in general), I was able to follow the writing and learn something about the sport. At the same time, I don't think a soccer-lover would have been bored with the level of explanation. On the same lines, the book's attention to each player as a part of the group, and to the group as a whole, highlights the team focus and keeps the story from becoming sidetracked by any one character. This, though, is the downfall at the same time. I wanted to know more about the kids on the team, and the coaches as well. Too many of them were shown primarily from the surface, with only hints of the depth and complexity of each member's life. As a book focused on sports, this might have been necessary, but because I was as interested in the sociological and historical aspects of the text, I wanted more. I learned enough to know that I Was interested in knowing more in each character, and the balance was admirable, but I think the book was very close to accomplishing something more than the documentation of a season or single team alone, and didn't quite reach as far as it might have.

Wilson's work does do an admirable job of exploring the educational issues the boys on the team face, and the educational hurdles that the surrounding school systems face. While I might have liked more detail, I was impressed with the discussions and points made, and suspect that more detail might not have served much purpose since it's clear the problems were still in the process of being outlined at the time of Wilson's writing, and far from solution. Of course, the lurking issue throughout the text is illegal immigration--its allowance and disallowance, and the impact of related laws on not only illegal immigrants themselves, but their children. Wilson carefully illuminates how little control the children might have over their lives alongside the choices that they can and do make, but the one frustration comes from the objectiveness of the writing. Without a doubt, its written objectively, journalistically, and with attention to documentation moreso than argument. This, of course, is admirable. However, for the full book to be both compelling and succeed in bringing light to the issues as much as to the single team's story, I feel like a bit more emotion, or even argument, was called for. In general, the characters themselves usually came off as objective, even detached from one another's struggles. It was clearly illustrated when someone was feeling emotion, but only illustrated. Quotes and discussions came from objective mindsets, and emotion went fairly unexplored unless it was one member of the team attempting to calm the emotions of another. I wouldn't have wanted the book to be an over-sentimental or unrealistic wandering, certainly, but I do think that more depth of emotion was at times called for, with Wilson moving on to the next point in the narrative instead of exploring a particular moment or situation of difficulty with real depth.

On the whole, I have to say that I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in youth sports in America as they exist within school systems, or interested in the culture of immigrants and nature of illegal immigration as it stands currently. Wilson's documentation is solid and complete, and the narrative itself is interesting not only for the entertainment of story it offers, but for the sociological and historical perspectives gained through the text as well. I might have liked more detail in some aspects of the book, but I can't fault the accomplishments and exploration given as is.

69. The Hours by Michael Cunningham

There's a full review, but my short comment? I'd recommend the author, perhaps, as I'm curious for more of his work, but I wouldn't recommend this particular book except to lovers of Virginia Woolf.

70ee. Before you Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans

This is a powerful and worthwhile collection of short stories--graceful, heartbreaking, and humorous. Evans has perfect pitch here, and her stories matter in an everday way; instead of revolving stories around tragic or sudden events as so many authors do, she explores the daily explorations and traumas that we experience every day. In other words, the characters here aren't dying or watching death--they're just living and watching life. As a result, while the collection as a whole speaks to growing up and to issues of race and gender, it also comes across as more real and true to experience than any other collection of short stories I've read, without becoming tiresome or repetitive in theme or character. The characters and subjects are varied as well, so that reading this book through as a collection works well. I would say that the ordering of the stories feels somewhat off--the first two stories are clearly the weakest, so the book has a weaker start than it could--but that's the one criticism I'd make.

So, if you're not blown away by the first stories, just keep going--those first ones are by no means bad, bu the book just keeps getting better as you move farther in. Highly highly recommended. This is likely my new favorite volume of short fiction, and some of the stories here are ideal for examples for young creative writing classes, showing that you can indeed write what you know, and still have something powerful and new to say about it.

71. The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

I'm having a hard time reviewing this one, simply because I found it so beautiful, and beyond words, at least for my state of mind right now. Still, I tried, because I know I may not get free moments to review again for a week or so. Meanwhile, I'll add here that while I'd read and enjoyed The Joy Luck Club some time ago, it wasn't enough to pull me into Tan's other work. This book, however, ensures that I'll read everything Tan writes. It's a lovely journey...one worth exploring.

Full review:
A powerful labyrinth of a book--beautiful and moving with every word.

Amy Tan may be known for her Joy Luck Club, but this book reaches far beyond that work to explore a short line of mothers and daughters, each to the next transitioning from one role to the other and becoming more in the process. Tan's work here is without flaw---heartbreaking, humorous, sweet, and harsh. I was engaged with every page, and couldn't recommend the book highly enough. This one is worth reading, and re-reading. The book itself is a journey, worth relishing and passing on.

72. Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber

This is an ambitious novel, and there are some lovely images, as well as a lot of potential in the work as a whole. In the end, though, I can't say that I see it achieving much of anything it aims at, aside from bringing up various interesting (if already known) questions.....and failing to follow through.

Writing-wise, the book is heavy handed and predictable. Framing the major portion of the book into a traditional love story is not only unbelievable and cheesy, but ends up undermining the more serious issues brought up. I can appreciate a good romance, literary or not, but the truth is that this is missing the elements of romance that my friends and I actually enjoy--the relatable characters, the mystery, the risque situations and dialogues. Thus, it often comes across as a censored-down soap opera, and the closing forty pages or so are sadly laughable.

What IS done well is an integration of food & taste sensory----I can't imagine reading this and Not becoming hungry; and, I'm rather curious to try the recipes that show up in the book club section at the back of the book. I hate to say it, but I think they may be the valuable part of the text.

The book does attempt an exploration of complicated issues: immigrants, refugees, and exiles; politics; US relations with the middle east; the place of the artist in society and in revolution; love; community; and the nature/place of oral cultures in a world that often seems to have grown out of them. It is, only, an exploration, however---and that's likely too clear a word for it. Yes, the book tells a story, and yes, it brings up issues, but I can't give it more credit then that.

Obviously, I can't recommend the book. It's nicely written and ambitious, but I think seeing more requires doing more reading Between the lines than anything else, and giving far more credit than deserved.

73. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

I admit, I had a difficult time getting into this book. I got through the first fifty pages or so in fits and starts, and wasn't looking forward to what I saw as slogging my way through around 500 more pages. Then, at some point, I got sucked in, and was suddenly unable to put the book down except when my eyes simply dictated rest. It snuck up on me, but now, I have to recommend it as a wonderful read, and as a beautiful story.

Kingsolver's structure takes some getting used to; each chapter rotates from one female member of the Price family to another: four daughters, and their mother. Getting used to this is tricky, and at first the voices blend together a bit, but in the end each character (and their voice) is expertly conceived and drawn. For much of the book, their lives revolve around their father, a reverand who's missionary position changes all of their lives permanently. The journey covers around forty years spanning various parts of Africa, one village in particular, and some south east locations of the U.S. Scenery is expertly drawn and incorporated---it's obvious Kingsolver has done her research: geographical, religious, and historical.

The tapestry drawn here is both heartbreaking and magnificent, with comedy to spare. Kingsolver's writing is elegant, and gives grace to a story raw with power. I don't see myself forgetting this book, and I imagine that it's one I'll come back to more than once. Yes, it is a journey in itself and a long work that takes some time to get through, but it is worth every moment, and I'd absolutely recommend it to all readers.

Full reviews written for all of the following....

74. The Man with Night Sweats by Thom Gunn

Powerful poetry, primarily narrative and exploring themes of illness and love, and contradictions of nature.

75. Scrambled Eggs and Whiskey by Hayden Carruth

Beautiful hopeful poetry that works wonderfully as a full volume and journey. There's a quiet humor here that makes the poems both memorable and touching as they explore love, nature, and age. Absolutely recommended for the lover of poetry or the casual reader who likes an occasional journey into poetry--these are accessable for all adult readers, I believe.

76. 12 Moods for Jazz: Ask Your Mama by Langston Hughes

As much jazz as poetry, the only downfall of this book is that the jazz meant to shape and influence its lyrics must be imagined, and isn't included in a cd within the book. Structurally fascinating, but worth reading in every regard.

77. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

An amazing book which I had a difficult time making it through, but for personal reasons. For INTERESTED readers, this is absolutely recommended, but it's not a book that I'd recommend wandering into blindly since the subject matter is difficult to take.

I loved The Poisonwood Bible from the very first sentence and my only regret is that I gave it away on BookMooch instead of keeping it because I'm sure I'll want to go back to it and read it at least one more time. Actually, my second regret is that I just started reading Things Fall Apart which I'm enjoying quite a lot and only wish I had read it before Poisonwood, which brings me back to my first regret. :-)

I enjoy your thread and have to say I'm astounded by anyone who can read quite so fast. I can manage a book in one or two days depending on how dense the material at hand is, but certainly not several of them in one day. What's your trick? Speed reading? Gallons of caffeine? A really comfortable reading chair...?

I'm glad you enjoy the thread--I love wandering through all of the threads!

I haven't read Things Fall Apart--it's on the list though :) I dont' read as quickly as the above post suggests though! I took a few days to read the Foer book, and the other three were all poetry volumes under a hundred pages. For full disclosure though, my job is to read right now----I'm taking my PhD exams in January and April, so my job right now entails teaching one class of 18 while 'training' a new teacher, and then just reading reading reading........which, I admit, is lovely; I just wish I didn't have the deadlines I do! I do drink quite a bit of caffeine too, though, and my two cats do tend to anchor me to the couch as well---they're good book rests ;)

Enjoy your reading, and have a lovely Thanksgiving too!

Two re-reads, reviews written of each...

78. Geography III by Elizabeth Bishop

79. Life Studies and For the Union Dead by Robert Lowell

More Poetry, all well worth the read....(even for those who aren't too sure how they feel about poetry, or are pretty sure they dislike it, any of whom might find something well worth exploring in Macnolia or Blood Dazzler especially--both creative nonfiction/ nonfiction poetry)

80. Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith

A rough and powerful engagement of Hurricane Katrina's existence and destruction, these poems explore the voices and the culture affected by Katrina and those affecting her path and legacy. Smith's varied structures and poems are a re-journeying through the days of the hurricane and through the injustices surrounding New Orleans in the wake of the hurricane. Her deliberate exploration and careful choices throughout the work, along with a sparse inclusion of quotes from politicians and news broadcasts, make this work come together in a collage of meaning that goes beyond simple documentation or interpretation. Smith has a magic with language, and it combines with belief and outrage and love here to make a collection that forms not only the emotional biography of a storm, but an urgent remembering and act of witnessing.

In the end, this is a poetry collection not quite like any other--necessary, powerful, filled with beauty and fear, and worth reading.

And re-reads....
81. Macnolia by A. Van Jordan
82. Don't Let Me Be Lonely by Claudia Rankine
83. All My Pretty Ones by Anne Sexton

84. The Maximus Poems by Charles Olson

A dense and careful exploration of Gloucester, this collection documents a time and culture now barely known, and participates in a conversation over history and another way of life. With various forms and voices, Olson's experimental text is as much history as poetry, particularly as pertaining to the lives of New England fishermen in America's beginning decades. This is not an easy read, but it's a treasure for readers interested in the early history of New England and/or in experimental verse.

Not for every reader, but certainly for some: challenging, worthwhile, and strangely intoxicating once it's begun.

85ff. Breaking the Alabaster Jar: Conversations with Li-Young Lee edited by Earl G. Ingersoll

It seems like a full book of interviews with a single author might be too repetitive to be worthwhile; in fact, I imagine that's what had me putting this collection off as long as I did. Because I'm a fan of Li-Young Lee's work though, I finally got around to picking it up...and found a pleasant surprise. While the interviews do at times cover some same ground (though not much), the arrangement and inclusion of the given interviews allow for each interview to cover the territory from different angles and with different developments. Thus, repetition is at a bare minimum, and the book as a whole does work as a fully formed collection. Lee's thoughtful and thorough responses to questions allow readers insight into various aspects of his work and writing philosophies, and inclusions of snatches of poems and discussions of other writers bring extra depth along the way.

While I am familiar with Lee's work, I think this book would be incredibly worthwhile for not only Lee's fans, but for any writer. For me, the most worthwhile and fascinating passages here are those where Lee discusses his feelings on writing and his understanding of a writer's place in the world. Certainly, I'd recommend these interviews to my creative writing students and to my writing friends---I found the book both thought-provoking and inspiring, and I'm sure I'll come back to it in the future.

86. Imagine the Angels of Bread by Martin Espada

Espada's work here speaks to the experiences of immigrants and Hispanic Americans in America, in work and living and politics. Built from historical realities and memorable characters, the collection documents justice and injustice with conversational poems that are both memorable and easily accessable. Espada's use of loaded images is masterful, and the language here is extraordinarily powerful and graceful throughout. For any reader of poetry, this book is well worth the time---Espada's poetry is something to experience.

87. Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg

A re-read of course, and always and still a classic...

88. Black Maria: Poems Produced and Directed By by Kevin Young

A film noir in poetry, this is a fast and fascinating read for poetry and film lovers alike. Young's style and characters allow for the perfect noir atmosphere, and the internal monologues highlight the tensions you'd expect in the films while bringing an interesting depth to the staple characters he implements. The poems themselves ring with language-play and the rhythms of a jazz band, making the work as a whole more of a film or interpretation than a volume of poetry. The one warning that should come with the book is that these poems fly by--if you can make yourself slow down, you'll enjoy the journey more....or, you can re-read, as I'm sure I'll be doing in the future.

If you're a fan of contemporary poetry, jazz, or film, this book is right up your alley.

89. Black Magic Poetry: 1961-1967 by LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka

A collection including: Sabotage, Target Study, and Black Art, all published by LeRoi Jones in the 60s and forming a progression of works and ideas.

A clearly politically and societally engaged work, this follows in the footsteps of Ginsberg's Howl as a more abstract and racially focused collection directed at American society. With experimental poetry that implements religion & spirituality, politics, profanity, and sexuality, this is a three-part work that moves from recognition of societal problems into a sort of manifesto for blacks in America. Far more abstract than Ginsberg's work, while the influence is clear, it's also obvious that this is a book focused on abstraction and ideals--its' sights in the future instead of the past or present.

This is not for every reader, or even for every poetry reader. It's distinctive worthwhile poetry for those interested in politically aware or race based poetry of mid-twentieth-century America, but also a book that clearly wants to shock readers out of complacency with the status quo.

Reviews written for all of the following....

90. The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene

91. Ariel by Sylvia Plath

92. The Moon is Always Female by Marge Piercy

93. Relearning the Alphabet by Denise Levertov

94. The Dead Emcee Scrolls by Saul Williams

Both recommended for poetry readers---full reviews written of both.

A catch-up post on poetry from the last few days: all have full reviews written, but I'd most recommend the works by Adrienne Rich, Lucille Clifton, and June Jordan...

95. Singularities by Susan Howe

96. Frankenstein was a Negro by Charles Fort

97. The Terrible Stories by Lucille Clifton

98. Kissing God Goodbye by June Jordan

99. Something Shining by Daniel Halpern

100. An Atlas of the Difficult World by Adrienne Rich

101. Shapeshift by Sherwin Bitsui

102. Dinners and Nightmares by Diane Di Prima

103. Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha

Full reviews written of both, however brief. I recommend Di Prima's work, especially her poetry....but I'm afraid I can't recommend Dictee, which I found needlessly abstract and complicated, trying far too hard to transcend genre and be "new".

104. 1984 by George Orwell

I don't know how I took so long to getting around to reading this. Am I the only one? In any case, I can honestly say that everyone should read this. Nearly 50 years after its first publication, this book is just as relevant today as it was then, if not moreso. Horrifying, readable, necessary.

I read it in high-school back in... 1984 actually! Or did we watch the movie that year? Can't remember for sure, but what is certain is that it's been so long since I read it that I'm long overdue for a re-read. That's on the menu for 2011. And yes, a must-read, much agreed.

105. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

Fun, and relaxed---a nice follow-up to Orwell, I have to admit: I needed the break from seriousness after my last few reads! Full review written.

106. Love Among the Ruins by Evelyn Waugh

This book was difficult to find, but it was worth the time. Short, strange, and fascinating!

107. Groundwork: Before the War/In the Dark by Robert Duncan

108. The Opening of the Field by Robert Duncan

Two difficult and complex poetry collections, but both worthwhile in their own ways. Certainly worth a look for readers who enjoy T.S. Eliot or graceful language play, but perhaps not for the casual poetry reader who's looking to relax moreso than concentrate.

Well, after being offline for the last week and a half, here are my catch-up posts! Reviews are written for everything so far---only the Fredman and McEwan books are non-poetry. I'd recommend both of them to interested readers---Amsterdam was the first book by McEwan I've actually enjoyed, and might just be enough to bring me back to him in the future even after old disappointments. I'd also strongly recommend the poetry of Ted Kooser, Auden, and Seamus Heaney to most any poetry reader :)

109. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

110. A Concise Companion to Twentieth-Century American Poetry edited by Stephen Fredman

111. Mop, Mop Georgette by Denise Riley

112. Nones by W.H. Auden

113. One World at a Time by Ted Kooser

114. Deaths and Entrances by Dylan Thomas

115. Death of a Naturalist by Seamus Heaney

116. Adoption Papers by Jackie Kay

117. Belfast Confetti by Ciaran Carson

118. The Arrivants: A New World Trilogy by Edward Brathwaite

119. Playing in the Dark by Toni Morrison

Morrison's essays are both striking and gracefully woven. Her powerful ideas about not just American literature and race, but American identity and ideas of freedom, are unique literary explorations well worth reading for anyone interested in American history and identity or literature. As compositions, the essays come together to form questions on statements regarding freedom and identity which are both thought-provoking and frightening. This book is one worth exploring and re-exploring.

Hi Jennifer!! Way to go making it to 119!!! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and sending you Best Wishes for the New Year!! Tammy

Thanks for the wishes, Tammy! I have my first exam in the end of January, so I'm reading madly in preparation. I didn't make my goal of reading 50 "pleasure books"---I think my final count on those was around 30---but I enjoyed many of the "school books" too :) I hope you're well and have a lovely new year!

120. A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

Mr. Biswas is one of those characters who you nearly despise....even as you grow more and more attached to him. The character study and exploration conducted here, explicitly and faultlessly, is a journey into one man's existence in Trinidad. His search for dignity centers on the pursuit of his own space and house for he and his family, a goal that (for the reader) seems nearly impossible due to his own missteps and his wife's neverending family. Naipaul's work here is graceful, humorous, and heartbreaking....and, without a doubt, worth reading when you find the time to sprawl into an unfamiliar world and family.

Well, I'm going to go ahead and list this last one under 2010--I finished all but the last 30 pages in 2010, and then the book got put aside for the beginning of the new year. No reflection on the book though--I've only written a half-hazard review, but I truly enjoyed it. Gordimer's writing is something worth reading and exploring--her descriptions are perfection, her writing powerful.

121. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

Well, my goal was a hundred books, including at least 50 books for pleasure/not for school.....and that second part, I didn't make. We'll see what happens next year....

congratulations! (that's a lot of books)