Title: The Good Soldier
Author: Ford Madox Ford
294 pages
Rating: 3/5

The Good Soldier is a story about two married couples that stay together during their summer seasons. John Dowell is the narrator who tells the story as a conversation; he imagines himself sitting with the reader and telling the important events of his relationship with his wife, Florence and their relationships with Leonora and Edward Ashburnham. There is no chronological progression as the narrator jumps around, digressing for many pages at a time and tells things as they come to him – some of which he doesn’t even know are true. Florence and Edward both have “heart” conditions and need rest, but the majority of the characters in the book go through adultery, affairs, deceit; there are also money problems and the reader learns about all of these things from the marriage of both couples to certain characters’ deaths.

The story itself is interesting. In the beginning, the narrator acts as if it’s a happy love story with good characters and it’s just “the saddest story ever told.” It’s readily apparent that this was not how things were, though John Dowell wasn’t aware of everything going on as it happened. He only learned of certain events and conversations after everything was crumbling apart. This is definitely not a typical story but it’s set in the early 1900’s in British (and American) society, so the standards and morals are much different from now.

Getting into part IV of the novel, things really began to slow down. Not much changed but after 200 or so pages of the same thing told in the same way, it starts to get difficult to push through. The ending isn’t climatic; you don’t miss anything, really, and the jumping around can get confusing. The style is definitely hard to keep up with at times because Dowell talks about so much in a random order that I just couldn’t remember everything that happened. So when he refers back to something he started 30 pages before (and digressed the whole time in between), it’s a bit off putting. I did like the originality of that aspect, as well as the work it must have took Ford to be able to accomplish this.

Not With A Bang But A Whimper by Theodore Dalrymple

A collection of essays.  A sampler, not a thematic collection.  But Dalrymple brings his usual wit and insight to all of them, from medical issues in William Shakespeare's plays, to public discourse, to government bureaucracy, to the importance of standard English to slum children, to the psychology of terrorism.
( Read more... )

3. Nightlight: A Twilight Parody
Strictly My Opinion, No Blatant Spoilers: This little book was pretty good. The characters we're so random and off the wall sometimes I found it too disjointed to be funny. Think of it as a Naked Gun movie in novel form. The writers seemed to find the same things about Twilight that I found kind of ridiculous and take it to he next level. For example, Bella's incessant cooking for her father. It made me roll my eyes so many years ago when I first read Twilight, their take on it was pretty funny. The book has a couple laugh out loud moments like in describing Edward's hair. But like I said a lot of it was way out of left field or I didn't know what they we're referencing to, if anything. Only recommended for a long standing fan of Twilight with a sense of humor of course.


4. Beowulf by Unknown
Strictly My Opinion, No Blatant Spoilers: Thinking I have queer taste yet? Well I do, but this book just means that the spring semester is upon yours truly. Being an English Lit major the course covering ancient British literature to the 17th century is required (I really only fancy the Romantics on, so I'm going into this course kicking and screaming). I'm over testosterone filled, epic, heroic quests. I can respect the incredible feat that it took the manuscript that is Beowulf to survive a thousand years, but I can't get into it. Arthurian legends are a bit easier to swallow, but hundreds of lines of Beowulf are dedicated to the crazy family relations/ties/descendants, and all of their names sound similar. Ugh it gives me a headache. I guess the meat of the story is alright...the taking on supernatural creatures and the evolution of Beowulf but it's bogged down with way too much baggage. Recommended if you are interested in how English literature evolved.

 I'm curious about everyone's take on audiobooks. Do you like to use them? When/how often do you use them? Do you think it counts as reading a book? Is it easy to follow along to someone reading?

I've never tried listening to an audiobook and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I think it could make things go faster, but there's just something about reading the words and having the world going on in my head - something that I don't think I could get out of listening to someone else read. I also don't know if it should count as reading a book. It's not reading, but you still get everything that happened in the book. 

Anyway, since I have no idea; what are your thoughts?

The blurb:

All Hanna's wanted since sophomore year is Seth. She's gone out with other guys, even gained a rep for being a flirt, all the while hoping cool, guitar-playing Seth will choose her. Then she gets him – but their relationship is hurtful, stormy and critical, not at all what Hanna thinks a perfect love should be.

Bewildered by Seth's treatment of her and in need of understanding, Hanna decides to fulfill her school's community service requirement by spending time with Helen, her terminally ill neighbor, who she's turned to for comfort and wisdom throughout her life. But illness has changed Helen into someone Hanna hardly knows, and her home is not the refuge it once was.

Feeling more alone than ever, Hanna gets drawn into an audio book the older woman is listening to, a fierce, unsettling love story of passion, sacrifice and devotion. Hanna's fascinated by the idea that such all-encompassing love can truly exist, and without even realizing it, the story begins to change her.

Until the day when the story becomes all too real...and Hanna's world is spun off its axis by its shattering irrevocable conclusion.

( My review below cut- Potential spoliers )

(Note: This book is also known as The Two Pearls of Wisdom, Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye and simply Eon)

Every year, a group of twelve year old boys compete to earn the opportunity to work dragon magic. The winner will become an official apprentice to a Dragoneye master, and become the master themselves in another twelve years. Eon, permanently crippled, is viewed as unclean and is physically unable to do some of the competing tasks, but is allowed to compete due to his unique ability to see all of the dragon spirits. But Eon has a secret, he is not really twelve-year-old Eon, but sixteen-year-old Eona, female, and therefore forbidden to compete.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is my second experience with Australian author Alison Goodman, the first being her sci-fi debut Singing the Dogstar Blues, which was one of my top fifteen reads of 2008. Although this book is a step down from Singing the Dogstar Blues due to some inconsistent pacing, there’s no denying that it’s a very enjoyable read. Set in a fantasy world resembling Imperial China and Japan, Eon is a very different book than Goodman’s first novel. The world building is detailed without feeling over the top. Eona is a likable heroine. Throughout the book, she is constantly put into situations where the odds are stacked against her, and it’s fascinating to watch her struggle to get out of them, even when she doesn’t end up making the best decisions. I found myself surprised with the secondary characters, as pretty much everyone ends up being much more complex than they seem at first, even the pushy villain. Although the initial set up is less than original (Eona hides her gender to join a profession solely for men) once we get into the real story, the book really stands on its own. It also asks the reader to question our opinions about what is male and female. This can be seen in the main character of Eona, who must hide her true gender, and the side characters of Lady Dela, a transgendered court lady, and Ryko, a eunuch.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is a strong young adult fantasy novel set in a rich world inspired by Asian culture. Although there are some minor faults, once I got caught up in the characters and the story, they barely seemed to matter. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel once it is released.

Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 531 pages
Source: Library book sale (Tewksbury Public Library
Challenge: This book is part of the Young Adult Reading Challenge
Similar Books: For other books where the heroine must hide her gender, try the Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce (beginning with Alanna: The First Adventure), Girl in Blue by Anne Rinaldi, and The Tamir Triad by Lynn Flewelling (beginning with The Bone Dolls Twin), which is a much different look at this concept. For other Asian-inspired fantasies check out Little Sister (my review) and The Heavanward Path (my review) by Kara Dalkey.
Other books I've read by this author: Singing the Dogstar Blues (my review)

xposted to bookish  and temporaryworlds 

Everything Is Sinister by David Llewellyn

'Violence is the new language. Celebrity is the new currency.'

Written in 2008, this novel is set in 2010 and portrays a realistic bleak viewpoint of a London that is not a million miles away from how we see it now. Our narrator Ed Raynes is a showbiz journalist of The Voice Of The People; a trashy rag that I likened as an equivalent to our The Daily Mail. Ed is told a disturbing secret about one of the contestants of the nation's favourite reality TV shows, Lockdown. As the contestant is also the favourite to win, Ed realises the consequences of what is about to happen and as it is his job to keep the secret under wraps until the show is over, he begins to have a mental breakdown. Becoming a recluse in his flat, he observes the workers of London from his balcony and knows that there is 'something wrong with people'. It becomes his mission to put an end to the madness before it spirals out of control.

A dark witty story that grips the reader throughout, it is in parts reminiscent of Orwell's 1984 and has touches of Bret Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk here and there. It comes complete with a fantastic little twist at the end and showcases how shallow and self-consumed modern society has become (or what direction it is heading to in this case). I will definitely read David Llewellyn's debut novel, Eleven and look forward to keeping on eye out for his new books. [9/10]

7. The True History of the Elephant Man - Michael Howell and Peter Ford - 213 pages (5 stars)

Joseph Merrick's life was terrible. It seems that modern day people disparage the Victorian era for not understanding his condition and gawking at him. While it's true that he was in the freakshows because he had no other choice, I would argue that the Victorians treated him far better than they could have, and that today, even with our superior knowledge of medicine, we would gawp no less. His life was wretched, but it could have been far worse were it not for the kindness of others.

Joseph Merrick was born in Victorian England perfectly normal, but as he grew his deformities grew more apparent and more severe. He was driven from his home by a shrewish stepmother, driven from his uncle's home by a shrewish aunt, and then forced to barely survive in a workhouse. He could have chosen to languish in the workhouse, but he chose instead of join the circus and become an attraction in the freakshow. While having people flinch in horror at the sight of him must have been awful mentally, psychically and financially he was far more secure.

Unfortunately, while travelling around mainland Europe, his manager stole his not inconsiderable savings and he was left to limp home to England, where he threw himself upon the mercy of a doctor who had examined him earlier, a Dr. Frederick Treves. And after this, after suffering so much pain, he was able to live the rest of his life in relative comfort thanks to the charity of the Victorian elite.

He had a room in the hospital, the best care he could be given, and he was in time visited by various members of the nobility and even the royalty. For Joseph Merrick by all accounts was as lovely on the inside as he was hideous on the outside. He read, he assembled models of buildings with his one good hand, and he dreamed. It's such a shame that he had to suffer such physical deformities during his life.

This book is well-researched and it is apparent that the authors had respect for both Merrick and Treves. The appendixes at the end are also very fascinating, with a brief autobiography by Merrick himself and an account of Merrick written by Treves. The Elephant Man is an uplifting story about the human spirit and humans will always  find the story of Joseph Merrick heartbreaking and inspiring.

Author: Emily Bronte
Page Length: 338
Notes: only work of the novelist known

I did make it through this time. 

This novel begins with Mr. Lockwood, the narrator and "protagonist" arriving at Wuthering Heights, a house on the Yorkshire moors, and discovering rather disagreeably that his landlord is a surly man named Heathcliff, and that his household--pious Joseph and aloof Zillah, as well as a gruff Hareton and petulant Catherine--are no nicer. However, a storm has come up, and he must stay, much to the displeasure of the host and himself. During that night, he has a nightmare, and when Heathcliff comes to investigate, Lockwood tells him that Catherine Linton is trying to get inside--and Heathcliff behaves very oddly, throwing open the window and calling for her to come inside. Unsettled, Mr. Lockwood returns to the Grange, where he will stay, and asks his housekeeper for the story.

Mrs. Ellen Dean, the housekeeper, is the real narrator, and most of the book is told from her sensible perspective: she was there when Heathcliff was brought to the Earnshaw house as a vagrant boy, and follows the lives of Catherine and Hindley Earnshaw, as well as Heathcliff. The "love story" (BWAHAHA! What a gimmick) is around Catherine and Heathcliff--a vain one, since she marries Edgar Linton and goes insane when Heathcliff returns.

I felt like walking into the book and slapping the characters several times. Especially the whiny boy Linton Heathcliff. I agree with assessment of Emily's sister, Charlotte, of the book: it is a (to paraphrase) wild, rough-hewn book, but beautiful all the same.

The only real quibble I had was Joseph's language. My God. I've read Gone With the Wind, where Mitchell spells out the slaves' speech phonetically, and read all sorts of other accents: Scottish, French, various types of English--but nothing comes close to trying to decipher Joseph's speech. At the end, I just gave up and assumed what he said was just more preaching.

If you don't mind wading through the sometimes difficult language, it's a great book. 10/10


Author: Norah Vincent
Page Length: 287
ISBN: 0-670-03499-5
Notes: stand-alone, non-fiction

This is a non-fiction book that someone's recently reviewed (but for the life of me I can't find it) so I won't go into a great deal of detail on the facts.

It's a reflection of sorts by the author after she posed as a man for a year and a half in different places: part of a men's only bowling club, as a novice in a monastery, as a door-to-door salesman, in recovery and support groups, and in strip clubs.

I found it interesting, but also very, very gloomy in general about what men and women are. Somehow, I think she must have sought out the dredges of humanity. What I appreciated, though, was that she didn't take the WOMEN ARE OPPRESSED AND MEN ARE IDIOTS, RAWR attitude: in the end, she concludes (in my words) that we're all just human, albeit a species with a massive gender gap. The writing is well done and there are some sharp observations made. But it left me very depressed. 8/10

&nbspThe blurb on the back:

William Melville's daughters are heiresses to the world's most exclusive fashion dynasty. Beautiful and rich, they are envied by all. But behind the glittering façade of their lives, each girl hides a dark secret that threatens to tear their family apart.
Smart, ambitious Elizabeth knows how to manipulate every man she meets, except the one who counts: her father.
Gentle, naïve Caitlin, the illegitimate child, struggling to fit into a world of privilege while staying true to herself.
Stunning, spoilt Amber, the party girl with a weakness for bad boys; more fragile than anyone realises.
As each of them seeks to carve out her own destiny, Elizabeth, Caitlin and Amber face difficult choices, which will take them in wildly different directions. But as old wounds resurface and threaten to destroy the foundations of the Melville empire, their paths will cross again. Because the simple truth is that, no matter how far you go, you cannot escape the claims of family.

( My Thoughts... )

Bridget Jones's Diary


Helen Fielding

Bridget is keeping a journal this year. Her goals are to lose weight, stop smoking and meet a man who isn't a alcoholic, workaholic, commitment phob, misogynist, megalomaniacs, chauvinists or a emotional fuckwit. Her year is ripe with man issues, mom drama and job troubles. Her friends are her only constant through a very eventful year.

Being an occasional fan of chick lit I was pleased with Bridget Jones's Diary. Having just seen the movie for the first time a little more than a week ago I was expecting a plot slightly more like the film, but was pleasantly surprised with how fresh and different the book was from the film. Most girls will empathies with Bridget's 'Singleton' lifestyle, her weight loss struggles and the frustration of mothers and friends of mothers trying to set her up with various men. It is also apparent that 1996, when this novel was written, could be looked at as a new sort of dark ages by todays young adult population. No Cell phones, the thrill of instant messages on company computers and no real speaking of Google ever. A refreshing, light read.

Rating:
****

More can be found at my blogspot at it's new address here

Title: Catching Fire
By: Suzanne Fire
Pages: 391
My Rating: A
Summarys: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

My thoughts with spoilers:( Read more... )

# 12: Chasing Waves: A Surfer's Tale of Obsessive Wandering by Amy Waeschle:

I knew we were onto something good when we passed a disquieting bit of voodoo--a molding cloth doll with fraying yellow yarn hair and no eyes nailed through the head to a baby fir tree. The path was lined with salal shrubs, ferns, the occasional spiky devil's club, salmonberries, and a mixed canopy of alder, fir, and huge cedar. When I first heard the surf, filtering through the thicket, my heartbeat quickened.

Synopsis: A collection of Waeschle's musings about learning to surf around the world.

( Yeah, about that exciting. )

I'm thinking of starting a lesbian book blog, because I can't seem to find any. There's some general queer book blogs, but that's only queer girl/lesbian half the time (or, often, less). Does anyone know of any other lesbian book blogs? Also, would anyone be interested in reading one, or is that way too specific? (I'm finding it difficult to find an appropriate place to ask, simply because there's no lesbian book blogs/groups, so I'm sorry if this seems really obscure.)

The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


(Review: The Faithful Spy - SPOILERS)

Book Title: Gap Creek
Author: Robert Morgan
Genre: Fiction
My Grade: B
# of Pages: 326


Summary: There is a most unusual woman living in Gap Creek. Julie Harmon works hard, "hard as a man" they say, so hard that at times she's not sure she can stop. People depend on her.

She is just a teenager when her brother dies in her arms. The following year, she marries Hank and moves down into the valley. Julie and Hank discover that the modern world is complex, grinding ever on without pause or concern for their hard work. To survive, they must find out whether love can keep chaos and madness at bay.

With Julie, Robert Morgan has brought to life one of the most memorable women in modern American literature with the skill that led Fred Chappell to say "Gap Creek is the work of a master."

My Thoughts Here.


Next Book: Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

The Slow Fix and Loose End by Ivan E. Coyote.

What more can I say about Ivan E. Coyote? Her memoir-ish short stories are always interesting and frequently get me near to tears or laughter in public places. Plus, she's Canadian, so some of the places she mentions are actually familiar. Highly recommended. I'm disappointed that I've finished all of hers.

5/5 for both (though Loose End, being a collection of her articles, did have a repeat story of two from other books).



I loved this book. Yarn bombing is, as it says, crochet and knit graffiti. It can be subversive political activism, or just a way to make a city look more friendly. Check out that link for examples. Yarn Bombing explains not only what it is, but also how to do it. I'm not really crafty enough to take it up, but even I was tempted.

5/5

My sister today said to me, "Did you hear that J.D. Salinger died?" I said, "Yeah, I heard." And my mom piped up from across the room, "Oh no!! The Harry Potter lady??"

XD