It’s true, I really can read!

(P.S. A non baby-related post to boot!)

THE BOOK: Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

My feeble thoughts:  I actually finished this book last year (barely) but you know how I’ve been with blogging and managing my time. Let’s see if I can even remember back that far…

Really, Jonathan Franzen is quite the novelist. But this novel moved like sludge for me, especially the latter part. It follows a “perfect-on-the-outside” liberal middle-class family that set roots in Minnesota (woot woot!). Behind closed doors though, The Berglunds are struggling. Each of the characters are highly flawed and to be honest, fairly dislikable -therefore making it really hard to relate to them. You’ve got Patti, a vey attractive and talented athlete that settles down and gets married to a “nice guy” but whom she was never really in love with. Then there is Walter (the nice guy), a lawyer-environmental activist that is almost too pure, too moral for his own family’s good. They have two children: Joey (rebellious and charismatic) and Jessica (Miss Goody Two Shoes – is that not the stupidest saying?) who aggravate their parent’s already very weakened marriage. I was confused about the book’s layout and perspectives, since they change frequently. In the beginning, you get to learn a lot about Patti and what molded her as a young adult, but not necessarily about Walter. Later on, it focuses on Joey but never Jessica. I found this asymmetry confusing but maybe it’s because I didn’t appreciate the layers this book has to offer. And lastly, the ending was much too muddled with politics and logistics than with the relationships I was hoping would heal.

And the ending? I won’t give anything away but it was meh.

Grade: B

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? Yes, but only to more literary-minded folks, not those looking for a quick read.

What I am reading now: I started The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo while travelling to MN and have been perusing What To Expect In The First Year for a while now. I doubt I’ll be doing much reading when you-know-who arrives, but hopefully I can squeeze in some “reading for pleasure” time instead of worrying about all of the crap I still need to get done.  It’s looking unlikely though.

Hubs is reading The Game of Thrones series and enjoying them. I don’t have the courage to start; those are massive books! Anyone else pick up a good spring read that they want to recommend?

It’s true, I really can read!

THE BOOK: The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

My feeble thoughts: This book come with many honors and I am not surprised.  It’s the story of a Dominican family, with a chubby romantic named Oscar at its center, that immigrates to Brooklyn to escape the horrors of their homeland.  They are kind of lost folks (cursed, some may claim), no matter where they try to live.  It was eye opening, being that I’ve played on the beautiful beaches of the Dominican Republic, to read more of the country’s gnarly history of oppression, violence, and poverty.  The book’s voice(s) and the writing – with massively long footnotes – are undoubtably unique,  but I had a few issues with it.  First, the Spanglish, although endearing, was frustrating for me.  My eight grade Spanish knowledge was useful about 10% of the time.  There would be entire sentences that I did not understand.  I usually read before bed too, so there was no way I was going to hop online to try and translate any of it.  It also references lots of sci-fi movies/shows/books and role-playing games, a majority of which I didn’t get (and I think most people wouldn’t either).  I felt left out, plain and simple.  Also, the title implies that the book is about Oscar, but frankly, I didn’t really feel like I got to know him all that well.  The book jumps from character to character in Oscar’s life, narrated by different people (but not consistently) and I found it a little difficult to fully dive in and root for Oscar.  This doesn’t give anything away: a narrator emerges late into the book and you don’t know this, but he is actually a character from other writings by Junot Diaz, named Yunior.  I kept thinking, WHO IS THIS GUY?  Anyway, I was not Wilde (that’s a sneaky reference to the title) about it but it was not bad, not bad at all.

Grade: B

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? Yeah, probably, especially if they are bilingual or of Dominican heritage.

What I am reading now: As you rightfully assumed, I still haven’t finished Getting Things Done (oh, the irony) but I’m currently reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, which comes highly recommended by the Hubs.  So far, it’s very good!

*It’s true, I really can read!

THE BOOK: The Devil All The Time by Donald Ray Pollock

My feeble thoughts: Set in post WWII-rural West Virginia and Ohio, Pollock crafts this novel around a collection of characters that are simultaneously fascinating and completely disturbed.  Just as you “settle in” with one character, he jumps to/revisits a different one, each with their fair share of miserableness.  You get to sneak around with a broken veteran and his young son that take their prayers to God too far, a serial killer couple that targets innocent hitchhikers, a massively ignorant but faithful preacher and his crippled partner that are hiding from their past, and a deputy that uses the law for his own selfish exploits.  Of course, their stories braid together eventually.   Although superbly well written, the evilness in this book is hard to take.  The title is not deceiving whatsoever!

Grade: A

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? I did recommend it to Hubs (he’s reading it now), although I’m not sure it’s for everyone.

What I am reading now: I’m reading “Getting Things Done” by David Allen, so I can transform my lazy tendencies into super hero productivity.  Turns out, it’s slow going and I’m not sure I’ll finish it.  Think that’s a bad sign already?

*It’s true, I really can read!

THE BOOK: Say Her Name by Francisco Goldman

My feeble thoughts: Francisco writes his own true life love story, a deeply sentimental novel detailing his marriage to Aura, cut much too short after she passes away in a tragic surfing accident while they vacationed in Mexico.  He is left to pick up his life’s pieces in New York, while trying to honor her memories and cop

Sorry, I never finished the damn thing.  I got bored!

Grade: C, but I’ll take credit for the poor score.  Goldman is a wonderful writer and his love for Aura is sincere.

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? If you are the romantic type, maybe.

What I am reading now: Hubs grabbed me another book from the library about serial killers, oh dear.

*It’s true, I really can read!

THE BOOK: Room by Emma Donoghue

My feeble thoughts: Side note - Hubs swung by the library to grab us some free reads for our trip to California.  He picked out this book for me so I could stay home and focus on what really mattered: packing each of my outfits with the proper shoes and accessories.

This book’s premise is straight out of the news headlines.  It’s a story of a woman kidnapped and held captive in a tiny room for many years, completely closed off from the outside world.  Through the course of abuse, she gives birth to a son named Jack and their story is told through his narrative.  I must admit, I found his narrative a shade gimmicky and difficult to parse at first.  But, soon, I really started to enjoy curious Jack and the little world “Ma” has tried to create for him, despite the desperate circumstances.  I would say I found the first half of the book much more exciting than the latter, but it was a good book nonetheless.

Grade: B+

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? I think so.

What I am reading now: Hubs also picked up Say Her Name (and now I have a Destiny’s Child song stuck in my head) by Francisco Goldman, which I just started this week.  I’ll keep you posted.  What are you all reading this summer?

*It’s true, I really can read!

THE BOOK: BossyPants by Tina Fey

My thoughts (which most likely carry little to no influence): Here’s the thing – I didn’t really get a lot of the jokes.  They fell into three main categories:  growing up in the 70s as a theater nerd, SNL (duh), and 30 Rock - all of which, I realized, I knew nothing about.  Instead of taking me on a funny ride, I spent almost the entire book learning a lot about stand up comedy and how especially difficult it is for women to be successful and respected as comedians.  One thing is for certain, although self deprecating and humble, Tina Fey works her tail off!  Her journey to stardom was not an easy one and she has earned every bit of her success.  That being said, I didn’t really care for the book (I blame my own ignorance, not her) except for the last chapter on motherhood which was beyond hilarious.  That alone would be worth the read!

Grade: B

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? The last chapter, sure.  The rest?  Probably not unless they were a huge fan of SNL or 30 Rock.

What I am reading now: Nothing!  I tried reading Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy, but had to return it to the library unfinished since it was overdue and had holds on it.  Phooey!  I’ll try again this summer, if I can manage to get my dirty paws on it again.

*It’s true, I really can read!

THE BOOK: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

My thoughts (which most likely carry little to no influence): This is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy (read my review of the first here).  Predictably, Hubs and I gobbled it up with no shame.  In spite of being riddled with crappy writing, cheesy cliches and holes in the plot, it still was a good read.  Good as the first?  Not even close.  But, I still couldn’t help myself.  And you bet Hubs and I are going to push our way past the tweens to get tickets to the movie, now that it’s finally out!

Grade: B

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? *cringes*  Yeah, I totally would.

What I am reading now: I’m reading Tina Fey’s Bossypants instead of cleaning my landfill of a house.

*It’s true, I really can read!

THE BOOK: Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler

My thoughts (which most likely carry little to no influence): Although it held so much promise since the title references nostalgia from my childhood, this book, well, sucked.  Hey, I’m usually all about fart jokes.  I can be a fan of crass sex humor. What I don’t like is rape jokes, and especially a whole book of them.  Sorry Chelsea, this read was so not funny.  And I’m not kidding.

Grade: D-, only because I did think one sentence in there was somewhat clever.  ONLY ONE.

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? No.

What I am reading now: I finished the second book from the Hunger Games!  Think I can whiz through the third by the time the movie comes out this month?  I just grabbed Tina Fey’s Bossypants, but I am really hoping it fairs better than this one…

The Book Nook is my little place to talk about (not to be insanely obvious here…) books.  Because I like to read a book every year or so.  I promise I won’t give anything away (but, things happen).  And, there is a 76% chance that you’ll find this review a complete waste of time because you read the book 10 years ago.  Moving on.

*Can you believe how many books I’ve read lately?  I think it’s because I miss TV.

THE BOOK: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My thoughts (which most likely carry little to no influence): This book was recommended to me this summer by two people I only got to hang out with a few times, but wished I had a lifetime more to spend with them. They trucked it home to the Midwest but I am still holding out hope that they’ll move back to the mountains.

Since I was waiting for Cane River to dry up apparently, it took me almost half a year to honor their recommendation.  I can tell you now, I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long!  The premise of the book drops you into a futuristic society ruled by a cruel government; where the main attraction is the annual Hunger Games – in which girls and boys, in between the ages of 12 and 18, are forced to fight to the death.  Yeah.  It’s really really disturbing.  I busted through this book so fast that I gave myself situational hypertension.  It’s a good read.  It’s a TRILOGY so, of course I have the two other books on reserve at the library.  Another bonus?  It gave me a way to relate to my track kids since they’ve all read these books too.  It’s a nice change because normally they have a hard time wrapping their brains around the stuff I like to talk about (going to sleep before 9.30pm, health insurance woes, and granny panties).

Grade:  B+

My reasoning for the lower grade being, it’s a teen novel so the writing is simple.  More importantly, in my mind,  it just could have been so much better.  The latter part was a bit cheesy for my taste, and I came up with a bazillion better ways to end this bad boy that I drove myself mad.

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? For sho’.  I recommended it to Hubs and he devoured it faster than my homemade pumpkin bread (which, obviously, was not received well).

What I am reading now: I’m reading instructions on a box of hair dye, and am hopeful for fancy new highlights that look like they are worth more than the eight dollars I paid for them.

**I know I just published one of these Book Nooks last week.  Be patient, I’ve got really interesting, juicy, witty, meaty posts coming up.  Actually, that’s not true but I am trying to buy time is all until I come magically uncaged from blogger’s block.

The Book Nook is my little place to talk about (not to be insanely obvious here…) books.  Because I like to read a book every year or so.  I promise I won’t give anything away (but, things happen).  And, there is a 76% chance that you’ll find this review a complete waste of time because you read the book 10 years ago.  Moving on.

THE BOOK: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My thoughts (which most likely carry little to no influence): A wonderfully written novel about African American maids working in the south at the dawn of the Civil Rights Era; with stories and characters that warmed your heart and then ripped your right heart out.  The ending left me yearning some, but I don’t have much more to jabber about than that.  It’s a book that makes you wonder, given different circumstances, if you’d be the type to shrink away from doing what’s right and let the world go merrily along doused in its own viciousness, or would you be the one to take a stand and fight for decency, no matter the consequences?

Grade: A

Would I recommend it to a stranger on the bus (trying to make his way home)? YES, of course! Hubs is perusing its endearing pages as I type.  I can’t wait to finally see the movie.

What I am reading now: I sailed through the first book of The Hunger Games.  I’ve got the rest on hold (it’ll be a while until they turn up available) and in the meantime, I think I need to attend to the real and fake life (ahem, my blog) that I’ve checked out of to gobble up these past few recent reads…