Elizabeth Dean
This book is worth reading, if, like me, you have always wondered about the story. I wish I had read it as a kid; I think I would have enjoyed it more when I was going through my Stephen King phase at age 12 or so. My book club read it, and there are a lot of things I think we can discuss: How dated is this book? What is wrong with Stephen King's post apocalyptic vision (I just think the social structure is farfetched), how has this book affected stories in its wake (Lost, for one seems heavily influenced by it). And is he saying he believes in God and the Devil as portrayed in this book? Overall, however, it was a disappointment. So many people have read it; I just thought it was going to be a more captivating story. Instead it mostly dragged.
This book is really two books in one. The first half, about the author's troubled youth and his burgeoning interest in falconry, is fascinating. It's the kind of thing where you wonder, how do kids ever get interested in this? I learned that falconers/hawkers actually take baby hawks from the nest, a little upsetting when you think of how protective mama sparrows are of their babies. The second half is about his contemporary falconry and travels - that half is a snoozer! All it is is lists of locations and names of falconers and their birds. The first is definitely worth reading though.
This book is truly amazing, and it has really got me thinking. Shane Claiborne is part of a collective in Philadelphia that aims to live like Jesus and like early Christians. They keep their doors open and share everything with everyone. Their one goal (besides loving God) is to build community ties amongst their neighbors - poor people, homeless people, prostitutes, drug addicts in the area of Philly where they live. If Jesus were alive today, they argue, he would be loving as many poor, sick, confused and wretched people he could find. Not necessarily the people you worship with or commune with on a daily basis. He argues against charity (which maintains distance between people who give and the people who receive) and for love. Just getting to know poor people. Just acknowledging them as human and making eye contact with them. Breaking bread with them. When you love others like this, Claiborne says, you learn what God really is, the one body or whole that we are all a part of. I'm oversimplifying it and making it rosier than it is. But it's a great book and I'm going to keep thinking about it.
In Durham, we have a community that lives like this called Rutba house, named after a town in Iraq. Their website is newmonasticism.org.
I am allowing myself to let this one go. I lost the book halfway through reading it last summer. Then found it 4 months later, zipped in to the “secret” compartment in my briefcase. I tried picking it up again but just didn't care. So I'm setting it free now. I guess I'm more Team Foer than Team Krauss.
This book is not bad, but not truly remarkable either. It's the same basic Cinderella story-with-a-twist that is good fodder for book clubs. Compare to Memoirs of a Geisha and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Completely likable. I did enjoy the character's journey, the complicated nature of her Uncle's love for her, and the historical details about 17th century Persia.
OK this is the second time I've tried to read this book and I just cannot get into it. I really want to be a person who loves Victorian suspense. So someday I will make an attempt at Wilkie Collins and the like, but Dracula just doesn't appeal to me. As vamps go, I'll take Angel, Spike, or even Edward Cullen any day over the original.
Seriously disturbing!! I had no idea. I cannot get over how this book is, to quote Neela, “domestic violence city.” It is all a metaphor for an abusive relationship, down to the victim having to alter her behavior (basically restrain her sexual desire) so she doesn't provoke the violence (blood lust) in her boyfriend. God there's some archaic biblical views of womanhood in here too, with the female's primary role as temptress. This book is like a train wreck you can't turn away from. I am going to read every single one of them too.
Now that I've got a toddler and have revisited all my old Dr. Seuss books, I've come to the decision that this is my favorite picture book of all. I love rhythm, the rhyme, the pictures. Best of all is the philosophy, “try it you may like it!” or just simply “be open, welcoming and tolerant.” A great lesson to teach your kids. Plus, the end when he tries and likes green eggs and ham – it's a a moment as joyful and wondrous as Scrooge celebrating on Christmas morning. Love it and love reading it aloud. The other day, I had the pleasure of hearing my kid “reading” this book on his own in his crib: “I am Sam. I am Sam. On a train! In the dark! In a tree!” It was the best.
The most fascinating points of this book are the details of Obama's family structure and his coming of age and awareness of his roots. I love how the narrative depicts a learning process and maturation. What I find most appealing about this man (as candidate or as writer) is his earnestness. Despite his sophistication, I really believe that he operates out of a genuine hope and desire to bring people together, to reconcile diverse viewpoints. Obviously, his background makes him uniquely suited to do this.
I am SO enjoying women's fiction these days. This is a nice (if a bit long) story about a woman who comes back home to an island off South Carolina to reconnect with her mother and her roots. And get a new man, of course. Perfectly pleasant. Why is it the women in the smart (I mean literary, NYT reviewed, etc.) books can't get their “stuff” together and the characters in women's fiction make tremendous sense?
POTENTIAL SPOILERS.
Up until the last 3 chapters, I would have said it was my favorite book ever. I was completely stunned by the quotidian detail, the voices of the 3 main characters, the unconventional frankness about desire and sex, and the non-punishing, non-judging attitude the author has toward her characters. However I felt at the end that she did tend toward judgment and a sort of punishment. Or maybe not. Still processing this one, really and plan to revise this review later.
