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RE: Book Reviews - 2/2/2006 1:25:27 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx
30 year old Quoyle has been used and abused all this life. When his parents die, his boss fires him, and his cheating wife sells their children and then dies in a car accident, his new-found aunt convinces him that its time for him to start over at the family home in rural Newfoundland. Newfoundland is a place with a harsh past full of poverty, but he's welcomed by some of the locals and becomes a journalist writing the shipping news. He finally settles and learns more of his aunt and daughters.
Well written. The author used a style of writing which copies the brisk, no-nonsense speech of the residents. Some people don't like that. It did take me a bit to get used to it. I thought the first section which followed Quoyle's background to be the most maddening because Quoyle had no personality. Its hard to want to read a book about someone with no personality at all.
It does bring up subjects like incest and child abuse.
Grade: 8 Very well written, so much information about Newfoundland and many interesting people, but I couldn't move past the total passivity of the main character. He did evolve eventually but I rarely understood why.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 2/18/2006 11:20:56 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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The Man Women Loved--nonfiction about the life of Bror Blixen, husband of Karen Blixen writer of Out of Africa and friend of Beryl Markham writer of West with the Night
Interesting life and man. Definitely gave me more to think about. Not particularly well written. Author obvously adored Blix and sometimes makes excuses for him or glamorizes his life.
Grade: 4
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 2/19/2006 3:08:45 PM
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scoop001
Posts: 28
Joined: 2/15/2006
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I just finished re-reading The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Steven R Donaldson. It was one of my favorite series back when I first read it in the 80's, and it was as good as I remembered it. If you like fantasy series, I highly recommend it. I'd give it a 9.
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RE: Book Reviews - 2/25/2006 10:46:09 PM
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jastay3
Posts: 8
Joined: 2/24/2006
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Istanbul Intrigues by Barry Rubin
A fascinating history of diplomacy and covert operations in the Eastern Meditteranean during World War II. Gives a splendid overview of the labyrinthine politics of the region. Best of all it gives a grand feel for atmosphere and a poignant nostalgia for the old world that passed away in the greatest of great wars. Makes better reading then most novels.
Venice: A City, A Republic, an Empire by Alvise Zorzi
A descendant of Venetian nobility gives an unashamedly patriotic tour of the now extinct Venetian state. Given with superb anecdotes and descriptions, as well as photographs and paintings, in a grand coffeetable volume. Expensive but well worth it.
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RE: Book Reviews - 2/27/2006 11:11:53 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
I'm not going to make this a big review since Kristin already did it. It follows paralell lives. One life is a divorced, middle-aged historian with a crippling bone disease who is researching his semi-famous artist grandmother for a biographical novel. The other lives are those of his grandmother and grandfather who came west in the 1870s.
Kristin is right, the marriage portrayed in this novel is a wonderful complex picture. Neither of them is perfect, both love each other and must deal with each other. The ending was sad for me in some ways because it showed clearly how difficult marriage is. I was also impressed with the various levels to the novel and Stegner's commentary on the 60s.
I could see some men calling this a 'chick novel' because it deals almost exclusively with personalities and relationships, which makes me even more impressed that it was written by a man in 1970. Long and detailed. Pretty clean, although it does deal with attitudes toward sex in the victorian era vs. the 60s.
Grade: 9
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 3/22/2006 2:17:47 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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I think I've missed a few in here somewhere but I'll do a quick recap of what I remember.
Heart of the Sea: Voyage of the Whaleship Essex
Interesting recount of a whaler who was sunk by an enormous sperm whale in 1809 leaving the crew in open boats for 93 days. Herman Melville based some of Moby Dick on the story he heard from the first mate's son. The author does a great job introducing a wide variety of topics from the human response to starvation (a study done during WWII at the Univ of MN to prepare for dealing with refugees), to other shipwrecks, ecology, rascism, and Nantucket history. Sometimes it seemed a bit slow but it had me page-turning near the end.
Gr: 8
On Writing (Stephen King)
I've heard a lot of good things about this from writers (and in reviews) so I got it on FrugalReader. The largest section is an overview of King's life and writing influences. A smaller segment deals with writing craft (which I might be able to sum up with 'follow the story' and 'read . A final section dealt with his terrible accident in the late 90s and how writing and family has kept him together.
It was a fun and easy read. I found the biography interesting and the writing information either too generic or too specific to his style.
Gr: 7 If you don't like swearing...don't read. He also goes into his battle with alcohol and drugs.
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
A novel about the raising of an art genius in a Hasidic community in the 40s and 50s. I found the details of how Asher's gift unfolds to be amazing and very easy to read. As a tiny criticism, I found the artist creed of total expression of self and feelings no matter what the cost to be overdone. I don't think that was even possible until the last few centuries so I doubt it is necessary for true greatness. However, this book gave me a lot to think about.
Gr: 8.5
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 3/23/2006 7:59:15 AM
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ter
Posts: 155
Joined: 2/21/2006
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Check this out at Lulu.com that I have done my first book!
RUDIM THE PRIVATE DREAMER
by Henry Amaichigh
Description:
This is true short story but with few fiction about the half deaf Christian boy with secret gift of dreams that no one knew except his father and few of his relatives.
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RE: Book Reviews - 3/26/2006 3:03:12 AM
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jastay3
Posts: 8
Joined: 2/24/2006
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one fiction, one nonfiction
Fiction
The Chosen by Chaim Potek:
a coming of age story involving two Jewish boys in New York during wwii, one the son of a Zionist, the other the son of a Hassidic. They are strained by the quarrels between their fathers as well as the doubts that come in a world increaseingly hostile to faith. There are enough love stories. There aren't enough stories of friendship, and this is one of the best
Nonfiction
The Gurkhas by Bryan Farwell
Tells the story of the Nepalize soldiers that have served by tradition in the British Army for almost two hundred years. Recounts their "great deeds"
but also gives an idea of what the Gurkhas were like and how they lived as they marched to the ends of the earth in the service of a foreign Queen.
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RE: Book Reviews - 3/31/2006 12:30:37 PM
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gratefulforgrace
Posts: 195
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Near Spokane Washington
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I'm not sure how I got out of the habit of posting in this thread. I've read a number of books since my last entry but I'll just share the most recent:
The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry
I loved this book! I have always been interested in Russian history and really loved how this author combined true historical events with fictional events. A great read!
The book is sent in the years immediately following the fall of communism in Russia. The Russian people are starving and much of the country is being controlled by the mafia (sound familiar?). A vote is taken and the people decide to bring the Tsar back. A Tsarist Commision is called on to choose the person with the most direct bloodline to the last Tsar, Nicholas. This part isn't too far out of the realm of possibility. It was a Tsarist Commission that elected Michael Romanov (the first Romanov Tsar) after the Time of Troubles. Anyway, back to the story.
A group of interested parties gets together to try and buy the Tsarist Commission. They want to make sure that a man with some Romanov connections, Stefan Balankov is elected Tsar. Balankov has already agreed to do whatever the group getting him elected want and he has important ties to western businesses, etc. While researching in archives to bolster Balankov's claim, American lawyer Miles Lord discovers evidence that two Romanovs actually survived the massacre at Ekaterinburg.
The rest of the book follows Lord's investigation into the truth of those claims. This was such an interesting book, I highly recommend it!
Grade: A
_____________________________
Proud Follower of Christ
Wife of Chris
Mother of Helen and #2 due March 23!
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RE: Book Reviews - 4/17/2006 11:21:32 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichel
This is a autobiography of food critic and writer Ruth Reichel. I found this at Goodwill and read it in 2 days. It was very funny and chronicled her raising in the 50s and 60s and her major food influences and friends. It also includes recipes. There's a second one entitled Comfort Me with Apples which covers the beginning of her career as a food writer. I've heard parts of it read on NPR but I prefer this one. Her mother makes it much more madcap.
An enjoyable biography.
Grade: 8
Reichel is a child of the 60s so expect some of the usual 60s stuff as background.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 4/18/2006 11:02:29 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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*bumped for Ginny*
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 4/19/2006 7:50:11 PM
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GinnySmith
Posts: 4
Joined: 8/4/2005
From: Sometimes Utah, sometimes Kentucky
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
*bumped for Ginny*
Thanks, Tamara!
(I'm not in here yet, but I'll bookmark this topic!)
_____________________________
Virginia Smith
www.virginiasmith.org
JUST AS I AM, Kregel Publications, available now!
MURDER BY MUSHROOM, coming soon from Steeple Hill
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RE: Book Reviews - 4/20/2006 2:11:26 PM
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gratefulforgrace
Posts: 195
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Near Spokane Washington
Status: offline
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A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
This book was mention in the books that made an impact thread. It sounded interesting so I picked it up. I don't know why but for some reason I really love books about India. An author with talent who really knows the country can make me smell the curry and taste the daal. I love that.
Rohinton Mistry is one of the good ones. This book made me really feel like I was in the un-named city he writes about. I was ready to protest the injustices of the government. I wept for the lower-caste characters who were so badly treated by upper-caste neighbors. When people who were from diverse backgrounds finally began to understand each other, I felt like it was my own victory. Really, this was a great book. One caveat, it does not have a happy ending. If you need books with happy endings, don't read this one. If you like books that make you think and entertain you...this one's for you!
Grade: A+
_____________________________
Proud Follower of Christ
Wife of Chris
Mother of Helen and #2 due March 23!
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RE: Book Reviews - 4/20/2006 2:22:40 PM
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gratefulforgrace
Posts: 195
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Near Spokane Washington
Status: offline
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In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
I cannot recommend this to everyone. Certainly, many of you would not want to read it and I can totally understand that. I did enjoy it, though, so I want to review it...especially because this book has been getting a lot of press lately. This book is currently #24 on the NY Times list of hardcover books.
This book is about a courtesan, essentially a high class prostitute. The book opens with the sack of Rome in 1527 and the courtesan, Fiammenta and her dwarf companion Bucino, the narrarator of the story, are forced to flee the city. Fiammenta had been a very famous, very rich courtesan and fleeing the city looked to be her end. The two survive, though, with enough jewels to get them started again and set up a new life in Venice.
The story is beautifully written, woven through with historical figures and descriptions of 16th century Venice. It is lovely and grimy at the same time. Fiammenta is alternately sympathetic and damnable. Bucino is a pimp and philosopher. The characters are nicely fleshed out. Dunant is a genuinely interesting writer and I really enjoyed the book.
Grade: B+
Caveat: obviously, this is about a prostitute. There are various references to sex, some fairly graphic. This book is not for everyone.
_____________________________
Proud Follower of Christ
Wife of Chris
Mother of Helen and #2 due March 23!
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RE: Book Reviews - 5/17/2006 10:51:24 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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I know I've read 3 or 4 books since the last time I entered here.
Caves of Steel
and The Naked Sun both by Isaac Asimov
Part of the Robot trilogy (although I think there are 4 of them). I just heard in the Foundation thread that Asimov connected them to his other series when he was older.
Both stories follow murders far in Earth's future when Man has conquered the planets and then turned against those remaining at home. Earth becomes overcrowded, but in an efficient way. Men have created cities under the ground and a rigid hierarchy to feed everyone. Earthmen no longer are used to the open. Both stories deal with the murder of a 'spaceman' (or colonist) and are solved by an earth detective and a robot spaceman who looks exactly like anyone else.
The interesting thing in these stories is the examination of how mankind develops societies and then becomes trapped in them. The earthman is afraid of the sun and the open, but has to conquer his fear to solve the case. Another society is afraid of seeing other human beings. They live their lives through the viewscreen.
Interesting ideas. Simple detective plots. My husband burned through these. I was a bit slower.
Grade: 7.5
In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway
An early book of Hemingway's short stories. I connected with some of them. Others were a bit boring. All of them seemed perfect examples of the 'lost generation' that Hemingway was a part of. Worth a look.
Grade: 8.5
9 Stories by JD Salinger
9 of Salinger's best known short stories. Much better than Catcher in the Rye or Seymour(IMO). Salinger has certain types he recycles over and over (the precocious preteen girl and the funny 20ish guy) so often that you wonder if anyone's done some freudian analysis on him. He screams that he's smart and bored and we just don't understand him. However, his short stories are good. He's just charming enough to overcome his obviousness.
Grade: 8.5 over all...some stories would get an above 9 grade, some below 8
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 5/22/2006 2:47:44 PM
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natalia_russian
Posts: 1
Joined: 5/22/2006
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i want to read books in english.
would you like to send me electronic books to my email natalia_belova2006@yahoo.com
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RE: Book Reviews - 5/29/2006 10:14:29 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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Long Days Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill
There were some things I admired about this piece. The way we can love someone and still hurt them. The way the past is important to the present.
But, it didn't go anywhere. I didn't feel like much changed between the first scene and the last one. We understood the characters a bit better, but the things I understood in scene 5 were things I saw in scene 2.
Grade: 7
Land Girls by Angela Huth
British book in the style of Rosemund Pilchard and Maeve Binchey. Three girls become 'land girls' during WWII and keep their friendship over a lifetime. Spends a lot of time on romance. A LOT of time. And sex. Honestly I'm not sure why I kept reading this other than Ms Huth is a good writer and keeps the characters interesting and the tone pleasant. She was excellent at planting little clues about who was going to end up with whom and then twisting it a little. I was never sure.
Grade: 6.5
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 5/30/2006 6:59:28 PM
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Matt5verse6
Posts: 11
Joined: 5/22/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
This is a thread for reviews of the latest book you are reading.
Never Ceese by Sue Dent
quote:
*a summary of the plot/characters (without giving away major twists and turning points)
Cecilia "Ceese" is a werewolf who was cursed at conception and travels to be with her friend Penelope "Penny" Cromwell who lives with Richard, a vampire who was cursed when he was a young adult. Penny introduces the two of them before her death. After Penny's passing Ceese and Richard travel to New York to meet with Penny's granddaughter, Cassie, who is to help Ceese and Richard break their curses. The villian, Henderson, collects blood in search of re-creating the vampire curse so that he himself can become a vampire and is up to more no good which is not revealed until the next book. Questions arise throughout the story, some of which are answered in this book and others are left unanswered until the sequel Forever Richard. (www.neverceese.com)
quote:
*a description of the way it was written (genre, good dialogue, lots of description, stream-of-consciousness, tone, character development)
The author Sue Dent has a similar writing style to that of J.K. Rowling. Sue paints vivid pictures which resemble those in a movie. She shows you the story instead of just telling it to you.
quote:
*if it reminded you of another book you've read
The way that it is written reminds me of the Harry Potter series.
quote:
*a grade based on 1-10 (or A-F if you are more comfortable with that)
On a scale of 1-10 (#1 being the worst and #10 being the best) I give this book a 7 (seven).
_____________________________
~May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
~Matt5verse6 Ministry
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RE: Book Reviews - 5/31/2006 10:27:49 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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Thanks for joining us Matt5:6.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Reviews - 5/31/2006 10:39:30 AM
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gratefulforgrace
Posts: 195
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Near Spokane Washington
Status: offline
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The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
I have really enjoyed many of Jodi Picoult's books. I like the way she handles difficult topics from multiple viewpoints, it usually makes for very engaging reading. The Tenth Circle wasn't quite as good as her other books. I really want to emphasize how much I usually enjoy her books...I think this is going to be a pretty negative review but don't take that to mean that all Picoult books should be avoided, that's just not the case!
The Tenth Circle is the story of Trixie Stone. The book opens with some discussion of her relationship with her father, Daniel. Daniel is a comic book artist who took a slower than usual career path so he could stay at home and care for Trixie. Daniel's wife and Trixie's mother, Laura, is a professor at the local university with a speciality in Dante. On the surface they seem like a normal, well adjusted family who made the choices that worked best for them.
As the plot unfolds we are introduced to Jason Underhill, the boy who just broke up with Trixie. Trixie is devastated and follows Jason around asking him why he doesn't want to be with her anymore. Trixie and her best friend hatch a plan to get Jason back. The plan involves a party, the rainbow game, and, hopefully, making Jason so jealous that he immediately takes Trixie back. Things don't go the way Trixie and her friend plan and Trixie goes home at the end of the party and accuses Jason of rape.
The rest of the story details reactions to the rape accusation. Did Jason really do it? Is Trixie a tramp? Why did her father allow her to go to the party at all? Where was her mother when all this happened? Is it rape if the no is never verbalized? Is it rape if the victim had said yes during previous encounters? These are just some of the questions this book asks.
Unfortunately, the end is predictable and, really, unnecessary. Lives are ruined and the big questions are never really addressed. The book is muddled with discussions of a parent's affair and a teen's cutting problem. There is never any real resolution.
Grade: C (and that's being generous)
_____________________________
Proud Follower of Christ
Wife of Chris
Mother of Helen and #2 due March 23!
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RE: Book Reviews - 6/3/2006 7:42:04 PM
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sdent1
Posts: 2
Joined: 9/10/2005
Status: offline
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Hey, Brook!! Saw your review and couldn't resist.  Just wanted to let you know I will be doing the booksigning in Lafayette LA. June 29th at Lillys for Book's bookstore. I'm working to get to California. *fingers crossed* I swear I'm gonna make it before the end of the summer if it kills me. Thanks so much for the review!!!!
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RE: Book Reviews - 6/7/2006 9:54:39 AM
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Auben
Posts: 1146
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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Stolen Lives: 20 years in a desert jail by Malika Oufkir
The true story of a Moroccan woman who was raised in the palace with the princess, but who's family was punished for the 1972 coup her father planned against the king. Interesting in its look at Moroccan royalty and customs and in their eventual escape plan. Does become a bit boring on all the parts in between. I felt the author was giving herself so much of the credit for her families survival and education. For all of her skills the writing was occasionally repetitive and she could not express how things became worse because everything was terrible, even something as simple as normal incarceration.
Grade: 6.5
Always Coming Home by Ursual LeGuin
I love Ursula LeGuin. I really wanted to like this. It follows the story of a little girl who is the product of two peoples; one the peaceful, liberal Indian-like community of the valley, the other the monotheistic, woman-hating warmongers. If you read that last line you might start to see the obvious political/religious set up here. Still, I continued reading. I know she's liberal but she usually gives her the ideas a complexity which refuses to create a villain.
It doesn't get any more complex. Great amounts of detail were put into this novel. It contains the alphabet of a new language, new words, customs, poetry, myths, such a wealth of detail which immediately remind you of Tolkein and the fact that her father was a anthropologist. It was billed as a mulimedia novel because it came with a tape or CD of music LeGuin wrote and recorded (I only have the novel). Its filled with her drawings. She obviously took much time and effort with it.
However, its not worth the read. The plot is an obvious left versus right (even if its in the future) stereotype. LeGuin is creating her perfect world much like the novel Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy. The perfect world where couples only have 1 or 2 children (the rest are aborted), sex is free, women have homes while men just move between them based on family ties, euthanasia is practiced, homosexual marriage, perfect equality between the sexes, technology is known but not used, wealth is based on how much you give in a communal system.
Grade: 5, not badly written (although the poetry is boring and long) but too simplistic and obvious in its plotline
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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