2007 Reads

I thought it might be fun to keep track of my reading here. I will try and include brief reviews of each book. I do have a hard time with brevity though.    ;-D

JANUARY

 The Red Tent: Anita Diamant

This book I loved. It was quite different than I expected - I only had read one fictional Biblical story, Mary, before and I did not really like it. The Red Tent I found to be a celebration of women, family and ceremony.

Until the last section of the book - which even though it takes place in Egypt (which I am quite fond of) was dull, plodding and pervasively negative.

On the whole I would thoroughly recommend this book - even to people who have not read, or dislike the Bible. This story is quite divergent from the Biblical account in a way that is still plausible and ultimately sadder.

FEBRUARY

Sunshine: Robin McKinley

A quick read that contains everything  a great fantasy novel should - mysterious and appealing man/hero, discovery of hidden magical talents, a powerful nemesis, conflict between real world-secret world. Oh. And vampires. I do like vampires.

This book fell short of my expectations though. There was so much time spent describing cinnamon buns that whenever I think of Sunshine they are what I think of. The book did lead me to experiment with some online recipe sites - but as a novel it was only so-so.

I was disappointed to read that there will not be a sequel, because by the end of the book the characters had finally begun to be relatable (is that a word?) and had my sympathy. Too bad. There is however, going to be a movie…starring Cillian Murphy. Yay!
eta: Same title - different story. Boo, hiss! Still maybe there will be a movie. Someday.

Twilight

Another vampire story - this one written for young adults. While I didn’t finish this book, I thought it was quite well written and the characters were likable. I simply ran out of time to finish it.

MARCH

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter: BC selection

Oh boy. This was the first selection of our new book club. What a disappointment. It was another quick read, but it was lacking so much. None of the characters generated any response from me. On the whole I felt indifferent towards the storylines - and I do mean plural! That was the largest problem with this book - there were far too many storylines, most of which were not followed through to any conclusion, or even long enough to let the reader learn why they were pursued at all.  eg. The son has a girlfriend for about 1 chapter and later a character of 2 paragraphs comments that ‘of course they broke up, she was a flautist’ - what?? why??

It felt like the editor was a close friend of the novelist and afraid to advise her honestly. A real shame, because the premise was indeed interesting. The storyline concerning the fight for inclusion of Down’s Syndrome children was one that held great promise but, like most of the storylines, it was glossed over in a few glib sentences.

The time disconnect was also a problem. Between chapters there were jumps of time from 2 weeks to 12 years with no discernible pattern or logic behind the passage of time.

I particularly find it distracting to read a story that repeats itself. In this book’s case an infants hands are described as resembling stars not once, not twice, but 3 times! The only other time I have experienced this is in reading Dean Koontz (a good friend of mine loves his work and has persuaded me to read not a few of his books). His protagonists tend to be adults abused as children who just happen to wear Rockport Walking Shoes. Okaaaaay.

I digress. Even though this book is on a lot of Must-Read lists - leave it on the shelf!

APRIL

Girls: Fredrick Busch

Even though there were no surprises plot-wise, this was a fair read. Again, I didn’t connect with any of the characters and therefore am a little indifferent to the conclusion of the novel. Wow - is it just me? I hope to find a book that moves me soon. I might have to worry about myself…

The most interesting thing about this story is the juxtaposition of the finale and the introductory chapter. That does not say alot for the story itself does it?

The dog is really the only likeable presence and he/she is used pretty heavy handedly as a narrative device. The aged-ness of the dog is a background stressor - I kept waiting for the inevitable vet emergency. Lucky dog! Made it alive to the end.

The Persian Pickle Club: BC Selection

An utterly forgettable read. The characters blur together, the plot is a mish-mash of made-for-tv-movies and Fried Green Tomatoes. It is set during the Dirty Thirties - and there is a much superior book you could read instead: The Grapes of Wrath.

MAY

Truth and Beauty - A Friendship: Ann Patchett

What can I say about this achingly beautiful book? A tribute to love and true friendship. An engrossing and overwhelming read. Harrowingly honest, unflinchingly real. I was not prepared for the ending. I thought I knew the ending when I began, but I did not. I wish I was better able to put into words my response to this book. I am going to need more time.

JUNE

Three Day Road: BC Selection

I had taken this book out of the library before. And not read it. I had started, but it made my stomach ache. It was too upsetting - I have far too vivid an imagination, and have seen too many war movies (as great as they were, films like Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Full Metal Jacket and Band of Brothers have left me haunted by war and the heavy, heavy price that is paid in human lives) to be read it since most of my reading time is right before bed these days - what with all the knitting.

So I inwardly groaned when this was the selection for the Book Club. I picked it up and yes, my stomach ached and yes, I had some restless nights (seriously, so sensitive these days) but I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.

It is a fantastic book. Sweeping between WWI frontlines in France to late 1890’s First Nations in Ontario. The circular path of the 2 stories is profoundly moving and engrossing. At times harrowing, heartwrenching, nauseating and also laugh out loud funny. This book is one I heartily reccommend, and one I am sure I will enjoy re-reading.

We are All Welcome Here

I am a total sucker for Elizabeth Berg. Her writing is captivating to me. I love that her main characters are these intrinsically good and decent people. I find her books reassuring - her characters always feel like old friends from their first words.

This book is set in the 1960’s during the Civil Rights movement and tells of the affect this has on a young girl, her mother and her mother’s caretaker. A beautiful novel about the triumph of the human spirit and the need for all of us to stand tall and protect the dignity and rights of others.

JULY

Hamlet’s Dresser - A Memoir

The story of a disconsolate boy who finds relief, acceptance and escape through the words and works of William Shakespeare. A recounting of his youth is interspersed with the reading he does with elder fans of Shakespeare. Though this story is heavily steeped in pathos (somtimes indulgently so) there are some moments of pure joy and laughter with his octogenarian friends.

Given the furor over memoirs in the last year, I did approach this book with a degree of skepticism - even though I was captured within the first paragraph. I did find that Bob Smith might have portrayed himself a little too ideally - the book contains a lot of shame but no real errors or mistakes are shared. Though in saying that, I just realized that the whole book is the story of his greatest mistake. The character flaw that haunted him like one of Shakespeare’s Ghosts - I won’t say anymore, don’t want to give it all away. 

I was rather surprised by how markedly absent sex was - this book did mainly focus on his late teens and early 20’s {could be the result of his strong Catholic upbringing, including pressure to enter the priesthood} so it seems particularly odd. Perhaps too, it is generational? He is in his 80’s I believe.

Nevertheless, I finished this book in no time (for me these days that is one week! - sad isn’t it?) and thought about it throughout my day. If you are a lover of words, or Shakespeare, as I am - this book is well worth a read. Now having whet my appetite for Shakespeare I am off to watch Hamlet and am planning to read The Taming of the Shrew before I see it next month — ooh, Bard on the Beach!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

This is by far my favourite book of the series.

Finally, Harry grows up. I was having a very hard time with him when he was doubting Dumbledore. “Surely even great people make mistakes?” was what I was thinking. I was nearly deliriously frustrated that Harry could not see that on his own.

Oh, oh, oh. I was heartbroken when Dobby died. And then Fred. Those laughing, light hearted twins to be seperated for so long. I was glad that he got to be reunited with Percy before the end, but it was little comfort. Boy we had to wait a long time for Percy’s return!

The saddest for me was Snape’s memories. The heartbreak and loneliness he endured for all his life! Always misunderstood. How perfectly dreadful. Yet somehow I missed what was behind this: His last words: “Look at me.” He wanted to see Lily’s eyes one last time before dying. I was always sure that he loved Lily and still I missed the significance of that ( thank you Just a Knit Wit). That chapter had me crying and crying - when he declared that he loved her ‘always’. I really wish that he had been among those summoned by the Ressurection Stone - he was one of Harry’s best protectors. {I do think my sock pattern selection for my Severus Snape yarn was most fitting: Gentleman’s Fancy. Insightful choice, if I may say so myself. Cheeky aren’t I?}

Then Tonks and Lupin both. And Colin Creevey.

I studiously avoided all spoilers on and offline all these years - still predicted: Harry was the 7th Horcrux, he would survive (though sometimes I doubted…)Snape was good, good, good and loved Lily, Dumbledore was not finished as a main character though he was dead, sympathy for Malfoy would be significant to Harry’s survival (rather like Bilbo Baggins and Gollum that){do any of us think Narcissa would have lied if Harry told her Draco was dead?}, Dumbledore’s brother would be revealed and be a player in the conclusion, Kreacher would be redeemed and the tiara on the dummy was going to be important — that last one, I have no idea why but when it was mentioned in Book 6 it really stuck with me and came back as soon as, first Fleur’s, and then Xeno’s, tiaras were mentioned, weird hey?

There could be more but I was awake most of the night reading. I didn’t get home from holiday until very early Monday morning and had to finish reading before I go back to work tomorrow.

I really wanted an update in the conculsion for Luna. And I depserately wish to know who is Headmaster now - and why Severus’ portrait was not in the Office when Harry went there either time. It seems to me that Dumbledore’s portrait was there instantaneously (I am sure by magic). Now I have to fight the desire for JKR to write more, anything about this magical world. (did read at the HP Lexicon that she will one day write an Encyclopedia!) It makes me a little queasy with sadness to think it is all finished though. Sigh.

I was wondering what took so long for the 4 to start having children? Were they rounding up Death Eaters for Azkaban? Establishing rights for other Magical Creatures - like House Elves, Centaurs and Goblins? Rebuilding?

I did like the nod to Ron’s crush on Rosemerta that his daughter was named Rosie - but found it a little oversentimental that Harry’s children were named Lily and James (and that they both were described like their namesakes). Albus Severus and Harry’s private exchange with him broke my heart. What a wonderful father.

I could go on and on I am sure but I won’t. I found it exciting that so much new lore and magic was ‘discovered’ in this last book. Getting to know more of Dumbledore was a thrill. I loved his exchange with Harry in King’s Cross Station - especially the laugh they shared. What will I read to possibly compare with this?

Water For Elephants

I really enjoyed this book. I had no expectations, in fact I rather thought it was going to be about India from the title. Instead I found a thoroughly engrossing tale set in the 1930’s, Depression Era, about the people and animals who were a part of a floundering Train Circus.

Never really a fan of Circus’, I sympathized with the protagonist’s pain/connection with the caged animals (my dread of caged animals is likely why I have never made it through Life of Pi despite all the raving readers who try to convince me I will Love It if I try again) and some of the equally trapped performers and workmen. This theme of confinement is carried throughout the book as the setting alternates between the circus and an ‘assisted living’ home for seniors where individuals disappear behind the masks of patients.

A thought provoking book and one I recommend.

AUGUST

I didn’t read anything this month! Isn’t that terrible? All of that time off and I squandered it with family, friends, Sudoku and Logic Puzzles. Hardly any knitting either.

SEPTEMBER

Pope Joan: BC Selection

A fictionalized biography of a woman who passed as a man well enough to become Pope of the Catholic Church. I really enjoyed reading this book - it was not without its flaws. Joan’s relationship with Gerold was painfully idealized - every choice she made to not be with him only made him love her more: Puh-lease!

I found the honest expose of Church violence, corruption and greed refreshing - at least that wasn’t idealized. It is truly shocking to read historic views of women. For example scholars thought that the condition of a woman’s mind was directly related to the size of her uterus and so if you taught her, she may become infertile. I cannot even begin to comprehend what it must have been like to live in such conditions. The filth alone would make me crazy - but being viewed as property less valuable than livestock!

It did make me pause to consider what tremendous work women have faced (and do face in many lands) to attain human dignity - the courage and the moral stamina it would require. Annnd all these centuries later here I sit reading novels and blogging. :-) Well, I do work with children….

The Year of Pleasures

Another Elizabeth Berg book. I borrowed this from the onboard library. This was a hard one for me to get into - I think it took until about pg.100 for me. Not a typical experience for me - usually I love her books and connect right away with the characters.

This novel felt like filler. The characters were indistinguishable from previous stories, everything fell into place far too easily. In short it was not believable. That is not always a failing for fiction but in this case it really was.

By the last few chapters I was almost invested. I should have just stuck with Pope Joan.

Amsterdam

Hmmm…prize-winning novelist. Tragic death. Political scandal. Serial rapist. All things you might expect to create a gripping story. Well…I guess it was gripping, I read it in a day. Mostly becuase I kept expecting something that never came.

This book was a letdown. I hear about the brilliance of this author all of the time. After reading this I am not sure why. The characters were detestable. The story was like a Jack-in-the-box - jerkily making its way to a conclusion that is no surprise.

Don’t let the rave reviews fool you - leave it on the shelf.

OCTOBER

Never Let Me Go - BC Selection

I was so disappointed in this book.
It was my selection and I loved Remains of the Day. I think I was expecting too much.

The very things I detested about this read however, are likely what made it so well reviewed. I found the writing paralleled the lives of the characters too closely.

Pointless. Frustratingly dull. Filled with the insipid quarrels and hierarchies of teens - that I don’t find interesting in real life, let alone fiction.

I’d read about twists and surprising developments but I didn’t find any. I don’t want to divulge any of them here but seriously: no surprises. No developments of any kind.

My opinion was in the minority at our bc meeting and while I recognize that it successfully conveyed the feeling of arrested development, or wasted opportunity I do not recommend this book at all. I was wishing for my time back.

The Sparrow

I love this book! Riveting, impossible to leave behind and so thought provoking it sometimes made my head swim. Yay!

On the surface, this was a book I would not choose: Sci-fi, space travel with some fairly stilted dialogue at times. But it was on the award winning list so I gave it a chance and I am so happy that I did.

A scorching look at mankinds relationship with religion and God and the quest to find purpose in life. The author created a complex set of characters and then placed them side by side with the equally complex inhabitants of an alien world.

Moving back and forth between the events themselves, and the shattered remnants of the only survivor to the mission, this book was an incredible read. I am still finding imagery, language and entire scenes with me 2 months later.

Hamlet - Audiobook: 2003

Eek. There is only so much rising above that is possible. Shakespeare’s language is so beautiful, that generally I can ignore poor acting but with an audiobook…not so much.

The actor reading Hamlet’s role had a voice like Stewie.  More than  a little distracting.

Laertes was quite good, something not typical, which made me rethink his role in the play somewhat.

November

Thousand Splendid Suns

I.Hated.This.Book.

Hated. It lurched from tragedy to tragedy with perhaps 2 reprieves for some 8 audiodiscs! Dreadful, horrifying, sadistic and systematic breakdown of human rights (specifically those of women) played out against the backdrop of a country in  political upheaval.

Wartime was no different from peacetime - indiscriminate bombs still butchered the innocent.

I know this is a work of fiction but it so closely mirrors life, the conclusion of the book was set in 2005, with the characters returning to Kabul to rebuild. The news the morning after finishing this book was that the Taliban and their bombs were likely to reach Kabul within 2 months. Shortly after that report, news from Ontario of a 16 yr old girl murdered by her father for not wearing a hijab.

I read a review of this book where a reader said it made him want to visit Kabul. I am incredulous! What could possibly appeal?

The only thing I can say about this book is that it certainly makes you feel — oh, I was talking back to the people in my car (doesn’t put you in a good space on your way to work, let me tell you). There was one heart rending moment near the end that was truly beautiful - but of course tragic because the person who had suffered wrong was dead and could never know.  Also, there was a character who I misunderestimated. I dismissed him as a callous, cowardly bully and didn’t credit him with the ability to reason or plan in advance.

The only thing I know for sure after reading this is that I am never reading The Kite Runner.

The Handmaid and the Carpenter: Audiobook

I had no idea what this book was about when I got it, but I really like Elizabeth Berg, so I borrowed it no-questions-asked. Turned out to be a pre-Jesus Mary meets Joseph story.

It is an interesting premise, Joseph struggling to accept Mary’s miraculous pregnancy. But listening to this right after Splendid Suns left me very intolerant of systems that require women to be subservient to men. While Mary initially bucked this mindset - an encounter with a potentially dangerous man convinced her that women should not think or act independently.

Ugh. The relationship between her and Joseph vacillated between saccharine sweet and disdain - personally, I have a hard time believing you can love one another when you disrespect each other so.

Aside from the odd details about everyday life and travel at that time, this was not something I enjoyed. It did give me something to think about during my commute to work - but, I would rather sing a long to some great music!

December

Still Summer

Hmmmmm…what to say about this book. Well, I read it overnight. So I guess it was engrossing. Sort of.

Let me just say that one of the reviews on the back declared: This launches a new genre - Chick Noir.

Uh-yeah. Not really. And maybe that is something we should be thankful for. Honestly, chick noir.

So this is a formulaic story, 4 best friends from High School, reuniting on a vacation. Then one can’t make it and a daughter comes instead - ooh, she’s adopted - who could her real mother be? Could she be one of the other 3? The one who matches her physical description exactly? Dunh-dunh-duhhhhhh!

But really - so they set off for a 2 week cruise onboard a guided catamaran and through a series of accidents they are soon struggling for their lives and struggling through their relationships with one another.

It did move along fairly quickly once they finally got onboard, there were some truly eye rolling developments, but it was still interesting. There was one surprise - the end was not a complete cliche, and it wasn’t entirely tidy.

Not a bad book - but not great either.

Children of God

Brilliant followup to The Sparrow. I devoured this book! It is a rare thing that a sequel is as good as its predecessor. This might have even been better.

The sole survivor of the original mission to Rakhat returns and finds a world vastly different from the one he left. His journey, and the journey of those left behind are harrowing but ultimately hopeful.

Heady with politics, the question of God and the struggle for faith, this novel was one I finished with regret. Regret that it was over.

I did read that she is writing a new book though - I’ll be waiting for it.

Be the Pack Leader

Ok, so this is a dog training book - but hey, I read it.

Interesting, but a little overkill on the supporting stories/examples. I have seen this man’s show once or twice and he truly has a gift. I was looking for a little more instruction than this book offered but it was insightful.

As I’ve always said, the dog doesn’t need training we need training. It has stressed me out a little to read that things I thought were about Kira’s personality are actually signs of emotional instability - like jumping and dancing when I come home.

I’ve already started to be consistent with rules (like her needing to be on her chair while we eat) and routines (the walking and who goes out/in the door first). I’m trying to examine myself to see how I am contributing/setting up my dog for emotional instability - I really do treat her like a person and apparently that is stressful for a dog. Sigh. I thought I was being nice.

Anyways, I’m going to check out his first book and see if it offers more guidance on how to treat your dog like a dog - this one was more of the why. I get that - now I just need to know how to do it.

Steve and Me

This book was much better than I expected - it wasn’t gooey emotion, hero worship or desperately sad - all of which I was a little afraid of.

It is really a celebration of Terri’s life with Steve and of Steve’s life. He is irreplacable. The last 2 chapters were hard to read - I knew where we were headed. What a gift his children had in him. A dedicated, loving father who taught by example how to live in this world and how to be caretakers of the wildlife in it.

This was a day’s read and it left me with a deeper respect for the work Terri has and does do, for the animals in her Zoo and the world at large. It is not an easy thing to be in the eye of the media - I hope people respect the work that she is doing with her children, and that her children are doing.

The Film Club

Quite an interesting read. I heard about this on the CBC (let me tell you, if I had enough time - that station would have me reading all sorts of things!) but had missed the title. As luck would have it, I overheard a conversation at a coffee shop (I’m good at that!) about the very same book. And then - there it was, resting on a display shelf at the Library.

I vaguely remember David Gilmour as a movie critic on late night CBC television - or was it guesting on Bravo? I found him a little irritating (like all critics sometimes they are so intent on their own speeches, the movie gets left behind a little — well, or people blogging like they are book critics ) but did agree with his opinions for the most part.

This book - an account of the 2.5 years he spent watching movies with his teenage son as part of an agreement they made so he could drop out of school - is startlingly real. It is honest, brave, vulnerable, laugh out loud funny, sad and beautiful.

I think that this same idea could be used between parent and child without the mitigating circumstances - it was a profound way for them to connect. I was a little surprised at how few of these films his son had seen, especially given his father’s link to cinema, because they mostly watched a pretty strong set of movie greats.

It also got me thinking about movie choices I would make - and not a few of them were the same - what they would say about me and my personal outlook on life, the world, relationships and the art of film making.

Oddly enough, I found myself thinking of True Romance quite often - and wondering why he hadn’t chosen to show it, or if he just hadn’t mentioned it. Something about the values in his movie selections and their themes/messages resonated and that film kept coming to mind. (I haven’t seen it in 6 or 7 years, but I’m going to be making a trip to the video store soon) Then right before the end - they did watch it together.

Just for fun, the list of movies mentioned in the book are listed in the back.

One thing I have to say - I was a little concerned by how much drinking played almost as large a part as movies in this book. Eek. Sounded like a bit of a problem - but maybe I just don’t drink much?