Sayuri is sold as a child to become a geisha because of her extraordinary eyes. At first, this is not what she wants, and she squanders her time, and it would appear her opportunity. It is only after meeting and becoming drawn to a gentleman that she takes becoming a geisha seriously. Taken under another geisha's wing, she regains her opportunities and begins her training once more, this time taking it seriously. During the years that follow, she rises among the geisha to become one of the most renowned, survives war, and eventually comes to the United States as the mistress of the man she loves.
Impression: I've wanted to read this for some time and only recently picked it up. I'm not, however, as impressed as everyone seems to think I should be. The story is interesting, the characters are intriguing, the culture fascinating, and the book is a quick read, but it's not one of the best books I've read. Whole the author does use some neat descriptive phrases, overall the writing felt a bit flat to me. I am a very visual reader, and much of this I couldn’t visualize well. The story was enjoyable, I just don't feel it's as fantastic as everyone else seems to think it is. Would I read it again? Probably. Like I said, it's interesting, but the story is very straightforward and I doubt there are nuances that I missed the first time around, and I personally love books that you can discover and rediscover with every reading. Memoirs is not one of those books.
Written by a parent of an autistic child, Living to Live with High functioning Autism explores the experiences of a family with an autistic child and uses those experiences to advise both professionals and other families. The book draws on the family's personal experiences, the experiences of others, and the comments of autistics themselves.
Impression: While there were many good things about the book and I did learn a few things i didn't know, the book didn't address the concerns I had picked it up for: what to expect and how to deal with an autistic child going into puberty. Much of the "advice" was too general to be useful. And too much of the advice seemed geared to changing the systems that are supposed to help families with an autistic member than to learning how to manage our situations now. While I understand we need to educate those who work with autistics, what I was looking for was a book that could help me deal with upcoming events in my own son's life, something to help me know what to expect. I also think for professionals that much of the material in the book would be things they know - that autism is lifelong, that autistics need individual solutions, and so on. Overall, I found the book to be less useful for me than for other professionals, but probably not all that useful for the professionals either.
Miyax has fled her Eskimo village into the wilderness in an attempt to find her way to San Francisco. When she gets lost, she learns the ways of the wolf through a small pack, and finds some sense of acceptance from them. They, and the memories of her life before her father's death, help her survive as she crosses the Alaskan wilds. But when she reaches civilization and her pack leader is shot for sport, not even the discovery that her father is alive is enough to keep her there.
Impression: When I read the author's brief bio on the back cover of this book, it was no surprise to discover that she's a researcher and observer of nature. The "story" read more as an attempt to wrap fiction around a report on living in the Alaskan wilds. The book honestly raised on my literary analysis hackles, annoyed me as a reader, and frustrated me as a writer.
The short, choppy sentences have little to do with the main character's age or point of view, and made reading very difficult. There's a "let's learn about this" feel to the writing, and constant, out of character exposition on Alaska and living in the wilderness that make it very dull reading. Unnecessary and intermittent verb shifts were jarring as well. And the naturalistic message at the end - that civilization is corrupting and living close to nature no matter the cost (or age) is preferred - was heavy-handed, annoying, and insulting. This could have been a wonderful story. The author's choices in the telling, however, have made it into one I can't recommend to anyone.
Karana, a young native girl, lived in the valley of Ghalas-at on the Island of the Blue Dolphins until misfortune struck her people. First come the Aleuts and their treacherous, Russian leader who refuses to honor his bargain and ends up killing most of the men in the village. Then comes a ship with white sails, sent by the village chief to collect the rest of the Ghalas-at people and take them to a new home. When Karana's brother disobeys and misses the ship so that he can collect his spear, Karana flings herself into the ocean and swims to the island so she can keep her brother safe until the ship returns for them. The next day he is killed by a pack of wild dogs and Karana is left to wait alone. She waits, season after season, and learns to survive. She builds shelter, makes and learns how to use weapons that were forbidden to the women of her people, gathers food, and protects herself from the pack, growing into a strong young woman through it all.
Impression: I think I read this story as a child as well - the story seemed familiar enough. Whatever my reaction then, I enjoyed it as an adult. One of the things I liked in particular was the voice of the narrator. The story is told from Karana's point of view and it comes off very believably. O'Dell writes in the voice of a young, native girl, strengthening the point of view and drawing the reader further into the story itself. The tale is simple, a fictional biography of a woman who really lived at one time, but its simplicity works because it draws the reader further into Karana's head, and thus further into the story. The point of view, voice, and simple style all become interwoven and strengthen each other, which is what they should do. Thus, Island of the Blue Dolphins becomes a well-crafted, enjoyable read for all ages.
Four youngsters - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - are sent into the English countryside during the war to protect them from air raids. In this rambling house, they find an empty room with a wardrobe that leads to the magical land of Narnia. A Witch rules this land and keeps it locked in a winter where neither Christmas nor spring ever come. Betrayed by Edmund and aided by the wondrous lion, Aslan, they contend for the freedom and peace of this beautiful and magical place.
Impression: I remember reading and adoring this book as a child. As an adult, especially one who's gone through literary analyses classes (much to my own detriment, I admit), the experience was much different. This is not to say it wasn't good, but I wasn't as enthralled as I was as a child. Children love the storyteller style Lion is written in, but adults would rather get lost in the story and not be intruded upon by authorial insertions and asides.
Lion will remain one of those timeless, classic stories for children (words I have never expected to use for any book - literary analyses classes tend to make you dislike the words 'timeless, classic'). The story is good versus evil but with children and animals as the heroes, which would highly appeal to the young. It's told in a straightforward, simple manner that's easily understood by children and without the complexity of plot and character usually appreciated by adults. All in all, a wonderful story for children, one to be read by or to them complete with a variation of voices to bring it alive.
Dresden has been spending every moment searching for a cure for his girlfriend's near vampirism, letting everything else fall by the wayside. Then it rains frogs and the White Council comes to town. Dresden's on trial and the only way to save himself is to settle a dispute between two Fairy Queens. When their disagreement goes global, time becomes pressing and a lot more is at stake than the Council and his girlfriend's taste for blood.
Impression:Summer Knight slips back a little, more at the level of Fool Moon than Grave Peril. The war with the vampires begun at the end of Peril is almost completely ignored. Its affects are mentioned, but it only minutely complicates the plot despite the fact that the vampires want Dresden very, very dead. The Fairy Queens, whose motives are supposed to be beyond human understanding, are portrayed as very human. The mystery at the heart of their dispute is well done, and the writing itself is very solid, but certain events at the end of the book puzzled me. There's no sense of depth as there was in Peril and none of the characters really stood out for me. Which is not to say it's not an enjoyable read, it is, but Butcher has slipped back into fluff entertainment rather than something that engages the mind more fully.
The ghosts of Chicago are on the loose and it's up to Harry to find out why. With the help of his friend, Michael, who carries one of the swords of God, Harry tries to discover the meaning for the tempest in the spirit world while trying to protect and save those he cares about. Unfortunately, Harry is just a bit slow in coming to the right conclusions, even slower in finding a way to deal with it, and his solution may land him in even more hot water with both the bad and the good guys!
Impression: I actually enjoyed this one a bit more than the previous Dresden Files books. There was a bit more depth to me, and the character movement was very well done - changes were made, but they were made within the character instead of turning the character around 180 degrees the way at least one series has done in my recent reading past. And I really enjoyed Michael, although the similarities to a certain archangel were a bit heavy handed. I did come to the conclusions about who was responsible for the problems with the ghosts before Harry did, but that didn't make the ending - which was rather spectacular - any less satisfying as the author did make sure to have a few surprises left for his readers.
I like that the Dresden books seem to be getting less "fluffy," and that they are turning into deeper, more complex books. The plots are more developed and the characters are interesting. This whole series could have easily remained light, throw-away reading entertainment, and I'm very glad to see that Butcher has opted not to go that route. Instead, he's aiming for some thought provoking reading that entertains, but definitely isn't light or throw-away.
With quite a bit of humor, a dash of thoughtfulness, and a dose of wisdom, Bird by bird is a book on writing that's just a little different. Lamott shares her experiences as a writer, as a teacher of writing, and just as an every day person, and distills them into gems of insight and encouragement with a touch of reality. And the book covers more than your usual writing topics, going beyond the how to's into publication and behind the writing into life. While not every writer will find her advice for writing useful because of a clash in writing styles, there is advice in here for every writer.
Impression: While I do believe there's wisdom for every writer in this book - whether a beginner or author of several published book, quite a bit of her advice doesn't work for me because of conflicting writing styles. It took me a long time to figure out how I need to write and it's definitely not the way she writes, so much of her comments on the 'how to' of writing don't help me in particular.
But there's a great deal in the book beyond these basics that is wonderful. Ways to perceive writing, the various stages of being a writer, and life and being a writer. And the whole is told in a very different way than most writing books. Gone is the typical dry, sometimes arrogant, tone, the "oh this is so serious" attitude. Instead, it's lighthearted, humorous, and very real. So while her actual advice on the writing itself doesn't work for the kind of writer I am, I recommend Bird by Bird anyway. There are other, sometimes deeper, lessons inside that I think every writer should hear at least once.
Things haven't been going so well for Harry Dresden. Business is next to dead and he doesn't even have his usual bread and butter work as a consultant for the cops since irritating the captain with a previous case. But the murder case that gets dropped in his lap isn't the one to wish for: one or more werewolves are on a killing spree. Desperation brings the police knocking on his door asking for help, miring Harry in a tangled web of death and deceit. Just when Harry thinks he's found the killer, more werewolves crawl out of the cement works. Soon Harry isn't just worried about innocents getting killed, but for those he cares about and himself.
Impression: I liked this one better than Storm Front. the plot was deeper and more convoluted, the characters were more complex with a few unique and intriguing folks thrown in. My one complaint is when the murders are solved, there hadn't been much of anything to point to the killers except the most tenuous thread. While a surprise ending can be a good thing, a reader should be able to look back and see the little clues initially missed and how the author revealed the smallest of fragments to reveal the culprits. That can't be done with Fool Moon, at least not for me.
Despite this, I would still recommend Fool Moon as a fun read. The story keeps moving, digging Harry in deeper and deeper as it progresses, and the ending, while aggravating in the feeling that it comes out of nowhere, is still satisfying in all other ways. It's complex enough to keep a reader's attention, not an overly difficult read, and entertaining. This makes it great filler for between the deeper novels that require a little more from readers . . . or to read while preparing for testing since it's easy to read and won't interfere with any thought processes that need to be directed elsewhere.
Esperanza lives on Mango Street. Before that it was Loomis on the third floor; before that it was Keeler; and before that it was Paulina. By the time she and her family moved to Mango Street, she was one of six. And this is about her time on Mango Street, growing up in a changing Hispanic neighborhood with all the hardness, mystery, and beauty that entails, and how it encourages her to become something different, something more, than what was expected of her.
Impression: I wasn't expecting two things about this novel: for it to be such a short, easy read; and to actually like it. In fact, I stayed up way past what I was supposed to (being sick and all at the time) to finish it. Despite the simple writing style - which is very evocative of a child's writing (and that's no small accomplishment for an adult author) - the novel draws you in and makes you want to read on. It's much like reading a young girl's diary, and Esperanza's life both touches and inspires you. And I've always loved books about women who rise above their circumstances, becoming more than what they were "meant" to be, and who are strong enough to return one day and share that determination and strength with others. This is another book I highly recommend.
Jing-Mei's mother's death opens the door to the past, present, and future for the three remaining women of the Joy Luck Club and their daughters, as well as her own, as they explore the events that made each of them who they are. In the process, they discover a new depth to their mother-daughter relationships, a new understanding of what it means to be Chinese and American and a woman. For Jing-Mei, the journey leads back into China to meet the sisters she never knew she had.
Impression: I enjoyed the movie, but still wasn't quite sure what to expect from the book since movies and books can be so different. In this case, however, the book was as enjoyable as the movie, primarily because they changed very little in the movie. The book is beautifully written. The characters come alive, their various thoughts and experiences are simply but elegantly told. Each has her own voice, clearly heard in each of the interconnected vignettes - there is no mistaking who tells each story. The novel reveals the profound connectedness these women have with each other and with their pasts, but also how they - and we - each have control over who they become despite the it all. Most of all, it shows how the bond of love can transcend misunderstanding. These stories didn't reveal everything about the characters, but they revealed enough to paint each in a colors and emotions that were very different from the others. They revealed what was important. I highly recommend this book and plan to read it again very soon.
A misfit envisions a day of disaster that encourages his best friend and several other rabbits to leave the only warren they have ever known. The small company braves their natural enemies, rivers, and long distances along the journey to find their home. They meet other warrens, one tempting, one not so tempting, and, in the end, find their own place to grow, love, and protect.
Impression: I really enjoyed this one. Yes, the main characters are rabbits, but what is shared through bunnies is more than just a rabbit's tale. It's a journey that we all make in one way or another as we break free from our own home warrens to establish our own place. We discover ourselves, learning our strengths, our weaknesses, we stretch our gifts, we find our courage, and hopefully we grow into stronger, wiser people. And when we're done, hopefully we can look back and see lives well lived and a place left behind full of love.
Now, this is not to say that the book was perfect. There were spots where I found myself drifting or found it hard to concentrate. I think it had something to do with Adams's style and the way those sections were written. Fortunately, those particular areas were few, and, despite them, he writes in such a way that you care for each of the rabbits almost from the very moment they are introduced. And that makes up for the few spots where focus can be hard to keep, and makes the story well worth the read for people of all ages. I highly recommend it.
A transcriptor caught in a book written in an unknown language of thorns. A queen not ready to rule and with unnoticed, unknown mage talent. A magician whose uncle draws him unwilling into his uprising against his lawful ruler. Two legendary figures of the past who conquered their world. These four strands weave together in two intertwined stories where past, present, and future collide to determine the fate of the empire of the Twelve Crowns and two people long separated by time.
Impression: While not as well written as previous books, Alphabet of Thorn is an intriguing story, a story that shows how past and present combine and can make or unmake a moment in time. How the two stories intertwine is both expected and unexpected, and her writing still draws you along and even leaves you breathless in places. But there's more awkwardness in this novel than in the previous books. The opening itself stumbles, though the writing does pick up in quality and smoothness as the story goes along, and the plot is a bit slower to make sense of the fragments. The story is still worth reading, and quite enjoyable, and the ending is one, just like the rest of the book, both expected and unexpected, and a very satisfying ending indeed.
Half flashes of King's life, half advice, On Writing is exactly what is claims to be: "A Memoir of the Craft." The book is broken into three sections. The first covers vignettes of King's life, the experiences that helped shape him into the man he is and influenced the kind of writer he's become. The second is his advice on writing. The third is a postscript about living and writing after being struck by a van while on a walk outside his home.
Impression: While I found the writing advice itself all things that have been said before, much of which I don't agree with, the insight into his life and how writing is so intertwined with it was fascinating. He says many things that resonate, things that I find so true in my own life as a writer, all that come from his personal experiences as a writer, not his advice on what makes for good writing. While I wouldn't list the book among my favorites, or among the best writing books, I do recommend it for the insight into King himself. You can see how he's become the writer he has, where his stories come from and the truth in them that can be found in his experiences. You see how writing can be both a curse and a salvation. For all that, it's a very worthwhile read.
Unless otherwise noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by me.
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I will no longer be linking to Amazon and no longer recommending Amazon as a place to purchase books I review. Amazon has repeatedly used bully tactics to reinforce its policies, even if those tactics cause harm to authors or limit customer choices. Amazon usually apologizes for the events after the fact, but that they continue to use the same methods makes those apologies hollow. I will not purchase from or encourage others to purchase from a business that chooses to take from the pockets of authors (who as a whole earn a lot less than general public realizes) and decide what the public should and should not read.
