This was selected by my book club, and as I was reading it I thought IMMEDIATELY about my friend Erin and how much she would love this book...then I realized that she is the one who chose it. One of the things I like about my book club is that not everyone enjoys the same style of writing so we get a some variety in what we read. Erin, for example, loves writers who use a lot of descriptive words, are imaginitive and create elaborate images for the reader through their use of figurative language. I'm more of a literal person, so it's unlikely I would have selected a book on my own, which is why I read pretty much every book that is suggested to me.
James Levine is a doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN where I used to live, so I was excited to read this book. I assumed it was some sort of medical memoir like most of the books written by doctors. I was VERY wrong!
The story is told by Batuk, a 15-year-old Indian prostitute and I'm amazed that Levine was able to capture her voice the way he did. I never once questioned the authenticity of the narrator. This is an inside look at the world of child prostitution, told from Batuk's perspective as it is essentially a compilation of what she has written in her blue notebook.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. It's a quick read and if you like "flowery literature" you'll love Levine's style.
Showing posts with label Book Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Club. Show all posts
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I don't generally like futuristic, non-realistic stories, but this book is an exception. In the future, the nation of Panem, which was once North America, holds annual Hunger Games as a way to remind the twelve Districts that the Capitol is in control. During these games, each district has a lottery in which male and female "Tributes" are selected randomly from all children ages 12-18. These 24 Tributes meet in the Capitol and compete until only one remains. The winner and his/her District are greatly rewarded.
The main character in the story, 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, is from District 12 and for her, survival is second nature. Since her father was killed in a mine accident when she was 11 she has been hunting, gathering and trading (all illegally)to provide for her mother and younger sister. As the games progress, Katniss learns a lot about human nature, society and herself...and ultimately wins.
Another great from the Juvenile Literature genre, this book forces the reader to think about and question our own society and wonder if this really could happen. As the story unfolds, the control of the Capitol and the differences among the Districts starts to feel eerily familiar and possible. In my opinion, the best type of book is one that makes you think and ask questions, and this does exactly that.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, and I've already checked out the second in this trilogy...stay tuned for Catching Fire!
The main character in the story, 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, is from District 12 and for her, survival is second nature. Since her father was killed in a mine accident when she was 11 she has been hunting, gathering and trading (all illegally)to provide for her mother and younger sister. As the games progress, Katniss learns a lot about human nature, society and herself...and ultimately wins.
Another great from the Juvenile Literature genre, this book forces the reader to think about and question our own society and wonder if this really could happen. As the story unfolds, the control of the Capitol and the differences among the Districts starts to feel eerily familiar and possible. In my opinion, the best type of book is one that makes you think and ask questions, and this does exactly that.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, and I've already checked out the second in this trilogy...stay tuned for Catching Fire!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
This was selected for my book club, and I'll admit I wasn't super excited about reading ANOTHER book from the Nazi era, but this one surprised me!
The story is set in France and ties together the events of July 1942, when the French police rounded up French Jews in Paris before sending them to concentration camps, and those surrounding the memorial of the round up 60 years later. The two main characters are Sarah, a 10 year old who was part of the round up and Julia, a journalist reporting on the memorial who discovers a family secret that connects her to Sarah.
Until reading this book, I was unaware of the events that took place in France, or the extent to which the French police and government were involved in the internment of Jews. I liked the style in which this book was written; the dual perspective added some credibility to the novel and helped to draw the reader into the story.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, it's one of the better stories based on this era.
The story is set in France and ties together the events of July 1942, when the French police rounded up French Jews in Paris before sending them to concentration camps, and those surrounding the memorial of the round up 60 years later. The two main characters are Sarah, a 10 year old who was part of the round up and Julia, a journalist reporting on the memorial who discovers a family secret that connects her to Sarah.
Until reading this book, I was unaware of the events that took place in France, or the extent to which the French police and government were involved in the internment of Jews. I liked the style in which this book was written; the dual perspective added some credibility to the novel and helped to draw the reader into the story.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, it's one of the better stories based on this era.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler
I can't count how many times in my life I've said the words "I LOVE Chelsea Handler!" but let me tell you, it's somewhere around 1000. I was SO excited when my book club chose this in December, but soon disappointed to find out that it was available neither in my local library nor Barnes & Noble. I decided to wait until one of my friends finished her copy and lent it to me. I was so excited when I finally got it that I read the entire thing in one day.
This is Handler's first book, a memoir of her many one-night stands, and it is HILARIOUS! If you've never seen/heard/read anything by Chelsea Handler, this is as good a place as any to start. She's got a very crude sense of humor that not everyone can appreciate, but personally, I LOVE Chelsea Handler! There, I've said it again...make it 1001 :)
Would I recommend this book? Only if you think you can handle her...definitely not for the conservatives among us. I've just picked up her 2nd book, "Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea." and CAN'T WAIT to get started!
This is Handler's first book, a memoir of her many one-night stands, and it is HILARIOUS! If you've never seen/heard/read anything by Chelsea Handler, this is as good a place as any to start. She's got a very crude sense of humor that not everyone can appreciate, but personally, I LOVE Chelsea Handler! There, I've said it again...make it 1001 :)
Would I recommend this book? Only if you think you can handle her...definitely not for the conservatives among us. I've just picked up her 2nd book, "Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea." and CAN'T WAIT to get started!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Because this was selected by TWO of my book clubs, I was excited to get it. Though this book is classified as Juvenile Literature, the themes are somewhat advanced and I never felt like I was reading a child's book.
The story is narrated by Death and follows a young girl in Nazi Germany. Liesel, the book thief, captures Death's attention early when at age 10, en route to a foster home, her younger brother dies on a train. She "steals" her first book just after the funeral when she notices that one of the gravediggers dropped it in the snow. Ironically, Liesel can not read, but has a strong love for books.
Upon her arrival in Munich, Liesel meets her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Rosa has a big heart that she tries to conceal with her foul mouth and Hans is a kind man who wears his heart on his sleeve. The Hubermanns do not believe in Nazi Party ideals, but Hans is forced to join the party and enlist in the army in order to protect his family--and Max Vandenburg, the son of the Jewish man who saved Hans's life in WWI and is living in the Hubermanns' basement.
Throughout her years with the Hubermanns, Liesel learns to read very well and develops relationships with many people in the neighborhood because of her love of books. Her strongest tie is to Rudy Steiner, her best friend and neighbor. The story ends with Liesel finally granting Rudy his long-awaited kiss, after he (and everyone else in their neighborhood) is killed in an attack. Liesel, the only survivor found in the ruins, was saved, essentially, by her love of words.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely!
The story is narrated by Death and follows a young girl in Nazi Germany. Liesel, the book thief, captures Death's attention early when at age 10, en route to a foster home, her younger brother dies on a train. She "steals" her first book just after the funeral when she notices that one of the gravediggers dropped it in the snow. Ironically, Liesel can not read, but has a strong love for books.
Upon her arrival in Munich, Liesel meets her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Rosa has a big heart that she tries to conceal with her foul mouth and Hans is a kind man who wears his heart on his sleeve. The Hubermanns do not believe in Nazi Party ideals, but Hans is forced to join the party and enlist in the army in order to protect his family--and Max Vandenburg, the son of the Jewish man who saved Hans's life in WWI and is living in the Hubermanns' basement.
Throughout her years with the Hubermanns, Liesel learns to read very well and develops relationships with many people in the neighborhood because of her love of books. Her strongest tie is to Rudy Steiner, her best friend and neighbor. The story ends with Liesel finally granting Rudy his long-awaited kiss, after he (and everyone else in their neighborhood) is killed in an attack. Liesel, the only survivor found in the ruins, was saved, essentially, by her love of words.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Baby Proof by Emily Griffin
I was SO happy when I found out that this was our book club pick for February (Thanks, Candy!) that I decided I needed to re-read it, something I very rarely do. I have loved every one of Emily Griffin's novels (4 and counting) because they are easy to relate to, humorous, and engaging.
This novel revolves around a married couple, Claudia and Ben, who seem to be perfect together. Claudia always knew that she didn't want to have children, and from the beginning of their relationship, Ben shared the desire to remain childless. However, after their close friends have a baby, Ben changes his mind, which isn't something Claudia feels she can compromise on so she leaves him. There are a lot of things going on as the two divorce and, eventually, get back together as each decides their marriage is the most important thing and s/he will do whatever is necessary to keep it.
I was waiting to post this until after our meeting last night because I wanted to see what everyone else thought about it. It was loved by everyone and we had a great discussion. The biggest questions this book raised were about soul mates and parenthood....
Is there such a thing as "soul mates" and is there only one person in the universe for each of us? We all agreed that the idea of soul mates is in the definition...is it the person who should be at your side forever, or is it situational. Can a person have several soul mates throughout different phases in her life? If there really is only one soul mate for each of us, can we live a fulfilled life without that person?
Which decision is more important for a woman, who she should marry or who should be the father of her children? We all agreed that ideally, the person you marry would be the same person you have children with, but that it's a lot easier to get out of a marriage that isn't working that to get out of parenthood. Once you have a child with someone, you are connected to them for life. You will still be forced to deal with that person for the child's sake even if you divorce. Like I said, we had a great discussion, as always :)
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I'd also recommend Something Borrowed and Something Blue (in that order) by the same author.
This novel revolves around a married couple, Claudia and Ben, who seem to be perfect together. Claudia always knew that she didn't want to have children, and from the beginning of their relationship, Ben shared the desire to remain childless. However, after their close friends have a baby, Ben changes his mind, which isn't something Claudia feels she can compromise on so she leaves him. There are a lot of things going on as the two divorce and, eventually, get back together as each decides their marriage is the most important thing and s/he will do whatever is necessary to keep it.
I was waiting to post this until after our meeting last night because I wanted to see what everyone else thought about it. It was loved by everyone and we had a great discussion. The biggest questions this book raised were about soul mates and parenthood....
Is there such a thing as "soul mates" and is there only one person in the universe for each of us? We all agreed that the idea of soul mates is in the definition...is it the person who should be at your side forever, or is it situational. Can a person have several soul mates throughout different phases in her life? If there really is only one soul mate for each of us, can we live a fulfilled life without that person?
Which decision is more important for a woman, who she should marry or who should be the father of her children? We all agreed that ideally, the person you marry would be the same person you have children with, but that it's a lot easier to get out of a marriage that isn't working that to get out of parenthood. Once you have a child with someone, you are connected to them for life. You will still be forced to deal with that person for the child's sake even if you divorce. Like I said, we had a great discussion, as always :)
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I'd also recommend Something Borrowed and Something Blue (in that order) by the same author.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Bathhouse by Farnoosh Moshir
I have been getting a little burned out on books about Iran, so I started this book reluctantly. Because this is such a short novel (fewer than 140 pages)and I really wanted to go to the book talk event, I rushed through it. I was surprisingly impressed.
We are never informed of the narrator's exact location, the time frame of the story, or even her name, only that she is a 17 year old student who recently lost her parents in an accident. She is torn from her home and imprisoned in the bathhouse because of her brother's political affiliation even though she is incredibly uninformed about either side of the battle. While at the bathhouse, she encounters and forms relationships with several of the other female prisoners and endures multiple forms of torture.
The ambiguity of the narrator leaves the reader with a sense of empathy, it is easy to imagine yourself in the situation. The perspective of an ignorant teen lends a sense of objectivity to the tale and allows the author to take a political stand under the veil of anonymity. This story gives us a unique look "under the chador" during a tumultuous time in Iran.
Would I recommend this book? Probably. It's a nice quick read and paints a vivid picture of the times, but definitely not an uplifting, feel good kind of story.
We are never informed of the narrator's exact location, the time frame of the story, or even her name, only that she is a 17 year old student who recently lost her parents in an accident. She is torn from her home and imprisoned in the bathhouse because of her brother's political affiliation even though she is incredibly uninformed about either side of the battle. While at the bathhouse, she encounters and forms relationships with several of the other female prisoners and endures multiple forms of torture.
The ambiguity of the narrator leaves the reader with a sense of empathy, it is easy to imagine yourself in the situation. The perspective of an ignorant teen lends a sense of objectivity to the tale and allows the author to take a political stand under the veil of anonymity. This story gives us a unique look "under the chador" during a tumultuous time in Iran.
Would I recommend this book? Probably. It's a nice quick read and paints a vivid picture of the times, but definitely not an uplifting, feel good kind of story.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
When you read a Nicholas Sparks book, you know what you're getting...a love story with some twist. I haven't read one of his books for several years because I was starting to feel like they were all the same and decided I could find better material to spend time reading. BUT, my book club back home chose this for January I decided it was time to hive it another try.
The book focuses on the relationship of John and Savanna, from their first meeting to their final goodbye. Though much of it was predictable, as are most of Sparks' novels, I found myself really enjoying this one. The two meet while he is home on leave and continue their relationship long-distance for a few years until it becomes too much to manage after John re-enlists after 9/11.
I think what I liked most about this book wasn't the simple plot with it's predictable turns, but the smaller details that Sparks brought in--especially the awareness that he will inevitably raise for both Habitat For Humanity and Autism/Aspergers Syndrome. Having spent many summers volunteering for Habitat, I was pleased to see that Sparks obviously did his research and accurately portrayed the organization. Over the years, I've encountered multiple people who deal with autism/aspergers on a daily basis--including the children of some of my close friends--and know how difficult it can be. I appreciate the manner in which Sparks portrayed both Allan and John's father and demonstrated the full spectrum of behaviors associated with autism/aspergers. I sincerely hope the incorporation of these groups into this story will encourage people to donate either their time or money to further their causes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you like Nicholas Sparks, you won't be disappointed, if you haven't read one of his books before, this is a good place to start.
The book focuses on the relationship of John and Savanna, from their first meeting to their final goodbye. Though much of it was predictable, as are most of Sparks' novels, I found myself really enjoying this one. The two meet while he is home on leave and continue their relationship long-distance for a few years until it becomes too much to manage after John re-enlists after 9/11.
I think what I liked most about this book wasn't the simple plot with it's predictable turns, but the smaller details that Sparks brought in--especially the awareness that he will inevitably raise for both Habitat For Humanity and Autism/Aspergers Syndrome. Having spent many summers volunteering for Habitat, I was pleased to see that Sparks obviously did his research and accurately portrayed the organization. Over the years, I've encountered multiple people who deal with autism/aspergers on a daily basis--including the children of some of my close friends--and know how difficult it can be. I appreciate the manner in which Sparks portrayed both Allan and John's father and demonstrated the full spectrum of behaviors associated with autism/aspergers. I sincerely hope the incorporation of these groups into this story will encourage people to donate either their time or money to further their causes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you like Nicholas Sparks, you won't be disappointed, if you haven't read one of his books before, this is a good place to start.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Washington Square by Henry James
This is one that my book club at the library picked, and I would NEVER have selected for myself. I TRIED to read this book multiple times and couldn't make it more than a few pages before giving up, so this time I got the audio version. Though listening made it easier to get through, I still didn't love this book.
The story is written in 3rd person, with the narrator's comments frequently made directly to the reader. Originally published in in 1880, the language is quite dated. The book tells the tale of brilliant, controlling doctor and his sole heir, a plain but sweet daughter. I did not like how the daughter (Catherine) was portrayed nor how she was treated throughout the book by everyone around her. James makes Catherine out to be a dim-witted, weak girl, but in my opinion, the only "weaknesses" she demonstrated was compassion.
Likely because this was set so long ago, it was hard to relate to the characters or their situations since we (women) now have unlimited choices and can do what we choose with our lives. Though I despised the love interest of Catherine, I don't think she handled her relationships well and let others have too much power over her decisions. In an attempt to keep those around her happy, Catherine sacrifices her own desires and ultimately ends up disappointing everyone, including herself.
Would I recommend this book? Only if you love the genre--think Jane Austen--which I, obviously, do not.
The story is written in 3rd person, with the narrator's comments frequently made directly to the reader. Originally published in in 1880, the language is quite dated. The book tells the tale of brilliant, controlling doctor and his sole heir, a plain but sweet daughter. I did not like how the daughter (Catherine) was portrayed nor how she was treated throughout the book by everyone around her. James makes Catherine out to be a dim-witted, weak girl, but in my opinion, the only "weaknesses" she demonstrated was compassion.
Likely because this was set so long ago, it was hard to relate to the characters or their situations since we (women) now have unlimited choices and can do what we choose with our lives. Though I despised the love interest of Catherine, I don't think she handled her relationships well and let others have too much power over her decisions. In an attempt to keep those around her happy, Catherine sacrifices her own desires and ultimately ends up disappointing everyone, including herself.
Would I recommend this book? Only if you love the genre--think Jane Austen--which I, obviously, do not.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough
Because I've been so busy and spent my free time on books I wanted to read, I'm a little behind on some of my book club reading. This book was discussed in December, but I just now finished it. This is a book I would never have selected on my own, but I really enjoyed it...in fact, I am planning to buy a copy for my Dad's birthday gift (don't tell!).
The book follows the life of Theodore Roosevelt, starting early in his childhood and ending prior to his presidency. I've never been a big history buff or anything, but I found this account truly engaging. The story flows very well, showing various sides of all members of the Roosevelt family. It's striking how our language changes over time; I can't imagine anyone saying some of the things Teedy said/wrote to his siblings and mother! I really learned a lot about how he became the man we knew as President and about the Roosevelts as a whole, the entire book captivated me. As a bonus, parts of the book are set in North Dakota so I learned a great deal about the history of the state in which I now reside as well.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, especially if you like history.
The book follows the life of Theodore Roosevelt, starting early in his childhood and ending prior to his presidency. I've never been a big history buff or anything, but I found this account truly engaging. The story flows very well, showing various sides of all members of the Roosevelt family. It's striking how our language changes over time; I can't imagine anyone saying some of the things Teedy said/wrote to his siblings and mother! I really learned a lot about how he became the man we knew as President and about the Roosevelts as a whole, the entire book captivated me. As a bonus, parts of the book are set in North Dakota so I learned a great deal about the history of the state in which I now reside as well.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, especially if you like history.
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
I have been meaning to read this for a while, and I'm glad I finally got around to it~ I LOVE THIS BOOK! The author paints such a vivid picture that you can clearly see each scene as the story progresses. I'll try to sum this up without giving too much away.
The story follows a 16 year old boy, the son of an Indian zoo keeper. Pi is a precocious young man who is passionate about 2 things: religion and zoology. As the family (and several of the zoo animals) is sailing from India to Canada, their ship sinks. Pi finds himself in a lifeboat with a wounded zebra, spotted hyena, orangutan and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. They experience many adventures, triumphs and losses as Pi comes to terms with the situation and survives 227 days at sea.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely!
The story follows a 16 year old boy, the son of an Indian zoo keeper. Pi is a precocious young man who is passionate about 2 things: religion and zoology. As the family (and several of the zoo animals) is sailing from India to Canada, their ship sinks. Pi finds himself in a lifeboat with a wounded zebra, spotted hyena, orangutan and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. They experience many adventures, triumphs and losses as Pi comes to terms with the situation and survives 227 days at sea.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely!
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