Finished July 4
McSweeney's 31
I had been intrigued by this book ever since it arrived and had been reading sections of it ever since. Finally finished it off this morning.
This is a beautifully bound hardcover consisting of a number of forms of literature with descriptions of each form and examples given of original writings and new writings in that form.
The forms covered include: pantoums, biji, whore dialogues, Graustarkian romances, nivolas, senryu, Socratic dialogues, consuetudinaries, and legendary sagas. I had only heard of a couple of these previously (sagas and dialogues) and was intrigued by the others.
It would appear that the favourite for both myself and the editors was the pantoum, an interesting form of poetry, because in addition to the section allocated for this form, several examples also appeared at the end of the volume.
I love having my mind stretched by stuff like this.
About Me
- Shonna Froebel
- Manager of Adult Information Services at Barrie Public Library.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Books and Reading
Finished July 1
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby
The subtitle of this book is "a hilarious and true account of one man's struggle with the monthly tide of the books he's bought and the books he's been meaning to read".
I've had this hanging around for a while and picked it up on Canada Day and read the whole thing. (I know I should have picked a Canadian book, what can I say.) The book is a collection of Hornby's columns from Believer magazine and each column begins with a list of the books he bought during the last month and another of the one's he's read.
The column goes on to discuss these, mostly about the ones he read. It is definitely amusing and I enjoyed it thoroughly and have added more books to me "want to read" list.
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby
The subtitle of this book is "a hilarious and true account of one man's struggle with the monthly tide of the books he's bought and the books he's been meaning to read".
I've had this hanging around for a while and picked it up on Canada Day and read the whole thing. (I know I should have picked a Canadian book, what can I say.) The book is a collection of Hornby's columns from Believer magazine and each column begins with a list of the books he bought during the last month and another of the one's he's read.
The column goes on to discuss these, mostly about the ones he read. It is definitely amusing and I enjoyed it thoroughly and have added more books to me "want to read" list.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Quirky novel
Finished June 29
The Pig Did It by Joseph Caldwell
This extraordinary and quirky novel continually surprised me with more and more unexpected behaviour by the characters.
Told from the point of view of Aaron McCloud, who has come to this small village in Ireland from New York City to stay with his aunt Kitty, the novel begins with Aaron's detour. The bus Aaron is traveling on is held up by pigs loose on the road. When Aaron tries to help, he ends up left behind and followed by a pig.
He takes the pig to his aunt's house and there the trouble really begins. The pig roots up the vegetable garden, unearthing some very disturbing.
The characters are all unique, from Aaron with his self-centered pride to Kitty with her career as a novelist correcting the classics to Lolly the attractive pig farmer. The haplessness of Aaron is a foil for the sureness of the others.
The final scene is unexpected and yet inevitable.
A great summer read.
The Pig Did It by Joseph Caldwell
This extraordinary and quirky novel continually surprised me with more and more unexpected behaviour by the characters.
Told from the point of view of Aaron McCloud, who has come to this small village in Ireland from New York City to stay with his aunt Kitty, the novel begins with Aaron's detour. The bus Aaron is traveling on is held up by pigs loose on the road. When Aaron tries to help, he ends up left behind and followed by a pig.
He takes the pig to his aunt's house and there the trouble really begins. The pig roots up the vegetable garden, unearthing some very disturbing.
The characters are all unique, from Aaron with his self-centered pride to Kitty with her career as a novelist correcting the classics to Lolly the attractive pig farmer. The haplessness of Aaron is a foil for the sureness of the others.
The final scene is unexpected and yet inevitable.
A great summer read.
Interesting Novel
Finished June 29
The Voyage Home by Jane Rogers
This novel follows Anne Harrington. Anne has traveled to Nigeria after her father's death there and has decided to travel home by ship. Along the way, distracted by her grief and what she reads in her father's diary, she becomes isolated. She is forced to interact with others when a stowaway begs for his assistance for his ailing pregnant wife. Anne is not able to cope well with the situation, and finds herself involved in a shadowy world of manipulation, lies, and murder.
Once home, Anne sinks into depression, finding it increasingly difficult to cope with her guilt and grief.
We see Anne again four years later as she must again make a choice about the future, this time a deeply intimate one.
Rogers really gets you into Anne's head in this novel, so you feel just as confused and at sea as she is, and the complex feelings involved feel real. It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I was drawn in completely and found myself struggling with Anne's actions and feelings.
The Voyage Home by Jane Rogers
This novel follows Anne Harrington. Anne has traveled to Nigeria after her father's death there and has decided to travel home by ship. Along the way, distracted by her grief and what she reads in her father's diary, she becomes isolated. She is forced to interact with others when a stowaway begs for his assistance for his ailing pregnant wife. Anne is not able to cope well with the situation, and finds herself involved in a shadowy world of manipulation, lies, and murder.
Once home, Anne sinks into depression, finding it increasingly difficult to cope with her guilt and grief.
We see Anne again four years later as she must again make a choice about the future, this time a deeply intimate one.
Rogers really gets you into Anne's head in this novel, so you feel just as confused and at sea as she is, and the complex feelings involved feel real. It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I was drawn in completely and found myself struggling with Anne's actions and feelings.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Mystery in Series
Finished June 27
Dante's Numbers by David Hewson
Nic Costa and his colleagues are back. Their team is responsible for the security of museum pieces on display for and relating to a new movie based on Dante's Inferno. The Carabinieri are responsible for the security of the people, such as actors. When the leading man is killed, and his death is broadcast across the world, the action is abruptly pulled back to San Francisco. Here Nic and his colleagues are once again relegated to a lesser role, but they keep finding clues to the murder and what is behind it.
With characters such as twin retired firefighters and a emotionally damaged leading actress, and ties to Hitchcock movies, there is a lot going on.
The setting of San Francisco, foreign to the Italian police, offers interesting possibilities and with Nic still recovering from his recent loss, we see more about his relationship with the rest of his team. A great read, as usual.
Dante's Numbers by David Hewson
Nic Costa and his colleagues are back. Their team is responsible for the security of museum pieces on display for and relating to a new movie based on Dante's Inferno. The Carabinieri are responsible for the security of the people, such as actors. When the leading man is killed, and his death is broadcast across the world, the action is abruptly pulled back to San Francisco. Here Nic and his colleagues are once again relegated to a lesser role, but they keep finding clues to the murder and what is behind it.
With characters such as twin retired firefighters and a emotionally damaged leading actress, and ties to Hitchcock movies, there is a lot going on.
The setting of San Francisco, foreign to the Italian police, offers interesting possibilities and with Nic still recovering from his recent loss, we see more about his relationship with the rest of his team. A great read, as usual.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Audio Fiction
Finished June 23
Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller, read by Blair Brown
Needing something to listen to, I grabbed this audiobook last week. I've read one other of Sue Miller's books and enjoyed it, and I found this one a good story as well.
In this book we see the life of Eva, divorced from Mark and now happily married to John, and Eva's three children, Emily and Daisy with Mark and Theo with John.
When John is killed in a car accident, everyone's lives change dramatically. Mark becomes involved in Theo's life. Daisy, who was very close to John, feels resentment against her parents. Emily takes on new responsibilities. Theo has trouble accepting his father's death, even though he was present when it occurred.
While the book touches on everyone, we see most deeply into Mark and Daisy. Mark tries to find a way to be a dad again, and struggles with his image of his role in everyone's lives. Daisy finds her world unstable, and enters a disturbing relationship with a family friend.
A story of people and relationships and how we see things in different ways.
Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller, read by Blair Brown
Needing something to listen to, I grabbed this audiobook last week. I've read one other of Sue Miller's books and enjoyed it, and I found this one a good story as well.
In this book we see the life of Eva, divorced from Mark and now happily married to John, and Eva's three children, Emily and Daisy with Mark and Theo with John.
When John is killed in a car accident, everyone's lives change dramatically. Mark becomes involved in Theo's life. Daisy, who was very close to John, feels resentment against her parents. Emily takes on new responsibilities. Theo has trouble accepting his father's death, even though he was present when it occurred.
While the book touches on everyone, we see most deeply into Mark and Daisy. Mark tries to find a way to be a dad again, and struggles with his image of his role in everyone's lives. Daisy finds her world unstable, and enters a disturbing relationship with a family friend.
A story of people and relationships and how we see things in different ways.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Kid's Book
Finished June 21
Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf: a year told through stuff by Jennifer L. Holm, pictures by Elicia Castaldi
Bought this book for my niece but think I'll wait a bit to give it to her (she's nine and I think a couple years older would be better suited). It is an interesting book though, told in an interesting way. Ginny is going into grade seven and has a to-do list. They don't include accidentally turning her hair pink or getting detention, but those things happen.
She has issues with friends, family (a new stepdad) and babysitting. She has her supporters, including a long-distance grandfather, and her mother is understanding. It is the layout of the book that really makes this work. It is a scrapbook style with collages of items on every page, illustrating Ginny's life in a way that words alone cannot.
I suppose it could fall into the category of graphic novel, but it is not the classic comic book style, and that is something that will intrigue young readers.
Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf: a year told through stuff by Jennifer L. Holm, pictures by Elicia Castaldi
Bought this book for my niece but think I'll wait a bit to give it to her (she's nine and I think a couple years older would be better suited). It is an interesting book though, told in an interesting way. Ginny is going into grade seven and has a to-do list. They don't include accidentally turning her hair pink or getting detention, but those things happen.
She has issues with friends, family (a new stepdad) and babysitting. She has her supporters, including a long-distance grandfather, and her mother is understanding. It is the layout of the book that really makes this work. It is a scrapbook style with collages of items on every page, illustrating Ginny's life in a way that words alone cannot.
I suppose it could fall into the category of graphic novel, but it is not the classic comic book style, and that is something that will intrigue young readers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)