Finished January 15
The Paper Garden: Mrs. Delany {Begins Her Life's Work} at 72 by Molly Peacock
This is a very different book than I expected. Peacock has taken 13 of the 985 works that Delany made and used them to illustrate her life.
Each work is the focus of a chapter, and each chapter moves through Mrs. Delany's life from childhood through old age. Each chapter also follows Peacock's writing of this book, from her first awareness of the wonderful art created by Mrs. Delany to the completion of this book.
It is a fascinating structure for a biography, a revival of awareness in this amazing set of artwork, and the inspiration that leads a writer to her subject.
Wonderful, unexpected, and enlightening.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Travels in Siberia
Finished January 10
Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier, read by the author.
Though nonfiction, this is an epic of a book. Telling of not only his own trips to Siberia (five in total) but also of others travels, this book provides an interesting view of a symbolic but little known part of the world. Frazier covers history, geography, literature, and politics in this amazing book. Frazier took on learning Russian to better equip himself for his travels, and talks about the greatest triumph: getting Russians to laugh on purpose. There is sadness and humour and so much more here.
I think that while I enjoyed the audio, reading the hard copy would have enabled me to look back at different sections, take note of particularly interesting passages, and skip some of the long lists Frazier was prone to.
In his own travels, he talks about the large numbers of beautiful women in Siberia, the preponderance of mosquitoes, and the type of garbage prevalent along the roadways. We see his friendships with the people of this part of the world and his Russian guides, his touchstones for Siberia in his own world, and the wonderful things that he learned. A great book with so much to offer.
Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier, read by the author.
Though nonfiction, this is an epic of a book. Telling of not only his own trips to Siberia (five in total) but also of others travels, this book provides an interesting view of a symbolic but little known part of the world. Frazier covers history, geography, literature, and politics in this amazing book. Frazier took on learning Russian to better equip himself for his travels, and talks about the greatest triumph: getting Russians to laugh on purpose. There is sadness and humour and so much more here.
I think that while I enjoyed the audio, reading the hard copy would have enabled me to look back at different sections, take note of particularly interesting passages, and skip some of the long lists Frazier was prone to.
In his own travels, he talks about the large numbers of beautiful women in Siberia, the preponderance of mosquitoes, and the type of garbage prevalent along the roadways. We see his friendships with the people of this part of the world and his Russian guides, his touchstones for Siberia in his own world, and the wonderful things that he learned. A great book with so much to offer.
Apocalypse for Beginners
Finished January 9
Apocalypse for Beginners by Nicolas Dickner, translated by Lazer Lederhendler
I loved this book. It is written from the point of view of a young man, Mickey Bauermann, but focused on Hope Randall. Hope is from a family that is genetically predisposed to focus on the end of the world. As each family member goes through puberty they also become focused on a particular date as the end of the world. When that date is reached and world continues, they descend into madness. When her conceived date arrives, Hope's mother Ann decides she must head west from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. They only make is as far as Rivière-du-Loup before their car gives out. It is there that Hope comes into Mickey's life.
As Hope copes with her mother's increasing mental instability, she relies on Mickey and his family for the normalcy of life. Mickey is infatuated with her, but also in awe.
There is much humour and insight here, and above all, compassion.
Hope is well named, and her own wanderings in search of confirmation of her world ending date (July 17, 2001) are very interesting.
I highly recommend this book.
Apocalypse for Beginners by Nicolas Dickner, translated by Lazer Lederhendler
I loved this book. It is written from the point of view of a young man, Mickey Bauermann, but focused on Hope Randall. Hope is from a family that is genetically predisposed to focus on the end of the world. As each family member goes through puberty they also become focused on a particular date as the end of the world. When that date is reached and world continues, they descend into madness. When her conceived date arrives, Hope's mother Ann decides she must head west from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. They only make is as far as Rivière-du-Loup before their car gives out. It is there that Hope comes into Mickey's life.
As Hope copes with her mother's increasing mental instability, she relies on Mickey and his family for the normalcy of life. Mickey is infatuated with her, but also in awe.
There is much humour and insight here, and above all, compassion.
Hope is well named, and her own wanderings in search of confirmation of her world ending date (July 17, 2001) are very interesting.
I highly recommend this book.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
8 x 10
Finished January 7
8 x 10 by Michael Turner
This is a collection of vignettes of unnamed people's short experiences. Most vignettes have some sort of subject connection to the vignette previous to them, but one is unsure if any characters recur since no one is ever named. Pronouns are used throughout for characters.
The reference to 8 x 10 is a grid. Each vignette is introduced by a grid of this size with one square darkened. Not all squares are represented, but the grid is worked top to bottom, left to right. The experiences described vary widely and include a variety of relationships, both intense and casual, intimate and passing. I found only one that seemed outright strange.
To me, the structure and parameters of the writing encouraged thought and speculation. I found myself wondering whether the same character had reappeared, about whether one experience led to another, and about some characters mental health. A thought-provoking read.
8 x 10 by Michael Turner
This is a collection of vignettes of unnamed people's short experiences. Most vignettes have some sort of subject connection to the vignette previous to them, but one is unsure if any characters recur since no one is ever named. Pronouns are used throughout for characters.
The reference to 8 x 10 is a grid. Each vignette is introduced by a grid of this size with one square darkened. Not all squares are represented, but the grid is worked top to bottom, left to right. The experiences described vary widely and include a variety of relationships, both intense and casual, intimate and passing. I found only one that seemed outright strange.
To me, the structure and parameters of the writing encouraged thought and speculation. I found myself wondering whether the same character had reappeared, about whether one experience led to another, and about some characters mental health. A thought-provoking read.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Two Generals
Finished January 3
Two Generals by Scott Chantler
This graphic novel focuses on the experiences of the author's grandfather in WWII. His grandfather, Law, was an officer in the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. He joined along with his best friend Jack and was part of the large force landing in Normandy in July 1944.
The book is a work of art, with a lovely binding. The story is done mostly in army green or red, which really makes an impact and fits with the experience told.
Moving, drawn beautifully, and told with emotion, this is a book to treasure. It is the details here, both text and picture that really make it come alive.
Two Generals by Scott Chantler
This graphic novel focuses on the experiences of the author's grandfather in WWII. His grandfather, Law, was an officer in the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. He joined along with his best friend Jack and was part of the large force landing in Normandy in July 1944.
The book is a work of art, with a lovely binding. The story is done mostly in army green or red, which really makes an impact and fits with the experience told.
Moving, drawn beautifully, and told with emotion, this is a book to treasure. It is the details here, both text and picture that really make it come alive.
Another Challenge
Whats In a Name
This is a challenge I did and enjoyed in 2010, so I will try it again for 2011.
Here are the rules.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:
Other Things to Know
This is a challenge I did and enjoyed in 2010, so I will try it again for 2011.
Here are the rules.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:
- A book with a number in the title: First to Die, Seven Up, Thirteen Reasons Why
- A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: Diamond Ruby, Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Opal Deception
- A book with a size in the title: Wide Sargasso Sea, Small Wars, Little Bee
- A book with travel or movement in the title: Dead Witch Walking, Crawling with Zombies, Time Traveler's Wife
- A book with evil in the title: Bad Marie, Fallen, Wicked Lovely
- A book with a life stage in the title: No Country for Old Men, Brideshead Revisited, Bog Child
Other Things to Know
- Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
- Books may overlap other challenges.
- Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
- Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
- You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
- You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order.
The Forgotten Garden
Finished January 2
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Told over the course of a century from the early 1900s to the 21st century, this novel follows a small girl, "Nell", and later her granddaughter from England to Australia and back again.
A small girl is left alone on a ship to Australia in 1913. She has only a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a book of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster at the Australian port and raised as his daughter. It is only on her 21st birthday that she finds out the truth of how she was found, and not until much later that she is given the clues to begin her search for her past. Following the clues she is given she makes her way to a manor on the Cornish coast.
Back in Australia her plans change again, and it is her granddaughter Cassandra who continues the quest for the truth of the past and Nell's origins in England.
This book has mystery, romance, and great stories.
At 549 pages, it also puts me another book towards the Chunkster Challenge.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Told over the course of a century from the early 1900s to the 21st century, this novel follows a small girl, "Nell", and later her granddaughter from England to Australia and back again.
A small girl is left alone on a ship to Australia in 1913. She has only a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a book of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster at the Australian port and raised as his daughter. It is only on her 21st birthday that she finds out the truth of how she was found, and not until much later that she is given the clues to begin her search for her past. Following the clues she is given she makes her way to a manor on the Cornish coast.
Back in Australia her plans change again, and it is her granddaughter Cassandra who continues the quest for the truth of the past and Nell's origins in England.
This book has mystery, romance, and great stories.
At 549 pages, it also puts me another book towards the Chunkster Challenge.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)