This is a re-read, revisiting one of my favorites from my childhood. It holds up very well, and I still found it enchanting. I had forgotten, however,This is a re-read, revisiting one of my favorites from my childhood. It holds up very well, and I still found it enchanting. I had forgotten, however, how absolutely abruptly it ends -- this frustrated me as a child, and it still frustrates me a bit now....more
I surprised myself by REALLY liking this book. It's nothing I would've ever picked up if I hadn't had to read it for class; it's about a young black mI surprised myself by REALLY liking this book. It's nothing I would've ever picked up if I hadn't had to read it for class; it's about a young black man who becomes a boxer as a means to escape the pressures of his inner city life. If I found it in the library or a bookstore, I would've read the back, said, "Eh, sports novel, ech" and put it back. But it's so good! It's a very slim little novel, but there's a lot going on there, and Lipsyte pulls it all off: family relationships, race relations, dropping out of school, drug abuse... Yet it never comes off as terribly heavy-handed....more
I was disappointed with this book; I thought the narrative felt disjointed, and I wasn't particularly engaged by the protagonist. On the other hand, II was disappointed with this book; I thought the narrative felt disjointed, and I wasn't particularly engaged by the protagonist. On the other hand, I kept putting it down and picking it back up days later, so maybe the disjointed feeling is just my own fault. It's an intriguing book, though, and if you are a book collector or librarian there are parts of it you'll really love. It just never got all that exciting for me, and while I got the feeling that I was supposed to think that the main character was in some kind of danger, I never felt that way....more
A witty, entirely enjoyable read about a group of disparate women (and one man) who form a book club focusing on the works of Jane Austen. I thought iA witty, entirely enjoyable read about a group of disparate women (and one man) who form a book club focusing on the works of Jane Austen. I thought it looked silly, but I picked it up for a friend. I then happened to start reading the prologue, and was immediately hooked. You don't even have to have read much Jane Austen to enjoy it, although I suppose it would help....more
Predictable, sappy, WAY too focused on traditional gender roles... Should I go on? I should've guessed all this from the back of the book, but it was Predictable, sappy, WAY too focused on traditional gender roles... Should I go on? I should've guessed all this from the back of the book, but it was about a knitting shop, and I knit, so I picked it up. Oh well. ...more
A lovingly written, unsentimental portrayal of a woman on death row, Karen, and how her life touches two others: Franny, the new prison doctor, and CeA lovingly written, unsentimental portrayal of a woman on death row, Karen, and how her life touches two others: Franny, the new prison doctor, and Celia, whose husband Karen murdered. This was actually much better than I expected; it is sympathetic to all the characters without while not being afraid to show their flaws....more
A fun kids' novel in the tradition of Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl, although possibly not quite of the same calibre.. I enjoyed it, but I probably wo A fun kids' novel in the tradition of Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl, although possibly not quite of the same calibre.. I enjoyed it, but I probably won't actively seek out the sequels, unless I happen to see them at the library....more
The story of Poyais, the gorgeous South American country that never existed... The tale is fascinating, but Sinclair sucks a lot of the interest out oThe story of Poyais, the gorgeous South American country that never existed... The tale is fascinating, but Sinclair sucks a lot of the interest out of it with a pedestrian writing style. He can't seem to distinguish between what is interesting detail and what is just excess. I was left feeling that the book was interesting in spite of, rather than because of, the way it was written....more
This series continues to be a lot of fun, but for some reason I didn't like this one as well as the others. I think it's because there are hints of soThis series continues to be a lot of fun, but for some reason I didn't like this one as well as the others. I think it's because there are hints of some kind of greater plotline regarding the Red King, Charlie's aunts, his Uncle Paton, and all that, but the hints are frustratingly sparse and scattershot. ...more
A great short Sherlock Holmes novel (really more of a novella, I suppose). A one-legged man, exotic treasure from India, a beautiful woman in distressA great short Sherlock Holmes novel (really more of a novella, I suppose). A one-legged man, exotic treasure from India, a beautiful woman in distress... it pretty much has it all. This was the Penguin annotated edition, which was handy for understanding some of the references that were probably quite clear in Victorian times, but are a bit obscure for the modern reader. Plus it's fun when the annotations point out that while Watson's old war wound was in his shoulder in A Study In Scarlet, it has now migrated to his leg..!...more
I loved Codell's novel, Sahara Special, so I was looking forward to reading this memoir of Codell's fifth grade years. I found it rather disappointingI loved Codell's novel, Sahara Special, so I was looking forward to reading this memoir of Codell's fifth grade years. I found it rather disappointing, however. Parts of it are riotously funny and hit just the right notes -- there's an episode in which young Esme talks her friend into punching her in the mouth, in the hope of avoiding this week's piano lesson that's particularly great -- and there are great one-liners as well, such as when Esme states that a particular rabbi "looks like a Jewish Santa Claus," and her parents in response ask her to please not tell him that, or tell him about their Christmas tree... But overall it's really uneven; some of the earlier chapters almost made me stop reading, because the tone felt very condescending towards the reader. It's also very short, and ends rather abruptly. So, overall, not as good as I'd hoped it would be....more
From the description on the back of this book, it sounds like The Lovely Bones, but it's really not. Yes, there's a murder, yes, the spirit of the womFrom the description on the back of this book, it sounds like The Lovely Bones, but it's really not. Yes, there's a murder, yes, the spirit of the woman murdered has some awareness of what occurs after her death. But in reality it begins with a murder, then narrates the events leading up to it. It's more truly a literary novel about love, lust, and thwarted passions of all kinds.
I enjoyed it, but I've only given it 3/5 because it's one of those novels that constantly reminds the reader that it's a novel, and I found that bothersome in this case. The point of view changes frequently, and often switches from first to third person. The way the characters speak adds to the artificiality as well; there are whole huge sections of dialogue that seem utterly improbable. One that particularly struck me was supposed to be an early morning conversation in the kitchen while the teakettle boiled, but the first sentence goes like this:
"I remember his letters, in your handwriting with his syntax, an oddly comforting juxtaposition of elements if I may say so, you two had become the one creature at last, elegant yet unlettered, the occasional erudite word sitting like an awkward jewel among the plain and pithy sentences."
Lovely, yes, but not particularly realistic, coming as it does from an uncolleged, hungover Irish woman before breakfast. So, if you feel like you might enjoy it nonetheless (as I did, to some degree) or if you really LIKE highly wordy, somewhat self-important novels, check it out. If you're looking for The Lovely Bones, pass....more
This is the real memoir of a highschool student, and it does read like one -- the same concerns that plagued you when you were in highschool are here This is the real memoir of a highschool student, and it does read like one -- the same concerns that plagued you when you were in highschool are here and are just as dramatic as they were back then... If you pick this up, I strongly suggest you read at least fifteen pages or so before you decide whether you like it or not -- I admit I kind of hated Zoe for the first five pages, and then I was sucked in entirely. When I finished the book I was left with the feeling that I knew Zoe and her friends intensely, faults and all....more
This is a solid fantasy that I found enjoyable, if not entirely earthshaking. I liked the characterization of the protagonist, Nathaniel; he is a younThis is a solid fantasy that I found enjoyable, if not entirely earthshaking. I liked the characterization of the protagonist, Nathaniel; he is a young boy (12) who, like Harry Potter, has been raised in a world pretty much devoid of tender feeling where his intelligence and abilities are denigrated. Unlike Harry, Nathaniel hasn't remained a particularly nice person despite it all. Nathaniel's an intensely angry, vengeful boy... but one gets the feeling he could still go either way -- he could turn out to be basically decent, or his lust for power and vengeance on his enemies could make him into a monster....more
This was an interesting overview of some of what makes Hitchcock a great director, and a discussion of why we find his films so compelling. Conrad annThis was an interesting overview of some of what makes Hitchcock a great director, and a discussion of why we find his films so compelling. Conrad annoyed me, however; in the introduction to the book, he mocks scholars of film who make use of postmodernism and feminism to discuss Hitchcock's works and suggests that they muddy the waters unnessarily, but then throughout the book proceeds to use all kinds of Freudian critiques, sometimes to the same effect. I also think the book might have been better if he had been less of a fanboy, as it seems to hamper him when things get really interesting -- Conrad freely admits that Hitchcock had bizarre attitudes toward his leading ladies, but then backs off and doesn't follow up on the critique. All in all, this struck me as a good, but not great, book....more
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