Monday, July 10, 2006
The Plight of the Neglected Blog
So it has been far too long since I have posted anything of any relevance.
I am about to post just another list. Perhaps I will find the time and actually get my reviews in on these books.
So here is a list, hopefully to be fleshed out someday
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – reread this and found it as moving the second time as I did the first. Actually, maybe more so. Reading this as an adult vs. college student puts a different spin on the novel, especially when you look at the direction the conservative right is attempting to steer the country. Handmaid’s tale is an even better cautionary tale in that light.
The Passage by Connie Willis – Interesting fictional look at Near Death Experiences, what causes them and their meaning.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova – Fictional vampire hunt through historical documents. Made the mistake of reading it alone at night. Fun but not earth shattering.
Under the Marble Sky by John Shors - Schlocky, not worth reading unless you like romances. Not nearly enough history or architecture.
Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore – a silly book, not one of his best, but still entertaining and odd like all his work. Read The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove if you want a truly good example of his absurdist romps.
The Giant’s House by Elizabeth McCracken – an oddball romance. A lonely librarian slowly falls in love/obession with the town’s lovable giant.
Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri - a good read. Explores relationships between people living in an apartment building during the death of a member of the neighborhood who lives on the front steps of the building. Religion, cast system, insanity, grief, love and hate.
Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke - a farcical look at a British Guy trying to work and date in Paris. Silly book. Enjoyable light read.
Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – thought I was gonna hate it after reading the jacket. Actually really enjoyed it. Interesting premise of how relationships can last when the people are not always in the same time. The science was a little wonky, but I liked the premise of how uncontrollable time traveling was genetic. It was a sad book, but intriguing.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – Kept picking this one up and trying to decide if it was going to be annoying or really enjoyable. It was really enjoyable. It is a coming of age story in post civil war Spain. The son of a bookseller comes across a rare book and tries to unravel the mystery that surrounds it. Through the years that it takes him to come to solve the mystery he grows from a kid into a young adult. There are some fun twists and turns in the book and an interesting cast of characters. I was captivated by this book.
I am about to post just another list. Perhaps I will find the time and actually get my reviews in on these books.
So here is a list, hopefully to be fleshed out someday
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – reread this and found it as moving the second time as I did the first. Actually, maybe more so. Reading this as an adult vs. college student puts a different spin on the novel, especially when you look at the direction the conservative right is attempting to steer the country. Handmaid’s tale is an even better cautionary tale in that light.
The Passage by Connie Willis – Interesting fictional look at Near Death Experiences, what causes them and their meaning.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova – Fictional vampire hunt through historical documents. Made the mistake of reading it alone at night. Fun but not earth shattering.
Under the Marble Sky by John Shors - Schlocky, not worth reading unless you like romances. Not nearly enough history or architecture.
Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore – a silly book, not one of his best, but still entertaining and odd like all his work. Read The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove if you want a truly good example of his absurdist romps.
The Giant’s House by Elizabeth McCracken – an oddball romance. A lonely librarian slowly falls in love/obession with the town’s lovable giant.
Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri - a good read. Explores relationships between people living in an apartment building during the death of a member of the neighborhood who lives on the front steps of the building. Religion, cast system, insanity, grief, love and hate.
Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke - a farcical look at a British Guy trying to work and date in Paris. Silly book. Enjoyable light read.
Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – thought I was gonna hate it after reading the jacket. Actually really enjoyed it. Interesting premise of how relationships can last when the people are not always in the same time. The science was a little wonky, but I liked the premise of how uncontrollable time traveling was genetic. It was a sad book, but intriguing.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – Kept picking this one up and trying to decide if it was going to be annoying or really enjoyable. It was really enjoyable. It is a coming of age story in post civil war Spain. The son of a bookseller comes across a rare book and tries to unravel the mystery that surrounds it. Through the years that it takes him to come to solve the mystery he grows from a kid into a young adult. There are some fun twists and turns in the book and an interesting cast of characters. I was captivated by this book.
# posted by lyskie @ 11:58 AM 
