Review – Stitches by David Small November 6, 2009
Posted by Lu in Books.Tags: david small, graphic novel, memoir
8 comments
Review – Black Girl/White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates November 3, 2009
Posted by Lu in Books.Tags: black gril/white girl, joyce carol oates
3 comments
I’m having trouble putting into words what exactly I felt about Black Girl/White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates. I didn’t not like it. Neither did I particularly enjoy listening to it. The novel is an untitled manuscript by aging academic Genna Mead about her freshman year at Schuyler College with her African American roommate Minette Swift. We know that Minette passes away from the very first page and that it’s not a mystery why she died. The book instead comes across as a defense of Genna’s actions and a criticism of Minette’s and Genna’s family.
There were moments of clarity in this novel, ones that convinced me that it was worth reading, or rather, listening to. Because of this, I kept at it, I kept listening. I’m not wholly unsatisfied or disappointed that I did. In all honesty, I just don’t know what to make of the characters, with their individual idiosyncrasies that made them as unbearable as they were. I was frustrated with the Genna’s constant need for approval, from her father to her roommate, Minette. I did not understand what meaning I was supposed to take from it, other than the situation was beyond anyone’s control and Minette was responsible for her own death. And that we weren’t supposed to feel any sympathy for her, whatsoever.
There were plot lines that were dropped, there were inconsistencies in narration. It was frustrating. I find that I am often more critical of books when I listen to them, so that is something to take into consideration. I just know that there are better Joyce Carol Oates books out there and this one simply wasn’t for me. Like I said, there were certainly interesting moments in this novel and it was definitely one that made me think. So I can’t say it’s not worth reading, because on some level it is, but I wish I would have listened to something more interesting.
So go read this!: now | tomorrow | next week | next month | next year | when you’ve exhausted your TBR pile
Also reviewed by:
Did you read and review Black Girl/White Girl? Leave me a comment and I’ll link to your review!
Monthly Round Up – October! November 2, 2009
Posted by Lu in Books.Tags: monthly round up
1 comment so far
Happy Belated Halloween everyone! This is going to be a long rambling post that is half-Sunday Salon, half-Round Up. Yesterday was a fabulous day and I hope everyone else had a wonderful day, too. I was a lightning bolt, which means that I just put a lightning bolt made out of really shiny fabric on my dress. We handed out candy to the cute trick-or-treaters and then had a rockin party of our own. We started my birthday week celebrations! Everyone should get a week for their birthday. Thursday is my real birthday and we’re going to go out and do some official celebrating then, too. Can’t wait!
October was saved only by the read-a-thon! Other than that I read much less than usual because of school. Tomorrow is my school-free day. I’m going to spend the day relaxing, going to the gym, and, most of all, reading.
Books read:
- The Host - Stephanie Meyer (Read it: This Week!)
- 2666: The Part About Archimboldi - Roberto Bolaño (Read it: Now!)
- Ash – Malinda Lo (Read it: Next week!)
- When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead (Read it: NOW!)
- The Night Watch - Sarah Waters (Read it: Next week)
- Black Girl/White Girl – Joyce Carol Oates (Read it: Next year)
- So Yesterday - Scott Westerfeld (Read it: This week!)
- The Silenced - James DeVila ( Read it: Next year)
- Embroideries - Marjane Satrapi (Read it: Now!)
- The Ask and the Answer – Patrick Ness (Read it: Now!)
- Sloth – Gilbert Hernandez (Read it: Next month)
- Disquiet – Julia Leigh (Read it: Next month)
I can’t believe I read that many books, actually. Reading The Host seems so long ago, I can’t believe that was October! I’m still reading Kristin Lavransdatter, so I’m a little behind on the read-along, but I should have it finished by tomorrow and a post up with my thoughts. I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween and Happy Día de los muertos!
Review – The Silenced by James DeVita October 29, 2009
Posted by Lu in Books.Tags: dystopian, readathon, the silenced, YA
10 comments
The Silenced is a plausible dystopian YA novel set in the not-so-distant future, where dissenters are “disappeared”, there is no due process, children are sent to training camps instead of school, and people live in a closed compounds. It’s fast-paced and exciting, but it is not the best dystopian novel I have read. What it does have going for it are two things: 1) the White Rose, the covert group in the novel, was based off of an actual group of young people who called themselves the White Rose in Nazi Germany and 2) it’s much more plausible than some other dystopian novels.
You will see the modern world in this novel. DeVita did an excellent job drawing from real life, both in the United States and abroad. I wish I had known more about the White Rose before reading the novel because I think that would have enhanced reading the novel. The book is over 500 pages, but the ending manages to feel forced and rushed. The first half of the novel was great, but there were just some things that frustrated me. There were times when the sentence structure completely confused me and there were a lot of acronyms that I had difficulty keeping straight. There were also some things that were never explained and confusing. I recommend other novels over this one, but it is a well-crafted world and I think this would be a good one to teach in schools for its historical connection.
So go read this!: So go read this!: now | tomorrow |next week | next month | next year | when you’ve exhausted your TBR pile
Also read and reviewed by: Did you read and review The Silenced? Leave a comment and I will link to your review here!
Review – Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi October 27, 2009
Posted by Lu in Books.Tags: embroideries, graphic novel, readathon, satrapi
16 comments
I have been a huge fan o f Marjane Satrapi since reading Persepolis a year or so ago. Her unique, deceptively simplistic drawing style is so moving and her topic of writing, life in Iran, is something that we so rarely get such an intimate glimpse of. Embroideries is a smaller collection that is simply a conversation between women, talking about sex, marriage, love and men. If you are a woman, you will find yourself in these pages. It never fails to amaze me how we are all connected, that though our experiences are so extremely different, being a human being, or being a woman, is an experience that you can share across all boundaries.
Marjane’s grandmother, who we got to know in Persepolis, is leading this conversation and it is filled with aunts, mothers, friends and sisters. These images and stories will make you laugh, but they will also touch your heart and make you cry. Highly recommended!
So go read this!: now | tomorrow | next week | next month | next year | when you’ve exhausted your TBR pile
Also reviewed by: The Zen Leaf, In Spring it is the Dawn, Books of Mee, things mean a lot, Biblio File, The Written World
Did you read and review Embroideries? Leave a comment letting me know and I’ll link to your review.
Review – So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld October 26, 2009
Posted by Lu in Books.Tags: readathon, scott westerfeld
14 comments
“Mrrf,” I said in alarm. (102)
Read-A-Thon: Disquiet by Julia Leigh October 24, 2009
Posted by Lu in Blogging, Books.Tags: readathon
1 comment so far
Honestly I’m not quite sure what went on in this one, but I can’t tell if that’s just because I’m so loopy from lack of sleep or because the writing is oh so sparse!
No lie, kids, I might not make it another hour! I am going to try and throw in another book here, but no promises 
Read-A-Thon: SLOTH by Gilbert Hernandez October 23, 2009
Posted by Lu in Blogging, Books.Tags: readathon
6 comments
MIND TRIP. That’s all I have to say about this one.
Read-A-Thon Post 9? 10? I don’t remember! October 23, 2009
Posted by Lu in Blogging, Books.Tags: readathon
10 comments
I’m not going to lie, things got a little slow there in the middle of The Ask and the Answer, but I ran through the last 200 pages in about an hour.
Total book count: 4!
Total pages: 1, 386!
Total calories: bahahahaha, like I’d tell you that!
I think it’s definitely time for a graphic novel “break”. My eyes! I must save them for the wee hours of the morning. She and I will absolutely be taking a Wawa break around 1amish to get some coffee.
Special thanks to everyone who has commented today! I love you: Amanda, Eva, Nymeth, Emily, Trish, gnoegnoe, lena, tuulenhaiven, Vasilly, Aarti, Lauren and Gavin!
Read-A-Thon Post 8!: Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi October 23, 2009
Posted by Lu in Blogging, Books.Tags: readathon
10 comments
That was fast!
New nomination for best Read-A-Thon read ever: Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi. It was such a quick read and a perfect visual break for my eyes. Not sure what’s next on the list, I haven’t decided yet!
