Tag: Books

American Pastoral, by Philip Roth

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Book CoverFinished 9-23-08, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 1997

“Was everyone’s brain as unreliable as his?  Was he the only one unable to see what people were up to?  Did everyone slip around the way he did, in and out, in and out, a hundred different times a day go from being smart to being smart enough, to being as dumb as the next guy, to being the dumbest bastard who ever lived?  Was it stupidity deforming him, the simpleton son of a simpleton father, or was life just one big deception that everyone was on to except him?”           Chapter 8

This multigenerational story encompasses the social upheaval of the 1960’s and the issue of Jewish assimilation with authority and skill.  Nathan Zuckerman, a writer and fan of Seymour (Swede) Levov, the Jewish golden boy of New Jersey, is asked to to dinner by Swede and is excited at the prospect of helping a childhood hero.  After a disappointing dinner Zuckerman learns of Swede’s death at a class reunion and feels compelled to tell Swede’s story as he sees it.

Swede is the pride of the Jewish community, the blond, confident, athletic boy bridges the gap between cultures.  He marries a Catholic beauty queen and they have a daughter, Merry.  He takes over his father’s successful glove business and the family moves to the country and enjoy a nice house with land.  Swede’s life is good and he has everything he has ever wanted.  Then America goes into Vietnam and ignites a storm of violence and protest in the United States.  A teen-aged Merry becomes embroiled in the cause and does the unthinkable, changing not only her life, but the lives of everyone around her.

I liked the story, although heartbreaking.  It was an up close and personal view of the unraveling of a life which in turn causes destruction of everyone involved.  I cannot say that I am a fan of Roth or his convoluted writing style.  There comes a point when the self-examination and constant questioning just becomes too much to make the book truly enjoyable.  If I hadn’t been taking a class I may not have made it past page 50, but I’m glad I did.  The book was worthwhile.  I’ll find out as the class continues onto the next book whether Philip Roth is an acquired taste.

4th of July, by James Patterson

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Cover ImageFinished 9-22-08, rating 3/5, fiction, pub. 2006

This the the 4th installment of the Women’s Murder Club

Lindsay, Claire, and Cindy are back to work another murder case or cases as it happens.  Lindsay finds herself on trial and on administrative leave after a shooting that leaves one teen dead and the teen’s brother paralyzed.  She decides to head out of town to her sister’s empty house for some much needed relaxation.  While there she becomes embroiled in the local murders terrorizing the local beach community.

Claire and Cindy make small appearances, but this is really Lindsay’s story.  Boyfriend Joe is back and her faithful furry companion, Martha, is a welcome addition for this dog lover.  And by the end of the book a new member is admitted to the murder club.

Patterson knows how to build suspense, but the way he does it sometimes feels lazy.  I felt that this book was aimed at those who have ADD and because of it there were a lot more loose ends than in the past books.  It is a page turner and a great quick read and sometimes that is just what I need.  If you liked the first three in this series you will like the change of scenery this one offers.

Rereading books

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“If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he re-reads.” – Francois Mauriac

 

I used to reread books, but lately have way too many books on my shelves to take the time to read old favorites.  The problem is that if I don’t reread them then the effect of them is lost and that is sad.  Recently I came across some notes I’d made when I was reading Emerson years ago and was reminded of feelings long forgotten.  So, in the next few weeks I think I’ll take a look at a few Emerson essays. 

So, what about you?  Do you have favorites that you read over and over again or do you always find yourself rereading something new?

The Pulitzer Prize

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I’ve got less than 100 pages left in American Pastoral by Philip Roth, but will not write a review until after class next Wednesday.  American Pastoral won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998.  I thought I’d take a look at the Pulitzer list and see if I’d read any others.  I highlighted the ones I’ve read in green.  Sadly, American Pastoral will only be my fifth.  I’ve got several other in my stack of books to be read, so maybe after I’ve finished with Roth I will try another Pulitzer.  How many have you read? 

 The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been awarded since 1948 for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life. It replaced the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel.

  1. ^ The fiction jury had unanimously recommended the 1974 award to Thomas Pynchon‘s Gravity’s Rainbow, but the Pulitzer board, which has sole discretion for awarding the prize, made no award.

Full Cleveland, by Les Roberts

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Cover ImageFinished 9-18-08, rating 3/5, mystery, pub. 1989

“Cleveland is a great city.  When the people who live here start believing it and stop heeding the knocks in the press and the bad jokes on television, things are going to be all right.”   -Chapter 7

Private detective and ex-cop Milan Jacovich is back in his second Cleveland mystery.  A few of his friends are back to help him in his latest case and his girlfriend, Mary, is there to add comfort.  Milan is hired to track down a man who has swindled local businesses and with this new job comes a sidekick appointed by the mob.  Sidekick Buddy provides extra muscle and some comic relief while the two of them track down suspects.  Milan is shot at and kills and drinks way too much.

This mystery series brings the neighborhoods of Cleveland, Ohio to life and anyone who enjoys reading and lives in the Cleveland area should really check this series out.  The first chapter took Milan and Mary to Johnny’s downtown, which is a favorite of mine and the neighborhoods are described with ethnic flavor and pride.  Actually, I think this series would be a perfect gift for anyone moving to the area.

I enjoyed the first book a little more than this one, but would still recommend this one.  Who knew Cleveland could be so exciting?

Odds & Ends Quiz

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Here’s how to play… Leave a comment with the # and the answer and I’ll cross it off the list. No Googling, that’s cheating and no fun! If you know them all, please don’t guess every one, maybe five max?  GUESSES ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED 🙂

1. What Herman Hesse book gave its name to a rock group?  STEPPENWOLF, rock on Donstuff

2. What book was Mark David Chapman carrying with him when he killed John Lennon on 12/8/1980?  THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, the wild and crazy guy, Donstuff

3. Who is the woman on the cover of Amy Tan’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter? TAN”S GRANDMOTHER

4. The book Peter Pan was responsible for the creation of what name(s)? 

WENDY- first time Wendy was used as a girl’s name

TINKER BELL, pretty fairy dust for Bermudaonion.

5. What renowned Irish writer wore an eye patch? JAMES JOYCE

6. What writer was expelled from West Point for showing up for a public parade wearing only a belt & gloves? EDGAR ALLAN POE

7. What Irish-born playwright was sentenced to two years at hard labor for homosexuality?  OSCAR WILDE, two cheers to Elena Margo Gould

8. What game, played by Alice while in Wonderland, was banned in Boston in the 19th century as being too “immoral”?  CROQUET, kudos to the morally correct Elena Margo Gould

 

10. What Watergate figure was the author of numerous spy novels?  E HOWARD HUNT

RITA Award Winners

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Many of you who read this blog regularly know that I like romance novels, good romances.  I think some people look down on romances without having read a good one or maybe none at all.  I usually suggest that the cover can tell you a lot about the book.  Is there one (or more) scantily clad person on the cover?  I might not read it unless it was recommended to me by someone whose opinion I trust or it’s an author I like.  But, here is another way to choose a romance.  Romance Writers of America gives out awards every year to the best of the best.  This is taken from their website…

“Romance Writers of America proudly sponsors the romance-publishing industry’s highest award of distinction — the RITA Award. RITA awards are presented annually to the best published romance novels of the year.  Up to 1,200 romance novels from 12 different categories are entered each year in the RITA competition. Novels can be entered either by their authors or by the books’ publisher.”

Although I haven’t read any of these yet, I will choose one or two to read soon.  If you haven’t tried a romance novel or it has been a while maybe you should try one too.

And the RITA Awards go to…

Best First Book…Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey

Best Contemporary Series Romance…Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson

Best Contemporary Series Romance:Suspense/Adventure…Treasure by Helen Brenna

Best Contemporary Single Title Romance…Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins

Best Historical Romance…Lessons of Desire by Madeline Hunter

Best Inspirational Romance…A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight

Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements…Silent in the Graveby Deanna Raybourn

Best Paranormal Romance…Lover Revealed by JR Ward

Best Regency Historical Romance…The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn

Best Romance Novella…”Born in My Heart” by Jennifer Greene in Like Mother, Like Daughter

Best Romantic Suspense…Ice Blue by Anne Stuart

Best Young Adult Romance… Wicked Lovelyby Melissa Marr

 

Play Dirty, by Sandra Brown

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Cover ImageFinished audio 9-5-08, rating 2.5/5, fiction, pub. 2007

Millionaire and wheelchair bound Foster Speakman hires disgraced, fresh out of prison, ex-NFL star, Griff Burkett to ‘make his wife wife pregnant the old fashioned way’.  Laura, the wife, goes along with the plan and meets Griff monthly at a rented house to do the deed.  Laura loves her husband and her job at the Speakman’s airline.  Griff wastes no time in falling in love with Laura.  Griff also has a detective following him around trying to put him back in prison. 

This is the first Sandra Brown book that I have not liked.  None of the three main characters were appealing, even if she tried to make it so by the end, and the weak plot was very predictable.  I was listening to this in the car and in the time it took me to drive from one block to the next Griff and Laura were in love.  I thought I’d missed a cd or something, but no, it happened just as quick as that. 

If this had been the first Sandra Brown book I’d read I would not read another, but since I usually love her books I will put this in the miss column and consider it an anomaly.  Don’t bother with this one, choose another Brown book if you are a fan.

Shameless, by Tori Carrington

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Book CoverFinished 9-5-08, rating 1/5, romance?,  pub. 2008

“In this day and age, is it bad for a woman to yearn for some good, hot, anonymous sex?”  –opening line of the book

Um…I picked this Harlequin Blaze #377 up because I love the Sophie Metropolis series by this husband/wife writing team and was curious about their romances, they’ve written over 35.  So, as you can see from the opening line, the plot is thin.  Nina has two hot partners who also happen to be friends.  Nina has a problem confusing sex with love, so one of the guys suggests a night of anonymous sex with one of them.  She won’t know which because she will be blindfolded.

I’ve already given this more time than it deserves.  I’m sure people read the Harlequin Blaze series because they want sex, but I felt gross reading it.  But I do recommend the Sophie Metropolis series, it’s quite good.

Sweet Caroline, by Rachel Hauck

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Sweet CarolineFinished 9-4-08, rating 4/5, inspirational fiction, pub. 2008

This is the first inspirational fiction book that I’ve read.  I’m not sure what my expectations were, but I’d have to say I was pleasantly surprised.  I guess I thought that inspirational fiction would offer a sanitized view of the world, but instead of that being a bad thing I found it to be a sweet look at the world, even if that sweetness was unbelievable at times.

Caroline is in her late 20’s, single, and floating through life by helping other people with their lives instead of making one of her own.  The owner of the cafe where she works has died and left the cafe to her.  The place is a money pit and Caroline struggles with whether to stay and save the cafe or to take a plum job in Spain.  Her life is further complicated by her dating a reformed ladies man while her first true loves comes back to town.  And it is during this time that she attends church and feels the presence of God in her life.

This is a nice story that feels like the South Carolina low country it is set in.  The writing was good and kept me reading into the night.  There were many storylines woven together with real skill.  The finding God storyline was one that I found moving without being preachy.  That being said, some things were a little too good.  I’ve never had a car dealer make a deal with me and then throw in an extra $1000 because he thinks I’m a good person and I know there are many virgins in their late 20’s, but they and their dates have issues with it that never really came up in this book.  So there were a few things that didn’t ring quite true for me.

I would recommend this book.  I think you’ll really like Caroline and her story.  Essentially, it’s one woman’s quest to make her way in the world on her own terms.  I will gladly read more inspirational fiction, especially when I need to be reassured that the world is not always the cynical place it’s made out to be.