In Praise of Hatred
by Khaled Khalifa
The Power of Oppression (3/19/2014)
A powerful, stark story of the power of oppression to create and sustain hatred. Against the backdrop of one of Syria's many uprisings, the narrator ( a young teen age girl) struggles with her identity and loyalties. As the country's struggles intensify, the narrator's beliefs solidify until her life is ruled by only one emotion - hatred.
I almost gave up on this book before reaching the halfway point. I found the first half of the book to be scattered and unfocused. It was almost impossible to follow the story or feel it had any coherency. It took some time before I realized this was purposeful on the author's part. The flow of the story closely mirrors the narrator's life as she moves from confusion and unfocused beliefs to a laser focus on hatred as various events and relationships shape her outlook on life. As the narrator becomes more radicalized, the book becomes more focused and coherent.
This was a very difficult book to read on many levels but worth the effort. I believe it would be an excellent book for book clubs as it would provoke much discussion on the content of the book, the current status of women in countries such as Syria, the power of oppression, and the style the writer chose to relate this story. I finished this book with a much greater understanding of the long term and radical effects of oppression, no matter what form it takes.
Flat Water Tuesday
by Ron Irwin
Great story, disappointing ending (5/22/2013)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book but found the ending disappointing. The author did a great job of developing the characters of the rowing team. The descriptive quality of the rowing itself was superb. The story was interesting. Unfortunately, the ending left me thinking, "what the heck does that mean?" After the great job in the rest of the book, the ending felt as if the author didn't know how to bring closure. Two weeks after finishing I still find myself thinking about the main character and wondering what his decision was. Some books do this purposefully, but that did not feel like the case this time. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise very good book.
Sentinel: A Spycatcher Novel
by Matthew Dunn
A tired premise (7/2/2012)
Spy books about the cold war with Russia seem dated and out of sync to me. I enjoy spy books and this one was well written if that is your bag. It is fast-paced and gives a view of the unglamorous side of being an undercover agent. f you don't mind the old Russia vs. US theme this would be a great summer read
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
by Katherine Boo
Remember - narrative non-fiction - Not a novel! (1/26/2012)
This is an extremely well written book although one that is difficult to read due to the painful subject matter. If readers are not familiar with "narrative non-fiction" I would suggest reading the "Author's Note" first. This should probably be at the beginning of the book rather than at the end. It is important for readers to understand this is a work of non-fiction, not a novel. Boo is a talented writer who brings a hidden population to light. Not a book read for enjoyment but for education. Her description of the slums of Anawadi, India and the lives of the people who who inhabit them is superb. Boo's book reads like a novel while bringing an important message to all of us about the state of many in our world. I would highly recommend this book. It would be a terrific book club choice.
Tides of War: A Novel
by Stella Tillyard
A Great Disappointment (11/21/2011)
I did my best but gave up on this book half way through. I kept trying because historical fiction is my favorite genre. I found the four main characters, two couples, difficult to keep straight and did not really care what happened to any of them. Somehow the character development misses the mark and leaves the reader feeling frustrated and unfulfilled. The history was accurate and mildly interesting but not enough so that I was willing to give this novel more time.
The Orphan Master's Son: A Novel
by Adam Johnson
A Tale of Souls (11/2/2011)
An amazing novel. The tone of this book mirrors the society it describes. I found it difficult to read except in short doses because it reflects the oppressiveness of North Korea so accurately. It is a dark story of hopelessness and survival - not one to read if you are looking for a happy ending. However, it is well worth reading. The writing is brilliant; the characters are fully developed. The author's ability to mirror North Korean society through his choice of language is amazing. This book would provoke interesting discussions in book clubs. I can't say I enjoyed this book as it is so depressing; however, it is an excellent book that is extremely well written.
Next to Love
by Ellen Feldman
A Provocative Read (7/23/2011)
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. The author took care to develop the characters so they were 3 dimensional and believable. Told in a style similar to The Help, Ellen Feldman tells the story of 3 women whose husbands served in World War II. Following their lives before, during and after the war, the author weaves an intriguing tale of cultural expectations, personal growth and enduring friendship. No platitudes about war in this book or its effects on those at home as well as those who fought. I particularly enjoyed the author’s treatment of not only the main characters and how the war affected them but the greater challenge to the American way of life following the war. A great beach read but one that you will find yourself thinking about long after you’ve finished the book. I would highly recommend this for book clubs - it will stimulate great discussion. I would love to hear book clubs discuss the ending – was it purposeful or did the author just not know how to end the book? Not an easy question to answer.
The Daughter of Siena: A Novel
by Marina Fiorato
A little of each, master of none (5/12/2011)
I was very excited to receive this book. Was hoping it would be of same quality as "The Other Boylen Girl". Although I was somewhat disappointed it was still a very good read. It seems the author could not decide if she was writing a historical novel or a romance novel. The result - a little of each. I found the first half of the book slow and plodding but it did get better in the second half.
One of the strengths of the book was the description of Siena itself and the history of the Palio (horse race). Having been fortunate to travel extensively in Italy it was great fun to read about the city and its history. Even if you've never been there, you will still enjoy learning about this amazing city.
I felt the plot development was a bit weak as was the character development, especially the male lead, Riccardo Bruni, who I found pretty one dimensional. The two female characters, Pia and Duchess Violante fared better.
Overall, I enjoyed this book enough that I will most likely read the author's other books about Italy. This is an easy read, a great summer beach book.
My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park
by Cindy Jones
"My Cindy Jones" (2/11/2011)
Although I was somewhat worried I would be lost in this book as I have not read Mansfield Park, I was delighted to find that it didn’t matter. The synopsis of Mansfield Park at the beginning told me what I needed to know – I’m sure those who have read that book will find even more depth to this novel.
The plot follows a young woman, Lily, whose life is a mess. She has become so immersed in Jane Austen’s writings and Jane Austen, the person, that she seems to be living more in fantasy than reality – not a good way to live one’s life. “My Jane Austen” (as Lily refers to her) is always in her peripheral vision, guiding and commenting on Lily’s life. But this is not some supernatural story – it is only Lily’s way of coping. When things hit bottom in her real life in Texas, she escapes ( so she believes) into the world of Newton Priors, an English manor setting filled with literary types and actors who re-create Jane Austen novels for the tourists. For Lily, this seemingly ideal fulfillment of her fantasy of “living in a novel” instead becomes the stage for a slow process of self enlightenment and growth.
One of the main plot devices was both whimsical and ironic. Lily speaks often of how the characters in Jane Austen’s books never learn from their mistakes – you can read them over and over and they continue to do the same things in each reading. This is also true of Lily’s life – she makes the same mistakes over and over – until she actually starts “living in a novel”. Repeating the same scenes, both literary and in real life, all summer help her begin discovering herself.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book although at times I found Lily to be a bit too obtuse about herself. Some of the secondary characters lacked depth but were sufficient to carry the plot line.
This book has many layers and would lead to a wonderful book club discussion. In the novel there are many interpretations of Jane Austen, the person. Book club readers will find lively discussion in their varied interpretations of Lily. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys literature and multi-level novels.
Agent X: A Novel
by Noah Boyd
Nothing New Here (1/5/2011)
Another cold war, Russia vs. U.S., novel with a mole high up in one of the U.S. spy agencies. Although this has been done many times, I was hoping for a a fresh perspective. Unfortunately, I found this book to be tiresome and, frankly, boring much of the time. The plot was implausible to the point of being difficult to follow. I had to keep reminding myself what the point was of all the chasing around and dead bodies. I enjoy books where the plot is complex and challenging but the clues are there. However, I am not an Agatha Christie fan because the clues are available only to one of the characters - no chance to figure it our for your self. This book follows that formula.
I have not read the first book in this series so perhaps I was at a disadvantage in terms of character development. My belief is that books should generally stand on their own, providing enough character development to flesh out the characters so they become real people that you have some feeling about - either liking or disliking them. In my opinion, this book failed to accomplish that. Both of the main characters, Steve Vail and Kate Bannon, seemed very one dimensional. In particular, Steve Vail would make a great romance novel hero. He is perfect, never does anything wrong and is the only one capable of figuring out and finding the bad guys. If you enjoy those types of heroes, this will be a good read for you. It might make a good airplane or beach book but would not be high on my list of recommendations.
The Tenth Song
by Naomi Ragen
A simplistic journey (10/15/2010)
This book about an American Jewish family's reaction to a major family crisis begins strongly. The premise provides a base for the two main characters, mother and daughter, to explore and struggle with their view of themselves, each other, their religion and the world in general. Unfortunately, as the story proceeded, I found the insights and "enlightenment" of the characters predictable and simplistic. I wanted to like these women but was left feeling they remained self centered and self absorbed which does not seem to be the author's intent. The resolution of the crisis was a bit too pat - too easy, as was the resolution of the personal crises. It is an easy read but not one I would recommend to my book club. I may ask my friend who is Jewish to read it - I would be interested in her reaction to how Jewish women are portrayed - it seemed quite stereotypical to me.
The Ghost of Milagro Creek
by Melanie Sumner
The Ghost of Milagro Creek (7/5/2010)
I was disappointed in this book. I thought perhaps it would have the same flavor as House of Spirits (Isabel Allende) or The Milagro Bean Field Wars. I found the book very confusing and hard to follow. The chapters not only flipped back and forth between time periods but also characters. It usually took 2 or 3 paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter to figure out who was speaking. The last half of the book was somewhat better but I found I had no idea what the plot was for the first 100 pages - not sure I ever "got it". The book left me with many questions and generally dissatisfied. I will not be recommending this to my book clubs or reader friends.
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