Books Read in February 2017, part 2

(continuation of Part 1)

Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
"I feel sometimes as if I were I child who opens its eyes on the world once and sees amazing things it will never know any names for and then has to close its eyes again."

This was probably my favorite read of this month. An old Southern preacher relates his personal and family history to his young son through a series of journal-type entries. The writing style is lyrical and immersive. Bonus if you're interested in historical fiction, particularly in relation to the Civil War era, and doses of theology/philosophy.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - Ishmael Beah
"These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of my new life, which trigger memories from the past."

Written by a former child soldier who grew up in Sierra Leone in the 1980s and '90s, this book is an unflinching look at the author's experiences - and, by extension, the experiences of anyone affected by the coups. Though hopeful at its core, the direct writing style includes descriptions of brutal killings and torture, some of it perpetrated by Beah as a child soldier. It's not an easy read, but it's a compelling and necessary one for those wanting to understand not only the specific situation in Sierra Leone, but child recruitment in wars and the psychological aftermath it levies.

The 13 Clocks - James Thurber
"The cold Duke was afraid of Now, for Now has warmth and urgency, and Then is dead and buried."

This book would be classified by me as "a somewhat darkly humorous children's fairytale". Along the lines of Thurber's The Wonderful O (read earlier in the month), rhymes and wordplay factor in throughout, though not as heavily. Neil Gaiman cites this book as a favorite in one of his essays, and it was interesting to make parallels between this story and Gaiman works like Coraline and his fairytale-inspired short stories.

The Neverending Story - Michael Ende
"Strange as it may seem, horror loses its power to frighten when repeated too often."

I've never seen the 1980's movie and didn't know a much about the storyline, so I went into this book with pretty fresh eyes. The illustrations and different-colored typefaces really made the story, I thought (hopefully all editions are like the one I read!). I liked the first half of the book quite a bit better than the second; as the book went on, I found myself being reminded more and more of L. Frank Baum's Oz series, not necessarily in a favorable way (it was feeling a little like a rip-off). But overall, I enjoyed the story, found enough unique in it to make it enjoyable, and wish I'd come across it two decades or so ago.

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson - Mitch Albom
"I give myself a good cry if I need it, but then I concentrate on all the good things still in my life."

The author reconnects with and has a series of talks with Morrie Schwartz, an old college professor of his who's dying of a terminal illness. A shorter but not necessarily fast read - there are lots of quotes and thoughts a reader could spend a good bit of time mulling over (the book became a bestseller for a reason). I appreciated the matter-of-fact perspective that Morrie comes to take on death and dying that the author observes and writes about.

Books Read in February 2017, part 1

I made a library trip this month and came away with a stack o' books, and I had a few book purchases as well, so I'll be splitting up this past month's reads into two parts. February had a few Children's Fiction choices, a couple of autobiographies, and a self-help book in the mix - along with a few others. Onward!

The Road to Wigan Pier - George Orwell

"But unfortunately you do not solve the class problem by making friends with tramps. At most you get rid of some of your own class-prejudices by doing so."

Orwell is one of my favorite authors, so this year I'm trying to read his works that I'd never gotten ahold of previously. The first half or so of The Road to Wigan Pier details the living conditions of the poor/working class coal miners in England based on Orwell's experience staying among them (somewhat reminiscent of Down and Out in Paris and London). In the second half, Orwell makes a case for Socialism, drawing from his lived and observed experiences and addressing the concerns people have against Socialism. It's a book addressed to Socialists as much as it is for the public consumption. Orwell also takes the time to explain things like class distinction in Great Britain - something very useful for this American reader. Even if you're not terribly up to speed with politics or you strongly disagree with the conclusions, this book is an interesting read, especially if you're interested in history or learning more about Orwell himself.

Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances - Neil Gaiman
"We are all wearing masks. This is what makes us interesting."

This is Gaiman's third short-story fiction collection, and despite the title, I found the contents of this book the least potentially-problematic of the three (from my reading last year of Smoke & Mirrors and my page-through of Fragile Things). If you've never read a Gaiman short story collection before, I'd probably start with this one. It has the requisite Gaiman blend of horror, fantasy, ghost stories, mystery, and the macabre, but doesn't delve as deeply into taboo or possibly-objectionable (depending on the reader) content as some of his other works. As a bonus for Doctor Who fans, this collection includes an Eleventh Doctor episode-esque story.

Exodus - Debora Feldman
"How had I never realized that there might be Jewish communities all over the world whose practices and perspectives had nothing in common with my own, yet were just as connected to our shared heritage as any other?"

I read Feldman's first autobiographical book, Unorthodox, a few years ago. Exodus continues her story of life after leaving her Hasidic sect of Judaism, but with a somewhat looser and confusing timeline. While I appreciated some aspects of her journey of self-discovery, I felt that I couldn't relate very well - and in the end, I was left with more questions than answers (namely, how did she afford her various overseas trips? Who was looking after her son while she was traveling?). While I found Feldman's first book a subversive and worthwhile read, I personally thought Exodus was fairly unsatisfying.

The Wonderful O - James Thurber 
"Books can be burned," croaked Black. "They have a way of rising from the ashes," said Andreus.

While I've long been a fan of Thurber's short stories (the most famous of which is probably The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), I was unaware of his children's books until this year.  Part fairytale and chock-full of words and wordplay and rhymes, The Wonderful O is a unique sort of children's story. I found it fun, though the emphasis on words and letters got a bit tedious for me.

There Is No Good Card for This - Emily McDowell & Kelsey Crowe
"Reaching out and fumbling is often far better than not reaching out at all."

Knowing how to help or appropriately respond to friends, family, and/or acquaintances who are dealing with tragedy is hard. While not an exhaustive reference on the subject, There Is No Good Card for This is a good starting point. The book uses elements like illustrations, example conversations, and broken-down sections for easy readability. While it focuses (understandably) on certain specific major difficult life-events in its examples (namely death in the family, cancer/serious illness, and miscarriage), its advice is widely applicable. One of the overall takeaway messages: give yourself credit - we're all doing the best we can. I'd widely recommend this book as applicable for just about anybody, since all of us are or will be touched by tragedy in one sense or another in life.

(continued in Part 2)

Books read in January 2017

I read relatively few books this past month (considering that last January my total was fifteen) - factors being that none of these books were "quick reads" and that I chose not to read lighter/quicker books concurrently. I'm pretty well satisfied with this January's list, though.

The View from the Cheap Seats - Neil Gaiman
"We all - adults and children, writers and readers - have an obligation to daydream. We have an obligation to imagine."

I read this one on my Kindle as a library checkout (not my preferred medium, which probably added to my slowness getting through it). This is a collection of Gaiman's non-fiction essays, including book introductions, articles on various books and authors (mostly of the sci-fi and fantasy variety), pieces relating his own childhood and background, and some of his personal thoughts on a variety of literary-related subjects. I was happily surprised to find essays on a number of authors and books that I was familiar with, such as Douglas Adams, Diana Wynne Jones, and Harlan Ellison. There was also a piece on Susanna Clarke and her first novel, which I'd already checked out from the library (see below). And though many of the books and authors included in this collection were ones I wasn't familiar with, I minded less because I came away with a good amount of new reading recommendations.

If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman or just interested in learning more about him and his ideas, this is a good collection to peruse. I read eight of his books last year, and from this collection I learned a good deal more about Gaiman himself as well gaining more insight into some of his works. Fans of the Fantasy and SciFi genres in general will surely find some interesting and enlightening pieces, even if they've never read anything by Gaiman. I'll note that this collection is probably best read as a hard copy and skipped and skimmed through as interest strikes rather than trying to read straight through.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke
"Well, I suppose one ought not to employ a magician and then complain that he does not behave like other people."

I'll admit that I checked this book out from the library and renewed it once before I got around to even starting it. At nearly 800 pages, it's intimidating from sheer size alone. In addition, it's not a "quick read"; I found that I often could only take in a few chapters at one sitting. That's not to say that the book is boring  - it just has a lot going on and can seem slower-paced more often than not. I found myself simultaneously wanting the book to rush forward so I could find out what happened, and for it not to end. It also has a particular style that might not be for everyone - footnotes and asides abound, its treatment of magic is woven into reality (along the lines of Gaiman, I felt), and it is, at its heart, a very "English" sort of novel.

Personally, I really enjoyed this book and felt it was worth the effort to get through. At the same time, I realize that it might not be the book for everyone. If you're looking for a more typical fast-paced and "exciting" fantasy book, this isn't it. But if you're willing to invest some time in a slowly-unfolding, multi-layered book that winds its way around many side trails and subplots, this won't disappoint.

The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco
"Until then I had thought each book spoke of the things, human or divine, that lie outside books. Now I realized that not infrequently books speak of books: it is as if they spoke among themselves."

I went into the book not knowing a lot about it (it was recommended after I read A Canticle for Leibowitz, so I was expecting monks and maybe some sci-fi or time-travel elements. I was wrong on the second count). It's basically a mystery novel with a lot of philosophy/religious discussion woven throughout. I found it fascinating, though at times somewhat plodding (mostly in reference to the sections involving explanations of varying religious sects and arguments between them regarding heresy). But the characters are well-written, the story-line is intriguing, and the narrator's voice is unique.

Even though I appreciated the book overall, I felt that the book left something of a bitter aftertaste. Without giving away much in terms of plot, it's fair to say that heresy, murder, torture, and destruction (both of people, ideas, and things) are integral threads of the story. If you're into historical mysteries and the late Middle Ages time period in particular, and as a bonus are intrigued by architecture, philosophy, and religious discussion, then you'll probably find this book very rewarding. [special bonus if you can passably read Latin]. If none of the above interest you, you may still find it a worthwhile read - the prose is compelling in and of itself - but you'll be starting with a disadvantage. 

2016 Overview and Favorites

(List of all books read in 2016 here)

I've always like the idea of having a list of specific book goals for the year - for instance, "Re-read a childhood favorite" or "Read a book set in your hometown" - but I've yet to actually make goals like that. I didn't even have a specific number goal for this year.* Vaguely, I wanted to focus on reading more books by female authors as well as continue my hazy goals of "reading a variety of things" and "reading things I've been meaning to get to for a long time".

With that brief background, below is my list of of my top picks/favorites/recommendations from 2016. My caveat is always that this is a difficult list for me to compile since I read a lot of things and tend to like at least some aspects of most of what I read. That said, these stood out to me from among the rest for some reason or another (listed in no particular order).

East of Eden - John Steinbeck
An epic and beautifully-written classic. I'd just visited the Salinas Valley and the John Steinbeck Museum before reading this book, which lent a lot of context to it for me. I went through a period in junior high where I'd read The Grapes of Wrath followed by a lot of shorter Steinbeck works and had not necessarily been a fan of many of them (partially, I'm sure, due to the fact that there were things I couldn't appreciate or understand at that age). East of Eden rekindled my interest in Steinbeck, and (despite its length) I was sorry to finish it.

The Apprentice - Jacques Pepin
I read a number of autobiographies this year, but Pepin's was probably my favorite. It perhaps helped that he wrote his book in the later years of his life (it always feels a bit odd to me when someone writes an autobiography earlier than about age 40-50) and that he's a figure I've been familiar with for years (I read a few biographies this year from popular figures that I personally had little knowledge and no real connection to). Jacques Pepin writes about his childhood, his parents, and his transitions from helping in his family restaurant as a small child to the backbreaking work in Paris kitchens to moving to America. It's an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes type look at what it takes to become a chef of Pepin's particular caliber. Some key recipes from the various periods of Pepin's life are included with each chapter.

Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword, and Ancillary Mercy - Ann Leckie
I'm counting this trilogy together on my list. Female science fiction authors tend to be somewhat difficult to come across, but Leckie didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed her treatment of gender as well as the exploration of artificial intelligence, self, and culture throughout the series. And I feel the series is very readable and accessible enough even for non sci-fi fans.

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
Beautiful, lush writing that combines some of my favorite kind of realism-based fantasy and magic. I wanted this book to go on and on (I'll admit to being somewhat unsatisfied with the ending, though not enough to turn me off of the book).

Neverwhere - Neil Gaimain
I picked up Neil Gaiman for the first time this year (starting with Stardust) and had devoured eight of his books by the end of 2016. I enjoyed everything of his that I've read so far, but Neverwhere has stayed at the top of my list as a satisfying book that combines some of my favorite elements to create a darkly realistic fantasy.

The Secret History - Donna Tartt
I had to include this book even though I had mixed feelings about the ending and difficulty categorizing what sort of book it was supposed to be. Perhaps it stood out to me because pieces of it were reminiscent of the Great Books classes I took in high school. Maybe it was the characters themselves that really held the book together. Either way, it managed to register as a combination of haunting, realistic, confusing, and strangely familiar to me. I also read Tartt's The Goldfinch early in the year, which was perhaps even more immersive and comprehensive in its treatment of its own story line, but The Secret History stuck with me more.

Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays - George Orwell
I've noted in previous overview posts that I'm a fan of Orwell, so it's no real surprise that he landed on my list. I'd read a few of the essays in this collection in years past, but having a whole book of them to read at leisure is a treat. His final essay ("Such, Such Were Joys") is darkly reminiscent of Roald Dahl's account (from his book Boy, another favorite of mine) of experiences at an English Boarding school. Orwell's essays are a must for any fan of his books.


Bonus: Runner-ups (books that probably don't have as widespread appeal, but that stood out for me)

Wishful Drinking and Shockaholic, both by Carrie Fisher
I'm going to say right off that these books aren't for everyone. Fisher's brand of caustic (sometimes offensive) humor, wry intelligence, and sporadic writing style won't sit well with some. If you're looking for a comprehensive tell-all book, especially from her time working on the Star Wars films, these books won't live up to your expectations. But if you're looking for insight into who Carrie Fisher was, they give a beautifully shocking realistic mashup presentation of her life - as well as foster an unflinching and unapologetic discussion of living with serious mental health issues. I don't often cry when I read books, but some of Fisher's passages prompted tears.
[note - I read these books early in 2016 before Fisher's sudden death; it may be harder to obtain copies now.]

Galactic Pot-healer - Philip K. Dick
I'm a fan of Philip K. Dick in general, and Galactic Pot-healer is an example of him at his mind-bending strangest. If you're not a fan of Sci-fi in general, this book is probably not for you. If you enjoy Philip K. Dick and/or more "classic" speculative/sci-fi, you'll probably want to pick this up. It's less serious than the likes of A Scanner Darkly (my other P.K.D. read this year), weird, and manages to combine Lovecraftian horror and Dick's own brand of sometimes-pessimistic humor.

Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome - Reba Riley
Sometimes a little odd in tone, but interesting and thought-provoking, especially for those dealing with leaving fundamentalist religions.

The Blue Tattoo - Margot Mifflin
A comprehensive biography on the life of Olive Oatman (a Utah woman who was captured by Indians as a young teenager in the 1850's). Well-researched and very interesting for history buffs - it sparks thought on how stories are passed down over time, and the reliability of written, eyewitness, and even personal accounts of events.



*okay - I realized in early December that I could make an even 100 by reading 9 more books, if that counts...

2015 Overview and Favorites (repost from Facebook)

[Overly-long] Book Status!

In 2014, my yearly goal (which I met) had been to read 200 books. For 2015, I didn't have a set numbers goal - I just wanted to read a variety of things. I figured I'd end up reading somewhere between 100-120 books when all was said and done. When I counted it up, the total was 118.

Previous to the past two years, I'd been stuck mostly re-reading books I'd already read many times before. It was rare that I'd actually get around to a new book, and I definitely wasn't getting use out of the local libraries. I wanted to get back into reading new things and a wide variety of books like I used to before I graduated college, and making number goals, writing down all the books I finished, and posting periodically to Facebook has really helped me break out of the reading stagnation I'd been in.

I kind of miss my old habit of re-reading favorite books or favorite portions of books, so I think I'll try to give myself some more slack on doing that in 2016 (even though I didn't have a true numbers goal for 2015, I was choosing new books to complete rather than reading partials of old favorites in part so I could record them).

All that said, I'll put the entire year's list of books in the comments, but here's a quick list of a few of my favorite reads/book recommendations from the past year (in no particular order). I read a lot of books that I liked and many more than these that I would consider great reads, but these ones stood out to me for one reason or another (and sometimes they represent a few similar books I read).
And as always, I'm interested in what everyone else is reading and happy to discuss anything I've read :)

-Burmese Days (Orwell)
This was actually a fairly depressing book, but I particularly enjoy reading Orwell works outside of the usual 1984. Burmese Days is unflattering, realistic, introspective, and historically important. And I dig Orwell's writing style.
http://www.amazon.com/Burmese-Days-…/…/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0…

-Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy (Abbott)
Despite quibbles about a few historical inaccuracies and extrapolations made by the author, this book managed to be an entertaining, sympathetic, emotional, and realistic read for me (it reads like fiction). Although the book should probably be read with a grain of salt in terms of hardline historical accuracy, I enjoyed it because it expanded on some of the books on the subject of women in the Civil War I had read as a child and managed to give a good overall sense of the women's stories and history without taking itself too terribly seriously.
http://www.amazon.com/Liar-Temptres…/…/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0…

-The Reluctant Communist (Jenkins)
I've read a number of books over the past couple of years on the subject of North Korea, each written from a different perspective by people who escaped. This one, written by one of the small handful of U.S. soldiers who deserted to North Korea during the Korean War, stood out as uniquely interesting for a variety of reasons. The consequences of Jenkins' choice and the way he chose to deal with it in the years to come are thought-provoking.
http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Communi…/…/ref=mt_paperback…

-I Capture the Castle (Smith)
Technically "Young Adult" fiction, I suppose, this book is both charmingly old-fashioned and surprisingly modern. It's an unusual and bittersweet take on a coming-of-age story.
http://www.amazon.com/I-Capture-Cast…/…/ref=tmm_pap_title_0…

-Beautiful Boy (D. Sheff)
The subtitle "A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction" pretty much sums it up. The book is well-written, well laid out, and does an amazing job of describing the true story of emotional turmoil and pain that an imperfect family goes through during a child's drug addiction.
http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Boy…/…/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0…

-We Have Always Lived in the Castle (Jackson)
Dark, brooding, strange, too-realistic. Yes.
http://www.amazon.com/Always-Castle…/…/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0…

-The Line Between (Beagle)
Those who are familiar with Peter S. Beagle probably are so from The Last Unicorn. If you enjoyed that book or enjoy fantasy in general, this collection of short stories/novellas is a very worthwhile read.
http://www.amazon.com/Line-Between-Peter-S-Be…/…/ref=sr_1_1…

2014 Overview and Favorites (repost from Facebook)

Book Status!

As a quick recap, this past year I had one main goal of reading 200 books. I met my quantity goal and am pretty satisfied with how I did on my sub-goals, although I didn't finish a foreign-language book like I wanted (I had started a Welsh version of Alice in Wonderland, but began it late in the year and it's a rather slow process). I read a good mix of books, including several series (including A Series of Unfortunate Events, all the Oz books I hadn't previously read, the Divergent books), a number of books relating to mental health, a smattering of books on the FLDS/Mormonism, and lots of "classics" that I had never before gotten around to reading.

I'll post the entire year's list in the comments, but here's my quick list of recommended reads/favorite books out of everything I read this year (in no particular order). General criteria for these are: they made me think and challenged me in some way, I felt they were well written, and I think others would enjoy them/benefit from reading them. I tried to include a variety of types/genres in the short list, as well.
I'm happy to further discuss anything I've read and make further recommendations (and still interested in what everyone else is reading and recommends!). :)

-Seven Pillars of Wisdom (by T.E. Lawrence) and A Prince of Our Disorder (by Mack)
Seven Pillars was one of my absolute favorites in terms of prose and the author's voice coming through. I found it strangely mesmerizing and beautiful. However, I'll readily admit that the book isn't necessarily an easy read; most of the first roughly 1/4 of the book goes over a lot of historical details and military strategy that gets kind of mind-numbing. Despite this, I found the book a very worthwhile investment.
Mack's book is a great companion book. I found this biography on Lawrence seemed very fair, thorough, well-written, and interesting. It's long, but if you're at all interested in the life and historical background of T. E. Lawrence (even if you haven't read Seven Pillars), this is the book for you.

-The Cross in the Closet (Kurek) and Unorthodox (Feldman)
In a Black-Like-Me scenario, Kurek (a conservative, straight Christian) comes out as gay to friends and family and writes about his experiences . No matter your thoughts on the subject (and opinions as to Kurek's actions), it's definitely a thought-provoking read.
In Unorthodox, Feldman writes about her experiences growing up in a Hasidic community. I felt I gained a greater understanding of the culture and found I could relate in certain ways.

-Escape (Jessop) and Triumph (Jessop)
I read a number of books written by former members of the FLDS, and felt these two were probably the most readable and interesting (written by a mother with several children who escaped the cult). You'll get a clearer picture of the entire story of the various people and backgrounds mentioned in these books if you read other books written by former members, and I can point out and discuss others I've read for anyone interested.

-The Golem and the Jinni (Wecker)
I'm including this partially because I don't, as a rule, read many recently-published fiction. The writing style and subject matter (a blend of fantasy, religious elements, and historical fiction) appealed to me, though, and I really enjoyed the book.

-Ishmael (Quinn), The Story of B (Quinn), My Ishmael (Quinn)
I'm recommending the books as the loose trilogy that they comprise, although they can be read out of order and I'll note that the final book is the easiest read. Quinn's Socratic-method discussion of his ideas based on New Tribalism are interesting, difficult, depressing, thought-provoking, and challenging.

-Catch Me If You Can (Abagnale) and The Princess Bride (Goldman)
These get a mention in part because most people are familiar with the movies (but many may not be aware of the existence of the books).
As much as I'm a fan of the movie, the original book Catch Me If You Can is even MORE interesting, especially as Abagnale's voice comes through. It manages to be both a fun and sobering read.
I'm sad I'd put off reading The Princess Bride for so long, but this is one of those books that I know I'll read and re-read again and again (I actually re-read parts of it many times in the earlier part of 2014, although I didn't count that towards the goal at all and I was trying to avoid doing that in general).

-The Subjection of Women (John Stuart Mills)
Technically an essay rather than a book. Definitely worth a read (even if you have disagreements with his methods of argument) if simply because it's (in my opinion) an important historical/political piece.

Sticking to just a few recommendations is really hard because I honestly read a lot of great books, and I'd probably have different recommendations for every person (I also read a few books I didn't like, but that's another subject!). I'll wrap this list up here, though, and end with a thanks to all of you for putting up with my monthly posts and for encouraging me and sharing in the journey. :)