The Maytrees

The Maytrees by Annie Dillard reads like poetry with a love story or love stories woven in.

Annie Dillard captures you with the story of the Maytrees living in a very different from modern day Provincetown, MA. The beauty of the dunes and the descriptions of the night sky make me yearn to be there.

Toby Maytree tries to understand what love is by writing down quotes in a red speckled notebooks while never seeing what is in front of him. But patient loving, Lou, remains steadfastly committed to him. They have a handful of engaging and interesting friends. Deary who sleeps in the dunes. Reevadare an eccentric older woman.

They live cheaply and with great joy at the nature around them, but then things change. Toby Maytree moves to Maine and doesn't live quite so simply anymore.

In the end, he returns to the Cape and to the people and woman who still care for him after all he has done.

Strawberry Fields

Strawberry Fields by Marina Lewycka was a quick read . I think there I was supposed to get a deeper message but it just felt like a story about a group of transient workers who are shockingly clueless and are taken advantage of again and again.

The brief reviews on the back said it was funny, but I didn't really find anything humorous in the book at all. Maybe I read it at the wrong time.

Bird sWithout Wings

I finished Birds Without Wings by Louis De Bernieres with a few days to spare before book club.



It's a long book detailing the lives of the townspeople of Eskibahçe during the Ottoman empire. I found the stories of the townspeople, Iskander the potter, Ali the Snowbringer, Rustem Bey the landowner and Leyla most interesting.

The parts about Mustafa Kemel (future Ataturk) and the war scenes were much more difficult to slog through.


I found it sad when the town was ripped apart with all the Christians being sent to Greece and replaced with other Muslims who didn't speak Turkish. It seemed like suddenly the town became smaller and more insulated than what Mustafa was aiming for.

I See You Everywhere

Sadly, my book club selection has been putting me to sleep for the past few weeks, so when Julia Glass' I See You Everywhere was available from the library, I was happy to have a temporary interlude from Birds Without Wings.

Julia Glass' first novel, Three Junes, was a wonderful delight. Her second novel was a bit disappointing, but I was excited to see her third offering.

I See You Everywhere revolves around two sisters, Louisa and Clem, who are so very different, yet because of shared experience turn to each other in times of need. The book follows them throughout their 20s and 30s and my one complaint is that the sections sometimes read like short stories. Glass seems to want to reintroduce us to the characters and their relationship every 75 pages or so. I thought "I already know who your sister is and what happened..." a number of times.

But the writing is smooth and it was a quick read. It definitely filled the break I needed!

Booklove

I found this blog today and I'm having great fun exploring.

http://booklove.wordpress.com/

Booklove is the brainchild of Mary Gomez, Technical Services Librarian at Rockingham Community College, who has created a blog for people who love to read and discuss books. This is a very informal blog that operates like a book club in promoting discussions and ideas on both fiction and non-fiction works.

Moloka'i

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert is a terribly heart-wrenching story. At the age of 7, Rachel Kalama contracts leprosy and is sent into quarantine on the island of Moloka'i. She is separated from her family including her father whom she is very close to.

Rachel experiences many loses during her time on the island, each one heart-breaking for its own reasons. Yet she remains strong and steadfast in the belief that she will be "cured" and be able to leave Moloka'i.

While the story is compelling, the writing is weak in some places and over-wrought in others. And toward the end, you start to wonder how much one person can really take and remain positive. Maybe living with leprosy and surrounded by other lepers and death makes one more able to deal with it all, but I didn't want to be immune to it even if only in a novel.

Omnivore's Dilemma

I finished up Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan in time for book club next week and I don't think I will ever look at food the same.

I've always been a bit queasy about certain foods - poultry, eggs, beef - and this book reinforced that I was right to be cautious.

The first section is a bit dry as he follows the path of corn from field to table, but the second and third sections make up for muddling through the story of corn.

The second section, Pastoral/Grass, was the most interesting to me as it looked into mass organic operations and reassuringly educated me on the local, grass-feeding beef farmer.

The last section recounted Pollan's attempt to serve a meal made from ingredients he has gathered (mushrooms), killed (wild boar) or grown (various ingredients) by the author. Being a mycophobe, I found his search for mushrooms a little long and overly dramatic, but it was a short section.

Overall, Omnivore's Dilemma was in interesting, educating read. Warning: Once you pick this up, be prepared to start shopping for organic foods, grass fed beef, cage free eggs and joining a CSA.

2008 List of books

List of books - 2008

The Zookeeper's Wife, Diane Ackerman
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
Loving Frank, Nancy Horan
Unaccustomed Earth, Jhumpa Lahiri
When You Are Engulfed in Flames, David Sedaris
The Friday Night Knitting Club, Kate Jacobs
White Tiger, Arvind Adiga
Girls in Trucks, Katie Crouch
The Long Walk Home, Will North
How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life, Mameve Medwed
Run, Ann Patchett
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson
No One Belongs Here More Than You, Miranda July
Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali
The Beautiful Things Heaven Bears, Dinaw Mengestu
B-mother, Maureen O'Brien
Roomates Wanted, Lisa Jewell
Power of One, Bryce Courtney
Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Marisha Pessl
Forgive Me, Amanda Eyre Ward
Away, Amy Bloom

When You are Engulfed in Flames

After saving David Sedaris' latest collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, as my final book for 2008, I wasn't disappointed.

As always, Sedaris' is in rare form with essays about his various escapades in New York, London, France and Tokyo.

I had read or heard some of them before, but reading them as a collection is always fun.

Monster Mash about his experience at a medical examiners office and The Smoking Section about his attempts to quit smoking, were two of my favorites.

Zookeeper's Wife

I think that the Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman is going to be one of my favorite books for 2008. It is non-fiction, but written much more like fiction.

The story revolves mainly around Jan and Antonina Zabinski who managed the Warsaw Zoo at the start of WWII. Once Warsaw became occupied by the Germans and the zoo animals were removed, they used the zoo to save over 300 people from the Nazis. The code name for their house was the "The House Under the Crazy Star" because of all the characters that passed through.

So, it was a great mix of characters with interesting stories and history of the German occupation of Warsaw.

Friday Night Knitting Club

While I was on vacation, I finished White Tiger. It was a good story and an interesting portrayal of the people who live as servants in India.

I also read the Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs which tells the story of Walker and Daughter knitting shop including Georgia (the owner), Dakota (her teenage daughter), Anita (the elderly woman who works part time the shop and wise mother-figure) plus various other employees and customers who make up the Friday Night Knitting Club.

It's an easy read, kind of chick lit, but the knitting aspect is fun and made me wish I was a better knitter or that Walker and Daughter was down the street. The story has a sad ending, which I didn't necessarily like, especially because I finished it right before bed. So if you do pick it up, I suggest making sure you finish it before bedtime.

The White Tiger

I'm reading The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, winner of this year's Man Booker Prize. It's interesting so far, I just wish I had more time to read it.

Oh, guess what? I will!! In just two days, I'm off to Puerto Rico for vacation. I have a stack of books lined up, now it's just a matter of widdling it down to a few to take along. I'm not sure Scott is ready to see how many books I pack for a one week trip to the beach!

I can't wait to relax and read. Plus I get out of the icky rainy weather.

Hopefully I will come back with a long list of book recommendations and reviews.

I fear that I have been neglectful in chronicling the latest books I have been reading. And now I fear that I will forget what I've actually read.

I re-read most of The Namesake for a book club. Even knowing the story, it was still enjoyable. Every time I read anything of Jhumpa Lahiri's, I'm reminded about what a beautiful writer she is. It leaves me in awe.

I am now about two-thirds through The Omnivore's Dilemma. It has gotten much more interesting as it has progressed and I'm excited to finish it. I may hold off on the last section since book club is now scheduled to discuss it in January.

Meanwhile, I went to the bookstore today and used a gift card from my birthday (thanks Karen!) that was burning a hole in my pocket. I ended up with White Tiger (Winner of the Man Booker Prize) and The Zookeeper's Wife. I still want to read Molokai and am considering delving into a Philipa Gregory novel (I heard her on NPR and she was different than I expected).

If I recall any others that I've read since my last post, I will add them. In the meantime, I'm excited to start White Tiger.

Girls in Trucks

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch has such a great cover that you think it'll be a great read. But sadly, it's just so so. The main character is hard to like and you want to reach in and shake her at time. Plus, in the end it feels like a big cliche.

The Long Walk Home

At first glance, The Long Walk Home by Will North has the possibility of being a sappy melodrama in the vein of Nicholas Sparks. Luckily, strong writing and a deep insight into the characters feelings and psyche make it a far cry from a Nicholas Sparks novel.

The story takes place in North Wales and the descriptions of the landscape made me want to plan a vacation. Fiona runs a B&B in a small village on the hill her husband has farmed for years. When a handsome stranger arrives at Fiona's B&B, she feels an instant connection and begins to examine her relationship with her husband.

I recommend The Long Walk Home if you are looking for a sweet, romantic story.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows was a great summer read. It's been all the buzz and I usually avoid reading those for fear that they aren't worth the hype

But this was a great surprise and a good book. It is set right after World War II in England. The book is actual letters between Juliet, a journalist, and the residents of Guernsey Island. It's well told and easy to read. Definitely a treat!

I know this will be made into a movie, so now I'm having fun figuring out which actors and actresses will play each of the roles.

Run

I finished Ann Patchett's Run just after getting home last night. I had less than 5 pages left when the plane landed...the first time a US Air flight is on time is when I'm reading a good book, figures!

I enjoyed Run a lot. It wasn't as compelling as Bel Canto, but it definitely made me think about nature vs nurture.

The story centers around the Doyle family. Tip and Teddy are both adopted, Sullivan is the Doyle's biological son. Bernadette Doyle dies when the boys are young and they are left in the care of their father, an aspiring politician.

The story examines family relationships, expectations as well as the idea of nature vs nurture. All of this takes place within 24 hours and though not exceptionally fast paced is filled with poetic paragraphs and great descriptions.

How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life

How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life by Mameve Medwed is a light book that I'd categorize as Smart Chick lit.

The plot is kind of frustrating. I kept worrying that nothing will ever go right for Abby Randolph or that she'll never get a backbone. Luckily, things turn out in true Disney/Chick lit fashion.

There are some clever references to NPR and other writers and it's a good summer read.

No One Belongs Here More Than You

I finished Miranda July's book of short stories No One Belongs Here More Than You. This was my first collection of July's stories I've read (I did see one of her short films on Wolphin) and it wasn't what I expected.

Her stories and characters are eclectic, almost bizarre.

One "Swim Coach" is about a woman who teaches a group of seniors how to swim...even though there's not a pool for miles. She lays out bowls of water and the "students" put their faces in the bowl and "swim" around the kitchen.

The last story "How to Tell Stories to Children" doesn't end the way I thought it would, but it is touching and thought-provoking.

A Walk in the Woods

I read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson very quickly and I've been quoting him ever since.

It is a great and funny book and I can't believe I didn't read it sooner. If you like hiking or being outdoors or just find humor in the idea of someone attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail, it's a must read.

I found myself alternating between laughing out loud and worrying about Bill and his hiking companion. Luckily, all ended well! Bryson also mixes in history and background on the trail and the environment which adds another level of interest.

Plus it gives you a true appreciation when you are hiking .7 miles of the trail. I don't think I'll ever hike as much of it as Bryson did, but I do want to hike more of the little bits I've accomplished so far.