Category: Reviews 2012

• Book Review: “Running in the Family” by Michael Ondaatje

  Posted at 1:23 pm by Laura, on February 12, 2012

  Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje

  In the late 1970s Ondaatje returned to his native island of Sri Lanka. As he records his journey through the drug-like heat and intoxicating fragrances of that “pendant off the ear of India, ” Ondaatje simultaneously retraces the baroque mythology of his Dutch-Ceylonese family. An inspired travel narrative and family memoir by an exceptional writer.

  Another piece that I was required to read for my advanced nonfiction writing class. It was very different from the others (Maya Angelou and Geoffrey Wolff) in topic, writing style, and flow.

  Running in the Family was difficult to read and dive into, at first. The writing style is disjointed and the timeline of the narrative jumbles and hops around.  Within each section of chapters, the paragraph could begin with a story about the narrator’s grandmother, and end with paddies and riding on trains. However, after reading for a few hours and sinking into the rhythm of the text, I began to notice a pattern to the prose, poetry, dialogue, and photographs.

  In order to me to understand this memoir, I pretended the narrator was a friend of mine, sharing a scrapbook of his family and telling stories about each photograph. Beautiful prose would describe the landscape of Sri Lanka, then memories of a family member and their adventures in Sri Lanka would spark, and from those stories a narrative about an adventure in England would branch. When I approached the memoir in this fashion, it was much easier to follow and discover the links from one family member to the next – and finally to the story of the narrator’s mother and father.

  Another aspect of this memoir that is worth noting: while Wolff and Angelou repeatedly reminded the readers of their cultural background, their race, their history, Ondaatje’s identity was mixed. This colonial interpretation was so intricately woven that his own racial and cultural identity was vague. I understood that he was Dutch, but there were so many English, Canadian, and American ties within the Sri Lanka life that understanding Ondaatje’s identity and the identity of his family members became blurred. The jury’s still out figuring out if I liked that or not.

  It was a good read, a bit difficult, but I do not think I’ll pick this book up again. And for that, I give it:

  Rating: ★★ of 5

  Goodreads: 3.88 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: nonfiction, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

  Posted at 8:41 pm by Laura, on January 31, 2012

  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

  A phenomenal #1 bestseller that has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly three years, this memoir traces Maya Angelou’s childhood in a small, rural community during the 1930s. Filled with images and recollections that point to the dignity and courage of black men and women, Angelou paints a sometimes disquieting, but always affecting picture of the people—and the times—that touched her life.

  I had to read this for my advanced nonfiction writing course, and my peers were surprised when I said I had not read it before. Apparently it’s assigned a lot in high school English classes. My high school, though extremely academic and well-educated, was a bit biased and stuck underneath a bubble. It’s a predominately white, rich community, and in no way intended to create a curriculum that was – by not having black literature – racist. What wasn’t there or didn’t happen in this community, wasn’t or wouldn’t be acknowledged. I didn’t realize how sheltered it was until I came to college.

  That said, all I knew about this memoir was that the narrator was raped as a young girl. I went into the text feeling a sense of dread, as well as a bit of “gosh, another writer rambling about all her troubles, that’s so new” attitude. I was pleasantly surprised instead!

  Angelou wrote this piece simply, carefully, and entertainingly, while incorporating huge ideas and deep questions. A range of topics within a chapter would include the use of language, the complexities of family and familial love, race, the boundaries of race, sexuality, gender, and social interactions. My favorite parts of this memoir were moments when the narrator struggled between a love for reading – literature by white people, she’d always point out – and a desperation for reality – such as the power struggles between men and women, whites and blacks, children and adults.

  Despite all its merits, I do not think I will pick this up again. I enjoyed it for the sake of its academic purposes, and I can easily understand why high school teachers put this on reading lists for students. My general distaste for reading nonfiction is showing.

  Rating: ★★ of 5

  GoodReads: 3.96 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: nonfiction, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Divergent” by Veronica Roth

  Posted at 3:28 pm by Laura, on January 25, 2012

  Divergent by Veronica Roth

  In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

  During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

  What a whirlwind! I haven’t been that tossed about since Hunger Games!

  This young adult, dystopian novel depicts a war-destroyed city attempting to live in peace and harmony through various factions. However, it’s violent, it got my blood pumping, and there are tender moments that are excellently, strategically placed. Everything comes together so well, like pieces of a puzzle. Some moments in the novel are pretty stereotypical of a young adult novel: the teenagers within factions have stereotypes. The Amity, for example, are warm and friendly and wear colors of summer, while the Dauntless have more of a “goth” or “bad kid” look with black, tattoos, and piercings. The reasoning behind these factions, their purposes, and their colors are very well thought-out and each faction has strengths and weaknesses. It’s a matter of working in harmony that comes into play with this novel.

  However, one of the best things about this young adult novel is that Tris is not spending her time trying to understand her feelings about boys. She focuses on herself and her loved ones. There is a love story in the midst of the violence and war, but it is not a love triangle – a fault that I personally find frustrating in young adult fiction. Roth has a purpose for each character, and through advanced technology (which, hauntingly, is highly plausible to occur anytime within the next few years) the reader can discover all sorts of dark things about each person: fears, weaknesses, the depth of intelligence. I would not call this novel “sci-fi” – it is dystopian and apocalyptic, much like Hunger Games.

  This is the first book of the Divergent Trilogy. I was left with several questions that I can only assume will be answered in books 2 and 3. What is beyond the fence Dauntless guards? How many Divergents are there? Part of this next question was answered, but: why is everyone against a Divergent?

  I’m thrilled for book 2, Insurgent, out in May!

  Rating: ★★★★★ of 5

  GoodReads: 4.4 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, ebooks, genre: contemporary, genre: dystopian, genre: fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The True Story of Hansel and Gretel” by Louise Murphy

  Posted at 9:47 pm by Laura, on January 22, 2012

  The True Story of Hansel and Gretel: a novel of war and survival by Louise Murphy

  In the last months of the Nazi occupation of Poland, two children are left by their father and stepmother to find safety in a dense forest. Because their real names will reveal their Jewishness, they are renamed “Hansel” and “Gretel.” They wander in the woods until they are taken in by Magda, an eccentric and stubborn old woman called “witch” by the nearby villagers. Magda is determined to save them, even as a German officer arrives in the village with his own plans for the children.

  Combining classic themes of fairy tales and war literature, this haunting novel of journey and survival, of redemption and memory, powerfully depicts how war is experienced by families and especially by children, and tells a resonant, riveting story.

  A heartbreaking, wonderfully written tale of lore, truth, and horror. Little portions of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale come to life in the haunting atmosphere of World War II Poland. Everything from the names, the crumbs, the modern conception of a “witch,” even the burning oven. Despite all the hardships and sadness, I can promise you there is a happy ending. Not a cheerful, sun-is-shining one, but an ending that makes the breath you didn’t realize you were holding release.

  There are multiple stories woven into the children’s. The reader learns about the various villagers; the witch, her grand-daughter, and the grand-daughter’s lover; the Nazi occupiers; and the partisans causing raucous to the Nazis in the forest. Murphy goes into detail about the various ways one could disguise their true identity, the starvation the Polish endured, the violence the Nazis inflicted, and even the cremation of the bodies at the camps. That particular passage was difficult and riveting all at once.

  For any history buff who enjoys folklore, fairy tales, and fantasy, this is a great novel about love and loss. I liked it and I would highly recommend it, but it would take a while for me to work up the courage to read again.

  Rating: ★★★ of 5

  GoodReads: 3.99 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: history, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Duke of Deception” by Geoffrey Wolff

  Posted at 12:02 pm by Laura, on January 15, 2012

  The Duke of Deception by Geoffrey Wolff

  Duke Wolff was a flawless specimen of the American clubman — a product of Yale and the OSS, a one-time fighter pilot turned aviation engineer. Duke Wolff was a failure who flunked out of a series of undistinguished schools, was passed up for military service, and supported himself with desperately improvised scams, exploiting employers, wives, and, finally, his own son.

  In The Duke of Deception, Geoffrey Wolff unravels the enigma of this Gatsbyesque figure, a bad man who somehow was also a very good father, an inveterate liar who falsified everything but love.

  I had to read this for my advanced nonfiction writing class, and it was extremely difficult to read through and find something positive.  So instead, I’ve resorted to the analytical in hopes that it can enlighten future readers of the content.

  Geoffrey Wolff entangles the reader in a long, arduous explanation for why he is thankful his father died.  As a reader, I felt the memoir was too long, too detailed with explanations, and I found myself focusing on mental and behavioral issues Duke and Geoffrey shared.  Whether or not I focused on the wrong details, it helped to enlighten the link between father and son and the excuse for why he was so thankful over the death of his father.

  What every person has in common is a connection with another human being, blood relation or not.  We are naturally curious about how another lives and what different facets in his or her life are like.  How does one act around friends?  Family?  Strangers?  While I enjoyed reading about these two men, I could not relate to them.  Trust and honesty is a foundation in my life, and it seemed the only person in this memoir who I could trust to be honest was Geoffrey’s mother.  She was a woman stuck in a sad situation, and wanted to make the best of what she had.

  Duke drilled Geoffrey to tell the truth, to be proud of who he is, and yet Geoffrey lied as much as Duke.  These two constantly tried to cover up their individual pasts and create newer, brighter histories for their identities.  They lived in a world of confusion, and thrived off the snowballing of the tales. This probably explains why Geoffrey gave detailed accounts the various women who would walk in and out of his life.  He was desperate for something to cling to that was solid, stable, and loving. If a girl showed any interest in him, he would leap at the idea and make advances far beyond his understanding and control to ensnare her.  Love was his excuse to leave this world of deception.

  The prologue and epilogue bookend the memoir of “things.”  Things that Duke collected, enjoyed, stole, bartered, and in turn shared with his son and his fascination of material items.  We learn of the squalor Duke died in, his loss of things.  This loss, I think, opened up the door to the truth Geoffrey so desperately wanted.

  Rating: ★ of 5

  GoodReads: 3.92 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: nonfiction, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green

  Posted at 11:46 am by Laura, on January 11, 2012

  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

  Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs… for now.

  Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

  Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

  A riveting, emotional journey! As I’m from Hazel’s hometown (and also John Green’s), it was wonderful to tour the city through the eyes of fictional characters. It was also exciting to piece together random snippets from John’s videos across several years: his trip to Amsterdam, his musings about fake ruins in a park, and his wife’s job as an art dealer.

  Apart from my familiarity with the city and John’s videos, the long-awaited book left an impact. I’m neither a cancer survivor nor am I sixteen, but I am a girl and I truly felt like I was Hazel. I remember when I met John at a reading how worried he was that as a 30-something male he would not convincingly pull off a teenage female narrator. He accomplished this, without a doubt. The bond Hazel formed with Augustus felt exactly like teenage first love; her conflicting feelings with her best friend, wanting to see her and yet wanting to stay away and prevent any further emotional damage; her intense obsession with a book that spoke to her – down to the serial watching of America’s Next Time Model and her jokes with her parents, Hazel was real.

  This book also enlightened me to the awkwardness of human interaction when a healthy person encounters one with a disability or an illness. We, as humans, immediately resort to pity or embarrassment or an over-eagerness to help. In reality, or at least with John’s characters, they want to be treated without the pity and sad faces and deliberate avoidance of any topic revolving around their situation.

  Looking for Alaska was a good book, but I can say without a doubt that The Fault in Our Stars (published January 10th!) is, by leaps a bounds, a greater story with characters that feel like close friends you’ve known forever, and with dialogue and situations that make you pause and think twice.

  Rating: ★★★★★ of 5

  GoodReads: 4.79 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Winter’s Tale” by William Shakespeare

  Posted at 10:41 pm by Laura, on January 9, 2012

  The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare

  Though not a book, and better viewed on the stage than in print, I have made it a personal goal to read through all of Shakespeare’s plays. I debated writing a review because Shakespeare is a classic and there are eloquent, analytical essays written by all sorts of academics worldwide yearly that know far more about his work than I could ever imagine. But I shall write one anyway, so the common reader can relate to his work in some form.

  All I knew about The Winter’s Tale was that the name “Hermione” was in it. Everything I read was fresh and new and unheard of. In all of my course work, professors focused on Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Romeo & Juliet. One of my high school teachers dissected Twelfth Night, which was extremely refreshing. But not one professor or teacher discussed Midsummer, Othello, Winter’s Tale, Richard. Apart from his sonnets, I decided to dive into his work on my own.

  Without giving too much away, I must say that I did like the play and would rather see it on stage. Reading it reminded me of Othello meets Oedipus the King by Sophocles. There’s tragedy, there’s disguise, there’s a man felt falsely wronged by a woman, and there’s a fulfilled prophecy with offspring. What was different about this play from Shakespeare’s earlier works was its maturity. It was truly a tale, and it incorporated fairy lore and Greek mythology. In some ways, this was a tragic-comedy as well(so tragic, it was nearly comedic – but laughing could make one feel guilty for doing so). Winter’s Tale was entertaining, humorous, and serious at the same time.

  I liked it, but I stick by what I said before: it would be better on stage. Macbeth still holds a special place in my heart for my (so far) favorite Shakespeare play (and I still have yet to see it. R&J and Midsummer are close seconds because I’ve seen it performed).

  Rating: ★★★ of 5

  GoodReads: 3.64 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: classics, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Death Comes to Pemberley” by PD James

  Posted at 7:04 pm by Laura, on January 7, 2012

  Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James

  The year is 1803, and Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years. There are now two handsome and healthy sons in the nursery, Elizabeth’s beloved sister Jane and her husband Bingley live nearby and the orderly world of Pemberley seems unassailable. But all this is threatened when, on the eve of the annual autumn ball, the guests are preparing to retire for the night when a chaise appears, rocking down the path from Pemberley’s wild woodland. As it pulls up, Lydia Wickham – Elizabeth’s younger, unreliable sister – stumbles out screaming that her husband has been murdered.

  As a staunch Austenite, any Austen adaptation or rewriting is generally avoided. However, I’d heard from several of my friends and read reviews from various sources (including NPR) that I became incredibly curious and bought it for my Nook.

  I do not regret it!

  The prologue sums up Pride & Prejudice for any reader who has not read Austen. This certainly helped the story and set the tone for the writing – James brilliantly wrote this novel sounding like Austen wrote it herself! The recap of the novel linked the classic to this murder mystery in such a way that the reader could view this novel in two ways: as an extent of P&P or a novel with similar character names but essentially a stand-alone piece. James excellently mimicked Austen so well that the known characters resembled their Austen counterparts. It was also fun to see a brief mentioning of an “Anne” who was in a “happy marriage with a naval captain” (Persuasion), and later of a “Mr. and Mrs. Knightley of Donwell Abbey…a friend of Mrs. Martin” (Emma). She also included an entirely new cast of characters, which helps to separate this murder mystery from P&P.

  Any “Downton Abbey” fan could find pleasure in this, as well. The new characters included servants, their backgrounds and points of view, lawyers, witnesses, and villagers. Austenites know the elite, but rarely ever hear about or see the “downstairs” group of people. As I’ve said several times already, this aids the novel: one can read it without thinking of James “polluting the shades of Pemberley” with her adaptation.

  In terms of the mystery, I was kept on my toes. Two characters were on my mind up until the trial as suspects, but when the truth was revealed, I’ll admit I was shocked! Yet evidence pointed directly to this character. And, of course, any and all loopholes were tied after the trial as characters relieved their heavy burdens on Darcy and Elizabeth.

  Well-written, historically accurate, mimicked Austen rather well, and could be read separate from or with Pride & Prejudice.

  Rating: ★★★★.5 of 5

  GoodReads: 3.13

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: classics, genre: fiction, genre: mystery, review

• Book Review: “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood

  Posted at 2:52 pm by Laura, on January 5, 2012

  The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

  Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining fertility, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now…

  I was stunned. Dystopian novels are typically not my favorite genre, but this one felt too real, too plausible, believable and futuristic. Everything from the names of the Handmaids (Offred meaning “Of Fred” or “Property of Fred”) to the descriptions of the setting (red brick walls, large football stadium, classrooms, dormitories, everything pointing to an abandoned Harvard), to the backwards and seemingly reasonable feminism left me reeling.

  While reading, I noticed I was most intrigued by the writing style. The reader can become completely absorbed in the tales Offred is telling, and yet nothing about these tales is remarkable. She is merely describing ordinary life. And yet, to the reader, this is not ordinary life at all – there is something completely wrong under the surface.

  Heated topics could be discussed with this book: feminism, women’s rights, sexual freedom or lack thereof. This novel is a warning. I was hesitant to begin the novel, and now I’m hesitant to write a proper review. Words cannot describe my racing thoughts at the close of the final page.

  Rating: ★★★★ of 5

  GoodReads: 3.95 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: dystopian, genre: feminism, genre: fiction, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Clockwork Prince” by Cassandra Clare

  Posted at 12:57 am by Laura, on January 4, 2012

  Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

  The situation at the London Institute has never been more precarious. With Mortmain and his clockwork army still threatening, the Council wants to strip Charlotte of her power and hand the running of the Enclave over to the unscrupulous and power-hungry Benedict Lightwood.

  In the hope of saving Charlotte and the Institute, Will, Jem, and Tessa set out to unravel the secrets of Mortmain’s past—and discover unsettling Shadowhunter connections that hold the key not only to the enemy’s motivations, but also to the secret of Tessa’s identity. Tessa, already caught between the affections of Will and Jem, finds herself with another choice to make when she learns how the Shadowhunters helped make her a “monster.” Will she turn from them to her brother, Nate, who has been begging her to join him at Mortmain’s side? Where will her loyalties—and love—lie? Tessa alone can choose to save the Shadowhunters of London…or end them forever.

  The second book in the Infernal Devices series (and part of the prequel to the Mortal Instruments series) was an excellent mixture of action, adventure, Victorian England propriety, and fantasy. Everything rolled into one in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In comparison to Clare’s first book of the Infernal Devices series (Clockwork Angel), which contained several explanations for the Shadowhunter world and Victorian mannerisms, Clockwork Prince picked up where readers left off with the cast of characters and continued the mesmerizing story.

  Also worthy of noting is the lack of slow pacing. I’ve noticed that the middle books of series tend to read more like fillers and plot development, something to keep readers entertained before the final showdown. While Clockwork Prince does contain elements of this (linking Mortmain from the first book, discovering his past in this book, and possibly his ruin in the next — spoiler?), I felt like I could pick up this book without having read any of Clare’s work and understood it perfectly. That’s what is so great about Tessa’s character: she herself is new to the Shadowhunter world. The reader discovers everything with her, and the explanations are clear and to the point in this second installment. That leaves enough room for the plot to develop, Victorian aspects of life to take over, and of course (what is young adult literature without this?) a touch of romance to flourish.

  EDIT: Also, if you love 19th-century British literature, especially Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Tale of Two Cities, Byron, Tennyson, or Rossetti, you’re in for a treat. Several references, quotations, and parallels throughout.

  Rating: ★★★★.5 of 5

  GoodReads: 4.28 of 5

  Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 6 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

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• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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