Easter Island by Jennifer Venderbes (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

This is a very intricately woven book with essentially 2 story lines that ultimately converge.  One is the story of Elsa, trapped by the circumstance of her father’s death in 1912 and her need to care for her developmentally odd sister and finding herself ultimately married to her father’s research disciple.  Her new husband takes Elsa and her sister on a journey to Easter Island, a remote, tiny island east of the coast of Chile, to study the history and culture of the people there.  The second story is the modern day tale of Greer, a botany researcher whose husband has recently died under unusual circumstances, who in search of a way to cope and to move on with her own life and her own project, comes also to Easter Island.  As both women study the unusual island and its people, they both stumble upon similar findings, even as they both learn a lot about themselves.

Both stories are well-told and build in momentum as the stories unfold.  The history that is knitted into the stories ultimately bind the two together, as does the science that is studied.  There are a lot of scientific details that are described — perhaps even too much even for me — although it is an essential part of the plot.  But I actually do like how the science is so closely tied to what is learned by both women and how science actually illuminates the history of the island.  It brings the laboratory to the real world, so to speak.

This is a very different book, at least for me, and I enjoyed all that I learned from it.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Ursula, the main character in this novel, gets what many of us would love — a chance to live her life over.  It is a very interesting premise, getting to start over and reaching different junctures in your life and then either dying or reliving your life again from those junctures. She has a vague feeling of deja vu during some of her life but she is generally not aware of having lived before.  No one around her, save a singular psychiatrist whom she consults has an inkling of what is taking place in her mind.

More interestingly, Ursula lives through both World Wars.  Born in England, she lives through the eye of the storm of the wars and is very personally involved, whether herself or her family members.  As she sees the mistakes made by the various players, she contemplates often what would have happened had Hitler, for example, not been born or not have arisen to power or had been stopped in his pursuit of power earlier.  This is the bane of her existence and she fights it and fights it throughout her life/lives.

The book is extremely well-written and the idea is creative and bold.  Unfortunately, it does become repetitive.  That’s the point, of course, but for the reader, it borders on tedious, even though many of the lives are quite divergent.  It does bring home the idea, though, that a single event in one’s life can impact not only the trajectory of that life but that of many, many others as well.

Much to think about!

 

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

I gave up somewhere around page 50!  I never do this but I just could not find any enjoyment out of this book whatsoever.   This documentary-style fictional novel is based on a murder mystery surrounding the Chicago World’s Fair.  Somewhere in there might be a good story, but it was buried so deeply in minutia that I couldn’t unearth it.

If anybody does, please let me know!

All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

This is kind of an odd book.  It is the fictional “memoir” of Nicholas Van Tassel, a professor at a small New England college in the late 1800’s. who falls desperately in love with a woman with a past.  In spite of the fact that she admittedly does not love him, he insists on marrying her and believes that he will convince her that she can be happy.  With each step that he takes to bring them closer, he repels her until the final, fatal act of desperation has a final, if not fatal result.

There is definitely a suspenseful air about the book.  The reader is compelled by almost the same drive as the need to see the details of a horrible car accident — you know it will be awful and you’ll regret it, but you have to see it anyway.  So, too, you have to find out exactly to what depths Nicholas will go.  And the depths are somewhat shocking.

I think an essential element to a serious book is, ironically, humor.  The best books that I’ve read have combined sharp, witty humor with a serious plot. Characters that are funny and warm are more captivating and engaging.   Strict seriousness is, in my mind, just serious and frankly, boring.  This is a book that could have benefitted from an infusion of humor, to really keep the reader connected.

Basically, the idea is interesting but not fully delivered.

Charming Billy by Alice McDermott (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

This book caught my eye because the premise was clever:  it is the story that begins with the death of the main character, Billy, and almost works backwards to tell his life story.  Unfortunately, it loses some of its charm, so to speak, in the telling.

Billy was a charmer, yet the story tells of how he was broken, in a way.  An alcoholic, he was clearly nursing a broken heart and takes it out on his wife, Maeve, and his best friend and cousin, Dennis.  Dennis, however, is intertwined with the reason for Billy’s heartbreak and it is up for discussion (and an interesting discussion it would be) who is to blame.

What is disappointing is the writing, which is stilted and somewhat confusing.  The story is told from the perspective of Dennis’s daughter, but it takes a long time to figure this out.  Furthermore, there are a few details that are rehashed too many times, so as to become redundant.

The overall story, though, has its poignant moments, though, and it does hold the reader’s attention.  A dramatically mediocre book, I’d say…!

Home by Toni Morrison (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

This very quick read is profound in its simplicity.  It is the story of a black veteran of the Korean War named Frank Money, who has returned to the U.S. emotionally scarred.  Suddenly he is called back to his home town because his younger sister is in danger.  As he makes his way to rescue her, both his story and hers are divulged.

There are 2 voices used to tell the story.  While most of the story is a narrative, the beginning of each chapter starts with a short passage that is coming from Frank himself, as if interviewed for the story.  It is these intro sections that really get to the heart of who Frank is; it’s a very powerful effect, making Frank more human and real.

You also can’t help loving the relationship between Frank and his sister, Cee.  It’s a sad, beautiful love they have for each other.  During their difficult childhoods, they really only had each other, Frank always being the protector.  As the story unfolds, there is a shift in their relationship to balance it out a bit.  Lots of growth from a traumatic experience…

This would be another great book to read in an English class — there would be a great deal to discuss in these few but intense pages!

 

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

There is little doubt as to why this book has become a classic.  Not only does it exemplify brilliant writing, but the story itself reaches down into your soul and twists your heart so that it hurts.  Steinbeck follows the Joad family, a typical “Okie” family of the 1930’s,  as they lose their farm and are enticed by all the flyers posted to move out West.  Heeding the promise of work and beautiful land and opportunity, they leave everything that is familiar to cross the plains and the desert to go to California.  Tragically, what they find there is that hundreds of thousands have also been enticed there as well, leaving very little work actually available and what is available is paid in cut wages because of the very glut of workers that the flyers have accomplished.  So while the large farmers reduce their cost, the thousands of workers have reduced wages, not even enough to feed themselves and their families.  It is a slice of history about which our country should be deeply ashamed.

The writing is powerfully authentic.  Steinbeck’s chapters alternate between a description of the general state of affairs in the country and what is happening with the Joad family on a personal level.  The more general chapters broaden the scope of the story and remind the reader that this is not just happening to the Joads but to thousands of “Joads” throughout the middle of the country.  The personal chapters bring it down to the individual and remind the reader that these are real people to which these tragedies are occurring — real people, with children, and parents, and love for each other who have personal dignity to lose.

Steinbeck makes a heartfelt plea in this story for the unions and it is clear why they were essential at this time.  It was a very brave move on his part and this book is a testament to his courage and brilliance as an historian and an author.

If you haven’t ever read this book, you are missing out on an important piece of literature and history.

Body Surfing by Anita Shreve (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

I am not sure why, but I am bothered by the writing of novels in the present tense.  I guess that when someone is telling a story, by definition, it’s happened already, so why tell it as if it’s happening RIGHT NOW?   I do usually get past it and just get into the story, but I think that it took me an inordinate amount of time to get past it in this particular book.  It may be that it just took a bit of time to get into this story in the first place, but I’m not sure.

Anyway, this story is about a young woman, Sydney, who is living with a family at their beach house because she’s tutoring their 18 year old daughter, Julia, to prepare her for the SAT’s.   During the course of the summer, Sydney is introduced to Julia’s two older brothers, one of whom she becomes romantically involved and the other becomes alienated from the family.  There are interesting twists of events that bring the family closer and tear them apart and Sydney becomes very entwined in these events.

I think what finally drew me in is the relationships that develop among the different characters.  Julia’s father and Sydney, for example, grow to have a very warm, mutually respectful relationship and there are a few very tender moments between the two of them.

 

Bottom line:  in my opinion, it’s an interesting story but if you don’t have a lot of time to read, I wouldn’t put this as a priority.

 

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

You may have seen the movie years ago, as I did, but my son recently read this and loved it and I love reading what my kids have read.  I can see why my son loved it — it is basically the musings of a 35 year old man-child.  It’s a coming-of-age story of a typical commitment-fearing, self-absorbed, regular guy, Rob, who realizes that his life is falling apart, after his girlfriend leaves him and his record store is failing.   As he seeks to sort himself out, by running through his various older failed relationships, he works his way back to finding himself and actually growing into the adult he’s supposed to have been all this time.

What is engaging about this book is the humor.  The sarcasm is great and there are some extraordinarily memorable lines.  (A particular favorite:  “I’ve been thinking with my guts since I was fourteen years old, and frankly speaking, between you and me, I have come to the conclusion that my guts have shit for brains.” page 315)   And a recurring theme is the top 5 lists that Rob shares throughout the story, which are fun.  Many relate to music, as he is the owner of a record store (during the days of transition from LP’s to CD’s) and this is fun.

It’s less of a story (as not all that much actually happens), and more of a continuous stream of thoughts, but they are fun thoughts and very relatable (if that is even a word).  Enjoy!

 

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

This book is excellent, the author a well-deserved recipient of the Pullitzer Prize.  On one hand, it is the story of Oscar, an overweight, gaming, fantasy book-writing nerd to the nth degree, who is obsessed with his goal of losing his virginity.  Oscar is also Dominican, which gives his whole nerdiness a more complicated cultural context.  On the other hand, it is the story of the Dominican Republic and its complicated, bloody history.  As the setting of the story travels back and forth from New Jersey to the DR, the reader develops an understanding of the culture and the people surrounding poor Oscar.

Most poignant is the character development in this book.  Oscar and his family members become intimately understood by the reader and their often tragic experiences shape who they are and how they behave.  Lola, Oscar’s sister, was a favorite character of mine because she was cool and yet always and  unapologetically stood by her nerdy brother.  She even assigned her boyfriend, one voice in the telling of this story, to protect him when she could not.  Her fierce loyalty was a shining light in this sometimes brutal and raw tale.

The writing is colorful and vivid.  The voice changes from section to section but each voice becomes one you hear whispered in your ear, it is so authentic.  And I would encourage you to read the footnotes (there are probably too many of these).  In the footnotes, you will find important historical explanations that give meaning to what is happening in the story.  I admit I did not read every word in every one, but they are often amusing.

The only complaint I have is that I did not understand the Spanish that is written into the flow of the book and not translated.  Unfortunately since I took French instead of Spanish in high school, I was screwed on that front.  I am sure I missed out because of this.