John Keats - Poems

Keats: Poems by John Keats

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Keats's sonnets were much more enjoyable than his longer work, I think due to their structure. The longer works just felt like someone sat down with a rhyming dictionary and did their best to entertain their friends & loved ones. The descriptive language Keats uses is rich and vibrant. The rhyme just felt forced and was very distracting, whereas with the shorter poems, this was not the case. Perhaps this is because the poetry is written by a young man (he died at 25) still developing his style and becoming comfortable with different poetical structures. Anyone interested in the Romantics should take a look - perhaps starting with the sonnets, but I'd recommend Samuel Coleridge first though before Keats.



View all my reviews

Need

Need by Carrie Jones

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Not bad, but not terrific either. I might read the next one in the series to see how Zara resolves the situation she leaves hanging at the end. Overall a pretty fast read and not one that I needed a lot of concentration for (i.e. I was able to read it while in between playing with my 2 year old son if that's any indication).

The characters are fairly stereotypical, but the premise is interesting and the story moves along fast enough to forgive this flaw. As is usually the case, the heroine fairly readily accepts the supernatural goings-on around her while doing some minor protesting and briefly considers fainting. Overall, I'd recommend it to readers who really enjoyed the Twilight series or Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series who are looking to branch out into the larger supernatural realm.



View all my reviews

The Would Be Gentleman (or The Shopkeeper Turned Gentleman)

The Would Be Gentleman by Molière

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This play has several similar titles depending on who the translator was. I am sure this would be hilarious to see performed. As other reviewers have said, it's a take-off on "The Emperor's New Clothes" and is wonderful. :)



View all my reviews

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I liked that this was a more psychological novel about espionage. The characters seem a little bland, but there's nothing real about them - even to themselves... They need to *be* their story. Le Carre follows through with this splendidly and it's closer to a mystery than an adventure or suspense story since a lot of the reader's thoughts toward the story are devoted to "who's doing what & working for whom?" / "what's really going on here?"

A definite (& refreshing) change from dashing Mr. Bond. There's no harsh language, graphic violence or sex, and the style isn't as terse as most hard-boiled or noir fiction, but The Spy Who... has that kind of cloak of shadows around it. Even without those devices, though, this is no cozy read. Recommended for fans of espionage fiction (it's a classic of the genre) and for mystery readers who want a little bit different fare from their usual whodunnit.



View all my reviews

My Heartbeat

My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I liked that the book was really less about sex and sexuality than about how we "know" those around us - especially those closest to us. How are we really communicating with those we love? I think that this way of exploring identity and sexual identity is much more subtle and thoughtful than what I'd expected.

I also didn't mind that the characters read/discussed classic literature - I read some of that on my own too as a teenager (not the ones mentioned in this book, but others). For somebody looking for clear boundaries, this is not that book - it's more of a reminder that we are all works in progress & that's fine. :) We're only in trouble when we don't realize it.



View all my reviews

The Genetic Strand

The Genetic Strand: Exploring a Family History Through DNA by Edward Ball

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This isn't quite the book that a brief description makes it out to be. What most of the book does is describe the current state of DNA testing in most of the variations that someone is likely to come across. That it was mostly science-talk didn't bother me - I'm familiar enough with the science around DNA to not be bothered by "the Vocabulary." What did bother me, though, was getting back to what the brief description promises - a book about race and racial tension within multiple generations of a family. In my opinion, the book didn't spend *nearly* enough time with this. I couldn't help but cringe when the author talks about the possibility of having non-white ancestors with some of his family members. They sound really excited about it, but sound so ignorant in their discussion that it's really off-putting.

I also found the implicit white privilege in the whole premise of the book somewhat off-putting too: the well-off white guy finds some family hair in his family heirloom desk (which he finds really bizarre, but I think is fairly common to collect a bit of hair from a first haircut, etc..) and decides to go to the expense of having it DNA tested to see if his family's story about who they are is accurate. While he hoped to find traces of Native American or African ancestry in the DNA samples collected (probably so he'd have the premise for another book), I was struck by the fact that he's *able* to do this, whereas for many of the descendants of the slaves his family held, they *don't* have a long family story and at least some (I won't say many, because I don't know) don't have the means to find out via DNA testing (he doesn't talk about the cost of all the testing in the book).

****SPOILER****
The book doesn't bother me because it's not an apologist work. It bothers me because it's as if he and his relatives covet biological evidence of the mistreatment of the women they held as slaves (or the illicit activities of the white women in their family). The book bothers me because after he's found out that his family is as white as they always thought they were - even if there's no "noble" blood in their family - the book just stops. Oh, huh. DNA testing sometimes makes mistakes - cue skepticism about EVERYTHING related to DNA, blah, blah. It came off as though he's the spoiled kid who didn't get his way and now he doesn't want to play anymore, though it's better written than to sound *whiny*. It bothers me that he wanted to spend the $$ to try to rewrite his family history _because he wanted to_ when most other people (white or not) can't. Just makes it seem like he's not so far removed from his ancestors as he'd like to be - ideologically.



View all my reviews

Joseph's Yard

Joseph's Yard by Charles Keeping

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


The text is right over the illustrations, which in this case, makes the book difficult to read. If it were longer, it'd cause headaches. :( Some preachy stories are likeable. This one was not & some of the illustrations were creepy. I'd pick a different book to teach similar themes about love and caring for something/someone without smothering/stifling.



View all my reviews

Who's Seen the Scissors?

Who's Seen Scissors by Fernando Krahn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A humorous wordless book about a pair of flying scissors. Recommended for older preschoolers to first grade. :)



View all my reviews

The Awakening

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I dislike books with whiny protagonists for the most part. I can sympathize for Edna, though. To have nothing that you can call your own is very difficult. The Awakening in some ways reminds me of Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own in the need to carve out a piece of one's life just for one's self without all the demands & expectations of friends, family, etc... Having a toddler at home, I understand the innately selfish demands of children and that they're not allayed just by having someone else around to help with the kids. Having a nanny (or a great daycare provider) & knowing the kids are in good hands doesn't remove the feelings of guilt for not being there yourself, for losing your temper over something small, etc... It is extremely difficult to feel like one is "enough" for this task alone.

And yet.

And yet, I think many women dream about who they might be if they stood on their own. "Who is this woman who is mother, wife, daughter? Who would I be if I really wasn't afraid of what they'd think or say." Though I think Edna overreacted to her situation, I can understand the despair that compels her actions (and having a husband who's considering the nuthatch doesn't help either). This book makes me grateful I live at a time where it's common for women to have a career and a family because it does give us time during the day and a place to be someone other than "Mama."

I'd recommend this book to most mothers of young children - though probably not to one who's depressed or really short on sleep. I think that A Room of One's Own would be a terrific follow-up to this book if reading for school (or pleasure).



View all my reviews

The Bloody Chamber

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wonderful use of language and imagery. All the praise from my online book group members is richly deserved! I'd recommend this to (grown-up) fantasy readers looking for something a little different. These stories are definitely not written for children, but are not more violent or explicit than many of the YA books that are being published right now. No foul language, but there are violent scenarios and sexual imagery. For readers wanting to revel in the richness of the English language, these stories will be a delicacy.



View all my reviews

Handa's Surprise

Handa's Surprise by Eileen Browne

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This would be a good storytime book. :) Recommended for preschoolers since it appeals to their sense of humor and teaches colors, fruits, and (subtly) subtraction.



View all my reviews

Rosario+ Vampire

Rosario+Vampire, Vol. 2 by Akihisa Ikeda

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This series is growing on me. It's cute. Some of the innuendo might bother some parents, but it's pretty innocent for the most overall. The same parents might be bothered by the monster slaying also - or that there are monsters to begin with. Its general themes are fitting in, sticking up for friends, fairness, and getting through high school.



View all my reviews

Hirugashi When They Cry

Higurashi When They Cry, Vol. 2 by Ryukishi07

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Psychological horror in manga form. Very well done. :) Are there curses, demons, ghosts? Or is it all in the victims' minds? I'd recommend this series to fans of Japanese horror films (or even the American remakes) as well as Japanese horror fiction or other psychological thrillers.



View all my reviews

The Wood Beyond the World

The Wood Beyond the World by William Morris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The plot of The Wood Beyond the World by William Morris is not particularly complex and is trite by today's standards. However, this is one of the books that started the "dude from mostly humble beginnings ends up in magical land and becomes king somehow" fantasy trend. Lots of ye-olde style language, but nothing unmanageable. Overall, definitely should be read by fans of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, as those readers will delight in discovering the ways this book influenced the work of those authors in particular. For other readers, if you like fairy tales, you'll probably like this book.



View all my reviews

All My Friends Are Dead

All My Friends Are Dead by Avery Monsen

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Somewhat amusing. 3 minute read-time. I had hoped for at least some funny cartoons, but they were only somewhat entertaining at best. If you're curious, get it from the library or read at the bookstore. I'd only purchase it if I were giving it as a gag gift.



View all my reviews

Pretty Face

Pretty Face by Mary Hogan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Pretty Face by Mary Hogan is a coming of age/romance novel for teens. Very well-done, I thought. And I also liked how the author didn't tie up things *too* neatly. I'd probably recommend it to fans of Meg Cabot. It's not as funny, but it's similar in that the main characters are female & learning to be themselves while finding their place in the world - with the romantic edge. I have to say that it was the descriptions of Italy (& the Italian boyfriend haha) that really made the book for me.



View all my reviews

The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun

The Lady in the Car with the Glasses and a Gun by Sébastien Japrisot

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The book took awhile to read because until the end, neither the characters nor you, the reader are sure what's happening. Thus, it takes some extra effort. It's a great story though and is tied up well in the end. Not a book for everyone and not as straightforward as an American noir novel, but a wonderful addition to the genre. Highly recommended to all noir fiction fans!



View all my reviews

Pox Party

The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Very interesting concept. Makes one question the motivation behind the American Revolution - not a bad thing for young people to be encouraged toward critical thinking. Anderson is a great & very versatile writer too - the difference between Octavian Nothing and Feed is tremendous. Definitely worthwhile for anyone who enjoys the Revolutionary War time period or is interested in African American history in the US.



View all my reviews

Blind Man With a Pistol

Blind Man with a Pistol by Chester Himes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lots of action. Definitely in a hard-boiled style. Racial tension, several murders, various other crimes make for a tense read. The story moves back and forth in time a bit, but in general progresses chronologically. I especially like it because the disjointedness between the chapters imitates the chaos of events and the confusion of the police (both the African American detectives - the main characters - and the personality-less white cops & detectives & officials they work with). Very sophisticated as far as hard-boiled crime novels go. :) Recommended for anyone who likes hard-boiled crime novels or is interested in the mid-20th century race riots.



View all my reviews

Christmas Mouse Too!

Visit from Saint Nicholas: And Santa Mouse, Too! by Clement Mouse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Read several times this year for the holidays. :)



View all my reviews