Friday, May 14, 2010
The End/Lemony Snicket
I thought I'd be weeping inconsonably by the time I finished this series, but I only got a little tiny bit ferklempt. Probably because I finished it at the desk. It's a satisfying ending to the Baudelaire's story, but it's also complex, morally ambiguous, full of secrets that will never be answered, and deeply tragic. So it's like Lost, only...much better. And there's no polar bears. 324 pp.
Nocturnes
Nocturnes: five stories of music and nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro 221 pp.
A short collection of short stories with music as a central theme, some loosely connected, others more so. The stories include one about a has-been crooner and a Polish guitarist in Venice, an aficionado of classic American standards who travels to England and confronts his paranoias, the discussions of the crooner's wife and a saxophonist as they recuperate from cosmetic surgery, a guitarist who affects the lives of a pair of Swiss musicians on holiday, and a young classical musicians encounter with a mysterious older woman. Because they are short stories, they don't have the depth of Ishiguro's novels, but they are interesting and thought provoking.
A short collection of short stories with music as a central theme, some loosely connected, others more so. The stories include one about a has-been crooner and a Polish guitarist in Venice, an aficionado of classic American standards who travels to England and confronts his paranoias, the discussions of the crooner's wife and a saxophonist as they recuperate from cosmetic surgery, a guitarist who affects the lives of a pair of Swiss musicians on holiday, and a young classical musicians encounter with a mysterious older woman. Because they are short stories, they don't have the depth of Ishiguro's novels, but they are interesting and thought provoking.
All He Ever Wanted
All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve 310 pp.
A well-written but aggravating story. The main character, a college professor, is an annoying, chauvanistic, anti-Semitic prig who falls desperately in love with a woman who does not love him. He coerces her into marriage and they live a reasonably happy life until he discovers that she has bought a small house to use as her own private refuge for quiet afternoons away from him and their children. In a fit of anger he threatens to divorce her and things go downhill from there. I have to admit, I was really hoping something horrible would happen to this guy because he was such a jerk.
A well-written but aggravating story. The main character, a college professor, is an annoying, chauvanistic, anti-Semitic prig who falls desperately in love with a woman who does not love him. He coerces her into marriage and they live a reasonably happy life until he discovers that she has bought a small house to use as her own private refuge for quiet afternoons away from him and their children. In a fit of anger he threatens to divorce her and things go downhill from there. I have to admit, I was really hoping something horrible would happen to this guy because he was such a jerk.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Ragtime in Simla
Ragtime in Simla 287 pg.
I chose this to continue the series. I've always liked historical fiction and British history - this is both. - Susie
I chose this to continue the series. I've always liked historical fiction and British history - this is both. - Susie
The time of my life
The time of my life/Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi pg. 247
I chose this to learn more about Patrick's life. - Susie
I chose this to learn more about Patrick's life. - Susie
Is our children learning?
Is our children learning?: the case against George W. Bush/Paul Begala 160 pg.
I chose this to see what the author had to say about G.W. Bush. It makes him seem awful. - Susie
I chose this to see what the author had to say about G.W. Bush. It makes him seem awful. - Susie
Rework
Rework/Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson 279 pgs.
A great business advice book with occasionally conflicting advice but mostly things that should be common sense. Business, however, has become some weird area of "study" where planning and rules are taught to students without regard to the practicality or necessity of the plan or the rules. Although there are some examples in the book. I wish there were more. - Christa
A great business advice book with occasionally conflicting advice but mostly things that should be common sense. Business, however, has become some weird area of "study" where planning and rules are taught to students without regard to the practicality or necessity of the plan or the rules. Although there are some examples in the book. I wish there were more. - Christa
The Bedwetter
The Bedwetter: Stories of courage, redemption, and pee/Sarah Silverman 240 pgs.
Sarah Silverman is really funny and I was hoping this book would be nothing less than hilarious...but it was something less. In this book, Sarah reveals that she is Jewish and has a preoccupation with poop jokes. Maybe this won't come as too big a surprise to anyone who has ever seen Sarah or even heard of her. I read the last few chapters out loud to my husband and that made it seem MUCH more funny. So my advice is read this aloud to a loved one for maximum enjoyment. -Christa
Sarah Silverman is really funny and I was hoping this book would be nothing less than hilarious...but it was something less. In this book, Sarah reveals that she is Jewish and has a preoccupation with poop jokes. Maybe this won't come as too big a surprise to anyone who has ever seen Sarah or even heard of her. I read the last few chapters out loud to my husband and that made it seem MUCH more funny. So my advice is read this aloud to a loved one for maximum enjoyment. -Christa
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Tourist
The Tourist/Olen Steinhauer 408 pg.
I listened to this one on audio and could not help but try to sneak it in any chance I got. This is a great spy story that follows Milo Weaver, a CIA "tourist" which is a super secret department of black ops people. It really did a good job of showing the "expendibility" of the agents and the story was filled with intrigue and action but also very good with the human side. I had never even heard of this author but will certainly read more. - Christa
I listened to this one on audio and could not help but try to sneak it in any chance I got. This is a great spy story that follows Milo Weaver, a CIA "tourist" which is a super secret department of black ops people. It really did a good job of showing the "expendibility" of the agents and the story was filled with intrigue and action but also very good with the human side. I had never even heard of this author but will certainly read more. - Christa
Nemesis / Jo Nesbo 474 p.
This is the middle title in the Harry Hole mysteries which we have in our collection, and I think it's my favorite. A series of Oslo bank robberies which turn fatal involves an apparent Gypsy mafia ring. Like most Americans, I know practically nothing about Gypsies (Romany), and Nesbo provides some interesting historical detail. There are a few scenes which I have to describe as madcap, (OK, I just wanted to use that word...) particularly those which take place in a small Brazilian coastal town. I won't bother to explain how Harry winds up there, but I really recommend this one.
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