I finished reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and adored every letter of that. I just loved it, it somehow really spoke to me, and was a sort of revelation in my faith and love and open-heartedness. I really need to read it again. The movie is just about to come out, with Julie Roberts. Not necessarily thrilled about it, but I have a deep appreciation for the book. It was more about the story than the writing.
Have been attempting to read The Greedy Bastard Diary by Eric Idle. It has made me laugh quite a bit, but there are lots of dry parts, in my opinion. I probably still have one third of the way to go until I finish it, but I've lost motivation. He gets too descriptive and flowery with his words... very descriptive of scenes, like waterfalls or seeing the leaves change as he's driving. I'm not reading this to relax or meditate on the beauty of trees. It just doesn't fit with this book, but then again, it is a diary, so I suppose he can go anywhere he wants with this book. There are still plenty of laugh-out-loud parts, which make it worth checking out. I just gotta push through to the end.
Also in the middle - well, now almost at the end - of Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler. Now this has me laughing a lot. It's hard to say whether the stories are totally legit, or she takes one small situation and runs with it. I suppose it doesn't matter either way, I woudln't know the difference, but I sure do laugh! Have to read this again. About a year ago or so, I read her book (which I believe came out first), My Horizontal Life, which again was hilarious. It's about some of her 'hookup' experiences, but not necessarily dirty stuff. Stuff I can't relate to (like hooking up with so many people or being an alcoholic or being famous... lol), but she really does have a comedy bone in her. Excellent books.
Attempted to read Nine Kinds of Naked by Tony Vigoritto earlier this summer. It didn't take. I didn't like his style of writing. I couldn't get into it. It was supposed to be about these nine stories/lives/situations that somehow intertwined without the people realizing it. I didn't get very far into the book when I just decided it wasn't worth it, at least not presently.
However, I could have felt super picky because I was coming off the high from reading Black Swan Green by David Mitchell. Who would have guessed I'd adore a book recommended by Ike? Oh wait... duh! I loved this book!! It is about a 13-ish year old boy in England, one chapter for each month for 13 months, and about being picked on at school, his crazy parents (but aren't all parents crazy in books? They sure are in Chelsea Handlers' books...), and, well, I can't remember it all, but it was written so well. Will definitely revisit this one.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, August 21, 2009
Some books have already come and gone
I just finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon.
What a great book! Probably one of my favorites. Mostly because it was so well written. I'd say, it was "thick" though. It took me a long time to get into it. I renewed it from the library - for each 3-week period - many times. 5 or 6 I'm sure. Michael Chabon was so great with words, though clearly I am not. Such vivid descriptions that make me wonder if many other people are observant and detailed in their perceptions and feelings of the world... or even if he is in his own life, not just in writing. Really, really good book. Quite long, but I'm so glad that I read it. It came as a recommendation from my instructor of Good Books at WMU, Spring of 2006 that I took with Hannah. Ike Turner. Yup. I loved every book that we read in that class - Geek Love, Snow Crash, White Noise, The Corrections, and The Things They Carried (which wasn't my favorite book, by any means, but it was still good and semi-mind boggling). So I admired Ike's book choices, and still occasionally consult him online for suggestions.
Another suggestion of his, which I also already conquered, was A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole. I believe that this book was published after he had died, at a young age. This book was also really good... but quite strange. Frustrating. The main character, Ignatius, is just... ridiculous. A fat slob that is, perhaps unfortunately, quite intelligent - or at least, intelligent enough to know how to successfully manipulate others. He's mostly unemployed, living with his mother, and controlling the poor woman. She forces him to get a job, so the book is mostly about his search for jobs, many of which he goes through, and leaves his employers and companions in confusion. The book is frustrating just because, well, Ignatius is not a hero. He made me uncomfortable, and quite bothered. Yet, I read it all. And loved it, actually.
I also did read Indecision, by Bejamin Kunkle. I had bought this once from Barnes & Noble when I was looking for a book to read. Fiction yet again, as that tends to be my preference. (maybe I should look into other such reading? biographies? Science fiction? I have delved into fantasy with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, and Piers Anthony from my childhood reading) So I started this book, was pretty bored for awhile, and then just stopped reading it. Then I found it, figured that I should give it another go. I did enjoy it. It's about the main character who takes an anti-depressant-type medication which is supposed to help him make decisions for once in his life (hence Indecision), unsure if he's in the control or experiment group. And then he flies down to South America to try to be more decisive and visit a female friend from high school. Goes on some weird adventure, finding new confidence in his supposed decision-making skills. The book was alright. Nothing particularly memorable, but interesting nonetheless.
Currently reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I think it'll be a valuable read for my spiritual and emotional self.
What a great book! Probably one of my favorites. Mostly because it was so well written. I'd say, it was "thick" though. It took me a long time to get into it. I renewed it from the library - for each 3-week period - many times. 5 or 6 I'm sure. Michael Chabon was so great with words, though clearly I am not. Such vivid descriptions that make me wonder if many other people are observant and detailed in their perceptions and feelings of the world... or even if he is in his own life, not just in writing. Really, really good book. Quite long, but I'm so glad that I read it. It came as a recommendation from my instructor of Good Books at WMU, Spring of 2006 that I took with Hannah. Ike Turner. Yup. I loved every book that we read in that class - Geek Love, Snow Crash, White Noise, The Corrections, and The Things They Carried (which wasn't my favorite book, by any means, but it was still good and semi-mind boggling). So I admired Ike's book choices, and still occasionally consult him online for suggestions.
Another suggestion of his, which I also already conquered, was A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole. I believe that this book was published after he had died, at a young age. This book was also really good... but quite strange. Frustrating. The main character, Ignatius, is just... ridiculous. A fat slob that is, perhaps unfortunately, quite intelligent - or at least, intelligent enough to know how to successfully manipulate others. He's mostly unemployed, living with his mother, and controlling the poor woman. She forces him to get a job, so the book is mostly about his search for jobs, many of which he goes through, and leaves his employers and companions in confusion. The book is frustrating just because, well, Ignatius is not a hero. He made me uncomfortable, and quite bothered. Yet, I read it all. And loved it, actually.
I also did read Indecision, by Bejamin Kunkle. I had bought this once from Barnes & Noble when I was looking for a book to read. Fiction yet again, as that tends to be my preference. (maybe I should look into other such reading? biographies? Science fiction? I have delved into fantasy with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, and Piers Anthony from my childhood reading) So I started this book, was pretty bored for awhile, and then just stopped reading it. Then I found it, figured that I should give it another go. I did enjoy it. It's about the main character who takes an anti-depressant-type medication which is supposed to help him make decisions for once in his life (hence Indecision), unsure if he's in the control or experiment group. And then he flies down to South America to try to be more decisive and visit a female friend from high school. Goes on some weird adventure, finding new confidence in his supposed decision-making skills. The book was alright. Nothing particularly memorable, but interesting nonetheless.
Currently reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I think it'll be a valuable read for my spiritual and emotional self.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Currently Reading, I
I'm in the process of reading these. For various reasons. Library deadlines, difficulty of reading, lost books, etc.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Indecision by Benjamin Kunkel
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Indecision by Benjamin Kunkel
Past Reads
The Chocolate War
A Confederacy of Dunces
The Corrections
The Funny Thing Is
Geek Love
The Giver
Grapes of Wrath
Harry Potter
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings:
Lord of the Rings:
Q&A
Snow Crash
To Kill a Mockingbird
White Noise
A Confederacy of Dunces
The Corrections
The Funny Thing Is
Geek Love
The Giver
Grapes of Wrath
Harry Potter
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings:
Lord of the Rings:
Q&A
Snow Crash
To Kill a Mockingbird
White Noise
I like books. So what?
Just like my movies blog, I want to try to keep track of all the books that I've read. Perhaps this one will be more valuable than the movies edition.
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