Musings of a Bookish Kitty: October 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Sunday Salon Review: The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

The Knife of Never Letting Go
(Candlewick, 2008 - Science Fiction YA - 496 pgs)

The Ask and the Answer
(Candlewick, 2010 - Science Fiction YA - 528 pgs)

Monsters of Men
(Candlewick, 2011 - Science Fiction YA - 608 pgs)

Have you ever finished a book and then had a hard time picking up another? You just aren't ready to let the last one go. The characters, the story and the world became such a part of your own life that you have trouble moving on. That is the way it has been for me and Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking Trilogy. I didn't rest until I had the entire trilogy under my belt--and the short story "The New World" (Candlewick, 2010 - Science Fiction YA - Short Story) set in the same world. I was glued to every page, unable to tear myself away, not completely, even when I wasn't able to read.

It is hard to discuss any aspect of the trilogy without giving something important away. The trilogy opens with The Knife of Never Letting Go and what a start it is!

From the author's website:

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.

But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets.

Or are there?

Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence.

Which is impossible.

Prentisstown has been lying to him.

And now he's going to have to run...

It is impossible not to fall in love with Todd. He is innocent and good. He is compassionate and smart. Even despite the community he grew up in.

As The Knife of Never Letting Go was full of hope even in the worst of times, the second book in the trilogy, The Ask and the Answer, was much more dire, much more horrible. All hope seemed lost. Both of the main characters have to make difficult choices, some of which there is no easy or good answer. I was reminded of Ugwu from Half of a Yellow Sun, who was put into an impossible situation--risk his own life by speaking up or be complicit in the rape of a woman and survive. Likewise, Todd was put into a terrible position, having to do things no man should. It was with a heavy heart that I read the middle book in the trilogy. Todd was no longer innocent. I didn't like some of the things he did, but I still felt for him. I still believed in him.

Monsters of Men is a fitting title for not only the final book in the trilogy but the entire trilogy. Throughout the series, we see the horrors that man can wreck on one another, both in the pursuit of power and survival. Even the most despicable of characters in the books are merely human. Flawed and vulnerable. With fears and doubts, just like everyone else. As much as I hated one particular character, by the end, I had to admit that even he was not entirely a monster.

If you have noticed that I haven't provided a synopsis for more than the first book, it is simply because I can't think of a way to provide one without giving away too much. There is much I would like to mention and discuss--the trilogy cries out for discussion, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. What I will say is that the trilogy is all at once a coming of age story and a commentary about humanity in all its ugliness as well as beauty. Through his characters, Patrick Ness brings the ambiguity of morality to the forefront.

I vaguely recall complaints about the spelling and slang in the novels when I first heard about the books a couple of years ago. I hardly noticed it, being so immersed in Todd's world. Thinking back on it, I actually think such language choices by the author were quite fitting given Todd's inability to read and his lack of a proper education.

I cried. I held my breath. I found myself praying for a good outcome. When all was said and done, and I reached the final sentence in the trilogy, I wanted more. Not because the book didn't end well, but rather because I wasn't ready to let Todd go. I wasn't ready to leave the New World behind. Not yet.

You can learn more about Patrick Ness and his books at the author's website.

Source: I bought an e-book copies of these books and short story for my own enjoyment.

© 2011, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

From the Archives: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here is one from July 2005:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Harper, 1967; Fiction, 458 pgs

Gabriel García Márquez weaves a story about the rise and fall of the town of Macondo through the lives of one of the founding families, the Buendia family. It is a story about dreams, love, betrayal and family. Mr. Márquez is able to write in a lyrical style, telling a sometimes sad and at times humorous tale. The novel flowed well and was not hefted down by description, as some authors tend to do when writing in such a way. However, the story did not captivate me and several times throughout I considered giving up on the book. I felt as if I was unable to fully appreciate the book, as if I was skimming the surface and missing out on the deeper meanings hidden in the text. When commenting about the book to my husband, I wondered aloud if perhaps I was caught up in the praise of the book, expecting more than was really there. He asked if it was something akin to looking for the emperor’s new clothing.

The book covered a lot of territory time wise, spanning several generations, and Mr. Márquez successfully kept the novel’s length reasonable, avoiding turning it into a book of needless epic proportions. I found the characters hard to follow at times, in part because of their similar names. There is a lesson here in naming children repeatedly after ancestors, I think, especially if the family story is to be put to paper! I’ve read reviews suggesting this was a purposeful ploy by the author to further show the connectedness of the characters to their ancestors’ fate, but, however true that may be, it still was confusing.

My impression was that the novel demonstrates how history, even within a family, is likely to repeat itself, how our ancestors, even those we may never have met, have already played a part in who and what we will become as well as how we live our lives. Despite the sometimes arduous task of keeping the characters straight, I found the characters and their stories mostly interesting, my favorite being the matriarch of the family, Úrsala. With each character, came the realization that they were very much alone, left to their own thoughts, broken dreams, and lost loves, leading many to find peace in their solitude later in life.

I try not to go into a book with too many expectations, but I did have high hopes for this one. I was disappointed overall, finding reading it more of a chore than a pleasure, but in the end I am glad I did take the time to read and finish it.

Source: From my own personal collection, bought and paid for by myself.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Review: Bossypants by Tina Fey

Bossypants by Tina Fey
Hachette Audio (book version: Reagan Arthur Books), 2011
Nonfiction

I tend to steer clear of celebrity memoirs, preferring memoirs by the "average joe". Stardom doesn't impress me much, although I do occasionally like the rags to riches stories. If they come with a good dose of humility and thoughtfulness. Anyhow, I had heard great things about Tina Fey's memoir Bossypants. Laugh out loud funny. Smart. Relatable. And after my husband endorsement of it, how could I not give it a try?

I found Bossypants to be all it was totted to be. Especially the more personal bits about her childhood and her own early experience with motherhood.

The story of Tina Fey turning the reversible Snow White/Sleeping Beauty Doll over so that Snow White was showing touched a chord with me. Her daughter would turn the doll to the other side, displaying the yellow haired beauty. Tina's effort to instill an appreciation for the dark haired beauty, which more resembled her daughter seemed to be for naught--even at her daughter's age of three. While my 7 month old doesn't have a reversible doll, I find myself favoring her dark haired dolls for the same reason.

The chapters about her father touched me as well. Our fathers come from the same generation, commanded the same respect and shared similar values. Tina frets that her daughter doesn't have that same fear/respect of parent that she had for her father and I had for mine, a quality we both see as having been a positive influence in our lives even if we didn't think so when we were growing up.

The book is hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud frequently. There were also tender and more serious moments, which I appreciated as well. I admit I didn't know who Tina Fey was until the whole Sarah Palin impersonation. At least not more than a general recognition of the name. I am not a fan of 30 Rock (never seen it) nor was I watching Saturday Night Live when she was writing and appearing on the television show. Somewhere in there though, I came to respect her and admire her work. Bossypants was an enjoyable book to listen to, and Tina Fey does an excellent job telling her own story.

Source: I bought this audio book on audible.com.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Sunday Salon: Where is Autumn?

Outside my window: Autumn came and then went away again and now appears to be creeping back. I do hope the cooler temperatures will return soon. 100+ degree weather in October just seems wrong.

I am listening to: In my car, Mouse and I have been enjoying You'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song by Ella Jenkins, a childhood favorite of mine. I sought out the album hoping to share some of my childhood favorites with Mouse as she grows up. It sure brings back memories! One day when I was picking up Mouse from daycare, her daycare provider noticed the CD case in the car and mentioned that she plays it now and then for the kids too. How cool is that?

I am watching: Anjin downloaded a few episodes of the first season of Community for us to watch recently, and so we have been getting a few laughs from that show. We watched the finale of The All American Handyman earlier in the week and are caught up with Supernatural. We are continuing to enjoy the 5th season of How I Met Your Mother.

I am thinking: It was a difficult week. October 11th marked the one month anniversary of my father's death. It seems like so long ago and yet only yesterday.

I really need to write a book review of a book I read recently. I am having trouble getting started though. Don't you hate it when that happens? I've tried all my usual tricks--free flow writing, starting in the middle, and reading a couple of other reviews (something I do only as a last resort as I hate to be influenced by another's thoughts). Right now I'm just waiting for inspiration. I liked the book quite a bit so that isn't the problem. Ho hum. How do you motivate yourself to write a book review when you are struggling to get started?

Also on my mind recently is whether or not there is a correlation between handedness and the preference for one thumb over another--obviously a question for (former) thumb suckers. I googled the topic, of course. If it exists, someone has researched it already no doubt. I found nothing conclusive. Both my husband and I were thumb suckers. He sucked his right thumb and is right handed; I sucked my left and am left handed. Mouse sucks her right thumb.

I am grateful for: Baby gates, Fridays, and baby diaper genies.

I am reading: I just finished reading The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness and have started The Ask and the Answer, the second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. Let me just say I am smitten so far. Will it turn into love? Let's see how things progress through to the end.

Around the house: Anjin and I are continuing our efforts to baby proof the house. Yes, we should have had this all done earlier, but it's more fun rushing around getting it done now. Yeah, right.

The child this week: Last Sunday marked Mouse's 7th month birthday. Can you believe it? I can't! Her favorite activity right now seems to be making messes. It's so much fun! She also has discovered the stairs and is quite adept at climbing them. Thank goodness for baby gates!

Plans for the week: My mother is driving down for a visit the end of the week. She hasn't seen Mouse since she and my dad helped us move into the new house last April/May. I am really looking forward to seeing her and giving her a long overdo hug.

On the blog: You can expect my review of Bossypants by Tina Fey this week in addition to a "From the Archives" review of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.

I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!

Thanks to Suey from It's All About Books for sharing this format with me, and to Ibeeeg of Polishing Mud Balls for inspiring Suey's use of the format.

Thursday, October 06, 2011

A True Story: The Otter Pop Bandit

It was a hot summer day in August. The temperature was hovering around 104 in the shade. Everyone, including Mouse, was trying to stay cool inside. Dressed in her lightest onsie, Mouse lay on her stomach in the middle of the play mat, propped up on her elbows.

Miss S was busy with Howler and Sunshine who were playing not too far away. That left Rosie, sitting pretty eating a red Otter Pop*. A mighty cool looking stick. In fact, as Mouse looked around, she noticed everyone was sucking or chewing on an Otter Pop, each one a different color. Why wasn't she given an Otter Pop? She was always being left out. At nearly six months old, she was just as capable as the rest of them. Hrmphf.

Well, she'd show them. Mouse took one last look around to make sure no one was watching and made her way on all fours over to Rosie. Quick as she could, Mouse snatched the cold wet stick out of Rosie's hands, intent on finding out what she was missing.

Rosie let out a howl almost as loud and painful as one of lil' Howler's cries. Miss S rushed to her aid, swiping the Otter Pop right out of Mouse's hand. Miss S called Miss C over and both were laughing. At what exactly, Mouse didn't know. All she knew was that it wasn't fair.

She eyed Rosie, who was now sitting on Miss S's lap on the other side of the play mat, with that irresistible red Otter Pop. Determined to get that Otter Pop one way or the other, Mouse half crawled, half scooted her way across the mat, right up to Miss S's leg. She pulled herself up onto Miss S's thigh and snatched the Otter Pop right back. Ha!

Peels of laughter came from both Miss S and Miss C, who was standing near the mat. Miss C took the Otter Pop out of Mouse's hand before Mouse could take a bite.

Foiled again.

*Otter Pop = Ice Pop = Popsicle

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Review: The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt

The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt

Berkley Prime Crime, 2006

Crime Fiction; 261 pgs

I am not sure how long The Trouble with Magic has been sitting in my TBR collection. A long time, I'd guess. That seems to be the fate of many of my TBR books. Sitting and waiting. Books are very patient, did you know? At least mine have been.

I can't remember how I first came to discover this gem of a book or where I bought it. All I know is that I am glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Maggie O'Neill. She's much older in my mind than she is in the book--probably because I put her at my age, a bad habit of mine. She's smart (are heroines these days ever not smart?), skeptical and a do it yourself-er. I liked her right away. I'll forgive her for her love for all things Magnum, although I have to admit, it fit with Maggie's character, and I think it was great how the author continued that tiny thread throughout the book.

As you can guess from the title, this cozy mystery has a bit of magic in it. After losing her office job, Maggie takes a job working at an eccentric antique store in town. Maggie takes to the owner immediately, a nice woman named Felicity Dow. Felicity just happens to be a witch. Maggie puts on her amateur sleuth hat when Felicity becomes the main suspect in Felicity's sister's murder. In the course of her investigation, Maggie begrudgingly acknowledges that she may have a little something magical in her veins too that opens her up to the spirit world. She's plenty skeptical though and doesn't come to accept it easily--something I really appreciated as a reader.

There's a teeny weeny hint of romance, some action and humor mixed into The Trouble with Magic. The reader is likely to figure out the whodunit before Maggie does but that doesn't detract from the novel. The Trouble with Magic is a great start to a series I'm looking forward to continuing in the future.

You can learn more about Madelyn Alt and her books on the author's website.

Source: From my own personal collection, bought and paid for by myself.

Sunday, October 02, 2011

Sunday Salon: Hello, October!

Outside my window: Fog. Beautiful, glorious fog. Only pleasant because I'm not driving in it.

I am listening to: The wind dancing with the trees. I love how quiet it is outside. At our old house, the traffic and trains were a constant. Here, we have the occasional jet, sometimes the laughter and screaming of kids playing in the neighbor's pool, but mostly just quiet.

I am watching: We've completed the fourth season of How I Met Your Mother and are just waiting for the first disk of the fifth season to arrive in the mail via Netflix. Or Quickster. Whatever their name is now. I saw the first episode of the new Charlies' Angels show. Just because. Anjin and I also saw the first two episodes of the new season of Supernatural. We're finally all caught up! So far, it looks like it will be a good season.

I am thinking: That I need to get started on the laundry. Actually, I have been giving my blog a lot of thought. Ideas are starting to pop into my head for future posts, however fleetingly. Not all of them are as good as they seem upon first thought.

I am grateful for: Hot water.

I am reading: I finished Madelyn Alt's The Trouble With Magic early last week, a witchy cozy mystery. Now I've moved onto Bossypants by Tina Fey, an unusual choice for me for two reasons. Number one, I don't especially care for celebrity memoirs and so rarely read them. And number two, it's in audio book form. Yeah. It's hard to believe, isn't it? I found the perfect time to listen finally. Not sure how long it will last though as the situation is only temporary.

Around the house: So much still to do! When does the unpacking end??

The child this week:

Plans for the week: Mouse had her doctor's appointment last week and I have mine this week. I am a strong believer in making those annoying female exams less painful by turning them into a fun day. So, I will be taking the day off from work and will be treating myself to a little shopping, including a visit to the bookstore, picking Mouse up from daycare early and spending the afternoon playing and cuddling with her. The rest of the week will be filled with the usual: work, sleep, eating. You get the idea.

On the blog: This past week I managed to post a review of Cover-Up by Michele Martinez and talked about the top five songs currently playing in my head. This week look for my review of Madelyn Alt's The Trouble with Magic and the story that's made Mouse quite famous--afterward you will be able to guess what she'll end up with lots of on her first birthday (because I'm the mean mommy who won't let her have it just yet)!

Thanks to Suey from It's All About Books for sharing this format with me, and to Ibeeeg of Polishing Mud Balls for inspiring Suey's use of the format.

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