Musings of a Bookish Kitty: DiverseUniverse

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Bookish Thoughts: Confessions by Kanae Minato

Once you finish your milk, put the carton back in the box. ~ Opening of Confessions

Confessions (Kokuhaku) by Kanae Minato

(translated by Stephen Snyder)

Mulholland Books, 2008

Crime Fiction; 240 pgs

I first heard mention of this book via the publisher's Facebook page. I generally get my recommendations from fellow book bloggers and readers, but occasionally a publisher's announcement will catch my attention like this one did. Confessions by Japanese crime fiction author Kanae Minato sounded perfect for both A More Diverse Universe and the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge. And while I tend to take comparisons of books to other well known books with a grain of salt (okay, so maybe a shaker full), I was still curious about Confessions when it was compared to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

I hesitate to post the synopsis of this book because it really is one that is best read with little knowledge of what to expect. But then, even I was surprised having read what the book was about. As a result, my review will be rather vague.

Confessions by Kanae Minato opens with teacher, Yuko Morguchi, lecturing her students, telling them the story about why she has decided to resign, about the death of her four year old daughter, and how she believes it was murder. Each chapter is narrated by a different character, each one providing a new layer to the story.

The characters are not especially likable. In many ways, this book is more like a horror story--seeing just how cruel people, especially the young, can be in certain circumstances. Even so, I loved this book. If I had any negative thoughts about it, it would be about the ending, but that would be nit-picky and completely a personal preference. Given the nature of the book and its contents, the ending fit. I found the book to be very dark and intense and impossible to put down. At the risk of spoiling anything with a vague statement: the twists were enough to make me say, "Oh my gosh!" a couple times. At least.

Described by some as a book that delves into the subculture of Japanese youth, it really can be applied to American culture as well. The book offers a character study of the dark side of human nature from multiple perspectives, including possible causes. Guilt, jealousy, despair, anger and exhilaration are just a few of the emotions touched upon throughout the novel. The story told in Confessions also demonstrates how one action or thought can lead to another, setting off a chain reaction. For every action, there is a consequence.

This is not a book for everyone. The stark writing style and dark themes will put off some. Still, I found it a fascinating read, one I will not soon forget.

Confessions has been made into a short film, which I would like to see at some point.

Rating:

(Very Good +)

Source: I purchased an e-copy of this book for my own reading pleasure (and realized days later I had a review copy from Netfix. Go figure. I guess I really really wanted to read this book!).

© 2014, 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.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Bookish Thoughts: Saffron Dreams by Shaila M. Abdullah

I decided to carry out the first task on my list when fall was about to lose its hue. ~ Opening of Saffron Dreams

Saffron Dreams by Shaila M. Abdullah

Modern History Press, 2009

Fiction; 248 pgs

I had not intended to read this book for A More Diverse Universe, but when I was browsing my shelves the other evening--just because, as I often do--I pulled Saffron Dreams out and decided the timing could not be more perfect, both for A More Diverse Universe, but also because of the recent anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day that needs little explanation at this time in our history.

Saffron Dreams is fiction, but it felt so real as I was reading it. It is the story of Arissa Illahi, a Pakistani woman who was living in New York City at the time the World Trade Center was brought down by terrorists. She was barely awake when her husband left for work that morning. She had no idea she would never see him again.

Arissa and her husband were Muslim, having married in their home country and moving to the U.S. to start a new life. They were expecting their first child. The loss of her husband devastated Arissa, not surprisingly so.

Shaila Abdullah paints a picture with words that is extremely visceral. The grief and anger and loneliness left by the death of Arissa's husband made my heart ache. Arissa wanted to hold onto his memory as tightly as she could. It is through her grief and her reminiscing that we get to see how the couple met, how their marriage was arranged, and how they were living their life once married. They had their ups and downs, but they were so in love.

As if the loss of her husband was not enough of a burden to bear, Arissa learns the child she is carrying has birth defects, the extent of she will not know until the child is born. It frightens her, but she knows it is something she must come to terms with.

Arissa is fortunate not to be alone through all of this, even in those moments she feels most alone. Her family surrounds her, working through their own grief and helping her through hers. I felt the love and respect she felt for her parents-in-law. Arissa and her mother, however, are estranged; yet another conflict in Arissa's life she must struggle with.

Saffron Dreams tells the story of how easily life's course can be changed by unexpected events. It is Arissa's story of how she met with one such horrible event and other challenges that forced her to re-evaluate her life and decide what direction to go next. She has to come to terms with what's happened and what is, It isn't easy for her and she makes mistakes, but she is a strong woman even in her weakest most doubtful moments. I admired this about her.

The author captured the cultural and ethnic tensions well during a time when they were quite high (and to some extent, still are). Arissa's decision to wear a veil in public marked her as the enemy in the eyes of some. The veil was a symbol of faith and tradition for Arissa. It was a part of her. She endured threats and nasty looks from people who unfairly judged her. It angered me to see her treated in such a way.

I was not entirely satisfied with one small aspect of the ending, admittedly. I think though that was more my wish for a happier ending on that front than anything else when the reality of it is that the Abdullah's version is probably more true to life--and deserved. I also felt that the flow of the novel changed a little too abruptly just past the mid-way point of the book. It was a place in which a major change in the characters' lives had occurred, and so to some extent that could be expected. It was as if there was a shift in the narrative voice even though the entire book is written in first person, in Arissa's voice. Those were minor things though.

Overall, I found Saffron Dreams to be an emotionally charged novel, one that will stay with me for a long while. I still remember where I was and what I was doing the morning of September 11, 2001, as I am sure many of you do.

To learn more about author Shaila M. Abdullah and her work, please visit the author's website.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Booish Thoughts: Ash by Malinda Lo

Aisling's mother died at midsummer. ~ Opening of Ash

Ash by Malinda Lo

Little Brown, 2009

Fantasy (YA); 272 pgs

I chose to read Ash by Malinda Lo for A More Diverse Universe this week in part because it also meets the criteria for the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge. Killing two birds with one stone so to speak.

From the moment I began reading Ash by Malinda Lo, I knew I would like it. I was immediately taken in by Lo's writing and swept into her world. Ash is a retelling of the Cinderella tale, and much of it was familiar and yet quite a bit was different as well. One quality I enjoy about retellings is just how familiar they are. It can also be their downfall if the story is just a rehashing of the original, of course, but the ones that stand out are the stories that take on a life of their own. Malinda Lo's Ash does just that.

Aisling, or Ash, is a sweet girl, lost in her grief. She first loses the mother she adores and then her father, being left in the care of a stepmother who obviously sees her more as a burden than anything else. While the youngest of the two stepsisters is mostly kind to Ash, the eldest is not. Locked in the cellar when she talks back to her stepmother and made into the family slave, Ash hates her life and longs to be with her mother. She turns to the fairies for help, remembering the stories she had heard as a young child and continued to read and dream about as a young adult.

One fairy in particular takes a special interest in Ash, although she isn't sure why. Sidhean seems to be a sort of protector, and yet Ash knows that protection and guidance comes at a cost. With fairies, there is always a price to be paid. Sidhean is beautiful and yet dark; Ash is not quite sure she can trust him. Yet, she begs him to take her home with him, to save her from her miserable life. He refuses each time. At least at first.

Then Ash meets the King's Huntress, Kaisa, and things change for Ash. A friendship evolves between the two young women, and Ash finds herself looking forward more and more to her visits with Kaisa. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings for one another grow.

Sidhean waits patiently and when called upon to grant a wish, he binds Ash to him. Ash agrees in desperation, but worries the cost will be too high. Promised to Sidhean but longing to be with Kaisa, Ash is not sure what to do.

Elements of magic and magical beings have faded in Ash's world, not fully believed in and yet there are those who still cling to the old ways. Fairies are just characters in stories, some argue, as a way to teach children how to behave. Ash's mother was of the old ways, however, and Ash believes. Her fairy Sidhean is proof of the fairies' existence. I loved how the author inserted the stories of magic and fairies into the novel by the characters telling the stories themselves.

There is a subtleness in the author's writing that really drew me in. Admittedly, the characterization in the book wasn't its strongest suit, but I thoroughly enjoyed it anyway. I loved the world the author created around her characters. Lo's descriptions made me feel as if I was right there in the pages of the book. I came to really care about Ash and Kaisa, their love evolving from friendship so naturally. It was beautiful and sweet, without being overly so. It is a quiet novel. There is definitely darkness in this tale. No fairytale is without it.

I was sad to see Ash come to an end. I was not ready to leave Aisling's world.

Rating:

(Very Good)

To learn more about Malinda Lo and her books, please visit the author's website.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Mouse's Corner: Mooncakes and A Cat Named Gorilla

When I first considered joining A More Diverse Universe Event, I started going through my daughter's shelves in search of books that might qualify. My daughter is fortunate to live in a community and go to a school that is fairly diverse. As a parent, I think it is important to continue to expose my daughter to a variety of cultures and ethnicities, and that includes through literature. I would like her to have an appreciation for the differences as well as to know just how similar we all are as well.

When Gorilla Goes Walking written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Shane Evans

Orchard Books, 2007

Fiction (Children's); 32 pgs

We have two cats, one of which has been with us since before Mouse was born. She's never known life without a cat. She is also an only child, like the main character in Grimes' book. When Gorilla Goes Walking seemed like the perfect book for Mouse, a collection of poems telling the story of Cecilia, an African American girl, and her cat, Gorilla. It is a fun (and funny) story, with bright playful illustrations. Mouse and I both enjoy the rhythm of the verses as we read together. Gorilla is a bit more bold and mischievous than our own cats, but in some ways they are similar. Mouse really likes Cecelia and can relate to her in many ways. Especially when Cecelia is sick or sad, and her cat comes to comfort her. Mouse particularly loves the page in which Cecelia and Gorilla get into the paints and make quite a mess. She always points out the colorful paw prints.

My daughter and I are definitely interested in reading more by Nikki Grimes and Shane Evans.

To learn more about author Nikki Grimes and her work, please visit the author's website.
To learn more about illustrator Shane Evans and his work, please visit his website.

Round is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Grace Lin

Chronicle Books, 2000

Fiction (Children's); 40 pgs

From the Publisher:

A little girl's neighborhood becomes a discovery ground of things round, square and rectangular. Many of the objects are Asian in origin, other universal: round rice bowls and a found pebble, square dim sum and pizza boxes, rectangular Chinese lace and very special pencil case. Bright art accompanies this lively introduction to shapes and short glossary explains the cultural significance of the objects featured in the book. Perfect for read-alouds or one-on-one sharing.

My daughter has long known her shapes, at least the basic ones. She has a little trouble with differentiating between squares and rectangles sometimes, although mostly gets them right. I wish the author had gone with the triangle instead of the rectangle, but there are triangles to be found on some of the pages. As a result, I sometimes ask Mouse to identify them as we read through the book.

Her favorite shape to point out is the circle. She loves finding the lanterns and moon. Mouse often asks questions about the objects she finds in the illustrations, and I do my best to explain what they are, including the "chop's inky mark" and the abacus.

I love the illustrations in the book. The colors are bright and big. For me, they make the book more than the actual words on each page. I think this is a book that will grow with Mouse over the next few years as she gets older and begins to notice different things.

To learn more about author Roseanne Thong and her work, please visit the author's website.
To learn more about illustrator Grace Lin and her work, please visit her website.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Where Is Your Bookmark? (08/16/2014)

If only an extra day could be added to each week just for reading (and maybe review writing). If that was possible, I would have had time to join in The Maze Runner Book to Movie Read-Along hosted by Katie of Doing Dewey, which began yesterday, or I could sign up for The Sparrow Read-Along hosted by Trish of Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity next month (second time might be the charm, right?).

There is also A More Diverse Universe Event hosted by Aarti of Booklust, scheduled September 14-27th, in which readers are asked to read and review a book written by a person of color. Just one book. Or more if you want. The hope is to build awareness and encourage readers like you and me to read more diversely--not just in that two week period, but over the course of our lives. If you are anything like me, it isn't something I pay much attention to. I enjoy reading books about other cultures and countries, but I rarely pay attention to the author's background. Reading diversely is important, however. Learning about other cultures and taking in the world from different perspectives is a must in today's diverse society, especially given the hate and intolerance that exists even today.

My only hesitation in signing up for A More Diverse Universe is how soon the event is and how already crammed my reading schedule is right now through the middle of October. My thoughts immediately went to a mystery series Kwei Quartey I enjoy, and want to continue. Julia Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies has been calling my name for some time. In fact, there are a number of books on my TBR shelves that would be perfect fits for this event. A good thing! Time wise though I am thinking my best bet, if I want to participate, will be a children's book, something perhaps from my daughter's shelf. Because I really do want to participate . . . Are you joining in? I hope you will!

As for my current reading, well, I am in pretty much the same place I was last week, in the middle of Michaela Carter's Further Out Than You Thought and Joshilyn Jackson's Someone Else's Love Story. Life has been fairly busy and then this weekend, when I hoped to fit in some good reading time, I was (and still am) sick. I wish I was one of those readers who could read while sick. Instead I tend to sleep.

This coming weekend my mother will be in town for her birthday. My daughter has her birthday all planned out. I just hope no one else catches my cold before then!

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Here is the opening paragraph of one of my current reads, Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson:

I fell in love with William Ashe at gunpoint, in a Circle K. It was on a Friday afternoon at the tail end of a Georgia summer so ungodly hot the air felt like it had all been boiled red. We were both staring down the barrel of an ancient, creaky .32 that could kill us just as dead as a really nice gun could.

Would you continue reading?