MAUS December 29, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Book Reviews, Nonfiction.Tags: Art Spiegelman, MAUS
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—4.5—
I just finished MAUS: A Survivor’s Taleby Art Spiegelman. It was in two parts; the first: My Father Bleeds History, the second: Here My Troubles Began. MAUS is a graphic novel telling the story of the author’s father’s survival of the Holocaust. It is also the tale of Spiegelman’s strained relationship with his father, and his attempt to come to terms with his dad, himself, and the truths of the Holocaust.
In the books mice are Jews, pigs are Poles, and cats (of course) are Nazi’s. It takes the older Spiegelman from rich factory owner, to a Jewish ghetto, to Auschwitz, and home. I found it very different to read a story with pictures, but they are expressive and startling. I loved the dynamics of the two stories intertwining, one from the war and one from the present. MAUS won the 1992 Pulitzer, and it is one of the best books I read this year.
4.5/5
Codex December 28, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Book Reviews, General Fiction.Tags: Codex, Lev Grossman, Mark Mills, Michael Gruber, The Book of Air and Shadows, The Savage Garden
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—4—
I picked Lev Grossman’s Codex up at Borders for $4.99. Boy was it a great deal! Codex follows a 20-something investment banker, Edward, who is asked to catalog a former client’s library. At first Edward finds this position below him, but quickly he becomes obsessed. He acquires the help of a Medieval Literature expert, Margaret, and they become entangled with a race to find a codex.
There is a subplot involving an addicting computer game that begins to reflect Edward’s new world. I wasn’t as interested in that part, but others may be. Of course there’s romance and betrayal. And I always love an exciting story that revolves around books!
4/5
Try Codex if you like books about other books like The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber or the suspense and writing style of Mark Mills’ The Savage Garden.
The Poe Shadow December 28, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Book Reviews, Mystery.Tags: Edgar Allen Poe, Matthew Pearl, The Dante Club, The Poe Shadow
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—3.5—
Matthew Pearl’s The Poe Shadow is a mystery surrounding the death of Edgar Allen Poe. Set in 1849 Baltimore, it follows Quentin Clark, a promising young lawyer about to marry his childhood sweetheart. When he passes a neglected burial and learns it is the funeral of his favorite poet, Poe, he becomes obsessed with finding the truth behind the artist’s death. At this time Poe is not a renowned author, and he is criticized for his intemperance and oddities. Clark searches for the man who inspired Poe’s sleuth, and brings back from France C. Auguste Dupin. A race ensues to find the truth, while Clark’s obsessions quickly cause him to lose everything he had before.
It took me forever to read this book although I enjoyed it, which was slightly maddening. It was smart, well researched, and entertaining. I loved the detective Dupin, he was very Holmesian, using amazing deductive powers to solve the unsolvable. In fact, in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet he compares Holmes to Dupin. However, the novel’s writing was often too wordy, and sometimes I felt Clark was silly to throw so much away to solve this mystery.
3.5/5
Try The Poe Shadow if you liked Matthew Pearl’s other literary-suspense novel The Dante Club.
New York Times Bestsellers 12.13.07 December 13, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Randomness.add a comment
HARDCOVER FICTION
Top 5
1. DOUBLE CROSS, by James Patterson
2. THE DARKEST EVENING OF THE YEAR, by Dean Koontz
3. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini
4. WORLD WITHOUT END, by Ken Follett
5. STONE COLD, by David Baldacci
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Top 5
1. I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU!), by Stephen Colbert, Richard Dahm, Paul Dinello, Allison Silverman et al.
2. AN INCONVENIENT BOOK, by Glenn Beck and Kevin Balfe
3. BOOM!, by Tom Brokaw
4. BORN STANDING UP, by Steve Martin
5. GOOD DOG. STAY., by Anna Quindlen
Meg December 13, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Book Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy.Tags: Meg, Steve Alten, The Loch
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—3.5—
Meg by Steve Alten follows Dr. Jonas Taylor, a paleontologist who believes that Megalodons (giant sharks) from the age of the dinosaurs may still exist in the deep unexplored trenches of present-day oceans. As his marriage falls apart he discovers his theory, and worst fears, are true. Taylor attempts to capture the beast, while the Navy tries to destroy it.
Meg is thrilling all the way through. I mean, its a bad book, but its a really exciting bad book! And Steve Alten’s novels seem to be more fascinating that Dan Brown’s, although similar in design. It is reasonably backed by research, and the idea is pretty original. (And the cover is awesome too)
3.5/5
Try Meg by Steven Alten if you liked his other work The Loch.
A Christmas Carol December 13, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Book Reviews, Classic Literature, Holiday Reviews.Tags: A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
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A Christmas Story…..
—4.5—
Scrooge hates Christmas. But 4 Christmas ghosts visit him one Christmas Eve to help him realize his mistakes.
4.5/5
Intro: A Christmas Carol December 8, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Current Read Comments.Tags: A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
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“Marley was dead to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge’s name was good upon ‘Change, for anything he chose to put his hand on. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Atonement December 8, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Book Reviews, General Fiction.Tags: Atonement, Ian McEwan
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—2.5—
Atonement by Ian McEwan is becoming a movie, and my Aunt Joanne was curious if I’d like it because she wasn’t so sure. So I figured I would read it. It was a bit of a roller-coaster, I have to admit. I really hated, HATED, parts of this book. And just when I was so frustrated I was tempted to quit, there would be a portion I loved.
The premise is semi-complicated. The 13-year old main character Briony wrongly accuses her sister’s love of a crime. By doing so she condemns her life as well as all the lives of those near her to paths they would never have taken otherwise. I suppose the idea is that one decision can impact the entire future of everyone it touches.
Part One of Atonement is building up to this accusation, and the actual crime itself. It is hopelessly dull and long winded. I don’t know what was keeping McEwan from spitting out what he wanted to say, but dear God Part One was awful. Briony is a ridiculous character, who thinks in long, poetic sentences and is subject to whimsical fantasies. I kept screaming ”No One Thinks Like This!” It was like Romantic-period literature with the leaves, and the ponds, and the love, and the blah blah blah. And when Briony wrongly accuses the poor young man, you want to kick her for being so stupid!
Part Two is partially redeeming. It is now several years later and in the midst of World War II. The young man who was accused of the crime, Robbie, is out of prison, and is in France. The war is going poorly, and he is heading for the coast in retreat. All he can think about is getting back to his love, Cecilia, Briony’s older sister. Cecilia believes in his innocence, and has cut ties with her family. The war aspect is interesting, and Robbie is much more realistic and less frustrating that Briony.
Part Three is wonderful! At this point I’m starting to think this may be a good book after all. Briony is now an adult working as a nurse, treating wounded soldiers and realizing the mistakes she made as a child. I found the details about the WWII hospital and the nurses’ duties fascinating. And finally Briony is trying to redeem herself, and asking forgiveness of her family.
And then the conclusion. Big twist, and lets just say I’m pissed. I was so disappointed after the book improved so much! So overall, the book has highlights, but it definitely was not good. A pitiful main character, and long-winded, pointless sentences bring this novel down.
2.5/5
The Chrysalis December 3, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Book Reviews, General Fiction.Tags: Heather Terrell, The Chrysalis
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—3.5—
The Chrysalis by Heather Terrell is just a simple, for-fun novel with little depth. It is an enjoyable book to relax with. And because it’s about art, I don’t feel so guilty reading it. The book consists of three interrelated stories, one from the 17th century, another in the midst of World War II, and the third in present day New York. A 1600’s Dutch painter paints a wondrous picture to honor his lover and the Catholic Church. This same picture is stolen by Nazi’s from the owners during the Second War. And in the present, the true ownership of the painting is disputed in court between the descendant of the former owners and an auction house.
The main character is a present-day attorney representing the auction house, and she is an interesting, although possibly alcoholic, heroine. She of course falls for her client, who has his own secrets. I knew from the first chapters what the twist would be, but who wants a fun read that makes you think too much? Just a nice book.
3.5/5
Intro: The Poe Shadow December 13, 2007
Posted by sadiejean in Current Read Comments.Tags: Matthew Pearl, The Poe Shadow
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“I remember the day it began because I was impatient for an importatnt letter to arrive. Also, because it was meant to be the day of my engagement to Hattie Blum. And, of course, it was the day I saw him dead.”
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl