Books for January
Jan. 31st, 2010 06:09 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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christianreaderCross-posted to my own LJ
The Girl in a Swing - Richard Adams, 4.5/5, 395 pages
I hardly know how to describe this book. It started out very slowly, and I was wondering if I'd have the patience to work my way through it, but suddenly it captured me completely, and I read the last 200 pages in one sitting.
It is so very, very different from Watership Down that it's almost hard to believe it was written by the same author. Instead of being a social commentary, The Girl in a Swing touches upon the supernatural while tying it up to Christian theology.
I'd been warned that the book was depressing, but I actually didn't find it so. It was sad to be sure, and both troubling and disturbing, but I'm obviously no good at figuring out clues, so it took me almost to the very end, to figure out what the secret was - and suddenly, a lot of the earlier theological debates made sense.
A lot of the book takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark, and I have to admit to being tickled pink by all the references to places I know, and even all the Danish words being thrown in there - that's very rare to see.
The Book With No Name - Anonymous, 5/5, 380 pages
I saw this book on Amazon during a random browsing, and was so completely intrigued by the premise that I just had to read it. Thankfully the library had it, so I didn't have to wait too long :)
I've heard it described as a Quentin Tarantino style book, and I would have to agree. There are a lot of similarities to "From Dusk Till Dawn", both in plot and in style which makes for a very fascinating page-turner. And don't be mislead - it's just as bloody (in less graphic detail, thankfully), so don't assume anybody is safe, just because they seem a major character.
The story is told from several different POV, which works quite well in providing the reader with the full pictures... well, as full as we're allowed to get anyway. There are some questions left unanswered, that I assume will be picked up in the sequel.
Kvinden i buret - Jussi Adler-Olsen, 4.5/5, 379 pages
(The Woman in the Cage)
I've found a new author to look out for. Jussi Adler-Olsen writes excellent page-turners, and so far I've been very impressed by his books.
Jussi Adler-Olsen writes from several different POVs which makes for a more interesting read, than if we had just gotten one of the stories. It starts a bit slowly, as he sets up his characters and the universe, but quickly picks up pace and keeps it high for the rest of the book.
It's not really meant to be a 'whodunnit' (I'd guessed the identity of the criminal before it was revealed), but more a psychological thriller. I was shocked by the thought of being kept captive for 5 years with nothing for company but your own thoughts. I think I'd go mad!
Excellent book. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
Wishful Drinking - Carrie Fisher, 4/5, Audiobook ~3hrs
Very amusing memoir. As more or less a transcript of her stand-up show it was quickly read and very easily accessible. I enjoyed learning more about Carrie Fisher. I've heard so many rumours about her, that it's nice to be able to separate at least some of the facts from the fiction.
The version I found was read by Carrie Fisher herself, with lent a nice touch to it.
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, 251 pages
It'd been insanely cold for an insanely long period of time (after Danish standards anyway), so I figured it was quite appropriate to reread this now. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it as much as always. Definitely made me realize how lucky I am to live in a day and age where electricity, heat and transportation are things we can take for granted.
The Eye of the Moon - Anonymous, 4/5, 380 pages
Seems like the body count was even higher here than in The Book With No Name. It was still a fascinating story, but didn't seem quite as well thought out. The author tried to give Bourbon Kid a motivation here, whereas in the first book, it was just the way he was - which actually was more in the spirit of the book.
I still really enjoyed it though, and had a very difficult time putting it down. It's wacky enough to appeal to my sense of the absurd, and only occasionally had me wincing from the graphic decapitations.
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 236 pages
It took me quite awhile to read this one the first time around, because I didn't originally think that a book not about Laura could possibly be as good. I don't know why I thought that, seeing as it was the same person writing them, and fortunately my mum talked me into reading it. Now, it's one of my favourite of the series. It has a lot more explaining how they do this or that, but that doesn't bother me at all, since lots of this is completely new to me. I also like the fact that this book spans over almost exactly one year, so you get to see how life on a farm was back in those days.
Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger, 2.5/5, 400 pages
I absolutely adored The Time Traveler's Wife and consider it one of my favourite books, so when I heard Audrey Niffenegger had written a new book, I was thrilled, and knew I had to read it.
Unfortunately I ended up terribly disappointed by it. I found myself completely unable to care for any of the characters (which the possible exception of Martin, who unfortunately got far too little page-time) as they all seemed incredibly selfish and unsympathetic. The climax disturbed me greatly and I felt absolutely disgusted by the people who brought it into fruition.
For plot alone I would give Her Fearful Symmetry only 2 stars, but Niffenegger's captive writing is still in action, so she gets another half star for making me unable to put down the book despite my misgivings.
Harry Bentley's Second Chance - Dave Jackson, 3.5/5, 336 pages
An enjoyable book that unfortunately suffered from being compared to its compagnion novel.
Harry Bentley's Second Chance is a well-written Christian novel. If I'd read it as a stand-alone, I'd have enjoyed it greatly. It's an interesting story with believable characters and a sweet love story.
Unfortunately it just doesn't measure up to its companion novel ("Where Do I Go?" by Neta Jackson) in poignancy, and therefore unfairly falls flat, where it'd have been enjoyed more in its own right. If you haven't read either, I recommend reading this one first in order to do it justice.
Fasandræberne - Jussi Adler-Olsen, 3.5/5, 399 pages
(Pheasant killers)
Still a page-turner, but unfortunately the weakest of Jussi Adler-Olsen's books. Or perhaps I just didn't find the plot as interesting. Also, I discovered that Jussi Adler-Olsen suffers from the same issue as many other genre-writers - their books end up being very similar, which isn't a problem as long as you don't read them too closely together.
That said, I'm still excited to have found a new and talented Danish author, and will definitely be following his career with interest.
My Life In France - Julia Child, 4/5, 333 pages
My Life in France is one of those delightful non-fiction books that reads like fiction, and is therefore easily accessible and enjoyable.
Reading about the making of a cookbook (or cookery-bookery as Julia Child called it) was fascinating, and made me realise how much work went into putting together Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It wasn't just a matter of choosing some favourite recipes - they had to be tried and tested numerous times, using both French and American ingredients.
My Life in France wasn't quite as bad at making me hungry as Julie&Julia because while as stock-full of mentions of good food, Julia Child didn't go into as much detail as Julie Powell did.
I do want to get my hands on MtAoFC now though, and try out some of the most delicious-sounding recipes.
Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 223 pages
This is one of my favourite LIW books. I'm fascinated by the descriptions of life in town. Two things that struck me in particular were a) how modestly they lived and b) how quickly they had to grow up. Just think of Laura, going off to teach at age 15. I was no where near mature enough for that at that age. And they all seemed so selfless too - always passing on things to each other, because they didn't need them themselves, and thought the other person would like them more.
These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 5/5, 237 pages
I love all of Laura's books, but if I had to choose a favourite, it would probably be this one. It takes up exactly where "Little Town..." leaves off and describes Laura's life now that she's suddenly a grown-up school teacher. I couldn't imagine teaching school at an age where I still ought to GO to school! It's fascinating. And the courtship between her and Almonzo is just adorable. I always finish this book with a content sigh :)
The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear - Walter Moers, 5+/5, 681 pages
Now this is just brilliant! The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear is one of the most fascinating books I've read. Walter Moers creates a vivid and imaginative universe and stays absolutely true to it to the very end. I think it might even be a bit better than The City of Dreaming Books although I don't like to admit it.
I love his way of using the book media to tell his story, and though I generally don't care much for illustrations one way or another, here they definitely enhance the story. The characters are original and well described, and the 13.5 lives different enough to make for a very interesting story. I simply couldn't put the book down but devoured it in 2 days.
Book of the Month: The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear. It's seldom I give books a rating of 5+, but this one deserved it.
Biggest disappointment: Her Fearful Symmetry. I'd expected so much more.
The Girl in a Swing - Richard Adams, 4.5/5, 395 pages
I hardly know how to describe this book. It started out very slowly, and I was wondering if I'd have the patience to work my way through it, but suddenly it captured me completely, and I read the last 200 pages in one sitting.
It is so very, very different from Watership Down that it's almost hard to believe it was written by the same author. Instead of being a social commentary, The Girl in a Swing touches upon the supernatural while tying it up to Christian theology.
I'd been warned that the book was depressing, but I actually didn't find it so. It was sad to be sure, and both troubling and disturbing, but I'm obviously no good at figuring out clues, so it took me almost to the very end, to figure out what the secret was - and suddenly, a lot of the earlier theological debates made sense.
A lot of the book takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark, and I have to admit to being tickled pink by all the references to places I know, and even all the Danish words being thrown in there - that's very rare to see.
The Book With No Name - Anonymous, 5/5, 380 pages
I saw this book on Amazon during a random browsing, and was so completely intrigued by the premise that I just had to read it. Thankfully the library had it, so I didn't have to wait too long :)
I've heard it described as a Quentin Tarantino style book, and I would have to agree. There are a lot of similarities to "From Dusk Till Dawn", both in plot and in style which makes for a very fascinating page-turner. And don't be mislead - it's just as bloody (in less graphic detail, thankfully), so don't assume anybody is safe, just because they seem a major character.
The story is told from several different POV, which works quite well in providing the reader with the full pictures... well, as full as we're allowed to get anyway. There are some questions left unanswered, that I assume will be picked up in the sequel.
Kvinden i buret - Jussi Adler-Olsen, 4.5/5, 379 pages
(The Woman in the Cage)
I've found a new author to look out for. Jussi Adler-Olsen writes excellent page-turners, and so far I've been very impressed by his books.
Jussi Adler-Olsen writes from several different POVs which makes for a more interesting read, than if we had just gotten one of the stories. It starts a bit slowly, as he sets up his characters and the universe, but quickly picks up pace and keeps it high for the rest of the book.
It's not really meant to be a 'whodunnit' (I'd guessed the identity of the criminal before it was revealed), but more a psychological thriller. I was shocked by the thought of being kept captive for 5 years with nothing for company but your own thoughts. I think I'd go mad!
Excellent book. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
Wishful Drinking - Carrie Fisher, 4/5, Audiobook ~3hrs
Very amusing memoir. As more or less a transcript of her stand-up show it was quickly read and very easily accessible. I enjoyed learning more about Carrie Fisher. I've heard so many rumours about her, that it's nice to be able to separate at least some of the facts from the fiction.
The version I found was read by Carrie Fisher herself, with lent a nice touch to it.
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, 251 pages
It'd been insanely cold for an insanely long period of time (after Danish standards anyway), so I figured it was quite appropriate to reread this now. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it as much as always. Definitely made me realize how lucky I am to live in a day and age where electricity, heat and transportation are things we can take for granted.
The Eye of the Moon - Anonymous, 4/5, 380 pages
Seems like the body count was even higher here than in The Book With No Name. It was still a fascinating story, but didn't seem quite as well thought out. The author tried to give Bourbon Kid a motivation here, whereas in the first book, it was just the way he was - which actually was more in the spirit of the book.
I still really enjoyed it though, and had a very difficult time putting it down. It's wacky enough to appeal to my sense of the absurd, and only occasionally had me wincing from the graphic decapitations.
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 236 pages
It took me quite awhile to read this one the first time around, because I didn't originally think that a book not about Laura could possibly be as good. I don't know why I thought that, seeing as it was the same person writing them, and fortunately my mum talked me into reading it. Now, it's one of my favourite of the series. It has a lot more explaining how they do this or that, but that doesn't bother me at all, since lots of this is completely new to me. I also like the fact that this book spans over almost exactly one year, so you get to see how life on a farm was back in those days.
Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger, 2.5/5, 400 pages
I absolutely adored The Time Traveler's Wife and consider it one of my favourite books, so when I heard Audrey Niffenegger had written a new book, I was thrilled, and knew I had to read it.
Unfortunately I ended up terribly disappointed by it. I found myself completely unable to care for any of the characters (which the possible exception of Martin, who unfortunately got far too little page-time) as they all seemed incredibly selfish and unsympathetic. The climax disturbed me greatly and I felt absolutely disgusted by the people who brought it into fruition.
For plot alone I would give Her Fearful Symmetry only 2 stars, but Niffenegger's captive writing is still in action, so she gets another half star for making me unable to put down the book despite my misgivings.
Harry Bentley's Second Chance - Dave Jackson, 3.5/5, 336 pages
An enjoyable book that unfortunately suffered from being compared to its compagnion novel.
Harry Bentley's Second Chance is a well-written Christian novel. If I'd read it as a stand-alone, I'd have enjoyed it greatly. It's an interesting story with believable characters and a sweet love story.
Unfortunately it just doesn't measure up to its companion novel ("Where Do I Go?" by Neta Jackson) in poignancy, and therefore unfairly falls flat, where it'd have been enjoyed more in its own right. If you haven't read either, I recommend reading this one first in order to do it justice.
Fasandræberne - Jussi Adler-Olsen, 3.5/5, 399 pages
(Pheasant killers)
Still a page-turner, but unfortunately the weakest of Jussi Adler-Olsen's books. Or perhaps I just didn't find the plot as interesting. Also, I discovered that Jussi Adler-Olsen suffers from the same issue as many other genre-writers - their books end up being very similar, which isn't a problem as long as you don't read them too closely together.
That said, I'm still excited to have found a new and talented Danish author, and will definitely be following his career with interest.
My Life In France - Julia Child, 4/5, 333 pages
My Life in France is one of those delightful non-fiction books that reads like fiction, and is therefore easily accessible and enjoyable.
Reading about the making of a cookbook (or cookery-bookery as Julia Child called it) was fascinating, and made me realise how much work went into putting together Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It wasn't just a matter of choosing some favourite recipes - they had to be tried and tested numerous times, using both French and American ingredients.
My Life in France wasn't quite as bad at making me hungry as Julie&Julia because while as stock-full of mentions of good food, Julia Child didn't go into as much detail as Julie Powell did.
I do want to get my hands on MtAoFC now though, and try out some of the most delicious-sounding recipes.
Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 223 pages
This is one of my favourite LIW books. I'm fascinated by the descriptions of life in town. Two things that struck me in particular were a) how modestly they lived and b) how quickly they had to grow up. Just think of Laura, going off to teach at age 15. I was no where near mature enough for that at that age. And they all seemed so selfless too - always passing on things to each other, because they didn't need them themselves, and thought the other person would like them more.
These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 5/5, 237 pages
I love all of Laura's books, but if I had to choose a favourite, it would probably be this one. It takes up exactly where "Little Town..." leaves off and describes Laura's life now that she's suddenly a grown-up school teacher. I couldn't imagine teaching school at an age where I still ought to GO to school! It's fascinating. And the courtship between her and Almonzo is just adorable. I always finish this book with a content sigh :)
The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear - Walter Moers, 5+/5, 681 pages
Now this is just brilliant! The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear is one of the most fascinating books I've read. Walter Moers creates a vivid and imaginative universe and stays absolutely true to it to the very end. I think it might even be a bit better than The City of Dreaming Books although I don't like to admit it.
I love his way of using the book media to tell his story, and though I generally don't care much for illustrations one way or another, here they definitely enhance the story. The characters are original and well described, and the 13.5 lives different enough to make for a very interesting story. I simply couldn't put the book down but devoured it in 2 days.
Book of the Month: The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear. It's seldom I give books a rating of 5+, but this one deserved it.
Biggest disappointment: Her Fearful Symmetry. I'd expected so much more.
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