Read: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimon
Stars: Five
Drinking: Green Tea, Bigelow
Neil Gaimon is a master at all he puts his pen to, and The Graveyard Book is no exception. Technicaly, it is a children's book, but I try not to let labels like that get in the way of good literature. This book has become a Halloween staple, to the point where Gaimon himself does a yearly All-Hallow's Read event initiated by it.
The Graveyard Book is the story of Bod, a mysterious child living in a graveyard, and his ghostly guardians. Bod has many adventures as a resident of the graveyard, and it this way the book has an unusual structure - each chapter is a stand-alone chapter recounting an adventurous episode. For example, Bod's friendship with a little girl who lives near the graveyard and their spooky exploration adventure is an early chapter.
Underlying the fun of living in a graveyard is the mystery of what happened to Bod's family that resulted in his residence at the graveyard. When all is revealed, Bod uses his wits to defeat the villain. Sadly, like all defeats of evil villains, there was great cost.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, but particularly those with children. It is a great read-aloud book with just enough spookiness for Halloween. If you don't have children, just read it aloud to yourself or your pet. It is a book that is intended to be shared.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Reveiw: The Help
Read: The Help, Katheryn Stockett
Stars: Five
Drinking: India Spice Chai, Celestial Seasons
I was ambivalent about starting The Help precisely because it was so hyped. I assumed that since it was a national bestseller, it was probably poorly written (an illogical assumption, I know). I decided to give it a try after my roommate gave it rave reviews, and I'm glad I did.
From the first page, Stockett draws her reader into the world of Abilene, Minny and the rest of the maids in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. Even Skeeter, the white main character, is secondary to their stories of love, abuse, and eventually triumph. Using slang and writing that imitated each character's education level allows for the reader's strong entry into the story, although adjusting for it can be slightly jarring as the chapters change.
The biggest point-of-view problem I had with the book was the chapter on the benefit, which moves from first-person to third-person omniscient. I was completely pulled out of the book for the entire chapter. It really did not fit the style of the rest of the novel, although I can see how having that particular chapter from a limited point of view would have weakened that particular episode.
Overall, The Help is a solid, heartbreaking, and inspiring read. Prepare a weekend to read it - you won't be able to put it down.
Stars: Five
Drinking: India Spice Chai, Celestial Seasons
I was ambivalent about starting The Help precisely because it was so hyped. I assumed that since it was a national bestseller, it was probably poorly written (an illogical assumption, I know). I decided to give it a try after my roommate gave it rave reviews, and I'm glad I did.
From the first page, Stockett draws her reader into the world of Abilene, Minny and the rest of the maids in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. Even Skeeter, the white main character, is secondary to their stories of love, abuse, and eventually triumph. Using slang and writing that imitated each character's education level allows for the reader's strong entry into the story, although adjusting for it can be slightly jarring as the chapters change.
The biggest point-of-view problem I had with the book was the chapter on the benefit, which moves from first-person to third-person omniscient. I was completely pulled out of the book for the entire chapter. It really did not fit the style of the rest of the novel, although I can see how having that particular chapter from a limited point of view would have weakened that particular episode.
Overall, The Help is a solid, heartbreaking, and inspiring read. Prepare a weekend to read it - you won't be able to put it down.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Review: Kindred
Read: Kindred by Octavia Butler
Drinking: Lemon Lift, Bigelow
Stars: Five
Butler's first novel, Kindred, explores many of the themes that her later works tackle: slavery, free choice and the roles of women as lovers, mothers and caretakers throughout time. Protagonist Dana is mysteriously drawn repeatedly to a plantation in the South of the mid-1800s. The problem: Dana is a thoroughly modern African-American woman and her connection is with the son of the plantation owner. Further tension results from Dana's inability to control her travels. At one point, Dana's (White) husband, Kevin, is taken with her into the past and then stuck when she returns to the present.
Using the framework of time travel to the slavery period is a way for Butler to analyze the roles of women and slaves from a modern perspective. Dana, as the modern reader's avatar, is appalled not only by the treatment she receives as a black woman but also at how easily she assimilates to the slavery thinking despite her best efforts. It's part Stockholm syndrome, part survival. The treatment is brutal:she is repeatedly beaten, experiences rape attempts by both men she knows and men she does not, and at one point is forced to work in the field picking cotton.
Although ultimately Dana is able to escape the past, she retains physical and emotional scars of her experience. Butler leaves the reader wondering what marks were left on her relationship with Kevin and how she will recover and live out her life.
I highly recommend this book - not necessarily for it's vague science fiction undertones, but for its detailed insight into slavery and feminism.
Drinking: Lemon Lift, Bigelow
Stars: Five
Butler's first novel, Kindred, explores many of the themes that her later works tackle: slavery, free choice and the roles of women as lovers, mothers and caretakers throughout time. Protagonist Dana is mysteriously drawn repeatedly to a plantation in the South of the mid-1800s. The problem: Dana is a thoroughly modern African-American woman and her connection is with the son of the plantation owner. Further tension results from Dana's inability to control her travels. At one point, Dana's (White) husband, Kevin, is taken with her into the past and then stuck when she returns to the present.
Using the framework of time travel to the slavery period is a way for Butler to analyze the roles of women and slaves from a modern perspective. Dana, as the modern reader's avatar, is appalled not only by the treatment she receives as a black woman but also at how easily she assimilates to the slavery thinking despite her best efforts. It's part Stockholm syndrome, part survival. The treatment is brutal:she is repeatedly beaten, experiences rape attempts by both men she knows and men she does not, and at one point is forced to work in the field picking cotton.
Although ultimately Dana is able to escape the past, she retains physical and emotional scars of her experience. Butler leaves the reader wondering what marks were left on her relationship with Kevin and how she will recover and live out her life.
I highly recommend this book - not necessarily for it's vague science fiction undertones, but for its detailed insight into slavery and feminism.
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