Saturday, Apr. 27, 2019--Copenhagen to San Antonio
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is a science fiction novel set in the future after an pandemic has wiped out 99% of the population of the world within a matter of weeks (killing people within hours of infection and spreading rapidly because of international flights). It's not a book I would normally choose to read, but I really liked it. It seemed plausible and also realistic in how people reacted and survived. There are a few too many coincidences relating survivors together who come in contact with each other. Otherwise, it was well written, interesting, and a read worthy of a 4 out of 5 rating.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2019--Ben Gurion Airport, Israel
I finished reading Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout. It is a series of short stories that tie characters together from story to story. I have previously read her book Olive Kitteridge, and it had a similar format--short stories that are all tied together by having characters that have been referenced in previously read stories. Her writing makes me really like learning about all these people. And because you hear one reference from someone and then read another story from a different point of view, she does a good job of showing how complex life really is for everyone. I had trouble deciding whether to give the book a 4 or a 4 ½, but I decided on a 4 out of 5--a book well worth reading.
I finished reading Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout. It is a series of short stories that tie characters together from story to story. I have previously read her book Olive Kitteridge, and it had a similar format--short stories that are all tied together by having characters that have been referenced in previously read stories. Her writing makes me really like learning about all these people. And because you hear one reference from someone and then read another story from a different point of view, she does a good job of showing how complex life really is for everyone. I had trouble deciding whether to give the book a 4 or a 4 ½, but I decided on a 4 out of 5--a book well worth reading.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
Friday, Apr. 19, 2019--Jenin, Palastinian West Bank
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler is the replacement book I started reading after deciding to quit my previous book. It was such a relief to pick up this new book. Immediately, it felt more interesting. And it kept that interest level up throughout. It is the story of mostly two generations of a family (but also includes the children of the third generation as minor characters). It is also a story of a home--a physical house AND those who inhabit it. It backtracks in time and provides some unexpected surprises. It was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize in 2015. I gave the book 4 stars out of 5.
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler is the replacement book I started reading after deciding to quit my previous book. It was such a relief to pick up this new book. Immediately, it felt more interesting. And it kept that interest level up throughout. It is the story of mostly two generations of a family (but also includes the children of the third generation as minor characters). It is also a story of a home--a physical house AND those who inhabit it. It backtracks in time and provides some unexpected surprises. It was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize in 2015. I gave the book 4 stars out of 5.
Monday, April 15, 2019
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Apr. 15, 2019--Tel Aviv
Last night I did something that I very seldom do. I decided to quit reading a book that I just wasn’t enjoying. One irritant was that the style of the writing was too much like another historical murder series story that I read which I found to be okay but not terribly exciting several years ago: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen. The book I quit last night is Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Even though it was a finalist for the National Book Award, I just found reading it to be tedious with its frequent quotes from newspapers and other writings, its repetitive information, its pleasure in showing how racist everyone was back then, the choppy pace of the writing, etc. By 25% of the way in, I decided not to waste any more time on it and to give it a rating of 2 out of 5.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Elmet by Fiona Mozley
Friday, Apr. 12, 2019--Tel Aviv
Elmet by Fiona Mozley was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize in 2017. It is beautifully written and a fascinating story of a family trying to live off the grid in a world where it is hard to escape authority, whether legitimate or self-declared. It takes place in modern Yorkshire in England, but it “feels” as if it is taking place in the 1800s. The author seems to be trying to show that even though the days of the manor houses and the lords' control over their tenants has officially passed, a similar situation still exists with the rich still “lording” it over the poor by charging high rents, paying less than required by the law for labor, taking authority on their own while ignoring proper channels, etc. I gave the book 4 ½ stars out of 5
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
History of Wolves by Emily Fridland
Apr. 8, 2019--Jerasulum
History of Wolves by Emily Fridland. It is built around the life of an awkward 14-year-old girl who was originally raise in a commune and is mostly ostracized by others her age. But it also touches on religious beliefs and practices of members of the Church of Christ Scientist and child molestation. It is a truly different coming-of-age novel that is well written. I gave it 4 stars out of 5.
History of Wolves by Emily Fridland. It is built around the life of an awkward 14-year-old girl who was originally raise in a commune and is mostly ostracized by others her age. But it also touches on religious beliefs and practices of members of the Church of Christ Scientist and child molestation. It is a truly different coming-of-age novel that is well written. I gave it 4 stars out of 5.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
A Horse Walks Into a Bar by David Grossman
Monday, Apr. 1, 2019--Amman, Jordan
I read the entire book A Horse Walks Into a Bar by David Grossman which won the Man Booker International Prize in 2017 today since the weather was cold and bad and since I had seen everything I had planned to see in Amman in the previous few days. It’s a wonderful book, but it is one that is difficult to keep reading. As you follow the act of a stand-up comedian who is dwelling on the miseries of his life and the story you learn of it not only through the act but through the memories of one of the only friends he has ever had--a boy he went to math tutoring with for just a few months and spent time visiting with afterward before they had to head to their homes. The link to the NPR review is more detailed. I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars because it’s a good story, but it just goes on so long that I almost decided to walk out on it like the members of his audience were walking out on his act.
I read the entire book A Horse Walks Into a Bar by David Grossman which won the Man Booker International Prize in 2017 today since the weather was cold and bad and since I had seen everything I had planned to see in Amman in the previous few days. It’s a wonderful book, but it is one that is difficult to keep reading. As you follow the act of a stand-up comedian who is dwelling on the miseries of his life and the story you learn of it not only through the act but through the memories of one of the only friends he has ever had--a boy he went to math tutoring with for just a few months and spent time visiting with afterward before they had to head to their homes. The link to the NPR review is more detailed. I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars because it’s a good story, but it just goes on so long that I almost decided to walk out on it like the members of his audience were walking out on his act.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
Sunday, Mar. 31, 2019--Amman, Jordan
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson won the Man Booker Prize in 2010. I found the novel interesting, but there were times when I questioned whether to continue. It is full of angst, guild, fear, betrayal, etc., and is about friends whom it is easy to question why they remain friends after their school days. I enjoyed the book enough to finally finish it, but my rating is only 3 stars out of 5.
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson won the Man Booker Prize in 2010. I found the novel interesting, but there were times when I questioned whether to continue. It is full of angst, guild, fear, betrayal, etc., and is about friends whom it is easy to question why they remain friends after their school days. I enjoyed the book enough to finally finish it, but my rating is only 3 stars out of 5.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
Tuesday, Mar. 26, 2019--Bidiyah, Oman
I finished reading Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh this evening. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2016. It is an unusual book in that it is the story of a depressed young woman (24 years old) who has never had sex, lives at home taking care of her alcoholic father, wears only clothes that belonged to her deceased mother, and takes pleasure in doing bad things (especially since everyone either just ignores her or sees her as being a quiet mousy figure). Enough happens in her life to keep the reader involved even though I wondered at times why I didn't just quit reading. The last few pages are a real surprise (but please don't jump to the end first if you plan to read the whole book). I gave it 3 1/2 stars out of 5.
I finished reading Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh this evening. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2016. It is an unusual book in that it is the story of a depressed young woman (24 years old) who has never had sex, lives at home taking care of her alcoholic father, wears only clothes that belonged to her deceased mother, and takes pleasure in doing bad things (especially since everyone either just ignores her or sees her as being a quiet mousy figure). Enough happens in her life to keep the reader involved even though I wondered at times why I didn't just quit reading. The last few pages are a real surprise (but please don't jump to the end first if you plan to read the whole book). I gave it 3 1/2 stars out of 5.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019--On Flights from Cairo to Bahrain to Muscat
Last night as I waited for my flight from Bahrain to Muscat, I finished reading Exit West by Mohsin Hamid--a science fiction story built around a couple of young people from an Islamic area where extremists in a future maybe 30 to 50 years from now are battling the government and slowly taking over the city grid-by-grid. Although concentrating on this one couple, it becomes clear that the whole world is in chaos with refugees fleeing the danger zones with hopes of a better life. The book was named one of the ten best books of 2017 by the New York Times Book Review. I gave it 4 stars out of 5.
Last night as I waited for my flight from Bahrain to Muscat, I finished reading Exit West by Mohsin Hamid--a science fiction story built around a couple of young people from an Islamic area where extremists in a future maybe 30 to 50 years from now are battling the government and slowly taking over the city grid-by-grid. Although concentrating on this one couple, it becomes clear that the whole world is in chaos with refugees fleeing the danger zones with hopes of a better life. The book was named one of the ten best books of 2017 by the New York Times Book Review. I gave it 4 stars out of 5.
Fortune Smiles:Stories by Adam Johnson
Sunday, Mar. 17, 2019--On the Train from Luxor to Cairo
On the train from Luxor to Cairo I finished reading Fortune Smiles: Stories by Adam Johnson. It is such a good book. Unfortunately for me, even though I still enjoyed it, this was the SECOND time for me to read this book. I didn’t recall having read it when I downloaded it to my Kindle just before heading to Luxor from Beirut. Then, when I started realizing that the stories were familiar to me, I was stuck in the hotel there that had horrible WiFi. I went slowly in rereading it realizing I would not be able to download another book until I got to Cairo. The review I’ve linked above will confirm how good the book is. I gave it 5 stars out of 5.
On the train from Luxor to Cairo I finished reading Fortune Smiles: Stories by Adam Johnson. It is such a good book. Unfortunately for me, even though I still enjoyed it, this was the SECOND time for me to read this book. I didn’t recall having read it when I downloaded it to my Kindle just before heading to Luxor from Beirut. Then, when I started realizing that the stories were familiar to me, I was stuck in the hotel there that had horrible WiFi. I went slowly in rereading it realizing I would not be able to download another book until I got to Cairo. The review I’ve linked above will confirm how good the book is. I gave it 5 stars out of 5.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2019--Beirut, Lebanon
The Round House by Louise Erdrich is a winner of The National Book Award. It is a rare novel set on a Native American Reservation in modern times with the main character being an adolescent boy. But there are many major characters--the boy's parents, his grandfather, his aunts and uncles, his 3 best friends, a priest, etc. A tragic story that is well written, it also has humor that made me laugh aloud. Besides telling the story of these people, the novel emphasizes the injustices that Native Americans face due to various laws and court rulings from the American government. There is never a dull moment in the book. I gave it 4 3/4 stars out of 5--almost perfect!!
The Round House by Louise Erdrich is a winner of The National Book Award. It is a rare novel set on a Native American Reservation in modern times with the main character being an adolescent boy. But there are many major characters--the boy's parents, his grandfather, his aunts and uncles, his 3 best friends, a priest, etc. A tragic story that is well written, it also has humor that made me laugh aloud. Besides telling the story of these people, the novel emphasizes the injustices that Native Americans face due to various laws and court rulings from the American government. There is never a dull moment in the book. I gave it 4 3/4 stars out of 5--almost perfect!!
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
I finished reading More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera about 5 days ago. It is a coming-of-age story combined with science fiction. The main character is a teenager who is disturbed about a tragedy that has occurred. The book tells the story of his life by jumping back and forth with some surprises in store along the way. At first, I was put off by the sci-fi aspects of the story, but in time I was able to see that they were part of the purpose rather than just something thrown in for amusement. During the first 50 pages or so, I was disappointed in the quality of the writing as well as the story. But the further I went, the better the writing seemed to become and the more I was involved and enjoying it. My eventual rating was 4 stars out of 5 (an increase of 1 to 1 1/2 stars from what I was thinking at the beginning).
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