Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Written and Bound
So I've spent a long time re-reading and following that up with the new parts of series that have recently come out. None of which appear on my master list but that renew my faith in the imagination.
The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde (no idea how to say that)
Thursday Next is everything that is right about books. She is an action star of her (weird but awesome) world as well as the BookWorld. She also beautifully breaks gender stereotypes because even when she gets the guy, is pregnant, or raises her kids she never really stops her job just adjusts. Also the fact that problems carry over between books and that half to most of the jokes are only explainable through text is just lovely. Starts with The Eyre Affair and I am now reading The Woman Who Died A Lot.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone & Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
I was excited about the new book because I thought the first was vividly painted and relate-ably fantastic. I wasn't disappointed in the plot but had a hard time resonating with the dark nature of this second book. I know sometimes in a series there are books that need to move the plot through the tunnel before the reader is allowed to see the light, so to speak. Not sure what else to say about it. I'm looking forward to the next book but not necessarily with bated breath.
I have had a sudden desire for fancy hardback copies of books. I am dreaming of a library of my own at some point in my vast future. I suppose it is never to early to start collecting nice editions. In fact it may be the only way to ensure that the library will exist, by investing in it now. I am really interested in cloth bound or leather editions of the classics, especially ones I might not have read yet. I guess I should put those on my wish list or tell people about them.
My sister has decided to make a book of her old livejournal posts through Blurb. Which I find pretty inspired. It gives me hope that if I never write a novel or anthropological piece that I can at least pull something together and put my name on it for my own personal happiness.
Anyway guess I've decide to continue this every once in a while even though no one reads it. As long as it makes me happy, right?
The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde (no idea how to say that)
Thursday Next is everything that is right about books. She is an action star of her (weird but awesome) world as well as the BookWorld. She also beautifully breaks gender stereotypes because even when she gets the guy, is pregnant, or raises her kids she never really stops her job just adjusts. Also the fact that problems carry over between books and that half to most of the jokes are only explainable through text is just lovely. Starts with The Eyre Affair and I am now reading The Woman Who Died A Lot.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone & Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
I was excited about the new book because I thought the first was vividly painted and relate-ably fantastic. I wasn't disappointed in the plot but had a hard time resonating with the dark nature of this second book. I know sometimes in a series there are books that need to move the plot through the tunnel before the reader is allowed to see the light, so to speak. Not sure what else to say about it. I'm looking forward to the next book but not necessarily with bated breath.
I have had a sudden desire for fancy hardback copies of books. I am dreaming of a library of my own at some point in my vast future. I suppose it is never to early to start collecting nice editions. In fact it may be the only way to ensure that the library will exist, by investing in it now. I am really interested in cloth bound or leather editions of the classics, especially ones I might not have read yet. I guess I should put those on my wish list or tell people about them.
My sister has decided to make a book of her old livejournal posts through Blurb. Which I find pretty inspired. It gives me hope that if I never write a novel or anthropological piece that I can at least pull something together and put my name on it for my own personal happiness.
Anyway guess I've decide to continue this every once in a while even though no one reads it. As long as it makes me happy, right?
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Madame in the Woods with some Stars
I have just finished Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. I had set it aside for several months and finally got back to it today. I admit that I had only a vague interest in the novel until I read Gemma Bovary by Posy Simmonds which is a graphic novel. It was actually just over a year ago I started reading it because I remember listening to it while stuck in traffic coming back from the thanksgiving holidays. Oh how life changes in a year.
Anyway I suppose I should actually discuss the book itself as I haven't gone into many specifics in my last few posts. The reason I put it down in the first place was that the heavy style was getting to me when I had too many other things on my mind. The tragic plot of course is very relate-able as so many reach for things beyond their means. I can only be reminded of my own credit card use two years ago as if happiness could be bought when in reality one just causes more suffering later. Maybe that is another reason why I needed to put it down, the fatalistic tendencies. Being so unhappy with my life last year I could not watch the downfall of another without seeing myself condemned. But this is about books...
I have started reading Walden again but am beginning to think his perspective a bit arrogant. He talks down about the villagers, the commercial nature of the farmers, and refuses to pay taxes. Thoreau is really starting to sound like a hipster, taking up the lifestyle of the simple woodsman and then pretending his venture is better than his neighbors'. Oh Hipster Thoreau I do wish you would just talk about the seasons or something. Well, I guess I'm past that part anyway but it leaves a bad taste in the brain at least. I thought I would really like Walden as I have been in a nature mood lately but I am growing increasingly disconnected to it. At first the imagery was beautiful and all but now it just goes on and on. I may change my mind by the time I finish but right now I think it only kind of good. It does disappoint when classics are only the best of that time period and only reverence for the old days holds them up. But then one must, I suppose, read those things that modernity is built upon. Maybe it will be like those Russian novels where in the whole is greater than the encumbrance of its many elaborate pieces. It is at least a good concept even if it does not hold to my own misguided preconceptions.
Is anyone else let down by the classics they have heard so much about?
I need to take another look at The List (1001 books to read before you die) and decide what direction to head in next. I have continued to enjoy Origins of the Modern World by Robert Marks since getting back to it after spending so much time rereading old favorites. I also would like to continue with 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami but I am hesitant because like his other book this one has such a dark underpinning of a narrative. His books must be a statement of the darkness running under the controlled and complacent Japanese society. The characters are well written but I think I connected more to the main character in The Wind-up Bird Chronicles.
Recently I have become interested in more science and astrology/astrophysics. Which is ironic because I skipped physics in high school and have never had the math skills for high level science. It fascinates me so much though. I am thinking of reading one of the books by
Anyway I suppose I should actually discuss the book itself as I haven't gone into many specifics in my last few posts. The reason I put it down in the first place was that the heavy style was getting to me when I had too many other things on my mind. The tragic plot of course is very relate-able as so many reach for things beyond their means. I can only be reminded of my own credit card use two years ago as if happiness could be bought when in reality one just causes more suffering later. Maybe that is another reason why I needed to put it down, the fatalistic tendencies. Being so unhappy with my life last year I could not watch the downfall of another without seeing myself condemned. But this is about books...
I have started reading Walden again but am beginning to think his perspective a bit arrogant. He talks down about the villagers, the commercial nature of the farmers, and refuses to pay taxes. Thoreau is really starting to sound like a hipster, taking up the lifestyle of the simple woodsman and then pretending his venture is better than his neighbors'. Oh Hipster Thoreau I do wish you would just talk about the seasons or something. Well, I guess I'm past that part anyway but it leaves a bad taste in the brain at least. I thought I would really like Walden as I have been in a nature mood lately but I am growing increasingly disconnected to it. At first the imagery was beautiful and all but now it just goes on and on. I may change my mind by the time I finish but right now I think it only kind of good. It does disappoint when classics are only the best of that time period and only reverence for the old days holds them up. But then one must, I suppose, read those things that modernity is built upon. Maybe it will be like those Russian novels where in the whole is greater than the encumbrance of its many elaborate pieces. It is at least a good concept even if it does not hold to my own misguided preconceptions.
Is anyone else let down by the classics they have heard so much about?
I need to take another look at The List (1001 books to read before you die) and decide what direction to head in next. I have continued to enjoy Origins of the Modern World by Robert Marks since getting back to it after spending so much time rereading old favorites. I also would like to continue with 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami but I am hesitant because like his other book this one has such a dark underpinning of a narrative. His books must be a statement of the darkness running under the controlled and complacent Japanese society. The characters are well written but I think I connected more to the main character in The Wind-up Bird Chronicles.
Recently I have become interested in more science and astrology/astrophysics. Which is ironic because I skipped physics in high school and have never had the math skills for high level science. It fascinates me so much though. I am thinking of reading one of the books by
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Books with Movies, Movies of Books
I saw the movie a week after finishing the book. They were both good. Cloud Atlas the book was layered in a very specific way and the musician was actually my favorite part. In the movie my favorite was the Sonmi story. I could tell that the movie was written to honor the book even where it was forced to change many things and leave other things out. You cannot say that about all movies from books. One does not need to read the book to get the movie but I think it helps with some confusion of moving between stories. Also it is a book worth reading particularly style-wise.
There are several books on the list that I've actually seen as movies but have not read and there are also movies I refuse to watch because I want to read the book first. All of the Jane Austen books except for Pride and Prejudice I saw a movie version first. I have also seen and not yet read A Room with a View and Howard's End. At the same time I will not watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, A Clockwork Orange, or Norwegian Wood until I have made my way through the covers of those books.
Personally I prefer to leave a bit of time between the books and the movies or I spend the whole movie trying to figure out what was taken out or changed. I actually also just finished Wicked by Gregory Maguire which is now a musical. Despite living in Chicago for six years I never saw the musical. Mostly because tickets are expensive and student giveaways always went too fast. I liked Wicked except for the ending of course and it made me wonder what was in the musical.
I actually have spent a lot of time lately re-reading old favorites. Some of which would make good movies and some of which would be impossible. When books are more internalized and less action/interaction based it makes for poor visuals. I think the reason that the movies of Dune by Frank Herbert was never captured well despite much action was because the magic of the story was in the minds of the characters not in their actions. Dune is a thinking book, actions matter because of the motivations and knowledge of each character.
Fall feels like one of those comforting times of year (if no disaster leans upon you) where you lean on those old favorites. For me the new year is for great Russian novels, the spring for contemporary fiction and non-fiction, summer for YA, and the holidays for dark personal novels.
There are several books on the list that I've actually seen as movies but have not read and there are also movies I refuse to watch because I want to read the book first. All of the Jane Austen books except for Pride and Prejudice I saw a movie version first. I have also seen and not yet read A Room with a View and Howard's End. At the same time I will not watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, A Clockwork Orange, or Norwegian Wood until I have made my way through the covers of those books.
Personally I prefer to leave a bit of time between the books and the movies or I spend the whole movie trying to figure out what was taken out or changed. I actually also just finished Wicked by Gregory Maguire which is now a musical. Despite living in Chicago for six years I never saw the musical. Mostly because tickets are expensive and student giveaways always went too fast. I liked Wicked except for the ending of course and it made me wonder what was in the musical.
I actually have spent a lot of time lately re-reading old favorites. Some of which would make good movies and some of which would be impossible. When books are more internalized and less action/interaction based it makes for poor visuals. I think the reason that the movies of Dune by Frank Herbert was never captured well despite much action was because the magic of the story was in the minds of the characters not in their actions. Dune is a thinking book, actions matter because of the motivations and knowledge of each character.
Fall feels like one of those comforting times of year (if no disaster leans upon you) where you lean on those old favorites. For me the new year is for great Russian novels, the spring for contemporary fiction and non-fiction, summer for YA, and the holidays for dark personal novels.
Monday, October 15, 2012
At Sea
I fear I will have to leave science fiction until it is relevant again because it was weeks ago and I have forgotten what I meant to say.
I have just started reading Cloud Atlas. My sister found the movie previews interesting and researched it. Once she found out it was a book she decided to read it before the movie and SURPRISE, it is also on The List. After finishing it herself she handed it over to me, continuously asking how far I've gotten.
The first chapter is the journal of a man sailing in the south Pacific/New Zealand area in what seems to be the turn of the last century. I have to confess that I love books about being at sea and sailing. I like the idea of seeing water from one horizon to the next. Though I doubt I would be very seaworthy it is a secret dream of mine to live on a boat for at least six months.
Some of the books I've read that have increased my longing for the sea:
Sailing Alone around the World by Joshua Slocum
Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (though not the ideal situation)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
Odyssey by Homer
There is something about the unknowns of the ocean that make it majestic. For many of the books/characters it is a liminal place outside of normal society and a betwixt one stage of life and another. Some people find themselves at sea and others loose themselves.
I have a fascination with its vastness, with seeing nothing but the horizon. The great lakes can hold a similar feeling and it was often more calming to stare out across Lake Michigan than any other activity when living in the windy city. I think I have been spoiled by the vast Texas sky and can't help but look for that vastness in other places. Another reason I like travel by sea tales is the guidance of the stars. To be so far away from shore and see every possible star to the naked eye from one horizon to the opposite. That is something I wish to see.
It kind of amazes me that many minds do not wander so far and most books stay on level land. That is probably because of the liminality factor, though maybe I am just not looking in the right places.
I was quite jealous of a blogger I read, Joy the Baker, when she described a trip on a oyster dredging schooner in Maine. Its at least good to know that kind of thing exists.
Current Reading:
On List: Cloud Atlas by David Michell
Walden, or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
Off: The Origins of the Modern World by Robert B. Marks
On hold: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Manners and Mischief Edited by Laura Miller
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
I have just started reading Cloud Atlas. My sister found the movie previews interesting and researched it. Once she found out it was a book she decided to read it before the movie and SURPRISE, it is also on The List. After finishing it herself she handed it over to me, continuously asking how far I've gotten.
The first chapter is the journal of a man sailing in the south Pacific/New Zealand area in what seems to be the turn of the last century. I have to confess that I love books about being at sea and sailing. I like the idea of seeing water from one horizon to the next. Though I doubt I would be very seaworthy it is a secret dream of mine to live on a boat for at least six months.
Some of the books I've read that have increased my longing for the sea:
Sailing Alone around the World by Joshua Slocum
Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (though not the ideal situation)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
Odyssey by Homer
There is something about the unknowns of the ocean that make it majestic. For many of the books/characters it is a liminal place outside of normal society and a betwixt one stage of life and another. Some people find themselves at sea and others loose themselves.
I have a fascination with its vastness, with seeing nothing but the horizon. The great lakes can hold a similar feeling and it was often more calming to stare out across Lake Michigan than any other activity when living in the windy city. I think I have been spoiled by the vast Texas sky and can't help but look for that vastness in other places. Another reason I like travel by sea tales is the guidance of the stars. To be so far away from shore and see every possible star to the naked eye from one horizon to the opposite. That is something I wish to see.
It kind of amazes me that many minds do not wander so far and most books stay on level land. That is probably because of the liminality factor, though maybe I am just not looking in the right places.
I was quite jealous of a blogger I read, Joy the Baker, when she described a trip on a oyster dredging schooner in Maine. Its at least good to know that kind of thing exists.
Current Reading:
On List: Cloud Atlas by David Michell
Walden, or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
Off: The Origins of the Modern World by Robert B. Marks
On hold: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Manners and Mischief Edited by Laura Miller
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Happiness
I was planning to write about sci-fi first because of some re-reads I finished recently but then I finished The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. So to keep my thoughts a little more current I wanted to talk about it first.
Happiness is one of those big overarching ideas that is the hidden drive behind many of our actions. We do this or that because we think it will make us happy. From ordering off a menu to committing to a person for a lifetime. Personally, being more of a critic, I am constantly having to remind myself that happiness is not something that some one achieves and then doesn't have to worry about anymore. It is not a single goal but a constant give and take. My biggest illusion is that happiness is waiting somewhere for me to find and if I haven't found it or can't carry it around with me that it is a fault of my own. That is of course a false assumption. Happiness can be mitigated by several factors in ones life. I think that Gretchen Rubin's reasoning, by the end of the book, for attempting a happiness project really resounded with me. Mainly because it was about wanting to take control of the things in her life that made her feel bad and to focus more on the good.
I think it is particularly important that she kept coming back to the idea that each person's project would be completely different. Especially because my critical perspective kept pointing out that she is an extrovert and being an introvert myself I don't feel I have as much energy available to me on a daily basis. I could be simplifying it and I am in a bit of a hibernation/hermit phase at the moment, but if I tried that much I would not make it a week. Which is fine because I am not her and the strongest idea in the book was really to be true to yourself.
Would I start a happiness project? Probably not to that extent but I have been walking more and I started this blog so it seems something has rubbed off. Anyway as a book it was well organized and interesting (one of my favorite catch-all words). I actually think I would enjoy reading the research books that she used as background for her project. I've been feeling kind of science-y lately.
Happiness is one of those big overarching ideas that is the hidden drive behind many of our actions. We do this or that because we think it will make us happy. From ordering off a menu to committing to a person for a lifetime. Personally, being more of a critic, I am constantly having to remind myself that happiness is not something that some one achieves and then doesn't have to worry about anymore. It is not a single goal but a constant give and take. My biggest illusion is that happiness is waiting somewhere for me to find and if I haven't found it or can't carry it around with me that it is a fault of my own. That is of course a false assumption. Happiness can be mitigated by several factors in ones life. I think that Gretchen Rubin's reasoning, by the end of the book, for attempting a happiness project really resounded with me. Mainly because it was about wanting to take control of the things in her life that made her feel bad and to focus more on the good.
I think it is particularly important that she kept coming back to the idea that each person's project would be completely different. Especially because my critical perspective kept pointing out that she is an extrovert and being an introvert myself I don't feel I have as much energy available to me on a daily basis. I could be simplifying it and I am in a bit of a hibernation/hermit phase at the moment, but if I tried that much I would not make it a week. Which is fine because I am not her and the strongest idea in the book was really to be true to yourself.
Would I start a happiness project? Probably not to that extent but I have been walking more and I started this blog so it seems something has rubbed off. Anyway as a book it was well organized and interesting (one of my favorite catch-all words). I actually think I would enjoy reading the research books that she used as background for her project. I've been feeling kind of science-y lately.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The List
I consider myself an avid reader. I read early and often as a child,
frequently reading more than one book at a time. There have been times
when I’ve read very little but reading has always been one of my
greatest joys.
First of all, I love lists in general and am occasionally addicted to Lists of Bests. So when I found the list, I was enamored. The list being 1001 Books to Read Before You Die. Now I know any one list of the best of one thing or another will be disputed and critiqued by whoever as not being good enough, but I find this list interesting.
After looking over it many times and reading several books off of it over the years, I have decided to give it a go. I don’t expect to read all 1001 books. In fact there are several I have attempted and don’t plan on finishing. However I would like to attempt every book and hopefully finish at least half. So that’s 500(.5) books plus whatever I can stand of the rest.
I also don’t plan on limiting my reading to only the list because I am impulsive and diverse in my taste. I love YA, children’s, sci-fi, and non-fiction. While some of those are represented in this list, I tend to follow my fascination.
I am using the revised version of the list, just because, but I will probably mention books I have read on the first that are not on the more recent edition. They are different by 284 books. I rather like the first one but I’ve read less of the second one so it will be more of a challenge. Forgive me if I confuse them at some point.
Lets see where I am so far…
Books on the List
Finished: 73
Attempted/not finished: 8
Currently Reading
On List:
Walden, or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
Off:
The Origins of the Modern World by Robert B. Marks
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
On hold: (things I am reading but taking a break from)
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Manners and Mischief Edited by Laura Miller
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
I know this is a long starter post but hopefully I’ll get the hang of it. I plan to write about things I’m reading, general lit topics, and anything else related.
Please offer suggestions, this is one blog I don’t want to just be writing to myself.
First of all, I love lists in general and am occasionally addicted to Lists of Bests. So when I found the list, I was enamored. The list being 1001 Books to Read Before You Die. Now I know any one list of the best of one thing or another will be disputed and critiqued by whoever as not being good enough, but I find this list interesting.
After looking over it many times and reading several books off of it over the years, I have decided to give it a go. I don’t expect to read all 1001 books. In fact there are several I have attempted and don’t plan on finishing. However I would like to attempt every book and hopefully finish at least half. So that’s 500(.5) books plus whatever I can stand of the rest.
I also don’t plan on limiting my reading to only the list because I am impulsive and diverse in my taste. I love YA, children’s, sci-fi, and non-fiction. While some of those are represented in this list, I tend to follow my fascination.
I am using the revised version of the list, just because, but I will probably mention books I have read on the first that are not on the more recent edition. They are different by 284 books. I rather like the first one but I’ve read less of the second one so it will be more of a challenge. Forgive me if I confuse them at some point.
Lets see where I am so far…
Books on the List
Finished: 73
Attempted/not finished: 8
Currently Reading
On List:
Walden, or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
Off:
The Origins of the Modern World by Robert B. Marks
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
On hold: (things I am reading but taking a break from)
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Manners and Mischief Edited by Laura Miller
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
I know this is a long starter post but hopefully I’ll get the hang of it. I plan to write about things I’m reading, general lit topics, and anything else related.
Please offer suggestions, this is one blog I don’t want to just be writing to myself.
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