Monthly Archives: February 2014

February 28, 2014 · 9:57 pm

The Magnificent Century: A Booky Mom Review

The Magnificent Century (The Plantagenets, #2)The Magnificent Century by Thomas B. Costain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thomas B. Costain’s second book in his Plantagenet series focuses on the life of Henry III and to a large extent Simon De Montfort. The first book runs through Henry II and his sons with solid details, but without spending too much time on any of the people. For me, I was not expecting book 2 to be almost totally devoted to the life of Henry III. Additionally, I just do not find Henry III to be the most interesting of the Plantagenets.

However, Costain does a good job with subject matter again. He covers the key women of the period in a fair manner and gives them their place in the rolls of history. I appreciated this because he is writing prior to the “women’s movement” so his cover of these women is genuine and fair. They have important parts to play and are given credit for their good and bad behaviors because that’s how it happened.

One of the joys of reading Costain are his “tangents” where he discusses the details of time and place or the personal history of other people of the period. In this book we are treated to digressions including discussions of woman’s fashion and the life of Roger Bacon.

The final few chapters are a wonderful summation of the book, so if you get bored reading it— skip to the end.

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February 22, 2014 · 11:59 am

Peculiar Children Book 2: Better Words, Worse Pictures

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, #2)Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Without giving too much (or anything away), the second book in the Peculiar series by Ransom Riggs is quite good.

If you read book one, you know that the Peculiars are on the run from the bad guys and Mrs. Peregrine cannot transform into a human form. In the quest for help and safety, the Peculiars find more of their kind and visit a loop or two along the way. And, that’s all the plot I am going to give you!

Instead, I’ll tell you that Riggs has vastly improved his story telling abilities. He relies far less on the photos too keep readers interested and entertained. The photos really become secondary to the story. Additionally, the photos are far less interesting than in book one. I assume because he uses up a lot of the good ones in the first book.

Riggs further develops what Peculiars really are and why they are special. Thankfully,
he also allows the love story to take a back seat. I like this because the love story was getting on my nerves in book one.

After I finished book one, I wasn’t certain I’d read book two. After finishing book two, I eagerly waiting book three!

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February 15, 2014 · 2:24 am

Few Pages, Lots to Think About: Andrew’s Brain

Andrew's BrainAndrew’s Brain by E.L. Doctorow

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Don’t be fooled by the short page count! Andrew’s Brain is a fascinating, complex read that turns a few pages into hours of thought provoking self and cultural examination.

Andrew, the main character, relates the story while talking to another person–who we are led to believe is some sort of psychiatrist. Much like any conversation, it is disjointed and flops around and the reader must pay close attention.

Throughout we are also forced to examine the reliability of Andrew as a narrator. In examining his reliability we are also encouraged to examine the reliability of our brains. What is the soul versus the mind? How do consciousness in the mind factoring together?

While these questions of them wrestled with eons and are new, they are placed against the background of both a pre and the post-9/11 world. We are confronted with modern American society and challenged to examine how our minds, brains and souls have worked to create the political and social constraints we easily slip into.

I chose to listen to the book on audio. This created a bit of a challenge the stream of consciousness/conversational narration is difficult to follow on audio. None-the-less, it does add a richness to the experience given that it is at it’s heart intended to be a auditory narration. Listening to in this manner also enhances the aspects of the unreliable narrator since our sense of hearing doesn’t capture every aspect.

All and all this is not a book for the faint of heart, but is a book that is worth while if you are committed to giving it the time it needs.

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February 10, 2014 · 1:44 am

The Fashion Terrorist….From the Memiors of a Non-Enemy Combatant

From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy CombatantFrom the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant by Alex Gilvarry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Looking for a satirical, quirky, quick read that pokes critical fun at our post-9/11 society? Then From the Memoirs of a Non-Combatant is for you!

The main character, Boy is a Filipino immigrant hoping to break into the New York fashion scene. The story is told from Boy’s point of view after arrested and transfer to Gitmo as a potential terrorist. According to Boy, it was all a big mistake and he had no idea he was business partners with real terrorists, Clever absurdity follows and we have a glimpse of our modern silliness from both the view of the fashion world and the political.

On the surface the two worlds seem far apart. But at their heart, propaganda and perception rule creating an commentary on our image oriented life-styles.

However, like so much in life, the reader cannot not count on Boy to be a reliable narrator and we are left wonderIng just happened and how much did Boy really know.

Clever elements like a fashion publicist who’s business is hampered post-9/11 by because his name is Ben Laden, add a Levi of comic absurdity that keeps the booking moving and entertaining.

Not exactly Swift, but a good satire for our times.

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February 4, 2014 · 5:29 am

Amy Tan’s The Valley of Amazement: BookyMom Review

The Valley of AmazementThe Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Valley of Amazement takes its name from a painting that keeps popping up during the story. Throughout the story this painting winds it’s way through the lives of many of the primary characters leading to false promises and shadowy dreams.

Tan’s book is told from the point of view of three women, grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter as they live through the early part of the 20th century in China and America. Over and over we see deception, loss, separation and moments of joy and happiness are few and far between.

The two older women lead the lives of courtesans in Shanghai and struggle with the implications of this life. I have nothing against this sort of story line. however there were moments about 2/3rds of the way through the book where Tan dwelt on some on the negative aspects of the life. After one or two sad and pathetic scenes of abuse we get the point. I do not think Tan needed to hammer her point home so hard. Editor Please!!!!!

The story starts out strong and Tan uses the narrative voice of a seven year old girl in a courtesan house to bring the reader into the tale. But, as things progress The Valley of Amazement starts to become a soap-opera set in China! Twists and turns give the story an over the top silliness that leaves readers wondering why Tan needed so much silliness in her story.

I am new to Tan’s work, (although I have seen the Joy Luck Club–but of course that doesn’t count!). Her writing was well done and she executed switching voices well. However, the plot really started to become rather goofy and hurt the work.

I suggest skipping it, unless you have a love for the period or simply afore Tan’s work.

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