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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January 30, 2014 · 10:53 pm

Dan Jones’ Plantagents—Skip It.

The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made EnglandThe Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dan Jones’ The Plantagenets was a disappointment for me. I started out really loving it and I wanted to love it. I am very interested in that period and thought that a new discussion/overview of the period would be interesting. Sadly, I found his research lacking and that he dismissed key points in the historical period he was covering without justifying his point of view.

I say skip it and go ahead and pick up Thomas Costain’s series on the family.

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January 24, 2014 · 4:09 pm

Best Book on the Plantagenets Yet!

The Conquering Family (The Plantagenets, #1)The Conquering Family by Thomas B. Costain

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Originally published in 1949, Thomas Costain’s Conquering Family is a history of Henry II and his family. It is the first volume in a series about the Plantagenet Dynasty and is told from a wonderfully British perspective.

The work discusses the succession problems created when Henry I’s son died in the White Ship crash. He continues through the death of that famously hated king, John.

Costain uses his British style to introduce readers to the Plantagenet’s with detail and an entertaining voice. For example, in describing Richard the Loinheart: Richard was always the knight, never the king.

The author also addresses court rumor and works to help readers distinguish fact and fiction. However, because the book has an older publication date there are a few things that historians have discovered in the past 60 years. It seems history is always coming to light. One example of this is Henry II’s illegitimate son, William. New research has discovered William is not Rosamund’s son– the child of one of Henry’s other mistresses, Ida.

Throughout the work, the author provides useful asides. For example, he gives a good description of Strongbow’s conquest of Ireland, the Robin Hood Legend and the life of a villen during the period. These details help paint a picture of the times beyond just what was happening to the Plantagenet dynasty.

One aspect that maybe tough for new readers to this period of history are the author’s speculations. Every once in while he adds his own opinion of events. I enjoyed his ideas, however, people less well versed in the period my be confused and take his musings as fact. As long as you give the book a close reading, I don’t think readers will be confused.

I was reading this concurrent with The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones. Jones’ book is more recent (2013) but Constain’s book is much better, more entertaining and readable. Over and over I found myself wishing I was reading Costain’s when I was reading Jones’.

Finally, I had the extra treat of listening to Conquering Family on audio and the narrator David Case does a wonderful job. His voice, accent, and timing add a lot to the book!

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January 15, 2014 · 3:51 am

Scorpion suicide

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Yes, that is a picture of a scorpion in my toilet! And no, I was not surprised to find it there.

Scorpion suicide seems to be something of a regular occurrence at my home. I have actually found other scorpions in toilets…

And I once found a scorpion that fell down the front of my shirt. No, I wasn’t bitten thank God! I mistakenly thought it was a piece of popcorn that I neglected to actually get into my mouth. When i pulled open my shirt to pull the popcorn out, it seems that instead a Scorpion had fallen from the ceiling and down my shirt! You can imagine there was quite a lot of bouncing around, yelling, jumping and startled folderol. But thanks for the fast action of The Captain I was not stung. And the scorpion meat an untimely death.

So I got to wonder why do so many scorpions come to my house to commit suicide?

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January 14, 2014 · 6:49 pm

What would you do if a stranger followed you into your car? We found out during a hike in New Mexico

Great story by a friend of mine… And spoiler alert: it turns out well. The alternative is unthinkable.

But I have to say she has more sympathy for the stranger than I would have!

It also resonates because The Captain does a lot of solo hiking.

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Aside

The Time of Singing: A Year of the Marshal Review

Chadwick does it again!

Time of Singing is another in a series of books that deals with life in the Angevin Empire. This time readers are treated to a snippet of the life of Ida and her husband Roger Bigod Earl of Norfolk.

Ida starts her life at Henry II’s court as his less-than-willing mistress. After giving birth to the king’s famous bastard, William Longespee, she marries Roger Bigod.

Elizabeth Chadwick does another great job of making the characters and time period come to life. Their complex stories and personal and political struggles create a quick moving and engaging story. Chadwick takes the historical narrative and adds personal character to the experience.

I really enjoyed this book after reading not only her books on William Marshal, but also her works on John Marshal and Empress Matilda. Over and over in Chadwick’s novels we see the same people appear interwoven into each others lives. I like seeing the same people through different lenses.

Finally, I LOVED the ending featuring the water joust. Awesome– who knew there was even such a thing.

This is one of Chadwick’s winners!

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January 10, 2014 · 4:36 pm
Quote

Me: Why do I al…

Me: Why do I always have to put you to bed?
The Princess: Because you made me.

hmmmm,,,, I have no response.

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January 3, 2014 · 3:41 am