Catching up on the library

It's been awhile since I reviewed for you the books I've been reading. This is in part because I'm now in a book club with friends! It's something I was hesitant about at first, but I find that I'm not only reading more, but so far the club books have all been pretty good. So here's a little catch up on what I've been reading in and out of the club.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman - This engrossing novel takes a personal approach to an epic tale. The gods of various religions and mythologies are living amongst us, but are in a bitter battle against the new gods of man - television, radio and celebrity. This is one that really had us talking in book club, which is the sign of a great novel. Gaiman's book Stardust was also recently made into a (pretty decent) movie.


The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta - Although I didn't love this one, which pits a liberal sex ed teacher against a born again soccer coach, we did talk about it in club for a long time. I think it can really open the door for people to talk about religion and the roots of fundamentalism. Movie fans may recognize Perrotta as the screenwriter and author of Little Children.



Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris - I just finished this one, so we haven't talked about it in book club yet. It's certainly not what I was expecting - I thought it would be a light-hearted tale of office politics and shenanigans, but it is in reality far more serious. I feel ambivalent about it right now.





World Without End by Ken Follett - You might remember my earlier post saying I was going to tackle this tome, and I did finally complete it. Although it's not as fully satisfying as The Pillars of the Earth, it still reads with the same driving excitement that makes you want to see how it all plays out. Follett is still one of my favorite authors (when he writes historical epics).



Luna by Julie Anne Peters - An emotionally charged story about a transgender teen, I kept wanting it to be more than it was. It will certainly prove to be a great way to gently educate readers on the inner turmoil of a transgender person, but as a novel, it falls short.

A Miracle Book

It's always a pleasure to come across a book that is utterly satisfying, but also has the potential to change your life. The last time I had that happen was Yes Man. This time around it's Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

The book was actually a gift from Em to ScottE this past October. He has in turn shared it with a number of friends, and I finally got around to reading it myself. If the greatest gift in a book I have given to Scott and our friends was The Pillars of the Earth, then this has been my reward - a true gift in return.

The thrust of the book is that Barbara and her family decided to pick up and move their lives to a farm in southwestern Virginia. For one year they would try to (with but a few minor exceptions) eat only food that was grown within about 100 miles of their home, and only from reputable farmers that could be relied upon for organic and sustainable methods. This meant really embracing the annual cycle of food growth in the area - leafy greens and asparagus in spring, endless apples and pumpkins in the fall. And it wasn't just the fruits and vegetables - that meant meat, dairy and bread as well. Could they do it? Could they survive? And would they hate it?

It turns out they did do it, and it became a way of life. The family developed a deep connection to their food because they made it. And along the way they learned a lot about how the government of this country is stacked against the small local farmer, and how changes can be made.

For me, it was an eye-opening, potentially life-altering book. Having grown up my whole life as a city boy, my only real experience with locally-grown food were the berries and tomatoes my parents grew in the back yard, or stopping by a roadside stand on the way to my grandmother's cottage in summer. Now I really get it - I understand why an apple on the east coast is rather absurd in April, and why there are so many varieties of gourds (they're to get you through the cold winter). But mostly I have this craving, this need to seek out opportunities to buy from small local farms (which I'll be doing tomorrow at the Cheverly Community Market), and to think more about eating what's in season.

I really encourage everyone to read this book, but to realize it's not there as a condemnation of how we eat, or how so many farmers are trapped into large industrial systems for corn and soybeans. I truly believe that Kingsolver wrote this to make us open our eyes, be aware and think. The simple awareness of your food choices can slowly shift simply by having all this in your subconscious. The tides of change in this country have almost always been slow and subtle.

Today I was walking through our back yard, checking on the progress of all our little growing things and stopping to smell the gentle sweetness of a yellow iris. I looked on admiringly as birds from cardinals to blue jays stopped by for a visit (a purple finch is our latest find). I was reminded looking around that this was what makes that hour-long commute every day worth it. And as I hunched over the "Early Girl" tomato plant that Scott had planted in our modest little plot, I cooed over six little budding fruits that will provide us with a delicious bounty by mid-summer. We did that. We grew that. And it didn't ride on a truck cross-country to get here.

Read. Eat. Start a revolution.

What's in my book bag

My new commute is a bit longer, which is allowing me to read books a lot faster. Thus I present not 1, but 3 book reviews!

Hero by Perry Moore

ScottE turned me onto this one. It's a book that satisfies both my childhood dreams of being a superhero, and my passion for a well-written coming out story. A fast, satisfying read. Yes, it's on the level of "young adult" fiction, but when it's this fun, who cares?

Monopoly The World's Most Famous Game--and How It Got That Way by Philip Orbanes

This interesting read was a gift to me from Joyous. Part history lesson and part story of America's most popular board game. Particularly fascinating is the role Monopoly played in a world war! You'll have to read it to believe it.

The Dead Fathers Club by Matt Haig

Em (the Marquise of Wynnewood) got me this one for my birthday. Once I got over the frustrating writing style (stilted prose with no punctuations other than periods), I was able to settle into this unusual read. It's told from the perspective of an 11 year old kid, and quickly you realize that it's a retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet. So ultimately you know where it's headed (or so you think), which adds an intriguing layer.

Coming Attractions

Sometimes when I'm stopping by IMDB, I go on a little link-to-link journey and it's interesting where it ends up. When I just checked the other day, I was delighted at what I found.

At last one of my favorite book series is being turned into a film! It's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, a lovely "mystery" series in Botswana that's really more about the curiosities of peoples' personalities.

It looks like this will be a TV movie, first released on the BBC. Interestingly, the lead character (Precious Ramotswe) will be played by singer Jill Scott (pictured here with the author). But what is AWESOME is that my favorite character, Grace Makutsi will be played by my best friend, Anika Noni Rose, late of Dreamgirls! Woot! I can hardly wait.

Oh, and in case you've been living under a rock - Lost premieres tomorrow! So what if it's only going to be 8 episodes in a row - I just want to see it!

Art And History

Yesterday we decided to be a little touristy, and bone up on our culture. It was a bit exhausting, and yet, we are enriched.

First up we went to the new Edward Hopper exhibit at the National Gallery. This was a lead-up to an opera we'll be seeing at the Clarice Smith Center, which is based on some of Hopper's paintings.

The exhibit was laid out pretty well, following a chronological format and each room centered on a general theme or period. It was definitely popular, with a long line just to get in!

The paintings were full of rich colors on saturated canvases. We saw many examples of Hopper's most common themes - isolation and the space that exists between people, even when they are in the same room. His paintings never portray action. Instead they take place before or after something has happened, leaving us to decide what the action was or will be. My favorite was a work I hadn't seen before called "New York Movie". While the audience enjoys the film, a lovely usherette stands in an alcove, contemplating something that we can only guess at.

After that we checked out the National Building Museum. It wasn't nearly as interesting as we'd hoped, although there was a pretty good exhibit on the changes various parts of DC have gone through over the years.

We took a break for a few beers, and then joined Stef. Her gift for ScottE's birthday was a walking tour about the assassination of Lincoln. It was actually very interesting, and our guide painted a vivid picture of the evening's events, including the conspiracy to murder not one, but four members of the administration. I was particularly riveted during the discussion of the attempted murder of Secretary of State Seward.

It was all great fun, but we are definitely tired today!

On a side note - if you haven't heard, apparently Dumbledore was gay. I did NOT see that coming. I need to fine-tune my gaydar!

The Best Book Ever

I'm just putting this out there - my favorite book of all time. So good that I read all 970 pages again recently and was thrilled all over again. It's called The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

An epic novel set in the dark ages of England, it's a story interwoven with the narratives of five main characters. Tom, the visionary stonemason; William, the bloodthirsty knight; Aliena, the headstrong daughter of an earl; Jack, the relentlessly curious lad; and Phillip, the idealistic monk. They carry forward a tale that lasts for decades and follows the rise and fall of kings.

All of this is centered on the building of a cathedral. Sounds fascinating, no? OK, maybe not - but soon you'll be swept into cathedral architecture, and saying things like, "Ah yes, the clerestory. Of course."

And my timing is ideal, as Follett is about to release a sequel, 18 years later. It's called World Without End. I can't wait! Squeeee!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome Back Home

Armistead Maupin has for years been one of my most beloved authors. Through his Tales of the City series (set in San Francisco), I grew to know and love a fictional family of friends. Anna, Mona, Brian and Mary Ann felt almost real - like pen pals that I was keeping in touch with across the miles.

So it was with great joy and excitement that I heard he had returned to the residents of Barbary Lane after more than 20 years. This one focuses just on the character of Michael, hence the title Michael Tolliver Lives. And although we catch glimpses of Michael's old friends, this novel is a moving love story for a couple that has been together for years. Michael and his younger husband Ben represent what we all hope for - unquestioning acceptance, unbridled lust, and unwavering loyalty. I found that just by reading the book, I was falling deeper in love with my own husband (if such a thing is possible).

I have a feeling that the book is a semi-autobiographical ode to Maupin's real-life partner, Christopher Turner. I hope that the love expressed in the novel is just as manifest in his own life.

Potter Mania

It's no secret that I'm a big Harry Potter fan. So there I was, in line at Barnes & Noble on a Friday night, holding a wristband with #230 on it, waiting anxiously for midnight so I could take the final tome (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) home with me. And thanks to the efficiency of the folks at the downtown store, I was out of there at 12:20, clutching my prize.

I allowed myself to read 3 chapters before bed, just to whet my appetite and get some sleep. Once morning came, I set to work, and devoured 750 pages in about 14 hours. No spoilers, and no contact with the outside world (except a brief trip to the grocery store to refuel - iPod firmly planted in my ears).

Now if you think I'm going to tell you what happens - no dice. You'll have to read it for yourself. And I hope you do, because the book is brilliant. It is everything I wanted it to be. What J.K. Rowling has accomplished is an extraordinary triumph, and the series will stand the test of time. Generations from now, children will still be transporting themselves on the Hogwarts Express to a land of enchantment.

I'm also pleased to say that the latest Harry Potter film (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) is really good. Certainly there are major plot points that had to be cut because of time. But the director (David Yates) has captured the important aspects of the novel - Harry's burgeoning anger, the overall tone that is psychologically dark, the thrill of defiance as Dumbledore's Army comes together. And our kids are growing up! Who is that sweet buxom redhead behind Harry? Oh, that would be Ginny (Bonnie Wright). But the star of the movie is without question Imelda Staunton, who steals the show as Dolores Umbridge - malevolently...pink. (My grade - A-.)

So Harry Potter fans take heart - the novels may be over, but we still have two films to look forward to in the near future!

(P.S. I love Neville!!!)

Beach Reads

Vacations in summer are an ideal time to pick up a good book. As usually happens in summertime, I've been racing through quite a few myself. Here's what I've been reading lately.

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde - Imagine if you will a world where nursery rhyme characters live amongst ordinary people. That's the unusual setting for Fforde's new series of murder mysteries. They are solved by the Nursery Crime Division, led by Jack Spratt and assisted by Mary Mary (don't call her contrary). Clever references are weaved through the book in a most entertaining way. This first book is about the murder of Humpty Dumpty. And now I'm reading book two, which centers on the murder of Goldilocks - The Fourth Bear.

Thirteen At Dinner and Towards Zero by Agatha Christie - Those that know me well are aware that I'm a big Christie fan. I have all of her books, and like to pepper them between reading heavier books. The former novel (also called Lord Edgeware Dies) was an interesting examination of the danger of impersonation. The latter was not one of her best, but does offer the problem of having only four suspects, all of whom seem to have an alibi.

Sammy's Hill by Kristin Gore - Think Bridget Jones as a Capitol Hill staffer, and you pretty much have the idea. I picked this up on instinct at the airport, as I'd meant to read it for over a year. I devoured nearly 700 pages in 2 days. It's highly addictive, and I can't wait to read her new release - Sammy's House. (And yes, the author is the daughter of Al Gore.)

The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst - Previously you heard me rave about Lost and Found, so I figured I'd give her more well-known first novel a try. It was just as hard to put down. This book is a love story intertwined with the sad search of a bereaved husband. But I must warn you - there are some sections that can be very hard to handle (emotionally), especially for dog owners. In an interview, Parkhurst said she wanted to show the extreme limits that the main character could have chosen to go to, so you can better examine his methods. I see her point, but there are still these images that I can't shake from my mind.

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith - The latest in his series for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, like the books before it, it reads easily and provides a satisfactory ending. I always enjoy slipping into his books for some wry humor and a good cup of bush tea.

What are y'all reading this summer? Any good recommendations (or brutal pans)?

Support New Writers!

There is a very interesting website called Lulu.com, which allows would-be authors to self-publish. The result allows friends, family and new fans to pick up the book how they like - hardcover, a printed manuscript, or even as a download. And who knows? Some day a major publisher might notice and make an offer.

So check it out, and support a new writer today! As a suggestion, I'll pimp my friend Erik, who just finished a book of horror stories. The name is Descending Darkness - remember that name!

Thanks for the help, gentle readers

My daemon from The Golden Compass has settled into her form thanks to your feedback. She is now a beautiful lynx. Isn't she pretty? Thanks again!

Help Me Settle This

For those that enjoyed Philip Pullman's book The Golden Compass and are looking forward to the upcoming film, you'll really enjoy the website they've put together.

One of the features is a personality test that helps you determine the identity and form of your daemon (an animal that is the physical embodiment of your spirit).

Mine isn't quite settled yet, and I need your help! Check out the graphic below to take a 5-question quiz to help me determine her final form:

Parrots, Ski Poles, and Aviator Helmets

It's been awhile since I've found a book that I can't put down, but luckily I brought just such a novel with me this past week on a trip. In just a six-hour plane trip, I had devoured all 300 pages.

So I highly recommend to you Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst. This is ideal for you reality-TV fans out there!

The book follows the exploits of contestants on an Amazing Race-type game show who compete in a race around the world, but the rules are a bit more wacky, and the clues are actually cryptic.

But the game is merely the backdrop for Parkhurst's examination of the players' thoughts, motivations and memories as they go on this crazy ride.

It is often funny, at times heartbreaking (I cried once), and tackles complex issues. Can you change your sexual orientation? Can you recapture love from years' past? Are parents really paying enough attention to their children?

Please pick up this wonderful book - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.