My mother has been trying to get me to read this book since she did, probably since the mid-late 2000s. I think she enjoyed the book so much because the protagonist's name is Lily (and mother is Lilly). Finally, Lower Merion library delivered and I was able to finish it on-time amidst my coursework.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Genre: Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult/Coming-of-Age
Publication date: January 20003
Setting: Summer 1964, South Carolina
The novel is set in the South during the civil rights era, and 14-year-old, white, Lily is unhappy with her current situation. Her mother is dead, her father is authoritative and unloving, and she seems to have virtually no friends. Lily does have Rosaleen, a black peach-picker turned nanny who wants to register to vote in South Carolina. On Lily's 14th birthday (conveniently, July 4th), she becomes brazen and runs away from home, taking Rosaleen with her, and travels to Tiburon, SC. Her goal is to find clues and insight into her mother's past. Lily and Rosaleen meet the Boatwright sisters, May, June, and August (yes, like the months). Lily tells a made-up story of being an orphan traveling to Virginia. The sisters don't buy the story, but accept the runaways into their home and look after them for the summer. Lily becomes August's pupil in beekeeping and quickly develops a crush on the black boy Zach, who also helps with the beekeeping.
Eventually, summer ends and Lily fesses up to August about her past and some obvious plot lines are revealed about the connection the sisters have to Lily's mother. No surprises.
The book was OK. It was a little too sister-sisterly for me, with too much female support and care (not that I don't like girls sticking together, but it was just an overload). That being said, the intended audience is women - of any age, mostly single/divorced. And the storyline was so obvious, of course she falls for the black boy (which was taboo in the South in the 60s), and of course the sisters knew her mother. Looking back, the novel seems like a young adult book because of the limited plot and the story being told by a 14-year-old, and for that I label it "coming-of-age." I would have preferred the story to be told from August's perspective or in third person.
However, it was interesting to see how even a young teenager was so aware of racism and social inequality - she didn't care about color, but she knew that others did and tried to keep the peace when there was racial turmoil. Very astute for a young girl.
I give myself kudos for unintentionally reading a book dealing with race and civil rights around MLK Day, kismet.
DD rating: C
Next read: The Book Thief and/or Multiplication Is for White People. One of these I have to read for a grad class (two guesses which), and the other has been sitting in my Kindle library for over a year.
Showing posts with label read. Show all posts
Showing posts with label read. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Monday, January 12, 2015
Remember Me Like This
Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston
Genre: Fiction, Family Drama
Publication date: May 2014
Reason for read: I don't honestly remember. The kindle book was checked out from the Palm Beach Gardens library (even though I no longer live in FL, I still have my PBG library card memorized).
Interesting note: This is the debut novel for Bret Anthony Johnston, who is a lecturer in the English department at Harvard. Discovering that he is employed at such a prestigious university, I am surprised that I have never heard of him. I wonder if Stephen King ever taught at an Ivy...
First, I am not a fan of the title. The title makes you think the book is about someone who is lost or who has passed away. But the book is about the opposite, a missing boy is found 4 years after his kidnapping. The title makes no sense to me, unless it's a literary device or meant to be ironic.
Second, there is an affair. This isn't a spoiler, don't worry. I absolutely loathe cheating. I hate how last night Showtime's The Affair won a Golden Globe (I won't watch). I hate how entertainment and society condone and endorse cheating in relationships. I protest the movie Something Borrowed, which is a love story emerging from an affair. TL:DR - I hate cheaters/affairs.
Justin goes missing four years ago and is miraculously spotted at a flea market in a neighboring town. A big flag to me, why wasn't he spotted sooner? The family claims to have posted flyers with his picture on them all over their town and county, so how did it take four years to spot him? Justin had friends and a girlfriend, but none of these people saw the fliers or heard about him on the news and radio. I find that unbelievable. The book didn't really try to touch on what Justin went through during his time away - what was done to him, how he felt being away, should he try to escape. The novel is written from the point of view of different family members, the father, the mother, the brother, the grandfather, but not once from the point of view of Justin. Not even a concluding chapter about what's going through his head once he's home and supposedly safe from his kidnapper. Having his perspective would add a meaningful layer to this story.
However, I really enjoyed the family dynamics in this novel. Obviously I sympathize and empathize with the younger brother who is sometimes overlooked as his older brother is more important and requires more attention and care. Johnston portrayed the Campbell family well, how each dealt with the developments of Justin being found and resuming life as normal. After a crisis, it is difficult to go back to the way things were, and everyone is changed by how events play out.
Finished reading Monday, January 12th.
DD's Rating: B
Next read: TBD, I have reached maximum title holds for PBG and Lower Merion libraries. The holds most likely to come up are The Secret Life of Bees and The Pillars of the Earth. However, graduate classes resume tonight, so I will be reading endless Education articles and textbooks and my leisure reading may fall to the wayside. Maybe a Liane Moriarity or fluff novel since I'm ahead of reading schedule.
Genre: Fiction, Family Drama
Publication date: May 2014
Reason for read: I don't honestly remember. The kindle book was checked out from the Palm Beach Gardens library (even though I no longer live in FL, I still have my PBG library card memorized).
Interesting note: This is the debut novel for Bret Anthony Johnston, who is a lecturer in the English department at Harvard. Discovering that he is employed at such a prestigious university, I am surprised that I have never heard of him. I wonder if Stephen King ever taught at an Ivy...
First, I am not a fan of the title. The title makes you think the book is about someone who is lost or who has passed away. But the book is about the opposite, a missing boy is found 4 years after his kidnapping. The title makes no sense to me, unless it's a literary device or meant to be ironic.
Second, there is an affair. This isn't a spoiler, don't worry. I absolutely loathe cheating. I hate how last night Showtime's The Affair won a Golden Globe (I won't watch). I hate how entertainment and society condone and endorse cheating in relationships. I protest the movie Something Borrowed, which is a love story emerging from an affair. TL:DR - I hate cheaters/affairs.
Justin goes missing four years ago and is miraculously spotted at a flea market in a neighboring town. A big flag to me, why wasn't he spotted sooner? The family claims to have posted flyers with his picture on them all over their town and county, so how did it take four years to spot him? Justin had friends and a girlfriend, but none of these people saw the fliers or heard about him on the news and radio. I find that unbelievable. The book didn't really try to touch on what Justin went through during his time away - what was done to him, how he felt being away, should he try to escape. The novel is written from the point of view of different family members, the father, the mother, the brother, the grandfather, but not once from the point of view of Justin. Not even a concluding chapter about what's going through his head once he's home and supposedly safe from his kidnapper. Having his perspective would add a meaningful layer to this story.
However, I really enjoyed the family dynamics in this novel. Obviously I sympathize and empathize with the younger brother who is sometimes overlooked as his older brother is more important and requires more attention and care. Johnston portrayed the Campbell family well, how each dealt with the developments of Justin being found and resuming life as normal. After a crisis, it is difficult to go back to the way things were, and everyone is changed by how events play out.
Finished reading Monday, January 12th.
DD's Rating: B
Next read: TBD, I have reached maximum title holds for PBG and Lower Merion libraries. The holds most likely to come up are The Secret Life of Bees and The Pillars of the Earth. However, graduate classes resume tonight, so I will be reading endless Education articles and textbooks and my leisure reading may fall to the wayside. Maybe a Liane Moriarity or fluff novel since I'm ahead of reading schedule.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
The Bone Clocks
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
Genre: Fiction / science fiction, Drama
Publication date: September 2014
Reason for read: My boyfriend purchased this Kindle book for me as a Christmas present. He saw that it was on New York Time's top 20 list and thought that I would enjoy this semi-sci-fi novel. Funny story - he was between The Bone Clocks and Station Eleven to get for me, and I actually was on a hold list for Station Eleven at Bryn Mawr library.
Interesting note: David Mitchell claims that the characters and storylines coincide with some of his other works (like Black Swan Green), similar to Stephen King connecting several of his books (The Dark Tower series, Hearts in Atlantis, The Stand, etc).
This was a phenomenal book to start 2015. The Bone Clocks is very dense, at over 640 pages, but the story and characters hold you and the mystery of Horology and the Anchorites keep you motivated to continue reading. I did have trouble with the locations, as much of the novel takes place in Europe (England and Ireland), but I don't know to what factor geographical knowledge would enhance my enjoyment.
The novel revolves around Holly Sykes, but is written from the point of view (POV) of several characters that Holly encounters throughout her life. The story is told from England in 1984 to Ireland in 2040. Holly and others have special abilities are referred to as a "psychoeteric"skills, and this trait makes them desirable to Carnivores, or Anchorites. And then there are the Horologists, the resurrectionists, who switch genders at ever resurrection and who exist at a present time with memories and knowledge from previous lifetimes.
The Horologists are the most interesting. These individuals live a full life, perish, and are resurrected in a new body, different gender, and must start all over again. How odd it must be to have the wisdom of a 400 year-old being stuck in an adolescent girl's body. No one takes you seriously. No one wants to hear your opinion on politics or religion. And if you really let your knowledge shine, you draw attention to yourself which could be dangerous (although, how much do you have to lose when you know you can start over again). Years and years of time. Nothing but time. You are able to travel across the globe, learn multiple languages, discover new passions or focus on previous interests. The caveat is that everyone you know and everyone you meet and everyone you care for will die, and you will live on. And how do relationships work if you a girl now, but in the past life you were a male? Is that considered bisexual? Does it really matter to someone centuries old?
I realized upon completion that the male characters (the POV characters at least) all had major flaws. Perhaps I am quick to say this because I am a female and can empathize and forgive the females, but the males all appeared to act selfishly and hurtfully. The male POV characters cheated their friends, set up a business foe for incarceration, and abandoned their families for work and personal interests. The males all believed they were acting righteously (although they were really being self-righteous) and had no problem scoffing at others, thinking themselves to be so high and mighty. This isn't a negative critique on the characters, only an interesting realization, perhaps caused my growing feminism.
The novel did not deal with multiple or parallel universes, but instead with different points of time and how all humans are "Bone Clocks" - sacks of bones ticking down to individual and collective expiration. The conclusion of the book is a bit morose with political undertones, but overall it was an exciting journey with the climax being a battle of Good versus Evil. I won't tell who wins.
Morals: Every person you encounter is part of your Script, and plays a role in your life. Do not underestimate or take for granted those around you. Appreciate what and who you have because time is a fickle beast and can speed up and take those things from you.
Finished reading Friday, January 9th
DD's Rating: A+
Next book: Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston
Genre: Fiction / science fiction, Drama
Publication date: September 2014
Reason for read: My boyfriend purchased this Kindle book for me as a Christmas present. He saw that it was on New York Time's top 20 list and thought that I would enjoy this semi-sci-fi novel. Funny story - he was between The Bone Clocks and Station Eleven to get for me, and I actually was on a hold list for Station Eleven at Bryn Mawr library.
Interesting note: David Mitchell claims that the characters and storylines coincide with some of his other works (like Black Swan Green), similar to Stephen King connecting several of his books (The Dark Tower series, Hearts in Atlantis, The Stand, etc).
This was a phenomenal book to start 2015. The Bone Clocks is very dense, at over 640 pages, but the story and characters hold you and the mystery of Horology and the Anchorites keep you motivated to continue reading. I did have trouble with the locations, as much of the novel takes place in Europe (England and Ireland), but I don't know to what factor geographical knowledge would enhance my enjoyment.
The novel revolves around Holly Sykes, but is written from the point of view (POV) of several characters that Holly encounters throughout her life. The story is told from England in 1984 to Ireland in 2040. Holly and others have special abilities are referred to as a "psychoeteric"skills, and this trait makes them desirable to Carnivores, or Anchorites. And then there are the Horologists, the resurrectionists, who switch genders at ever resurrection and who exist at a present time with memories and knowledge from previous lifetimes.
The Horologists are the most interesting. These individuals live a full life, perish, and are resurrected in a new body, different gender, and must start all over again. How odd it must be to have the wisdom of a 400 year-old being stuck in an adolescent girl's body. No one takes you seriously. No one wants to hear your opinion on politics or religion. And if you really let your knowledge shine, you draw attention to yourself which could be dangerous (although, how much do you have to lose when you know you can start over again). Years and years of time. Nothing but time. You are able to travel across the globe, learn multiple languages, discover new passions or focus on previous interests. The caveat is that everyone you know and everyone you meet and everyone you care for will die, and you will live on. And how do relationships work if you a girl now, but in the past life you were a male? Is that considered bisexual? Does it really matter to someone centuries old?
I realized upon completion that the male characters (the POV characters at least) all had major flaws. Perhaps I am quick to say this because I am a female and can empathize and forgive the females, but the males all appeared to act selfishly and hurtfully. The male POV characters cheated their friends, set up a business foe for incarceration, and abandoned their families for work and personal interests. The males all believed they were acting righteously (although they were really being self-righteous) and had no problem scoffing at others, thinking themselves to be so high and mighty. This isn't a negative critique on the characters, only an interesting realization, perhaps caused my growing feminism.
The novel did not deal with multiple or parallel universes, but instead with different points of time and how all humans are "Bone Clocks" - sacks of bones ticking down to individual and collective expiration. The conclusion of the book is a bit morose with political undertones, but overall it was an exciting journey with the climax being a battle of Good versus Evil. I won't tell who wins.
Morals: Every person you encounter is part of your Script, and plays a role in your life. Do not underestimate or take for granted those around you. Appreciate what and who you have because time is a fickle beast and can speed up and take those things from you.
Finished reading Friday, January 9th
DD's Rating: A+
Next book: Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston
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