Readings of 2003
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
February, 2003
- For my last birthday party, I asked my friends to give me books that either changed the way they look at life, or one of their old favorites. I've been chipping away at this pile of reading since late January. All of these books are from the birthday collection. Some I loved...some I couldn't wait to pass on. Here they are.
The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye Veiw of The World
Michael Pollan
This was my dad's pick for a book that changed the way he looks at the world. I have to admit that it did the same for me. A beautiful & scientific read, this book is broken into four sections that explores why we desire certain plants over others. Apples are choosen for their sweetness, tulips for beauty, marijuana for intoxication, and the potato for control (think GMO). Lots of great scientific and historical facts. You will learn about Johnny Appleseed, Holland's mad case of tuplipmania, the difference between indica and sativa cannabis, and just how come those McDonald's french-fries look so perfect.
Reasons to Live
Amy Hempel
My upstairs neighbo,r Carrie, gave me two of Amy Hempel's books. She actually gave me At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom for my b-day, and I loved it so much she got me this book. Amy Hempel is one of my new fav's. Unfortunately, she has dropped from the scene. Anyway...here's why she is so good: short poignant stories that put you right in the middle of someone's life for a quick piece of time. Great page turners. Both books are fast reads that lingered inside me for days. Go check her out!!
At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom
Amy Hempel
More heart-shaking short stories. If you want something easy yet emotionaly stimulating, read this!! (See above for more talk.)
Post Office
Charles Bukowski
A novel by Bukowski that makes you think of your daily mail in a whole new way. This book was also a hit with me. I am a Bukowski fan, much to the dismay of my feminist side. Yes, the book is full of the usual Buk sexist shit... but I still think his style is real. If you have read any of his poems, you know what he writes about. This novel is no acception: drinking, horse racing, "nice legs," ladies, getting laid, and general mumbling and distain about life. All of this is wrapped around the main character's insane job in a post office. I don't know how much of the post office work-life is true...but God, it made me glad that I don't work at one.
I Thought My Father Was God
Paul Auster (ed.)
This is a collection of 179 short stories all of which are A) True, B) Short!, and C) from NPR's National Story Project. Paul Auster hosted a radio show where he asked for listeners to send in stories that fit the above criteria. He would then read the selected stories on the air the following week. This a samping of the stories he received. I have to admit that I am a sucker for short stories because they make you feel like you're getting a lot done, and if you don't like one, it will be over in a page. I liked 80 percent of the stories, found them quite intertaining. I suggest reading the book over a couple of months and skipping around in it. I just plowed through, a method which I believe made the book less enjoyable. The book is broken into 10 categories (Animals, War, Family, Slapstick, Death, Love, Meditaions, Dreams, Strangers, and Objects), which, if read in one sitting, begin to sound repetitive. Even if the styles are different, reading 30 stories on death involves so many overlaps that I got a little bored or anxious for the next category. So if you're going to read this book, learn from my mistake...spread it out and don't read them in order!!
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March, 2003
Morvern Callar
Alan Warner
Oh boy, I had a hard time with this book. Here's what I liked: learning new British idoms. I don't like graphic details of gross things, and this book is full of them. I can't tell you much because it will ruin the book, if indeed you want to read it. I started out liking the book, then was disgusted, but in the end found it redeeming. It is a story about a woman who walks into her kitchen to find her boyfriend has committed suicide on their kitchen floor. She steps over him and goes to work...then it gets even weirder from there. This book is not for the weak stomached, but if you want to read a crazy story about one woman's approach to coping with the death of a loved one, then read this.
The Night Visitor and Other Stories
B. Traven
Author B. Traven is a German-born man living in exile in Mexico. His experience as a foreigner strongly flavors all of his stories. They are not glamourous tales about travling; they are tough realistic stories that bring you right into the heart of Mexico. This book is full of corruption, friendship, isolation, and all those details that make Mexico what it is.
Other Voices, Other Rooms
Truman Capote
A coming-of-age story about a boy who goes to meet his father for the first time. What he finds when he gets there is nothing he could have expected. Full of eccentric characters and uncomfortable and confusing situations. I struggled through this book, but love Capote's ability to describe things in such percise detail. Sometimes I could see the dust on the road, feel the heat on my skin...but I couldn't tell really what the heck was going on the story. Oh well.
The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Classic childern's book for adults. The Little Prince lands on Earth and tells his tale to another travler lost in the dessert. He talks of the planets he has visited, each of which are inhabited by only one person. Each person details negative aspects of the human personality. A quite charming story that would be great to read to a little person, a sweetie, or outloud to friends.
Booty: Girl Pirates on the Hight Seas
Sara Lorimer
The title says it all. A wonderfully illustrated book (Susan Synarski) that spins the tales of the lady pirates that ruled the seas. I never realized that so many girl pirates lived as men so that they could live the wild life on the seas. An entertaining read that would be fun to give to a young girl. It makes a nice coffee table book too, on account of the colorful and stylish illustrations.
The Doubtful Guest
Edward Gorey
A giggle-out-loud ten minute read. Classic Gorey illustrations coupled with a funny poem about an odd guest that won't leave. If you like Gorey or want to get a feeling for him, then you must see this book. Heck, being that it is so short, you could read the whole thing at the bookstore and decided then if you want to buy it for your personal shelf.
The Cheese Monkeys
Chip Kidd
An insane story about a kid's first semester at college. He is an art major, a freak, and full of stuff so funny that he'll have you laughing out loud. If you want to reminisce about the absurdity of art classes and pompus academia, then this is your book.
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April, 2003
Good Omens
Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Silly story about the end of the world. Good and and evil angels battle each other. Hell's angel drives a prestine vintage convertible and loves modern rock. Heaven's angel owns a rare book store. The cast of characters includes a prophet, witchfinders, God, Satan, an antichrist named Adam, who really is just a little snotty kid who likes to ride his bike and boss his friends around. It's an easy read for a nice mental break. I give it a 6.5
Burning in Water Drowning in Flame
Charles Bukowski
Selected poems from 1955-1973. A good collection, talking about the usual themes. My favorites are his childhood-remembince type poems. Good stuff. I give it an 8.
An Unfortunate Woman
Richard Brautigan
This story reads like an autobiographical journal of a writer and his life during a six-month period. Lots of tangents and not many deep discoveries. It is supposedly centered around a woman who hung herself in a house where he lives, but not much is said about her. It was written during the time when one of Brautigan's close friends was dying of cancer. As one would expect, death is the theme of the book. This was my least-favorite book by Brautigan. I wouldn't suggest anyone else read it, it just didn't go anywhere. I give it a 4.
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May, 2003
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J.K. Rowling
I agree with my upstairs neighbor Carrie when she said, " Yeah it's a good book, but is this what all the hype is about. Harry Potter ain't no Alice in Wonderland or Lord of the Rings." Yup. This book isn't any strike of literary genius, but Gosh 'o' mighty it's fun to read. A fast read, even for a 380 page book. Lot of fantasy and witch/magic stuff. I don't usually read fantasy genre, yet was quite entertained and satisfied. I got to laugh out loud several times, which I always enjoy. I say if you like fantasy and easy, yet entertaining kid's book... check it out. Give your brain a break, it's almost Summer. Read simply for the fun of it.
Tipping the Velvet
Sarah Waters
At first I thought this would be a good novel if you were a just coming out as a lesbian... it's full of all those identity questions that one asks themselves when realizing they are gay. But then the story gets beyond the basic questions and quandaries, into some downright dirty situations. Whoa nelly Tipping the Velvet is full of surprises and detailed images. If your in the mood for a story of butch and fem, poverty and wealth, theater, fantasy, politics and power, then this is your book. Not the best thing I've ever read, but definitely entertaining.
Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction
Kurt Vonnegut
Twenty-four short stories that transport you straight to their center. Vonnegut says you should start a story as close to the end as possible, give the reader as much information as soon as you can. He successfully accomplishes this mission in his collection of stories. Several of the stories have reappearing characters that I found myself attached to by the end of the book, especially a pathetic obsessed High School band teacher. The theme of war, or more specifically the life of a solider after a war, flavor many of his stories. I laughed out loud at one page, then nearly cried from the next page. A well rounded collection of stories that gives everyone of your emotions a time to come to center stage. This is a good read.
Girl with the Pearl Earring
Tracy Chevalier
Was I thoroughly entertained... Nope. This book was ok, but not great. I think if it was longer then an easy 230 pages, I wouldn't have finished it. The story set in the 1660's in Holland about a young girl who becomes a maid. It's a coming of age novel and a history book at the same time. Did I learn more about life in that century... for sure, but I wasn't that interested in it to begin with. I read this book because a coworker of mine loved it and left it on my desk for me. If you're into historic novels, then this could be your thing. I just have to remember to stick to the stuff that floats my boat, and this wasn't it.
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June, 2003
This is absolutely pathetic, but I can't remember.
And I didn't write it down!!
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July, 2003
A Moveable Feast
Ernest Hemingway
I was staying with my friend Brisa in her apartment in Paris and she gave me this book to read. She chose it because it's full of poignant observations about Paris from a writer's point of view. I didn't know much about Hemingway before I read this book, but in so doing, I became a fan. A Moveable Feast is an autobiography of a brief period of Hemingway's life, while he was living in Paris. It is a well written quick read that you get absorbed into.
Collected Sonnets
Edna St.Vincent Millay
A fat collection of sonnets that delve deep into aspects of love and longing. Like most poetry books, read a few poems at a time, so they can soak in and not all become one big blur. Several of her sonnets really moved me.
Wicked
Gregory Maguire
I went to see the play "Wicked" which I absolutely loved. This inspired me to give the book a read. I hate to say that I actually liked the play better, but I still enjoyed the book. It is a story about the Wicked Witch of the East from the Wizard of Oz . It is essentially a behind the scene of what happened in the original book. The book's purpose is the examination of evil and wicked. What makes a person that way, who is to blame ? Reading Wicked has forever changed the way I think of the Wizard of Oz . Read it and think.
A House of Spirits
Isabelle Ayende
A multi-generational story about a family and it's entanglements with the supernatural, politics, and love. You discover innocence, enamouration, frustration, bitterness, and much more in these pages. The characters are so well developed that you feel you know them. You see them born, age, then die. You feel their lives. This is not a short book, but it is worth the effort.
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August, 2003
Neruda and Vallejo: Selected Poems
Edited and Translated by Robert Bly
Sometimes a book comes at the right time. A friend of mine gave me this book because he knew I love poetry. I was not disappointed. Already a fan of Neruda, I was delighted to discover Vallejo. The two authors offset each other nicely: Vallejo tragic and serious, while Neruda though serious at time, leans more towards the romantic and pleasant. If you want an opportunity to brush up on your Spanish, here it is. The book is presented on one page in Spanish, and the other in English. I really did study some vocab and pronunciation!! And had a good time doing it I must say. Back to the poets... they are great and balance each other so well. If you don't know much about Spanish poetry or already do and love it, pick up a copy of this book. I give it a 9.
Five Smooth Stones
Ann Fairbairn
Billed as a "monumental novel of forbidden love", it holds true to its claims. This is a large commitment of a read seeing that it is 932 pages. Whoa Nelly. Written in 1966, the story explores the begging of the civil right movements and the differences between white and black in the South. Lots of good stuff about racism, segregation, and general history... while it was all still being written. I found it fascinating that this book was written in the middle of the civil rights movement, yet it had such historic perspective and introspection. I didn't say much about the "forbidden love", but you can just guess what it is. This book is a good way to educate yourself, but I do admit that by the time I got to page 800 I was antsy, so I skimmed the last 200.
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September, 2003
Odd Jobs: Portraits of Unusual Occupations
Nancy Rica Schiff
A short book of pictures and quick details on weird jobs you could have had. Nancy Schiff traveled the US photography people doing their "odd jobs". I wish there were more details and perhaps some in depth interviews on about the job holders. Oh well, the photos were a kick. My favorite occupations were the coin polisher and the Lego model maker. This is an entertaining book to have on the coffee table or in the bathroom.
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October, 2003
Selected Poems
Pablo Neruda
A well rounded selection of Neruda's poetry, chosen by him. A bit of odes and also some epics too. Over a hundred pomes for your reading enjoyment. I recommend this book as a good introduction to someone just beginning to read Neruda (also to those who already love him). You get to read such a good sampling of his poetry from political to love and back. Your emotions will be taken everywhere. A timely read, considering his recent death. The world lost a phenomenal poet.
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November, 2003
Running with Scissors
Augusten Burroughs
This book was recommended to me by a co-worker who said, "If you like David Sedaris, you'll love this." I didn't LOVE it, but I did LIKE it. Funny, even more so when you remind yourself that it is a true story. Absolute absurdity of actions happen when Augusten's parents get divorced and his psychotic mother sends him to live with her equally crazy shrink. This both a humorous and disturbing read. Not as highly comical as David Sedaris, but equally as unlikely. I think it's a good use of your free time.
In the Heart of the Contry
J.M. Coetzcee
I was at the airport in Las Vegas, waiting to board my plane. This being the perfect time to read, I turned to a fellow book-loving co-worker to see what he had. His mother had just sent him this book for his birthday. I started reading it, just to pass some time. Before I knew it, I got quite sucked in. Had I know what a crazy ride I was in for, I probably would have never picked it up. The story is centered around a woman who is living in a very remote part of Africa with her father. Her mother died when she was young, and her father blames her. She has a horrible relationship to herself, struggling constantly with her belief that she is undesirable to all. Soon things start to get quite tangled. The reader is unable to determine if she is inventing her own reality, weaving wilder and wilder tales, or if she is indeed living the insanity. One thing is for sure, she is crazy. This book leaves you tied in knots, feeling gross and confused. This doesn't mean that it's not worth reading, it is. Just be prepared, it's not the feel good book of the year.
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
During the same trip to Las Vegas (mentioned above), this book was recommended to me as a truly good read. Having some time to spare before a work meeting, I went to Boarders and picked up a copy. (Unfortunately there were no small independent bookstores around, it being Vegas and all). True to her word, this book was great. It is labeled fiction, but a quick look at the author's notes tells you otherwise. This is a story of inspiring survival of a ship wrecked boy named Pi who is abroad a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. The unlikeliness of the story, makes for a page turner in itself. But there is more to it than that. I found myself repeatedly contemplating human adaptability and what is possible if one has the will to survive. I highly recommended this book for you and your pals. Read it and be inspired to live.
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December, 2003
T.A.Z: The Temporary Autonomous Zone, Ontological Anarchy, Poetic Terrorism
Hakim Bey
A nice short 141 pages, except almost none of it is enjoyable. Read the title of this book again to get a feel of what it is like to open these pages. Ugh. I felt like I was drowning in crazy anarchist new age psycho-babble. That has got to be some of the worst stuff, with the exception of a born-again soap box speech. Lots of advice contained with it's covers, like " Organize a strike in your school or workplace on the grounds that it does not satisfy your need for indolence and spiritual beauty". Great, I'll do that tomorrow. I have to admit, some of the comments/suggestions got me laughing, and even contemplating action. For example to post up signs in public places where you have experienced a revelation or had a particularly fulfilling sexual experience. Sure, why not. This book was one of the last from my Birthday Books reading. I don't remember who gave this to me, but I apologize for not finishing it, despite it's short length. I just couldn't put myself through the misery. Maybe if I was an angst anarchist teenager it would have resonated more.
A Cook's Tour: A Global Adventure in Extreme Cuisine
Anthony Bourdain
I loooooove food. I also love stories about travel. What better combination than the documentation of traveling around the world in search of the perfect meal. Anthony visits Mexico, France, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, Scottland, England, Russia, Spain, Morroco, and even Napa Valley's French Laundry. A few of the culinary highlights are a still beating cobra's heart in Vietnam and fried piggy skin in Mexico. The reinactments of his travels are hysterical, as he struggles to find great food, and the TV producers who pay for his trips force him into eating stuff that is just downright awful, because it would sell. This book will get you drooling, as you pack your bags for the next flight to Vietnam.
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