Whitewavedarling's 2013 Reading...

Up until this coming year, I've belonged to the 50 book challenge even though I've been averaging more like 90 books (this year and last year anyway--before, it was higher). I stuck with the 50 challenge to challenge myself to read 50 pleasure-reading books (as opposed to school books). In 2011, I came up to around 30, but this year, I more than hit the challenge mark I'd set for myself. Now that I'm dissertating and out of classwork and exams, the simple fact is that nearly all of my reading counts as pleasure reading, even when connected to school. SO, long story short, it finally makes sense for me to stop the challenge within a challenge business in my list, and go for a single mark. Going for 100 would have been a good challenge mark for me the last few years, but because of some personal matters and plans for this upcoming year (not to mention that dissertation lurking around my home), I think just reaching 75 is a fair enough challenge for the year!

If you want to read my 50 challenge, the link is http://www.librarything.com/topic/131002

Meanwhile, I'll tell you now that while I don't do formal formal reviews, I do post short reviews/responses to each work I read, partly to help me remember the work when I may come back to the response years from now. I'm still finishing up my 50 list, but meanwhile, I'll post here that the couple of books which will be carrying into the new year and ending up here are: Tripwire by Lee Child, Cat Miracles: Inspiring True Tales of Remarkable Felines by Brad Steiger, What Was Asked Of Us: An Oral History of the Iraq War by the Soldiers Who Fought It edited by Trish Woodand Bobby Muller.

Generally, I have one paperback hanging out by my bed for nights when I can't sleep, which I take my time with (hence, Tripwire, which would otherwise be long done...) and then a couple of books that can be read/wandered through in small sections, as the mood hits me, which is the case with both the book on the Iraq War and the kitty cat miracle book. All are good reads, so far--the places they have in my life just means they go a bit more slowly!

Oh, and I suppose I should mention in this introduction: my dissertation is on contemporary fiction dealing with HIV/AIDS, so along with all of my other interests, you'll see a fair amount of reading on medical concerns and medical narratives, and trauma theory and trauma narratives, along with both fiction and nonfiction related to HIV/AIDS.

Good reading, everyone!

Hi Jen! I enjoyed your introduction. Can't believe I'm first here! That never happens....

I followed your 50 thread in that group & am glad someone else is joining the more talkative 75'ers with me. I look forward to keeping up with your reading this year.

Oh, and welcome!!

I was glad to see you here also, Tina! Good reading :)

Meanwhile, as we all look forward to 2013, here are my 2012 favorites loosely in the order I read them....with absolute favorite favorites bolded (well, for the non re-reads, which speak for themselves)

1. Beauty's Gift by Sindiwe Magona (fiction, African literature)
2. Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith (a re-read, poetry, regarding Katrina, one of my long-time favorites)
3. Property by Valerie Martin (historical fiction, one of the Orange Prize winners)
4. Stardust by Neil Gaiman (a re-read, fantasy/fairy tale)
5. Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah (fiction, African literature)
6. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute (fiction)
7. Miracle Cure by Harlan Coben (fiction/suspense)
8. What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage (fiction)
9. Acqua Calda by Keith McDermott (fiction)
10. Above the Thunder by Renee Manfredi (fiction)
11. Refusing Heaven by Jack Gilbert (poetry)
12. The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios by Yann Martel (novella and stories)
13. Plays Well With Others by Allan Gurganus (fiction)
14. The Year That Trembled by Scott Lax (historical fiction)
15. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (YA literature)
16. The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman (fiction)
17. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman (fiction, veering into magical realism)
18. The Savage Night by Mohammed Dib trans. by C. Dickson (short stories, African literature)

(And, looking at the above list, I now have a new goal to hope/aim for: this is the first year in ages that not a single nonfiction work has made my favorites list--here's hoping it won't happen again!)

Hi Jennifer! Welcome to the group! I just skimmed your fascinating 2012 50 book thread and found some great stuff. I read several Coetzee novels last year, my favorite being In the Heart of the Country and I just picked up the Bessie Head. Anyway, I've starred this thread. Happy New Year!

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'll make sure to follow your reading as well since we have so much in common--I really enjoyed the Bessie Head, and plan to get back to Coetzee as soon as I get a chance also!

Welcome to the group, Jen!

I am always pleased to see another person who appreciates Nevil Shute's works. I am glad to see you enjoyed Pied Piper so much.

I need to read more of his work--I picked it up on a whim, and then read it one sitting, ignoring my husband and our animals all day, completely!

#9: My favorite of his is On the Beach with A Town Like Alice running a close second. I need to read the rest of his oeuvre too.

Jen!! I'm so glad you're here! What have you been doing since you left Clemson?

Good to see you here also! I've been in Pittsburgh this whole time, slowly working on the PhD...and my poetry...and editing a journal...and getting married...and accumulating more books! In no particular order ;) My husband and I are just at the point where we're thinking about moving again, though (both of us being tired of the city), so we'll see what the future brings! What about you?

Oh, and I'm now organizing art shows (beyond the normal open mics I always did). Who'd have thought?

>12 whitewavedarling:, 13 You're so busy! Sounds like fun.
I'm not doing much. I graduated and now I'm a government drone and I spend all my money on books and yarn.

You know, the guy who manages this group went to Clemson for grad school, and his son is at Clemson now!

lol, I didn't know that! Joel and I would actually love to get back down there eventually (he grew up in Charleston), but want to be closer to family (in VA) when we start thinking more seriously about having little ones who aren't cats or dogs!

VA is lovely, particularly the Northern part ;-)

Hi Jennifer!!! Glad to see you join the 75 group. A few years back I followed your thread in the 50 group. You inspired me to read some poetry books.

Happy New Year!!! Happy Reading!!!!

>16 norabelle414:, I did undergrad in Winchester before I moved on to Clemson--I'd love to get back there eventually :) It would be great to be back in driving distance of DC and Richmond, but not have to deal with the daily traffic!

>17 tjblue:, I remember! It's good to see you here, too! Hopefully I'll drive you toward some poetry yet again this year!

>18 whitewavedarling: Well there is a DC-area meet-up group that meets about twice a year, so you will have to join us if you move within driving distance :-)

Nora, I'll remember that! Joel and I both have family in VA, so that's definitely our next goal! At the earliest, it will this coming summer, but we'll see what happens....

A quiet reflection at the end and the start of a year

Well, I don't keep a blog, so this is the closest thing I have to an appropriate forum for this random LT-inspired post. Probably a one-time thing for me, hence the not-keeping-a-blog, so feel free to peruse and comment or ignore...

Generally, I haven't given much thought to all of the online-inspired debates about the word 'community'. I've belonged to LT for more than six years now, maybe closer to seven--I'd have to look at my own profile to be sure on that one--and called it an online community, but I'm not sure I've considered it emotionally until tonight. What brought this on? For some years now, I've been committed to the 50-books-a-year group, albeit somewhat inappropriately since I've never failed to read more than 75 (a long story rehashed in the first post of this thread). But, for many reasons, for the last time I posted a message in my own thread on that group's page, having finished Alice Hoffman's Blue Diary as my last/89th book of 2012.

Now, I could say that I'll keep up with the group even now that I'm keeping a thread here instead. But, realistically, I know how busy I am and shall be, and how much trouble I'll have just keeping up with threads here. And, I also know that most of the folks I communicated with regularly in that thread have already moved over here, and that I've done as much communicating on this thread, just over the last few days, as I've done in the last few months over there! (Generally, I'm more of a lurker, and as I'm sure many of you know, this is simply a much more chatty group!) Now, with this thought in mind, I wouldn't have expected my last post on my own thread over there to feel like an actual goodbye, in any way or shape or form. But, it did. Thus, my turn to the word 'community'.

With so many of us setting goals for the new year, and with my own hopes that 2013 will simply turn out to be a much better year than my tumultuous 2012 has been, with no more subtle goals in mind really, I can't help taking a moment to think of what LT has been to me in the past years, and how much of a real community it is, albeit one that some folks who haven't taken to the internet (like my mom and grandmother, who both love to read) won't ever understand. Besides having it to thank for numerous free books through Early Reviewers and the Member Giveaway, and besides having it to thank for the priceless gift of authors and books I wouldn't have discovered and loved otherwise, I also have it to thank for a community of always ready voices who love to read books, and read about them, and chat about them.

Friends, most of whom are faceless (thought not all), and many of whom are nameless (at least in the business/day-to-day sense of what we'd mean by that), are always here. And, while I've always had books and animals and people as friends, some of whom even understand my love of the written word, I've certainly never had a community which understood all of this--and shared it--so perfectly (even when I've worked/volunteered at libraries!). And, many of them, I've met through these challenge groups, and not fully appreciated until this new year's eve.

Thus, in a funny and totally unpredictable way, moving from one simple thread to another has led me to realize that this lovely online community is just as much a reality in my life as any other community has been or could be, and that the word is really appropriate in every sense of the word. I'm still social and have belonging in person, certainly, and I could never exist socially as only an online entity, but for myself, and for whoever in whatever place might be reading this at this moment, I just wanted to take a moment to look back instead of forward, and thank you for being a part of this community, too.

BUT, now, I do promise to move forward in a less nostalgic fashion, and lood forward. I just wanted to look back for a moment, and speak my thoughts in the most appropriate spot, for a moment.

Good reading, everyone, and happy new year!

Beautifully said. Wow.

Of course, I've already starred & visited you several times! Happy New Year!

Hear, hear!! Thanks for putting it into words. And Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year, Jen!

Happy new year to you as well :) I'd been thinking it, and thought it might resonate here, so went ahead! Meanwhile, I'm still in the process of finding and starring, but if I haven't already starred you, it will be done shortly, so I'll be an official lurker even if I don't comment as often as I should!

That was a lovely and thoughtful post about the LT community, Jen. I'm looking forward to following your reading adventures in 2013.

Thanks, rosalita!

And, it begins...

1. Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman (which kept me reading long after my husband was waiting for me to stop for the night...)

Full Review:

Beautifully written, this novel is about a collision of past and present, with the one woman in the center of the novel having been stuck between them for some twenty years, not moving in either direction...until now. Her drama encompasses that of the lives of her daughter and others, and Hoffman paints full portraits of the unique individuals at the center of the novel, bringing a unique flavor to what might otherwise be a more straightforwrad drama. Her incorporations of animals and of landscape are also flawless, making a small town come to more realistic breath than in many other works that specialize more in the small town's charicature.

Simply, the work is one which makes you forget you're reading a novel--at times, the heartbreak and humor here are far too real, and the characters far too sympathetic. Highly recommended for any readers of drama. While this book doesn't veer into the moments of magical realism that bring together my favorite Hoffman works, this will remain one of my favorites of her work, and is the first 300 page book in agest that I've read in a single day.

Happy New Year!
Great review of Here on Earth - I have only read one novel by Alice Hoffman so far - The Dovekeepers which I very much enjoyed. This looks like a book I would also enjoy. Thanks!

Dovekeepers is next on my list :)

Hi Jennifer - I'm taking the opportunity of a new year to meet some new people and read some new threads. I love Alice Hoffman, but have not read Here on Earth yet. Looks like I have something to look forward to!

Your “Quiet Reflection” was lovely. Happy New Year.

welcome, katiekrug and jadebird! And, thanks for the complement :)

Meanwhile, I hesitate to even record the next book, but I did take the time to go through it page by page (albeit only because my husband had left it lying on the coffee table and I was in between other matters at home), so I'll add it anyway. And, I won't feel too guilty since a few of my upcoming January reads are 500+ pages...

But, since the backstory is more interesting than the book itself....

How I, of all people, ended up reading this one...

Simply, I don't like sheep. I love just about every animal you can imagine, from varieties of sharks and snakes to the snow leopard and the common shelter dog and the moth outside the window...but I've always found sheep rather creepy and worth avoiding. I won't try to explain, but suffice it to say: I just don't like sheep. Well, at some point, a friend of mine managed to translate sheep into rabbits, and believed me to dislike bunnies instead of sheep. And, in that misguided belief, he bought me this (and chocolates) for Christmas one year. Because he's a good friend, the book never got given away, and I dug it out a few days ago for my husband, who was temporarily amused by a calendar of the same title. Then, I ended up wandering in.

2. The Book of Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley

About what you'd expect--wildly inappropriate, rather silly, and only occasionally amusing. It has its moments, I admit, but for the most part, there's not much to it. The book was given to me as a joke gift, and...well...it's just that sort of a book. Not something I would have spent any time on if it weren't randomly lying around.

Hi Jen. Thanks for the note on my thread. I have you starred here now. Moving over to the 75's this year seems like such a giant step. I liked seeing you enjoy Nevil Shute last year (one of my secret pleasures), although I don't believe I have read Pied Piper. I'm also glad that you liked The God Engines and although I really got rocked by it, i agree with your comments that it could have been more.
good luck on 2013
- Ron

ps i liked your quiet reflection

Thanks, Ron! I need to read more Nevil Shute--I'd been wanting to read him for ages, and when I finally picked him up, On the Beach just seemed like too much for that particular day. I think Pied Piper will be a longstanding favorite of mine, though, so I do hope you pick it up! And, admittedly, my reaction to The God Engines might have been influenced negatively because I'd heard such good things about it leading up to my picking it up--I probably just had my expectations set a bit too high!

Shute was a great storyteller. I haven't read him for a while which always makes me wonder with books or authors if they still would be a good read later in life. Two of my favorites however were A Town Like Alice and Pastoral. I really should squeeze one or more of his books into my reading this year.

Stopping by to drop off a star! Welcome to the 75ers!

Lovely review of Here on Earth. I've only read Practical Magic by Hoffman, which I enjoyed, so maybe I'll look for Here on Earth at the library.

Sandy K

Sandy, thanks! I dropped one off over in your directions as well, but I'm such a lurker that I don't always announce myself! I haven't read Practical Magic yet, but it's in the mountainous tbr, so at some point I shall!

This is one which was hanging around in the end of 2012, but not a book that I could read without taking many breaks. So, having been making my way through it on and off these last few months...

3. What Was Asked Of Us: An Oral History of the Iraq War by the Soldiers Who Fought It edited by Trish Wood

Absolutely recommended if it sounds to be of interest.

Full Review as posted on book page...:

For readers wanting a powerful look into the minds of the average soldiers who found themselves enmeshed in the Iraq War, I'm not sure there's a better work out there. This collection doesn't attempt to give a full history lesson or background, but it succeeds at giving a broad and varied view to the minds of soldiers--from the foot soldiers to the snipers to the clergy and the medics and the officers on the ground. Rather than get wrapped up in policy or protest, the various voices amount to an unbiased collection of ideas, with no single writer's section lasting more than 15 pages or so, and many inclusions being only 2-4 pages. As the many represented soldiers report their experiences, and in some cases how they ended up signing up for military service, readers are confronted with every side of the Iraq War and the issues wrapped up therein, each presented by the single powerful remembrance of someone directly engaged by the war.

All of that said, this isn't a book you'll want to sit down and read in one sitting. Some of the sections are repetitive, simply because of the nature of the work (though, not as many as you might expect because such an effort has been made to include varied voices who took part in the war at different times and in different roles). And, many of the sections present horrifying material that will make you, very simply, need a break from the remembrances included. But, the work as a whole is necessary and powerful, and absolutely worth reading. Even if you've read a great deal about the war, and stayed engaged with the news as it was being fought, this book will present you with new sides of the stories at hand. And, I would say, the fact that the work as a whole leans neither toward the left or the right is part of what makes the work so worthwhile.

Absolutely recommended.

21> Sigh. So beautifully said, jennifer. And I agree wholeheartedly though I've only been an LTer for (almost) two years.

You liked Here on Earth. I'm reading The Dovekeepers right now and enjoying it more as I get more deeply into it.

Thank you :) And, I've just started The Dovekeepers as well, and about to go dive back in!

(I'm prepping for an interview I have scheduled with Hoffman later on this month--reading Dovekeepers since it's her latest, and then At Risk since that's the driving force behind the interview are the last ones on my agenda before I'll feel fully prepared, but I'm enjoying every minute of the prep!)

Hi Jen, good to meet you. Thanks for coming by to introduce yourself. I'm returning the favour with a star and looking forward to seeing what you read this year. It looks like you're off to a flying start already.

Good to see you here!

You're interviewing Hoffman later this month?

Yep :)

Came by to catch up and say hi.

Are you going to give us all the dirty details once your interview is over?!

I'm with Tina. Very interested....

lol, at least an overview and a few of them! I'm hoping to get it published sooner than later, though, so it would then be available easily to everyone :) A lot of it will be about one of her lesser read works though (At Risk), so I'm not sure how interested everyone here will be--I guess we'll see! I'm anxious to set the date, though--we're doing a phone interview late this month, and then planning to meet for a quick coffee or whatnot when I'm in Boston in March :)

Meanwhile....

4. Cat Miracles: Inspiring True Tales of Remarkable Felines edited by Brad Steiger

This is a sweet and varied collection of tales about cats, ranging from the miraculous to the famous to world records. Most of the stories are quick, lasting only 2-5 pages, and entertaining. My only complaint about the book would be that I would have loved to see pictures of at least some of the cats (though I'm sure that would have raised the price of the book...). In the end, I enjoyed the stories, and wandered through this book at a leisurely pace, often holding one of my own felines while reading.

5. Blue Eyes, Black Hair by Marguerite Duras

This was a stressful day of dealing with electricians and repairment, and a cold house with no heat. I picked this up on a whim because of the large print that I could read without extra light, and my lack of energy for my other current reads. What a calm and wonderful surprise.

Full Review:
As unassuming as it is surprising, this is a book about the quietly obsessive love of two individuals who've both become enamoured with the same nearly untouchable and idealized man. What sounds as if it would be torrid or silly or frustrating, though, at the very least, becomes utterly beautiful in the writing of Duras. The graceful passages of the novel, or novella, I suppose, are so simple and honest that the relationship of the man and woman at the heart of the novel is delivered in a manner that nearly comes across as innocent. Though, this is also tinged with a constant erotic pressure so that innocent feelings are tuned also toward undoubtedly adult sense and material.

If all of this sounds jumbled, it may be because the book itself is something of a beautiful puzzle, built for readers to slip through in a single reading. Duras' language and tone are perfectly set, and the interjections on artistry and acting, as if the entire novel is being read and performed on a private stage, add a level of alien maturity that is nearly indescribable when combined with the simply related relationship at the center of the work.

In the end, this is one of those short works that is both clear in its first communication, and yet demaning of a re-read. It is artful, smart, and perfectly tuned for a quiet read and meditation on relationships, love, and what binds one individual to the next for better or worse.

Absolutely recommended.

Lovely review.

I hope you are not still sitting in the cold and dark.

Thanks :) And, Well, we got the electricity overall back, and they're putting in a new furnace tomorrow. For now, the landlord gave us some spaceheaters that are doing a pretty decent job, so we'll survive the night just fine!

Hi Jen. I'm really enjoying your reviews and just brought What Was Asked of Us home from the library and put Blue Eyes, Black Hair on hold. I recently finished The Yellow Birds, a novel about the Iraq War, so I think What Was Asked of Us will be a good companion book.

So glad you decided to join the 75ers!

Hi Jen,
Thanks for stopping by my thread earlier today. I loved reading through yours just now, particularly your riff on Librarything - really lovely, and the cat book. I've starred your thread and look forward to reading more reviews and reflections. - Peg

*lurking*

Hey... Love your review & hope your heat / lights are back...

I picked up The Dovekeepers yesterday at a bookstore for $5! Score!! Thought of you & your coming interview :)

Welcome to the group.

Great review of Blue Eyes, Black Hair. Marguerite Duras is one of the authors we will be reading this year in the Author Theme Reads Group later this year. Please stop by the group if you're interested. (All the authors this year are French).

Hi everyone! I disappear for a day, and come back to so many wonderful visitors :)

Tina, I saw you picked up Dovekeepers and know you'll appreciate it--I'm one of those lurkers who just doesn't always say anything!

Meanwhile, I've got The Yellow Birds on my radar, so one of these days....meanwhile, thanks :)

And, Peg, thank you :)

I'll have to keep in mind that there'll be a lot of reading of Duras--I definitely want to read more, and just noticed that her The Lover is on one of those lists I'm ever so slowly working my way through (maybe the Under 1001...)

6. Caught in the Quiet by Rod McKuen

A quick and easy collection of poetry...but not one I'd recommend, unfortunately.

Full Review:
This collection, which is essentially a single poetic sequence and love poem, has some lovely moments. But, for the most part, I found it far too simple and one-dimensional to really enjoy it or want to come back to it. Incredibly minimalist, the poems come together to attempt a love story that is individual, but can be read universally, and the result is a sequence that just doesn't carry much power. Simply, I'm afraid this isn't something I'd ever consider recommending; there just wasn't any unique flavor or power to it, and while it was a quick and easy read, it wasn't anything more at very many moments at all.

I thought I'd pop over and say, hi! I've only read Practical Magic by Hoffman and keep meaning to try more of her books. I'll put Here on Earth on the list.

Here on Earth was pretty wonderful. Something about the movie Practical Magic hit me wrong when I saw it long ago, so I haven't gotten around to that one yet, but I shall!

Meanwhile...a very different read that might very well strike some of your fancies...

7. The Exiles and Other Stories by Horacio Quiroga

Primarily set in Argentina and the jungles of the Misiones territory in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these are tales of adventure, danger, and the pioneering men of the jungle and times. While some of the stories are comparable to the best adventure stories I've come across, and others are very nearly more along the lines of character sketches of curious characters, the book as a whole paints a vivid illustration of an unpredictable jungle, and the visions within.

Writing-wise, Quiroga's work is comparable to Joseph Conrad, and while it feels somewhat dated at times, that doesn't make it any less enjoyable in the reading. (The introduction and another review also compare him to Jack London and Rudyard Kipling, but I'm not so familiar with their work as to feel safe vouching for that comparison!) Similarly, anyone who reads the book as a whole might also be reminded of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio--bit characters in one story turn out to have larger roles in other stories, and reading the book through as a whole makes for an inter-winding collection that, I think, is stronger and more fluid for the connections (though, without a doubt, the stories generally stand on their own).

In the end, there's no doubt that some of the stories are far more powerful than others, with a few of the clear stand-outs being "Beasts in Collusion", "The Charcoal-Makers", "The Wilderness", and "The Forerunners", all of which are alive with suspense, and truly wonderful depictions of the adventures and horrors of the jungle. (That said, be warned--there are a few horrific moments tied up in these stories, especially "Beasts in Collusion", which horrified me even as I couldn't put it down...) Granted, other stories aren't so powerful here, but the ones I noted above made the full work well worth discovering.

In the end, if you're a fan of jungle or adventure stories similar to the work of Jack London or Joseph Conrad, or if you're in the market for some entertaining short stories which are full of atmosphere and wonderful characters, I'd absolutely recommend this collection.

#21: I know I am extremely late in commenting, but I love your reflection. The 75ers community is a wonderful place. The real life meet ups that I have been privileged to be part of have been nothing but lovely.

Not late at all :) Thank you.

A book update, of sorts...

Well, for those who haven't heard me talk about him elsewhere, I'll start by saying that my husband and I adopted an abused and malnourished English Coonhound two months ago, and we named him Arthur. We adore him, every minute...even the challenging ones! We've finally got him healthy and happy (well, mostly--he has some ongoing symptoms from the lyme disease he had when the shelter found him, but those will likely be something he always deals with), weighing a healthy ten pounds or so more than he did when we got him! He adores our two cats, and is ridiculously protective of me when any men are in the house (friends or repairment the same) unless my husband is right by my side. In other words, he's a sweetheart who's had a rough life, but we love him to death.

The two hiccups: he has regular nightmares (which sometimes cost my husband and I sleep) and he has severe attachment anxiety now that he's adopted us as his family. Lately, he managed to eat a window into his plastic crate, and our plan was to buy a wire crate on pay-day, to replace the plastic one that we usually leave him in when leave the house. So, we went out to buy the crate, leaving him in the window-ed crate in the middle of the living room....and he destroyed some books. Literally, ripped them to shreds. So, as he sleeps happily snoring at my feet, I thought the least I could do would be to write those books a quick remembrance here. Full reviews are written for all that I read, but here are some quick thoughts as brief obituaries...

Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor: a wonderfully dark and twisted novella that I always felt I should hate, but rather liked; a quick book mixing all the themes you'd expect from O'Connor, and a lot of humor, but a surprisingly fast read even when compared to her short stories.

The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene: another quick novel that I had every intention of re-reading; a calm book that I remember rather floating through, loving Greene's narrator's voice and enjoying every minute, though it was a quiet read; I believe I read it in one sitting.

Geography III by Elizabeth Bishop: Some wonderful poems here, and some others that I can take or leave. It's not a collection I'd recommend to folks who don't regularly enjoy poetry, but certainly one worth exploring for readers who do take their time over single poems and wander through collections. Certainly not one of my favorite poetry collections, but one I was fond of nevertheless...

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison: a classic, and one I enjoyed, though I'm not sure it's one I would have come back to. Well worth the read if you haven't come across it in the past...

Sandstorm by James Rollins: I adore Rollins' adventure stories (something like Indiana Jones tales set to the page, and pretty well written), but alas, I hadn't gotten around to this one yet....

Ground Work: Before the War/In the Dark by Robert Duncan: a difficult and experimental collection, and one I had every intention of returning to. Probably well worth note for the poetry-reader who's also interested in experimental work and war literature, but not an easy read by any means. This was one which gave me headaches, left me flummoxed and fascinated and infuriated...and interested.

The Moviegoer by Walker Percy: a quiet short novel, worth the time, though probably not one I would have gone back to re-read. Still, one I enjoyed while I had it...

Terrible Stories by Lucille Clifton: Clifton is one of my favorite favorite poets, and while this wasn't my favorite collection of hers, it is a wonderful collection of smart and carefully poignant poems. Well worth the time for poetry readers.

Ah well, dear books, you calmed the dog, and he enjoyed you in his own way, as did I. And, I'll at least be re-finding The Heart of the Matter, Sandstorm, and maybe some of the others as well....

Meanwhile, the puppy has a new crate which cannot be eaten when we must wander away...

>63 whitewavedarling: R.I.P., books.

Oh dear. Nice obituaries of the books anyway.

I hope Arthur settles down a little soon, and that the nightmares soon stop. He sounds like a gem.

Sadly, the attachment anxiety can ease somewhat in a rescue dog but will never go away, from my experience. My mum has an adorable terrier rescue dog and she has major attachment issues as well, she worships the ground my mum walks on, which makes living with her fairly challenging, as she wants to be with her and doing things with her the whole time. She gets her paws trodden on quite often because she is so close underfoot!

My mum has had her nearly four years now and it hasn't eased off. But we love her anyway, and we've promised her she's got a home for life, so we can't go back on that.

Have wonderful fun with your new boy anyway. I'd love to see pictures.

Good Morning Jen - Loved the tributes to the various chewed books. The dog sounds like a sweetie despite his *issues*. When we first brought our cat home from the ASPCA, he would go a little crazy every night. Each time, he would jump up to the same section of the bookshelves and knock over the same book: Come as a Conqueror. We got the message.

Gotta love rescues! There are always issues bc of their past, but the love they give in return is usually worth the hassle... Right?!?

Nice obituaries!

What a wonderful kitty-cat story! Meanwhile, we're working on pictures...the issue I forgot to mention (because it's so so minor) is that he's terribly camera shy. If you speak the word camera or picture, or point a cell phone or camera at him, he runs (literally, runs) from the room. And as sneaky as we try to be, catching him in a pic is difficult! But, my husband has caught a few--I just need to get around to figuring out how to post them here, which I'll do sooner than later! But, yes, rescues are absolutely worth it :) We've always gotten slightly younger ones who didn't have quite so many quirks, but it's impossible not to love our newest addition (now snoring on the couch with my legs as a pillow).

My dad adopted two Schipperke's from a rescue, and they went through many of the same issues. Also, they wouldn't let anyone brush them or clip their nails and now they love it (well, not the nail clipping). While it was a slow process, they are now very comfortable and don't destroy furniture anymore. The boy, Cosmo, still does cry a lot when they go out, but they leave the TV on and it helps some. Good luck with Arthur!

I love your idea of memorializing the books that gave their lives to soothe your anxious pup!

Thanks for the visits and notes everyone! Meanwhile, I finally finished this work that had been slowing me down... Not at all what I expected from Hoffman, but in the end, it was far more worthwhile and powerful than what I believed would be the outcome at various points while I was enmeshed in the middle of it. I'm still struggling with my final reactions, but for now, a full review is posted below...

8. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

In her Acknowledgements, Hoffman writes that "The Dovekeepers is a novel set during and after the fall of Jerusalem (70 C.E.). The book covers a period of four years as the Romans waged war against the Jewish stronghold of Masada, claimed by a group of nine hundred rebels and their families. The story is taken from the historian Josephus, who has written the only account of the siege, in which he reported that two women and five children survived the massacre on the night when the Jews committed mass suicide rather than submit to the Roman Legion. It was they who told the story to the Romans, and, therefore, to the world." I believe that this base of the story--this heart, really--is both the greatest strength and the greatest downfall of Hoffman's work in this ambitious story.

Those familiar with Hoffman's work will recognize her style, albeit writ large: the book has multiple narrators of various ages and experiences, beset by various challenges. The first difference here, though, is that each voice tells a single large chunk of the story, rather than her more usual practice of cycling between the voices regularly, letting no voice ever really attain full control of the story. In The Dovekeepers, this becomes a problem. While the story covers so much ground and material that jumping between the voices would likely be both jarring and overwhelming for a reader, particularly when the voices aren't always known to one another, the practice of giving each voice a single continuous chunk of the narrative means that readers repeatedly fall into a single voice and get interested in that trajectory, only to be yanked away to another character's genesis and journey. For me, personally, this meant that I had to continually re-enter the novel, and continually gain back an interest that was in full swing until the sudden switch. In the end, I'm not sure the work could have been successfully written any other way and still remain in first person...but then, I also think it might have been the primary fault in the novel, for this reader at least.

Stylistically, the scope also became problematic. The story that Hoffman relates in the acknowledgements, and the history behind the novel, is both loaded and far-reaching. Simply, I have to think that the novel just attempted to cover too much ground, and that what's written/attempted here might have been better suited to a full series of works.

In the end, I'm glad to have read this work, and Alice Hoffman's writing is so gorgeous, as always, that I was never really tempted to forego finishing the book. At the same time, it didn't hold me in the way that her novels usually do, and I didn't feel the same attachment to any character--let alone all of them--as I've come to expect from her narratives. I appreciate the story, and the narrative, and the history, and the incredible amount of research which must have gone into this work. And, I can easily see why critics have been calling this her masterpiece. Still, it is so unlike her other work, and I can only finish my experience with the work by saying that I'm glad to have read it, and gone on the journey, even though I likely won't return. Still, for any reader of Hoffman, or any reader interested in related ancient history, this is absolutely worth looking into, albeit with the acknowledgement that it is not a particularly easy or fast read.

Wow, Jen, I've read a few of Alice Hoffman's books but that one does sound very different, but interesting. I'll have to think about putting it on the wishlist.

Jen, your thoughtful review of The Dovekeepers exactly captured (though more beautifully articulated) my experience with the novel. The switching between narrative voices undermined what was otherwise a potentially outstanding work. For me, in addition to the jarring impact you describe, I wished that the four voices were more distinct. It felt like one person telling me the story from within four characters. AND I agree that her writing is beautiful.

I hope Arthur settles down with his new crate. I appreciate your sanguine expression of loss for the books he consumed. How wonderful to consider that the books provided two beings with pleasure and solace. I recently purchased a copy of Invisible Man and hope to read it this year.

Thanks, both :) I wish the voices had been more distinct too, and thought about mentioning it, but in the end I don't think it affected my experience with the book by too much. Regardless, I feel like I still need to do just a bit more thinking about it!

I just found The Dovekeepers for a steal.... I now know to be ready for a challenge before I pick it up. Thumbs up for your beautiful review!

You're welcome, Tina! In the end, the book was beautifully written, and not a difficult read...there were just points where it dragged, and where it was a bit too easy to lose interest in the flow of the work as a whole.

Meanwhile, my biggest disappointment of the year, so far :( ...

9. Please Take Photographs by Sindiwe Magona

I love Magona's fiction, and I love reading poetry, so I was really looking forward to this work. Unfortunately, the standard set by Magona's fiction is far too high for her poetry to even begin to measure up to.

Full Review:
While Magona's fiction has a poetic tone, and unquestionable originality, I have to admit that I found both these qualities lacking in her poetry. Many of the poems came across as short socio-politically themed speeches or monologues, with little poetry in the language or the direct expression, aside from the line breaks. While there were some few moments that struck me, much of the poetry came across as overly didactic or melodramatic, leaving all of the wrong elements to the imagination. Her fiction is so concrete as to paint wonderful illustrations of the most beautiful and horrible scenes alike, but this same level of detail was nearly entirely absent from the poetry. I hate to say it, but much of the poetry actually came across as somewhat amateurish, and was a huge disappointment.

Certainly, the poems clearly paint issues and express emotion about situations and events which should be seen and more widely discussed, so the work here is necessary in many ways, as literature may be the best way to educate the world about socio-political issues and problems that readers aren't personally familiar with. BUT, the problem here is that the poetry comes across as too simple, and as too much in that educational vein, to really reach readers on an emotional level (in most cases).

In the end, I would absolutely recommend Magona's work, but I would recommend her prose first. There are some few poems here which stand out beautifully as poems that should be read and shared, but they are so few and far between that, admittedly, I have to hesitate before recommending this particular example of her work.

Nice review of Please Take Photographs, Jennifer. Which books of hers would you recommend?

Hi Jennifer. Just catching up on your thread. I loved reading about your new dog and your accepting attitude toward the loss of your books. You're a good dog mom and a good book mom!

I enjoyed your latest reviews and wanted to thank you again for the recommendation for What Was Asked of Us. It sometimes gets a little intense and I need to put it aside for a few days but it's a fantastic book. I'm just surprised that so few LTers seem to have read it.

Hey guys!

Darryl, thanks :) I'd recommend Beauty's Gift--Magona's one of the few African writers whose been courageous enough to really tackle HIV/AIDS in any serious manner, outside of protest literature and poetry, and it's a really wonderful book even beyond the socio-political value. And, it's actually a fairly uplifting read considering that it does tackle both HIV/AIDS and domestic abuse (on a more tangential level).

Pat, I was so glad to see on your thread that you're finding it worth the energy (mental/emotional energy, at least!). It took me forever to get through that book, I have to admit, but not because I didn't enjoy it--I just never read more than a couple of sections per day, and sometimes put it down for a week or two. There's another book mentioned in the afterword that supposedly inspired it, which is along the same lines from Vietnam veterans, but I'm taking a bit of a break before I look it up. Eventually, though, I plan to read that one as well. I am surprised not many people seem to have read it, but I can only guess that a lot of folks have wandered partially through it or been reading bits and pieces, as I did for so long--at least, I hope that's the case!

Meanwhile, the puppy has his first post-shelter vet visit today, so we've got our fingers crossed that there'll be some good recommendations on anxiety fixes, and that the vet will feel like he's finally at the weight he should be. We haven't weighed him, but we know he was under-weight when we got him two months ago. Now, he's gained maybe 10-15 pounds, and he looks healthy to us, so we've got our fingers crossed!

Good luck with the vet visit today. Have you ever heard of a thundershirt for dogs (http://www.thundershirt.com/). There was alot of talk on LT about it a year or so ago when people were looking for solutions for dogs that are afraid of thunder. But it's also supposed to help with anxiety in general. Our dog is very afraid of thunder and the shirt helps if we get it on in time but often he's aware of an approaching storm before we are.

The vet visit did go well! The vet's final word was that he's a "very sweet, very sensitive, very scarred dog", and we're going to try anxiety medicine.

Unfortunately, he's the only dog I've heard of who the thundershirt didn't work for. We put it on him a few times when my husband and I were both around, and I don't know if it helped...but it didn't hurt. Normally, he's much more anxious when my husband Joel is at work, and that turned out to be the final straw....The third time, I tried to put it on him when Joel was at work, and the second I got it partially on and tried to adjust the velcro, he snarled and snapped at me (for the first time since we'd gotten him). As soon as he did, he got embarrassed and clearly knew he shouldn't, but the simple problem was that the velcro was just too loud. I had it only partially on, and after the velcro made a few noises when I tried to adjust in (resulting in a snarl and a snap each time), I finally had to put him in his crate and go to work with the thundershirt only partially on. I knew he'd destroy it (which he did), but he's a big enough dog (with big enough teeth) that I was partly afraid of being bitten, and partly afraid that if he did accidentally hurt me, I wouldn't be able to help show that I was nervous around him afterward, which I knew would have been a disaster. He's just absolutely terrified of loud or sharp noises, and we thought his nerves when we'd put it on before were just due to the new feeling, but it turned out it was the sound of the velcro! He hasn't snapped/snarled/growled at me in any other situation, but that shirt was just too much.

So, unfortunately, no more thundershirt. But, he's happy, and the vet said he's finally at a good weight at 69 pounds(he put on 13 pounds in the last two months, which tells you how underweight he was!), so the anxiety is the last thing we're just slowly working on figuring out. I'm sure you'll all keep seeing updates here, meanwhile!

Well, to continue on the note of our wonderful and anxious coonhould Arthur, he wouldn't sleep (or stop crying, perhaps more importantly) after my husband left for work at 3:30 AM, so rather than being awake enough to get some work done right now...I did this! (Finally lol)

Describe yourself?
What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day

Describe where you currently live?
Elsewhere

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Heart of Darkness

Your favorite form of transportation?
Stardust

Your best friend is?
The Glass Dragon

What's the weather like?
Tangled Up in Blue

You fear?
Draining the Sea

What's the best advice you have to give?
Tender

Thought for the day?
From Page to Stage and Back Again

How I would like to die?
A Question of Power

My soul's present condition?
Above the Thunder

Jennifer, I hadn't thought about the sound of the velcro which is an unusual sound. Seems like a design flaw if your market is anxious dogs. I hope the anxiety medicine works well. If it does I may ask our vet about it for the summer. Our dog now starts freaking out if the wind picks up and the sky starts to darken even a little bit. Like I said it's usually before we even realize there's a storm approaching and then it's often too late to calm him down.

I liked your meme answers and realize I haven't heard of most of the books you used for it. Where do you usually get your book recommendations? With most LTers, I recognize the books even if I haven't read them because they've probably been read by someone else I follow on LT. With your books that doesn't seem to be the case.

Hey Pat, I'll let you (and everyone!) know how the medicine goes. The pill we're giving him now should either make a difference in a week or two, or not at all. Our doctor said that, if it does, we'll probably switch him to prozac. If we end up needing to have him on something for the long term (years instead of occasionally or for some few months), prozac will be better for him. But, he said prozac takes at least a month or two to really take effect, so we're better off trying this first to see if an anxiety medicine will help. Luckily, he's a big enough dog that taking pills is generally just a matter of dropping something down his throat!

Book recs-wise, I guess it's been a little bit different lately. The last few years have seen me developing an interest in African lit., so some of those books above came from authors I discovered in an African lit. class I was sitting in on, and I think I found Draining the Sea through a blurb in one of those books, though that's the one on the list that I'm not quite sure how I wandered into. My other main interest right now is fiction dealing with HIV/AIDS, which is what my specialization (and coming dissertation) focus on. I just realized that I've been talking about that a lot on my 2013 category challenge thread, and less so over here! That's led me to a lot of books I never would have found otherwise, some great (like Above the Thunder and What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, and some that really weren't worth my time, or probably most anyone's (like Rebel Without a Clue and Tangled Up in Blue. Oh, and I've always got my eye out for haunted house stories such as Elsewhere!

In the end, my tastes are really eclectic, and I'm accumulated a lot of books over the years that I found by chance. At my old school, teachers always left boxes outside of their offices when they were cleaning up, full of free books for scavengers like me. Lately, my boss has been doing the same as he cleans out shelves in our writing center, so I've been adding a lot of books to my collection that I might not have otherwise. All that added to my penchant for haunting used bookstores and looking for what I don't already know about, and loving poetry, and LT, and my reading is all over the map!

In any case, just in case you're interested, here's a link to my category thread, where I've been talking with some other LTers quite a bit about fiction related to HIV/AIDS, some of which is a lot lighter than might be expected!

I'm glad your puppy has been able to put on so much weight and is now healthy. I hope the anxiety medicine helps :) I've never heard about the Thundershirt. I'll pass it along to my dad one of their dog's still gets a bit anxious when they leave.

I've taken various anti-depressants over the years. The first one was Prozac and I remember thinking nothing was happening for weeks and then one morning I was walking to work actually looking forward to reading federal regulations and being so happy that I thought of calling my parents and thanking them for conceiving me. That's when I realized it had kicked in and considered maybe the dose was too high! I really hope it does the trick for your dog.

Thanks for the explanation of where you get the books you read. When you mentioned HIV/AIDS I immediately thought of a non-fiction book I've been meaning to get to--My Own Country by Abraham Verghese. My understanding is it's about the beginning of his interest in treating AIDS patients when he worked in Tennessee. The only other book I've read of his was a memoir called The Tennis Partner about a good friend of his that was addicted to drugs. It was an excellent book.

I starred your 2013 Category Challenge thread and will make my way through it soon.

Pat, thanks for both those notes---I'll look for My Own Country soon since that was entirely off my radar. And, on your first note, that's really good to hear. I know these drugs help people all the time, but I've been having a difficult time reconciling myself to the current course of action because, personally, I only had bad experiences with prozac and other anti-depressants when I was younger. I tried quite a few, but none of them ever worked out for me, which is why I'm on the tail end of working through another stage of depression on my own currently (thankfully, I think I really am finally making my way out of it even though this was the longest bout of it I've faced in more than a decade). So, long story short, this was the perfect time to hear a positive related story!

Meanwhile....

10. Tripwire by Lee Child (a Jack Reacher novel)

One of the Jack Reacher novels, this is a fast-paced and well-written page-turner, full of both tension and humor. The characters are as interesting as they are believable--frighteningly so--and I can't imagine a fan of suspense novels not enjoying this. There are also some elements of mystery here, and drama, to the extent that it turns out to be a complex novel worth the time. On a separate note, there are some scenes of extreme violence, written graphically and originally enough that they might get to readers who otherwise pass through suspense novels without much thought to it.

The one drawback to this work is that, because there is so much packed in, it ends up being a long work. And, admittedly, my interest flagged a bit toward the middle. But, considering that the first two hundred pages were incredibly compelling reading, and that the last two hundred pages (of a 558 page book) were the same, I really can't complain.

Overall, this was a everything I want in a suspense novel, if not more, and there's no doubt I'll be picking up more Jack Reacher novels.

'Tripwire' was one of my favorites of the Reacher novels. As you say, it is very fast-paced and the plot twists are fairly original.

My Own Country is one of my favorite nonfiction books. It's beautifully written, deeply moving and absolutely unforgettable.

This was definitely the first suspense novel in a while where some of the twists actually surprised me! And, My Own Country is already ordered :)

11. A Haunted House and Other Stories by Virginia Woolf

Admittedly, I never would have read this if an editor I'm working with hadn't recommended the title story. And, while I didn't enjoy much of it, that title story and a few others which were reminiscent of Henry James made it well worth the wandering through. (Those short stories I'd actually recommend are few, but they are listed in the full review, pasted just below.)

Full Review:

I should admit: I've never particularly cared for Woolf's writing. And, truthfully and likewise, much of this work didn't impress me at all--simply, I was bored and only reading to read. But, the first story made me take notice enough that I was determined to finish the work, and in the end I'm glad I did. The first story, "A Haunted House", is a short story that carries all of the ambiguity for which we love haunted house stories such as Turn of the Screw and The Haunting of Hill House. And, as I got further into the collection, there were other stories which I really found marvelous, envisioned and written in the vein of Henry James.

I believe that, in many cases, it's Woolf's characters that have ruined her works for me. I generally find them to be either conceited or boring, and so their quiet stories leave me numb to any interest in her work. And, truthfully, I felt the same about many of the stories here. The saving graces, though, which I would recommend to any reader who'll enjoy that well-done, graceful, and tantalizing short story they come across, include: "A Haunted House", "Lappin and Lapinova", "Solid Objects", and "The Lady in the Looking-Glass". I've no doubt that I'll be repeatedly revisiting and rereading these four stories, and finding them was more than worth the journey I undertook through the full collection.

12. Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

Centered on the life of a young Jewish orphan in Warsaw, beginning in the summer of 1939, this masterpiece of historical fiction is as powerful and heartbreaking as it is humorous and sweet. The book is about past and about identity, from the eyes of a young boy who begins with neither, and with only his ability to run. As he grows into a youth who is both a hero and a troublemaker, happening onto friends and make-shift families along the way, readers are exposed to a narrative that cannot be put down or turned from. Simply, this is one of those necessary and beautiful books that will always be read and passed on from one reader to another--at least, I certainly hope it will.

I admit, my only hesitation here is with the ending, from which I wanted more...or even perhaps less. But then, looking back, the book was so striking that I don't know that any ending could have done the full whole justice. Perhaps, really, I just wanted it to keep going.

Strongly recommended.

I found and starred your thread. Welcome to the 75 challenge group. I hope you like it here.

Thank you! I already like it :)

Found your thread - you've really done some wonderful reading and reviewing. I love your Arthur stories!

I'm slowly reading the Jack Reacher series - not my typical reading choices but I met Lee Child's in-laws and felt I should be able to talk about the books!

Thanks for your review of The Dovekeepers - it had fallen off my radar and will now be added back. I've been to Masada and find the story itself so compelling - I'm very curious about this handling of it.

Glad you found me! And I'm sure there'll be plenty more stories coming! It'll probably be a while before I pick up the next Reacher novel, but I've no doubt I'll pick a few more up. The last thriller I read, before Child's work, was so horribly written that this was a lovely surprise. Re. The Dovekeepers, I'll be curious to hear the perspective of someone who's been there--Hoffman does so much to describe the spaces visually that I imagine it will be a really interesting read. You might also be interested in some of the nonfiction if you've taken the time to visit (or maybe not!); if so, Hoffman's got a short list of works about Masada (I think all nonfiction, though really I don't know) listed in the acknowledgements at the end of the book.

The Woolf short stories sound interesting. I tried reading Orlando once and put it down after just a few pages. Wonder if this might be a better introduction to her?

Tina, I'd say both yes and no. I never tried Orlando, but I was bored stiff by her other well-known works, and ended up quite literally throwing her A Room of One's Own across my living room and into the wall. I haven't completely sworn off ever going back to it, but.... So, the fact that I like some of her short stories may mean they're more aberrational than introductory, but I'd certainly recommend those I mentioned above. Except for the haunted house story, they really reminded me of Henry James, who I adore.

I've added it to my wish list so we'll see whenever I get to it if I can handle it better than Orlando.

You might also be able to find some of them online--I found "The Haunted House" pretty quickly online when I bothered to look, so the other titles that I included in the review might be available for free in cyberspace too---trying one of those might give you an indication of whether it's worth your time to find the full collection!

Well, just in case anyone is on blogspot, or enjoys blogs, I thought I'd post here that I've just started a blog at http://www.whatimaginationlookslike.blogspot.com/ I don't know what's gotten into me, or how often I'll post, or how often I'll talk about books, but the blog itself is about imagination and the imaginary. So, in case you're interested...

What a lovely blog post, Jennifer. I will have to check it regularly to see what else you've posted.

Thanks, Pat :) I haven't decided yet whether or not I'll update here when I post on it. I'm sure I will if I talk about a book, regardless.

Meanwhile...one from the list of 1001 books....

13. Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

As much a wandering through philosophical conversation and thought as it is a piece of fiction, the narrative here is a fast and surreal read with a fair amount of humor. At many points, I wanted there to be a bit more drama or depth to it all, but then, it's such a short work that it works as what it is, and the simplicity of it is probably its greatest strength. An interesting idea, in the end, but I'm not sure that I wouldn't have been better off reading it in the context of a philosophy class or discussion group. Probably no something I'd recommend to anyone but folks searching out narratives that integrate or build from philosophy and/or faith and spirituality.

14. Green Witch by Alice Hoffman

As short as it is, this is a surprisingly beautiful view into a young girl's mind as she explores what she is without her family, and who she is as a gardner and a writer...or, perhaps more aptly, a recorder and story-teller. With Hoffman's gift for graceful language and just the right details, this book does more to create its own world than many longer YA books can even begin to boast. In the end, I did want more depth and story...or perhaps just more in general...but the short read really was an engaging and lovely escape, filled with magic and belief. Recommended.

15. Narrative Medicine: Honoring the Stories of Illness by Rita Charon

Full Review:

Narrative medicine is the practice of incorporating an understanding of narrative into one's medical work and/or training, and also encapsulates the practice of training workers in medicine to incorporate an understanding of narrative into their work, as well as the study of how narrative can work to enrich and clarify one's experience as a patient or any professional working with ill individuals on any level. This training and enactment is heavy on writing (on the part of doctors, nurses, caregivers, etc.), and heavy on discussion/listening between professionals and patients. Ideally, training in narrative medicine incorporates basic training in close reading and narrative form(s) with medicinal training.

This is an excellent introduction to the discipline and enactment of narrative medicine within medical communities, outlining not only the goals of such ventures, but the eventual benefits and appearance of such a program. Charon goes out of her way to discuss the time element of incorporating narrative medicine into one's practice, and the longterm benefits, arguing that while it might take more time up front with any new patient, the time it eventually saves balances out that extra time. She also gives direct examples of gains and benefits (for patients, doctors, and the communities doctors and other professionals work within), allowing for anecdote to serve her argument as a continuous strength in the work. By describing what training looks like, what writing workshops, responses, and discussions look like, and how quickly benefits can mount for everyone from patients to doctors to medical students and all those surrounding them, Charon's argument makes her points all but irrefutable.

The one significant weakness is the fact that Charon's outlook is, undeniably, idealistic. While she briefly discusses the element of time, one gets the feeling that her discussion is so entrenched in her experience within a private practice that her points are less universally workable than she implies, at least until health professionals are less over-extended. And, while she also points out that some of her patients who take up so much of her extra time are the exceptions, and therefor worth the mentioning, she really fails to discuss how one can determine how much time a patient really requires in terms of narrative listening. Certainly, I'm willing to believe that this often takes care of itself because the patient does, as she says, reach a point where they've nothing left they feel the need to say. But, I also know very well that some folks would never stop speaking if given free rein, and that potentiality needs addressing.

Also connected to time is willingness. Charon makes the briefest of references to two doctors who worked with one of her relatives, and were uninterested in the benefits of listening to or understanding her cousin's (their patient's) narrative. And, this brings up the very real question: what about doctors and/or workers who are satisfied with their current level of relationships and understanding when it comes to patients and colleagues? What about those individuals who aren't interested in what benefits might be gained from narrative medicine? Whether Charon is suggesting that this training be compulsory or elective is unclear, but since she suggests that all institutions and professionals would benefit from such training and understanding, the question has to be addressed. Also, is this training to come from the medical school or the place one begins one's career? Finally, I also believe that some questions of legality and privacy are either overlooked or oversimplified. All of this leads me to the conclusion that, while this work does undoubtedly serve as an excellent introduction to the field and study and necessity of narrative medicine, I'm not sure whether it can in itself provide the full training and outline for such a program.

Charon's work here is an excellent introduction to narrative medicine, accessable to average readers (like myself) as well as those familiar with medicinal and hospital-based practices. And, truthfully, I think it probably ought to be required reading for doctors, and perhaps nurses, if they haven't received other similar training in person. True, for anyone, there are going to be some sections which give more information than necessary (medicinally related for folks like me, narrative related for folks without a degree in English or composition), but the full book is well-balanced and engaging enough throughout that this downfall occurrs far more irregularly than I might have guessed. I'd also say that this might be worth perusing for individuals with close family members dealing with a serious illness or elsewise entrenched in regular doctor/hospital visits, BUT, I only hesitate from making this step because I worry that the world and doctors pictured in the book might do more harm than good if the professionals those individuals are actually engaged with don't quite live up to expectations set forth in the book. Still, there is no doubt in my mind that health professionals should read the work, and perhaps many literature professors as well to remind us of the non-academic benefits of understanding narrative and literature more fully.

On a last note, I have one final doubt that does go entirely unaddressed, though I'm not sure Charon would see it as valid. As someone who has an unfortunate and impractical fear of hospitals, and doctors to a lesser extent, I simply can't imagine dealing with the situations health professionals face on a daily basis. I wouldn't be able to do it, facing illness and death every day. Charon suggests that each patient and each experience be understood more deeply, many of them reflected on at length so that the doctor can understand his or her patient's position. As a potential patient, I understand the innumerable benefits of this relationship. On the other hand, even from this vantage point, I can imagine how emotionally exhausting it would be for doctors. I can only relate my doubt to what can occur in method actors, who use their own memories and emotions to feed each of their character's developments. More often than not, if we look back to the amazing artists who've ended up self-destructing (from James Dean to Heath Ledger and too many others to count), they used a form of method acting to create and then become enmeshed in their characters, working more from emotion than academic study. I have to wonder whether a similar burn-out could endanger a healthcare worker who attempts to put himself in the place of dying or suffering patients on a daily basis. Perhaps this is an overdramatic comparison, but I have to wonder whether or not the lack of distance that Charon argues for is as much a danger for professionals as it is a boon for patients.

Regardless, Charon's work provides a strong and indepth view of a revolution that is being fought for in a significant number of health care institutions and departments,and, at the very least, sets up discussions that should equally engage doctors, nurses, social workers, caregivers, and anyone else involved in caring for individuals facing sicknes, disease, or new disabilities.

Recommended to all those with any interest in the subject or in contemporary healthcare.

What a fabulous start to your reading year, Jenn! Enjoyed your notes on Narrative Medicine.

Great review of Narrative Medicine, Jennifer. This is the first time I've heard of the concept and must admit I don't understand what it entails. Does it simply mean that doctors spend more time finding out about the patient's feelings and life beyond what they need to know for medical reasons?

Excellent review of Narrative Medicine.

Thanks, guys :) It ended up being longer than I intended, even trimmed, but I didn't want to leave anything there out!

Pat, essentially it means learning from narrative moreso than straight-forward medical questionaires, and especially learning from context. It also means doctors recording what they gain from those narratives so that other doctors can benefit from the same knowledge. So, for instance, Charon talks about one man who was suffering from symptoms indicating heart issues, but from their conversations, she learned that the underlying causation of heart disease stemmed from depression. With this knowledge, she was more able to address his issues and satisfy herself that she'd been of real help. In another instance, she talked about a medical student who'd been dealing with a woman suffering from a terminal illness, who was ready to quit medicine because of all that she'd faced with the single patient; instead, working in a writing group to talk through the narratives of illness surrounding them, the student went on to finish her program successfully and happily. There was also an instance where Charon had a patient suffering from wide-ranging symptoms for years, who finally confessed to having been raped many years earlier; the confession came because of the freedom and comfort she felt speaking to her doctor, and in the end, holding the experience in had caused many of the symptoms that were simply stress-related, as desperate as they'd been. Charon argues the symptoms would have continued even longer had the confession not come.

There are a lot of anecdotes in the book, and Charon really focuses in on the extra satisfaction gained from sharing the narrative experience, on the part of both doctors and patients. I don't know that there were a lot of cases where a patient was diagnosed correctly solely because of the practice of narrative medicine, but there were repeated cases where correct diagnoses (and tests were) accomplished more quickly because of the narrative. There were also many cases where doctors were able to find a more mutually respectful relationship with their patients through narrative, and come to understand themselves.

In the end, Charon argues that the doctors do need to know everything else for medical reasons, but that this is the only way to find it out.

I hope this answers your question! I'm still thinking through some of it, myself.

Thanks, Jennifer. It does answer my question but I agree with the point you raised about finding the time to treat a patient this way. As a patient, I think it's a great thing but most doctors are so busy, I'm not sure how they'd be able to practice this way.

After mentioning Abraham Verghese's book (My Own Country), I found my copy and started to read it. I think this is probably what he's doing with his AIDS patients--not just to treat the symptoms but to understand their lives. I'll have to watch out for this as I read the rest of the book.

Also, from what I've read of Darryl's (kidzdoc's) practice of medicine, he also seems to be doing this.

Jennifer, I just noticed that your review of Narrative Medicine is on the hot review list. Congratulations!

Superb review of Narrative Medicine, Jennifer! I've heard of this book, but I haven't read it yet, so I'll have to get and read it soon.

On a first glance, it could be argued that narrative medicine has less applicability for someone like me, who takes care of hospitalized patients on the General Pediatrics service at a large children's hospital, as compared to an adult physician or a subspecialist. First, the majority of the patients I see are infants and young toddlers (0-5 years of age), who don't have a story to tell as adults do. Second, most of the kids we treat are generally in good health and have straightforward, self limited and easily treatable illnesses that only require 1-3 days of hospital care, such as lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia or bronchiolitis), asthma exacerbations, urinary tract infections, etc. We do take care of kids with chronic illnesses, but unfortunately most of them are severely delayed and are unable to walk, talk, feed themselves, etc., so they do not have a story to tell. The chronically ill kids with normal mental status are often cared for by the subspecialists (e.g., kids with cancer, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and sickle cell disease) and we rarely are involved in their care.

One group of our patients who might benefit from a narrative approach would be the older kids and teenagers with problems such as suicidal depression, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and those with chronic illnesses that don't cause mental retardation, such as my favorite patient Brianah, who has spina bifida and will never be able to walk normally but is otherwise completely normal. The parents of patients with chronic illnesses and those who kids are dying could also potentially benefit from a narrative approach, I suspect.

I'm admittedly unfamiliar with the tenets of narrative medicine, but I'm aware that its approach is centered on listening to the patient (or parent), with at least one goal being the understanding of the patient as a person with a serious illness, and how the illness affects that person's life, rather than a focus on the illness in isolation, as a brake specialist would do in fixing your car's brakes while ignoring any other problems that it may have.

I and one or two of my other partners have a reputation of being good listeners (according to the families and nurses), and we will spend far more time with our families, and working in the hospital, than the rest of the doctors in my group, who are all excellent clinicians. Several of the parents of children who are hospitalized frequently (several times per year) will specifically ask for us if we are on service during the hospitalization, ask the nurses to let us know that their child is in the hospital even if we are not directly involved in her care, or make a special point to greet us and let us know how their child is doing if they see in us person (as one mother and grandmother did last week when they saw me). All of the parents of hospitalized children receive a survey about their and their child's experiences in the hospital, and those of us who spend more time with the families receive more accolades from the parents and higher satisfaction scores on these surveys, which my group and the hospital administrators do follow closely.

I'd like to think that those of us who spend more time with patients and their families and listen to them do a better job of treating the kids, particularly those with chronic or complicated illnesses. By listening closely to them, and allowing them to feel comfortable talking with us, I believe it's more likely that we do provide comprehensive care of the patient, and are more likely to make a correct diagnosis in the toughest cases. However, the General Pediatrics service at my hospital is a high volume one, with a far more rapid patient turnover than on an average adult hospitalist service, and a greater pressure to discharge patients promptly, especially when the hospital is in overflow status, which is often the case in the busy late fall, winter and early spring months.

As you said, Jennifer, it would seem that Charon may be overly idealistic in her insistence on incorporating narrative medicine into a busy private, clinic or hospital based practice. I routinely spend 10-12 or more hours in the hospital on a daily basis, and I would likely be less effective and more likely to burn out quicker if I spent more time than that at work. Physician burnout is a major problem, especially for hospital based physicians but also for many primary care physicians as well. Clinicians in private practice do face great pressure in seeing as many patients as possible in a day, in order to generate enough income to keep the practice afloat. I know several friends who were fired from primary care practices, because they weren't seeing enough patients to pay for their part of the overhead. This is particularly true in practices that care for a sizable percentage of patients with public insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare and the states' Children's Health Insurance Programs. Even in the most lucrative suburban practices, patients who need extra time must be scheduled for prolonged visits, in order to keep other families from waiting and so that the staff (e.g., nurses, medical assistants and front office staff) don't have to stay late (many of these employees are working women with children, and are on inflexible and tight schedules outside of work). Most of my physician friends are mothers of school aged children, who are also under the same pressure as any other parent to leave work in time to pick up their kids from school, take them to violin and soccer practice, etc.

Your last point, about the potential of burnout amongst physicians and other health care providers who treat people with serious and fatal illnesses, is absolutely correct, particularly for those who become too emotionally attached to their patients. One subspecialist in my hospital recently (and very abruptly) resigned from her position, as she was completely burnt out and at the brink of a mental breakdown after spending inordinate amounts of time with families and leaving well past midnight on a regular basis. Those who regularly work with the sickest of patients, such as oncologists, intensivists, and emergency medicine physicians also have high rates of burn out, along with divorce and substance abuse. Doctors and others who get "too close" to their patients are at risk of losing the objectivity that is necessary to provide the best care for them, which benefits no one.

Thanks for your thoughtful review of Narrative Medicine. I'll look to see if it's available in our medical library this weekend; if not, I'll order it, as I'd like to read it very soon.

Pat, thanks--I'm not sure I realized there was a "hot review" list, but I'm glad people are reading it--it's one of those books that I think should probably be read by a lot more folks than would generally come across it...

Darryl, thanks for your thoughtful response, and all of that info. A lot of what you're saying reinforces my suspicions about how practical her argument is, though she makes a good case for it. She does talk about the fact that some patients warrant the approach while others don't, but she also glosses over how a physician could really determine which ones are which. And, since her base argument is that the narrative might not Seem important until one hears it...well, you can see where there's a significant gray area there all of a sudden.

You might find a lot of interest in the work, though; there are quite a few sections where she discusses patients who can't traditionally communicate their narratives, either because of psychological walls or because of physical limitations caused by disability or illness. At these points, she does talk about learning from body language (as a sort of form of close reading, looking between the lines) and the different considerations that have to come into play when one is hearing from a relative instead of the patient his or herself.

One of the more radical things she argues for, which I hadn't thought to mention it since it's a minor point (relatively speaking) within her work might be of special interest to you, too. She argues that as doctors write/keep records of what strikes them about patient narratives, patients should be given those records to review and have copies for the future. Thinking back to how well my pediatrician knew me compared to the doctors I've had since, and how the problems I had in those years have fed into my history since, I imagine it could only be helpful for older teenagers moving on to new areas and doctors. And, as someone who was once a troubled teenager, I can't say for sure that seeing another person's written record of their reactions to me would have helped me get over depression and personal hang-ups any faster, but then again, it couldn't have hurt!

What it all comes down to, though, is that Charon wants patients to feel less powerless when it comes to their bodies and health, and doctors to feel less obstructed from seeing and treating their patients and full bodies And selves instead of just bodies or pieces thereof.

In any case, I'll be very curious to hear your thoughts once you pick up the book. It's really good to hear a doctor's perspective on the work, even just in response to the ideas at this point!

And, on a note as different as can be...

16. Knots in my Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid by Jerry Spinelli

Compared to Spinelli's fiction, this is fairly tame (and somewhat uneven), but it does have its moments. Looking back to his entire childhood, and briefly to the present, Spinelli's self-proclaimed "Autobiography of a Kid" is at its best in the first seventy-five pages and then at the end. There, you see the child who grew into the adult, and the adult, and all of the humor and quirks that made him into the writer he became. In the in between section, at times, it feels almost more like a report or a straight piece of nonfiction (though, for folks interested in sports, this not be so much the case). Thus, as an autobiography, it comes across as somewhat uneven since nearly all of the humor we know Spinelli for comes in the very end, or the first 75 pages or so (of a 150 page book). Of course, it's also built for young readers, which may too far simplify an autobiography for an adult's taste. However, in the end, I'm still glad to have read it, and I'd certainly recommend it to other readers who already love Spinelli's work. They're sure to recommend little bits and pieces of his life as they ended up slipping into his fiction, which was nearly my favorite part of the whole reading experience...the second being how he answered a child's question, in the end of the book, that being "Do think being a kid helped you to become a writer?" At the very least, this question in mind, writerly readers might enjoy reading the very last chapter of the book whether they know Spinelli's work or not. Come to think of it, I may just reread that chapter now.

Simply? Recommended for all those interested.

>114 whitewavedarling: I saw Jerry Spinelli at the National Book Festival last year. He was very interesting and soft-spoken. And definitely good with kids. They had a Q&A session at the end of his talk and at least 2 kids asked him about Louis Sachar books. If it was me I would have had absolutely no idea what to say to that, but he knew exactly how to deal with it.

I never came across him when I was younger, but he's definately my favorite YA author now. I gave a couple of his books to some of the kids I babysit for Christmas, as well :) I imagine he must be amazing with kids after all these years writing great childrens books, but it makes me happy to hear it anyway!

>113 whitewavedarling: She does talk about the fact that some patients warrant the approach while others don't, but she also glosses over how a physician could really determine which ones are which. And, since her base argument is that the narrative might not seem important until one hears it...well, you can see where there's a significant gray area there all of a sudden.

That makes sense. Most of the patients and families I see wouldn't benefit from this approach, and for the rest it would be difficult to determine which of them may benefit from this technique. However, I think the clinician who is attentive, a good listener, and is able to view the patient as a whole person and, in the case of children with chronic illness, the effect that the illness has on the child and the family would be better able to make that determination.

It's very common for families who have a child with a serious chronic illness or a significant genetic or metabolic disorder to be under extreme stress, which can lead to abuse of that child, resentment in the child's siblings, as their needs and daily lives are often subsumed by the care of the affected child, or parental divorce. One book about a child with a serious illness I read recently was The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown, who I think is a columnist for the Globe and Mail in Canada; his son is afflicted with a serious genetic disorder, and Brown's description of his illness on his family's life is hard to forget.

You might find a lot of interest in the work, though; there are quite a few sections where she discusses patients who can't traditionally communicate their narratives, either because of psychological walls or because of physical limitations caused by disability or illness. At these points, she does talk about learning from body language (as a sort of form of close reading, looking between the lines) and the different considerations that have to come into play when one is hearing from a relative instead of the patient his or herself.

Parents and close family members of are often able to communicate with the severely disabled child using nonverbal cues after spending countless hours with them, so this makes sense. I had a similar experience years ago, after I spent several hours with one my father's oldest brother, who had a massive stroke which led to locked-in syndrome, in which he was nearly completely paralyzed but could only communicate by blinking his eyes and making guttural noises. At that time I was a pediatric resident. He looked very intently at me, made some sorrowful sounds and began to cry, and I knew that he was trying to tell me that he wanted to die and was asking for my help in communicating that to his wife and sons, which I did. Fortunately for him he died shortly afterward.

She argues that as doctors write/keep records of what strikes them about patient narratives, patients should be given those records to review and have copies for the future.

Hmm. I don't know if I completely agree with that. There are some patients who probably don't want to know what the doctor thinks of them or their narratives, in the same way that some doctors won't want to know what their patients think of them. Even if that was encouraged, I doubt that most physicians would write down their most critical thoughts about their patients' narratives, as it may affect the relationship between doctor and patient. It's a laudable goal, but its implication would be difficult if not impossible in some cases, IMO.

And, as someone who was once a troubled teenager, I can't say for sure that seeing another person's written record of their reactions to me would have helped me get over depression and personal hang-ups any faster, but then again, it couldn't have hurt!

Several of my partners and I took care of one girl in particular, who had a nearly intractable eating disorder for several months, as none of the psychiatric hospitals would take her. Hers was such a difficult, tiring and unrewarding case that none of us honestly wanted to see her (she didn't particularly like male physicians, so I only saw her for one or two days during that time). The nurses felt likewise, as she was a girl who was difficult to like or connect with. I just don't think that she would have derived any benefit from knowing what the hospital staff thought of her.

What it all comes down to, though, is that Charon wants patients to feel less powerless when it comes to their bodies and health, and doctors to feel less obstructed from seeing and treating their patients and full bodies And selves instead of just bodies or pieces thereof.

I agree 100% with that statement. I think that narrative medicine is one technique toward the achievement of these goals, although it may not be practical in many cases, and there may be other means to achieve the same end in others.

I subscribe to the Google Literature and Medicine LISTSERV (Lit-Med.Google), which is hosted by a professor at the NYU School of Medicine. Earlier this week there was an announcement about an upcoming talk at the Columbia University Medical Center by Louise Aranson, a physician at UCSF (University of California, San Francisco) and an award winning writer, whose latest book A History of the Present Illness was published last week. It's a collection of short stories about patients and their loved ones in San Francisco, and I downloaded the e-book onto my Kindle yesterday, as it has received several glowing reviews. I'll read it next month and post a review on my thread.

Darryl,

Thanks for all of your thoughtful remarks--and, they made me realize that I drastically needed to clarify something! Charon recommends that doctors record the narrative (in summary form) as it comes from the patient, but without passing judgement or their thoughts on it. So, for instance, the patient's record might read something like "When asked about the first memory she has of having this pain, J. began by talking about her old job at _______. She noticed that he pain had grown progressively worse over some months only when her supervisor brought up that she was moving more slowly and hours might be cut back. Because the pain got progressively worse, her hours ended up being cut entirely." (This is really simplistic--I may be a creative writer, but I'm also going on about two hours sleep and just biding my time til I can go back to bed!) In any case, this summary would come from what might be direct narrative/story-telling from the patient, or what might be more conversational between the patient and the doctor (ie. the doctor interjecting--"wait, before you go on, tell me what did happen with your hours" if the patient was moving on too quickly). A narrative like this might point to a progression, or even symptoms associated with particular places, times, stressors, etc., even if the patient hadn't known or made those associations. Over many sessions, the doctor's notes might show a repetition that a patient could easily pick up on and consider, whereas the doctor might not (ie. why am I always talking to her about my sister instead of my leg? What does one have to do with the other?), and thus drive self-reflection that could lead to further healing.

The doctor's notes, beyond summary, would only go so far as being interpretive. So, for instance: "J seems to connect her earliest symptoms with working at _________, but if this is related to a tumor, the symptoms should have progressed more quickly or been noticed without another's calling attention to them. So, stress, IBS, etc.? ...or... J seems tense when discussing her work at _________. J shifts and becomes closed off in body language when speaking of __________. J only becomes negative in outlook when talking about her leg pain, and not her stomache pain. Notes like this would serve to build up to help the doctor and patient determine the shape of the larger narrative, and the doctor's passing them on to the patient would actually help to reassure that judgement was not being passed in such a forum, maybe drawing the patient to make connections that couldn't be made otherwise.

So, to go back to Charon, she talks about one patient who she found particularly infuriating--a woman whose bad habits and lack of attention were the main contributors to her own illness, and who Charon had seen for some years. Her extreme ill-health, largely self-driven, made Charon feel as if she was always wasting her time with the patient, and she disliked her immensely. However, through regular narrative sessions, she learned to gain respect for her as a woman; the narratives, in the end, contributed very little to Charon's understanding of her illness, but they did help immensely with the patient/doctor relationship in that they fostered a picture of the patient as a woman involved in her church choir and enmeshed in a family who had a history of similar bad habits. Because of the bettered relationship, Charon was able to gain more patience and not feel the massive sense of self-frustration that she'd had to confront after each visit with the woman.

For me, looking back, I think a doctor probably could have pointed out (early on) what took forever for me to grasp, that I retreated into ridiculously long bathtub soaks on days/nights when I was feeling depressed, thus bringing on constant ear infections. Instead, it took years for my family to realize that I'd been functioning with depression for years, and that getting rid of my regular ear infections wasn't simply a matter of telling me not to take such long baths. I think a narrative approach that took into account my history and the context of all of those infections might have fixed things much earlier, though it wasn't until 9th grade, when I'd gotten over depression, that my mother and I realized the connection together. The closest I remember a doctor coming (and I loved her dearly), was a bemused comment that most kids got swimmer's ear in the summer, and I was always getting them in the winter even moreso than the summer. Of course, looking back, I realize I was more depressed in the winter months when I missed my father, who'd died when I was younger. Heaven knows I don't want to know what those doctors thought of me, and I don't blame them for not seeing this connection, but had I seen (or even given) narratives of more depth, I think even those simple connections might have been made much earlier...

Does all this make sense? I certainly don't want to give a mis-impression of what Charon's recommending. In the doctor's private notes, she does recommend thinking about how doctors feel about their patients, and then asking themselves why they feel that way, but even then, there's a lack of outright judgement or shaking of responsibility that I fear I may have misimplied. The patients being given notes is as much to guard against mis-information, or a new doctor's having to re-do all of the sessions, as anything else.

Regardless, I'm enjoying this discussion! I also have to ask--is there a book you'd recommend, for a lay person, that focuses on children dealing with significant illness, and on familial reactions? Most of the works I've found focus on adults, and generally neglect to consider children separately, but one of the books I'm dealing with in my dissertation is specifically about a child dealing with AIDS. An extra work that could give me insight on familial reaction to childhood illness, and familial interactions with doctors on behalf of that child, would be a lot of help in my thinking along the way as I go forward, if you think of anything...

Time out for a Puppy Update....

So, I should say, it is now 5:15 PM, and I got up at 3 AM. Why? The puppy. Hence, I now write a puppy update in order to stay awake until my next tutoring session at 6....

The anxiety medicine is helping significantly. Arthur has, for the most part, stopped having nightmares, and is much much calmer when my husband Joel is at work. It's also pretty much eliminated the random bouts of shaking and trembling that we were dealing with on a daily basis, which just about broke my heart. Right now, his breaking point of being separated from Joel seems to be at about 8 hours, which leaves an hour of insanity before Joel walks in the door, but that's so much better than where we were! So, while the anxiety medicine hasn't been a cure-all for all of our problems, it's helping on many levels. And, really, I can't blame the pup for shaking when our oversensitive smoke alarm goes off (generally because of omelets or the broiler), and those are the only cases of late that have led to shaking.

But, then there's the separation anxiety. I don't know if he's any calmer at all when we're both gone from home--I'd like to think he is, but I kind of doubt it. Luckily, our schedules mean that he's never alone on most days, and that he's really never alone for more than 3 hours at a time, max. (For instance, this week, he'll be alone for about three hours on Friday, but aside from two hours on Monday, that's it for the whole week!) But, in the morning, when Joel gets up to go to work at 3 AM...he's still been crying nonstop, keeping me awake and leaving us both to start our days incredibly stressed out. This week, we've found a somewhat solution...hence my morning wake-up call.

Years ago, when Joel and I were long distance when I started grad. school and spent the summers and holidays with him, I'd get on his schedule, waking up with him at 3 AM, working on schoolwork, grading, etc. while he was at work, and going to bed on his schedule, around 7 or 8 PM. After the nightmare that was last week, I suggested I go back to doing that. Luckily--frighteningly luckily, in fact--Joel's weekend is my busy time at work. My at-work schedule while I'm working on my dissertation means I have to be present at school on Wednesday nights, Thursdays (pretty much all day, from around 1 PM to 9 PM, and Friday from around 9 AM to 1 PM. Well, Joel's weekend is Thursday-Friday, so that's when we're on a normal schedule anyway. SO, it's not a permanent fix, and it probably can't last beyond this semester, but for now, the solution is that I get up at 3 AM with Joel and the puppy. Then, I can get to work on my reading and writing, because the dog sleeps calmly as long as he's resting his head against my leg, both of us on the couch. So, Joel and I get up with the dog, and the dog goes immediately back to sleep, only whining briefly for the five minutes or so after Joel leaves. Granted, Joel had to buy a better reading light for the couch area since I used to read elsewhere because of the lack of light (and the dog won't stand for less than physical contact in those hours after Joel leaves), but I'm enjoying the extra reading light and getting plenty of work done, as I used to.

Not ideal, but working, and Arthur is much much happier than he was. And, finally, I'm getting sleep again, even if not on my schedule! Wednesdays, our switch-over day between schedules when I can't always afford a nap, will be the rough days. And, you'll see me commenting on what really is 3 AM-5 AM time for me, most days.

In the end, the anxiety meds aren't the perfect fix, but they have made a big difference, so for you all who were thinking about them in relation to dogs you know, they might be worth a try. We haven't seen any ill side effects at all, and he even eats them easily with the help of pill-pockets (though, I'm sure this has to do with him being a big dog who barely notices them as they go down!). Meanwhile, he's a sweetheart, as always, if just a tiny bit too protective of his mother, and utterly terrified of abandonment.

(We hear that a second dog is the best cure for the separation anxiety for a pup like Arthur, with such a history, so I do know it's the best fix, and it is in our plans...but not until we have a yard and a bit more space...for now, a second dog would be good for him, but not for the second dog, so we're holding off.)

Thanks for the puppy update, Jennifer. I'm glad the anxiety meds are a big help. I'll have to ask our vet about them for thunderstorm season.

I've been enjoying your conversations with Darryl. I think it's great that there's a movement to have doctors spend more time getting to really know their patients and help them make connections about what's behind some of their health problems.

>118 whitewavedarling: Thanks for clarifying Charon's intent in her book, Jennifer. I'll look for it in the hospital medical library this weekend, and I'll plan to read it this month if it's there.

is there a book you'd recommend, for a lay person, that focuses on children dealing with significant illness, and on familial reactions?

Good question. Off the top of my head I can't think of any nonfiction books that focuses on the child more so than the family. I have read one memoir written by a woman who became ill during her junior year in college, namely The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso; my review of it can be found here. One of my favorite nonfiction books about a child with a serious illness is The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman, which concerns a Hmong child living in central California with intractable epilepsy, whose condition is viewed quite differently by the Hmong (whose name for epilepsy translates into the title of the book; in their view a child with this illness is a blessed one) and the American doctors who try to treat her. One interesting and superb recent novel I read about a severely disabled child is Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson, which is based in part on the author's ?younger sister. The subject of this book is a girl with cerebral palsy with normal intelligence, who is institutionalized by her family in 1950s England, and I believe that Grace is the narrator of the book.

If I think of or hear about other books I'll let you know. For that matter, I'd be interested in hearing about any books you run across, as they would be of great interest to me.

I enjoyed Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy, which is about the author's struggle with Ewing's Sarcoma beginning at age 9 and the resulting loss of part of her jaw. It does include a bit about her family (being about a 9-year-old it's hard to not include family). I'm sure it is biased since it is an autobiography but I still thought it was good.

Darryl and Nora, Thanks! I'll look up those works and see what I find, and keep everyone here in the loop on what I come across as well....I keep hoping that one of the broader works I'm looking at will take some time to focus on children specifically, but so far, that hasn't happened in fiction or nonfiction, with the exception of Hoffman's novel At Risk (which is the whole reason for this conversation)!

Meanwhile, Pat, we just spoke to our vet this morning when he called for an update on Arthur. He said we might continue to see even more improvement as time passes, so we've got our fingers crossed! For now, though, they're certainly helping :)

Interesting stuff happening here! I had never heard of narrative medicine--fascinating, and makes sense.

I love hearing about your dog. I'm one of those rare people that is both a cat AND a dog person. Hubby is definitely a cat person, though, so I don't see us getting a dog anytime soon. I never knew that dogs could be prescribed anxiety meds. Glad it seems to be helping the furry guy!

Sandy K

I'm a dog and cat person, too--and every other critter! We have two kitties (RJ and Gypsy Gray) along with our Arthur, but he's been hogging the attention and stories, lately, much to their chagrin...

Autobiography of a Face is good, as is Ann Patchett's book about Lucy Grealy: Truth and Beauty.
Petey is a children's book about a character with a developmental disability. I thought it was exceptional.

I am so happy your dog is doing better!

Rhonda--thanks much for those recs! And, puppy well-wishes appreciated also :)

And, on a totally different note from other recent reads...

17. The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom

This is one of those rare horror stories where each ambiguity builds both suspense and plot clarity, and where there are no heroes. Ransom's narrative is a slow-boiling horror novel that begins in a nearly pedestrian manner, and takes some time going forward, to the extent that one might wonder if it really is a horror novel even 100 pages in. By the end, though, the build-up has come to a point of true horror, both psychological and physical, even grotesque. As tales of haunted houses go, this is an original and interesting work, and a fast read. The pacing is all but perfect, and the characters are frighteningly believable. On the other hand, the narrative is so driven by plot, and so empty of sub-plotting, that I never really got to a point where I cared about the characters and their outcomes. I wasn't sure whether to expect the best or the worst, but it was only my interest in the story that kept me going. Thus, the final moments of suspense and conclusion lacked the power they might have held otherwise.

Certainly, I'd recommend this to folks who want a fast-moving plot-driven tale of atmospheric horror. For readers who enjoy horror driven by character, though, or readers who want to find sympathy and connection with the characters at hand, I'm not sure this is the best choice. Still, it was an interesting tale, and the bones of it may stick with me--it just won't garner a re-read or any true further thought. Maybe a truer test of the tale, though--I would pick up further work by Ransom; perhaps, it could have been shorter or given more depth, but it was both entertaining and well-done.

Good review, Jennifer, but that one I will be giving wide berth. I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to horror.

Thanks, Pat. I do have a soft spot for horror, and it's one of my categories in the category challenge, so there'll be a few more, but not too too many since I need to focus myself more toward the dissertation!

Definite plans for February....
Rereads for the dissertations: At Risk by Alice Hoffman and A Day in San Francisco by Dorothy Bryant
New for the Dissertation: AIDS at 30: A History and Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman
Leftover from January: Contagious: Cultures, Carriers, and the Outbreak Narrative and If Birds Gather Your Hair for Nesting: Poems
Pleasure Reads: Mistral's Kiss and A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain

This may be ambitious, but considering that two are re-reads, two are half-done, and one is very short....well, I'm hoping it's all do-able even if I am writing a paper and heading off for a conference later in the month.

And, today, a re-read in preparation for my interview with the author...

18. At Risk by Alice Hoffman

There's a full review written quite some time ago, but here, I'll just say that this is one of the earliest novels to deal with AIDS in a smart and well-written fashion, and the only one I know of to tackle the subject of a child suffering from the disease in a worthwhile manner. This is as heartbreaking and powerful a novel as you might expect, but it is also smart and necessary, with many moments of optimism and beauty. Absolutely worth the time.

The Birthing House is now on my tbr pile. I've read most of Alice Hoffman's books. I was most impressed with At Risk.

You are interviewing Alice Hoffman????Oh, how neat!

I remember reading 'At Risk' and being blown away by it. It was really well written and poignant.

Jennifer, I'm skimming through. What an interesting thread you have going!
I've put Beauty's Gift on my wishlist. The library doesn't have it.

Jen, I want to second the recommendation to read Autobiography of a Face. It's an amazing and heartbreaking read.
One of my January reads, Thoughts without Cigarettes has to do with coping (or not) with a serious childhood illness and the impact that illness had on the author's life. Finally, Small Steps by Peg Kehret, a YA/children's book, is an autobiography about the author's childhood struggles with polio. It was an okay book - didn't blow me away - but I know many folks love the book.

Hi, everyone! And, thanks for those recommendations! I'm a bit unfocused at the moment, so I'll have to look into them later today, but I hope to get to some of these works you've all been telling me about next month, or in April at the latest...

Meanwhile, I rather disappeared for the last few days, but for good reason! I spent Sunday preparing for my interview, reading a lot of interviews as published in literary journals I have floating around the house, and composing and re-composing interview questions, right up through yesterday morning.

Then, yesterday, I walked on needles all day...and then spent about forty minutes on the phone with Alice Hoffman in the afternoon :) We talked about her writing, especially At Risk, about writing illness, and about the potential for socio-political work held by novels. It was a really lovely conversation (albeit serious), and I need to transcribe it before I can fully process it or remember the details--I was floating on clouds to be speaking to her, and have to admit that the whole conversation was a blur once I got off the phone; thank goodness for recording equipment, and that she was okay with my taping the call!

So, for the most part, I'm going to take today off, and just relax and read a bit for pleasure to let my head get back in order :) I'd planned on getting a bit further into I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, but unfortunately, the print in my copy is so small that it tires out my eyes quickly, so we'll see what happens. Regardless, I'm still floating from yesterday, so catching up on librarything and relaxing on the couch with my hounddog seems like a pretty solid day at the moment (Tuesdays being my day to work at home), irresponsible as that might be!

Jennifer, have a wonderful relaxing day! So glad the interview with Alice Hoffman went well. I'll be interested to hear more about it later. :)

What a great opportunity! I hope you'll let us know when we can read about the interview. Enjoy your well-deserved break!

Congratulations on a job well done with the Alice Hoffman interview!

Autobiography of a Face is now on the TBR pile.

I hope today is relaxing.

Congratulations on the Alice Hoffman interview, Jennifer!

I agree with Nora about Autobiography of a Face, which I read at least 7-8 years ago.

Woo Hoo!! So exciting to hear a tidbit about your interview! Looking forward to the details when you've come off cloud 9! :) Enjoy a relaxing day!

Hi Jennifer - I'm glad the Alice Hoffman interview went well!I've been skimming a bit, due to being so far behind, but I assume this is related to your dissertation?

Sorry to hear about the puppy issues. We have a neurotic hound dog, although he's much better than when we first adopted him. I've heard mixed opinions about getting a second dog too.

It did go well, and it is dissertation related :) Meanwhile, maybe it's hounddogs lol. I'm not positive a second dog will help, but we'd been planning on getting another dog once we have a larger place either way, and as long as we introduce them ahead of time and find a dog he gets along with, it can't hurt. He loves playing with other dogs, though, so I'm optimistic about it...and there's the fact that the one thing that's always sure to calm him down is when one of our cats steps in to help. She doesn't do it often, but we have a big gray fluffball named Gypsy Gray who used to be a stray herself, and occasionally when he's especially upset (shaking, timid), she'll curl up beside him and just purr and "wag" her tail against him. As soon as he's calm, she's gone, but it's certainly a help when she's willing!

That's so cool about your cat helping your pup, Jennifer. If only you could train her to do it on command — but then she wouldn't be a cat!

That's such a sweet story about your cat and dog, Jennifer. It gives me renewed respect for cats (I'm mainly a dog person).

#144 - Awe, that's adorable!

Geezer (my neurotic hound) likes other dogs as well. We would consider getting a second dog, but Geezer is epileptic and costs us a lot of money in vet bills. I'm not sure we could afford another one right now. That being said, I would love to adopt this goofy hound (see link below). He's at the same shelter where we adopted Geezer, but apparently doesn't show well, so isn't having much luck getting adopted. There was a drama a few months ago where he ran away and was hanging out with coyotes.

http://happydogbarkery.com/blog2/2013/02/05/homeless-brooks/

I grew up a cat and dog person, but our Gypsy Gray surprised even me--I'd try to get a picture of it if Arthur weren't terrified of cameras!

Meanwhile, Brooks is adorable--I'm somewhat thankful IL is a ways away--he reminds me so much of our Arthur! I have to say that, dangerous and worrisome as it may be, I'm amused at the coyote stories; it rather reminds me of my childhood dreams of running off to join a circus... I do wish you luck with the epilepsy; vet bills are so affordable...until there's something wrong :( Joel and I are talking about getting pet insurance since I know it will be worthwhile when he gets older (or, probably will be), but haven't gotten around to it yet. My family spent a fortune on arthritis medicine for our shepherd mix when she got old since she took the pills from around age 13 to 17, when she passed away, and pet insurance would have made that much more affordable. Though, I will say that Arthur is the first dog we've ever had on regular vet visits and/or medication before the age of 12, so if you're looking for a voice to push you towards a second adorable hound...lol, sorry for being a bad influence. I grew up in one of those families that collected animals (not in a hoarding way, but we always had enough to keep the house crazy: usually 2 dogs, and 3-5 cats, plus reptiles and/or rodents!).

19. Mistral's Kiss by Laurell K. Hamilton

I don't know of anyone who writes about sex and magic any better than Hamilton in this Meredith Gentry series. This installment moved slightly slower than some of the earlier books in the series, not advancing the narrative so much as exploring relationships and showingcasing some massive conflicts, but it will still be enjoyable for fans of the series. Truthfully, I should add that the early part of the novel had me wondering whether there'd be anything in the book But lovely description and sex, to the extent that I wondered whether I'd ever classify a Hamilton book as verging on porn, or just pornographic....But, I'm glad to say that the second portion of the book moved on in a fashion that left that worry to the earlier sections, focusing instead on magic and character and narrative. All in all, this isn't one of the books that keeps me coming back to Hamilton's work, but I enjoyed it for what it was. And, then again, it is her fascinating characters who keep me returning to her work again and again, so maybe it is all the same. Regardless, I don't think anyone who hasn't read the earlier books would get anything much out of this book, but I still recommend the series to lovers of dark fantasy who don't mind an R-rating (for sex and violence, as is always the case with Hamilton in this series) on their entertainment...

Hi, very good reviews on The Dovekeepers one of my fave reads last year :) and Milkweed is gone onto my wishlist.

I do tend to go through patches where I read paranormal romances, however, I have never read anything by Laurell K. Hamilton and I have to say the review very much appaels to me.

You'd definitely know from the first book in the Meredith Gentry series whether you wanted to continue. I think I really prefer her Anita Blake vampire hunter series, but while there's certainly an element of romance/love triangle there, there's also a heavier plot element unique to each novel. I get in the moods for both, though, and there's no doubt that Hamilton's a good writer (unlike the last non-Hamilton paranormal romance I read...or maybe even the last two lol).

Meanwhile, between my anxious hounddog and planning an art show and trying to get my own work done, I'm having a harder and harder time keeping up with threads around here! (And reading!)

20. The Best American Short Stories 2003 edited by Walter Mosley

Full review written....but, in short, an absolutely wonderful collection of short stories, well worth the title! Besides having a wonderful variety that kept me interested and guessing, it also included work by authors I've seen discussed around here recently--Nicole Krauss and Louise Erdrich--and other works that introduced me to authors that I'm now determined to further explore (Anthony Doerr and Adam Haslett and Dean Paschal).

The Dean Paschal story might especially interest some folks around here--I'm not sure whether or not it qualifies as steampunk or not, but it certainly verges on what I'd expect from steampunk, or perhaps from an author like Kelly Link. In any case, it's titled "Moriya", and is absolutely strange and entertaining--if anyone looks it up and knows more about steampunk than I do, let me know whether it's a sample! My less strange favorite would probably be "The Shell Collector" by Anthony Doerr, also absolutely worth looking up.

In any case, very much recommended!

And, on a side note, my husband and I just watched a strange and creepy movie, though I don't know if I'd call it horror...maybe weirdness mixed with horror mixed with comedy mixed with suspense mixed with teenage sex joke? In any case, it was strange....if interested, it's called VHS, and I've still no idea what to think of it. Consider the filmed horror version of If on a Winter's Night a Traveler or House of Leaves, and that's as close as I can come to a description...

Thanks for your great comments re. The Birthing House. I was able to obtain a copy from my local library and I hope to read it this weekend.

#152 by whitewavedarling> I love those 'Best American' collections. I can often find copies of past years at used bookstores or on the remainders table at the regular bookstore. I love the short stories, the short mysteries, and the sports stories ones especially.

That's good to hear! I didn't mention it here (though I did in my full review, which perhaps I should change), but of the two Best American short story collections I've read, I loved one and was vastly disappointed with the other (to the extent that I wouldn't have picked up this one if not assigned some of the stories for a class). Your saying that is a good drive toward picking up another of their anthologies when I get the chance :)

Just stopping by to wish you a lovely weekend!

#155 by whitewavedarling> I do think they can be uneven sometimes, given the format of having a guest "celebrity" editor who is choosing the inclusions each year. I find it useful to look for who the guest editor is for a particular anthology I'm thinking of buying, and if I know or like their work I feel more confident that I will like the stories they chose.

Hi Jennifer!

#148 - Pet insurance is probably not a bad idea. I wish we had purchased it for Geezer, but now he has a pre-existing condition.

#152 - My new thing is to have a short story collection going at all times (although it takes me FOREVER to get through one). Trying one of the anthologies is a great idea. I think I may actually have one or two.

Hi, all! I think I might take into account the guest editor, but I might also just try to give a look to the included authors... In this last collection, at least, I think I would have recognized enough writers to know that the styles would be well varied, if not the themes/moods. Then, I might just see what pops up on bargain and used racks, too! I also usually have a short story collection or poetry collection going at all times--something, at least, with shorts that can be read in fits and bursts...hence, where the latest read/poetry collection came from!

21. If Birds Gather Your Hair for Nesting by Anna Journey

Full of whimsy and beautiful graceful language, this is one of those collections that mixes fantasy and fairy tale with concrete character and situation. While the tone of the collection is somewhat unchanging, and thus not as emotionally charged as I might expect in a really strong poetry collection, the images and thoughts are so enjoyable that that lack of seriousness and emotion isn't such a downfall as I might expect (though it is the one fault of the work, this lack of emotional change and charge).

Something like speculative fiction meeting graceful memoir and fairy tale, this collection is worth wandering through--and probably benefits from a reader who reads it in bits and pieces, coming back for more as the mood strikes rather than reading it through in longer sittings, as I did.

Overall, recommended for poetry readers.

Looking back, I haven't the faintest what held me off from reading this for so long. What a pleasure it was!

22. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The beginning of her series of memoirs, this is a graceful and fascinating journey that serves as a story in itself, reading just so easily and completely (or nearly so) as a novel, if a slight bit more episodic. As a young girl growing up in stages between a small town and a city, immediate family and extended, Angelou's story is both heartbreaking and humorous at turns, but never melo-dramatic or self-pitying. In fact, a story that might easily have been told as a melo-dramatic affair instead comes across as smart, historically telling, and smoothly literary. Here, Angelou paints the story of her childhood innocence and adventures, and every page is worth exploring.

In conclusion, I have to say that this book is well worth the time for both young readers and adults, and should be entertaining for all. Without a doubt, women readers might relate more easily, but this is one of those few books that I could easily recommend to any reader at all, for varying reasons. I can't say whether the installments of her memoir that don't look back on her childhood will be quite so endearing or wonderful--specifically because the innocence and humor of her childhood are such wonderful hallmarks of this work--but I'll certainly try them.

Absolutely recommended.

After Mistral's Kiss, this work might have sat on the tbr shelf for quite a bit longer if not for the "Frosty February" challenge over in the 2013 category challenge, but I'm glad to say that that challenge drove me to pick it up sooner than later. Such a wonderful wonderful read, which I nearly read in a single sitting (but for one chapter on Wednesday and the last two today). So so so so so good.

23. A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton

This is Hamilton at her absolute best, and so far, I have to say that this is the best book in the Meredith Gentry series.

Full of Hamilton's impeccably drawn characters and graceful description, this installment moves more quickly and with more twists than the more recent books before it, and is virtually impossible to put down. Here, Hamilton's penchant for eroticism is well-balanced by plot and character development, and each chapter builds upon the last to make more progress in the storyline than I'd expected from a single work.

Simply, this book is the reason so many of us love Hamilton. You wouldn't want to read it out of order, or I doubt you'd get much enjoyment from it, but it is without doubt Hamilton at her very best. Maybe my favorite book by her yet.

Recommended for lovers of Hamilton and this series--those who were put off by the extra focus on sex in the last book should move on to this one--they'll be rewarded for their devotion to the series.

For far too many reasons, I've been unavoidably away from LT for nearly a week. (And mostly away from reading!) Now, though, I interrupt myself and your book thoughts for a coondog break....because my coondog demands it, and I'm confused.

Truly, I pride myself on having a strong imagination. If anything, I'm too creative in terms of what's possible and impossible, "realistically"/"practically". That said, I offer my confusion for your amusement and thoughts....

My husband and I were making some progress with our Arthur's separation anxiety. He was still getting upset in his crate when we first left, but rarely barking as we left, and clearly settling down pretty quickly since we'd sometimes come back after only a short grocery trip, and he'd already be laying down and blinking sleep out of his eyes. BUT, this past weekend, we took a road trip to attend my husband's grandmother's funeral. Because we'd be at his parents' for so much of the trip, we elected to drop him off with my family (a few hours away) rather than having him spend hours upon hours in his crate at my brother-in-laws. All went amazingly well.

By all reports, he occasionally got timid and went looking for us, but my grandmother was always at the house with him, and my mom and brother took turns coming over for walks, playtime, etc. He was mostly calm, and there wasn't any destruction but for his eating a package of English muffins when my mom and grandmother got too involved in the Oscars to notice he disappeared while the kitchen was left unattended. He was thrilled when we returned, literally leapfrogging up and down my grandmother's halls, and we came home expecting to return to normal. Also, though, my husband had the flu last week. This meant that, between my days off in the beginning of the week, and his being home sick, yesterday was the first "crate day" that Arthur had had in about 11 days.

I can't say that I was incredibly surprised when he was extremely upset to be in his crate as I was leaving for work at around 4:00 yesterday. He was barking before I went out the door, and I just prayed he'd settle down relatively soon and remember that everything was okay, as before our crate hiatus. The crate is a metal barred one (because he chewed through the plastic one), and has zip-ties keeping together each side (because he jarred them apart once, and we heard zip-ties were the answer). Well, I got home to a hounddog sleeping behind the front door.

The crate was still locked, hinged and all-together by all appearances, as sturdy as ever. His bone was inside. His collar was VERY tight--tight enough that I really think it should have popped off for safety reasons, and he was glad to her me, but nevertheless, I STILL have no idea how he got out of that crate. I called my bestfriend, who had a key and watched our cats while we were away, and he wasn't over to play a practical joke. The dog is fine, and nothing was out of sorts in the house but for that he'd eaten a half loaf of bread, and taken our other loaf to his bed.

So, today, my husband and I struggled with what to do with him. Put him in a crate we know he can SOMEHOW get out of, and hope he doesn't hurt himself doing so, or leave him to have the run of the house (he knows how to open all doors but the bathroom one, and it's a tiny tiny bathroom). Well, we cleaned up as much as possible, put the bread in the oven (just for storage purposes, nothing's cooking, of course!), and now we're both at work, hoping that he'll be as well-behaved as we didn't think possible. He had his puppy day-care interview this morning, and was utterly exhausted when we left around 3...

but I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to find when I go in my door at 7:30. Now, I'm just at work, wondering, and still trying to figure out: HOW THE HECK DID HE GET OUT OF THAT CRATE?!?!?

Okay, time for my next meeting. Sigh. Any thoughts are more than welcome...

Amazing! Could you put him back in the crate and then somehow secretly watch him? If he got out once it shouldn't take him too long to do it again.

Nora--I WISH...except for that bit with the tight collar, which really scares me still thinking about it! (It's supposed to snap open under pressure.)

UPDATE:

So, I thought Arthur would be left alone around 3...but my husband had to leave for work early, around 2 (I left at 1:30). And, I thought I'd be home around 7:30...but my bus broke down, and it was more like 8:30.

So, 6 and a half hours alone....and he was PERFECT. No accidents (which he had every right to, being alone that long), and no destruction....he didn't even eat the cat food. Seriously.

Apparently, yesterday was his way of saying, clearly and loudly: "PEOPLE! I DON'T NEED NO CRATE!!!" Arthur, dear, we hear you. Maybe it's too early to judge, but the evidence is piling up that he's insanely well-behaved, and just hates crates unless we're there sleeping in the room (he loves his bedtime crate upstairs in our bedroom).

Heavens, I'm exhausted. Time, finally, to take a break and read a bit :)

Hi Jennifer. That's an amazing story about Arthur but how wonderful that you can leave him out of the crate without having to worry. Sounds like he's doing well. Hope you get a good, restful night's sleep.

I love hearing about Arthur's progress, Jennifer. How would he react if you took his picture so we could all look at his sweetie-pie face? :-)

#162 and #164 - It does sound like he's ok without the crate, as long as there are no tempting loaves of bread in sight (wow, that dog loves bread!)

We have a similar hate-the-crate/mostly separation anxiety problem that we've been trying to deal with. It's gotten better over time. Luckily, my husband is able to work from home for at least half of the day, so Geezer isn't in the crate for incredibly long periods of time.

Good luck! I also vote for dog photos.

Hey friends :) We've got a few photos--I have to admit I've just been procrastinating figuring out how to load them onto my thread! I'll make sure to do that this weekend since I'll finally be able to take a breath and relax for a few days (well, once today ends are our "spring break" begins lol).

Hi, Jenn! I've found your thread and got you starred. Your dissertation sounds really interesting, and I love your reviews. And your stories about Arthur are great!

Narrative Medicine sounds good. I'm very interested in narrative medicine, more from the patient's POV than the doctor's. I'll second the recommendations of Two Kinds of Decay and Autobiography of a Face, which are two of my favorites.

I'm glad you enjoyed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Jenn. I agree. It's a stunner.

And I'm so glad Arthur is okay after his Houdini trick. I don't know how he got out but the tight collar has to be part of the story. Poor anxious little dog. I hope he relaxes a bit.....

Great review, thanks a lot :)

Hi, all :)

Marcia--good to see you here :) I probably won't look at as many works from patients' views (except as included within larger works), but we'll see what happens--I've been on a bit of a slump in dissertation reading/focus since the new year started, but I"m slowly getting back to it, and glad to have you here!

Ellen--Now, I've got the sequels sitting here staring at me. I wanted a break (and had to order the next) so I wouldn't stop appreciating it, but I'll probably get to the next in the series within a few weeks...

And, well, we haven't put Arthur back in the crate since we realized he was related to Houdini, and so far, he's behaving like an angel! Joel and I went out to dinner (on the spur of the moment and without any guilt) for the first time in ages last night. I don't think I'd realized quite how much we'd shaped our lives around making sure that Arthur was alone as little as humanly possible--the last few months, I don't think we'd gone out to dinner once without being invited by friends ahead of time or stopping for something quick when we were running errands and realized we were starving! So, yesterday, Joel was with him all day, and then we went out together to pay rent and then relax at a pub down our street. We weren't gone more than two hours, but it was so nice to go out the door without any guilt or worry at all! So, yes, no more crate, and we'll just keep locking up the bread! For now, he's curled up sound asleep on the couch, napping away while I'm on LT and my husband catches up on Jon Stewart episodes!

(((Arthur)))

And hooray for being able to go out to dinner!!

Apparently, crate bad. Arthur good.

???

Yep :) And, just so everyone knows, one of my goals today will be to get a few pictures of Arthur up on the site! I'm going to wait til my husband gets home from work around 10 AM (it's 4 here--he just left) so that I have him for back-up. He's much more technologically inclined, and generally loves to jump in and save my technological sanity when I start getting frustrated! Meanwhile, have a good day everyone!

Yay, Arthur pics coming soon! I'll be back later to check in. I hope the photo-posting goes well!

Well, there aren't pictures Here....BUT, I've now updated my profile picture to be one of our Arthur (though, not a literary one--we don't have one of those!). I also added a few other pictures to my gallery, which I think everyone can see (?). I also added one of our other kitty, who I've spoken of here but didn't have in a picture, Gypsy Gray.

Arthur is incredibly camera shy, so they're not Great pictures, but to give you an idea, I think he's about 80 pounds now. We have some shots of him further off that show all of him in the snow, but these give a sweeter close up to his face, and are still shots. As you might guess from the shots, he's so scared of cameras that we generally have to catch him while he's sleeping, knowing that one shot from the camera will quite literally chase him from the room...

On the picture note, though, it looks like I need to have the pictures online somewhere in order to add them in a message? Is that right? My husband and I have them in galleries on facebook, but it doesn't look like that's quite good enough.... I am tech illiterate, though, so tell me if I'm wrong...

OK, first and most important: Arthur is adorable! Such a sweet looking face he has. I just want to snuggle him up. :-)

Second, now that you have photos in your gallery here on LT, getting them into your thread is a piece of cake. Just use this code —img src="" alt="" width="" height="" border="0" /— except with the pointy brackets instead of the dashes (the ones you get with shift-comma and shift-period), and between the two "" after img src= paste in the URL you get when you right-click on a photo and choose Copy Image URL (the wording might be slightly different for you if you are on a Windows computer but it should be something like that).

You can leave all the rest blank, unless you want to change the size. If you do, just put a number (300, 400, whatever) between the "" either width or height, and the photo will scale proportionally. If you make liberal use of the Preview button, you can get it looking just how you want before you post.

Like this:

Great pictures, Jennifer. Arthur looks very sweet.

Julia, thank you! I'll have to search out the windows instructions, though--I played around with it, but when I click on my gallery images, I can click on "copy", but there's no "copy image url" or similar choice. I tried a few different things, but the closest I got was pasting a link to my profile page or gallery, which folks can get to by just clicking on my name.... Ah well, I'll play with it some more later! I'm glad you guys can see him now, though :)

Pat, he is, even sweeter than he looks in fact!

>179 whitewavedarling: The options when you right-click on an image vary based on your browser. If "copy image URL" isn't an option, then you'll have to click "properties" and then copy the URL from the box that pops up.

Ah--I'll try that :) Thanks, Nora!

Meanwhile...

24. Werewolves in their Youth: Stories by Michael Chabon

In nearly every way, this is an incredibly uneven collection. Like another reviewer, I feel that the first three stories are clearly the strongest in the collection. In fact, after reading the first two, I couldn't believe that I'd allowed myself to wait so long before trying Chabon. I'm afraid, though, that it was downhill from there. In the very end, there was a horror story tacked on, which was interesting...and better than the few before it...but still not great or as good as the first few. For me to look at a collection of around ten stories and only be able to say that three or four were truly worth reading...well, that's not a good sign.

In the first three stories, the plots and sentiments are fast and engaging enough to keep up a certain momentum, but even in those three stories, I never really connected to or cared about any of the characters. For me, this was the problem with the whole collection--I never knew enough about any character, or believed in them enough, to really care. It was as if each story were created from Chabon wondering: "What if a __________________ did ________ or had ______ happen to them?" ie. what if a little boy was considered a friend of the school outcast, but wasn't? What if a woman decided to keep her rapist's child? What if... Now, I'm not saying that that's not a good way/place to start a story. I am saying that a good story requires the writer's imagination to go further than creating an interesting character in an awkward situation, and following that single situation through to a stopping point.

Simply, I'm afraid I grew bored with most of the stories, and with the book as a whole. It felt interesting, but so emotionless as to be unmemorable and easily left to the side. I suppose I'll pick up more of Chabon's work since it's already on my shelf, but this obviously wasn't a good start. Yeah, the stories are well-written...but that's not enough to make great stories or good reading.

I think I got it I think I got it I think I got it.... Here's Arthur...

There's that cute face! Well done, Jennifer!

Yay on getting how to post pictures. Have you checked out the thread "How to do Fancy Things in your Posts"? (http://www.librarything.com/topic/35356). It has lots of useful information.

Arthur is gorgeous!

Arthur is lovely! And, I love the name!

Awwww.... the little Houdini is such a cutie!!! ;)

Thank goodness he's doing well with no crate!

Pat
Thanks for noting that link!

184 - Thanks for posting that thread. I will have to look at it and see what I can learn!

I too, am technologically challenged. :/

Adorable!

Hi - a while ago you recommended Love, Stargirl and I just wanted to let you know that I picked it up for my daughter and she loved it - so thanks!
I just finished reading The Mother-Daughter Book Club to her and we both thought it was terrific. Lots of Alcott trivia and overall good plot, entertaining & authentic characters and lots of humor. We're looking for another read-aloud so let me know if you have any other great suggestions!

#182 - He's adorable! And he looks a lot like Geezer, although Geezer may be a bit larger.

Hi everyone!

I can't believe I've been away from librarything for so long and am so behind! Pat, thanks so much for that link--I'll have to look at it this week. Vivian, I'm so glad that Love, Stargirl was a hit! I've wandered away from young adult for the last month or so, but I plan on getting back to it in the coming weeks :)

Meanwhile, I'm glad everyone finally got to see Arthur :) He's still getting into bread whenever we give him half a chance, and he ate an entire bag of rawhides and half of a boot when my husband and I went out to dinner yesterday, but overall, he's doing wonderfully!

And, while I'm updating....the reason I've been MIA is that I travelled off to Boston for AWP, which is a gigantic conventions for writers and writing programs. I got to finally meet Alice Hoffman in person and finish our interview, and go to innumerable readings from great writers :) My favorite readings were from Jamaal May, Alice Hoffman (of course), Tony Hoagland, and Don DeLillo. I'll post more when I have time, but for now I'll just add that DeLillo reminded me incredibly of Christopher Walken...

Ooh, can't wait to hear more about your adventures at AWP and your interview with Alice Hoffman!

Ooooo, AWP. Did the book fair grab you by the ankle and refuse to let go?

Hi Jennifer. Good to hear all is well. Can't wait to hear more about your convention.

Hi friends :)

I did spend TONS of time at the book fair, though I did surprisingly well on not spending too much money (ie. I spent more than I planned, but less than I expected lol). I also did a lot better about not picking up all of the free stuff (ie. free journals, flyers, pins, etc.) that people were trying to hand me if it obviously wasn't something I'd end up reading or giving more looks to! All of the books I bought were, of course, small press publications, and I'll post a list here sooner than later. I'm woefully behind on LT, and about to leave town again to go Back to Boston to give a poetry reading at a convention on Saturday, so it will probably be next week.

Meanwhile, though, I ended up going pretty non-stop the whole time I was at AWP, having far too many drinks for my own good (health-wise; I did remain responsible!). One of the other readers I heard/saw was Tom Perrotta, which left me curious about The Leftovers. The passage he read didn't seem quite as tantalizing as I might have liked, writing-wise, but the ideas were, and I know I've seen him mentioned here on LT repeatedly. I also got to catch up with a lot of old professors and friends who I hadn't seen in ages, which was pretty amazing :)

I also asked a lot of questions about chapbooks and low-residency MFAs. The good news, for me, was that a low-residency MFA sounds like it might be more feasible than I realized (a few years down the road), even with my other summer commitments. The bad news was that, from the sounds of it, the publisher who "plans" to publish my chapbook is taking a lot more time than is considered reasonable...enough so that I may need to start looking for another publisher.

Other than that last little bit of bad news, though, the trip was amazing. I was so glad to get back to my animals and family that I can't believe I have to travel off again already, but at least this is my last bit of travel until at least June! Now, to think about all these threads on LT I've fallen so behind on....

Yay! I love the picture of Arthur and congrats on learning to post it. I am just figuring out how to post a photo from my iPhone ---- from the iPhone to the Mac to LT junk drawer to my thread..... sheesh.

I like Gypsy Gray, too. :-)

I can't believe I've been so absent from LT! Well, no more traveling for me until May, at least, so now I get to rest and catch up and get back to reading...and lurking here!

And, yes, I adore the creatures who I belong to :)

25. Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen

This was my first Iris Johansen...I haven't decided yet whether or not I'll read more. The story/plot was interesting overall, conceptually, and I was engaged with the characters, but the writing itself threw me off at too many points. Too many pieces of dialogue were either awkward or unbelievable, and too many happenings in the plot were just too contrived to be believable or make sense. That said, it wasn't Badly written--it just wasn't all that well-written either. It did keep me engaged and have a good flow to it, though, so perhaps. In all, rather an enh experience for this reader--not something I regret spending time on, but nothing to recommend or ensure that I come back for more either.

Meanwhile, all the books I picked up at AWP this year....and, because AWP is all about showcasing the small press, I've also included the presses, where they were indeed small presses...

Teeth by Aracelis Girmay (poetry) from Curbstone Press
The World Within edited by Win McCormack (a collection of the author interviews Tin House has printed over the years) from Tin House
Satellite Convulsions: Poems from Tin House edited by Brenda Shaughnessy (poetry) from Tin House
Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse by Anne Carson (poetry/novel in verse)
Promised Instruments by Kristiana Rae Colon (poetry chapbook) from Northwestern University Press
Poem of the Ahead Places by Charles Hansmann (poetry chapbook) from Kattywompus Press
Cloud Vs. Cloud by Ethan Paquin (poetry) from Ahsahta Press
The Homesteader by A. Van Jordan (poetry chapbook by MY FAVORITE POET :) ) from Unicorn Press
On Being Ill by Virginia Woolf printed with Notes from Sick Rooms by Julia Stephen (essays) by Paris Press
History of Hurricanes by Teresa Cader (poetry chapbook) from Northwestern University Press
The Violence by Ethan Paquin (poetry chapbook) from Ahsahta Press
Lessness by Brian Henry (poetry) from Ahsahta Press
The Devestation by Jill Alexander Essbaum (poetry chapbook) from Cooper Dillon Books
Closest Pronunciation by Ed Roberson (poetry chapbook) from Nortwhestern University Press
Don't Forget to Write --for the Secondary Grades-- by 826 National Edited by Jennifer Traig from 826 National

Mostly poetry :) I also bought some novels on this last trip to Boston (6 for fifteen dollars!), but they're still in the car, and it's pouring snow, so I'll enter those later...

It's hard to find a contemporary poetry sequence that isn't either book-length or written by an already well-established author. More than anything, I think this has to do with the publishing industry since small journals don't generally except long poems--simply, they cost too much money because they take up too much space, so unless you already have a name as an author, they're no accepted. This is why I'm so thankful that some chapbook publishers are taking up the cause of the poetic sequence when they're given the opportunity...

26. Poem of the Ahead Places by Charles Hansmann

Made up of a single poetry sequence, this chapbook is a fast and lovely read with engaging language and imagery. Produced by Kattywompus Press in Ohio, it's a simple affair that showcases the words. Held together by descriptions of emotion and the natural world, Hansmann's work is solid and careful, well worth the time. The beginning and ending, as it should be, are the strongest parts...but one of my favorite moments came in the part 16, which I'll quote here:

The yellow moon raked, the stars rebuffed,

the fire takes its dark inside.
How old the sky before the sun

interrupts this visit!
All night our flesh is gathered here

like bathers shy of unrefracted bodies,

immortalized ephemera
that pin the whole belief

on darkness turning into day,
substantiated cycles

rumoring a getaway.

On the whole, there are moments when I wanted the sequence to have more clarity or emotional heft, but the sequence as a whole had so many wonderful and surprising moments that I'm glad to have found it, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to lovers of the poetic sequence.

27. The Cinnamon Peeler by Michael Ondaatje

For years, I've adored Ondaatje's fiction, and enjoyed his poetry, albeit to a lesser extent. I've thought, repeatedly, that Ondaatje's fiction is remarkable for his poetic thought and language, while his poetry is heavier, even trodding, and a bit less poetic than I'd prefer. I've begun this work in the past, which contributed to that view. That said, reading it all the way through, I now see that his more recent work is simply beautiful, as poetic as his prose, and utterly worthwhile.

In a note in the back of the book, Ondaatje notes that this collection includes the poetry he wrote over the course of nearly 30 years--from 1963 to 1990. In the work, for better or worse, that progression shows. The beginning poems are less graceful and poetic, and narrative to the fault that they sometimes feel as if they're pieced apart fiction. The second half of the book, though, is entirely different. The works are perceptive, delivered with careful grace and beautiful language, and tackled perfectly. Those early works are worthwhile in that one gets to see Ondaatje's masterful progression as a poet, and because the narratives there Are interesting and worthwhile, whether or not they read more like poetry or prose. But, in the second half of the book, his poems are perfectly conceived poems, and worth every moment and line--poems that I'll return to for re-reading and re-exploring, which is perhaps the greatest compliment I can give to a poet.

Absolutely recommended, and in this vein, I'll briefly quote two of the poems, one verse and one prose...

from "Rock Bottom" on page 124:

No,
though I am seduced
by this light, and
frantic arguments
on the porch,
I ain't subtle
you run rings
round me

but this quietness
white dress long legs
arguing your body
away from me

and I with all the hunger
I didn't know I had

and, from "Escarpment" on page 188:

"....He turns and she freezes, laughing, with watercress in her mouth. There are not many more ways he can tell her he loves her. He shows mock outrage and yells but she cannot hear him over the sound of the stumbling creek.

He loves too, as she knows, the body of rivers. Provide him with a river or a creek and he will walk along it. Will step off and sink to his waist, the sound of water and rock encasing him in solitude. The noise around them insists on silence if they are more than five feet apart. It is only later when they sit in a pool legs against each other that they can talk..."

So, yes, with such graceful movement and imagery and language and narrative...I have no hesitancy in recommending this work to readers of poetry, or anyone, for that matter, who enjoys a short narrative in any form. And, if you don't like the beginning....keep going, as it took me too long to do.

Another catch-up post....

Well, at AWP, I bought a lot of obscure and small-press poetry, and a little bit of writing related nonfiction. I THOUGHT I'd get away from NeMLA without buying anything at all, but perhaps a single nonfiction work, which I usually allow myself at academic conferences if one stands out. Instead, at the bookfair on the last day, one of the publishers took the prices down so much that I just couldn't resist. And, this was a trip that brought home more widely-heard-of novels... So, the next set of conference purchases...but I can't be too ashamed since I got five books for just fifteen dollars :)

White Dog Fell From the Sky by Eleanor Lincoln Morse
Lazarus is Dead by Richard Beard
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Mosquito by Roma Tearne
The Tale of Rawhead & Bloody Bones by Jack Wolf

28. The Violence by Ethan Paquin

There's more experiment than focus here, but much of the language is interesting enough to make each individual poem a compelling single piece of work. The problem, though, is that many of them don't have a clear (or even ambiguously communicated) language based meaning when a reader stops to give a poem more careful examination. Especially because of this, the collection as a whole just isn't as compelling as I'd hope for in a poetry collection. Similarly, while there are many fascinating moments of language and imagery, there just aren't full poems that stand out to me as that fascinating or driven. Without poems like that, I probably won't come back to this collection. Without a doubt, I'd probably recommend this book to poets who are practicing experimental work or to readers interested in new experimental writing...but it's definitely not for everyone, or even most.

29. Don't Call It Night by Amos Oz

Amos Oz excels at making an otherwise ordinary story utterly hypnotic. The story of a couple simply attempting to move forward together, this story is an artful illustration of two individuals who, against odds, are simply in love and supportive of one another, even at each other's most frustrating or challenged moments. Oz's creative weaving of the viewpoints of these two, and his poetic prose, make the story compelling and singular, worth every moment.

Simply, this work is a quiet and desperate story, as artful and perfectly conceived as any novel could be. Highly highly recommended.

30. Indigo by Alice Hoffman

Hoffman's brand of magical realism is perfectly fitted into this story of three young friends hoping for something better and more magnificent in their too-prescribed young lives. As always, her writing is graceful and her characters are utterly believable. Simply, this is a short and magical piece of YA lit., and absolutely recommended.

A Puppy Update:

Well, it turns out that Arthur destroys things whenever we end up at a movie that I end up not caring for.... Yesterday, we went to see Oz, which was pretty to look at, but ultimately a disappointment. (He left things alone when we went to see Olympus Has Fallen and Argo, and made a bit of a mess when we saw the also-disappointing-me Django Unchained)

While we were gone: Arthur destroyed a bag of coffee filters, a bag of cat food, a stack of receipts, a cat toy, a bag of cat-food, some kitchen magnets, and a bag of potatoes. He also ATE pieces of a cat toy, some treats, a bag of doggie-pill-pockets, and one side of an 8-inch metal zipper (with some small bit of attached leather) from a backpack. The metal zipper led his mother (yours truly) to panic, so we took him to the vet for an x-ray; luckily, he digested it, so he ended up sending out of his other end about fifteen minutes after we got home from said x-ray.

Heavens--adventures in hound-dog belonging...

Never a dull moment, eh Jennifer? I'm glad Arthur is OK, though. The next trick you'll have to teach him is to be able to tell you whether the movie is good BEFORE you go. If he could do that, you could probably get him his own TV show. :-)

Hi Jennifer!

#206 - Could you recommend an adult novel by Alice Hoffman? (Have I already asked you this? If so, please forgive.) I read The Foretelling a while ago (YA) and enjoyed it and am curious to read something non-YA by her.

Oh, Arthur! Bless his heart. I'm glad he's ok. I can't believe how much he looks like Geezer. You might check out the Geezer photos in my profile. Geezer might have a slightly larger frame. He's about 75 pounds.

I must add Don't Call It Night to my list. I've only read one by Amos Oz but I did love it.

(((Arthur)))

I haven't been around here nearly enough, and OH MY GOSH--Arthur and Geezer could absolutely be twins! He weighs in right at 73, so he is just a smidge smaller, but I can't get over how similar they look! Geezer is wearing the exact look that Arthur wears so often, but that we just can't catch on camera since he's still so terrified of his picture being taken. I can't wait to get home and show my husband lol. He has been very good sense that last episode, though. He's been a bit anxious the last few days since we've had the windows open constantly, and probably also since we're trying a different medication (prozac instead of zanex...which I'm sure I'm spelling incorrectly).

Meanwhile, I think my favorite of Alice Hoffman's novels is Here on Earth, and I also love her Ice Queen. Ice Queen has a bit of her brand of magical realism, and is one of her shorter adult works (whereas Here on Earth is one of the longer one), so that might be a good place to start...

And, yes, do add Don't Call it Night! it really is a wonderful work :)

Well, as it turns out, Arthur had a rough night, which means our whole family had a rough night, and so, I ended up writing a related blog post, which has calmed me down even if it hasn't particularly affected the puppy. Heavens. So, in case you're interested...

http://whatimaginationlookslike.blogspot.com/2013/04/safe-enough-to-imagine-safe...

Lovely blog post, Jennifer. Arthur is lucky to have you, even though it might seem sometimes that you aren't able to help him feel safe. I'd like to think some part of him is learning that he is in a safe place now.

Your blog post is beautiful, Jennifer! Heartbreaking in a good way. I do hope poor Arthur finds some semblance of feeling safe. He is so lucky to have you to protect (as best you can) and love him. I'm with rosalita (and as you said in the final paragraph of your blog post) that I hope and imagine that he can learn, little by little, to feel safe. Or safer.

xo to him (and to you).

Thanks guys :) I can't believe it's been weeks since you've commented and I've been away from LT so much! My time here always gets rarer in the summer--it's when I do more writing, and most of my time online ends up being to send off poetry submissions or research markets and whatnot. Meanwhile, of course, a lot of my free time is also still going to our wonderful Arthur. I think we're going to switch back to xanax soon here--it seemed to be doing better for him than the prozac was. Still, he's happy more than not. We're just working on making the bad days/afternoons fewer and fewer!

Meanwhile, I have been reading, though not as much as I'd like.... To catch up:

31. No Second Chance by Harlan Coben (thriller)

32. History of Hurricanes by Teresa Cader (poetry)

33. Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli (young adult fiction)

34. Hemingway & Bailey's Bartending Guide to Great American Writers by Mark Bailey (coffee table/recipes/anecdotes)

Overall, they were all worthwhile reads, and I've written full reviews to each. Spinelli's work didn't quite live up to his earlier works, but was still worth the read. Coben's work was exactly what I've come to expect from him. The poetry was mediocre, but the coffee table book on writers and drinking and drinks was absolutely a joy!

Meanwhile, my poetry and the animals here are taking up most of my time, so I can't promise I'll be around nearly as much as I'd like or as I was in the spring...but I'm still lurking on and off and will catch up as I can when I can. I hope you're all finding good reads!

35. Forests of the Night by James W. Hall

Hall is at his best when writing about the Florida Keys and coastal waters, but even so, the setting of this work in the forests of North Carolina doesn't detract from his expert plotting and fascinating characters. With as many twists and just as much family lore as you'd expect from a Hall novel, this thriller lives up to some of his best works. The main protagonist Charlotte doesn't come close to being as much of a drive as his more well-known Thorn, but she also doesn't drag the novel down, which is all I can ask from one of his non-Thorn novels. And, truth be told, the lesser character Gracie is so strange and well-written (frighteningly believable) that we don't miss the sympathy we'd normally give to a primary protagonist. All in all, this is a well written and twisting adventure of a thriller, and well worth the while. Long-time fans of Hall might miss some of the norms of his earlier works, but they won't be too disappointed with this departure either. Absolutely recommended.

Hi Jennifer!

Welcome back and thank you for the Alice Hoffman recommendation up there.

#216 - Nice review. Perhaps I'll check this out. It doesn't look to be part of a series. Is it?

And hello to Arthur. I hope the xanax works out if you switch to it.

Hi! The Xanax was working before, so I think we'll be in mostly good shape soon! Meanwhile, I don't think that Hall book is part of a series... I've read just about all of his books (short of the two latest, I think), and didn't recognize the characters at all. At the very least, I feel safe in saying that, should there be other books with the same characters, this is the first. I'm pretty sure it's a solo though. I'll check my shelf later and look at the two I haven't read, and let you know if I'm wrong and there are sequels!

Meanwhile, 2 more that I'd been wandering through and finished today...

36. Rose by Li-Young Lee (poems)

At turns heartbreaking and at other moments humorous, Lee always presents his poems with lyrical and haunting detail, impressing upon readers the importance of a single given moment. I'd read many of these poems in the past (a few have been included in more than one anthology), but this was my first time reading the collection as a single long work. And, in the end, this is one of those collections that calls to be read as a whole. With cycles of references to flowers, to the power of memory, and to the simple sound and gift of rain, the poems come together with a larger power than any one of them holds alone. Yet, Lee's elegant style is translated as well into each single poem. Each is accessible, worthwhile, and memorable on its own. There is no filler here, and much to enjoy for both casual readers and long-time lovers of poetry alike. Absolutely, this is recommended, and of those poetry books that I'll pass on both to friends who haven't yet found Lee's work (rare as they may be), and to that reader who might just be considering a venture into pleasure-reading poetry. This full collection is one I'll return to.

AND

37. Waterland by Graham Swift

With raw bits of esoteric knowledge scattered throughout, and with a fair amount of reflections on the meaning and making of history, as well as teaching, this novel also proves itself as a masterful and complex story worth taking your time over. Wonderful scenes, poetic language, believable characters, and both humor and heartbreak...and, what's more, the novel feels like a step back to another time and has a clear sense of place. Simply, this is absolutely recommended, and it makes me wonder how I never got around to discovering Swift in the past. A wonderful escape and a beautiful read.

38. The Republic of Poetry by Martin Espada

Martin Espada is one of my favorite poets...and this collection is one of his best.

Ringing with tones of fable and of history, this collection is Espada at his best. While each poem is itself a graceful story with clear images and accessible language, each poem is also only a small part of the larger collection that comes together as a focused exploration of various events and persons of Latin America. Whether readers are familiar with Espada's inspirations or not, however, they'll find that the stories and emotions set up here are well worth exploring. Espada is a master at focusing his language and poetics in such a tight and lyrical manner as to reach even the most cynical reader, whether that reader might regularly enjoy poetry or not. Simply, this is a collection for anyone with an interest in poetry, in events and persons written into literature, or simply with an interest in beautiful words and literature. Absolutely recommended for any reader. This will stand as one of my favorite poetry collections of all time.

39. AIDS at 30 by Victoria Angela Harden

Harden’s work here is both encompassing and well-documented. With the goal of giving a non-biased history of HIV/AIDS, from its initial recognition on through steps toward scientific description, diagnosis, and progressions in research and treatment, Harden focuses on providing a broad view of the virus. Based toward the average reader’s understanding of the science, as well as a treatment of the political, social, and cultural forces at work in the background, the book provides a great deal of material. Rather than give a great deal of depth to any one person or subject, Harden also moves quickly, allowing for the casual reader to focus in on gaining an overall understanding of the history and issues while knowing enough about the details to find more information. The results are impressive: her work is detailed and well-documented, without providing so much information as to be either overwhelming or confusing.

One of the most impressive features of this work is the attempt to look at the steps toward progress, both backwards and forwards. Rather than detailing only developments that led directly to progress in description, diagnosis, and treatment, or even on developments that directly worked against such progress, Harden endeavors to give an even view to each step forward in history, wherever it might have led (or be leading). This has a couple of effects—first, readers understand the complex cycle of steps and procedures and groups that led toward eventual progress rather than seeing the historical progression as a clearly linear path toward progress. Second, and perhaps more importantly, readers see the ways in which single individuals, political groups, private and public organizations, and societal feelings influenced work on HIV/AIDS. While it’s true that these forces are all acknowledged in other works on HIV/AIDS, they’ve rarely been treated with such unbiased and careful an eye toward cause and effect and detail. Harden also examines the forces which have worked directly against progress, notably including discussions of groups who’ve denied that HIV/AIDS is an actual phenomenon or problem, as well as groups who’ve denied that the virus is spread through sexual contact or that HIV has any relation to AIDS. By refusing to ignore these groups, Harden’s work shoes itself to be more determined than most to present the full picture.

Other features also make the work incredibly successful on a variety of levels. Extensive footnotes provide details for readers who might come to the subject knowing less or needing more information than the averagely informed reader. Glossaries also provide the meanings for the many acronyms that pop up in discussions, as well as meanings for both basic and advanced scientific terms (from HIV and virus on through terms like capsid and interferon). Similarly, these glossaries also provide translations for discrepancies in spelling that appear when one reads material on HIV/AIDS from separate regions and countries. And, of course, the work is current, having gone to press in 2011.

Of course, there are some weaknesses in the work. Because each reader brings a different knowledge base and because Harden is aiming for the middle, any reader is sure to be disappointed with some aspect of the discussion. Her section on communication/media, for instance, fails to mention Rent, which I believe was one of the fundamental cultural works to drive a wide-spread knowledge of HIV in my generation, which was less likely to have seen or know of Angels in America, which is her dramatic focus. Similarly, her discussion of literature is fairly absent, aside from attention to drama. I’ve no doubt that readers more versed in politics, economics, etc. would find other sections to be lacking in some of the depth that they’d hope for. But then, she couldn’t include everything, and her extensive footnotes are more than successful in directing readers to further avenues of discovery. A second major weakness is that, at times, Harden seems to be bending over backwards to be diplomatic. A glaring example of this is when she notes that one of the primary reasons drug companies held off on lowering prices for pharmaceutical treatments was that they had doubts that countries in Africa had the capabilities of fairly distributing the drugs, just as the citizens who needed the drugs might prove incapable of following the recommended treatment schedules. While neither of these points is without some basis, there’s no doubt that profit was a large part of the drug companies’ reluctance in easing distribution. And, obviously, there’s the question of how these points could be proved correct or incorrect without any attempt at fair and affordable distribution. Lastly, Harden moves so quickly through the different issues that an uncareful reader can easily miss important developments and figures (for instance, the initial formation of UNAIDS, the release of Life Before the Lifeboat (2009), and the fact that Latin America is the one region in which newly documented cases of AIDS have been steadily on the rise since the beginning).

In the end, though, these are insignificant weaknesses when compared to the breadth and magnitude of the work at hand. Harden’s discovery and documentation of the first three decades of HIV/AIDS as a global issue, affected by political and social factors, is as impressive as it is necessary, along with being well-written and accessible. There’s no doubt in my mind that any reader who searches this book out, for what it is, will be impressed and find that their time was well-spent and necessary. Recommended.

Fabulous review of AIDS at 30, Jennifer; I'll look for it this weekend.

Thanks!

And meanwhile...as I slowly catch up on reviews from books read on vacation to see family...

40. Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

Mowat's writing is wonderful, full of careful observation and clever humor, but what's more wonderful in this particular book is that we're allowed to see one individual undergo the slow move from being entirely influenced by society's superstitions and fears regarding wolves on to being someone who sees how unfair those fears and superstitions actually are. As Mowat learns about the wolves, his amazement comes through in the writing, as does the beauty of the wolves he so closely observes. And, in the background of the book, other characters and government blunders make the book frighteningly comical.

Overall, this is simply an enjoyable and informative read, beautifully written, and hinged on an understated argument for the need for conservation and understanding. Anyone who enjoys nature writing or animals of any kind should read this book. Absolutely recommended.

41. On Being Ill with Notes from Sick Rooms by Julia Stephen by Virginia Woolf

In the new edition of Virginia Woolf's On Being Ill, available from Paris Press, editors have printed On Being Ill alongside her mother Julia Stephen's nonfiction work, Notes from Sick Rooms, along with thoughtful introductions to both works, as well as an afterword from Rita Charon, one of the leading figures in the relatively new discipline of Narrative Medicine. While any of the works might be well worth reading on their own, this new edition showcases the material in such a way as to highlight different treatments and thoughts on being ill from the specific (and often contradictory) perspectives of a nurse and her patient. For readers interested in Woolf's life, Julia Stephen's work is an invaluable eye into what her sick room must have been like as she was cared for by her mother, and for readers interested in history, the second and longer work by Stephens will be of just as much interest. While Woolf's work is shorter, it is also a startlingly beautiful look into what it means to live with illness, and how this time can manifest itself as both a blessing and a horror.

All in all, the essays in this work make for a short read, but it is also a packed read that begs for further examination, and ends up being well worth the time. Recommended for all those interested in either text, or in the experience of illness at home in the early twentieth century. And, probably, recommended for anyone engaged in caring for loved ones or in nursing practices--certainly, much of what Stephen writes on remedies and food is predictably outdated...but her careful attention to detail and desire mean that many of her concerns are indeed still relevant today.

Why ever did I wait so long to begin reading Maya Angelou's autobiographies? Well, I'm enjoying them now.

42. Gather Together In My Name by Maya Angelou

While this installment doesn't hold the same humor as Angelou's first autobiography, it presents just as much entertainment and poetic movement. Covering her late teen years, Angelou's movement from childhood into the unsteady footfalls of a young woman is fascinating and full of heart just so much as the heartbreak you'd expect from those years. It also moves just so quickly as a novel, illustrating a talent for narrative pacing that has only grown since her first part, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Anyone who enjoyed the first portion will undoubtedly enjoy this second installment--what is lost with the childhood innocence of that first part is only gained with the ironic observations and hopes served up here. Absolutely recommended.

43. Memory Wall by Anthony Doerr

After discovering Anthony Doerr in one of the Best American Short Stories Anthologies, I immediately ordered his collections...and I'm so glad that I did. In this collection, Doerr develops themes involving memory and loss in particular, evolving worlds and characters that present themselves as being both totally unique and perfectly believable. Each story explores characters who can't help but be fascinating, and no story treads on already discovered territory. And, beyond his originality, Doerr is also an exceptional writer--the prose here is worth savoring, as energetic as it is graceful. Simply: Doerr is my new favorite contemporary short story writer. These stories stand up to the best out there, and I absolutely recommend the collection.

I didn't even realize that Maya Angelou had written more than one autobiography! I read 'Caged Bird' quite some time ago and thought it was wonderful. I should look for 'Gather Together' at the library.

I think there are five or six installments all together--I'm spacing them out a bit, but at this rate, I have a feeling I'll end up reading all of them this year! The second didn't have the same humor as 'Caged Bird' since it's not such a child's perspective, but it was wonderful in all new ways :) You may be able to find them all collected together in one work--I'm not sure; I ordered used copies from amazon fairly cheaply.

44. Twenty 10-Minute Plays for Teens Volume I by Kristen Dabrowski

It's difficult to find good short material for teens and children to perform--most of what's available is either incredibly dated, or reads like a (bad) afterschool special. And much of it would, very simply, be best described as boring by those same students who might perform it. Unfortunately, this book comes with its own vast set of problems--some of it is inappropriate to teens, much of it is boring, and still more reads like a not-too-entertaining teenage soap. It might have its uses, for some instructors and/or teens, but the book falls far short of its' author's promises.

First, there's language. The book was published in 2004, so you wouldn't expect it be dated...but some of the expressions are more suited to a college student or older teen from the late eighties or early nineties. There's no current slang, but there are slang terms like boning...and I don't know when I last heard that outside of nineties music stations. And, while some of the language might be let slide in teenagers improvising scenes, or simply ignored by teachers, I can't imagine a high-school teacher giving out some of these skits that contain repeated uses of "bitch", "piss", and uncountable "that sucks". Oh, and then there are the derogatory remarks about things or people being "gay"--true, there's always the politically correct teen standing by to say "don't say that"...but it ends up being a repeated exchange that, if not offensive, is also unnecessary.

Then there's the entertainment value. Some of the dramatic scenes here have their moments, but just as many veer off course. And, those same dramatic scenes do short work of attempting to touch on such issues as child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, alcoholism, etc. In other words, the dramatic scenes veer into after-school special territory, but leave the scenes with no closure at all instead of wrapping them up either too neatly or too seriously. And, where the other scenes try to be funny or entertaining...they're just not, for adults or teens.

Unfortunately, still another problem is the simple practical use of the scenes. Most of the short plays (10 minutes or so long) have upwards of 7-8 actors/actresses involved, if not closer to 14-16. As a result, few characters have more than a few lines; the author seems to specialize in mini-crowd scenes of idle teenage dialogue. True, it's all believable, but how useful is it as a short play?

The book may have some uses. Because the characters are nearly all bare-bones, there might be some use in having students flesh out the characters and add depth to the characters or scenes on their own. Likewise, some of these short plays would work well enough as practice piece--they're nothing you'd want to have students put real work into performing (because, for the most part, they're just not entertaining to warrant the effort), but they do give opportunity for building an ensemble and/or memorizing lines and working at stage business in class. Again, I don't know that most of them are appropriate, but some are and could come in handy for in-class work and exercising, perhaps.

Simply, this isn't a collection that I'd find real use in recommending. Unless you're looking for simple short plays that can be performed by larger groups of older teenagers, you won't have much use for this. In the end, I'm afraid this book just doesn't have much material to offer to anyone--teens will find it condescending and/or boring, and any instructor who hands it to teens is likely to get some calls from parents.

It looks like you've had some good reading lately. I am wishlisting the Doerr book--it sounds good.

I have had some great reads lately, the Doerr probably being the best since I can't wait to read his other collection. I wish I could say that I'm as impressed with the scene-books I've been reading lately :( And, along those lines...

45. The Ultimate Scene Study Series for Teens 2: 55 Short Scenes by Debbie Lamedman

Lamedman writes that her goal is to make short scenes that teens can relate to, built from characters who teens can really understand and develop. In this, she succeeds, and the scenes here are probably well-suited to the highschool drama class searching out scenes for students who are just beginning to explore scene-work. The problems, though, might be expected as offshoots of these goals--many of them will allow students to build or choose characters who are exactly like themselves, meaning that the only acting work involved will be memorization. And, perhaps expectedly, the scenes aren't as entertaining as they might be were the characters more unique or developed. The characters and dialogues are Believable...just not overly original.

Also, while not necessarily a downfall of the book per se, it should also be noted that 90% of the material here is dramatic. There are three or four decent comedic skits (not hilarious, but funny enough to be entertaining once around), but the rest are built from conflict, much of it fairly serious (dealing with death, dating, drugs, eating disorders, etc.).

In the end, these aren't exquisite scenes, but they are age-appropriate and easily relatable if that's all that's being sought out. They are not, though, in any way challenging, which I do find a serious shortcoming of the work.

46. Fondling Your Muse by John Warner

First, some confessions: 1) I LOVE the title. I absolutely unapologetically LOVE and ADORE this title. Alone, it would have been enough for me to buy the book. 2) I used to share an office with the author, and since this book came out while I was in said office, I wanted to support the project (contrary to what jokes in the book might suggest, he did not push the book on me!). 3) I'm not a big reader of humor...in fact, I don't even watch many comedies. And, when it comes to slap-stick and/or dry humor, I generally stay away. Thus, without a doubt, I'm simply not the target audience for the book. (Well, except in that I love the title. I Really Love the title.)

In the end, I was amused. I was entertained and engaged enough to wander through the full book, and aware enough to realize that John's dry humor just isn't mine--many readers will find this laugh-out-loud funny and celebrate every page of irony and satire. Unfortunately, that's just not me. There are a Lot of one-liners in this book, and while most are funny, the piling of one on top of another ended up making it a slower read for me.

The point of all this as you try to figure out whether or not to pick it up? Well, it's a gorgeous book, and will likely make every writer guffaw repeatedly (particularly writers of fiction, admittedly), so it certainly wouldn't be a bad coffee table book or humorous gift. So, if you're looking for humor and jokes about writing and writers? Absolutely. On the other hand, if you take yourself too seriously, don't like dry humor, or are actually looking for in depth and sincere writing advice...well, you really ought to go elsewhere.

All that said, though, I'm not a humor person...and I'm still glad to have wandered my way through the book. So, perhaps I should simply say: if you write, wander through a chapter or two, and you'll know pretty quickly whether this will be a favorite or something to pass on by.

47. The Ultimate Audition Book for Teens Volume XI: 111 One-Minute Monologues by Type by Kristen Dabrowski

I'm not sure If Dabrowski has any experience teaching and working with teens, but the material in this book implies she doesn't. Beyond the fact that the monologues aren't written very well, and beyond the fact that the characters and situations are clichéd and unoriginal, further problems include style and language. Language-wise, I have to say that I wouldn't be comfortable keeping this book on a shelf in my classroom. Inappropriate language is one thing if it's a word here or there, And included within a longer work that is itself worthwhile. Here, there are repeated inappropriate words, most if not all of them gratuitous and unnecessary. Simply, even though they're supposedly written for teens, I'd have to edit many of these before feeling comfortable with giving them to my students.

And then there's style. Many of these monologues aren't what I would call useful monologues. They all but require another person to be present for the entirety of the monologue...and, while no lines are shown for the other person(s), these omissions come off as awkward. Many of the monologues read more like one side of a simple and unentertaining skit instead of a monologue.

In the end, I was incredibly disappointed with this work. I had middle-schoolers try their hands at writing their own monologues last year, and I have to say: every one of them was better and more entertaining than anything in this book. True, the spelling might have needed some work...but they were far better monologues than what I've found here. I can't imagine recommending this book, or making use of more than 3 or 4 of the 111 "monologues" presented here.

48. A Single Shot by Matthew F. Jones

If, somehow, Quentin Tarantino and Dostoevsky were to combine their efforts and write a piece of southern fiction...this might just be the result. A well-paced and disturbing read, this novel follows in the footsteps of the darker southern and Appalachian works by Flannery O'Connor, Cormac McCarthy, and Ron Rash among others.

Jones' main character, John Moon, is as believable as he is heartbreaking and frightening, and the narrative itself is nearly a carnival of grotesqueries. In the end, the tale's simplicity makes it all the more disturbing, and People Magazine's note that the book is part Crime and Punishment, and part Deliverance, is as on-target as any blurb I've ever seen. This is a fast and dark novel, and well worth the read.

On the other hand, readers be aware: much as you'll think it can't keep getting darker, and much as you might think that Woodrell's foreword exaggerates the disturbing nature of so much that's included....it will keep getting darker, and you will keep being surprised.

Wonderfully wonderfully dark, and one of the few non-supernatural fictions that I still might be tempted to describe as fitting into the horror genre.

49. The Dragon Can't Dance by Earl Lovelace

As much as surveillance is a nearly palpable force within this work, the narrative is surprisingly humorous and quickly paced. Lovelace's wonderfully written work is grounded in a shantytown of Trinidad, and rings with the dialects and carnivals of the area, but each of the colorful characters in his narrative is also personally at war with the shadows of a postcolonial reality that makes even festivals seem something of a farce at real living. As a novel and as a narrative, this is an entertaining journey full of humor, love, cynicism, and strength. And as an exploration of postcolonial worlds and feelings, this is also a necessary work of truth and individual terror, held together with themes of surveillance that preoccupy each of Lovelace's characters even as they enjoy their denials of reality or attempt escape. Absolutely recommended.

Nice review of The Dragon Can't Dance, Jennifer. I bought his novel Salt last month, and I'll keep this one in mind as well.

Thanks--I think I'm going to be picking up more of his work, too, so I'll keep my eyes out for your thoughts on that one!

50. 666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce

Although I picked this up because I so loved the television series based on it, 666, I just have to say: I haven't the faintest idea how they ended up turning this book into that television show. That said, I loved it just as much in all different ways.

First, I want to note that the only real similarities between this book and that television series is the names of the main characters, which are mostly the same even while the relationships are entirely twisted between mediums. Where the television series focuses on a haunted/haunting hotel, however, this series focuses on a young woman/witch who has only just discovered who she is and the real story behind her past, as well as how her present is tangled up in matters she never would have imagined. The book hinges on moods of romance, mystery, and suspense, and is a far reach from the horror that Hollywood turned it into (much as I loved that horror, it's true). Pierce's writing, though, is luxuriant and graceful, and her narrative is as fast-moving as her characters are fun. All in all, this is a wonderful read, and everything you'd want in a quiet and easy escape.

For followers of the cancelled television series, I reluctantly have to accept (and share): I doubt that any closure for the story-lines in the television show will be found by following this series through. BUT, this is maybe all the more fascinating for what it was eventually turned into, and there are strains of horror here, any of which I can imagine being taken further in future installments.

Simply, I have to recommend it. I had more fun reading this than I've had with a book in ages. Absolutely recommended. It takes a few chapters to take off, giving backstory, but it speeds up quickly and delivers on all of the suspense and questions it sets up.

Wow, I had no idea the TV show was based on a book! I liked the show too, but I understand why it had to be cancelled, because how else would ABC fit in a reality show about celebrities jumping off a diving board???

Sigh, I know :( I was so frustrated with the way it ended that I thought the books might provide some closure, though I think that was a pipe dream. BUT, on the upside, I now love the books! They look and sound like incredibly light chic-lit (at least the first editions do, gorgeous as they are), which I think is why I'd never picked them up. Truthfully, I think I glanced at them repeatedly in the past, and never picked them up because I didn't realize the connection or think they'd be of interest. I'm so glad I was proven wrong, and hope you enjoy them if you look them up :) (Remembering that, in this case, "based on" is truly the loosest phrase ever!)

51. The Nuttiest Wackiest Funniest Skits Ever by Stanley Snickelfoose

Written by a clown, this collection is full of humorous skits built to be short and funny. Nearly all (if not all) are fully appropriate for children, though some might have some language-based jokes that younger audiences might not quite appreciate--no foul language, though, or even really any dirty jokes, so that the worst-case scenario is one of being confused rather than offended. Another plus is that the book contains a couple of skits which are all physical comedy described in detail, no script needed. These couple of skits are ideal for kids who may want to be in front of the audience, but aren't yet comfortable with script-work or with projection (the skits lend themselves to improvised dialogue if desired).

Truly, there are only two downsides to the book. The first is that the majority of the skits are based around straightforward 2-4 line jokes, nearly to the extent that reading the collection occasionally feels like reading a joke-book. For acting troupes or teachers looking for opportunities to fully develop complex scenes or characters, this means there are fewer opportunities than might be had otherwise (though, that said, the format also means that plenty could be added to any scene, or the characters could be individually developed in many directions as preferred by the actor or director). The second possible downside to the collection is that many of the skits require a number of props. Notably, a toy frog, a plastic chicken, a large foam hammer, and a stethoscope make recurring appearances. If the actors are creative, though, many of these props could be overcome, and the skits possibly be made even more amusing, if the objects were pantomimed. There are a few cases in which pantomiming would prove difficult or make the humor unclear, but not many.

Overall, these skits are short, funny, and perfect for students working on script-work, comedic timing, and basic performance skills. The skits are also well-written and built to amuse audiences of all ages (nicely balanced between physical comedy and scripted/language-based comedy), and fully appropriate for children....as might be suggested by the fact that they were written by a clown.

Recommended.

>237 whitewavedarling: You know, ABC is planning on airing the remaining unaired episodes sometime this summer. There probably won't be closure, but one can always hope.

I didn't know that, but I'm thrilled to hear it! I'll keep my ear out :)

52. Crash Your Party Dress by Adrian Hunter

Full Review written, but this one isn't for everyone; it's the collection of erotic stories that Hunter posted online in the 90s, and which led him to be one of the first writers to gain a reputation based solely on online work.

53. Zoomy Zoomy: Improv Games and Exercises for Groups by Hannah Fox

Full of games and exercises for team-building, improvisation, and acting skills, this book is a perfect resource for acting and theater teachers, and even for coaches or counselors who might need to pull an entertaining game out without much notice or resource. Built to require little or no equipment, nearly all of these exercises require not resources beyond space and imagination. In some few cases, pencil and paper or something which can be used as a ball (ie. if not a ball, even rolled up socks will do) are needed, but these are by far the minority. Additionally, while all of the games/exercises require a group of people (probably at least four), most are flexible enough that they might be useful and entertaining for groups of 10-30 or more with slight adjustments in some cases. Also, most of the exercises and games listed are quick, meant for introductory or warm-up sessions before major lessons, so most of them will accommodate classes of various lengths.

It is worth noting that, while most of these exercises are suitable for youth, some aren't, for various reasons (maturity levels re. responsibility in trust exercises or exercises that might involve physical contact; complexity of direction/requirement; necessity of emotional maturity; etc.); in nearly all cases, though, even these few exercises could be adjusted for younger students.

Overall, this is a really useful book with plenty of ideas. Fox's explanations and directions are clear and concise with examples in cases where confusion might occur otherwise, and the book is organized to allow for teachers to quickly reference useful sections or exercises meant to build particular skillsets. (On this note, though, I would add that there's a lot of cross-over; I'd suggest giving the full book a look rather than assuming what you'll be most interested in will be placed in that one section--there might be something just as useful which could be expanded from a warm-up to a full lesson, from a team-building exercise to a warm-up, or vice versa, etc.)

My one reservation about the book is that there is some repetition in that many of the exercises call on mimicking or mirroring of others' movements, and in that quite a few of the exercises call on a student's/troupe member's telling a story/anecdote as a beginning. When working with younger students who might be less forthcoming, or with diverse groups in which personal and emotional stories might not be the ideal comfortable impetus for groupwork, some of these exercises might require more leading than the book suggests so that the class doesn't get into overly emotional or personal territory. These cases are rare, but there are some exercises here that I'd be wary of using with audiences/students under 16 or 17 based on my own memory of exercises which got overly emotional in my own high school drama class years ago.

Overall, though, this is an incredibly useful resource. Highly recommended.

54. Satellite Convulsions: Poems From Tin House edited by Brenda Shaughnessy

Tin House is one of only two literary journals that I always keep subscriptions for, no matter how tight my budget. The content is always fresh, interesting, and well worth the read. And, though they publish quite a bit more fiction than poetry, the poetry that they do publish is top-quality and never disappoints. As might be expected, then, this collection is a wonderful anthology of poems from across their years, and contains some of my favorite poems and favorite authors. Any reader of poems will recognize some of the authors, and discover many new ones along the way. All-together, it's an absolutely wonderful anthology, and perhaps even my favorite when it comes to a diverse collection of contemporary poems.

Highly recommended.

55. A Leg to Stand On by Oliver Sacks

Sacks describes his accident, and the jarring experience of feeling entirely dissociated from his leg, with eloquent detail and psychological examination. About three fourths of the memoir is taken up by a careful recounting of his accident and its effects, and following that, his slow recovery. The last fourth of the book is less memoir than medical conclusion, delving into the psychological and physiological background of his experience, the precedents documented by others, and the neurological science associated with the phenomenon, wrapping up not only the experience, but the Type of experience as it is felt and discovered by a significant number of persons; this conclusion also includes some notes on how such a medical dissociation as he experienced can be understood as related to phantom limb syndromes.

Overall, this work is fascinating and easily accessible; the account of Sacks' own experience does at times feel heavy on rhetoric, but I suspect that's a necessary byproduct of attempting to give reality to something that many of his readers have never imagined, let alone experienced. Also on a language level, the last portion of this book reads more like a textbook, and is a much slower read as a result--for readers without any background in medical writings or neurology, this section is heavy on references and reads at a slower pace, but is still well worth the time.

In the end, I'd recommend this work for anyone with an interest in medical narratives or memoir, as well as for doctors and nurses in training since the experience of being a patient is given so much attention and depth in this work.

Recommended.

56. Trauma Culture: The Politics of Terror and Loss in Media and Literature by E. Ann Kaplan

Undoubtedly, the most useful portions of this book are Kaplan's careful connections between trauma theory (and language and stages associated with trauma) and the experiences of taking in media (particularly as related to film and news). For the most part, this work is done in the first half of the book, with later chapters being more fully devoted to film studies and close readings of these films and projects, including documentaries.

There are some frustrating aspects to this work, however: when not in a mode of "close reading", Kaplan tends to become heavily invested in the rhetoric of her subjects, sometimes asking so many questions (one after another, without break) that they simply become a barrage of quandaries--many of which are never answered, or in some cases, even addressed. Similarly, my impression is that some of her arguments are fairly one-sided. I'm not someone who is particularly versed in film and media studies, but Kaplan sometimes gives scathing critiques (particularly in regard to news reporting) which criticize without giving any suggestion of how things should be approached differently. For instance, she criticizes the fragmentary nature of reporting on war, from nightly news and from newspapers, particularly in her discussion of empty empathy and her argument against pushing viewers to understand one personal story instead of the larger issues; however, she fails to discuss, even briefly, how this might be accomplished when one stops to consider the attention span of the average news viewer/reader and time/monetary constraints of media companies. Also, and perhaps more troublingly, she argues that the problem with these personal stories (of victims, journalists, soldiers, etc.) are unable to transfer any understanding of the larger issues that Should be at the heart of any news coverage. I would argue, though, that the main point of these personal stories is to get audience members interested enough that they'll do their own part in researching or looking into those larger issues, or at least consider them. This may be an idealistic view, but is it less idealistic than attempting to educate on decades-long debates over abstract issues and wars, in the span of a single story or even a half-hour special? Regardless, it felt to me that Kaplan was one-sided, and perhaps even too biased to attempt the discussion, at this point in particular.

Similarly, there were other points when I would have preferred the book be a bit more objective--in the midst of her close-readings, in her discussion of 9/11 monuments, in her discussions of postcolonial contexts in film--and feel less like an airing of her personal views on the given topic. Simply, I wanted more argument with evidence, and more connection to trauma from her later close-readings. Instead, I felt I was often expected to just take Kaplan's word for her conclusions when it came to her close-readings. I've no real doubt that they're useful, but I do feel that there are probably other sides which she's making no effort to show, and that, at times, she gives nowhere near enough detail for someone to actually draw the same conclusions she does without taking her word that the connections, simply, make sense, particularly considering that some of the films she analyzes are admittedly obscure. (ie. She notes at one point that a little girl being strangled by seaweed can remind audiences of a fetus being strangled by an umbilical cord--I'll grant that, perhaps, the film accomplishes this jump, but she relates it as if it's an obvious conclusion based on her description of the scene/plot, which certainly isn't the case.)

In the end, parts of this book are incredibly successful, but other parts come across as unconnected at best, and unsupported or biased at worst, particularly as Kaplan gets further into the work. Also, I want to note that some of the endnotes are frighteningly unhelpful--as if an editor told Kaplan where to place the endnote, but not what for: though I did not read all of the endnotes, a few of the ones I did turn to ended up coming nowhere close to answering the questions I'd had raised by the noted text (which, as you might guess, was incredibly frustrating!).

In the end, I would recommend this work to those interested, but I'd highlight that the earlier chapters are the most useful, and that the connections she says will come through the close readings, as well as the questions she promises to return to...well, those don't always come to fruition in any visible way.

57. All in the Timing: Fourteen Plays by David Ives

Ives' "Sure Thing" stands out in my memory as one of my favorite one-act performances of all time even though it was probably one of the first one-acts I ever saw performed--and, while much of that outstanding performance should be attributed to the fantastic timing and acting involved that day, much of the credit also goes to Ives' outstanding writing. That one-act, though, is only one of the fourteen plays collected here, and all of them are masterful examples of Ives' clever and funny writing.

Many of these pieces, like "Sure Thing", will only be at their best with perfect timing and the laughter of a live audience, but the smart writing and small casts make these more translatable to a reading experience than one might expect. Each one is unique, fun, and resounding with Ives' signature humor and word and timing play. The one long play included here, Ancient History, is also a perfect blend of drama and humor, with just enough crossed lines.

All together, Ives is a dramatic wonder, and this collection is utterly wonderful. Highly recommended.

58. After Lyletown by K.C. Frederick

This is an average story about an average man with an average past. Writing and pacing? Both average. In other words, there's nothing particularly wrong with this novel. The problem is, there's also nothing particularly right.

As a protagonist, Alan just doesn't hold up the weight of the novel--he ponders and worries and wonders and regrets and wishes...but he doesn't do much else, and none of those wanderings are all that interesting or unique. Just as problematically, we don't see enough about his current life to care about it, or enough of his relationships to really have any feeling for him as a father or as a part of society. Similarly, a lack of focus to the narrative makes each subplot as important to the next--after all, there's no single plot to focus on in determining where the tension Should be.

And, perhaps that's the crux of the problem. What conflict exists is imagined by Alan--and, perhaps most importantly, the reader can tell that the conflict is imagined, and that little or nothing is actually at stake. Perhaps, maybe, Frederick's point is that nothing at all happens in Alan's life...but, one way or another, the nothing happening in this novel was not enough to keep me interested, and I've really no real reason to recommend this book on. I wouldn't pick up anything else by Frederick either, I'm afraid.

The Internet tells me that the final episodes of 666 Park Avenue will be airing at 9PM on Saturdays starting this week.

I saw that! Unfortunately, I'll be without a tv from Monday through mid-August, so my husband is going to dvr them for me and they'll be waiting when I get back in August! I'm so excited about them, though, even if I will be a bit behind in seeing them!

59. Boss Cupid by Thom Gunn

Smart and raw, these poems are about desire in all its' forms, both admirable and frightening. Gunn is one of only a few contemporary poets who are comfortable writing in form, and that versatility shows here. Unlike much contemporary form poetry, though, these poems aren't burdened by restraint--instead, they seem to celebrate life, and love. While some of the poems require some knowledge of biblical lore or classical mythology for a full appreciation of the content, many of them are far more accessible in nature, focusing on scene and character instead of building from other stories. Throughout the poems, however, Gunn's quick rhythms and perfectly formed descriptions are worth reading and re-reading, particularly when his poems are focused in on single short scenes and the results and questions of desire, as is so often the case in this collection.

60. Dead Last by James W. Hall

When I first fell in love with James Hall's work, I didn't really know good writing from bad, at least not in any way I could put to words, but I did recognize his beautiful and suspenseful depiction of one of my favorite places (the Florida Keys), and I also fell in love--from the very beginning--with his fascinating characters, particularly Thorn. Now, more than a decade later, I can say that Hall's books are not only suspenseful and drawn with fascinating and believable characters, but that they're well-written and unpredictable. In the case of this work, though, I have to add something. Normally, I admire the fact that long-time readers can enjoy the return to known characters, but that new readers can come into any book and feel as if they're not missing anything--in other words, I admire the fact that, in general, it doesn't matter what order you read his books in, even where the recurring Thorn is present. With Dead Last, though, I feel differently.

Nearly from the beginning of the book, this more (most?) recent book centered on Thorn felt slightly different. Long-known characters were more present, and somehow, the book had a more personal feel. As the book went on, that intensified--by the end of the work, I felt that I could only really appreciate this one after having read all of the earlier "Thorn" books, and that this was the most personal work for Hall himself. (In brief, I'll say that this last impression has to do with writing--readers who write will recognize what I'm talking about when they read the work, especially if they've read Hall's earlier works and can note the differences.)

Overall, this may end up being one of my favorite Thorn novels. It wasn't the most involved or complex (though it was unpredictable and perfectly paced, as usual per Hall's work) and it didn't really stand out in any particular way from earlier novels. If anything, there was less depiction of Florida's landscape and unique nature, which is part of what I love in Hall's work. In fact, this actually felt like a somewhat simpler read than his earlier works. BUT, this also felt like something of a culmination for Thorn's character; it may not be an ending to the series, but in many ways it felt like a fitting one, if there must be one.

Simply, I'll always love Hall's work. He's the one mystery/suspense writer who I just can't resist, and whose works I've no doubt I'll reread in the future. This book stands up to his reputation and to reader expectations. So, yes, I absolutely recommend it...I just want you to read the earlier Thorn books first.

61. Ten-Minute Comedy Plays for Kids 7-10 by Kristen Dabrowski

While these plays are appropriate for children (which I've found isn't always the case with Dabrowski's work), I'm afraid that they're just not all that well-written. Many of the scenes are meant to come across as realistic, but don't, either because of stale dialogue, jumps in logic or contradictions, or pacing/development that just doesn't make sense in terms of a realistic scene. In nearly every scene here, some of the characters just blend together, as if they're multiple versions of the same character. Along the same lines, many lines don't progress the scenes in any manner--they just serve as a few more lines to provide practice for memorization.

While Dabrowski claims that all of these scenes provide monologues which can be used on their own, that's actually a huge problem in itself. Within the scenes, nearly all of the so-called monologues are awkward and un-entertaining; and, as monologues, they're just not that useful, I'm afraid--more stream-of-conscious ramblings than focused monologues that could provide worthwhile practice at character development and acting.

Simply, this book does provide scenes that are appropriate for child actors; however, they aren't good scenes, and many have so many characters involved that the amount of down-time per actor will end up boring students. Likewise, these same scenes have so many lines split between characters that there'll be little practice at memorization or truly coming together as a cohesive ensemble unless teachers take time, early on, to condense characters. The truth is, though, that they might well be better off writing their own.

Simply, I can't recommend this. Even the worksheets and notes at the back could be just as easily produced by any individual teacher as found here.

Dangerous trip to your thread tonight!! :)

Great reviews all around, but I'm hit by bullets (and gave you some well deserved thumbs up) for your thoughts on AIDS at 30 and 666 Park Avenue. I never watched the show, but your review and 5 star rating have definitely caught my attention!!

I'm so glad! I've been so busy teaching in New Hampshire, I haven't been back here in nearly a month! Heaven knows when I'll catch up! Meanwhile, a review from a book I finished some time ago....

62. Surviving the Fall: The Personal Journey of an AIDS Doctor by Peter A. Selwyn, M.D.

Unlike most memoirs that deal with HIV/AIDS, Selwyn's discussion deals almost entirely with the patients and doctors on the margins of the discussion: for the most part, his patients are not gay or involved in any activism; for the most part, the doctors he discusses are not focused on the science of the disease or treatment, but on triage. In other words, Selwyn's patients are drug-users and addicts who garner little to no sympathy in society, or even with their families, and he and the doctors around him are not seeking to make names for themselves--they are simply the ones who must attempt to deal with HIV/AIDS as it attacks the communities they live within. For these reasons, the memoir is worthwhile still, albeit somewhat dated if someone is actually hoping to learn more about the place of HIV/AIDS in our current society.

Written and published in the mid-late 90s, the book is clearly dated when it comes to the science of the virus: treatment has come a long way, and while there is no cure still, there is hope. On the other hand, it's frightening what has Not changed. Stigmatization and apathy are still serious issues, as are misconceptions about who HIV/AIDS affects, how, and where infected populations are growing most quickly. Aside from science, though, Selwyn's voice is notable for its readability and for the fact that he is the average doctor--he's not a rock star scientist attempting research and treatment and fame along the way: he's simply a doctor faced with impossible circumstances and a so-far incurable disease. In discussions of this position, his voice is at its most powerful.

Readers familiar with HIV/AIDS related nonfiction will find Selwyn's work novel only in the fact that it deals primarily with drug users instead of patients infected through sex, casual or otherwise. But, his voice alone is rather novel, even if the territory is old. For this reason, I absolutely recommend this work as a quick read and as a memoir, and one which works poignantly to attempt an understanding of an issue which Still affects all of us, ignored or not. As a witness, Selwyn IS remarkable.

63. Suspects by William J. Caunitz

Caunitz's work is incredibly detailed when it comes to the procedurals of police work, but the problem with this is that the details also make the work incredibly dated. But, that aside, it is enjoyable. This is more of an average every-day whodunit than the high-stakes suspense tales that we see coming out every day now, which is rather refreshing. On the other hand, while the tale has plenty of twists, it also has a few too many subplots, and the dialogue is sometimes fairly contrived, if not simply unbelievable. Still, the story is enjoyable, and it provides a decent escape, albeit one you may well feel detached from. It's just not a suspense novel which you can be so sucked into as to feel as if it really is happening at the moment or something which could mean life or death.

How absent I've been! I don't think I've gone this long away from LT since I joined so long ago, but it was unavoidable. Short update: My summer got hijacked when I got a concussion, and ended up needing to spend about three weeks offline entirely, and have slowly come back online the last few weeks--it's also only in this last week or so that I've really been up to reading. To make things more difficult, my husband and I lost our oldest furred companion a week ago--she was only ten, but was never in the best of health, and we learned about a month ago (within days of my getting a concussion, strangely enough) that she'd developed pancreatic cancer. So, while I am back, I probably won't be back fully or fully engaged in everything for a while yet. But, for now, I wanted to let you know that even if I did disappear, I am finally back lurking around, and doing alright.

For now, on to the books I can slowly start updating...

64. Home and Exile by Chinua Achebe

A collection of three essays, this is a must-read for readers interested in Achebe's work or in African literature. Though the collection goes quickly, Achebe's works are packed with a depth of thought and passion for the history behind the developments and literatures he discusses. Absolutely worthwhile for all those who think they might have a slight interest in the work, and certainly for all those engaged in writing and teaching literature.

65. Crash by Jerry Spinelli

I'm a huge fan of Spinelli, but that said, this is so far my least favorite of his works. Unlike his other works, the humor doesn't come across nearly so smartly, and the characters themselves are simply less likeable than in other works. In part, certainly, the main character isn't meant to be so likeable since readers are meant to see him grow in maturity over the course of the book--the problem, though, is that he is so incredibly unlikeable. And, unlike in Spinelli's other works, I didn't actually believe the transformation he went through.

Simply, this isn't a YA book I'd recommend. Spinelli fans will likely be disappointed, and I can't say that I'll see any reason to pass this one on or come back to it.

66. The Habit of Buenos Aires by Lorraine Healy

Healy's poems are grounded in the politics, war, and history of Buenos Aires, and readers with some knowledge or experience of Argentina will no doubt get a bit more from these pages than others. However, all that said, Healy's poems also betray a careful and thoughtful knowledge of human spirits, and a sweet talent for writing simple moments between a few individuals. Her poems are elegant and well-crafted, each one with its own particular place in the work, and the collection as a whole is worth exploring and sharing. And, the true test? Yes, there are poems here which I'll come back to, to re-read, and re-read, and re-read. Recommended.

67. I am Morgan le Fay by Nancy Springer

In the end, I have to say that I enjoyed Springer's writing and the details offered to this piece of the legends, and it was a fast and well-paced YA read, beautifully written for the most part. On the other hand, the focal points Springer chose sometimes made it feel less like a YA novel than like a bare-bones writing of an adult work, and I feel pretty sure that I'd be more likely to give the more adult versions of Arthurian works to interested teens, as opposed to this work. I also have to say that it ended incredibly quickly--for the first three quarters of the book, Springer's pacing felt perfect and controlled, but all of that felt lost in the end. On the whole, there were moments when I really enjoyed this read, but I'm just not sure that it's something I'd feel the need to pass on or recommend above others.

sorry for your bad news but glad you are on the mend.

-Ron

Thanks, Ron--and still catching up!

68. Chronicle of a Plague Revisited: AIDS and its Aftermath by Andrew Holleran

Holleran's essays are a clear look back to the first decade of the HIV/AIDS crisis, centered on New York City and permeated equally by fear and by grief for those lost. In many cases, the essays chronicle the confusion and the sense of helplessness felt in the earliest years when there was virtually no treatment available, and even the hope for a cure that few imagined would still be out of reach decades later. Holleran's mix of the political with the social, and of the personal with the societal, gives this collection the feel of being a view into various windows on reactions to and scenes within New York City as individuals dealt with HIV, and more particularly AIDS itself. While some of the information and debate clearly dates back to the 1980s, and feels so dated, the more striking note for a contemporary reader is how little of the work is actually dated, considering how much time has passed.

On the whole, this work is a fearful look back at the beginning of our country's years dealing with HIV/AIDS, and provides a careful window into what's passed, and what is still ongoing. Holleran's careful attention to individuals, here, is just as noteworthy, and in the end, is the more telling and lasting element of the book as it works as documentation, witness, journal, and elegy.

Recommended.

69. In the Company of My Solitude: American Writing from the AIDS Pandemic edited by Michael Klein and Marie Howe

As powerful as it is various, this collection compiles essays, letters, diary entries, memoir fragments, and brief anecdotes in an effort to collect and broadcast the many experiences and emotions surrounding HIV/AIDS in America. By compiling the voices of teenagers with nearly no knowledge of the disease with writers whose life work has become an attempt at understanding it, and setting up the writing of doctors alongside the writing of victims, activists, and individuals in mourning, Marie Howe and Michael Klein put together an anthology which is at no point repetitive, and which is at every moment necessary and compelling.

Taken together, the voices here represent uncountable experiences with HIV/AIDS, and a portion of our history which should be noted and remembered even as we continue to deal with HIV/AIDS. Expressing every emotion imaginable--from humor to grief, from anger to confusion to love--the works here are compelling acts of witness and writing, doing a work which is worth reading and sharing.

Recommended.

I'm so sorry about your fur-baby, Jennifer.

Thanks, Nora--it's been a rough month....and further evidence is the fact that I'm remaining two and three books behind in noting reviews and progress here on LT. I'm just still not feeling it and being back to normal I guess :( I'm sure I'll get back to normal, but RJ was the one creature who was everywhere I was, ALWAYS on top of me, ALWAYS following me around (and vocally!), and I just can't get used to not having her here every time I turn around :(

On the upside, I was so annoyed by this next book that I forgot to be sorrowful for a bit...

70. Woman of Valor by Lihi Lapid

First of all, this isn't a novel. The book's own jacket admits that the book that the book is the story of two women, one of them an author, which makes it at least partially a memoir. But, the other woman isn't a character so much as a half-drawn shadow of a character, and there are strong suggestions within the author's memoir portion that suggest that this other character is in fact drawn from one of her friends and simply made anonymous. So, call the book what you will, but understand that it is not a novel. Including portions of letters to the author, it is at most something of a hybrid, half memoir and half self-help.

However, genre aside, this particular reader found the book insufferable, drenched in self-pity and self-importance. The title is "Woman of Valor", and the truth is that the entire book seems to have no point other than to celebrate how courageous the author believes herself to be. Now, I'm not saying that motherhood doesn't take courage and talent, at least if one is to succeed. I am saying that a lot of women succeed at being wonderful mothers, and that this particular mother's journey isn't anything spectacular. Based on her words, it appears that this is part of her point--she's not spectacular when set beside many other mothers, and all successful mothers are courageous and worth celebrating. Okay, fine. But then, I have to ask: why should I read this book, full of clichés and self-pity as it is, instead of just helping out or loving the mothers around me? Simply, there's no answer. If you agree that being a mother takes a lot of work, and requires sacrifice, there is absolutely no reason for you to read this book unless you simply want to know that others feel the same way, and have doubts on that front.

Obviously, you can tell from this review that I was frustrated, and it's true. The author's self-defeated tone throughout the book makes no argument more strongly than that of believing there's no such thing as a happy ending, no such thing as a happy family, no such thing as a couple that can simply stay in love in the face of adversity. Sure, in the last few pages, she attempts to trump this attitude with a few pages of anecdote that claim she's overcome her self-defeated doubt and pessimism...but that's a light and weak finish to a two hundred page work drenched in self-pity and self-importance.

Simply, I wouldn't recommend this work to anyone, and I'm sorry to have read it. I never would have made it past the first twenty pages if I weren't someone who has a difficult time putting a book down unfinished. And, simply, I kept on thinking that there had to be some pay-off, some reason for the work to be celebrated... I was wrong.

71. Po-boy Contraband: From Diagnosis Back to Life by Patrice Melnick

Patrice Melnick's short memoir stands out for many reasons, but perhaps the most poignant is the fact that she takes survival as an assumption, and celebrates moments within life just so much as she explores difficulties and decisions. As a result, despite the fact that the primary focus of this memoir is her decision, and her ability, to live with HIV (Not just to Survive or get through, but to Live), the work as a whole is full of humor and life.

It does take time to get accustomed to Melnick's style--the book as a whole is composed of fragments, mostly anecdotal, that work actively to confuse emotion, time, and place, so that the full work seems something like a collage, with the exception of the beginning and end, which for the most part fill their traditional roles. This style, though, works to echo the many confusions involved in Melnick's role as an individual living far longer than expected with HIV, and the role she plays (by the end) as survivor, woman, lover, activist, and teacher. While the style seems half-hazard in the beginning, and almost lazy at times, it does end up reinforcing the multi-faceted focus of the work, and serves as well as a beautiful illustration of a just-so-complex city, New Orleans.

There's no doubt that this isn't the traditional memoir or narrative, but it is a beautiful hybrid of a work that serves to celebrate the choice to do more than survive hardship, the choice to do more than simply move forward, and the choice to attempt to transcend what science--and everyone around you--may be saying about the body and the life that is, in the end, yours.

Absolutely recommended.

Hi Jennifer! Stopping to wish you well. Hope you are healing quickly and feeling better everyday.!!

Thank you!

72. Last Watch of the Night by Paul Monette

A collection of essays written by Monette in '92 and '93, Last Watch of the Night chronicles his thoughts on family, spirituality and the church, health and disease, writing, and AIDS, primarily as connected to being gay in America in the 1970s and 1980s. All personal and heavily anecdotal, the essays veer between being sorrowful, angry, and celebratory, though Monette's sarcastic humor often comes through as well. While a few of the essays come off as being overly self-indulgent, most of them are both thoughtful and entertaining, well worth the time for any interested reader. It's worth noting, also, that readers needn't be familiar with Monette's other works in order to get something out of the collection--most of the references to his own writings are general, his primary focus being on more memoir-and-history based interests.

On the whole, the collection is well worth reading for any interested parties, though perhaps not as historically or personal telling as readers might wish.

73. Under the Dome by Stephen King

King began thinking about this book in 1976, and the time for thought shows in this final product. Centered on a fascinating cast of characters and an all-too-believable small town, this book shows King at his best, and reads like a roller coaster. With significant time spent on characterization, subplot, and suspense, and the main plot split between small-town politics (albeit, hopefully, darker than the average small town's politics) and vintage King creepiness, the book is fast-moving and fascinating. For the first time in many years, I found myself virtually incapable of putting down a King novel, and enjoyed every moment. This is dark enough to engage fans of classic horror, and clever and character-driven enough that it will just as easily engage fans of King's lighter fare. Overall, I have to say: this is one of my favorite King novels.

Absolutely recommended as a thumb-screw, laugh-as-you-winch, hurts-so-good, try-to-forget-how-real-this-could-be absolute wonder of a read. That is, if you want horror, of course. So. So. Good.

Jennifer, so sorry to hear about the furkid! I know deeply how hard that is. Consider yourself hugged. (and I'm glad you're recovering from the concussion!)

So, am I to understand that you liked Under the Dome? ;-)

Thank you--and, yes, Under the Dome is the best horror I've read in some time!

74. The Bushwacked Piano by Thomas McGuane

Quirky and busy, this is a novel that will either pull you in from the beginning or never quite catch your interest. Simply, it's rather what would happen if Dennis Johnson were to work at capturing the most mundane and unlikable of characters, and with a focus on the ordinary details rather than the spiritual or emotional ones which might engage a reader anyway. There are some interesting moments, to be sure, but nothing at all to really engage a reader in the future of the plot or the characters, or drag one back for more from McGuane. Nothing I'd recommend, I'm afraid.

Oh Jennifer!!! I knew I hadn't seen you around my thread in a while, but being summer, there are a lot of folks who have taken vacations from LT for various reasons...

I'm really sorry about your concussion but terribly saddened to hear of your loss. I went through that last year and it is simply heart breaking. Non pet folks just don't seem to understand the void that's left in your life and heart when you lose a furry soulmate. My heart & prayers are with you. :'(

Thanks, Tina--I think it might be a while before I'm lurking and engaging around here as much as usual since getting lost in books and work seem to be about the only things which really make me feel myself lately. My husband and I are even toying with the idea of getting a kitten, even though it seems far too soon--I'm just so lonely around here without someone fighting for my lap all the time! We'll see what happens. I keep thinking I'm doing better, and then something silly gets me upset all over again. Today, it was my husband's cat snoring--she doesn't do it very often, but my RJ was ALWAYS snoring. I was working, and then I heard the snoring and thought for a second it was RJ before I remembered she was gone :( So, obviously, I'm still a bit of a mess. I do appreciate the thoughts and prayers, though--it does help to know that others around me (really or virtually!) understand.

Meanwhile...

75. The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer

A necessary and heartfelt chronicle, Kramer's play explores the very real personalities and heartbreak that attempted to deal with the beginning years of HIV/AIDS in New York City, and it does so with both detail and humor. Giving as much attention to the necessities of attention and love as to tragedy, the work is a too-real mix of both history and art which both documents and entertains in each scene. Certainly, this is worth the read, and beautifully written.

Congrats on 75!

Hurrah for making it to 75!

Oh! lol--I hadn't even been thinking of it--thank you for noticing :)

Congrats on 75!

Yay for reaching 75!!

Thanks, all!

76. First Love and Other Sorrows by Harold Brodkey

Quiet and understated, these stories have the feel of personal anecdotes related over late-night coffees, and the title of the collection does indeed set the tone for each of the inclusions. Exploring the sorrows of love, in multiple guises, Brodkey's stories come together in something like a quilting of remembrances, and read beautifully. That said, the last stories in the collection are connected by a central character, and even as short as they are, some of the immediacy present in earlier stories just doesn't come across. Still, for lovers of quiet and realistically written stories, these are a pleasant escape for an afternoon.

77. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami

Murakami's worlds are so complete and believable, as strange as they are, that each story becomes a small journey in itself; you can't help but get carried off by the characters and situations. His take on magical realism is beautifully envisioned, and superb in creation. Even in his short stories, the depth of idea is as realized as it is in his novels, and the writing is as graceful and fast-moving as ever. Absolutely recommended.

78. Ritual by Mo Hayder

Hayder's work often falls in a gray area between horror and suspense/thriller, and this work is no exception. Hayder's talent for painting the grotesque meshes perfectly with the noir in this mystery, and her writing is as superb as ever. Her characters are as believable as they are flawed, and even the subplots offset major tensions perfectly. Certainly, Hayder isn't for everyone--she's got a talent for painting violence and gruesome scenes which will turn off many readers, if not most, and her flair for capturing the darkness of human nature is what pushes her books so close to the horror genre. But, for readers who want a glimpse of horror in their thrillers and mysteries, Hayder is among the best. Absolutely recommended.

79. The Paperbark Shoe by Goldie Goldbloom

The distinct voices of Goldbloom's work sucked me in the beginning, and I read the first third or so of the work in one sitting. Once the unique flavor of the voice wore off some, however, I grew less and less engaged with the work. The premise was interesting, and I was fascinated with the history behind the work, but the characters were (for the most part) simply unlikable. While I could sympathize with their situations, I still couldn't bring myself to care about the circumstances that they had, for the most part, brought upon themselves. And while I cared about the prisoners who were at the forefront of Goldbloom's ideas, their characters were superficial enough that they never felt entirely real in anything but their effect on Goldbloom's focus characters. In the last third of the book, I found myself reading simply to finish, having long ago been able to predict the trajectory of the novel's conclusion and characters.

In the end, I'm afraid this isn't a book I'm likely to recommend. Goldbloom's experiments in narrative voice were discombobulating and difficult to navigate in the midst of an otherwise traditional narrative, and the book as a whole was predictable once it got going. As fascinating as the Idea of the novel was...I'm afraid that it just wasn't enough.

80. Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival by Anderson Cooper

In a poignant hybrid of documentary reporting and memoir, Cooper's work explores the events that led him to his current path, his motivations, and a few of the disasters and events which have left the most lasting impressions on his life and his reporting. With about half of the book focused in on his time in New Orleans post-Katrina, other portions of the book explore his own past and questions of grief, the 2006 tsunami, and his time covering wars in Sarajevo and Iraq in particular. Cooper's style is conversational and reflective, and he moves smoothly between issues of politics, personal development, and basic history/reporting. As serious as the book is, though, there's also quite a bit of hope to be found in the anecdotes and struggles Cooper focuses in on. In the end, the work is many things, and can't really be called either a memoir or a full work of journalism--it can, however, be called both necessary and worthwhile. Absolutely recommended.

And there she goes, leaving 75 absolutely in the dust!

:)

81. Dorian: an Immitation by Will Self

Self's re-styling of Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray moves on a heavy under-current of shock, but considering the treatment, that might be appropriate. Full of grotesques and satire, along with plenty of descriptions just as dark as they are humorous, the novel rewrites the idea of Dorian onto a society already punctured by overindulgence in drugs, alcohol, and sex. Played out in the years when AIDS is just becoming known, the novel's focus becomes a trajectory of declining grotesques who either struggle against attaining any moral code, or suffer slowly under the lack thereof. Self's humor and (insane) descriptions keep the novel moving quickly, even with such a serious backdrop as it finds, but the crudeness and plays on moral violence will turn off a lot of readers before the novel is done. For what it is, however, it's an interesting re-write of Wilde's novel, and one which wouldn't have had anywhere near so much power if Self had chosen to set the novel in an earlier (or later) time--as it turns out, the novel becomes a surprisingly introspective condemnation, showing a destruction that was in many ways far too realistic once AIDS took hold in the eighties.

In the end, this certainly isn't for every reader, and even though I read horror regularly, I was tempted to put the book down in disgust on more than one occasion. If nothing else, this speaks to the shock value that Self so often seeks out as the book moves along. But, all that said, many aspects of the book were frighteningly clever and humorous.

82. My First Car by James Lecesne

For anyone who has fond memories of a relationship with a car, this is a fun and lovely book. Lecesne collects brief recollections from dozens of celebrities, including athletes, actors, writers, artists, etc....all of them about first cars, all of the memories told by the respective personalities so that the book is full of distinct tones and recognizable voices. Compiling the voices of so many men and women--from Morgan Freeman to Wayne Gretzky, from Andy Warhol to James Belushi, from Dan Rather to Ronald Reagan and Ivana Trump and Liberace and Mel Torme and Stephen King and Hugh Hefner and Ralph Nader--and taking pictures along the way, this brief work is full of humor, heartbreak (for those of us who love to remember our car-based relationships), and history. Not to mention cars.

Probably, this is now my favorite coffee table book, and will keep that distinction. If you or someone you know loves their vehicle, or has loved a vehicle in the past, this work will be well worth your time in tracking it down and wandering through its pages. Absolutely recommended.

83. From Baghdad, With Love by Jay Kopelman

Much as I'd been looking forward to fitting this short book in, I have to admit: I was a bit disappointed. It may be because I've read so much about war, or because I've read so many memoirs related to animals and pets, but I expected more. It may be, simply enough, that this book needed to be quite a bit longer...or else two separate books. Kopelman's writing and style wasn't bad, and I found the book to be a fast read, but he seemed pulled between feeling the need to explain the setting that he and the soldiers found themselves in (and the accompanying feelings) and describing the relationship he developed with Lava, and the eventual rescue. And, what was there in both regards was bare bones. This made sense in terms of Iraq--the focus was supposed to be the dog, Lava, after all. But, the problem came in the fact that I wanted more about Lava too. I wanted the details and the different relationships and the details of the rescue. Instead, I often felt like I was reading the cliffnotes. In my experience, I should have felt close to tears on multiple occasions as I read a book like this--that expectation/dread is one of the reasons I took so long to pick the book up, much as I wanted to read it. Instead? I think I teared up once. All in all, I'm glad to have read it, and this will probably be a more meaningful book for those who've read Either about the war Or about animal rescue and pet related memoirs...for me, though, I'm afraid I just wanted more. Still, for me, worth reading. And, probably, you'll feel the same in the end if you love dogs.

And, once again, trying to catch up....

84. The Whole Truth by David Baldacci

I enjoyed the characters and storyline, but the writing in this particular work didn't feel up to the standard I usually expect from Baldacci. Pieces of the story also felt more melodramatic than I'd normally expect, making me feel like this one was more rushed than normal. On the whole, I don't think this is one of his best works, but it was still an enjoyable escape and a fast read.

85. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

I had the pleasure of hearing Neil Gaiman read a portion of this novel aloud a few months before it was published, and at that time, I thought for sure it would end up being my favorite Gaiman work--even in just those few minutes, it felt absolutely magical. Reading it, I wasn't really disappointed, but this won't take the place of my favorites after all. Somehow, it had the power of his short stories for me personally--I was totally transported, but I wasn't quite as touched as I have been by his longer works, except in odd moments that had more to do with single thoughts than overall story. I have to say, though, that I think this work was meant to be read aloud. Short, magical, and conversational, the novel actually begs to be read aloud.

Here, Gaiman really is at the top of his game when he creates the characters and story in this work, and I loved every moment. Either because of the framing or because of the age of the characters, I didn't find myself feeling as connected to the characters as I often do when it comes to Gaiman's novels, but I did love every moment, and recommend it with all my heart. Fun, haunting, and utterly worthwhile.

86. The Star Fraction by Ken MacLeod

From the beginning, MacLeod's novel is bound up in political ideologies, philosophy, and various factions of rebels and idealists. And, at heart, this is the problem within the novel. More important than plot or character, it seems that MacLeod wants to explore ideas and logical progressions from historical changes, as wrapped up in Marxist philosophy, socialism, and capitalism. Nothing works, and the characters and scientific developments along the way are alternately stuck in the middle or fighting multiple systems at once. While the ideas here, and many of the scenes and characters as well, are interesting and engaging, there's never enough focus on character or the plots of here-and-now (as opposed to historical or ideological or political, as the case may be) in the novel for readers to really gain a footing of interest.

Was I entertained? At many points, I was, just as I was often impressed by the twists and turns MacLeod put together. But was I so engaged that I had to turn the page, or that I was anxious that a particular character triumph or discover some truth? No. And, sadly, I don't really feel the need to pick up the next piece in the series. I can acknowledge MacLeod's accomplishments in this piece, but for me, I desperately needed less theory and political argument, and a bit more development of the characters who might have made me care more about their ideals. Simply, I think that the book just took on too much in this first installment of the series.

87. Jonah's Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston

Admittedly, this work is far more difficult than Hurston's better known Their Eyes Were Watching God, and not nearly so engaging. The dialect is nearly constant, and sometimes required sounding out, which I didn't find to be the case in her other works. But while the characters aren't ever truly likable, they are believable and telling. Hurston's ability for bringing unfamiliar settings to life is undeniable, and reading this work is no different than being physically transported back to a poor southern town in the early twentieth century.

In the end, the work does hold up to time, even if it won't be a fast or easy read for contemporary readers. Faith, tolerance, race, religion, hypocrisy: all are explored and played out here in Hurston's first published novel, none of them simply, and Hurston's readers are richer for the exploration and for the effort the novel requires

88. Incantation by Alice Hoffman

Set during the Spanish Inquisition and centered on a young girl who doesn't know that her family is hiding the core of their beliefs, this book is both heartbreaking and spirit-full. Alice Hoffman's depiction of Estrella and her family, and simple acts of childhood pettiness that can lead to tragedy, paints the horror of that portion of history with a frightening reality. As much about family as about history, and as much about being true to one's belief in oneself as anything else, this is a powerful work, and well worth reading.

Much as it is meant for young adults, though, it doesn't shy away from the worst moments that individuals faced during the Inquisition. If I were going to pass this on to a young reader, I'd want them to read it with family so that they'd have someone to talk about it with during and after the reading--I think this is a read that requires that attention and time. It will certainly stay with me.

Recommended.

89. Colaterales/Collateral by Dinapiera Di Donato

Some of the poems here--especially those in the first half of the work--are really lovely, floating on a mix of grace and clever wordplay that makes each poem both worthwhile and memorable. Many of the poems, though, are weighted down by heavy and regular allusions to historical and biblical characters and events. In these poems, it's often difficult to follow the train of the poem, and while the language is still lovely, the meaning sometimes gets lost. It is a lovely edition, with the Spanish text printed to face the English text on the opposite page, but the poetry itself feels unbalanced in many ways. I think I'll occasionally go back to a few of these poems, but I don't see myself feeling the need to reread (or recommend) the collection as a whole.

90. Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa

Set against the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and with much of the novel taking place in the refugee camp of Jenin, this is a powerful piece of fiction about a girl growing up in the midst of conflicts which started long before she was born and will, still, affect her every day. With a torn family, simple desires, and tragedy more familiar than happiness, her life unfolds in the camp, in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and finally in America. While the beginning of the novel is slightly bogged down in history, and it's clear that Abulhawa is struggling to balance history and story in her first novel, the story takes over quickly.

In the end, the novel is striking and delicate, exploring the subtleties of a life shadowed by this conflict while still managing to develop believable and engaging characters and storylines. The book is about struggle, survival, and forgiveness, and it forces readers to examine history and contemporary conflict on an individual and personal level that no reader will fail to relate to. More than any other text I've read, nonfiction or fiction, this made the Palestinian-Israeli conflict something that was alive, and not just a distant blur of war.

Simply, this is not a perfect book, but it is necessary and beautiful, and telling. One of those few novels that everyone should read. Absolutely recommended.

91. Querelle by Jean Genet

The world of Querelle is immoral, erotic, and steeped in secrets. The prose is consistently poetic and sensual, alternately directed by characters lost to immoral behaviors and characters hiding from their own desires. And then, of course, the characters are all surrounded by sex and murder, if not directly engaging in both.

The back of the edition I own notes that the word "deals in a startling way with the Dostoevskian theme of murder as an act of total liberation", and the reference to Dostoevsky may be why I bought this book in the first place (I no longer remember)...but either way, Genet's treatment of murder is too similar to his treatment of sex to be taken as a totally separate conversation: both are incredibly personal acts, and sensual because of the hand-to-hand connection between bodies, and both are revelations of power carrying or denying their own unique brands of shame and guilt. One of the fascinating things about Querelle, though, is the shame that he (and others around him) feel regarding their homosexual acts even as he feels no shame about violence and general immorality (unrelated to sexuality). Some of the horror of the novel comes from the outright violence, but some also comes from the fact that all of this rings true: it isn't hard to imagine how contemporary society could leave someone feeling absolute guilt about their sexuality, and none for their violence, though (in my eyes) it should be something nearly unimaginable.

In the end, Genet's writing is intoxicating, and his descriptions luxurious and believable. At times, his style reminded me of both Dostoevsky and James, but the story of Querelle is something else entirely. Yes, this graphically violent and sexual...but then, maybe there's all the more wonder in that since it is also a beautiful novel that seems, unlikely as it is, to still reveal what is good.

92. Over Autumn Rooftops by Hai Zi translated by Dan Murphy

Graceful and clever, this is one of those collections that deserves reading and rereading, aloud and privately. Hai Zi's poems convey a sense of the natural world and of private meditation in the face of suffering, and as simple as they are, they are just as beautiful. If you read poetry, this is worth your time.

As the first English translation of any of the poet's work, this collection moves in chronological order, bringing together many of Hai Zi's short and long poems from the most prolific years of his short life. The book places the English translations on pages facing the Chinese so that readers who know both languages will probably gain a great deal more from the work, but the edition is attractive and well worth the while even for those of us who only speak/read English. It is, though, a transporting work: regardless of where you find yourself when you read this, you'll gain a sense of calm and warmth from Hai Zi's work, and feel yourself to be journeying with him through villages and along rivers, lost in his meditations.

Simply, I can't recommend this work highly enough. Hai Zi's poems, especially taken together as Dan Murphy has placed them, are brilliant and striking, and the sparse footnotes are just what you would want: explaining just enough about landmarks and cultural history, as is needed for the single poem, and nothing more. Most of these poems, though, need no explanation.

Hai Zi's voice comes across as both intimate and urgent, and every word is worth hearing.

93. The Homesteader by A. Van Jordan

Unlike Van Jordan's earlier work, Macnolia, this work becomes so much wrapped up in documenting an idea and a history that the poetry ends up losing some of its power. At times, flashes of Van Jordan's best work appears, but on the whole, this project holds out all of the promise of his other work, and just doesn't deliver quite as much as might be expected. The language veers toward a more documentary tone, losing the emotion of his earlier works--so, while the story is interesting, the poetry is far less memorable. I'd recommend this to readers interested in poetry documenting history or engaging with film or art...but for readers simply interested in worthwhile poetry, I'd point them to Van Jordan's earlier works. He's one of my favorite poets, but while this work explores many of his already established themes (African American history, race relations, poverty, film, artists), it doesn't do so with nearly the grace and power I generally associate with his writing

94. Tongues of Their Mothers by Makhosazana Xaba

Tingling with sincerity, Xaba's poems are as approachable and varied as they are rich. Varying between reflection and narrative, the poems present themselves as straightforward snapshots built from graceful language and a quiet depth. In a way, many of them reminded me of haiku: you could take them simply in a single quick read, and enjoy them just so simply, or read and reread for another depth of language and meaning.

In the beginning of the collection, I actually wasn't impressed. I found myself turning pages without getting more than a quick and surface enjoyment. After a quick dozen or so poems, though (probably just less than that), Xaba's voice became something more honest and resonating than I'd been seeing, and I began reading and rereading...often not leaving a page until I'd covered a full poem or passage more than three times. Not because of difficulty, but because of the simple and luxurious emotion I was finding in each poem.

In some cases, I could feel Xaba responding to works by Chinua Achebe, Tsitsi Dangarembga, and Sindiwe Magona. At others, historical moments and race or gender relations. (My one quibble with the book is that there are some explanatory notes included at the back of the edition, but no indication is made when the events/terms are noted in the book, so that a reader who needs those notes must then go back searching for each relative poem unless they happened to discover them ahead of time.) As a whole, though, the book responds to attempting more than survival--life, individuality, love--in the face of forces outside of one's own control, and in such a varied and careful way that the theme is discreetly and gracefully woven throughout the work.

On the whole, this book is artful and approachable, and rings with importance. I'm looking forward to re-reading many of the poems, and sharing them.

95. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris

I had mixed reactions to this one. In the early portion of the book, I was really engaged in the first voice Dorris takes on, but before I got very far along I was already beginning to be bored. Toward the end, my interest picked up on some level...but while the work as a whole was masterfully written, and the characters well-drawn, it was also fairly predictable.

The structure of the book felt more like a gimmick than a necessity, and added to the predictability. Early on, though, it felt like Dorris was overdoing a fairly simple (and sentimental) theme, and that the entire work was simply meant to reinforce the strength of familial love and the fact that we don't truly know one another. The novel, though, was hurt by Dorris' focus on structure and on three fairly similar characters, all of whom are hindered by secrets.

By the end of the book, simply enough, I wasn't sorry to have read it, but I was very glad to be done with it. Having felt it was predictable and overly sentimental, I also felt that it celebrated three women as strong and admirable women (in some ways, at least), when I found them less than likable, and simply didn't see the strength of character that was, apparently, supposed to shine through. More than anything, I felt they were all overly sentimental and locked into the past, even though I believe Dorris meant to imply a progression of strength and love over time.

So, yes: lovely writing, lovely characterizations, entertaining moments.... Not such an entertaining or worthwhile story, for this reader at least.

96. Fear Itself by Jonathan Nasaw

Jonathan Nasaw has always had a way of sucking me in to each story he tells, and this one was no different. Perfect dialogue, an entertaining story with just enough twists, engaging characters, a believable trajectory...overall, this was everything I could really ask for in a crime novel, and I loved every minute.

As ever, Nasaw is a clever and entertaining writer, and I'd recommend him to anyone who just wants to escape into a good suspense/crime story, at times horrific, and at times just funny and good.

Recommended.

97. X-Rated Bloodsuckers by Mario Acevedo

What happens when you ask a vampire to investigate the murder of a doctor turned porn star, and then put him right in the middle of a large-scale conspiracy that's as dangerous to vampires as it is to humans?

A hilarious noir that ends up being a ridiculously page-turning read. Acevedo's pace is perfect in this mystery, and the characters are simply fun. Absolutely recommended.

98. Becoming Human: Evolution and Human Uniqueness by Ian Tattersall

Tattersall's work is a fascinating exploration of human evolution and the separate species that led up to our own, as well as the true details which make us a unique species. Detailing anthropological discoveries from around the world, along with case studies and experiments related to primates and to psychology, Tattersall moves through the territory of human evolution in an engaging and approachable style. While some of the later chapters verge on being repetitive in some notes from the early broader chapters, and in some cases go into more detail than the average reader might prefer, the work as a whole is worthwhile and readable. Whether the material here is wholly new to readers or somewhat familiar, there's bound to be material here that is worth note and reflection for nearly any reader.

Recommended for any interested party.

99. Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille

I had a difficult time getting through this book. In fact, I read the first fifteen pages or so, put it aside out of disgust, and then finally went back and finished it in one sitting--partly out of determination, partly out of curiosity, and partly because quotes on the back of my edition (from Susan Sontag and Jean Paul Sartre) made me think that there just had to be something more to it if I kept going...

It is shocking that this was published in 1928, but I'm not sure how much of the "art" of this work comes simply from the outright shock value of the work. At many points, I was more disgusted by the text than anything, and while this might be noted as an early hallmark of erotic literature, I'd be hardpressed to call it anything more than pornographic since I didn't see any of the subtlety or sensuality of language that I'd generally associate with erotica. And, there was nothing normal here. The work revolved around fetishistic and violent actions and reactions.

Had I known exactly what I was getting into, I might have read the short essay titled "W.C." that appears at the back of my edition, written by Bataille in regard to the writing/history of the text itself. Perhaps, I might have had some slight more appreciation for the art of the novel had I read that first...but I'm not sure, honestly. This wasn't badly written, but the material wasn't what I expected or would have sought out.

Simply, too each their own, and there may well be much merit in this work...and I'm just not seeing it. But, that said, I certainly wouldn't recommend it, groundbreaking and noteworthy text or not.

a suiting hundredth book, and a good one to read going into the new year--one I'd recommend:

100. Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom from the Martial Arts by Joseph Cardillo

I stumbled onto this book while doing some research, and picked it up primarily out of curiosity. Once I began reading it, though, I was so taken in by Cardillo's style, and curiosity, that I couldn't help but continue.

In each short chapter, Cardillo takes on one core principle of the martial arts, explaining how it relates to the art, how he experienced it in his own training, and how it can relate to the average person's daily experiences and aid them in their own personal/professional development. At the end of each chapter, he finishes with explaining an exercise (usually meditation related) to help the reader get a more sincere feel for the principle, and then concludes with a short list of resolutions for moving forward with the principle as a tool for moving forward in life.

In many ways, I think this book could be classified either as philosophy or as self-help. I can't say that I gained something from every chapter, but I did gain enough from the reading that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book. At the very least, it gave me some more tools for mediating conflicts around me and for dealing with colleagues who I tend to have trouble understanding or relating to (few as they are, they are a distraction, for most everyone I'm guessing). On the whole, I do think I benefitted from reading it. And, while I'm not generally an anxious person...I think I will return to this work the next time I'm feeling intimidated or anxious about a decision or relationship.

Last, I'll note that I'm generally skeptical of the idea of meditating--I'm not good at sitting still, and always thought of meditating as something that would require significant chunks of time. Cardillo's approach and exercises, though, felt both approachable and worthwhile, which really surprised me.

I can't say how this would compare to similar books, but I'm glad to have stumbled across it. Recommended.

101. Christine by Stephen King

One of the most satisfying horror novels I've read in some time, King has perfect pacing here, and creates a wonderful villain in the classic old car, Christine. The voices in the work are pitch perfect, and the suspense is near constant. Aspects of the work--technology, slang, etc.--are of course dated, but the details serve up an all too realistic time and place just the same. On the whole, I enjoyed nearly ever minute of this--the masterful mix of horror, suspense, and humor bring the story to full life, and it's a wonderful ride. Absolutely recommended.

I remember being scared witless by "Christine" when I read it long ago. I've never looked at my car the same way again. :-)

Some great reviews! I have wishlisted a couple; including Tongues of their Mothers and Becoming Human.

Happy New Year!

Hi friends! I have had some really good end-of-the-year reading :) Meanwhile, I've just discovered that Story of the Eye is on that ever-frightening 1001 books you must read list, and I'm so so so so so confused...

102. Seek My Face by John Updike

Even though the novel takes place over the course of just a single day, it ranges from the 1930s on through the end of the twentieth century in scope. As an artist is interviewed about her life--her work, her marriages, her children, her artistic husbands, and her thoughts on gender, art, and life as a whole--the novel moves gracefully between a female artist's ever-detailed memories and the long conversation she's engaged in with a young writer and student of art. As the dynamic between the two women changes over the course of the interview, the philosophical questions of art and love are more and more a consideration between them, as are questions of how being female has affected the artist's abilities to simply be an artist. And, of course, the disconnect between the artist and the critic is often at the forefront, humorous and disturbing as it may be at varying points. At the center of the book, though, is passion, which is celebrated.

I can't speak to how accurate the discussions of New York's art scene may be, or to how accurately the interview characterizes the art scene in America at mid-century, though it discusses both at length--I can, however, say that the novel is wonderfully entertaining, and beautifully conceived and written. I'd say this is a must-read for anyone whose life revolves around the creation of any form of art, or the criticism/analysis of it. Though the direct subject is painting, many of the discussions apply just so much to writing, dance, and any form of passion that consumes time, energy, and love without, necessarily, regard for the people affected.

Absolutely recommended.

#305 by whitewavedarling> Great review! I've been looking for a good Updike for Mark's American Author Challenge and that might be the one to try.

rosalita: well, I certainly think it is! After I wrote my review, I read through some others--both here and on goodreads--and was really surprised that most were just lukewarm. BUT, it seemed like some reviewers were looking at it in a different manner than I was. I actually got the impression from the reviews that some people were considering it more of an art book--nearly creative nonfiction it seemed, in some cases--than a novel because the artists movements in the book were apparently based off of real American artists. I think that, in some cases, it got boring for readers who wanted more about the art or already knew a lot about the art scene at mid-century. Admittedly, I don't know much about art at all, so I stand by my review, and really enjoyed the book. For me, I most enjoyed the tension regarding whether or not to devote oneself to art or to relationships (including children) and the psychological drawbacks felt so personally because of that tension/choice... for me, that's such a universal question that it had nothing to do with reporting history.

In any case, I'd highly recommend it! I'll be curious to hear your reaction if you do read it!

I will let you know!

103. Shifu, You'll Do Anything for a Laugh by Mo Yan

Written by one of the most recent recipients of the Nobel Prize for Literature, this collection is an entertaining mix of phantom and reality, socio-political concern and the day-to-day business of life. The stories and characters are all enchantingly believable, even when and where they leave reality behind in favor of something more speculative, often achieving in the process a frightening version of magical realism. There's no doubt in my mind that the stories here will haunt me for some time, and draw me back to re-read and pass on the journeys to other readers.

On a side note, I haven't the faintest idea why the work is regularly labeled as a novel online--it is a collection of short stories, not interconnected by anything but the occasional theme. Regardless, this is absolutely recommended.

104. The Omen by David Seltzer

This is a fast read, and clearly written with an eye toward film because it is just that quick, but not badly written. I usually avoid books written off of movies because I don't expect much from the writing, but for what it was, this was well done and entertaining. I would have liked a bit more depth and a slower wrap-up, but it was a nice quick horror to pass some time with. I'm sure there's no surprise here if you've seen the movie (which I haven't), but if you're more a fan of written horror, don't give this an automatic pass just because of its connection to the movie.

I agree that Dead Last is the most personal of the books James W. Hall has written so far. Without giving out spoilers, he said, in no uncertain terms, that the character he killed in this book should never have been killed because it was such a strong character. That character was one of the greatest personifications of a character I've ever experienced and to see that character die made a part of me die inside as well. I don't normally get emotional about characters but in this book I really did. I still feel the loss, which is strange to me. JWH apparently feels the same way. This is, by far, his greatest book yet (other than Hit Lit, but that's a different type of book and stands on its own) and one that truly gets under the skin of the reader.

@phinz--I do so love Hall's works. There are three left on my shelf that haven't been read yet, all recent, and I'm saving them for rainy days. Each time I go to a bookstore, I can't help looking to see if there'll be something new, though I don't expect it...