Book Review #10! - The Blind Assassin

My most recent novel was The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. It was a rocky start but really took off after the first third. Mostly it was difficult to plug into because of the novel within a novel. "The Blind Assassin" (within Atwood's book) is a novel written by Laura Chase, the younger sister of Iris Chase, who is narrarating Atwood's book. Iris speaks directly to the reader in present tense as an elderly woman, who then delves into the past to tell the story of her life.

The first line of the book reveals that Laura drives her car off a bridge in the 1940's, and the rest of the novel creates the context of this moment. At first its difficult to go between Iris's current life, her history, and the sub-novel, but the further Iris's memory progresses, the easier it becomes. There are some fascinating discoveries as the book races to the climax, including one line where she says "I'm sure you've already figured this out, but ________" (of course I won't ruin it for you) but it totally caught me off guard! Either I wasn't paying close enough attention, or its a bit of tongue in cheek.

I hesistate to talk much about the details of Iris's story, mostly out of fear that I'll ruin the puzzle for you. So mostly I'll leave you with this - power through the first 100-200 pages and when you feel Laura's novel start to really hook you, then you can settle in and really enjoy it. Also, pay close attention to the novel's title and appreciate the moment that it makes sense!

Book Review #9! - While Oleander

I'm always a little hesitant to read books recommended by Oprah's Book Club, not because she doesn't know a good novel when she sees one, but more because I'm just so sick of her opinion being shoved down my throat, be it interior design to politics. Nevertheless, I'd heard good things about White Oleander by Janet Fitch, and I'm pleased to say it didn't disappoint.

Its truly a ruthless novel about a young girl's (Astrid) 5 year journey through the foster care system, preceeded by her mother's murder of a boyfriend. Astrid was born to a woman who had no business becoming a mother, and whose epic selfishness and manipulation captivated and destroyed her daughter in the same breath. Growing up in the shadow of a woman so mortal and vicious as Ingrid, a daughter would be doomed to know answers before she had context for the question. Ingrid wanted Astrid to be consumed with her love for her mother at every moment, while wrapping it the disguise of making Astrid as fierce of a woman as she believed herself to be. Really, the result was a young girl full of holes with no sense of self.

Astrid endures all the horror stories we've heard of foster life - abuse in all its forms, from sexual to emotional, violence and starvation. As she goes from the care of one woman to the next, she takes from them pieces of what her mother never gave - attention. Ingrid never cared to know Astrid, to ask her questions or learn about her. And because of this, Ingrid becomes enraged whenever Astrid connects with these new women and attaches to their images of her (good or bad).

Eventually, Astrid develops her own sense of power and turns it against her mother, forcing her to crack and admit all the common things about herself. The journey Astrid goes on is an interesting one, and an enlightening read. I recommend it!

Book Review #8! - Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette

Well this is going to be a rave review, so buckle up. Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antionette, was simply fantastic! The author, Sena Jeter Naslund is a gifted writer and I think her subject matter was absolutely inspired. I just adore everything about her approach to this novel - the tone, the bias (or lack thereof), the pace, and even the (unavoidable) ending. I will admit, this is the first book that made me cry in a long time, and I never would have thought the beheading of the French Royal family would have done it! **Sorry for the spoilers, but anyone that didn't sleep through their entire European History class will recall the "Terror".**

Naslund starts by introducing us to a naive, sweet, and obediant adolescent Marie who has dutifully and joyfully accepted her task to marry the young French prince (Dauphin as he's called, the promised future King) and bring unity and loyalty between France and Austria. The voice of the novel is Marie's own, and is always is present tense, supplying the authenticity of emotion in each moment. She carries us through her tentative introductions to her new family and her eagerness to please in all directions, not least of all her beloved mother, the Empress of Austria, who she maintains intimate written communication with until the time of the Empress's death.

She recounts the growing tenderness and friendship between herself and Louis, though it takes years for them to fully consummate their marriage and even longer to produce an heir to the throne. I found it impossible not to feel for Marie - she seems such an eager and genuine young woman, so wanting to please her subjects, her husband, and her country. She admits her own faults - her tendancy to gamble and her excessive shopping and grooming habits - but in the context of palace life, its almost forgiveable. I think the Boston Globe said it best in their review..."Naslund makes her heroine convincing and even sympathetic."

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Read it today! I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'm sure Sofia Coppola has brought something interesting to the project. And I can't wait to get my hands on Naslund's other novels, Ahab's Wife, The Disobediance of Water, Four Spirits, and Sherlock in Love.

Book Review #7! - The Pillars of the Earth

Apologies for being so remiss in my reviews - its been a busy couple of months! Going back to review these last few books in order, first up would be The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. From my understanding Follett is a suspense novelist, and this is a project of personal interest. He became fascinated by the architecture of cathedrals and stories of their erection, and set out to write a novel about just that. This is a 973 page beast of a book, which does read very lightly and quickly (thank goodness) but isn't without its irritations.

In summation, the novel run a 50+ year course from 1123 to 1174 and the building of the cathedral at Kingsbridge. The story primarily follows Prior Phillip, the clergyman who either employs, battles, or shepards all the other major characters in the book. Some characters are lifelike and well rounded, such as the Master Builder, Tom. Others are more two-dimensional to serve the plot, like William Hamleigh, the dumb but evil knight.

One of the aspects I liked LEAST about this writer was how obvious and repetative his favorite scenes were, and there were two - sex and architecture. It seemed like every twenty pages or so, he'd either narrarate an increasingly descriptive sexual escapade, or drone on and on about the technicalities of the cathedral's continuing build, the latter of which had NO natural fit inside a character driven novel. After the first two passages, I skipped over the archi-babble for the rest of the book. The sex scenes were occasionally plot-appropriate, but defintiely gratuitous at times.

All in all, I can tell that I like Follett's style and voice, but struggled with how uneven the book felt - certain characters, subjects, and time periods got far too much attention, and the rest lacked because of that. I plan on checking out other work of his, such as his best seller, World Without End, to see what I think.

Book Review #6 - Lady's Maid

Well, I realized that I hadn't reviewed some of the first books I read last year when i initially reinvigorated my leisure reading, so we're going to go back in time a bit. One of the first books i picked up was called Lady's Maid by Margaret Forster, and even though it took me a few weeks to get through it, i really liked it!

If nothing else, it is a lengthy book - it spans nearly twenty years in 575 pages. But nevertheless it is an interesting novel, and looking back I realized that it accurately includes the events that perhaps we wouldn't even include in our own autobiographies. I find that I've been very affected, living in the age of film, that I am sometimes impatient with story points that don't spur me on to the climax of the story, but when you're painting the overall picture of someone's life, you can't just skip these things. Just because a lover isn't the lasting one, or a friend isn't your best, or a city isn't your home doens't mean they don't add vital amounts of context to your life story. So even though the story seemed to wander off the main trail in some points, i see that it was all "true." They all made up Wilson's (main character, our Lady's Maid) self, and omitting them may not have greatly changed the outcome of her life but she wouldn't have been as complete.

In its essence, its a story of a working class lady's maid who is fortunate enough to enter the service of the very educated and modern thinking Elizabeth Browning (real poet). While normally a woman of Wilson's standing wouldn't have learned to value her independance and spirit, years in Ms. Brownings most intimate service allows her the freedom to educate herself and put great importance on her ability to make choices, and especially to say "no." However, as i've learned in my own life, its often difficult to say no to the one who helps you to understand why you should. Wilson spends the prime of her life manipulated (though not unwillingly) and tightly attached to Ms. Browning, at the expense of her own happiness and free spirit.

It's incredible frustrating to watch the intelligent and capable Wilson lay aside her possibilities year after year, but you also can't really hate Elizabeth for all the great things she's able to say and show to her maid, from literary genius to the beautiful landscapes of Italy. So, there's the rub - how do we ever know what we could have missed if not for what we had?

I found it a very engrossing read - I hope you do too!

A dream I rarely talk about...

...so, my dad has a few favorite childhood stories about me that he loves to tell, and one of them is this.

We often took long road trips across the country to see new places (well, new to me at least). We saw just about every state west of the Missippippi in our ancient camper by the time I was finished with jr. high. On one such trip when I was about nine I think, we headed up into the southwest corner of Colorado to an area called Pagosa Springs, and a valley called Wolf Creek Pass in particular. Its a long climb up a mountain road that is pretty average, but once you hit the crest and look down into the valley...well, it was the first time my little mind had ever been tweake out by a view. I'd been to the ocean, the mountains, and I think even the Grand Canyon, but none of them had affected me like this place. I remember the wind was blowing so hard and I thought it was going to pick me up and take me right down there. So, in my uber-confident nature (even then), I turned to my parents and announced, "Someday, when I'm grown up and rich, I'm going to buy this whole valley." I think I was assuming it might cost the seemingly astronimical sum of about a million dollars. Psh, piece of cake.

Well, turns out I was short about $79 million or so, but who's counting. The guy who has most recently claimed this area as his own is Dave Brown, a ka-chillionaire who made his money in real estate in Silicon Valley. (Basically all those techies that made all that dough in the last quarter of the 20th century either paid him rent or bought his properties.) So he bought this valley and built a residence and a retreat, that hosts ministries and businesses, as well as a concert series called Music in the Mountains. I guess he's been a pretty controversial guy in Pagosa Springs, due to his highly active involvement in the city's affairs. I won't make any assumptions based on internet trash, but hey, at least the guy who has it all shares a little. Anyway, he and his family are moving as he continues his battle with cancer and the place is up for sale. Well Dave, I wish you a complete recovery, and if I had the dough, I'd help you out in a New York minute. However, I just don't know that my Cheesecake tips are gonna add up that fast. I just hope the next person who calls it home cares as much about it as you did, and as I would...

The best part is that it still looks just as amazing, nearly 20 years later (WOW i'm old). Watch the video at their website if you have a few minutes, its awesome.

http://www.bootjackranchpagosa.com/

Book Review #5! - The Emperor's Children

Ok, so you remember that skit from In Living Color with David Allen Greer and Damon Wayans playing the movie critics? "Haaaated Itttt!" yup, that one. And that applies here.


Reaaaaaally didn't like this book, The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. Consequently, this review will be short. Its a multi-character novel, no real central character. Set in New York City in 2001 (yeah, guess how it ends), it journals the intertwining lives of several friends and family members and all their drama. They whine, they fret, they cheat, they lie, they use, they annoy, and they SUCK. And when you're talking about a 400 page novel, it gets old FAST.



Maybe you'll like it, but the point of this review is to tell you that I didn't and if you want my advice, don't waste your time.