The ramblings and adventures of a quirky librarian who is an avid reader, writer, and dreamer.
Friday, June 3, 2016
She's Baaaack...
Whew! It's been a busy couple of months. All settled in to the new job now, though, and ready to get back on track. There's a lot to catch up on. Forthcoming will be five reviews in rapid succession - one from the thriller category, one mystery, one romance, and two teen titles - all going toward my Reading Resolution challenge. And don't think I haven't realized that I'm putting off all of my less-favored categories until the end... But oh, well. I've read a few books (that I may review, as well) that aren't part of the reading challenge, and I'm still on pace to finish easily within the year, so I should be able to buffer the awful books with ones I like. ;) So, until Monday when I shall make my next post, adieu.
Monday, March 7, 2016
The (Not So) Secret History of a King
Ahh, historical fiction, how I love you so.
For the last two weeks (I know, I know, two weeks is a long time, but as a mother of two who works two jobs, my allotted reading time is very limited, so cut me some slack) I've been reading Geraldine Brooks' The Secret Chord, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I was a little apprehensive about reading a fictionalized account of the life of a Biblical personality (having advanced through the childhood Sunday School ranks and studied Biblical history extensively, I tend to look at things like this very skeptically), but as a fan of Brooks' other works, I gave her the benefit of the doubt and delved in wholeheartedly. And was not disappointed.
The Secret Chord is a richly-detailed, unapologetically open-minded interpretation of the story of David, the Israelite king "after God's own heart". Told in the words of Nathan the Prophet, the narrative moves backward and forward in time, so as to include all of David's life, from childhood until death, and chronicles his greatest accomplishments - and his biggest failures. At once both triumphant and heartbreaking, I found this story to be compelling and real.
Brooks avoids the trap of attempting to add too much detail to make the text sound authentic to the period; rather, she just did excellent research and wrote the story with confidence, knowing that her knowledge would carry the story. As a reader, I appreciated this. In fact, I found her story so realistic that, at times, I cringed with the truth of what was happening. Brooks does not shy away from setting a scene; there were several that, while I read them, made me admire her writing chops. David's life was not one free from horrors, and in her effort to tell the whole story, Brooks makes readers a party to those horrors, as well. There is nothing crass, nothing gratuitous, just reality. And I felt David's jubilation when he succeeds, and his grievous pain when he fails.
Brooks takes her time with the characters, developing several of them so deeply a reader begins to understand their desires, their motivations. Readers get to know them, and I found myself starting to side with one individual over another, or being suspicious of certain characters, piteous toward others. David, Nathan, Michel, Bathsheba, Joab, and even some of David's children, like Absalom and Solomon, all but leap off the page, because in telling David's story, Brooks inevitably also tells their stories.
The deeper I got into this book, the more I fell in love with it. I do not think it's for everyone - there are going to be some dyed-in-the-wool, conservative evangelicals who won't see it for what it is - a work of fiction. However, if someone is looking for an interpretation of the life and times of one of the (arguably) most interesting characters in the Bible, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.
I press forward in my Reading Resolution to my next non-fiction title, which I hope will be a fun romp through the high seas. I will be setting sail with the Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson. Arghhhh!
For the last two weeks (I know, I know, two weeks is a long time, but as a mother of two who works two jobs, my allotted reading time is very limited, so cut me some slack) I've been reading Geraldine Brooks' The Secret Chord, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I was a little apprehensive about reading a fictionalized account of the life of a Biblical personality (having advanced through the childhood Sunday School ranks and studied Biblical history extensively, I tend to look at things like this very skeptically), but as a fan of Brooks' other works, I gave her the benefit of the doubt and delved in wholeheartedly. And was not disappointed.
The Secret Chord is a richly-detailed, unapologetically open-minded interpretation of the story of David, the Israelite king "after God's own heart". Told in the words of Nathan the Prophet, the narrative moves backward and forward in time, so as to include all of David's life, from childhood until death, and chronicles his greatest accomplishments - and his biggest failures. At once both triumphant and heartbreaking, I found this story to be compelling and real.
Brooks avoids the trap of attempting to add too much detail to make the text sound authentic to the period; rather, she just did excellent research and wrote the story with confidence, knowing that her knowledge would carry the story. As a reader, I appreciated this. In fact, I found her story so realistic that, at times, I cringed with the truth of what was happening. Brooks does not shy away from setting a scene; there were several that, while I read them, made me admire her writing chops. David's life was not one free from horrors, and in her effort to tell the whole story, Brooks makes readers a party to those horrors, as well. There is nothing crass, nothing gratuitous, just reality. And I felt David's jubilation when he succeeds, and his grievous pain when he fails.
Brooks takes her time with the characters, developing several of them so deeply a reader begins to understand their desires, their motivations. Readers get to know them, and I found myself starting to side with one individual over another, or being suspicious of certain characters, piteous toward others. David, Nathan, Michel, Bathsheba, Joab, and even some of David's children, like Absalom and Solomon, all but leap off the page, because in telling David's story, Brooks inevitably also tells their stories.
The deeper I got into this book, the more I fell in love with it. I do not think it's for everyone - there are going to be some dyed-in-the-wool, conservative evangelicals who won't see it for what it is - a work of fiction. However, if someone is looking for an interpretation of the life and times of one of the (arguably) most interesting characters in the Bible, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.
I press forward in my Reading Resolution to my next non-fiction title, which I hope will be a fun romp through the high seas. I will be setting sail with the Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson. Arghhhh!
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Because Survival Is Insufficient
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel was *almost* enough to soften my dislike for post-apocalyptic dystopian narratives. Almost. And that "almost" is no negative reflection on Station Eleven, but rather speaks to my intense dislike of dystopian stories and settings. This, though - this book was a brilliant, shining diamond in a world full of gray, bleak, and dusty rocks.
Now, here's what's different about Station Eleven, what sets it apart from all those other survivalist, the world is burning narratives: the world hasn't been destroyed by zombies. The apocalypse wasn't caused by nuclear fallout. Aliens didn't take over the planet. It was something completely believable - a flu virus - one that originated in Russia, spread like wildfire, and within a month killed 99.9% of earth's population. Additionally, people aren't continually struggling to survive. People are alive, and aside from the stray marauder and a delusional religious Prophet, things are fairly calm. In that way, I would call this a quiet dystopia. This book isn't about the survival of humanity, it's about the survival of arts and culture. The characters are actors and musicians and artists, and they continue to keep their craft alive, even when some question its appropriateness. And it forces readers to think about the question: if I had the responsibility of preserving human history for those who have no idea what life was like before, what would I save?
The book is set in multiple times, oscillating between the time before and twenty-five years after the collapse of civilization, with a few touch points in between. It's not difficult to follow the non-linear arrangement, though. Mandel has no intentions of losing her readers. Rather, she weaves together the stories of a few prominent characters, revealing information only when needed, and only in perfect amounts, allowing readers to become invested in the continuation of the story. At the center of the narrative is a graphic novel, a two-book series created by one of the characters, and whose story line and themes mirror those of the novel, providing a living example of how art imitates life. Or, in this case, vise-versa.
Technically speaking, the narrative is beautifully written. It is spare, contains nothing extra or gratuitous, and every word seeks to advance the narrative. There are no ambiguous statements, no mysterious ellipses - Mandel means what she says, and says what she means. And as she pulls the threads of the narrative together, as the reader starts to become aware of the connections between the characters, each word becomes increasingly important. And what I particularly loved about this book is it doesn't end in the bleak, hopeless way a lot of dystopian books end; Station Eleven ends resolved, and on a concrete note of hope.
Rarely when I close a book do I feel like I need to sit and contemplate what I've just read. When I finished Station Eleven I said aloud, and to myself, "Wow, that was a really fantastic book." And it is. A really. Fantastic. Book. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading about the preservation of culture, those who like survival stories (though, as I said, this is survival of a different type), and those who like books with strong female characters (this book has plenty). For read-alikes, Stephen King's The Stand also has an ensemble cast of flu survivors, though it is more graphic and action-packed for those of you who like a little faster pace. Another choice would be The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan, which is a post-apocalyptic narrative told from multiple perspectives, and also features a traveling band of entertainers. Finally, The Dog Stars by Peter Heller is another excellent choice, as it also chronicles a decimated population following a flu outbreak, and features ordinary people surviving in a bleak world.
In the wake of reading something futuristic, I feel a pull to look to the past for my next selection, so I will be reading a historical fiction title next. Years ago I picked up People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks in an airport bookstore, and by the time I'd reached my destination I was so engrossed in the story I wished my flight was another three hours. (I know, I know, who does that?) I loved Brook's writing style, her attention to detail, and her ability to make me care about characters who lived hundreds - even thousands - of years ago. I hope to have a similar experience with her newest novel, The Secret Chord. I'll let you know how it goes.
Now, here's what's different about Station Eleven, what sets it apart from all those other survivalist, the world is burning narratives: the world hasn't been destroyed by zombies. The apocalypse wasn't caused by nuclear fallout. Aliens didn't take over the planet. It was something completely believable - a flu virus - one that originated in Russia, spread like wildfire, and within a month killed 99.9% of earth's population. Additionally, people aren't continually struggling to survive. People are alive, and aside from the stray marauder and a delusional religious Prophet, things are fairly calm. In that way, I would call this a quiet dystopia. This book isn't about the survival of humanity, it's about the survival of arts and culture. The characters are actors and musicians and artists, and they continue to keep their craft alive, even when some question its appropriateness. And it forces readers to think about the question: if I had the responsibility of preserving human history for those who have no idea what life was like before, what would I save?
The book is set in multiple times, oscillating between the time before and twenty-five years after the collapse of civilization, with a few touch points in between. It's not difficult to follow the non-linear arrangement, though. Mandel has no intentions of losing her readers. Rather, she weaves together the stories of a few prominent characters, revealing information only when needed, and only in perfect amounts, allowing readers to become invested in the continuation of the story. At the center of the narrative is a graphic novel, a two-book series created by one of the characters, and whose story line and themes mirror those of the novel, providing a living example of how art imitates life. Or, in this case, vise-versa.
Technically speaking, the narrative is beautifully written. It is spare, contains nothing extra or gratuitous, and every word seeks to advance the narrative. There are no ambiguous statements, no mysterious ellipses - Mandel means what she says, and says what she means. And as she pulls the threads of the narrative together, as the reader starts to become aware of the connections between the characters, each word becomes increasingly important. And what I particularly loved about this book is it doesn't end in the bleak, hopeless way a lot of dystopian books end; Station Eleven ends resolved, and on a concrete note of hope.
Rarely when I close a book do I feel like I need to sit and contemplate what I've just read. When I finished Station Eleven I said aloud, and to myself, "Wow, that was a really fantastic book." And it is. A really. Fantastic. Book. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading about the preservation of culture, those who like survival stories (though, as I said, this is survival of a different type), and those who like books with strong female characters (this book has plenty). For read-alikes, Stephen King's The Stand also has an ensemble cast of flu survivors, though it is more graphic and action-packed for those of you who like a little faster pace. Another choice would be The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan, which is a post-apocalyptic narrative told from multiple perspectives, and also features a traveling band of entertainers. Finally, The Dog Stars by Peter Heller is another excellent choice, as it also chronicles a decimated population following a flu outbreak, and features ordinary people surviving in a bleak world.
In the wake of reading something futuristic, I feel a pull to look to the past for my next selection, so I will be reading a historical fiction title next. Years ago I picked up People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks in an airport bookstore, and by the time I'd reached my destination I was so engrossed in the story I wished my flight was another three hours. (I know, I know, who does that?) I loved Brook's writing style, her attention to detail, and her ability to make me care about characters who lived hundreds - even thousands - of years ago. I hope to have a similar experience with her newest novel, The Secret Chord. I'll let you know how it goes.
Friday, February 5, 2016
One Less Non-Fiction Title...
One down, four to go. Non-fiction titles, that is. Per my Reading Resolution for 2016, I promised to read five non-fiction titles. Well, I've just finished Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and that was (I guess) a non-fiction book.
I like Malcolm Gladwell. He's smart and interesting, a good speaker who has good ideas. But in this case, I felt like that's just what they were - ideas.
Here is the premise of Outliers, taken from Goodreads:
In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different?
His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.
OK. Sounds good, right? I thought so, too. And I went into this book with a completely open mind. I enjoyed the book. Gladwell has a casual writing style that's very conversational and easy to understand. He's funny; he's charming. And his wit and charm *almost* obscure the fact that his science is junk. That's right, I said junk. His "reasons" for success change by the page, and his examples seem to be cherry-picked for their ability to support his idea of the moment. Many ideas are presented as fact, when there is another side to be considered he completely ignores. His connections between some ideas are tenuous, at best, and his conclusions weren't quite enough to convince me. Gladwell eschews the idea of "natural talent" for what he calls the "10,000 Hour Rule" in which he claims that hard work will always overcome natural talent - if natural talent even exists. Hmmm. He discusses how those who have societal, familial, and monetary advantages will *almost* always succeed over those who don't, and derides the idea of the "self-made" man.
I'd give the book a solid 3/5 because I really like the writing style, and I think the premise is provocative and interesting, if too narrowly explored. All said, still a fascinating look at what kinds of thing influence success, whether we think about them or not.
And... on to the next.
I am about ten chapters into Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. This is a step outside of the box for me - it's a post-apocalyptic novel. Normally, I'm not down with PA stuff - it's just not my cup of tea. But this book is set in the Great Lakes region and centers on a troupe of actors and musicians as they navigate the landscape and try to retain some sense of culture in the world.
So far I'm very much enjoying the book - the author has a beautiful writing style that's somewhat musical, somewhat poetic, somewhat storyteller, and I love it. Stay tuned for the follow-up review.
I like Malcolm Gladwell. He's smart and interesting, a good speaker who has good ideas. But in this case, I felt like that's just what they were - ideas.
Here is the premise of Outliers, taken from Goodreads:
In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different?
His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.
OK. Sounds good, right? I thought so, too. And I went into this book with a completely open mind. I enjoyed the book. Gladwell has a casual writing style that's very conversational and easy to understand. He's funny; he's charming. And his wit and charm *almost* obscure the fact that his science is junk. That's right, I said junk. His "reasons" for success change by the page, and his examples seem to be cherry-picked for their ability to support his idea of the moment. Many ideas are presented as fact, when there is another side to be considered he completely ignores. His connections between some ideas are tenuous, at best, and his conclusions weren't quite enough to convince me. Gladwell eschews the idea of "natural talent" for what he calls the "10,000 Hour Rule" in which he claims that hard work will always overcome natural talent - if natural talent even exists. Hmmm. He discusses how those who have societal, familial, and monetary advantages will *almost* always succeed over those who don't, and derides the idea of the "self-made" man.
I'd give the book a solid 3/5 because I really like the writing style, and I think the premise is provocative and interesting, if too narrowly explored. All said, still a fascinating look at what kinds of thing influence success, whether we think about them or not.
And... on to the next.
I am about ten chapters into Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. This is a step outside of the box for me - it's a post-apocalyptic novel. Normally, I'm not down with PA stuff - it's just not my cup of tea. But this book is set in the Great Lakes region and centers on a troupe of actors and musicians as they navigate the landscape and try to retain some sense of culture in the world.
So far I'm very much enjoying the book - the author has a beautiful writing style that's somewhat musical, somewhat poetic, somewhat storyteller, and I love it. Stay tuned for the follow-up review.
Monday, January 25, 2016
One Down
I have two words for you: Air. Pirates. Oh, how I wish this was a real thing. I'd quit both my jobs and join up with a buccaneer crew to participate in raiding and pillaging the skies. Alas, these particular air pirates are only found in the Cinder Spires, the setting of Jim Butcher's latest fantasy endeavor.
Last week I discussed my embarkation on a fantastic reading journey that I hope will last me most of 2016. (You can read that post here.) The first title I chose to read for my 2016 Reading Resolution project was The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. Now, I've mentioned before that I have a deep love for Harry Dresden, the hero of Butcher's Dresden Files series. I find him a compelling character for many reasons, the least of which is the fact that he always seems to be in some sort of trouble, ofttimes through no fault of his own. He does, however, usually connive a way out of that trouble using his wits. I like smart characters. And my deep admiration of Dresden had me a little nervous going into Windlass. What if I (gasp) didn't like it? Would it ruin any subsequent Dresden titles for me? Would it sour me on Jim Butcher forever? As it turns out, I was worrying needlessly.
The Aeronaut's Windlass is a rollicking romp through the streets of a city (for lack of any equally adequate term) built in the mists of the sky to the decks of air ships captained by disgraced scoundrels. And these streets and decks are full of *really interesting* characters. Including sentient Cats. Yes, you read that correctly - Cats. With a capital C. It is undoubtedly a fantasy, as there are elements of magic and imagination, and fantastic examples of both WORLDbuilding and WORDbuilding. Additionally, it is a suggestively steampunk fantasy. I LOVE STEAMPUNK. (And dieselpunk, and cyberpunk...) I say suggestively steampunk, because it contains all of the skeletal thematic elements of a steampunk story (gadgets, steam engines, goggles, leather, copper and brass, a feudal-type societal system, etc.) without bashing the reader over the head with them. Essentially, the elements are there in the background of the story, rather than being the story. In this way, Butcher is able to spin the story in his own way, rather than following any type of genre formula.
First, let's talk about the setting. The surface of the earth is shrouded in mists, which protect the Spire inhabitants from a sun whose rays would otherwise cause madness. The Cinder Spires, miles-high towers built to shelter earth's inhabitants, are divided up into Houses and Guilds based on social rank and trade, and each Spire is home to a specific people group. The Spires have, for years, been trading and forging alliances with one another, each hiding behind the strength of its air fleet. Windlass takes place in Spire Albion. This is the world Butcher's characters inhabit.
The characters in this book are fantastic. The cast is diverse, but not too large, and the characters compliment and play off each other nicely. First there are cousins Gwen and and Benedict, both members of the Spire Ark's guard and of House Lancaster, one of the most powerful families in the Spire. Gwen is headstrong and sometimes short-sighted, but is brave and determined and loyal. Benedict is Warrior-Born, which means that he carries in his blood strains of lion DNA. This gives him heightened senses, plus added strength and agility. Interestingly, this also makes him somewhat of a social outcast, as the Warrior-Born are seen as lesser. Next, there is Grimm, captain of the airship Predator. Wrongly disgraced and expelled from Fleet, he exists as a privateer. He has a rigid sense of right and wrong, though those two may not exist exactly the way one might expect. Then there are Bridgit, of the noble if somewhat diminished House of Tagwyn, and Rowl, prince of the Silent Paws. Bridgit is the quiet voice of reason in the group, and Rowl is, well, as Cat, and thinks and behaves exactly as one would expect a Cat to behave. Finally, Ferus and Folly, the old, half-mad Etherialist and his wispy apprentice (think Luna Lovegood) call into question of truth and perception.
I am loath to give away any points of the plot, as they are many and deeply intertwined. Suffice to say there is nothing boring in this book. There is action, there is dialogue, there is romance, there is deception, there are duels, there are air battles, etc. Yet it never seems rushed or busy. The pacing is such that it makes one want to keep reading, yet is never overwhelming.
Overall, this was a wonderful, swashbuckling adventure I enjoyed every minute of. I would highly recommend it to fans of adventure stories, as well as those who are avid sci-fi/fantasy and steampunk readers.
So, on to the next title.
I am teaching Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers in one of my classes this fall. I've never read it. Therefore, Outliers is next on my reading list by default. It hails from the 300 section of the library, and will count as one of my five non-fiction titles. I am briefly acquainted with the concept of the book - Gladwell studies what makes people successful. And it's not what you think. Stay tuned...
Last week I discussed my embarkation on a fantastic reading journey that I hope will last me most of 2016. (You can read that post here.) The first title I chose to read for my 2016 Reading Resolution project was The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. Now, I've mentioned before that I have a deep love for Harry Dresden, the hero of Butcher's Dresden Files series. I find him a compelling character for many reasons, the least of which is the fact that he always seems to be in some sort of trouble, ofttimes through no fault of his own. He does, however, usually connive a way out of that trouble using his wits. I like smart characters. And my deep admiration of Dresden had me a little nervous going into Windlass. What if I (gasp) didn't like it? Would it ruin any subsequent Dresden titles for me? Would it sour me on Jim Butcher forever? As it turns out, I was worrying needlessly.
The Aeronaut's Windlass is a rollicking romp through the streets of a city (for lack of any equally adequate term) built in the mists of the sky to the decks of air ships captained by disgraced scoundrels. And these streets and decks are full of *really interesting* characters. Including sentient Cats. Yes, you read that correctly - Cats. With a capital C. It is undoubtedly a fantasy, as there are elements of magic and imagination, and fantastic examples of both WORLDbuilding and WORDbuilding. Additionally, it is a suggestively steampunk fantasy. I LOVE STEAMPUNK. (And dieselpunk, and cyberpunk...) I say suggestively steampunk, because it contains all of the skeletal thematic elements of a steampunk story (gadgets, steam engines, goggles, leather, copper and brass, a feudal-type societal system, etc.) without bashing the reader over the head with them. Essentially, the elements are there in the background of the story, rather than being the story. In this way, Butcher is able to spin the story in his own way, rather than following any type of genre formula.
First, let's talk about the setting. The surface of the earth is shrouded in mists, which protect the Spire inhabitants from a sun whose rays would otherwise cause madness. The Cinder Spires, miles-high towers built to shelter earth's inhabitants, are divided up into Houses and Guilds based on social rank and trade, and each Spire is home to a specific people group. The Spires have, for years, been trading and forging alliances with one another, each hiding behind the strength of its air fleet. Windlass takes place in Spire Albion. This is the world Butcher's characters inhabit.
The characters in this book are fantastic. The cast is diverse, but not too large, and the characters compliment and play off each other nicely. First there are cousins Gwen and and Benedict, both members of the Spire Ark's guard and of House Lancaster, one of the most powerful families in the Spire. Gwen is headstrong and sometimes short-sighted, but is brave and determined and loyal. Benedict is Warrior-Born, which means that he carries in his blood strains of lion DNA. This gives him heightened senses, plus added strength and agility. Interestingly, this also makes him somewhat of a social outcast, as the Warrior-Born are seen as lesser. Next, there is Grimm, captain of the airship Predator. Wrongly disgraced and expelled from Fleet, he exists as a privateer. He has a rigid sense of right and wrong, though those two may not exist exactly the way one might expect. Then there are Bridgit, of the noble if somewhat diminished House of Tagwyn, and Rowl, prince of the Silent Paws. Bridgit is the quiet voice of reason in the group, and Rowl is, well, as Cat, and thinks and behaves exactly as one would expect a Cat to behave. Finally, Ferus and Folly, the old, half-mad Etherialist and his wispy apprentice (think Luna Lovegood) call into question of truth and perception.
I am loath to give away any points of the plot, as they are many and deeply intertwined. Suffice to say there is nothing boring in this book. There is action, there is dialogue, there is romance, there is deception, there are duels, there are air battles, etc. Yet it never seems rushed or busy. The pacing is such that it makes one want to keep reading, yet is never overwhelming.
Overall, this was a wonderful, swashbuckling adventure I enjoyed every minute of. I would highly recommend it to fans of adventure stories, as well as those who are avid sci-fi/fantasy and steampunk readers.
So, on to the next title.
I am teaching Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers in one of my classes this fall. I've never read it. Therefore, Outliers is next on my reading list by default. It hails from the 300 section of the library, and will count as one of my five non-fiction titles. I am briefly acquainted with the concept of the book - Gladwell studies what makes people successful. And it's not what you think. Stay tuned...
Friday, January 15, 2016
And Happy New Year... Late.
New Year's resolutions aren't my thing. I'm not a resoluter. I don't resolute. I find that making a resolution (in my experience, anyway) is basically daring myself to fail. And I don't like to fail. So, you will never find me resolving to become a vegetarian, or resolving to lose that pesky extra five pounds, or resolving to donate more of my time to charity. (Not that those aren't all good things.) I may do those things, but I'm not going to resolve to do it.
That said, one resolution I'm not opposed to is a reading resolution. Becky Spratford, the library world's own Reader's Advisory guru and the author of the gem blog RA for All recently posted her New Year's Reading Resolutions, and I thought to myself why, that's an utterly brilliant idea! You see, my approach to reading is rather willy-nilly; I read what sounds good. However, I am grown-up enough to know that only reading what appeals to me will never help me develop my knowledge of, say, philosophy (gag), or familiarize myself with what's going on down on the Amish prairie. And as a librarian who makes it her goal to provide quality reader's advisory for her patrons, this is a less-than-ideal situation. This is where the reading resolution comes in.
I have authored for myself a three-part reading resolution for 2016. The goal here is to broaden my genre knowledge base and (gulp) read some non-fiction. Now, I did read two whole non-fiction books last year. Both were by Erik Larson (Dead Wake and The Devil in the White City), and both were superb. It helped that I listened to them on audio, and that Scott Brick and Tony Goldwyn respectively, both did a brilliant job with the narrations. I would read more Larson books. I would read all the Larson books. But, well, I'll bet you can see the problem with that. It's still not branching out. So, here's how I plan to break out of my reading safe-zone and learn ALL THE NEW THINGS.
FIRST, to read five non-fiction titles and review them upon completion. This sounds easier than it will be, because I am placing a restriction on myself: these five books must be from three different Dewey number ranges. For you non-library folk, there are ten Dewey ranges (the 0s - the 900s), and each step of the 00s indicates a different range of subject areas. This means I can't just read five biographies; what it does mean is that I'm going to end up reading something I really don't want to. But I guess that's kinda' the point, right?
SECOND, to read one title from each genre and review it upon completion. This is around ten books, depending on whether one counts "women's fiction", "inspirational", and "new adult fiction" as genres. Generally, the accepted genres are Thriller, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Western, and Horror. Then there's the optional Women's Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, and New Adult Fiction. Now, some of these are areas in which I regularly read, such as HF and FSY (Historical Fiction and Fantasy for the Cretins). Some are not, such as WF (kill me now) and IF (sorry, Zondervan, but just nope). The problem is, many of my patrons <3 WF and IF. So this puts me at a disadvantage. Hopefully, this plan will take care of that. There are a myriad of sub-genres represented here, as well, so I have many options.
THIRD, to read at least three each Teen and Juvenile books and review them upon completion. This shouldn't be too much of a stretch for me. I still read some of the authors who were writing when I was a teen (which doesn't really SEEM that long ago until I start to do the math), so they are already on my to-read list. And as I have a two-year-old, it only seems wise that I start building her a must-read list. Oh, and there are a million billion kiddos who come in to the library every day looking for books.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED the "review them" qualification I put on each part of my reading resolution. This is to keep me honest. If I know there are people *anxiously awaiting* my review of a title, it may inspire me to follow through (note: sarcasm). What reviews do is allow me to think through all aspects of a title, and consider which books might be good "readalikes", or titles I can suggest to patrons who want to read something "exactly like Fifty Shades of Grey!". Oy-vey. It also keeps me visiting my blog and my Goodreads page, and helps me build my NoveList base. All things that are great resources, and, in the long run, will help me better serve my patrons.
By my count, that gives me around twenty-five books to read to fulfill my resolution. That's not bad; definitely doable. And it leaves me room to fill in the gap with things I *really want to read*. ;) My plan is to herald the beginning of a new book with a post, and announce its completion with a review. This is an experiment; I've never tried something of its like. We'll see how it goes. But I would love some cheers and encouragement along the way, so feel free to weigh in. If you've read the book I'm reading, let me know your thoughts about it. (But NO SPOILERS, or I will sic the nazgul on you.) If you disagree with my review or my opinions, I welcome that, as well. One of the most interesting things about books is the profoundly different effect they have on people. I love a good discussion.
I AM BEGINNING WITH... The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher, which will fulfill the Fantasy genre requirement. I chose this book because it's been staring up at me from my desk for a couple of months now, begging me to read it. I love Jim Butcher. Wait, that's not right. I love Harry Dresden. So I am eager to see what Butcher can do with characters that aren't Chicago's only wizard for hire. Review to follow.
That said, one resolution I'm not opposed to is a reading resolution. Becky Spratford, the library world's own Reader's Advisory guru and the author of the gem blog RA for All recently posted her New Year's Reading Resolutions, and I thought to myself why, that's an utterly brilliant idea! You see, my approach to reading is rather willy-nilly; I read what sounds good. However, I am grown-up enough to know that only reading what appeals to me will never help me develop my knowledge of, say, philosophy (gag), or familiarize myself with what's going on down on the Amish prairie. And as a librarian who makes it her goal to provide quality reader's advisory for her patrons, this is a less-than-ideal situation. This is where the reading resolution comes in.
I have authored for myself a three-part reading resolution for 2016. The goal here is to broaden my genre knowledge base and (gulp) read some non-fiction. Now, I did read two whole non-fiction books last year. Both were by Erik Larson (Dead Wake and The Devil in the White City), and both were superb. It helped that I listened to them on audio, and that Scott Brick and Tony Goldwyn respectively, both did a brilliant job with the narrations. I would read more Larson books. I would read all the Larson books. But, well, I'll bet you can see the problem with that. It's still not branching out. So, here's how I plan to break out of my reading safe-zone and learn ALL THE NEW THINGS.
FIRST, to read five non-fiction titles and review them upon completion. This sounds easier than it will be, because I am placing a restriction on myself: these five books must be from three different Dewey number ranges. For you non-library folk, there are ten Dewey ranges (the 0s - the 900s), and each step of the 00s indicates a different range of subject areas. This means I can't just read five biographies; what it does mean is that I'm going to end up reading something I really don't want to. But I guess that's kinda' the point, right?
SECOND, to read one title from each genre and review it upon completion. This is around ten books, depending on whether one counts "women's fiction", "inspirational", and "new adult fiction" as genres. Generally, the accepted genres are Thriller, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Western, and Horror. Then there's the optional Women's Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, and New Adult Fiction. Now, some of these are areas in which I regularly read, such as HF and FSY (Historical Fiction and Fantasy for the Cretins). Some are not, such as WF (kill me now) and IF (sorry, Zondervan, but just nope). The problem is, many of my patrons <3 WF and IF. So this puts me at a disadvantage. Hopefully, this plan will take care of that. There are a myriad of sub-genres represented here, as well, so I have many options.
THIRD, to read at least three each Teen and Juvenile books and review them upon completion. This shouldn't be too much of a stretch for me. I still read some of the authors who were writing when I was a teen (which doesn't really SEEM that long ago until I start to do the math), so they are already on my to-read list. And as I have a two-year-old, it only seems wise that I start building her a must-read list. Oh, and there are a million billion kiddos who come in to the library every day looking for books.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED the "review them" qualification I put on each part of my reading resolution. This is to keep me honest. If I know there are people *anxiously awaiting* my review of a title, it may inspire me to follow through (note: sarcasm). What reviews do is allow me to think through all aspects of a title, and consider which books might be good "readalikes", or titles I can suggest to patrons who want to read something "exactly like Fifty Shades of Grey!". Oy-vey. It also keeps me visiting my blog and my Goodreads page, and helps me build my NoveList base. All things that are great resources, and, in the long run, will help me better serve my patrons.
By my count, that gives me around twenty-five books to read to fulfill my resolution. That's not bad; definitely doable. And it leaves me room to fill in the gap with things I *really want to read*. ;) My plan is to herald the beginning of a new book with a post, and announce its completion with a review. This is an experiment; I've never tried something of its like. We'll see how it goes. But I would love some cheers and encouragement along the way, so feel free to weigh in. If you've read the book I'm reading, let me know your thoughts about it. (But NO SPOILERS, or I will sic the nazgul on you.) If you disagree with my review or my opinions, I welcome that, as well. One of the most interesting things about books is the profoundly different effect they have on people. I love a good discussion.
I AM BEGINNING WITH... The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher, which will fulfill the Fantasy genre requirement. I chose this book because it's been staring up at me from my desk for a couple of months now, begging me to read it. I love Jim Butcher. Wait, that's not right. I love Harry Dresden. So I am eager to see what Butcher can do with characters that aren't Chicago's only wizard for hire. Review to follow.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Embarkation
Ahoy! Avast! Thar she blows! And all that other pirate-y speak that indicates a long-awaited appearance. The Bookaneer is back.
The fall semester is nearly ended, and I find myself with *actual seconds* of free time. Hmm, what to do, what to do? It's as if I can't function without knowing in the back of my mind that I have a mountain of papers to grade. So, what better use of free time than to spend it planing how to fill up said free time?
I have a new writing project in the works (two, actually), and finally believe that I may actually have some time to sit down and plan them out properly. One is a steampunk YA novel, and the other, a category-style romance. Yes, yes, night and day. But then again, why not be contrary? The best (or at least most interesting) writers are the most versatile writers. It's like the difference between Channing Tatum and Christian Bale. The one trick pony vs. the all-around star. (Gasp! What? Channing Tatum's performance in Magic Mike XXL was Oscar-worthy! Mmhm. Ok.) Now, by no means am I claiming that my writing talents in any way compare to Christian Bale's acting chops, nor am I claiming to have a fraction of his talent, but I do believe that the more things I try and expose myself to, the better writer I will be. It's all about experience and imagination, and seeing everything as an opportunity. So, sword-weilding debutantes and history teachers with killer abs, it is. *Rubs hands together in anticipation*
On a completely different, yet still related note, the hubby and I leave in a week for New Orleans and a cruise of the Western Caribbean. We'll start out with the cruise (looking forward to seeing the Mayan ruins and wandering around Cozumel - the history buff in me can barely contain her excitement), and then end with a couple days in NO. Neither of us have ever been the Big Easy, but I've always wanted to go. The moody, shady mystery of the city tickles my writerly sensibilities and inspires my nonsensical desire to believe in ghosts and vampires. I'm hoping to come back with notes upon notes and photos aplenty to be able to use in future projects. As I said, experience and imagination.
Cheers.
The fall semester is nearly ended, and I find myself with *actual seconds* of free time. Hmm, what to do, what to do? It's as if I can't function without knowing in the back of my mind that I have a mountain of papers to grade. So, what better use of free time than to spend it planing how to fill up said free time?
I have a new writing project in the works (two, actually), and finally believe that I may actually have some time to sit down and plan them out properly. One is a steampunk YA novel, and the other, a category-style romance. Yes, yes, night and day. But then again, why not be contrary? The best (or at least most interesting) writers are the most versatile writers. It's like the difference between Channing Tatum and Christian Bale. The one trick pony vs. the all-around star. (Gasp! What? Channing Tatum's performance in Magic Mike XXL was Oscar-worthy! Mmhm. Ok.) Now, by no means am I claiming that my writing talents in any way compare to Christian Bale's acting chops, nor am I claiming to have a fraction of his talent, but I do believe that the more things I try and expose myself to, the better writer I will be. It's all about experience and imagination, and seeing everything as an opportunity. So, sword-weilding debutantes and history teachers with killer abs, it is. *Rubs hands together in anticipation*
On a completely different, yet still related note, the hubby and I leave in a week for New Orleans and a cruise of the Western Caribbean. We'll start out with the cruise (looking forward to seeing the Mayan ruins and wandering around Cozumel - the history buff in me can barely contain her excitement), and then end with a couple days in NO. Neither of us have ever been the Big Easy, but I've always wanted to go. The moody, shady mystery of the city tickles my writerly sensibilities and inspires my nonsensical desire to believe in ghosts and vampires. I'm hoping to come back with notes upon notes and photos aplenty to be able to use in future projects. As I said, experience and imagination.
Cheers.
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