I got this as a "whoopie" present at the 2008 O'Bryant New Year's Eve party, but didn't get around to reading it until now... which I really regret. I'd always look at it and figure that someone had given it because it wasn't a very good book (for heaven's sake it hadn't been opened at all!). I had only held onto it because no one else's presents looked any better. Finally, when I decided I was going to read all the books I owned, I had to read it. And I really really liked it.
If this book is any indication, Amy Tan has a beautiful writing style. I loved how the story line moved. There were two different related story lines that went back and forth beautifully, partially because there was the same narrator seeing everything.
This book really got me thinking about the way the media influences our views and perceptions of events. In this story a group of tourists are kidnapped by a misguided group of indigenous people who believe the tourists will save them. The story gets on the news and everyone tries to put their own spin on it. The situation was really interesting to me because it's something that happens in our everyday lives. The media tries so hard to make the smallest story huge, and big stories become ridiculous. The book, true to life, told of all the different news outlets scrambling to get exclusive interviews with family members, friends, anyone connected to the people who had been kidnapped. Any new piece of information (no matter how small) was heralded across the TV screen.
So overall, I really loved this book. Everything I've just told you makes it sound like a deep, serious book, but some of the situations are just so comical that you can't help but laugh. It's not a terribly quick read, but it is worth it.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Attila by William Napier
For those of you who follow me on Goodreads, I'm sorry you have to read my review twice. I promise to make this one more in depth and relevant. For the rest of you, here goes.
If this book is any judge, Napier can write a decent historical fiction novel. Attila is the first of three novels about, you guessed it, Attila the Hun. And it's a really interesting book! I didn't really know anything about him, so this book was a good introduction. For instance, did you know it was Attila the Hun who finally brought down the Roman empire once and for all? And did you know that he was a "hostage"? Rome's way of securing allies was to trade youth from prominent families of the two nations. So Attila spent much of his youth in Rome while a Roman boy spent much of his youth with the Huns. This was done as security--if one nation turns on the other, they risk the death of their hostage.
That being said, I unfortunately can't recommend this book in good conscience. Napier has a particular love for the "f-word" that I just can't accept. As much as I would love to read the rest of the trilogy, I can't because I know he'll use it more and more throughout the trilogy as Attila grows up and goes into battle more and more. It's so disappointing, because Napier has a wonderful book other than that! And it wouldn't be that difficult to take the swearing out. He only has soldiers use it in battles and skirmishes. I know, I know, he's just using it to "stay true to his characters," but do you know what? I felt like he betrayed his characters by making them say those things. Each use of the word felt unnatural in the character's mouth. I felt like he was just using that word to stir people up and not because that's what his character would've said.
So, in the end, this great book is brought down. And now I have to find a different book about Attila the Hun to satisfy my curiosity on what happened to him.
If this book is any judge, Napier can write a decent historical fiction novel. Attila is the first of three novels about, you guessed it, Attila the Hun. And it's a really interesting book! I didn't really know anything about him, so this book was a good introduction. For instance, did you know it was Attila the Hun who finally brought down the Roman empire once and for all? And did you know that he was a "hostage"? Rome's way of securing allies was to trade youth from prominent families of the two nations. So Attila spent much of his youth in Rome while a Roman boy spent much of his youth with the Huns. This was done as security--if one nation turns on the other, they risk the death of their hostage.
That being said, I unfortunately can't recommend this book in good conscience. Napier has a particular love for the "f-word" that I just can't accept. As much as I would love to read the rest of the trilogy, I can't because I know he'll use it more and more throughout the trilogy as Attila grows up and goes into battle more and more. It's so disappointing, because Napier has a wonderful book other than that! And it wouldn't be that difficult to take the swearing out. He only has soldiers use it in battles and skirmishes. I know, I know, he's just using it to "stay true to his characters," but do you know what? I felt like he betrayed his characters by making them say those things. Each use of the word felt unnatural in the character's mouth. I felt like he was just using that word to stir people up and not because that's what his character would've said.
So, in the end, this great book is brought down. And now I have to find a different book about Attila the Hun to satisfy my curiosity on what happened to him.
Just So Stories for Little Children by Rudyard Kipling
I loved this book. That's all there is to it. Kipling has written a very cute collection of short stories telling how the world came to be as it is currently. Sure, it has a very heavy British Imperialist influence, but it's just so stinkin' cute that you can't help but love it.
My only problem with the book? Figuring out when I can read it to my kids without feeling bad about telling them blatant lies. Maybe if I get into the habit of reading fairy tales with my kids before bed I could slip this in as a collection of fairy tales. Because in all honesty, these stories are really the perfect model for the lies we all tell little kids when we're not ready to tell them the scientific truth about why some things are the way they are (or when we really don't know the answer).
The thing I love the most about the book? There's a clear cause-and-effect theme throughout the stories. You behaved in X manner, so now Y will happen to you. It's said out loud to the audience and in direct connection to the punishment that is usually meted out. I don't have any kids, but I imagine this might be a good way to introduce how a relatively short lived behavior might have long term consequences. If you have kids and you've read these stories since having kids, let me know if you think that works.
The saddest thing about Kipling for me is that I can only read one or two of his books before I have to read something else. I tried to start Puck of Pook's Hill, but I just couldn't do it.
My only problem with the book? Figuring out when I can read it to my kids without feeling bad about telling them blatant lies. Maybe if I get into the habit of reading fairy tales with my kids before bed I could slip this in as a collection of fairy tales. Because in all honesty, these stories are really the perfect model for the lies we all tell little kids when we're not ready to tell them the scientific truth about why some things are the way they are (or when we really don't know the answer).
The thing I love the most about the book? There's a clear cause-and-effect theme throughout the stories. You behaved in X manner, so now Y will happen to you. It's said out loud to the audience and in direct connection to the punishment that is usually meted out. I don't have any kids, but I imagine this might be a good way to introduce how a relatively short lived behavior might have long term consequences. If you have kids and you've read these stories since having kids, let me know if you think that works.
The saddest thing about Kipling for me is that I can only read one or two of his books before I have to read something else. I tried to start Puck of Pook's Hill, but I just couldn't do it.
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