Books 83-89 of 2009
83. Justine by Lawrence Durrell (253 pgs)
The first thing I did when I finished this book was to go back to the beginning, then to re-read the parts I had marked. I'm sure it will be one of my favorites for the rest of my life. The prose is beautiful (I found myself stopping to read some of it out loud), the characters are interesting, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Alexandria Quartet.
84. Women In Music: An Anthology of Source Readings from the Middle Ages to the Present by Carol Neuls-Bates (384 pgs)
I read this along with Women Making Music by Bowers and Tick, which has a great overview of the subject of the history of women in music. They really supplement each other.
This book contains primary source material that greatly enriches the subject of women in music. The most interesting (and disturbing) part to me were the letters to Fanny Mendelssohn from her father and brother, demonstrating how powerful societal expectations were in keeping women from contributing as much as they might have.
84. Women Making Music: The Western Art Tradition, 1150-1950 by Judith Tick (424 pgs)
A great overview of the topic, focusing in on specific musicians, composers, and performers in order to exhibit the general feelings of the time. The research was meticulous and I enjoyed the references to etiquette guides and general writings on women, because it gave a good context to the subject.
I read this along with Women in Music by Neuls-Bates, which had additional primary source material. They really supplement each other.
85. Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood (480 pgs)
I've read five books by Atwood now and this was probably my least favorite - I like her better when she is dystopian, as in Handmaid's Tale or Oryx and Crake (and I can't wait for her next one!). Without the surrealistic aspects of those settings, the characters she gravitates to just seem unimpressively depressing, like the main character, an artist who is revisiting her childhood in Toronto. It focuses on bullying and how young women learn their expected roles in society.
86. Cod by Mark Kurlansky (194 pgs)
A quick read on the history of cod in the world, and I actually learned some interesting things. I always question my consumption of fish anyway, which isn't really the point of the book, but it does drive that point home. Plus - I had never heard of the cod wars!
87. Amnesia Moon by Jonathan Lethem (247 pgs)
Something has happened to the world, but nobody knows what. Everyone seems to have amnesia and people are controlling each other through dreams and new rules for society. Lethem brings his unique perspective and cleverness to a strange but non-depressing post-apocalyptic world.
88. G. by John Berger (316 pgs)
This was one of the easier Booker prize winners to read, despite (or maybe because of) its disjointed style. The protagonist is interesting but I almost feel like the author connects the reader to him much better when he is a child than when he is an adult. There are interesting statements made on relationships, some silly and unnecessary drawings, and set before WWI in Europe.
The first thing I did when I finished this book was to go back to the beginning, then to re-read the parts I had marked. I'm sure it will be one of my favorites for the rest of my life. The prose is beautiful (I found myself stopping to read some of it out loud), the characters are interesting, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Alexandria Quartet.
84. Women In Music: An Anthology of Source Readings from the Middle Ages to the Present by Carol Neuls-Bates (384 pgs)
I read this along with Women Making Music by Bowers and Tick, which has a great overview of the subject of the history of women in music. They really supplement each other.
This book contains primary source material that greatly enriches the subject of women in music. The most interesting (and disturbing) part to me were the letters to Fanny Mendelssohn from her father and brother, demonstrating how powerful societal expectations were in keeping women from contributing as much as they might have.
84. Women Making Music: The Western Art Tradition, 1150-1950 by Judith Tick (424 pgs)
A great overview of the topic, focusing in on specific musicians, composers, and performers in order to exhibit the general feelings of the time. The research was meticulous and I enjoyed the references to etiquette guides and general writings on women, because it gave a good context to the subject.
I read this along with Women in Music by Neuls-Bates, which had additional primary source material. They really supplement each other.
85. Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood (480 pgs)
I've read five books by Atwood now and this was probably my least favorite - I like her better when she is dystopian, as in Handmaid's Tale or Oryx and Crake (and I can't wait for her next one!). Without the surrealistic aspects of those settings, the characters she gravitates to just seem unimpressively depressing, like the main character, an artist who is revisiting her childhood in Toronto. It focuses on bullying and how young women learn their expected roles in society.
86. Cod by Mark Kurlansky (194 pgs)
A quick read on the history of cod in the world, and I actually learned some interesting things. I always question my consumption of fish anyway, which isn't really the point of the book, but it does drive that point home. Plus - I had never heard of the cod wars!
87. Amnesia Moon by Jonathan Lethem (247 pgs)
Something has happened to the world, but nobody knows what. Everyone seems to have amnesia and people are controlling each other through dreams and new rules for society. Lethem brings his unique perspective and cleverness to a strange but non-depressing post-apocalyptic world.
88. G. by John Berger (316 pgs)
This was one of the easier Booker prize winners to read, despite (or maybe because of) its disjointed style. The protagonist is interesting but I almost feel like the author connects the reader to him much better when he is a child than when he is an adult. There are interesting statements made on relationships, some silly and unnecessary drawings, and set before WWI in Europe.