(no subject)
Today is a lazy day. I slept in, set all of my bills up for the month (as I always do on the first, then I don't have to worry about them later), read for a bit, checked out my photos on my camera and uploaded a few to Facebook, and did two sections of my traffic school class. Up next is a blog post and some classic Doctor Who.
Books Read in August:
Battle Royale - Koushun Takami
****
This was brutal and disturbing and I definitely see where Hunger Games ripped off many elements. However, this book is told in third person, which I think makes it more questionable who will "win." You also get different facets of all of the characters playing. It took me a while to read this, though, because some of the ways the kids come to an end is really nightmare fuel - at least, for me.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan
****
Absolutely charming book. Bookstores! Mystery! Codes and keys and puzzles! The voice was also really engaging, and it's a relatively quick read, to boot.
The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
***
Intriguing, demented, disturbing, but I couldn't put it down, even whilst cringing. . . A lot. It's almost a coming-of-age story, too; the protagonist has lots of issues, but there is also a weird internal logic to him. One even empathizes with Frank. Short and creepy.
Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn
**
I like horror books. I like disturbing literature. However, something about this book just left me cold. The characters are so vastly unlikeable that it made this book difficult to finish. It was a bit more interesting at the end, but I already had guessed who the murderer was, so it was not a surprise.
The 120 Days of Sodom, Marquis de Sade
***
Will you judge me if I give this book a good rating? I found it absolutely fascinating. It's disturbing and dark (not to mention highly scatological) but I laughed at the absurdity of some of the stories, which I hope was the point. If you consider this book from a logical standpoint, there are times it falls apart. However, it's a great peek into a twisted mind. I wish he had been able to finish it - truly finish it, not just notes.
The Girl Next Door - Jack Ketchum
****
This book is based on a true story of two sisters who are sent to live with a relative who becomes unhinged and abuses the girls in horrific ways. I believe a movie was made of this story a few years ago called An American Crime, with Ellen Page.
I knew it was going to be brutal, but I don't think I was fully prepared for this. In addition, what I found most disturbing was the "herd mentality" of the boys, who also begin to abuse meg.
This one might keep you up at night.
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
*****
This is not an easy read, something to tuck into your bag on your way to the pool (although, admittedly, I did read large chunks of this on vacation, and some of that was by the pool, but I'm different). It will tax your brain, especially when you try to keep some of the family straight - in keeping with tradition, the generations have the same first names - and there were a few times when I became confused until it was made clear with more details. However, I found that it was beautiful: the language (I'm sure it's even better in its original language, Spanish), the trials and tribulations of the Buendia family which in itself becomes a character in this story. . . There is a lot of magical realism in this book, so if girls who just float off into the sky and other fabulous things defy your inner logic in such a way that you cannot accept it like the good people of Macondo, then perhaps this book is not for you. I remember taking this book out of the library one summer when I was in high school and attempting to read it. I didn't get very far before I gave up and returned it in frustration. I was not ready, obviously. I'm older now, and I hope a bit wiser, and my book club selecting it for September was the final push I needed.
NOS4A2 - Joe Hill
****
I remember Jeff recommended this book on Facebook when amazon had it for $1.99. It sounded interesting, and for such a low price, how could one go wrong?
I finally started it the other day, at the tail end of my vacation, and I have to say, it was pretty great. You have fantasy, horror, suspense, and there's some pretty good writing in there, too.
I didn't know until later that Hill is the son of Stephen King, and the book definitely hearkens back to some of his earlier works, which I devoured growing up.
Total so far this year: 72.
Books Read in August:
Battle Royale - Koushun Takami
****
This was brutal and disturbing and I definitely see where Hunger Games ripped off many elements. However, this book is told in third person, which I think makes it more questionable who will "win." You also get different facets of all of the characters playing. It took me a while to read this, though, because some of the ways the kids come to an end is really nightmare fuel - at least, for me.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan
****
Absolutely charming book. Bookstores! Mystery! Codes and keys and puzzles! The voice was also really engaging, and it's a relatively quick read, to boot.
The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
***
Intriguing, demented, disturbing, but I couldn't put it down, even whilst cringing. . . A lot. It's almost a coming-of-age story, too; the protagonist has lots of issues, but there is also a weird internal logic to him. One even empathizes with Frank. Short and creepy.
Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn
**
I like horror books. I like disturbing literature. However, something about this book just left me cold. The characters are so vastly unlikeable that it made this book difficult to finish. It was a bit more interesting at the end, but I already had guessed who the murderer was, so it was not a surprise.
The 120 Days of Sodom, Marquis de Sade
***
Will you judge me if I give this book a good rating? I found it absolutely fascinating. It's disturbing and dark (not to mention highly scatological) but I laughed at the absurdity of some of the stories, which I hope was the point. If you consider this book from a logical standpoint, there are times it falls apart. However, it's a great peek into a twisted mind. I wish he had been able to finish it - truly finish it, not just notes.
The Girl Next Door - Jack Ketchum
****
This book is based on a true story of two sisters who are sent to live with a relative who becomes unhinged and abuses the girls in horrific ways. I believe a movie was made of this story a few years ago called An American Crime, with Ellen Page.
I knew it was going to be brutal, but I don't think I was fully prepared for this. In addition, what I found most disturbing was the "herd mentality" of the boys, who also begin to abuse meg.
This one might keep you up at night.
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
*****
This is not an easy read, something to tuck into your bag on your way to the pool (although, admittedly, I did read large chunks of this on vacation, and some of that was by the pool, but I'm different). It will tax your brain, especially when you try to keep some of the family straight - in keeping with tradition, the generations have the same first names - and there were a few times when I became confused until it was made clear with more details. However, I found that it was beautiful: the language (I'm sure it's even better in its original language, Spanish), the trials and tribulations of the Buendia family which in itself becomes a character in this story. . . There is a lot of magical realism in this book, so if girls who just float off into the sky and other fabulous things defy your inner logic in such a way that you cannot accept it like the good people of Macondo, then perhaps this book is not for you. I remember taking this book out of the library one summer when I was in high school and attempting to read it. I didn't get very far before I gave up and returned it in frustration. I was not ready, obviously. I'm older now, and I hope a bit wiser, and my book club selecting it for September was the final push I needed.
NOS4A2 - Joe Hill
****
I remember Jeff recommended this book on Facebook when amazon had it for $1.99. It sounded interesting, and for such a low price, how could one go wrong?
I finally started it the other day, at the tail end of my vacation, and I have to say, it was pretty great. You have fantasy, horror, suspense, and there's some pretty good writing in there, too.
I didn't know until later that Hill is the son of Stephen King, and the book definitely hearkens back to some of his earlier works, which I devoured growing up.
Total so far this year: 72.