(no subject)
1. One book that changed your life. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. This one seems so obvious to so many people (including the New York Times Bestseller list and every high school English teacher ever). Taking all of its praise and accolades into account, it is so much more to me. I first read this book about 5 years ago when I was at a crux in my pubescence. I was really coming to learn all about who I was and what I was becoming. My first two years of high school were in the background. Always doing well but not being known all that well either. I had a handful of friends, yet none I could trust or relate to in any way. Sure they were nice and they gave me someone to sit with at lunch, but it was lonely. By the time junior year rolled around, I had fallen in and out of love and was no longer willing to take shit. Katie "the smart girl who is sort of strange" changed into Katie "the bitch who will tear you apart for being cruel or conformist". It was a shock to my friends. I had always been the nodder at lunch. I listened but didn't really care. It was time to ruin the fucking lunch party and speak up. Actions have consequences and I ended up sitting alone at lunch. I was happier for the most part but felt very alone and very different. Until I read Catch-22. The moment Yossarian began narrating, I was hooked. Here was someone who also had enough of the system and went a little crazy- who wouldn't in high school or war? High school was war for me. I too was sick of the hypocrisy, the lies, the republican neo-puritanism, the stupid giggles, the "good students" who were cheaters and completely full of shit and the system. Yossarian has been my personal hero ever since- including when I decided to go to a psychologist for the first time (he does get help from the chaplain after all). Because of this book, I was more outspoken and I came into myself and ending up having a pretty good senior year. If I weren't terrified of needles, I would get a tattoo of "presque vu, jamais vu, deja vu". You all know what I mean.
2. One book you have read more than once. Holly totally stole the first answer that came to my mind. See my first answer here: studiesinsecret. She explains it perfectly. We went through that book around the same time too. Now, I give you Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin. This book is orgasmic literature on every level. Not only is Atwood able to intertwine two COMPLETELY different yet eerily similar stories in one novel, she does it so well that one soon forgets which story is which. This book addresses every human flaw of character and every bete noir I have ever possessed. I'll admit that I read this book for the first time in one sitting and actually skipped class to finish it. My eyes were sore but I had never felt better. Atwood deals beautifully with class, wealth, sexuality, lust, practicality, death, jealously, rebellions and every other emotion one has ever gone through without flaw. By the end of the book, I had convinced myself into believing so many different lies or truths or manipulations that although I fully expected the author's identity, I was completely shocked by its revelation at the same time. On this note: I have also read The Handmaid's Tale as many times and will continue to do so every time I begin to let my guard down considering gender and politics. Holly and I actually had a fabulous time with THT in high school when about 4 gas stations in a row wouldn't give us gas on a Sunday. We were convinced it was because we had 'F' marked on our credit cards.
3. One book you would want on a desert island. Mythology by Edith Hamilton. I'm such a nerd for mythology. Seriously. In my dreams, I am often Athena or Persephone. It's an unhealthy obsession that grows with every new story I read. Still, Hamilton's work is the ultimate source on Greek/Roman and a bit of Norse mythology. Plus, it has a variety of stories- they are myths after all- so I'd never grow bored. Plus, a lot of information about the sun, moon and earth cycles is given, which would be helpful on an island. If I were really practical, I would bring something like Barron's book of quotes to use as kinder.
4. One book that made you laugh Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. I laughed to the point of tears when first reading this book (and again the second time). Although it deals with heavy topics such as death, loneliness and desperation, it does it in a unique and slightly disturbing matter. From Alex's exaggerated English to the Town's written history, its satirical seriousness killed me. There's a really great section that discusses a couple's 20 or so divorces and their constantly developing vows. I died. Not to mention the discussions of why Jews are blessed and infinitely superior. Second place goes to David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty one Day because it is the best memoir ever written and fuck buckets are just fucking great.
5. One book that made you cry. This one's hard to admit but the last book to really make me cry was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I tend to go for the highly acclaimed, critically praised books because I'm a huge elitist snob. The plot of this book intrigued me though because I have a huge fascination with the paradox that is time travel. Anyway, I went in expecting a full on science fiction thriller and ended up finding this heartbreaking love story about a man who's technically known his wife since she was small, when he visited her in her past while they were dating. It's complicated and handles the time travel paradox quite beautifully. For his wife to know her future in many ways by the age of 10 and yet be so expecting and understanding at the same time was so powerful. I cried like a baby at the end. Scott actually had to console me.
6. One book you wish had been written. I really wish Sylvia Plath had written another novel. The Bell Jar is such an epic journey into depression that I always long for more. Sylvia Plath books, not depression.
7. One book you wish had never been written. The Davinci Code by Dan Brown. Now, wait. Before you start attacking me for hating a book that has inspired so many to read, let me explain. This book has only led people to pick up Dan Brown novels and then walk around talking about their favorite pastime or hobby being reading when they've only read TDC, Angels and Demons or Digital Fortress. It's bullshit. Not only that. There are multitudes of books I could recommend concerning the Templars that are much more accurate. The book barely touches on the subject and tries to impress us with its cryptological skills (the code is Apple, as in Newton!) I want to perform harakiri just thinking about it. There are even ILLUSTRATED guides to this book now, which simply undermine the reader even more. It has tainted literature and ancient Catholic history in my opinion. The only good thing to come from it is that more now realize how women-hating the Catholics can really be. I'm getting off my soapbox now.
8. One book you are currently reading. I just started Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close thanks to Holly's recommendation. As of now, it's all good. Just finished The Penelopiad by my all-time favorite, Margaret Atwood. She attacks Homer's Epics with a very poetic and strongly female voice. I loved it.
9. One book you have been meaning to read The Poisonwood Bible I've only read the chapter with all of the palindromes, thanks to my book soul mate. Anyway, I've heard it's an amazing read, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
10. I don't have enough friends to tag. I'm doing this for HLF.
2. One book you have read more than once. Holly totally stole the first answer that came to my mind. See my first answer here: studiesinsecret. She explains it perfectly. We went through that book around the same time too. Now, I give you Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin. This book is orgasmic literature on every level. Not only is Atwood able to intertwine two COMPLETELY different yet eerily similar stories in one novel, she does it so well that one soon forgets which story is which. This book addresses every human flaw of character and every bete noir I have ever possessed. I'll admit that I read this book for the first time in one sitting and actually skipped class to finish it. My eyes were sore but I had never felt better. Atwood deals beautifully with class, wealth, sexuality, lust, practicality, death, jealously, rebellions and every other emotion one has ever gone through without flaw. By the end of the book, I had convinced myself into believing so many different lies or truths or manipulations that although I fully expected the author's identity, I was completely shocked by its revelation at the same time. On this note: I have also read The Handmaid's Tale as many times and will continue to do so every time I begin to let my guard down considering gender and politics. Holly and I actually had a fabulous time with THT in high school when about 4 gas stations in a row wouldn't give us gas on a Sunday. We were convinced it was because we had 'F' marked on our credit cards.
3. One book you would want on a desert island. Mythology by Edith Hamilton. I'm such a nerd for mythology. Seriously. In my dreams, I am often Athena or Persephone. It's an unhealthy obsession that grows with every new story I read. Still, Hamilton's work is the ultimate source on Greek/Roman and a bit of Norse mythology. Plus, it has a variety of stories- they are myths after all- so I'd never grow bored. Plus, a lot of information about the sun, moon and earth cycles is given, which would be helpful on an island. If I were really practical, I would bring something like Barron's book of quotes to use as kinder.
4. One book that made you laugh Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. I laughed to the point of tears when first reading this book (and again the second time). Although it deals with heavy topics such as death, loneliness and desperation, it does it in a unique and slightly disturbing matter. From Alex's exaggerated English to the Town's written history, its satirical seriousness killed me. There's a really great section that discusses a couple's 20 or so divorces and their constantly developing vows. I died. Not to mention the discussions of why Jews are blessed and infinitely superior. Second place goes to David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty one Day because it is the best memoir ever written and fuck buckets are just fucking great.
5. One book that made you cry. This one's hard to admit but the last book to really make me cry was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I tend to go for the highly acclaimed, critically praised books because I'm a huge elitist snob. The plot of this book intrigued me though because I have a huge fascination with the paradox that is time travel. Anyway, I went in expecting a full on science fiction thriller and ended up finding this heartbreaking love story about a man who's technically known his wife since she was small, when he visited her in her past while they were dating. It's complicated and handles the time travel paradox quite beautifully. For his wife to know her future in many ways by the age of 10 and yet be so expecting and understanding at the same time was so powerful. I cried like a baby at the end. Scott actually had to console me.
6. One book you wish had been written. I really wish Sylvia Plath had written another novel. The Bell Jar is such an epic journey into depression that I always long for more. Sylvia Plath books, not depression.
7. One book you wish had never been written. The Davinci Code by Dan Brown. Now, wait. Before you start attacking me for hating a book that has inspired so many to read, let me explain. This book has only led people to pick up Dan Brown novels and then walk around talking about their favorite pastime or hobby being reading when they've only read TDC, Angels and Demons or Digital Fortress. It's bullshit. Not only that. There are multitudes of books I could recommend concerning the Templars that are much more accurate. The book barely touches on the subject and tries to impress us with its cryptological skills (the code is Apple, as in Newton!) I want to perform harakiri just thinking about it. There are even ILLUSTRATED guides to this book now, which simply undermine the reader even more. It has tainted literature and ancient Catholic history in my opinion. The only good thing to come from it is that more now realize how women-hating the Catholics can really be. I'm getting off my soapbox now.
8. One book you are currently reading. I just started Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close thanks to Holly's recommendation. As of now, it's all good. Just finished The Penelopiad by my all-time favorite, Margaret Atwood. She attacks Homer's Epics with a very poetic and strongly female voice. I loved it.
9. One book you have been meaning to read The Poisonwood Bible I've only read the chapter with all of the palindromes, thanks to my book soul mate. Anyway, I've heard it's an amazing read, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
10. I don't have enough friends to tag. I'm doing this for HLF.