Books, Books, Always My Friends, Often Free.
Here are my brief reviews of the books I've read since coming to Seattle. My tastes currently run towards science fiction, Japanese writers / books about Japan, fantasy, and kick-ass women. If you want me to expound upon any review, just ask.
While I'm on the subject... isn't this the coolest library ever? Looks like the mothership just beamed down, laden with books.
Title: The Fox Woman
Author: Kij Johnson
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
Review: Wow, now I see why so many people have written glowing reviews of this story. It's set in Heian-era Japan, and the format is alternating journal entries, one written by the fox character, one by the nobleman, and one by the wife. The lyrical poetry of the story is gorgeous, and it's obvious that the author put in a lot of loving care into her research in order to make the setting feel authentic. The author explores her characters with a depth that I always appreciate, while keeping the pacing and plot driving relentlessly forward.
If you're interested in ancient Japan and the beliefs and values of that time, I definitely recommend this book. (However, if the frank portrayal of sex bothers you, including male-male relationships, you might want to give this one a pass).
Title: Tongues of Serpents (Book 6 of the Temeraire Series)
Author: Naomi Novik
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Novik's continued exploration of her Napoleanic-era universe continues with Australia in this book. Since Laurence and Temeraire have been exiled to this penal colony for their "treasonous" ways, we have a truncated cast -- but Laurence and Temeraire both get a lot of screen time, so I was happy.
However, the book seemed to drag somewhat, since it's basically "Australia's GONNA GET YOU!!", an often joyless survival story that drags through the desert. The pacing and plot didn't quite pop like previous books, except for the last third, IMHO.
Also, it was too short. I still love Novik (she signed this book for me at University Books!) and the characters; I just hope the next installment is a little more... peppy?
Title: Hokkaido Highway Blues: Hitching Japan
Author: Will Ferguson
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Now this book really interested me, since like the author, I've also lived in Japan as a foreign English teacher. I recognized a lot of the attitudes and types of people that Mr. Ferguson encountered, although I'd have to say his Japanese must be much better than mine, judging from the level of the conversations he has!
The book's an interesting read because of his philosophical bent and impish desire to provoke or prod the drivers who pick him up. Sometimes the conversations left me flabbergasted, sometimes amused, and a few times a bit misty-eyed (in particular, those elderly Japanese who were in the war). Ferguson can be rough on the people he encounters, but he's also rough on himself, not hesitating to reveal his own flaws and biases (in particular, his habit of trying to hit on any cute Japanese woman would be annoying if not for the way he's mocking himself constantly).
Unfortunately, the book ends rather abruptly, on a desolate note, but I can see why the author made that artistic decision, while wishing for a better resolution.
Title: Coin Locker Babies
Author: Ryu Murakami
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Well, of course I had to check out this book, since I recognized the title from Miyavi's eponymous song. This book is set in a dystopian Japan in the not-too-distant future, one where unwanted babies are discarded in coin lockers at train stations. Two such babies end up being adopted as brothers, but they're rather messed up psychologically, as you might expect... Murakami's storytelling is seductively hypnotic, unceasingly violent, and extremely imaginative.
However, I kept reading out of a curiosity to see what would happen, rather than an actual investment in any of the characters. Perhaps it was the unending violence that prevented me from bonding with any of the characters? Still, a great read.
Title: Real World
Author: Kirino Natsuo
Rating: 4
Review: I've made it a point to explore more Japanese authors lately, especially since many of the translated authors seem to explore sociology and science fiction, subjects which interest me.
"Real World" falls into the "sociology" grouping since it follows a group of four Japanese high school girls and their entanglement with a boy who's killed his mother. It's a disturbing read, but one that captures that unique brand of alienation that can afflict Japanese youth. I didn't find myself "rooting" for any of the characters, though, but I don't think that's the author's aim anyway...
Title: The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter & Sweet
Author: Jamie Ford
Rating: 2 stars
Review: I mentioned in a previous review that I'm wary of books that receive copious accolades. This book would be a prime example of why: it's mediocre at best. However, I can see why people in the Pacific Northwest in particular would latch onto it: it's about the friendship and romance between a young Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl during the years of the Japanese American internment. The internment is a subject that needs more exploration and understanding, but this book handles the storytelling in a cloying, clumsy way. For example, the main character's best friend just happens to be a wise African American street musician (not that jazz players aren't awesome, but the use just felt contrived for maximum sappiness points, not natural at all).
Basically, I felt like I was reading the plot for a Hallmark movie. Or the Travel Channel, with all the numerous references to real / historical places.
Title: The Body Artist
Author: Don DeLilo
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I have to say that I think "White Noise" was superior, although I haven't read "White Noise" since college. This book is still... well, classic DeLilo, though. By that, I mean it left me feeling vaguely dissatisfied, while impressed with just how distinctive a writer DeLilo is.
Title: The Life of Pi
Author: Yann Martel
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This is one of those books I was a little leery of, since it made the NYT Bestseller list and received a lot of acclaim. (I've had some bad luck with those kinds of books, since my tastes are not necessarily in line with the mainstream ones). However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot: a philosophical Indian boy, the son of a zookeeper, is stuck on a lifeboat with only the company of an orangutan, a hyena, and a tiger named Richard. After a few days, it's just Pi and the tiger left, and Pi must rely on his wits to convince Richard not to devour him.
The book left quite an impression on my mind, especially since I've always liked "survival" stories like Robinson Crusoe or The Lord of the Flies. But as imaginative as the author is, there's a lot of meaty substance to ponder as well because the narrator is a very deep thinker.
Title: Blood Cross (Book 2 of the Jane Yellowrock Series)
Author: Faith Hunter
Rating: 5 stars
Review: The sequel to Skinwalker doesn't disappoint. Jane remains kickass; several villains/characters from the first book reappear, which means the plot adds levels of complexity and intrigue. One aspect of the books that I enjoy is that Jane is often stuck between a rock and a hard place when she's having to make decisions -- like real life -- and she has to deal with the fallout from those decisions. No fairy godmother here. Also, her relationships with male characters don't detract from her portrayal, but rather enhance it (always a plus in my book). Finally, this series definitely passes "The Bechdel Test" with flying colors (if you don't know what that test is, I recommend Googling it).
Seems the next book will also be set in New Orleans.
Title: Skinwalker (Book 1 of the Jane Yellowrock Series)
Author: Faith Hunter
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Now *this* is the sort of urban fantasy heroine I dig. Jane Yellowrock is tough, self-sufficient, with a bit of wry humor tossed in. She reminds me a lot of Patricia Briggs' Mercy character, but definitely unique. It's really nice to see a Cherokee main character as well -- toss in a well-done New Orleans setting, and I'm hooked.
Title: Storm Born
Author: Richelle Mead
Rating: 3 stars
Review: Eh, not bad for urban fantasy, I suppose... but the heroine was a little too dependent on the male characters. Her relationships with them defined her more than her own character, IMO. I'm not going to bother with the other books in this series, even though I like kitsune (there's a kitsune character in the book).
Title: Morris Berman
Author: The Twilight of the American Culture
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Extremely cogent argument: even though this book was published about a decade back, the author's ideas are quite compelling.
Title: The Temple of the Golden Pavillion
Author: Yukio Mishima
Rating: 4 stars
Review: A classic Japanese work of art. Interesting but a bit confusing at times due to the philosophical turns.
Title: Fudoki
Author: Kij Johnson
Rating: 5 stars
Review:(Ah, this is probably the last book I'll finish for the Summer Reading program. Well, 17 isn't too shabby a number).
I really enjoyed the first book of this series ("The Fox Woman") so I had to read this one also. ("Fudoki" has some recurring characters from "The Fox Woman," so please read them in order). Johnson's style is lyrical and well-suited for the subject matter of Heian-era Japan, and as in the first, there are many insightful observations and ideas. The characters are strong and unique, and touching in their imperfections.
The frame of the plot is "a story within a story," narrated by a dying, elderly princess who claims she is just making up a story (her final act on earth) about a female cat who is turned into a human warrior by the gods, but of course reality is not quite so simple. Both the princess and the cat are compelling characters, and I'm always glad to read books with deep female leads.
Title: Bloodchild and Other Stories
Author: Octavia E. Butler
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Ms. Butler is definitely one of my favorite science fiction writers. Her writing is powerful, and her unique background (African-American, feminist, social philosopher) always lends such a unique slant to her writing. For example, the title story of this short-story collection revolves around male-impregnation (the humans are refugee colonists on a world where sentient bug-like aliens use them as incubators for their eggs in exchange for land). Fascinated? Then you should check Butler out. Horrified? Maybe you should read anyway, haha.
All of Butler's stories are the result of her thought-experiments into the human psyche, and how we communicate, and relate to each other through the veils of gender, race, disability, age, and class. Sounds heady, but the characters are always intriguing, and the plots are original.
Title: Lost Japan
Author: Alex Kerr
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This was a book that I definitely had mixed feelings about, since I have lived in Japan and I have grown to dislike Westerners who always moan about Japan's problems and what needs to be fixed. (Yes, Japan certainly has its share of problems, and an outsider can provide fresh insight into those problems, but it's rather arrogant for Westerners to think they have all these magic solutions for a culture that is very different from their own).
That said, I'm giving this book 5 stars because Mr. Kerr is actually quite insightful. He has lived in Japan for decades, immersed himself in various aspects of Japanese culture, befriended many artists, restored several old homes, and has a genuine love for the traditional way of life. This love is apparently what prompted him to write this book; he wants people to realize the beauty of the environment and the old arts before they disappear completely (the book was originally published in Japanese).
A few of my objections were erased by the very last chapter, in which Mr. Kerr states that he does think a sort of artistic revival is taking place, and he ends on a hopeful note. (This book was published quite some time ago, so some of Mr. Kerr's statements are no longer true -- for example, Tokyo is indeed a fashion capital now rather than a stagnant scene, and Japanese culture has made inroads worldwide via the mediums of anime and manga).
A definite must-read for those seriously interested in Japanese culture.
Title: Silver Phoenix
Author: Cindy Pon
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Wonderful YA book for those interested in Chinese culture, fantasy, and strong female heroines. The story follows the adventures of Ai Ling, a teen who flees her hometown to avoid an unwanted suitor and to rescue her father. Along the way she has to learn how to deal with her emerging power, her romantic feelings, and her ethics.
I liked the author's imagination and use of Chinese culture in a fantasy setting (esp. the descriptions of food, which made me hungry). It was also quite nice to see a fleshed-out female lead who is neither weak nor 100% badass, but realistic. However, I think that the character's inner thought life could have been developed a bit more... it seemed to me that there was room for more nuance. (But I don't read YA often, so perhaps I'm being harsh).
Warning: this is definitely for older teens (or mature ones) since there are several instances of attempted rape, violence, and rather gruesome mythological baddies.
END OF REVIEWS, yo.
While I'm on the subject... isn't this the coolest library ever? Looks like the mothership just beamed down, laden with books.
Title: The Fox Woman
Author: Kij Johnson
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
Review: Wow, now I see why so many people have written glowing reviews of this story. It's set in Heian-era Japan, and the format is alternating journal entries, one written by the fox character, one by the nobleman, and one by the wife. The lyrical poetry of the story is gorgeous, and it's obvious that the author put in a lot of loving care into her research in order to make the setting feel authentic. The author explores her characters with a depth that I always appreciate, while keeping the pacing and plot driving relentlessly forward.
If you're interested in ancient Japan and the beliefs and values of that time, I definitely recommend this book. (However, if the frank portrayal of sex bothers you, including male-male relationships, you might want to give this one a pass).
Title: Tongues of Serpents (Book 6 of the Temeraire Series)
Author: Naomi Novik
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Novik's continued exploration of her Napoleanic-era universe continues with Australia in this book. Since Laurence and Temeraire have been exiled to this penal colony for their "treasonous" ways, we have a truncated cast -- but Laurence and Temeraire both get a lot of screen time, so I was happy.
However, the book seemed to drag somewhat, since it's basically "Australia's GONNA GET YOU!!", an often joyless survival story that drags through the desert. The pacing and plot didn't quite pop like previous books, except for the last third, IMHO.
Also, it was too short. I still love Novik (she signed this book for me at University Books!) and the characters; I just hope the next installment is a little more... peppy?
Title: Hokkaido Highway Blues: Hitching Japan
Author: Will Ferguson
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Now this book really interested me, since like the author, I've also lived in Japan as a foreign English teacher. I recognized a lot of the attitudes and types of people that Mr. Ferguson encountered, although I'd have to say his Japanese must be much better than mine, judging from the level of the conversations he has!
The book's an interesting read because of his philosophical bent and impish desire to provoke or prod the drivers who pick him up. Sometimes the conversations left me flabbergasted, sometimes amused, and a few times a bit misty-eyed (in particular, those elderly Japanese who were in the war). Ferguson can be rough on the people he encounters, but he's also rough on himself, not hesitating to reveal his own flaws and biases (in particular, his habit of trying to hit on any cute Japanese woman would be annoying if not for the way he's mocking himself constantly).
Unfortunately, the book ends rather abruptly, on a desolate note, but I can see why the author made that artistic decision, while wishing for a better resolution.
Title: Coin Locker Babies
Author: Ryu Murakami
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Well, of course I had to check out this book, since I recognized the title from Miyavi's eponymous song. This book is set in a dystopian Japan in the not-too-distant future, one where unwanted babies are discarded in coin lockers at train stations. Two such babies end up being adopted as brothers, but they're rather messed up psychologically, as you might expect... Murakami's storytelling is seductively hypnotic, unceasingly violent, and extremely imaginative.
However, I kept reading out of a curiosity to see what would happen, rather than an actual investment in any of the characters. Perhaps it was the unending violence that prevented me from bonding with any of the characters? Still, a great read.
Title: Real World
Author: Kirino Natsuo
Rating: 4
Review: I've made it a point to explore more Japanese authors lately, especially since many of the translated authors seem to explore sociology and science fiction, subjects which interest me.
"Real World" falls into the "sociology" grouping since it follows a group of four Japanese high school girls and their entanglement with a boy who's killed his mother. It's a disturbing read, but one that captures that unique brand of alienation that can afflict Japanese youth. I didn't find myself "rooting" for any of the characters, though, but I don't think that's the author's aim anyway...
Title: The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter & Sweet
Author: Jamie Ford
Rating: 2 stars
Review: I mentioned in a previous review that I'm wary of books that receive copious accolades. This book would be a prime example of why: it's mediocre at best. However, I can see why people in the Pacific Northwest in particular would latch onto it: it's about the friendship and romance between a young Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl during the years of the Japanese American internment. The internment is a subject that needs more exploration and understanding, but this book handles the storytelling in a cloying, clumsy way. For example, the main character's best friend just happens to be a wise African American street musician (not that jazz players aren't awesome, but the use just felt contrived for maximum sappiness points, not natural at all).
Basically, I felt like I was reading the plot for a Hallmark movie. Or the Travel Channel, with all the numerous references to real / historical places.
Title: The Body Artist
Author: Don DeLilo
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I have to say that I think "White Noise" was superior, although I haven't read "White Noise" since college. This book is still... well, classic DeLilo, though. By that, I mean it left me feeling vaguely dissatisfied, while impressed with just how distinctive a writer DeLilo is.
Title: The Life of Pi
Author: Yann Martel
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This is one of those books I was a little leery of, since it made the NYT Bestseller list and received a lot of acclaim. (I've had some bad luck with those kinds of books, since my tastes are not necessarily in line with the mainstream ones). However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot: a philosophical Indian boy, the son of a zookeeper, is stuck on a lifeboat with only the company of an orangutan, a hyena, and a tiger named Richard. After a few days, it's just Pi and the tiger left, and Pi must rely on his wits to convince Richard not to devour him.
The book left quite an impression on my mind, especially since I've always liked "survival" stories like Robinson Crusoe or The Lord of the Flies. But as imaginative as the author is, there's a lot of meaty substance to ponder as well because the narrator is a very deep thinker.
Title: Blood Cross (Book 2 of the Jane Yellowrock Series)
Author: Faith Hunter
Rating: 5 stars
Review: The sequel to Skinwalker doesn't disappoint. Jane remains kickass; several villains/characters from the first book reappear, which means the plot adds levels of complexity and intrigue. One aspect of the books that I enjoy is that Jane is often stuck between a rock and a hard place when she's having to make decisions -- like real life -- and she has to deal with the fallout from those decisions. No fairy godmother here. Also, her relationships with male characters don't detract from her portrayal, but rather enhance it (always a plus in my book). Finally, this series definitely passes "The Bechdel Test" with flying colors (if you don't know what that test is, I recommend Googling it).
Seems the next book will also be set in New Orleans.
Title: Skinwalker (Book 1 of the Jane Yellowrock Series)
Author: Faith Hunter
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Now *this* is the sort of urban fantasy heroine I dig. Jane Yellowrock is tough, self-sufficient, with a bit of wry humor tossed in. She reminds me a lot of Patricia Briggs' Mercy character, but definitely unique. It's really nice to see a Cherokee main character as well -- toss in a well-done New Orleans setting, and I'm hooked.
Title: Storm Born
Author: Richelle Mead
Rating: 3 stars
Review: Eh, not bad for urban fantasy, I suppose... but the heroine was a little too dependent on the male characters. Her relationships with them defined her more than her own character, IMO. I'm not going to bother with the other books in this series, even though I like kitsune (there's a kitsune character in the book).
Title: Morris Berman
Author: The Twilight of the American Culture
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Extremely cogent argument: even though this book was published about a decade back, the author's ideas are quite compelling.
Title: The Temple of the Golden Pavillion
Author: Yukio Mishima
Rating: 4 stars
Review: A classic Japanese work of art. Interesting but a bit confusing at times due to the philosophical turns.
Title: Fudoki
Author: Kij Johnson
Rating: 5 stars
Review:(Ah, this is probably the last book I'll finish for the Summer Reading program. Well, 17 isn't too shabby a number).
I really enjoyed the first book of this series ("The Fox Woman") so I had to read this one also. ("Fudoki" has some recurring characters from "The Fox Woman," so please read them in order). Johnson's style is lyrical and well-suited for the subject matter of Heian-era Japan, and as in the first, there are many insightful observations and ideas. The characters are strong and unique, and touching in their imperfections.
The frame of the plot is "a story within a story," narrated by a dying, elderly princess who claims she is just making up a story (her final act on earth) about a female cat who is turned into a human warrior by the gods, but of course reality is not quite so simple. Both the princess and the cat are compelling characters, and I'm always glad to read books with deep female leads.
Title: Bloodchild and Other Stories
Author: Octavia E. Butler
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Ms. Butler is definitely one of my favorite science fiction writers. Her writing is powerful, and her unique background (African-American, feminist, social philosopher) always lends such a unique slant to her writing. For example, the title story of this short-story collection revolves around male-impregnation (the humans are refugee colonists on a world where sentient bug-like aliens use them as incubators for their eggs in exchange for land). Fascinated? Then you should check Butler out. Horrified? Maybe you should read anyway, haha.
All of Butler's stories are the result of her thought-experiments into the human psyche, and how we communicate, and relate to each other through the veils of gender, race, disability, age, and class. Sounds heady, but the characters are always intriguing, and the plots are original.
Title: Lost Japan
Author: Alex Kerr
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This was a book that I definitely had mixed feelings about, since I have lived in Japan and I have grown to dislike Westerners who always moan about Japan's problems and what needs to be fixed. (Yes, Japan certainly has its share of problems, and an outsider can provide fresh insight into those problems, but it's rather arrogant for Westerners to think they have all these magic solutions for a culture that is very different from their own).
That said, I'm giving this book 5 stars because Mr. Kerr is actually quite insightful. He has lived in Japan for decades, immersed himself in various aspects of Japanese culture, befriended many artists, restored several old homes, and has a genuine love for the traditional way of life. This love is apparently what prompted him to write this book; he wants people to realize the beauty of the environment and the old arts before they disappear completely (the book was originally published in Japanese).
A few of my objections were erased by the very last chapter, in which Mr. Kerr states that he does think a sort of artistic revival is taking place, and he ends on a hopeful note. (This book was published quite some time ago, so some of Mr. Kerr's statements are no longer true -- for example, Tokyo is indeed a fashion capital now rather than a stagnant scene, and Japanese culture has made inroads worldwide via the mediums of anime and manga).
A definite must-read for those seriously interested in Japanese culture.
Title: Silver Phoenix
Author: Cindy Pon
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Wonderful YA book for those interested in Chinese culture, fantasy, and strong female heroines. The story follows the adventures of Ai Ling, a teen who flees her hometown to avoid an unwanted suitor and to rescue her father. Along the way she has to learn how to deal with her emerging power, her romantic feelings, and her ethics.
I liked the author's imagination and use of Chinese culture in a fantasy setting (esp. the descriptions of food, which made me hungry). It was also quite nice to see a fleshed-out female lead who is neither weak nor 100% badass, but realistic. However, I think that the character's inner thought life could have been developed a bit more... it seemed to me that there was room for more nuance. (But I don't read YA often, so perhaps I'm being harsh).
Warning: this is definitely for older teens (or mature ones) since there are several instances of attempted rape, violence, and rather gruesome mythological baddies.
END OF REVIEWS, yo.