Books 17-21 of 2009
17. Letter to my Daughter by Maya Angelou (166 pgs)
Not really Angelou level advice, really. I felt patronized and ... maybe untidy? Ha!
"Southern themes will range from generous to luscious love to cruel and bitter hate, but no one can ever claim that the South is petty or indifferent."
18. You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem (224 pgs)
Disclaimer: Most people who read this and are fans of Lethem absolutely hated this book, but not me. This short work seemed more like two novels to me - the first half was this charming, quirky story of a band and this woman who works for a Complaint Line that is really more of an art installation than a public service, and the second half is the story of the still unnamed band in Los Angeles as they go through the far-reaching effects of Lucinda meeting one of her callers, as well as the often unsuccessful merging of high concept art with a band.
During the first half, I was constantly reflecting on all the reasons I love Lethem, but he kind of lost me on the second half. I do love the interesting turns the conversations would take, and his analogies are always thought-provoking. The astronaut food people one will probably stick with me for a while. Part of me is still waiting to hear the band.
19. Paris in the Twentieth Century by Jules Verne (222 pgs)
Interesting because of what he got right, but also what he got wrong - personally, I skimmed some of it but would slow down because what really interested me was Michel and his struggle to reconcile interests that weren't common with a cold and measured world.
What I enjoyed the most was the commentary on the periphery about authors and composers that the reader would be familiar with. I laughed that opera still existed when all other forms of art had become obsolete.
20. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (291 pgs)
Reread for a bookclub that I'm in, and still a deeply felt story of identity and family.
21. Greybeard by Brian W. Aldiss (245 pgs)
Post-disaster, humanity is just one of the many species dying out on the planet. It is interesting to see the tribes and superstitions that develop. This book should be read with its context in mind. I'm just trying to wade through as many post-apocalyptic books as I can.
Not really Angelou level advice, really. I felt patronized and ... maybe untidy? Ha!
"Southern themes will range from generous to luscious love to cruel and bitter hate, but no one can ever claim that the South is petty or indifferent."
18. You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem (224 pgs)
Disclaimer: Most people who read this and are fans of Lethem absolutely hated this book, but not me. This short work seemed more like two novels to me - the first half was this charming, quirky story of a band and this woman who works for a Complaint Line that is really more of an art installation than a public service, and the second half is the story of the still unnamed band in Los Angeles as they go through the far-reaching effects of Lucinda meeting one of her callers, as well as the often unsuccessful merging of high concept art with a band.
During the first half, I was constantly reflecting on all the reasons I love Lethem, but he kind of lost me on the second half. I do love the interesting turns the conversations would take, and his analogies are always thought-provoking. The astronaut food people one will probably stick with me for a while. Part of me is still waiting to hear the band.
19. Paris in the Twentieth Century by Jules Verne (222 pgs)
Interesting because of what he got right, but also what he got wrong - personally, I skimmed some of it but would slow down because what really interested me was Michel and his struggle to reconcile interests that weren't common with a cold and measured world.
What I enjoyed the most was the commentary on the periphery about authors and composers that the reader would be familiar with. I laughed that opera still existed when all other forms of art had become obsolete.
20. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (291 pgs)
Reread for a bookclub that I'm in, and still a deeply felt story of identity and family.
21. Greybeard by Brian W. Aldiss (245 pgs)
Post-disaster, humanity is just one of the many species dying out on the planet. It is interesting to see the tribes and superstitions that develop. This book should be read with its context in mind. I'm just trying to wade through as many post-apocalyptic books as I can.