Books 44-48 of 2009
44. The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett (357 pgs)
I was hoping this would be more along the good writing of Bel Canto, but to be honest I was pretty bored with most of this book. I loved the dream sequences where Sabine's dead gay magician husband's boyfriend took her different places to help her with her grieving, and didn't find what was happening in her actual life nearly as interesting. Grief is a funny thing. So is a life composed of lies. And maybe that is the point. (And I want to live in Nebraska even less).
45. Dune by Frank Herbert (528 pgs)
I read this for the Sword and Laser Book Club. A classic I had never read, but it can be read on so many layers - ecology, religion, government, leadership philosophy, or just as a story with a deeply entrenched mythology of its own.
It's the spice!
46. The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross (624 pgs)
This is hands down the best book I have read about music. Alex Ross writes about composers, their relationship with each other, and how they survive the culture swirling around them, in a way that really captured me, and I work with music for a living. It took me a long time to read because I felt obligated to listen to all the pieces he referenced.
Worth reading no matter how familiar you are with classical music. It is practically a history of the 20th century shown through the music of its classical composers.
47. The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens (223 pgs)
This was an interesting story about a man struggling with mental issues and his family, a Jewish family not quite integrated into American culture. The father speaks with a Yoda-like speech pattern and feels guilty about everything, and there are a lot of conflicts between tradition and trying to make people happy.
Next time I see a silverfish, I might start to worry.
48. Atonement by Ian McEwan (351 pgs)
I read this for a work-related book club. Sigh... I was interested in the story during the first part of the book, but I have yet to find an author who can keep my attention by shifting the story toward war narratives - strategy, injuries, hospitals - I just don't care. The story never picked back up after that. I have to admit to a fair amount of skimming.
It was interesting to read McEwan's attempts at capturing the thoughts of younger characters, and I particularly liked Briony and her deep thoughts.
I was hoping this would be more along the good writing of Bel Canto, but to be honest I was pretty bored with most of this book. I loved the dream sequences where Sabine's dead gay magician husband's boyfriend took her different places to help her with her grieving, and didn't find what was happening in her actual life nearly as interesting. Grief is a funny thing. So is a life composed of lies. And maybe that is the point. (And I want to live in Nebraska even less).
45. Dune by Frank Herbert (528 pgs)
I read this for the Sword and Laser Book Club. A classic I had never read, but it can be read on so many layers - ecology, religion, government, leadership philosophy, or just as a story with a deeply entrenched mythology of its own.
It's the spice!
46. The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross (624 pgs)
This is hands down the best book I have read about music. Alex Ross writes about composers, their relationship with each other, and how they survive the culture swirling around them, in a way that really captured me, and I work with music for a living. It took me a long time to read because I felt obligated to listen to all the pieces he referenced.
Worth reading no matter how familiar you are with classical music. It is practically a history of the 20th century shown through the music of its classical composers.
47. The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens (223 pgs)
This was an interesting story about a man struggling with mental issues and his family, a Jewish family not quite integrated into American culture. The father speaks with a Yoda-like speech pattern and feels guilty about everything, and there are a lot of conflicts between tradition and trying to make people happy.
Next time I see a silverfish, I might start to worry.
48. Atonement by Ian McEwan (351 pgs)
I read this for a work-related book club. Sigh... I was interested in the story during the first part of the book, but I have yet to find an author who can keep my attention by shifting the story toward war narratives - strategy, injuries, hospitals - I just don't care. The story never picked back up after that. I have to admit to a fair amount of skimming.
It was interesting to read McEwan's attempts at capturing the thoughts of younger characters, and I particularly liked Briony and her deep thoughts.