Books 58-63 of 2009
58. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (audiobook)
I had this in the car on our way to the Kennedy Space Center, which was perfect timing. It was well written, enough to make me finish this book on the origins of the universe, science, math, physics, and whatever else makes up the world around us. Never too detailed, but at enough depth that I didn't feel like I was reading a children's book. I liked the little anecdotes (like someone liking Darwin's nose) that never make it into the science books.
59. The Whole World Over by Julia Glass (512 pgs)
After I read Three Junes, I was really looking forward to another book by Glass. I have to admit I'm disappointed. The story was okay, but it just lacked the connection and magic of Three Junes. Two reasons - the characters change their minds for nonsensical reasons, leaving them all feeling fake instead of genuine. And throwing in 9/11 as the catalyst was just not very believable. I liked it more when there wasn't anything specifically life-altering, just people living normal lives. Upping the ante didn't work for her writing style, I'm sad to say.
60. Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami (210 pgs)
I loved this book, from the way it was written, jumping between characters, giving us just a glimpse of each of the three lives, to how it comments on loneliness and unrequited love and identity, and adding a mystery set in Greece at the end. I'm still thinking about the various pieces and characters involved, and I would love to read more by Murakami.
"So that's how we live our lives. No matter how deep and fatal the loss, no matter how important the thing that's stolen from us - that's snatched right out of our hands - even if we are left completely changed people with only the outer layer of skin from before, we continue to play out our lives this way, in silence. We draw ever nearer to our allotted span of time, bidding it farewell as it trails off behind. Repeating, often adroitly, the endless deeds of the everyday. Leaving behind a feeling of immeasurable emptiness."
61. The Sandman, v. 7 - Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman (240 pgs)
Beautifully balanced and written, my favorite so far, and I know I keep saying that. The entire thing chronicles Dream and Delirious' journey to find their estranged brother Destruction, along with backstory and the bigger picture of whether the Endless even matter.
"I like airplanes. I like anywhere that isn't a proper place. I like in-betweens."
62. The Sandman, v. 8 - Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman (162 pgs)
A bunch of travelers at the Inn of the Worlds End. Gaiman is the best at exploring little threads of stories and worlds, and its best if you just give yourself over to it. Destruction made a short appearance, but my favorite story was the one about the city dreaming, ugh so great.
63. Number9Dream by David Mitchell (400 pgs)
While I'm not sure I like this as much as Ghostwritten, I really enjoy reading David Mitchell. number9dream is a crazy ride through dreams and events that may or may not be happening, all surrounding the 20 year old Eiji Miyake as he looks for his father in Tokyo.
This had moments that made me laugh, particularly one where Eiji has witnessed something horrendous but then it is possibly having to do karaoke that puts him over the edge. It is all these little things that make Mitchell such a pleasure to read. There are also little ties to both Ghostwritten and Cloud Atlas in here, which I may not have noticed if I hadn't just read both of them, but made me smile.
The only place he almost lost me was when Eiji was reading stories written by the characters in the stories of his landlord's aunt. I think I have that right. (A chicken Scheherazade?)
"Yesterday, when I got off the coach at the bus station, I noticed that Tokyo smells of the insides of pockets."
I had this in the car on our way to the Kennedy Space Center, which was perfect timing. It was well written, enough to make me finish this book on the origins of the universe, science, math, physics, and whatever else makes up the world around us. Never too detailed, but at enough depth that I didn't feel like I was reading a children's book. I liked the little anecdotes (like someone liking Darwin's nose) that never make it into the science books.
59. The Whole World Over by Julia Glass (512 pgs)
After I read Three Junes, I was really looking forward to another book by Glass. I have to admit I'm disappointed. The story was okay, but it just lacked the connection and magic of Three Junes. Two reasons - the characters change their minds for nonsensical reasons, leaving them all feeling fake instead of genuine. And throwing in 9/11 as the catalyst was just not very believable. I liked it more when there wasn't anything specifically life-altering, just people living normal lives. Upping the ante didn't work for her writing style, I'm sad to say.
60. Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami (210 pgs)
I loved this book, from the way it was written, jumping between characters, giving us just a glimpse of each of the three lives, to how it comments on loneliness and unrequited love and identity, and adding a mystery set in Greece at the end. I'm still thinking about the various pieces and characters involved, and I would love to read more by Murakami.
"So that's how we live our lives. No matter how deep and fatal the loss, no matter how important the thing that's stolen from us - that's snatched right out of our hands - even if we are left completely changed people with only the outer layer of skin from before, we continue to play out our lives this way, in silence. We draw ever nearer to our allotted span of time, bidding it farewell as it trails off behind. Repeating, often adroitly, the endless deeds of the everyday. Leaving behind a feeling of immeasurable emptiness."
61. The Sandman, v. 7 - Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman (240 pgs)
Beautifully balanced and written, my favorite so far, and I know I keep saying that. The entire thing chronicles Dream and Delirious' journey to find their estranged brother Destruction, along with backstory and the bigger picture of whether the Endless even matter.
"I like airplanes. I like anywhere that isn't a proper place. I like in-betweens."
62. The Sandman, v. 8 - Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman (162 pgs)
A bunch of travelers at the Inn of the Worlds End. Gaiman is the best at exploring little threads of stories and worlds, and its best if you just give yourself over to it. Destruction made a short appearance, but my favorite story was the one about the city dreaming, ugh so great.
63. Number9Dream by David Mitchell (400 pgs)
While I'm not sure I like this as much as Ghostwritten, I really enjoy reading David Mitchell. number9dream is a crazy ride through dreams and events that may or may not be happening, all surrounding the 20 year old Eiji Miyake as he looks for his father in Tokyo.
This had moments that made me laugh, particularly one where Eiji has witnessed something horrendous but then it is possibly having to do karaoke that puts him over the edge. It is all these little things that make Mitchell such a pleasure to read. There are also little ties to both Ghostwritten and Cloud Atlas in here, which I may not have noticed if I hadn't just read both of them, but made me smile.
The only place he almost lost me was when Eiji was reading stories written by the characters in the stories of his landlord's aunt. I think I have that right. (A chicken Scheherazade?)
"Yesterday, when I got off the coach at the bus station, I noticed that Tokyo smells of the insides of pockets."