I got a comment on this review today hinting at the fact that it is taking me months to finish the last 5% and that sounds like a bad deal . . . so, II got a comment on this review today hinting at the fact that it is taking me months to finish the last 5% and that sounds like a bad deal . . . so, I figured it is about time I finally write my review. I did finish this book back in October, but I have not been all that inspired to write a review. That is partially a product of a year+ long book slump I have been going through. It is also partially because this was a very big book with lots to absorb and, because I was slumping, I am not really sure I can do it justice. So, you may want to take my review of this with a grain of salt as I am not sure it would reflect my experience with it during a better year.
Overall – I would give this book 3.5 to 4 stars.
I don’t really know a lot about the history of India, so it was interesting to learn about mid-20th Century India through this book. I cannot say that I know if Rushdie did a good job of being historically accurate – but, it sure feels like he did and I have not seen any complaints hinting at the contrary.
There was a lot of magical realism and mysticism in the story. In general – I tend to really like magical realism. There are a few authors who use magical realism a lot that do not click with me - the main one that comes to mind is Gabriel García Márquez. And, having read One Hundred Years of Solitude recently, Midnight’s Children had a very similar feeling to it. In fact, I would not be surprised if I were to hear that Rushdie was trying to write this book in the same vein. However, and not that I can quantify it in any particular way, I liked Midnight’s Children more than Solitude . . . maybe I just found it more accessible?
Should you read this book?
If you are working your way through the classics and are ready for an epic and complex book – definitely!
If you are not ready for something heavy, extensive, a bit odd, and requiring focused thought, you may want to wait. I go back to the fact that I read this for a book club during a slump – if it was not for that, I think I would have stopped and saved this until my head was in a better and more focused place. ...more
My experience with Gabriel García Márquez so far ( Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude) have not been my favorite reading eMy experience with Gabriel García Márquez so far ( Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude) have not been my favorite reading experiences. I feel that I did enjoy One Hundred Years of Solitude more, but in general I do not think his writing is for me. However, this does not discredit in anyway the writing and story – and I can very easily see why some people like his writing and why it is considered a classic.
I am sure people want an explanation of why I cannot give Márquez and his books a glowing review. Mainly, I just think the subject matter and style are not for me. While I usually enjoy magical realism, the way that he tells his various stories only gets me truly invested 1/5 of the time. The rest of the time I tend to be either bored and/or confused. Often, I find myself revisiting sections to make sure I understood what I had just experienced. With that being said, I did find myself more invested and interested in this book over Cholera – is that because it is a better book or because I knew better what I was getting into? I am not sure.
This book is worth a try if you want an interesting atmospheric, genre-specific historical fiction story (I hope that description makes sense . . . it made sense to me in my mind!). Also, it is worth trying if you are “collecting the classics”. But, if you are looking for an exciting or riveting read, I think chances are low that you will find it here....more
I did enjoy this book, but in the end I was left wondering what it was all for? It richly develops with lots of details to suddenly come3 to 3.5 stars
I did enjoy this book, but in the end I was left wondering what it was all for? It richly develops with lots of details to suddenly come to an end without anything really happening. Basically - here is Oscar's life, some background on why things are the way they are, and here's where it all ended up. The end.
If you like really detailed Historical Fiction, this is the book for you. There is a lot of very descriptive and thorough information about the political and social structure of the Dominican Republic in the mid-20th century. This is something you are really going to love if it is your thing, or it may bring the book to a halt (and cause a few DNFs) if it is not.
The overall language and the treatment of women in this this book is a sign of the times. If you have issues reading historically accurate but rude and crass language and behavior, proceed with caution. The n-word appears a lot and any inappropriate description of a woman you can think of can be found in these pages. Again, accurate to the time and place, but maybe something you should consider before reading.
Overall, a great Historical Fiction read, but the story and its seeming lack of purpose left me wanting more....more
This was another audiobook with my wife during our evening couch time. Before Netflix or Hulu, its Overdrive or Hoopla!
This book is a thinker! A creatThis was another audiobook with my wife during our evening couch time. Before Netflix or Hulu, its Overdrive or Hoopla!
This book is a thinker! A creative new look at time travel: living life non-sequentially and what that would mean to your relationships and the decisions you make. Join Oona on this journey and discover how Margarita Montimore approaches this crazy conundrum.
I imagine this book will get under the skin of some due to the potential of time travel paradoxes and how certain consequences are ignored. While it is true that I thought about these and even discussed a few with my wife along the way, I was able to suspend disbelief and just sit back and enjoy. If you think you might struggle accepting paradoxes in a story, this is not the book for you.
Overall, this was enjoyable. My only criticisms would be around the pacing and the tightness of the story: it started to drag a little at times and I could feel the plot starting to meander. But the fact that the story could basically restart every chapter with a new year refocused my attention.
I recently read The Midnight Library, which has a somewhat similar theme and I liked a bit better, but this was still a good one worth checking out if you might enjoy a less sci-fi take on time travel and a little magical realism. ...more
This is the ultimate “what if I had done it differently?” story. I guarantee it will make you think and might give you some new perspective on life. AThis is the ultimate “what if I had done it differently?” story. I guarantee it will make you think and might give you some new perspective on life. Also, while it starts a bit dark, I think people who are looking for a way out of a dark place might find this story uplifting overall.
I have been sitting here thinking about how to review this book and I don’t want to say too much about it because after 10 pages or so, everything little thing would be a spoiler! That, in itself, should probably pique your interest; it is so packed with interconnected and surprising content I can barely even talk about it! So, just read it because all the stuff that happens is totally worth it . . . I’ll leave it at that.
I was hooked by this book from page one. It is not a long book and because it was written so well, it flew right by. If you are looking for a well written and unique story that I believe will appeal to people with a wide variety of interests, The Midnight Library is worth giving a try. ...more
Usually the book is better, in this case I think it was the movie.
Shoeless Joe was made into the movie Field of Dreams. While the book w3.5 to 4 Stars
Usually the book is better, in this case I think it was the movie.
Shoeless Joe was made into the movie Field of Dreams. While the book was pretty good, the movie tidied up the narrative quite a bit, streamlined the messy parts, and hit the high emotional moments just right to hit home. In fact, if you remember the movie and all the key tear-jerking moments . . . they are all there in the book, just kind of glossed over.
Also, this is 100% a book about baseball for people who like baseball. If you do not like baseball, there is no point in reading it. Back to the movie; they did a fairly good job at making it accessible to people who do not like baseball even though that is a key plot point. The book, however, is in-your-face baseball lore, baseball statistics, baseball gameplay, etc. I can’t even say give it a try even if you don’t care for baseball. Nope . . . if you don’t have a passion for baseball, do not waste your time.
I do like baseball and overall I enjoyed the book. But now I need to go do a re-watch of the movie because of all the fond memories I now have of it being better than the book. And, I better get my tissues ready!
Do you need your heart-strings pulled but you REALLY want them pulled in the weirdest way? Then Nothing to See Here is the book for you.
It is a story Do you need your heart-strings pulled but you REALLY want them pulled in the weirdest way? Then Nothing to See Here is the book for you.
It is a story of friendship. It is a story of family. It is a story of politics. It is a story of abandonment. It is a story of growing up. It is a story of self-discovery. It is a story of karma. It is a story of kids who catch on fire.
*sings* One of these things is not like the other . . .
So, how does that last item on this list fit in with all the others. I can’t tell you, you will have to read it to find out! But, let’s just say that it does make sense when you throw them all together.
This was another book that was a Couch Time listen for my wife and me. For those not familiar, we frequently listen to audiobooks together in the evening after the kids go to bed. When this one finished, we both looked at each other and my wife said “Well, that was weird!” Yes, yes it was . . . but we both liked it very much.
The characters and the story were interesting and quirky. Everything develops nicely and there is even some come-uppance in the end that might make you cheer. Marin Ireland was the narrator and we both really liked her narration of Anxious People. We were excited to hear her voice again and I am pleased to report she did another great job.
A great book with a great narration – worth checking out if you like (or don’t mind) really unconventional plot points. I see that some place this book in the Magical Realism category, and I think that is appropriate. Give it a shot – just be sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby (just in case!) ...more
My first thought after finishing The Halloween Tree is that it should be a Halloween tradition in the same way A Christmas Carol by Dickens is a ChrisMy first thought after finishing The Halloween Tree is that it should be a Halloween tradition in the same way A Christmas Carol by Dickens is a Christmas tradition. They are both stories of how characters have forgotten the meaning of the season and the mysterious supernatural spirits that help them find it again. In The Halloween Tree, it is a group of boys dressed as the usual Halloween characters (mummy, skeleton, grim reaper, etc.) who don't know anything more about Halloween than it is costumes and Trick or Treating. Then, they run into the mysterious Mr. Moundshroud who takes them on a journey to show them why they dress up and what Halloween really is.
I love Bradbury and I love his writing. That was no different with The Halloween Tree. The flow of the book was perfect and I was enthralled every step of the way. He is so good at combining reality with fantasy - it is always a pleasure to read one of his works. I can't say that everyone will have the same experience with this book, but if you are a Bradbury fan, you CANNOT go wrong giving this one a try.
Another fascinating thing about this one is that it is non-fiction in a way as well. As the characters journey through time to learn the meaning of Halloween, they learn the history of the superstitions that combined to create the Halloween we know today. From Egyptian tombs, to Druidic rituals, to witch hunts, to the towers of Notre Dame, to the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico - you are definitely going to learn something along the way!
And, finally, after all that a very harrowing "what would you do?" climax. All of this in a novella length story. A lot is packed in here so that you can get a complete and fulfilling Halloween experience in a short period of time.
I don't know if everyone will agree that this is Halloween perfection, but it is pretty darn close!
Bonus: our 2020 Jack-o'-lanterns as designed by my 8 and 6 year old:
Time for those who have read my reviews before to see a bit of deja vu. I have from time to time mentioned books that are artsy for the sake of3 stars
Time for those who have read my reviews before to see a bit of deja vu. I have from time to time mentioned books that are artsy for the sake of moving along the story in a unique fashion and they are wonderful. But, on the other side, there are books that are artsy for the sake of being artsy. Books where the weird and fantastic plot points feel forced in order to make the book seem edgy and trendy. This is, of course, in the eye of the beholder, so you may not feel the same about this as I do from book to book. For me, The Starless Sea rode a fine line between the two the whole way.
At first, I really got into the fantasy world of this book. It was doing a wonderful job of building a magical connection between the real world and a world from books. It reminded me a bit of The Shadow of the Wind. In fact, I am pretty sure they referenced that book early on. (I say pretty sure because I am reading multiple books, so it could have been in one of those!). I thought the writing style was wonderful and remained so throughout.
However, as the story progressed, I started to lose the continuity of the storyline because it felt like it was trying to hard to be "fantastic". There were about 5 separate storylines that jumped around and the events in each just got stranger and stranger. Every so often there were a few moments that reoriented me to the actual progress, but the last half was mainly disorientation and some lack of interest. If it was not audio, I am not sure I would have finished.
Some may love this book a great deal and enjoy getting lost in the artsy twists and turns of the multiple storylines. But, if you have ever agreed with me before on books being artsy for the sake of being artsy, you may have the same experience I did....more
“And I think it's gonna be a long long time 'Till touch down brings me round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home Oh no no no I'm a rock“And I think it's gonna be a long long time 'Till touch down brings me round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home Oh no no no I'm a rocket man Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone”
Rocket Man – Elton John – Inspired by a story from The Illustrated Man
Sometimes when I read Ray Bradbury, I feel like I am not worthy.
That was definitely the case this time! Not just a 5 star book – all the starts in the universe!
Bradbury is a master story teller. He is a weaver of the unique and bizarre. His words and stories dig into your brain and set up shop. What once seemed normal . . . what once seemed reasonable . . . will quickly become unstable and other-worldly in the hands of this master. While maybe not every one of the stories in The Illustrated Man will blow you away, I can almost 100% guarantee they will all leave you thinking in their own special way.
While reading this collection, I got into a discussion about how Bradbury writes. That discussion included a side journey into the old Twilight Zone episodes. That is exactly it – every Bradbury story reads exactly like an old episode of the classic sci-fi show. Often, things appear normal and Bradbury will shift them in a slight and unexpected way which takes the story in a way just slightly outside the norm. These shifts are rarely monumental or explosive – just enough to throw off the norm. For example, and this is not one he used, but should illustrate what I mean: he might write a story in a world where the letter A has been banned and go through all the ramifications that might have on the fictional society in his story.
Another huge factor that is obvious in these stories is the affect the world of 1951 (year of publication) had on these stories. You can tell that these stories were written under the pressure of the cold war, nuclear threat, governments in turmoil, Communist fears, civil rights, etc. So much of the world from that time period seeps between the lines. I would almost say that some of this book is in a genre of its own – historic sci-fi. If you have any interest in how the world affected literature in the mid-1900s, this would be the perfect case study.
As it is pretty obvious by now, I loved this book! I love Bradbury! I cannot wait until the next one!...more
A heartwarming tale of community and family across the years told from the perspective of a Climbing Tree as it watches relationships form, children gA heartwarming tale of community and family across the years told from the perspective of a Climbing Tree as it watches relationships form, children grow, disaster strike, and humanity band together to overcome adversity all from the comfort of its little inner city park.
Thank you to author Shelly Reuben for sending me a copy. One of my co-workers is a friend of Shelly’s and he is thanked on the acknowledgement page. Since he knew I read a lot, he put me in touch with her to see if I might be interested in her newest release. Boy, am I glad he did (thanks, Brendan)! Also, my apologies to Shelly for taking so long to get to the book – so much TBR!
This book is very, very readable and great storytelling! I was immediately captivated by the narrative of the tree. And, while it is one main story as a whole, it is comprised of a series of vignettes focusing on different characters over the years. While not a very long book, she managed to capture almost 100 years of stories from the site of the park without it feeling rushed or like anything was left out. Also, the book includes pencil sketches by Ruth McGraw of the characters and events within – a nice touch!
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As the story is told to us by the tree, I am reminded of another book I read recently: The Art of Racing in the Rain. That story was told from the perspective of a dog and, while he was only a side player in the main storyline, his presence was key. In My Mostly Happy Life, the Climbing Tree is mainly just sharing stories, but it does eventually become an essential player based on its role in the park throughout the park’s history.
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If you like good storytelling and a plot that gets you right in the feels, I guarantee that you cannot go wrong with this book!
A quick but powerful read! I was not sure what to expect right after starting or if I was going to get into it, but it ended up being quite amazing. TA quick but powerful read! I was not sure what to expect right after starting or if I was going to get into it, but it ended up being quite amazing. This was my second Sherman Alexie and I continue to be impressed.
Flight is a bizarre story that is a bit coming of age and a bit magical realism. The different "lives" the main character experiences are difficult, controversial, and possibly uncomfortable to consider. But, they help lead to a beautiful redemption that is uniquely crafted by Alexie.
If you are looking for an emotional journey that might lead you to tears, but will definitely make you question humanity, Flight is the perfect little novel for you....more
This book was great! It is fun and quirky. I think you can read it either to find purpose and meaning, or just for a nice, quick read.
I am definitely This book was great! It is fun and quirky. I think you can read it either to find purpose and meaning, or just for a nice, quick read.
I am definitely a Robin Sloan fan. I enjoyed Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore as well so I was looking forward to this one. While his stuff can be a bit out there (it definitely falls in the Magical Realism category), it is not so out there that it is hard to stay engaged. It is like he takes things from our normal, everyday lives and tweaks them slightly towards the bizarre. After finishing his works, you may not look at the little things quite the same anymore.
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Also, this is definitely a book for foodies! If you love food, baking, unique culinary trends, farmer’s markets, ordering new takeout food that takes you out of your comfort zone (see what I did there . . . take out . . . takes you out . . . ah, well, at least I thought it was clever! ;)), then you must read this book.
Oh, and now I want ALL THE SOURDOUGH! If you read this near a bakery you will give them ALL YOUR MONEY and OD on bread.
The Martian Chronicles is a book I have heard about for years, but ended up passing it by in lieu of other Ray Bradbury classics (do you need to qualiThe Martian Chronicles is a book I have heard about for years, but ended up passing it by in lieu of other Ray Bradbury classics (do you need to qualify them by saying “classic”? I think that goes without saying). I have now finally read it and it is amazing. I continue to be impressed with Bradbury’s writing style – and his style is very well defined. I am pretty sure he is so integrated into how and what he writes, I could probably guess that a book is written by Bradbury after just a few paragraphs (and that is not me bragging on my ability to figure out who wrote something, it is just that obvious that it is Bradbury).
When I went into this I thought, “Martian Chronicles = Sci-Fi”. That is very wrong! This book felt much more like his Magical Realism titles I have read. While most of the book takes place on Mars, the content is not about space travel, and aliens, and cool technology. It is about the human condition, perception vs reality, misuse of natural resources, man seeing himself as an island, etc. It is a commentary on people and the tendency for our hopes to be destroyed by our inability to truly see the best and right course of action. Generally it is very dark – there is a little ray of hope to it, but the overall feel is if we don’t get our s#!t together, we are doomed.
So, if you are looking for sci-fi and want nothing less than space battles and cool spaceships, this is not the book for you. If you are a fan of other Bradbury, cautionary tales, and speculative fiction, this is right up you alley. ...more
"Magical realism, magic realism, or marvelous realism is a genre of narrative fiction and, more broadly, art (liMagic Realism - according to Wikipedia
"Magical realism, magic realism, or marvelous realism is a genre of narrative fiction and, more broadly, art (literature, painting, film, theatre, etc.) that, while encompassing a range of subtly different concepts, expresses a primarily realistic view of the real world while also adding or revealing magical elements. It is sometimes called fabulism, in reference to the conventions of fables, myths, and allegory. "Magical realism", perhaps the most common term, often refers to fiction and literature in particular, with magic or the supernatural presented in an otherwise real-world or mundane setting."
This book is the essence of Magic Realism. If you are a fan of other Magic Realism books (i.e. McCammon's Boy's Life) you should definitely check this out. The setting is small town America, the main characters are your average young boys, but the things they encounter are far from normal (or are they?) - you will question what is real and what is imagination.
Nostalgia, young vs old, new ideas vs the status quo are all main themes. Learning from past mistakes, respecting the experience of your elders, and history repeating itself all make appearances. There is no life or death - just sunrises/sunsets, new beginnings, strong tradition, and acceptance of your place in all of it.
This book is deeply poetic and rightly so. A fantastically written story that should be read by anyone that appreciates great literature. I am looking forward to the sequel, Something Wicked This Way Comes....more
I didn't want to finish this but I wanted it to be over.
A short book, but every day the Kindle would taunt me with the slow progression of %
86% . . .I didn't want to finish this but I wanted it to be over.
A short book, but every day the Kindle would taunt me with the slow progression of %
86% . . . 90% . . . 94% . . .
I would groan and sigh every time I went to pick it up. There was no way to remember what was happening because every chapter was so different and so weird. There was very little continuity, huge time jumps, and no cohesion of location - meaning I never knew exactly when or where the charaters were.
They said get lost in a book. I was just lost. An odd mash up of magic, sci-fi, and dystopia - I really couldn't tell what this book was trying to be. I thought maybe I would come around if it had a good ending, but it kind of just fizzled.
There are certainly some out there who would like this book, but I cannot say who for sure so I am unable to officially recommend it to any demographic. ...more
I almost didn't give this book a star rating at all. As I listened to it I couldn't really figure out if I like it or not. It has shades of books I caI almost didn't give this book a star rating at all. As I listened to it I couldn't really figure out if I like it or not. It has shades of books I cannot stand and shades of books I love. In the end, I couldn't bring myself to leave the star rating blank, but I am not sure you can trust my experience to match the experience you might have.
I have loved the other Backman books I have read: A Man Called Ove and Beartown. Because of this I went into this with high expectations. While this has some similarities to A Man Called Ove, it is definitely a very different book. While Ove is a fairly straightforward story, this one ventured back and forth from reality to make believe that I found a little bit hard to stay interested in.
I mention make believe, and at times this book ventures into the realm of magical realism. Usually my experience with magical realism is a positive one, but I did not care for it much here. I think the reason might be that it frequently reminded me of Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which I didn't care for at all. So, if you are a fan of that book, you may enjoy this one, too.
I did like all the different characters and exploring all of their personalities. I think this is the biggest thing that carried over from Backman's other stories. Each person is a side story unto themselves and it is fun watching their tales all get woven together.
In the end, I cannot say for sure if I recommend this one or not. If you liked other Backman books, don't go in expecting the same. If you are a fan of fairy tales, you might like it. If you don't like odd stories that stray a bit from reality, this is not the book for you....more
This was a very good book with two main plot lines and a separate smaller plot in almost every chapter. It reminded me of, and I have read this comparThis was a very good book with two main plot lines and a separate smaller plot in almost every chapter. It reminded me of, and I have read this comparison elsewhere as well, Different Seasons era Stephen King.
One of the great things about this book is that it perfectly embodies pre-pubecent innocence and coming of age. I was discussing this in one of my book clubs and we talked about how the main characters had yet to reach the the point of disenchanted teenagers driven by angst and hormones while at the same time having to step up and accept the realities of adulthood.
Another oddity of this book is that every few pages something mystical and wild happens and it is never hinted at as being part of the narrator's imagination; it is completely integrated into the story. It leads to some very interesting questions and blows the mind.
While this is a long book, it may read quickly for some. If you are a fan of early King and/or character study books, this should be right up your alley....more
This book reminded me of Ready Player One a lot. I think fans of that book will enjoy this one. The ideas may not have been as tight in this one, but This book reminded me of Ready Player One a lot. I think fans of that book will enjoy this one. The ideas may not have been as tight in this one, but pop culture, book, and computer geeks should enjoy this....more
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