Since the success of my last weeks post, I figured I would continue the traditlion weekly, highlighting the new book reviews that I find on the web, here is this weeks list:
The Book Connection - "Hearts of Courage" by John Tippets : Review
The Book Lady's Blog - "Oryx and Crake" by Margaret Atwood : Review
Enchanted by Josephine - "The French Mistress" by Susan Holloway Scott : Review
Burton Review - "The White Queen" by Philippa Gregory : Review
The Lateiner Gang Book Review Spot - "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow" by James Rollins : Review
Showing posts with label book reader. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book reader. Show all posts
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Book Review: The Reluctant Fundamentalist - A Novel By Mohsin Hamid
In no book in my recent memory, have I recalled a book that has so much in so little as this one does. At less than 200 pages, Mohsin Hamid creates a story with as much character, heart, and wit as longer novels. Along with an engaging and unique writing style, creates a truly memorable experience for the reader.
The entire story is told from a cafe in Lahore, Pakistan,from a second person narrative. Our protagonist, Changez meets an American tourist and discusses his entire story.Changez, a Pakistani who immigrates to America at the age of 18 to attend Princeton and subsequently moves on to a high paying job to work for a New York evaluation firm leading up to 9/11.
And that is where the story begins,taking us through his job, his relationship with the much trouble Erica, and how the recent political happenings drastically change his life.
The characters are well designed but the center piece of the show is Changez,we really get inside his head and his story is quite believable. This is an attribute to the author as he made a ivy league grad with a envious starting salary, great looks and personality, really come off as sincere, but also with the many problems that end up around him, we feel a bonding with him, which great writers achieve with their characters.
The writing is engaging, you feel Changez is having a conversation with you which adds to the connection. However you would never confuse his talking in this book with a real life conversation, as due to the restrictions of the narrative mode,he must say everything for everyone essentially, so it could come off as feeling a bit gimmicky.
The book wishes to defeat stereotypes about Muslims as it is plainly stated in the book. But it does not, as some of you may be thinking, turn America completely against Changez, quite the contrary, Changez after 9/11 and other experiences, changes his view about America, its patriotism and its foreign policy, ultimately leading to a very different life for him.
In conclusion, you would be hard pressed to find such an intriguing and emotionally enticing book as this in such a short fashion as this one. A great story for any book reader.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Second-Person Narrative
A rather unique writing style I have heard of, but have just started reading a novel set in this mode (review should be up in a couple of days). Not too many write in second-person it would seem difficult to pull off. In this narrative form the main character is "you" which may or may not be the subject but it is through another person the story is told.
An example would be the book I'm reading "The Reluctant Terrorist" which the entire novel evolves during a cafe dinner in which the Changez (the main character) talks to another person, but changez does all the talking and what is taking place in this cafe as he tells his story is all through his talking: 'I see you ordered the green tea.' 'Look the waitress has come to take our order.' for example.
This could be seen as more of a gimmick, but I find it quite engaging, I place myself as the one he is talking to, and so far has made for a quite enjoyable experience.
While there aren't many, have you read any of these sort of books? What was your experience with them? Please tell me.
An example would be the book I'm reading "The Reluctant Terrorist" which the entire novel evolves during a cafe dinner in which the Changez (the main character) talks to another person, but changez does all the talking and what is taking place in this cafe as he tells his story is all through his talking: 'I see you ordered the green tea.' 'Look the waitress has come to take our order.' for example.
This could be seen as more of a gimmick, but I find it quite engaging, I place myself as the one he is talking to, and so far has made for a quite enjoyable experience.
While there aren't many, have you read any of these sort of books? What was your experience with them? Please tell me.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Alternative Reads
A new genre has recently caught my attention: Alternate History
What is it you may ask? Well it is a bit more fictional than historical fiction, which takes a real historical setting and makes a story in it. Alternate History on the other hand, invents new history and goes off the what if's of the past, present and future.
It varies quite a bit from the not so far off possibilities of : What if the south won the civil war? What if Japan overtook Hawaii after pearl harbor?
To the more original: What if Islam took over America? What if 99% of America was engulfed by a huge energy field destroying everyone and everything in it?
The latter I was referring to was Without Warning by John Birmingham, the only alt history novel I have currently read, but it peaked my interest in the genre and while I'm not reviewing it, has opened the door to me.
The genre is promising, it requires much creativeness along with a realness needed more so than others. So that aspect intrigues me, the human reaction of the events in these books, the best sellers in this genre to me would be the one with portraying the most likely human reaction.
The former I was referring to was Prayers for the Assassin by Robert Ferrigno while being a interesting premise, fails in aspects of the characters and the overall understanding of this world providing very little description and more about the characters. Which is alright, but you fail to get much connection with them.
I'm wondering what Alternate history novels you have read? I would love to hear about them, as I am always seeking book recommendations.
Here are a few reviews on these books worth mentioning
Without Warning:
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/19/imagine-theres-no-country/print
http://booksaremyonlyfriends.blogspot.com/2009/08/way-out-there-alternate-history.html
Prayers for the Assassin:
http://novelsandstories.blogspot.com/2009/07/more-from-my-book-review-archives_7398.html
http://stationwtfo.blogspot.com/2008/12/book-review-prayers-for-assassin.html
What is it you may ask? Well it is a bit more fictional than historical fiction, which takes a real historical setting and makes a story in it. Alternate History on the other hand, invents new history and goes off the what if's of the past, present and future.
It varies quite a bit from the not so far off possibilities of : What if the south won the civil war? What if Japan overtook Hawaii after pearl harbor?
To the more original: What if Islam took over America? What if 99% of America was engulfed by a huge energy field destroying everyone and everything in it?
The latter I was referring to was Without Warning by John Birmingham, the only alt history novel I have currently read, but it peaked my interest in the genre and while I'm not reviewing it, has opened the door to me.
The genre is promising, it requires much creativeness along with a realness needed more so than others. So that aspect intrigues me, the human reaction of the events in these books, the best sellers in this genre to me would be the one with portraying the most likely human reaction.
The former I was referring to was Prayers for the Assassin by Robert Ferrigno while being a interesting premise, fails in aspects of the characters and the overall understanding of this world providing very little description and more about the characters. Which is alright, but you fail to get much connection with them.
I'm wondering what Alternate history novels you have read? I would love to hear about them, as I am always seeking book recommendations.
Here are a few reviews on these books worth mentioning
Without Warning:
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/19/imagine-theres-no-country/print
http://booksaremyonlyfriends.blogspot.com/2009/08/way-out-there-alternate-history.html
Prayers for the Assassin:
http://novelsandstories.blogspot.com/2009/07/more-from-my-book-review-archives_7398.html
http://stationwtfo.blogspot.com/2008/12/book-review-prayers-for-assassin.html
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Feeling
I just finished the excellent novel by Khaled Hosseini: A Thousand Splendid Suns and after completion a rush of great joy and happiness came over, almost moving me to tears.
Not every book can do that to me, it has been quite awhile since this phenomenon occurred. And it is the best feeling ever when you read a book and you become filled with...emotion for a lack of a better term.
Of course this depends on the type of book, I would not expect this feeling to come from say, American Psycho.
It strikes me as amazing in this book; where 95% is sad and depressing but that spread out 5% makes it all worthwhile. And you begin to appreciate the small victories in the book, leaving you with a sense of happiness. Now how is that to be? With so much wrong in it the little things that are right make us call it a happy ending.
I Apologize if this seems vague if you have not read it. But you must it is an amazing story and my favorite book of the year. So go buy it, read it. And report back so we can have a discussion on this.
In the meanwhile lets ponder this. What book have given you this euphoria that I have described? I would love to hear about it in the comments section or via email.
Not every book can do that to me, it has been quite awhile since this phenomenon occurred. And it is the best feeling ever when you read a book and you become filled with...emotion for a lack of a better term.
Of course this depends on the type of book, I would not expect this feeling to come from say, American Psycho.
It strikes me as amazing in this book; where 95% is sad and depressing but that spread out 5% makes it all worthwhile. And you begin to appreciate the small victories in the book, leaving you with a sense of happiness. Now how is that to be? With so much wrong in it the little things that are right make us call it a happy ending.
I Apologize if this seems vague if you have not read it. But you must it is an amazing story and my favorite book of the year. So go buy it, read it. And report back so we can have a discussion on this.
In the meanwhile lets ponder this. What book have given you this euphoria that I have described? I would love to hear about it in the comments section or via email.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Why Do You Read?
A friend not too long ago asked me this question. It was a normal conversation over coffee about the many things occurring in our lives and surroundings until we came to my favorite topic: Books.
Myself being a avid reader, him on the contrary. So it quickly turned into a one sided talk about recent reads, favorite classics and the great authors. As I began to bore him with my endless monologue on the great writer Edgar Allen Poe. He interrupts and sharply asks me:
"Ryan, why do you read so damn much?"
That question threw me off my game, startled I sat in awe of his inquiry. I never really thought about it I replied.
Now that I am writing here in retrospect I have thought of many: to be entertained, to learn, to laugh, to cry, to escape, to feel something profound. But at the time I assumed it was innate, to not read is simply unfathomable to me, the habit was built into me and took its grip a few years ago and be ended. Simply because my thirst for these feelings have never fully been quenched except through books. Sure the movie and TV show now and then can be entertaining if you find the right ones but nothing can deliver like a book.
Writers long before my time have been trying to decipher the impact of reading and literacy, here are some of my favorite quotes:
“We read to know we are not alone.”
- C.S. Lewis
"Except a living man, there is nothing more wonderful than a book."
- Charles Kingsley
"The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television."
- Andrew Ross
I love these quotes because they remind me that, through the amazing tool of language we can connect still with writers centuries and perhaps millenniums past no other outlet like that is available except maybe slightly through art and architecture. Decartes put it best however:
“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of the past centuries.”
That is why I read.
I must apologize if this seems too indulgent, but I must settle this question first before continuing to better understand myself and you.
Why do you read?
In future posts I will be writing more on books but also on more of these speculative questions, if I knew more about it I would tell you, for it remains to be seen.
If however you enjoyed my post and might be interested in future posts please subscribe to my blog, it is free and nothing to be lost, but only gain.
Myself being a avid reader, him on the contrary. So it quickly turned into a one sided talk about recent reads, favorite classics and the great authors. As I began to bore him with my endless monologue on the great writer Edgar Allen Poe. He interrupts and sharply asks me:
"Ryan, why do you read so damn much?"
That question threw me off my game, startled I sat in awe of his inquiry. I never really thought about it I replied.
Now that I am writing here in retrospect I have thought of many: to be entertained, to learn, to laugh, to cry, to escape, to feel something profound. But at the time I assumed it was innate, to not read is simply unfathomable to me, the habit was built into me and took its grip a few years ago and be ended. Simply because my thirst for these feelings have never fully been quenched except through books. Sure the movie and TV show now and then can be entertaining if you find the right ones but nothing can deliver like a book.
Writers long before my time have been trying to decipher the impact of reading and literacy, here are some of my favorite quotes:
“We read to know we are not alone.”
- C.S. Lewis
"Except a living man, there is nothing more wonderful than a book."
- Charles Kingsley
"The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television."
- Andrew Ross
I love these quotes because they remind me that, through the amazing tool of language we can connect still with writers centuries and perhaps millenniums past no other outlet like that is available except maybe slightly through art and architecture. Decartes put it best however:
“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of the past centuries.”
That is why I read.
I must apologize if this seems too indulgent, but I must settle this question first before continuing to better understand myself and you.
Why do you read?
In future posts I will be writing more on books but also on more of these speculative questions, if I knew more about it I would tell you, for it remains to be seen.
If however you enjoyed my post and might be interested in future posts please subscribe to my blog, it is free and nothing to be lost, but only gain.
I look forward to your answers in the comments and hopefully we can have a conversation about this question, you can also email me personally at readerinmind@gmail.com
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