All About Books discussion

My books and reviews will go here.

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (fiction) re-read 4.25 stars

2. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen (story) 4.5 stars

3. The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot (poetry) re-read 3.75 stars

4. A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld (graphic novel) 4 stars
(review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

5. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (fiction) re-read 3.75 stars

6. The Hours by Michael Cunningham (fiction) 4.25 stars

7. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (autobiography) 3.75 stars

reserved

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Greg wrote: "1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (fiction) re-read 4.25 stars"

Did you write a review? Or just rate?

I'm too lazy to write reviews for every book I read, though in 2015 I hope to write more! :) Here's a mini-review:

like most of Gaiman's books, it's blessed with wonderful storytelling from beginning to end and near perfect pacing. Such lovable characters as well, especially the orphaned boy Bod - it's hard not to care for him. The book isn't quite as intellectually fascinating as The Ocean at the End of the Lane, but it's darn entertaining and also so endearingly good hearted! Highly recommended for older kids and for adults who still love a good story with some magic in it.

Greg wrote: "I'm too lazy to write reviews for every book I read...

lol, Greg! Don't want to give you extra work. I haven't read much Gaiman, so I wondered if it would be something I'd like. I'll add it to my reading list. As for other books you read this year, I'll look to the "stars" to see how well you like them. ;-) Thanks!

Not at all Monica! I'll write mini-reviews here on the books I read - those are fast. Full book reviews take me a half hour or more to write because I ponder them a lot further, but mini-reviews I'll definitely do. :)

Have you read The Ocean at the End of the Lane? Still basically fantasy but that one might be right up your alley - myths, archetypes, very interesting. A Jungian analysis of that one could quite fruitful, I think. Plus an entertaining read besides.

I agree! I hadn't realized how much time it takes to write reviews until Goodreads!

What I noticed about this format is sharing some thoughts or a synopsis helps others immensely, at least for me!

True Cathie! :)

:)

Greg wrote: "Have you read The Ocean at the End of the Lane? Still basically fantasy but that one might be right up your alley - myths, archetypes, very interesting. A Jungian analysis of that one could quite fruitful, I think. Plus an entertaining read besides."

That one I did read. I liked the story, but was bothered by the author's "voice", in that he was telling the story as a grown man through the eyes of his 7 year old self. That was fine, but he kept saying that at age 7 he remembered thinking..."something"..., but phrased it in the context of a university-level conversation. I didn't expect him to use language of a 7 year old, but it pulled me out of the story when my mind is hearing a 7 year old "giving a dissertation". The balance was missing for me.

I'm currently reading his short story (based on Neverwhere), "How the Marquis Got His Coat Back" (part of the Rogues collection. So far, so good. If I like it, I'll read more of his works.

As far as your short reviews...love that idea. That's all I look for...to see if the story holds together, and if it was enjoyable. I tend not to read long "book report" formats before I read a book because I like to form my own opinions and don't want to have preconceived notions planted in my head.

Sounds good Monica! I get what you mean about the awkwardness of perspective in that one. I was a bit torn about it in that the story was a little less gripping than usual, but it was so freakishly quotable. Every few pages, there was a sentence or two that I wanted to pull out and share with a friend of mine because it was such a great quote. That is not usually like Gaiman at all - none of the other books I'd read by him had that quality. The other thing I found fascinating was who the three women turned out to be and what they represented, very interesting I thought. I thought the book was quite unique, among his work and in general, and because of all those things I quite liked it.

Despite that, I was not as sucked in by the story as usual, though I couldn't have told you why. I love how you describe it, "phrased it in the context of a university level discussion." That's very apt. I think you've put your finger on it.

I do think as fantasy writers go Gaiman is quite talented and usually magical, an amazing storyteller. He might or not be your cup of tea, but The Ocean at the End of the Lane is not typical of his work.

Let me know what you think of the story when you're done, even if it's not for you. :)

Monica wrote: "Greg wrote: "Have you read The Ocean at the End of the Lane? Still basically fantasy but that one might be right up your alley - myths, archetypes, very interesting. A Jungian analysis of that one ..."

If you like the short story, read Neverwhere - one of my favorites!

Greg & Cathie, Just finished the Neil Gaiman short story and liked it enough to try the book Neverwhere...thanks in large part by your encouraging comments.

Great Monica :) Hope you enjoy it!

2. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen (story) 4.5 stars

mini-review: When my cousin's daughter is a few years older, I think I'll buy her an illustrated copy of this story about a brave little girl-heroine who goes out in the wilderness to seek her lost playmate. Highly entertaining storytelling with a pleasing sweetness at its core. Also, enough fanciful oddity that I often couldn't guess what would happen next, despite my familiarity with the bare-bones story via numerous loose adaptions. In this case, the original tale far outstrips the adaptions - what a delightful little tale! I love the backstory about the mirror especially!

Monica wrote: "Greg & Cathie, Just finished the Neil Gaiman short story and liked it enough to try the book Neverwhere...thanks in large part by your encouraging comments."

Nice! Enjoy!

Greg wrote: "2. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen (story) 4.5 stars

mini-review: When my cousin's daughter is a few years older, I think I'll buy her an illustrated copy of ..."

Nice review, Greg. I also appreciated the mirror backstory...clever. Hans Christian Andersen's tales are often thoughtful in their messages. I especially enjoyed his later story The Dryad.

Thanks Monica! I haven't read the Dryad, but it looks interesting. I'll find a copy! :)

I loved The Snow Queen - I bought two beautiful illustrated copies the Christmas before last, one was for my god-daughter and the other one I'm saving for my niece to give her when she gets older. The pictures are amazing and the story was so charming, I may have shed a couple of tears at the end lol!

I love it Laurel! - What do you think is a good age to give a girl a copy? I want to get one for my cousin's daughter at some point, but I'm not sure what age would be appropriate.

By the way, I shed a few tears at the end too. I'm such a softie when it comes to good hearted stories. :)

Greg wrote: "2. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen (story) 4.5 stars

mini-review: When my cousin's daughter is a few years older, I think I'll buy her an illustrated copy of ..."

Love your review! Have added to my shelf!

Thanks Julia :)

Well my god-daughter Poppy was 6 when I gave it to her and she really loved it so I think that's a good age for this sort of book - hopefully it will be one she keeps coming back to!

Great - thanks Laurel! :)

3. The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot (poetry) re-read 3.75 stars

mini-review:
I've read it, but this one is still percolating. Some beautiful passages, but I think at this point in my life "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is more to my taste. The language in Prufrock is even more tactile, even more kinetic. Prufrock himself isn't particularly lovable but it's a stunning poem regardless and quite possible to understand on its own.

By contrast, The Waste Land strikes me now as a bit too deliberately obscure. Definitely it has some striking stanzas, and I still feel it's well worth the trouble to unravel. I just think that some other poems without the dizzying array of references are more pleasing to read, flow a bit more naturally, and can stand on their own. The Waste Land almost insists on being read along with an entire canon of other referred poems and books. Nothing wrong with that, but it definitely feels like work.

I agree Greg, The Wasteland does feel like work. I found it okay, but for me it was just too complex and I didn't understand much of it. I have trouble with poetry like this.

I think The Waste Land would be work for anyone Pink (and other than classical scholars, it's hard to see how anyone can really fully understand it). Impressions can be gathered yes, but a firm grip is very tough. I'm having trouble with it too.

Sandy, I think you might like "Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock" by Eliot much better Sandy. Much more accessible than the Waste Land. Despite the slightly off-putting protagonist of the poem, it's so lovely! Just let the language wash over you. Give the below animated link a try; I think you might like it.

Poem read by T S Eliot to an animated depiction of the poem's happenings:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xpRSmMnx1MU

My favorite parts are the beautiful conclusion with the mermaids & waves and the lovely, active, tactile description of the fog toward the beginning.

Here's a full reading by Eliot:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JAO3QTU4PzY

Sounds good Sandy :)

[Quietly sneaking in...] Thanks for posting the link to Eliot's full reading of his poem "Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock". What a beautifully moving rendition. So wonderful to listen to it in the author's own voice. [Quietly sneaking out...]

Ha ha Monica :) My pleasure! And no need to sneak, always welcome!

I do like Eliot's reading also! I found a post of Anthony Hopkins reading the poem, but Eliot reads a bit more slowly so the images have time to sink in.

Sandy wrote: "Thank you, Greg and Pink, for your comments about The Waste Land. I had intended to join in the group read/discussion but have a very bad memory of supposedly "studying" this poem in Grade 11. Our ..."

I was inspired by your comment Sandy, to post a few links to some of Eliot's lighter (or 'minor') poems on our Group Poetry thread. These won't require study and are also shorter, so I hope you will take a look.

4. A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld (graphic novel) 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

5. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (fiction) re-read 3.75 stars

6. The Hours by Michael Cunningham (fiction) 4.25 stars

So you liked The Hours? I want to read it too, but not until after some more Woolf.

Me too. After the film I've been curious of the novel, but somehow I never got there ...

Pink wrote: "So you liked The Hours? I want to read it too, but not until after some more Woolf."

I really did Pink & Laura! I think reading Mrs. Dalloway first adds a bit to the experience, but it's not required. The Hours is a fairly short book - I like how deeply it gets into the minds of the characters in such a short space. I also love the lush language! It's much less experimental than Woolf; so even if you're not crazy about Mrs. Dalloway, you should give it a shot someday.

7. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (autobiography) 3.75 stars

I love her storytelling as well as the forthrightness and candor. Some parts are hard to read because they're so affecting; other parts are quite hilarious.

Welcome back, Greg! Your insightful comments and thoughtful, welcoming demeanor were missed. Holding good thoughts for you.

Thanks so much Monica! I'm glad to be back here - I missed all of you too! :)

8. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (fiction) 3.0 stars

9. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (fiction) 4.25 stars

10. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (fiction) 4.5 stars

11. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett (fiction) 4.25 stars

Greg wrote: "8. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (fiction) 3.0 stars

9. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (fiction) 4.25 stars

10. [book..."

Didn't like Betty Smith so much? It is one of my favourite book!!!
While I'm reading - hopefully soon enough, [book:The Remains of the Day|28921]

Laura, I really did like it. The story itself was a fascinating look at the poorer areas of New York at the time. The reason I gave it fewer stars was I felt like it overexplained a bit, and odd to say for such a gritty book, I think in some places it was a little bit glamorized. Her father was one of the most cheerful alcoholics I've met. :)

It was the monthly read in another group. I explain the overexplaining part a little in message 25 here.

Despite that I think it's well worth reading! Not a bad book! It's just a matter of taste how much a reader likes to be implied versus told.


The Remains of the Day is much different than I remembered from the first time I read it. I enjoyed the glimpse into the politics of Britain between WW1 and WW2. Some parts are slow, but for me, it was very affecting by the end. It really made me feel for the characters. In this book though almost everything is suggested; practicality nothing is told directly.

12. The Story of My Life by Helen Keller (non-fiction) 3.5 stars

This was a short and highly enjoyable read; I was surprised by the vividness of the writing. Keller might've been a writer even if she didn't have the childhood illness that took her sight and hearing. It's a little disorienting at first because she describes scenes' sights and sounds vividly in her first person account, integrating what she was told of her surroundings directly, as if she heard and saw those things herself. But after I got past that, I really enjoyed it. There's a fascinating chapter where she discusses her method of writing as well that goes far to explain why the account reads as it does. And her account of the obstacles she faces as well as her means of overcoming them is downright enthralling! My favorite part in the book is when she describes her teacher's method of teaching Helen her first abstract ideas - "think" and "love." Ordinarily a child would learn those concepts at such an early age they couldn't describe it. That part is so fascinating ... and incredibly touching too!

13. All the Light We Cannot See (fiction) 4.75 stars

I haven't had time to investigate the factual inaccuracies yet, but the story and writing were just about a perfect match for my temperament. The writing had a just enough touch of fancy to make the writing spark and crackle with energy - an original, vibrant extended metaphor here and there. Recurring themes and images to add texture. A story with depth. The characters were nuanced as well (felt absolutely real), and some of them were highly sympathetic (a bonus for me in getting involved with the plot); I loved a number of both major & minor characters by the end. And on top of that, a bit of mythology stitched into the story as a throughline. Perhaps not quite the raw emotional power of books that are the top of the top (didn't make me weep), but I enjoyed it very, very much. I can see myself reading it again in a few years.

Greg , beautifully said ! You've expressed a lot of how I felt about this book .

Greg wrote: "12. The Story of My Life by Helen Keller (non-fiction) 3.5 stars

This was a short and highly enjoyable read; I was surprised by the vividness of the writing. Keller mig..."

I'm glad you posted this here, because I've been thinking a lot about Helen Keller recently and wanting to know more about what her experience was like. I can't even *fathom* it, which is exactly why I want to read this book.