July books
Aug. 7th, 2007 01:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
coffeesnob31827. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
I’m really not a sci-fi person, but this book was written with such empathy that I liked it. It was easy to get into. The end was fairly predictable, and the resolution seemed a little contrived, but I liked it.
28. Margherita Dolce Vita by Stefano Benni
Where has this author been all my life? I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was hilarious and tragic and satiric. The main character reminds me of a friend of mine whom I miss, so it was special in that way, too.
29. Last Dance in Havana: The Final Days of Fidel and the Start of the New Cuban Revolution by Eugene Robinson
"These people dance." That pretty much sums up the book. A lot of political history on Cuba, which may not be interesting to some, but it is to me. I usually come away from books with a huge list of other books to read, either by the same author or books that were mentioned by the author in the text of the book itself. With this book, I walked away with a list of musicians, most of whom I've heard, but some of whom I can't wait to check out. This guy loves Cuba. I like reading books by people who love a place that's not their home, because you get to see the moment that they give their heart to it.
30. Socrates in Love by Kyoichi Katayama
What a beautifully written love story! Read it. The imagery is nice, and the things that the characters say will break your heart, even if your heart is as bitter and cynical as mine.
31. The Quotidian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris
I loved this tiny little book. There are so few books that I would read again and again. This is going to be my I'm-so-restless-and-sad-and-drained book. She talks about finding God in the activities of daily life. Furthermore, she said some things that were so dead on that I swear she's been reading my personal journal. This was so good for me right now.
32. The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham
Did someone suggest this author? I cannot for the life of me remember why I reserved it at the library. It's unlike anything I would pick out on my own. But it was a quick read. I enjoyed it, for the most part. She had a difficult time taking me with her when she switched perspectives into a new character, but I appreciate the effort to let each character's voice into the story.
33. Number 6 Fumbles by Rachel Solar-Tuttle
I need to read this book every time I catch myself thinking, "Oh, to be 20 again." This was a good reminder of the daunting abyss of uncertainty and the resulting panic, loneliness, and the apparent void that I used to try to fill with whatever distraction was available. It's weird how I only seem to keep the good memories. But this book was written well enough to take me back to the not-so-good things of 20, too. What struck closest to home with me was the main character's underlying weakness in apparent strength. I remember being told the same exact thing that she was told - "You're stronger than you think you are." Which turned out to be true. What people didn't realize, though, was that I was also weaker than they thought I was. I still get that sometimes. And I'm still baffled when people are shocked when I mess up.
Still, I would like to think that I'm not just mindlessly filling up voids. I've actually learned to face the seeming voids that pop up in life. I'd like to think I've grown into bravery. I wouldn't go back to 20 for anything.
I’m really not a sci-fi person, but this book was written with such empathy that I liked it. It was easy to get into. The end was fairly predictable, and the resolution seemed a little contrived, but I liked it.
28. Margherita Dolce Vita by Stefano Benni
Where has this author been all my life? I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was hilarious and tragic and satiric. The main character reminds me of a friend of mine whom I miss, so it was special in that way, too.
29. Last Dance in Havana: The Final Days of Fidel and the Start of the New Cuban Revolution by Eugene Robinson
"These people dance." That pretty much sums up the book. A lot of political history on Cuba, which may not be interesting to some, but it is to me. I usually come away from books with a huge list of other books to read, either by the same author or books that were mentioned by the author in the text of the book itself. With this book, I walked away with a list of musicians, most of whom I've heard, but some of whom I can't wait to check out. This guy loves Cuba. I like reading books by people who love a place that's not their home, because you get to see the moment that they give their heart to it.
30. Socrates in Love by Kyoichi Katayama
What a beautifully written love story! Read it. The imagery is nice, and the things that the characters say will break your heart, even if your heart is as bitter and cynical as mine.
31. The Quotidian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris
I loved this tiny little book. There are so few books that I would read again and again. This is going to be my I'm-so-restless-and-sad-and-drained book. She talks about finding God in the activities of daily life. Furthermore, she said some things that were so dead on that I swear she's been reading my personal journal. This was so good for me right now.
32. The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham
Did someone suggest this author? I cannot for the life of me remember why I reserved it at the library. It's unlike anything I would pick out on my own. But it was a quick read. I enjoyed it, for the most part. She had a difficult time taking me with her when she switched perspectives into a new character, but I appreciate the effort to let each character's voice into the story.
33. Number 6 Fumbles by Rachel Solar-Tuttle
I need to read this book every time I catch myself thinking, "Oh, to be 20 again." This was a good reminder of the daunting abyss of uncertainty and the resulting panic, loneliness, and the apparent void that I used to try to fill with whatever distraction was available. It's weird how I only seem to keep the good memories. But this book was written well enough to take me back to the not-so-good things of 20, too. What struck closest to home with me was the main character's underlying weakness in apparent strength. I remember being told the same exact thing that she was told - "You're stronger than you think you are." Which turned out to be true. What people didn't realize, though, was that I was also weaker than they thought I was. I still get that sometimes. And I'm still baffled when people are shocked when I mess up.
Still, I would like to think that I'm not just mindlessly filling up voids. I've actually learned to face the seeming voids that pop up in life. I'd like to think I've grown into bravery. I wouldn't go back to 20 for anything.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 01:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-08 05:58 am (UTC)Right now I'm reading The Divine Conspiracy. I've been working on it for the past six months - it's cross-referenced a lot, and the residual grad student in me can't leave the curiosity alone - but I think I'm going to finish it this week.
I'm about to start Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby, The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, and All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell. Those are the next three that are due, anyway. I'm also slowly picking my way through Gravity and Grace by Simone Weil and When God Was a Woman by...I forget the author...but I don't see myself finishing those any time soon.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-08 06:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-08 12:56 am (UTC)Started a book last night, so yay!
no subject
Date: 2007-08-08 05:58 am (UTC)