Anne tries to reduce arsenal by 20

I am setting a modest goal of 20 BOMBS -- with a special focus on ebooks that have accumulated "somehow". Many of these are Member Giveaways, so this will have the added bonus of doing right by the authors who have sent kindly their books to me.

Best wishes and luck to all.

Good luck to you too, Anne.

2012 BOMB #1: The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank. What a pleasant book!! Why did it take me at least two years to pull it off the shelf??? This is half a dozen short stories about Jane, a twenty-something (actually the first story is set when she is a teenager), as she navigates the world of men and friends and family and work. I will pass it on to my own twenty-something daughter as a light but very enjoyable read. And I have always loved the cover.

2012 BOMB #2: What Went Wrong with Economics by Michael Reiss. Not too good. Interesting and informative discussion of many aspects of the US economy, but a naive recommendation for change that stunt economic growth and development.

2012 BOMB #3: Ordinary Love and Good Will by Jane Smiley. Two excellent novellas depicting two very different families, one still suffering the repercussions of the mother's infidelity 20 years prior and a second trying to live off the land, on the edge of modern society. The characters are complex and compelling. I have to read more Jane Smiley. So far, the best of 2012.

I enjoyed those novellas too, Anne.

Which was your favourite of the two? I think I preferred the second, though it was upsetting.

I am late in reporting my February BOMBS.

2012 BOMB #4: Beneath Gray Skies by Hugh Ashton. Set in the 1930's, this is an alternate history based on the premise that the Civil War never occurred and slavery still exists in the South. Racism, espionage, heroes and villains -- this is an interesting story and a novel concept. Thanks to the author from whom I received this through Member Giveaway.

2012 BOMB #5: The Innocent by Ian McEwan. I am a big Ian McEwan fan. This was definitely not the best from him, but worth the read. Very dark. But I think this is the first book I have read about Berlin right after WW II. McEwan paints a great picture of the tension among the Allies along with the struggle of average Berliners.

I am struggling with the touchstones here. And the touchstones are winning. This is the book by Ian McEwan, not Harlan Coben.

>6 ramblingivy:: I have thought a lot about your question. I think I liked Good Will better because it was focused on a current struggle, not the continued heartache of twenty year old behavior. And I think I liked the characters better. But both stories were excellent.

No BOMBS out in March, but I have a few ticking, so I hope to get back on track this month.

2012 BOMB #6: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittman. I have had this book for several years and always loved its cover: several colorful wild parrots perched on a power line. Unfortunately, the book had none of the charm of its cover. A memoir, it is interesting as far as the birds are concerned, but the back story, the author's spiritual search and the eventual love story are quite boring. Disappointing.

2012 BOMB #7: Burmese Refugees: Letters from the Thai-Burma Border by T. F. Rhoden. This is a collection of essays by Burmese refugees taking English classes from the editor. For the most part, the refugees came to the camps following the 1988 and 2007 political uprisings in Myanmar. Some were political activists; some just caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their individual stories are touching and poignant -- but repetitious. The editors' comments are often more interesting, with back story to the individual's story or adding social or historical context. Thanks to the editors who sent me this through Member Giveaway.

2012 BOMB #8: The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble. This is another book the cover of which I have admired for several years. Margaret Drabble was recommended on Library Thing, I think in comparison to Barbara Pym. If this recollection is correct, I think I chose the wrong example of her work. This book is divided into two very distinct parts. The first is a posthumous memoir of Crown Princess Hyegyong offering a detailed account of the minute and extraordinary events of the 18th century royal Korean palace with its intrigue, politics and murder. The second part is a contemporary story of Barbara Halliwell, a British social scientist on her way to a professional conference in Seoul reading, yes, the biography of Princess Hyegyong, and then Dr. Halliwell's experience at the conference, including her brief affair with the leading scholar in her field that ends with -- his death -- in bed -- with her. It all gets to be a bit much, but still not a bad read at all, if perhaps a little disappointing to me as I was expecting something a lot more like Barbara Pym. I will look for more Margaret Drabble, although perhaps this time reading the dust jacket more carefully instead of just being taken in by the cover.

2012 BOMB #9: The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. I had picked this book up a couple times during its time on my shelf, and was never able to get past the first 20-30 pages. What was wrong with me???? This is an outstanding story of love and loss and forgiveness and hope. The characters are rich and deep and intriguing -- and the descriptions of Newfoundland absolutely make me want to go there and experience the fog and the cold and the awful food. Sorry, Jane Smiley, this pushes you out for the best of 2012.

shearon,

I watched the documentary of The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, and while I liked to see the birds, I couldn't help but think that for all his helping the parrots, that guy was a 'crazy parrot dude' and not in a good way. There was SO MUCH bird excrement EVERYWHERE, in his house, on his clothes. I just kept thinking how ill that would make someone in prolonged contact...

2012 BOMB #10: Stiff by Mary Roach. Everything you could ever want to know about dead bodies -- and more. Fun and fascinating trivia, plenty of history and science, and all presented in a simultaneously humorous but totally respectful way. On the issue of an individual's "final directions": whether to be cremated or buried, body donated to science or whatever, Roach suggests that these decisions should be left to the survivors rather than the (now) deceased. She doesn't really belabor the point, but she does challenge the reader as to whether such directives aren't really just a final attempt to exert control. You are dead, but meanwhile the survivors who may be coping with grief over the loss (of you), may also have qualms, of whatever nature, over carrying out yours orders. They may feel bound to do what you directed, or to ignore it, and either way feel guilty for a long time. And, she says, what does it matter to you -- you're dead. Definitely something to think about, especially if one might be a bit, just a bit, of a control freak.

edited to try to fix Touchstones -- Touchstones beat me down again -- This is not a book by Shane Maloney, it is by Mary Roach -- frustrating

2012 BOMB #11: Everything in this Country Must: A Novella and Two Stories by Colum McCann. I was unacquainted with Colum McCann until I read Let the Great World Spin a couple years ago. This volume, two short stories and a novella, is set in Northern Ireland, probably in the 1970's. I was a teenager during that time and I remember press reports about the "troubles" and particularly the novella, Hunger Strike, recalls the sadness of that era.

2012 BOMB #12: Bringing Down the House by Adam Wasserman. I can say nothing good about this play.

2012 BOMB #13: Waiting by Ha Jin. I actually finished this in July, but didn't add it. I was a little disappointed in this as a National Book Award winner, finding the characters flat and dull. It is in many respects, however, a searing indictment of the Chinese Cultural Revolution demonstrating the abdication, particularly by the principle male character, of personal responsibility and decision making.

2012 BOMB #14: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler. While some authors who address the same themes all the time get very tiresome, Anne Tyler does not, at least for me. This is classic Tyler: set in Baltimore, a dysfunctional family with plenty of baggage from past wrongs and barely sticking together. Parents v. children, brother v. brother, everyone against the force of the world, the story drags in places, but the slow pace makes the reader get to know these characters, whether you like them or not.

2012 BOMB #15: The Box Garden by Carol Shields. Another family drama, and such a great contrast between Carol Shields and Anne Tyler. Shields' protagonist is a deeper, more thoughtful character than any of Tyler's and the "happy ending" still acknowledges the personalities of these characters. Tyler doesn't always do that; often, the favorable wrap-up overlooks the very limitations of the individuals fundamental to the story. But in both stories the characters' love of family is not easy; it takes the evolution of their person to get them there.

2012 BOMB #16: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Yet a third family drama this month, perhaps "the" family drama. This translation, characterized by the editors as very accurate to the original Greek, is challenging, but with concentration, the familiar story is easy to comprehend.

2012 BOMB #17: Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan. Stewart O'Nan is one of my favorite authors and this did not disappoint. The comparison to The Lovely Bones is practically unavoidable, but I think the character development was deeper here and the pain and other conflicting emotions experienced by these characters communicated very effectively.

2012 BOMB #18: Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston. I am a total sucker for these Pride & Prejudice spin-offs. Darcy and Elizabeth have five daughters (and two sons, although they hardly get a mention) who are in London while there parents are in Egypt. The Darcy sisters parallel very closely the personalities of the Bennett sisters; too closely perhaps, as does the plot in this "sequel": the thoughtful, intelligent sister, the sanctimonious sister, the flirts all participating in the London season complete with the obsequious clergyman, the handsome officers, the social calls and social etiquette, the balls, the secret liaisons and an elopement. Towards the end, it deteriorates into a bit of a farce, but an enjoyable one -- with the promise of more stories to come.

2012 BOMB #19: Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger. This was quite a surprise. My knowledge of Salinger is limited (Catcher in the Rye and maybe a couple short stories) but I was not surprised by the family dynamic and the lengthy monologues (especially from Zooey), but I was taken off guard by the whole religious/mystical context. I am going to try to learn more about the background on this book (and about the significance of smoking throughout: Zooey refers to his cigars as "ballast" but I think there is more to it than that.)

2012 BOMB #20: A Return to Abundance, Book I by Paul L. Gubany. This is a self help book to assist the reader in identifying and avoiding attitudes towards money that lead to stress and self destructive behavior. The author believes that an unhealthy attitude towards money and finance is pervasive in our culture and the root of many ills. I appreciate the author making this available through Library Thing Member Giveaway, but I will not be following up with the second and third books in this series.

I have completed my goal of 20 BOMBS in 2012.

Partially because it is only October and partially because I am disappointed that I didn't complete more Member Giveaways, as I had originally planned, I am going to stay on track and hopefully retire a few more BOMBS before the end of the year.

Yay! Congratulations on meeting your goal! :)

Congratulations, Shearon! Good for you.

You did a great job!

2012 BOMB #21: My Name is Sei Shonagon by Jan Blensdorf. Referencing the 10th century The Pillow Book, this is the story of a Japanese American woman who came to Tokyo from New York as a child after her American father died. She lives with an abusive uncle and depressed mother but eventually finds solace in listening to men tell her their troubles, and ultimately peace in her own life. Interesting for its indictment of Japanese culture and dysfunctionality of personal relationships in Japan, but not much else.

2012 BOMB #22: Emma and Me by Elizabeth Flock. My older daughter's name is Emma, which is what drew me to this book. It is a sad story of grief, loss and hopelessness. The "shocking" end is pretty obvious throughout. I suggest skipping this one, even if your kid's name is Emma

2012 BOMB #23: Gisborne: Book of Pawns by Prue Batton. This historical fiction, romance type thing would not be something I typically read, but it was OK. The characters got on my nerves by the end, especially the female protagonist who was a bit of a whinner. Note sure I will look for the subsequent installments of this saga, but perhaps.

2012 BOMB #24: Pasta Noir: 40 Postmodern Pasta Recipes from Joyce to Hemingway, Freud to George Bush by Susan Cook-Abdallah. An entertaining combination of parody and cooking, the authors imitate the style, themes and characters of famous authors, thinkers, politicians and other notables in the form of recipes and cooking notes. Although I read it straight through, I don't think it is the kind of book that is so intended. Yet, the ebook format does not lend itself to just picking this up when, for example, an author or politician come to mind and you recall a humorous entry in Pasta Noir. I hope these authors do a print version. Thanks to the authors for this Member Giveaway.

2012 BOMB #25: False Friend by Myla Goldberg. I really like Myla Goldberg. Bee Season was a favorite for a long time. The format and approach in Wickett's Remedy was very appealing. False Friend is clearly my least favorite, but still not bad. The main character, struggling with a combination of survivor and "mean girl" guilt from an event that occurred twenty-plus years before, is unsympathetic and tiresome, and her family and relationship dysfunctions don't help her seem any less egocentric. That said, it is still an interesting story of the power of memory, even false memory, and guilt and the struggle to overocme these.

2012 BOMB #26: Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. I love the Craftsman and Art and Crafts styles of furniture and decor and although hardly an expert have enjoyed visting some Frank Lloyd Wright's houses in Oak Park and Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. I've also read a little about Wright and this love story about him and Mamah Borthwick Cheney casts Wright in a more sympathetic light than some other accounts. Much of the story is focused on Mamah and her struggle to find an identity beyond the traditional early 20th century's for women of her class, and also to balance this against her love for her children and Wright. There is no way to know if Horan presents an accurate description of the relationship between these two people, other than some of the well known facts, but Loving Frank is a very engaging and enjoyable read.