krazy4katz's 2011 reading journal

Hi,

I have never done this before -- reporting on my reading will be a new experience. I don't know if I could be considered a "serious" reader. I read mostly fiction -- my nonfiction is mostly biographies. I have been a member of LT for almost 3 years now (joined March, 2008) and I am slowly trying to move more into the book-related groups.

k4k

I don't think you necessarily have to be very serious here, and I don't think that humor is out of place in a serious endeavor. I also believe that fiction and biography can be serious enough.

So I, for one, welcome you here and look forward to your reflecting on these things.

Robert

Hi k4k,
I am new here and have not participated in any of the groups, so I understand your trepidation. Hope we both have good year with our books and reading!
KK

Thank you, Mr.Durick (of mango fame) and KK! I am looking forward to being here!

Happy New Year everyone! I am starting the year with The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, which has been very positively reviewed. So far I am having some difficulty keeping all the political figures straight, but we shall see. It would help if I knew something about the hierarchy of the Catholic Church too.

Welcome krazykatz. I tried this last year, and didn't do very well, but I'm back to try again, so it's nice to "see" a new face with which to be sort of new with! Here's to a good reading year...

Hi theaelizabet. Thank you for the welcome! I hope I spend at least as much time reading my books as I do the posts on LT. It looks like several of your 2010 books are on my 2011 wish list.

k4k

Welcome! I don't think you need to worry about the 'seriousness' of your reading. Plenty of us read fun (and funny) stuff.

So I posted this (hopefully reassuring) comment on another newcomer's thread and am re-posting it here.

"I can't obviously speak for avaland, but I think her original intent was just to create a place to talk about books that was a little less overwhelming and a little less "challenge-oriented" than some of the other groups on the site. I love the group because it has always seemed to me to be a place for serious readers but not for snobs. And a place where I can feel ok reading with no goals in mind other than to enjoy myself! :D

I think it's pretty hard to make mis-steps here - we don't have a lot of ceremony that I've ever been aware of. I think you'll see that most of us have quite a range in our reading tastes & I hope you'll feel welcome here!"

Sentiment still stands & I'll just add that I think the "serious reader" is above all someone who loves to read - whatever the material is (literary fiction, vampire novels, the back of an orange juice carton...) - to think a bit about what one reads, and to open oneself to good stories, wherever they may be found.

My definition of "serious reader"? The kind of person who will walk down the street with a book in their hand and run smack into a lamp post because they were so engrossed. Doesn't matter WHAT they were engrossed in reading... Extend the metaphor as you will -- burn the dinner, forget to go to sleep, etc. etc.

Thanks, 8, 9 and 10!

Still reading The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara. I will be for a while, I think. The story is starting to pick up. What impresses me most so far is the LEGAL arguments the family make to try to get their son back -- as if this was appropriate behavior! They are stymied by the bureaucracy of the Church as well as that of the Roman ghetto leaders. I never imagined that at one point it was legal to remove children from their homes if someone secretly baptized them. Very weird. Also, I didn't realize that the Austrian government kept the Church in power in Italy. Very interesting situation.

Even though you haven't reviewed it yet, The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara sounded intriguing, and I added it to my list.

Welcome to Club Read.

And it's going on to mine.

I'm tempted as well but will wait for your review to decide.

Finally finished The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara. I enjoyed it a lot, but it focuses at least as much on European history and the Catholic Church as it does on the Mortara family. I reviewed the book and reprint below:

"The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara describes a period during the mid 1800s when Italy was becoming a unified, secular country, modeled after France, Great Britain and other European countries. Prior to this time, it was a conglomerate of separate states with large areas ruled by the Catholic Church. Edgardo, a young Jewish boy, was taken from his home because he was reportedly baptized by a young illiterate servant working in the Mortara home. What made this so incredible was that, although baptism was not permitted without parental consent, once it was done, the Church felt it had no choice but to remove the child from his home so that he could be brought up as a proper Catholic. At the same time, there was a movement in Italy to unite under a secular ruler. The author contends that the Mortara case, although not unusual, was so widely publicized across the western world that it tipped the balance in favor of anti-papist sentiment and precipitated the annexation (under force) of the papal lands to Sardinia and the other parts of Italy. I don't know if I entirely buy this premise, but it certainly suggested to the rest of Europe an archaic way of thinking that they no longer wished to support.

My expectations for this book were slightly different. I think there was more of an emphasis on history than I expected, although the personal plight of the Mortara family was addressed within the context of the struggle between secular and religious forces in Italy. I was fascinated to learn that there was still an Inquisition in Italy at this time and that regions outside the papal rule did not require Jews to live in ghettos. The book clearly serves as a warning that theocracies are dangerous as governing bodies and likely to treat those of other religions as second class citizens. For the most part, the book was well written, although there were times when it seemed disorganized and repetitive, because it would go back a few centuries, then come back the the 1800s. I was also unfamiliar with the Catholic hierarchy, so it took me a while to realize that Cardinals could be archbishops etc. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and found that it significantly broadened my understanding of European history."

I am getting ready to read The Woman in White, but taking a detour to read the FIRST BOOK EVER written by my friend, Helen B. Needham, called The Cat Magnet: A Rescuer's Collection of Cat Tales!!

ETA: Don't know why touchstones are not working for Helen's book -- maybe because I am the only one who owns it?

The Cat Magnet: A Rescuer's Collection of Cat Tales!

I had to force it, but I like cats, so it was worth it.

Robert

Thanks, Robert! Don't know how you did it, but my cats thank you, Helen's cats thank you and Helen thanks you.

k4k

P.S. I would love to have a visitor's map like yours, but it never works when I try to do it.

Just in case you want to know how to do it, I explained it here. It may also be explained in the wiki.

Robert

PS Oh, now I see that you've already seen it.

R

15 - Sounds good. On this wishlist it goes.

k4k - I'm a bit late here, but just wanted to say nice review of The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara. Looking forward to following along here.

19, 20: thanks! Started The Woman in White. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the writing, but now I am intrigued. Safely hooked into the plot. To give you an idea of his style at its best:

"The soft hazy twilight was just shading leaf and blossom alike into harmony with its own sober hues when we entered the room..."

k4k - I loved The Woman in White and Collins' other fairly famous work The Moonstone. Apart from his writing style, it's important to note that we largely have Collins to thank (or blame, depending on which way you look at it) for the plethora of 'whodunnit' books available today.

It's also interesting to consider that he was a very close friend of Dickens (if memory serves, I believe the two frequently travelled through Europe together). However, while I enjoy Dicken's prose more, I think Collins' is more accessable.

It is a shame that Collins gets the legal issues surronding inheritance wrong for the time in which the novel is set. The solicitor who advised him probably needed a refresher in inheritance law.

Thank you, Christine. I am just at the point where Walter and Marian start searching for the woman who delivered the note given to Laura. I will ask you about the legal issues when I get to that point. It sounds interesting.

By the way, how does this group feel about spoilers? I am trying to be vague, but I apologize if it happens anyway.

k4k

Talking about any of Collin's books is problematic in terms of spoilers (I don't think knowing there's something about inheritance in there gives away too much).

If I can't avoid mentioning a key plot point, I normally indicate it so it's clear at the start of my post, e.g.:

WARNING: POST CONTAINS SPOILERS ABOUT X!

I especially liked the quote you picked above, I'd forgotten how 'lofty' Collin's writing was - maybe I'll have to read another of his next!

OK, don't tell me if I am wrong or write (I mean, right!), but I think someone in The Woman in White is lying and I think that person is dead. Other than that, I am anxiously reading to find out what is going to happen next.

ETA: I just felt the need to express this out loud.

I interrupted The Woman in White to read Beyond the Pink Moon written by a woman who survived breast cancer. My review for this wonderful little book is here (since touchstones are not working for this particular book):
http://www.librarything.com/work/10924989/reviews

Now back to finish The Woman in White! So many surprises! I think this is the best mystery story I have ever read!!

Well, I finally finished The Woman in White! I loved it!! I have reprinted my review below:

If my memory is correct, this is the best mystery story I have ever read! It was with real pain that I put it down every night to go to sleep. Lots of twists and turns -- my first guess at one of the mysteries was totally wrong. It was not humorous in the way Sherlock Holmes' or Agatha Christie's stories are. This is a much more involved, serious book, although there are plenty of light moments. It took a couple of chapters to get used to the style, but actually, the prose is quite beautiful. Since most of the characters write at least one chapter in the book, they have real depth. I appreciated that Wilkie Collins - as a man - seemed to have a lot of sympathy for the lack of freedom experienced by women living in the 19th century. I will definitely read more of his books!

Now, I remember Christine saying he got the laws of inheritance wrong (message #22). Christine, if you are still around, could you tell me what he got wrong? Thanks. I haven't yet decided what I will read next.

27: Great review k4k! If you're looking for more Collins, the Moonstone is also very highly rated and told in a very similar style to The Woman in White (use of multiple narrators telling first person accounts). I actually prefer Armadale, however, which is slightly different and (if it's possible) has a more intricate plot than either of those two.

Necessary spoilers from The Woman in White Follow

It's been a while since I read this, but a significant plot point involves money Laura either inherits or is a marriage settlement, which her husband tries to extort from her. The legal problem with this is that according to the novel, Laura and Glyde marry in 1849, which is prior to the Married Womens' Property Act (I can't remember whether the 1870 act (which applied to only certain types of property) or the 1882 act (which applied to all property) is relevant in the particular case), and at that time all property of married women legally became their husbands upon marriage. So there would have been no need for Glyde to extort Laura for her money, it would have legally been his.

The penguin classics versions have a wonderful summary of the actual legal position at the time.

spoiler!!

Well, that certainly would have destroyed the plot if he didn't have to get rid of her.

The one hole in the plot that I don't understand is how someone without an identity could marry.

MORE SPOILERS

A lot of Collins' novels involve marriage and while I'm far from an expert, it seems that in those times you didn't need to provide as much paper work as you do these days (birth certificates, etc).

I'm ignoring the spoiler messages, but your review is making me eye the unread copy of The Woman in White sitting on my bookshelf!

I decided to go for nonfiction next, but had a difficult time deciding what to read. Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future? No. Death by Black Hole? No. The Jew in the Lotus? No. I finally settled on In the Land of Invisible Women. The average rating in LT is 3.5 stars. So far, I am finding it interesting. Qanta Ahmed is a British-born Muslim living in the U.S. and training to be a physician. When her visa runs out and she is denied an extension, it is either home or....Saudi Arabia? Well, let's see what happens!

I finished In the Land of Invisible Women, which I really enjoyed! The review is below:

A British physician training in the U.S. finds out that her visa will not be renewed. Because of her Muslim background, she decides to go to Saudi Arabia for a couple of years and experience life in that country. As a liberal Muslim and an independent, highly educated woman, she struggles with the severe restrictions placed on women in the Kingdom. Not permitted to drive, she must depend on male drivers to take her everywhere. She must be fully covered in public. She is not permitted to go out unchaperoned and risks arrest by the "Virtue Police" at mixed gender parties, even when they are professional in nature. The prose is intense and detailed, highlighting her discomfort at submitting to these rules, finding ways to rein in her natural tendency to argue and looking for the positive whenever possible. A highlight in the book is her trip to Mecca during the Hajj, an experience which left her more deeply bound to her Muslim faith in spite of the difficulties and inconsistencies in the people around her. She struggles with racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism that she finds even in her highly educated friends. Because of her own educational background, most of the people she describes in detail are from the wealthy social class and she highlights the restrictions that even they face under Saudi rule. While she does address poverty and class distinctions, it is a minor part of the book. She also spends a lot of the book describing the expensive, brand-name clothing and accessories worn by these wealthy people. These are details I would never have noticed, but it does provide an interesting contrast between the materialism of these people and the spirituality that the government is trying to impose through the implementation of their version of Islamic Law. Overall, I found it a fascinating look into a culture I would never otherwise experience. I felt I was right there with her through everything. A captivating read.

It is interesting to compare this book to Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who grew up in a poor Muslim family and has a very different perspective on the restrictions women face in Muslim families. She feels that those restrictions are part of Islam and are derived from writings in the Koran. I believe she now considers herself an agnostic or an atheist, I can't quite remember. Qanta Ahmed would argue that the problems she faced in Saudi Arabia are cultural, not Islamic. Since both women are very active politically, I wonder if they have ever met. It would be fascinating to listen to a discussion between them.

I wanted to go for fiction this time, maybe even fantasy! But no! I happened to download a sample of And the Band Played On and have been sucked into reading it. I believe this is kidzdoc's fault, although I am not 100% sure where I got the recommendation. Anyway, it is a very well written description of the beginning of the AIDS epidemic from the political, social and health perspective.

Edited to remove double post.

I enjoyed your review of The land of invisible women which sounds fascinating. The mixture of materialism and Islamic culture that you talk about is something that will interest me and so I have addeed it to my "to Buy" list

Thanks, baswood! I hope you enjoy it. k4k

Nice review of In the Land of Invisible Women; I'll probably read it this summer.

Thanks, kidzdoc. I hope you like it.

I am really enjoying And the Band Played On regarding the history of the AIDS epidemic. It is an insightful and very human depiction of people's refusal to confront the foreshadowing events of the AIDS epidemic. From the gay community to the NIH research establishment (forget the Reagan Administration!) -- everyone comes in for a share of the blame for not facing up to the facts. And I am only 25% through the book. I am so sad that Randy Shilts did not survive. More to come...

k4k

>39 krazy4katz:: That was a surprisingly engaging book, considering how detailed the book was, along with it being about such a serious subject. It definitely held my interest all the way through.

>40 bonniebooks:: Yes, Bonnie, I agree. I am about 50% of the way through the book and I am pretty sure it will be one of my top reads for 2011. I am amazed on almost every page at how human beings can mess things up! Through ignorance, greed, fear etc. It doesn't matter if you are left-wing, right-wing, gay, straight, educated or not. I just wonder if we ever learn anything from these experiences.

Somehow, despite the sadness and frustration, I am really enjoying it.

Hi everyone!

Back after a long time spent reading And the Band Played On, which was totally worth it!! I don't remember where I got the idea to read this book - someone on LT - but whoever you are, I thank you.

Here is my review:

It took me more than 5 weeks to read this book. During that time I felt as though I lived daily with the author and the people he portrayed. The book is written in a journalistic style punctuated with beautiful prose and a sense of indignation that grows stronger as the storyline progresses. Randy Shilts did a superb job of placing personal stories in the context of civil rights, politics, and the American distaste for discussions of sex and sexual orientation. Truly this is a story about how we, as a society, damage ourselves. Very few groups come out looking good. Of course the Reagan administration, which didn't want to spend money on a "gay disease" even after it was budgeted by Congress, the gay rights advocates, whose fears of civil rights violations kept them from advocating safe sex policies that could have saved thousands of lives, the NIH, which was locked in a fight with the Pasteur Institute for credit for the discovery of the AIDS virus, the list goes on and on. Only at the CDC did I find a few officials who saw the coming epidemic and tried to push through policies necessary to save lives. Otherwise, the heroes of this book are a handful of people -- a few journalists, physicians, community activists -- private citizens who worked very hard trying to avoid this catastrophe. I think everyone should read this book as a lesson on civic responsibility and it should be part of high school or college curricula. It is an amazing book, rendered even more poignant by the early death of its talented author.

And here is a quote from Roger Lyon appearing before a Congressional subcommittee on AIDS (which I also put in CK):

"I came here today with the hope that this administration would do everything possible, make every resource available -- there is no reason this disease cannot be conquered. We do not need infighting. This is not a political issue. This is a health issue. This is not a gay issue. This is a human issue. And I do not intend to be defeated by it. I came here today in the hope that my epitaph would not read that I died of red tape."

Now on to something completely different! Outlander by Diana Galbaldon. Not absolutely loving it yet, but starting to get more involved in the story.

Oh my! That is different! From a heavy dose of reality to escapism. I really liked Outlander, but got tired of the formula on reading the second one. Back to And the Band Played On. So much has changed (thankfully!) since AIDS was first discovered; has the the book been updated since it was first published?

Hi Bonnie,

Yes, I like to keep my reading "balanced". Of course this strategy sometimes leads to whiplash. ;-)

To my knowledge, And the Band Played On has not been updated. Although much has changed, I think it is fitting that the book stays the same. If you accept the premise of the book, the harsh reality is that no one cared about AIDS until it made significant inroads into the heterosexual community of the western world. That message is more powerful without an update. It means we cannot be complacent and think that "everything is better now".

Happy reading!

k4k

K4k - great review of And the band played on. Also, i only just now read your review of In the land of invisible women - fascinating reading you've been doing.

I Agee! It would have to be a whole other book, anyway. I can't remember, has the author died since then?

Yes, Randy Shilts died of AIDS in 1994, I believe. Very sad.

42 - Great review!

I finished Outlander. The "Will you like it?" said that I wouldn't, with high confidence. I wanted to prove it wrong, but finally decided that this genre is probably not for me. I gave the book 3 stars.

Here is my review:
i think this genre may not be my thing. I enjoyed the time travel aspect and learning about Scotland and its history, although it was quite fragmented. You had to pick up bits and pieces as you went along. The writing was sometimes "laugh out loud" funny, as Claire's 20th century impressions and expressions collided with her 18th century reality. Unfortunately, the "romance" part became a bit tedious for me. I don't object to that kind of writing, but it seemed to interrupt the flow of the story. I would really like to find out what happens next to the time-traveling Claire, but I am not sure I want to put up with the daily bedroom activities.

What to read next? Back to the pile...
{rummages through kindle}

OK, back to memoirs. I am reading Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So by Mark Vonnegut. I read his first memoir, The Eden Express last year and liked it very much. Both books deal with his struggle with mental illness, originally diagnosed as schizophrenia, but now thought to be bipolar disorder. His writing style has similarities to one of my favorite authors, his father, Kurt Vonnegut. If you are a fan of Kurt Vonnegut, you will recognize that style in the title of Mark Vonnegut's new book.

I enjoyed the fantasy and romance of Outlander but not enough to stick with its sequels.

I haven't read Vonnegut since high school. What would you recommend? :o)

Hi GCPL,

I used to read a Vonnegut at the end of each semester in graduate school. It just seemed to put the cap on the semester. It has been a long, long time, but I guess my favorites (other than Slaughterhouse Five, which everyone reads) would be
The Piano Player, Cat's Cradle, and just about everything else! I haven't read the books that were published just prior to and after his death. I am hoping to catch up on those soon.

k4k

Getting back here after a LONG time off, mostly because I have been busy and because I am in a reading slump. I read No Future Without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu, which was really excellent, although it took some effort to get into. He goes through a very interesting discussion of why South Africa decided to set up the Truth and Reconciliation Committee to hear stories of people who suffered (more than normally) under apartheid and those who committed atrocities. The goals were to bring closure for the sufferers and amnesty (after appropriate disclosure and remorse) for the perpetrators of these atrocities. Some of the hearings are described in detail and what actually happened under apartheid was an eye opener - even for me. I thought I knew a lot because I had read Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, but was I ever wrong!! I was also captivated by the humility and honesty of Desmond Tutu and I highly recommend this book. I don't know when I will get around to writing a review, however.

Feeling like I really needed something light, I read The Sex Club by L. J. Sellers. The mystery aspect was good, but the slant of the politics was unrelenting. The author really comes down hard on conservative Christians and ties them all to a war on abortion and teen birth control providers. While my politics are the same as the authors, I felt as though I was being manipulated to hate an entire class of people, and I didn't like that.

Not sure what I will read next. The reading slump continues...

k4k

slaughterhouse 5 my ass what a pile of crap

Krazy, sorry to hear of your reading slump. What books are on your nightstand? Hopefully your friends here can recommend which is guaranteed to reinvigorate your booklust! :o)

Picked up The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. Let's see what happens. I have an Amos Oz on hold until I recover.

Thanks, GCPL! I just returned from China (so maybe jetlag is part of the problem) so anything on history and culture in China - fiction or nonfiction - might be interesting. Or maybe not. I just don't know right now.

Son of Hamas is also waiting to be read.

I forgot to add that I read The Tin Roof Blowdown. I found myself completely bored. Since Burke is described as one of the best crime fiction writers, I figure it must be me. I felt the mystery and the destruction of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina distracted from eachother.

Finished The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. Very good! Now what to read...?

My review:

"This book began slowly as a character study. The narrator draws you into himself until you feel as though you become him, living his life with his disappointments, triumphs and pain. The prose is rich in drama and beauty. The characters are well-developed and it is difficult to put the book away when you put it down. The theme of how to maintain your humanity along with discipline and strength is a universal one. How does one do it? Some people go over the edge. This is a story about living on that edge. Gripping, dramatic and seemingly very unreal until you realize that it is not. It is very, very real in so many places for so many people.

WARNING: there is language in this book that will be painful for people. There is use of the n-word -- seemingly to make a point about widespread racism in southern and military society -- but some readers might still find it objectionable even in that context."

Just a quick note: I am now reading Amos Oz's book, To Know a Woman. My first by this author.

Also, I was reading Mr.Durick's journal here, http://www.librarything.com/topic/104473#2790319, and took the art test. Here are my results:

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Balanced, Secure, and Realistic.

14 Impressionist, 13 Islamic, -1 Ukiyo-e, -15 Cubist, -13 Abstract and -6 Renaissance!

Impressionism is a movement in French painting, sometimes called optical realism because of its almost scientific interest in the actual visual experience and effect of light and movement on appearance of objects. Impressionist paintings are balanced, use colored shadows, use pure color, broken brushstrokes, thick paint, and scenes from everyday life or nature.

People that like Impressionist paintings may not alway be what is deemed socially acceptable. They tend to move on their own path without always worrying that it may be offensive to others. They value friendships but because they also value honesty tend to have a few really good friends. They do not, however, like people that are rude and do not appreciate the ideas of others. They are secure enough in themselves that they can listen to the ideas of other people without it affecting their own final decisions. The world for them is not black and white but more in shades of grey and muted colors. They like things to be aestically pleasing, not stark and sharp. There are many ways to view things, and the impresssionist personality views the world from many different aspects. They enjoy life and try to keep a realistic viewpoint of things, but are not very open to new experiences. If they are content in their live they will be more than likely pleased to keep things just the way they are.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

That's all for now!

k4k

Finished reading To Know a Woman by Amos Oz. I was reading reviews on Amazon and one person mentioned that this was stream-of-consciousness, which I think is true. The book was very gray for me right now and perhaps too much of that particular style, although I do like Virginia Woolf. I have been careful, though, to only read small amounts of her as I don't think I could take a lot at once. I am just not finding my stride in books at the moment. Anyway, here is the review:

"This was my first book by Amos Oz. I can't say that I really enjoyed it, but partly because the story was somewhat grim. A man loses his wife to a freak accident and is left with his daughter, mother and mother-in-law. The narrative is almost entirely internal. The book, Mrs. Dalloway, is mentioned several times, and I think the writing does resemble that of Virginia Woolf's. The main character is on an internal journey for over a year and he takes you with him. The characters are very well described and the writing is detailed and beautiful. It just wasn't my cup of tea at this moment. However, I liked it enough to try other books by this author."

I am now on to Onward, which my husband wants me to read. Might be interesting!

k4k

Finished Onward by the founder of Starbucks, Howard Schultz. Here is the review:

OK, this was fun to read. It DID make me want to rush out to Starbucks and order a latte, but I suppose that was part of the point of writing the book. Howard Schultz describes coming back as ceo at Starbucks in 2007 when the company was in serious financial trouble. He talks about the spirit of his company -- integrating socially responsible business practices with a superior product line. What happens when the economy tanks and your business begins to look shaky? Do you abandon your principles to save your business? Howard Schultz says his business and his principles are inseparable and proves it by bringing Starbucks back from disaster. He did have to close stores and lay off people, but those employees who stayed with Starbucks kept their health insurance and the coffee growers kept the support that Starbucks is famous for. Not a brilliant book, but inspiring to learn how he fought for his company and his principles. Other reviewers have complained that the book is very repetitive and that is true, but I still enjoyed the first 70% of it.

Now, what to read next...

Just beginning to read Hunting Eichmann by Neal Bascomb, about Adolf Eichmann's escape to Argentina after Germany surrendered, and the investigation that led to his capture. So far, very interesting!

I finished Hunting Eichmann. Incredible book! My review:

"A nail-biting cliffhanger even though we know how it ends. Bascomb tells this story with all the sensitivity and attention to context necessary to give you a sense of both the hunters and the huntee. I was amazed at how Eichmann was able to elude capture in Europe and shocked at the identities of some of the people who aided his escape. The stories of the people who risked their lives to capture him -- what can I say? Heartbreaking, heartrending. Yet, for them it was unique opportunity to bring justice in the name of so many wounded and murdered souls. An incredible story well worth reading. I know I am getting off topic, but I just wish the world could learn a few lessons here."

So, keeping with the Middle East theme, but from a completely different perspective, I have decided to read Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of one of the founders of this group. He grows up under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, but ultimately comes to live in the United States after converting to Christianity.

I finished Son of Hamas and was it ever amazing! So much so that I wonder if it is true. I have absolutely no reason to doubt the author. It's just the idea that he could keep his collaboration with the Israelis a secret for so long is mind boggling. On the other hand, my mind may be easily boggled these days. And we have the example of Three Cups of Tea which I bought heart and soul. Anyway, below is my review:

"I do not know how to rate this book. The story is gripping and the author paints what I suspect is a true picture of the complex ties between different factions among the Israelis and the Palestinians, as well as their supporters in Arab nations and in the U.S. The violence and waste of humanity is clearly set out. The IDF does one thing, the Shin Bet another. The CIA does one thing, the PLO does another, Hamas does another. Such a waste of money, effort and humanity. Yousef's story of working for Shin Bet is so amazing that it is difficult to believe, but I know of no evidence to discredit it. His conversion to Christianity is not well-described, but appears to be genuine. Alas, I fear cloaking oneself in another religion will not help. His perspective on Islam seems to be similar to that of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Being Jewish, I know very little about Islam, but I know many Muslims would disagree with his perspective, which is entirely the Hamas perspective. I have always felt that every religion has been used as a weapon at one time or another. The level of damage is simply proportional to the amount of power that religion happens to have at that time. But back to the subject: I really, really enjoyed reading this book. Yes, the historical details may not be quite accurate, as some have pointed out, but digging out the historically accurate picture is not easy. The details about current events in the occupied territories are better explained, probably because they were directly experienced by the author. Overall, I guess I hope this book is true and that the author finds peace in his life. As for the Israelis and Palestinians, I hope peace comes someday, but no one can predict when that will happen.

By the way, some of the 1- and 2-star reviews on Amazon fault him for being too pro-Palestinian, while others accuse him of being too pro-Israeli. Maybe that makes his book balanced."

I am now reading The Paris Wife, an historical fiction written in first person about Hadley Richardson, Hemingway's first wife. My inspiration for reading this was a recommendation from a friend and having just seen the movie, "Midnight in Paris," by Woody Allen. I loved the movie, so I thought it would be fun to read more about that period. I have A Moveable Feast in my library, but I don't remember it, so perhaps that should be next, followed by The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. All of this is getting in the way of my idea of sticking to nonfiction for a while...

Enjoyed your review of Son of Hamas. It sounds very interesting and a book that I will look out for

Thank you, basswood! I was going to read I Shall Not Hate next, but got derailed.

I'm currently reading I Shall Not Hate. Son of Hamas sounds like it would make a great follow up.

I finished The Paris Wife and reviewed it below:

I enjoyed the story of Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife. The prose is very pleasant to read and the story was interesting, although more at the beginning and at the end. I was more impressed with Hadley's description of her youth and growing up rather than her courtship with Hemingway, which seemed somewhat one-dimensional. My biggest problem with the book was that it made me HATE Ernest Hemingway! I knew he was an arrogant personality and this book makes it clear that he suffered from PTSD, but he seemed like such a terrible chauvinist. At first, Hadley can only see herself mirrored in Ernest's eyes, but I think she does begin to find her own self as the book progresses. Their breakup was full of pain and more kindness on Hadley's part than I could have imagined. The ending was tender, sweet and sad, as one might imagine.

At the end of The Paris Wife, Hemingway calls Hadley and reminds her of her disappointment that she was not in A Sun Also Rises. He informs her that he has written A Moveable Feast about their years in Paris and that she is everywhere in that book. That statement prompted me to read A Moveable Feast. I have not yet written a review, but I found that, although Hadley is mentioned in A Moveable Feast, her character is still the 2-dimensional "good and beautiful wife". Far more touching and interesting is Hemingway's description of his friendship with F. Scott Fitzgerald. In fact, those 2 chapters were my favorite chapters in the book, WHICH prompted me to read.... The Great Gatsby! If Hemingway said it was good, it must be. He was right! The prose is lyrical, the humor is wonderful and the characters are drawn so beautifully.

Following some recent advice from friends that I should rest and read something relaxing, I am going back to McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series with #7: Blue Shoes and Happiness.

k4k

>67 stretch:, Stretch, It looks as though you liked I Shall Not Hate, based on the 4 stars you gave it. I look forward to getting to it once I finish this detour I seem to be on.

To be honest my rating is probably a bit high. It is a very raw and sometimes repetitive book (I counted four different spellings of Gaza alone). For me what sold it was that it still had that pure, visceral emotion. I really admire that Abuelaish has the courage to ignore what any of us would feel in a situation like his and pursue a path that's contrary to absolute madness that seems so prevalent in that region. I was really at a lost when rating it, how do you choose a rating for a message you think is important enough for the masses to hear and yet has flaws that you can't simply ignore.

If you haven't seen the youtube video of calling the Israel news just after his house is attacked, detailmuse has a link to it in her thread along with an excellent review.

68> I love your description of how one read leads to another read which leads to another read...... isn't it wonderful? I've actually never read anything by Hemingway (my English professor father just rolled over in his grave) and I only vaguely remember The Great Gatsby from high school...... I bought a copy a few months ago and now, based on your brief comments, I think I'll move it up in the TBR pile.

Very nice review of The Paris Wife, and I enjoyed your comments about Hadley, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and the literary journey you took. Does The Paris Wife end after Hadley's separation and divorce from Hemingway, or does it continue afterward?

EBT1002: I hope you enjoy The Great Gatsby as much as I did. I had only read The Curious Case of Benjamin Button before and was not impressed with that. Too contrived. I am now encouraged to read more Fitzgerald.

kidzdoc: Thank you! The book does describe Hadley's life after Hemingway, but it is more of a postscript to the main story. The end of the book is the phone call from Hemingway, over 30 years later, about A Moveable Feast. In some ways, I think she had a better life afterwards and I was happy about that.

Well, I enjoyed Blue Shoes and Happiness so much that I needed another one! So I read the 8th book in the series, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive. I won't post formal reviews here, but this last one is my favorite one so far. All of the characters that we have come to love in the first 7 books begin to wonder whether they need to change, so they all try out different jobs and end up coming to the decision that where they belong is where they started: back with Precious Ramotswe at her detective agency and at the Speedy Motors repair shop. It all ends well, but there has definitely been some interesting personal growth.

For my personal growth, I decided to move slightly away from the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series and read Baking Cakes in Kigali, which I loved! Here is the review:

"Baking Cakes in Kigali is a lovely novel that takes place in Rwanda among expats from all over the world working to help that country recover economically and emotionally from the terrible acts of genocide that occurred in 1994. The story is told from the view of Angel, a professional baker who makes beautiful cakes in her home to help support her family, consisting of her husband, who works at the University in Kigali and her grandchildren, whose parents (Angel's son and daughter) are no longer alive. The story touches on themes of love and loss. The love of family. The need to communicate love. The loss of loved ones from the genocide, AIDS, abuse and poverty. The sad truth that sex workers are abused heroines, doing what they have to do to make a living for the remnants of families ripped apart by these tragedies. Angel, the professional maker of cakes, acts as a counsellor, nurturer and all-around caring mother. Filtering the story through this wonderful woman makes it easier for us to face these terrible human dilemmas. She manages to be there as family for her customers and her friends. And in helping to heal them, she heals herself. There is humor in this book as well. A gentle and kind way to help us understand the pain that Rwandans, and Africans of many countries, have experienced."

Now what is next? Do I continue with the Africa theme and read a friend's suggestion, It's Our Turn to Eat about politics in Kenya (nonfiction)? Or...?

Penguin Books recently (re-?) issued Red strangers by Elspeth Huxley in its series "Modern Classics". So far there are very few readers on LT. The book is on my wish list. You might be interested, too.

Thanks, edwinbcn! It is now on my wish list too!

OK, so it has been MONTHS since I updated! Just too many other things going on. I veered away quite drastically from my plans for the year.

I will list here the books that I read since Baking Cakes in Kigali and reviews (if any) that I wrote:

September
Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman 4 stars
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy 4.5 stars
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut unrated, couldn't decide, I guess

November
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming 2.5 stars (sorry)
Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home by Laura Ling 4 stars

December
Shepherd Avenue by Charlie Carillo 3.5 stars (not as good as my favorite Carillo: Raising Jake)
Three Cups of Deceit by Jon Krakauer unrated; seemed necessary to read but I didn't enjoy it even though I believed it.
The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins 4 stars; fun to read, lots of action and character development all in one thriller!
The Help by Kathryn Stockett 4.5 stars
Review of The Help:
This story is "civil rights lite", but that is not necessarily a bad thing. If you read carefully, you can still sense the daily humiliation, the tension and the constant danger that permeates the lives of the black maids working for white women in Jackson, Mississippi. This is also a book about women and how they relate to each other within and across the racial divide. Only the women are fully 3-dimensional characters. The men are stand-ins and admittedly stereotypical of what you might expect for that time. Although the first person narrative is carried on by 3 women -- 2 black maids (Aibileen and Minny) and a white, college-educated would-be writer (Skeeter) who was brought up by a black maid -- the book seems to be at least emotionally autobiographical if not directly so. Kathryn Stockett states in an afterword that she was raised in the South by a black maid whom she remembers with great affection and always wished she had a chance to ask her how she felt about her life with Stockett's family. The narrative is Stockett's attempt to answer that question and -- perhaps wishful thinking -- to liberate these women, even in a small way, from the terrible burden of racism and oppression that marked that era in our country. Some people have criticized the narrative as being too much the perspective of a white woman, but, in fact, as Stockett says, how could she really know what life was like for the black women in that era? As such, it is an honest portrayal from the perspective of a young white woman who, at the same time, is trying to find her way in the world -- to separate herself from her parents' and friends' life style and beliefs -- and to make a life for herself writing about things that matter. In the end, the 3 women manage to break down the racial divide and communicate as friends. Of course in the real world, we know that Skeeter can escape Jackson, but it will be much more difficult, if not impossible, for Minny and Aibileen. Still, a tiny sliver of fulfillment and liberation creeps into their lives too. Highly recommended.

I am beginning Hotel Angeline.

In case this is it for 2011, my 2012 Club Read thread is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/129517