if it wasn't for the library, i'd have nothing to read or write.
not much going on, mostly because we're so broke. thank god for the library. will i ever be able to buy (non-text)books again? here's some of what i've been reading lately.
lovely bones - alice sebold
this is a book about a little girl who has been murdered and is watching her family from heaven. yes, i did cry when i was reading it, but mostly only at the beginning when susie is being killed. i liked this book. i thought that it was well written, and had a somewhat interesting view of what the afterlife is like. my problem with books like this is that i have this part of me that is cynical and critical and can't let go of the feeling that my emotions are being manipulated for the sake of book sales and future movie rights. once you get past the initial horrors, the book takes on a made for tv movie quality. i felt the same way after i read five people you meet in heaven. to me, the "what happens when i die" book comes off a little feel good, reader's-digest-y. that being said, i do recommend lovely bones. some of the imagery really was quite beautiful and the family dynamics felt painfully real.
disclaimer:
*both lovely bones and five people were (are?) on all the bestsellers' lists for months and months, so i think that i may be more bitter than the average reader.*
sweetness in the belly - camilla gibb
every now and then, i read a book that makes me feel as if i have traveled to another time or place - as if i had seen, heard, smelled the place that is being explored in words. this book does that for me, and it doesn't stop there. not only did i feel like i knew the places gibb describes, i also felt like i knew the characters that she created. when gibb writes about islam and ethiopia, she makes me wish i was muslim and ethiopian. her writing makes the characters' lives seem so rich and sparkling compared to my own. that being said, she does not shy away from all the horrors that accompany being female, muslim and ethiopian - from female genital mutilation to dirty drinking water to the dangers and sadness of being a refugee. can you tell i loved it? there were maybe a few problems with repetition that i blame on the editing, but really, it is a very good story that is very well written.
i also read when will jesus bring the porkchops by george carlin, but i can't really say that this was a good book. it was funny in some spots and managed to cause a fight between me and dillie when he discusses 'men' and 'women', but really, it seemed like georgie included a lot of filler in order to cash his cheque. i have a big soft spot for carlin - i used to listen to Q104's comedy hour when i was about 10 years old, and i used some of the (very inappropriate) jokes at school in order to boost my cool factor. anyways, i am pretty glad i didn't buy it, but equally glad that the library did.
i also got beck's album sea change from the library. it is pretty good. sorry beck, but i ripped it.
lovely bones - alice sebold
this is a book about a little girl who has been murdered and is watching her family from heaven. yes, i did cry when i was reading it, but mostly only at the beginning when susie is being killed. i liked this book. i thought that it was well written, and had a somewhat interesting view of what the afterlife is like. my problem with books like this is that i have this part of me that is cynical and critical and can't let go of the feeling that my emotions are being manipulated for the sake of book sales and future movie rights. once you get past the initial horrors, the book takes on a made for tv movie quality. i felt the same way after i read five people you meet in heaven. to me, the "what happens when i die" book comes off a little feel good, reader's-digest-y. that being said, i do recommend lovely bones. some of the imagery really was quite beautiful and the family dynamics felt painfully real.
disclaimer:
*both lovely bones and five people were (are?) on all the bestsellers' lists for months and months, so i think that i may be more bitter than the average reader.*
sweetness in the belly - camilla gibb
every now and then, i read a book that makes me feel as if i have traveled to another time or place - as if i had seen, heard, smelled the place that is being explored in words. this book does that for me, and it doesn't stop there. not only did i feel like i knew the places gibb describes, i also felt like i knew the characters that she created. when gibb writes about islam and ethiopia, she makes me wish i was muslim and ethiopian. her writing makes the characters' lives seem so rich and sparkling compared to my own. that being said, she does not shy away from all the horrors that accompany being female, muslim and ethiopian - from female genital mutilation to dirty drinking water to the dangers and sadness of being a refugee. can you tell i loved it? there were maybe a few problems with repetition that i blame on the editing, but really, it is a very good story that is very well written.
i also read when will jesus bring the porkchops by george carlin, but i can't really say that this was a good book. it was funny in some spots and managed to cause a fight between me and dillie when he discusses 'men' and 'women', but really, it seemed like georgie included a lot of filler in order to cash his cheque. i have a big soft spot for carlin - i used to listen to Q104's comedy hour when i was about 10 years old, and i used some of the (very inappropriate) jokes at school in order to boost my cool factor. anyways, i am pretty glad i didn't buy it, but equally glad that the library did.
i also got beck's album sea change from the library. it is pretty good. sorry beck, but i ripped it.
posted by mo | 10:06 a.m.
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