2008 Book List

{I made this post a link on my sidebar and will continue to add to this list
as I work on my goal of reading one book a week.}
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Week #30 starts: Tuesday, July 29th
Number of books read: 17 (and 1/3)
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#17: This I Believe edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman
finished: July 29th
review: Again, I started this book back in June for book club but couldn't finish on time because I had to read it in small amounts. I couldn't just sit down and read it through or the ideas would jumble together for me. There are more than 75 essays, according to the subtitle they are "the personal philosophies of remarkable men and women." All were part of a program for NPR but some were from the series in the 1950's and others were current day; some are from famous people like Albert Einstein and others from everyday people who honestly believe in being cool to the pizza guy or always going to the funeral. All were interesting, whether I agreed with them or not, and it made me want to write my own belief statement. Jay Allison states in his introduction, "Beliefs are choices. No one has authority over your personal beliefs. Your beliefs are in jeopardy only when you don't know what they are." Well, I have many beliefs but I haven't identified yet my 2 page personal philosophy. When I do, I'll be sure to share. I really enjoyed what these people had to share!

#16: Wild Swans by Jung Chang
finished: sometime in July, even though I started it back in April!!
review: I know there are people who disagree, but I felt this book was worth the work it took to read it- and it was work! The book is long- more than it's 500 pages. The story is heartbreaking- you think it can't get worse and it does and it keeps on coming. The uncertainty of their lives from day to day is unbelievable. And the suffering of millions of Chinese deserve to be remembered and understood. I am glad I read this one.

#15: Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
finished: sometime in June
review: I really loved this book. The writing is beautiful and the characters are interesting and real. I didn't follow all the politics but enjoyed the glimpse of living in Apartheid South Africa and the complexity of their situation. The story is heartbreaking but the main characters move forward and they do it well- you want to be more like them. Highly Recommended.


#14: The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud
finished: March 27th
review:

"The book as a whole struck him as an artfully wrapped gift box, a flurry of elegant paper and ribbons that, when opened, proved to be empty."

Murray Thwaite, one of the main characters in The Emperor's Children, used this description for the book his daughter wrote but I think it is an accurate description of the actual book! Wrapped in a pretty picture with wonderful reviews that made me excited to read it, this book held in its pages nothing of value for me.

The characters were described as complex but I found them simply dishonest and selfish which then complicated their lives. You hope a character grows or learns something by the end of the book, but I felt (except for one) that they were the same on page 478 as they had been on page 1- not a genuine soul in the lot.

I wanted to recommend this book to Michelle because of the rich vocabulary the author used but found myself bombarded by supposedly intelligent characters resorting to heavy and constant swearing which is so ironic and disappointing next to really good words. I still believe intelligent people should be able to use intelligent words when they are angry or annoyed!

The book also had more than I cared to read of drug use, same gender sex and marital affairs. At one point, I thought I should just put it down. After all, I do have Wild Swans to finish by Wednesday! But I decided to stick with it and in the end, I should have just put it down.


#13: Lady Knight (Book 4 in The Protector of the Small Quartet) by Tamora Pierce
finished: March 8th
review: It took almost four whole books to find The Protector of the Small but I enjoyed just about every page of it! A few were kind of gruesome- after all, they are at war in this, the last book!

Like Twilight, I don't know if it is really great writing- but I was totally compelled by the story and hated putting it down. I love the main character, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan- a strong, compassionate, loyal and good person. The supporting characters are great in their complex and unique interactions with Kel- even making me laugh out loud! I went out in a storm with a cold to get this book and it was worth it!

{Funny story about that: At the bookstore, a woman interrupted Kate and I as we were discussing the books in our hands to ask if we had read The Ranger's Apprentice (which Megan has and my sister has). We told her what we knew and then she asked us about other books and for our recommendations. When we left the store, I decided it was safe to tell Kate that the woman who thought she was "very articulate and well read" was Marie Osmond! We really hope her daughter likes the books we suggested!}

#12: eat, pray, love by Elizabeth Gilbert
finished: March 4th
review: What are you missing in your life? The author of this book went across the world looking for pleasure, spirituality and balance. I kept asking myself if those things were available closer to home.
This wasn't a great read for me. I really struggled with the lack of responsibilities and commitments the author had to deal with while on her journey. Seriously- how do you search for joy, contentment or solitude among the demands of a house, a husband, five kids, callings, meetings and fatigue?
Despite my frustration with the opportunity she had to completely immerse herself in the experience, I did find some gems of wisdom. And, as I listened to my friends talk about their impressions, I realized that I got more from the book than I had originally given it credit for. The crux being- If I want anything more out of my life, I have to find a way to make it happen myself. At the end, the author writes, "I am happy, healthy and balanced... I was not rescued by a prince; I was the administrator of my own rescue." The concept isn't new to me, but her words hit me with a great deal of force. There is insight to be found in this book, even if it isn't my favorite read this year.


#11: Squire (Book 3 in The Protector of the Small Quartet) by Tamora Pierce
finished: February 29th
review: I have been sucked in to this story and just don't want it to end! Each book gets better because it continues the story I loved so much in the first book! I don't think I could pick a favorite- you just have to read them all. My library doesn't have the fourth book, so I am off to the book store tomorrow to pick it up! Then I have to decide- finish my book club book or sneak in the last of this quartet? Truly a dilemma!

#10: Page (Book 2 in The Protector of the Small Quartet) by Tamora Pierce
finished: February 28th
review: I enjoyed this one just as much as the first!



#9: First Test (Book 1 in The Protector of the Small Quartet) by Tamora Pierce
finished: February 26th
review: I needed something easy, engaging and fun to pick me up after struggling with Getting Things Done. This was a great book for that! I really enjoyed the characters and the story. Keladry is the first "known" girl to try to become a knight in over 100 years. She is strong and funny. And I love the relationships that develop with her friends- all boys trying to become knights too!
My sister, Kathryn, sent this book for Kate to read a long time ago. Kate enjoyed it so much that I hung on to it so I could read it too. Sorry it took me so long Kathryn- but it was wonderful and I would not have read it if it hadn't been in my nightstand to "send back" to you!

Getting Things DONE by David Allen
finished: not quite
review: It took me 10 days to get through the first third of this book! It is highly applicable to me but written for businessmen so very slow for me to digest. The next two-thirds are all practical application and the first lesson is: Designate your own space. I give up. I don't have that. So, I am putting this book on hold until we move and I have a space of my own to put the principles into practice. I am very excited for that day!

#8: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
finished: February 9th
review: It is hard to explain, but I felt a great deal of relief and irritation when I discovered that this book is classified as an autobiography. I was relieved because after 100 pages I had found no point or purpose to the author's categorical ramblings and somehow that seemed forgiven if it was her autobiography. But I was also irritated that I didn't know this when I started because I had hoped for something profound amidst this "ordinary life" I was going to read about and it wasn't there.

I LOVE the format and idea of this book- I can't say that with enough enthusiasm! I even started my own notebook to make an encyclopedia of my life or at least a list of ideas to use in my scrapbooks, journals and personal history. You'd think after being inspired (again) to write and document even the little things in life I would be raving about the book. But I actually didn't enjoy reading it.

I have tried to figure out why and the only answer I can come up with is very superficial- I didn't like the author and the book was all about her. Lame and judgmental, I know. But I just don't think she is the kind of person I would be friends with and that made it hard for me to enjoy "getting to know her". I was annoyed with her language- I have never used those words when stuck behind a very slow driver. I was disappointed that she would feel the need to list types of sex as a marker of our times- really hasn't it been the same since Adam and the real marker of our time is the frequency and vulgarity with which it is discussed! (By people like you, AKR!) And for some reason, I am perturbed that she is making money by simply telling us all about herself. There is an ego or boldness about it that just aggravates me.

I acknowledge that this book motivated me to write and to place greater value on my very ordinary life. I am indebted to this poor woman who has done nothing to deserve my contempt. But- I didn't love her book.

#7: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
finished: February 1st
review:

"I'm sorry," Laila says, marveling at how every Afghan story is marked by death and loss and unimaginable grief. And yet, she sees, people find a way to survive, to go on. Laila thinks of her own life and all that has happened to her, and she is astonished that she too has survived, that she is alive and sitting in this taxi listening to this man's story. (p. 350)

This was a hard read for me, for three reasons. One- after speeding through Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse, the words and structure were just harder. This is definitely not written for young adults. Two- it slows me down when words and names are in a language I can't pronounce. The author does a pretty good job of translating or using it in a context to clue you in to their meaning but it takes more thinking than usual for me. Then you add the politics which are so unfamiliar to me- luckily, they do not overwhelm the story. And three- it is truly a story of unimaginable grief! You do not want to believe that such things happen in the world. That people can be so very cruel. That people, women in particular, can be so mistreated.

At the end though, I am glad that I read it. I am more grateful today for the freedoms and rights I have as a woman, for the safety my family enjoys, for the education each of my children receives, for the sanitary and even luxurious conditions I live in...

I wonder if I could be a survivor. I am grateful for people who are. For people who see the most horrible things of life and still move forward, accomplishing good things.

This is not an uplifting book to read. It was only after I had finished that I realized what I had learned from these remarkable characters.


#6: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
finished: January 22nd
review: completely and absolutely- duped.

I am actually mortified at how much I enjoyed it. how much I thought about it. how much I dreamed about it. how much it physically affected me. mortified.

But- smiling.

added later: I just found out there are supposed to be two more books in this series- now I am feeling seriously tortured. good grief.

#5: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
started: noon on January 19th
finished: 4am on January 20th
review: It obviously didn't matter that it wasn't as good as the first. And I am really not sure it is a good thing to be so giddy about being duped by this totally insane love story! Why do we torture ourselves with such impossible notions- penetrating eyes of liquid topaz, soft but electrifying touches, smelling completely edible! Good Grief- it is like teen harlequin and I can't stop! I am so weak- smile. sigh.

#4: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
finished: January 19th
review: This book was recommended by at least a dozen people I know, including two of my sisters. I hesitantly started it Thursday night while at Soren's basketball class and I say hesitantly because I didn't want to like this book. The number of people reading it and talking about it made me feel like we were all being suckered somehow and then- a woman down the bench from me asked what I thought of it as she pulled her copy from her purse (she was almost finished)! That was not encouraging me!!

But-
I got suckered!

I read over 400 pages of it on Friday! I could NOT put it down. If I tried to do something else- play with Ethan, shovel the walk, clean and show the house, laundry... I was constantly thinking about the book and feeling anxious to get back to it!
I'm not actually going to recommend it. I really do feel suckered and weak for enjoying it SO much- I was visibly smiling every time the main characters interacted. I laughed out loud (something I like to do but is rare for me). I had butterflies in my stomach- really. This book was almost 500 pages of intense, intimate connecting and SO NOT REAL LIFE!! At least, not MY life. There is much guilt in my extreme pleasure at having read this addicting story.

And yes, I am off to start the second one right now!


#3: The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
finished: January 17th
review: Soren checked this book out from his school library and left it on the table by my computer. I was waiting for the computer to boot up the other morning and picked this up to see what he was reading. Turns out he wasn't reading it, he was in the middle of a different book, but I got hooked!
It is by the same author who wrote Fablehaven, a series that was highly recommended to Kate by my sister and her husband who both read it and loved it (so did Kate!). On further investigation, the author is Mormon and was asked by a local publisher to write family friendly fantasy.
I don't want to say it is a brilliantly written book- the author takes some things for granted because it is about magic, the ending wraps up a little too quickly, and the dialogue can be somewhat predictable. But the story was every kids dream- magic candy, adventure, saving the world... and I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. It was definitely a fun read and has raised my interest in finding Fablehaven soon.

#2: Stop Struggling, Start Parenting by Blair and Katie Van Dyke
finished: January 9th
review: Blair and Katie were our friends ten years ago in the Provo 13th Ward. They are fantastic people! Recently, we talked with them again after they came to present a fireside in our Lehi Stake on parenting. They shared how family councils had increased happiness and improved behavior in their home. I definitely could use some help at home, so Kelly bought their book and put it in my stocking. The writing style is kind of inconsistent and repetitive, but I finished with a list of things I want to do and implement in our home. Since Katie is no longer my neighbor, it was nice to find this resource as we try to make our home a happier place!

#1: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
finished: January 5th
review: I LOVE this book! The main character is Liesel, a young girl in Nazi Germany, but it is narrated by Death and the telling is clever and brilliant! The characters are interesting, quirky and endearing. Their story is full of tragedy and sorrow but they show compassion, loyalty and love.
Really- brilliant.

(note: there is a lot of using the Lord's name and swearing in German.)