Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Kelly's list [MyUtopia]
- The Secrets of a Fire King By Kim Edwards
- Seeing By Jose SARAMAGO
- Me talk pretty one day
- The Lake of dead Languages By Goodman
- A Transplanted Yooper by Tina Lonski.
- Alternate: Driving to Detroit
Click here to see this and other contest I am doing.
My Five
I had trouble narrowing it down to just five when I started to jot down possible books. So I tried for some variety. Lest these books appear a bit on the heavy side I hasten to add that I read copiously and incorporate a huge amount of "junk" or "light" reading into my lists, but when I cruised over a list of those books (http://www.bookcrossing.com/mybookshelf/jlautner) I did not find any that struck me as saying "something about me" - except that I enjoy junk reading.
The High Cost of Free Parking, by Donald Shoup. Why would anyone read about parking? And then recommend it? And then say it "says something about me"? The reasons: it's an excellent book that could change the way you look at how cities are built today; I recommend it because although it's heavy and full of charts it's actually easy to read and often funny; and what it says about me is that I spent over 20 years of my life as a city planner who was something of a parking nazi. This book, among other things, changed me.
PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives, by Frank Warren. A compilation of postcards from the famous blog. As I read through the whole book (which doesn't take long) I found that not only was I often amused or amazed at other people's secrets, but the cards also touched on part of my own past and some secrets of my own. When I started the book I wanted to send postcards there but couldn't think of any good secrets. By the time I was done I had several. Confession can be so liberating! Oh, the other thing: I have now taken to making my own postcards to send to others as thank you notes and expect to expand this idea.
Bait and Switch, by Barbara Ehrenreich. Hard on the heels of the amazing Nickel and Dimed, this book investigates what it's like to be middle-class or above and suddenly out of work. Ehrenreich again assumes the role to do the investigation. She is led to try out the many organizations that promise to give people the tools to find the higher-paid work they want, a gang of thieves more than happy to separate the not-yet-desperate from their dwindling funds. She finds just how difficult it is to get back into the workplace even when you do have the skills and the ability to present yourself well. Many myths are exploded here, quietly. I am among the middle class and I worked jobs like these. When I was young there were always jobs available for my talents. Now? Not nearly as many.
Because it is Bitter and Because it is My Heart, by Joyce Carol Oates. Not so much the circumstances as the feelings and the time. I felt a connection to the main character, Iris, not because I am much like her but because I too was shaped by my world and I grew up when she did. Oates captures what's inside as well as any other writer I read - and I read a lot. The story stayed with me long after I'd forgotten any details.
The End of Faith, by Sam Harris. Harris takes to task not only the fanatic religious zealots who threaten our world today, but the so-called "moderates" who practice what they consider "tolerance". Because it is religion, people feel they cannot criticize. Yet we wouldn't "tolerate" madmen who believe space aliens are coming and that they must therefore shoot people to make room for them (I'm making this part up, obviously). We have developed a blind eye when it comes to religions, cutting them slack and treading lightly when we should be asking the hard questions. I'm an atheist and I am therefore in a group of people that is hugely misunderstood and marginalized. I don't proselytize and I don't hold myself up as better than those who believe in a higher being. Given how entrenched religions are in this world it's easy to see why just the physical representations can make such belief convincing. My plea to this world is to make your religion, if you have one, yours personally and do not impose it on the rest of us.
My book review blog: http://bookishjudith.blogspot.com
The High Cost of Free Parking, by Donald Shoup. Why would anyone read about parking? And then recommend it? And then say it "says something about me"? The reasons: it's an excellent book that could change the way you look at how cities are built today; I recommend it because although it's heavy and full of charts it's actually easy to read and often funny; and what it says about me is that I spent over 20 years of my life as a city planner who was something of a parking nazi. This book, among other things, changed me.
PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives, by Frank Warren. A compilation of postcards from the famous blog. As I read through the whole book (which doesn't take long) I found that not only was I often amused or amazed at other people's secrets, but the cards also touched on part of my own past and some secrets of my own. When I started the book I wanted to send postcards there but couldn't think of any good secrets. By the time I was done I had several. Confession can be so liberating! Oh, the other thing: I have now taken to making my own postcards to send to others as thank you notes and expect to expand this idea.
Bait and Switch, by Barbara Ehrenreich. Hard on the heels of the amazing Nickel and Dimed, this book investigates what it's like to be middle-class or above and suddenly out of work. Ehrenreich again assumes the role to do the investigation. She is led to try out the many organizations that promise to give people the tools to find the higher-paid work they want, a gang of thieves more than happy to separate the not-yet-desperate from their dwindling funds. She finds just how difficult it is to get back into the workplace even when you do have the skills and the ability to present yourself well. Many myths are exploded here, quietly. I am among the middle class and I worked jobs like these. When I was young there were always jobs available for my talents. Now? Not nearly as many.
Because it is Bitter and Because it is My Heart, by Joyce Carol Oates. Not so much the circumstances as the feelings and the time. I felt a connection to the main character, Iris, not because I am much like her but because I too was shaped by my world and I grew up when she did. Oates captures what's inside as well as any other writer I read - and I read a lot. The story stayed with me long after I'd forgotten any details.
The End of Faith, by Sam Harris. Harris takes to task not only the fanatic religious zealots who threaten our world today, but the so-called "moderates" who practice what they consider "tolerance". Because it is religion, people feel they cannot criticize. Yet we wouldn't "tolerate" madmen who believe space aliens are coming and that they must therefore shoot people to make room for them (I'm making this part up, obviously). We have developed a blind eye when it comes to religions, cutting them slack and treading lightly when we should be asking the hard questions. I'm an atheist and I am therefore in a group of people that is hugely misunderstood and marginalized. I don't proselytize and I don't hold myself up as better than those who believe in a higher being. Given how entrenched religions are in this world it's easy to see why just the physical representations can make such belief convincing. My plea to this world is to make your religion, if you have one, yours personally and do not impose it on the rest of us.
My book review blog: http://bookishjudith.blogspot.com
Monday, June 4, 2007
How to list
Now that I've been invited and have logged in I notice that I do not have the priviledge of editing the sidebar. Is this something that you do for us or am I missing something?
Margo's List
This looks like fun, so I have joined in :)
Chocolat by Joanne Harris - I chose this book as it’s a book that I really loved. I can relate to the main character in this book, having the same beliefs to her. I loved reading how she tried to be accepted by the community and I loved reading about the friendships she built. This book is about how Vianne Rocher moves to a French Town, opening a Chocolat shop opposite a Church. She has a hard time trying to convince the locals she means well.
Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews - I have chosen this book, because I can relate to the children in this novel. Having to deal with a stepmother as I grew up, who unfortunately wasn't very kind to us. I could relate to what the children were going through. I've heard before that this book is based on true events, but I don't think it is. It's about how a mother moves her family to her mothers after her husband has died. Her mother hates her grandchildren and locks them away in the attic for years, hiding them, hoping to keep them a secret. The children are left to fend for themselves and are treated badly.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - I chose this book, as I love reading about Mary Boleyn. In this book, Mary just wants to go home to Hever, away from court life and have a quiet life. I can relate to wanting to be at home with the children. This book is based on Historical events which have been put into a fiction novel. Mary Boleyn was one of Henry VIII's Lovers.
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella - I chose this book as it was a book I really laughed at. It made me really happy one time when I was feeling unwell. It's my favourite Sophie Kinsella book, the character is a bit dizzy, & I have to admit I can be a bit dizzy myself! In this book, Samantha finds herself walking out of her job after making a career mistake and finds herself taking a job as a Housekeeper, except Samantha doesn't even know how to cook!
Shrine by James Herbert - I chose this book because it scared the socks off me! It gave me nightmares. When I was about 10 years old my mum let me watch The Exorcist, ever since I've had this thing about possession. It terrifies me lol. It's about a young girl (deaf-mute) who claims to be able to see a Lady who is the Immaculate Conception, it isn't long before people realize she isn't.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Jill(mrstreme)'s List
This is a very interesting challenge: to find books that describe you and your personality. After some reflection, here are the five books I've selected:
1) The March by E.L. Doctorow: Books about Georgia during the Civil War, especially during Yankee occupation, fascinate me. I read Gone With The Wind when I was 13, and since then, I have always been interested in this aspect of the Civil War (to the point that I attended college in Georgia and received an M.A. in history, specializing in Southern History). The March is a newer book that focuses on how Sherman's "March to the Sea" affected the Southern people (both black and white) and the Northern armies. The March is the 2005 winner of the NBCC award, so if you're doing the Book Awards Challenge - you can get two-for-one!
2) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King: Oh the body parts I would give to have King's gift for storytelling and writing! This book discusses his creative process and gives an interesting back story to many of his novels. He also talks about the near-fatal accident that almost robbed us of one of our best writers. I selected this book because I am a wanna-be writer, and this particular autobiography is inspirational to me.
3) I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak: I love this story because it shows that we are all capable of doing wonderful things. The main character receives cryptic playing cards with clues written on them, and he's charged to do good deeds to designated strangers - the catch is that he doesn't know exactly what he's supposed to do. So he must observe and be creative. And figure it out, or else...
4) Five Quarters of an Orange by Joanne Harris: I picked this book because I thought it was an interesting coming-of-age tale. It's a story of a young girl's life during the German occupation of France. She befriends a German soldier and must sneak around to visit with him. She sneaks oranges into her house to set off her mother's migraines (which then puts poor Mom to bed) to rendezvous with her new friend. It's a wonderful story!
5) Christ The Lord by Anne Rice: This is a fictional account of Christ's childhood, as interpreted by Rice. I like how Rice theorizes Christ's boyish thoughts about the miracles he commits and the mystery of his birth. It's hard to think about Christ as a boy, especially because the man was so great. I want to stress that it's an interpretation, not a historical account. Rice is the essential storyteller, and if you liked her other novels, this one may be worth a consideration.
1) The March by E.L. Doctorow: Books about Georgia during the Civil War, especially during Yankee occupation, fascinate me. I read Gone With The Wind when I was 13, and since then, I have always been interested in this aspect of the Civil War (to the point that I attended college in Georgia and received an M.A. in history, specializing in Southern History). The March is a newer book that focuses on how Sherman's "March to the Sea" affected the Southern people (both black and white) and the Northern armies. The March is the 2005 winner of the NBCC award, so if you're doing the Book Awards Challenge - you can get two-for-one!
2) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King: Oh the body parts I would give to have King's gift for storytelling and writing! This book discusses his creative process and gives an interesting back story to many of his novels. He also talks about the near-fatal accident that almost robbed us of one of our best writers. I selected this book because I am a wanna-be writer, and this particular autobiography is inspirational to me.
3) I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak: I love this story because it shows that we are all capable of doing wonderful things. The main character receives cryptic playing cards with clues written on them, and he's charged to do good deeds to designated strangers - the catch is that he doesn't know exactly what he's supposed to do. So he must observe and be creative. And figure it out, or else...
4) Five Quarters of an Orange by Joanne Harris: I picked this book because I thought it was an interesting coming-of-age tale. It's a story of a young girl's life during the German occupation of France. She befriends a German soldier and must sneak around to visit with him. She sneaks oranges into her house to set off her mother's migraines (which then puts poor Mom to bed) to rendezvous with her new friend. It's a wonderful story!
5) Christ The Lord by Anne Rice: This is a fictional account of Christ's childhood, as interpreted by Rice. I like how Rice theorizes Christ's boyish thoughts about the miracles he commits and the mystery of his birth. It's hard to think about Christ as a boy, especially because the man was so great. I want to stress that it's an interpretation, not a historical account. Rice is the essential storyteller, and if you liked her other novels, this one may be worth a consideration.
Friday, June 1, 2007
alisonwonderland's list
at first i had no clue what books i could pick that somehow represented me - and now i'm having a hard time keeping it to just five! these are the ones i've settled upon:
- Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
one of the few books i've read over and over, this classic non-fiction book was given to me by my mother after i had graduated from college and taken a job in another state. the issues Lindbergh explores are just as pertinent to women today as it was when it was first published in 1955. - All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
i am the oldest in a family of seven daughters and no sons, so i grew up in an "all of a kind family" like the one in this novel. i also think this children's book, read to my sisters and me by our mom, was the beginning of my interest in the Jewish culture. - Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
i read this book a few years ago when it was required reading in my daughter's middle school English class. i immediately fell in love with this celebration of nonconformity. the girl called Stargirl is my hero! - Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
this young adult novel is a spin on the Cinderella story that takes place after Ella has been whisked off to the castle by the prince and she finds that both he and life as a princess are not all she had hoped. as a feminist, i believe that, like Ella, girls need to find out who they are as individuals before they become somebody's wife. - Winter Wheat by Mildred Walker
this classic novel is a recent discovery for me, and i decided to pick it partly because it's set in the Western United States - and i'm definitely a Western States girl. i also picked it because it is about a young woman growing up and figuring out who she is. (you can read my review of the book here.)
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