There is only one book I have read where the writing was so beautiful that I devoured every word, every sentence. I didn't skim. I didn't breeze through passages. I soaked up every word. And when the story was over, I immediately wanted to reread it. That book was "Shopgirl" by Steve Martin.
That was until I read "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.
"The Book Thief" is unique. It's honest. It's powerful. It is a great piece of writing.
Narrated by death, the book takes place in Nazi Germany at the beginning of World War II. It follows one specific girl, the book thief, who death has taken notice of...but not for the reason you might think.
I love death as the narrator. I think it was a stroke of genius for Zusak. Death is harsh and lovely all at the same time. He sees things and humans in a way we can't really understand. And it's fascinating.
In Liesel Meminger, a.k.a. the book thief, we're introduced to a girl who struggles to read but becomes determined to learn. And the stolen books offer Meminger a chance to do just that. Her thievery is interwoven with the rise and fall of Hitler and her struggle to understand just who and what the fuhrer is.
"The Book Thief" is a wonderful hidden gem that was first published in 2005. I can't believe I didn't hear about it back then. But I am glad I found it. While it was written for teens, this book spans the age gap and will consume anyone who reads it.
I highly, highly recommend this book to all those who love words and books. But you'll have to go out and get your own copy.
I'll be over here, rereading mine.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Let's review...'Julie & Julia' by Julie Powell
I have an inner fat girl. Her name is "Rachel" and she demands to be fed every couple of hours. Most of my friends have met "Rachel." I doubt they like her very much. She's moody, she's mean...she wants food and she wants it now. Needless to say, my inner fat girl was very excited to discover "Julie & Julia" by Julie Powell, a memoir that chronicles Julie Powell on her quest to cook all of Julia Child's 524 recipes from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year. She decides to write a blog about her experience resulting in fame, fortune and a book deal.
Having gotten into cooking a few years ago, I was intrigued by this daunting task. I think the most challenging thing I have attempted (and succeeded at) so far is perfecting the cream/cheese sauces, which require making a roux first. Those damn roux's can be quite tricky. But I have never attempted, say, cooking a chicken liver or hacking into a lobster while it's still alive. Thankfully, Powell has done this for me and I can simply read about the horrific experience and not have to duplicate it.
I wish I had known about Powell's blog while she was in the midst of her project. I would have enjoyed following along. But the book is a very satisfying read. I particularly enjoyed the excerpts from letters written by Paul Child to his brother regarding his wife Julia. As my grandmother would say, "she's such a card."
As, I came to the end of the book last night, I found myself relating to Powell quite a lot. In a way, it's very fitting that I read this book just four days before my 30th birthday. Powell starts the project because she's turning 30 and feels like there's something missing in her life. Her career is non-existent, she's married to her high school sweetheart and lives in (from the sounds of it) a pretty run down apartment in Queens. She's looking for something more, something challenging.
I find myself at a similar crossroads after having been laid off recently from my job as executive editor of a group of weekly newspapers. Ten years ago my goal was to be the owner/publisher of a newspaper. With the changes in the industry, that goal is no longer viable. So, where there used to be a clear path, there is now a vast openness. And I, for the first time in probably 15 years, have no idea what it will be filled with - which is both exciting and terrifying.
So I guess I'm looking for a project similar to Powell's that will make the future clearer. But I know that whatever I find will not involve extracting bone marrow from a cow's limb. My stomach could never handle it. Hat's off to Powell for braving the variety of recipes in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." "Rachel" loves food but I don't think I could convince her to eat aspic, which is some sort of gelatinous...yucky...well, you get the idea.
Powell's next installment is titled "Cleaving: A story of marriage, meat and obsession." I think I'm going to have to sit this one out. I enjoy visiting the butcher for a nice cut of meat but I don't want to know how it gets from the farm to my table. Poor "Rachel" would never eat again. And then we'd all be in trouble!
Having gotten into cooking a few years ago, I was intrigued by this daunting task. I think the most challenging thing I have attempted (and succeeded at) so far is perfecting the cream/cheese sauces, which require making a roux first. Those damn roux's can be quite tricky. But I have never attempted, say, cooking a chicken liver or hacking into a lobster while it's still alive. Thankfully, Powell has done this for me and I can simply read about the horrific experience and not have to duplicate it.
I wish I had known about Powell's blog while she was in the midst of her project. I would have enjoyed following along. But the book is a very satisfying read. I particularly enjoyed the excerpts from letters written by Paul Child to his brother regarding his wife Julia. As my grandmother would say, "she's such a card."
As, I came to the end of the book last night, I found myself relating to Powell quite a lot. In a way, it's very fitting that I read this book just four days before my 30th birthday. Powell starts the project because she's turning 30 and feels like there's something missing in her life. Her career is non-existent, she's married to her high school sweetheart and lives in (from the sounds of it) a pretty run down apartment in Queens. She's looking for something more, something challenging.
I find myself at a similar crossroads after having been laid off recently from my job as executive editor of a group of weekly newspapers. Ten years ago my goal was to be the owner/publisher of a newspaper. With the changes in the industry, that goal is no longer viable. So, where there used to be a clear path, there is now a vast openness. And I, for the first time in probably 15 years, have no idea what it will be filled with - which is both exciting and terrifying.
So I guess I'm looking for a project similar to Powell's that will make the future clearer. But I know that whatever I find will not involve extracting bone marrow from a cow's limb. My stomach could never handle it. Hat's off to Powell for braving the variety of recipes in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." "Rachel" loves food but I don't think I could convince her to eat aspic, which is some sort of gelatinous...yucky...well, you get the idea.
Powell's next installment is titled "Cleaving: A story of marriage, meat and obsession." I think I'm going to have to sit this one out. I enjoy visiting the butcher for a nice cut of meat but I don't want to know how it gets from the farm to my table. Poor "Rachel" would never eat again. And then we'd all be in trouble!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Life can be so unfair...unless you're a celebrity
It's finally happened. I've been watching, waiting, anticipating this moment for a month. And now it's here. People Magazine is reporting Lauren Conrad's book "L.A. Candy" has hit the NY Times Bestseller list. Yes, the girl from "The Hills" television show on MTV, who is famous for...well, existing really, has made it onto the most coveted list in the world. Cue jealousy, rage and envy.
Life can be oh so unfair when you're not a celebrity. Because without the hit TV show, Conrad would never have been offered a book deal. Is she a writer? Has she studied writing? I'm not completely sure what the answers to those questions are but I'm leaning towards no. And without a fanbase, no one would have bought her book because quite honestly, it's not good. Not good at all. Now, full disclosure, I have not read the entire book, I've merely read an excerpt. However, that was enough for me.
Kirkus gave it a horrible review and no one else seems to have bothered to review it all all, which speaks volumes. Yet somehow, it has appeared on The List. I know. It boggles the mind. It just goes to show you, if you're considered a celebrity you're almost a shoe-in to make The List. Forget talent. All you need is to become overexposed. Perez Hilton, Paris Hilton, Madonna...those are just a few who have received book deals simply based on their fame. Not their talent. Who knows if they even wrote the books themselves?
Jealous much, you might be thinking. Umm, yeah! I've been writing for years, made a career out of it and I'm sure when I do write that book I'm always talking and thinking about, it won't land on the bestseller list my first try. It may take five or six times or I may never make it at all.
And the kicker is I suppose I could be included as part of her fanbase (I admit begrudgingly). I would have bought Conrad's book if it was even marginally good. But I have standards where my reading material is concerned.
What? People Magazine is a fine, upstanding publication. Really.
Life can be oh so unfair when you're not a celebrity. Because without the hit TV show, Conrad would never have been offered a book deal. Is she a writer? Has she studied writing? I'm not completely sure what the answers to those questions are but I'm leaning towards no. And without a fanbase, no one would have bought her book because quite honestly, it's not good. Not good at all. Now, full disclosure, I have not read the entire book, I've merely read an excerpt. However, that was enough for me.
Kirkus gave it a horrible review and no one else seems to have bothered to review it all all, which speaks volumes. Yet somehow, it has appeared on The List. I know. It boggles the mind. It just goes to show you, if you're considered a celebrity you're almost a shoe-in to make The List. Forget talent. All you need is to become overexposed. Perez Hilton, Paris Hilton, Madonna...those are just a few who have received book deals simply based on their fame. Not their talent. Who knows if they even wrote the books themselves?
Jealous much, you might be thinking. Umm, yeah! I've been writing for years, made a career out of it and I'm sure when I do write that book I'm always talking and thinking about, it won't land on the bestseller list my first try. It may take five or six times or I may never make it at all.
And the kicker is I suppose I could be included as part of her fanbase (I admit begrudgingly). I would have bought Conrad's book if it was even marginally good. But I have standards where my reading material is concerned.
What? People Magazine is a fine, upstanding publication. Really.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Choosing a good book
I love summer. Yes, yes, I know. Who doesn't love summer? But I really love summer. In the winter, I hibernate. It's cold, it's dark, it's wet - it's like a really creepy basement. And who wants to spend time in one of those? My husband and I have a long standing joke that I am solar powered. When there's lots of sun, I'm full of energy. The minute that sun starts to set, I literally start to power down. You can see it happening.
So, when that perfect summer day appears - warm weather, about 80 degrees; sunny, cloudless skies; my butt plopped firmly in a lounge chair on the beach - there's nothing I want more than to become immersed in a good book.
I read a variety of books. I enjoy fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, travel writing (check out J. Maarten Troost if you haven't already), young adult....and Harry Potter! Yes, Harry gets his own category. (Side bar: I am counting the days until the next movie is released next week)
Now, how I choose this good book is another story. It's going to sound quite odd but I believe there is a "right time" to read a particular book. When I'm looking for something to read, I will sit in front of my bookcase, take out some of the new books I haven't read yet and skim the first page of each. Whichever one captivates me or intrigues me in that moment, is the one I'll go with. I have books I bought five years ago that I haven't read yet. My husband always laughs and asks me if I'm ever going to get around to reading them.
Absolutely, I say.
It's just not the right time yet.
So, when that perfect summer day appears - warm weather, about 80 degrees; sunny, cloudless skies; my butt plopped firmly in a lounge chair on the beach - there's nothing I want more than to become immersed in a good book.
I read a variety of books. I enjoy fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, travel writing (check out J. Maarten Troost if you haven't already), young adult....and Harry Potter! Yes, Harry gets his own category. (Side bar: I am counting the days until the next movie is released next week)
Now, how I choose this good book is another story. It's going to sound quite odd but I believe there is a "right time" to read a particular book. When I'm looking for something to read, I will sit in front of my bookcase, take out some of the new books I haven't read yet and skim the first page of each. Whichever one captivates me or intrigues me in that moment, is the one I'll go with. I have books I bought five years ago that I haven't read yet. My husband always laughs and asks me if I'm ever going to get around to reading them.
Absolutely, I say.
It's just not the right time yet.
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