This is the latest installment from Concord Free Press, a great idea that's long overdue. Essentially, they publish a limited amount of each book and give them away - for free. Then the recipients (such as myself) read the book, donate money to a charity/organization of my choice, log onto their site and let them know where I've donated along with my book number. Then I pass the book on - again for free - to someone who will do the same. And we all get to read good books and help others. I like it. But go check out their website, they describe it better than I do.
Anyway, the latest book is Rut. Wow. This would be a great book for a discussion group, because there are so many questions that I have that aren't answered. The book is set about 40 years in the future, and something has happened that's pretty much destroyed our infrastructure and has radically separated the haves from the have-nots. Was it environmental destruction? Was it climate change? Was it a war? It's never stated. The book takes place in a small town, and we get to know some of the locals. We get pieces of what this new world is like (and fascinating pieces they are!) and we also get to know some pretty cool people.
I'm tempted to say that Bridget is the main character, just because she's the first character we really get to know, but she isn't. There really is not one central character; it's about everyone...it's about the town. And it really is a great story. In a world where the rules don't always match the ones we have today, I was curious as to what would happen next, and even what was possible. There was one scene that just really shook me, it was so well done and so - well, so possible. Which is what makes it scary.
As much as the obsessed-with-details side of me wanted everything explained (what exactly happened? how can people regenerate parts of their body? why is the novel called Rut?), once I let go of my anal-retentiveness (never easy for me) and let myself go in this new and strange world, it was a crazy place to discover.
Don't buy this book - you can't right now, anyway. But I'll be happy to give it to you so that you can read it, donate and pass it on. Who wants it?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Mary Ann in Autumn - Armistead Maupin
Oh, I was so excited to see this book in the store the other day. It's the eighth book in the Tales of the City series. I couldn't wait to catch up with some of my favorite people again!
I zipped through this book in one day as I flew down to Charleston. And I loved every minute of it. Spending time with Mary Ann, Michael, Mrs. Madrigal and all of the others...it was nothing short of magical.
One of the things I really liked about the first six books is how the characters grow, develop and change. As we all do. And this continues here. And of course we have some newer characters too. They all just feel so - so true. It's great.
And of course there's some mystery, and some plot twists and connections that I really didn't see coming at all - which made it that much better. If you're a fan of the series, you'll enjoy this. If you're not, well, I don't know what's wrong with you. :-) And if you don't know the series - start from the beginning. It's worth it.
I zipped through this book in one day as I flew down to Charleston. And I loved every minute of it. Spending time with Mary Ann, Michael, Mrs. Madrigal and all of the others...it was nothing short of magical.
One of the things I really liked about the first six books is how the characters grow, develop and change. As we all do. And this continues here. And of course we have some newer characters too. They all just feel so - so true. It's great.
And of course there's some mystery, and some plot twists and connections that I really didn't see coming at all - which made it that much better. If you're a fan of the series, you'll enjoy this. If you're not, well, I don't know what's wrong with you. :-) And if you don't know the series - start from the beginning. It's worth it.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Yank Back to England - Denis Lipman
I got this book from my friend Kim last Christmas, I believe; her mother is friends with the author. It's part travelogue, part cultural dissection, part historical information, part family tale. It's the true stories of Denis, a Brit who has moved to the US and who goes back to visit London and towns near London along with his American wife, Frances. While there, they also spend time with Denis's family, most notably his parents.
I really enjoyed "seeing" some of the towns outside of London and getting to know the background of them. It was also interesting to read Denis's observations of the British, being a somewhat removed Brit himself. Not all of the towns interested me equally, which I think is to be expected. I think it's a well written exploration, though.
I also was taken with Denis's writing style. At one point (and I wish I had noted where) I even remarked how he was able to make the act of walking much more interesting just by the different words he used to describe it within the same paragraph. He also does a great job in describing his parents, and every "Ghrrr" following his father's comments was just endearing.
Another aspect I enjoyed were the snippets and pieces of personal history that come through sometimes, showing what everyday life was like growing up for Denis. For instance, take this paragraph:
We had electricity, but the supply to our little house in Dagenham was metered. The electric meter was situated in the hallway, and attached to it was a coin box that took two-shilling pieces. If we didn't feed the meter, the electric power switched off. This happened many a night, and if no one had coins handy, one of us would careen into furniture, groping a way through the dark until the "light money" was found. The light money was kept in an old Rowntrees pastille box, on the ledge on the farthest wall of the kitchen. Coin in hand, the person sent to "do the light" would feel the way back, patting the narrow passageway until it turned, then shuffling across the hall before colliding with the chair that was always there.
And it goes on in a little more detail like this...which is just fascinating to me. Makes me grateful for monthly billing!!!
All in all - a really enjoyable book to read. The only thing is that I ended the book feeling like I know a lot about the towns, the sights, Denis, his parents, some of his extended family...but, oddly enough, not much about his wife or his daughter. Maybe that's intentional; she's American, and this is about his experiences back in England, so maybe that's part of it - but I feel like I would have liked to know her a little better throughout the book. Just my opinion.
Anyway - definitely worth a read, especially if you've been to or are interested in traveling to England.
I really enjoyed "seeing" some of the towns outside of London and getting to know the background of them. It was also interesting to read Denis's observations of the British, being a somewhat removed Brit himself. Not all of the towns interested me equally, which I think is to be expected. I think it's a well written exploration, though.
I also was taken with Denis's writing style. At one point (and I wish I had noted where) I even remarked how he was able to make the act of walking much more interesting just by the different words he used to describe it within the same paragraph. He also does a great job in describing his parents, and every "Ghrrr" following his father's comments was just endearing.
Another aspect I enjoyed were the snippets and pieces of personal history that come through sometimes, showing what everyday life was like growing up for Denis. For instance, take this paragraph:
We had electricity, but the supply to our little house in Dagenham was metered. The electric meter was situated in the hallway, and attached to it was a coin box that took two-shilling pieces. If we didn't feed the meter, the electric power switched off. This happened many a night, and if no one had coins handy, one of us would careen into furniture, groping a way through the dark until the "light money" was found. The light money was kept in an old Rowntrees pastille box, on the ledge on the farthest wall of the kitchen. Coin in hand, the person sent to "do the light" would feel the way back, patting the narrow passageway until it turned, then shuffling across the hall before colliding with the chair that was always there.
And it goes on in a little more detail like this...which is just fascinating to me. Makes me grateful for monthly billing!!!
All in all - a really enjoyable book to read. The only thing is that I ended the book feeling like I know a lot about the towns, the sights, Denis, his parents, some of his extended family...but, oddly enough, not much about his wife or his daughter. Maybe that's intentional; she's American, and this is about his experiences back in England, so maybe that's part of it - but I feel like I would have liked to know her a little better throughout the book. Just my opinion.
Anyway - definitely worth a read, especially if you've been to or are interested in traveling to England.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True Stories - Mike Birbiglia
First of all, phew. After coming to this book after reading Charles Dickens, I appreciate Mike Birbiglia in a whole new way. A very welcome change! But of course, I already love Mike Birbiglia from hearing him on the radio and having just seen him at the Keswick Theater - where, it just so happens, I got this lovely (signed!) copy of his new book. And it's a delight.
One of the things that I like best about Mike Birbiglia is his voice. Not just his actual speaking voice, although that's pretty snazzy, but his comedic voice. And it really comes through in his writing here. There were times where I found myself reading slower than I might normally read so that I could read it in the rhythm of how I imagined him saying it. And I think that that's the sign of someone who knows his voice.
It's a collection of stories, true stories as the title implies...different episodes throughout his life. And it's awesome. So my one friend who actually reads this - you know that I can be a bit, well, melodramatic. Especially when I'm not feeling well. Which is why this paragraph made me laugh out loud.
When I was nineteen, my doctor found a malignant tumor in my bladder. But it's funny - stay with me - because I was a hypochondriac, and the funniest thing that can happen to you as a hypochondriac is that you get cancer, because it confirms every fear you've ever had and allows you to say to your family, "See? I told you! Remember last week when I was overtired and I thought I had rickets? I was probably right about that too. There are gonna be a lot of changes around here!"
Genius.
So, my friends, if you're looking for some good laughs with some good insights along the way, go get this book. I highly recommend it. And Mike Birbiglia - we should hang out sometime. You seem pretty awesome.
One of the things that I like best about Mike Birbiglia is his voice. Not just his actual speaking voice, although that's pretty snazzy, but his comedic voice. And it really comes through in his writing here. There were times where I found myself reading slower than I might normally read so that I could read it in the rhythm of how I imagined him saying it. And I think that that's the sign of someone who knows his voice.
It's a collection of stories, true stories as the title implies...different episodes throughout his life. And it's awesome. So my one friend who actually reads this - you know that I can be a bit, well, melodramatic. Especially when I'm not feeling well. Which is why this paragraph made me laugh out loud.
When I was nineteen, my doctor found a malignant tumor in my bladder. But it's funny - stay with me - because I was a hypochondriac, and the funniest thing that can happen to you as a hypochondriac is that you get cancer, because it confirms every fear you've ever had and allows you to say to your family, "See? I told you! Remember last week when I was overtired and I thought I had rickets? I was probably right about that too. There are gonna be a lot of changes around here!"
Genius.
So, my friends, if you're looking for some good laughs with some good insights along the way, go get this book. I highly recommend it. And Mike Birbiglia - we should hang out sometime. You seem pretty awesome.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Phew! I didn't know if I'd make it through this one, but I did.
A little over a year ago, I was at the first annual Chestertown Book Festival, and one of the speakers I had the pleasure of seeing was a book critic for NPR - or maybe the Washington Post. One of the two. Anyway, I don't remember her name (or where, apparently, she works) but I do remember that she said that one of her favorite all-time books is this one - David Copperfield. So I went right out and bought it. All (almost) 900 pages of it.
I started this book almost two months ago. It's not fast reading; I couldn't just zip through it. And as frustrating as it was to be progressing so slowly through such a thick tome, I was enjoying every bit of the story. Finally, with my being on vacation this week, I was able to really spend time, dig in and give this book its due. I really got a lot out of it.
Anyone can look up this book online to get an idea of the plot; David Copperfield and his life. But it's so rich...the number of characters, the interconnectedness of them, the way they fade away and then come back...it's like a tapestry in that regard. And so many insights into the culture of the time, with some opinions in there on class, poverty, snobbery. Truly a rich novel.
One of the passages that really spoke to me was toward the end. David has had a lot of loss in a relatively short time, and has reached a point where he's able to step back and breathe and really start to accept it all.
I went away from England; not knowing, even then, how great the shock was, that I had to bear. I left all who were dear to me, and went away; and believed that I had borne it, and it was past. As a man upon a field of battle will receive a mortal hurt, and scarcely know that he is struck, so I, when I was left alone with my undisciplined heart, had no conception of the wound with which it had to strive.
The knowledge came upon me, not quickly, but little by little, and grain by grain. The desolate feeling with which I went abroad, deepened and widened hourly. At first it was a heavy sense of loss and sorrow, wherein I could distinguish little else. By imperceptible degrees, it became a hopeless consciousness of all that I had lost - love, friendship, interest; of all that had been shattered - my first trust, my first affection, the whole airy castle of my life; of all that remained - a ruined blank and waste, lying wide around me, unbroken, to the dark horizon.
Yeah. That's some deep stuff.
If you're looking for a nice light read, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking to read a classic, a novel that will hold onto you for some time, that you can really sink your teeth into, and with people you'll come to like and dislike - then this is a perfect fit.
A little over a year ago, I was at the first annual Chestertown Book Festival, and one of the speakers I had the pleasure of seeing was a book critic for NPR - or maybe the Washington Post. One of the two. Anyway, I don't remember her name (or where, apparently, she works) but I do remember that she said that one of her favorite all-time books is this one - David Copperfield. So I went right out and bought it. All (almost) 900 pages of it.
I started this book almost two months ago. It's not fast reading; I couldn't just zip through it. And as frustrating as it was to be progressing so slowly through such a thick tome, I was enjoying every bit of the story. Finally, with my being on vacation this week, I was able to really spend time, dig in and give this book its due. I really got a lot out of it.
Anyone can look up this book online to get an idea of the plot; David Copperfield and his life. But it's so rich...the number of characters, the interconnectedness of them, the way they fade away and then come back...it's like a tapestry in that regard. And so many insights into the culture of the time, with some opinions in there on class, poverty, snobbery. Truly a rich novel.
One of the passages that really spoke to me was toward the end. David has had a lot of loss in a relatively short time, and has reached a point where he's able to step back and breathe and really start to accept it all.
I went away from England; not knowing, even then, how great the shock was, that I had to bear. I left all who were dear to me, and went away; and believed that I had borne it, and it was past. As a man upon a field of battle will receive a mortal hurt, and scarcely know that he is struck, so I, when I was left alone with my undisciplined heart, had no conception of the wound with which it had to strive.
The knowledge came upon me, not quickly, but little by little, and grain by grain. The desolate feeling with which I went abroad, deepened and widened hourly. At first it was a heavy sense of loss and sorrow, wherein I could distinguish little else. By imperceptible degrees, it became a hopeless consciousness of all that I had lost - love, friendship, interest; of all that had been shattered - my first trust, my first affection, the whole airy castle of my life; of all that remained - a ruined blank and waste, lying wide around me, unbroken, to the dark horizon.
Yeah. That's some deep stuff.
If you're looking for a nice light read, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking to read a classic, a novel that will hold onto you for some time, that you can really sink your teeth into, and with people you'll come to like and dislike - then this is a perfect fit.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
StrengthsFinder 2.0 - Tom Rath -AND- Strengths Based Leadership - Tom Rath and Barry Conchie
Okay, first of all, Tom Rath? If you're reading this, CALL ME. You are absolutely, completely, 110% adorable and I have a crush on you. *sigh*
But onto the reason I'm here. I had lunch with the COO of the company where I work a few weeks ago, and she lent me a copy of Strengths Based Leadership. The main tenet is that we all have strengths and weaknesses, and as employees (and people), we are more engaged and much happier when we can do things that play to and engage our strengths. Makes sense! But we're in a culture where more focus - much more - is placed on weaknesses and "overcoming" or "improving" them. While it's important to know your weaknesses, it's also important to know your strengths and to be able to use them. And this book talks about 34 different strengths, and how they fall into 4 different categories: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking. People's main strengths can fall into any or all of these 4 areas, but may lie principally in one area. And leadership needs to come from that area and also bring in people with strengths in other areas for things to work as best they can. It's a really interesting book and a great concept.
So this led me to StrengthsFinder 2.0 - the book that started it all, I think, and the book that comes with a code to an online exam where you can find out your top 5 strengths. I read the book and took the exam, and - are you ready? - my top 5 strengths are: Harmony, Empathy, Input, Relator and Discipline. Of these, three fall under Relationship Building, one under Executing and one under Strategic Thinking. Clearly I'm not all that great at Influencing. And - honestly - that makes sense to me. I know what I feel and what my opinions are, but I'm not always great at expressing them. I offer an opinion but if you don't want to listen, then that's fine.
I don't know that there's anything rocket science in here in terms of finding out my strengths. But I really appreciated and learned from reading about this idea of playing to our strengths. And the book and website have a lot of resources (like my personalized 20 page report about my strengths) that I'm going to continue to read and explore. And, of course, discuss in my next follow-up meeting with the COO.
But onto the reason I'm here. I had lunch with the COO of the company where I work a few weeks ago, and she lent me a copy of Strengths Based Leadership. The main tenet is that we all have strengths and weaknesses, and as employees (and people), we are more engaged and much happier when we can do things that play to and engage our strengths. Makes sense! But we're in a culture where more focus - much more - is placed on weaknesses and "overcoming" or "improving" them. While it's important to know your weaknesses, it's also important to know your strengths and to be able to use them. And this book talks about 34 different strengths, and how they fall into 4 different categories: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking. People's main strengths can fall into any or all of these 4 areas, but may lie principally in one area. And leadership needs to come from that area and also bring in people with strengths in other areas for things to work as best they can. It's a really interesting book and a great concept.
So this led me to StrengthsFinder 2.0 - the book that started it all, I think, and the book that comes with a code to an online exam where you can find out your top 5 strengths. I read the book and took the exam, and - are you ready? - my top 5 strengths are: Harmony, Empathy, Input, Relator and Discipline. Of these, three fall under Relationship Building, one under Executing and one under Strategic Thinking. Clearly I'm not all that great at Influencing. And - honestly - that makes sense to me. I know what I feel and what my opinions are, but I'm not always great at expressing them. I offer an opinion but if you don't want to listen, then that's fine.
I don't know that there's anything rocket science in here in terms of finding out my strengths. But I really appreciated and learned from reading about this idea of playing to our strengths. And the book and website have a lot of resources (like my personalized 20 page report about my strengths) that I'm going to continue to read and explore. And, of course, discuss in my next follow-up meeting with the COO.
Babies Ruin Everything - Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr
Aah, the Idiots are back! Volume XXVIII (that's 28 to you and me) in the Idiots'Books series. You could think of this, possibly, as a follow-up to The Baby Is Disappointing, and it certainly is related to the birth of their second child. This volume is written from the perspective of a very little girl who has been an only child, and now finds herself dealing with having a younger sibling. The illustrations are a break from the "traditional" Robbi, and are more done in the style of a little kid. And yet Robbi still shines through, like when the pony is pooping on a kid, and with the amount of urine in the pictures. There's a lot of urine. A LOT. And I love every last drop.
Go find the Idiots at www.idiotsbooks.com. Buy their books. You'll never regret it. And it just may change your life.
Go find the Idiots at www.idiotsbooks.com. Buy their books. You'll never regret it. And it just may change your life.
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