book review: "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
John Green

Have you ever read a book you had difficulty trying to tell other people about, because you feel that your words are inadequate to describe what the book meant to you, and you're afraid that your attempt might diminish its meaning, and afraid you would not be understood? "The Fault in Our Stars" is such a book. To say that it is about a girl with cancer who falls in love with a boy who also has cancer, and their experience living with cancer, is a simplification; It cannot convey the depths of a life aware of its nearing death, and its impact not only on the way that life is lived but also its impact on the lives around it.

I would recommend this book not only to people who have cancer or people who know people who have cancer, but also people who have a long-term illness and those who know them, and people who have had experience with death, which is all of us.

Rating:

 

ebooks!

So I went on an ebook download spree...

Some of these titles are part of series I follow [Discworld, the Rick Riordan's], one is a book up for discussion at my book club, a handful are recommendations by friends, and the rest are books I've read good reviews of.

The Keys to the Kingdom is another series I want to try because I liked Garth Nix's previous work, the Abhorsen / Old Kingdom trilogy, and a friend says this is good.

Aside from the above, I still have several books on my download queue. Not to mention the ones already on my computer. :P

I currently read ebooks through iBooks on my iPhone. Small screen, I know, but it serves. I want to buy an ebook reader, but because I am not technology savvy I'm afraid of investing in a Kindle or a Nook.

Like bibliophiles that have come before me, I am beset by the eternal dilemma - "So many books, so little time."

book review: "Lincoln's Dreams" by Connie Willis

LINCOLN'S DREAMS
Connie Willis

While doing research on Abraham Lincoln and his prophetic dreams, Jeff meets Annie, herself experiencing the Civil War in sleep, and tries to help her find meaning to her dreams.

I know next to nothing about the American Civil War, but it did not hinder me from enjoying Connie Willis' "Lincoln's Dreams". Annie's experience was gripping, and the story relevant.

We are conditioned to look up to our heroes on their pedestals, but we need to remember that they were human too. Even though they inspire us by their courage and with their triumphs, they also suffered loss and failure.

Jeff, turning down a job opportunity on studying the effects of the Vietnam War, says, "I haven't figured out the long-term effects of the Civil War yet." It seems that mankind has not even recovered from one war before he becomes involved in another. In the last century alone, we had World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, with Afghanistan at the start of this century. Does no one understand that war does not solve anything? It is a waste of human lives and material resources. War does not resolve conflict, it only postpones it until the "losing" side musters strength to fight again. Which is a lesson mankind, sadly, seems slow to learn.

Rating:

 

book review: "Lamb" by Christopher Moore

LAMB: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Christopher Moore

The first Moore novel I read, "Fool", turned out to be my worst read of 2011, but I decided to give his work another chance before giving up on it for good. I especially reserved "Lamb" to read for Lent, expecting to dislike it, for pointless mentions of sex and for blasphemy, but I'm glad I gave Moore a second chance [although "Lamb" did have numerous mentions of sex].

"Lamb" tells us the story of Jesus', or Joshua in Hebrew, "lost years" from the age of 1 to 33, as told by his best friend Levi who is called Biff. It may be improbable, but given the little that is known about that period of time, who is to say that it was impossible? To enjoy the tale, one needs to view it not as a result of serious religious contemplation, but rather as entertainment.

However, the story is not only about Joshua, but about Biff. Biff represents the ugly in all of us, our lust, our envy, but he is also that part of ourselves who try to be better despite our failings. And Joshua is always there at our side to accept us as we are.

Ultimately I think "Lamb" is a story about friendship, loyalty, and love. Who else but a friend would follow you wherever you went, to try and protect you from harm, to support you and cheer you up, who would share your suffering, who would place your well-being first and his second? Anyone who has a Biff in their life is lucky, and should be grateful for that blessing.

Rating:

 

March 2012 book haul

Took a break from reading after finishing "A Storm of Swords", but not from book buying. :P

I'm looking forward to "Robbie Ross", because most articles focus on Oscar Wilde's relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, but this book also shows what happened to Oscar and his sons after the trial. "The Virgin's Lover" I have been looking for a copy of, because I want to read on Elizabeth I and Sir Dudley. Ditto "Those Who Hunt the Night", apparently a good vampire book. "The Man Who Loved China" I picked up because it touches on Ancient China, which I want to learn more about.

My friend Triccie's bookstore Libreria closed last Saturday, 24 March 2012, :( and I went there for one last hurrah.

I have (mostly) the Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast to blame for getting me hooked on royalty. :P

book review: "A Storm of Swords" by George R.R. Martin

A STORM OF SWORDS
George R.R. Martin

In the aftermath of The War of the Five Kings, unexpected and uneasy partnerships form among the characters, making the reader re-examine his/her opinions of them. And by the end of this installment, Martin has managed to remove several of his pieces from the board, to make way for new players.

For the first time in the span of three books, I finally like Daenerys Targaryen. And if I didn't already love Jon Snow, I would love him for his defense of Castle Black, which reminded me of the Battle of Helm's Deep in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Two Towers".

But I can't believe I spent nearly a month in Westeros and its environs, reading books 2 and 3 of "A Song of Ice and Fire". I think it's time for me to move on. Who knows when I might return?

Rating:

 

corner bookmarks, and A Song of Ice & Fire map

These corner bookmarks were inspired by instructions from I Could Make That.

So I'm currently halfway through "A Storm of Swords", and here is a great map I recently saw -

A Song of Ice and Fire Speculative World Map by theMountainGoat