Brainiac by Ken Jennings

^^^Last month, I had the opportunity to hear Ken Jennings speak at the Great Salt Lake Book Festival. I wrote a blog about it here: http://lifesapicture.blogspot.com/2006/10/great-salt-lake-book-festival.html. He was well-spoken, funny and very enlightening. Needless to say, I bought the book.
^^^The book is very different from most books I read. It's not really a story, certainly not fiction, more of a fact book. But Ken Jennings wrote this in such a charming, fascinating way. What a fun read. Yes, the story of his 75 appearances on Jeopardy is the main theme, but that story is surrounded but the whys and wherefores of the trivia world. Each chapter is titled with a question: "What is Ambition?", "What is Erudition?", "What is Juxtaposition?", for example. The narration of each chapter includes about ten trivia facts which you can try to answer or just turn to the end of the chapter like I did. Jennings traces the beginning of the trivia craze and how it has phased in and out of our society. He follows the old TV quiz shows, college quiz bowls, pub quiz mania, Trivial Pursuit, and the many volumes written about trivia. There are so many funny stories included in this book, and Jennings did make me laugh many times. I am not a trivia fanatic in the least, but I will read this book again in a few years and see if I can remember any of those questions. Probably not. Here are some of Jennings' thoughts about trivia and trivia geeks:
~~~"If trivia is a fad, it's certainly a pesky one. Like the Terminator, Halley's comet and genital herpes, trivia just keeps coming back."
~~~"If a quiz bowl player volunteers to tell you the story of his "best buzz" ever, it's not going to involve a few bottles of Smirnoff Ice and a band that was, like, really jammin'. It's going to be about the time his team was down thirty points on the last question, and he "buzzed in" and answered "mitochondria" after just two or three words, and single-handedly converted the entire bonus question to win the game!"
~~~"Trivia, in other words, is the bait on the fishing rod of education. By the time you realize what you've swallowed, you're hooked."
~~~"Trivia reminds us that truth is stranger than fiction, that the universe really is a brilliant and mysterious place. In the midst of our humdrum daily routine, trivia can be a bolt out of the blue, reminding us how weirdly wonderful life really is. "
~~~"Not all trvial facts are trivial, and even the trivial ones might come in handy someday. Even trivia like 'Opossums have thirteen nipples' might mean something to somebody. If nothing else, it's a matter of life and death to the thirteenth opossum."
^^^I enjoyed Brainiac a lot and learned many interesting facts that may or may not be useful. Unlike Ken Jennings, unfortunately, I am doomed to forget most of it. But I'll have this book as a reference. I recommend this book for when you need to read something completely different from the fiction/nonfiction story genre.
Rating: 4.5
6 Comments:
Les said...
Great review! This is a book my Trivial Pursuit champion of a husband would love. One more gift to go under the tree. :)
Cassie said...
I really want to borrow this from you someday along with many others. Sheesh my TBR list is growing and I don't even have a list yet.
Nessie said...
As a kid I used to love to watch Jeopardy & my dad's friends would say that if I could answera a question that he could not get I would get 5$ & if I answered a question he got WRONG then I got 20$. How could I not have fond memories??...
Colleen Gleason said...
This sounds like a great book, something my husband and/or father in law might enjoy for Christmas.Thanks for the review!(PS I used to read the Death on Demand series years ago...and wished there was a store like Death on Demand that I could visit!!)
Nessie said...
By the way, I work with a group that has the same title as your post. So a member at a meeting while surfing went gaga over this. www.brainiac.degadesign.com
booklogged said...
I wonder when I'm going to get to my copy of this book?! I so enjoyed hearing him talk. He looks so quiet and well, 'brainiac' but he was so funny. The book sounds wonderful. It's nice to know there is someone in the world who, when she buys a book, actually reads it. Hats off!

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

---There is so much to say about this book. Let me start with the things I didn't like, a couple of these are really petty. First, I borrowed this book from the library. It's a hard back book but the front cover is damaged and very flimsy. You'd be amazed at how annoying that was. (I did say petty, didn't I?) Second, this is the cover of the edition that I read. A picture of John Irving. Keep in mind, this is the third John Irivng book I have read and while he is a very nice-looking man, I know that he has a twisted mind. And his eyes in the picture follow you everywhere. It creeped me out. He's staring at me as I write this. Don't ask me why I didn't just turn the book over. I'm not that smart. Third, there is a lot of political posturing in the book. A great deal of it deals with the Vietnam War which is a huge piece of the story and probably something I need to learn more about. But the greatest diatribe is against the Reagan administration in the late 1980's. The book was published in 1989. It didn't seem very relevant to me now. Besides I'm not very political so that part left me cold.
---So, what did I like about the book. WELL, I could go on and on. It really is a great book. Irving is a master at creating odd and quirky characters, but Owen Meany is arguably the most compelling and memorable character I have ever read about. And the story touches on so many different subjects: faith, death, friendship, love. Throughout the book, Irving tells about so many different occurrences, places and things; and, then at the end, he ties it all together beautifully and so unexpectedly. The end just blew me away. I plan on reading the book again someday because I'm sure I will look for clues that I completely missed this time. But maybe the surprise is better. There were so many great quotes. Here are a few of my favorites:
---"It's a no-win argument--that business of what we're born with and what our environment does to us. And it's a boring argument, because it simplifies the mysteries that attend both our birth and our growth."
---(Owen Meany always talks in all capitols) "THE POINT IS, GOD DOESN'T LOVE US BECAUSE WE'RE SMART OR BECAUSE WE'RE GOOD. WE'RE STUPID AND WE'RE BAD AND GOD LOVES US ANYWAY."
---(Talking about Marilyn Monroe) "THOSE FAMOUS, POWERFUL MEN--DID THEY REALLY LOVE HER? DID THEY TAKE CARE OF HER? IF SHE WAS EVER WITH THE KENNEDYS, THEY COULDN'T HAVE LOVED HER--THEY WERE JUST USING HER, THEY WERE JUST BEING CARELESS AND TREATING THEMSELVES TO A THRILL. THAT'S WHAT POWERFUL MEN DO TO THIS COUNTY--IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, SEXY BREATHLESS COUNTRY, AND POWERFUL MEN USE IT TO TREAT THEMSELVES TO A THRILL!"
---"You've witnessed what you call a miracle and now you believe--you believe everything. But miracles don't cause belief--real miracles don't make faith out of thin air; you have to already have faith in order to believe in real miracles."
---"Although the sun had set, vivid streaks of vermilion-colored light traced the enormous sky, and through one of these streaks of light, I saw Owen's plane descending--as if, wherever Owen Meany went, some kind of light always attended him."
---The book begins with an interesting introduction written by the author. I love reading what authors have to say about their work. It gives me a greater insight into what I'm reading. This introduction also gave me an idea for "Buy a Friend a Book Week" in January. So visit me again then to learn more.
---I'm also adding that the humor in the story is wonderful. The Christmas Pageant was hilarious and the Volkswagon incident had me rolling on the floor.
Rating: 4.75
12 Comments:
Alyson said...
Yeah! I'm glad you liked it. I didn't really enjoy the amount of politics in this book either, but the rest of the story is so wonderful that I look past that. I think this is one of my favorites because Owen is such an endearing character, and because the ending suprised me as well. I've already read this one twice, and I already want to read it again.
booklogged said...
I don't know what I was thinking when I didn't pick this for From the Stacks Challenge. Maybe I can read it for the Chunkster Challenge. It is a chunkster, isn't it?You are moving right along on the alphabetical read. Probably about 1/3 through and you didn't start so long ago.Love reading your reviews.
Les said...
I've read this twice. Once in 2000 and again in 2005. It was on my Top Ten List for 2005 and I posted a review here. There are so many wonderful quotes! I posted one in my review, but I have dozens highlighted in my book.
Framed said...
Alyson, I'm so glad you recommended this book. It's the only reason I read it and I really did love it. I may have to buy my own copy so I can mark it up. Book, you do need to read it. It would qualify as a chunkster. Les, I loved your review. I alos enjoyed the comments.
Lotus Reads said...
Goodness, yes, that is an unusual cover isn't it? It's not often you come across a book with the author's face, even if its a good-looking one, splashed across the cover like that! :)Great review, Framed - I have always wanted to read this book, but after reading what you have to say I am even more inclined to do so.
Bookfool said...
This one's still on my get-to-it-soon list. Actually, it has been for a long time. It's great to read yet another positive review! I just gave my last read a 4.75 and I thought I was being odd when I did so. It's also kind of nice to see someone else give an in-between rating. I don't know what to think of the author's face. It's a nice one, but surely they could have come up with something better.
Nessie said...
when i read this in high school I was flying. the entire class read it and we kept on bringing it up during parties and get togethers. Its one of those books that creeps up on you throughout your life (this is 5 years later anyways...) which makes it a classic for me
Joy said...
I thought I already responded to this one, but evidently I didn't.I want to read it, but need to wait. Now to find out that it's a chunkster...ugh! It may have to wait a little while longer. :(My first chunkster is going to be THE LONESOME DOVE (McMurty), maybe this will be the second. We'll see.
Sara said...
I've owned this one for a while and haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I'm going to bring it to the top of the stack now after reading your review. Luckily I won't have all of your problems with the creepy author photo since mine just has a plain blue cover. Huzzah!
Bellezza said...
I have a hard time appreciating John Irving; I just don't get him!But, my son and I loved the movie "Simon Birch" which was based on this novel. And, of all John Irving's novels, this one is the one I like best. I read A Widow for A Year, and was singularly nonplussed. I think he's just too deep for me. Or, something.Thanks for commenting on my blog, I really enjoy your visits.
Framed said...
Belleza, I definitely like this book better than anything else of his that I've read. I don't plan on reading another unless I get rave recommendations like I did with Owen Meany.
michelle said...
Owen Meany is one of my all-tme favorite books. I try and space out re-readings to keep it fresh but always find myself coming back to it.Owen is just the most unique character I have ever read and every time I revisit this book I find something new to love that I had missed before.Glad you enjoyed it!MichelleOverdue Books

I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven

**My mother recommended this book, and I am so glad I followed her advice. It's just a small book but what a beautiful story of love, acceptance, giving, and dying. Craven really captures the majesty of the Pacific Northwest and her description of a dying culture is both sad and profound. There are really two themes involved in this book, the story of a dying young man and how he finds himself through giving to others, and the plight of Native Americans who fight the world outside in trying to maintain their own culture even though so much of this culture has already been lost. She is very realistic about how cultures change and grow. We see the inevitability of this even though it seems quite tragic. And the story of Mark Brian is so poignant and moving.
Rating: 4.75
5 Comments:
Alyson said...
I also read this book because your mother recommended it. I really enjoyed it as well. Your done with your "I" title, does that mean you're reading A Prayer for Owen Meany next? Is that still your "I" author book? I'm excited for you to read it. I love that book!
10:37 PM
booklogged said...
I read this book because your mother recommended it, too.One of these fine months I absolutely have to get to Prayer for Ownen Meany. I know, I'll put it on my chunkster list.
9:41 PM
Framed said...
Yes, I am reading Owen Meany, but no comment at this time. I don't believe in "spoilers." It definitely qualifies as a chunkster.
6:51 PM
Alyson said...
Chunkster? Does that mean it's a thick book, or is that some new TBR list you guys are making?
11:30 PM
Bookfool said...
I bought this one for my son and I don't recall whether or not he got around to reading it, but it looked really good. Thanks for the review. Now, I know I'll have to take the time to read this one, some day!Alyson: Chunkster means a thick book. I'm hosting a "Chunkster Challenge" from January to June, to motivate those of us who are intimidated by big books to get some of them read. :)

LETTER FROM HOME by Carolyn Hart November 12, 2006

*I bought this book because I have always enjoyed Hart's "Death on Demand" mystery series. They are easy to read, light, humorous mysteries involving Death on Demand store owner, Annie Darling and her gorgeous husband, Max. But this book is completely different. The tone is much darker; the mystery is complicated and tragic.
*G. G. Gilman is a world-famous journalist who receives a letter that takes her back many years to the summer when she was fourteen and working her first newspaper job during WWII. That is the summer when Gretchen Grace Gilman, while helping her friend, Barb, finds the strangled body of Barb's mother, Faye. The rest of the book deals with how her small Okalhoma town gives in to gossip, panic, and rigid judgment. Gretchen strives to report the facts which include the good character of the murdered woman even if few in the town will not accept that "she asked for it." As Gretchen tries to help her friend, take care of her aging grandmother, and accept her widowed mother's new friend; she must also learn the integrity of a reporter who reports the truth and stands by her words. It isn't until the end of the book that you learn the truth of the murder in a twist that took me by surprise.
*Hart wrote this book beautifully and won the Agatha Award. If you want to read a thoughtful and interesting mystery, I highly recommend this one.
Rating: 4.5

5 Comments:
Joy said...
I like the blurb under your title. It's so true. I only read one Amy Tan and didn't care for it and never ventured to try another.LETTER FROM HOME sounds like one I'd like to look into. Glad to see you are having good reads!
iliana said...
I'm always on the lookout for new mysteries so I will add this one to my list. Great review.
booklogged said...
Sounds like one I'd like, too. I've already added Hart's Death on Demand series to my list at your recom. What's one more?! Is it going to make the whole thing topple? JK The list grows exponentially on a daily basis. I've decided this is my new hobby - collecting titles of books. You should try it!
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
You are really zipping along on the Challenge!! Great review!!
Kucki said...
I have read this as I like the Dead on Demand mysteries and you recommended it and I did like it quite a bit. The back and forth is one of the devices of writting that I tend to enjoy. Time travel in it's early stages... Thanks for the review.

THE HISTORY OF LOVE by Nicole Krauss November 10, 2006

This is a very complex story. I was very confused through the first third of the book. Then I started to see that the threads of different stories were becoming intertwined and I needed to find out how. Leo Gursky is an unforgettable character. He is so well-drawn that I had to check that this book was really written by a woman. She describes an elderly, lonely forgotten man so beautifully. The other main character is Alma Singer, a teenage girl, completely different from Leo, but just as memorable and believable. There are several other interesting characters in the book, but the way Krauss plays them into the story, maintaining a mystery that isn't resolved until the final few pages, is incredible. I was amazed how she pulled all the strings together. The ending is stunning. I thought when I read the book that it would be a love story. I read a review that said it is really about loneliness and the need to feel a void left empty by lost love. I can see that. And the story is really very sad, but sometimes funny, and even joyous. Another reviewer recommended: "It's best not to put the book aside for a few days, but rather read it straight through with only short breaks. Trying to recapture the story is challenging. It's not a light beach read." I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had been able to do that. So read this book when you want something thought-provoking, quirky and completely different from any other book you've read, and when you have some time to devote to it. I will definitely read it again.
Rating: 4.50
6 Comments:
booklogged said...
I am rereading this right now because I'm leading the book club review this month. I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy it as much as the first time, especially having just finished The Book Thief, but I'm enjoying it immensely. Just finished the first part with Leo. He is such a crack-up. And so well written. I'm glad you liked the book. I always feel a certain intrepidation recommending books.
Joy said...
"...thought-provoking, quirky and completely different..." For some reason this one never landed on my TBR list. It's going on now. Thanks! :)
Lotus Reads said...
I heard a dramatized version of this book on BBC Radio 4 when it first came out and it certainly did sound like a wonderful book and since your review confirms it,I really must put it on my TBR list!
Les said...
"...the story is really very sad, but sometimes funny, and even joyous." This sounds like a description of The Book Thief! I've heard such wonderful comments about this book and even checked it out from the library (but other books won me over and I had to return it unread). It sounds like one I may have to own. Perhaps that will motivate me to get on the ball and read it! Lovely review.
jenclair said...
I've been resisting this one...not sure why. Your review may make me reconsider.
Lisa said...
Oh, thanks for the review! I can't wait to read this one! By the way, would you mind telling me where you get these jpegs that show the book upright and slightly open?? I would like to post them like that on my site, too, but I can never find these kind of images. Thanks!!

BABY PROOF by Emily Giffin November 8, 2006

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Granted I had just finished "The Goose Girl" which I loved, and I thought this would be another of those modern, high-powered, woman stories that I haven't really enjoyed in the past, so I'm glad that I liked it anyway.
Claudia does not want children, has never wanted children, and at the age of 32, has about decided she will never find a man who agrees with this life-style choice. I love this one quote:
"A long conversation about baby naming ensued, a topic I find to be ridiculous and tiresome unless you have a nine-month deadline in the works. Discussing baby names when you're not even pregnant is almost as ridiculous as laying claimg to a name." I had to laugh because I did this, still think of names for grandbabies who are not yet in the works and I know several others who are also guilty.
Continuing on, she meets Ben. Of course, they fall in love and get married. Two years later, Ben reneges on their agreement and pressures Claudia to reproduce. Now I can't truly understand not wanting kids since that's the best thing I've ever done, but I found myself getting impatient with all the people in this book who pressured Claudia to have kids. After all, she is a modern, high-powered, very intelligent woman. Get off her case, for crying out loud.
Another funny quote about Raymond Jr. who is about 4-months old: "Raymond Jr. clutches Ben's thumb, and I wonder how I'm supposed to compete with a stunt like that. The kid is good." The marriage ends and the rest of the book tells how Claudia copes along with the support of her two sisters (what would we do without sisters?) and her best friend. I liked the humor in the book and found it to be a very enjoyable read. The lesson I learned is that you know you truly love someone when you will do absolutely anything to make them happy. The question is, do Claudia and Ben figure that out? You'll have to read to find out.
Rating: 4

4 Comments:
Alyson said...
I must say I've never fallen into the trap of naming my not-yet conceived children. I think I'm the only girl out there that doesn't have at least one boy and one girl name picked out. I always thought I was weird, but at least now I know there's a fictional character who didn't do that either.
michelle said...
Nice review. I'm not sure that I would have picked this one up on the shallow basis of title and cover (I'm not the only one judging books by their cover, right?) but it seems like I might have missed out. Thanks for the review and congrats on crossing one off the list!MichelleOverdue Books
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
I really like your review! This one sounds hilarious. I'm in the opposite boat...can't find a man who wants children!
Sheri said...
I discovered Emily Giffin earlier this year when someone suggested her first book Something Borrowed to me. She loved the book and made it sound like a fun and enagaging read, she had thatlook in her eye that I get when I've read something REALLY good that I really want soemone else to read, it was very convincing...and who am I to dismiss something just because it's beeen classified as "chick lit?" I gave it a try and LOVED it, then I ran to the store and grabbed the sequel Something Blue which was just as enjoyable. If you liked Baby Proof, you should really give Something Borrowed, and Something Blue a try.I want to read Baby Proof soon, I'm glad you reviewed this.

THE GOOSE GIRL by Shannon Hale Novemer 5, 2006

What is there to say about this book except for WOW. I loved it. It took me a little while to really get into it because I had just finished "Prayers for the Assassin" and this was soooo different. But by the end, I realized it had a lot of the same elements: a great map, intrigue, conspiracy, violence, suspense, and romance. Truly, what more could you ask for? And, lo and behold, there is more because Shannon Hale is an exceptionally gifted author. She writes so beautifully. She took an old Grimm's fairy tale (one I had never heard) and transformed it into one of the best books I've ever read. I could scarcely put it down and was so sad when it ended. I can't wait to read the next two books in the series. In fact, I was surprised at how amazing her writing is after seeing her at the Book Festival. She was thoughtful, thought-provoking, and very funny, but I didn't really catch a full glimpse of her talent with words. I'd heard raves from my sister and niece but I still wasn't prepared for the beauty of her prose. Here's an example:
"The river birches were leafing brilliant--hundreds of thin, gold coins dangling from their arms. It was perfect, as though their green leave had been a falsehood all those months and just now the trees showed their realness, their pure autumnal yellowness. Ani felt a stirring, a hope, a winged thing waking up in her chest and brushing her heart with its feathers."
Isn't that just how you feel in the midst of a gorgeous autumn scene? And the magic of Ani is described so fantastically. Hale makes it almost ordinary because it is so believable. I'd love to see this book made into a movie just to see that final scene where Ani commands the winds. But a movie probably couldn't capture that moment as well as Hale's words. Just let me add my recommendation to that of other bloggers who have reviewed this book: You must read it!
Rating: 5+

8 Comments:
Alyson said...
This book is at the top of my Christmas Break reading list. I'm really excited to read it because everyone who has reviewed it has nothing but wonderful things to say about it.
SuziQoregon said...
Obviously I need to look for this one :-)
booklogged said...
The timing was perfect for a G book just after being to Hale's presentation at the SLC Book Festival. It's nice to hear that you enjoyed it.
Cassie said...
Hey I think the title should be "G Title" not "G Author" You know I'm always here to point out your mistakes. I'm excited to read this book too. Don't know when I will since book club seems to take up so much time and I don't read books very fast. by the way look for my review of my latest book soon.
Framed said...
Whew, thanks for pointing that out, Cassie. I'm reading the G Author right now. Alyson & SusieQ: You will love this book. It's a great story on top of the wonderful language. Very magical.Book, thanks to you and Katie for recommending this so highly.
Stephanie said...
Oh, another book to check out! Thanks for the review.Stephanie
Joy said...
If I remember correctly, Booklogged's review stated that this was a YA book. I'm telling you...we need to be searching those YA bookshelves more often; they obviously have some terrific books that we could be missing! I'm not big on Fairy Tales, but I'm going to look into this one.
Framed said...
Joy, I see this more as a book about growing within yourself than just a fairy tale. It's far and away the best YA book I've ever read.

PRAYERS FOR THE ASSASSIN by Robert Ferrigno November 2, 2006

From Bookmarks Magazine
"Prayers" marks a departure for Ferrigno, whose previous books focused on life in contemporary Southern California. In Ferrigno's neo-Orwellian world, Mount Rushmore has disappeared, LAX has become Bin Laden International, and midday prayers interrupt the Super Bowl. Critics expressed different ideas about the plot, using words such as "preposterous," "credible," and even "ordinary" to describe it. There's no doubt, however, that Ferrigno raises important questions about religious freedom while handling the subject of Islamic faith with great insight and evenhandedness. If the plot sometimes overwhelms character development, he still allows his creations to air their own opinions without moralizing. In sum: a fast-paced thriller with timely appeal.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.
This review summarized this story quite well without giving anything away. I found it a little hard to buy into most Americans converting to Islam when Israeli forces supposedly wipe out NYC and DC with nuclear bombs. But you can set that aside and just read the book for the story, which I really enjoyed. It's a futuristic, intriguing thriller set in the year 2040. The hero, Rakkim, is a ex-Fedayeen soldier who sets out to rescue his girlfriend from unknown dangers. Soon we realize who the danger is, and you meet Darwin, the assassin. (What kind of a name is Darwin for a villain? One character says it's appropriate because of that other great 20th century villain named Darwin.) Anyway, Darwin is one great villain, as evil as they come, a psycopath and ego-maniac, but still a great villain. I enjoyed the book and found it hard to put down. It was interesting to read on Amazon that the book's sales were greatly influenced by bloggers: political, military, religious, no mention of book bloggers. The author also posted notes on Amazon and, now I find that this is part of a trilogy. I enjoyed reading his comments and may make time to read other Ferrigno books. An extra bonus for this book was that I found it at B & N for $3.00. I bought it because of the great map showing the new configuaration of the former United States. Most of the county is called the Islamic Republic, while the Southeast is the Bible Belt. So the book has it all, a great map, intrigue, conspiracy, violence, suspense, and romance. What more could you ask for?
Rating: 4.25

5 Comments:
Joy said...
Wow! You are cruising through the alphabet!!! Glad to see you are reading some books that you enjoy. That's always a good thing. :)
booklogged said...
With that high of a rating, I better add this one to my list. Oh, my heck! This is a good review - you sold me on the book. May I borrow it someday?
Anonymous said...
May I BORROW it? Hey cheapie, it's now out in paperback and worth every penny. trust me, i wrote it.Robert Ferrignowww.prayersfortheassassin.com
Framed said...
Joy, good to hear from you again. I'm spending way too much time reading, but I am enjoying it a lot.Book, sure you can borrow, but apparently the author would prefer tht you buy your own. Anonymous, maybe if you can find yourself at the next Great Salt Lake Book Festival, we'll all buy your books and get your autograph.Thanks for visiting. I'm looking forward to the next two books.
Anonymous said...
I hope you realize I was kidding. Doubt I'll be at the Book Festival, I'm holed up with an April 1st 2007 deadline to deliver the manuscript for the next one. I do appreciate your interest in my work.bestRobert

FACE DOWN BEFORE REBEL HOOVES by Kathy Lynn Emerson October 29, 2006

I believe this is the sixth book in the Elizabethan mystery series, so I am totally reading it out of order but it fits my A to Z list. This is an interesting book with a number of historical details. I did have to suspend my belief a little because of the number of strong, opinionated, and liberated women in the story. I don't think women had quite that much freedom in Elizabethan times unless you were the queen. Having said that, I'm sure the story wouldn't have been as good if all the female characters had been under the thumb of the men around them. It's a great mystery read, entertaining intrigue with some suspense and romance. The heroine, Lady Appleton, is in peril throughout much of the book, but her friends rally to keep her safe. If you like to read cozy mysteries, this book qualifies. I'm not sure I loved it enough to read the rest of the series, but we'll see how I feel when I finish A to Z and want to read a mystery.
Rating: 4

2 Comments:
booklogged said...
Darn, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it more. This is one of my favorite series. Just goes to show we don't all enjoy the same things. Variety in books and people are the spice of life.
Framed said...
I enjoyed it a lot. Just not a 5.

Great Feuds in History by Colin Evans October 26, 2006

GREAT FEUDS IN HISTORY Ten Struggles that Shaped the World
By Colin Evans
This is another book I bought because it looked interesting and was on sale and I would never have read because it kept getting pre-empted by more intriguing books. Thanks to my A to Z challenge, I made myself read it and it was very interesting. I learned all kinds of trivia and some good names for our family "Name Game." The author claims these high-stakes personal contests are history's most significant human struggles. I'm not sure I agree with all that and that they all shaped the world, but they are pretty compelling. Here is a list of the ten feuds included in the book:
1. Elizabeth I vs Mary, Queen of the Scots. They fought over the crown of England. Elizabeth was the obvious winner as Mary ended up losing her head.
2. Parliament (Oliver Cromwell) vs Charles I. This fight was over the divine right of monarchy. Charles felt that since he was the king, he should be able to do anything he wanted. Oliver Cromwell disagreed. Parliament won as Charles also lost his head. (It's scary being in a feud, isn't it?) Cromwell ruled the country for years, but eventually died alone and depressed.
3. Aaron Burr vs Alexander Hamilton. These two both wanted to be president in the worst way. Neither achieved that goal as Burr shot and killed Hamilton in a duel which effectively killed his political aspirations.
4. The Hatfields vs the McCoys. "Sad to say, the feud by which all others in America are judged and perhaps the single most famous feud in history, had its origins in nothing more quarrelsome or momentous than an old razorback hog." This feud ends in a draw but not until several family members are killed.
5. Stalin vs Trotsky. This feud centers on who would succeed Lenin and control the USSR. Stalin is the obvious winner as he was clearly more ruthless, but just barely. Trotsky is exiled and then assassinated.
6. Roald Amundsen vs Robert F. Scott. In a Norwegians vs the English race to be first to reach the South Pole, Amundsen wins because of his attention to detail and better knowledge of the terrain. Scott reaches the Pole several weeks later but he and his party freeze to death on the way back.
7. Duchess of Windsor vs the Queen Mother. At stake was the crown and the British empire. The Queen Mother triumphs as England refuses to have a twice-divorced American "tramp" as their queen.
8. Bernard Montgomery vs George Patton. Both wanted to known as the greatest Allied general of World War II. While they were both great generals, they also were egotistical and arrogant and this feud cost the lives of thousands of soldiers. I'd call it a draw.
9. Lyndon B. Johnson vs Robert F Kennedy. Wow, these two really despised each other. You know the story, Johnson refuses to run for a second term and Kennedy is shot while campaigning to replace him.
10. J Edgar Hoover vs Martin Luther King. This was a fight over the civil rights movement. Hoover pulled out all the stops and tramped over all kinds of constitutional rights to discredit King. And while King was cut down in the prime of his life, his legacy in history certainly far outshines that of Hoover.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This book was a great way to pick up a little bit of history in short vignettes. I enjoyed the format and learned a lot.
Rating: 3.75

2 Comments:
Jnorr said...
Thanks for the book review, I'll check it out. To let you know, Burr could have been president in 1800. He tied with Jefferson and the Federalists wanted to make him president. He could have made deals to make him president, but he didn't. Pretty interesting, really.
Framed said...
jnorr, I read about that. I guess I'm glad he didn't win. Jefferson makes such great copy. Burr seems quite despicable looking back over 200+ years, but Jefferson had a nubmer of faults also. I enjoy reading about that time period.

ENCHANTMENT by Orson Scott Card October 23, 2006

I really loved this book, and I found that suprising. Years ago, I read one of Card's science fiction and hated it, but this book was great. It's a fairy tale, but let me share some lines from the book that give you an idea what kind of fairy tale:
"After all the fairy tales he had read and studied, the one possibility he had never entertained was this: That they might be true, or have some basis in truth. That the world might actually admit such possibilities as giant magical bears that could throw stones, as enchanted women who could lie forever in a coma waiting for . . . ."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Western stories ended with getting married and living happily ever after. And Russian fairy tales went far beyond that--to betrayal, adultery, murder, all within that romantic marriage that the wanderer stumbled into. The old tale of Sleeping Beauty might end happily in French or English, but he was in Russia, and only a fool would want to live through the Russian version of any fairy tale."
This fantasy "fairy tale" has all the key elements: a sleeping beauty, magical spells, a wicked witch, knights, kings and princesses. It also has time travel, a hijacked jet liner, plots to preserve written stories to be found 11 centuries later, the decathalon, a broken engagement, an ancient language, a scholar of that ancient language, the early conversion of pagans to Christianity, Judaism, etc. Hopefully you will want to read this book just to see how all this potpourri blends. This was such a fun read that I finished the book more quickly than I would have imagined. I'm not going to try to describe the story, it would take forever, but here are a couple of quotes I enjoyed:
"Since the truth can never be know, a wise woman learns to become a connoisseur of lies, choosing only the best and most satisfying to suround herself with. I sink into my lies like feather beds, and they keep me safe and warm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If only, if only. No matter how much power she had, there was always something else to wish for."
One thing I found disconcerting at the beginning of the book was that Card was quite critical of men. There were a few really disparaging remarks that just hit me as odd. I didn't notice these remarks as I read further, so I'm probably just splitting hairs.
Rating: 4.75

3 Comments:
booklogged said...
So glad you enjoyed it. Reading your review and these engaging quotes makes me want to read it again. My memory's so poor that I'll probably only recognize little glimpses.
Cassie said...
this book sounds really interesting. I'll have to add it to my list...when I get around to making one.
Bookfool said...
I'll have to write this one down. I enjoyed Ender's Game but disliked the second in the Ender series and stopped at that point.

THE GLASS BLOWERS by Daphne DuMaurier October 21, 2006

I picked this book up at the library when I was looking for my "D" author. I really wanted a Kate DiCamilla book, but it was out. When I turned to du Maurier, I really wanted "Rebecca", but it was out, so I settled on this book. I should never settle. While it was an interesting book because of the history it contains on the French Revolution, it was not a very compelling read. This is a story about a family of glass-blowers; three sons and two daughters, narrated by Sophie, the fourth child and the oldest daughter. The narration begins with the two parents and follows them and their family through the French Revolution and about fourteen years after. It reminded me of the dangers of the mob mentality, whipped into a frenzy by unsubstantiated rumors, much like the Salem witch trials, the Mormon expulsion from Missouri, and the whole history of Anti-Semitism. Pretty scary stuff. However, this book is quite bland. I've lost interest in reading "Rebecca". However, I did find one quote that may appeal to all you school teachers.
"Here, in the rue des Bons Enfants, were no molten glass, no rods, no pipes; the glass blowers did not stand before the fire, blow-pipe in hand, breathing life into the slowly expanding vessel. Instead, there were children, their personalities malleable, awaiting development, and my brothers must guide them as surely and as steadily as they had once shaped liquid glass, bringing to fullness and maturity a rounded and balanced human being. "
This quote kind of lets you know how the family business ends up. I did find the perspective of the Revolution from the peasants' point of view interesting enough to want to see the new movie about Marie Antoinette to learn more.
Rating: 2.75

5 Comments:
booklogged said...
That's too bad you couldn't find DiCamillo, because it probably would have been a better read. I loved Desperaeux. I appreciate that I don't need to add The Glass Blowers to my list. Now you're on to an E title? Just checked your list. I hope you enjoy Enchantment.BTW my Lisa Scottoline book finally came in at the library! I know, "Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles..."
Les said...
Thanks for the review. I just finished a collection of short stories by du Maurier, which I enjoyed quite well. I'll steer clear of this one, though!
Bookfool said...
I've read quite a few du Maurier books - some I loved and a couple of them nearly bored me to tears. I'll give this one a skip. I'd advise you to keep Rebecca on your list, though - it's one of my all-time favorite books and I've found you simply can't judge du Maurier based on some of her other novels.
Framed said...
Booklogged and Les, it was interesting but only so-so. I know you have too many other great books to bother with this one. I love helping someone save some reading time.Bookfool, I will keep Rebecca on the back burner based on your recommendation. I wish I had read it instead.
Tristi Pinkston said...
Rebecca is without a doubt one of the best books I've ever read. Definitely, definitely go back and read it.

DEVIL'S CORNER by Lisa Scottoline October 13, 2006

Vicki Allegretti always wondered what it would feel like to look into the barrel of a loaded gun, and now she knew. The gun was a black Glock, nine millimeter, and it was aimed at her right eye. Vicki observed the scene out-of-body, as if it were happening to a girl with a better sense of humor. Wonder if black guns make you look thinner, she thought."
So begins my first experience at reading Lisa Scottoline. I could quit my review right now and you would want to read this book because of that great opening paragraph. Scottoline was recommended to me by Booklogged, who has great taste in books (except Poisonwood Bible). Vicki Allegretti is an Assistant US Attorney who gets caught up in the most convoluted chain of events which almost gets her fired and/or killed. Of course, she solves the crime with a lot of help. I like that she is not always right and sometimes does really stupid things. Isn't it nice when the heroine is human. The action is fast-paced, the main characters grab your attention, and the book is hard to put down.
Rating: 4.

7 Comments:
Joy said...
Hi Framed!I heard this one and enjoyed it, but didn't rate it as high as you. I have come to discover that listening to a book makes a huge difference for me.Also, I liked that she made mistakes, too. Her plans followed a "normal" train of thought, but...oops! :)
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
I like humour in a mystery so this one sounds like it might fit the bill.
booklogged said...
I'm glad you liked it. When you finish your alphabetical lists you'll have to try Scottoline's series about the lady lawyers. I wish our library would get in her latest book, Dirty Blonde, although it's ratings aren't as good as her others.
Les said...
I've only read one of Scottoline's (hmm, Killer Smile, I think) and thought it was quite good. Even have a couple of favorite quotes from it.
Framed said...
I own one more of Scottoline's books but I'm putting off reding any more until "The List" gets smaller. Book, I just purchased four of Diane Gabaldon's books at Bittercreek Books. Kathy let me know I was missing two. Did she think I was going to read them all that night? Hopefully she will get those two in before I read these four sometime in the next ten years.
Bookfool said...
I was a fan of Scottoline when she was still a new author (discovered her when she was on her second book) . . . and then I went through my mystery-avoidance phase, so I've fallen behind. This is the second enthusiastic review I've read of Devil's Corner, this week - will have to shove this one to the top of the piles and get back into reading Scottoline. She does have a fantastic sense of humor (and she's a nice person, also). Thanks!
Framed said...
I have one more book by Scottoline in my library, "Courting Trouble." I hope it's as fun to read as this one was.

CHAMOMILE MOURNING by Laura Childs October 9, 2006

Tea Shop owner, Theodosia Browning, is very put out when rain forces her to move her tea table indoors at the Poet's Tea. She is even more put out when one of the guests fall over the balcony above and lands in the middle of her almond tea cake.(Recipe included) So begins the 6th of the Tea Shop Mystery series. This book reminds me why I love to read mysteries by female authors. They are light, funny, and have interesting characters. How can you not enjoy a book whose characters sport such names as Jory Davis, Theodosia's boyfriend, Drayton Connelly, her partner, Earl Grey, her dog, Jester Moody, Delaine Dish, Maribo Pratt, and Gracie Venable? Great names. And it was a good mystery that kept you guessing right up to the end. The story is set in Charleston, adding that city to my list of places to visit. An added bonus is recipes for some of the dishes mentioned: Strawberry biscuits, cranberr-orange bread, raspberry chocolate chip muffins, cinnamon apple scones and blueberry sour cream muffins. To keep you reading, Childs leaves bits of the story untold, such as the fate of Theodosia and Jory's relationship. I definitely plan to read more of this series. And it wasn't hard starting in the middle. Childs also writes a scrapbooking mystery series. Something to look into.
Rating: 4.25

6 Comments:
Joy said...
Hmmmm, sounds interesting. And a scrapbooking mystery series...better yet!
SuziQoregon said...
I've read and enjoyed the first two in this series for many of the same reasons you've mentioned. I'm also familiar with many of the Charleston locations. I visited there several times while my brother was stationed there (Navy) many years ago. I'd love to get back to Charleston for another visit and I've got Shades of Earl Grey (#3) on my 'read pretty soon' list.
Les said...
You've piqued my interest. I don't know if I've ever read a "cozy" but this sounds perfect, especially since I love to cook/bake. It also sounds like one I may want to buy to give to a few friends for Christmas. Thanks for the lovely reveiw.
Framed said...
Les, "Cozy" is a perfect word for this series. It would be great to sit back with this book, wrapped in a quilt on a foggy day, with hot chocolate.
Les said...
Not chamomile tea? ;)
Bookfool said...
I love cozies, although I don't get around to reading many. This one sounds terrific. I particularly love the name Theodosia. Believe it or not, I had an aunt by that name. Everyone called her "Ted". LOL

CHOCOLATE THERAPY by Dianne Crabtree October 7, 2006

One day, I was browsing through the Deseret Book Store and spied this title. How could I resist? It looked like a fun, thoughtless read and basically, that is what it was. However, I've read any number of LDS fiction books involving middle-aged women whose children have become monsters with the onset of puberty and who are struggling with an imperfect life compared with most every other woman in the story. So, my thoughts after starting the book were, "Read that already." I did finish it though. It was, at times, humorous and had good messages: Be yourself, no one's perfect, family is the most important thing in life, etc., etc. I did enjoy the fact that the main character hides her chocolate bars from her family and brings them out whenever a friend needs consoling. (Hmm, it seems like I know someone who hides her Mystic Mints) Once I accepted the fact that this is a formulaic book and just went it, it was okay. Disappointing but okay. Dang, that is three less-than-stellar reads in a row. Things have got to pick up soon.
Rating: 3

6 Comments:
booklogged said...
The title does call out and grab your attention, doesn't it? After that less than stellar rating, I think I'll grab a chocolate instead. Care to join me?
Joy said...
Chocolate...did someone mention chocolate!?!
Les said...
You're following the alphabet in order (author's name) right now, aren't you? Too bad since The Book Thief's author's name is Zusak! Perhaps you should work your way through the alphabet backwords! Then you'd be sure to read something fantastic.
Framed said...
I believe I ate chocolate while I was reading the book. Peanut Clusters are my favorite brand of therapy. May if I do BAFAB in January, I should ask for chocolate bribes. Nah, I have to give them up. I'm a strong woman, I can do this. Les, I'm reading A to Z, first A title, A author, B title, B author, etc. So the Book Thief is my 52nd book to read. It is my incentive to read fast. I've read some bowsers lately, and hoping they improve soon. Okay, bowser is strong. They have just been disappointing.
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booklogged said...
I ran across the pronunciation and definition for a meme and since we were discussing it recently, I thought I'd let you know.meme n (mëm): A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. From the Greek mimëma, something imitated, from mimeisthai, to imitate.

The Stars Can Wait by Jay Basu October 6, 2006

Fifteen-year-old Gracian Sofka is a stargazer. The year is 1940 in German-occupied Poland. Gracian sneaks out after curfew to watch the constellations, but his brother, Pawel, catches him and stops his dangerous activity. Stargazing is what helps Gracian deal with the harsh realities of his life. But as Pawel tells him, "The stars can wait, boy, that's all they ever do." Pawel then gives Gracian a telescope which moves him to a whole new level of astronomy which he can do from his bedroom window. He is also able to watches Pawel's furtive movements night after night at the edge of the forest.
This is Jay Basu's first novel, and he has a fantastic way with words. I marveled at his analogies and the beauty of expressions in this book. Here's a few examples:
~~"The dreaminess had him and he imagined himself rising up into the expanse until he was nothing but another pinprick dancing above the world. Then a meteor shower on the nothern rim of the trees sent out five or six trails reaching out and dying back, as if a golden hand had risen through the distance and tried to grasp hold of the night, and Gracian was lost completely to the wonder."
~~"There were days when the boy felt the stories humming in the frozen air, spoken not through voices but through secret glances exchanged in the street, looks of fear and suspicion and distrust shot between those who had lived together for many years as neighbors. "
~~"He became nothing but the act of listening, and such was the force of this transformation that Gracian felt that the very walls and the benches and the lockers all about him listened too."
~~"If only there was a way of reconciling the two. To see truly and with both eyes together. Than what secret might be unveiled? What story might at last be told? But even in the urgent beating of his mind and of his heart, he knew this to be impossible. It was the fate of man to see with eyes unlike the stars. Eyes weighted to earth, their scope always stopping short of forever."
As beautifully as the story is told, and, in spite of Basu's lyrical use of the language, I didn't really enjoy this book, at least not the actual story. Maybe, my attention kept getting caught by the wonderful prose and I would stop and think, "Wow, that was a great analogy," or "I can't believe how well he described those feelings." The fact is, it's hard to read a story about that era without being depressed and it ends tragically anyway. And as I finished the last sentence, my thought was, "I don't get it." I guess I'm not much of a deep thinker. If I were to read the book again, it may become clearer, but I don't see me reading it again. Even so, I look forward to Basu's next book, hoping it will strike a different chord in me.
Rating: 3.5

2 Comments:
booklogged said...
First off, I'm surprised: This is not The Sea by some B author! What made you change your mind?Until your last paragraph I was so thinking I wanted to read this book. It was sad that the storyline wasn't any better. Oh well, I guess I don't need to add yet another book to the growing TBR list. Seems like I add 3 and take away one.
Framed said...
This is the book I actually picked. The Sea is by John Banville and I also own it. I wish I had read it instead, but I will get to it eventually. Jenclair has an interesting review of it. (I think it's Jenclair)

BURNED by Carol Higgins Clark October 5, 2006

I liked the first Carol Higgins Clark book I read and lost interest in the Reagan Reilly series as I read more. I find Clark's humor to be quite mean-spirited. The characters are two-dimensional: Reagan, her mother, father and fiance are all very intelligent and extremely attractive human beings and the rest of the cast fall quite short of anything close to their perfection. "Burned" is no different. I do like the character, Reagan Reilly, and her family. Why does everyone else have to be so laughable, inept, crass or just plain bad. The mystery is flat and the reader doesn't really care who committed the crime; and there are several crimes going on here besides the murder. Let's just say I was glad to finish and now I will be giving the book away. I didn't even care enough to find the book cover that matched my book for this post.
Rating: 1

3 Comments:
booklogged said...
I agree. I wanted to like her books but I just didn't.
Joy said...
So sorry for your disappointment. The good news is the next book can virtually only go up! :)
Bookfool said...
Sorry you didn't enjoy the book. I've never read Clark, but I understand the feeling; I felt rather the same way about Victoria Laurie's second psychic mystery (can't remember the title). The character was snarky but fun in the first book, downright nasty and stupid in the second. I'm going to give her another chance (or two) because I really liked the first book, but I'm giving myself a good long break between the two! Hope your next read is more entertaining!

CHILE DEATH by Susan Wittig Albert October 2, 2006

This is the seventh book in the China Bayles mystery series. I have read most of the others & enjoyed them. China was a high-powered defense attorney in Austin or Houston or Dallas??? who got tired of the rat-race and cashed in her pension and bought a herb store, Thymes and Seasons, in the small town of Pecan Springs, Texas. These books are filled with characters brimming over with Texas idiosyncracies. "Chile Death" tells about a man who dies of analyphylactic shock while judging a chili contest. He is deathly allergic to nuts and someone has snuck a few in his sample. In fact, his last words are, "Aw, nuts." Isn't that hilarious? So China solves the murder along with her friend and business associate, the very eccentric but beautiful Ruby, and China's boyfriend, McQuaid, who is recovering from a gunshot wound. The book has lots of facts about chiles (the plant) and a recipe for chili (the food). By the way, "Texans never make chili with beans unless they're looking for a fight." As the above murder illustrates, peanuts are out also. But you will be disgusted by what some Texans do put in their Texas red. (Do I sound Texan enough?) Albert writes with great humor and fun characters. This book was an easy, light-hearted read. It reminds me why I love to read mysteries.
Rating: 4.25

4 Comments:
SuziQoregon said...
Oh this sounds like a fun series. I hadn't heard of these before, but might have to check into them.. . . and The List grows . . .
booklogged said...
I didn't realize you were going to do an A author and then an A title. That's a fun way to do it. Still don't know if I can be that organized or disciplined. I agree with you - I love mysteries, too. I'm enjoying a Susanan Appleton right now.
Framed said...
Suzie, I decided adding to the list is part of the fun. More books to dream about. Book, I'm not sure why I'm going this way but so far, it is working. It's hard but I'm not letting myself get distracted by all those great books everyone else is reading. I think I like to read something different than everyone else is at the time. I'm afraid my opion will be colored by the reviews I read. But then, I'll always be months behind too.
SuziQoregon said...
I just had to stop in and tell you that I started Thyme of Death last night. I'm only about 30 pages into it so far, but I'm liking it a lot. Thanks for telling me about this series!

ABRAHAM LINCOLN by Benjamin Thomas September 30, 2006

I really put off reading this book and wasn't excited at all about it. But I forced myself to start my A TO Z PROJECT with this, thinking it would be good to get it over with. Why, I'm not sure, as I am a big fan of Abraham Lincoln. I guess most other biographies have made me less enchanted with their subject. And I didn't want to learn all the garbage in Lincoln's life. Happily, that is not the case with Thomas' book. The author acknowledges that material is left out in order to make this one volume, but he did a fantastic job. And even though, Lincoln was one of the greatest statesmen who ever lived, he wasn't perfect. Here is a quote from the book that largely sums up Lincoln's life:
"He will be a different Lincoln from the ambitious politician whose hopes were seemingly blighted in 1849. His ambition, reawakened, will become as compelling as before, but it will be restrained now by devotion to a cause. When he speaks again, it will be with a new seriousness, a new explicitness, a new authority. From his young manhood a lucid thinker and a clever man before a crowd, he will stand forth hereafter as a political analyst and a debater of surpassing power. The impact of a moral challenge, purging Lincoln of narrow partisanship and unsure purpose, is about to transform an honest, capable, but essentially self-centered small-town politician of self-developed but largely unsuspected talents into a statesman who will grow to world dimensions."
I learned many new things about Lincoln and the events leading up to and including the Civil War. The political games described in the book were fascinating and I usually find politics to be quite boring. Although half of the book dealt with the presidency and the war, Thomas did not burden the reader with in-depth details of the battles and maneuverings of the military campaigns. Just enough to show Lincoln's mistakes and triumphs. One reason I really enjoyed this book was that, even though I knew how things progressed in Lincoln's history, Thomas was able to keep a feeling of suspense -- Would Lincoln really pull off the Presidential election? Did the Confederacy win the war this time? Perhaps John Wilkes Booth would actually miss. -- Too bad he didn't. This is one of the few biographies I've read that made me admire the man even more. I've decided to do a post on my Life's a Picture blog to discuss Lincoln more, since this is supposed to be a review of the book not the subject.
Rating: 5

3 Comments:
Joy said...
Framed ~ I enjoy biographies also. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one. A "5" is a wonderful way to begin your "project"!
booklogged said...
What a good feeling to finally read a book you've been putting off only to find it enjoyable and educational. Even with your great review I'm afraid I'm still going to put it off. Darn me!
SuziQoregon said...
Yay for starting out with a good one. Glad it turned out to be an enjoyable read!

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins September 23, 2006

What a delightful book. It has it all: robbery, murder, mysterious Hindoos, precious gems, deceit, romance, humor, politcial and religious satire, interesting characters, even quicksand. I have to admit, I started the book by reading the introduction by some professor, and it was pretty dry and clinical. The last time I read an introduction, I didn't read the book, it sounded so boring. Luckily, I have read several reviews praising The Moonstone, so I kept going. It was so worth it. I usually don't try to solve mysteries as I read them, but I did figure this one out shortly before it is revealed. I imagine most readers do, but not until the end. Collins doles his clues a few at a time which keeps the reader guessing. There were so many twists and turns that I had to stop and think where I was. The story traces the whereabouts of a cursed diamond called the Moonstone. It is given to Rachel on her 18th birthday and disappears that very night. The entire story is told by a series of affidavit-like commentaries of the characters involved. Gabriel Betteredge, the house steward, narrates a the first half of the book. He is the true faithful servant and absolutely hilarious with his faithfulness to the philosophy of "Robinson Crusoe."
Some of his sayings to the reader:
~~~"I set down here Mr. Franklin's careless questions and my foolish answer, as a consolation to all stupid people--it being, as I have remarked, a great satisfaction to our inferior fellow-creatures to find that their betters are, on occasions, no brighter than they are."
~~~"Pay attention to it, or you will be all abroad, when we get deeper into the story. Clear your mind of the children, or the dinner, or the new bonnet, or what not. Try if you can't forget politics, horses, prices in the City, and grievances at the club. I hope you won't take this freedom on my part amiss; it's only a way I have of appealing to the gentle reader. Lord! haven't I seen you with the greatest authors in your hands, and don't I know how ready your attention is to wander when it's a book that asks for it, instead of a person?"
~~~"Self-willed--devilish self-willed sometimes--I grant; but the finest creature, nevertheless, that ever walked the ways of this lower world. Perhaps you think you see a certain contradiction here? In that case, a word in your ear. Study your wife closely, for the next four-and-twenty hours. If your good lady doesn't exhibit something in the shape of a contradiction in that time, Heaven help you!--you have married a monster.
~~~"There's a bottom of good sense, Mr. Franklin, in our conduct to our mothers, when they first start us on the journey of life. We are all of us more or less unwilling to be brought into the world. And we are all of us right."
******************************
Godfrey Ablewhite, a charming speaker and fund raiser for charities said,
~~~"Leave me my delusions, dearest! I must have that to cherish, and to comfort me, if I have nothing else."
******************************
Ezra Jennings, the strange doctor's assistant with the unfortunate appearance,
~~~"---all classical works; all (of course) immeasurably superior to anything produced in later times; and all (from my present point of view) possessing the one great merit of enchaining nobody's interest, and exciting nobody's brain."
******************************
Collins was quite the free spirit and ridicules many institutions of British society in this book. And he does it with such great humor. A truly enjoyable read. I'll have to read the "Women in White" someday.
Rating: 5

11 Comments:
Joy said...
Glad to read that you enjoyed this one. :) Now you're on to the A ~ Z reads, right!?!I don't try to solve mysteries either, not purposefully anyway.I like the quote by Godfrey that you shared. :)
jenclair said...
I just ordered The Woman in White and now wish I'd gone ahead and ordered The Moonstone, too. It has been decades since I read them, but I loved them both.
booklogged said...
Sounds like an excellent book. I need to put Woman in White closer to the top of my list. And maybe someday I'll even get to Moonstone. Sometimes I feel like a kid in a candy store, except I'm an adult and instead of candy it's books. With every book review I read I want to stop what I'm reading and start the book that was reviewed. That can happen several times within minutes! Is it too late to learn to speed read?
Bellezza said...
I haven't read Moonstone, but I loved Women In White so much that I recommended it to one of my Book Clubs. Even though it's monstrously thick, everyone was glad they read it, so I hope you'll like it too.
Bookfool said...
I haven't gotten around to reading The Moonstone, but it's been on my shelf for ages. Thanks for the wonderful review, which should serve as an adequate nudge to try to squeeze this title in. BTW, mind if I add you to my Bloggy Links? I just found you through another blog - I'm blog-hopping and I have no idea which one, but I'm having fun reading and would love to stick you on my list of links.
Framed said...
Bookfool, please add me to your links. I enjoy your comments. Hope you don't mind if I add you to mine also. I've hopped to your site before. I'm really adding "Woman in White" to my TBR list. Collins is such a fun author.
Bookfool said...
I'm just adding you now, Framed. Thanks for visiting and adding me to your links. I've read several reviews of Woman in White, lately, and I think it may end up on my list, soon, as well. We'll see. This fool needs to work on reading the books she already has piled up, before bringing any more home, so I'll wait till I've managed to read The Moonstone. The good news is that I found my copy, today! Yahoo to that! :)
booklogged said...
Are you reading your first A book? Do you own the earlier books in Susan Wittig Albert's series? If so, I would love to borrow them if I may. Have read the first one, so I need Witches' Bane and Hangman's Root.
Carl V. said...
I am reading The Woman in White right now and also purchased The Moonstone at the same time. I'm enjoying Collins so far and have a feeling that I'll really like Moonstone when I get to it.
Framed said...
Booklogged, I checked my shelves. Besides the three Susan Wittig Albert books on my TBR list, I have "Thyme of Death", "Rosemary Remembered", and "Rueful Death." You're welcome to borrow them.
Framed said...
Forgot to answer your other question, Booklogged. I'm reading "Abraham Lincoln." That's one I wasn't looking forward to, but I am enjoying it very much and learning a lot. I'm to 1862 and just over half-way through. That tells you where the emphasis lies in this book.

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier September 14, 2006

This is the second book of Chevalier's that I've read. What a talented author. Her characters are so well-drawn and the sense of time and place are fantastic. I've learned more about 17th century Holland from this book and "The Lady and the Unicorn" than I even dreamed of. The book is a fictionalized story of how Johannes Vermeer came to paint "Girl with a Pearl Earring." I haven't seen the movie, but may have to now. Scarlett Johansen bears a striking resemblance to the painting. Griet, the narrator of the story and the subject of the painting, is fifteen when she goes to live with the Vermeers as their maid. You come to know her along with the members of the family including the talented but remote master painter, as the story explains how she comes to sit for Vermeer and how that action changes her life and why. I didn't enjoy the book quite as much as "the Lady and the Unicorn", but I still liked it immensely.
Rating: 4.5

10 Comments:
SuziQoregon said...
Hi - I never saw the movie, but I absolutely loved this book. I found a couple of websites where I could see the paintings from the book. It was definitely worth the google search.
booklogged said...
Maybe I didn't give this book a fair shake or maybe the timing wasn't right, but I couldn't get into it. I have 'The Lady and the Unicorn' on my TBR list. After reading it I may give 'Pearl Earring' another try.
Framed said...
Book, I liked Unicorn better. I can't imagine you reading Pearl again when you have so many other books to read. After my trip to SL,I've added five more to my list. The problem is: the bookstores never seem to have the books already on my list or they are too expensive or not out in paperback yet. But I did find two.
Les said...
I enjoyed this book, too. Much more so than Susan Vreeland's Girl in Hyacinth Blue. I have The Virgin Blue (by Chevalier) in my stacks, but haven't read it yet. Another one (I actually think was her best) is Falling Angels. Marvelous, imho!!
Joy said...
Framed ~ I listened to this one and thought that it was just okay, which was a 3/5. Glad you really enjoyed it though! :)
Joy said...
I don't know how often you visit my blog, so I wanted to let you know that I just left you a message there regarding the A ~ Z reading plan. :)
Framed said...
Les, I've heard about "Fallen Angels.: I'm adding it to the list, then I'll save any others of Chevalier's until I whittle the list down some. Joy, sorry you didn't like "Pearl" as much as I did. I wonder if I would like it as well if I had listened to it instead. I'm heading over to read your comment directly.
SuziQoregon said...
Having just recently finished two A to Z lists (Title and Author) I would definitely encourage you to give it a shot. I had a good time and would look forward to seeing your version of the lists.
Bellezza said...
This was one of the books I took on my honeymoon (in 2001); it will always be very special to me. I loved his imagery, and the way he caught the tension between the artist and the girl. This was my favorite of all Chevalier's works.
Bibliolatrist said...
I also love Tracy Chevalier, although I'm not sure if I could pick a favorite.

A Love Like Lilly by Kay Lynn Mangum September 9, 2006

I truly loved Mangum's first book "The Secret Journal of Brett Colton." She is one of the really good LDS authors I've read. While not quite as good, "Lilly" is still very worthwhile. It starts out slowly with Jamie, a 15-year-old upset at the death of her grandmother, Lilly, going to visit her grandfather during summer break. She learns that Grandpa is seeing another woman!!! and decides to stick around to thwart the relationship. She ask how her grandpa met Lilly and this leads to stories about the CCC. They decide to tape the stories and over the course of the summer, Jamie learns to accept the new woman and grows closer to Grandpa. I know it sounds like an "aaawwww" kind of story. It is and I liked it. I also liked learning about the C's in Utah. This is a part of our nation's history that I am very unfamiliar with. The book also reminded me of how precious the memories of our ancestors are. I think I will start pestering my 84-year-old mother to tape her memoirs. From the stories she has already shared, I know there is a treasure there. I think I will ask my siblings, children, nieces and nephews to share some of their favorite memories of Mom and Dad. Maybe I can do something for Mom for Christmas. Hope she doesn't read this. For my family, pass the word around and be thinking about it. I will be in touch.
Rating: 4

3 Comments:
booklogged said...
Sounds interesting. Would you classify it as an eerie, atmospheric read? If not, I'll have to pospone it until after my RIP challenge. Is it just me or are the wavy words getting longer and squashed together more? I can hardly read the one that goes with this comment. It'll probably take me several tries.
Framed said...
Definitely not eerie. My wavy words seem to be shorter. What a relief.Do you think I could get something going on a memories book for Mom? I haven't thought of one myself. There are lots of great memories, just what would I put on paper?
Bookfool said...
Oh, cool, I'll have to locate a copy of this one! My grandfather was an engineer who worked for the CCC during the Depression, but I know very little about it.

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume September 9, 2006

I'm not sure how to review this book. How can I give Mark Twain a 2.5 and this book a 3? Let me try to explain. The story revolves around the friendship of two girls beginning at age 12 until they are 30. Caitlin is rich , beautiful and unstable and Vix (Victoria) is poor, plainer, and reserved. Caitlin is demanding and Vix gives. There is way way too much explicit sex. And while I can ignore the steamy scenes in JD Robb's books (probably because they seem like fantasy), Sisters' scenes are an integral part of the story. I almost quit mid-read because I was uncomfortable with all that sex and I didn't relate well to any of the characters. But I don't quit books very often and did finish this one. I have to grant that there were some really interesting twists to the book, the friendship enduring, and the I liked the narration by different characters, so the last half was better. The focus on sex lessened. And the ending took me completely by surprise. I'm not recommending this book to anyone and won't read it again. I usually donate my "not-to-be-read-again" books to Deseret Industry (a church-run second hand store), but I'm sure this book is completely inappropriate. That said, I'm changing my rating:
Rating: 2

2 Comments:
Joy said...
I read this with a book club in 2003 and let's just say my memory tells me that I would not recommend this book either for the exact reasons you mentioned, but for some odd reason I have indicated a higher rating than you. It could be because I read it with a group and focused on other areas or I could chalk it up to my inexperience in rating books at the time. ??? (2003 was the first year I began a booklog with ratings.)
booklogged said...
Too bad it was disappointing; and a Judy Blume book, too! I'm always just a little relieved, or happy, or something when I don't have to add a new book to my list.

Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain September 7, 2006

I thought it might be good to read a book by one of the masters so I chose Mark Twain. Unfortunately, this book is only so-so. I know, I have a lot of nerve crticizing Twain, but it just didn't hold my attention. It's only 122 pages and took me a week to read. The story is a case of switched babies whose identities are realized 23 years later. One is a 100% white man and the other has 1/32 part black, making him a slave. The book is considered a classic 19th-century mystery, but there really is no mystery. A literacy first -- the use of finger-printing to solve a crime. I did enjoy the quotes at the beginning of each chapter so I have included a few:
1."Tell the truth or trump -- but get the trick."
2."Adam and Eve had many advantages, but the principal one was, that they escaped teething."
3."Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry."
4."One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only 9 lives."
5."Behold the fool saith, 'Put not all thine eggs in one basket' --which is but a manner of saying, 'Scatter your money and your attention'; but the wise man saith, 'Put all your money in the one basket and --WATCH THAT BASKET.'"
6."The true Southern watermelon is a boon apart, and not to be mentioned with commoner things. It is chief of this world's luxuries, king by the grace of God over all the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he knows what the angels eat. It was not a Southern watermelon that Eve took; we know it because she repented."
Rating: 2.5

3 Comments:
The Cachinnator said...
I still think I might give it a try. I do love Twain!
Framed said...
Well. he does have a way with words. I did enjoy that about the book.
booklogged said...
Wonderfully funny quotes. "Adam and Eve had many advantages, but the principal one was, that they escaped teething." and potty training!The watermelon quote was great, too.

In Her Shoes byJennifer Weiner September 1, 2006

Halfway through this book, I was ready to quit and give it a "1" rating. Sheer inertia kept me going and it did get better by the end. The story is about two sisters: Maggie is beautiful, dyslexic, out-of work and a tramp while Rose is overweight, dowdy, smart, successful and boring. I didn't much care for either of them. They just kept doing stupid, self-destructive things. That said, I did enjoy the character of Ella, the sisters' grandmother who they know nothing about. So Maggie does something incredibly mean and hurtful to Rose and they go a year without seeing or hearing from each other. During that year, they make insightful changes in their lives, find the grandmother, and reconcile. Does it sound all a little too pat and easy? Exactly. So even though the book's second half is much better than the first, I still don't recommend the book. There are just too many other good books to read.
Rating: 1.5

Comments:

booklogged said...
The cover on this book does nothing for me, although the title sounds intriguing and does fit the picture. Looks to much like Chick Lit for me. I'm always glad when I read a review that doesn't beg to be added to my 'list'. Thanks for making my day!
6:23 PM

booklogged said...
oh, I met to ask - Did you have the day off?
6:23 PM

booklogged said...
I hate it when I hit the return key just as I think of one more question! Is Cassie bringing out V is for Vendetta? Could I borrow it when you're through? Or maybe watch it with you? If that's not happening, is there an interesting movie in town? What are we doing for Labor Day?Okay, that's everything, I think.
6:25 PM

Joy said...
I didn't care for the cover either so I never read it. However, I watched the DVD and wished I didn't. It was definitely a chick lit/flick, no depth whatsoever. Sometimes that can be a good thing, but it wasn't with this one.
6:11 AM

Bellezza said...
I agree with you; I tried it, but I just couldn't finish it. The first one she wrote was better, but only a little, in my opinion.
5:47 PM

The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester August 28, 2006

This is the story of the seventy years it took to create and publish the Oxford English Dictionary, ten volumes containing 414,000 words and over 1.2 million quotations, with definitions, pronunciations and the derivations of the words. Sounds pretty dry, doesn't it? More like fascinating. The story is pretty incredible. Think about it, no computers! And look at this picture of the editor, James Murray (right, check out that hat). Goodness, he stuck with it for fifty years. Winchester delights in including little tidbits about the people who contributed to the massive effort, very interesting, some sad, and others quite humorous. I've always taken dictionaries for granted, but not anymore. The scholarship required to put the work together is staggering. And Winchester is extremely erudite himself. I found myself underlining words that I had never heard of or couldn't define. Most of these words were part of the story, not examples of actual entries in the OED. And the context didn't help me figure them out very well. I got out my trusty 1973 edition of the American Heritage Dictionary to learn more. Here's some examples: Inchoate, amanuensis, pudicity, prolixity, polymathic, rebarbative, decussate, orthoepy, gallimaufry, oleaginous, and catafalque.This is an excellent book, well researched, interesting, thought-provoking, etc. etc. Probably should be rated a 5, but I'm going 4.75 because it's about a dictionary, for pete's sake.
Rating 4.75

Comments:

cyndi said...
I loved this book. I was a little worried when I heard it was about a dictionary. But it turned out to be a great read! Ben has read The Profressor and the Mad Man by this same author. He really liked both books. I still need to read the Professor one.
11:29 AM

Framed said...
Cyndi, I've heard about the Professor book also. I just need to get in the right mindset to read more about dictionaries. Sorry about the quiz. There is supposed to be two columns, so try to imagine it that way and match the word (numbers) with the right definition (letters).
8:53 PM
Ben said...
I read the Professor and the Madman first. It's great, too. I'm not sure which I prefer--probably neither. They're both great.I love this type of book: the whole author digging deep into one topic and showing that everything has a good story if you look close enough. I've read several like this on various topics and the passion of the author for the topic always gets me. They're kind of like biographies of things or events.
7:38 AM

booklogged said...
I haven't done the quiz yet, but I will so don't post the answers yet.I realized that I hadn't read this book. I read the Madman and the Professor for bookclub. Someone told us at bookclub that they were making a movie of Madman with Robyn Williams as the lead. Haven't heard or seen anything further about it. I hope it's true, though.