Once again I have chosen a piece that was the author's (Shilpi Somaya Gowda) first work - and again my selection has an Indian connection. I liked this book! It was very readable and I suppose another one that is mostly for us girls, but the plot is well developed, the characters are believable and the story is touching. The story moves between Mumbai, India and Northern California and explores international adoption and families with blended backgrounds and cultures. There was a time in India when baby girls were not wanted - sometimes aborted, sometimes killed at birth and in this instance, given to an orphanage when the baby was 3 days old. The tale revolves around two American doctors who are unable to have children and since the husband is Indian, they adopt a child from Mumbai. The chapters move back and forth from California and India following the lives of two cultures and two countries. The ending isn't what I expected and sometimes in these type of stories, that is refreshing! Anyway, the book is engaging, readable and I thought, quite good. (339 pages)
You will be surprised at my next book - loved by most of you and one I have never read!
And my screen is still in Arabic!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Clash of Kings
I finished up my first book of 2012 last night, "A Clash of Kings," by George R.R. Martin. It is the second book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. I was introduced to this series through the HBO's adaptation of the first book, "Game of Thrones." That was an excellent book and a pretty faithful TV adaptation.
The book picks up where the first book, "Game of Thrones," left off. Civil war has come to Westeros. There are several would be kings vying for the throne. Those would be royals include: Robb Stark, Joffrey Barahteon, Rennly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Daeneryis Targeryan and Balon Greyjoy (does spelling count?). Each are fighting for a different reason. At the surface it's a prototypical swords and castles story but the complexity and the characters make it something worth reading.
I don't want to give too much plot away as I know at least Kristen is planning on watching the next season (airs in April). It would also take a few dozen pages to summarize anyway (the book is nearly 800 pages long, over 1,000 in the paperback). I will say this, I was initially disappointed in the end of the book. I wanted some closure but it's a cliffhanger of sorts. I really want to take a break from this and read some other stuff but I think I'll be on to book 3 within the next couple reads.
Throughout the book there is great suspense as the myriad characters are captured, released, killed, spied upon, spying, politicking and procreating. The plot is intricate, there are dozens of characters. Each chapter follows a particular character's story line. There were a couple long breaks between characters chapters; it was occasionally difficult to remember what the heck they were doing the last time they had a chapter. It's well written, the cadence of the political scenes are gripping, the battles are vivid. The battles are extremely violent (they are, by nature, violent). There is also quite a bit of sex. It turns out whoring isn't such a big deal in Westeros.
I'm excited to read the next one. This series was originally written as a trilogy although it looks like the 7th book is being written now. I'm hoping for some closure in the next installment!
The book picks up where the first book, "Game of Thrones," left off. Civil war has come to Westeros. There are several would be kings vying for the throne. Those would be royals include: Robb Stark, Joffrey Barahteon, Rennly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Daeneryis Targeryan and Balon Greyjoy (does spelling count?). Each are fighting for a different reason. At the surface it's a prototypical swords and castles story but the complexity and the characters make it something worth reading.
I don't want to give too much plot away as I know at least Kristen is planning on watching the next season (airs in April). It would also take a few dozen pages to summarize anyway (the book is nearly 800 pages long, over 1,000 in the paperback). I will say this, I was initially disappointed in the end of the book. I wanted some closure but it's a cliffhanger of sorts. I really want to take a break from this and read some other stuff but I think I'll be on to book 3 within the next couple reads.
Throughout the book there is great suspense as the myriad characters are captured, released, killed, spied upon, spying, politicking and procreating. The plot is intricate, there are dozens of characters. Each chapter follows a particular character's story line. There were a couple long breaks between characters chapters; it was occasionally difficult to remember what the heck they were doing the last time they had a chapter. It's well written, the cadence of the political scenes are gripping, the battles are vivid. The battles are extremely violent (they are, by nature, violent). There is also quite a bit of sex. It turns out whoring isn't such a big deal in Westeros.
I'm excited to read the next one. This series was originally written as a trilogy although it looks like the 7th book is being written now. I'm hoping for some closure in the next installment!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Meaning at the Movies
Just finished "Meaning at the Movies: Becoming a Discerning Viewer" by Grant Horner. It's an interesting look at movies from a Christian perspective, in particular, looking at worldviews that movies present. The author is a professor of film studies, so he naturally thinks that movie are the ultimate reflection of our culture, and the most powerful artistic means of expression... Maybe.
Anyway, the point of the book is to encourage you to really engage with what you're watching and consider what the writer, director, cinematographer, and characters want you to think about the world, the nature of man, etc. He sums it up well with a quick question: "Who believes what about what, and why?" Looking at some of the movies I have seen recently, it's an interesting diagnostic question.
After walking through some examples of answers for this question, he breaks down some movies of various genres and talks through some of the ideas that are being presented. This was the most interesting part of the book for me.
I think if you're interested in movies, and especially in thinking about movies, you'd enjoy this book. It's good stuff to think about with any kind of art you interact with - even commercials!
Family Reading?
Would everyone be interested in reading the same book at some point this year? I can't think of a book off the top of my head that would interest everyone but I haven't been thinking for long. Maybe some classic lit? Maybe something non fiction like "The Omnivore's Dilemma?"
I'm about done with my first book of 2012, 92% according to the kindle meter... more on that in a week or less, I hope.
I'm about done with my first book of 2012, 92% according to the kindle meter... more on that in a week or less, I hope.
The Cookbook Collector
First off, I hope this comes out right as my whole screen has been translated to Arabic and I am going by memory if I am posting correctly! Even my Yahoo page is in Arabic - may be time to learn the language! How weird to be doing everything from right to left.
I just finished another dumb book...another "National Bestseller!!" "The Cookbook Collector" by Allegra Goodman had such promise for a good read, but the author seemed to try to get every type of situation in a story she could think of. Love story, Berkley students sitting in the redwood forests, sit-ins, betrayal, re-discovery of a Jewish heritage, the dot com rise and fall, 9/11 lost love, dysfunctional family... what else. Oh yes! The plot! So easy to loose (or ever find) in this saga. I think the statement the author was trying to make was to beware if you are being loved or being part of a collection? I don't know - I don't recommend it and will give the book away to the refugee center here.
I just finished another dumb book...another "National Bestseller!!" "The Cookbook Collector" by Allegra Goodman had such promise for a good read, but the author seemed to try to get every type of situation in a story she could think of. Love story, Berkley students sitting in the redwood forests, sit-ins, betrayal, re-discovery of a Jewish heritage, the dot com rise and fall, 9/11 lost love, dysfunctional family... what else. Oh yes! The plot! So easy to loose (or ever find) in this saga. I think the statement the author was trying to make was to beware if you are being loved or being part of a collection? I don't know - I don't recommend it and will give the book away to the refugee center here.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Redeeming Love
I think most of the women in the family have read "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. But I think everyone should read it. I "reread" it on audio book (a young mother's best friend). It is a retailing of the book of Hosea in Gold Rush California. Rivers does an amazing job of illustrating the love story between the prophet, Hosea/believer Micheal Hosea, and the prostitute, Gomer/Angel God instructs him to marry. As beautiful and amazing their story is, the story is ultimately about the incredible love God has for us, his people, and how after time and time again we leave him and sell ourselves to other gods and sin, but he is there loving us and changing us.
Rivers is a wonderful writer. Before she was a believer she wrote historical fiction and this is her first book after her conversion. I think it is one of my favorite books. It is a great read as well as uplifting. Also I don't know if I read/listened to them this year, but her Mark of the Lion series is also amazing.
Dune
Today I finished the audiobook version of Dune by Frank Herbert. This was an excellent audio rendition of the book, with a full cast. As I have re-read Dune over the years, the symbolism has made more sense, and it's clearer what Herbert is trying to say about oil and power and religion. I am not sure I agree with everything he's saying, but it's a heck of a story!
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