‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Manga Edition): An Illustrated Leadership Fable’ by Patrick Lencioni

It is safe to say that I wouldn’t have read this book if it weren’t in graphic novel form. Furthermore, I wouldn’t have read this graphic novel if it weren’t something curriculum-related that I purchased for our library. Lencioni’s story is about a business with disorganized unsuccessful leadership that hires a new CEO to turn the company around. Several meetings take place in which she confronts the tension of the existing management and attempts to teach them to work together effectively.

The end of this book gives specific advice for carrying out the team reformation that the author recommends. It’s difficult to say whether this book would be helpful to me if I were actually in a team leadership position. Most of the advice makes sense and is clearly explained. But is the advice too simple? It seems like some of the things discussed may be obvious, but maybe this is the problem – management techniques that work are so deceptively simple that they get overlooked.

As I’m sure some are aware, Lencioni has written The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (non-Manga edition), on which this edition is based. I can’t comment on how similar the content is, not having read the original. However, as a person who reads very little in the way of business management books, I can say that this is a tolerably entertaining, quick and painless read.

‘Forever…’ By Judy Blume

If my daughter were just a few years older she would be reading this book right now. As it is, we’ll have to wait a few more years. Forever… is a story about teenage relationships and adolescent sexuality. The main character, Kath, meets Michael at a party and they begin dating. As their relationship progresses they naturally become physically intimate as well. This book is an entertaining and honest story that can be easily enjoyed by many, not just the target audience.

There are many books that criminalize teenage sexuality; Judy Blume is accepting. Some authors would have punished the sexually active protagonist with pregnancy, illness or parental wrath, but this is not the case with Blume’s classic. Written in 1975, Forever… gives a teen perspective on many sexual issues that are important to adolescents: virginity, contraception, peer pressure, abortion, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Teens (and others) who read this book will understand that Kath is an average teen who is learning about herself and her body in a healthy way. Even though they seek to protect her, her parents don’t make her ashamed of her sexuality, which is another refreshing departure from the norm. So even though nothing lasts forever (especially teen love), this book’s relevancy is likely to last for a very long time.

‘Club Dead’ By Charlaine Harris

Club Dead is the third book of Sookie Stackhouse’s vampire adventures. The book begins with Bill acting strangely distant then disappearing. Eric asks Sookie to travel to Jackson, Mississippi and use her abilities to figure out what might have happened. This trip involves more encounters with werewolves and vampires as well as more description of the vampire power structure that has been alluded to in previous books.

As I get further along in the Sookie Stackhouse series I keep finding reasons to dislike Bill. Given that, one of the best things about this book is the fact that Bill has a very small role and several other (better) male characters are developed. Although Sookie leaves much to be desired from a feminist perspective, her independence and determination are a welcome departure from other popular vampire stories (Twilight, anyone?). Rather than being totally dependent on the men who are romantically interested in her, Sookie looks out for herself and isn’t afraid to be without male companionship. Though we could certainly do better as far as female role models are concerned, we could also be doing much, much worse.

'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel

It feels that many people will have already read the novel Life of Pi, so this review may not be terribly helpful to those people. But I have read this book recently and enjoyed it thoroughly, so there will be a review anyway. Life of Pi is the story of a teenage boy, Pi Patel, who is travelling with his family from Asia to North America when the ship sinks. The ship had also been transporting many of the family’s zoo animals, and four of these animals, a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena and a Bengal tiger, end up on a lifeboat with Pi. After a short time, Pi and the tiger are the only two remaining. Life of Pi is a survival story combined with the unusual element of fear, admiration and love of the Bengal tiger, Robert Parker.

Pi is a very religious boy and though the book is not heavy-handed in this respect, there is frequent evidence of his faith throughout. When looked at in these terms, Pi’s love and fear of Richard Parker elevates the tiger to a deity-like status. By staying by his side during his darkest time, the tiger saves Pi from desperation and certain death. If Martel had written a novel about a shipwreck survivor that saved himself through his own faith in god, this wouldn’t have been an unusual book at all; it is the transfer of religious love to a living being that makes the book uncommonly endearing.

All in all, a wonderful book with a bittersweet ending – C.S. Lewis would have been proud.

‘A Thousand Acres’ By Jane Smiley

In A Thousand Acres, Smiley rewrites Shakespeare’s King Lear setting the story on a 1970’s Iowa farm. An aging father decides to pass his farm on to his three daughters, but only the two daughters who live on the farm accept the offer. The novel tells the story of the family’s ensuing rift and the changes in the relationships of all involved. Even though the setting and circumstances are very different than the play from which it was derived, the story remains remarkably similar.

Even though I have finished this book, I can’t really decide how I feel about it. One reason I feel ambiguous towards A Thousand Acres is the fact that I can’t figure out exactly what Smiley wants to say, if anything. The book seems like it could be feminist, environmentalist, progressive and nostalgic; and I agree with many of the things that Smiley talks about. There is an interesting scene in which the narrator, Ginny, talks to the proprietor of the local antiques store and says something along the lines of “why would anyone want to give up such a treasure?” Maybe that is the whole point of the story: letting go of old things, not holding on to old things that you’re supposed to want just for the sake of holding on. When the rest of the book was over, I was really just left with an anticlimactic sense that nothing matters at all and the point of life is just to get it over with as quickly as possible. But I guess King Lear (and any rewrites) wouldn’t be a tragedy if it were uplifting.

‘Living Dead in Dallas’ By Charlaine Harris

As many True Blood fans may (or may not) know, Living Dead in Dallas is the second volume in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. In this book Sookie’s relationship with Bill continues and the two of them are ordered to go to Dallas to investigate the disappearance of a vampire in that city. Sookie’s job is to use her telepathic ability to try to discover who was involved in the vampire’s disappearance.

The series grows increasingly strange as more and more supernatural elements are introduced: more telepaths and shape-shifters, adding werewolves and maenads. But to be perfectly honest, I think that the television show probably becomes much more far-fetched than the book. This is the draw of the Sookie Stackhouse franchise; the campy fantasy is addicting. Wouldn’t we be disappointed if it weren’t a little ridiculous?

‘Dance of Death’ by Francine Pascal

It should be painfully obvious by now that I really enjoy reading old Sweet Valley High books. Unfortunately, the local public library doesn’t both keeping these dated teen books on the shelves anymore as updated books for teen girls have become popular lately. Though Dance of Death was enjoyable, it isn’t a stand alone book and ends in a cliffhanger. If the library had the next book in the series this wouldn’t be a problem. Jessica and Enid are competing for the love of the mysterious Jonathan who recently moved to Sweet Valley and lives by himself in a crumbling mansion (wtf?). Meanwhile, Elizabeth has problems of her own as her summer fling comes to California and attempts to win her from longtime boyfriend Todd Wilkins.

This story seems to be fairly typical of Sweet Valley because it includes Todd/Elizabeth relationship drama and Jessica falling for a somewhat dodgy character. Of course, the best Sweet Valley books also include supernatural elements and Dance of Death won’t disappoint readers in this respect either (spoiler alert: A Vampire, spooky!). On a side note, it amazes me that just about every Sweet Valley book includes Elizabeth cheating on Todd Wilkins, and Todd seems to be thickheaded enough to keep returning to her. But that seems to be just one of the many things that make Sweet Valley so good, no matter how many murders and betrayals take place, it will be mostly back to normal within a couple hundred pages.

‘Red Families v. Blue Families: Legal Polarization and the Creation of Culture’ By Naomi Cahn & June Carbone

In Red Families v. Blue Families Cahn and Carbone discuss ways in which political and ideological alignment affect and reflect a person’s views on family and family formation. Interestingly, the authors point out the fact that blue families, or liberal families, are more likely to be structured in the traditional family style, with both parents in the home. Red families, or more conservative families, are more likely to result from unplanned pregnancies and eventually lead to divorce. This seems counterintuitive because liberal individuals are usually more likely to support non-traditional family styles while conservatives are more concerned with a specific type of family structure. Several factors are discussed as contributing to this phenomenon, including birth control, sex education, abortion and gay marriage.

The book ends with several suggestions from the authors for reevaluating marriage and lowering the rate of unplanned pregnancies, especially to young mothers. Though the authors are for the most part very sensitive to both groups, their ideas for reform all seem to be more likely to appeal to blue families, families that don’t need to be convinced. Suggestions including reevaluating our definition of marriage, expanding contraception availability to both adults and minors and teaching sex education in a more comprehensive way are all things that are unlikely to appeal to conservative groups, despite the fact that these suggestions are aimed at achieving a goal that is important to them: promoting stable, two-parent households.

‘Are Men Necessary?’ By Maureen Dowd

It is a question that many women ask themselves at some point. In Maureen Dowd’s book, the answer is, I think, purposefully vague. This must be for obvious reasons; women keep asking themselves this same question because there is no easy answer.

Dowd tracks many changes that have been brought about by feminism from fashion to marriage to politics. Her style is conversational and very funny even when talking about subjects that are usually not treated as a laughing matter, like sexual harassment or adultery. People who are actually looking for an answer to the title question will probably be disappointed; I don’t know whether there is an answer. But those who come in search of an interesting overview of some of feminism’s triumphs and failures will be sure to enjoy.

I love men and I think they are wonderful for friendship and companionship, but do I need a man? It’s an interesting question, because my life would obviously have been very different without men. The author uses Hilary Clinton as an example; she is successful and has a career of her own, but would she have been able to accomplish this without her husband’s prior success and subsequent public betrayal? It seems likely that her success would have been on a smaller scale. A better question seems to be whether feminism can eventually bring women to a place where they can thrive politically without introductions and support from the men in their lives.

‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ by Jean Rhys

It is hard for me to imagine how Wide Sargasso Sea would be read by a person who isn’t familiar with Jane Eyre. (It’s actually just hard for me to imagine the lives of people who haven’t read Jane Eyre, but that’s another story.) For the most part, I think Wide Sargasso Sea is very accessible to all readers, which is refreshing and unusual for a spin-off book. The book tells the story of Mr. Rochester’s first wife, the crazy woman in the attic. Jane Eyre sympathizes with Mr. Rochester; Wide Sargasso Sea is unforgiving of his treatment of his wife. For the most part I think Wide Sargasso Sea is very accessible to all readers, which is refreshing and unusual for a spin-off book. However, despite the fact that Wide Sargasso Sea stands well on its own, it is even better when the reader is able to make comparisons.

The first thing that strikes me about Wide Sargasso Sea is that the girl, Antoinette Cosway seems to be likened to Jane Eyre. They are both lonely and poor as children with very little care or attention from their parental figures. Both latch on to a kind maid for companionship. Later, both leave home to go to school where they greatly admire the women who work as teachers. This is drastically different than Mr. Rochester’s comparison of Jane and his first wife in Jane Eyre: “This young girl [Jane] who stands so grave and quiet at the mouth of hell, looking collectedly at the gambols of a demon [Antoinette]. I wanted her just as a change after that fierce ragout. Wood and Briggs, look at the difference! Compare these clear eyes with the red balls yonder- this face with that mask-this form with that bulk”. My impression after reading Jane Eyre is that the two women are very different; my impression after reading Wide Sargasso Sea is that they are very much alike.

The other thing that strikes me about the relationships between these books is the difference between the sexuality of the two women. Jane Eyre is the very essence of self-denial while Antoinette is not. Granted, there were 100 years between the two novels, but I think the contrast is significant. Are affectionate, sexual women to be feared and ostracized? Would Mr. Rochester have accepted Antoinette if she had been repulsed by sexuality? These are all interesting questions, and hopefully we’ll all be a little less sympathetic towards Rochester after reading Wide Sargasso Sea.

‘Farewell Summer’ by Ray Bradbury

I think I may be getting too old to think about my mortality. Is this a contradiction? Maybe. What I really mean is that I’m getting to the point where aging and death is no longer interesting – just scary and depressing. Nevertheless, Ray Bradbury’s war of youth versus age is fun to read. Farewell Summer is the long anticipated follow-up to his classic Dandelion Wine. The story continues to follow Douglas and his younger brother as they interact with the elders in their town.

At some point I started getting the feeling that the aim of this book was to provide as many quotable phrases about life, age and death as could possibly be contained in 200 pages. There’s nothing wrong with this – there is definitely something to be said for being able to succinctly summarize important concepts in ways that are clever enough to be memorable. One such memorable quote:
“Life gives us everything then takes it away – youth, love, happiness, friends”
Unfortunately, I’m sure this is exactly right.

'Dead Until Dark' by Charlaine Harris

I am probably one of the last people on Earth to partake in the True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse phenomenon. It seems like everyone I know has either watched the show or read the books; until a couple weeks ago, I had done neither. In this situation the summary of the book seems a little unnecessary, but I’ll include a brief explanation anyway. Sookie Stackhouse is a mind-reading cocktail waitress in Louisiana. Vampires have come out of hiding and are somewhat commonplace; they are able to drink synthetic rather than human blood to survive. Sookie is very excited when a vampire shows up in her hometown. I’ve only seen one episode of the True Blood television program, but I understand that the first book corresponds pretty accurately to the first season of the show.

I sort of knew that I should be expecting the book to be completely ridiculous, but I didn’t really realize the extent of it. The writing and narration are just cheesy enough for me to really latch onto it, and Sookie is unbelievable enough to be a fun main character.

Should we be creeped out that Bill keeps referring to Sookie as being “his” human? Probably, but Sookie seems a little irritated by it too, which is nice. Their whole relationship is pretty spontaneous, but maybe that’s the point. I think that if you’re looking for depth in character relationships when you read then Sookie Stackhouse probably isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for an outrageous, sex-filled vampire drama, then Dead Until Dark is perfect.

‘Sex and the Single Girl’ By Helen Gurley Brown

I want to be kind of charitable towards Brown because she wrote this book so long ago and some of the ideas and tips that she included were progressive for her time. Things that Brown has going for her:

• She gives good nutrition advice



• She encourages women to be fit and healthy



• She believes that women should have enjoyable, fulfilling careers



• She believes that women should have and enjoy sex

Unfortunately, Brown mentions all of these things relative to their importance in meeting men. In fact, even though Brown says that men aren’t necessary to the happiness of the single woman, she starts the book by giving pointers (in the form of several chapters) on assessing potential mates/husbands.

Should women be healthy and eat nutritious foods? Yes, it will help them to be more attractive to men! Should women have careers? Yes, especially if their line of work allows them to meet lots of available men (maybe you should find a new job if you aren’t meeting men). Should women participate in mutually enjoyable sexual relationships? Absolutely, but hopefully the man will buy you lots of nice things.

Do I sound bitter? If so, it’s probably because I’m not following Brown’s advice.

‘Born To Run’ By Christopher McDougall

I haven’t been running at all lately, and thanks to Christopher McDougall, I feel really bad about it now. Or at least angry with myself for getting out of the habit. Born to Run follows several American endurance runners and an isolated tribe of Mexican runners who have what seems to be superhuman stamina. We begin with McDougall’s first meeting with Caballo Blanco (The White Horse, an American living near the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico); the story climaxes with a run in the desert that includes many of the characters introduced along the way.

Though McDougall is telling a very personal story about friends and acquaintances, he includes lots of background information to help the reader to better understand endurance running. To understand Barefoot Ted’s philosophy, it helps to have a background on proper running form and podiatric medicine. To understand the Tarahumara diet it helps to know a bit about general nutrition. To understand how the human body is adapted to running, it helps to know a little about evolution. Though Born to Run covers many years and includes many individuals, McDougall is able to travel easily between times and places in a way that isn’t confusing or overwhelming.

I suspect that this book will appeal equally to those who enjoy running and those who want to be more involved in the sport (people who have no intention of being physically active will probably not like it). Aside from being entertained, I also picked up some great tips about nutrition (Chia seeds – who knew?), running form and footwear (I don’t need to spend a lot of money!). Of course, I’m not really going to know how successful all this running information is until I try it for myself.

'A Sight for Sore Eyes' by Ruth Rendell

Obviously, I've read several Ruth Rendell books, so I'm in a position to make some comparisons. This is probably the book that I have been least enamored with of all her novels thus far. However, she manages to redeem herself well before the end of the novel. In true Rendell fashion, she managed to surprise me near the end of the book and I was left feeling very satisfied with the novel as a whole.

The book has a few primary story lines. Teddy is a young man who was neglected as a child and has grown up warped and unable to create or maintain relationships with others. Francine's mother was murdered when she was a child and Francine is repressed and over-protected by her step-mother. Harriet is an aging beauty who lives in an impressive home with her older husband. Anyone who is familiar with Ruth Rendell stories will realize that these three stories will eventually intersect.

Similar to other Rendell stories, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel. Ruth Rendell does what most other writers are not able to; she tells you who the primary antagonist is and what his motivations are without making her story humdrum.

Anna’s Teen Lit Weekend of Shame, part 2

Can I still claim it to be part of a weekend of shame if I read this book during the week? Or maybe a better question is whether I should even be ashamed of my regression to my favorite pre-teen reading habits. That being said, last week I read The Evil Twin installment of Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High series. Luckily, this book, unlike the copy of Secrets that I borrowed from the library, is not an updated version of the text. Even though the revised Sweet Valley was ok, I strongly prefer the originals.

In this book, the twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are being stalked by a third girl who looks just like them. This murderous teenager has dyed her dark hair blonde and bought blue contacts to impersonate the Wakefields and hopefully take the place of one of them. Improbable? Heck yes. But that’s what makes Sweet Valley High so much fun. The murderous Margo stalks, impersonates and eventually tries to eliminate one of the twins; will the Wakefield twins manage to survive!?!?!

Spoiler: Duh, they’re ok.

'The Road' By Cormac McCarthy

Around the same time my sister was reading The Road I saw the book listed as on of the top 10 most depressing books ever written. So I expected that it would be good based on what my sister said and I knew it was going to make me really, really sad. The story is set in what appears to be a nuclear winter or some similarly bleak setting (we don’t know much about the history); clouds have completely blocked out the sun, ash covers everything and plants and animals seem to be extinct. In this gray, cold landscape, a man and his child travel together, trying to survive and care for one another. It is heartbreaking, but I also think that it is probably important to read and think about.

Despite the fact that the book is depressing and the world has become something alien to us, it isn’t really so difficult to relate to the things that happen in the story. Shouldn’t we all live to do what’s best for the people we love? The way I see it, the questions in the book are things that we should all be thinking about everyday:

• What are we going to do?



• Is that safe to eat?



• Are you one of the good guys?



• Are you carrying the fire?

Anna’s teen lit weekend of shame

This post should either count as two books or zero books. Two books because I physically read two separate bound volumes of fiction. Zero books because I’m not sure that Sweet Valley High and Gossip Girls actually constitute real reading. At least I can admit to reading them and getting no small amount of pleasure from doing so.

Let’s start with the classic: Secrets by Francine Pascal. I’ll have to start by saying that this isn’t really a classic. When I was checking this book out at the library, I checked the publication date and found that it was originally published in 1983, which is exactly the kind of thing I wanted; if I had looked closer I would have noticed that it was “recreated” by Kate William in 2006. This means that this Sweet Valley High book contains lots of things that never would have been included in 1983: snooping in other peoples’ email accounts, ecstasy, martini tasting parties, photoshopping and writing blogs to name just a few discrepancies. Also, William modernized the story by having characters make references to shows like 24 and Heroes. Needless to say, I’m a little bitter about all this and I really missed my “vintage” Sweet Valley High. Luckily, the story was still pretty good; Jessica was scheming to win the homecoming crown and hopefully win the heart of the dreamy Bruce Patman (at least they didn’t modernize the characters’ names). It's especially nice looking back as an adult and realizing that Winston Egbert, the clumsy, skateboard-riding, skinny dork is actually the guy most worth dating in the whole series.

Now for Nothing can keep us together by Cecily Von Ziegesar. Before this weekend, I had never before read any Gossip Girl books. I probably should have started with a book from the beginning of the series, but I figured that since characters are just reintroduced at the beginning of every book anyway, it wouldn’t make such a big deal. And it didn’t. I was perfectly capable of following the story and I knew enough about past events for the plot to be easily understood. Most of the story involved preparations for the upcoming high school graduation and Serena and Blair fighting about boys. From what I had heard in the past about Gossip Girl, I was prepared for scheming, unsupervised minors who all have unbelievable amounts of sex and moderate substance abuse problems; I was not disappointed. If this were a real representation of teen life in America, we would be in serious trouble. Since this is fortunately not the case, people like me are able to enjoy knowing that it’s actually not that bad.

'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte

Does anyone really need to read a review of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre? I think most of us had read this book by about the 10th grade, and we believe that we’ve benefited as much as we’re going to from the book. Fortunately, this couldn’t possibly be the case. I use the word fortunately for a couple reasons: if you haven’t read the book since high school you couldn’t possibly remember or appreciate all of the book’s intricacies; if you have read the book since high school you obviously enjoyed it enough to read it multiple times. Both situations are opportunities for enjoyment; in one instance you’ll be able to read and better understand one of literature’s greatest masterpieces, in the other you’ll revisit a book that has already proven to be a pleasure.

For those of you who don’t know, Jane Eyre is one of the greatest romance novels of all time. To this day, it remains one of the few well written romances involving unattractive, seemingly oddly matched individuals (regular people falling in love? gasp!). Lucky for us (and all of British literature), Bronte’s novel isn’t only about Jane and Mr. Rochester’s love; it is the suspenseful and interesting story of Jane Eyre’s life. Though these fictitious events were taking place nearly two hundred years ago, Jane is strong, thoughtful and intelligent in ways that modern women should appreciate. And perhaps more importantly, she respects herself in ways that many modern women should learn to emulate.

'Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message that Feminism's Work is Done' by Susan Douglas

Susan Douglas totally amazes me; in Enlightened Sexism she covers just about every problem that confronts women in the media and negatively affects female body image. The variety of media that she covers spans most of popular consumption; music videos, reality television, prime-time dramas, newscasts and more. In each case, Douglas shows the reader how females are given increasing amounts of exposure and seem to have responsibility and respect that doesn’t exist in real life.

Douglas motivates me to look more closely at firsthand relationships, situations and feelings and examine these things more critically from a feminist perspective. And it is oh-so-frightening. In the past, I would have considered myself to be of a feminist mindset, but I’m convinced that I haven’t done nearly enough for my fellow females to rightfully claim this title. This error is grievous, but it isn’t too late.

One of the best things about this book (there are several best things going on here) is the fact that Douglas manages to be humorous about so tragic a topic as female degradation. The sarcastic tone and well-timed personal commentary help to make the book as entertaining as it is educating. After reading Douglas’ book, I feel much more inclined to speak out in favor of childcare reform and against female objectification in the media. In short, Susan Douglas is a genius and Enlightened Sexism is an inspiration.

'Imperfect Birds' By Anne Lamott

I picked this book to read because I have liked some of Anne Lamott’s non-fiction work in the past; her book Operating Instructions about her son’s first year was lovely. This book is fiction and tells the story of a tense mother-daughter relationship. Elizabeth, the mother, is a recovering alcoholic; Rosie, the daughter, is 17 and rebellious. They live in California with Elizabeth’s second husband, James. The book follows the family as Rosie becomes more lost in a mess of teenage drugs and lies.

I'm of the opinion that you don't really need to go out searching for profound experience in order to properly appreciate the universe, but Lamott's characters seem to constantly want to hammer their profundity into my head. They spend so much time reflecting on amazing, intellectual things that their revelations completely fail to impress or amaze me intellectually.

The point of a good book isn’t really about liking the characters in the story; people who are not especially likeable can be engaging and interesting. That being said, I didn’t really have any sympathy for the characters. I thought that Elizabeth was wimpy and pathetic and Rosie was hateful and self-centered. Have I just described the dynamic of every parent-child relationship? Possibly. Maybe that’s the point of the book; everyone in the world is awful beyond description. But I was still frustrated and irritated with these people. It’s a given that the daughter is making bad decisions, but the mother makes some of the dumbest choices imaginable too. I guess I’ll have to wait until my daughter is 17 before I pass judgment.

'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest' By Stieg Larsson

I’m sure that anyone who has heard anything about the final installment in Stieg Larsson’s trilogy has heard nothing but good. And rightly so. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is a satisfying conclusion that resolves many of the complex issues that Larsson created.

When the Girl Who Played with Fire concluded, Lisbeth Salander was in a dangerous situation, physically and legally. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is the story of Lisbeth’s recovery and the investigation of her supposed crimes/offenses. Of course, Mikael Blomkvist is still Salander’s greatest advocate; he helps to track down and unravel the conspiracy that caused her to be abused and declared legally incompetent.

Stieg Larsson has posthumously proven himself to be one of the most talented suspense writers of our time. Even though Larsson died before the publication of his books, they are certainly not unfinished. All three books were delivered for publication prior to Larsson’s death, and I can’t think of anything that is missing. The trilogy is great for suspense readers, but also for those who simply enjoy a good book.

‘Suite Française’ by Irene Némirovsky

It is impossible to write about Suite Française without mentioning Némirovsky’s background. Némirovsky was working on Suite Française during World War II; the war’s effect on the people of France is the subject of the book. Unfortunately, the book was never finished. Némirovsky was a Jew and was sent to Auschwitz where she later died. Suite Française is a wonderful fictional account of France during the war, and readers will regret never knowing the planned ending.

The book follows the lives of several families and individuals during the invasion of France by the German army and the subsequent occupation. Gradually, we see that the lives of these seemingly dissimilar people are connected in unexpected ways. I suspect that many of these personal connections would have become more pronounced as the story continues to progress.

Something that I enjoy: the author character in this book is a really unpleasant man. I get sick of authors who only want to portray authors as being nice, intelligent people. Némirovsky does an excellent job of illustrating what the stress and deprivation of war can do to people.

Beautifully written and tragic by itself and in context. I’ve read Suite Française before and I certainly do not regret revisiting it.

‘The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ’ by Phillip Pullman

This book is Pullman’s re-imagination of the story of Jesus’ birth. Rather than a single child, Mary gave birth to twins. There are still mysterious events that take place in this retelling, but not events that are as miraculous as those from the bible. And the reader is certainly not given any reason to believe that either brother is of divine parentage. Jesus seems to do unpredictable things, but has consistently good intentions; he attracts followers and inspires people with his faith. Christ tracks his brother and records his movements and actions for a mysterious third party. He frequently bends the truth in his records to make things seem more miraculous than they actually were.

I’m especially inclined to like anything written by Phillip Pullman, as I enjoyed the His Dark Materials trilogy so much. This was another interesting book, but it represents a departure from the material that Pullman’s readers are familiar with. It is written in shorter bible-like chapters. There are short stories/episodes that represent events of importance. I suspect that this book would be more fun for a person who is more familiar with the bible than I am. I recognize many bible stories that have been altered to fit Pullman’s version of the story, but I’m certainly no expert.

In defense of the brother Christ, he makes some bad decisions, but isn’t the scoundrel that the title lead me to expect. Really, he just seemed like a sad man.

‘For all the tea in China’ By Sarah Rose

Do you wonder how tea production moved from China to India in the 19th century? I certainly never did, and I suspect that you’re in the minority if you spend your time thinking about that sort of thing. Even though I had never wondered about Asian tea production, I decided that For all the Tea in China sounded like an interesting book. Sarah Rose follows the travels of Robert Fortune, a British Horticulturist, as he travels to China to learn tea production methods and smuggle plants and seeds out of the Chinese mountains. I’m always impressed by how well documented some people’s lives are; even though he lived over 100 years ago, Fortune’s movements in China are very precise. It is fairly obvious that some parts are imagination on Rose’s part – a smile, a meal, a wince of pain, are these really things that can be proven by historical records? But these interactions that I’m assuming are not necessarily factual are probably good educated guesses on the part of the author.

There was a short mention of something in the closing paragraphs of this book that bothered me a little bit, mostly because the subject had been nagging at me the entire time I was reading. Rose brought up the fact that imported plants can overrun indigenous plants and wreak havoc on natural habitats. As the subject of this book is Robert Fortune’s botanical espionage and not environmental conservation, I can understand that much time was not spent on the subject, but Rose spends so much time putting his actions into context, that it seems awfully abrupt the way this in mentioned.

For all the Tea in China manages to be adventurous and engaging, while also sparking an interest in other historical events that provide context for the tea trade (such as the opium trade and health benefits of tea). Hopefully readers of this book will not only be tea aficionados; the story and writing is sure to appeal to a wide variety of other readers as well.

‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is set in England shortly after World War II. The main character is an author trying to decide on a topic for her next book; she had been writing satirical commentary on the war until recently. A letter arrives from a stranger who lives on the channel island of Guernsey, and they begin to correspond. Though the entire story takes place during 1946, the lives of the island inhabitants haven’t really moved past the German occupation. The people still show signs of being deprived of life’s comforts, and friends and family members haven’t all returned to the island. Even though it is a wonderful story about friendship, reading, love and family, the book also serves to illustrate how long tragedy stays with a community.

This book is written in a very interesting (though certainly not unheard of) style. The narration comes in the form of letters written between the characters, and there isn’t any actual narrator at work. I should say that the narration comes from selected letters, because not all of the characters’ correspondence is included; there are references to events and conversations that we don’t hear of firsthand. I enjoy this; I feel that readers and authors are hesitant to leave anything to the imagination, which is what fiction is supposed to be all about. Happily, Shaffer and Barrows were able to omit letters that they did not deem necessary without leaving anything wanting in the story.

'The Water's Lovely' by Ruth Rendell

I suppose it’s obvious by now that I really enjoy Ruth Rendell. She always manages to surprise me, which ought to be one of the primary goals of any good suspense writer. Unfortunately it also seems to be a relatively rare gift among those who write suspense books.

The Water’s Lovely tells the story of two sisters and the mystery of their stepfather’s death in the upstairs bathtub when they were children. Though it sounds fairly straightforward, Rendell has several other equally well-developed characters; one sister’s love interest, their lonely aunt, a manipulative fortune hunter, etc. In typical Rendell style, all of the lives intersect wonderfully and the reader is eager to find out what will happen to the characters.

Another thing that I thoroughly enjoy about Rendell stories is the fact that she often focuses on topics that are important to women. This book offers several examples of relationship abuse and violence. Though I know very little about her personal life, I get the feeling that the author has pretty strong political feelings and she is doing a very good job of expressing them subtly in her work. But then again, I may just be projecting my own opinions.

Overall, this was another great book by Ruth Rendell, but I would have expected nothing less.

'What is the What: The autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng' by Dave Eggers

Like “How many licks does it take to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop?”, the world may also never know the answer to the question “What is the what?” The question refers to a Sudanese religious fable that is told by the father of Valentino Achak Deng, the subject of What is the what. In the fable, the Dinka (indigenous people of southern Sudan) are given a choice by God to receive either cattle or the what as a gift. Not knowing what the what is, the Dinka choose the cattle, and this pleases god, because it shows that they are able to be content with the known rather than desiring the unknown.

The source of the title, though it is brought up numerous times in the book, isn’t really the central action of the book. Valentino Achak Deng is one of the Sudanese Lost Boys who escaped Sudan and was eventually able to move to the United States. There are two story lines in the book: the present day, Valentino is being robbed in his home in Georgia, and a flashback to his boyhood experiences. There are parts of the book that made me cry and terrified me, but there were also points that made me laugh out loud. But I suppose that is one of the makings of a really good tragedy – the inclusion of a little laughter. Maybe that is the what.

The book is described as an autobiography, but Dave Eggers did write the story and used a bit of creative license as I understand it. I don’t suppose there is a way to tell a story like this without having it be heartbreaking and horrifying; I can’t imagine how one person could have suffered as much as Valentino. But the book manages to be optimistic and hopeful, despite all that life has done to him, Valentino manages to be admirable and resilient.

'Don't Sleep There are Snakes' by Daniel Everett

Lately, I’ve been becoming increasingly interested in off-grid living; relying as little as possible on public and government programs and funds to support oneself. With this in mind, reading Don’t Sleep There are Snakes has been enjoyable and thought provoking. Author and linguist Daniel Everett has been regularly spending time with the Pirahã population of the Amazon since the 1970’s. This book, discusses not only the linguistic implications of what has been learned from Everett’s work, but also the lifestyle and values of the people being studied. Of course, the reader will see that the culture of the Pirahã is crucial to the linguistic conclusions that Everett has drawn, but even if it weren’t, it’s just so darn interesting.

Since I’m not an expert in linguistics (and one doesn’t have to be to enjoy this book), I’ll have to take Everett’s word for it when he writes that his conclusions are controversial and unusual. Instead I’m inclined to focus on the lifestyle and the anecdotes that illustrate their personalities. After reading this book, I’m impressed with the comfort and contentedness that the Amazonian people have in their lives. They have certainly achieved something that I can only hope to attain.
A favorite passage from the book:
They [the Pirahãs] have no craving for truth as a transcendental reality. Indeed, the concept has no place in their values. Truth to the Pirahãs is catching a fish, rowing a canoe, laughing with your children, loving your brother, dying of malaria. Does this make them more primitive? Many anthropologists have suggested so, which is why they are so concerned about finding out the Pirahãs’ notions about God, the world, and creation.

But there is an interesting alternative way to think about things. Perhaps it is the presence of these concerns that makes a culture more primitive, and their absence that renders a culture more sophisticated. If that is true, the Pirahãs are a very sophisticated people. Does this sound far-fetched? Let’s ask ourselves if it is more sophisticated to look at the universe with worry, concern, and a belief that we can understand it all, or to enjoy life as it comes, recognizing the likely futility of looking for truth or God?

In Conclusion, it is a wonderful book, one that I certainly recommend.

‘The Bridge of San Luis Rey’ by Thornton Wilder

I always enjoy unusually formatted books and movies. Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey is the story of a Peruvian bridge that collapses, killing the five people who are crossing at the time. Brother Juniper, a local friar, takes it upon himself to investigate the lives of the five people who perish. If he can discover the secrets of their lives, he can understand the reason that they were chosen by god to die. The book is broken up into sections that tell the stories of the people who die, with Brother Juniper’s story acting as an introduction and conclusion; the reader learns that the lives were connected by more than just the bridge collapse.

Obviously, Brother Juniper’s mission is problematic for a number of reasons. One of the fundamental aspects of most well-known religions is that the great majority of people aren’t supposed to know the motives of whatever supreme leader the religion happens to worship. Of course, people try to understand their god’s motives anyway, which leads to another problem: you can rationalize anything if you try hard enough. However dubious Brother Juniper’s investigation and results may be, it is interesting to try to look at these lives through his point of view; trying to understand why a particular person would have been selected to die.

The premise of the book reminds me very much of the evangelical religious figures who try to justify natural disasters by referencing the so-called sins of the affected area. From lesbianism to voodoo, every area that is struck by tragedy is sure to have at least one shortcoming. If people keep looking hard enough, they may be able to justify all death, and the result may end up being the same as Brother Juniper’s.

‘The Privileges’ by Jonathan Dee

The Privileges is the story of one family that enjoys spectacular financial success. The book begins with the marriage of a very young and attractive couple shortly after college and follows them for approximately the next 25 years as they have a family and become gradually wealthier. There are many moments that made me feel as though I were standing on the edge of a cliff – how successful can people be without suffering some great disappointment? This may be the trick that kept me reading; a constant, paranoid feeling that things always go wrong. But maybe I’ve just read too many books.

I always expect books about money and wealth to end by reaffirming what all middle-class people are taught to believe – that money isn’t everything, money will be your undoing, love and friendship is far greater. Though the characters in this novel do place a good deal of importance on family, this isn’t the message that I took away from this book. Instead, when I finished this novel, I was left with the feeling that wealth should be comforting and endless. You’ll still get older, and you’ll still lose loved ones, but if you have enough money, you won’t have to suffer in the same ways that other people do. Having enough money means being attractive, being comfortable, and enjoying the ability to make people do whatever you want.

‘Moby Dick’ by Herman Melville

Obviously, Moby Dick is a great American novel. The obsessed captain Ahab has sworn vengeance on the infamous whale Moby Dick. As many already known from the first line of the book, Ishmael tells the story of the best known whaling voyage of all time (albeit a fictional voyage) from the viewpoint of a member of the ship’s crew.

So many people, including many English majors that I have known, haven’t been able to push themselves through Moby Dick, and understandably so. It is a dense and complex book that few feel compelled to read if they aren’t assigned to do so by a professor. I won’t deny that the book is difficult, or imply that I fully comprehend every obscure reference that Melville has made, but on the whole, I’m glad to be familiar with the book. In truth, I may have benefitted from the graphic descriptions of the processes of whaling more than the narrative, and my final opinion of the novel may be that the work is of greater importance as a historical reference than entertainment fiction. Of course, I grew up playing the ‘Save the Whales’ board game, so it’s hard to imagine how Melville would feel about my perspective.

Even though the reader grows attached to some of the characters on the ship, I think my final sympathy lies with Moby Dick. The sailors think of him as a ruthless beast, but he is really just famous for preventing people from murdering him. I don’t think I’d mind having a reputation for not letting people kill me either.

'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls' by Steve Hockensmith

The first Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book had the advantage of being able to use Jane Austen’s own language and storyline – just add zombies. The prequel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, does not enjoy this same advantage. The author, Steve Hockensmith, created the story using many of Austen’s characters, without Austen’s famous wit to animate them. Oh well.

That said, those who enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies will probably enjoy Dawn of the Dreadfuls. The book is fun and zombie-filled; including more of those sexual references and innuendos that would surely make Austen blush (or worse). In my humble opinion, it wasn’t quite as good as the first, but really, people who read these books aren’t really looking for good writing. Or at least, hopefully they are not.

Wolf To The Slaughter by Ruth Rendell

Recently I heard someone complaining about a book, saying after reading and enjoying it they still weren’t really sure about the title. That is kind of the way I feel about this story. Usually, titles have some sort of tie-in with the actual story, at least in a vague way. This is a murder mystery, and the concept of a wolf being slaughtered sort of ties in with that, but it is otherwise a pretty obscure connection.

Ruth Rendell has written several Wexford mysteries; stories that focus around the investigations of the police station that is overseen by Detective Wexford. A young woman has disappeared and the team of detectives attempt to discover what has happened with only a missing person report and an anonymous note to go on. I have read Ruth Rendell stories before and I consistently enjoy them very much; well written and oh so British.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Though Neil Gaiman is an undeniably successful author with a very loyal readership, I have read very little of his work. A person who has read several of his novels could most likely offer some insight as to whether American Gods is fairly representative of his style, but I cannot. What I can say is that American Gods is that it is an enjoyable book with a well-balanced mix of fantasy and reality.

The book follows Shadow, a recently released felon who finds himself working for Wednesday, an unpredictable con-man. The two are involved in preparations for a coming conflict; the old, traditional gods are facing new gods of Internet, media, industry, etc. Both sides are trying to rally their troops and gain advantage before the conflict that everyone agrees is imminent.

With this book, I often got the feeling that I was missing some of Gaiman’s symbolism; coins are very important but I don’t know that I am clever enough to always get the meaning behind the object. Unfortunately, this is probably my own lack of knowledge of world religions working against me in this case; obviously Gaiman knows a lot more about this than I do. That being said, I’m sure I could quite easily find an excellent article on the inter-web in which someone will gladly explain this to me (maybe a project for tomorrow?). Nevertheless, the story is fun and well paced – surely enjoyable to those who know a lot about this, and those who do not.

The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil by George Saunders

The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil was recommended by a former advisor, and since I had heard it mentioned before, I decided to pick it up. I didn’t really investigate the book much before reading it. The book jacket made a comparison to Animal Farm, so I knew that it was either a) about talking animals or b) a political satire. As disappointed as I was about the lack of farm animals, I still think this was a great book.

Though there are no animals in this book, the characters aren’t quite human either. The somewhat surreal characters are involved in a border dispute; the citizens of Inner-Horner must take turns occupying their country (large enough for only one person at a time), the citizens of Outer-Horner are constantly on alert for “invasions” of their country by the crowded Inner-Horner citizens. The border guards, rivalries, and government appointments, are all perfectly done. Saunders is hilariously funny and just a little bit tragic; this book is a fast read that promises enjoyment.

The Girl Who Played With Fire By Stieg Larsson

Of course, I wouldn’t have read The Girl Who Played With Fire without first reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I can happily report that I have enjoyed The Girl Who Played with Fire as much or more than the first installment in the series. The original book featured recent crimes and not-so recent crimes, and we certainly get more of the same in this book.

One of my favorite things about the first book is that it was an investigation into a mysterious crime from many years ago. My favorite thing about this book is that Investigators Blomvkist and Salander are more personally involved in the investigation that takes place. Though Blomvkist is technically working on articles for his news magazine Millenium, he contributes the amount of energy that he does because of his personal involvement. Larsson successfully creates suspense right to the last page.

I suspect that people who enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will enjoy this book as well; there is much to be said for reading the first book before starting this one. As with any series, there is catch up information for those who didn’t read the book, or who haven’t read it recently, but Larsson builds on many relationships that were established in the first book. In my opinion, this would be quite confusing if you haven’t read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Normally, I don’t read many suspense/thriller novels, even though I typically enjoy them. The fact that this series is a bit of a sensation has attracted me though. I recommend the book, and I’m looking forward to The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

It is really difficult to criticize a great book like Speak. The layout, plot and characters are all wonderful and just as they should be. If I were in a position to require such things, I would say that every girl from 12-18 should be required to read it, and most other people would benefit from it as well. All in all, this is a really good book about the horrifying yet realistic life of a teenager.

The book begins with Melinda Sordino’s first day of high school. Melinda called the police at an end of summer party, getting several kids into trouble. Before high school even begins, she is ridiculed and ostracized. Melinda starts school lonely and misunderstood and things just keep getting worse.

I’ve read this book multiple times, and I was especially struck by how little identity people seem to have; I think this is intentional. There is a running joke throughout the book about the school being unable to select a mascot. Girls seem to change themselves to fit into the clique of their choosing. Melinda sits in an outdated bedroom that no longer reflects who she really is. I feel as though Anderson is telling us that the trauma and depression that Melinda is suffering is all-consuming. But then again, does anyone really know who they are in high school?

Middlesex By Jeffrey Eugenides

This book was surprising to me; I didn’t know what to expect and had heard very little about it. Apparently, I am in the minority, as it has been a selection for Oprah’s Book Club in the past and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Middlesex is the story of three generations of a Greek-American family living in Detroit as told by Calliope or Cal. Calliope, later Cal is of the youngest generation in the story, raised as a girl, but becoming masculine as an adolescent. Cal is the product of frequent genetic mutations of a close-knit Greek community that hails from a very small town. In 2010, it is no surprise to us that inbred communities tend to have abnormal genetic traits, but of course, Cal’s ancestors had no way of knowing that this would be the case.

As I read this story, I’m tormented not by how unusual and painful Calliope’s puberty is, but how normal and painful it is. How different am I really from Cal? The feeling of alienness in one’s own body, the shame of being imperfect and different from other girls- I don’t think any of this is so unique. Perhaps that is the point; interesex individuals and hermaphrodites aren’t really so different from those of us who only exhibit characteristics of one sex.

The book feels like a cross between Forrest Gump and Lolita, the single male narrator that covers several decades in history while trying to explain a sexual situation that is foreign to most. The book is a startling contrast of the tragic and the comic, and Eugenides himself points out, but that seems to be the case with most things.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I feel like I must have been the last person to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; I heard good things about it from both my parents and my advisor on my Master’s thesis. So writing about it feels very unoriginal. Yet here I sit, writing about it.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a wonderful suspense story about an unlikely pair investigating an old missing person case. A middle aged journalist who was recently convicted of libel partners with an unpredictable, punk private investigator. The two are trying to find an explanation for the disappearance of a teenage girl from a seemingly isolated island in the 1960’s.

Of course, the key for any suspense writer is to arrange circumstances and characters so that the solution to the mystery isn’t obvious. Larsson has created a cast of characters diverse enough to keep us guessing without making it confusing. (Though, as this book was originally written in Swedish, there are far more surnames beginning with “Bj” than the average American is used to).

One of my favorite things about this book is the fact that although the translation is excellent, there are still occasional spots where the wording seems a bit strange. Perhaps this is because I enjoy the foreignness of it. There are points that seem like a dubbed movie - you can tell that it isn’t really what the characters are saying, but it doesn’t matter. Whether you find these slightly awkward phrases charming or not probably won’t make much difference in the end; it’s a clever book that most will enjoy.

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

When I initially read an NPR review about this book, I was immediately interested. Not only is Gawande attempting to present solutions to preventable failures in the medical professions, but in other business environments as well. The Checklist Manifesto is Gawande’s non-fiction account of how to construct and implement checklists in meaningful ways. His particular area of interest is that of safe surgery, but he also offers examples in construction, aviation and investments, to name a few.

The style of this book is very anecdotal. He immediately grabs the reader’s attention by sharing a couple gory surgery horror stories about failures to address key steps or pieces of information in operations. He continues this pattern throughout the book, each section tells a story about how he learned about checklists in a variety of settings and how each checklist is effective or not. His journey is that of a surgeon who is researching checklists for the WHO; he tells us how he came up with the idea, how his checklists were constructed (and re-constructed), and how checklists have measurably changed surgical practices in several of the world’s hospitals.

As an aside, I can barely fathom how Gawande manages to write books in between all of his other jobs. He is a surgeon, a director for patient safety with the WHO (World Health Organization), Harvard professor and father. Any one of these tasks seems like it could be all-consuming. He must be very organized – I suppose he uses checklists to keep track of it all.

Side note: This is not Gawande’s first book. Check out Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science (RD 27.35 .G39 A3 2002 )

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

I recently decided to re-read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. This is as much due to my lack of self restraint as it is to the quality of the books themselves. (Not that the books are lacking in quality, I am just completely unable to resist). The public library’s well stocked rows of several Harry Potter volumes call to me. I just can’t resist putting away the adult fiction for the wonderful wizardry that is Harry Potter.

I don’t know how important it is for me to provide a summary in this case, since I think most people are at least loosely familiar with the storyline, but I’ll do my best. In this first book of the seven-volume Harry Potter series, an orphaned, eleven-year-old Harry Potter discovers he is a wizard and begins his schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he befriends fellow students Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and encounters the dark wizard Voldemort.

There isn’t much that I can say about the merits of the series that hasn’t been said before, so I’ll stick to a couple general observations. First, I never fail to be impressed by J.K. Rowling’s foresight. It as if she had every detail of all seven books planned out in advance. She has said before that she always knew how she would end the series, but I’ve never heard her quoted as saying that she had every detail planned before she starts. It really seems like she did.

The Harry-Dumbledore relationship progresses wonderfully through the series, similar to that of a real life relationship with a mentor. After the final six books of the series, it is easy to forget how little the two knew of each other at the beginning. This isn’t news to anyone who has read the series, but it is nice to back up and remember the beginning. If nothing else, I hope that by praising the books, I can convince other fans to re-read them, and possibly persuade some new readers to pick them up.

36 Arguments for the Existence of God by Rebecca Goldstein

The title of this book is misleading for a couple reasons. First, it is not a list of 36 arguments for the existence of god (although this information is in the appendix). Second, the title makes it sound like the author is making a case for god’s existence. Even if you take the novel format into account, this is not the case (The appendix that includes arguments for god’s existence only includes the arguments so they can be refuted). When I initially discussed this with a friend, I was chastised for not calling the book 36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction (I kind of think it is a pain to include this subtitle in conversation), but it does help one know what to expect.

The book takes place during a couple weeks of Cass Seltzer’s career; he is a university professor of the psychology of religion and an author who has recently written a book about atheism. The book is not a list of 36 arguments for the existence of god, but he did include an appendix in his book (I believe that Goldstein’s appendix is meant to be Seltzer’s appendix). Even though the book spans a short amount of time, approximately half of the chapters are flashbacks, so the reader really gets to know Cass from the time he was in his 20’s. Several periods of Cass’s life are explained, his relationship with his eccentric mentor, his background as an Orthodox Jew, a failed marriage and a happy new relationship.

Although this is a book about one man’s explorations in religion and life, we can easily put Cass Seltzer’s atheism in perspective. Can’t we be good without the expectation of an eternal reward? Can’t we love our fellow humans without feeling that we are obligated by our religion? In my opinion, the book is less about the faiths that people embrace and more about the ways that they share their faiths and lives with others.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

This is a difficult book to review, because aspects of the plot are quite mysterious for long periods of time, and I would be doing the reader a great disservice by revealing many details. The protagonist of the novel is Kathy who is now 31 years old. Never Let Me Go is written as a memoir might be; the bulk of the novel tells of her childhood and her friendships at Hailsham. Though the children’s lives could be described as sheltered and idyllic, the reader is aware that this is simply a façade.

In many ways, this is a science fiction novel; the students of Hailsham exist in a world that differs from our own, even though the similarities are abundant. I might refer to this as “light science-fiction” – more than anything it is a relationship/friendship drama. I think that this is all for the better; there are many, many, many books that talk about the conflicts of relationships and friendships (almost every book). Ishiguro’s book introduces another element to this fiction equation, but without making the story unrelatable.

Though this is a side note, I am always impressed with authors who choose to write novels with protagonists of the opposite sex. In this case, Ishiguro is a male with a female narrator. (The Harry Potter series is another excellent example of this phenomenon) My point in mentioning this is that I think Ishiguro does an excellent job. The attitude of the narrator seemed plausible and natural.

I based my selection of this book on the fact that I really enjoyed Ishiguro’s Remains of the Day, and I didn’t really know what to expect. In many ways, the books are similar, personal dramas with disturbing back stories (Remains of the Day’s protagonist was employed by a Nazi/Nazi sympathizer). And more importantly, both books are touching, well written novels that readers will enjoy.

(Also, I didn't realize until I finished this book, but it is being made into a movie. I want to see it, but knowing me, I'll wait until it comes out on DVD)

Guns, Germs and Steel

Why have humans in different parts of the world been so consistently dominant over the people in other parts of the world? How do some societies manage to produce so many trade goods and services while others simply work to sustain themselves? These are just a few of the questions that Jared Diamond attempts to answer in Guns, Germs and Steel.

As the reader may guess, Diamond states that economically and politically dominant countries have prospered because they possess guns, germs and steel. This may be obvious, but it is not this conclusion that takes up the bulk of the book. Rather, Diamond tries to explain how European and Asian cultures have been especially prosperous without resorting to racist or ethnocentric assumptions. Some of his most interesting points are the following:

• The geographic layout of Europe and Asia are more conducive to the spread of cultures and technologies than other continents.


• The fact that humans first evolved in Africa and migrated north through Europe and Asia before reaching other continents helped to preserve more large animal species for later domestication.


• These things don’t necessarily mean that Europeans and Asians are more intelligent or innovative than other societies, but that their situations have been better suited toward some types of developments.

I really enjoyed this book; I am not an anthropologist or archeologist, but I found the topic very entertaining. Diamond writes in a way to explain these complex evolutionary topics to people who are not well acquainted with the field (though I think a little bit of knowledge of human evolution is helpful). Diamond's writing and conclusion were enjoyable; I felt that I took away a good deal from reading this book. And the topic was an admirable one, reminding us that people of different cultures aren’t as dissimilar as we sometimes seem.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog By Muriel Barbery

This is a beautiful book written from the perspective of two intelligent yet introverted females; Renee, the concierge of an upscale Parisian apartment building, and Paloma, a young girl who lives with her family in the building. Each chapter takes the form of a themed journal entry. Renee hides her intelligence from the wealthy tenants of the building that she serves. Paloma tells us at the beginning of the book that she plans to commit suicide on her thirteenth birthday.

The arrival of a wealthy Japanese gentleman in the building disrupts the lives of both Renee and Paloma. Monsieur Ozu befriends each and helps them to begin to reevaluate the way that they see the world. The author’s recurring topics include philosophy, art, culture and class.

I worry that I have lost more than I should have in reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog in English rather than French (not that I could have read it in its original French). Near the end of the novel, one of the heroine’s makes a comment about having called someone vous (you, formal) rather than tu (you informal or plural) for many years. Until this moment in the novel, I hadn’t realized that she was calling her friend vous. I used to speak some French in High School – this may be the motivation that I need to learn again.

It amazes me that even though there are so many books that keep telling us that our lives are only as good as the people that we share them with, there are still many people who haven’t gotten the message. I’m not familiar with all of the philosophers and artists that are mentioned in the book, but I think that Barbery is trying to show us that understanding these scholars can only take you so far. Knowing and loving fellow humans is really the only way to appreciate all that art and nature have to offer.