I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four  by Pittacus Lore (nom de plume of James Frey and Jobie Hughes)

One of my guilty pleasures is a Michael Bay movie. In high summer, when it's 105 in the shade, there is nothing like going into a dark air conditioned theater watching things blow up. I picked this book primarily because it tapped into my love of that genera. I Am Number Four didn't disappoint. It may have felt a lot like Superman, but Frey and Hughes did enough tweaking to the plot to make the story seem fresh. However, the book clocks in at 430 pages. I honestly think with the help of an editor the book could have been clipped down to 250. The book kept repeating itself over and over. Plot points were impossible to miss because they were summarized in every third chapter. I Am Number Four is a book that doesn't trust it's audience, and for that I'm not going to by the rest of the series. It was a frustrating endeavor, whole chapters could have been cut out.

I feel for authors like Frey and Hughes. They must have work like this dictated to them via publishers. Reworking soulless exposition over and over again must have been maddening. Also, not putting your own name on a project has got to hurt! I mean, Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan writing The Strain series together has to burn. Look, I'm not trying to be a high and mighty reviewer here. What I am trying to do is get Frey to write a better book. Understanding that A Million Little Pieces had its controversies, but even though that, Frey is still really talented. He shouldn't be forced to write the book version of Michael Bay movies.

Moving on, for my Required Reading Revisited book club our March pick is Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger. I am really not a fan of Salinger's most famous book The Catcher in the Rye. We'll see if I throw this book across the room.

Galore and a guide to magical realism

Galore by Michael Crummey

Galore is a book steeped in magical realism and Biblical illusions. Set in Newfoundland, Canada it tells the story of a town. Crummey's novel felt like the Canadian version of One Hundred Years of Solitude. As complementary as that is, Galore is a challenging read. It is the type of book that can be an undertaking for a light reader. The pay off is enormous, the book is full of beautiful images and it is a story that can help see the beauty in the world.

Magical realism is a relativity new genera of literature. I feel that the approach of the book world towards this genera has been stodgy and intimidating. Regular readers avoid it because academics are making it seem so complex. I want to set up a reading guide, so that books like Galore are more accessible. First, Galore is not where anyone should start. It's a beautiful book, but will put readers off the genera because it is too challenging. Start with Life of Pi. Pi is a bridge book, meaning that it straddles the line between Young Adult and Fiction. It's imagery and illusions are accessible to both audiences. Then move onto  Love in the Time of Cholera. Cholera is  bit more challenging than Pi. Marquez weaves stories together using colorful threads of dialogue. Also, Cholera is more of a campfire story. It doesn't proceed from point A to point B. It ambles around, goes backwards and forwards. Next read One Hundred Years of Solitude. It's one of the best books ever written. I can't express the beauty of it in words. Just read it. Then, after all that, read Galore. Yes, I realize I've given out a project with my recommendations, but I don't want anyone to feel like Galore is too much of  challenge.

Moving on, I'm reading something much lighter. I Am Number Four is a book that has been chattered about for a few years, and I feel like it is time I read it.  Michael Bay has blurbed the book, so there had better be explosions or I am going to demand my money back.

Link Round Up

How to Say “I Do” to Shared Bookshelves Without Ruining Your Relationship This is an important article especially if the library contains duplicate books.

 Best-sellers lists: How they work and who they (mostly) work for Great article! It shows how people game the list. It is no longer the measure of a good book.

Publishers And Booksellers See A 'Predatory' Amazon I shop Amazon and I also shop local. The two sides are going to have to reach a truce.

The 5 Books That Inspire the Most Tattoos I'm looking for my next tattoo.

Is Your Learning Style Related to Your eBook vs. Print Book Preference? I'm begging higher education to look into this and do studies. E-books could be revolutionary for some students. We need data to back up some of the claims being made.

A Challenge! The Whitehouse Petition on School Libraries I singed it, will you?

Warning: This Is A Post About Disclaimers I'm in agreement with this, I feel like I need to give a disclaimer about The Book Thief.

Why the Most Literate Cities in America Aren't the Wealthiest Good round up article, and a fantastic discussion about what makes a literate city. 

The Martian Chronicles

The Martian Chronicles  by Ray Bradbury

The Martian Chronicles are a book of short stories that tells the tale of humans colonizing Mars. Written in the 1950s the post nuclear bomb pre-Moon landing country was crazy for stories about outer space. Bradbury obliged and was able to place his work in science fiction magazines. These now defunct publications would place Bradbury in the hands of many young and adventurous minds. Little did Bradbury know he was sowing the seeds of modern sci-fi.  One of the stories, it's less than a full page, feels like the outline for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K Dick. (AKA Bladerunner)

Another vitally important aspect of this book as much as it is a mirror of the past, it is also a reflection of the future. Bradbury wrote women differently, he also did for other minority groups. Keep in mind this was all in comic books in the 50s the Civil Rights and Women's Equality movements were a good decade to twenty years away. Good science fiction always does this. It imagines the world as it could be, and reflects the past back to the reader at the same time. When I was growing up I could never find myself in regular fiction. Girls like me simply didn't exist. However, I did find myself in Science Fiction. Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 was the first time I connected to a young woman in a book. Clarisse McClellan made me feel less alone in the world.

This is a great book to read as a family. It can be picked up, read, and passed around. Due to the nature of the material it is also helpful if one has a struggling. reader. Pick this one up, read it on a rainy day. I promise it is money well spent.

I'm moving onto my last book of January, Galore by Michael Crummey. I've had this on my TBR (to be read) shelf for ages. It's about time I get around to it.

   

Pulphead

Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan

Long form journalism is often ignored in the US. Magazines are read, tossed aside, and recycled. The good articles may get ripped out and shared, but most of the time they are on a barge back to China to be recycled into a cereal box. It is a deep wish that Sullivan has a broader appeal. Pulphead is excellent. Sullivan is a master writer, he can suck a reader in for hours. I found myself reading this book in places where I shouldn't. I shot annoyed looks and people when I was interrupted. I stayed up late not wanting it to end.

Sullivan's first essay sets the tone for the rest of this book. Upon This Rock details his adventures with a 29 foot RV at a Christian rock festival called Creation. Godless heathens like myself usually look at large gatherings of religious folks with trepidation. Sullivan makes friends, and writes about Creation with such pathos that I found myself wanting go this year. I found his treatment of the subject to be fascinating.
Shifting gears, the book then delves into Axle Rose and Michael Jackson. Sullivan interjects himself into each essay with ease. He's not completely a journalist, he interjects too much of himself in each story, he is more of a observer. His critiques of pop culture are spot on, and they are really fun to read.

Moving on, I am going to read The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. It's novella length, so I should be doing the write up of it some time tomorrow.

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I don't know where to start with this book. Green has created a novel that is so real and so true that it is almost unimaginable. He created a world where the two main characters have cancer, but often, that is the least interesting thing about them. Hazel and Augustus feel so real that it hurt to set the book down. I cried more than once, and I feel a bit empty walking away from the story. I almost want to reread it just so I'm sure I didn't miss anything. It has been so long since I've read a love story like this one. Green has written one of the best YA books in the last ten years. This book will end up being made into a movie, it will end up becoming the template for many other ripoff novels, and it will the standard that high school girls use to measure relationships. Move over Bella and Edward you are now fighting Hazel Grace and Augustus.

The novel doesn't pull any punches, within the first ten pages it is established that it will be a tragedy. I knew death was part of it. I hunkered down and hoped that it would be worth the emotional involvement. Oh boy, was it ever.   Green also seemed determined to be so honest it hurts. Hazel's job is to show how fetishizing the world of cancer has set up people for disappointments. Often those afflicted don't live up to the heroic stereotype. It is worth noting that Hazel and Augustus give many moments of laugh out loud hilarity. It's not that cancer in and of itself is funny, it's that the world surrounding it often is. This is the absolute best part of this sad story, it's funny honest moments turn into self reflection. The reader learns the truth though laughter and through tears.

I absolutely recommend this novel with out any hesitation at all. It is fantastic, it will be discussed often, and it is worth paying the money to get a hard bound copy.* Cancel all appointments, set aside five or six hours, and enjoy. It is quite the ride. Walking away from this, I am so glad I gave Green a second chance. I read Looking for Alaska, and intensely disliked it. I was nearly beaten into submission and forced to read An Abundance of Katherines. I'm now a fan and hope to remain one.

My next book is Pulphead a collection of essays by John Jeremiah Sullivan. There have been numerous comparisons of this book to A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again by  David Foster Wallace. If that is the case I will be very pleased.

Link Round Up

Online Shoppers Are Rooting for the Little Guy In regards to books, this is a great development.

The 50 books every child should read This is a fantastic resource for parents, or for anyone who buys books for children.

YA novel readers clash with publishing establishment This was bound to happen. Honestly, the publishing establishment needs to suck it up and realize the world has changed. Not everyone is going to give glowing reviews because they happen to get free stuff.

30 most-anticipated books of 2012 This list is a tad late. However, Toni Morrison? WHOOOOOOHOOOO!

A Case Against Reading the Classics In the interest of full disclosure, I have submitted an application to be a World Book Night giver. With that being said, teaching the love of reading is far more important than teaching the cannon. I've read plenty of books in the cannon, some were fantastic others were terrible. We have moved on from reading a set of books to determine if a person is well read.

The Pace Of The Publishing Industry Sully is having a great debate.

A Badass Guide to YA Books A wonderful guide.

Banning A Book Won't Stop Bigotry Lets stop blaming books for turning people into assholes. People chose to be assholes and then seek out literature to justify it.

Eat Your Books A search engine for cookbooks. I know people who have hundreds. This is a great tool for them.

(Brought to you by: The National Archives of the UK)

The Ruby in the Smoke

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

I am a huge fan of Pullman's His Dark Materials series. It is a complex young adult story that is almost addicting. So, when I picked up The Ruby in the Smoke I was really excited. The problem is, the story fell flat. I just couldn't bring myself to get lost in Sally Lockheart's story. I don't blame the author in this instance, the book was very well written. I blame myself. I've had a rough week and have been bouncing back and forth between obligations. Blaming an author for Pullman for my lack of focus isn't what I want to do.

I'm going to recommend this book as an entry way to Pullman's other series. As highly as I push the His Dark Materials series on people it's still a challenging read for a young person. The Lockheart books will get the reader familiar with how things work. Also, with the advent of Dr. Who, Harry Potter, and other authors young adult are falling in love with all things British. (Adults are too, I'm a huge Dr. Who fan and I am passionate about Downton Abbey)

I'm moving onto The Fault in our Stars by John Green. I ordered it from Amazon a few days after it was released. Somehow I am now in possession of a signed copy.  Don't ask me how, but I rather like it.

Prep

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

The book cover for Prep is in drastic need of a makeover. Its pink and green belt lead me to believe it was some sort of Chick Lit beach book with no heft whatsoever. The deception may be the reasons for the low ratings on Amazon and other bookstores. It is very much a work that needs to be read and discussed, but my fear is that it is driving the people who want to read it away because the cover is such a stereotype. Yes, I realize that I'm asking people to not judge a book by the cover, in this case it is very much true.

Lee Fiora may be the protagonist in Prep, but she's also a composite of almost every single high school girl I've ever known. Prep shows the teen years as they are, practice at being an adult and doing badly. Lee has excruciating moments where I yelled at her. Her passive way of relating to those around her is maddening. However, the book feels reflective. Lee is telling her story with ten years of distance. This disjointed and disconnected feel comes from a person who has already felt strongly and moved past it. Lee is telling her story without much emotion because she has already used it all.

Prep also dives into race, gender, and culture stereotypes. I felt like Sittenfeld was trying to show how the American class system works similar to the way the Up series does in the UK. I felt like it wasn't addressed enough. Every time she tried to show racism or sexism it fell flat. Lee's story is interesting in and of itself, but Lee explaining racism at her school were the characters weaker moments.

Lastly, Prep has been described as the Catcher in the Rye of its time. I strongly disagree. Lee isn't Holden, she's far more fleshed out than Holden ever was. Both books may have a similar setting, but Prep feels fresher and less heavy than Rye. In other words, if Catcher in the Rye was a bad experience, Prep may be a better read.

I'm moving onto The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman. I'm a big fan of Pullman, so I'm expecting good things.

Link Round Up

The Race to Nab Web Addresses It will be interesting to see who nabs .book, .novel, and .reading. This has the possibility to shake things up if it gets widely adopted.

Literary events in 2012 New books by Toni Morrison and Zadie Smith. That made me swoon.

Why Print Is Here To Stay (A Not Anti-eBook Op/Ed) A well written article, and a well fostered debate. I believe that ebooks will eventually become dominate, but paper books will still be printed. The publishing industry will be very different in 10 years. I can't wait to see what happens.

McDonald's: UK's biggest children's book seller. I'm usually not a fan of McDonalds, but I am happy to see them putting children's books in their Happy Meals. Now if we could just get them to do this in the US.

The Case for Giving J.K. Rowling a Nobel Prize; Whither Waterstone's Apostrophe I have LONG argued that Ray Bradbury should win a Nobel Prize for literature. The committee simply refuses to entertain any science fiction or fantasy. Once Bradbury passes away (and I hope that day is FAR FAR AWAY) I will then begin to lobby for Rowling. The complete snobbery behind the nomination process is distressing and maddening.

Wonderful Murakami Covers from All Over the World  I hope you enjoy these.

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth 

Divergent popped up on many best of 2011 lists last year. Coming in on the dystopia craze, Roth's novel is better than I expected. I nearly gave up on the genera when Delirium flew across the room in a rage. Also, Divergent and Delirium are so similar sounding that I kept getting them confused. I honestly thought I had read this book over the summer. I had to look back on the blog archives to realize I had not.

The novel clipped along, I finished reading it in two days. It doesn't suffer from the melodramatic bad editing bloat that some YA lit has become. Also, Roth knows how to move the story along and doesn't linger in places where this can occur. I loved that she didn't explain why the book takes places in a post apocalyptic Chicago. She just mentions the Sears Tower and is done with it. The problem with YA lit is that it seems to want to explain why things got to be the way they are. Roth takes a page from Cormac McCarthy, things are bad, the reader can fill in the blank on what happened, and as authors we are here to drive the narrative. The back story is up to the reader. I hope her second book doesn't attempt to explain it. I want her to be fully in command of the novel, not feeling like she has to fill in holes.

My main worry with Divergent, and many of the other YA dystopias is their structure. A formula exists, and was codified with The Giver. It is something like this:

1. Society is broken into regimented groups

2. A rebel is found

3. Rebel breaks down the groups

4. A new society is formed.

I want someone like Roth to break this formula. Shock and surprise me with your characters, push them to be more than just archetypes. I know it is possible, and I know an author want try. I'm crossing my fingers that it will be Roth.

Next up is Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy by John le Carré. I'm not one for spy novels, but I've been bullied into submission by more than one person. I'll read it, but I'm not happy about it.

A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls  by Patrick Ness

This book rendered me a blubbering mess. A Monster Calls speaks a truth that is so simple but so hard to say. It takes the grieving process and breaks it down into its most basic components. As fantastic as it may seem, the book feels grounded in reality. This book will help people heal. This book has the ability to change lives. I realize the statements I just wrote may appear to be hyperbole. They are not. Great literature is transformative, and A Monster Calls is firmly within that category. I cannot recommend this book enough. Make sure you read this novel in the near future. It is worth devoting time and energy.

A few notes on the text, A Monster Calls is a mixed media book. Meaning, it straddles the boarder between graphic and traditional novel. Whole pages are illustrations, and the illustrations bleed into the text. I have noticed this happening frequently in YA books. It's a trend that needs to keep going. There are many fine artists out there. Pair author with artist and see what happens. I bet most of the time it will be beautiful. Also, I purchased the hardbound  version. It was printed on lovely paper, and the dust jacket was amazing. Check this book out at a local bookstore, it is worth holding just for a moment.

Next us is Invisible Man. We chose this for Required Reading Revisited. I've never picked it up, but I believe it was assigned when I was in college. What? Do you think I read everything on those lists? No way. One can only go though so many discussions about Proust before one goes a bit batty.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

The January pick for  NPR's Backseat Book Club, Curtis' book is lovely. Set in Flint, Michigan and Birmingham, Alabama the book is almost a portal into 1963. Kenny, the 9 year old narrator, is so endearing that it almost borders on saccharine, however Curtis pulls back every time. He reminds the reader that we are observing boys, and every now and then they can be snot nosed little pain in the asses. The main thesis of the book is to introduce young minds to the Civil Rights movement. Curtis does a great job opening the door, and dealing with the violence of the era. He reminded me that the explanation for terrorism  is the same for an adult as it is for a child. Hate fuels the ability to justify violence at any cost.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963 is a great teaching tool. As I was searching several lesson plans popped up. I'd almost pay to hear the conversations around it. Kids the age of Kenny have the amazing ability to push for answers, and make adults feel extraordinarily uncomfortable. I'd love to see group projects set around this as well. The book opens a lot of doors, all teachers have to do is walk though them.

My next book is A Monster Calls. It ended up on many best of 2011 lists last year, so I've decided to give it a shot.

Link Round Up

The first link round up of the year! It's back and better than ever. 

Booze And Prose Sully asks if booze makes for a better writer. 

Top Five Signs You’re Reading Too Much Young Adult Literature I'm guilty of all of these, but I read it anyway. 

Publishers vs. Libraries: An E-Book Tug of War An interesting take on the push me pull you world of ebooks and libraries. A revolution is happening in publishing and everyone is going to have to adapt. 

15 Books to Look Forward to in 2012 I have encountered several of these lists. I thought this was one of the better. 

A Year In Books: Telling Me Something I Didn't Know Reflections of reading in 2011.

Who Will Be the Literary Legends of Our Era? King, Atwood, Wallace, Rowling, and Murakami. 

Beyond Sparkly Vampires: YA for Lit Snobs YA Lit has some of the best writing in all of fiction. I think it is almost time to drop the YA from it. 

Why We Love The Hobbit  Because it's a fantastic story.

I hope everyone has a lovely new year. I'm off to read. 

1Q84 Book 1

1Q84 Book 1 by Haruki Murakami

Few things first, 1Q84 was published as three separate volumes in Japan, so there will be three write ups for the same novel. I have no idea why Random House decided to publish all three together, because I feel like Murakami wanted space in between the books. This work isn't something that one sits down and reads all at once or over the course of a month. It should be read one book at a time, slowly, perhaps over the course of a year. I have decided that I am going to do just that. I will take a break between book one and two. Meaning, I'm going to move on to other works. Don't worry, I'll get back to it, but it may be a while. It could be February before it comes around again.

Onto my thoughts, there are sections of this book that defy description. The prose doubles back on itself. In a way the book becomes a work of Science Fiction, but it does so almost reluctantly. There are obviously two different worlds in 1Q84, but I spent the better part of the first hundred pages doubting that it existed. Even at the end, I still feel that one of the two main characters could be a liar, but I'm unclear on which one. Look, I realize this is vague and somewhat maddening, you will have to trust me. Buy the novel and read it. It is unlike anything I have encountered for quite some time.

Comparing the work against its source material 1Q84 did not seem to take anything from Orwell's work. However, for a moment, Murakami makes an overt connection. He blatantly states that 1984 is inspiring 1Q84, but it is in ways that will be developed further in Book 2 and Book 3.  As overt and direct 1984 was 1Q84 is not. The two books are almost opposites. Big Brother simply does not exist in Murakami's world, but Little People do.

Walking away, 1Q84 needs a bit of time to settle. I think the biggest mistake I could make is to dive into Book 2 looking for answers. Having read Murakami in the past, I know that the answers will come on their own time, and at their own pace. I am going to move on to The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963. This is on purpose, I need something a bit lighter after the first book.

1984

1984 by George Orwell

I know, it feels like I'm some sort of speed reader, lets just say I had an extremely slow day at work. Right, so 1984 is one of those books that is forever listed on high school required reading lists. Orwell's totalitarian look at the future is something that has worked it's way into our lexicon.  Terms like Big Brother and Orwellian are frequently used to describe unsavory parts of government, corporations, et al. Listing all of Orwell's contributions to society would be tedious and dull, so I'm going to zip right in and give my thoughts. Also, in this post I'm going show you some of the research I do when I read a book. I hope you find it as fun as I do.

1984 is 266 pages, 200 of those pages are describing exactly how bad a totalitarian state is in different methods. First Orwell explains how bad it is, then he sends Winston to work to show us how bad it is, then he has Winston's friends as examples of how bad it is, then children show up and show us how bad it is, and then Winston is given a book that spells out exactly how bad it is, and then Winston's girlfriend Julia is an example of how bad it is, and then they get caught. Winston and Julia respectively, the friends make guest staring appearces in the creepy all white prison that is called The Ministry of Love. Lets just say that Orwell is a bit heavy handed with the exposition portion and a wee light on the story portion. An argument can be made  that   Huxley's A Brave New World came first, but anyone who has read that in conjunction with 1984 will tell you that both Mr. Huxley and Mr. Orwell went to the bash-the-reader-over-the-head-with-the-damn-point school of writing. But, I digress, and I think, dear readers, you get the point. Also, it's effective. I caught myself giving worried looks to the red light cameras on the way home. With all of that being said, 1984 is one of the classics for a reason. Orwell can write and write very well. Even if the exposition is repetitive it is written in a way where it isn't dull. It is absolutely worth reading, and it's slot on the required reading lists is well deserved. This is a book that begs to be taught.

Because teachers can use things like the following. In the book the main character, Winston, has a job editing the past. He rewrites news articles, alters speeches, and changes items to match exactly what The Party as said. Are there modern day examples of this? Well, lets look at something that happened a week ago at Kim Jong il's funeral.

Picture 1

 Picture 2

What is different? In the first picture after the break in the crowd there is a camera crew, in the second picture they are gone. That's right, gone. It's 2012 someone has Winston's job. Now if that wasn't creepy enough, lets look at some pictures from Russia.

Picture 1

Picture 2

A man was just edited out of history. As 1984 puts it, he is now an unperson. Keep in mind PhotoShop didn't exist at this time so someone had to go in and physically alter the photo. This took time, effort, and a talented hand. I'm absolutely positive that students could come up with more and more examples of this. I  stumbled upon this articles while I was searching on NPR's website.

Moving on, I'm starting 1Q84 tonight. It's three books, and I've decided to blog them separately. So 1Q84 will have a total of three entries. I can't wait to read this people either love it or hate it. It seems to be that polarizing. I should have book one done by this time next week, if not earlier.

Finally, I want to give credit for the pictures:

1. Snow-Wash: North Korea Doctored Photo Of Kim's Funeral

2. Soviet Photo Manipulation -- Lenin

3. Inside Stalin's Darkroom

Blankets

Blankets by Craig Thompson

Some autobiographies are bland and simple. Some authors don't want to discuss the past troubles in life. Some are heroic exorcisms that are so explicit it feels like one is sitting in on a therapy session. Blankets falls in the second category. Thompson's examination of his life is so personal that I became uncomfortable. He delves into the story of his first love, and it hits home. He pulls no punches, doesn't glamorize it, and lays bare the emotions of what it is like to be 18. I feel like this book will affect me in years to come. I have a feeling that I'll need to mail copies of this to friends as years go by.

I wish I could write more about this but words fail me. It honestly feels weird to even review something like this. Just do yourself a favor, go buy this book and read it. Check it out of the library, buy it at a bookstore, obtain a copy some how some way. It will be worth it.

Moving into 2012, the January reading project starts today. I will be reading 1984 and 1Q84. If you are participating the project runs the entire month, also don't feel bad if you can't finish both books by the end of the month. 1Q84 is over 1000 pages, and for light to moderate readers books that long are a challenge. I'll be blogging 1984 by the end of this week. Go forth, read, talk about it, and tell your friends.