Where the Wild Things Are

I have been reading a lot about this movie lately. It seems to be one of those films that people either love or hate. I gladly went to see it and will never be sorry. I have a great lingering fondness for the book this movie is based on. In fact I always liked this book more than my children did. I don't consider this a children's film. Max Records,the child who plays Max in the film is mesmerizing. The camera loves this face and you can't stop watching him. I related to the fact that the wild things expressed a child's emotions and imagination. This is how it should be because after all this whole experience truly takes place in a child's imagination. The fact that the wild thing characters aren't complicated is as it should be. They are after all figments of a child's imaginary world and feeling. Based on that you should expect the pouting,anger and violent play. The time Max spends with his family is just as engaging as his time with the wild things. Any person who has children themselves can empathise with Max in this film. We have all watched our own children express these same emotions. I say bravo to Spike Jonze for going ahead with his vision and making a memorable film that feels like a revisit to childhood, maybe your own,maybe your child's. See the movie and view it in the spirit it was intended.

HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY

I recently read Audrey Niffenegger's new book HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY. I have been long awaiting this book after her last THE TIME TRAVELERS WIFE. I can't say I was disappointed. The characters are fascinating and well developed. The author definitely has a fondness for quirky people. While I saw early on where the book was heading the ending wasn't what I imagined. I'm not sure if this is a happy,heartwarming novel or not, I just can't decide. The more I pondered her last book I realized that Time Traveler didn't have a textbook happy ending and it still became one of my favorites. Niffenegger definitely knows how to weave a tale and this story is as original an idea as her last novel was. Fans of her work won't be disappointed in the least. Like Time Traveler , Her Fearful Symmetry is a novel I will reflect upon long after its left my shelf. I have passed my copy on to my sister and can only hope she gets as much enjoyment out of the story as I did.

Desert Island Question

I have recently been pondering the question what three books would you take with you if marooned on a desert island?
Unlike most people a question like that really gets stuck in my head as if my life depended on the correct answer so needless to say I have actually been thinking on this for a long while. The other day I had a small epiphany in regards to an answer. I have often wondered should I take survival books, or my favorite books, or complete collections by authors( also would that be cheating). I realize that I won't really be marooned on an island with these books so it doesn't really matter what I answer but it still keeps me up some nights. I was debating with myself if I brought my favorite books would they then become boring because it is all you would read for perhaps years when I started to wonder just how much time would one have to read on a desert island anyway. I have definitely decided one book that would be absolutely necessary must be a dictionary. The most complete dictionary possible. I think that if alone constantly with lots of work to do a dictionary it the greatest thing to read. Keeping the mind occupied learning new words and eventually using it to write your own tales would be a better use of time than a novel that will be soon memorized. I remember as a child looking through our family's dictionary. It was a fantastic thing filled with words and maps and lists of presidents and pictures of places and planets and other wonders. I'm not sure where that dictionary came from but I spent a lot of time with it and constantly wish I still had it for my own children's needs. So I have settled one book in my mind and now I just have to decide what the other two could be.........

NUMBERS

I was going over my bookshelf this weekend and made a list. I now own 114 unread books. That is not mentioning the 4 books that came into the post office today and are now in the car so I guess I own 118 I have read 34 books this year so far but have bought 58. Of the 58 I have read 18 the rest I already had. I'm not sure if I am making progress or not. I have been swapping books recently on paperbackswap which is a great site in my opinion and an easy way to trade off some books for credits. I have tried to keep track of the prices of the books I have bought but I didn't have the guts this weekend to find a total. I do know that a lot of the books on the list were bought used or swapped for free. I'm pretty sure that my overall total is going to rise soon because I have several books on the way as we speak. Hello...my name is Kathy.... and I am an addict.... If only we could get a support group together. Not only would a group provide moral support it could also triple as a book club and swap meet. Keep reading and I will do the same. I accept that I will never be one of those people to own or borrow one book at a time. There are just to many books and not nearly enough time.

Patterson

I have recently taken up James Patterson novels. Mass market thrillers are not my usual read and I don't often spend time on authors that crank out several books a year. Sure I read an occasional King book but for the most part mystery/thrillers aren't my think. I actually got Honeymoon on audio cd to start. I have a 40 minute commute to work and thought an book might be nice for a change( I live in Maine and good radio stations are hard to come by). I found myself almost to engrossed in the story to drive. Later a coworker who is a big fan of Patterson's claims that is one of his best books and I was glad to start with that. I decided to sample more and picked up 1ST TO DIE which is the first in his women's murder club series. I enjoyed this book almost as much as Honeymoon. I still have small problems with the cop thrillers as a whole. Some plot points seem a bit contrived but I was kept guessing to the end although I don't think the story itself was very probable. I am going to continue reading his books. I have ordered the second women's murder club series from paperbackswap.com and am going to slowly work my way through his other series. The problem I have with authors like this and the entire genre itself is that if I read to many in a row they all seem so similar and formula driven after awhile. I'm certain that as long as I mix in a good portion of my regular fiction and non-fiction choices I won't get bored to easily with his work. It certainly is easy to locate especially in used form. The most appealing thing about starting his work from the beginning is the amount of mass market paperback editions available will save me a bundle. I definitely think his works are worth reading. I have to hand it to Patterson because they all seem to be engrossing page turners and with short chapters its double easy to keep squeezing in a few more pages and chapters.

Manic

I just finished the book Manic by Terri Cheney. It is a memoir of manic depression. I enjoyed the writing but most of the stories revolved around seducing men in a manic state. I really wish she would have gone into her family background a little better. I breezed through the stories though and really feel for what the author went through. I am not manic depressive myself but have met a few people who are and some of her stories are simply heartbreaking. I will say that certain parts of her story started to depress me greatly. I need to read something more uplifting because a lot of this book ends with despair.
I just started the book Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. I recently started reading Vonnegut and am very interesting in getting to know his work better. I began with Cat's Cradle and it is a kookie story but so inventive. My friend Carol has really become a fan and she says for her it all started with Galapagos. I have ordered this book and a few others as per my book shopping weakness. I don't have the heart to recount my bookshelf yet but feel the need to do so soon. I started out the year so good but am starting to feel I am spiraling out of control. I think it is probably time to clean out some shelves and re prioritize my reading collection. I currently have 4 books on order. I have signed on to a 50 books in a year reading blog and I have currently gone through at least 30 this year but I really need to get ride of some books to make room on the shelf.

Summer Reading

As crazy about reading as I am I agreed to read my daughters summer reading books along with her. As it just so happened I already owned copies of both books. She must finish A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN and A SEPARATE PEACE. Now as it so happens I have read Separate Peace twice before(I didn't enjoy either time). Once in high school and once when it was assigned reading for my son's English class. (I read all the books my kids read for summer reading and book reports in order to make sure they have read them and can answer common questions)
I recently finished A Tree Grows (my daughter is still in the process) and I have to say it is one of the most enjoyable reads I've picked up in awhile. I loved the old black and white film when it was on in my youth and I watched it with my parents. I'm not sure I haven't read it before but even so it was wonderful. Especially owning to today's economic times it is interesting to revisit this depression era novel. Poor but happy is the outlook of the characters despite a pretty miserable existence. I would truly love to sit down with my 14 year old and get her heartfelt impression of Francie and the times she lives in but I doubt my daughter will be a moved by the story or as willing to share her thoughts with me. Hopefully she will share them in her English class. My grandfather was a product of the depression and this story brought back fond memories of the kind of man he was and the way her viewed life. I do wish I could peek inside my daughters teenage mind and really peer at her thoughts having no previous experiences to relate to the era. One thing I do know is that this story is truly timeless in its way. It is a fantastic journey for readers of any age and I can't wait till she finishes and I hope she appreciates the story half as much as I do.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

I just finished the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. When I first heard about this book I was mildly offended. Pride is one of my all time favorite stories. The buzz about how popular the Seth Grahame Smith reboot was convinced me to give it a shot. I wish I had stayed with my first instinct. This book was a complete waste of my time. I realize it was written in fun but the addition of zombies has done nothing but make the story ridiculous. The author stumbles through the story giving vicious ends here and there. The banter about balls and soiling oneself I could have done without. I believe that if this story had been rewritten by a women who loved Pride, then great things could have been achieved. Don't waste your time with this one. The original story is a thousand times more enjoyable the way it was originally intended.

I just recently read the book What Was Lost by Catherine OFlynn. This is her first novel I've heard and it was great. The novel starts as a sweet father and daughter story that turns into a sad missing child case. The story evolves slowly and has interesting characters throughout. When the story picks up years after Kate disappeared your still as curious as everyone what happened. This is a great novel for anyone to enjoy and at 256 pages it is great over the summer weekends.

Pharmakon

I just finished PHARMAKON BY DICK WITTENBORN and this book was a total waste of time. The story could have been great but ended up completely pointless. I don't think Dick knew which book he wanted to write. This story started out like three different books. A psychologist does research for a drug and one of his patients goes crazy and tries to murder him. Then he escapes and meets his son. Then he goes away and completely disappears from the story except as some inescapable fear. I don't know where this story was going but it just ends with the psychologist in his mid seventies, his wife in the hospital and his children unresolved. What a waste of hours of my time. Please don't waste yours.

Nonfiction

I recently finished THE YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY by A.J.Jacobs. Jacobs decides to spend a year following all the rules and commandments in the bibles(Jewish and christian or old testament and new) no matter how strange or inexplicable. He is an agnostics and he explores whether this will bring him closer to a spiritual side. Firstly I will say that he is an excellent writer. I really enjoyed the flow of his writing. The Year is recorded in a diary type style which serves nicely to break up the stories by Biblical text as well as subject. I don't think I could undertake a task like this myself. He clearly has some OCD issues which he admits to in the text. But it does provide a understanding of some of the more obscure rules and maybe just gives you a different perspective with which to view religion.

Testimony

I have just finished the book TESTIMONY by Anita Shreve. This is truly an excellent read. I find the writing style a little different because it is written like the title claim almost like the characters in the book are relating their testimony to you. The surprise like ending to the story didn't come as to much of a surprise to me but seeing it coming didn't take anything away from the story. I like the fact that the story unfolds from all angles and it's not about blame. In the end who was right and who was wrong doesn't matter because what happened happened. I think that is often how reality unfolds so it just makes the story easier to understand. I have read several of Anita Shreve's books but I think this is one of her best yet. I will recommend it to my friends.

Three Cups of Tea

Last night I finished the book THREE CUPS OF TEA by greg mortenson and david oliver relin. It is a very inspirational book to read. I was so inspired by the work Greg Mortenson is doing that I resold the book on line and made a small donation to the Central Asia Institute.

I have a certain fascination with the middle east and its cultures. Some of my favorite books are written about other cultures and countries. Books like A Fine Balance, The Kite Runner, Life of Pi, and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Unlike those books this is not a work of fiction and I for one am grateful. The work done by Greg's organization should be a wake up call to governments everywhere. I think that education is the key to opening doors in many ways but providing education for people who need and desire it, without expecting some quid pro quo is the way things should be done. The chance for anyone to escape poverty and better their lives as well as the lives of those around them is something that everyone should aspire to. Besides as everyone has heard "you catch more flies with honey than with garbage". If you want people to like and respect you, you first have to like and respect them. But Greg Mortenson doesn't spend his time building schools and education children because he wants them to like him he does it because he wants them to have the opportunity to have a good life. Everyone should read this book. The institute claims it can hire a teacher for one dollar. I don't think that is to much to ask even in these economic times.

for more information www.ikat.org

Updates

I have fallen behind in posts. A flurry of spring activities have slowed me down. Finding lost friends on Facebook, Laboratory Week potlucks, spring cleaning....
I have read 5 books since I last posted and am about to finish a sixth.
They are:

THE WELL OF LOST PLOTS BY JASPER FFORDE
TWILIGHT BY STEPHENIE MEYER
THE PARTLY CLOUDY PATRIOT BY SARAH VOWELL
WORLD MADE BY HAND BY JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER
THE PLUTO FILES BY NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

and I am just finishing THREE CUPS OF TEA BY GREG MORTENSON AND DAVID OLIVER RELIN
Twilight I have read before and enjoyed. I was in the mood to blow through a fast read.
The Partly Cloudy Patriot is a collection of articles and stories. It is a very interesting book with a great perspective. Sarah Vowell is a history buff and fascinated by our nations history. (I sold the book online to a man stationed oversees. He asked if I would mind filling out a customs form what kind of patriot could be bothered to fill out a form). I hope he enjoyed her writing as much as I did.
World made by Hand was a great novel. It is one of those books that really gives you something to think about. The premise of the book is a town coping after world war 3. How they get food, supplies, stay warm, communicate. No electricity, no new clothes or music or anything else. No gas for cars or road repair. Aside from the interesting fictional story it makes you consider your life circumstances, for instance I have solar power but I live ten miles from town. So I would have electricity but no way to get to town for supplies and in winter no plowed road to travel on.

The Pluto Files was interesting. I really wanted to read this book because I saw Neil Degrasse Tyson on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and he was hilarious. The book is about how the Pluto lost planet status. It is a nicely done book and tells you alot about the universe.

Three Cups of Tea is a fascinating book. I am very interested in the middle east regions and the actual populous feeling (not extremist views) so books like this are great. Greg Mortenson is a former mountain climber who spend his time now building schools for children in Pakistan. I am a firm believer that help and education is the way to reach others and this book just proves that.
I have to read something light next. I will scour my crowded shelf and see what novel jumps out at me.

2009 book list

So far I have read 11 books this year. I feel like I am falling behind and have decided to purge a few books of my shelf that I don't think I will ever get to.
Here is the list of books I've read so far.

Equus by Peter Shaffer
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
Duma Key by Stephen King
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W.Loewen
Abarat by Clive Barker
Outliers the story of success by Malcolm Gladwell
Stop Pretending; what happened when my big sister went crazy by Sonya Sones
Candy Girl by Diablo Cody
Run by Ann Patchett
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Run by Ann Patchett is probably one of the best books I have ever read. I also think that Olive Kitteridge is my favorite Elizabeth Strout book( she has two other books). I haven't bought any books this month but I have gotten a few free from paperback swap. You really have to watch that site for something you want to come around. I have ordered Grapes of Wrath because I want to reread it and because my daughter will have to read it in school and I always try to have a copy of the school novels on hand. I can read with them to test them and if they forget there copy I always have one handy. It is a great book anyway. I have dug out my old copy of Atlas Shrugged after hearing all the financial talk about and may reread it if I can find the time. I remember enjoying it the first time but I liked the fountainhead better. I am reading a Jasper FForde book currently. His books are amusing and strange but they tend to be quick reads.

I have recently finished the book RUN by Ann Patchett and it is one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It will now join my list of must read favorite books and I will recommend it to everyone I can. If you have never read a book by Ann Patchett you are missing out anyway. This is the forth book of hers I have read and while I have enjoyed them all so far this is the best one. It is a beautiful story of coincidences that bring together a mother with the children she gave up for adoption. Due to an accident she finds her boys, a life for her daughter and peace with the choices she has made as well as bringing her children's family together. The story is seamless and you just can't wait to see what's coming even as you suspect some of it. My only dislike in the book is that the chapters are long and it is sometimes hard to stop in a great place. Everyone who enjoys fiction should read this book.

working and reading

I have been having trouble finding time to read recently. I have been working quite a lot these past few weeks but I managed to finish a wonderful book called Outliers a story of success by Malcolm Gladwell. This is a very informative read. I learned that in 10000 hours anyone can be an expert at anything, as long as you have the devotion you can acquire the skill. I also learned that I need to create opportunities to succeed. I like the way he explains success as a matter of hard work and opportunity. I wish I had kept my son back in school and now I know why that would have made such a difference.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I have a couple books with me tonight at work for my dinner break and will see which grabs me. I have purchased a few books lately and my total number is creeping up. I haven't had the heart to count again because I know I am out of control. I really have no place left to stash the books and I can't read fast enough to catch up.
I have made contact with an old school friend(grammar) through Facebook. It is nice to hear from old friends and learn what they are up to. I enjoy having a new email friend to chat with. I can't wait to find out how many or few things we still have in common.

Abarat

I just finished ABARAT by Clive Barker last night. I didn't realize when I started it that it was a children's book, a fairy tale. I think he should stick to the book he does best. The story wasn't bad until you get to the end and it says book one. If it took him five years to come up with that story he should quit while he's ahead. The story is left completely unresolved in anyway and personally I really could care less what happens to the characters. I won't read a book two even if he eventually writes one.
Other than that I have started OUTLIERS and it is fantastic and interesting. It really makes you think about the advantages some people luck into. If only I had 10,000 hours to spend practicing things.

Favorite Books

I have recently been thinking of my favorite books. I will list them here in no particular order.

1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
2. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
3. A Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
4. Stiff: the curious lives of human cadavers by Mary Roach
5. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
6. Jane Austen Novels
7. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
8. The Stand by Stephen King
9.The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
10. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
11.The Road by Cormac McCarthy
12. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
13. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
14. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

This is I think my favorites but I am always looking for others. I have a few other favorites that I am not sure are all time I just haven't decided yet. Books like The Curse of the Narrows by Laura M. MacDonald or the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer or A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry are right up at the top. When I look at my list I wonder what these books say about me. Why these books and not hundreds of others. Some of these books would probably be on alot of peoples lists but some maybe not so much. For instance A Brief History of the Dead, I wonder how many people have read this book? If you haven't you are definitely missing something special because it is a book like no other. It certainly gives me a new way to look at life and death. I wish there was more time to reread these books over and over again. Maybe I will make some extra time to work them in and remember just exactly why I love these stories so much.

Lies My Teacher Told Me

Today I finished reading Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen. I'm really glad that I read this book because it really helped me to understand some of why the education system is so lacking in this country. It is sad to think that as a nation we are so insecure that we need to tailor our history to only reflect good on the past. I think it is a shame that we make our elementary and high school history classes so watered down and misleading. The worst part is that history classes are so boring as we all remember because the people making the text books don't wish to offend anyone. I would rather be taught the truth and allow students to engage in real discussions that maybe have no answers but just lead to more questions. I wonder just what we are so afraid of in our honest past. If we can't hold a mirror up to ourselves past or present how can we hold it up to others.