Perlle's 2010 reads

KeskusteluClub Read 2010

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Perlle's 2010 reads

Tämä viestiketju on "uinuva" —viimeisin viesti on vanhempi kuin 90 päivää. Ryhmä "virkoaa", kun lähetät vastauksen.

1perlle
syyskuu 12, 2010, 11:36 am

I am coming to this group very late in 2010. I hope this is not objectionable. I am basically a refugee from Vox. For years, I have done most of my lists/reviews/comments/random thoughts over there. But they are shutting down at the end of the month. So, this seems like a good alternative to me.

It hasn't been a blockbuster year of reading since I seem to have inherited/won/fallen into, and otherwise, encouraged too many responsibilities to be thrust upon me.

But I'll make of list of the few I've read so far.

2perlle
Muokkaaja: syyskuu 12, 2010, 9:31 pm

1. Catcher in the Rye


Finished: January 21, 2010

Stars: 4 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: I can't believe I never had to read this in high school or college. And I'm always intrigued by books that seem to polarize people's opinions.

Summary of my thoughts: Started out hating the book and slower grew to appreciate what the author was doing. A very convincing portrait of mental illness mixed up in teenage confusion, development, and grief.

On the 1001 book list: Yes

Who would I recommend this to: People who like classics, those interested in teen issues/and or psychology and/or family dynamics, adults (I don't think you can be a teenager and easily appreciate this as much as you can once you've left those years behind).

3perlle
Muokkaaja: syyskuu 12, 2010, 9:37 pm

2. All the Pretty Horses

Finished: January 26, 2010

Stars: 3 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: I read The Road last year and enjoyed McCarthy's writing voice.

Summary of thoughts: I love how McCarthy writes in so lyrically in such sparse language about things that don't seem at all poetic. The story didn't pull me along though. I think this one was too macho for me.

On the 1001 book list: Not the original

Who would I recommend this to: Men who either like poetry or westerns, but especially both.

4auntmarge64
syyskuu 12, 2010, 9:24 pm

Hi Perlle,

Welcome to Club Read!

5perlle
syyskuu 12, 2010, 9:29 pm

Thanks so much for the welcome, auntmarge64.

6perlle
Muokkaaja: lokakuu 1, 2010, 5:55 pm

3. Think and Grow Rich


Finished: June 7, 2010

Stars: 3 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: Skimmed this several years ago. Two of my friends were reading this at the same time and kept talking about it. So, I decided to read it for real.

Summary of thoughts: This is basically the Bible of positive thinking/self help books. All others are reincarnations/repackaging of this one. Ten years ago I remember thinking there were many good ideas in the book. Now, it all seems obvious to me. I guess this one made me realize how much I've matured.

Who would I recommend this to: Pretty much anyone should be able to get something out of it.

7avaland
syyskuu 22, 2010, 8:38 pm

A belated welcome to Club Read. Looking forward to watching what you read, although my rotation seems to indicate that it will be at least 6 weeks before I get back here again.

ncgraham just started a group for George Eliot fans here, if you are interested. I saw her listed as a favorite author on your profile page.

8perlle
syyskuu 25, 2010, 11:02 am

Thanks for the welcome, avaland. I joined the group as well. Thanks for mentioning it.

9perlle
Muokkaaja: lokakuu 1, 2010, 6:22 pm

4. The Reliable Wife


Finished: June 12, 2010

Stars: Hmm. I go back and for on this.

Why I wanted to read this: I didn't. My book club chose it. It's definitely not one I would have picked up on my own.

Summary of thoughts: I find this book very conflicting. Parts of it are poetic, but it's so unrealistic and the ending actually made me groan. But there is a certain atmosphere that the author was able to create that I found myself enjoying, in spite of all the things that didn't work in this book. The author was inspired to write this by Wisconsin Death Trip. I'm actually more interested in finding that and taking a look at it than I was about this book. Without a doubt, I am sure if a woman had written this it would be in the romance section and no one would have even noticed it. Yet, I do find it haunting in some way. See, very conflicting.

Who would I recommend this to: Not sure. People who want a challenging romance read. People from Wisconsin. Probably chick-lit readers. Even though this is dark, it seems to appeal to that demographic.

10perlle
lokakuu 1, 2010, 6:36 pm

5. The Heart of Darkness

Finished: September 11, 2010

Star: 3 out of 5

Why I wanted this: I have been meaning to read it for years. I have long been intrigued by why so many people seem to hate this one.

Summary of thoughts: I read this over my vacation in about 48 hours. Afterward I read quite a few reviews where people wrote things like, "this was the longest short read of my life." I didn't find that at all. I thought it was bit slow at times but not enough to make me want to run screaming from the room. I liked the story although I was expected a lot of horror and gore but it seemed pretty tame by my standards. Glad I finally read it.

Who would I recommend this to: Anyone who is interested in classic literature, imperialism, or race relations

11perlle
Muokkaaja: joulukuu 6, 2010, 6:16 am

6. Millennium Trilogy

Finished: September 20, 2010

Stars: 4 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: My book club read the first two books (not sure why no one was interested in finishing the trilogy).

Summary of thoughts: I am not usually a huge fan of either mysteries or crime fiction. This was both. But I do love a strong female lead character with a strong feminist bent. The first and the third books were the strongest and I also loved that this is really a story about friendship. What is it? What is its value? How powerful can it be? This is true of the two main characters but also of the work as a whole.

Who would I recommend this to: Those who don't mind taking the time to get into a book, who have an interest in women's issues, and anyone who likes crime fiction.

12dchaikin
lokakuu 2, 2010, 12:20 am

#10 - now you need to read the nonfiction version - King Leopold's Ghost. :) It's actually a great book and spends a wonderful chapter looking into the factual stuff within Heart of Darkness.

13Nickelini
lokakuu 2, 2010, 1:57 am

#10 - I'm one of those readers who have been rather vocal about Heart of Darkness being one of the longest short books ever. Part of the reason that I say that is that I had to read it twice for university, and the second time was so much more painful than the first (which was itself only moderately painful). I think it's a cool book and has interesting and important things to say, and I think it's culturally significant on several different levels. I actually like it--as long as I never have to read it again.

I agree particularly with your recommendation of this for anyone interested in imperialism. And may I add, anyone interested in the movie Apocalypse Now.

14perlle
lokakuu 3, 2010, 6:52 pm

#12-I'll have to check that out...

#13-I can see how this would be tedious reading for college. I think the reason why I was able to read it so fast (and actually not that fast as it took me a whole weekend and I thought "wow, it's only about 100 pages it really shouldn't have taken me that long" when I finished) is because of my expectation. I had always heard this was so horrific that I was waiting for things to happen that would be unimaginably terrible to imagine and I'd have to force myself to keep reading.

I'm glad I read it but I don't think I'd ever be tempted to read it again. Thanks for reminding me of the Apocalypse Now connection too. Perhaps I should consider watching that one as well while it's all fresh in my mind.

15perlle
joulukuu 6, 2010, 6:26 am

7. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Finished: September 26, 2010

Stars: 5 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: I read Housekeeping and wanted to read something else by the same author.

Summary of thoughts: This was a bit hard to get into at first. The story is told from the point of view of a dying preacher and is written as one long letter (or monologue to the reader) to his young son who he will never see grow up. It's poignant and beautiful at the same time. It can't really be described it has to be experienced.

Who would I recommend this to: Those who don't mind taking the time to get into a book, who have an interest in religion as a philosophical idea, who like existentialism, who like family dynamic stories, who love the Midwest (this novel evokes the landscape and feeling well), and/or who don't mind a meandering, somewhat plot-less story.

16perlle
joulukuu 6, 2010, 6:34 am

8. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Finished: September 26, 2010

Stars: 3 out of 5 (just barely)

Why I wanted to read this: My book club picked it.

Summary of thoughts: I cringe at child narrators. I especially cringe at precocious child narrators. But perhaps because this book's precocious child narrator was also marginalized for being precocious, I found it easier to stomach. Still, I found the tone a bit too light-hearted for the subject matter. I found it a bit disturbing, but as usual, no one in the book club shared my viewpoint. I mean, how cute can you (or should you) make poison, murder, parental death, and kidnapping?

Who would I recommend this to: Those who like precocious child detectives, especially British ones with a love for chemistry.

17perlle
joulukuu 6, 2010, 7:03 am

9. Notes from the Underground

Finished: October 6, 2010

Stars: 4 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: One of those books I've been meaning to get to for a long time.

Summary of thoughts: This work is largely abstract. It's in two parts. The second is told from first person and recounts several specific events that stand out in the main character's mind. The first is a philosophical rant that makes more sense once the second part is read. This reminded me a lot of Old Masters but I liked this one as much as I hated the former.

Who would I recommend this to: Those who like philosophy and existential ideas.

18perlle
joulukuu 6, 2010, 7:17 pm

10. Wind-up Bird Chronicle

Finished: October11, 2010

Stars: 4 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: I seem to be reading a Murakami book every year. I had intended to start with this one, but got sidetracked.

Summary of thoughts: This was anything but a quick read for me. Not that it was difficult reading. It just didn't grip me in any way. It was by far my favorite Murakami so far, and I liked how the random details did seem to mostly coalesce by the end. Murakami just isn't my favorite author. I keep reading him mostly because I hope a bell will go off, and I'll realize why so many people I know practically worship the guy. But so far, I'm still at a loss. The philosophy isn't that deep, the characters are pretty flat, hard to sympathize with, and the same from book to book. And all the female characters seem to exist just for the (always male) protagonist. I was amused by the fact that this book is about a guy on a search who doesn't actually go anywhere.

Who would I recommend this to: Murakami fans, or people who have never read a Murakami work and want a place to start.

19perlle
joulukuu 7, 2010, 7:02 am

11. Room

Finished: October 12, 2010

Stars: 4.5 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: I decided to visit a new book club and this is what they were reading.

Summary of thoughts: At first I thought I would hate this book. A woman is kidnapped and her 5-year old son who is the product of a rape with her captor is telling the story. And I hate "true crime" stories. But, I found this mesmerizing and not at all like depressing. It is haunting though. I have been describing it as Law and Order meets Alice in Wonderland.

Who would I recommend this to: Students of Plato, fans of The Road, and generally those interested in psychology and pop culture

20perlle
joulukuu 8, 2010, 4:57 am

12. The Body Artist

Finished: October 17, 2010

Stars: 3.5 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: I had never read a Delillo and found this at a library book sale.

Summary of thoughts: This was a short book and one of the hardest to define novels I've ever read. Some of the passages were incredibly beautiful, and I loved how the author played with ideas of time and reality. The reader never does know if the man being spoken with is a homeless person, a ghost, a mentally handicapped man or a a figment of the main character's mind. So, it that way, the book can be whatever a person needs it to be.

Who would I recommend this to: Hard to say. Perhaps people who like something very open-ended and don't mind questions going unresolved.

21perlle
joulukuu 8, 2010, 5:02 am

13. The Diary of Victor Frankenstein

Finished: October 17, 2010

Stars: 4 out of 5

Why I wanted to read this: It was an impulse buy at a discount book store while on a road trip.

Summary of thoughts: A nice companion piece to the classic. While we are removed from the "action" by reading the story in the mode of a journal, there is still a feeling of intimacy here. The words are written artfully to convey Victor's emotions. And reading something written in cursive, in journal format, and having to strain to see the words in parts that are often dark and scribbly, all lends to a feeling of understanding Victor and his emotions.

Who would I recommend this to: Fans of Frankenstein and fans of graphic novels