Category Archives: books

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Perfectly postmodern and European, Kundera did an excellent job of breaking all the rules of novel writing. Philosophizing for pages at a time, addressing the readers directly, making the main characters more than a little frustrating, the emphasis is that rules are meant to be broken. Yet, the medium fits his message well, and as a novel dealing with love and place, communism and liberalism, it soars. Some readers will be offended by the gratuitous sex and deeply flawed characters, it is certainly a book not everyone will “like” even if they appreciate it. (4/5)

Meet the Austins by Madeline L’Engle
If I could, I’d rate this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it, and appreciated how real and ordinary the protagonist Vicky is portrayed as being. However, I found it a little slow at times, and more preachy / transparent than I remember the Murry family books being. All of the books about the Austins are on my to-read list this year and I am looking forward to seeing the family develop more over subsequent books. (3.5/5)

We all experience poverty. Our poverty may not all be monetary, but we experience loss and lack. This story captures one man’s discovery of his own poverty, after growing up working class and accumulating wealth through good luck and a savvy eye for art. It’s also a story about dignity and friendship and worth, a story that will move readers to consider the way they look at the people they encounter from day-to-day.

This is not a how-to book, not a duplicable way to fight poverty or homelessness. In many ways, the Halls break the “rules” of ministry to the poor. It was interesting to read the book considering some of those ideas. It took cancer and helplessness for Denver to bring some equity to the relationship through his prayer and steadfastness to the Halls. Denver continued to doubt the validity of their relationship for a long time. Readers are sure to understand that this friendship has been a lot of work for both parties involved.

As my friend Krys aptly put, the story carries this book far more than the writing. Both voices can be tedious and difficult, but the fact that the story is true helped me to press on through. (6.5/10, interact on goodreads.)

The Help has been THE book of the year, and I didn’t want to let 2009 pass by without reading it.

If you’re one of the few who hasn’t heard of it, it’s set in the civil rights era in Jackson, Mississippi and tells the stories of three women: one white, young and privileged, and two older black housemaids. Capturing some of the major perspectives of the time while weaving in the personal journeys of the three narrators, it is with good reason that Stockett’s first novel has been a smashing success. Once I got into the rhythm of the voices, I literally couldn’t put it down.

In the tradition of all good writers, but particularly Southern writers, Stockett is a very capable and engrossing storyteller, and readers are easily attached to the characters. Though some of the story feels like it feeds on stereotypes, I appreciated the depth of such touches as the most vitriolic segregationist being a sweet and tender mother, more attached to her children than many of the other Junior League types. The women of this time were anything but simple, and Stockett is sure to help readers to understand that.

I borrowed this copy but I will be acquiring my own as it well deserves a place in our family library. (9.5/10, interact on goodreads)

With its Latin-speaking father, spunky children and old-fashioned adventures, this book feels as if it could have been written 50 years ago. It’s literary and insightful, and treats the subjects with dignity, something children will recognize and delight in. I would highly recommend it for any family bookshelf, though parents ought to know that there is some unrequited pining by one of the sisters and some other topics that may be confusing to very young readers, though not wholly inappropriate. Considering this is Birdsall’s first novel, I am delighted to see what else she churns out. There’s another Penderwick novel written, and three more planned, and I can’t wait to see what adventures Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty get into! (8/10, interact on goodreads.)

Midnight’s Children is the sort of novel that defies an easy explanation. It’s magical, but I wouldn’t classify it as a fantasy. Though set in India and certainly an Indian novel, it was written in English and is very approachable to readers of different cultures. It’s a long book, and dense, but not especially difficult read.

The book follows a character born at the exact moment of India’s independence, and traces the rich history of that region along with the narrator’s own story (and that of his family.) Written in the first person, the narrator evokes everything from humor to heartbreak. The novel’s characters weave a rich tapestry that shows some of the diversity of the region at that time.

As an subjective telling of history, the novel unfolds in a circular pattern, accustoming readers to ideas more slowly and also repeating symbolic elements. On the one hand, it worked well, but when it felt repetitive I was reminded of the length and got a bit impatient. Overall, I would recommend this book widely, and consider it the sort of contemporary novel that may stand the test of time. (8.5/10 | interact on goodreads)

The Complete Persepolis is a graphic memoir, a coming of age story of a girl growing up during the Islamic Revolution. It’s sweet, funny, educational, serious, and sad all in turn. The reader acutely feels the longings of the author for love, for normalcy and for acceptance, but in an irreverent and lighthearted way.

The second half of the book focuses on Satrapi’s time spent in prep school in Austria. Her experiences as a third culture kid, in a country without parents, are a valuable insight into the loneliness and isolation of that situation. The story doesn’t end with a difficult and confusing childhood, but rather sees the author through her maturing process.

The simple pen and ink drawings fit the story well, the author is obviously talented and the starkness of them serves to convey the mood. It’s a graphic book that’s accessible to those less familiar with the format and is well received by readers of a variety of backgrounds. (9/10)