Posted on May 22, 2008 in Books, Movies
Books and films both tell stories, but what we want from a book can be different from what we want from a movie. Is this true for you? If so, what’s the difference between a book and a movie? – BTT
I believe there is a difference. I enjoy both mediums immensely, and for similar reasons actually. Both allow me to escape and be involved with characters and story. I watch many types of movies save for the ones that intend to scare me because I rather read scary stories than watch scary movies. Same with thrillers. I don’t read many thrillers either. Though, I am much more forgiving of popular films (blockbusters, action movies) than popular books (such as thrillers, and certain other top selling authors). In the times when I am not in the mood to read, I watch a film, usually a light one such as a comedy or an action movie. It really does require less thought, but I am still thoroughly entertained. Sometimes more so because I find I veer towards books that are literary or classics and educational. I still watch documentary and I love art house films which can be avant garde, foreign, and probing just as much as a book.
Posted on May 21, 2008 in Books
This is the story of a lonely, awkward man who meets his father for the first time over Thanksgiving weekend. There are also a series of flashbacks to the childhood of Jimmy’s grandfather who also had an alienated relationship with his father. While the artwork and the symbolism is well crafted, I am unsure if I actually like this work. I appreciate it, and the last panels of the ending were hopeful, but for much of the novel, I did not feel invested in Jimmy or the story. I can understand why this is such an acclaimed and influential work. It’s a sad story that is told well through the well crafted imagery.
Posted on May 18, 2008 in Books
This week, I finished Hungry Planet and The Best American Comics 2006. My review for Count of Monte Cristo was posted this week as well.
Today, I am reading Gilead. I have found it hard to read this because I think the prose and the style, and something about the narrator and protagonist are so reflective of my own self. It’s hitting a bit too close to home, and it’s a bit solemn and serious as a result. These days, I am more in need of books that help me escape or ones not so self-confrontational.
Though, this has often been the case with books and me. I am escapist. I love to immersed completely in well crafted stories and characters. Books have always been there for me to pass the time, to enrich, to teach, but most of all, for me to get away.
Maybe that is why I love epic and long novels. A friend and I were discussing this because neither of us really read short stories (aside from the ones by authors we truly love). With epic books, I find myself so attached to the characters and the story that it is sometimes a bit sad when it is over. I guess I admire writers with the ability to write well on a linguistic and stylistic level as well on a story and character level. When I use to write creatively, I never managed to finish any of the novels I started. My penchant for classics runs along this vein as they tend to be long, winding and with somewhat archaic prose. I’m generally someone with a low attention span, but for some reason, I always try to stick with the books I start and keep going to the end no matter how boring.
Now for other books I will be reading this week and in the near future, I am trying to finish Gilead. I want to start The Tempest by Shakespeare. Also, a nonfiction book probably Best American Travel Writing 2007. I still have so many books to read for challenges (Crime and Punishment, Beloved, The God of Small Things) and my friend’s The Name of the Rose to start. Still too many books, and I even did some library weeding this week. Ah, better more choices than no choices.
Literary Links:
100-Must Read Books: The Essential Man’s Library – Has some typical book list fair (Hemingway, Fitzgerald), with a few questionable items (How To Win Friends And Influence People), and a couple interesting ones (Kierkargaard, Thoreau).
Books to film 2008: 10 Books You Should Read Before Seeing the Movie – Hey, I love a good adaptation. I will be reading a couple of things for this year’s films.
10 Books That Screwed Up the World
Book Rabbit – Another book cataloging and interaction site. This one allows connection through actual photos of the books you own.
Posted on May 17, 2008 in Books, Food
The concept of the book was to go to more than two dozen countries, visiting several families and taking photos of their food life. It is the size of large coffee table book and has many photos taken by Peter Menzel with accompanying articles on the families written by his wife Faith D’Alusio. The book is cultural, historical, a cook book, and a book of international affairs just as much as it is book of photographs. It has stats about each of the countries: life expectancies, meat consumption, the prevalence of MacDonald’s, cigarette consumption, obesity, and so forth.
I read a lot of books about food. It has always been an interest of mine. I love it in many ways as it shapes cultures, history, time, economies, lives, science, and so much war. I would very much like to one day work in a job about or relating to food issues from nutrition to developmental programs to the overall importance of food production now. This book touches on food in so many ways. People often underestimate the vast change that happens in food and to our lives. It is especially important to understand what food to us is right now with rising food costs and food riots.
The introduction states that the book is not out to be political or judgmental of food choices, but as a documentary in the way food is changing. For better and more often, for the worse. Food (like land) has always been somehow political, but this showcases how important it is for us to be aware of the issues. This book looks at globalisation, conflict, drought, and climate change as a result. I recommend this book for insightful reading about different and changing lifestyles and as a look at our planet.
Posted on May 15, 2008 in Books
Scenario: You’ve just bought some complicated gadget home . . . do you read the accompanying documentation? Or not?
Do you ever read manuals?
How-to books?
Self-help guides?
Anything at all? – BTT
In the least, I usually skim manuals. I won’t say I read them cover to cover, but I do browse through them. I haven’t read a how-to book in a while. I don’t really read them as I would other types of books. I don’t consume them like I do novels or some other nonfiction as I usually just flip through, skim, and read what I like from how-to books. I have read self-help guides, but it has also been awhile. I would say I read a couple in a year.
Posted on May 14, 2008 in Books
Edited by Harvey Pekar, this first edition of The Best American Comics anthology showcases the variety of comics and visual storytelling available today. Many of the stories are very political which is understandable since comics has history of being subversive. Even more off the comics featured are based on autobiographical experiences or nonfictional accounts which seems to me the biggest movement in comics and graphic novels these days. The end of the book includes notes about the contributors and on the pieces in the book by the authors themselves. There are quite a few that did not stand out for me as it often happens in some anthologies, but many were well done, a couple extremely so, and one made me laugh out loud. Pekar wanted it to feature the best of the 2004-2005 time frame and allow old and new readers like to appreciate comics. I don’t think this would necessarily be the best introduction to the graphic storytelling medium, but it really does showcase the diversity of styles in the medium. It is short, and I would recommend reading the introductions after the comics themselves.
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Posted on May 12, 2008 in Books
Alexandre Dumas’s epic tale of suffering, revenge, and providence. An enjoyable work with elements of the gothic and romanticism making it very much of its time. I think the plot is well executed for the most part even if I was bored of when the scenes were not about the Count in some way. All of these characters have lengthy backgrounds which link together wonderfully and with good planning on Dumas’s part. Another notable style is that most of the unseen action or past actions is told in dialogue. The work, at over 1200 pages, did not actually take that much time when I got down to it. It would have been better if I had read it in French because I realize that that some translations can vary greatly in terms of titles and interpretations. I just thought I would read this epic novel faster in English, but circumstances prevented that. When I reread it, it will be in French, and I will enjoy it again. By the way, I read the Penguin Classic edition translated by Robin Buss.
I liked most of the characters and appreciated the subtle characterizations. I did enjoy Dumas’s The Three Musketeers as well, and he can craft some interesting people. I really liked Edmond Dantes at the beginning and Abbe Faria. Dantes changes so drastically through the book, and once he becomes the Count completely, he is very mysterious and omnipresent. He does appear Godlike or preternatural, but it does make the book more interesting having such a superhuman character. He kind of reminds me of Batman and other morally ambiguous superheroes from graphic novels or comic books. I wish there was more of Mercédès who is often described as one of the most intelligent characters. I also really appreciate the mother-son relationship between her and Albert.
The ending was okay, and in some ways, I kind of like the ending of the 2002 movie adaptation more as it gives a more hopeful ending for a couple of the characters. I wish Mercédès got a better ending because while Dumas is not harsh to female characters as some authors from the nineteenth century can be, he is not generous either. Most of the “passive” females are given good characterizations (Mercédès, Valentine), and those that are active are usually immoral (Mme Danglars, Mme de Villefort) or odd (Eugenie). Mercédès’s fault also seems to lie in her passivity (girl can’t win) so her ending leaves me dissatisfied because she seems to be punished while she holds less blame and guilt than others. Aside from those who truly acted ill against Edmond, her suffering is the most complete. It’s a credit to her character that she takes it gracefully, but not to Dumas’s view of women especially shown in her last scene and her somewhat hopeless ending.
On a more positive note, the book was engaging for the most part, and I like the last line:
…all human wisdom is contained in two words- “wait” and “hope.”
Posted on May 11, 2008 in Books
This morning, I finally finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I read most of it, about 800 pages, yesterday. I read the last 35 this morning. I liked the ending for all characters save a couple, but I was really pleased overall with the experienced and enjoyed reading it. It’s been awhile since I read anything so epic and long, not to mention spent most of the day reading. Review to be written later and up tomorrow.
Now, that I am finished that book, I can move onto others. Gilead is still beside me, but I am not sure if I want to read it today nor Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Right now, I am in the mood for something light and amusing such as The Zombie Survivial Guide or some comics The Best American Comics. Maybe even poetry by T. S. Eliot or a book on books such as Bibliotherapy.
So many options! I have too many books to choose from. It has been very overwhelming of late as others have loaned me more books, and the library never stops pursing me via email about requests to pick up. It’s daunting, but I love books so I acquire them and surround my life with them almost excessively. Do you ever feel that way? I don’t even know which book to turn to sometime. Also, I am getting moodier with my reading choices as I get older so it seems to cloud my decisions and book choices.
As a result of so many books and moody choices, I am less monogamist than ever so I am probably going to dip into a few books today. Start them, and then pick up on whichever for the rest of the week. Plenty of material, and it’s a nice enough day to read.
Happy Mother’s Day to those celebrating it.
Literary Links:
Posted on May 8, 2008 in Books
Writing guides, grammar books, punctuation how-tos . . . do you read them? Not read them? How many writing books, grammar books, dictionaries–if any–do you have in your library? – BTT
I don’t “read” them per se. I do have a couple, and I like a good reference book as the next bibliophile. I have two English dictionaries, a couple of English other language dictionaries, and one purely French dictionary. I use the computer and online dictionaries more. I also have one grammar book, and I would really like to get a copy of the Elements of Style. I like owning grammar books rather than using them though. I listen to the Grammar Girl podcast which says a lot about me, but I am horrible at grammar and syntax. When I learn languages, writing and proper oral communication is the hardest for me to learn while I learn quickly through comprehension.
Bit late today since I’m busy on thursdays now. I haven’t had time to read this week. The weekend can’t come fast enough.
Posted on May 4, 2008 in Books
This week, I finished three books: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, Othello, and Cranford. I joined yet another reading challenges. I wish there were support groups for reading challenge addicts like me. We would probably end up making more challenges and finding more ways to cross post our selections.
Today, I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Yes, it has been months now, but it’ll be finished soon (hopefully). I still have Gilead on hold. This week, two friends lent me books. I received Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose which I think I will start in the next couple of weeks. The second book is a collection of Tolstoy’s short stories in French. I am unsure when I will get around to that one, but it should be one of my French reads this year. I should start The God of Small Things soon as well. I also want to start The Tempest and Shakespeare’s sonnets soon because the Shakespeare challenge is almost over. How time flies.
I have been cleaning this weekend, and I won’t be finished for awhile. I am trying to clear away things I’ve had for years. I am at a loss for what to do with all the textbooks that I was unable to sell during the school years. I should probably sell my philosophy books too. Hmm.
Salon has an article on “Personal profiles, faves, lists, snobbery, books.” It purports the idea that we are not what we read, and that culture has become where some books (such as self-help books) are scoffed by those who consider themselves truly literary. As a result, favourite lists on profiles have become definers that say “I like this = I’m like this”. This is why I never provide those details online; we are creatures of judgment to be sure. I can say that I know the books that I like, but others may not. My literary tastes do not necessarily define me. I do admit that I have read a self-help book or two. Do you feel that your preferences in books defines you in some way? Do you admit to reading self-help books; are they so shameful? Thoughts?
Literary Links:
Petrona has a discussion on the Sunday Salon.
“Baby Got Book” – To the tune of Sir Mix-a-lot’s “Baby got back”
20 Science Books Every Sci-Fi Fan and Writer Should Read – While I don’t read a lot of scifi, this is actually a pretty interesting list.
Posted on May 3, 2008 in Books
Read 10 books in 10 months from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. I think I will be able to finish this. The challenge began May 1 and runs through the end of February 2009. I am already keeping track of my books read for this list, and I just finished one today, Cranford, which I will count towards the challenge total, so nine more to go. As of right now, I have read 83 books which sets me at 8.29%. Here is a long list of possible reads. This list which will undoubtedly change as I cross post and read on a whim:
Posted on May 3, 2008 in Books
My first Elizabeth Gaskell novel. I have wanted to read Wives and Daughters and North and South for awhile, but somehow Cranford ended up being my first Gaskell. This novel is about the lives of the predominantly female, older population of the eponymous small town. There is little way in plot, and the tone is quiet and subdued like the setting of the book itself. It does have moments of amusement, satire, and cleverness that displays Gaskell’s ability as a writer. The vignettes are subtle and you can get so much from the characters from them. It is actually a good social portrait of England in the early mid-19th century. Many of the stories are based on actual events from Gaskell’s childhood. I would not recommend it to everyone as it quite slow, but I found many of the moments in the book touching. While the characters can be rather silly and gossipy, they are not vindictive for the most part, and stood by those they loved in the end. This novel worked on my sentimentality and sensitivity as you can tell. I liked it, but I understand that few people could get really into it.
The recent adaptation and mini series have already aired in the U. K., and PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre will begin its three week run of it tomorrow night. I have heard good things about it, and I wonder how they will shape the stories told in the novel. I do think that that with a cast led by Dame Judi Dench that the emotional aspect of the novel can be conveyed easily with the right script. I look forward to it, and will report back on it in a future blog post.