Since I like to read books set in modern-day China, I picked up A Tiger’s Heart: The Story of a Modern Chinese Woman, an engrossing memoir by Aisling Juanjuan Shen. She is not kidding when she says that she had already lived a few lifetimes by the time she reached her mid-20s. She goes from dirt-poor villager to college student, teacher, secretary, and translator, moving around as the better-paying jobs take her, and finally leaving China altogether for the U.S. She is determined not to stay locked into the meager existence of a rice farmer.
She struggles emotionally to overcome her troubled childhood with parents who are hard on her and seem to have only enough love to give to her younger sister. One of the best aspects of the book is the description of Shen’s complex and evolving relationships with her mother and sister.
Her numerous liaisons with men take up a lot of space in the book, part of her rocky road to eventual success and security. She is not above using her relationships with men as a way into higher-paying jobs, a disturbing dimension to this story. Shen struggles with self-worth as it relates to cultural perceptions of women. For all the men she takes up with, love is relatively elusive for her, although she is lucky enough to find it a couple of times.
The book is aptly titled: Shen has a brazenly tough spirit. I recommend her account for readers who enjoy memoirs and are interested in recent Chinese history and society.
-Elizabeth
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
National Geographic Traveler
OK, so this is not precisely a book review, but it is close: it's a review of book reviews.
I was flipping through a copy of National Geographic Traveler and came across a link to a service they offer called The Ultimate Travel Library, an online review of books organized by the countries they are set in (or, in the case of non-fiction, by the countries described). So if you are planning a trip or simply interested in a particular place this web site might be a good starting point.
Another approach is to do a keyword search in our catalog using "any field" as the parameter with the appropriate keywords. For example "France Fiction", or "Paris Fiction".
-Paul
I was flipping through a copy of National Geographic Traveler and came across a link to a service they offer called The Ultimate Travel Library, an online review of books organized by the countries they are set in (or, in the case of non-fiction, by the countries described). So if you are planning a trip or simply interested in a particular place this web site might be a good starting point.
Another approach is to do a keyword search in our catalog using "any field" as the parameter with the appropriate keywords. For example "France Fiction", or "Paris Fiction".
-Paul
Kingdom of Silence (and Kingdom of Lies)
With a daily drive to and from work, I take great advantage of the audio book collection at Kelley Library. I just finished listening to Kingdom of Silence by British author Lee Wood. Another in the Kingdom series (along with Kingdom of Lies) of Detective Keen Dunliffe mysteries set in Yorkshire, England.
The crime procedural format of the books is realistic, and both plotlines and dialogue convincing, with well developed and likeable characters. Dunliffe is the classic divorced policeman, trying to reconcile a life separated from his boys, but still consumed by detective work. Living on a Yorkshire farm begrudging a fond affection for his cat Thomas, Dunliffe presents an interesting character; rural by first impression, but perceptive and persistent enough to be a respected detective.
In Kingdom of Silence, Dunliffe is charged with mentoring a fledgling female undercover officer in a surveillance operation aiming to infiltrate a radical animal rights group connected with several violent actions. Set against the backdrop of England’s Hoof & Mouth Disease outbreak of 2001, the author gives voice to his obvious dissatisfaction with the British government’s handling of the epidemic at the expense of the lives of thousands of uninfected livestock. A factual chronology of events during the outbreak introduces each section of the book, providing a backdrop to the action, along with a view of the extent of the devastation of the rural English culture at the time.
I was happy to find the second installment of the series again read by English actor Ralph Cosham. His authentic Yorkshire accent and measured tone compliment the story in a way some accented readings don’t.
-Andy
The crime procedural format of the books is realistic, and both plotlines and dialogue convincing, with well developed and likeable characters. Dunliffe is the classic divorced policeman, trying to reconcile a life separated from his boys, but still consumed by detective work. Living on a Yorkshire farm begrudging a fond affection for his cat Thomas, Dunliffe presents an interesting character; rural by first impression, but perceptive and persistent enough to be a respected detective.
In Kingdom of Silence, Dunliffe is charged with mentoring a fledgling female undercover officer in a surveillance operation aiming to infiltrate a radical animal rights group connected with several violent actions. Set against the backdrop of England’s Hoof & Mouth Disease outbreak of 2001, the author gives voice to his obvious dissatisfaction with the British government’s handling of the epidemic at the expense of the lives of thousands of uninfected livestock. A factual chronology of events during the outbreak introduces each section of the book, providing a backdrop to the action, along with a view of the extent of the devastation of the rural English culture at the time.
I was happy to find the second installment of the series again read by English actor Ralph Cosham. His authentic Yorkshire accent and measured tone compliment the story in a way some accented readings don’t.
-Andy
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
How I Became a Famous Novelist
Pete Tarslaw, the protagonist of How I Became a Famous Novelist, by Steve Hely, wants to ditch his job fabricating college entry essays for rich applicants. He also wants to upstage his ex-girlfriend at her wedding. In his endeavor to become a novelist, “my ambitions were simple: to learn the con, make money, impress women, and get out.” In writing his completely over-the-top novel, The Tornado Ashes Club, Pete splices together various elements common to literature that appeals to the masses.
The book skewers prototypes of popular authors and the formulas they follow. A fictional New York Times bestseller list is even contained in the book, which ridiculously amplifies popular taste.
How I Became a Famous Novelist is hilarious in a bitingly sarcastic way. In fact, despite quickly laughing my way through it, I sometimes required a break from the constant snarky humor (not a criticism). You need to appreciate the tone to like this book. In its last pages, the book gets earnest all of a sudden. It has, however, provided more than enough entertainment by that point to render it a worthwhile read.
-Elizabeth
The book skewers prototypes of popular authors and the formulas they follow. A fictional New York Times bestseller list is even contained in the book, which ridiculously amplifies popular taste.
How I Became a Famous Novelist is hilarious in a bitingly sarcastic way. In fact, despite quickly laughing my way through it, I sometimes required a break from the constant snarky humor (not a criticism). You need to appreciate the tone to like this book. In its last pages, the book gets earnest all of a sudden. It has, however, provided more than enough entertainment by that point to render it a worthwhile read.
-Elizabeth
Penny Pinchers' Club
The Penny Pinchers' Club by Sarah Strohmeyer is about a woman who spends quite freely, until she finds out that her husband is planning on leaving her. After discovering that they are several thousand dollars in debt, and afraid of being left destitute, she decides to take drastic measures and joins the Penny Pinchers' Club. The novel is a little bit funny, a little bit sad, with a few helpful money-saving tips thrown in. A nice light read. I enjoyed it.
Note: this book is available in large print.
-Cindy
Note: this book is available in large print.
-Cindy
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Yes Man
I just finished reading Yes Man by Danny Wallace. The book inspired the movie by the same title. After reading our Director's recommendation on her blog, I decided to try it. I loved it and parts are laugh out loud funny. I've even been retelling bits to family. I highly recommend it.
The books describes (in hilarious fashion) what happens to its author when he decides to say "yes" to everything asked of him in the course of a year.
-Natalie
The books describes (in hilarious fashion) what happens to its author when he decides to say "yes" to everything asked of him in the course of a year.
-Natalie
Provenance
If you like mysteries, police dramas, art history, and international intrigue, you will love Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art by Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo.
From the mid 1980s to 1990s a con man and pathological liar named John Drewe, together with the initially unsuspecting artist John Myatt, flooded the art market with hundreds of fake works of modern art. Drewe took his scams to a new level by seeding the archives of numerous museums with forged documents that provided Myatt’s forgeries with apparently solid records of ownership – a prerequisite for the successful sale of art work among collectors and museums. Drewe made a small fortune. His “friend” Myatt, less so. Then things started to unravel for them.
This book reads like a well paced work of suspense fiction, but is in fact the true account of one of the 20th century’s greatest art frauds. Apparently, there is a major motion picture in the works, so this should become a popular book!
If I had to come up with one criticism of the book, it would be that there are no photos (either of the forged work or of the forgers). Not a big deal, since Myatt has since found success as a legitimate painter of works in the style of the masters and has a web site!
-Paul
From the mid 1980s to 1990s a con man and pathological liar named John Drewe, together with the initially unsuspecting artist John Myatt, flooded the art market with hundreds of fake works of modern art. Drewe took his scams to a new level by seeding the archives of numerous museums with forged documents that provided Myatt’s forgeries with apparently solid records of ownership – a prerequisite for the successful sale of art work among collectors and museums. Drewe made a small fortune. His “friend” Myatt, less so. Then things started to unravel for them.
This book reads like a well paced work of suspense fiction, but is in fact the true account of one of the 20th century’s greatest art frauds. Apparently, there is a major motion picture in the works, so this should become a popular book!
If I had to come up with one criticism of the book, it would be that there are no photos (either of the forged work or of the forgers). Not a big deal, since Myatt has since found success as a legitimate painter of works in the style of the masters and has a web site!
-Paul
The Best Music You've Never Heard Of
The Best Music You've Never Heard Of by Nigel Williamson (and others) is not necessarily something you will want to sit down and read cover to cover, but if you are a music fan, you will be well rewarded by flipping through it. (Though now that I say that, I guess that I did read it cover to cover for the most part.)
Williamson arranges his entries by genre, then alphabetically by author within each genre. As the title suggests, The Best Music You've Never Heard Of focuses on musical artists who are (or were) extremely talented, but who never achieved the popularity they deserved. Each artist or group is given a thorough biography and discography, along with the authors' recommendations of the best tracks.
Some of the entries you may have heard of. Moby Grape anyone? But can you honestly say you have heard of the 13th Floor Elevators? I am embarrassed to say that I did not know who Karen Dalton was, but am now pleased that I do.
-Paul
Williamson arranges his entries by genre, then alphabetically by author within each genre. As the title suggests, The Best Music You've Never Heard Of focuses on musical artists who are (or were) extremely talented, but who never achieved the popularity they deserved. Each artist or group is given a thorough biography and discography, along with the authors' recommendations of the best tracks.
Some of the entries you may have heard of. Moby Grape anyone? But can you honestly say you have heard of the 13th Floor Elevators? I am embarrassed to say that I did not know who Karen Dalton was, but am now pleased that I do.
-Paul
Welcome
Welcome to our newest blog. Here we will be highlighting books the staff are reading. We hope you will visit for ideas and to make comments. We have pretty diverse reading preferences, so we hope you will find some useful suggestions.
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