Neverwhere

I actually had no intention of reading this book, which might be surprising. I had originally set out to read American Gods by Neil Gaiman--which my dearest sister owns, but I was given Neverwhere instead. I had no idea what to expect--the only thing that I have read by Gaiman is a poem (which is excellent. It's called Instructions). Having only a very basic understanding of Gaiman and his style--I started reading with a blank mind. 

As Gaiman's first novel, this book does have a lot of success as it has been adapted into T.V shows, a comic, and radio productions. This was one of the only things I knew while I went through the story. Honestly, this book is hard to describe. It's a dark twisted world of London Underground where nothing is as it seems. We follow the character of Richard, a push-over of a man, who comes into the life of Door. Yes, Door is her name--I didn't stutter. (Even after finishing the book, it still baffles me). It takes Richard out of the world that you and I know--into a world with Rat Speakers, angels, demons and just weird things. 

“Richard began to understand darkness: darkness as something solid and real, so much more than a simple absence of light. He felt it touch his skin, questing, moving, exploring: gliding through his mind. It slipped into his lungs, behind his eyes, into his mouth...” 

Why this book works, according to me, is because we follow Richard. We are just as confused as he is, and we don't always get clear answers. This world that we follow Richard into doesn't make sense to us--and yet we go on this trip with him watching him struggle through it. Meeting all of these characters who are creepy, and confusing--is shocking. Not to mention since we have such a limited understanding of the world already, the only way we can know more is by turning the page. 

Overall, it wasn't my favorite story, but I definitely want to read more of Gaiman's work. I'm interested in watching the TV show based off of the novel. In my mind, I am associating it with Doctor Who, but they're realllly different. I don't know why I'm making that connection. Anyway, I'm super glad I read Gaiman (finally!).

Always,
Emily

the namesake

My first feat this year was Pulitzer Prize winning novel: The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. This story combines some of my favorite ideas together; the clash of cultures following a family line. Very similar to The Joy Luck Club in that the story follows children growing up very different than their parents and culture. The Namesake is about an Bengali young married couple from India who move to the United States. Starting with the traditional marriage (set up by the two families), this couple barely knows each other let alone a new society. Here their story begins.

The pace of the novel was wonderful. We start with Ashoke and Ashima (our lovely couple) but the plot is focused on their firstborn Gogol. With views from all three of them, the mixture of cultural love, misunderstanding, and tradition combine to give a balanced approach to this intercultural exchange. With less than 300 pages, Gogol is born into the world and we leave him middle-aged. Lahiri excels with her combinations of past stories from Ashoke and Ashima's Indian life with Gogol's American present. On this line of past and present, future and tradition, we find the centerpiece of our story: Gogol's namesake. 

"Though there are only inches between them, for an instant his father is a stranger, a man who has kept a secret, has survived a tragedy, a man whose past he does not fully know."

Wonderful author: Jhumpa Lahiri. 

In all honesty, I did love the book--however, it lacked elements I liked. There were characters, who were realistic, but I did not love them. Maybe I wasn't suppose to. Gogol's first girlfriend, Ruth, especially was very bare. She played the role of first girlfriend--and I wasn't very surprised by their natural end either. I do suppose that Ruth's nature is only for the purpose to show Gogol's growth into adulthood... Like I said, she plays the role and we never speak of her again. Similarly, other female characters in Gogol's life are very basic; even his sister has a minimal role in the story. Besides Ashima, the females in the novel did not speak to me--not to say that they were bad characters. 



I don't know if I would read the story again, but I certainly suggest it. Not to mention those who are following a read list//reading challenge can cross of "Pulitzer Prize Winner". I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Onto book #2!
Emily

A Year Later

One year ago, I started this blog and I am so happy that I did. I didn't reach my reading goal of 30 books, but I have to give myself so credit. I DID graduate from college this last year, moved across a mountain pass, got my first boyfriend, started two new jobs, and a temporary job, as well as dealt with a crazy roommate. [Seriously, why are people so nuts?] I had a lot of other things going on--and I did still manage to read 22 books (not all blogged) in that time. 

So here's to a new year: 2015. I swear to read 30 (new) books this year! The first on my list is, of course, A Storm of Swords (#3 of Game of Thrones). I'm also hoping to read more books that are cultural//historical. I think I'm really starting to miss that aspect of reading due to my recent departure of school.

 & I have also created the resolution to take a single photo a day--it's a cool way to document my year. 

ANNNNDDD, I am looking forward to visiting my bestie in Taiwan!

Here's to a new year, new chances, and a breath of fresh air. 

Always,

Emily


also: here's the link to my Goodreads Account