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

A Clash of Kings

Yes, I have jumped gleefully onto the the Game of Thrones bandwagon and have just finished the #2 of A Song of Fire and Ice: A Clash of Kings. Author, George R.R. Martin, is one of my favorite people right now. I mean, he's absolutely brilliant. I want to dissect these great books and teach a class on international politics based off of this series. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW. If I had my PhD, there is not a single doubt in my mind that I would be teaching that class. It has all the elements of int'l politics at its finest. However, that is my recently graduated Political Science degree talking. For most people there isn't that viewpoint: just lots of drama. I might even go back and highlight all of the political points and write an essay on this: JUST FOR FUN, and then send it to my college professors. UGH. WHY AM I NOT DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

Anyway, I obviously like the series. I promise to not give away any spoilers that happens in book #2. If it happens in the previous book, it's free game. So let me complain about a certain couple of characters: 1) Theon Greyjoy is such a little dick. Proof: 

I mean, seriously what is wrong with this guy? Well, besides having serious father issues--the guy is just a complete douche. He's the worst. I have put him on the top of my ~hated~ list. Even putting him above King Joffrey who is also the worst. But Joffrey is 13 and has complete power over Seven Kingdoms, so its more ... justified? The point is: watch out for Theon. His point of view is new to this second book, as well as Davos. Honestly, the book picked up at a slower pace because of this as well. The prologue is focused on a new character, when all I want to know is if Arya is safe, or how Dany is going to make a comeback. It took me a while to adjust to the different tone of the book, (which is why this book is the perfect example of political negotiations). 

On the other hand, I want to note what a bamf Arya Stark is. Needless to say, she is quickly becoming my most ~loved~ character. I really want her to end up on the Iron Throne. (I feel like I shouldn't write that down, or Martin will kill her off. oh. the problems with being a fan of this series). I feel like in the next book she'll really blossom, but we'll see. I really felt that the plot line of A Clash really was focused on two prominent characters: Tyrion and Bran. Tyrion has reached a point of power with his wits, and Bran has developed exponentially. In the first book, I was quickly growing tired of Bran whining about not being able to walk, or be a knight. In this one, I felt myself growing attached to his story. 

 On that note, Martin is an expert on ending books. Seriously the last chapter of A Clash made my life. 

Always a fan,

Emily

Run Plant Fly

Alright world, I'm back refreshed; ready to continue my life. I went and visited my parents for a week, and am ready to face the world once again. I finished Run, Plant, Fly by Ellie Belew a little while ago, and my reaction is slightly mixed. Set in a little Washington town called Raventon, the perspective of characters change often and the plot is subtle. The copy I read was lent to me by my friend, Holly. I don't know where she got a copy of this book, because it is not well read. However, I appreciated the small world feel the novel left me with. Living in Washington state, the terms of location brought me into the novel's world in a deeper way. (Terms included were "Seattle", "I-90", "the pass", etc.) 

Let me return to the plot of this book though. In a small town, there is nothing going on. Any event is a big event. For those of us who have lived in those tiny places in the world, you can understand the social change that comes with the smallest events. Coming into Raventon is a small tourist attraction called "the Simulator", but with it comes jobs, change, tourists, and something to talk about. The world of these families, children, couples, and individuals centers around this slight change to the world. It wasn't until maybe half way through the story that I began to engage with the story as person, and not a reader. 

Because there's so many characters and perspectives, I had a hard time getting attached to any particular one of them. It made for a slow beginning, however when I did attach and recognize the characters their story was more meaningful. Mostly, I acknowledged the losses of each individual and watched them grow. And in this small, and almost unspoken idea is the book itself. The title seems so distant from the events in the story. These characters are barely moving, and most certainly not running or flying. This sequence of running, planting and flying did not make sense to me--but it comes from the same sequence of pole vaulting. One builds up to the action of flying, but one needs to run with assurance first. After completing the novel, the title fits into place--but again, subtly. 

Even the story itself has a blurred feeling to it. Nothing is bold, and outright. Things are hidden in the shadows, and secrets are kept. One of most important characters, Cuz, has a persona of hiding. She lives to be unseen. Her perspective, also, is the most insightful. The blurriness is a theme, and a motif throughout. I really did feel that the end brought it full circle however. Although this book did not bring me to tears, or complete me--I appreciate it. 

happy with the small published books of the world,
Emily

Treasure Island

Oh boy. This story has a much different pace from the last few books I've read, and I'm glad. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson has been on my reading list for, literally, years. This book was the last book my eighth grade English teacher, Mr. Hayward, had us read. We read it out loud in class, and worked our way through the pirate slang and slightly older English terms, and spelling. However, the school year ended before the book did. I was determined, as a 14 year old, to finish the book. Butttt, then I moved and was meeting new people in a new place, and it got put aside. It wasn't until I saw this perfect copy at Goodwill two weeks ago that I knew it was time.

For the last eight years I have periodically wondered--what happened to the pirate mutiny? Did they make it out alive? You see, I've been under the impression for past eight years that they all died. Not to give anything away, but it doesn't quite end like that. 

Originally published in 1883, Stevenson starts our story at the Admiral Benbow Inn with young boy Jim Hawkins (the MC). Through a series of rather unpredictable events, he becomes the owner of a famous treasure map in the pirate community and is sent off to find it. There is a continuous tension of mutiny, attack and loyalty on board the ship at sea, especially with the one legged pirate: Long John Silver. I think that one of the reasons this book works so well, in terms of plot and conflict, is the existence of this single character. Hired on as the cook of the ship, Silver is the continuous threat. Never knowing where his loyalty lies, he is the embodiment of the tension between two groups. Honestly, his existence is what makes the read worth while. Hawkins is out main point of view, but that does not mean that I love him. He's young, he makes mistakes, and always seems to have luck on his side. I feel that the story is truly centered around the one-legged pirate and what he will do next.

Oh, and make a note if you plan to read this work of art, that the language will be challenging in areas. I did get lost a few times, and did not understand every detail about working the ship. Did I understand the overall scheme of the story? Yes. Do I understand what a luff is? No. But I do what I can.

Other than that, did you know that young Christian Bale, as known for his film role of Batman, played Jim Hawkins in the 1992 version of Treasure Island? 

In the making of a terrible pirate,
Emily

A Separate Peace

 I started A Separate Peace by John Knowles in March of this year, and for a 200pg. book it took me a long time to finish. I just did not get into it. My older sister, Hannah, recommended it to me and said she finished it in one sitting in only a few short hours. I, on the other hand, read 72 pages and quit for months. The pace of the book is slow, which is fine. But the story did not grab me by the horns and say "LOOK AT ME. I AM STORY". However touching the story may be, there was a monotone rhythm throughout. 

The story is set at a private boys school during WWII, that is seemingly unaffected in the beginning. Our main boys: Finny and Gene (Gene being our 1st person narrative), are partaking in summer classes at the meager age of 17. Throughout the work, there is a growing tension of the draft, enlisting, school being closed down, and surprisingly the topic of the 1944 Olympics. Finny and Gene are in the graduating class of 1943, in the middle of the war, and must take strides to accept their fates. 


What my personal issue with this work is not the story, the plot is touching and irrevocably intense in spots. I had an issue with Gene. I don't relate to him, and I can tell you right off the bat: it's personality. Gene arrives on time, and early; I am always late. Gene is predictable and safe; I like spontaneity and adventure. Gene would rather stay in and study on a sunny day; obviously, I would choose otherwise. He is a much different character than myself, and much different from Finny which is the driving force throughout the plot.

About two thirds through the novel, the story takes a darker turn and continues this path steadily until the climatic end. Warning: this is not a happy story, nor was it ever intended to be. I also was not expecting the end. Maybe I wasn't thinking, or maybe this happens to most people. Either way, I walked away feeling jostled? You don't want things to end the way they do.

I find the title in perfect correspondence to the end of the book, as well. So if you can find any hope in that, dear reader. I'm off to bed.

Onto a separate piece of literature,
Emily