Book Reviews

Please Look After Mom
By Kyung-sook Shin
Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. 237 pgs. Fiction

On a train station platform in Seoul Korea, Park So-nyo disappears. Her husband and four children search for her without results for weeks. They run newspaper ads and walk the city’s streetshanding out flyers offering a reward for information leading to her recovery. The emotional journey this tragedyforces the family to take is told through the voice of a son, a daughter, a husband, and a mother. Each must deal with a lifetime of regrets built by daily taking those closest to us for granted.

This is a powerfully poignant book perfect for Mother’s Day. It aptly demonstrates the sacrifices so many mothers make as they struggle to raise children, support husbands, and fulfill the myriad of responsibilities and tasks required when keeping a home. Several of the sections of this book are written in 2nd person taking the reader on a strangely personal journey with the character. The last time I read something in that tense it was “Choose Your Own Adventure” story. This book was infinitely better and can easily be recommended to anyone. Perfect for book clubs.

Caleb’s Crossing
By Geraldine BrooksViking, 2011. 306 pgs. Fiction

Caleb Cheeshahteaumauk was born a Wopanaak chief’s son on the island of Noepe (Martha’s Vineyard) in 1646. Colonists from the mainland had just settled on part of the island and some felt they had a Christian responsibility to convert as many native islanders as possible. Bethia, the daughter of one such missionary and religious leader, tells Caleb’s story which leads him from the warrior traditions of his people to the halls of Harvard as the first Native American to graduate from that institution.

Pulitzer Prize Winner Geraldine Brooks has penned another amazing work of historical fiction. Little is actually know about Caleb Cheeshahteaumauk other than a bare sketch of his existence and achievements. But despite sparse

facts, Brooks has imagined an impressive representation of what he may have been like and the struggles he would have had to face. Brooks has a gift for depicting vivid characters and a true sense of time in her work, totally immersing the reader in a breathtaking journey to another era. Caleb’s Crossing is another great work by a spectacular author.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
By Laura Hillenbrand

Random House, 2010. 473 pgs. Biography

As World War II broke out, Louis Zamperini was an Olympic hopeful and a favorite to break the illusive four minute mile. The war would put all those dreams on hold and instead he found him self bombing the Japanese in the Pacific theater. After a run of successful bombing raids, Louis and his crew members are shot down and the survivors will have to live through weeks adrift on the unforgiving sea with inadequate supplies. When rescue finally comes it is in the form of the enemy and Louis's amazing tale of faith and perseverance begins in earnest.

This is a fantastic book. It keeps moving and paints a vivid picture of the strength shown by soldiers who survived the ultimate degradation. It always seems depressing to read of how evil men can be. But, this story is handled with such skill and respect that you can't help but be uplifted by the strength of the human spirit. I highly recommend this book especially to anyone interested in World War II history.

Vacation Book Review

The Informationist: A Thriller
By Taylor Stevens
Crown Publishers, 2011. 307 pgs. Fiction

Vanessa Munroe is an expert at finding information. Large corporations contract her to ferret out the stuff no one else can uncover in countries few others dare to travel. Her gifts with language and observation uniquely qualify her for this work along with her terrifyingly single-minded ability to protect herself both physically and emotionally. Her newest assignment is different from those she usually takes. This time she is going to Africa to find the daughter of a powerful oil executive who, four years ago, disappeared without a trace.

This is Stevens’ debut novel and I loved it. It does seem to be setting up for a new series of books featuring Munroe and her associates but there was still a great deal of closure. So, while I look forward to more thrillers from this exciting new author, I like that I don’t feel the conclusion left me hanging. There is some rough language and violence but nothing I felt was gratuitous.

Bossypants
By Tina Fey
Little, Brown and Co. 2011. 277 pgs. Biography.

Tina Fey is best known for her years writing and performing on Saturday Night Live, as the star and executive producer of 30 Rock, and her imitations of Sarah Palin during the past presidential election. In her memoir she tells of growing up as an outsider, finding her love for performance, and years of work in the comedy field, which is notoriously dominated by men.

I’m going to be honest, the jacket art is hideous. It is probably the biggest obstacle to enjoying this book. It’s just creepy. But, if you can get past the “man hands”, Fey offers an entertaining journey through portions of her life. Be prepared for a bit of rough language mixed in with a great deal of sarcasm and number of laugh-out-loud observations from a very funny lady.

Nerve: Poise Under Pressure, Serenity Under Stress, and the Brave New Science of Fear and Cool
By Taylor Clark
Little, Brown and Co., 2011. 310 pgs. Nonfiction.

Some of us tend to break out in a cold sweat at the mere thought of experiences and situations that others embrace and even seek with enthusiasm. In Nerve, Taylor Clark outlines new discoveries being made by neuroscientists about our natural reactions to environments that cause us stress and threaten us with harm, either physical or emotional. He provides excellent examples and perfectly balances instruction with entertainment. Best of all, he’s incredibly funny and personable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m not one to pick up self-help titles and was actually surprised it was categorized as such since I had selected it while searching for a good science read. But Nerve brings to the table the best of both genres. It has great stories and insights that inform and inspire which makes this a perfect choice for people looking to understand human nature and also those looking to overcome their own fears.

Why I Love My House

Well, a while ago I posted pictures of my new home. Soon after, I had my whole family over to celebrate my sister and nephew's birthdays. It was that weekend that I fell in love with my house. This is how it is supposed to be, full of people I love...I almost cried several times and other than a cold shower Dave ended up taking...it was pretty perfect.

Here are some pictures to illustrate...

My new couches are nice...but look how cute they are with dozers all snuggled in!

This is the volcano cake I made for Jonathan...it totally didn't work right, but he still acted very excited about it. I was very excited that so many people could be in my kitchen and I didn't feel crowded by anyone!

Here are the musically gifted of the family singing around the piano. They were practicing a song they sang for my Grandfather's funeral a few weeks later. They sounded amazing while practicing and at the service.

The cake may not have erupted, but it did do a pretty good job of smoking.

We put all the kids in the basement to sleep. I had found enough stuffed animals that they could all sleep with a little friend. Finishing the basement is the next big goal, I'm sure the kids will appreciate that...

Here we have two of my nephews before bed....I know you thought maybe one was a niece..but no, my nephew Nathan loves to sleep in a little pink nightgown...I mean nightshirt...and I think it's the most adorable thing in the whole entire world. No joke...the WHOLE WORLD!!

And finally, the living room...just full of people I love.

Well, there you have it. The #1 reason I love my house: People I love fit in it!

Book Report..s'more

The Lost Gate
By Orson Scott Card
Tor, 2011. 384 pgs. Fantasy.

Danny is something of an outcast among his cousins growing up in a remote family compound where magical abilities are valued above all else. His parents are both powerful and respected mages who are frequently away and seem to care little for their only child. Danny’s lack of magical talents is nuisance, but when he discovers he may be far more powerful than any mage in ages, his life is in serious danger.

Card has built an intriguing new world of magic. Danny’s magical ability allows him to build gates that immediately transport him to another place. But beyond a transit device, gates also possess healing powers and can strengthen a mages powers when the gate is used to travel between worlds. However, I could not help but feel that the whole book was about the magic at the expense of story and characters. I also couldn’t shake the feeling that the entire book was a buildup for novels yet to come, an aspect of fantasy fiction that I struggle to embrace. This could be the good start to a new popular series, though I doubt I’ll be motivated to dive in any further.

Unfamiliar Fishes
By Sarah Vowell
Riverhead Books, 2011. 238 pgs. Nonfiction

Sarah Vowell’s new book provides a look at the events surrounding the annexation and eventual statehood of Hawaii. Following Captain Cook’s discovery of the islands, Hawaii became a popular stop for sailors traversing the Atlantic. And, as could be expected, missionaries soon followed. The overwhelming influence of these visitors on the paradise they came to ‘save’ quickly consumed aspects of the native culture. The Hawaiians who lived through the infestation of European and American germs had little chance of escaping the invasion of capitalism and Christianity.

Colonization always has a dark and tragic side despite the well-meaning intentions of some participants. Sarah Vowell writes with a superb combination of humor and honesty as she tells this part of Hawaii’s history. She has an impressive ability to point out the ironic and ridiculous while maintaining a respectful tone. I would highly recommend this book to anyone visiting the islands or anyone looking for a good excuse to visit the islands (as if anyone actually needed more motivation).

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
By Joshua Foer
Penguin Press, 2011. 307 pgs. Nonfiction

Each day we forget things we intend to remember. Things like our keys, our PayPal password, to pick up a gallon of milk, or why we opened the utensil drawer. And yet, there are individuals who can memorize whole books, thousands of digits of pi, and every name and face they have yet encountered. How? How do they do it? Joshua Foer decided he wanted to discover the secrets of the great mnemonists. So, he joined their ranks and spent a year training for the U.S. Memory Championship.

Foer’s immersive research for this book gives it a personal dimension that takes is far beyond simply science writing on memory. Of course, he includes some fascinating chapters on the science of the brain and theories of memory improvement, but what makes his narrative stand out is his journey toward a potential we all may have inside us. A completely memorable book.

Discovery of Witches
By Deborah Harkness
Viking, 2011. 579 pgs. Fiction

Dr. Diana Bishop has carefully suppressed her magical abilities despite coming from a long and respected line of witches. Instead, she has focused on her career which has taken her to Oxford to spend her days in the library perusing ancient documents. Diana’s self-imposed exile from the magical word becomes impossible to maintain when a mysterious folio finds its way into her hands. She is suddenly attracting a great deal of supernatural attention including that of a vampire with piercing eyes and questionable intentions.

This is the first book in a new series that seems to be a cross between Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander and Charlaine Harris’s Dead Until Dark. Readers can’t help but notice that the story is a buildup to further adventures is subsequent volumes. Few would consider this a good stand-alone since there is little closure at the end of the book’s almost 600 pages. However, enough plot advancement and character development occur to provide an entertaining read.

CZ

A Cheerio Made My Day

This is what was greeting me on Thursday when I went to work and I just had to take a picture of it! Coming up the stairs from the underground party I found this solitary breakfast crumb on its edge, at the edge of one of the steps. Crazy, eh?

I hope that I don't love it because I identify with a round, lonely scrap just trying to survive an impossible situation....'cause that would just be silly.

Book Report...Serious Catch-Up!!!

I have been really bad at keeping this up...I can't believe it's been 4 months since I last gave a book report. My excuse is mostly that I was busy moving, but I don't think that is much of a valid reason anymore. So, here's what I've been reading (and this was a lot to write tonight and I'm too tired to proof it...so ignore the spelling and gramatical errors :)):

NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children
by Po Bronson
Super fascinating look at the science of raising children. If you have kids, you really should read (or listen to) this book. If you don't have kids, it's fun to read it anyway because it sure makes having kids and raising them successfully sound exhausting and almost impossible.

Luck Be A Lady
By Cathie Linz
I picked this up hoping for a feel good romance/adventure along the lines of Bridget Jones. It wasn't. Fortunately, it was a quick read so I didn't waste too much time finishing it.

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
By Charles Yu
This book just had a great title. I didn't hate it....didn't love it either...it was kind of boring. Imagine a strange mix of 'Life of Pi', 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', and Jasper Fforde's 'The Eyre Affair'. Strange but interesting, I suppose.

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
By Elisabeth Tova Bailey
I really enjoyed this book. It's a short collection of essays by a woman who went from a very active life to being completely bed ridden. She is given a garden snail which becomes a therapeutic pet as she copes with her illness and learns to live life at a slower pace.

The Book of Mormon
Just thought I'd throw that in there. I finished it again and once again enjoyed the inspiration and instructions. I can whole heartedly recommend!

The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession
By David Grann
Basically this is just a collection of true crime articles. Some more interesting than others. I was left somewhat underwhelmed..but maybe I just wasn't in the mood. I have no good reason for my negative impression.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe
By Markus Zusak
This is a book Zusak published before 'The Book Thief'. It's about two brothers who start boxing in a type of underground tournament. Of course, since it's Zusak, it's a lot deeper than that. Zusak's writing is just beautiful regardless of the story he tells. 'The Book Thief' is still my favorite but I enjoyed this a lot as well.

Matched
By Ally Condie
This is a new series that is bound to be really big. A lot of these YA dystopias seem to a bit the same to me, but this was very enjoyable. A 17 year old girl is part of a society which allows very little personal freedom, but keeps its citizens very safe and content. During a ceremony she is 'matched' with her best friend but later sees that another boy she knows may have been intended for her as well.

Getting the Girl
By Markus Zusak
This is a sequel to 'Fighting Ruben Wolfe'. Zusak's brilliant, what more can I say? If you ever wanted to know what goes on in the mind of an adolescent boy...this is a pretty good glimpse (anyway it seems to be...I don't actually know what goes on in the mind of boys...adolescent or otherwise).

The Immortal Live of Henrietta Lacks
By Rebecca Skloot
Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cancer while still in her mid thirties. As a black woman living in a low income area, the best medical attention she could get was from the free clinic at Johns Hopkins. After her death, cultures of her tumor cells were harvested and those cells became perhaps the most valuable tools researchers have had in the past 50 years toward curing all types of diseases. This book tells that story. It was interesting but not my favorite.

Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon
By Jonathan Stroud
I was so sad when the third book of the Bartimaeus Trilogy was over. But now, there's more. You don't have to read the others to enjoy this one and I recommend listening to them. The reader is really fun to listen to. I just love the demonic snarkiness...it's brilliant.

Science of Kissing: What Our Lips are Telling Us
By Sheril Kirshenbaum
Interesting but don't expect anything too earth shattering. It kind of seemed like the information in this little book would be great for a magazine article or two...but a whole book was a bit of a stretch.

Water for Elephants
By Sara Gruen
The movie is coming out soon. So, I guess you could read it for that. Not fantastic, but I read it fast and enjoyed most of the story. Reminds me of Nicholas Sparks (even though I've never actually read a Nicholas Sparks book...).

The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival
By John Vaillant
A Siberian tiger on a killing spree. A government sanctioned hunting party tracking the cat through the frozen wasteland. A truly fantastic piece of nonfiction. LOVED it! Seriously, I loved the regional and natural history and it was told at a perfect pace with excellent timing.

Wuthering Bites
By Sarah Gray
Wuthering Heights with vampires. I really don't know how the story makes sense without the undead. Why else would Heathcliff dig up Cathy like that? Think about it.

Parrot & Olivier in America
By Peter Carey
At it's core, this is a novelization of Lafayette's time spent in America. I really wanted to like it and there were moments when it was almost brilliant...but just never quite got there for me. Interesting historical fiction.

Redeeming Love
By Francine Rivers
I read this for work as something representing 'inspirational fiction'. It's a retelling of the bible story about Hosea who was commanded to marry a prostitute. It was okay. A bit too sentimental for me, but not bad.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture
By Peggy Orenstein
A great look at the world of pink tulle and silver glitter. I think parents of little girls should give this book a chance. I didn't agree with everything she said...she has some interesting ideas...but overall I liked her message which I interpret as...you can't keep your girls from the image centered culture they are growing up in, but you can talk to them about it and help them navigate it.

The Orchid Affair
By Lauren Willig
One of my many guilty pleasures. Lauren Willig's 'Pink Carnation' series just makes me smile. It's a little bit romance (okay...a lot), a little bit historical fiction, and a little bit spy adventure. Plus this series always adds a bunch of words to my vocabulary. I don't know where she finds these words but she always has a bunch I've never heard before in my life. (I read it on my iPad and it was really great to have that little dictionary feature handy!)

Cleopatra: A Life
By Stacy Schiff
A really good biography of Cleopatra. I was really surprised about how much they actually know about her and her life.

Peace Like a River
By Leif Enger
If you haven't read it, you HAVE to! Seriously. Just read it.

Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
By Kelly McNees
Just a little romantic version of what may have happened to Louisa May Alcott on her way to becoming one of America's most popular authors. I don't wholly recommend this book, but it was interesting to hear more about the Alcott home and how much it resembled the March's.

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming
By Mike Brown
I wrote a review of this one for The Daily Herald and got some mail back from some grad student trying to convince me that Pluto is not dead and that Brown's book only presents one side of the story. My response is: Whatever. I don't really care if Pluto is a planet or not....but I did enjoy this book and seeing a bit more of the world of astronomy.

Madame Tussaud
By Michelle Moran
Before she built her successful wax museum empire, Madame Tussaud lived through the horrors of the French revolution. This is a novelization of her and her contemporaries. Really fascinating perspective of this period of French history.

Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos
By Brian Greene
This is interesting but I think it's a bit optimistic to for me to claim to have understood even a third of the information presented here. What I caught I liked.

Heresy
By S.J. Parris
A new mystery series taking place during the Spanish Inquisition and the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Giordano Bruno, our brave hero, is an ex-monk intellectual visiting Oxford for a debate but staying longer than planned due to a violent murder.

OK: The Improbable Story of America's Greatest Word
By Allen Metcalf
Um...a whole book about one word. Probably I shouldn't have expected it to be riveting. It did have its moments, though. The word's invention, survival, and infiltration of the world's lexicon is pretty interesting.

The Weird Sisters
By Eleanor Brown
Three sisters return home when their mother is diagnosed with cancer. The truly fascinating aspect of this book is that it was written in a first person plural tense. So cool.

A Discovery of Witches
By Deborah Harkness
In a world of witches, deamons, and vampires a group of creatures form an unusual alliance while trying to ensure the survival of their magical way of life. Pretty much just Twilight for adults. I didn't realize it was the first of a trilogy until I was half way through it. Not sure I'd still pick it up if I had the choice.

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
By Joshua Foer
A reporter decides to spend a year preparing to compete in the U.S. Memory Championship and shares his journey in this entertaining and interesting book. I really enjoyed this. Lots of great science and human interest.

It's True!! I Moved!!!

So....I haven't blogged in a while. But, I've been in the middle of relocating and it's been very exciting and very busy as well. I've been in the new place for a couple weeks now and to the casual observer, things are put together....I know where I cheated and still need to organize.

Anyway, I sold my condo over Christmas and found a new place at the first of the year. It took a month or so to get the financing and everything in place, but mid-Februay I was able to move in. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the many generous people who have helped me move...twice...and made everything so much easier than it could have been.

So, with that...here are a few pictures of my new home!!

Here is the front...it was nighttime when I took the picture, so it seems a little dark. It's brighter in the daytime :)

My favorite room in the house...the kitchen. It is big and open and I stood in it with 4 other people this weekend and didn't run out screaming or eject anyone violently. In short...I LOVE it!

The dining room is great, too. Last weekend we had 12 people around the table chatting. In the condo....it felt crowded with 2 people :) Love it!

Here is the living room with my new couches. You can't see it, but I'm waving at you in the mirror.

The Den/music room/library. I have already curled up on the chair to read. Very fun and cozy.

The guest bathroom....now I'm wondering why I included this picture. But, whatever. I love that it is so big and I can't wait to let you use it!

This is the guest bedroom. It's a bit of a work in progress...still not sure where I am going to hang some of the pictures. I didn't include a picture of the HUGE closet in this room. It's amazing. (Then again...look what I came from. The condo barely had a closet big enough for my vacuum.)

Here's my bedroom. I sleep here and it's great.

This is the HUGE closet in the master bedroom. Seriously, one of my favorite features of the house. It's connected to the master bath...which I didn't take a picture of. But there is a very big shower and a very nice long bathtub that I already love.

The house has an unfinished basement. Obviously, this is where I have shoved everything I don't want to deal with. The room down here is really big and I hope I can finish it in a couple of years.

But, no worries....I'm still using the space. I exercise back in the unfinished bedrooms. It's nice and cool which has worked out really well so far.

Well, that's it. There's lots more to see, but you'll have to come visit me to see it, and I hope you will. I am just a mile south of where I was before. Still conveniently close to the freeway. I don't think I mentioned, but it's a twin home and shares one wall in the garage with the neighbors. I really do love it and the garage has been super amazing. Everything I thought it would be!