Bookworms Gone Wild!!!

Book Review: The Song Before it is Sung, by Justin Cartwright

2009-01-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

The Song Before it is Sung is a historical fiction, based in the early part of this century, London. The story revolves around Conrad Senior, an Oxford alumnus who has not done much with his life post-graduation. While at Oxford he became quite close with his philosophy professor, whose death leaves Conrad with his life's ultimate task. His professor, Elya Mendel left Conrad boxes and boxes of papers and letters between a group of his friends in the time before the second World War, one of them being Count Axel Von Gottberg, a anti-Hitler German who was hanged in association with the failed Valkyrie mission. The papers and letters transport Conrad into another time, another life. The reasons are unclear as to why his professor left him in charge of reconstructing this friendship gone wrong, but as Conrad does put the pieces together true tragedy, friendship, and heroism takes shape. As Conrad plunges into this other world, his own world begins to crumble as his wife leaves him, his health begins to plummet, and he gets wrapped up with an alcoholic drug user named Emily.

As I am wont to do, I didn't want this book to end. I've found my favorite book genre. Historical Fiction. I will say it's hard to separate what was made up and what was real history. Cartwright is a highly readable author with a gift of storytelling. I plan on reading more of his stuff soon.

Up next is:

2008-07-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

poll by twiigs.com

Hunky time travel or nerd love?

2008-04-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

more at twiigs.com...

Book Review: Duplicate Keys by Jane Smiley.

2008-02-18T08:37:00.001-08:00

I just finished Jane Smiley's Duplicate Keys, a mysterious story of murder, betrayal, and life in 1980 New York City. The story follows a group of friends, a few of them in a band, from the Midwest who come to NYC seeking their piece of the rock n' roll pie. The group has moderate success and receives lukewarm reviews, but the members trudge on obsessing over their next great song, lyric, review, connection. Two of the band members are found in their apartment dead by Alice, a friend outside the band. The story follows Alice, a 30-year old librarian, as she deals with the fact that she alone stumbled into the crime scene, with the loss of close friends, and tries relentlessly to solve the murders all while clinging to the remaining members of the group of friends. A group of friends populated by at times questionable characters that Alice begins to suspect; she begins to feel unsafe in her own apartment.

This book was captivating and I couldn't put it down. I walked down the street reading it and bumping into people. I recommend it to anyone, especially New Yorkers because it's interesting to imagine the city at that time (especially with no cell phones or internet!).

Bookclub Bean Dip.

2008-01-30T06:50:00.001-08:00

Ladies, thanks for coming over and making me not be such an Edward and for not making me hate Miss Flo so much, and for providing lots of awesome conversation about a mediocre (at best) book! Since there were compliments on the dip, I thought I'd share the recipe.

White Bean Dip a la Hearn:

Ingredients
2 cans of white beans
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of chopped parsley leaves
1 tablespoon of chopped thyme leaves
kosher salt
ground black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil (to taste)
1 tablespoon of chopped chives

Directions
Rinse the white beans, chop the chop-ables, add olive oil (~ 4 tablespoons) to mixture and blend in your Cuisinart (or blender), add more olive oil if things seem a little dry. Add chives to the top of the dip after it's been blended and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Book Review: The Glass Castle

2008-01-28T10:45:00.001-08:00

A painful, chilling tale of childhood as told by MSNBC contributor Jeanette Walls is a story about kids braving the world almost alone. The parents in this memoir are almost out of a story book or movie. Mom, the artist, the free-spirit, wanted her children to tough-it and learn lessons the hard way even letting her family starve all while focusing on her non-profitable artist career. Dad, the brilliant, scientist, alcoholic nomad of a dude was in and out of the house, drunk, abusive, and manipulative to a fault. Memoirs told by children of troubled households are equally troubling to read because you find yourself constantly wanting to shake the shit out of the kids and say, "run!", "leave!", "move away!" but then you ask yourself whether it's an easy thing to do - moving away from one's parents.

Often throughout my reading experience, I was annoyed and frustrated by both the story and the characters in The Glass Castle and I often mistook the feeling as disgust for the book itself. Upon reflection, the book is depressing and amazing, an unbelievable account of growing up with a screwed up family in the most horrifying and at the same time loving of situations. From molestation to starvation, running from bill collectors to fighting neighborhood bullies, The Glass Castle is a harrowing tale of suffering and success, love and disappointment and I personally love to hate it.

Book Review: On Chesil Beach

2008-01-28T10:44:00.001-08:00

This book was really well written but ultimately I was disappointed with the story. Basically, the entire book is based on the tragic fact that a couple (Edward and Florence) have married each other when there are majorly damaging issues they have yet to tackle. Physical intimacy is not Florence's forte and Edward would rather put off his disappointment than broach the subject with good ole Flo. Ian McEwan, of Atonement notoriety, knows how to weave a tale of anxiety, love, tenderness, and heartbreak well and I do not have a problem with his writing style, in fact, I say "bravo" to him. However, I say "poo-poo" to the plot line as I was disappointed that after Florence suggests that they can be BFF instead of luvahs, Edward says "Hellz No" but then years later agonizes over his decision to fly the coop. While I understand you may only have one true love of a lifetime, the fact that Edwards came with such a hefty price tag was unfair and a little unrealistic. Also, if I'm not mistaken, this book took place just before the sexual revolution and Florence's character seemed a little out of place in this wakening world of exploration. Fuddy-duddy is what I'd say she was. A fuddy-duddy who loved, loved classical music and leading on her boyfriend, turned fiance, turned husband of a short few hours. C'mon Edward, get back in the game in a serious way!

Book Review: The Catcher in the Rye

2007-12-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

I know it's not just me, but this book left me scratching my head and wondering why I was told that this book was a classic literary work. I also wondered why I had to read it in high school. I hadn't picked up a copy of The Catcher in the Rye since it was assigned in my sophomore year English class, roughly 13 years ago. I could barely remember anything about the book and it was selling for $0.25 so I figured, "what the heck?!" Boy I sure was disappointed.

Ok, ok. So the book is a great character study. Frankly, Holden Caufield is a neurotic, narcissistic, ridiculous attempt at a hero and not someone I would want to encourage teenagers to emulate. He hates everyone. He hates everything. He repeats himself constantly. He "gets sore" about everything. He has a drinking problem at the age of 16. He fails out of every school he attends because there are "fake people" everywhere - he likes the word "phony". In my opinion, this story shouldn't have been revolutionary when it was told the first time and it's certainly far from revolutionary now. What a big, fat disappointment.

What's up next, ladies?

2007-11-29T10:41:00.001-08:00

more at twiigs.com...

F is for Footbinding.

2007-11-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

At last night's bookclub I got to meet these so-called Bookworms Gone Wild and gone wild they had. We gathered to discuss Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I think overall there was one message that we all agreed upon and it was that we're all glad that we didn't live in nineteenth century China (for one or more reasons). Most of our reasons surrounded on the practice of foot-binding. Personally, I almost fainted when I read the chapter of the main character's foot binding. It got us talking about what foot binding actually looks like, its origin, and when it was started. Below is my brief attempt at research of this ancient (or not so) practice.

In its most extreme form, footbinding was the act of wrapping a three- to five-year old girl's feet with binding so as to bend the toes under, break the bones and force the back of the foot together. Its purpose was to produce a tiny foot, the "golden lotus", which was three inches long and thought to be both lovely and alluring.

From what I've found, the historical origins of footbinding are unknown, although references suggest that small feet for women were preferred as early as the Han dynasty; which began in 206 B.C. The first documented reference to the actual binding of a foot is from the court of the Southern Tang dynasty in Nanjing, which celebrates the fame of its dancing girls renowned for their tiny feet and beautiful bow shoes. The practice apparently became the standard for feminine beauty in the imperial court, spreading downward socially and geographically as the lower classes strove to imitate the style of the elite.

More disturbing images of footbinding can be found here, here, here, and here.

Book Review: The Americano - Fighting with Castro for Cuba's Freedom

2007-11-15T06:33:00.000-08:00

I am one of the few, one of the proud (no, not a Marine) Americans who has been able to travel to Cuba legitimately. As most of you know, I traveled to Cuba in the summer of 2000 for a study abroad program. The program was about Urban Design and Planning in Cuba and was guided by a professor of mine from undergrad who was married to a Cuban woman who came over during the Freedom Flights and had never been back. However, he had been taking students on guided tours through Havana, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Veradero and cities in between for over 27 years. [He's also written a book about Havana and the changes that the Cuban capital has seen - very interesting.] This is all to give a little back story about why I'm so interested in Cuban history (because I've been there, duh).

This book appealed to me for a few reasons: 1) The Morning News wrote about this book in one of their book digests back in August and 2) The idea of an American fighting for democracy in a land so close to his own yet so far was truly fascinating. Plus, who has heard of William Morgan? [Answer: No One] And why hasn't anyone heard of him?

William Morgan, an American of upper-middle class upbringing and a troubled youth was in and out of trouble throughout his life. He was discharged from the Army and struggling to make a life for his family that was honest. Through a series of encounters with members of the mob, he began to help smuggle arms to Cuba. Those arms were on their way to the hands of the men he would eventually fight alongside of in the mountains of the Escambray. Morgan came to Cuba to fight Batista and made his way up the ranks in the rebel army. He became #2 of the Second National Front of the Escambray, which were a large group of rebels who found the Cuban Army in the middle of the island [while Fidel, Che & Co. were in the Sierra Maestra]. I could write a dissertation on this book, on the revolution, on Morgan's place in that world, but I'm not prepared. I'm just prepared to tell you that if you're at all interested in Cuba and its history and the rise of Fidel Castro, this is an amazingly fascinating book.

Book Review: No Country for Old Men

2007-10-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Keeping the Cormac McCarthy streak alive, I dove into No Country for Old Men because I knew the Coen brothers were making the film and I didn't want to miss out on not having read the book before seeing the movie [see Little Children]. My father recommended this book and I sure am glad I read it. It was an easy read, taking me only about a week or so to finish it with only reading on the subways and a few pages here and there after work. The story follows a good ole' Texas boy [Llewelyn Moss] in east Texas who is minding his own business when he comes across some shot-up cars, dead people, a load of drugs, and millions of dollars in the middle of the desert. He takes the money and when he goes back to the scene of the crime he realizes he's not the only who knows where it is. His taking of the money sets off a chain of events that are truly creepy and captivating. McCarthy once again demonstrates his skill in story-telling and the characters [Anton Chigurh] are haunting and perfect for the big screen. The film opens up nationwide on November 21st.

We're Bringing Bookclub Back (Yeah!)

2007-09-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

JT would be proud. Strong showing this week as Bookworms reconvened for the first time in about a year. Good thing we didn't sign a DNR, because we're back and stronger than yesterday! (You hear that Britney?)

Index of "The Road" bookclub meeting, in the style of Harpers:
Number of discussions about nuclear winter and the fact that living in New York should make a rational person very afraid: 1
Number of people who thought that the journey in The Road was a lot like trying to get to work in the morning: 1 (apparently some people have horrendous commutes)
Percentage of bookclub members who removed the Oprah's Bookclub sticker from cover: 100
Ratio of cream cheese frosting to vanilla cupcake: 2:1
Bottles of wine consumed: ?
Reality television shows watched: 0

The next book is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (no, it's not about fairies) by Lisa See. Date and location TBD.

Book Review: Little Children

2007-09-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a pattern I will most likely never repeat: See movie. Movie is based on novel. Read novel.

I really liked the movie Little Children starring Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson and Jennifer Connelly, I liked it so much I actually purchased the book after seeing it because I wanted to dive back into it. Whenever I read a book first and then watch a movie, I'm constantly struck with how much they leave out and how different it is from my mind. This time around, given the order I chose to do things in, I was surprised at how similar the movie and the book were. I kept thinking about how perfectly cast Patrick Wilson and Jennifer Connelly were (a little skeptical of Kate Winslet as Sarah, the frizzy haired, nothing-special, other woman) and how nicely the story mirrored the book. I was impressed. This story is a spin on the typical adultery tale where the man cheats not with a hot woman he meets at work but with a stay-at-home mother who sometimes doesn't shave her legs. His wife at home is the smoking hot woman but the chemistry between Sarah (Winslet) and Brad (Wilson) is undeniable. Romantic days sitting by the town pool, rendezvous while the children are sleeping, sneaking away on weekend trips (while Brad is supposed to be taking his bar exam) are all easy to get caught up with. One thing that struck me is how young the characters are in the book (31, Brad) and that they cast these three as the main characters in the movie.

I'd say this is a fantastic read if you need a little drama in your life. If you've got drama in spades it may be a nice yardstick to measure your own drama by. But definitely, if you can help it, read the book before you watch the movie or every time Sarah is feeling awkward you'll be picturing a not-so-awkward Kate Winslet.

Book Review: The History of Love

2007-08-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

I just finished The History of Love by Nicole Krauss on my way to the office this morning. I started reading History after I read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. The two authors are married. The two authors write incredibly similarly so just about every book selling website suggests that you read both if any at all. Like a lamb, I followed the advice of one Amazon.com blindly without realizing I may have needed a break between the two.

Anyway, the History is all about an old man who lost his first and only love. This man wrote a book about his first and only love and through time and travel that book ended up in the hands of a widow. This widow was gifted this book by her late husband and they named their first born child after the main character in the book, Alma. Through kid-sized twists and turns, the book author and the girl who was named after its infamous character are desperately trying to find one another for piece of mind among other things. History is heartwarming. But after Foer's book I didn't really need heartwarming. History is also at times obvious and childlike. Now perhaps I came to it a little cynical but Krauss almost insults her readers by tying this extremely convoluted and complicated story up in a perfect little bow. How can something that took 200 pages to tell only take 15 pages to wrap up? Damn it Krauss, we came so far together only for me to be left standing here with my thumb up my *ss.

Anyway. That's that. As for who the h*ll I am, my name is Sara* and I went to high school with Noa. I live in Williamsburg, BK and have a bf and a pup. I enjoy being entertained by books the same way I am entertained by movies and television. This makes me a peculiar book reader because most people turn to books to get away from those other things I mentioned. Hope to meet you at a book club meeting sometime soon.

What do you call plagiarism of pictures?

2006-09-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Is it just plain stealing???

Hewlett Packard’s ads look suspiciously similar to the cover art on our favorite over-achiever’s latest novel (even though we like his wife better). Anyone know if it’s the same artist? If it's not the same guy, we've got a serious case of copycat. Scandalous!

Three Foers

2006-03-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

From GAWKER. I wonder if we could be the Offical Gawker Book Club?

Somebody Please Stop the Foers (and Take Their Real Estate)

We nearly forgot: Today’s Washington Post brings news that the USA Memory Championship took place here in New York yesterday, and it was won by a 23-year-old Yale graduate named Joshua Foer. He’s also, as the more wonkily inclined among you might chose to label him, the 23-year-younger brother of new New Republic editor Franklin Foer. Or, for all you Park Slopians, the 23-year-old younger brother of hipster-chic novelist Jonathan Safran Foer.
This last bit of news has prompted our slutty (if currently transgendered) sister Wonkette to make a request:

Next time you see a Foer Brother (you’ll be able to recognize them by their wire-rim glasses, sensible-but-disheveled style of dress, carefully cultivated air of quiet superiority, and the smuggest little smirk you’ve ever seen) … please do your old friend Wonkette a favor and punch him right in his self-satisfied mug.

To which we’d only add: If Jonathan’s the one you’re beating, could you maybe steal his house keys, too?

Thanks.

Sexy Zadie

2006-02-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Came across this, read it, added Manor House to my Netflix queue, and considered emailing Zadie for a split second.

http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/03/sp_tv_smith051203.htm

"Zadie Smith: Ok, I'm done.

I apologise for the low intellectual content of the answers, but the truth is, I myself am of low intellectual content.

thank you all for asking and giving a damn and being my readers sometimes.

any other absolutely vital questions can be sent to this
e-mail: sadieade@aol.com, but don't go crazy - I get enough weird mail as it is,

zx"

superbowl schmooperbowl

2006-02-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

The Tournament of Books list is up!

http://themorningnews.org/tob/

Let the jousting begin!

Kristen and I had the uber-nerdy idea of organizing a tournament pool - any takers?

In addition to the list of Tournament nominees (which includes our current monthly selection), I would be greatly interested in reading
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=EK6oSe9CXi&isbn=0972336338&itm=2

See you Feb 9.

We're Baaaaaaack!

2006-01-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

Lock up your prodigal sons! Book Club is entering its 4th year of literary debauchery!

Won’t you join us as we turn the page to a new year of boozing with books?

Feb 9
On Beauty by Zadie Smith.

Sorry maisie!

2006-01-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

Maisie I accidentally deleted your post!!!

I don’t know what happened… but here’s the link you had posted about your nerdy desire to read every single one of these.

And I’m with you!

2006-01-17T13:28:00.000-08:00

2005-10-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

Literary Spawn Alert

My secret BF Davey Eggers and the irritatingly talented Vendela Vida just had a baby girl... Name, you ask? October.

right.

http://www.lindsayism.com/ (ya gots to scroll...)

2005-09-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we have a few crushes on our hands.

1. The most premium actor, and lead singer of Gogol Bordello, Eugene Hutz.

Kristen, tour dates are on their site, www.gogolbordello.com

*Also, my friend Andrew (who knows this dude Alex) says they are playing on Conan O’Brian on 10/4.

2. Girlcrush - Zadie Smith
Kristen and Jen have agreed to a mud-wrestling tournament (or, “literary cat fight”) at the next meeting to determine who has dibs on Zadie Smith. We’ll update the results here. Watch out, it could get ugly.

2005-08-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

As Noa pointed out to me today, bookclub is exiting her terrible twos, with a third birthday rapidly approaching. In other words, we need a date, a book, and a venue. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Book Club Field Trip #1

2005-08-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

Who’s up for seeing Sammy Davis Junior Junior in live action comedy?

We are planning the first ever Book Club Outing!

Everything is Illuminated is opening 9/16. We should be there to celebrate the fact that Jonathan Safran Foer is not going to appear in a single frame of this movie. (By the way, what’s wrong with this kid? Can’t he act too? What a talentless bore!)

Who’s in?

2005-08-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

Bookclub is on for Friday August 12 at 8 pm!!!!!!!!!!!

"If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would be accomplished"

It is with this sentiment that I cordially invite you to a backyard BBQ celebrating the imminent third birthday of our dear book club.

If you've read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, we'll probably chat about that. Or just bring an US Weekly with some good gossip for us to chew on. Think of it as an homage to our very first meeting (The Human Stain + Real World Las Vegas)

P.S. there will be smores (in case you need to be coerced)

2005-07-12T21:13:00.000-07:00

Rock the Vote!

Not sure if this is going to work, but let's try... Here are some ideas for August's book. Please leave your preference as a comment, and the book with the most votes wins!

1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
2. Lipstick Jihad
3. Encyclopedia of a Normal Life
4. Blink (we haven't read non-fiction in a while, and it's short!)
4. Write-In's ?

As for date and venue, we have a lot to celebrate (Kate and Livia going to Chicago, Book Club is almost 3 years old(!), plus it's summer in the city) so we were thinking a Friday night book club is in order. Does Friday, August 12 work for everyone? We can do an al fresco party in Noa's West Village garden.

Please comment below on 1) Choice of book and 2) If August 12 works for you.

2005-07-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

Just a sample...

...of the books we've read over the years.

Full list coming from Livia soon!

2005-07-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Hot or Not?

Time for the online, interactive version of the traditional book jacket photo discussion!

This installment focuses on the he's-so-young-and-talented-i-gotta-hate-him Jonathan Safran Foer.

If you don't already hate him for his prodigious success, chew on this: Boy has a massive brownstone in brooklyn with ridiculous private backyard. What is there to like about this guy???

*On another Foer note, does anyone want to read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close for the August book club? I read it and loved it, but I'm curious what you guys think.