book reviews 2010

A new year means a new list of book reviews! Since my memory isn't terribly reliable, I'm keeping track of every book that I read in the form of mini-reviews. I began with 2008, kept going in 2009, and now here we are again. Happy reading!

18. 3/2/10
Sugar by Bernice L. McFadden
Man, I've been picking books that take me for an emotional ride lately. This one certainly fits the bill, and the horrific images and violent events had my heart aching. Again, I have a difficult time saying that I "enjoyed" reading a book with such despair-filled content... but, I did. I thought the writing was powerful, and the setting of the 1950's South was authentic- I could feel the oppressive heat as I turned the pages. The hypocritical ways of the town's male population really bothered me, but I could certainly believe it, unfortunately. This book is filled with much more pain than redemption and more suffering than relief, which doesn't make for a comfortable reading, but who says that everything we read has to have a happy ending?

17. 3/1/10
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Okay, I did really like this book because it made me think, it provided an amazing reading experience with JAM, it used an incredible amount of new vocabulary for him (and me a couple of times!), and it emphasized the power of love, in a way that we are familiar with in literature we enjoy together- Harry Potter, Mysterious Benedict Society, etc. But... I'm still not sure I understood much of the actual events. Maybe that's the point, though- that the stuff was so beyond our pitifully inept brains. :) I'm really glad that we read this together, especially after reading When You Reach Me earlier this year.

16. 2/26/10
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart
Oh, the third book was as delightful as the previous two! There's so much to think about with these books, and I'm happy that they are written with an intensity level that my own 9 year old can handle, because there are powerful lessons in these pages. With their latest challenges and the need to once again work together, combining their individual skills to one group effort, the four children who make up the Mysterious Benedict Society also come to realize that not one of them is responsible for the entire group- they are all responsible for each other. With that realization, the guilt that accompanied their previous missteps suddenly dissolved. At every point, they did their best, and they always kept each others' welfare in mind. It's a good lesson for us all!

15. 2/22/10
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
More adventure, additional puzzles to solve, the same four honest, brave, strong and amazing children. They're still motivated by love for Mr. Benedict and a desire to save the world from the evil of Mr. Curtain, and they put their lives on the line without hesitation once again. There's a deepening to the characters in this second book- individual struggles being waged and personal revelations happening that point to the fact that they are maturing and growing, gaining understanding of themselves and each other, and as a result, their friendships have become even greater and more central to their very existences. Can you tell that I LOVED this one, too??

14. 2/20/10
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
I'm thrilled beyond belief that I've finally read this book! My mind is abuzz with thoughts about these amazing children and the world within this story, such a very familiar feeling, one that I first experienced when I finished the first book that introduced Harry Potter to my reading world. Surely, a comparison between these two series is more than valid, although I don't think that takes anything away from either series as a result. The themes may be similar, and the characters certainly have much in common, but there's a distinctive feeling to this book that's different. Like I felt with HP, at first I found the oddities of the story entertaining and the reading went along in that manner, and suddenly I found my feelings darken and the nervousness that I had for these characters turned to palpable fear. However, unlike HP, this story holds much more realism, more likeness to the real world, which heightened the suspense even more for me. I truly loved everything about this book!

13. 2/18/10
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I'm not sure what I can say about this book except that it made me *feel.* Shame, disappointment, hope, disbelief, anger, comfort- all in the mix. My heart pounded throughout my reading, and I cared so deeply about these characters. This chapter of American history, the whole Jim Crow South time, is seriously so unbelievable to me. It's hard for me to comprehend the intense hatred and cruelty that was so prevalent among Whites towards Blacks, even though I'm well aware of the history of race relations in our country. It's not that I don't believe it, as much as I just can't understand it. While I've heard the criticism made that the author didn't interview any domestic workers in her research for writing this book, I was happy to read about her own personal connection in her note at the end of the book. I'd like to think this book was a sort of penance she took on, a small act of good in the face of generations of awful.

12. 2/15/10
Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich
Devastating. Unspeakable. Atrocious. Heartbreaking. Malicious. Manipulative. Confounding. These are all words that come to mind when I think about the marriage relationship between Irene and Gil, the main characters in this novel. I couldn't get myself to understand where they were coming from, because their troubles went far beyond the basic ups and downs of long relationships. Their hatred and their love for each other were mirror images- in both their intensity and depths. If they were the only two people affected by their actions, their inactions and their choices, I might be left with less emotion and more interest in studying how they got to their ending points, but because there were three children in the picture, all I'm left with is dull loathing of their inabilities to do right by the people who needed them the most.

After all that, it's odd to say that "I Really Liked this Book" with my Shelfari starred rating, but I was impressed with the quality of writing, the insistent tone, and the way that the characters came alive through the author's unique-feeling prose. Definitely not a "feel-good" book, but a literary accomplishment, for sure.

11. 2/13/10
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Oh, Holden Caulfield. When I first read your 200+ page stream of consciousness diatribe as a teenager, I felt your pain somewhat. I understood "phonies" in my own sense, which probably differed a bit from your vision, but the frustration with "others" was certainly something that I could relate to. Now as an adult, I think my reaction was mostly a desire to tell you that your sensitivity and perceptiveness would help you in years to come, if you can learn to channel it more appropriately. Also, I couldn't help but shake my head at how you could simultaneously be so perceptive and also completely clueless about the consequences of your own choices and actions. I guess as a mom, I wanted to hug you AND slap you.

What more could be said about Salinger's iconic representation of the disaffected adolescent voice that hasn't been articulated for the last 60 years? I certainly can't add anything new to it, even if you really wanted to hear about it, anyway.

10. 2/6/10
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
While I'm still completely unsettled by the ending of this novel, which struck me as more than a bit abrupt, overall I can't help but remain touched by the story. The lives of the main characters are certainly filled with pain, suffering, uncertainty and fear, which only magnifies the strength and fortitude of these characters. While the first person narrative presents one perspective, near the end of the novel a different viewing of their shared life experiences is shared by the narrator's sister. As a reader, I began to question my "loyalty" to the narrator, and forced myself to consider this opposing version. As a whole, this is a beautiful story of sacrifice, sibling rivalry and attachment, and the meaning of "homeland."

9. 2/1/10
Pieces of Someday by Jan Vallone
This was a memoir made up of more questions than answers, more seeking than finding, more wondering than storytelling. I appreciated the author's humility in openly baring her worries and fears and abundant questions about her own life experiences and those of her family members. Vallone writes with elegance and beauty, much more poetically than I would have expected from someone with a background in law! While I was somewhat confused by the bouncing-around nature of the book's chronology, I understood the impact the author was intending with this type of set-up. Personally, I needed to do some shuffling back and forth at times to get reestablished when the time shifted significantly from one chapter to the next, but in the end, I feel that I had gotten all the puzzle pieces in place.

8. 1/29/10
Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
If I had read this book and its sequel "After Ever After" in chronological order, I would have been an even bigger mess during the reading, not knowing how it was going to all end. As it was, I was still weepy, and that's because Sonnenblick has mastered the balance of tenderness and teenaged-boy-thought (which is usually not so tender) to create a novel that is funny and touching, and about deep subjects right along side the average girl-obsessed adolescence. Truly a YA genius.

7. 1/25/10
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
I can't find the most appropriate glowingly positive adjective to express how I felt about this book. Amazing is too passe. Outstanding sounds too generic. Incredible is fitting, but seems too unoriginal. This book truly blew me away. There's just so much to think about with this story- from the complexities of relationships with peers and family members, to the way we treat people we view as "others," to the effects our actions can have on others' lives. All of this wrapped up with the concept of time travel makes this YA novel an emotion-filled, realistic story with a touch of the sci-fi. (Hmmmm... sounds reminiscent of my very favorite novel ever!!) I do believe the 2009 Newbery Medal was VERY well deserved.

6. 1/23/10
After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
Well, once I closed the book after reading the final pages, I must admit that I needed a few moments alone to just 'cry it out.' I'm sort of at a loss about what to say about this book, because I just simply enjoyed it so very much. If you're a YA kind of reader, the shortest and best thing that I can say-- go read this book. I'm still finding my way through YA literature, but my gut tells me that this book had the perfect combination of an authentic adolescent narrator and a story line that simultaneously tackled serious, real-world issues while also nailing the little things that are so huge to teenagers. What I didn't realize was that this was a sequel (of sorts), but I can definitely say that it stands on its own. (I do have the previous book lined up to read asap, though. I can only imagine that it is as amazing as this one.) The press release that I got with this book also mentioned that the author's previous YA novel was praised by his former high school teacher... Frank McCourt. Wow.

5. 1/22/10
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
It's hard to feel attached to a book that seems, at its core, to be about detachment. While this story revolved around the heaviest emotions and most significant connections in one couple's life, I surprisingly didn't shed a single tear through the whole reading, and there are some heartbreaking moments in here. That's not an indication of my not caring about these characters, because for sure, I felt they were so deeply depicted on the pages, with their complexities in plain view. I cared deeply for them, when I understood their conflicts, as well as when I deplored their actions. Yet, no tears. I can only figure that my lack of emotional display kept pace with the absence of a melodramatic telling of the story. I'm not one to instantly equate melodrama with negativity-- sometimes a melodramatic storytelling voice draws me in and sweeps me away. But for this book, I was as equally drawn in by the matter-of-fact narration, with its straightforward laying out of this sad, sad tale. I'm left feeling that this book is just so human, a thoughtful and engaging human tale, even through its despair.

4. 1/16/10
Up in the Air by Walter Kirn
I could write this mini-review as the shortest one I ever produced, using a mere four words that concisely sum up the thoughts that are left rolling around in my brain as I finally put the book down:

I didn't get it.

None of it. I didn't get the main character. I didn't get his back story, and I didn't get his motivation. I didn't get what made him tick. And quite honestly, I didn't care a lick about anyone or anything in the story. I was perpetually confused by the rambling style of the dialogue. I felt tortured by the process of holding this book in my hands and scanning the text with my eyes.

If I'm completely honest, I have to admit that the book was at a disadvantage when I picked it up, since I had just recently seen the movie adaptation, which I adored. I thought it was thoughtful, portrayed conflicted characters who had actual depth, even if they weren't always 100% likeable. I thought the story was linear, and built upon itself as it rolled along. Every thing that the book ended up not being.

So maybe there's the factor of the book not being able to live up to my previous exposure to the movie, and I would give that weight as a possibility if two had anything in common other than the character's name and pursuit of one million frequent flyer miles. That's where the similarities end, and I for one, think the movie creation deserves a different title, so as not to be associated with this unworthy book.

3. 1/13/10
Making a Family Home by Shannon Honeybloom
Beautiful! I really enjoyed the author's suggestions for creating a mindful, loving, appropriate and beautiful home for a family with young children, even as jealousy was cursing strongly through my veins. Holy cow, did I LOVE this woman's house and yard! While I can't say that I want to get rid of the things that we do have in our home that she advocates against (plastic toys, as an example), there was plenty in here that I appreciated and would like to keep in mind for our own home, especially when we someday move to that "forever house."

2. 1/2/10
The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas
This is a cute book that I would have absolutely adored when I was in elementary school for the mystery, the emotions and the oh-so-perfect happy ending. The chapters are short, and the telling of the story is not too complex, making it a very quick read, even for children. (My nine year old read it in half a day.) I enjoyed the storyline, and perhaps it would have been better to read with my son instead of after him.

1. 1/1/10
NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Holy cow- so many of my thoughts have been turned on their heads after finishing this book. The conclusion chapter brought the entire book together- these seemingly different topics about child development all looked at with a new perspective, thinking about honesty, gratitude, praise and such not in an adult framework, but realizing that these very things work differently in children's developing brains. Truly every chapter held extreme interest for me, but the language and self-control development chapters fascinated me the most, possibly. This is a book that I need to own and re-read quite regularly, and will be added to the list of must-read recommendations for parents.


Happy with a book in my hands,