Sadly, I fell WAY behind on my 2011 reviews. So, occasionally, I’ll be posting mini reviews to help catch up. Though they all deserve their own posts, this will have to do. This, in particular, is an excellent crop of books. Enjoy.

Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Rating:

I really enjoyed this book, but as I read it many months ago, I can’t remember much more that it is about two young slaves, that it takes place during the Revolutionary War, and that I (and the rest of my book club) liked it. I do remember that my book club had a great discussion about slavery and the Revolutionary War. I have the sequel, Forge, on my nightstand, waiting to be read.

I have read two other books by Laurie Halse Anderson that were vastly different from this (Speak and Wintergirls). Apparently she tends to write two kinds of books – historical fiction and “issue” fiction. I’ve liked everything I’ve read by her so far.

These Is My Words, by Nancy E. Turner

Rating:

I could not put this one down. Seriously. I took longer lunch breaks because of it. But, by the end, it didn’t quite come together to be one of my favorite books, as I thought it might. Still. Really great read and first novel by Nancy E. Turner. Be warned that the first 100 pages or so have a series of intense set backs. Intense. But that’s life on the frontier. Both of my book clubs read this in 2011, and the general consensus was love. Lots of love.

The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

Rating:

Okay, yet another book club selection. This is a memoir; a brutal recounting of a neglectful childhood. But I liked it. I liked that, unlike other memoirs I’ve read, Walls seemed to just kind of tell it like it was. And, amazingly, she doesn’t appear to judge her parents for their choices and has come to accept them for who they are. It’s inspiring, too, that Walls managed to rise above a childhood that would be a great excuse for mediocrity. In all, an excellent read.

I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak

Rating:

My favorite read of 2011. Hands down. Zusak is clearly a genius. This novel got him his first Printz Award honor. And, I mean, The Book Thief was one of the best books I’d ever read. And often times, authors can’t accomplish such a thing twice. But I Am the Messenger did for me. In fact, I may like this one better. I’m not going to tell you anything about it other than it is vastly different from The Book Thief. But it’s fabulous. It’s the book that I’ve become a disciple for – my go-to book recommendation. So, I recommend it to you. (And I will likely have to do a full post on this one someday.)

Getting the Girl, by Markus Zusak

Rating:

Okay, after all of the effusive praise for Markus Zusak above, I have to tone it down here. I enjoyed this book very much. Cameron Wolfe falls for his brother’s girlfriend. And that complicates things. It is well written and insightful, but I don’t think it compares to the scope or power of The Book Thief and I Am the Messenger. (Note that I’ve basically read Zusak’s novels in reverse chronological order. I wonder if reading them in order would have changed my perceptions.)

The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin

Rating:

This was a really timely read for me. Yes, it’s “stunt fiction.” Gretchen Rubin decided that she would take a year and focus on happiness. For each month of the year, she selected an area of her life and set happiness goals. She tracked her progress a la Benjamin Franklin. And then, afterwards, she turned it into a book, complete with lots of excellent quotations and research about happiness. This book has influenced my thinking and has helped me with the general concept that we have to work on being happy. And, remember, “the days are long, but the years are short.” You too, can start your own happiness project.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley

Rating:

Ah. The narrator here is the key. Flavia de Luce is a young girl. Amateur chemist, precocious, smart, and a delight to be with. She goes about solving a rather charming and proper British mystery that cropped up in her backyard. Read it for Flavia, even if you don’t love mysteries. My book club agrees. And Flavia is so famous, she even has her own website.

NurtureShock, by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

Rating:

An excellent collection of essays about what the research actually says about raising children. I was surprised that a lot of things that are considered common knowledge are not necessarily backed up by the research or the science. The essays are fascinating and well-written. I would recommend this to every parent.

Have you read any of these books? Which was your favorite?

THE TINY BOOK OF TINY STORIES: VOLUME 1

By hitRECord and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

This little book is the result of a huge collaboration. Joseph Gordon-Levitt started hitRECord, which is an “open-collaborative production company.” Essentially, artists of all kinds are encouraged to join the community and submit their work. And then, the artists are encouraged to “remix” the work of others and create new art together. In this way, a community of artists collaborates via the internet. Magic. (And don’t worry; when any of the products make money, hitRECord splits the profits 50/50 with the artists.)

The tiny stories project is just one of the products of this unique community. The theme of the project is a modified quote: “The universe is not made of atoms; it is made of [tiny] stories.” Though tiny, these stories were a delight to delve into on a winter’s afternoon. Here is one of my favorite stories:

And here’s the text of another of my favorites:

His hands were weak and shaking from carrying far too many books from the bookshop. It was the best feeling. (68)

There is something about this tiny book that makes me want to write tiny stories. Or at least to watch for them as I go about my day. And perhaps to share those tiny stories with others. An inspiring tiny book it is. I think you’ll like it.

MENTAL_FLOSS: THE BOOK

Edited by Ethan Trex, Will Pearson, and Mangesh Hattikudur

I think there is something about human nature that loves lists of things. And I am no different. While the internet is a vast source of information, there is just something about a book of trivia. Something you can flip through at random to find interesting tidbits you never would have thought to Google. And Mental_Floss: The Book is one of those books.

There are 140 lists presented, themselves grouped into lists of tens: 10 Lists to Lighten the Mood at the E.R., 10 Pop Culture Lists to Breakk Out on the Red Carpet, 10 Lists for People Who Can’t Write Good, etc. There is something for everyone here, book lovers included:

Six Works of Literature That Were Really Hard to Write
What 10 Fictional Characters Were Almost Called
What Eight Classic Books Were Almost Called
Six Words Invented by Authors
The Little-Known Stories of Five Famous Authors
Nine Things Mark Twain Didn’t Say (And Nine He Did)

From these lists I learned that Scarlett O’Hara was named Pansy until just before Gone with the Wind went to print, that To Kill A Mockingbird was originally titled Atticus, and that J.R.R. Tolkien coined the term “tween.” My favorite list though, by far, is the one entitled “Seven Reasons Mr. Rogers Was the Best Neighbor Ever.” Did you know that some thieves once stole his car and later returned it with a note that said, “If we’d known it was yours, we never would have taken it”?

Anyway, this is a great little trove of trivia treasures. And check out Mental_Floss for more fascinating facts.

SCARLET

by A.C. Gaughen

Okay, my full review of this one is to come, but I wanted to put a teaser out there. I couldn’t put this one down. Watch for my forthcoming review and the release on February 14th!

Title: How Reading Changed My Life
Author: Anna Quindlen
Pages: 84
Originally Published: 1997
Format I Read: Paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Rating:

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This was my first introduction to Anna Quindlen. I’ve heard her name bounced around for years but hadn’t had a chance to read anything of hers. And then, some blogger, who I cannot now remember, recommended this little book. So, I added it to my Amazon wishlist and got it for Christmas from my little brother.

Quindlen used to be a columnist for The New York Times. And this book kind of reads like a series of little columns. My major complaint is that it felt lacking in structure. I couldn’t easily discern why the chapters were split the way they were or were presented in the order they were. At the end of the book, I also felt like I still didn’t know how reading changed Quindlen’s life. Seriously. Other than the general way that reading has changed every reader’s life. And, then, I felt the writing style was, at times, a little, tinsy bit belabored.

Notwithstanding the annoyances, I did enjoy this little book. It was a fitting book to sit down with at the dawn of this new year. If anything, HRCML is a love letter to all book lovers everywhere. While reading is solitary by nature, Quindlen rejoices that book lovers persist with the reading and tend to seek one another out. She notes a general societal dis-ease with chronic readers:

While we pay lip service to the virtues of reading, the truth is that there is still in our culture something that suspects those who read too much, whatever reading too much means, of being lazy, aimless dreamers, people who need to grow up and come outside to where real life is, who think themselves superior in their separateness.

There is something in the American character that is even secretly hostile to the act of aimless reading, a certain hale and heartiness that is suspicious of reading as anything more than a tool for advancement. (9)

But true readers know that reading is so much more:

All of reading is really only findings ways to name ourselves, and perhaps, to name the others around us so that they will no longer seem like strangers. Crusoe and Friday. Ishmael and Ahab. Daisy and Gatsby. Pip and Estella. Me. Me. Me. I am not alone. I am surrounded by words that tell me who I am, why I feel what I feel. Or maybe they just help me while away the hours as the rain pounds down on the porch roof, taking me away from the gloom and on to somewhere sunny, somewhere else. (21)

In sum, while I didn’t fall wildly in love with this one, I enjoyed it. And I think any book lover will get some pleasure out of meeting a kindred spirit in its pages.

How Reading Changed My Life, by Anna Quindlen

Have you read or reviewed this book too? Feel free to jump in with your thoughts or leave a link to your review in the comments.

*Update* It was Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings! His review made me want to read this book. Thanks, Carl!

Title: The Hip Girls Guide to Homemaking: Decorating, Dining, and Gratifying Pleasures of Self-Sufficiency – on a Budget!
Author: Kate Payne
Pages: 266
Originally Published: 2011
Format I Read: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Design
Rating:

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I’ve been on a bit of a “homemaking” kick lately. I’ve been trying to organize my household, plan meals and shopping trips better, and decorate my home more to my taste. So, I thought this book would be a fun read. And I was right. This is one of my favorite passages:

I’m not an interior designer, nor a home decor specialist. I just like pretty things. I like to surround myself with things that make me happy. That’s it! As our old pal William Morris said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” If something’s beautiful to you, find a way to make it work.

Doesn’t that William Morris quote make you want to embroider a pillow? And something about Payne’s book and style makes me believe that I can conquer my homemaking goals. And you can too. Here’s how the book is divided:

Part I – Room-by-Room Guide to a Homey House, Homie
Chapter 1 – Kitchen and Dining Rooms
Chapter 2 – Living Areas
Chapter 3 – Bed, Bath, and Between

Lots of good decorating and repurposing tips here. This part make me want to take a trip to a thrift store.

Part II – Impressive Acts of Domesticity
Chapter 4 – Outdoor Spaces
Chapter 5 – Cleaning and DIY Suds
Chapter 6 – Managing Cloth
Chapter 7 – Tapping the Tool Kit

Good stuff abounds here, too – from growing what you can in the space available to you, to thinking through the chemicals you clean with, and from laundry options and strategies, to conquering simple household repairs and projects.

Part III – Life After Restaurants
Chapter 8 – Cooking at Home
Chapter 9 – Preserving Food at Home
Chapter 10 – Entertaining Projects

This part felt the most home-y to me. There’s something about food that creates that atmosphere. These chapters are full of good ideas on how to cook and entertain at home, as well as to preserve and maximize your food resources.

So, I thought this book was well-written and informative, though the “hip girl” talk turned out to be a minor annoyance. And Payne has a lot of good tips. Of course, not every tip will be for every person, but there are plenty here to choose from. I was particularly inspired by the idea of preserving even small quantities of food at home, by the idea of mixing your own cleaners from basic ingredients link vinegar and borax, and by repurposing beautiful items into your decor. But I’m sure each reader will be inspired by different things.

Beware before purchasing that there is a definite ” extreme green” tilt to the writing (Payne has no microwave, uses glass Tuperware, and makes all of her own cleaners). Also, most of the suggestions are geared to large-city, apartment dwelling, though many of them are adaptable to other living situations. Still, as a suburban house dweller, I was a little disappointed at the narrower scope of the book.

Overall, this is a good book that would make an excellent wedding shower gift or a nice present for yourself if you need some ideas to spicy up your domestic life.

The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking, by Kate Payne

Check out Payne’s website: HipGirlsHome.com.

Other Reviews:
She Is Too Fond of Books

Title: Table of Contents
Author: Judy Gelman & Vicki Levy Krupp
Pages: 288
Originally Published: 2011
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Adams Media

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When I host one of my book clubs, I like to try and prepare some food that is related to the book. But the best I usually come up with is something like Three Musketeers bars when we read The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas. Pathetic, I know. Table of Contents comes to the rescue.

Here’s the subtitle: From breakfast with Anita Diamant to dessert with James Patterson – a generous helping of recipes, writings, and insights from today’s bestselling authors. The book is organized by author, alphabetically by last name. And each author’s section provides some little details submitted by that author, in categories like “Inspiration,” “Reader’s Frequently Ask,” and “Reader’s Should Know.” After these interesting tidbits, we get down to the recipes. Usually the author provides some background about where the recipe came from and how it relates to one of their books. I love any nugget of information I can get about my favorite authors, so Table of Contents made me want to read it first, and then use it to cook. Impressive for one little book.

Perhaps its only shortcoming is that it, of course, is limited to particular authors, that your book club may not necessarily read. That said, though, there is a good mix of older (though no classics, obviously) and newer authors, male and females authors, and established and fairly unknown authors. And a number of genres are represented, though literary fiction abounds, as that tends to be what most book clubs read. I’ve read a number of the authors included, like Jamie Ford, Sara Gruen, Anita Diamant, Lisa See, Garth Stein. And I want to read a number of the other authors, like Chris Cleave, Julia Glass, Hillary Jordan, Tom Perrotta, and Abraham Verghese.

In all, Table of Contents is a great resource, both for book clubs and for readers that want to incorporate bookish recipes in the kitchen.

BookClubCookBook.com is also a great resource that Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp keep filled with excellent resources. For example, you can find the recipe for the famous chocolate pie from The Help (minus one particular ingredient) and the recipe for the doughnuts that Olive Kitteridge loves.

Other Reviews:
BermudaOnion’s Weblog
Book Journey
Book, Line & Sinker
Joyfully Retired

GIVEAWAY

I have one new copy of Table of Contents to give away to one lucky reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. U.S. and Canadian addresses only please. A winner will be selected on Monday, March 28, 2011.