Sapphire is no Mark Twain

I just finished the book Push by Sapphire. This same novel was made into the popular film from last year, Precious. I'll confess, I saw 15 minutes of the film before I read the book. I really enjoyed the cinematography and styling of the film, but based on my family's reviews, not sure if the film is worth finishing. The book was a mildly enjoyable read. It was a struggle to read through at times because, as it is written from the view of the illiterate Precious Jones, many words and phrases were off. That must speak well for all of my former English teachers, as my head was constantly doing a grammar and spell check during the entire book.

As a story, the book is no easy tale to take in. Precious has been raped by her parents since a young child and at the beginning of the story, has one child by her father, and another on the way. Over the course of the book, Precious begins attending and excelling at an Alternative School, where she learns to channel her past abuse into poetry. The end of the book features the stories of the other girls in Precious' class. I really liked how it wrapped up the whole book, but would have liked to see their voices more prominently in the book.

Overall I give this book a 3.5, decent enough to recommend but not an absolute favorite.

New Year, New Face

A New Year always brings change, and this year, I'm gonna try something a little different. This blog began as a reading competition back in 2009 with the goal to read a new book for each week in a year. While the contest has come and gone, I have enjoyed writing about each book I've been reading. In my quest to catch up with our evolving technology, I've decided to revive this blog and continue writing about my reading. Enjoy!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I had a feeling I would like this book.

My mom and Grandmother were over the moon about it, so I was curious to see just how good of a book it actually was.

It was so touching. I had never looked at how World War II had affected the Channel Islands. Truth be told, I wasn't really familiar with the Channel Islands before this book. I definitely recommend it to everyone and anyone. It even made me appreciate the little child character (Kit was her name, she seemed just too cute for words).

"...you make me happy, you never bore me, you're interested in the things I'm interested in..." p.153, I feel this is such a beautiful way to explain how you love someone

"I've got no time to be profound" p.170

"One year as his wife, and I'd have become one of those abject quaking women who look at their husbands when someone asks them a question." p.214

"institutional amnesia" p. 250, just a great phrase, describing France after the war

"This obsession with dignity can ruin your life if you let it." p.274

Ishmael

This is the second "philosophy fiction" I've ever read. It is also one of the most inspirational books I've had the chance to read. There are so many wonderful ideas that either I've always believed myself, or now fully understand. The best way to explain this book is through my favorite quotes:

"Food is everywhere and one picks it up almost absentmindedly, as one takes a breath of air...one does not think of feeding as a distinct activity...Rather, it's like a delicious music that plays in the background of all activities throughout the day." p.12

-I think this is such a healthy way to look at food. As humans, we've made it something loathsome and grotesque, when it started as something beautiful and natural. I think if we looked at food and eating the same way as described, a lot of food related problems could be eliminated.

"There are times when having too much to say can be as dumbfounding as having too little. " p. 24

"If you can't discover what's keeping you in, the will to get out soon becomes confused and ineffectual." p.25

"Why is it that no one is excited? I hear people talking in the Laundromat about the end of the world, and they're no more excited than if they were comparing detergents. People talk about the destruction of the ozone layer and the death of all life...And they seem perfectly calm." p.44

-This quote reflects a tendency humans seem to have. The idea of destruction of the planet and disappearance of species seems so distant. It's like we are the cause, but we will never fully feel the consequences, but that's not true.

"Crime, mental illness, suicide, and drug addiction are features of an advanced culture." p.146

The True Bad Girl

"The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Girl Sex" is not a bad book, if you're a "good girl".

The author separates girls into 4 categories:

-the bad girls

-the good girls who are ignorant

-the good girls who like sex, but don't understand their sexuality

-the prudes

Being a bad girl reading this book, it was just a review of everything I already knew for the most part. Eh, maybe my sister will benefit more.

Rant(s)

Confession: this was my first Palahniuk.

At the beginning I was intrigued. Didn't really know what was going on, but enthralled all the same. Palahniuk introduced us to Buster "Rant" Casey, a strange soul, who's story was told through the people he met/loved in his life.

In the middle, I wasn't sure I liked the book anymore. It was grotesque (not in the fun way) and wasn't making sense. All over the place, with no reason why. I knew I would finish, but I was feeling very negatively toward it all.

At the end, it all came together. Once I started looking at the metaphors more closely, it made sense and shook me up a bit. I don't want to go to in depth for those who haven't read it, but Palahniuk basically tears into the younger generation and the need for some form of stimulation to live life. Its very chilling, and really made me look at my life a little bit.

Overall, I enjoyed it. Chuck Palahniuk is no Kurt Vonnegut, but he does know how to get into your head.

Life at These Speeds

I didn't expect this book to be good. An 8th grader in track watches his whole team die in a fatal accident.

But it was actually really good. Nicely written, realistic tone. Good for anyone.