Book Review - Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan

Title: Love is the Higher Law  
Author: David Levithan
Year: 2009  
Page: 176  
Genre: Fiction, Yound Adult  

New to me author? Yes
Read this author again? Probably not
Tearjerker? No   
Where did it take place? US
FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from amazon.com):
Claire and Peter are friendly acquaintances at their New York City high school. Jasper is a freshman in college. They attend a mutual friend's party, and Peter and Jasper make a date for the evening of September 11, 2001. They reschedule and have an excruciating date a week later. Claire and Jasper meet again by chance at Ground Zero when neither can sleep. Claire is called to action, Peter is reverent, and Jasper, a kind of "expert dodger," can't feel a thing. The three come to develop a deep friendship. Levithan's character development is quick and seamless. He defines the trio's personae by how they perceive the tragedy, how they interact, and how they observe the world. The author's prose has never been deeper in thought or feeling. His writing here is especially pure—unsentimental, restrained, and full of love for his characters and setting. Though the trio's talks and emails are philosophically sophisticated, Love Is the Higher Law is steadily paced and tightly, economically written. Discussion of the U.S. invasion of Iraq feels like overkill, but it brings the novel to an appropriately queasy end. Levithan captures the mood of post-9/11 New York exquisitely, slashed open to reveal a deep heart.

First Sentence:
My first thought is: My mother is dead. 

Why did I pick this book?
I was browsing the New Young Adult shelves at the library. Was attracted by the cover. I haven't read any 9/11 related novel, so thought I'd give it a try. 


My thoughts:

• Where would you when it happened? This was a theme of the book. I was still in Australia then, but my husband (then fiance) was in the mid-west (we had a 5 year long distance relationship). I was reading in bed when my sister came into the room and told me to turn on the TV (she found out while chatting to people online). We couldn't believe what was happening. For the following week or so, I was so worried about what'd happen, like if I'd even see my finace ever again... I lost 10 lb in a week...

• I think because I was so emotionally drained back then, when I read this book, it just didn't impact me the way it did back then. When I see pictures now of the aftermath, I would feel a pang. My heart would involuntarily squeezed. But I didn't feel this way at all when I read the book. I thought I'd be a bit more emotional about it. There was a chapter when I felt a little teary when one of the characters went to a concert not long after: "and I understand the energy I felt before but didn't have a name for -- it's the energy of gathering" (p87) 

• The book was about the stories of these 3 characters and how they intertwined post 9/11 - however, I felt that their voices weren't that clear, that it really was just the author's voice/his feelings/his thoughts of how he felt afterward, and divided it up into 3 characters instead. It is a pretty thin book (163 pages) so I don't think the characters really developed.

• While I don't hate this book, I don't really like it either... 

Quote:

This isn't even something I've feared, because I never knew it was a possibility. (p5)

The secret to living long is to have something to live for. (p143)

Rating:

Have you read this book? 
If you have, I would love to hear what you think! I'll link your review here if you wish!

Challenges:
100+ Reading
Young Adult

Book Review - The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

Title: The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Year: 206
Page: 512
Genre: Fiction

New to me author? Yes
Read this author again? One more try
Tearjerker? No
Where did it take place? US
FTC Disclosure: Library

Summary:
I won't post the summary, because it really gives the story away...  

First Sentence: 
She couldn't concentrate on making love.

Why did I pick this book?
Charlotte's Web of Books mentioned this author and encouraged everyone to try her out (she reviewed a different book here). She said Chamberlain is similar to Jodi Picoult. I'd only read one Picoult book - My Sister's Keeper but really enjoyed it (now, I know many didn't like the ending, but I was fine with it. I really connected with the characters and was crying my eyes out). So I thought I'd give Chamberlain a try. I went to the library and there were several of her books. I picked the two paperback (already borrowing a lot of books, don't want the big hard cover!) The other one was Breaking the Silence. Decided to read CeeCee first for no particular reason. 


My thoughts:

• I wish I didn't read the description of the book, or the first chapter of the book. Gave way too much away!

• After I was done, I felt like I'd just watched a B-grade TV movie.

• The story was just a bit too predicable and I didn't really care about any of the characters... And near the end of the book, I also didn't understand why character T acted the way he did and it wasn't fully explained. 

• I did keep reading just to see if it'd get better - I have to say her writing is easy to read, but the story just seemed too neat... 

• I'll probably read the other book I borrowed, just to see if it's just this book... I should probably read another Jodi Picoult book just to see if I really do like her books!

Quote:

You can use your past to fuel your future. (p250)

When I first found out I had cancer, I felt trapped... Then one morning, I woke up with a completely new thought in my mind. I realized that only my body was trapped. My spirit was still free. What an amazing feeling that was! (p513)

Rating:  

Have you read this book? 
If you have, I would love to hear what you think! I'll link your review here if you wish!

Challenges:
100+ Reading

Shaun Tan

I have been hearing good things about another graphic novel, The Arrival by Shaun Tan, which has no words. From what I see online, I love his drawing and can't wait to read his books!

I saw this and I immediately thought of spring! hope! whimsical! magical! (From http://www.guardian.co.uk)

You can see more here.

Now he understands the addiction!

My husband J has ADD and doesn't have the attention span to read books... he'd read short articles online or in magazines, but doesn't understand how I can just sit there all day and read!

Anyway, I won a copy of I Am Ozzy audio book - I know he likes Ozzy Osbourne, and I know he prefers audio to books (even when "reading" online articles, he'll have the computer reads to him as he said he can concentrate better that way), so I thought I'd give it to him to see if he'd like listening to a book (as opposed to short articles). He loved it! I borrowed When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin by Mick Wall audio book (a long one with 15CD/18 hours) and he finished it too - listening it at home instead of just during car rides!

AND THEN, he started downloading e-books from the library to listen to and he has already listened to a couple, without any of my encouragement :) He listens to it all the time (we share an office and I can block out the "noise" without problem).

So now he understands why I am always reading - he just needed to find a format that works for him :) Isn't it such a joy when you can share the love of reading?

Book Review - Lift by Kelly Corrigan

 















Title: Lift
Author: Kelly Corrigan
Year: 2010
Page: 95
Genre: Non-fiction, family

New to me author? Yes
Read this author again? Don't know
Tearjerker? No
Where did it take place? US
FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from amazon.com):
Penned as a letter to her two young daughters, the latest from author Corrigan is an attempt to illuminate their particular relationship ("I want to put down on paper how things started with us"), and an ambitious, inspirational meditation on parenthood in general. A slim volume, it perhaps suffers for its brevity but recounts engagingly events like Corrigan and her husband's decision to start a family, and baby Claire's bout with viral meningitis, "the beginning of how I came to know what a bold and dangerous thing parenthood is." She also examines the gifts all mothers hope to present their kids: "a decent childhood, more good memories than bad, some values, a sense of a tribe, a run at happiness." Fans of Corrigan's The Middle Place, a memoir of her fight with cancer, will welcome the return of figures like Corrigan's father, Greenie, and should appreciate her wistful but down-to-earth thoughts on parenthood. Newcomers might be less inspired, but should appreciate Corrigan's charm and honesty.

First Sentence:
Dear Georgia and Claire, You're both in bed now.

Why did I pick this book?
Read about this book from Lesley Book Nook (see review here) - she said, "After finishing Lift, I did something I've never done before. I turned around and read it again." How can I not pick up this book? This book was written as a letter to the author's two children. As my husband and I are deciding whether to start a family, I thought perhaps the book would provide some insight - for what it's worth - we're really on the fence... and since I usually suffer from analysis paralysis, I need to do my research to see the pro and con side of each issue :p We really enjoy our lifestyle right now as a 2-people family, we also want to see if having child(ren) is something we should consider. We both like kids (but like giving them back to the parents at the end of the day!), but my biological clock just has never ticked... Since I'll be turning 33 later this year, we really need to think more seriously about this. I guess when we decide to have kid(s), I just want to make sure we're both 100% willing to accept the responsibilities and not regret or recent our decision. I know some said you're never ready, but at least I want to be "willing to try to be ready" if that makes sense. The last thing I'd want is to have a kid who feels they aren't wanted. I definitely don't see there's anything wrong with child-free family if the couple choose so, though it seems like there is sometimes a negative association about it (that they are selfish, that they don't know what they're missing out on, that their life is not complete).

My thoughts:

• This is an extremely small book - 5x7" and rather thin. I finished it in less than an hour.

• I am afraid to say I don't find it very inspirational or touching. I don't know if it's because I don't know much about the author (she mentioned fighting breast-cancer), or that because I don't have kids, I don't quite feel what she felt? I was hoping it'd at least be a bit more influential or persuasive on why having kids is so great, especially since the author said (p63) 

"Now, though, for me, the most unthinkable loss would be never to have had a child in the first place."

• I don't know if really what I have (or don't have) right now is a loss... I definitely don't see it this way. In fact, my husband and I had talked about it that if we have decided to start a family, but have trouble with it, that we'll be okay with it. We will adopt if we feel strongly about having a more-than-two-person family. But of course that's my own opinion, just as the author is entitled to hers. Guess we just don't agree... and that's okay

• I guess I just really didn't find anything groundbreaking, and the "thing that utterly altered the way I look at you was not the cancer or the hysterectomy. I twas Aaron, Cousin Kathy's lanky, broad-shouldered boy" was not something too surprising... I am not doubting the impact it has on the author's outlook, but it just didn't affect me the way it perhaps should

• I hope you don't think I am a cold-heart person. I am sure the author's two daughters would appreciate this book. In fact, if there's something good that comes of for it, is that if we do end up having any kids, I want to document my thoughts to them (i.e., if I could find the time - yes I have read how many sleepless nights there are for new parents!) Perhaps it is just that I'd read quite a few heartbreaking parent-child love books previously that this book didn't quite has the same effect on me. I guess once (if) I have kids, and re-read this book, I may feel differently.

Quote

I didn't know they do this:

... took me to Leon, born the day before, at forteen ounces. he had a toube down his throat and wires taped to his chest. Near his face, someone had laid a piece of fabric about as big as a gum wrapper. Ken said it was a scent square.

"Parents wear the fabric on their skin -- moms tuck it in their bras, dads rub it between their fingers -- and before they leave for the night, they set the square by the baby's nose... so he'll know them when they return." (p23)

Rating:

Have you read this book? 
If you have, I would love to hear what you think!
I'll link your review here if you wish!

Challenges:
100+ Reading

Book Review - Blankets: An Illustrated Novel by Craig Thompson

 















Title: Blankets: An Illustrated Novel
Author: Craig Thompson
Year: 2003
Page: 592
Genre: Graphic book

New to me author? Yes
Read this author again? Probably not
Tearjerker? No
Where did it take place? US
FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from amazon.com):
Thompson offered readers well-realized but fantastic characters in a tale that nicely combined sentiment with adventure. This second, much longer work shares the acuity for character development and dynamic sensitivity that makes the author so compulsively readable. In Blankets, however, realism reigns supreme in both the story arc and in the humanity of its characters. Thompson himself is the protagonist, and this is his tale of growing up, falling in love (and realizing the physical and moral complications that can imply), discovering the texture and limits of his faith, and arriving at a point from which he can look back at those experiences. The snowy Midwest, peopled by overweight parents, hairy youths, and lovingly depicted younger siblings-including a respectfully and realistically treated minor character with Down syndrome-is energetically realized in Thompson's expressive lines and inking. Much of the story occurs when Craig and his brother Phil are young boys and includes images of such boyish pranks as peeing on one another. Older high school students who have reached an age when nostalgia is possible will warm to Thompson's own wistfulness. This is a big graphic novel, in concept and successful execution.

First Sentence:
When we were young, my little brother Phil and I shared the same bed.

Why did I pick this book?
I first heard about this graphic book from Regular Rumination's blog (see review here.) I haven't read graphic books for a long time, not since I was a kid (okay I lied, I tried reading Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel not too long ago, BEFORE I started seeing it on blogs, and couldn't finish it... I just couldn't get into it and wasn't interested enough to find out what happened. So I didn't count it.) So, in trying to expand my reading genre this year, I thought I'd give this a try since I had read a few good reviews of Blankets.

My thoughts:

• When I picked this book off the shelf at the library, my first thought was, wow, this is huge! It's 1.5" thick!

• I don't know... I don't find the story (or some said it's a memoir?) that interesting or touching or insightful. The plot was rather simple. I didn't find the "first love" part that heartwarming/heartbreaking. The part I enjoyed the most probably was the part about Craig and his brother when they were little. There were also some religious references in the book. There were some sensitive issues in the book but I guess reading books on similar topics in words had more impact on me

• While the drawing is not really the style I like, I do appreciate Craig's talent - I have never drawn comic or storyboard, so it definitely requires a special skill. 

• I have never wandered into the Graphic Books section at the library! So this was a first for me. I also borrowed another set of graphic books by Yoshihiro Tatsumi ("Tatsumi has been called the grandfather of Japanese alternative comics"), we'll see if I feel differently about graphic books after reading them.

Quote

"SHARED" is the sugar-coated way of saying we were TRAPPED in the same bed, as we were children and had no say in the matter. (p10)

Rating:

Have you read this book? 
If you have, I would love to hear what you think!
I'll link your review here if you wish!

Challenges:
100+ Reading
Take Another Chance

Book Review - Twenty Boy Summer: A Novel by Sarah Ockler

 














Title: Twenty Boy Summer
Author: Sarah Ockler
Year: 2009
Page: 301
Genre: Young Adult

New to me author? Yes
Read this author again? Maybe
Tearjerker? No
Where did it take place? US
FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from amazon.com):
“What is the statute of limitations on feeling guilty for cheating on a ghost?” Anna writes in her journal, or rather, writes to Matt, her first true love and her best friend Frankie’s brother. More than a year has passed since Matt’s sudden death, and all that time Anna has kept her brief relationship with Matt a secret from Frankie. Matt had planned to tell his sister but died before he had the opportunity. Now, while on a beach vacation with Frankie’s family, Anna finds herself falling for cute, sensitive Sam against her will—if she can love someone else, does that mean she no longer loves Matt? Anna approaches this issue and other big questions with the insight and maturity that come when a young person loses someone he or she cares deeply about. Anna’s authentic voice and some lyrical writing will satisfy fans of Sarah Dessen, while the mix of romance, drama, and tragedy will be a draw for teen readers of Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult.

First Sentence:
Frankie Perino and I were lucky that day.

Why did I pick this book?
Saw reviews on another blog (sorry forgot to write down who it was!). Since I don't usually like chick-lit, I try to avoid boy-meets-girl type YA as well (nothing wrong with them, just not interested). But the blogger mentioned it was more than that, so I thought I'd give it a try.

My thoughts:

• It was okay, not as profound as I thought it'd be. While I wouldn't pick up this book based on its cover (only because it is too chick-litish for me that I know I probably won't like), it is a nice and pretty cover and the sea-glass of heart is relevant to the book, so well done to the cover artist! Why did the author write it?

• I didn't identify with the characters - I think I'm too old lol, and probably would have enjoyed this more had it read it as a teenager. And I guess I would've chosen my actions differently had I been the main character in the book. Also, Matt, just seemed to be too mature for his age - who knows, I don't know a lot of teenage boys (or girls for that matter), but some of his postcards writing just didn't seem very realistic to me. Maybe I just didn't know guys like that at that age :)

• I thought I'd feel sad or more emotional when reading this book, but I didn't really feel anything, probably again, due to the fact that I couldn't relate to the characters. (And yes I cry when I read...)

• I have to say though, it is a fast read, I finished it in a day, so at least the author didn't bore me and that I at least wanted to find out what happened :)

Quote

“What is the statute of limitations on feeling guilty for cheating on a ghost?”

When someone you love dies, people ask you how you're doing, but they don't really want to know. They seek affirmation that you're okay, that you appreciate their concern, that life goes on and so can they. Secretly they wonder when the stature of limitations on asking expires (it's three months, by the way. Writes or unwritten, that's about all the time it takes for people to forget the one thing that you never will). (p73-74)

If I could find the butterfly that flapped its wings before we got into the car that day, I would crush it. (p88)

Rating:

Have you read this book? 
If you have, I would love to hear what you think!
I'll link your review here if you wish!

Challenges:
100+ Reading
Young Adult