As a part of the English-speaking world, I'm sure you have at least some knowledge of the Twilight phenomenon and the resulting vampire obsession amongst, mostly, teenaged girls. I feel about Twilight the same way I feel about "chicklit" - it's fun because it doesn't require thought and doesn't have what I would term "literary merit." That being said, I think it's sad that a lot of really well-written and interesting novels about vampires are disregarded because most people hear "vampire" and they think "sappy romance like Twilight." Elizabeth Kostova's 2005 novel, The Historian, is an intriguing and suspenseful vampire novel that had the misfortune of coming out the same year as Twilight.
The Historian centers around a young woman who finds an ancient book and a repository of old letters in her father's library which set her on a path she never could have imagined. Intertwining historical truths about Vlad the Impaler and the myth of Dracula with the lives of this girl and her parents, Kostova creates a thrilling story which culminates with a spine-chilling encounter with Dracula himself. There are no sparkly, "nice" vampires in this book - all the legends about coffins and evil are true. If you have any interest whatsoever in the occult or vampire myths and legends, I would strongly recommend this book. Kostova's writing is compelling, the epistolary form of the letters found in the library mixed in with the narrative we're given of this woman's life is intriguing, and the plot will hook you in and keep you guessing until the very end.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
R.S.V.P. "Yes"
For those of you who aren't history buffs, a historical fiction based on true events that occurred during World War II might not sound like something you'd like to read. I personally find World-War-II-related stories fascinating and moving (Band of Brothers anyone?), but even for those who aren't captivated by Stephen E. Ambrose, Mike Whicker's Invitation to Valhalla is a must-read.
This novel centers around a German spy, Erika Lehmann, who is the top Nazi spy, and Joe Mayer, a Jewish metallurgist working on a top secret project for the U.S. Navy in Evansville, Indiana. In the year 1942, Joe meets Sarah Klein (Lehmann) and they begin dating. As per usual, I don't want to give away the meat of the story, but I think you can figure out where this one is going. The most amazing thing about this positively enthralling novel, in my opinion, is that it is all based on true events. I'm sure Mike Whicker took poetic lisence with a lot of the dialogue and personal interactions, but all of the main plot points are true. As the author says in his Epilogue, "readers who contend there are gaps in this story will get no argument from the author. [...] I attempt to answer none of these questions when the truth is not before me." And yet, while Whicker sticks to the facts of the story, he writes with such fervor that it becomes apparent that he has a vested interest in the story. This in turn, creates in the reader the same interest in the story, and kept me up quite a few nights devouring this book.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, whether they are already interested in WWII or not, because I truly believe that it is one of the most scintillating and intriguing narratives that I've read.
This novel centers around a German spy, Erika Lehmann, who is the top Nazi spy, and Joe Mayer, a Jewish metallurgist working on a top secret project for the U.S. Navy in Evansville, Indiana. In the year 1942, Joe meets Sarah Klein (Lehmann) and they begin dating. As per usual, I don't want to give away the meat of the story, but I think you can figure out where this one is going. The most amazing thing about this positively enthralling novel, in my opinion, is that it is all based on true events. I'm sure Mike Whicker took poetic lisence with a lot of the dialogue and personal interactions, but all of the main plot points are true. As the author says in his Epilogue, "readers who contend there are gaps in this story will get no argument from the author. [...] I attempt to answer none of these questions when the truth is not before me." And yet, while Whicker sticks to the facts of the story, he writes with such fervor that it becomes apparent that he has a vested interest in the story. This in turn, creates in the reader the same interest in the story, and kept me up quite a few nights devouring this book.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, whether they are already interested in WWII or not, because I truly believe that it is one of the most scintillating and intriguing narratives that I've read.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Lighter Side of Literature
Since it seems I've been moving between reviewing specific books and talking about broader topics, I figure I'll stick with my pattern and tackle a broader topic of my interest with this post. What topic is this, you might ask? Well, chick lit of course. "Chick lit", in case you're unaware, is usually "fluffy", romantic, sometimes hilarious literature whose target audience is, you guessed it, women - it's basically the literary version of a rom-com, or "chick flick." It seems to me that most readers who proclaim to be "serious" academics and therefore read books of only the highest literary merit give "chick lit" a somewhat negative connotation. While I most definitely agree that books that fall under the "chick lit" umbrella are not on the same level as Jane Eyre or The Catcher in the Rye, I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with chick lit.
See, in my opinion, chick lit is the chocolate of literature. You've got your classics, your meat and potatoes, the stuff that gives you some intellectual nutrition to make you grow up a big, strong reader. But sometimes you need a break from the heavier stuff; you need to indulge every once in a while. That's where your chocolate mousse (or other various form of dessert) comes in; it's light, it's delicious, and while it may not necessarily be healthy, it won't make you fat if you consume it in moderation. I would never make the argument that chick lit is anything extremely profound or intellectual, but I will definitely say that chick lit can be fun, if done well. I personally love Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella (for some of that British humour), and Janet Evanovich - all three of these women know how to write a damn funny book.
As an English Major at a respected university, I read a lot of classics, a lot of British literature, a lot of poetry, a lot of literature intended to make you think. In fact, not only do I read it, I spend hours upon hours analyzing and re-analyzing the meaning behind it. This isn't to say I don't love doing what I do - it's just that sometimes my brain needs a break. I have personally found that indulging in a little thoughtlessness via works by any of the three authors I mentioned above is a really great way to refresh my mind so I can bite into a book with a little more meat on its bones.
See, in my opinion, chick lit is the chocolate of literature. You've got your classics, your meat and potatoes, the stuff that gives you some intellectual nutrition to make you grow up a big, strong reader. But sometimes you need a break from the heavier stuff; you need to indulge every once in a while. That's where your chocolate mousse (or other various form of dessert) comes in; it's light, it's delicious, and while it may not necessarily be healthy, it won't make you fat if you consume it in moderation. I would never make the argument that chick lit is anything extremely profound or intellectual, but I will definitely say that chick lit can be fun, if done well. I personally love Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella (for some of that British humour), and Janet Evanovich - all three of these women know how to write a damn funny book.
As an English Major at a respected university, I read a lot of classics, a lot of British literature, a lot of poetry, a lot of literature intended to make you think. In fact, not only do I read it, I spend hours upon hours analyzing and re-analyzing the meaning behind it. This isn't to say I don't love doing what I do - it's just that sometimes my brain needs a break. I have personally found that indulging in a little thoughtlessness via works by any of the three authors I mentioned above is a really great way to refresh my mind so I can bite into a book with a little more meat on its bones.
Friday, February 26, 2010
I Come from the County Kerry, I'm a Typical Irishman
Okay, so I don't exactly come from the County Kerry (I originated in Chicago but I do still have family in Ireland...admittedly it's County Mayo and not Kerry, but that's beside the point) but this is one of my favorite old Irish songs. The "typical Irishman" part is what's relevant to my post today though.
I read Tana French's debut novel, In The Woods, over my winter break. This book one the 2007 Edgar Award for Best First Novel, and Irish writer French recently published a second book, called The Likeness, focusing on a somewhat secondary character from the first book. In The Woods takes place in Dublin and is told from the point of view of Rob Ryan, a detective on the murder squad of the Irish police force. Far from your average cop drama, this book focuses on the story of a little girl found dead at an archaeological site in the woods of Knocknaree, Ireland. What may or may not be a coincidence is that Rob, formerly known as Adam Ryan, got lost in the very same woods 20 years earlier; he was with his two best friends and the three disappeared into the woods for hours. Adam was found wearing blood-filled shoes and clutching a tree; he didn't speak for two weeks and he had no memories of what happened to his two friends, who were never found. I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that I was sorely disappointed. This book has been aptly described as a "psychological thriller" by Publisher's Weekly; the unraveling of the murder of Katy Devlin, the girl found in the woods, involves the delving into of a very twisted psyche. At the same time, Rob Ryan is falling apart at the seams trying to figure out what the hell happened to him in those woods when he was a boy. Tana French is a strong writer; the book hooked me and kept me reading incessantly because I wanted to know what happened in the woods. **spoiler alert!** In the end, I was extremely disappointed that I didn't find out what happened to Rob or his friends. I felt like I had been led on, and I'll admit I was a little angry.
I did, however, pass the book along to my dad, who, as I mentioned in my last post, is my go-to guy for book recommendations and literary debate. We agreed, upon finishing the book, that it was a safe assumption that Tana French is not a huge fan of men. This is no commentary on her sexual preference or anything like that, but the way she made Rob out to be the jerk in the end really got on both of our nerves. If I hadn't read The Likeness, I might not agree with my father's conclusion, but having read French's second book I would definitely say that she's just not very nice to most of her male characters. The Likeness is told from Cassie Maddox's point of view; she was Rob's partner in the first book and at the end of In The Woods their relationship falls apart and Rob is given all the blame for how terribly things turn out.
Overall, I thought In The Woods was an alright book - I loved reading it, but the ending really made me angry. French is a good writer and she offers an interesting look at the twisted inner workings of the human psyche, but I definitely enjoyed The Likeness more, simply for the fact that I wasn't left hanging at the end.
I read Tana French's debut novel, In The Woods, over my winter break. This book one the 2007 Edgar Award for Best First Novel, and Irish writer French recently published a second book, called The Likeness, focusing on a somewhat secondary character from the first book. In The Woods takes place in Dublin and is told from the point of view of Rob Ryan, a detective on the murder squad of the Irish police force. Far from your average cop drama, this book focuses on the story of a little girl found dead at an archaeological site in the woods of Knocknaree, Ireland. What may or may not be a coincidence is that Rob, formerly known as Adam Ryan, got lost in the very same woods 20 years earlier; he was with his two best friends and the three disappeared into the woods for hours. Adam was found wearing blood-filled shoes and clutching a tree; he didn't speak for two weeks and he had no memories of what happened to his two friends, who were never found. I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that I was sorely disappointed. This book has been aptly described as a "psychological thriller" by Publisher's Weekly; the unraveling of the murder of Katy Devlin, the girl found in the woods, involves the delving into of a very twisted psyche. At the same time, Rob Ryan is falling apart at the seams trying to figure out what the hell happened to him in those woods when he was a boy. Tana French is a strong writer; the book hooked me and kept me reading incessantly because I wanted to know what happened in the woods. **spoiler alert!** In the end, I was extremely disappointed that I didn't find out what happened to Rob or his friends. I felt like I had been led on, and I'll admit I was a little angry.
I did, however, pass the book along to my dad, who, as I mentioned in my last post, is my go-to guy for book recommendations and literary debate. We agreed, upon finishing the book, that it was a safe assumption that Tana French is not a huge fan of men. This is no commentary on her sexual preference or anything like that, but the way she made Rob out to be the jerk in the end really got on both of our nerves. If I hadn't read The Likeness, I might not agree with my father's conclusion, but having read French's second book I would definitely say that she's just not very nice to most of her male characters. The Likeness is told from Cassie Maddox's point of view; she was Rob's partner in the first book and at the end of In The Woods their relationship falls apart and Rob is given all the blame for how terribly things turn out.
Overall, I thought In The Woods was an alright book - I loved reading it, but the ending really made me angry. French is a good writer and she offers an interesting look at the twisted inner workings of the human psyche, but I definitely enjoyed The Likeness more, simply for the fact that I wasn't left hanging at the end.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Well, That Was Unexpected...
In light of the fact that I got to go see a free preview of Shutter Island last night at Beverly Cinema, I'm thinking that this post may turn out to be a little diatribe on books-turned-movies. I read Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island a few years ago, on recommendation from my dad (who is my resident guru on crime/drama/horror novels), right after I finished Mystic River, another novel-turned-film by the amazing Lehane.
Let me first address the book-review aspect of this blog and tell you that I think Dennis Lehane might be one of my all-time favorite authors (right up there with Dean Koontz and Stephen King). He is the master of winding a story that keeps you interested and guessing right up to that ending that you never saw coming. I'm serious about this; I often feel that a lot of writers try to do this but are unsuccessful because by the time you hit the last 50 pages (sometimes even within the first 100 pages...those are the really unfortunate stories), you've already got a sneaking suspicion that they're setting up an ending that's supposed to surprise you. Lehane, however, literally had me gobsmacked and in tears at the ends of both Mystic River and Shutter Island. If you haven't read the books or seen the films, both of these stories delve into the human mind in such a way that readers (and maybe viewers) get a first-hand look and what can break a person. Mystic River is the story of three men who grew up together in Boston but, here's the catch, when they were little boys, one of them was abducted by two men impersonating police officers. I don't want to spoil the story for you because I strongly recommend that you go out immediately and get your hands on this book, but I will say that many years later, one of the men finds that his daughter was murdered and one of the others is the lead detective on the case. As I said, this book kept me guessing until the very end, which, as we all know, is what makes for a good mystery novel. With Shutter Island, Lehane accomplished the same type of suspense, hooking you in so that you become part of the world he has created, and are then left with your mouth agape and maybe some tears running down your cheeks (if you're a crier, like I am) when that world crashes around you. Again, I don't want to give it away because I'd love for anyone who, on the off-chance, actually reads this blog to feel the same shock and awe that I did while reading the novel.
Now about this whole making-a-blockbuster-out-of-a-really-great-book thing; my rule of thumb on this one is that the book is almost always infinitely better than the movie. (Only twice have I been proved wrong on this: Forrest Gump and Field of Dreams.) Occasionally I read a book and then I see the movie and think "hmm that actually wasn't too bad," but of course, the book is better. The critical difference between book and movie, in my opinion, is that a book lets you in to the mind of its characters; it allows you to know their motivations and thought processes instead of just watching their actions on a screen. A movie is generally no longer than two to two and a half hours in order to keep the audience interested; a book can be as long or short as the author desires, and, if it's well-written, will still keep its readers interested. There is also a major difference between "book people" and "movie people." I am constantly teased by my friends when they start talking about a movie and I say, "That was a really great book!" We're a different breed, us bookworms. This isn't to say that you can't be both; I love books and movies, I just lean a little more heavily towards literature. Some people don't read at all (sad face) and some people read but prefer the cinematic experience. That being said, if you are like me, I suggest going to see movies based on books with your friends who have never read said books. I saw Shutter Island (which was, by the way, an incredibly well-acted movie that was excellently adapted from the book) with my friend Kari, and she had no idea what was in store for her. I spent almost as much time gauging her reactions as I did watching the movie itself. I don't know about you, but I have a snarky little feeling of superiority when I already know how the story ends and I get to look around at all the poor schmucks who haven't the slightest clue as to what's coming. I know this isn't a very attractive quality, but there it is.
Let me first address the book-review aspect of this blog and tell you that I think Dennis Lehane might be one of my all-time favorite authors (right up there with Dean Koontz and Stephen King). He is the master of winding a story that keeps you interested and guessing right up to that ending that you never saw coming. I'm serious about this; I often feel that a lot of writers try to do this but are unsuccessful because by the time you hit the last 50 pages (sometimes even within the first 100 pages...those are the really unfortunate stories), you've already got a sneaking suspicion that they're setting up an ending that's supposed to surprise you. Lehane, however, literally had me gobsmacked and in tears at the ends of both Mystic River and Shutter Island. If you haven't read the books or seen the films, both of these stories delve into the human mind in such a way that readers (and maybe viewers) get a first-hand look and what can break a person. Mystic River is the story of three men who grew up together in Boston but, here's the catch, when they were little boys, one of them was abducted by two men impersonating police officers. I don't want to spoil the story for you because I strongly recommend that you go out immediately and get your hands on this book, but I will say that many years later, one of the men finds that his daughter was murdered and one of the others is the lead detective on the case. As I said, this book kept me guessing until the very end, which, as we all know, is what makes for a good mystery novel. With Shutter Island, Lehane accomplished the same type of suspense, hooking you in so that you become part of the world he has created, and are then left with your mouth agape and maybe some tears running down your cheeks (if you're a crier, like I am) when that world crashes around you. Again, I don't want to give it away because I'd love for anyone who, on the off-chance, actually reads this blog to feel the same shock and awe that I did while reading the novel.
Now about this whole making-a-blockbuster-out-of-a-really-great-book thing; my rule of thumb on this one is that the book is almost always infinitely better than the movie. (Only twice have I been proved wrong on this: Forrest Gump and Field of Dreams.) Occasionally I read a book and then I see the movie and think "hmm that actually wasn't too bad," but of course, the book is better. The critical difference between book and movie, in my opinion, is that a book lets you in to the mind of its characters; it allows you to know their motivations and thought processes instead of just watching their actions on a screen. A movie is generally no longer than two to two and a half hours in order to keep the audience interested; a book can be as long or short as the author desires, and, if it's well-written, will still keep its readers interested. There is also a major difference between "book people" and "movie people." I am constantly teased by my friends when they start talking about a movie and I say, "That was a really great book!" We're a different breed, us bookworms. This isn't to say that you can't be both; I love books and movies, I just lean a little more heavily towards literature. Some people don't read at all (sad face) and some people read but prefer the cinematic experience. That being said, if you are like me, I suggest going to see movies based on books with your friends who have never read said books. I saw Shutter Island (which was, by the way, an incredibly well-acted movie that was excellently adapted from the book) with my friend Kari, and she had no idea what was in store for her. I spent almost as much time gauging her reactions as I did watching the movie itself. I don't know about you, but I have a snarky little feeling of superiority when I already know how the story ends and I get to look around at all the poor schmucks who haven't the slightest clue as to what's coming. I know this isn't a very attractive quality, but there it is.
I'll end this absurdly long post with one more recommendation that you read some Dennis Lehane, but if you do happen to be one of those "movie people", at least go see Shutter Island; I promise it will blow your mind.
Friday, February 12, 2010
And Whiskey Too...
Ever since the original release of Tucker Max's I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell in 2006, I've been hearing about this book. I come from a huge Irish family which includes many avid readers who proclaimed to love it, and I'd had countless friends tell me, "Kelsey, you NEED to read this book!" Well, I finally got myself a copy while I was home in Chicago over Christmas, and let me just take a moment to tell you: you NEED to read this book!
I picked this book up at my local Borders one evening, and once I read the description on the back, I knew my friends were right, I did need to read it:
I will say that I've been in some pretty ridiculous and laughable situations, especially since entering college and discovering alcohol, but my collection would have nothing on Tucker's. I will also admit that, as a female, I found a couple of his stories somewhat misogynistic; but overall, I laughed so hard and enjoyed this book so much that I couldn't have cared less if he didn't treat every girl he met with respect. In fact, I don't think he treated a single girl he mentioned in the book with respect, but somehow I still kind of want to be his friend. I won't even try to delve into the psychoses behind this, although I will say that the majority of the girls mentioned in Tucker's stories didn't really treat themselves with anything I would call "respect". Whether this makes what Tucker did necessarily right or wrong is not a question that I think I can answer; I'll leave that one open for you to think about while you explore the book. I will leave you with a friendly warning though: if you have any deep-seated issues with the vulgar or obscene, this book is probably not for you. That said, I hope some of you who read this at least consider borrowing a copy from the library to check out this hysterical book. Happy Readings!
I picked this book up at my local Borders one evening, and once I read the description on the back, I knew my friends were right, I did need to read it:
"My name is Tucker Max, and I am an asshole. I get excessively drunk at inappropriate times, disregard social norms, indulge every whim, ignore the consequences of my actions, mock idiots and posers, sleep with more women than is safe or reasonable, and just generally act like a raging dickhead. But I do contribute to humanity in one very important way: I share my adventures with the world."In my opinion, anyone who can describe himself in such an honest, though incredibly unflattering, way is someone worth reading about. I spent exactly two almost entirely sleepless nights reading Tucker Max's completely ridiculous and utterly hilarious stories...at one point, I was literally crying from laughter (if you get the book, read "The Austin Road Trip, Day Two" and I promise, you'll be in tears as well). I don't know about everyone else, but reading about someone who literally has no respect for any kind of social convention and is lacking any shame whatsoever is incredibly refreshing. I have to admit, I use literature as an escape, and it was nice, for a change, to escape into the mind of someone who says and does the things that no one else has the cojones to say and do. The absolute best part: he's a real guy. He's a real, flesh-and-blood guy, and all of his stories are true.
I will say that I've been in some pretty ridiculous and laughable situations, especially since entering college and discovering alcohol, but my collection would have nothing on Tucker's. I will also admit that, as a female, I found a couple of his stories somewhat misogynistic; but overall, I laughed so hard and enjoyed this book so much that I couldn't have cared less if he didn't treat every girl he met with respect. In fact, I don't think he treated a single girl he mentioned in the book with respect, but somehow I still kind of want to be his friend. I won't even try to delve into the psychoses behind this, although I will say that the majority of the girls mentioned in Tucker's stories didn't really treat themselves with anything I would call "respect". Whether this makes what Tucker did necessarily right or wrong is not a question that I think I can answer; I'll leave that one open for you to think about while you explore the book. I will leave you with a friendly warning though: if you have any deep-seated issues with the vulgar or obscene, this book is probably not for you. That said, I hope some of you who read this at least consider borrowing a copy from the library to check out this hysterical book. Happy Readings!
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