Slow to post

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. An okay book about time passing in one day and the choices one makes through the years and the implications for the future. It was okay. I am tad bit upset that I left my copy on the plane after finishing in mid-November. Oh well.


Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. A deeply disturbing book, beautifully written. Perhaps an explanation of how some pedophiles are born and how they think. In the end, tragic all around.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. I can't say I agree with her philosophy, but the story itself was pretty darn good. A soap opera of sorts, full of lots of interesting and evil characters. And the quintessential hero, who can't be bought, Howard Rourke. There's much to be said for integrity and much to be said for striving to be the best and to view one's work as a vocation. Capitalism is without a doubt the best economic system, but it has its faults as well. Most men don't possess the integrity of a Rourke or the ability to do their best just because. Only a cruel society would leave its poor to the integrity of the rich and powerful. Rand may not have known Bernie Madoff, but there have always been Madoff-like people who are driven by pure greed, and it is often the poor that suffer the fall-out--the collateral damage of what those in power do.
But the story moves and as long as it is, it's a story that held my attention the whole way.

Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. At the same time I was listening to The Fountainhead, I was reading Babbitt. Babbitt is the opposite of Rourke, more akin to Peter Keating in TheFountainhead, the kind of character who goes along to get along, always conforming and enjoying success as a result. Babbitt, however, does attempt to step out, but, Baby, it's cold out there, and Babbitt doesn't like living in exile. ULtimately, he rejoins the fold, but he knows that he has lost. There is hope in the end, for the next generation.

Currently listening to: The Girl Who Played with Fire, by Stieg Larsson.
Currently reading: A Death in the Family by James Agee.

Watch me now!

Look at me with my bad self. Okay, but it's been awhile since only a week has passed since my last post.

Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh. A beautifully written book about grace, the disappearing aristocracy, famly dymanics, and goodness knows what else. Very complex characters, particularly Sebastian. Was Sebastian gay? Were Charles and Sebastian more than just "friends." How can Bridey get religion so wrong. He embodies much that is wrong with religion.

All of the characters changed; Nanny Hawkins is mostly the constant against whom all others are measured. In the end, Lord Marchmain seems to accept the religion he spent so much of his married life rejecting and even Charles seems more open to God's grace.

I tried to negotiate for a used copy of this book. The bookseller refused to give on the price because she rarely gets in used copies. "People tend to hang on to their copies." I have a better understanding of why.

Finally . . .

The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie. Through most of this book, I felt like the ignoramus who visits an art museum. He knows the artwork is expensive, important, provocative, and so on. But he just doesn't get it. The back of The Satanic Verses described the book as erudite. I'm sure that's it. I'm now "erudite" enough to understand the allegory. The prose was beautiful. Salman's command of the language is quite impressive. Parts of it were laugh-out-loud funny. And there were many parts that were quite enjoyable.

I actually finished the book yesterday. Sleeping on it has helped me understand the interplay between good and evil and the fact that both dwell within individuals. I think I'll try to find time to review it so that I can pick up more than what I did in the six weeks it took me to finish it.

Either way, it will probably be awhile before I pick up Midnight's Children. BoilerBaby 1 loved that book, but I'll have to mentally prepare for it. Sort of like getting ready to run a marathon.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder. Jack McCoy reads The Bridge of San Luis Rey! That's what this audio book, read by Sam Waterston. A short book, about the lives of five people who died when a bridge collapsed, it raises questions about the nature of God and whether we can truly understand it, as well as reminds us how little we really know about the people we see and interact with daily. The story was set in a small community; everyone knew each other, at least by name. But yet they really didn't entirely. Complex lives in a simple setting. It was a beautiful story. Would have been better had it not been read by Sam Waterston.

Currently: Listening to Lolita. Started reading Brideshead Revisited.

A Bit Behind on the Posting

Well, I guess I forgot to record something, as in Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe.


Things Fall Apart.

This was a fairly quick read, which I finished as we were moving BB2 to college. Unlike many (Western authors, Americans in particular, (Edith Wharton excluded) this author felt no need to provide a nicely wrapped happy ending. Things can come completely unraveled and unfixable at the occurrence of the unintentional events. So goes the story of the Okonkwo, who sees things fall apart when he inadvertently kills a member of his village. And things fall apart when Europeans, with the best of intentions, foist themselves on Africa. And so it goes.

Catch 22, by Joseph Heller. Maybe it's the time of the year, but for the past couple years at this time, I've been seemingly caught in "Audible Hell." That is, I'm listening to a book that takes inhuman effort to finish. Last year, it was The Brothers K. This year, it was Catch 22. However, unlike last year, when afater finishing TBK, I collapsed on the pavement, wondering if the marathon had been worth it, after finishing the marathon of C22, I fully understood why this is considered one of the great books of the 20th century.

It took a while for me to understand that unlike most novels, this book was composed of a series of anecdotes, with the plot line slowly unfolding over time. The absurdity of the military bureacracy is unfortunately played out in some of the large organizations I've known. The tragedies are poignant and the humanity of Yosarrian is a reminder of the importance of not losing one's own humanity. And part of the enjoyment of this book was identifying all of the Catch 22 situations. I'm not a fan of war literature in general, but this was a good read.

Wha's up now?

Reading: The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie.
Listening: The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder.

Working with a new goal

I'm trying to read the good stuff. Here goes.

The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen. I delayed reading this book for years after the Oprah debaucle. So Franzen didn't want Oprah's "mark" plastered on his book. What a putz! But, given all the hype, coupled with the fact that I bought a used copy so Franzen didn't directly get a dime of my money. Plus, time heals all wounds--real or perceived. So the time had come to read this book billed by many as the "Great American Novel."

It was okay. It enjoyed a bit of a positive growth spurt in my opinion over the first couple of days after I finished it. But the growth spurt has ended, and it's still only a bit more than okay. A rather dysfunctional family, with a father suffering from Parkinson's and dementia; an idealistic, superficial mother suffering from denial; a controlling, money-grubbing elder son, married to a self-centered, manipulative bitch; a hapless second son; a talented, but misguided daughter in denial about her sexual orientation (like mother, like daughter). Mix the characters with a good dose of East Coast snobbery about the Midwest, and that's the basic idea. Some of the prose is quite clever, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, but utlimately not enough to redeem it in my opinion.

Okay, so they start to make "corrections" in their lives as the story ends, after their last Christmas together that was quite a bit less than perfect. But, I suppose I'm just not literary enough to see the brilliance of this novel.

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. A quick read, with the kind of ending that I could see coming, but was still shocked when it happened. Was it the right thing for George to do to Lennie? Was it compassionate or cold-blooded murder? Was it the ultimate buddy story or something else? So many isolated people whose lives (as was the case in The Grapes of Wrath) just seem miserable, with no foreseeable way out. Good read.

Listening to: Catch 22.
Reading: Things Fall Apart.

Not Exactly PC

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. Was this the inspiration for the Amazing Race? If there'd been reality tv in the 1870s, (or reality newpaper accounts), I suppose this would have been the 19th century version of BoilerHusband's favorite reality TV show. However, I never thought I'd say that reality TV has more depth than does this story.

The story was entertaining enough, and relying on my own mental map of the world to follow the story was certainly challenging. Jim Dale, not surprisingly, excellently narrated the story, keeping it moving and doing the best voices. The "twist" at the end was a bit of a cheap trick, but overall, it was worth listening to.

I couldn't however, help thinking that Verne had a very narrow view of other cultures of the world. The descriptions of the Indians and Verne's minimization of the disrepect shown by Paspartieux in entering one of their temples wouldn't pass muster today. The attack by the Native Americans on the train as Fogg crosses the U.S.--well of course, that's what you'd expect of those savages, right? Ultimately, to be taking such a fantastic trip around the world, Fogg takes in amazingly little of the culture or the sights even when time permits, according to the story. At least in the Amazing Race, the contestants are forced to partake of the culture by eating the food, engaging in local occupations, learning local dances, and participatin in other activities that make the race truly "amazing."

Maybe again, I've fallen victim to viewing a classic book through modern eyes, but while the story is good on a basic level, it's lacking on another.

Catch-up Time

Elvis, Willie, Jesus, and Me, by Bert Mongtomery. I'll admit it: I bit because of the title and because Montgomery was at the CBF General Assembly signing books. As authors go, he's fine. As ministers go, he seems sincere. Yes there were some amusing parts, but for the most part, it was incredibly light, and much like fast food, not substantive enough to stick with me. Perhaps the saving grace was Montgomery's ability to find Jesus everywhere he looked. Seek and you shall find. He sought, he found, and there's inspiration in that.

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck. Can it be true that it took 48 years of living before I finally read this classic? I suppose better late than never. In an attempt to keep pace with BoilerBaby 1 who is reading the books on the Time 100 Best Books, I chose this book, which I've owned for probably 15 years.

What a family. What characters. Ma Joad, the strength, the moral compass, the backbone of the family, as women always must be in difficult times, whether it be war or famine. Pa Joad, bent to near breaking by his inability to support his family. Uncle John, so tormented by a major mistake, his sin. Jim Casy, the reverend who develops a more pragmatic, sincere idea of religion. Tom Joad, who takes on the role of an activist when it's all said and done. And what can one say about Rose of Sharon, once one gets past her name, of course. What a whiny-butt! What a way to end the book though! Wow!

Overall, the story of the Joad family reinforces my faith in labor unions and the federal minimum wage. Perhaps we have become a more socialistic state, but I can't help but think that our country is better for it. Allowing exploitation of some for the benefit of others is entirely inconsistent with the Christian nation we purport to be. Yes, the Joads are a fictional family, and yes, Steinbeck's own bias likely means that the story is not a completely accurate portrayal of the dust bowl and the Great Depression, but it should be mandatory reading for all who critical of the living wage movement and complain of government regulation. If there's one thing that's certain, it's that when men are driven by profit, without reasonable restraints, their fellow man is likely to get short shrift. Or, as the Bible says, the love of money is the root of all evil.

I understand why this book makes many a list of the "best books."

On the horizon:

Listening to, Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne. Started The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen.

Getting much grief

BoilerBaby 1 keeps giving me grief. Like any bibliophile, I continue to purchase books when I have many yet unread. She's so insistent that I look to the library more, and I suppose she's right. Either way, it has spurred me on to try to keep up on reading so that I can justify my book-Jones.

Sister Carrie, by Theodore Dreiser. When I bought this book, we still had a TCBY in town and BoilerBaby 1 was employed there. That was two or three years ago, but proof that eventually I do get around to reading my books.

Sister Carrie isn't exacly a book that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. A price for everything, and those that have, are likely to enjoy life. Those who don't, find it difficult to change their lot in life, but for luck and happenstance. And woe be unto those that have and lose what they have, as is the case with Hurstwood.

It happens often enough that I read a book and am so drawn in that I find myself hoping that the characters will make the right choice or good things will happen for them, even though their fate is already spelled out in the pages to come, and I sometimes know it doesn't end well for a character. That was my feeling at several points in the book. When Carrie first moves to Chicago, I wanted her to find a job and happiness. I wanted her to turn down the deceptively easy road of moving in with Drouet. I wanted her to reject Hurstwood. I wanted Hurstwood to persevere when the going got tough. I didn't get what I wanted. Either way, I enjoyed the book.

The story ended with Carrie's success on the stage, but despite her past experiences, I suspect that if the story were to continue, she would have once again taken the expedient course rather than the smart course. Of course, life is much different for women now than then, and perhaps I shouldn't judge 19th century conduct through 21st century eyes.

Buddy Read with BoilerBaby 3

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. Lowry does it again--taking an important topic and making it meaningful for children. This book addresses the holocaust and how the Danish people succeeded in saving most of their Jews from "relocation" by sneaking them over to Sweden where they would be safe. It recounts the bravery required of 10-year-olds Annemarie and Ellen. The two girls are best friends, living in the same apartment complex when Denmark is occupied by the Nazis. Upon learning that the Danish Jews are to be relocated, Annemarie's family undertakes to help Ellen's family escape. Along the way, Annemarie learns what it means to be brave, and the readers learn of an ingenious trick used by the Danes to throw off the dogs who the Nazis used to sniff for hidden humans: a handkerchief, scented with rabbit's blood and cocaine. The blood attracted the dogs, but the cocaine numbed their olefactory sense so that they missed the scent they were searching for.

Wonderful story about a weighty topic.

Reading and Reading

The Magician, by W. Somerset Maugham. Having read Of Human Bondage and The Painted Veil, I decided to read yet another Maugham book. Oliver Haddo is evil personified, and the number he does on the various characters, inciting as much psychological fear as real fear, is quite masterful. Dabbling in the "black arts" he manages to seduce Margaret purely for the sake of getting revenge on her fiance. Margaret quickly loses all that is good and innocent and becomes poisoned by the evil with which she lives. Had Maugham continued with this line, it truly would have been frightening and interesting. It starts to get a little wierd, however, when Haddo appears set on creating a homunculus and in need of Margaret to complete it. The ending is just plain bad. I guess Maugham needed a way to end the story. Wish he'd come up with a better way.

Incredible Book

Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. I lucked upon this book while shopping for my next Audible selection. It had great ratings, but I was a bit suspicious that maybe it was overrated. The customer reviews on Amazon were similarly effusive about the book, with only a smattering of negative reviews. Could a book really be that good? Yes!!!

I am not sure how to describe this book. With characters like BarefootTed, Caballo Blanco, and the "Party Kids", the story of the race in Copper Canyon would have made a sufficiently compelling story. McDougall's ability to break down scientific concepts for the layperson was such that his book could have been a simple study of the evolution of man or the physics of running. A story about the culture of Tarahumara Indians would similarly have made for an interesting anthropological read. McDougall could have easily written a scathing story of the corporate greed of the athletic shoe companies. Somehow, however, McDougall manages to weave all of these different story lines seamlessly into one of the best books I've "read" in a long time.

It's changed my thoughts about running. Like most runners, I've been seduced by the advertising and conventional wisdom that tells me that I need scientifically engineered shoes (read expensive) to address my flat feet. If I have shin splints or burning knees, it's clearly a sign that time waits for no one, and certainly not me. I'm willing to give minimalist running a try, and have already purchased shoes with thinner soles. I'm working on changing my form. I'm trying to go back in time--to recapture the joy of running, and the form that McDougall suggests is more correct than the abnormal form forced on me by my thick soled, heavy-heeled running shoes.

Overall, the book is laugh-out-loud funny in parts, educational, and ultimately inspiring. I might not ever run an ultramarathon, or even a marathon, but I want to be a running woman, who truly enjoys running.

Picking up the pace?

Not really, but add three more notches to my library card (or something like that).

Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown. I sped through this book so that I could see the movie. Have I seen it yet? Well . . .I'll get around to it. Either way, while the story is different in lots of ways from The DaVinci Code, it still has the same feel of a suspenseful if fantastic story. Sure, I'd know how to find an ultra-deadly assassin who is motivated as much by principle as he is greed, just like the least likely character in the story. Sure, one assassin can confine and murder four cardinals in some very creative ways, in public places, all while avoiding detection. Why of course, Robert Langdon is so brilliant that he can decipher in 24 hours, with limited sleep the clues that would lead to the Illuminati headquarters, clues so difficult that only the most worthy wuld be expected to even try. It was good. It was a quick read. It wasn't time wasted. Ultimately, it'll probably stay with me to about the same degree as TDC: I know how it started, I know how it ended, I don't remember much else.

Washington Square, by Henry James. What a sad, pathetic life led be all of the main characters of this book. Poor Catherine. Denied the only man she ever loved. Too afraidto defy her father. An old maid, albeit a rich one. But doubtful her life would have been any better had she indeed married Townsend. Poor Aunt Lavinia. So simple and so easily taken in, living her life as little more than an observer and would be melodramatic orchestrator of the lives of others. Poor Dr. Sloper. Never finding enough good in anyone to measure up the possibly vaunted view of his deceased wife and son. How perverse that he could enjoy winning the battle with his daughter.

Like Daisy Miller and Portrait of a Lady, this book was well-written and thought provoking and yet another reminder of why I'm glad Ilive in this era where women are independent.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz. "What does fuego mean in English." The answer to that is definitely the "wao" factor in this book, a parable of sorts, about life and love, with a bit of Dominican history thrown in for good measure. The story ran a little long at parts, but the family history was intriguing. I'd give this book an 8 on a 10 point scale.

Busy, Busy, Busy

So many books, so little time. But, I've made progress.

The Help, by Kathryn Stockton. This book has gotten great reviews. I don't get it. Maybe it's that I didn't grow up in the South. Maybe it's that the 60s are too far in the past for my mind to grasp. Maybe it's that I don't believe even the most vindictive person would do what one of the characters did. Either way, I found the plot relatively thin, often demanding a huge suspenseful buck, only to give a tiny little bang. Moreover, that the character would do what she did seemed completely inconsistent with the way she was described. I can't fathom that someone like her would do what it would take to carry out what she is described as doing.

To the extent it piqued my interest in the 60s and the relationship between black maids and the whites they worked for, it was good. But otherwise, the risk of the "secret project" seemed overblown. On the other hand, some of the worst parts of the life of a black maid were skimmed over. There was character growth, and some funny parts, but overall, I'm just missing the greatness of this book.

Daisy Miller, by Henry James. A quick short read, in which James, once again, explores the effect Americans and Europeans have on each other. Daisy breaks all the rules of proper European conduct for a wealthy, single woman, ignoring the snobbiness demanded of her. Yet, there is little redeeming about her. She is flighty and shallow and downright silly. Poor Daisy. It doesn't end well.

So what am I reading and listening to now???
Reading: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. I am also reading Washington Square, by Henry James, the second book in the same volume as Daisy Miller. I put down Washington Square to try to get A&D done so that I can see the movie.


Listening to: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz. So far, pretty good. A little bit of history of the Dominican Republic, and a Dominican family that defies description. A little more than an hour to go.

Time for an Update

I've been reading!

Tom Jones by Henry Fielding. (audiobook)

I almost gave up on Tom Jones. What a mistake that would have been! I started off thrilled about the prose, but then lost some of the excitement as the story wore on. At about the half-way part, I was almost resigned to not purchasing the 3rd installment of this audio book. In fact, I only did so because the second installment ended with a promo for the "exciting conclusion in part 3!" I bit. And I'm the better for it. The last part was good, and exciting, and full of plot twists. Plus any classic that contains a chapter where one of the characters, Squire Western, repeatedly exclaims, "fat ass bitches" isn't your typical staid classic. Ultimately, this book in which there are no perfect characters is currently one of my favorite books of all time, and is likely to remain there. I liked it so much that I'm going back and re-listening to the whole thing. The first time through, I missed some of the humor, some of the foreshadowing, and some of the story. Parts are laugh-out-loud funny. What a commentary about life among the classes back in that day. I now get why this book is so well-loved by so many readers.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (read)

If I hadn't read The Count of Monte Cristo, I doubt that I ever would have picked up this book. With all of the sword fights--the only thing I associated with T3M--it seemed like such a boy book. I suppose it is, but it is much more. Love, intrigue, manipulation, conspiracy, and one of the evilist female antagonists I've run across in a long time. Milady--what a biatch! I now get why this book endures. I guess I'll get around to watching one of the many movies. But my concern is that the main focus is on the action, and not the other parts of the story. Or if the movie includes more, I'm afraid it still won't be complete because it will likely gloss over all of the romantic liasons that are occurring between all of the main characters. I doubt that the Micky Mouse verson includes the trysts between d'Artagnan and Milady, or d'Artagnan and Kitty, or Porthos and Madame Cocquenard, or any number of others.

The only other comment I have is, why is this book called the Three Musketeers. Seems to me it should more accurately be titled the Four Musketeers. But who am I to tell Dumas how to name his books.


Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

A quick but interesting listen about behavioral economics. It's really kind of a cool discipline. Ariely studies the way people make decisions and behave and how often, we are easily manipulated into making irrational decisions. The experiments about "free" and how the word free distracts us from what might be better options. The effect of a 50 cent aspirin versus a cheaper version is an extension of the placebo effect. Decision-making in the heat of passion was particularly interesting. Ariely offers an explanation of why "Just Say No" sounds good to the dispassionat mind, but is a whole 'nother story for even those with the best of intentions.

I burned through this one pretty quickly because at bottom, I miss the fact that I ultimately didn't take the psychology route.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (read)

I've owned this book and intended to read it forever. My trip to NYC finally provided me the opportunity to do so.

How difficult must it be to have one's eyes opened to a new and exciting world unconstrained by traditional expectations, as does Newland Archer when he meets Countess Ellen Olenska. But ultimately, Newland ends up in the same place, where life is as choreographed as the various ball dances. Newland always seems to be at the edge of breaking out for good, but never quite gets there, always missing by just a bit. If only he could have married Ellen when they were still young and both single. If only he hadn't convinced May to move up their planned wedding. If only he hadn't dissuaded Ellen from divorcing her husband. If only he'd escaped with Ellen before May told her of her pregnancy. If only he'd been born a generation later, when the narrow world of high society New York had essentially crumbled.

I suppose I should be accustomed to the fact that Wharton's novel never have a happily-ever-after ending (long sigh).

Not a total slacker

I did finish the amazing White Fang, by Jack London. That kind of wilderness book has never particularly appealed to me, but just out of the blue, I decided to read it on my iPod given that it was one of the 50 books I have on my iPod. I really liked it. It's real easy to forget that life is often a game of survival of the fittest. It is equally easy to forget how much we are shaped by our environment. This very entertaining story does just that.

I enjoyed the descriptions of life in the wild, where every day is a struggle for survival, and, to coin a cliche, there's a thin line between life and death. White Fang was the ultimate survivor, the ultimate man's best friend. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

On the other hand, there's Basketball Jones by E. Lynn Harris, was not quite what I expected. Call me naive. I didn't know that Harris is an openly gay writer, but that was pretty evident as the story unfolded. I bought the book because it came up on Audible.com as having rec'd very good reviews, and when I checked it out on Amazon, to get a broader range of reviews, the reviews were pretty good. And, it was on the New York Best Seller List. What the heck, right?

So was I right to believe the hype? Well, let's put it this way: it wasn't bad, but I figured out who was behind the blackmail plot pretty early into the story, which was one of the major twists in the plot. There was another fairly significant plot, but I most found the story rather fantastic. I'm sure there are professional athletes who have their lovers travel surreptitiously with them to away games and treat them as kept men, but I just have a hard time believing this story could happen. Again, maybe it's just that I have no insight into that community. In a sense, if I ignore that the story is about gay men, perhaps it becomes more believable, but even then, it's a little difficult.

It was a quick read, which is another way of saying a thin plot line. I guess that as I age, I get snobbier. Having had the gourmet 7 course meal of lots of good classics (A Passage to India; Crime and Punishment; The Brothers Karamazov), reading Basketball Jones is a little like dining at McDonald's.

I continue to listen to Tom Jones, and I guess I'll get back to reading The Appeal, as well as The Age of Innocence on my iPod. I've certainly got plenty to read.

Falling Behind on Updating

Finished Reading: Georges, by Alexandre Dumas. If there were ever any questions about how Dumas felt about his bi-racial ancestry, Georges gives some insight. The title character, a mulatto, is treated a second-class citizen on his home island. While his father, rich and successful, learned to accept the treatment of whites, Georges is not nearly as accommodating. Indeed, he in many ways, overcompensates, proving himself to be the superior of any white man, in terms of academics, bravery, discipline, and romance. He wins the love of the fairest (and wealthiest) woman on the island.

I had the uncomfortable knot in my stomach as the plot built toward the slave rebellion, led by Georges, knowing that the slaves would not prevail and might make their situation worse. But Georges escaped, besting all that had crossed him.

Not like, but not unlike The Count of Monte Cristo.

Finished reading, A Room with a View, by E.M. Forster.

With this book, I can now claim e-reader status. I can't justify the cost of a Kindle (>$200!!), but when I found an iPod app, giving me 50 books (yes fifty) for $10.00, readable on my iPod, I figured I could spring for ten bucks. I had tried out this particular reader, which offered for free The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, so I can't say I was really living on the edge. Ah, the ease of carrying 50 books in my purse!

Having listened to and enjoyed A Passage to India, I was ready to give Forster another chance with A Room. It was good. Once again, an exploration of England, and the English view of the world, contrasted with the perspective of the Italians, as the protagonist, Lucy, grows from a girl, constrained by what's proper (i.e. pretentious) in English society to a woman, mature enough to reject her snobby fiance and follow her heart. It's one of those books that's growing on me.


In the process of listening, reading, and e-reading:

Listening: Tom Jones
Reading (sort of): The Appeal
E-Reading: White Fang.

A little behind on posting

Books Heard

The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, by Stieg Larson. Pretty good book, although arguably it was two stories stuck together. One story invovled the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Harriet Vanger years earlier. I sort of figured out the mystery (or at least suspected the outcome), but I still enjoyed seeing the clues build toward the ultimate resolution. The second story involved another coompany, guilty of corporate fraud (now that's timely). The protagonist, a writer and owner of a business magazine, had been found guilty of defamation in writing about the company. That story, and its ultimate resolution, was less satisfying. The title was also a bit misleading. There is a girl with a dragon tatoo, and in fact she is an intriguing character, but ultimately, the story is not really about her. Either way, well-written, and worth the time.

A Passage to India, by E. M. Forster. I'm amazed that someone hasn't updated this story. It's so timely! Set in Colonial India, the story raises the question as to whether people from vastly different cultures can really be friends. Three cultures converge in Chandrapore: the English, the Hindus, and the Muslims. There is much distrust among the three groups, but Dr. Aziz, the protagonist, while frustrated with his English boss, is open to a friendship with Mrs. Moore, whom he meets at the mosque, when she seems about as sincere as any English person he's ever met. Things seems to be going well as several English people, Dr. Aziz, and Dr. Godbole (a Hindu) seem to be forming a genuine friendship. Unfortunately, it all unravels pretty quickly after the "incident" in the Marabar Caves. What happens thereafter is thought-provoking and probably entirely understood, at least by those whose cultures have traditionally been treated as inferior to the dominant culture. Good read.

Book Read

Jesus on Death Row: The Trial of Jesus and American Capital Punishment, by Mark Osler.

It's good to have smart friends that write books. That's the case here with this book. It's not available yet, but of course, when one can get a copy from the author, well that's the life.

In this book, Mark shows the comparisons between current criminal procedure and practice and the procedure and practice at the time of Jesus, as recounted in the gospels. Mark admits that he's not trying to be theological, and some theologians might have issues with his harmonizing of the gospels. Nonetheless, the similarities between then and now are astounding.

I await Mark's further writings in this area.

Books Working on:

Georges, by Alexandre Dumas (reading)
Tom Jones, by Fielding (listening to)