rahniREADS (May '09)

This is a warning sign. Not for you, so much, as for me. DON'T PUT OFF WRITING rahniREADS ENTRIES! (For me.) DON'T PROCRASTINATE PUTTING YOUR THOUGHTS DOWN ONTO PAPER (OR SCREEN)! (For both of us.) I alway think--of course I'll remember that hilarious situation/traumatic event/genius idea/feelings about a book or even the plot of the book/life-altering dream. Nope, it's not true. Not going to happen unless you WRITE IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY!

Enough with the all caps. I apologize. It's just that I'm typing this entry four months late on a recalcitrant keyboard at a waypasttwilight hour on a slooooow computer. I've gotten kind of backlogged this summer with drafts of posts to publish onto this blog, but no finished results. Once I un-dam (is that a word?) this blockage of rahniREADS entries, though, it's smooth sailing! Not that I have grandiose delusions that anyone is just hanging on by tenterhooks out there to read the next inane words out of my mouth, but still! I thought I'd address the slackerness. I'm working on it, truly!


Magyck - Angie Sage (mp3 audio)***1/2
~"Magyckal" 7th son of 7th, stolen~
WARNING . . . shameless plug for bn.com to follow! I'd been looking for a "book on tape" (not so much tape, anymore, than mp3, but we're all used to the phrase, right?) to listen to while running and preparing for the upcoming Seattle Rock 'n' Roll marathon in June. Check it out--I found this fabulous audio book for just $4.93 at bn.com! It was a book I wanted to read, at a price I was extremely excited about, the narrator had an accent to die for (see more about accents further on down this list), and--best of all--it was 12 hours long! Lots of running time. Fun story, too. (Fiction, Young Reader, fantasy)
Pretty is What Changes - Jessica Queller***1/2
~Gilmore Girls writer records radical decision~
It's the language that gets me, every time. Clever phrasing, the lyrical cadence of a well-written speech, an ingeniously-expressed thought, carefully chosen words that surprise and delight me . . . I'm a sucker for a nicely-strung words chained together into a snug sentence. It's why I watch re-runs of The West Wing and Gilmore Girls, why I loved Henry James' snoozer Portrait of a Lady (despite not caring about the characters or being the least interested in what happened to them in the course of the "plot"). I flipped through this book while taking it off display at B&N and happened upon a paragraph that mentioned the author's job as a writer on the set of Gilmore Girls. SOLD! A book for all women--men wouldn't do themselves a wrong by reading it, either, but it's definitely geared towards women. (Nonfiction, Memoir, Cancer)
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5) - Rick Riordan****
~Battle at the Empire State Building~
It's rare that I get to read a series, start-to-finish, in one calendar year. I'm one of those who can't follow the tempered example of others and wait until a series is finished to pick up book one. I leap upon books, heedless of the potential for future heartache and angst of waiting a whole year between the next in the series, then the next, then the next. For this author, though, I was enough of an idiot to ignore his library of published works until all but one of the books were out. Even then, I only had to wait a few months for the final book. I highly recommend this series for kids or adults. It's definitely one that reaches across the ages to appeal to everyone. Satisfying close to a terrific tale. (Fiction, Young Reader, real world mixed with fantasy)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Schaffer*****
~Writer corresponds and visits with Guernsey-ites~
Chandra foolishly gave me her library login information a while back. Naturally, I often take advantage of this position of power to force my "suggestions" upon her. Thus, I received the following email query: "The following title you requested is available to be picked up at your local branch: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." I assume this is a "Rahni" pick? Good times, having such control! Despite being a B&N Recommends title, this book had everything going against it--bizarre and long title, epistolary structure, unappealing food in the title. But I LOVED IT!!! It's heart-warming, clever, entertaining, filled with characters I'd love to spend time with, and it's historically informative! (Fiction, Historical England, WWII)
The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J. K. Rowling *1/2
~Non-entertaining tales Hermione read through HP7~
SUCH A WASTE OF MY TIME. Why throw away more minutes of my life writing about it here? After all, I stoically trudged through this text in a could-be-doing-anything-better lunch break. Stick with Rowling's excellent HP books, NOT the peripherals. (Fiction, Young Reader, Fantasy/Folk Tale)
I Was Told There'd Be Cake - Sloane Crosley***1/2
~Living the single life in NYC~
I admit it--I'm easily reeled in by titles. Walking by this book in the bookstore, I often wondered what it was about. After I read the first paragraph, I was hooked. The author starts out by talking about a shared fear many of us harbor regarding our living spaces. If I were to collapse today and someone had to clean out my apartment, what would they find? And in what horrifying condition? Fabulous. I found, however, that the essays ranged from "fantastic" to "just okay", though, thus the 3 and 1/2 stars. Not a book that would appeal across all demographics, but I enjoyed it. I have to say that I definitely think that NYC Melanie should read it! Especially the section on moving apartments, and the trials and travails that accompany such a trauma. (Nonfiction, Memoir, Humorous essays)
The Screwtape Letters - C. S. Lewis (Book Club)***1/2
~Devil's apprentices discuss combating "the Enemy"~
I found that I've started this book many times in my life, but never read it in its entirety (until now, of course). And I'm a little embarrassed to be asking this, but . . . how did it end? Don't get me wrong, I read the ending, I just don't quite understand it. (Don't think that this doesn't make me feel like a fool--it certainly does.) Back to the topic, however--did the guy die? Did he somehow make himself out of the reach of temptation by unknown means? I understand that the "Enemy" won--but how? Anyhow, a thought-provoking read that made me chuckle many times about how on the nose C.S. Lewis was concerning the prideful ways of man and how easily we're duped. I would make it a 4 star, but it's a touch dry at times. Even if it's not your style, however, I do think that it would do anyone and everyone good to at least be familiar with this book. (Nonfiction, Allegorical)
MirrorMask - Neil Gaiman**1/2
~Comic girl travels via Alice's rabbit-hole~
Honestly, I'm writing this "review" in August and don't recall much of this book. I sought out more Neil Gaiman after my marvelous experience with his Newberry Award Winner (The Graveyard Book), and happened across this quick story. More graphic novel than chapter book, it had some intriguing artwork, but I wasn't too captivated by the story. Oh well. (Fiction, Graphic Novel, real world mixed with fantasy elements)
The Compound - S. A. Bodeen**
~Bomb. Family flees underground. Some abandoned.~
I'm quite a fan, usually, of post-apocalyptic fiction, but his book felt more like a submission for a Creative Writing class--expanded and published, but not improved or polished. Truly, I typically only notice a writer's style when I particularly admire the style or ingenuity (which only improves my reading experience). It takes some pretty bad writing to distract me away from the story. This story succeeded though, in making me shake my head on many occasions, mourning "what could have been." (Fiction, teen)
Flyte (Septimus Heap #2) - Angie Sage (mp3)***
~Wizard's apprentice plagued by devious forces~
Not at the same level as Cinda Chima's Heir series, or Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians (this series aims a bit younger), but I spent many a happy hour trotting along to it anyhow. In fact, at one point, when especially caught up in some nefarious deed done by the dastardly Dom Daniel, I was quite concerned--furrowed brow and all. I was surprised out of my scowl, however, by a honk by my friend John, zooming by in his truck. Running alongside the road against traffic can lead to many shared glances with strangers. But for the people I know, at least, I try and make my running not look like a chore I'm struggling through. Of course, had he caught me in a gleeful moment of the book, it could have been just as embarrassing. I react waaaay too much to my audiobooks, I fear. Shouting, scowling, cheering, grinning--it's all there. Book two, sadly, was not narrated by the same engaging genius who read the first novel to me. A good accent this time as well, but not nearly as fabulous as the first narrator. Sigh. (Fiction, Young Reader, Fantasy)
Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos***1/2
~Chatty, kind Samaritans befriend young girl~
I picked up this book solely because I wanted to read its sequel, Belong to Me. The reason I wanted to read that book? Because of the cover. I know you're not supposed to judge books by their covers, but seriously? Covers help. I really didn't get into this book until about half way through. Then I loved it. For the first half, however, I was perhaps lukewarm at best. I kept thinking of how Chandra would hate this main character for exactly the reasons she gets exasperated with Gilmore Girls. At times, it employs too self-consciously clever prose. But then you get swept up in the story, and the characters get smarter and you find yourself cheering for them. Press on, Chandra! You'll love book two (see next month's reviews)!! (Fiction, modern day)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley***1/2
~Harriet the Spy, million times better~
When I read the interview with Alan Bradly--first-time author at the age of 70--on Amazon.com, I immediately sought out information about when his quirky tale of intrigue would be published. I was not disappointed with the wait. A timeless mystery, sisters who fight well and with delicious subterfuge, complex chemistry--what's not to love? (Fiction, mystery, historical England)
Jacob Have I Loved - Katherine Paterson (Book Club)***
~Shining sister's shadow eclipses prickly twin~
When Sarah chose this for our June Book Club pick, I winced. I read this Newberry Award Winner years ago, and all I could remember was something about a girl who has a crush on a man who could be her grandfather and that I never wanted to read it again. Fortunately, I found it much better the second time around. I think that when I was younger I had in mind that I had to really like the characters to enjoy the book. Not so, I've come to realize. There are plenty of fantastic books out there with unlikeable, or at least somewhat unsympathetic main characters. Take Amir from The Kite Runner, for example. The funny thing is, though, I kept wondering how the twins in this book could be such foreigners to each other, how--especially since they had no other siblings--they weren't each other's allies and confidantes. Then I breathed a sigh of relief that I didn't have such an estrangement from my own twin and reminded myself that these were fictional characters that I shouldn't spend so much time worrying about their fictional relationship! Yet another time that I learn the lesson: Give It Another Chance/It May Be Fabulous/Your Memory Is Pretty Horrible, Historically/Perhaps You Weren't In The Right Mood The First Time Or Just Weren't Ready For This Particular Book In Your Life. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to try it again, Sarah! I liked it so much more the second time around! Lots to talk about at our meeting. The crush part still bothered me the second time around, though, too. Blech. (Fiction, Young Reader, Historical 1940's, Newberry)
The Abduction - James Grippando (mp3) **1/2
~Presidential race, opponent's grandchild abducted, suspicious?~
Alison Janney narrated this tale of suspense to me as I pedaled through an EXTREMELY WINDY 32-mile bike ride. It wasn't a personal narration, per se, but I like to think that she had faithful West Wing viewers in her thoughts as she recorded this abridged version of James Grippando's novel. I really do think that Janney was a fabulous choice for the job--the character in the book is around her age, and is described to be of a somewhat similar physique. Combining that with the Press Secretary persona that trails around after her following WW--voila! Good times. Narrator choice is crucial in determining a good auditory experience. Give me a good accent, and I'm hooked--I'll even find longer routes to navigate just to prolong my listening experience. I think, however, that I will be forever scarred by a misguided male narrator who had a horrible squeaky voice that he used to indicate that the words came from a female character. Lots of wincing and shouting at the CD accompanied that book, let me tell you. Oh, and about the actual content of this book? Fine. A good bike ride read--nothing spectacular, yet still entertaining. (Fiction, mystery/suspense)
Capitol Conspiracy - William Bernhardt**
~Bombs, anti-terrorism, idiot-plot-progression, blah, blah, blah~
We've parted ways, Mr. Bernhardt and I. Sometimes nostalgia isn't meant to prompt a revisiting of authors past, but more just to let previous reads rest in a fond memory. It had good potential--I'm always interested in White House/Beltway fiction and have a fondness for one of the characters who was brought comatose by a bomb--but it simply did not live up to even my lowest standards of books I would pass on to others. I questioned myself many times, "WHY am I still reading this?" only to come up with the lame answer that I don't want to leave another book part way finished. Each bomb like this one, however, leads me to strengthen my resolve to dump unworthy reads mid-way. We'll see. (Fiction, suspense, lawyer)


***** READ IT RIGHT NOW!
**** Would definitely pass it on to others--highly recommended
*** Better than most
**1/2 ~shrug~ Not bad, not great
** If you're stuck on a deserted island and cloud-watching isn't your thing
* BURN in a fire if you're stuck on a deserted island (even if it's a hot, tropical island)