Wednesday, December 01, 2010

November Book List

101. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (****)  Re-read.  This time for my book club.  I liked it just as much this time around, found myself asking myself more questions.  I seem to find deeper themes when I re-hear or re-read something. 

102.  The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
(***)  Also a re-read but, mainly because I was really in the mood for something fluffy.  I know.  *blush* 

103.  Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson (****)  I didn't love this book as much as I loved Gilead.  I feel like there's so much more than just the words and the surface story in Robinson's works.  The main theme is Transience, or the deep, undercurrent of transience in three generations of women.  It's a story about danger and beauty, family ties and the lack of family ties.... basically, it's a story about opposite themes and ideas and philosophies.  The characters are constantly at odds with society, culture and even themselves.  Even the title of the book "Housekeeping" sounds crisp and tidy like clean sheets and bread baking, but the story itself is untidy, dark and reclusive.  I'm still thinking about this book... I don't think I can really explain what it all meant to me, but I can't get one phrase out of my head.  In the first few chapters of the book, one woman's three daughters grow up and move away from home one by one, they all leave and almost never look back "She had never taught them to be kind to her."  I wonder if we have to teach people to be kind to us?  I wonder a lot of things...

104.  Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (***)  I didn't love this one as much as I did Steinbeck's The Pearl.  There are a lot of interesting concepts in this novella.  Tons of language though, so be warned. 

105.  Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright -(****)  Cute.  Classic childhood summer.

106.  Les Miserables by Victor Hugo -(*****)  Are there words for the epic-ness of this book?  I think not.  I LOVE it.  Everyone should read it.  Everyone. 

107.  Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (***)  I think I would have gotten much more out of this book if I knew more about Chinese culture.  As it is, I learned a lot about cultures mixing how it works and how it doesn't.  And generational relationships. 

108.  N or M? by Agatha Christie (****)  I think just about any Tommy and Tuppence fan would love this book.  It's so them.  :)  

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi. :) I came across your book list, and was wondering about the book Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I have wanted to read it for a while, but wasn't sure about the content in it. Was there anything objectionable? Thanks. :)

Rebecca said...

Hi Shaynie!
I don't remember anything super objectionable in the book. I'm not sure what you would consider objectionable so I'll just list everything I can think of... :) Some swearing, some adult situations, some couples living together out of wedlock, and there are some rough situations in China. Hope that's helpful.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Rebecca! Swearing I don't mind, I was just wondering about the sexual content. Was it anything explicit?

Rebecca said...

I don't think there was anything too objectionable that I remember.

Emily said...

I miss your posts!!!

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