Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
I've read a lot of the author's books and I've always loved them. It seems like most of the ones I've read have had a Korean background of one kind or another, and because we have a strong connection to Korea, I've looked for and read as many as I could find.
This one is actually about Sudan and The Lost Boys. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other books of hers that I've read, but I think it's because it didn't really go into a depth that sucked me in. It was interesting, and it made me want to learn more about The Lost Boys, but it felt a bit surface to me. Of course, the reading level was 10-12 years old, so that might have something to do with it.
I'm glad I read it, because I'm always glad to be reminded that this world is much bigger than my street. Sometimes it's easy to live in our little bubbles.
Clean, but there are some horrible (but non-graphic) acts of violence described a couple of times.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Marie Kondo)
The rest of the title is: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Why I have this book: Because I love organizing and decluttering and reading things like this keeps that fire lit.
I could appreciate some of the things she said… like trying to feel if a particular item brings you joy as you decided what to keep and what to discard. That idea sharpens my eye a bit as I look at things I have. I mean, Flylady also says the same thing, but I think this book hones in on it a bit more.
The "zen" feel to the book is not really something I relate to, and thinking of objects as having emotions is not really my thing. Some of her ideas felt a bit compulsive to me and made me a little uncomfortable.
In any case, I'm okay that I read it. It gave me a little bit of a push in continuing to declutter, so it served it's purpose. I just can't embrace her whole philosophy.
Clean.
Why I have this book: Because I love organizing and decluttering and reading things like this keeps that fire lit.
I could appreciate some of the things she said… like trying to feel if a particular item brings you joy as you decided what to keep and what to discard. That idea sharpens my eye a bit as I look at things I have. I mean, Flylady also says the same thing, but I think this book hones in on it a bit more.
The "zen" feel to the book is not really something I relate to, and thinking of objects as having emotions is not really my thing. Some of her ideas felt a bit compulsive to me and made me a little uncomfortable.
In any case, I'm okay that I read it. It gave me a little bit of a push in continuing to declutter, so it served it's purpose. I just can't embrace her whole philosophy.
Clean.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Born Round: A Story of Family, Food, and a Ferocious Appetite (Frank Bruni)
Why I have this book: It was available to borrow immediately on the ebook library. I don't know why I needed to borrow a book at all… I have plenty to read already.
I guess Frank Bruni is a "food/restaurant critic"for the New York Times. I'm actually not even sure that's the right newspaper. I probably should double check… Yes, that's right. Anyway, I wouldn't know that if I didn't read this book. (Apparently, he's quite well known in some circles.)
I enjoyed learning about his family… they were the most interesting part of the book. They sound like a strong, Italian family with good roots and traditions and relationships. I liked that.
I didn't really care about the details of his career as a restaurant critic. That part got a little boring… and like a horrible job, in my opinion. It would get old having to go out to eat that often. (No, really. It would drive me crazy. Once a week is plenty! He went out at least 4 times a week, sometimes more than once each day!)
I didn't want to hear about his romantic life.
The parts about his weight/eating/working out/trying to lose weight in case he gets a date with a guy (and they decide to get nekked) were just sad. The bulimia and the fear of seeing people when he had gained weight and all that… it was just sad. He had so much else going for him… a great family, lots of opportunities, great career, traveling, money, etc. But this one thing controlled so much of his life. It sounds like maybe he's gotten some control over it (at least at the end of the book), but it was interesting to see how his mind worked with that, and it made me a bit depressed.
He's a good writer, but I'm not really sold on the book. I feel unsettled by it for multiple reasons. I'm glad I just borrowed it and I wouldn't feel the need to recommend it to anyone.
There is a bit of swearing here and there. The author is gay and talks about his "intimate" encounters. Not graphic, but it seems to be a lot of casual sex, with a few serious relationships over the years.
I guess Frank Bruni is a "food/restaurant critic"for the New York Times. I'm actually not even sure that's the right newspaper. I probably should double check… Yes, that's right. Anyway, I wouldn't know that if I didn't read this book. (Apparently, he's quite well known in some circles.)
I enjoyed learning about his family… they were the most interesting part of the book. They sound like a strong, Italian family with good roots and traditions and relationships. I liked that.
I didn't really care about the details of his career as a restaurant critic. That part got a little boring… and like a horrible job, in my opinion. It would get old having to go out to eat that often. (No, really. It would drive me crazy. Once a week is plenty! He went out at least 4 times a week, sometimes more than once each day!)
I didn't want to hear about his romantic life.
The parts about his weight/eating/working out/trying to lose weight in case he gets a date with a guy (and they decide to get nekked) were just sad. The bulimia and the fear of seeing people when he had gained weight and all that… it was just sad. He had so much else going for him… a great family, lots of opportunities, great career, traveling, money, etc. But this one thing controlled so much of his life. It sounds like maybe he's gotten some control over it (at least at the end of the book), but it was interesting to see how his mind worked with that, and it made me a bit depressed.
He's a good writer, but I'm not really sold on the book. I feel unsettled by it for multiple reasons. I'm glad I just borrowed it and I wouldn't feel the need to recommend it to anyone.
There is a bit of swearing here and there. The author is gay and talks about his "intimate" encounters. Not graphic, but it seems to be a lot of casual sex, with a few serious relationships over the years.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
After You (Jojo Moyes)
Note: Updated review on May 10, 2025
Why I have this book: I borrowed it because it's the sequel to Me Before You, which I reviewed earlier.
I just don't know where to "label" JoJo Moyes. This book, like the other one, are so emotionally charged that I just get sucked in. Me Before You was a story that was more important than the swearing (even the F-bombs). This one... I'm not sure about.
There was more sex, although none of it was descriptive at all. There was one crude comment made by the protagonist... just something that made me cringe even though she meant it in a playful way.
There is a situation involving the teenager that was difficult to read and just yucky all around.
I still can't get past the bathtub scene. (It's not sexual. It involves a paramedic washing someone else's blood off of him, but he's sitting in the tub, turning the water pink, not taking a shower with antiseptic soap or anything. I just can't deal with that.)
Anyway, I have another of her books on hold. I haven't decided yet if I should borrow it. I love the way she writes and her stories and the depth of them. I love the human emotions. I HATE the F-word. I wish she would just write the story without the bad words. Is the F-word bad in Britain? It seems to be used liberally, but I say that while also admitting that I've never been there. It's just my impression.
(Content review contained in the review above. Haha...)
More Perfect than the Moon (Patricia MacLachlan)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
This is the fourth (I think?) book in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series. I enjoyed it, although the first and third ones are still my favorites.
If I find the fifth (and final, I believe) one available to borrow, I'll finish up the series.
Clean.
This is the fourth (I think?) book in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series. I enjoyed it, although the first and third ones are still my favorites.
If I find the fifth (and final, I believe) one available to borrow, I'll finish up the series.
Clean.
Monday, October 5, 2015
The Boston Girl (Anita Diamant)
Why I have this book: A friend recommended it, so I borrowed it from the ebook library.
The premise is that a grandmother is being interviewed by her granddaughter, and each chapter is her reminiscing about a time in her life. You only hear the grandmother's voice, so it reads like a memoir even though it is fiction.
It took me about a third of the way to get totally engrossed, but I enjoyed it a lot once I got settled in. It's always interesting to read about that generation (the greatest generation), although this book didn't really go deeply into the world events that they faced. Still, I think when someone does spend time thinking back over their life, it's not the big events they think of… it's more how every day life played out, even when those big events are going on around them.
There was a handful and a half of swearing, and some implied non-descriptive sex.
The premise is that a grandmother is being interviewed by her granddaughter, and each chapter is her reminiscing about a time in her life. You only hear the grandmother's voice, so it reads like a memoir even though it is fiction.
It took me about a third of the way to get totally engrossed, but I enjoyed it a lot once I got settled in. It's always interesting to read about that generation (the greatest generation), although this book didn't really go deeply into the world events that they faced. Still, I think when someone does spend time thinking back over their life, it's not the big events they think of… it's more how every day life played out, even when those big events are going on around them.
There was a handful and a half of swearing, and some implied non-descriptive sex.
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