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BOOKS I can read, you know. Friday, August 31, 2007 :::
Why I read it: I like Cormac McCarthy What I think about it: Bleak and depressing, this story about a man and a boy (never named) walking through a desolate, post-apocalyptic landscape, merely trying to survive each day is intense, suspenseful, and so powerfully realized that you can all-to-easily imagine and fear the possibility of it becoming a reality. It's not an easy book to read or forget. McCarty's writing style is unforgiving and he doesn't pull his punches. A lot of it hurts, and most of it is terrifying to imagine, because the possibility of it is all too real. If you're looking for a story with comic relief and inspiring moments of uplifting optimism, then keep on looking. Although it does occasionally offer the slightest glimmer of hope, this story almost reads like a warning label, or a prediction of the worst possible outcome of human civilization. But you won't be able to put it down. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 5:47 PM :: #
Why I read it: I'm a fan. What I think about it: This is a collection of short stories by Miranda July. If you've seen her brilliant movie You, Me, and Everyone We Know, then you know exactly what to expect here: funny, playful, insightful, endearing, strange character studies that push a few boundaries when it comes to sex (especially considering that the author is female) but that never cease to surprise. It's hard to explain the charm of Miranda July, you just gotta experience it. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 5:42 PM :: #
Why I read it: Because I loved the author's previous novel. What I think about it: The basic plot is about a boy searching for answers about his father's death when the World Trade Center towers collapsed, but again, Jonathan Safran Foer's huge accomplishment is his endlessly inventive and unique writing style, which employs so many different tactics and formats that it's impossible to describe them all here. Regardless, just know that it is an extremely creative, involving, heartbreaking, and ultimately satisfying novel, that is less abut 9/11 than it is about childhood, interpersonal connections, and overcoming grief. It's remarkably moving from the very first chapter to the very last, and although the author's technique of switching narrators without describing their relationships can be quite confusing at first, it all becomes clear by the end, which is a very clever way of making his point. Trust me, you'll get it by the end. I've heard criticism about the author lately, about how he doesn't deserve the credit he gets because many previous authors have employed the same techniques he uses, almost accusing him of stealing a "style" of writing, but I don't understand their complaint. Even if someone has done it before, it doesn't mean that he isn't doing it well. And maybe I'm just not educated enough about authors and all things literary to know when someone is ripping off somebody else's writing style, but all I can tell you is that I was enthralled and impressed with each and every page, right up until the last painful act. There's always backlash when an author gets too popular or receives too much praise, though. Jealousy is a nasty bitch. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 5:30 PM :: #
Why I read it: I like Augusten What I think about it: Yeah, he's a funny guy, and the more I learn about him as a person and a character, the more I want to be his friend, but I'm starting to tire of the short anecdotal comedy sketch format that he and David Sedaris employ so often. In fact, I've been getting the two of them confused. I really need Augusten to get back to narrative memoirs or perhaps even a full-fledged novel before I lose interest altogether. That's where he excels anyway. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 5:18 PM :: #
Why I read it: I heard it was good. What I think about it: Ostensibly, this is a story about a young man searching for a woman who he believes saved his grandfather from a concentration camp in WWII. But really, this novel is more about character, history, and the connection between the past and the present. But regardless of the plot and the meaning, the truly impressive feat is the writing style, which deftly juggles multiple narrators, shifting timelines throughout numerous centuries, foreign language barriers, and so much more into a riveting collection of brilliant observations that are simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking. It's not exactly easy to read, but the author injects every page with a sense of humor and a respect for history. The America-obsessed translator Alexander is one of the most inspired comic creations in recent memory, and all of the characters are handled with such care and agility that it's impossible not to identify with each and every one of them in some way. It's extremely difficult to describe the book, but quite easy to recommend it. Oh, and please avoid the movie at all costs. Please please please. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 5:05 PM :: # Tuesday, July 11, 2006 :::
Why I read it: I like nerdy science stuff. What I think about it: What might sound like a highschool text book is actually a very entertaining and detailed history about physics, anthropology, paleontology, geology, and all science in general. Sure, it has a lot of names, dates, and places, but fortunately it focuses more on general concepts and how certain theories and understandings came to exist in the long sordid history of Earth. The good news is that Bill Bryson is an entertaining writer, so the "learning" never gets old or boring, and the topics jump around with enough variation to keep your interest. I have to admit, this book took me many months to read, because it could never really be described as a "page-turner" by any means, but there was so much fascinating information jam-packed into this volume that it never seemed like a chore. And at a relatively pithy 400-pages, you get a good primer for all things science, which will help you focus your interests for any future reading endeavors. I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone, although if I had another chance I would probably opt for the fully illustrated version, which has tons of pretty pictures and diagrams for slow readers like me. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 2:37 PM :: # Sunday, January 01, 2006 :::
Why I read it: because I read somewhere that Amy Sedaris was reading it. What I think about it: Julie Gregory writes her memoirs about her upbringing in the hands of an abusive, mentally disturbed mother whose favorite pastime was trying to convince doctors that her daughter Julie required unnecessary open heart surgery. Julie's mother suffered from a strange form of Munchausen by Proxy syndrome (or does the "by Proxy" part of it mean that Julie was the one suffering? I dunno), but that is only the beginning of her problems. The book chronicles Julie's terrifying adolescence and eventual self-discovery in harrowing detail, and ends with a gratifying sense of urgency that gives it purpose. It's an impressive and entertaining read, even though it sounds weird to describe reading a story about two decades worth of steady systematic abuse and torture as being "entertaining". But regardless, I enjoyed reading it. It's sorta kinda like a less funny and slightly more disturbing counterpart to Augusten Burrough's Running with Scissors, but I might just be saying that because he praises the book on its cover. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 8:01 PM :: # Sunday, October 30, 2005 :::
Why I read it: Because I read his previous memoirs and they were good. What I think about it: The opening chapters of James Frey's new memoirs are enough to make you want to slit your own wrists, recounting the days after the author gets sprung from his post-rehab jail sentence only to discover that his girlfriend had killed herself the day prior. But the tone soon lightens up to follow his recovery and his experiences working for his rehab friend Leonard, whose hush-hush mobster-like business dealings are only the tip of his iceberg of secrets, but he always remains supportive to a fault. My Friend Leonard is a quick, enjoyable satisfying read that was able to elicit an incredible amount of sympathy from me, which is an amazing feat because I'm unsentimental to a fault. The one caveat is that you'd probably have to read his previous memoirs, A Million Little Pieces, to really appreciate this book. Regardless, it is way more entertaining than it has any right to be, and now that the author has announced his interest in writing novels rather than more memoirs, I'm excited to see what else he can accomplish. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 9:03 PM :: #
Why I read it: The guy at the bookstore recommended it to me. What I think about it: Sarah Vowell, essayist and NPR regular, is obsessed with assassinations. She travels the country visiting famous assassination sites and morbid tourist attractions like some people visit Disneyworld or the Eiffel Tower. It sounds maudlin and heavy, but it's actually funny, insightful, and informative from the first page to the last. She literally stuffs you with detailed research and fascinating facts about famous dead politicians, and then somehow makes it funny. It's akin to a history class being taught by David Sedaris. If that doesn't pique your interest, then I pity you. It was one of the best books I've read all year, and here's to hoping that some Hollywood genius produces it for the Discovery Channel or something. It would be one of the best documentaries ever. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 8:54 PM :: # Sunday, June 05, 2005 :::
Why I read it: It won a Pulitzer What I think about it: Middlesex is a semi-involving epic chronicling the transformation of a hermaphrodite and the generations of ancestors whose intra-familial relationships were responsible for his/her condition. It is handsomely written with great characterizations and interesting historical perspectives about Greece during the Turkish invasion, Detroit during the race riots, and San Francisco during the sexual revolution, but it's curiously not as emotionally involving as I thought it would be. This is especially true of the main narrator Calliope (Cal), who is a vivid character, but I was never able to feel a strong attachment to him/her, even during his/her most difficult experiences. Maybe that's because her/his own identity is so unclear to him/herself that it becomes hard to identify with him/her. It's hard to understand someone who so clearly doesn't really understand his/herself. But in the end, the book comes together with a satisfying conclusion, reuniting multiple generations, and bringing the story full-circle in a heart-warming way. Definitely an original novel, but not as emotionally charged as I was hoping, and a couple of the plot points were slightly contrived. Still, a worthwhile read that had more than its share of inspired storytelling. It took me four months to read, though. Not because I'm a slow reader or anything. I was just busy. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 10:12 PM :: # Monday, January 24, 2005 :::
Why I read it: I'll read anything he writes. What I think about it: These short unrelated "essays" are not as strong or resonant as his previously published memoirs, which seemed more cohesive as complete stories, but they are funny nonetheless. It's the little things about Augusten Burrough's stories that make them worthwhile, like his casual wit and his absurd humor, but honestly, this is the type of material that can be found on countless weblogs and in every David Sedaris book ever published. He basically just journals about strange or interesting things that have happened to him. Granted, he's had an interesting life. He's experienced more before the age of 30 than twenty average people would experience throughout the course of their entire lifetimes. And it also has a refreshingly confessional feel to it, as if he's willing to let it all hang out, and authetically so. He never tries to pander or shock just for the sake of getting a reaction. It's definitely worth reading, but I wanted more. What I want is a fiction novel, something created from scratch that doesn't resort to focusing on himself, which is something he hasn't done in almost a decade. He's got a major book deal now, though, so hopefully something original will come out of that. Anyway, it's good, funny, slightly-shocking light reading. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 9:33 PM :: # Sunday, November 07, 2004 :::
Why I read it: It was reviewed well and I was at the airport. I always feel compelled to buy books at the airport. What I think about it: I think you can pretty much safely say that I'll never be an alcoholic or a crack addict. And you can thank my reading material this year for that. First there was Dry, by Augusten Burroughs, which although funny, doesn't make rehab sound like a picnic in hospital clothes or anything like that. And now there is this book, which drops the funny and goes straight for the harrowing hideous bottomless depths of depravity. James Frey's memoirs are vivid and devastating, and honestly lacking in any sort of uplifting sentimentality. He's a drug addict just because he is. He's an angry twentysomething just because he doesn't know how else to act. There's no excuses or cheap psychology to explain it. But his recovery is enthralling. Well, more educational than entertaining, really, but worthwhile nonetheless. And the coda, which summarizes the eventual outcomes of all the main characters, doesn't let the reader off the hook either. The author could use an editor, because his stream-of-consciousness writing style can be a little long-winded and repetitive at times, and his I'm-a-tough-guy persona got on my nerves more than once, but you gotta give the guy credit for creating such a visceral experience. Crack is whack, yo. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 10:33 PM :: # Saturday, September 25, 2004 :::
Why I read it: because the premise was intriguing and the author wrote the inspired "Election" What I think about it: It basically confirms and explores what I've always imagined to be true: typical modern day suburbia and married life can be a choking, suffocating trap punctuated by mundane routine and abandoned dreams. But it also explores the characters in this setting as being extremely human, fallible, prone to bouts of self-delusion, and therefore completely intriguing. The story basically follows a few couples in their early thirties and dissects the expectations they all had about their married suburban lifestyles, and then follows them through adulterous relationships and ill-conceived attempts at regaining lost feelings of youth, with some pretty hilarious observations. Throw in a child molester to create some pretty effective tension and some clever writing that often makes you laugh out loud, and you've got a pretty entertaining read. Honestly, it's not breaking any new ground in terms of exposing the outward artificiality of the suburban dilemma, and it's not too deep, but the details are sharp, and the ending is realistic, honest and satisfying. Also, it's got a little too much football in it for my tastes, but at least it served the story. Oddly, my cover has two goldfish crackers facing each other on a field of perfectly trimmed grass, but the cover has since been changed to two half-eaten chocolate chip cookies, which somehow doesn't have the same effect. I wonder if Pepperidge Farms got pissed or something. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 1:29 AM :: # Sunday, August 22, 2004 :::
Why I read it: because it had an eyecatching cover. What I think about it: Lame. I bought this book as an impulse purchase while I was at Border's books, simply because the cover caught my eye, and the jacket said something about two men discussing an assassination that could "change the course of history." Plus I vaguely recognized the author. Turns about it's a lame anti-war diatribe, written in the form of a one-act play, with two characters: one a man bent on assassinating George W. Bush for war crimes and for generally being a jackass, and one man who is trying to talk him out of it. That's right, it's topical, political rhetoric, unconvincingly written and poorly conceived. But what's worse is that there is nothing new here that you haven't overheard on the bus, listened to on talk radio, or read on a million weblogs by now. Sure, I hate Bush, too. I think he and his administration are practically evil incarnate, but the fact that I was duped into spending $15 to listen to some self-important intellectual tell me that war and abortion are wrong and that Bush is a bad man really pisses me off. I can get that a million times a day on TV for free, and even then I am always wondering, "Why do these people think I care about their opinions on the war or the president? I can make up my own damned mind, thank you very much." Granted, this is because I am sick and cynical and jaded about all things political lately. But seriously, at this point if you are Pro-Bush, then you are deep in denial about the state of the world, the nature of war, and the motivations of your president. There. It's that simple. Was that worth $15? Nope. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 11:42 PM :: #
Why I read it: Because David Sedaris is always funny, without exception. What I think about it: What is so frustrating about David Sedaris' work is that every single line of every single story in the entire book is so cleverly written and perfectly worded that you want to remember it all by heart. It isn't the stories he tells that are so fascinating, but rather the way he tells them. I get pissed off that I am unable to quote my favorite parts, because there are just too damn many to remember. Instead I'm forced to say "Oh, there's this really funny story about his brother getting married and dogs eating each other's poo," which doesn't sound funny the way I describe it, but trust me, it is. And then there is the way that he avoids lame melodrama and histrionics without ever diminishing the emotional effects of the stories, which are sometimes very sincere. Take for example how he confesses that he had no idea at the time that his father was kicking him out of the house because he was gay. He just thought he was a lazy bum, and that was reason enough. A lesser author would've milked that particular family ostracism for all it was worth. But not David, he's got too many other issues to deal with, and too many funnier stories to tell. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 6:41 PM :: # Thursday, July 29, 2004 :::
Why I read it: Because I absolutely loved The Corrections What I think about it: Jonathan Franzen is a very clever and erudite writer. Just reading one of his novels or essays will increase your IQ by at least a fraction, if only by association. And usually, he accomplishes this amazing feat while being entertaining at the same time. Sadly, this collection of essays doesn't really represent his best work as a whole. Certain essays are brilliant and emotionally heartbreaking, like when he expounds on his father's Alzheimers disease or his highly publicized conflict with the Oprah Book of the Month Club. Others are downright boring, like his musings on the Chicago postal system or his tour of state of the art detention centers. Worse, some essays smack of self-importance and unabashed arrogance, and far too many of them focus on blaming the American public for either not reading enough or for reading the wrong books. He often comes off as a typical old curmudgeon, shunning popular technology, popular books, popular society, popular everything. And he even goes as far as to utter my least favorite and most snobberish of declarations: he doesn't even own a TV. Obnoxious people like to make that statement as if it somehow elevates them to a higher plain of human development. TV is like anything else, including Jonathan's essays: some of it's good, worthwhile, and substantial. Some of it's not. To discount all of it altogether would be foolish. But even at his most put-offish, he still writes with fascinating style and wit. But he's at his best when he acts human, and sometimes it's hard not to identify with his disillusionment or his occasionally feeling like a total phony. I guess my final recommendation would be to read his novels instead. Even though half of this book is amazing, the other half will leave a bad taste in your mouth, which may end up sullying your opinions of his superlative fiction. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 1:04 PM :: # Friday, June 25, 2004 :::
Why I read it: Because there was a favorable quote by Jonathan Franzen on the cover, and because the jacket touted various awards it was up for. What I think about it: Ostensibly about the Secret Service Agency, this novel is really a series of character portraits and a pile of metaphors about jobs as identity, morality, paranoia in the modern age, and the unpredictability of human nature. I'm sure I didn't catch nearly all the connections or parallels that Mark Costello weaves throughout the thinly plotted story, but he writes with humor and insight and a grounded sense of reality that was very satisfying. And although the "plot" is not really the focus of the book, it still was an enjoyable story. It was certainly illuminating about the Secret Service and the motivations of the people who work there, as well as the effects of the stress such a job would create, but if you're reading it for those reasons then you're really missing the point. It didn't really grab me emotionally that often, but I appreciated the careful character development and I definitely approve of the stark, abrubt, open-ended realism of the climax, and especially of the final page, which seemed so entirely appropriate and yet painfully revealing about human nature and the American culture. I'm deep, yo. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 1:09 AM :: # Monday, April 12, 2004 :::
Why I read it: Because I loved Running with Scissors. What I think about it: Rehab stories are kind of passe. Almost as passe as using the word passe. Usually I'd stay miles away from any story about recovering addicts, just because what more can be said about being sad and drunk? But in his new memoirs, Augusten Burroughs throws in wryly observed stories about over-paid advertising executives, crack-addict lovers, mortician friends, and spiteful mormons. His self-awareness about the inherent hokiness in twelve-step programs and AA meetings helps to alleviate the platitude of the subject matter, and his characters are so well-drawn that you can't help but empathize with every one of them. In the end, the story is more about hiding from emotion than it is about alcoholism, and finding out how Auggie would survive going off the deep end was my primary motivation for an entire week. On a whole, this book seems more cohesive as a complete story than Running With Scissors did, but oddly, he seems to rush through the resolution quicker than I would have liked, lessening the impact a bit. A very fun and engaging book, nevertheless. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 1:05 PM :: # Wednesday, March 31, 2004 :::
Why I read it: It was recommended to me a while ago through various sources, although I wouldn't want to venture a guess as to why. What I think about it: I think everyone should read this book, at the very least to get better aquainted with their inevitable future. But seriously, I don't think I've ever learned so much or entertained so many thought-provoking concepts from a single book. Even better, Mary Roach's ability to write hysterical passages about dead bodies without ever making them seem undignified had me continuously laughing out loud. Plus it even made me ponder my own purpose and mortality on several occassions. One of the most worthwhile reading experiences I've ever had. Listen for me at parties and get-togethers quoting the more disturbing passages from this book. It's literally jam-packed with appalling facts, disturbing historical accounts, and hilarious anecdotes that are perfect for dinner parties. What's even better, my copy of the book is autographed. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 11:21 AM :: # Sunday, March 14, 2004 :::
Why I read it: Got it for christmas from my sister. I sometimes like Chuck Palahniuk. Sometimes I don't. What I think about it: I think I've decided that I like Chuck's method rather than the actual results of his madness. Invisible Monsters is a sort of satire, pushed to its absurd limits, about identity and finding a place in society. It's about people wanting to be someone else and it's about people who want other people to be someone else. No one is happy with who they are, and no one is happy with who everyone else is, and by the end of the novel there are more than one sex-change operation and quite a few disfigurements. The plot itself is ridiculous, but Chuck's gift of language and his shameless grandiosity make it all worth while, even if his eventual point is rather perfunctory. If he had something really interesting and unique to say, he would be quite a storyteller. Learn more about it. ::: posted by dan at 12:38 AM :: # |
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reviews music movies books sections planetdan home planetdan blog dan's pics fun junk recent reviews The Road by Cormac McCarthy No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Sa... Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryso... Sickened by Julie Gregory My Friend Leonard by James Frey Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides others pimpsmax sista c b stacy b dan@planetdan.net archive 03/01/2004 - 04/01/2004 04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004 06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004 07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004 08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004 09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004 11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004 01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005 06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005 10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005 01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006 08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007
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