Stay or go?

In my house, the lines are drawn…very sharply. My husband hates to part with anything…including books. I, on the other hand, am a serial purger…which results in a clean house, but sometimes ends badly, as in when I realize I have thrown out an instruction manual that I need, or the newspaper that my husband has yet to read.

When it comes to books, whether they stay or go depends on a variety of things. Starting from the premise that I do not re-read books no matter how much I like something, I am predisposed to pass books along once I am finished. There are certain exceptions: books that I just feel like I have to keep on my bookshelf. Don’t ask me why, or how I make that demarcation, because I don’t have an answer. I just know the book when I read it. Other books I keep because I know I will want to lend them to people in the future. I do that a lot. Finally, there are those books that I confess to keeping because they look good on my bookshelves. These tend to be hardcover classics with leathery looking bindings.

Everything else is pretty much fair game for donation, either to the used bookstore that benefits the library, or to homeless shelters.

Of course, the fact that my husband has issues with parting with any book (occasionally necessary due to limited space) means that our bookshelves are somewhat skewed subject-wise, because we essentially never read the same book. But that is a topic for another post.

So how about you…assuming we are not talking about library books or books on loan from others, do you have a formula for which books you keep and which you do not?

Blog Hop Friday

It's Friday again, and time to hop!
This week's question is Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?

I use the general 1-5 stars, mostly because it is what I was used to using on the book sites like Goodreads and Library Thing, although I have tweaked the wording attached to the stars slightly.

I have contemplated giving up the numerical aspect to my reviews because it can be somewhat arbitrary, but I still think the numbers are valuable if read in the context of my other reviews.

A testament to the human spirit

IN THE SHADOW OF FREEDOM by Tchicaya Missamou with Travis Sentell

My rating 5 of 5 stars

I have a blessed life. I live in a free country and my family does not want for necessary things. I try every day to be grateful for what I have, especially because I know that for many of my fellow human beings, there is another reality.

Tchicaya Missamou was born in the Congo. Before he reached his adult years, he witnessed horrific atrocities in the civil war that devastated his country, and tore apart his family. In the Shadow of Freedom recounts his triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds to flee the Congo and become a United States Marine who proudly served in Iraq. When Missamou returns to the Congo to help his mother and other family members who made his escape possible, he is promptly arrested and held by a brutal political rival of his father. Through the daring actions of his family, and with the help of the American press and diplomatic corps, Missamou is freed and returns to the States where he becomes a successful businessman.

There are many fascinating parts to this story: the tribal manhood test Missamou undergoes at the age of 14 in which he singlehandedly kills a gorilla and then endures a ritual circumcision; the desperate life he led as a youth trying to survive amidst the warring militias where boys as young as 8 were armed with AK-47s; his daring flight out of the Congo at a time when it was illegal for black men to leave; the disappointment and racism he faces when he finally reaches Europe; and his opinion that the poverty and deprivation he observed in Iraq was worse than the conditions he witnessed in the Congo.

The way the narrative alternates between the period of Missamou’s life in the Congo and the period when he returns and is imprisoned, grabs you and keeps you glued to the pages. There are times when as the reader, you feel like what you are reading simply cannot be true -- or rather, you hope that what you are reading is not true --but of course, it is.

I am so glad that I read this book. You will be too. Missamou’s story will bring you to your knees and make you rise again with joy as his indomitable will and strength of character win the day.

I was given a copy of this trade paperback original for review by the publisher, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

This post was edited on August 30, 2010 to add the phrase "with Travis Sentell"

Wall Street Woes

THE RECESSIONISTAS by Alexandra Lebenthal.

I was given a hardcover edition of this book for review by the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars

I had a blast reading this book, which chronicles the stories of several Wall Street players in the months leading up to the recent collapse of the financial markets. The book propels the reader through the financial gymnastics of those brought to the brink of ruin by the demise of Lehman Brothers et. al, while concomitantly providing a peek into the social and cultural worlds of those occupying the upper echelon of Manhattan society.

Written by one of the preeminent women on Wall Street, Alexandra Lebenthal, the novel tells the personal stories of those employees caught up in the mess, as well as those who were in part to blame with their unbridled greed and arrogance. If some of the characterizations and events were over-the-top (and not being part of the upper financial crust myself I can't be sure what was fabricated), that's sort of the point, isn't it...the rampant excessiveness? I found The Recessionistas to be quite unique among the books purporting to detail the glamorous life in the big city (i.e., Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada), in that so much of the book rang true, and there was at least one character to which the ordinary person could relate.

Apart from the sheer pleasure I got from reading the book, I also appreciated the portion of the book that discusses how the world of mortgage-backed securities was impacted by the crisis in the housing market (pp. 146-48): for my money, this was the most succinct and understandable to a layman explanation of how the decline in the housing market precipitated the financial market free fall, that I have ever read.

My only quibble with this story, and it is a small one, is one turn the story takes right at the end of the book. Without giving too much away, there is a murder plot that seemed a little far fetched to me and I wish that the author had not included it. What was so great for me about this book is that the author managed to portray the excessiveness of some of the players without sacrificing a sense of reality; the murder storyline crossed that line for me, but by no means detracts from my hearty endorsement of this fun, entertaining read.

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday, hosted this month by Chick Loves Lit, is an opportunity for book lovers to see what books fellow readers have brought into their homes this past week.

In my mailbox this week I found,


This book was sent by the publisher, Simon and Schuster, and I am really looking forward to reading it; the author, Tchicaya Missamou sounds like an amazing individual.

I also "checked out" my first e-audiobook from the library onto my Ipod:


What did you bring home this week?

Author spotlight

Recently, I picked up a book that was part of my 2010 "challenge" to read 12 books that have been unread on my bookshelf for a very long time. Immediately upon starting the book, The High Flyer, by Susan Howatch, I was drawn in and totally engaged. Isn't that the best feeling? When you dive into a book and resent having to come up for air?
It struck me that I have had this experience nearly every single time I have read one of Susan Howatch's books -- and I've read alot of them. I first found her work when I was in my late teens. The first book I read was Cashelmara,

, a sweeping epic tale set in Ireland that took my breath away.
I quickly devoured several more of her books, all in the same vein: big, chunky paperbacks of family sagas set in differing time periods and places. First there was Penmarric ,
then probably my favorite of these, Wheel of Fortune .

The last two in the genre were Sins of the Fathers and

The Rich are Different .

Years later (actually many years later), while on a family beach vacation, I picked up another book by Ms. Howatch -- a very different sort of book -- and was again immediately captivated. That book, Glittering Images, is the first in a series of six books known as The Starbridge Series. The series recounts the lives of various English clergymen in the Church of England beginning in the early years of the 20th century, and skillfully weaves theological discussion with heart-stopping action, mystical happenings, psychic phenomena and good old fashioned sex, violence and mayhem. Needless to say, I flew through the books in the series -- all but the last one, Absolute Truths, which I have refused to read because I hated to see the series end. That is the truth. Seriously.

Of course, now that I am enjoying The High Flyer, I suppose I can finish the Starbridge series, as there are two other books related to The High Flyer that I have yet to read: The Wonder Worker, which is deemed the first in this trilogy and The Heartbreaker, which is the third. While these books are loosely related, according to most reviews they can be read as stand alone books. However, I will refrain from commenting on these books until I have finished this trilogy. So if you are new to Ms. Howatch's work, I would suggest that you not start with these.

Instead, pick one of the many mentioned above: and do it today! I am hard pressed to think of another author whose every book has been a winner for me at so many different stages of my reading life.

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday, hosted this month by Chick Loves Lit, is an opportunity for book lovers to see what books fellow readers have brought into their homes this past week.
In my mailbox this week I found,

and

Both books were sent by the publishers.

What did you bring home this week?

A nice touch

COMMUTERS by Emily Gray Tedrowe

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book, published in July 2010, from the publisher, HarperCollins (Harper Perennial Imprint) in advance of a blog talk radio program featuring the author, Emily Gray Tedrowe.

Ms. Tedrowe's debut novel explores the familial conflict that ensues when two elderly people, one of whom is quite wealthy, decide to marry. As the families of each of the spouse's children deal with the financial and psychological ramifications of the marriage, the newlyweds are faced with a crisis that may abbreviate their already short future together. The story is narrated in alternating chapters by three of the main characters: Winnie, the 78 year-old bride, her married daughter Rachel, and Avery, the elderly groom's grandson.

I enjoyed Commuters very much, and yet I would not characterize it as the kind of book that I "couldn't put down." I suppose that that is a function of the fact that I was less caught up in the plot than I was in the character studies. Winnie is strong and able to exert her authority in ways that are somewhat surprising for a woman of her age. Avery, a young man trying to find his way following stints in rehab, experiences love and loss, and by the end, appears to have matured somewhat. During the blog talk radio program, many listeners expressed their affection for Winnie, and understandably so, for she is an admirable character. However, I was intrigued most by Rachel, who is floundering both emotionally and financially as the result of an accident that has left her husband unable to work. I found myself rooting for Rachel even as she made seemingly bad and morally questionable decisions, and I believe my reaction speaks volumes about the author's ability to humanize her characters.

A realistic, and at times heartbreaking story, Commuters is an absorbing novel that I recommend to those who like thought-provoking, contemporary fiction.

The"nice touch" alluded to by this post's title refers to the "P.S." section of the original trade paperback edition; in this addendum the author writes about herself and the writing of the book, and gives a short commentary on twelve books that she loves. I really appreciated this material; the more I know about the author, the better I can appreciate his or her work.

Southern comfort with a twist

LOWCOUNTRY SUMMER by Dorothea Benton Frank

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I received a hardcover edition of this book from the publisher, William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

A modern Southern family, a lush, rural setting, and a story that will make you laugh and weep are the elements that make Lowcountry Summer a delightful read. Ms. Frank’s descriptions of the lowcountry bring a beautiful and mysterious area vividly to life; I have never been to this part of South Carolina, but I now feel as if I have, given the evocative imagery.

The trials and tribulations of a Southern clan are told through the voice of Caroline Wimbley, a character familiar to those who have read Ms. Frank’s previous work, Plantation. Caroline is a tart, strong “steel magnolia,” who assumes the matriarchal role of her deceased mother for Caroline’s brother Trip, and his four daughters. When Trip’s soon-to-be ex-wife is sent to alcohol rehab while Trip is living with another woman, Caroline helps his girls to deal with the fallout of their fractured family. Add to the mix Caroline’s arrogant Yankee ex-husband, and various Southern eccentrics, and you have the makings of an absorbing story. Ms. Frank’s characters are funny, touching, and maddening and you will miss them when the book is over.

The one negative to this book for me was that it started slowly, although I have to admit to approaching the book with a little bit of a pessimistic attitude -- I don’t usually like strictly “women’s fiction” and for some reason, I had assumed Ms. Frank’s books fell within that category. However, as I read, I found myself more and more taken in by the characters and their lives. When I closed the book, it was with the hope that this will not be the last we hear of Caroline and her family.

Blog Hop Friday

Blog Hop Friday, hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books is an opportunity for fellow book bloggers to interact, visit other blogs, and generally have fun with books. Each week, participating bloggers answer a question in their post about the hop. This week the question, posed by Chelle from The Prairie Library is, "Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes?"

My answer: No, I do not listen to music when I read. In fact, I can't have any audio distractions going -- no tv, radio, or other people's loud conversations, lol.

For those readers of my blog who are not book bloggers, this is a great way to find other blogs about books that you might enjoy. Just click on the link to Crazy-for-Books and you will see the master link page listing all the participating blogs.

How would you feel?

One of the things I like about reading is sharing my love of a just-read title with other people -- or in plain English, I like to recommend books. Because I read a wide variety of fiction, I will undoubtedly have a suggestion for most people, no matter what their reading habits. The exception would be if someone is a reader of science fiction or paranormal works, where my experience is limited or nil. For me, it’s like a game, matching the person to the book: tell me a little about what you like to read, and have I got the book for you.

The only thing is, I always wonder if I have been successful in my matchmaking. The problem with being the eharmony of books is that after I make the recommendation I start to worry whether I got it right. What if the person does not like the book, particularly if they went out and bought it as opposed to using the library or borrowing from a friend? Should I feel responsible for having wasted their time…do I owe them a refund…or worst of all, do they think I am an ignoramus for having thought the book was great?

Most of the time, people tell me they liked what I have chosen for them. I’d like to think they are being honest, not just nice. Recently, I started volunteering at a not-for-profit used bookstore and part of my job has been interacting with customers and helping them to pick out books. Since many of the books sell for one and two dollars, I don’t worry too much that I may cause someone to squander hard-earned money on a book I recommend. Nonetheless, I know that I will be secretly relieved should I get a recommendation request from someone I have previously helped.

So what about you? How would you feel if you recommended a book and the person did not like it? Would you want to know…?

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday, hosted this month by Chick Loves Lit, is an opportunity for book lovers to see what books fellow readers have brought into their homes during the week.
My mailbox was empty this week, but I did bring home some titles from the library:

which I have started to listen to and am enjoying so far, and which I have yet to start.

Enjoy your week reading!

Be prepared to shed a tear

A SEAT AT THE TABLE by Joshua Halberstam

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

It has been a very long time since I read a book that made me cry (in a good way). I have to admit to being surprised by how moved I was by this book.
Years ago I read The Chosen by Chaim Potok, to which this book may be compared given the similarity of the subject-matter, and I do not remember feeling this way.

A Seat at the Table follows Elisha, a 20-year-old Chassidic man, as he struggles to find his own voice in the insular and restrictive religious community in which he lives. We watch and listen as Elisha takes small but ever more daring steps: taking classes at City College, cultivating a burgeoning romantic relationship with a non-Jewish woman, and finally, leaving his parents’ home. Elisha’s story is set amidst the larger backdrop of the tumultuous Vietnam era, and the alienation that he expresses is clearly not limited to his religious obligations. Instead, he is in a broader sense, experiencing the searching of 1960‘s youth in general, as he bemoans his inability to relate to the Chassids, the “peaceniks” or the soldiers fighting in Southeast Asia.

I cannot emphasize enough how well written I think this book is. Elisha’s father has so many sides to him that the reader can fully empathize with him, despite his strict adherence to rules that appear to leave no room for compassion or tolerance. Elisha’s Uncle Shaya, a Holocaust survivor who is a source of comfort to Elisha, is a fascinating individual with his own rebellious streak. As for Elisha, he is an authentic character, in part because each time he moves forward, he then retreats a bit into the world he knows; it simply would not be believable for someone raised in this type of environment to move full steam ahead, without at some point reverting to behaviors ingrained since birth.

Apart from the characterizations, it is the way the author structures the novel that makes it so unique and enjoyable. Interwoven with Elisha’s narrative are Chassidic tales, beautiful and enchanting in their own right, that are poignantly instructive on the particular situation in which Elisha and the other characters find themselves. This book has made me want to find and read more of these Chassidic tales.

If you want to read a novel that is profoundly affecting, and yet entirely accessible, I highly recommend this book.