Author: Theresa Rebeck
Completed: 12/3/09
This book is, obviously, is about three girls and their brother as the girls break into the world of modeling. The girls, after a picture in The New Yorker, become the new “It” girls in the fashion industry in New York. As the girls become sucked into the business more and more, the brother keeps getting pushed out of their lives. Their mother cares only about the girls' success and essentially gives up on mothering.
If this story is even remotely true, it is absolutely appalling. I realize this was a work of fiction, but I believe similar circumstances occur with celebrity parents. I wanted to strangle the mother, and couldn't even imagine a punishment cruel enough for the agent. I listened to this book, and even my 7 year old daughter, and even she was getting mad at how awful the adults were in this book. The brother is very protective of his youngest sister, and the way he gets shut out was crushing to me.
I really liked this book due to the pure emotional response it elicited from me. I find that any book that moves me, whether it is to laugh out loud or cry like a baby, is a good book. I wind up recommending these kinds of books to other people, as I have done with this one.
10 words or less: Families and the fashion industry don't mix.
Showing posts with label Audio Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Audio Books. Show all posts
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
People of the Book
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Completed: 11/17/09
This is a story about trying to discover the origins of a very rare book, essentially a Jewish prayer book. What makes it so unusual is that there are gilded pictures from a time when the Jewish people believed that putting an image of a person on paper took a bit of their soul. It looks at both the investigation into the history of the book, and then digs deeper into the people involved with the book throughout its history. We are given snapshots into lives during WWII, the Spanish Inquisition, and war-torn Yugoslavia.
People have compared this book to The Da Vinci Code, but I see them as very different. I loved how this book had a main storyline in the present, but then jumped back chronologically to all the people who handled the book. The Da Vinci Code had a few flashback and looked into the history, but didn't actually take you back to the time and get you involved with the people as this did. It was amazing seeing it from other points of view and other time periods in history. The snapshots in time not only provided us with the history but also gave insight to the investigators.
I actually listened to this book, and couldn't wait to listen to more. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy history, but it would also work well for mystery lovers.
10 words or less: Gripping, and much better than the comparisons.
Completed: 11/17/09
This is a story about trying to discover the origins of a very rare book, essentially a Jewish prayer book. What makes it so unusual is that there are gilded pictures from a time when the Jewish people believed that putting an image of a person on paper took a bit of their soul. It looks at both the investigation into the history of the book, and then digs deeper into the people involved with the book throughout its history. We are given snapshots into lives during WWII, the Spanish Inquisition, and war-torn Yugoslavia.
People have compared this book to The Da Vinci Code, but I see them as very different. I loved how this book had a main storyline in the present, but then jumped back chronologically to all the people who handled the book. The Da Vinci Code had a few flashback and looked into the history, but didn't actually take you back to the time and get you involved with the people as this did. It was amazing seeing it from other points of view and other time periods in history. The snapshots in time not only provided us with the history but also gave insight to the investigators.
I actually listened to this book, and couldn't wait to listen to more. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy history, but it would also work well for mystery lovers.
10 words or less: Gripping, and much better than the comparisons.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's
Author: John Elder Robeson
Completed: 10/20/09
This book is a memoir of a man who lived the majority of his life not knowing he has Asperger's Syndrome. Most people thought he was “funny”, or a troublemaker, or just plain weird. The author details living with his quirks, which were actually very common traits of Asperger's.
Asperger's Syndrome is on the autism scale of disorders. People with Asperger's tend to have trouble with crowds and do not look at people directly. They are often very mechanically inclined, and have great difficulties making friends and having conversations. Some people have called it “high-functioning autism”, as the two have quite a bit in common, almost like Asperger's is a lesser version of autism.
Despite his childhood of difficulties, the author led quite an amazing life. His interest in mechanics and electronics started when he was young, and later fell into a career using his skills. He toured with some of the biggest music acts of the day creating special lighting effects and customized guitars. He then went to work at a toy company, and used his self-taught knowledge to excel in engineering.
His social life was not quite as smooth as his work, not to say that work was always easy. His home life was difficult to say the least, and he moved out when he was very young. Once out on his own, he did invite his younger brother, memoirist Augusten Burroughs, along on several of his trips. However, the Asperger's interfered as mentioned above in his interactions with others, making for difficult situations.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as the note submitted by his brother. While some of the situations seemed absolutely ridiculous, I was also able to relate quite closely with some of his idiosyncrasies. Some parts had me absolutely rolling with laughter, which I must say doesn't happen very often.
While particularly interesting for anyone researching problems of the mind, this book is gripping enough for anyone to enjoy. There is something there for everyone, from gearheads to music lovers to geeks.
10 words or less: Highly recommended. Excellent memoir in a true voice.
Completed: 10/20/09
This book is a memoir of a man who lived the majority of his life not knowing he has Asperger's Syndrome. Most people thought he was “funny”, or a troublemaker, or just plain weird. The author details living with his quirks, which were actually very common traits of Asperger's.
Asperger's Syndrome is on the autism scale of disorders. People with Asperger's tend to have trouble with crowds and do not look at people directly. They are often very mechanically inclined, and have great difficulties making friends and having conversations. Some people have called it “high-functioning autism”, as the two have quite a bit in common, almost like Asperger's is a lesser version of autism.
Despite his childhood of difficulties, the author led quite an amazing life. His interest in mechanics and electronics started when he was young, and later fell into a career using his skills. He toured with some of the biggest music acts of the day creating special lighting effects and customized guitars. He then went to work at a toy company, and used his self-taught knowledge to excel in engineering.
His social life was not quite as smooth as his work, not to say that work was always easy. His home life was difficult to say the least, and he moved out when he was very young. Once out on his own, he did invite his younger brother, memoirist Augusten Burroughs, along on several of his trips. However, the Asperger's interfered as mentioned above in his interactions with others, making for difficult situations.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as the note submitted by his brother. While some of the situations seemed absolutely ridiculous, I was also able to relate quite closely with some of his idiosyncrasies. Some parts had me absolutely rolling with laughter, which I must say doesn't happen very often.
While particularly interesting for anyone researching problems of the mind, this book is gripping enough for anyone to enjoy. There is something there for everyone, from gearheads to music lovers to geeks.
10 words or less: Highly recommended. Excellent memoir in a true voice.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Slaughterhouse Five
Author: Kurt Vonnegat
Completed: 9/30/09
This classic novel was written from the perspective of a man who gets “unstuck in time”, after is kidnapped by aliens from Tralfamadore. Therefore, we experience his life in a scrambled manner, jumping from one important event to another in no particular order. There is particular attention paid to his time in WWII, where he experienced the firebombing of Dresden and was deeply shaken by it.
Parts of this novel are based on Vonnegat's own experiences. He was an American prisoner in Dresden during the bombing and was, rightfully, deeply shaken by the event.
I enjoyed this book. I did wind up listening to it, but at some point I may go back and read the hard copy. I love books that jump around as this did, and the prose was interesting. The story kept me involved, but I think that by listening to it I was more easily confused.
10 words or less: Need to pick up a hard copy.
Completed: 9/30/09
This classic novel was written from the perspective of a man who gets “unstuck in time”, after is kidnapped by aliens from Tralfamadore. Therefore, we experience his life in a scrambled manner, jumping from one important event to another in no particular order. There is particular attention paid to his time in WWII, where he experienced the firebombing of Dresden and was deeply shaken by it.
Parts of this novel are based on Vonnegat's own experiences. He was an American prisoner in Dresden during the bombing and was, rightfully, deeply shaken by the event.
I enjoyed this book. I did wind up listening to it, but at some point I may go back and read the hard copy. I love books that jump around as this did, and the prose was interesting. The story kept me involved, but I think that by listening to it I was more easily confused.
10 words or less: Need to pick up a hard copy.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Blasphemy
Author: Douglas Preston
Completed: 9/4/09
This book is a story about a government experiment where a computer makes people believe it is “God”. The program had been delayed for several months, and was disgracing the government by conservative public speakers being very vocally against it. There were tensions with the local Native Americans because the workers did not support the local economy as they previously indicated they would. There is also a person who enters the group working on the project placed there by the government to report back on the progress as well as act as a liaison with the locals.
I listened to this book, and it literally took me months to finish. I really didn't enjoy this book. I thought it was very slow, not very exciting, and it just couldn't hold my attention. Usually I remember things I read, listen to, or watch very well, at least a very basic description. However, with this piece, I could barely remember what had happened the last time I was involved with it. Very disappointing.
10 words or less: Boring.
Completed: 9/4/09
This book is a story about a government experiment where a computer makes people believe it is “God”. The program had been delayed for several months, and was disgracing the government by conservative public speakers being very vocally against it. There were tensions with the local Native Americans because the workers did not support the local economy as they previously indicated they would. There is also a person who enters the group working on the project placed there by the government to report back on the progress as well as act as a liaison with the locals.
I listened to this book, and it literally took me months to finish. I really didn't enjoy this book. I thought it was very slow, not very exciting, and it just couldn't hold my attention. Usually I remember things I read, listen to, or watch very well, at least a very basic description. However, with this piece, I could barely remember what had happened the last time I was involved with it. Very disappointing.
10 words or less: Boring.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Odd Hours
By, Dean Koontz
Format: Audio Book
Completed: 6/15/09
This was the fourth book in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz. I really enjoy this series, and especially enjoy listening to these books. The person who read this book is the same person who read several other Dean Koontz novels, including the others in the Odd Thomas series. He really does an excellent job with Koontz's work.
I really like the Odd Thomas books because of the way they combine the supernatural with suspense. I know that Dean Koontz is often classified in the horror genre, but I wouldn't necessarily classify these as horror. There are definitely supernatural forces at work in these stories, and there is always a nefarious plot that needs to be stopped to save the world. It definitely makes for a great read.
Odd Hours follows a similar format to the other books in the series. It was a nice story line, with the main focus being Odd trying to save the world by stopping a dastardly plan. This series is definitely best read in order, however. I listened to one of the later books prior to the first, not knowing the first existed, and was somewhat confused. That did not stop me from enjoying the story, and I made sure to go out and grab the first book as soon as possible. This book refers back many times to the happenings of the previous books, so it is best to have that background prior to reading.
10 words or less: A satisfying continuation of the Odd Thomas story line.
Format: Audio Book
Completed: 6/15/09
This was the fourth book in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz. I really enjoy this series, and especially enjoy listening to these books. The person who read this book is the same person who read several other Dean Koontz novels, including the others in the Odd Thomas series. He really does an excellent job with Koontz's work.
I really like the Odd Thomas books because of the way they combine the supernatural with suspense. I know that Dean Koontz is often classified in the horror genre, but I wouldn't necessarily classify these as horror. There are definitely supernatural forces at work in these stories, and there is always a nefarious plot that needs to be stopped to save the world. It definitely makes for a great read.
Odd Hours follows a similar format to the other books in the series. It was a nice story line, with the main focus being Odd trying to save the world by stopping a dastardly plan. This series is definitely best read in order, however. I listened to one of the later books prior to the first, not knowing the first existed, and was somewhat confused. That did not stop me from enjoying the story, and I made sure to go out and grab the first book as soon as possible. This book refers back many times to the happenings of the previous books, so it is best to have that background prior to reading.
10 words or less: A satisfying continuation of the Odd Thomas story line.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Life Class
Author: Pat Barker
Completion Date: 6/3/09
I just finished listening to this book, and it took me a really long time to get through this. I actually had to listen to the first disk of this book more than once to try to understand it. However, once I got about half way through, once the romance really picked up, the story was much easier to understand. But I don't think that it was just the romance that improved the book, because that was actually present in the first portion. However, it really picked up more when the war came to the forefront of the story, and how that changed everyone's lives. It was especially poignant because the main characters were artists, and the changes were very dramatic for them in particular. Overall, it was OK, but I probably wouldn't recommend it to others.
10 words or less: Leave it unless you're already a fan of the author.
Completion Date: 6/3/09
I just finished listening to this book, and it took me a really long time to get through this. I actually had to listen to the first disk of this book more than once to try to understand it. However, once I got about half way through, once the romance really picked up, the story was much easier to understand. But I don't think that it was just the romance that improved the book, because that was actually present in the first portion. However, it really picked up more when the war came to the forefront of the story, and how that changed everyone's lives. It was especially poignant because the main characters were artists, and the changes were very dramatic for them in particular. Overall, it was OK, but I probably wouldn't recommend it to others.
10 words or less: Leave it unless you're already a fan of the author.
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