Idarah

Wonderful!

Revisado: 02-14-19

Worsley is the queen of history! I enjoyed the format of the book, the narration and bits she chose to include.

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Fabulous Book, Terrible Narrator!

Revisado: 02-06-18

I recommend just buying the Kindle book. The narrator mispronounced so many words, it was ridiculous!

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Sweeping Saga!

Revisado: 01-12-16

"Lastly, she knew one other thing, and this was the most important realization of all: she knew that the world was plainly divided into those who fought an unrelenting battle to live, and those who surrendered and died. This was a simple fact."

This was a delightful audio book to listen to! At a length of 21 hours and 43 minutes, it seemed like a daunting book to tackle prior to investing in my wireless noise canceling headphones. It's made audio books a delight once again. Now I can listen anywhere! While I clean, drive, take the train, on dog walks and even at the gym, I am traveling vicariously to different lands and periods of time.

This book was read by the lovely Juliet Stevensen. I had no idea that she had so many audio productions under her belt. I always remember her a Mrs. Elton in the film, Emma. In this book she maintains American, English and Dutch accents throughout. Impressive! I'm keen to look into her other narrations.

At the center of this novel is Alma Whittaker, a young woman born into an eccentric, wealthy family of botanists in Philadelphia at the turn of the 18th century. This can really be called a sweeping historical saga, as it also covers the life of both her parents, Henry and Beatrix, and over 100 years of the biological sciences, colonialization, and history. It's kind of a difficult book to describe in a few words. In fact, I'm not sure that I followed where it was headed at all times.

No doubt Alma's advancements in her specialized field of plant life is what enchanted me most. I really liked her character. I understood her longings and could only imagine how difficult it must have been to be so ahead of her time, but not given proper consideration because she was a woman. With the final part of the book in the balance, I was sure this would be a 5-star book had it not been for the last part. I'm still scratching my head. I guess instead of tying up all the loose ends and relationships in Alma's life with her theory, it only left more questions in my mind.

I guess I mostly wondered what the point of it all was? Alma lead an extraordinary life, but was it extraordinary because of her contributions to science or her theory? Hmmm. I respect Gilbert's vision, but it felt a bit like there were too many balls in the air. Still a wonderful read. Exceptional prose, well researched, and most importantly, she succeeded in transporting me in time. I haven't read Eay, Pray, Love or any of her other works, but I now look forward to them.

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Brilliant debut and awesome narration!

Revisado: 12-24-15

“How had it begun? Like everything: with mothers and fathers. Because of Lydia’s mother and father, because of her mother’s and father’s mothers and fathers.”

Wow! Days after finishing this novel, I can't stop thinking about the Lee family. I had no idea what it would be about except that it had received a lot of positive nods in a range of reading circles. I also find it hard to believe that this is Ms. Ng's debut novel. She has a lovely way of writing about thoughts and feelings, and I especially enjoyed the unique way the novel was structured. It wasn't exactly a linear story, and by the end of the book everything comes full circle without a hair out of place. Very well thought out!

The racial issues at the core of this novel hit very close to home, and I suppose that's why it garnered a rare five star rating. Although these issues are still being tackled today, it's clear to see that a lot of progress has been made, even if in certain areas it may only be outwardly.

I also appreciated how Ng introduced the subject of women's rights in choice of career and education. It's easy to forget that not too long ago, many opportunities in medicine and science weren't open to women, and those who chose to head those battles had a long war ahead of them. Excellent read! I wonder what Ng has in store for her next book.

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Masterfully imaginative piece!

Revisado: 05-08-14

This book was described very simply as a retelling of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of the servants, which made me both excited to read it, and also hesitant because I've read some pretty bad ones. That being said, this is NOT a retelling, in fact the Bennets take a back seat to the"belowstairs" lives of their servants. Told from the perspective of Mrs. Hill, the Bennet's housekeeper, and the the scullery maid, Sarah, we have a fresh perspective of life during the Regency era, and a slice of life for a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. I don't think I will ever look at Pride and Prejudice the same. I'll never be able to watch the BBC adaptation (1995 Colin Firth), and not want to follow "Hill" off camera after she's administered cordial for Mrs. Bennet's "poor nerves." A definite read for lovers of historical fiction.

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Great way to start the new year!

Revisado: 05-08-14

"I don't believe in New Year's resolutions." Ever said that or heard that? I actually don't believe in making huge vows at the beginning of the year, and falling flat on my face a month later. I am a believer in trying to implement lasting lifestyle changes in my life that lead to a happier/healthy me. The problems usually arise after my burst of energy fizzles out, and I am back to square one, usually 10 lbs heavier and just a smidge bitter.

What I needed was a way to organize my ideas and goals, and a way to jump from goal to action. Once that was in gear, I needed help with sticking to those goals. Thus the book, which if you didn't already know, is a "self-help" book, which already was an issue for me, since I don't care for this genre (probably because I've only read a few really, really bad ones). That aside, I really enjoyed the straight forward layout and style of the book, and the practical suggestions. It served as a workbook and was divided into sections that you can revisit from time to time if you need to refocus on your projects.

While some information was repetitive and also a little contradictory, I was able to take away a lot of good points, for example, reflecting on habits that were successfully created in the past, and what I did to accomplish them. It took awhile to really hone in on past successes, but I was able to reflect on how I broke the habit of cursing (including even thinking them in my head), avoiding soda, and even when I lost 35 pounds and kept them off for two years. She also tackled awkward subjects like dealing with naysayers, especially when they're family or close friends. Made me realize that I've been that person in the past. Why do we do that?!

I read about 60% of this book last year in an effort to finally shed unwanted pounds, and then just didn't have the energy to finish it. How funny and sad, huh? Needless to say, I did not lose the weight I wanted last year. This year though, I finished the book and even downloaded the audio book so I can listen to certain areas again when I need to get reenergized. My three main goals this year are to run a half marathon by the end of the year (I am not a runner at all), adopt a cleaner way of eating (including buying organic meats, fruits, and vegetables), and to review all of the books I read this year. I'm actually doing pretty good!

So what about you? What are some things that you've wanted to implement or change in your life? If you're feeling a little stuck and need some direction on pinpointing where to get started, you'll probably really enjoy this little book.

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Ay caramba!

Revisado: 05-08-14

Prions. Before reading The Family That Couldn't Sleep, I had no idea what those were. Since finishing this book, I've developed an equal sense of respect and fear of them. "Prions are ordinary proteins that sometimes go wrong, resulting in neurological illnesses that are always fatal. Even more mysterious and frightening, prions are almost impossible to destroy because they are not alive and have no DNA." How's that for a mouthful?

At the center of this book is a Venetian family with a deadly legacy of Fatal Familial Insomnia dating back to the 1700s. FFI is a disease that strikes its victims in middle age, and causes complete insomnia, exhaustion, and eventual death within a matter of months. Max, himself a victim of a degenerative neurological disorder, expounds on the history of prions, theories on their origins, and the culminative affects on peoples and lands throughout the world. Cast your mind back to the Mad Cow Disease scare in Europe, or even the first cases of scrapie among sheep in Europe in the 18th century; these can be linked back to very bad little prions.

I really enjoyed the break down of scientific terms and I especially loved the history part. I find that I almost always enjoy the style and flow of books that are written by journalists, which is probably why it put me in mind of Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan and Lost in Shangri-la by Mitchell Zuckoff. A great read whether you're scientifically inclined, or just along for the adventure ride! Another plus: I now kinda understand the scientific references Amy Farrah Fowler, a fictional neurobiologist on the show The Big Bang Theory, periodically makes to her research work. Winning!

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Beautifully textured tale!

Revisado: 05-08-14

I’ve been playing this weird reading game with the books in my personal library lately. I don’t ever buy books on a whim. I usually either know what they’re about, or have heard of them through a second hand source, like a review or an NPR author interview. In the last few years however, my memory has gotten very shoddy, so I’m starting to have a hard time remembering why I bought certain books, or what they’re even about without reading the dust jacket. That’s where the dangerous fun comes into play! I’ve stopped reading my dust jackets! I know, right? Crazy book lady has gotten in over her heard. I’m just picking them up and reading them. Who the heck does that?

This Russian Reading Roulette game motivated me to pick up Tell the Wolves I’m Home. Days after finishing it, I’m still wondering what the heck I just read. I don’t even know how to talk about it. Is that weird? Don’t get me wrong, it’s an awesome book! I think I’m probably just suffering from sensory overload. It is a thickly layered book about family, first loves, friendship, and so many other things. I also felt like it was told in an odd sort of modern day fairy tale way. Well, sort of modern. It’s set in 1987—thus the basis of its appeal! So there you have it. A review that tells you almost nothing about what this book is about. If I’ve piqued your curiosity, then good! Maybe this book will motivate you to play the game, too.

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Emotionally informative!

Revisado: 05-08-14

It’s hard to escape the escalating decline in world conditions. Whether it’s refugees’ stories from far flung war-torn countries, or reports involving the abuse of our environment and its critters, there is no limit to the different forms of media that are reporting global events non-stop. Even if the view outside our kitchen window is generally uneventful and peaceful, books like Half the Sky are a cold slice of reality pie.

Half the Sky focuses on human rights violations against women around the world, but mostly in Africa and Asia. Divided into areas of concern such as sex trafficking, systematic rape, maternal mortality, and illiteracy, Kristof incorporates statistics with personal life stories. Many of them were hard to listen to, and at one point I found myself stuck in rush hour traffic sobbing into my sweater sleeves. As “advanced” as mankind is, why are things like this still going on today? Why are these things generally unknown, although they’re not taking place in secret? I enjoy documentaries and books like these because they make me more aware of what is going on around the world. If all I believed was based on what I saw on the news, I’d be one short sighted individual.

Pee-Wee Herman summed me up when he said: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.” I mention him because my only complaint about this book, call me a pragmatic idealist if you want, was that I don’t like being told what to feel. A compelling life story was almost always followed by a proposed plan of action that equated the group of women to monetary assets. Everything was reduced to dollars and cents. I get it, people higher up won’t focus on these women’s issues if it’s not profitable, but isn’t that the sad part to begin with? What’s a life worth? No matter how much is donated to certain causes, or how many laws are passed, it ultimately can’t change the way people think or feel, let alone how they treat others. I guess I would have prefered the journalistic touch without the agenda. Just my musings, at any rate. Highly recommended if you’re interested in current events in regards to the oppression of women, and what is being done to bridge these injustices.

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Trust that you will LOVE this book!

Revisado: 05-08-14

Middlesex has been stacked in a pile of books I like to refer to as my "Jumanji" books. The two main child characters in the film Jumanji begin a creepy, larger-than-life board game that results in the "Little Man Tate" boy disappearing, and the the young girl running away in horror, putting an abrupt end to the game. Though stowed away in the attic soon after the occurrence and forgotten, a distant jungle drum beat still emanates from the board game, forever beckoning that someone continue the game, and finish what was started.

That pretty much sums up my avoidance dance with this amazingly beautiful book. I first began this audio book in 2007, and got so carried away in the language and pace of the narrative, that I knew I wanted to dedicate more time and attention to it, for fear of missing any details. I returned the book to the library and bought a physical copy from my local used book store. Since then, Middlesex has sat in that pile of "Jumanji" books, forever beckoning me to finish what I started. Sure it's made it's way into my purse a few times, and followed by a few false starts, but nothing lasting. Even the cajoling from well meaning friends in that "I can't believe you haven't read that yet!" voice didn't help. So finally, after 7 years, I broke down and bought the audio book and downloaded it to my phone last week, so that I could take it and the Stephanides family with me everywhere. What a journey we've had!


"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974."
So begins this sweeping family saga of three generations of Calliope/Cal's family beginning in Asia Minor on through to Detroit, and finally ending in Berlin spanning the 1920s to present. Through this historical narrative, we learn about the Stephanides family and their dark family secret. Told in a sort of whimsical voice, with Woody Allenesque aside interruptions, it's hard not to get swept up in the story and totally lose yourself, or to find yourself laughing out loud, or rolling your eyes incredulously. I can easily believe that this book took Eugenides 9 years to finish. It is such an epic read, and each sentence packs a sensual punch. There are a handful of books that have left me this happy and disoriented...also incredibly sad to turn the last page.

It's worth noting that the narrator, Kristoffer Tabori, is one of the best voice actors I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. How good is he, you may ask? Audible.com only has a handful of weird books for which he is credited on. The selection seems to be limited to children's horror stories, funky sci-fi, and self-help books. Oh well, that's dedication. I hope the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School books are worth it, because guess who'll be listening to them here shortly.

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