Naked

Title: Naked

Author: David Sedaris

Pages: 3 discs (abridged)

Genre: Autobiographical Essays

Grade: B

Synopsis: This book is a collection of autobiographical essays by comedian David Sedaris. He writes about his strange urges to lick things (light switches, mail boxes, etc.) growing up and when his teachers would stop by to discuss his quirks with his parents, his mother would serve drinks to the teachers as she empathized with their struggles. He also wrote about many other dysfunctions of his family ending with his self-deprecating visit to a nudist colony.

My Review: I didn't realize that this was a collection of essays until I sat down to write this review. Everything seemed to flow well together, but there didn't seem to be a climax or highlight of the book (which I now attribute to it being a collection of essays). The essays were funny without being dirty or mean, although the language is poor.

Disclaimer: As mentioned, swearing in the book is quite prevalent.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Pages: 11 discs

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B+

Synopsis: The book begins with the story of Mariam, who is an illegitimate child of a local businessman. After her mother commits suicide, she is married off to a 40-year-old man who continually abuses her, especially after she has a few miscarriages and fails to deliver the son that Rasheed so desperately wants. The story then shifts to 14-year-old Laila whose parents are killed by stray bombs. Rasheed ends up taking her in as a second wife. The complete story takes place over a 30-year timespan in Afghanistan, when the country was gripped by anti-Soviet jihad, civil war, Taliban cruelty and finally uncertainty after the US invasion in 2001.

My Review: The book is very depressing and violent as it seems that the main characters can never get a break. I love reading about places and countries that I know so little about (Afghanistan), and from what I've gathered, this book is generally true to history. My biggest complaint is that the first half of the book felt very disjointed with the story focusing on Mariam before switching to Laila with no apparent connection between them.

Disclaimer: There is some language, but quite a bit of violence and death that may be disturbing.

The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882

Title: The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882

Author: Charles Darwin, edited by Nora Barlow

Pages: 243

Genre: Autobiography

Grade: D

Synopsis: Charles Darwin wrote his autobiography throughout the later years of his life. He intended it to be solely for his children, but his son first published the autobiography in 1887 (with most of the personal details omitted - which have now since been included). Darwin writes about his early life, school years and published works, spending very little on information about his family or other personal topics.

My Review: Very few books take me this long to read (4 weeks or so). Alison's had this book from some class at the U and I was interested in reading it but, there was nothing about this book that motivated me to pick it up and continue reading once I had started (and in fact, I skipped the 90+ pages of the appendix). For Darwin enthusiasts, this book is a gem. For the rest of us, I'm sure we can find something else...

On another note, The book is free to anybody who wants it (first come first served)...

Prey

Title: Prey

Author: Michael Crichton

Pages: 11 discs

Genre: Science Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Jack Forman recently lost his job as a computer programmer. He is eventually hired on as a consultant to his wife's company, Xymos Technologies. They've recently invented a way for nano-particles to reproduce themselves using bacterial processes. Unfortunately, some of the particles have gotten loose into the atmosphere and they are now reproducing on their own outside of the lab environment.

My Review: The science behind the book is a little suspect and often unbelievable which is a little unfortunate because it's such a critical portion of the book. It was generally easy to understand what was going on though and the book had plenty of suspense and twists.

Disclaimer: There's a bit of language to watch out for.

Letters for Emily

Title: Letters for Emily

Author: Camron Wright

Pages: 320

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Harry Whitney wasn't ever the best father, husband or even grandfather. He suffered from severe Alzheimer's but luckily had a few hours of sanity most days. During his lucid times, he composed a book of poems that he addressed to his granddaughter Emily. The poems each had hidden passwords in them that led the family to more of Harry's advice and brought them together.

My Review: I generally enjoyed this book. I liked the clues in the poems and the linguistic tricks that were often played. The love story underlying the story was a little hokey, but all-in-all not a terrible read.

The Sea of Monsters

Title: The Sea of Monsters

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages: 304

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Percy Jackson learns that his good friend Tyson is a cyclops and also his half-brother. Percy also learns that camp Half-Blood has been compromised. Percy, Annabeth and Tyson sneak out on a quest to try and save the camp by obtaining the Golden Fleece by crossing the Sea of Monsters (aka the Bermuda Triangle).

My Review: These books are fairly simple, but I still enjoy how they help bring Greek mythology to modern times. An easy, quick read that wasn't too predictable.

The Time Traveler's Wife

Title: The Time Traveler's Wife

Author: Audrey Niffenegger

Pages: 16 discs

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: The book is about Clare and Henry. Henry first met Clare when he was 36 and Clare was 6. They got married when Henry was 31 and Clare was 23. Henry spontaneously time-travels to other points in his life, his wife's life, his mother and father's lives or elsewhere. He can't control when or where he goes, but will always arrive at his new destination (and back home) naked and often hungry.

My Review: The premise behind this book is very interesting and intriguing. I can't put my finger on it, but I always felt that Niffenegger could have done a little bit more with the story. Nonetheless, I quite enjoyed the book, but did not enjoy the sex and language that was also quite prevalent.

Title: Angela's Ashes

Author: Frank McCourt

Pages: 15 discs

Genre: Memoir

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Frank McCourt grew up in absolute poverty with his family both in Brooklyn and Ireland. Having many siblings die at a young age from sickness and an alcoholic father that couldn't hold down a job for more than a couple of weeks forced his mother, him and his brother to scrounge and beg for food wherever they could.

My Review: The book was extremely sad as Frank described the hardships, difficulties and prejudices that he and his family had to endure. It was an eye-opening expose on the way that alcohol controlled the life of Frankie's father and many of the other men in Limerick. At one point, Frankie's father left to England to work in a factory during the war (WWII), of course he promised to send money back home to the family, but week after week the family wouldn't see a shilling. Every pound the father earned was spent in the pubs. I especially loved listening to the author narrate the audio version of this book in his Limerick (Irish) accent.

Disclaimer: There is a bit of language, most of which is the taking of God's name in vain.

Bonk

Title: Bonk - The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Author: Mary Roach

Pages: 319

Genre: Non-fiction

Grade: A-

Synopsis: Mary Roach has previously written the non-fiction books, "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" and "Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife." Now Roach turns her mind towards the science of sex. The book explores the study of sexual physiology - what is happening, why it is happening and how can it happen better. Her research takes her to brothels, pig farms, sex-toy R&D labs, MRI centers and the labs of numerous sexologists. As the book jacket suggests, Roach tackles the questions such as: "Can a person think herself to orgasm? Can a dead man get an erection? Is vaginal orgasm a myth? Why doesn't Viagra help women or... pandas?

My Review: Sex is about as taboo a subject as an author can explore. What makes this book work is the honesty and openness that Roach exudes as she digs into this topic. I'll be honest, I'm probably fairly naive about sex in the world in general, and this book was eye-opening in many ways. The book is not dirty or vulgar, but it is often hilarious and sometimes disgusting and disturbing. Alison can attest, the book is often very funny and had me laughing more often than most.

Disclaimer: Obviously, this book is about sex - from a scientific angle. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it (as I've recommended Alison to read it), but you've probably got to have an open mind. As you can imagine, the language in the book fits the subject matter and may cause some discomfort...

From the Book: There are so many quotes that I could have included from this book, but I'm doing my best to keep this blog a family blog...

(p. 91) Anne Marie's beauty and style belie a down-and-dirty education in the particulars of practical AI (artificial insemination). She has miked a boar of his prodigious ejaculate--over two hundred milliliters (a cup), as compared to a man's three milliliters--and she has done it with her hand. For, unlike stallions and bulls, boars don't cotton to artificial vaginas. (in part, because their penis, like their tail, is corkscrewed.) AI techs must squeeze the organ in their hand--hard and without letup--for the entire duration of the ejaculation: from five to fifteen minutes. "You should see the size of their hands," she says, of the men and women who regular ejaculate boars."

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King

Title: The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Pages: 16 discs

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A-

Synopsis: Frodo and Sam continue on their trek into Mordor to try and destroy the ring at Mount Doom. At the same time, the remaining members of the fellowship are fighting battles for Rohan and Gondor. Gandalf the White hatches a plan to divert Sauron's eye to them so that he will not be aware of Frodo and the ring's presence in his own backyard.

My Review: The Lord of the Rings is truly an epic story. As you read this series, there are so many stories that could have been told about everything in middle earth, which allows your imagination to fill in the blanks. My only complaint is that the climax of the story happens just over halfway through the book, but the benefit of this is that the completion of the story is very satisfying as most loose ends have been wrapped up.

The Kiss

Title: The Kiss

Author: Kathryn Harrison

Pages: 207

Genre: Memoir

Grade: B

Synopsis: Kathryn Harrison is 6 months old when her father leaves her mother. She only sees her father a couple of times before he comes to visit her and her mother when she is 20. As Kathryn drops her father off at the airport, he gives her a sensual kiss that is the start to an obsessive love affair between father and daughter.

My Review: This book is a shockingly honest memoir from Kathryn Harrison. The power that her father (who is a pastor) is able to gain over her is amazing and disturbing. Her life unravels as they both become obsessed with each other before she is finally able to sever the tie.

Charlotte's Web

Title: Charlotte's Web

Author: E.B. White

Pages: 184

Genre: Children's Fiction

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Fern cares for the runt of the litter and helps the little piglet grow until Fern's father decides that it is time to sell the pig. He sells Wilbur to Fern's uncle and she makes sure to visit often. Wilbur makes friend with a little gray spider Charlotte, who makes it her life's goal to save Wilbur from the slaughter.

My Review: I read 4-5 pages of this book with Ada each night before putting her to bed. She enjoyed the story, but often found it hard to focus as the vocabulary in the book is quite above her level. But, she understood the story and I loved when should would ask, "Daddy, what does ___ mean?" Now we're looking for another book appropriate to read with a 4-year old. Any suggestions?

The Book Thief

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Pages: 552

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade: A-

Synopsis: Liesel Meminger and her younger brother are being taken by their mother to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann who live on Himmel Street in Molching, Germany. On the way there, Liesel's younger brother dies and is buried in a small town cemetery. Leaving the cemetery, Liesel notices a book in the snow, The Grave Digger's Handbook. At the time, Liesel can't read, but the book is the start of her love/hate relationship with words and books.

My Review: This is one of the more unique books that I have ever read. I enjoyed it immensely, but for some reason, I found it difficult to really get into it. I loved the viewpoint of the story, from that of a small non-Jewish family living in Hitler's Germany and their view of the oppression of Nazi Germany. I'd really like to read the book again, and will probably enjoy it more if I'm able to focus on it more.

Disclaimer: This book is full of swearing (mainly in German) and the taking of the Lord's name in vain, which was disappointing.

My Sister's Keeper

Title: My Sister's Keeper

Author: Jodi Picoult

Pages: 12 discs

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Anna sues her parents for medical emancipation when she is 13 years old. Her older sister, Kate, has been sick with leukemia since she was two years old. The only reason Anna was even born, was to be a donor of genetically matched cord blood for Kate's benefit. Since that time, Anna has had to donate many parts of her body to her sister and now she is being forced to donate a kidney to her sister without ever giving her consent.

My Review: I found this book to be very interesting and thought-provoking. It was extremely difficult to take sides because it was difficult to determine who was right and who was wrong. The book is a serious portrayal of an issue of medical ethics. What made the book a little hokey (in my opinion), were the connections each character had to each other or to one thing or another that would cloud their view of these issues. Regardless, the book has surprises at almost every turn.

Disclaimer: There is a bit of language in the book to be prepared for.

The Winds of War

Title: The Winds of War

Author: Herman Wouk

Pages: 885

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Victor "Pug" Henry is a middle-aged naval officer recently assigned to be the Naval Attache for the US Embassy in Berlin just a few months before Germany attacked Poland at the start of World War II. The Henry's have one son in the Navy, one son that will soon join the Navy and a daughter back in the states who is looking into starting college in New York City. Throughout the course of the book, Pug has the chance to meet Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Churchill and becomes a respected confidant of Roosevelt. This volume ends shortly after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. For a more complete synopsis, refer to this article from Wikipedia.

My Review: This is truly an epic account of World War II from a military family's perspective. I didn't realize until I had completed the book that there is actually a second volume in the series which is more than 1,000 pages long itself. I have always had a hard time piecing the chronology of World War II together in my mind, and this book helped that immensely. From everything that I have read, this book is known as one of the most correct historical fiction accounts of the Great War. When I finished the book, I wasn't quite sure if the book was fictional or not. In my opinion, that is the highest compliment that can be given to a work of historical fiction.

Disclaimer: As is often the case with 'true-to-life' military books, there is a bit of language in the book.