i was surprised at how little reading i got done this summer, but of what i did finish, here’s the list and the ratings:

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri was up first. lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction with this book back in 2000. it’s a small volume of large stories focusing on, among other things, Indian-American experiences both here and in India – identity crises of sorts, and the interaction of the characters within American culture, or naturalized Indian-Americans interacting within a “foreign” Indian culture. Lahiri’s writing is excellent and her stories are short but loaded with detail. i very much enjoyed this and went right into her second book…

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. This is a novel that takes many of the themes found in her volume of short stories and plays them out over a generation. also well-written, i liked her novel as well! (as an aside: we rented the movie – it was also good, but not as good as the book)

The Gathering by Ann Enright had me scratching my head. and in the end, i’m not sure why i finished it. it’s a story of repressed memories, mourning, becoming, understanding who you are – but i just didn’t identify with anyone or anything in the story. this was a Man Booker Prize winner a few years ago, the main reason i bought it, and it should have taught me a lesson…

but  it didn’t.  Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss was another one that i was left puzzed by in the end. i understand the historical and cultural significance of the setting, and vaguely understand the societal / class struggle, but the book just didn’t satisfy me. another Man Booker winner, and another thumbs down.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen was up next. dad gave this one to me as an answer to getting away from all the “heady shit” of the previous four books. it was fun. it was interesting. it was entertaining. it comes to you recommended as simply a story – no moral, no point, no frills. i liked it and it helped me get my literary head back on straight. cleansed the palate, i guess.

Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje was a winner. the first book of his i’d read, The English Patient, was my introduction to Ondaatje’s writing. set in sri lanka in the 80′s and 90′s, it’s another story of cultural and class differences (and warfare), loyalty, and mystery (ending in discovery). a definite thumbs up for this one – it wasn’t particularly “moving” but it was well-written (and frankly, “moving” stories don’t always make for “good” stories).

speaking of which, The Soloist by Steve Lopez was one of those “moving” but not “good” books. i get it. i understand the significance of what nathanael ayers represents as a mentally ill individual with incredible talent, the support system (or lack of it) around him, lopez’ struggles and the resulting good that came of this series of articles… i just wasn’t that impressed with the writing or the amount of time lopez devotes to himself. (in another movie aside: the film of this book was even less stellar)

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri is her latest. another collection of short stories + 1 novella, i had a recurring sense of deja vu while reading it. like her previous two, it’s very well written, and you get attached to the characters (she fleshes them out just right), but the themes are the same or similar to what we’ve already read from her. i felt like i was treading water and could almost predict what was going to happen next. Â do i recommend it? yes, but… only if you want more of the same.

The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery was supposed to be another break from heady reading. it sucked. i didn’t want it to. i tried, i promise. but. it sucked. too apologetic. too much time trying to convince me of the worth of the pig as a pet / friend / savior / ?? and not enough story. choppy, mired in slop, and all together unsatisfying, i put it down, picked it back up, and finally put it back down for good less than 1/3 of the way through. don’t waste your time or money. you can have my copy. burn it. want a feel-good pet story? buy Marley & Me.

Children of Men by PD James – thumb up and thumb down. it struck me as similar to The Road by McCarthy in the sense that the story was good up to the ending. then it… dived. it left too many questions, and was too easy. the idea was good but suffered from a lack of knowing where to take it? or maybe i just missed the point.

and finally:

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. recommended to me by two folks independent of each other, i took it as a sign and grabbed it from Amazon. it’s a Columbine-like story told from the perspective of the shooter / child. it sheds light on bullying and self-esteem issues, and as a teacher there was definite benefit from reading it when i go in and work with my students, and as a novel, it’s decent. it’s not written specifically to convince you of anything (it’s a bit of a mystery / love story / suspense put together), and it’ll never be a favorite, but it was worth reading.

this concludes our rambling take on summer reading.

still on a pulitzer / man booker / national book award kick.

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struggled with Life of Pi at the beginning. had to stop, start, stop, start before it finally caught (and just before i gave up). at the 3/4 point, it’s good but will never be a favorite.

the best book i’ve read in at least a year?

shadow country by peter matthiessen.

it’s simply a story.

but it’s the telling of the tale, the imagery, the myriad voices used in telling, the different perspectives, the character development, the conclusion of each sub-book (there are three) that make this such a fantastic read.

no exaggeration – this book is a masterpiece.

least interesting book i’ve read this past year? the brief wonderous life of oscar wao. how this thing won the pulitzer prize for fiction last year is beyond me.Â

next up: the white tiger.

currently reading / finishing / getting ready to start the following:

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what is the what is excellent so far!Â

i finished reading Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close a couple nights ago and what a wild and exhausting ride. it’s an almost stream of consciousness narration by a ten year old of higher than ordinary intelligence and personality as he searches for answers. the story starts with our protagonist having been sent home early from school in NYC on 9-11-01 and finding 4 messages on the answering machine. it’s his father calling from the top of one of the towers. the ensuing journey comes after he finds a key a couple years later in his fathers belongings – his quest, the people he meets, the pain, hurt, and compulsions he experiences, the dynamics with his mother and grandmother, the interlaced narratives of his grandfather and grandmother, and the continuing aftermath of 9-11 – it’s exhausting and exhilarating all at once. Jonathan Foer uses pictures in unusual and creative ways in this book that ultimately add much to the storyline, but are initially confusing.

i rarely cry over books and even more rarely have to put a book down for a couple days because of the emotional impact (as well as the insomnia the subject matter caused). this book did all that and more. i recommend the book, but only if you can handle a pretty intense level of grief and pain in the writing.

my second recommendation comes with no warning: Persepolis is an excellent read, and in graphic novel format, similar to Maus by Art Spiegelman. it’s an excellent telling of one woman’s perspective on the iranian revolution – the drawings go a long way in helping to tell the tale and her writing (or the translation of it) is clear and to the point. her relationships with her parents, grandmother, friends, and lovers all shed light on attitudes and the struggles faced during this time. the bottom line was that a face was put to the enormous sacrifice paid by the people.

the movie is also good, but the books go further and deeper.

my current reading list over the christmas break:

• a thousand splendid suns by khaled hosseini
• flags of our fathers by james bradley
• under the banner of heaven by jon krakauer

happy reading!

good books from the past several months have included a couple older books and new ones:

• Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer – the movie was good, but the book bests it. a fascinating biography pieced together of the life of chris mccandless as he strips off the consumer-focused mindset and tries to get back to what’s most important. i don’t agree with everything in the book, but it’s well-told and researched. krakauer identifies maybe a little too much with his subject (and it is somewhat apologetic in some areas) but i couldn’t help but think back to younger years and what i might’ve done with more resolve…
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – on the recommendation of rachael and jon, i jumped into this book after seeing the movie. the movie stays surprisingly true to the book, but the book adds layers of tension and emotion that the movie couldn’t come close to – very well written and full of aches and love and ultimately, redemption. the imagery of the relationships, the afghan country, the american assimilation, the culture clashes within both countries – it’s a good read.
• Jesus for President by Shane Claiborn – suggested reading by adrienne and greg, i’d heard of claiborn a year or so earlier but hadn’t read anything by him. liberals will love it. conservatives will probably hate it. independents will go both ways. regardless, his views are challenging and thought-provoking. the packaging alone is reason to read it, but what he has to say is necessary and will hopefully focus our attention on things that are too easily ignored or are simply accepted as a necessary byproduct of being christian and living in america.
• Duma Key by Stephen King – those who know my reading habits know that king has disappointed me many times over the years to the point that i generally won’t read anything of his anymore. after scott and dad both told me that this book was king’s return to form, i gave in and gave it a read. and they were right. it IS a good book. nothing ground-breaking or earth-shattering, but it’s just a good, fun read. the ending is a bit too easy, too trite, but i’ll forgive him for that. the rest of the book was worth it.

there were a couple other books that were good and worth mentioning:

• The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
• The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
• Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren
• Roots by Alex Haley
• The Dark River by John Twelve Hawks

all of these come highly recommended to you. i can’t guarantee you’ll love ‘em all, but there’s some good stuff that won’t waste your valuable reading time.