helenka (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
helenkacan) wrote2017-06-01 11:12 am
helenkacan) wrote2017-06-01 11:12 am
Book List (May, 2017)
13. Christensen, Elizabeth
SGA-07: Casualties of War
I believe this was the only Atlantis book in the system, so thought I should read it (even though I was hoping to find the Legacy series). It was a good read, though terrific fanfic has spoiled me in this !Verse. There was a good mix of team in handling the emergency-du-jour.
14. Weir, Andy
The Martian
I so loved this book and am thrilled for the author's success. I'm always intrigued by the differences between an adapted screenplay following an original work. No kidding where the screenwriter assured us (in the extra features on the movie disc) he'd been diligent in staying as faithful as possible to the book. Actually, there were a few minor points in the book that were changed in the movie for far greater impact! Though I could have done without all the extreme danger (with the looping tether) in the rescue scene. Still, I enjoyed reading the mostly first-person journal so much that I renewed it, so I could read it again.
15. Ondaatje, Michael
In the skin of a lion
Even though I endured his "English Patient", I was still curious to read this book. OMG. It was almost completely unbearable with one rare saving grace. The author is so obsessed with very vivid and precise descriptions, painting with words as it were, but the effect is marred because that's what the entire book was like. Here's how I can describe it in a different medium: I happen to like Klimt's paintings ... but in small doses. Translating Ondaatje's style into painting would be akin to being locked in a large, brightly lit room, where every square inch of every wall was covered with Klimt, lacking even a thin margin of bare wall between one work and another.
So, the only saving grace was the historical aspect, especially the building of one of the city's jewels, namely the soaring black-arched viaduct spanning the Don Valley; and then the Water Filtration Plant (nicknamed the Palace of Purification) at the edge of Lake Ontario. Ondaatje had the book's protagonist working on both projects that were the realized imaginings of the city's first – and longest-serving – public works commissioner. Before I'd read the book, I'd had no idea the same man has been responsible for both edifices. Thankfully, they were both built at a time when utilitarian function did not override and smash through beauty of form. [Translation: most modernism = ugh!]
Okay, back to the book. I found the indifference of characters committing criminal acts and a matter-of-fact disregard of having a prison sentence after serving at the Kingston Penitentiary to be odd. There was also this aimlessness in people who basically hooked up and moved in together. And Ondaatje once again threw characters into the book wherever he felt like it, so it was difficult to understand the connection between characters. Definitely the last time I'm ever touching Ondaatje. ::shudders::
16-18. Marsh, Charis
Love You, Hate You
You're So Sweet
I Forgot To Tell You
After the brain-wrenching effort of finishing Ondaatje, I needed a break. I put "ballet" in the search box and got these three easy reads. They're part of a series about students at a ballet academy in Vancouver, B.C. Much of the books revolved around regular teen problems and behaviours (crushes, cattiness despite avowing BFF-ness, skipping classes, dropping out of school, bulimia, deceiving self and parents) overlaid with the intensity of the ballet world, especially with competitive parents added to the mix.
Despite a lot of toxic behaviour and situations, there is one redeeming message where several of the dancers feel sorry for the general population that will never know what it feels like to fully use every single muscle of their bodies.
19. Braun, Lillian Jackson
The Cat Who Had 14 Tales
After the ballet series, I turned to mysteries. It was easy to move to the author of "The Cat Who" series. When I still had my vision, I remember devouring these books on a regular basis. As I wasn't sure where to begin (it would make sense to start where I'd left off), I decided to reread this anthology. Some stories were better than others. An easy read.
20-23. Fletcher, Jessica
Manhattans & Murder
Design for Murder
Murder on the QE2
Murder in a Minor Key
So, obviously, not "written" by the TV detective character. I just thought I'd coast through some mysteries. Felt definitely queasy when reading about crossing the North Atlantic via the QE2. Felt the most emotion when I finished the last one, with a tear rolling down my face. The victim had been a passionate gay man who was obsessed with finding the mythical wax cylinders of recordings by a deceased New Orleans musical legend. But he was the third man to fall prey to the killer. He was honoured with a "Jazz Funeral" at the end. Though I'd once wanted to visit Nola, just reading about how unbearably hot and humid it was made me feel lucky that I'd never been, despite my love of the food and certain types of music (like Zydeco).
24. Martel, Yann
The Life of Pi
Odd book, didn't really grab my attention. But there were some parts that intrigued me. The first was how Pi decided to follow three religions: the expected Hinduism, but also Christianity, and Islam. Why? Well, he was just trying to find God ... to the confusion of his parents and consternation of his spiritual mentors. The second was when his family was deciding to relocate to Canada, Winnipeg to be exact, which Pi described as having "minus-two-hundred-degree winters". Ha! I loved it. The third was when he was in the lifeboat, now only with the tiger as foe/companion and I was informed that "only small cats purr breathing both ways" – inhaling and exhaling.
Finally, at chapter 59, I was able to sink into the play of words, as Pi – once he has made his liferaft more liveable – discovers the thriving aquamarine urban metropolis beneath the surface of the waves. And, then, I felt a similarity to Mark's situation in "The Martian" as he struggled to survive. In this case, though, Pi also has to struggle to overcome the fact that he has never taken a life but, not only does he need to eat (currently subsisting from the emergency locker supplies of tinned water and biscuits), he has to keep the tiger alive. So he catches fish. When he catches a large 3-foot long Dorado, he smashes the head in order to retrieve his hook and bait. "Blue, green, red, gold and violet flickered and shimmered neon-like on its surface as it struggled. I felt I was beating a rainbow to death." But, then, there was this antithesis of Mark's marking of every single Sol. For Pi, once he's established a routine on the boat and raft, "I survived because I forgot even the very notion of time".
Arrgghh. I'm frustrated and ultimately disappointed. It was revealed to be an allegory infected by bureaucracy – just after the "carnivorous" trees. WTF? Yes, yes, it was clever and there were passages that were exquisite, but I just didn't connect with this tale of survival over horrifyingly shattering incidents. In fact, the realistic explanation was just too ... real.
AAAAAAAAAAAND that wraps up May. I'm really happy about the number of books I got through, using both the iPad or the desktop when the iPad was recharging.
SGA-07: Casualties of War
I believe this was the only Atlantis book in the system, so thought I should read it (even though I was hoping to find the Legacy series). It was a good read, though terrific fanfic has spoiled me in this !Verse. There was a good mix of team in handling the emergency-du-jour.
14. Weir, Andy
The Martian
I so loved this book and am thrilled for the author's success. I'm always intrigued by the differences between an adapted screenplay following an original work. No kidding where the screenwriter assured us (in the extra features on the movie disc) he'd been diligent in staying as faithful as possible to the book. Actually, there were a few minor points in the book that were changed in the movie for far greater impact! Though I could have done without all the extreme danger (with the looping tether) in the rescue scene. Still, I enjoyed reading the mostly first-person journal so much that I renewed it, so I could read it again.
15. Ondaatje, Michael
In the skin of a lion
Even though I endured his "English Patient", I was still curious to read this book. OMG. It was almost completely unbearable with one rare saving grace. The author is so obsessed with very vivid and precise descriptions, painting with words as it were, but the effect is marred because that's what the entire book was like. Here's how I can describe it in a different medium: I happen to like Klimt's paintings ... but in small doses. Translating Ondaatje's style into painting would be akin to being locked in a large, brightly lit room, where every square inch of every wall was covered with Klimt, lacking even a thin margin of bare wall between one work and another.
So, the only saving grace was the historical aspect, especially the building of one of the city's jewels, namely the soaring black-arched viaduct spanning the Don Valley; and then the Water Filtration Plant (nicknamed the Palace of Purification) at the edge of Lake Ontario. Ondaatje had the book's protagonist working on both projects that were the realized imaginings of the city's first – and longest-serving – public works commissioner. Before I'd read the book, I'd had no idea the same man has been responsible for both edifices. Thankfully, they were both built at a time when utilitarian function did not override and smash through beauty of form. [Translation: most modernism = ugh!]
Okay, back to the book. I found the indifference of characters committing criminal acts and a matter-of-fact disregard of having a prison sentence after serving at the Kingston Penitentiary to be odd. There was also this aimlessness in people who basically hooked up and moved in together. And Ondaatje once again threw characters into the book wherever he felt like it, so it was difficult to understand the connection between characters. Definitely the last time I'm ever touching Ondaatje. ::shudders::
16-18. Marsh, Charis
Love You, Hate You
You're So Sweet
I Forgot To Tell You
After the brain-wrenching effort of finishing Ondaatje, I needed a break. I put "ballet" in the search box and got these three easy reads. They're part of a series about students at a ballet academy in Vancouver, B.C. Much of the books revolved around regular teen problems and behaviours (crushes, cattiness despite avowing BFF-ness, skipping classes, dropping out of school, bulimia, deceiving self and parents) overlaid with the intensity of the ballet world, especially with competitive parents added to the mix.
Despite a lot of toxic behaviour and situations, there is one redeeming message where several of the dancers feel sorry for the general population that will never know what it feels like to fully use every single muscle of their bodies.
19. Braun, Lillian Jackson
The Cat Who Had 14 Tales
After the ballet series, I turned to mysteries. It was easy to move to the author of "The Cat Who" series. When I still had my vision, I remember devouring these books on a regular basis. As I wasn't sure where to begin (it would make sense to start where I'd left off), I decided to reread this anthology. Some stories were better than others. An easy read.
20-23. Fletcher, Jessica
Manhattans & Murder
Design for Murder
Murder on the QE2
Murder in a Minor Key
So, obviously, not "written" by the TV detective character. I just thought I'd coast through some mysteries. Felt definitely queasy when reading about crossing the North Atlantic via the QE2. Felt the most emotion when I finished the last one, with a tear rolling down my face. The victim had been a passionate gay man who was obsessed with finding the mythical wax cylinders of recordings by a deceased New Orleans musical legend. But he was the third man to fall prey to the killer. He was honoured with a "Jazz Funeral" at the end. Though I'd once wanted to visit Nola, just reading about how unbearably hot and humid it was made me feel lucky that I'd never been, despite my love of the food and certain types of music (like Zydeco).
24. Martel, Yann
The Life of Pi
Odd book, didn't really grab my attention. But there were some parts that intrigued me. The first was how Pi decided to follow three religions: the expected Hinduism, but also Christianity, and Islam. Why? Well, he was just trying to find God ... to the confusion of his parents and consternation of his spiritual mentors. The second was when his family was deciding to relocate to Canada, Winnipeg to be exact, which Pi described as having "minus-two-hundred-degree winters". Ha! I loved it. The third was when he was in the lifeboat, now only with the tiger as foe/companion and I was informed that "only small cats purr breathing both ways" – inhaling and exhaling.
Finally, at chapter 59, I was able to sink into the play of words, as Pi – once he has made his liferaft more liveable – discovers the thriving aquamarine urban metropolis beneath the surface of the waves. And, then, I felt a similarity to Mark's situation in "The Martian" as he struggled to survive. In this case, though, Pi also has to struggle to overcome the fact that he has never taken a life but, not only does he need to eat (currently subsisting from the emergency locker supplies of tinned water and biscuits), he has to keep the tiger alive. So he catches fish. When he catches a large 3-foot long Dorado, he smashes the head in order to retrieve his hook and bait. "Blue, green, red, gold and violet flickered and shimmered neon-like on its surface as it struggled. I felt I was beating a rainbow to death." But, then, there was this antithesis of Mark's marking of every single Sol. For Pi, once he's established a routine on the boat and raft, "I survived because I forgot even the very notion of time".
Arrgghh. I'm frustrated and ultimately disappointed. It was revealed to be an allegory infected by bureaucracy – just after the "carnivorous" trees. WTF? Yes, yes, it was clever and there were passages that were exquisite, but I just didn't connect with this tale of survival over horrifyingly shattering incidents. In fact, the realistic explanation was just too ... real.
AAAAAAAAAAAND that wraps up May. I'm really happy about the number of books I got through, using both the iPad or the desktop when the iPad was recharging.