Judging a Book by its Cover

Water for Elephants
By: Sara Gruen

I picked this book up, literally knowing nothing about it. The back pages were covered with nothing other than praise for the piece, while the picture on the cover was vague enough for me to say “well, maybe it’s about a circus?” I must admit, I’m a fan of knowing little going into the story, because my expectations are minimal.

Water for Elephants is an interesting and exciting tale of life with the circus, as seen through the eyes of a man who stumbled his way into the life. Jacob Jankowski an old man, remembering his days with the Big Top. Days that involve animals, deception, love and murder. The circus world is easily explained to the reader; we learn as Jacob does.

Every few chapters, the author sticks a historical photograph into book, something I very much appreciated. Author’s notes explained that it was those very pictures that inspired her to write this piece. Often, I read books and imagine that it’d make a great movie. This was one of those times.

A fun, quick read. Definitely glad that I gave it a try.

Want to read for yourself?

Send me an email if you'd like to borrow one of the books I've blogged about. I can't promise that they'll all be available (more than one of them I borrowed myself), but what's the point in reading all these books if I can't share them with people.

Anyhow, let me know! If you're not local, depending on what you want, I'll happily send it your way.

No Easy Answers

The Tenth Circle
By: Jodi Picoult

I picked this book up sort of at random. I glanced over the back of a few of her books, and chose this one because it intrigued me. And saying that I enjoyed the book would be an odd phrasing, because it was truly painful at times. Captivated though, perhaps that's the correct word. Yes, I was captivated.

I do wonder, when I read these horrible stories about teens today, how much have times changed since I was younger? I spent most of my nights home with my computer, but I never heard stories that compare to the things I hear about now. Those stories both fascinate and terrify me. In fact, in some ways, that might be one of my dissapointments of the book.

Yet the truth is that teenagers today isn't the core of this book, but rather family dynamics and how a tragedy can change everything. Jodi Picoult is known for writing about complicated issues, and this book is no exception. In The Tenth Circle the issue is sexual violence. And I must admit, that once again I was reading one of her books feeling empathy for characters I'd never expect to feel empathy for.

And let's face it, I'm a sucker for a book with good parent/child relationships.

She does it again!

Shopaholic & Baby
By: Sophie Kinsella

I wasn't expecting much. Don't get me wrong, I love the Shopaholic series, and find Becky Brandon to be a fabulously entertaining narrator, but really? Did we need another book? I suppose the answer is yes, as I couldn't put this lovely amusing piece down. The main character has such charm and heart, and the author does a splendid job of placing her in these ridiculous situations that are completely plausible. A bit materialistic and occasionally superficial, but with a heart of gold.

For anyone who is a fan of the "Chic-Lit" genre, I recommend the entire Shopaholic series. Fun, funny and fresh. The comedy will pull you in, but the heart will keep you around.

I also applaud Kinsella, for the subtle callbacks to earlier stories, as well as the less subtle reappearance of former characters.

Worse than season 5 of Buffy, including "The Body"

Without You
By: Anthony Rapp

"Mark has got his work, they say Mark lives for his work, and Mark's in love with his work. Mark hides in his work." I suppose in many ways, I was pre-dispositioned to love this piece. An autobiographical work by Anthony Rapp, who originated the role of Mark Cohen in the musical Rent. As many of you know, that musical has influenced my life, and touched me in many profound ways that I I cannot even verbalize. I had to read this book, and am a surprised that it took finding it in a box, nearly two years after I purchased it, for me to open the pages.

Anthony Rapp bares his soul in these pages. The book begins when he auditioned for the first workshop cast of Rent, though as the story progresses, we get glimpses into earlier life moments. Over a few years, Anthony experiences love and loss and triumph and death. And death. Commonly known is, of course, the unexpected demise of Jonathan Larson, but less well known is that during that time, Anthony's mother had been battling with cancer.

Through the pages, you see Anthony come to terms with her fate, learning to express himself, his growing relationships with his family, and their acceptance of his sexuality. You also read this amazing backdrop of his life, as he takes his part in a landmark musical experience. I feel as though tears rested in my eyes through a majority of the read.

Early in the pages, Anthony mentions that, like Mark, he hides in his work. One would not believe it from this raw, honest tale. It does make me look back at my brief moment with Anthony Rapp, in which I walked up to him and, voice shaking, told him how much I admire his work, and asked if I could just shake his hand. He seemed taken aback, and I realize now that 10 years later, he's still impressed by what Jonathan Larson's work has accomplished. (And, okay, maybe the fact that I was wearing cat ears threw him off a bit). Still, I admire a man who grew up hiding his emotions, and as an adult can share them so openly in written form.

Anthony Rapp dedicates his book to his mother. I too, as always, dedicate everything I write, and every performance I give to my own mother.

And now, if you'll excuse me. I have a dvd to pull out of the "R" file and watch with a box of tissues, and possibly some chocolate.

Movie! The Notebook

Did Nicholas Sparks get a script doctor? I mean, as you all know, I did enjoy the book, but many of the minor problems that I had, I felt that the movie solved brilliantly. In the book, the early stages of the romance were glossed over in a few sentences, whereas the movie used the first hour to show up the love story build up. The true heart of the story, which in the book is only revealed in the last third or so, is subtly given to us, allowing the full scope of the heartbreak to sink in while you're still in the middle of the tale.

Watch the movie. If you have a choice between the book or the movie, grab the movie. I won't say that often.

Finally!

Emma
By: Jane Austin

As some of you know, I've been battling with this book for a long while. In fact, if you were wondering why I hadn't posted in so long, look no further than this painfully long read by Jane Austin.

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that Emma was poorly written, or a bad book. On the contrary, I found it enjoyable and found myself smiling many times. I was once told that one of the best things about a Jane Austin novel is that you know our heroine will fall in love and get married/live happily ever after, you just aren't sure with whom. And I do wonder if that is what made it such a difficult read for me. From the first pages, I knew that Cher and Josh would end up together, and that Tai would wind up with Travis Birkenstock.

However, not to contradict myself, but I believe my knowledge of the plot made the tale more enjoyable in so many ways. When I recognized a scene, I got giddy, reading those pages with more excitement.

I do wonder, if Emma was written to be a "chapter a night" sort of book, because for myself, most nights I found that more than two chapters was a bit too much. Each chapter is written in an episodic sort of fashion, lacking in the sort of cliffhangers that both drive me crazy and keep me turning the pages.

And I suppose, if I was going to put my feelings toward this book, which for a month I called the bane of my existence, that is what I would say. "A great book for the casual nightly reader." However, if you're like me, and enjoy ripping into a book and letting in consume your life, I might advice placing this one aside until you're ready to put it next to your bed and save it for the end of your evening.