Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The Heart Goes Last


The Heart Goes Last
Margaret Atwood
4/5


Published September 29th, 2015

First Sentence
"Sleeping in the car is cramped."

Publisher's Description:

Living in their car, surviving on tips, Charmaine and Stan are in a desperate state. So, when they see an advertisement for Consilience, a ‘social experiment’ offering stable jobs and a home of their own, they sign up immediately. All they have to do in return for suburban paradise is give up their freedom every second month – swapping their home for a prison cell. At first, all is well. But then, unknown to each other, Stan and Charmaine develop passionate obsessions with their ‘Alternates,’ the couple that occupy their house when they are in prison. Soon the pressures of conformity, mistrust, guilt and sexual desire begin to take over.

Dear Reader,

The Heart Goes Last starts off with the destruction of the middle class, the rise of the upper class and the end of all comfort we know of (unless you happen to be rich, of course). While the rich get richer, the middle class is dried up like a prune and left to rot without a job, money or anywhere to turn to. Complete hopelessness. What do you do? I love the way Atwood touches on the future, which is so probable you can taste it... truly terrifying. Right from the start you can relate to Charmaine and Stan, both losing their jobs and knowing how hard it will be to find a new one. Since the world changes and changes quickly, they lose the house and are forced to live out of their car. You can only feel pity for this couple.

But wait! Did you hear? There is a solution (says a commercial on TV one day). Come sign up and live in Positron, we will take care of you completely! Thinking it must be too good to be true, but also hard to pass up, they decide to try it out - which leads them to find out that this town is balanced between living free and working in a prison. Everyone does "time" and then switches out to live "life" on a monthly basis. This part was a little hokey for me and I didn't understand why Atwood used it when I found it didn't strengthen any of her messages.

Without going much further into the plot (plenty left), I can say that Atwood punches you in the face with some eye opening themes of greed, violence, death, survival and so much more. The title of the book is mentioned within the plot and is hard to miss but I did appreciate the connection. The ending was the saving grace of the book, taking away all of the dull middle section and giving the readers something to gasp about. Let me just be frank, this ending is fraked up. You'll have to read it for yourself to find out why. ;)

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

The Heart Goes Last

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Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Perfume


Perfume: The Story of
a Murderer

Patrick Süskind
Translated by:
John E. Woods
5/5


Published 1985

First Sentence
"In eighteenth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages."

Publisher's Description:

An acclaimed bestseller and international sensation, Patrick Suskind's classic novel provokes a terrifying examination of what happens when one man's indulgence in his greatest passion — his sense of smell — leads to murder.

In the slums of eighteenth-century France, the infant Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with one sublime gift — an absolute sense of smell. As a boy, he lives to decipher the odors of Paris, and apprentices himself to a prominent perfumer who teaches him the ancient art of mixing precious oils and herbs. But Grenouille's genius is such that he is not satisfied to stop there, and he becomes obsessed with capturing the smells of objects such as brass doorknobs and fresh-cut wood. Then one day he catches a hint of a scent that will drive him on an ever-more-terrifying quest to create the "ultimate perfume" — the scent of a beautiful young virgin. Told with dazzling narrative brillance, Perfume is a hauntingly powerful tale of murder and sensual depravity.

Translated from the German by John E. Woods.



Dear Reader,

This was fantastic, another book I've read this year that will be placed into my favorites. he author did an amazing job making you believe you were reading something written in that time period, and kudos to the translator for keeping it that way! This book was really dark and disturbing, the way I like it. Jean Baptiste Grenouille, a child born into a pile of trash (literally - under a gutting table), grows up with the talent of an extreme sense of smell (and I mean EXTREME). He is obsessed with smells, wants to experience the unusual, bottle them up, discover them. The writing is so descriptive that you can almost smell the words on the page. I still can't get over the writing... it was so freakin' good.

I'll tell you this much, I learned sooo much more about the perfume industry and history than I ever would have thought. Yes, there is a proper way to smell it... in a gaseous state (never as a concentrate). Or even:
"The second rule is: perfume lives in time; it has its youth, its maturity, and its old age. And only if it gives off a scent equally pleasant at all three different stages of its life, can it be called successful."
It almost reminds me of wine tastings and all the complexity that goes with it. After reading about the process, I wanted to set up my very own perfume laboratory in my basement, such a romantic art form. However, don't let Grenouille and the subject matter of perfume fool you! This book is sinister and at times painful to read (due to the descriptive nature of the Author). I felt bad for Grenouille, the author really brings out the sympathy in his character (even with his ghastly side). As beautiful as it is reading about France in the olden days, the reality also creeps in with a force. Grenouille realizes the power of scent:
"Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it."
That was one of my favorite lines in the book, and overall gives you a pretty good idea of what you'll find if you decide to read this one. I would suggest this to fans of "Les Miserables" or "Zombie" by Joyce Carol Oates.  

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Books in the Pacific Northwest



Book Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
Seattle, WA & Portland, OR


Dear Reader,

Hi, gang! So, I have been quite remiss in writing reviews, most especially because I went on a fun (and far too whirlwind!) trip to Seattle & Portland this past week and a half. You'll be pleased to hear, however, that while I was away I certainly wasn't far from books! We hit up several literary landmarks, including the Seattle Public Library (an architectural gem), the Portland (Multnomah County) library (a gorgeous old building), Powell's Books (an institution), and even the Whisk{e}y Library! (That last one was not quite so bookish, and was more for Troy than for me - but I stumbled across it when I was looking for directions to the real MCPL.) We even considered going to The Bookstore, a bar in Seattle, but were talked out of it because, despite its name, it wasn't apparently very bookish. (Looking at the website now, I think our friend was terribly wrong about this, and I so wish we'd gone!)

(NB: Since I am not great at ever remembering to take photos, I am gratefully borrowing some amazing work from others.)


(photo by Nicola @ Flickr)

The Seattle Public Library was incredible - it was the first real Seattle sightseeing we did, and well worth the visit. I was impressed by so much there - the organization of the place, the use of space, the unbelievably huge collection (even including beautiful old phone directories from the early 1900s!). We got to see the view from the highest point of the library, and also made sure to stop by the Chocolati stand, the Seattle-based coffee & chocolate shop located just inside the main entrance to the library. I got a peanut butter hot chocolate (there were so many yummy options!) and we tried several of the famous chocolates, including the chipotle truffle, the "fish & chips" (a fish-shaped mold with potato chips inside!), a Bailey's-filled truffle, and a vanilla & sea salt one. All incredible. And the woman who worked behind the counter was so friendly and welcoming! She gave us some great suggestions for our visit to her adopted city. I could have probably spent days in the SPL, but we had other places to see, so we reluctantly moved on. 

Larry Kirkland, Garden Stair Detail, found here

Portland's library was a total gem of an entirely different variety. If Seattle's was the pinnacle of modern style, this was the epitome of a classic Vanderbilt-style library. My Portland-based friend who brought us there was worried it would not live up to the Seattle library, but it absolutely did - it just wasn't the shiny, high-tech marvel of Seattle. It had its own perfect charm, and I adored it just as much. The staircase pictured above was gorgeous etched black marble, encompassing a myriad of subjects. We first climbed it to see the temporary Cesar Chavez exhibit in the upstairs gallery, which was very well done. Then we explored a few of the many grand rooms, where we found gems like globes of various planets, their charming Friends bookstore, and the Beverly Clearly children's room:

Beverly Cleary was an Oregon local - I was thrilled to realize this when we drove through Yamhill, OR!
Photo by Amara D. @ Yelp

My friend also wisely took me to Powell's Books, which is another Portland institution and must-see! What a mecca - and a maze! We kept getting lost in the numerous rooms. But, a good lost, of course! I can't even describe the overwhelming awesomeness, but just think of a chain bookstore done INCREDIBLY WELL. It was filled with people, even on a Wednesday afternoon. I purchased the below design in t-shirt form:


Adorable, right? Apparently it was a design contest winner! In any case, both the library & bookstore should be added to any book-lover's visit to Portland.

And lastly, even though it wasn't a book library, we did visit the gorgous Whisk{e}y Library which I luckily stumbled across. This is a fairly new place in Portland, so on weekends it still has lines out the door, but we visited on a weekday afternoon and so luckily we were seated immediately. It felt like a place where Sherlock Holmes or Ernest Hemingway could be found. It had a beautiful speakeasy feel, with a dash of library thrown in (there were reading tables like you might find in the NYPL), and featured shelves upon shelves of whiskey and liquor of all sorts! I actually took some photos, for once:


(Now you can see why I never take photos - I certainly didn't get my father's photography genes!)

So, there you have it! Our literary adventures in the Pacific NW. I highly recommend visiting any & all of the above next time you find yourself in the Seattle & Portland areas! I will certainly revisit them when I get to go back again.

Yours,
Arianna


Monday, September 14, 2015

The Jungle


The Jungle
Upton Sinclair
4/5


Published 1905

First Sentence
"It was four o'clock when the ceremony was over and the carriages began to arrive."
Publisher's Description:

For nearly a century, the original version of Upton Sinclair's classic novel has remained almost entirely unknown. When it was published in serial form in 1905, it was a full third longer than the censored, commercial edition published in book form the following year. That expurgated commercial edition edited out much of the ethnic flavor of the original, as well as some of the goriest descriptions of the meat-packing industry and much of Sinclair's most pointed social and political commentary. The text of this new edition is as it appeared in the original uncensored edition of 1905. It contains the full 36 chapters as originally published, rather than the 31 of the expurgated edition. A new foreword describes the discovery in the 1980s of the original edition and its subsequent suppression, and a new introduction places the novel in historical context by explaining the pattern of censorship in the shorter commercial edition.

Dear Reader,

Imagine yourself standing in a puddle of blood, covering the entire floor. All around you is corpses, the dead hanging from the ceiling to bleed dry. The smell is so nauseous you don’t understand how such a disgusting mess turns into food for the people. This isn't a horror story or perhaps it is…

Upton Sinclair has created a jaw dropping story that inspired ACTUAL CHANGE. This was a fictional story with truth woven through it, this truth will make you question your political views, it may even change the way you eat. There was a brief part of this book that had me staring at my dinner plate untouched, which then prompted me to run to my computer and look up the TRUTH behind “The Jungle”. After reading about the change this book inspired (which I barely knew about from the little history I retained), I felt slightly better about things.

However, some of these issues still exist today. We might not throw scraps of rat chewed meat to be sold but look at all the controversy today surrounding antibiotic fed livestock, etc. In some ways we may be coming full circle on some of these issues. The treatment of people in the workplace, rules and unions are still struggling to get basic rights (in some circumstances). Clearly, we still have a lot to learn; maybe someone will be brave like Upton and speak out through storytelling to shock the masses. Oh wait… this does exist… in documentary form… all over Netflix.

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

The Jungle

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

The Hand That Feeds You


The Hand That Feeds You
A.J. Rich
2/5


Published 2015

First Sentence
"Yes or no:"
Publisher's Description:

Morgan's life seems to be settled - she is completing her thesis on victim psychology and newly engaged to Bennett, a man more possessive than those she has dated in the past, but also more chivalrous and passionate.

But she returns from class one day to find Bennett savagely killed, and her dogs - a Great Pyrenees, and two pit bulls she was fostering - circling the body, covered in blood. Everything she holds dear in life is taken away from her in an instant.

Devastated and traumatised, Morgan tries to locate Bennett's parents to tell them about their son's death. Only then does she begin to discover layer after layer of deceit. Bennett is not the man she thought he was. And she is not the only woman now in immense danger ...

Dear Reader,

I feel so let down by this book. What should have been a page turning thriller, not to mention well written... became an annoyance to me. A dog loving psychology student comes home to find her fiance murdered by what looks to be her dogs. That alone sounds horrifying and a good twisty mind frak. So yes, I was intrigued and wanted to stick with it and find out what truly happens. Being a dog lover myself, I was definitely on the side of "the dogs didn't do it". I'm not going to give anything away, don't worry! Let's just say that the thriller wasn't what disappointed me...

One thing I can't stand when reading is superfluous descriptions that don't DO anything for the story. These needless sentences bother me so much that I can't focus. Now maybe, just maybe The Hand That Feeds You suffered from this because two Authors were cooking in the kitchen (a small kitchen) and didn't cut down on the ingredients enough?! If you don't know what I mean about "two" authors, go search online because A.J. Rich is just another pseudonym. Anyways, I guess I should back up my complaints with some examples, and since this isn't an ARC (just a plain old book I decided to purchase), this is finished work. Here's a few examples of unnecessary wording that had me so distracted:

 "I hung up the black dress I had bought for the funeral. I had worn it before to a cocktail party, but this time I'd wear it with black tights instead of lace thigh-highs." -Do we REALLY need to know exactly how she wore this dress before?

"I could not read any more, so I changed into a larger pair of sweatpants and continued reading more." -What?! I'm not sure if I'm missing something or what but really?

Before I go any further, I have to admit that for some people, this won't bother them and might in fact enhance the story, giving even more background to the characters. I'm just not one of those people. It bothers me to the point that it takes away from all the good this book has to offer. For example, I DID not see that ending coming at all. The characters were well written and very intriguing and the story itself was very unique. I would rate this higher overall in general but I'm sticking to my low rating for me... I have to be true to myself. 

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

The Hand That Feeds You

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Saturday, September 5, 2015

Footnotes 9/5/15 (AmberBug)


Footnotes - September 5th 2015


Hello Everyone!

Long time no "pour my life all over this blog"! So Linus, the dog we finally ended up with is fitting in perfectly at the house. He is so lovable... I can't get over it. PLUS he's the perfect "reader" dog - he even listens to you when you read out loud.

I've finished a (cookbook-esque) book recently that has changed my way of thinking about my food. I've always had problems with my gut, and lately it's just been 10x worse. I decided I needed to do something, and remembered I had purchased this book with all intentions of "trying" it out. I picked it up and knew it was the perfect time. It's very hard cutting sugar, gluten, whole grains, coffee and dairy out of my life... and I don't even know if this is sustainable (probably not for me) BUT I do know that there is truth to cutting out all that processed junk that was hurting my insides. I have a few tests down the road to understand why my tummy is in such pain, and hopefully I'll find an answer. In the meantime though, I've cooked some delicious recipes from this book, homemade granola (MUST), turkey meatloaf and coconut chicken soup. I've learned about many substitutions, such as coconut oil, flax seeds, milk substitute, etc... and I think I'm learning healthier ways to cook overall.

So enough about that... what have I been reading? Well... I did get this hunk of tasty reading material in the mail, "The Familiar Volume 2".


This one is a doorstop, just like the first one. I'm enjoying Volume 2 much more though. I wish I was being a little more crazy with it - tracking the characters, etc... especially since this will ultimately be over 20 volumes, I can't imagine keeping everything straight. Maybe that'll be a project of mine... but I'm not sure if I'm sold completely yet... I might still drop these books if after 3-4, things don't pick up a bit.    

What else? I'm slowing down a little with my reading/reviewing on here... maybe it's the stomach pain or maybe it's just "holidays are coming" nerves... but I'm hoping to get a nudge with some fantastic book to spark my reading fire once again. Sometimes you just get in that funk but I always know I'll get out of it. 

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Everything, Everything


Everything, Everything
Nicola Yoon
3 / 5

Published September 1, 2015

First Sentence
"I've read many more books than you."
Publisher's Description:
This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Dear Reader,

No. No, no, no. I was so disappointed - going into this, and even when I began reading, I thought: Great! I am going to totally dig this book, and fly through it, and it'll be a nice break from all the dense reading I've been doing this summer! And, well, it was the latter. But I was so thoroughly disappointed, especially given how great the ratings were on Goodreads! I was totally riding along on the premise, and then...it suddenly hit me, about 1/3 of the way through, The Twist. And I just spent the whole rest of the time reading going, "No. She wouldn't. Would she?!" Because this is essentially the plot of a movie. One that I've never seen, but while I was explaining the expected twist to my husband, he said, "Yeah. Like ______?" (I won't spoil anything for others, but that blank is clickable, if you'd like to see what I am talking about) and I said, "No way, for real?!" So on top of the book being predictable, it was kind of a copycat of a terrible premise of a movie. Blerg.

I can see someone going into the book and not seeing the twist as being blown away by the ending, and that is awesome, and I am kind of envious of those people. Because had I been taken by surprise, I think I would have loved the book, too! I loved the characters, I loved the concept (in a strange love/hate way), and I loved the relationships. Everyone was believable and real and I flew through it over the course of two bedtimes. But. Yeah. Dang.

I only rated it so highly because I could not put it down until the end. And I did thoroughly enjoy reading the book! I just hated that dread in the back of my mind...and was so frustrated when it was confirmed. Le sigh.

Yours,
Arianna


Everything, Everything

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