Recent Reads -- 4 stars each

My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead

I first read Middlemarch when I was in college. I'd picked it up because I knew it was one of the "greats" and I felt like I had to read it sometime or other; I didn't suspect how much engaging it would be. A few months ago, I started listening to it while I ran. Thus, when I had a chance to read an early copy of My Life in Middlemarch, I jumped at the chance. To be honest, I was expecting more of a memoir than this biography/criticism/personal reflection, but I still loved reading about the layers of George Eliot's life, the construction of the massive, masterful novel, and the way books color and influence every reader's life.

4 stars

Warnings: Some thematic material and vague references to sensuality

A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle

I love Madeleine L'Engle. If, someday, I am a famous writer (I can dream, can't I?) and someone asks me who my greatest influence was, she will be at the top of the list. I actually read part of this memoir several years ago and I have no idea why I didn't finish it at the time, but several of the lines I highlighted have become so much a part of my own opinions that I had forgotten that I first read them in A Circle of Quiet. This memoir explores L'Engle's experiences with writing, living in a small community, spirituality, and family life. It is rambling but gorgeous, with many gems of wisdom. I am so excited that there are three more Crosswicks Journals for me to dive into.

4 stars

Warnings: A few instances of language, discussion of some heavy ideas

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell is pure delight to read. Something about the way she frames emotions and experiences makes them both infinitely relatable and yet entertainingly unique. Landline is the story of Georgie McCool (which, really? what a name -- but it worked with the character once I got acquainted with her), a career woman and mother whose marriage is faltering. After she chooses work over family and her husband, Neil, takes their kids to see his family for Christmas without her, she tries to call them from her mother's landline -- only to find that it isn't present-day Neil but Neil from her past that answers. As she speaks with him, she evaluates her life, love, and relationship and tries to work her way back to her family. One of the things I loved about this book was that I could really empathize with Georgie in many ways. I am a working mother too -- I am going to have to be away from my family on Christmas too (although for me, it is not a choice, and my husband isn't mad at me about it, thank goodness). The pain she experienced reverberated with me, and as she went through the growing process I also felt like I learned some things about love. Rowell is an auto-read for me now.

4 stars

Warnings: Language, references to sex (no explicit scenes)

Paper Towns by John Green

I'm (very slowly) working my way through John Green's backlist. Paper Towns is about a guy whose name I've already forgotten whose childhood best friend goes missing -- but leaves some clues for him to find her. As he leaves on his wild goose chase he learns about love, friendship, and living. So here's the thing about John Green. Fault in Our Stars was amazing and moving. Looking for Alaska was pretty good, and unique from Fault in Our Stars. However, Paper Towns reads a lot like Looking for Alaska. Manic-pixie-dream-girl, much philosophizing about love, friendship, purpose, and death. It was a solidly good book, but definitely didn't veer from the prototype. I will say that I don't mind Green's hyper-intelligent protagonists, though -- I know people complain that teenagers don't talk like that or think like that and so on, but I disagree. Not all teenagers do. Maybe not even most. But some do, and I think they would definitely be the most interesting ones to read a book about. End of that rant. Basically, good book, good coming of age story, if you like John Green, here's a John Green book that sounds just like a John Green book.

4 stars

Warnings: Language, teen drug use and drinking, references to sexuality

Recent Reads

I've fallen behind -- again! Despite the fact that I haven't been able to post as consistently as I have in the past, I still love book blogging and want to post when I can. Thank you to those readers who are still here with me -- I don't interact as much as I used to but I am so grateful you are here. And now, on to the reviews.

Jennifer, Gwyneth, & Me by Rachel Bertsche

I had to snag this title off NetGalley when I saw that it was by Rachel Bertsche, the author of MWF Seeking BFF, a book I adored last year. A stunt memoir along the lines of The Happiness Project, in Jennifer, Gwyneth, & Me, Bertsche takes eight celebrities that have an aspect of life that she admires and she tries to put that element of life into practice. Her writing style is extremely readable, and I binge-read the book in a 36 hour time frame like I was having a lightning-quick weekend with an old friend. An added bonus was learning interesting tidbits about the celebrities Bertsche seeks to emulate -- I am now excited to check out Gwyneth's cookbook, and I might take the Honest Company up on their offers of free diaper samples when baby #2 comes around. Sometimes inspiring, sometimes silly, always entertaining, Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me is a great, light-hearted read that will still teach you something.

4 stars

Warnings: None

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

I fell in love with Sarah Addison Allen's magical realism in Garden Spells, and was excited to see this novel show up on NetGalley. Lost Lake doesn't live up to the enchantment of Garden Spells for me, but was still an enjoyable little romance. A young widow, Kate, visits her great-aunt Eby's lakeside camp when she finds an old postcard of the place. However, she little expects the transformation the place will enact in her life.

Lost Lake employs the magical realism present in Allen's other books, but in Lost Lake, it mostly manifests as ghost stories. I was a little disappointed in this -- I love the way magic imbues every little aspect of life in the other novels. In addition, I felt that the dialogue was a bit one-dimensional. While the characters were all interesting and had strong back stories and development, the conversations they had seemed somewhat stilted. The book also wrapped up some pretty big issues with a wave of a magic wand, so to speak, which seemed a little too easy. For this reason, I didn't find the book especially compelling, but it as still an enjoyable, romantic read.

 3 stars

Warnings: Some brief, non-explicit references to sex, brief descriptions of violence, language

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

If you read my "Pick-Me-Ups" post, you know that one topic that always interests me in a book is cancer. I am a pediatric bone marrow transplant nurse, and I always feel compelled to gather stories about people similar to my patients. I think part of it is because I am interested in it in my real life, and that interest remains for my reading life. I also always hope that the stories I read will be realistic and help me to have more compassion and empathy for the families I work with.

My Sister's Keeper has been on my radar -- and literally my night stand -- for a long time. As in, a couple of years. It took me a while to pick it up, I think in part because the movie made me so hysterical with tears that I was worried the book would wreak even worse havoc, and partly because the only other Jodi Picoult novel I'd ever attempted to read had ended up a DNF. However, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I binge-read the last hundred pages after telling my husband I would do the dishes "after one chapter." Whoops.

If you've somehow missed all the hype around this book, it is the story of Anna, who was conceived in order to donate umbilical cord blood to her sister, who had a rare form of leukemia. As both sisters grow and Kate's leukemia relapses over and over again, Anna is asked to give more and more of her body to her sister. Finally, she sues her parents for the right to make her own medical decisions.

Picoult definitely knows how to draw a reader in, with constant twists and emotional gut-punches. She has also done her research. While I've never cared someone with Kate's particular diagnosis, many of the procedures and medications are the same, and Picoult was very well-versed. This definitely commanded my respect. I also thought the writing was great for the genre. My Sister's Keeper is a plot-driven novel constructed to shock the reader and draw out emotions, and it is incredibly effective. I have heard outcry (aka negative Goodreads reviews) about "emotional manipulation," but I feel like that is what you are asking for when you read any book, not just one of this genre. Am I right? Don't we read so we can feel things we wouldn't otherwise feel?

Anyway, My Sister's Keeper was an interesting read and definitely a page turner. It has convinced me to possibly try another Jodi Picoult, and given me a window into the outside-the-hospital life and devastation of families that deal with cancer.

4 stars

Warnings: Language, violence, thematic material, some innuendo, one non-explicit sex scene

Playing Catch-Up

Who said Christmas was the busiest time of year? I don't know about you, but April has been madness around here. However, I like to have all my books reviewed -- after all, I did take the time of reading them, and some of them were provided me for free. There will be no pretty images today, but here are some snippets on the last three books I read.

A Million Little Snowflakes by Logan Byrne

Guys, this one was not for me. And I had high hopes for it (don't we always). This is the story of a high school student who is taken to a psychiatric ward by his father after he states that he wants to kill himself. And of course, in the psychiatric ward, he meets someone and falls in love. The concept of this was so intriguing to me, especially as I've worked in a mental health facility and seen people fall for each other (at times with disastrous consequences). However, this book didn't do it for me. I was frustrated from the beginning with the writing style, which tended to give a play-by-play of every thought in the main character, Oliver's, head, as well as making bizarre metaphors and comparisons. But the end sealed the deal for me. I'm sure there was something artistic about its suddenness and (abrupt) existentialism. But I didn't get it.

1 star

Warnings: Language, sensuality (off the page), mature themes

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

This book was a little outside my normal reading faire, but it was recommended by a patient's mother so I felt like I should read it, and I ended up being pretty entertained by it. Lexi is leading a frazzled life much like the rest of us -- until she wakes up one day and finds that her life is three years forward from her last memory and everything has changed, from her teeth and body shape to her relationship status (married!) and financial status (millionaire!). Lexi feels pretty good about the way everything has turned out, but can't figure out how she went from the "snaggletooth" under appreciated flooring sales associate to the queen of the company. As she finds out, she realizes she has lost less of herself than she thought.

I liked this one. Like I said, it was pretty entertaining and there were a few "awww" moments. Sometimes it's nice to read something a bit fluffy and relaxing.

3 stars

Warnings: Some sensuality (mostly off page, no anatomy), profanity

Love Times Three: Our True Story of a Polygamous Marriage by the Dargers

I had to read this when I heard of it. I mean, seriously, who hasn't wondered how a situation like that actually works out without the wives killing each other (or their husband)? And as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which doesn't practice polygamy, in case you are wondering) I was curious about this group of people that went in a different direction and what they believe. So when I saw the book on sale, I snagged it.

And I was amazed at how much I enjoyed it! I was expecting to be pretty disturbed by all of it. There were plenty of things that I found myself thinking, "I'm so glad that I don't share my husband with another woman," but there were also plenty of insights that the Dargers had into love, marriage, and family that were pretty profound. At the core of their polygamous marriage is putting others first and holding back selfishness, which I think would be particularly trying in a situation with multiple women sharing one man and in the Dargers' case, one home as well. I can see how that would bring personal growth. And while I'm certainly not planning on adding another woman to our home, I feel like I learned something about putting the other people in my (considerably smaller) family before myself from the Dargers.

Not to mention the fact that their situation is a little bizarre and it was pretty interesting to learn about it. So, while I obviously was interested in the book before I read it, it surpassed my expectations. I certainly don't want to emulate their lifestyle, but it was interesting to learn about it.

4 stars

Warnings: Some references to bedroom arrangements but nothing detailed

Night by Elie Wiesel

Night by Elie Wiesel was my classics spin book, and I am happy to report I finished it in time! Hooray.

Many of you probably read Night in high school, but for those who didn't (like me)... it is the Nobel Peace Prize winning account of Wiesel's experience in the concentration camps.

There isn't much I can say about a book that takes place in a concentration camp that hasn't already been said. Harrowing. Dehumanizing. I couldn't read more than a few pages of this book at a time or I would get depressed and anxious. Night is a symbol of the darkness and loss of hope Wiesel experienced in the camp, and it is palpable and penetrating throughout the book.

I think the way that Night differs from many of the Holocaust books I've read (and I've read a few -- I had an Anne Frank obsession in high school) is the starkness of the detail. When Wiesel is running ceaselessly in the night, I felt the burning in my own lungs. He spares no details. The last lines he writes, when he has been rescued and sees himself in the mirror for the first time and says a corpse looks back at him, will probably shudder in my memory forever. His writing is simple and powerful.

I also was impacted by the theme of father and son trying to stay together but constantly being dehumanized and betraying each other. We see pair after pair of father and son being torn apart, or the son abandoning the father in his desire to survive. We see Wiesel struggle to be faithful to his father and keep him alive, but we also see, in his blatant honesty, the way the desire to survive starts to fray at his love and faith.

Night was by no means an enjoyable book to read. It sits heavy in your mind and heart and I have a feeling that heaviness will continue even though I've now read through it. However, it is worthwhile -- worthwhile to remember those that suffered in the Holocaust, worthwhile to see what the human soul can survive. It is definitely a book I will remember.

4 stars

Warnings: Violence and disturbing images

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I've been hearing buzz about The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin since I first started blogging. There was a time in my life when I disdained self-help books, but that time has long since passed (and you should see some of the things I request on NetGalley, home of the most obscure and bizarre collection of self-help books known to man). With the stresses of work and home, I found myself thinking that I could use a little recharge and put The Happiness Project on hold at the library.

Most of the self-help books I've read in the past are pretty heavily biased. I can usually find a pearl or two, but usually with many caveats. The Happiness Project is very different. Rubin begins by saying that this is her happiness project, and that ours might be very different, but that this is what she did in order to plan to achieve greater happiness in life. That beginning attitude of not knowing it all but being willing to share really endeared the author to me.

The premise of the happiness project is that the author, Gretchen Rubin, began to feel that she wasn't living at her fullest potential of happiness. She had an abundant life but she often found herself griping and complaining, or feeling unsatisfied. She wasn't depressed -- she just wasn't as happy as she felt she should be. So she made a plan, being a very plan-oriented, goal-specific person (seriously. I don't think I've ever met or read someone as organized as this woman). She chose an area of her life to focus on each month for a year and made specific resolutions in those categories. She also read several books on happiness and applied the studies and information she gleaned.

The result is remarkable. She hits upon many areas that I (and I'm sure many others) need to improve upon, and she uses great reminders and quotes to drive the point home. Basically, I want to do my own happiness project, although I want to let the book sink in for a while and possibly read her other happiness-based book, Happier at Home, before I completely delve in.

I think The Happiness Project has something to offer anyone, whether or not Rubin's specific resolutions are what you would like to change in your life. Written with vibrance and honesty, this journey through a year in a woman's life is eye-opening, positive, and poignant. Go read it! Now!

5 stars

Warnings: I think there are maybe 2 minor swears. If you're offended by this book, you hate happiness (just kidding).

Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway

Monique and the Mango Rains is the memoir of Kris Holloway's Peace Corps experience and the friendship she formed with Monique, a midwife in the small village where Holloway served.

The book was well written and fascinating, with tidbits of knowledge about the area and Holloway's work. However, the real focus of the memoir is the deep friendship between Monique and Holloway, a friendship that transcends differences and changes the lives of both women. There were many heart-rending moments as poverty and illness were rampant in the village, as well as the lower social status of women. This short read both expanded my horizons and touched my heart.

If you are interested in global health, diverse cultures, or simply a touching story of friendship, Monique and the Mango Rains is both a quick and enriching read that I highly recommend.

4 stars

Warnings: Violence, graphic medical info

Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert

I've been planning to read Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert for a long time. I loved Eat, Pray, Love (dodges) and wanted to read Gilbert's next offering, but for some reason or other I never got hold of a copy. The other night I was browsing audiobooks to download and this one was available, so I jumped on it.

If you've read Eat, Pray, Love, you're aware that Gilbert's journey through the world and self-reflection was in part spurred by her nasty divorce. Due to her terrible experience with ending her first marriage, she is reluctant to enter into a second marriage despite finding love again. However, when her not-American lover is denied entry into the United States due to his frequent visits (apparently it looked suspicious) they resign themselves to marriage, and because Elizabeth Gilbert is a writer and journalist, she decides to research the institution.

So here's the thing. I love Elizabeth Gilbert's writing voice, and I enjoyed listening to her actual voice in this audiobook. There are times when I listen to her and feel like I would love to be her best friend, to go out to lunch and just talk about life. And then there are times when I find her incredibly obnoxious, because she is so biased and so certain that she is right. Our world views on marriage are definitely very different, and there were times when I found myself responding to the audiobook -- "No, that isn't the way it is! That's not what marriage is about!" However, her perspectives really spurred thought for me, and her anecdotes are always interesting. So while I didn't always agree with what was said in this book, I did enjoy this book, and it did enrich my life.

The thing that mostly bothered me about Gilbert's ideology was that she kept descrying marriage as a hindrance to getting what you want, to being your most fulfilled self. I don't see getting everything you want as a pathway to happiness or fulfillment; I think sacrifice is important. I think the point of marriage is to learn to give things up and show love for each other rather than finding someone who does everything you want and allows you to do everything you want. She seemed so worried about losing herself, about having to sacrifice any part of her life, and to me that is the point of marriage -- learning to sacrifice and develop because you love somebody. Does that mean it is easy? Of course not. But I guess our attitudes are just very different.

But, like I said, it was interesting. I don't read to have all my own ideas reaffirmed to me -- I read to learn about the world. Even if what I'm reading doesn't change what I think, it is good to know what else is out there. And there were also points she made, historical facts and cultural experiences that were fascinating.

So -- don't read this if you expect an unbiased history of marriage or a to-do list of how to have the perfect marriage. Do read it if you would like a little social commentary with a side of Elizabeth Gilbert's memoirs.

(I don't rate books that I disagree with on a fundamental level because I just don't know how to reconcile everything, so no rating here)

Warnings: Language, some pretty clinical discussion of sex

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

Dad is Fat opens with a vignette about Jim and his wife/then-girlfriend's visit to a couple with a one-year-old. They were baffled by the couple's bizarre behavior and why they so resented Jim's desire to kick them out of his hotel room and take a nap. The friend tells him, "You will rue the day you took that nap." Only when Gaffigan and his wife had children later did they understand the comment. In similar fashion, you will probably not get the full humor of Dad is Fat unless you have at least one child. I probably didn't get the entire story as I have only one, as opposed to five.

Dad is Fat is essentially a collection of Gaffigan's observations about the trying yet humorous world of parenthood. I listened to the audiobook, read by Gaffigan, and was expecting to be laughing out loud for the next week of my commute. While the book was enjoyable, I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to having also watched DVDs of the comedian. I think in large part this was because I was expecting more... well, comedy. It is funny, but largely tongue-in-cheek humor.

Also, to be perfectly frank, some of it scared me. I have one baby, and I live in a second story 2-bedroom walk-up in LA. Gaffigan has five children under the age of 8 and lives in a fifth story 2-bedroom walkup in New York City. Our situations are different enough that his life sounds crazy to me, but similar enough that there is sometimes a little too much truth in what he says, and makes me fear for the future, when I have more than one child and they are older and more mischievous.

However, most of the stories were amusing and definitely helped my commute pass faster. If you are a fan of Gaffigan and a parent, you will most likely enjoy this book.

3 stars

Warnings: Maybe one or two swears

Shakespeare Month, 2 mini-reviews, and hey, it's been a while

So... blogging. It's not so much been happening lately. The sad thing is I can trace the demise of my blogging life to when I started working night shifts. The good news is that I am back on days soon, hopefully for a long while, and it is New Year's Day, harbinger of all the best intentions. I can't promise I'll be perfectly consistent, but I'm not throwing in the towel yet, even if my "currently reading" button hasn't changed in over a year. (I'm still reading tons, just not writing on it).

I'm not going to be terribly organized about this because to be honest, the most important thing to me is to just keep going when I can. So this post is going to be random and all over the place.

First off, The Classics Club is hosting Shakespeare in January, a celebration of the Bard and his works. I have the best of intentions of reading all of his works at some point in my life, so I am looking forward to jumping head-first into this. I'd like to read/listen to 3 Shakespeare plays. I have an audiobook version of Hamlet and would also like to read King Lear and Richard II. They will be hosting a different event every month and while I don't plan on participating in every event, many of them appeal to me so plan on seeing more of that.

Finally, I finished two books today so I'm going to review them. I can't always keep up with blogging about all the books I read -- I read too many and have so many other obligations that sometimes they fall by the wayside. However, I have been fortunate enough to receive many great books from publishers and NetGalley and I want to attempt to review as many as I can. So... on with that.

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

First of all, have you ever read the blog Hyperbole and a Half? I have been reading it for years and it is hilarious. She writes about her memories and simple every day emotions and events with a humor and bluntness that is refreshing and laugh-out-loud funny. I was very excited to see that Allie Brosh was writing a book from her blog; however, I was disappointed at how much of her content was simply repeated in the book. I was hoping to see more new stories. While there were some scattered throughout the book, they didn't quite live up to the original blog posts. Honestly, I'd recommend simply visiting her blog -- you could easily spend hours there (I have). However, if you want to get to the best-of posts quickly, the book is the way to go.

3 stars

Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Divergent #2)

I read Divergent about 18 months ago, and I liked it decently, although to me it didn't measure up to The Hunger Games, to which it is frequently compared. While I liked it, I wasn't overly excited to dive into the remaining books in the trilogy. However, with the final book finally out and the buzz surrounding the movie, I decided it was finally time to finish this series. I found Insurgent to be more compelling than Divergent. The characters and their choices are more complex than I sometimes see in YA and especially dystopian YA -- there are so many nuances to each decision. In that sense, Insurgent reminded me of Mockingjay. A war is being fought but there are more than just two sides, and each side has many flaws as well as merits. The adventure of the story kept me invested, and the many twists kept me reeling. While Insurgent is not a book that shattered my illusions or had a lasting impact on me, it was an entertaining read.

3 stars

Confessions of a Latter-day Virgin by Nicole Hardy

***EDIT*** After stepping away from this for a while, I realized some of the things I wrote were not very clear and could be misconstrued. So just to clarify. The LDS church believes in following the law of chastity. What I mean by differences in lifestyle versus doctrine is variations in how many children a couple have, or whether or not the wife works, or if they are nomadic types that travel the world, etc. We believe that there are nonnegotiable commandments, but some people think that matters of opinion like those lifted above determine whether some people are better than others and use those things to judge others. Just to clarify. If there are any questions I will respond to comments. Thanks! *** END OF EDIT***

When I saw Confessions of a Latter-day Virgin on NetGalley, I was immediately intrigued. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (more popularly known as "Mormons"), I tend to be drawn to books written about or by members of my faith. In addition, the book sounded like it was a perspective on life outside the mainstream culture of the church, which also interests me. It also leads me to make a quick clarification: there are certain LDS doctrines -- truths that we believe are from God and that cannot be compromised. There are also elements of Mormon culture -- things that tend to show up in the church and its members but that are not necessarily of God or even religious. When you have a group of people living in a unique way, additional quirks are going to arise. For example, BYU, a Mormon university, has some bizarre dating rituals, because a) we are taught to be abstinent until marriage, b) we don't drink alcohol, meaning the nightlife is a little different there, and c) we believe that marriage is one of the most important things you can accomplish in life, and some people take it as a challenge to get married ASAP.

I'm getting ahead of myself with those disclaimers. In a nutshell, Nicole is an LDS woman who goes to college at BYU. Like most young women at BYU, she expects that she will find love and get married in or after college. However, as she experiences BYU she a) doesn't find love or marriage and b) takes issue with many of the attitudes of her classmates. However, she believes in the doctrines of the LDS faith and spends her adult life fighting to remain a virgin despite her growing feelings of repressed sexuality. Eventually, she comes to a point of decision -- continue on with a lifestyle that feels hopeless and miserable to her, or break with the belief system that she has relied on her entire life?

I loved reading Nicole's story and getting inside her head as she shares her struggles. I think, as an LDS woman myself, it is important to understand those who are not in the traditional LDS mold of getting married young, being a stay-at-home mom with lots of children, etc. Being slightly outside that mold myself with my full-time job, I can appreciate the loneliness that comes with it and the frustration when people make judgmental remarks, whether or not they are intended to wound. Her honesty was refreshing, poignant, and at times heartbreaking. There were people who made very ignorant, unkind comments to her, questioning why she was still single, and I felt myself bristling with indignation at them. She also writes very beautifully, drawing on stories from her childhood to illustrate her present situation, which made the writing more relatable and powerful.

Because this is Nicole's story, I can't say I disliked it because I disagreed with her ultimate actions. The ending was frustrating to me because I felt that she took the thoughtless unkindness of some and turned it against the entire church, letting it color the religion that she believed for so long into something ugly and dark. Some of her actions at the end of the book seemed inconsistent with the hopes she expressed at the beginning, such as permanence in a relationship whether or not it was a temple marriage. While I hoped to see the book end in another way, I know that life isn't always that simple, and her experience definitely informs both my sensitivity to others who may be feeling as she does. It was a reminder to not be judgmental and to remember what are commandments from God and what are lifestyle quirks that Mormons tend to exhibit. Confessions of a Latter-day Virgin was not always an easy book to read, but it did cause me to evaluate the way I treat others and to remember that everyone carries a different burden.

I felt like this book was unrateable for the reasons lifted above, so it has ? stars. :)

Warnings: Language, moderate sensuality, one detailed description of the items in an adult store

Double Luck: Memoirs of a Chinese Orphan by Lu Chi Fa & Becky White

My grandma lent me Double Luck, the story of a young Chinese boy and the struggles he encountered before fulfilling his dream of coming to America. Beginning with his parents' death, the book follows his journey from relative to relative as he is always cast out eventually due to lack of food or lack of love. He stays with a kind old woman he calls Grandma and an invalid man in the throes of poverty. He is sold to a Communist family. He moves from his native village to Shanghai to Hong Kong to Taiwan before fulfilling his ultimate goal. His journeys are interesting and varied, but what stood out to me most was the person that emerged from those journeys.

Chi Fa is disowned, left hungry, forced to beg in the streets to feed his brother's family, and sold into slavery. He escapes beatings and the starvation conditions of Communist China. He endures unbelievable privations, yet his voice is so positive and hopeful throughout the book. He always treats others with kindness and respect, from the invalid whose seizures frighten him to the family that he supports by working essentially as their slave. He never gives up hope, and he never caves into the circumstances around him. I found it so inspiring. I've never had to deal with even a fraction of the struggles that Chi Fa faced, but traffic or a bad night's sleep can leave me shaking my fist at the world.

In short, through my ramblings, Double Luck is an amazing story that also speaks to the power of the human spirit. It is a short but highly enjoyable and readable story that I recommend to anyone who needs a lift.

4 stars

Warnings: None

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

It has been mostly radio silence over here at The Story Girl. I got pretty busy when I had my baby ten (!) months ago. And now, two weeks ago, I started working full-time. So, needless to say, blogging has been pushed to the bottom of my to-do list.

I've played with the idea of quitting, taking one more obligation out of the equation. However, the fact remains that I love blogging. I love discussing books, and even though it is becoming an infrequent hobby, I'm not going to give it up.

I have about twenty books that I haven't reviewed, and for now, they are going to go unreviewed. The idea of catching up has kept me from blogging for weeks. I'm just going to start right here, where I've left off, and review the last book I read. And I'll keep doing that. Some time, I might feel like going back and reviewing an oldie. And then I will. Okay, ready for the actual review?

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is Amy Chua's story about how she forced her daughters to excel as musicians, and the ramifications it had for their relationships. On a broader note, it is her comparison of the Chinese style of parenting to the Western style of parenting. While she strongly believes the Chinese model is the way to go (and meets with dazzling success with her oldest daughter), her second daughter, Lulu, challenges all of Amy's assumptions as a mother.

I loved the idea of this book. In the United States, philosophies on parenting are so polarizing. As a parent and a nurse at a children's hospital, I see it all. I think most people lean toward the permissive, attachment-style parenting that hopes to engender creativity and confidence (but in my opinion often engenders irresponsible behavior and entitlement instead) (not that you asked for it. But there it is). I thought that while extreme, Ms. Chua's thoughts would be interesting and enlightening.

From the first few pages, I thought she was crazy. Stark, raving mad. She progresses through the book of course, changing from a completely rigid person to someone with more flexibility in her life.

However, despite Chua's forcefulness to her daughters, I could see the appeal of her way of parenting. Her children were (in theory) respectful, accomplished, and mature. I think discipline is essential and often neglected.

I'm getting rambly on my opinions, so I'll get to the point. The story itself was very readable and quick. Chua was extremely honest about what she believed and did, which I always appreciate in a memoir. She also reveals toward the end that she intended the book as a satire. It definitely did not come off as a satire at first, but in retrospect I can see it.

In short, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is an interesting exploration of a different way of life. It shows that the parenting style is not flawless, but it also shows some of the benefits that it does have. It is a good glimpse into another paradigm and gave some good entertainment as well.

3.5 stars

Warnings: None

Mini-Reviews: Memoirs and Biographies

Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo

Heaven is For Real is the story of a little boy who had a near-death experience and went to heaven, where he met Jesus Christ, his grandfather, and experienced many other things. I'm not going to get into the validity of the book -- religion is based on faith, and if you don't have faith, you're going to say this book was a lie, and if you do, you're going to say this book was amazing. For me, I enjoyed the story and thought Colton's experience was very interesting and left quite a bit to ponder. 

3.5 stars

Warnings: None

Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy

Lucy Grealy was diagnosed with cancer as a young child and spent much of her life undergoing surgeries, chemo, and radiation. While she survived the cancer, it left her face transformed -- much of her lower jaw was removed and despite numerous surgeries, was never fully reconstructed again. Grealy explores the way the pain and fear of cancer affected her, as well as the way her face affected the way others treated her and the way she viewed herself.

I read this book after reading Ann Patchett's memoir of her close friendship with Grealy, Truth and Beauty (which I recommend reading first if you plan on reading both books). Thus, I already had an idea of what Grealy had been through and the way her life played out. However, hearing it in her own voice, so to speak, was incredibly powerful. I am a nurse for children with cancer, and reading this firsthand account of the oddness of her early life was so heartrending. For a while, she didn't even know she had cancer -- obviously she knew there was something wrong, but no one gave that appellation. Her family constantly pressured her to be strong and positive, which left her believing that her fear and pain was not legitimate or acceptable. Later, she always noticed people staring at her, and believed herself unworthy of love due to the fact that she believed she could never be considered beautiful. 

These explorations are dark at times, and the end of Grealy's story is not a happy one, but her thoughts do broach many questions that are important in this society -- a society that values physical appearance very highly and makes lightning judgments based on first impressions. I think Autobiography of a Face poses important questions. And it's a bonus that Grealy is a poet, and her writing is gorgeous. 

3.5 stars

Warnings: Some sensuality, language, thematic material

French Milk by Lucy Knisley

French Milk is a graphic novel of a twenty-something's six week trip to Paris with her mother. I love Paris, and I love the idea of graphic novels, but here's the thing -- this one didn't give me enough. I liked Lucy's random observations, her drawings of art and food, and her voice, but the book just didn't feel like enough. I wanted more details. I'm not sure if that is me not appreciating the art of the graphic novel or the graphic novel not doing a good enough job, but it left me wanting. Also, sometimes Knisley made me mad by doing stupid things, like starting to smoke so she would fit in in Paris. It's not just because I'm a parent that is closer to thirty than twenty that causes me to want to shake some sense into her, is it? Doesn't everyone know that smoking is the worst health decision you could possibly, possibly make? Okay, throwing yourself off a bridge is probably a worse health decision, but seriously, smoking cigarettes is the most preventable risk factor in just about EVERY chronic disease. Okay, taking deep breaths, end of rant. Other than that, I thought she was funny and witty, and I liked her honesty about her grumps and enjoyments.

3 stars

Warnings: Language, endorsement of cigarettes!!, some drawings of nude paintings, talking about non-graphic sex

MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews of MWF Seeking BFF, which disappointed me, because from what I'd heard about it, I thought I would love it, being a recently married twenty-something in a new city myself. Fortunately, for me, this book was everything I hoped it would be and more. I absolutely loved it. I understand the issues that some people had with the book -- at times Bertsche gets too focused on the letter of her quest, frenetically seeking her 52 friend-dates at the risk of her own sanity and at times even her marriage. She also at times bothered me with her desire to find "the" best friend instead of appreciating the great friendships she had (and she had many), and she had a laundry list of what she didn't want. However, first of all, I think she genuinely grows throughout her quest, learning new things about friendship, its importance to her, and the fact that she is able to be friends with people she never would have approached originally. Secondly, as someone trying to make new friends, I appreciated the insights she had on the best places to make friends as well as the research she performed on what causes people to stay friends and make friends. I thought the entire book was engaging and fascinating, and I adored it. Rachel, be my BFF? (Even though I don't meet your distance requirements?)

5 stars

Warnings: Can't think of any

Taylor Swift: An Unauthorized Biography by Liv Spencer

Okay, okay, laugh all you want. Yes, I requested a Taylor Swift biography on NetGalley. I saw it there and just couldn't resist. Don't tell me that you haven't wondered who all those songs were about. That was definitely my primary motive in reading the book.

It was mildly interesting. I liked reading about Swift's pathway to success, and especially her determination and goal-setting. I think she is a good role model for girls, which is refreshing because most teen/young twenties celebrities are making poor decisions. I also loved learning the details about each of her songs. There are chapters that go through information on who each song is about, how Swift came to write it, and other "fun facts." Because my main interest in reading the book was who all those songs were written about, those chapters (entitled "Swift Notes") were definitely interesting to me.

The writing of the book was pure cheese. The author took an almost worshipful stance at Taylor Swift, calling her "Swifty," "The Swift One," and "The Sparkly One." I might have thrown up in my mouth a few times. Also, when describing a line in the song "Picture to Burn," in which Taylor Swift sings, "That's fine, I'll tell mine you're gay," the author quickly explains that on the radio edit, the line has been changed, because "Taylor would never offend anyone." Okay... but she did write the line. I'm not defending or condemning her -- just thought the line was cheesy.

Basically, it did what I wanted it to. But it was cheesy. 

2.5 stars

Warnings: You might throw up in your mouth when you read about "The Sparkly One."

Mini-Reviews: Memoirs

In the past I've never considered myself much of a memoirs reader, but for some reason over the last several weeks I have found myself drawn to several. What I found is, I think, typical for memoirs: one was pretty scattered and a chore to read, one was fine, and two were excellent. 

Living With Jonathan by Sheila Barton

I was drawn to Living With Jonathan when I saw it on NetGalley because I spent two years doing ABA therapy for a little boy with autism, and it was an amazing experience. The boy I worked with was pretty high-functioning, and I was curious to read about what someone's experience was like with a person who is less able to care for themselves. The details Barton shared were interesting, and I felt that I had a good window into her emotions as a mother and the day to day experience of Living With Jonathan. However, the way she organized events felt very haphazard and was not chronological, which I found disorienting and truly disturbed my overall enjoyment of the book. 

2.5 stars

Warnings: Language, some intense themes

Saturday Night Widows by Becky Aikman                                                              

I totally judged Saturday Night Widows by its cover. It looked fun, colorful, and positive -- and it was. The story of an anti-support group for young widows looking to deal with their grief in a positive way by having new experiences, Saturday Night Widows was engaging and unique. Becky Aikman's writing style was very pleasant to read, and I was invested in the lives of the friends she makes. However, something was missing for me in this book. Maybe it is simply that because I am not a widow, I don't fully relate to the experiences she writes about. At any rate, I found the book interesting but it didn't leave a lasting impact on me. 

3 stars

Warnings: Language, off-the-page sensuality and innuendo

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott

I saw a passing reference to this book and snapped it up without a second thought. Immersed in the messy chaos of trying to figure out how to take care of a tiny, brand new human being, the title Operating Instructions seemed too apt to be true. This book had me in tears at times and laughing out loud at times. It was just what I needed -- to know I wasn't alone in being overwhelmed, frustrated, and yet totally and completely in love. This quote is really all you need to know: 

I wish he could take longer naps in the afternoon. He falls asleep and I feel I could die of love when I watch him, and I think to myself that he is what angels look like. Then I doze off, too, and it’s like heaven, but sometimes only twenty minutes later he wakes up and begins to make his gritchy rodent noises, scanning the room wildly. I look blearily over at him in the bassinet, and think, with great hostility, Oh, he’s raising his loathsome reptilian head again.

Yes, yes, this is how it is. 

4 stars

Warnings: Language (quite a lot)

Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

I love Stephanie Nielson's blog, the NieNie Dialogues, and my claim to Utah celebrity fame is that I once made her children soy hot chocolates when I was the barista at Borders (moment of silence for Borders). I decided it was finally time to read her memoir. I started reading the NieNie Dialogues a few years after the accident that severely burned Stephanie Nielson and her husband, and the memoir mainly focused on the accident and the aftermath. The experience was devastating, especially contrasted with her charmed life before the accident, which was described in the beginning of the book. I found Nielson's faith and ability to overcome the struggles she faced inspiring and applicable, even though my struggles are very different and less dramatic than hers. Stephanie Nielson is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, aka Mormon church, and she frequently mentions her faith, but definitely wrote her memoir with readers not of the Mormon faith in mind as she explains different aspects of what she believes. I think this book is inspiring and powerful.

4 stars

Warnings: None, really, just a few mentions of sex

Parenting Books Mini-Reviews

I'm back! Kind of. With my new baby (seven weeks old already! I can't believe it), I haven't been blogging at all... but I have been reading quite a bit. And a main portion of that reading diet, both before and after he was born, has been books about parenting. With my type A personality, I really wish that babies came with step-by-step manuals that told me exactly what to do to turn out a well-adjusted, happy individual. Unfortunately, instead I have been sifting through many, many books, some of which are helpful and many of which are not. I thought I'd give you all a brief run-down on the parenthood-related books I have read lately, what worked for me, and what didn't.

Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality by Lara A. Jana and Jennifer Shu

This is actually the only book that was 100% awesome advice. Heading Home With Your Newborn covers a variety of topics, from how to bathe a baby to breastfeeding tips to information about various illnesses. The authors are pediatricians who also have children, so they have a solid background and know exactly what they are talking about. They also are careful to differentiate between their opinions and what is supported by science and the American Academy of Pediatrics. I recommend this book to any first-time parent for a wide range of advice and information about newborns.

 

Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall Tackett

While I was reading this book, pregnant and blissfully thinking that I wouldn't have any trouble with breastfeeding, I thought it was excellent advice. Mohrbacher and Tackett go through the logistics behind milk production, latching, the benefits of breastmilk over formula, etc. However, when I experienced problems after the birth of my son, I found that a) the book didn't really address the problems I faced, instead assuming that all women are capable of breastfeeding if they simply "stick it out" and b) I felt incredibly guilty that I had to supplement with formula because of this attitude. So in short, this is a good overview for someone who doesn't have too many problems, but doesn't address problems well for those who do.

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp

This book presents five methods to soothe crying babies (once their basic needs, like dirty diapers and food, have been taken care of). To be honest, the book itself bothered me -- it was written in a somewhat childish, over-simplified way, and the ideas that Karp presents, such as the idea that prehistorically babies really were in the womb for a fourth trimester, are not backed up by science. However, the methods themselves are pretty effective and worked for my son most of the time. I've heard a DVD accompanies this book (I checked it out from the library) -- maybe that would be slightly less grating.

On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam

Countless people have told me this is THE book to get babies to sleep. When I read it while I was pregnant, I was skeptical -- it seemed too harsh to let babies "cry it out" and seemed too rigid. While there are still ideas that I don't agree with or follow in the Baby Wise method, I have, however, found many things it suggests to be effective now that I am actively parenting. I think that, like all parenting books, everything has to be taken with a grain of salt. No book is the true "user's manual" that will answer every question about babies. Like Happiest Baby on the Block, I also was at times irritated with the presentation of the ideas in Baby Wise. They present their ideas as if it is the only way to raise a well-adjusted child and that any parent would be foolish to do anything different. While I appreciate and use many of their ideas, I don't think it is the parenting gospel.

Your Amazing Newborn by Marshall H. Klaus and Phyllis K. Klaus

Your Amazing Newborn is an overview of newborns and their abilities. It was an interesting, brief read. It did leave me feeling a little cheated because it describes some of the amazing connections made between mother and baby when baby is placed on the mother's chest immediately after birth, and I had to wait almost an hour before meeting my baby for the first time after he was born. Still, that was a personal issue, and many things touched upon were interesting in this book.

Down Came the Rain by Brooke Shields

Postpartum stress, whether it is full-blown postpartum depression or a few days of baby blues, affects many women after childbirth, and I was no exception. I am feeling a lot better now, but with a very traumatic labor and difficulties in feeding my baby, as well as a hospitalization early in his life for RSV, adjusting to motherhood definitely took some time. I checked out Down Came the Rain out of curiosity -- I wanted to see what someone else was experiencing. While many of Brooke Shields feelings and experiences differed from mine, many also struck a chord with me and helped me to feel less alone with the stresses I was encountering. The book was also well written, something I don't usually expect from a celebrity memoir (although I haven't read many of those, so I don't have much to judge from). I think any new moms dealing with any measure of postpartum stress will find something to relate to in Shields' memoir. It was definitely a rewarding reading experience for me.

I am reading two more parenting books right now... you'd think I'd be an expert by now, right? What parenting books have you read and enjoyed? (And those of you who aren't parents, hope you haven't been too bored by this smorgasbord!)

Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters by John Steinbeck

Title: Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters
Author: John Steinbeck
Genre: Nonfiction, memoir
Publisher: Penguin Books, 1990 (obviously written before that)
Source: Library
Read for: Fun

It is a well-known fact on this blog that I love John Steinbeck's East of Eden. When my friend Allison told me about this book, which consists of letters Steinbeck wrote on alternating pages with his manuscript for the novel, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I wasn't sorry that I did -- Journal of a Novel gave me great insights into both East of Eden and John Steinbeck himself.

One of the first things I noticed was that, despite the fact that the letters Steinbeck wrote were just warm-ups for his daily novel writing, he still writes so well. His writing style has always been incredibly poignant and powerful for me, and that didn't change in the unpolished East of Eden letters.

I also loved having Steinbeck's thoughts about his own characters. For example, the Hamilton family, who are juxtaposed against the main characters the Trasks throughout the novel. I assumed the Hamiltons were at least partially inspired by people from Steinbeck's life, as he referenced his own mother a few times, but I assumed that they were mostly fictional. From Journal of a Novel, I learned that almost everything about them in the novel (aside from their interactions with fictional characters) was true. I also enjoyed reading Steinbeck's reasons for including the Hamiltons in the novel, as well as his reasons for many other of the decisions he made with the novel.

I think my favorite part, however, was getting to know Steinbeck better as an individual. I loved some of his little observations on life, his obsession with having the perfect pencil (and thus needing his electric pencil sharpener to always be in perfect working order), his desire to constantly be inventing and carving things. In many ways I felt that Steinbeck was a kindred spirit for me, such as his descriptions of the way things of the heart are unknowable to other people (something he explored quite a bit in The Winter of Our Discontent) and his complete and utter inability to relax (me too, Steinbeck! me too!). Having that added insight into his personality will, I think, help me to appreciate his work even more.

Anyone who has read East of Eden and wants to explore it further will benefit from Journal of a Novel. It will also bring great insight into (in my opinion) America's great author. Journal of a Novel was a fascinating journey into Steinbeck's mind and the background of East of Eden.

4 stars

Warnings: Mild language, spoilers for East of Eden (obvs)

January First by Michael Schofield

Title: January First
Author: Michael Schofield
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Crown, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review, Neuroscience list

January has been a high-strung child from birth, needing intensive stimulation all day in order to sleep at all. As she grows older and shows signs of extreme intelligence, her father believes -- and verifies with an IQ test -- that January is a genius. However, with the birth of a younger brother Jani begins displaying disturbing tendencies towards violence, and soon it becomes clear that it isn't just a phase -- Jani is suffering from severe mental illness.

I started January First when I finished my book on the bus and decided to knock out a review copy since I had my Kindle with me. I planned to read a few chapters on the bus and then finish it later. However, I could not put the book down and finished it within 24 hours. Jani's story is compelling, heartbreaking, and moving.

Michael Schofield chooses to relay his memoir in the present tense, which I think was very effective for this story. The immediacy of the present tense helped draw me in to his state of panic and confusion with Jani's bizarre and frightening behavior, as well as his frustrations with the institutions and doctors who are meant to be helping her but aren't always as willing or helpful as they could be.

I also felt that January First was written with stark honesty. I have read other reviews of the book complaining that Schofield's parenting was contributing to the problem, that he didn't pay enough attention to his other child, that his marriage was full of problems. There were certainly actions and attitudes Schofield had that I did not personally agree with, but he wasn't writing a parenting book -- he was writing the story of the effect his daughter's illness had on their lives. I appreciated that he included his mistakes with his successes. It also caused me to think about how I would handle a similar situation in my life -- it is easy to stand from a distance and judge Schofield's actions, but I can almost guarantee that none of the reviewers doing that have dealt with Schofield's unique situation. I appreciated his honesty and the direct look into the struggles of living with Janni and protecting their children.

While January First was an emotionally taxing book to read, it was also rewarding. While the Schofield family met with many challenges and setbacks, they also had moments of success. January First is not just about watching the train wreck of an awful disease -- it is also watching a family take an impossible situation and still manage to find solutions. January First is a fascinating memoir and story that will captivate readers.

4 stars

Warnings: Language, non-graphic violence

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett

Title: Truth and Beauty
Author: Ann Patchett
Genre: Nonfiction, memoir
Publisher: Harper, 2004
Source: Personal copy
Read for: Alex Awards Challenge, New Adult Challenge

Ann Patchett and Lucy Grealy met when they were working on their undergraduate degrees, but they became friends in their master's program, as they ended up rooming together in a cheap apartment due to their shared background. However, what started was an epic friendship, close as family, colored by their writing, their love lives, and Lucy's never-ending battle with her face, which was disfigured as a result of childhood cancer and made every day a struggle to eat, as well as coping with the reactions of other people. This is the story of that friendship, told from Ann's point of view.

I was already a fan of Ann Patchett's writing before I started Truth and Beauty, and it did not disappoint. Ann Patchett has a very readable and yet descriptive style. There is nothing straining about the style itself, although the subject matter is at times very heavy. Her writing is also addictive, meaning that I finished this book in less than 24 hours. Several of those hours transpired during a bout of pregnancy-induced insomnia, in which I probably could have gone back to sleep after an hour but stayed up for three reading.

The story itself is also compelling, for several reasons. First of all, for me at least, it is interesting to learn about the lives of successful writers and how they reached that point. As someone who occasionally toys with writing (although for the most part it all just goes onto this blog or into a personal journal), I was very interested in the day-to-day life details of these two successful writers. Second of all, much of the book takes place during Ann and Lucy's twenties. It has been bemoaned by many other book bloggers that there is a paucity of books taking place in college and about characters in their early to mid twenties, and I agree that it is a problem. Because I am in my mid-twenties now, I loved reading about other people and their experiences, despite the fact that they are different than mine. I think there is a common element of struggling to find one's identity and purpose no matter what the circumstances of one's life, and it is usually illuminating to see what others' experiences are. Finally, the relationship between Ann and Lucy itself is very unique and compelling.

I have to preface this by saying I found Lucy a dynamic and compelling character, one who had dealt with considerably more than most people. Diagnosed with cancer at a young age, she had lost most of her jawbone and teeth and was constantly undergoing reconstructive surgeries. She was unable to eat most food and was constantly stared at by others. In addition, her treatments had left her in a state of permanent debt. As someone who has worked with children who have cancer, it was interesting and heartbreaking to see the aftermath of the disease, when the individual is essentially cured by dealing with the side-effects of those cures for the rest of their life.

However, she was also a very difficult character to read about at times. She made very irresponsible decisions, frequently disregarded her friends' advice, continued to sink further and further into debt, and entered empty relationship after empty relationship with men, constantly seeking reassurance that she could be loved despite her facial abnormalities. Despite this, she was well-loved and popular, but no one cared for her the way Ann did. I loved the way Ann painted her clearly, showing her faults and weaknesses, while at the same time writing with unconditional love. She frequently refers to Lucy as her family, and it is clear that their relationship is one of family -- they helped each other through everything, even when it would have been easier to end the friendship and be around someone less needy or demanding. I think that is the true beauty of this book -- the ability to love someone imperfect, the ability to treat someone with patience and forgive them over and over again, the ability to see past someone's weaknesses to their truest, best self. There are so many heartbreaking images, so many acts of love, in Truth and Beauty.

While Truth and Beauty is not a story about romantic love, it is a love story -- a story about how to love in the purest, most unselfish form. Alternately frustrating, moving, and heartbreaking, this unique friendship spelled out in excellent writing is definitely worth reading.

4 stars

Warnings: Language, sensuality, graphic descriptions of surgery

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Title: Reading Lolita in Tehran
Author: Azar Nafisi
Genre: Nonfiction, memoir
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2003
Source: Borrowed from my sister-in-law
Read for: Fun

Reading Lolita in Tehran is the memoir of Azar Nafisi, a college professor living in Iran who deals with the oppression of women and ideas through literature. Divided into four parts and focusing on four novels, Nafisi takes us through a private literature class held in her home after her expulsion from the university, her experiences teaching in universities in Tehran, and her experience of the war between Iran and Iraq.

First, a confession: I have not read Lolita. I tried once, and despite the beauty of the writing, I could not get past the subject material. With that said, I am familiar with the plot. Of the four novels especially highlighted in this novel, I had read two. There were also myriad other novels referenced, some of which I had read, but most of which I had not. While I'm sure my enjoyment of Reading Lolita in Tehran would have been greatly enhanced by having read all the novels mentioned, I still had a strong and positive experience with this book.

Azar Nafisi has a passionate relationship with literature, and I think that in and of itself drew me to this book. I think as readers, we enjoy reading about other readers; we like to see ourselves reflected in the books we choose. Nafisi paints her experiences through the lens of literature, which I think gives reading more meaning; she uses it as a means to interpret circumstances that seem senseless to her. Her interpretations are intelligent and beyond what I have studied -- I've only taken one literary theory class, and it was interesting to be exposed to literary theory once again. However, beyond her intelligent use of the books, a more emotional, passionate love for them is also clearly present.

The circumstances Nafisi illustrates through literature are also fascinating. While I'm interested in the Middle East, I had never read anything specifically about Iran. I never knew that there was a period of time where women experienced more freedom, before a religious revolution necessitated the scarf covering and other restrictions. The day-to-day regulations, as well as the horrors some of her students expressed, awed me. I can't imagine living my life in a constant aura of fear and uncertainty.

I enjoyed the two sections sandwiching the rest of the book about Nafisi's private class for women most in the book. I expected the entire book to be focused on these classes, and was a little disappointed when the narrative veered in a different direction, although I still greatly enjoyed the book.

The "icing on the cake" for me was Nafisi's beautiful writing. The copy wasn't my own, or else I would have dogeared and highlighted the life out of it. Instead, I had dozens of tiny slips of paper stuck into the pages I loved. Afterward, I copied out the quotes onto a Word document on my computer. Here are just two of my favorites:

My daughter, Negar, blushes every time I tell her that her particular brand of obstinacy, her passionate defense of what she considers to be justice, comes from her mother’s reading too many nineteenth-century novels when she was pregnant with her. […] Well, don’t they say that what a mother eats during her pregnancy, as well as her moods and emotions, all have an effect on the child?

 I'm curious what effect my reading will have on my child -- there has been a lot of fantasy reading going on during this pregnancy.

A novel is not an allegory, I said as the period was about to come to an end. It is the sensual experience of another world. If you don’t enter that world, hold your breath with the characters and become involved in their destiny, you won’t be able to empathize, and empathy is at the heart of the novel. This is how you read a novel: you inhale the experience. So start breathing. I just want you to remember this. That is all; class dismissed.

 I don't think I can say much beyond that. Reading Lolita in Tehran is a beautiful book, one that will expand your desire to read and appreciate literature, as well as an eye-opener to a different culture. Highly recommended.

4.5 stars

Warnings: Violence, discussion of sexuality