Review: The Lover

The Lover by A.B. Yehoshua

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished The Lover by A. B. Yehoshua. A really fabulous read, I'm rather upset I spent so much time playing the Sims 3 in the past week (shut up, the new expansion was released on the first) instead of finishing this sooner.

As described, The Lover is indeed a dream-like novel. Narrative floats between the central six characters shortly following the resolution of Yom Kippur in Israel. The main premise of the book concerns a middle-aged mechanic looking for his wife's lover, whom disappeared during Yom Kippur, but the storyline certainly entails much more than the mechanic's midnight trolls around Israel as he searches. The story contains themes of power and submission, love and hate, desire and loss, dreams and reality. Between the intricate connection of the characters to each other is a more essential, basic question regarding the self and position and belonging.

This was really a wonderful, wonderful read, surprisingly accessible. Yehohua is a fabulous storyteller and I cannot wait to read another of his books.



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A Very Silly Thing

I don't have a whole lot to say today. But this is courtesy of failblog.org:

Cheers!

Laundromat Woes

Ian and I signed our new lease today for a brand-new (but not spanking) apartment, our very first legal document we signed as a married couple with our new names. And, sitting in the laundromat at.... 11:34 PM, I anticipate being able to do laundry at any time I please, and at home. In the comfort of our own little apartment with hardwood floors and white walls. Hurrah!

This Monday was to be the first day starting exercise back up again after weeks of laziness, craziness, and delicious vacation (and post-vaca) food. BUT, typical Rachel style, work was super busy and lame, I left an hour late, and didn't feel like it (shock). Ian, anticipating I would be 100% LAME SAUCE sorted out my sports bra, workout capris, and exercise mat, folding them nicely together on the chaise. Well, you just can't say no to that sort of organization/preparation! But jumping? Kicking? Grapevining like a 90's crazed lady with insanely bushy bangs? Not I, said the tired, cramping, side-spasm girl. Luckily, I can google like a pro, and found an exciting new website: http://www.yogatic.com/. The instructor/creator has many instructional videos up, including yoga for women during their... womanly times (*clears throat* I did this - super relaxing and a really nice stretch!) and even tummy upsets / digestion.

Is 15 minutes of yoga equivalent to 45 minutes of kickboxing and aerobics? Not at all, I know this. But great website. And yoga is an excellent replacement if you are super lame like me. 

(Rachel at the Mr. Stadium)

Review: The Diary of Adam and Eve

The Diary of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



As a feminist, I really shouldn't have enjoyed this short little book at all, I feel like I just re-read the Mars vs. Venus pop-psychology nonesense all over again.

That said, Twain is hilarious. He approached the whole subject with just the right light touch.

Read this. And like it. Just take it with a grain of salt.



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Review: The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors: A Novel

The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors: A Novel by Michele Young-Stone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a perfect read over a stormy, rainy weekend. Although many of the themes are 'darker,' dealing with alcoholism, depression, loneliness, philandering, etc., it was an extremely enjoyable read and not at all difficult to work through. Young-Stone is a fun author, this was a great first novel, and I look forward to further work from her.

I really enjoyed this book and would strongly suggest it as a good vacation or lazy-weekend read. Be aware though, reading The Handbook for Lightening Strike Survivors will make you MUCH more paranoid about being hit by lightening!



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Review: Jessica Z.

Jessica Z. by Shawn Klomparens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was strongly recommended to me by a friend or two, and lots of positive Goodreads review.

While I wouldn't say that this is the best book I've read all year, it was an engaging read with interesting, believable characters. What moved it from three stars to four was how the book explored Josh's character after he died. Instead of the pure manipulation and mania you witness during his relationship with Jessica, his actual motives and decency are exposed. Clearly he and Jessica made a terrible couple, but he was a good human being, which Jessica only discovers after his death.


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Review: Teeth of the Dog

Teeth of the Dog by Jill Ciment

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Jill Ciment's writing is impeccable. Teeth of the Dog had a feel reminiscent of Conrad's Heart of Darkness, which Ciment references once or twice in the narrative. Although the themes of this book were difficult and unpleasant to muddle through (a dying spouse, infidelity, lonliness) and the setting an unbearably hot third world country (frankly, a tourist's nightmare), the story is quite gripping and well worth a reader's time.



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Review: From a Crooked Rib

From a Crooked Rib by Nuruddin Farah

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I struggled with how to rate this book. As a feminist, of course I admired Farah's portrayal of the sexist culture that oppresses women in Somalia and how a struggle against the current cultural beliefs and structures are difficult, if not impossible to break out of, for the individual.

For Ebla, the main character, every time she attempts to find freedom and independence, she further ties herself to people whom mistreat and take advantage over her. As the narrative continues, it is difficult to understand Ebla's true intentions as she struggles against these forces, and the intentions of those she finds herself depending on and using her.

I found Farah's narrative difficult to follow at times, and found the partial portrayal into Ebla's thoughts and actions frustratingly seperated from the actual core of the book's unfolding plot. I believe Farah meant to keep the reader disconnected from Ebla and the other characters to help convey Ebla's confusion as she encountered various situations and characters throughout the narrative, not knowing who she could trust or not trust, and how the intentions of each character may not be what they seem.




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Review: The White Tiger

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I'd anticipated reading The White Tiger for months and months and was really disappointed by it. None of the book was terribly interesting, and while the writing was okay, it wasn't great. I know it's supposed to be an analogy for how India is corrupt, and what it takes to move across castes and economic spheres, but the book felt flat, along with many of Adiga's one-dimensional characters.

I would suggest A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry as an alternative to The White Tiger. Mistry is a far superior writer, the story is more complex and interesting, and it encompasses many of the same themes, ie. corruption and poverty in India.



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Review: Queenpin

Queenpin by Megan Abbott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



My very first Megan Abbott read (recommended to me by www.whatshouldireadnext.com, my new favorite nerd website, that appears to be down right now). This was wonderful fun, all the way through. A perfect antidote to my February flu.



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