#1 Best Read of 2013

Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary! I started this blog a year ago on December 31st. What a great decision as it should remain fairly easy to remember.

In the running:

• Angela's Ashes
• Purple Hibisbus
• Wonder
• Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven
• Under the Feet of Jesus
• Vampire Academy: Book 1
• The Help
• Perks of Being a Wallflower
• Lola and the Boy Next Door

(To read my review of the above titles, please visit my Book Rants/Reviews page.)

I was torn between The Help, Bag of Bones, and Purple Hibiscus  as all three are books I thoroughly enjoyed this year. They're also completely different genres, which makes choosing one even harder!


However, in the end the award for #1 Best Read of 2013 Award goes to . . .

Purple Hibiscus

(Read my full review here.)

Why I Loved It:

1) Felt a connection to the West African setting as my family is from The Gambia.

2) I fell in love with the protagonist, Kambili, as well as the other characters.

3) Adichie's writing is enchanting and I was irrevocably hooked from the very first line.

What was YOUR most loved read of 2013? Share in the comments!

Newly Added to TBR Shelf

I had planned on a Hannibal Lecter movie marathon this weekend with Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, Hannibal Rising, and Red Dragon. However, I remembered that I had Thomas Harris' Hannibal in my To Be Read pile on the floor. We all know how I feel about reading the book first whenever possible. Alas, this plan is to postponed until I read the novel. Speaking of To Be Read, here are a few gems that I've added in the last couple of months:

• Some Stephen King in the form of Salem's Lot, Joyland, and Carrie. I wonder if I can muster up some steel nerves to watch the movies, Carrie and Salem's Lot.
• Elie Wiesel's Night
• Scott Westerfield's Uglies. This has been on my to be read list since high school! 
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I had tried reading this in high school and abandoned it. However, my mentor teacher from this semester absolutely adores this novel, so I felt I should give it another chance.
• Divergent Series  by Veronica Roth.
• Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Nicknames for Favorite Authors

Does anyone else have affectionate nicknames for some of their favorite writers? No, just me? Damn.

Below is a list of nicknames I have for some of my favorite writers (I'll add to the list as I think of more):

William Shakespeare becomes Shakes, W. Shakes, Willy Shakes, or Will McShake Shakes depending on the day of the week or what mood I happen to be in.

You know... Shakes was kind of attractive in a middle-aged, slightly balding up top kind of way. And the 'stash is very nice.

Nicholas Sparks is Nicky Sparks, or Sparkie.

Nicky ain't so bad looking either. I'm weak against eye crinkles!

James Patterson is J. Pat or J. Patty or Pats.

Great tortured writer look, Pats!

Nora Roberts becomes N. Robs or Nory.

Looking Nory, looking good!

In case you're wondering . . . yes, I do sometimes utter these nicknames aloud in public or to friends.

Books + Cheap = Blissful Me!

All of the above for just $18. Eighteen dollars, people!!!

The Mt. Pleasant Library in Pleasantville, NY hosts a Friends of the Library Book Sale each semester. As a student of the nearby Pace University, I always make it my mission to go. Planning ahead, I empty out my backpack (regardless of whether or not I have class that day) and pack only additional tote bags . . . just in case. This time I went with a good friend and fellow book lover and it was so much fun.

We squealed and screeched in excitement when we spotted something good: "Ahhh!" "What?!" "Look!" "Oh my god!" "I know!"

We gloated and teased when one of us grabbed something worthy before the other. "Lookie what I found?" "What? No! Are you going to take it?" "You bet I am!" "Dammit! Lucky." "Wanna share my tote bad?" "So you can steal my books? I don't think so!" "Dammit!"

In other words, we probably terrified the locals with our "enthusiasm."

I'm looking forward to quite a few of these goodies in particular . A few of them are from my TBR list; yay! I'm excited for the three novels by Stephen King, Joyland in particular as my mentor teacher highly recommended it. I'm been looking forward to Dan Brown's Inferno since reading Dante's entire Divine Comedy in a course at Pace. Lastly, Arthur Conan Coyle's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to tide me over until BBC's Sherlock returns with Season three.

Sigh . . .  Cumberbatch, you beautiful, beautiful man, you!

How about you, esteemed reader? Any good books come into your possession recently? Share the titles in the comments!

[Book Rant] Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

I had been meaning to read Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt for such a long time. I'd heard so many good things about it. I finally got around to it and after nearly a month, I eventually finished it and gave it three stars on Goodreads.

At first, I thought, 'hmmmm, this is interesting and different from my usual fare of paranormal romance that's for sure'. While I don't hate it, I don't see what all the fuss has been about either. It is emotionally compelling; I'd give it that much. I wanted to both cry and hit inanimate objects numerous times. I felt so much for Frankie, his family and their troubles and harsh lives of poverty. Angela's Ashes takes first place for the Saddest-Freakin'-Book-I've-Ever-Read!

But for some reason, I couldn't help but continue to feel pretty lukewarm towards it as I read. I kept on reading mainly because I get home too exhausted from work to remember to throw a new book into my bag and Angela's Ashes happened to be the only book in my bag and I read on the train. Yet, that's not the only reason. Something kept pulling me back in, stopped me from abandoning the novel completely.

What was it? The language. McCourt's writing style and the Irish lilt so intimately intertwined kept me hooked. It was like reading poetic music, or musical poetry. It was simply beautiful.

My feelings towards the novel warmed up considerably when I came across the Best Line I Have Ever Read in Any Work of Literature:

"Shakespeare is like mashed potatoes, you can never get enough of him."

 Whaat?! Two of my  most favorite things in the world in the same sentence? Bliss.

While, I liked McCourt's narrative voice and the plot/story, I felt it to be too long and too detailed. I couldn't believe that I was on page 300 and Frankie was only 11! Could he grow up any slower? I felt like I was reading a really loooong list of twitter stats minutely chronologizing someone's life.

Possibly my issue is that it's meant to be a memoir and I think of memoirs having a more story-like quality with a driving plot. While Angela's Ashes read more like an autobiography. In the end, my investment in lil Frankie McCourt and my need to know how he ended up forced me to keep reading. I was hooked on the raw honesty of all of the characters, especially Frankie.


I will also be adding the sequel Tis to my To-Be-Read list. I don't want to miss 19-year-old Frankie's adventures in the Big Apple.

Huh. Maybe I need to change my Goodreads rating. It seems I like Angela's Ashes a lot more than I thought. This book rant is a whole lot more positive than negative, isn't it?

[Book Rant] Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Okay, I absolutely loved this book. The last book that I read and loved was Kate Stockett's The Help.

What first drew me in was the fact that it was written by an African writer. As a child of immigrants from The Gambia in West Africa, I'm been meaning to read some African literature. I've always felt like a slight traitor as I've yet to read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. But I've made up for it with Purple Hibiscus. Or so I'd like to think. (Will still read Achebe's book one day. Maybe.)

A simple song for a tiny country, but it shows Moxie!

So what's it about?

Purple Hibiscus takes place in Nigeria (the birthplace of both of our writer). The story is told through 15-year-old Kambili, who lives with her mother, father, and brother Jaja. Kambili's father is an extremely religious man who rules his family with an iron fist. The tale unfolds as Kambili and her brother spend some time away from home and experience the first taste of freedom as civil war in Nigeria makes things even more unstable.

Dangit! Nigeria has the better anthem. Just because they're bigger. Humph!

 

Rant Begins:

I want to begin by commenting on Kambili's narrative voice. I think it was the best voice/POV that I have had the pleasure to read in a long time. It was authentic, compelling, endearing, and compassionate. I was immediately and deeply connected with Kambili and felt haunted by the life I was suddenly intimately privy to. Even more touching was Kambili's emotions, strength, and fears as she struggled between her love for her abusive father, love for her battered mother, and fear of change after tasting freedom. Also, because Kambili avoids things or pretends not to know, readers are increasingly horrified as we come to the realizations of the truths that Kambili refuses to admit.

Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Let's imagine that this is what Kambili will look like in 20 years.

I love the whole start-from-the-end-then-tell-the-events-that-leads-up-to-it plot device. Love it, I say, especially when it's as well done as it was in Purple Hibiscus. From the first line, Ms. Adichie caught me hook, line, and sinker and I was only eager to read more. Adichie's strong writing continued to lead me by the heart from beginning to end as I gasped in horror, smiled bittersweetly, held my breath with hope, and rooted wholeheartedly for Kambili, Jaja, Aunty Ifeoma, the cousins, and others. Each character was unique and meaningful within the story (even Papa-the-Bastard, the name I coined him in my head).

Purple Hibiscus is an absolute must-read if you want a taste of African literature that is strongly written, engaging, and moves your heart.

Official Rating:

Princess Reads A Lot absolutely LOVED this book! She was captivated, enamored, enchanted, and fascinated, otherwise irrevocably in love. She has found yet another literary prince charming and is in bliss.

[Current Read] Hibiscus Flowers (Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

I'm currently reading Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and decided to explore the title a little.

First things first, what the heck is a hibiscus? As much as I love flowers, a flower is just a flower is just a flower. I think roses and sunflowers are the only flowers I know by both name and sight.

THIS is a hibisbus:

 

What's really great about these flowers? There are a bunch of varieties and each one is equally pretty with an equally funky name!

"Blue River II" Hibiscus - So badass that she killed off numero uno into extinction!

Fiiiiiirebaaalll! Hibiscus

 

 

 

"Hibiscus Makinoi," named for Tomitaro Makino who was a 20th century Japanese botanist known for his taxonomic work. A fancy word to say that he named stuff, specifically plants, including this one I guess.

 

"Lord Baltimore" Hibisbus. I think this was originally named by a Potter fan, but since he-who-cannot-be-named cannot be named, they had to change the name of this beautiful flower to "Lord Baltimore." Yup, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

"Luna Pink Swirl" Hibiscus. I love love lovelovelove this! I even made it bigger on purpose because it's my blog and I can do that. Love the name of the flower and it's such a gorgeous, delicate shade of pink.

"Strawberry Swirl" Hibiscus! I love this one too!

"Scarlot Rose" Hibiscus. Absolutely gooorrrgeous!

Okay, okay. I know what you're thinking. All of these flowers are pretty and all, but the title of the book is Purple Hibiscus. Do purple hibiscuses (is that the correct plural form? It is now.) really exist?

The answer is that they do! And they're freaking stunning!

Beautiful aren't they?

That's all for now. Look forward to my review of Purple Hibiscus soon.

Laters Gators,
Fatuma



Sources:
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/hibiscus/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomitaro_Makino
http://davesgarden.com/guides/botanary/go/8304/

Images:
http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/2007/10/22/Kell/51db17.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2814423636_c5a0ef631e.jpg
http://www.fancyhibiscus.com/images/Black_Beauty2.jpg
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/hibiscus/

Bye, Bye, Bye . . .

My bookshelf is listing to the side. The back panel is barely hanging on. I have double rows of books on each shelf with even more books stuffed into any open spaces. This is the result of too many books. The only solution? Getting rid of some via eBay.

Exhibit A: My very messy and very cramped bookshelf, as well as the splitting back panel. It's truly sad, no?

While some money is nice, I'm not making nearly enough to sooth the pain of getting rid of some of my babies.

I got rid of some of my manga first because that was a little less painful than some of the other books I'll be posting next. I snapped some pics, jotted down notes on condition (being brutally honest because I didn't want ANY complaints after I shipped them), and online they went for one week. All but one sold. Man, lugging a bunch of packaged books to the post office is such a pain in the buns. But, I did it. 

As of 11:41:55 AM, I said goodbye to the following:

• Boy Princess V 1-9
• Fall in Love Like a Comic Book V 1-2
• Negima! V 1-6
• Shout Out Loud V 1-5
• June V1
• Hot Gimmick V 1-2
• Pumpkin Scissors V 1-2
• Audition V1
• Offbeat V 1-2
• Yurara V 1-2
• Aoi House Omnibus Collection V1

In Tribute:

New Addition to "To-Be-Read" Shelf: The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis

Blurb:

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?

Award-winning author Antonia Michaelis moves in a bold new direction with her latest novel: a dark, haunting, contemporary story that is part mystery, part romance, and part melodrama.

Rant: 

Whoa! This sounds kind of amazing. No, really. Go re-read that blurb.

I haven't read a YA romance in quite some time and I miss it. I also have a soft spot for any kind of Romeo and Juliet twist. It may be an overly used trope in romance writing, but it's one I cannot resist. Add in some potential fantastical elements and a possible adorable kid and I'm hooked!  

The Storyteller also has grand ratings on Goodreads, a whopping 4.17/5. And reading through the reviews by other readers makes me want to go. buy. this. book. right. NOW. I'm trying to resist though because as you see my TBR list is already long enough. It's only fair that I read those books who've been on the list longest, first. That way no one gets hurt in the feels. (Yes, my books are personified. What of it?)

Though... #1. Level 26: Book 2: Dark Prophecy by Anthony E. Zuiker is probably already flipping depressed. He's been on the list a loooong time and I went ahead and read Wonder yesterday afternoon.  I'm sorry, forgive me! Actually, I apologize in advance to all 41 books on my TBR shelf yet to be read. I think you're definitely going to be slighted for The Storyteller. It just sounds too dang good for me to wait to read.

Anyone else looking forward to this baby? Anyone read it already and wants to torture me by gushing about it? Please leave a comment!

Giddily yours,

Fatuma

[Book Rant] Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder is a sweet and powerful read starring 5th grader August (Auggie) Pullman, who was born with facial abnormalities, as he navigates both school and the 5th grade for the first time.

It was a great Wednesday afternoon read that I enjoyed. It was touching and jolting and had a lot of important life lessons to teach/learn, such as not judging a book by its cover, true friendship, and the power of kindness. A triple threat.

The multiple POV's were an interesting way to tell the story, but not well executed. Via's POV I believe was the most touching and poignant and real. Jack and Summer's POV's were also effective and I enjoyed seeing their side. However, can someone please tell me why we needed to hear from the boyfriend, Justin, and the ex-BFF, Miranda? Neither character was connected to Auggie directly. Also, I don't understand why grammar and proper capitalization were suddenly thrown out of the window for Justin's chapters. And, Miranda's spiel about her time at summer camp? Completely uninteresting, irrelevant, and unnecessary--it didn't move the story at all.

I would have loved to hear from Mom or Dad or childhood friend, Chris, or heck, even one of his doctors instead. One of those would have been potentially more powerful and better than Miranda and Justin. Or even Julian's POV could have been intriguing and intense.

Minor Issue: The simplicity of the writing style felt at odds with the complexity of the characters' dialogue. Not sure if this makes perfect sense, but I felt like I was reading a book written by a middle schooler with High school characters. It's hard to explain, but it caused a bit of dissonance for me and lessened the believability of the story and characters. There were also places where the dialogue was incredibly childish for characters who had just been speaking pretty sophisticated.

Slightly less minor issue: Why were 5th graders dating?! Even with transitioning adolescence, puberty, hormones etc, I still cannot see 10-year-olds dating. They're still babies as far as I'm concerned and ten is too young even for the earliest of bloomers. I think as an older reader (my younger sister, who happens to be 10, that brat better NOT be doing anything, LOVES this book) I really couldn't get pass this idea of hormonal 10-year-olds. What happened to the good 'ole days where boys were stupid, ew gross, and had cooties until they were miraculously cured in 8th or 9th grade? Is there a Cootie Vaccination now?

FINAL VERDICT:

The story was really enjoyable. Some characters--Auggie, Summer, Jack, Via, and Dad in particular--really touched my heart (though some more depth and character development would have been appreciated. Then again, this is written for a much younger audience.), while other characters were literacy waste (cough, cough). Also, the writing wasn't as compelling as it could have been,  lessening the "punch in the heart" effect of this novel. But I'm being picky because the effect was there nonetheless as I won't be forgetting Auggie for a few days.

* * *

Princess Reads A Lot LIKES this book a lot!
It made her smile and she's sure glad she read it,
though there were a few things that bugged her highness.

[Book Quotes] from Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven

Just finished reading Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven. Read the review here. Below are some notable quotes that stood out for me.

"While my aunt held her baby close to her chest, the doctor tied her tubes, with the permission slip my aunt signed because the hospital administrator lied and said it proved her Indian status for the BIA" (81).

Has NO race been spared in the countless acts of eugenics in America? Jeez.

"What was God but this planet's maid?" (133)

A severely underpaid one at that.

"There is more than one way to starve" (177).

 Truly powerful statement, no?

"I didn't really fit the profile of the country..." (183).

 Does anyone? Why is there even a profile in place when so many do not fit into it, yet belong (or should anyway) just the same?

"Most of all, I had to find out what it meant to be Indian, and there ain't no self-help manuals for that last one" (211).

If only, if only self-help guides existed, then we could cure Adolescence forever.

[Book Rant] The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven is a collection of interconnected short stories about Native Americans and reservation life.

What I like best about this work was Alexie's poetic language use in his storytelling. It's crystal clear that storytelling is more than a hobby or even a passion, but a vital piece of heritage. Alexie's prose is beautifully haunted and poignant as he narrates life on a reservation from the point of view of a few of its residents. We get a glimpse (because only a small glimpse is possible into something so vast and deep) into the strength, coverage, and bravery of Native Americans as well as the extreme suffering, injustice, and pain. I'm not much of a poetry person, but Alexie's writing made me gain a better appreciation for the naturally poetic nuances of language.

The main thing that stopped me from loving this book was the format of the novel. I'm not much of a fan of short story collections. Often the disjointed interconnectedness is confusing for me and it makes it hard for me to follow what I'm reading. In the case of The Lone Ranger and Tonto, I was mostly confused by which of the characters were speaking in each given story. In the beginning, it was clear that Victor was the narrator, but for the second half I couldn't figure out who was speaking. It made it difficult for me to fall into the stories. I'm not sure if it was due to not reading closely enough, but even re-reading didn't help.

Going back to the writing--The stories themselves, if I forced myself to see them as unconnected, stand-alone stories, were quite enjoyable. I loved the quiet, unassuming strength of the narrator voices, especially as they used humor as a strong weapon against the many issues in their lives. The comic relief was poignant in highlighting the stark reality, leaving readers with a bitter sweet feelings. By the end, you know that things may not necessarily change for the better, but that the narrators will continue to fight with insurmountable inner strength and heart.

FINAL VERDICT:

Princess Reads A Lot LIKES this book a whole lot!
It made her smile and she's sure glad she read it.

Finally Caved: Got Myself a Killer of the Art of Books (aka NOOK SIMPLE TOUCH)

Wanna skip the rant and get straight to the review? Scroll dooooown!

 
I feel as if I have failed. I've always (loudly) protested against E-readers. "Viva el Libro," I would yell indignantly. "Down with the E-readers!" Who in their right mind would give up the supple feel of paper and the risk of paper cuts? Give up the raw, sensual scent of Eau de la Old Books?

It was unthinkable for me. Yet, I was weak. I was lost. I was running out of space, dangit!

My bookcase is currently literally listing to the side against my wall. All FIVE shelves are packed tightly with DOUBLE rows of books, one in front of the other. I have additional books piled in the two drawers of my nightstand table. Even MORE books in two duffel bags behind my bed. And more YET in a tote bag on the shelf in my closet.

 

I went to Strands the other day, THE Strands, and didn't buy books (as in left a bookstore empty-handed. Me.) because I knew I had no more space. That is a travesty as far as I'm concerned. So, what's a girl to do if she needs more books like she needs air, but doesn't have space to put 'em? She starts thinking about an e-book reader, that's what. One that could hold thousands of books, in one teeny tiny package.

So, the battle began: KINDLE VERSUS NOOK SIMPLE TOUCH

   

I spent the whole day at work reading product specs, comparing prices, and reading endless reviews trying to decide. Here's the breakdown as far as I know:

1. They're practically the SAME DAMN THING! Both allow you to buy books and read books. As simple as that. And the quality of reading is pretty much the same, as well as the size (nook is slightly heavier and has touchscreen while Kindle has 5 way controller).

2. CUSTOMER SERVICE is a big big big giguantuan tie-breaker here. Barnes and Nobles customer service apparently SUCKS (and not in a very fun way), while Amazon is a company you can definitely count on.

3. A good selection of BOOKS are available both at Amazon and BN, but BN seems to have a slightly larger selection from what I've read. Also, the Nook ebooks are in the more widely accepted .EPUB format, while the Kindle is in a funky .AZW format. Both side of proprietary rights, meaning you can only read purchased Kindle and Nook books on their respective products (i.e. It's mine and you can't have it!), but you can get .EPUB books from other online retailers and read on your nook.

4. Kindle lets you STORE about 1,000, as does the Nook. But the Nook gives you the option of expandable storage with an SD card.

5. PRICE was an important factor for me as I'm broke. I happened to have a gift card, which is why I was thinking of a e-reader in first place. Amazon offers Kindle for $69 with ads (or Special Offers as they call it and these show up on Home screen and screensaver) and $89 for one without ads. The Nook is $79. While not mentioned, it has recommendations on main screen I've been told.

At this point, I was completely and utterly TORN between the two. I was leaning towards the Nook for it's ebook format and expandable storage, but towards the Kindle because of the reassurance of excellent customer care if I ever needed it.

THEN, (here's where it gets tricky) I went to BestBuy.com to see if they have both products because there's a BestBuy on my way home and I could play with both items and make my decision that way. And what do I find? The Nook Simple Touch for $50.00! I hemmed and hawed (the supposedly bad customer service was really worrisome), but I couldn't resist $50.00. Heck the was price was so good, my mother impulsively handed me her card and said, "hey, get me one of those too."

It's official. As of June 13th, 2013 (when it should arrive at nearest BestBuy store for pickup), I will be a proud (hopefully) owner of a Art of Reading killer, I mean e-book reader, the Nook Simple Touch.


I will write a more formal review after I receive it and play with it some.

EDIT (+ Review): 

I've had my Nook for 3 weeks and I like it a lot. It does everything as I expected. It's light enough for me to read for hours. I got a cute carrying case for it and can easily toss it into my bag. Navigation is easy enough and is buying books. I haven't needed customer service yet, so can't speak on that yet. My only complaints would be that the battery life isn't as long as advertised and I wish it had a light to read by at night. Now that it's summer, I read endlessly and it barely lasts about a week, let alone a month. So, they LIED! And I know that the Simple Touch GlowLight exists, but I read too many reviews about the light bleeding through when the screen rips that I didn't want to risk it. But I am otherwise very happy.

Thanks for reading!
Fatuma

[Currently Reading - Book Quotes] The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie

Started reading this yesterday on train ride from work. Currently up to page 29. Below are some quotes that made me react in some way:

"Indian tears" (5).

What are Indians tears? Tears steeped in history and never-to-be-forgotten pains and slights? How different are they from other tears? African tears? Asian tears? American tears?

"Just one word. Just the color of his skin. Red, white, black, or brown" (25).

As if that's all we need to know about a person and everything else could be guessed. =(

"I was conceived during one of those drunken nights, half of me formed by my father's whiskey sperm, the other half formed by my mother's vodka egg. I was born a goofy reservation mixed drink, and my father needed me just as much as he needed every other kind of drink" (27).

Aw?

"And besides, why the hell would you want to fight a war for this country? It's been trying to kill Indians since the very beginning" (29).

True. Wish there was a way to teach American students the truth. Even if not learned in the classroom, you learn about others by interacting with them. However, most of us don't interact with Native Americans day to day. In my 21 years, I've never met someone who identified as Native American. Reading is as close as I can get. And that saddens me.


(WOW. As soon as I posted this. I saw following link on my Facebook feed: Chelsey Ramer, 17, Fined $1000 After Wearing Eagle Feather At High School Graduation. Check out Not About the Feathers too. Ms. Valerie RedHorse says exactly what I was trying to express above!)

[Random Book Fact, Kinda] Sherman Alexie is . . .

A possibly new regular feature: random facts related to the book I'm currently reading. These facts will be really random and their relation to the book will be subtle at best. They'll be the things that I'm strangely curious about. This is the first one, so you're see what I mean. I think I'll call this feature "Random Book Fact, Kinda." I may or may not change the name as I come up with better ones. Anyway, without further adieu:

I'm currently reading The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman (Joseph) Alexie.

He looks like a fun guy. Someone I would like to know.

Sherman means "shear man". Occupational name for a person who trimmed wool cloth. Joseph is Hebrew for "Jehovah increases." Also the name for the son of Jacob, who's sold by his bros, but becomes a prince. And Alexie is a variant of Alexander (Greek) and Alexis (Greek) and means "man's defender, warrior." (Source: http://www.thinkbabynames.com/)

"Sherman Alexie Earns his Name": from The Super Secret Real Biography of Sherman Alexie (only one copy ever in print)

Our acclaimed Native American author began as a young boy shearing the wool off of wholly mammoths for his weekly allowance. One of the wholly mammoths was sold off to cavemen as his 12 brothers (and sisters, let's not be sexist) stood miles away watching. (We're not sure who initiated the transaction, but it's safe to say that young Sherman is definitely the hero in this tale.) Sherman was no ordinary boy, however, and he set out with a spear and some yummy tangerines to save the baby wholly mammoth (whose name was Fred by the way). After an arduous 4 day battle, Sherman returned victorious atop Fred's back like the warrior that he was. From hence forth he was known as Sherman Alexie.

Hi, I'm Fred. Thank you Sherman for rescuing me. You're my hero.

I bet you won't find that gold nugget in any biography. You're welcome.

P.S. The above excerpt of  The Super Secret Real Biography of Sherman Alexie is entirely fabricated in case you didn't know. As Stephen King said in his novel, Bag of Bones, a writer is someone who has taught his (or her, why so sexist, King?) mind to misbehave. =)

On a more serious note though, Sherman Alexie is pretty amazing. He is such an inspiring strong and determined individual to have overcome the harsh (and perhaps unfair, but tis life) hand he was dealt to become a success. Read the following biography when you get the chance.

Sherman Alexie, A Biography (from the author’s official website)

Until next time,
Fatuma
Book Rants

[Favorite Book Quotes] Bag of Bones by Stephen King

Some lines that stood out for me as I was reading King's Bag of Bones:
(Read my full review of Bag of Bones here.)

1. "Readers love continuing characters; it's like coming back to family" (37).

That's perfectly true, unless it's that one Auntie that you absolutely cannot stand.

2. "...they're pouring out of me like shit out of a cow's ass" (40).

Eloquent, Noonan. Maybe try your hand at poetry instead of fiction?

3. "VC Andrews with a prick" (45).

Are we talking original VC, or ghost writer VC?

4. "According to gloomy old Dennison Carville, the aspiring novelist should understand from the outset that fiction's goals were forever beyond his reach, that the job was an exercise in futility. 'Compared to the dullest human being actually walking about on the face of the earth and casting his shadow here,' Hardy supposedly said, 'the most brilliantly drawn character in a novel is but a bag of bones.' (45).

Really King, then what are both you and Noonan playing at? Being writers. *scoff* You're doomed to failure according to good 'ole Carville here. Best find a new day job.

5. "I am a man who has trained his mind to misbehave and I can imagine too many things..." (54).

I know how you feel, buddy. My mind doesn't behave either. Won't shut up or settle down. Time-outs don't seem to have any effect either. It simply does as it pleases.

6. "This is how we go on: one day at a time, one meal at a time, one pain at a time, one breath at a time" (361).

All I really need is the one meal bit.

7. "I felt lonely and content at the same time. I believe that is a rare kind of happiness" (366).

Okay, Noonan. Whatever floats your boat.



What do you think? Have favorite lines of your own? Share them in the comments!

[Book Rant] Bag of Bones by Stephen King

For my first ever Stephen King read I think I chose pretty dang well (even though I simply closed my eyes and grabbed a random title off the shelf).

(See list of favorite quotes from Bag of Bones here.)

Bag of Bones begins with the lulling, soft, authentic voice of Michael Noonan as he tells his incredible story, starting from his wife's sudden death and including the hard to believe events that follow. With a gripping combination of quiet grief and a startling, sometimes blunt, sense of humor, readers quickly find themselves deeply caring for Mike as soon as the end of chapter one. King has a very clear understanding of readers and their needs and gives it to us perfectly wrapped in an astonishing tale of death, vengeance, cruelty, love, and life.

The story is told in the voice of Mike Noonan. It's honest, blunt, and flawed--just like him. The otherworldly aspect of the story are subtly sprinkled in, so that you find yourself believing undoubtedly in everything as Mike does without even realizing it.

The complexity of Bag of Bones is what really drew me in. It's not just anything. Not just a ghost story. Not just about a man who suddenly loses his wife. Not just about ruthless multimillionaires and custody cases. Not just about secrets. Not just about love and survival. It's all of these and more, intertwined and intermingled into one amazing, incredible story. As such, the 700+ pages didn't seem too long, though I think it could have been parred down slightly. There were a couple of long chunks of scenic description that I found myself skimming over because they were just a little too detailed (even as I was deathly afraid--pun intended--of missing some vital or genius line of fiction). Too detailed in that I was bogged down by all of the, well, details and couldn't form a vivid picture in my mind. Sometimes less really is more.

King's characters in Bag of Bones, both the main and supporting characters, were fully fleshed out, real and human--as far from being simple bags of bones as I can imagine. Mike, especially, is a character I fell in love with immediately, warts and all. There's nothing quite like a detail-rich portrayal of a flawed character to get a reader's engine going. Vroom Vroom! It's Mike's honest (or King's honest rendition of Mike's character that enticed me). Mike wasn't the nicest or most "proper" man. He was sometimes a sarcastic ass, lewd, offensive even, but he was real.So in real in fact that I couldn't help doing a little google searching to see if I could find any resemblance to a non-fictional being. And color me surprised when I discovered Irish politician, Michael Noonan, (below) and Australian writer, Michael John Noonan. Just saying. (Though they're both older than our protagonist.)

Despite its long length, I dreaded finishing Bag of Bones because I knew it would feel like losing a best friend. At the same time, Bag of Bones was such an aggressive read, emotionally; I wasn't sure whether or not I could survive all 700 pages without my heart beating clear out of my chest from the stress of incredible suspense, awe, shock, fear (for the characters! Of course, I wasn't frightened, not even one bit), disgust, utter believable-disbelief. Here's my facebook status after I finished reading the climatic chapter 25 (POTTY MOUTH DISCLAIMER):

Holy FUCKING shiiit, King. Chapter 25 was a motherfucking DOOZY! A disclaimer would've been mighty nice, so I wouldn't have found myself on the Metro North gasping audibly, muttering "Da Fuk," and blinking rapidly against sudden tears. My Gawd! I've been through the literary wringer and I LOVE it.

Found on Tumbler or FB somewhere.

Then we came to the end. The gentle calm, silence after the storm. It was satisfying. I was left with the assurance that Mikey Noonan and his little guy, Kyra would be just fine, despite everything. Most loose ends were tied and all questions mostly answered. The slight sense of remaining otherworldlyness was acceptable after a story like this; we didn't need every "T" or "I" crossed and dotted.

King, I think you'd be glad to know that while a first time reader, Bag of Bones gave me not one, but two sleepless nights as I couldn't put it down! (In response to his Letter to the Reader at the end of the novel.) This is a definite must-read for fans of mystery-thrillers and Stephen King.

Princess Reads A Lot RATING:  

She really LIKES this book a whole lot! It made her smile, shiver and shake. She's sure glad she read it and only wishes she had read it sooner.