Simona's 50-Book Challenge
My first 10 books so far. Proud of me.
N.B. clicking on the name lets you buy the book on Amazon
March 5
Book #10 is The Romance Writer's Report issues Dec '07 and Jan '08.
Not a 'book' exactly, but it's the journal of the Romance Writers of America, and it's a great resource for all us writer types. I lumped 2 together to count as one book because although they're a lot of reading, it wouldn't be fair to count them separately. That'd give me a 12-book lead on my challenge!
Some pretty good articles on characterisation in here. I've cut them out and filed them.
Read 'em? Share your comments!
February 20
Book #9 is
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
This book should have been subtitled The Pussification of Africa. It wasn't an easy book to read; as a matter of fact I've been working on it for a few weeks now. But it wasn't difficult in the sense of the writing style; the great Achebe is unchallenged in his simplicity and grace.
It was hard because of its emotional content, so sublimely understated, without drama or rhetoric. It's the story of a great warrior, Okwonkwo, who lives to see his tribe and its proud customs eroded by the Christianization, colonialization and casual, cultural erosion of the blunt-minded, self-congratulatory English missionaries and petty officials.
I was horrified by some of the tribe's customs, such as the casting away of twin babies and the matter-of-fact beating of women. With my neo-feminist sensibilities, I couldn't help but find the violent, arrogant, hardened tribesman Okwonkwo a bit of an asshole. But so help me, I admired his strength as the rest of his tribe allowed themselves to be suckered and, eventually, corralled like animals by the whites, who preached a Christian God but really didn't give a rat's ass about them. More power to you man. You should have taken a whole bunch of them down with you when you went.
The book left me with a bitter thirst for spilled blood. I mean, say what you like, but the Mau-Maus knew what there were fighting for.
February
11
Book #8 is
Trinidad Transcending Time - 150 years after Cazabon's 1857 Album of Trinidad
Easy to read, easy on the eyes. A nice little book if you're into art, although I'm sure you'd get more out of it if you actually knew anything about the subject, and I don't. It consists of reproductions of 19th century Trinidadian artist Jean Michel Cazabon's paintings of Trinidad, juxtaposed against modern photos of the same scenes. Interesting to see how things have changed, and how things haven't. Liberally scattered with little titbits of information about the history of the scenes, too.
I got to take issue with one little thing, though, Miss Mathura. In your intro, you stated, "Like most Trinidadians, my ancestors were indentured labourers who arrived from India in the late 19th century...". Um, as far as the last census goes, the Indian population of Trinidad is a little less than 43%. My maths tells me that's quite a bit shy of the standard definition of "most." Maybe we could try "many" next time, hmm?
Book #7 is
Single Mama Drama
I'm actually reviewing this book for Romance in Color, so I won't spill the beans here. See the review here.
February 1
Book #6 is
Candorville - Another Stereotype Bites the Dust
by Darrin Bell
Not as out there as Keith Knight or as bitter as Aaron Mc Gruder, But Darrin Bell still conveys the ups and downs of the African American experience with great humor. I love his artwork as well. His characters are so real, and so alive. Great, great fun. I'm waiting for his next book.
Book
#5 is Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
Wow. What can I say. Violent enough for me to put it down for a second to catch my breath (imagine stab-wound-rape - if you dare.) But a good read, wonderfully drawn characters, and a leisurely look at a rural Georgia I can only imagine.
I sussed out the perpetrator of the dastardly crimes about the second third of the book, but that was because I was doing the usual thing of dissecting a book from a writer's point of view rather than simply reading it.
Enjoyed every minute of it, though. It's the kind of book I wouldn't mind having on a plane.
Book #4 is
Marie Claire Makeup
January 21
A Christmas gift from my boss, who had probably had enough of hearing me moan about not being able to do a damn thing with my face. A gorgeous coffee table book, and they make it all seem so simple! I have all good intentions of trying it out, but you know what they say about the road to hell, especially when you're as lazy about self-adornment as I am...
Book #3 is
Boundaries,by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
January
19
This book took me nearly 3 weeks to read, and with good reason. It's
brilliant. It's designed for born again Christians, which for me would
normally be a red flag as those books tend to be a little bit hysterical (Pigs in the Parlour
But it was a solid, carefully detailed explanation of why some people allow themselves to be doormats, and what they can do about it. It shows you how to set limits with your spouse, children, colleagues and friends, and how to establish some breathing space for yourself without feeling guilty.
The timing couldn't have been better. As I embark on a phase in my life where I am learning to be my own boss, where my success or failure will depend largely on my output, my workflow and my dedication, I will need to let others know where I stand on the use of my time and resources. The kids are now in 'real' school and will need more discipline and order in their lives.
I've already recommended this book to others, and intend to apply it to my own life, and reread as necessary.
Book #2 is
Strangers in Paradise Treasury Edition
by Terry Moore
What? Excuse me? Terry Moore is a guy? Well, buh-low me down. I'd have staked my right boob that SiP was written by a lesbian. Seriously! Honestly, I'd never have thought that a man could have come up with such a spot-on, intimate perspective of female emotions. No offense to our more testosterone-burdened buddies out there, but it's quite a feat to attain and sustain such an intimate look at female friendship over the course of 60 issues.
The story is beautiful, the classic love pentacle: Katchoo is a lesbian in love with her friend Francine, who is in love with Freddie, who marries Casey. David is in love with Katchoo, who, it turns out, is his sister Darcy's ex-lover...oh, man, you can't pay for this stuff.
I loved it. The Treasury is, in Terry's own words, the Director's cut version of the whole story, with his comments and scribbles along the way. I read it sparingly, like I'd eat a box of candy I was afraid would up and finish on me. At the end I was almost in tears, partly over the impossibility of the whole scenario, where nobody can have anybody they really want, and partly out of jealousy. Terry Moore has it all: story-telling skills, drawing talent, music...the perfect renaissance man. And he writes for himself so he can say what he damn well pleases.
Ah, dream the dream.
Book #1 is
Are We Feeling Safer Yet? by Aaron McGruder
I've got only one beef with Keith Knight...why are your books so short, Keith? Why? Whyyyyy? I could read you all day, man!
