October 7th, 2009
When my friend Jack and I were reporters at a small newspaper in northwest Ohio, we both wanted to write long, in-depth, meaningful feature stories like those found in Sports Illustrated and Rolling Stone. To this day, I still believe that some of the best writers out there write for these publications. Take the Sept. 28, 2009 issue of Sports Illustrated for example.
Gary Smith’s article about 17-year-old Bonnie Richardson, a high school senior who won her school’s state track team championship all by herself (twice), is amazing. The story is long – 6,510 words – but every word is used perfectly. It’s impossible to put the magazine down.
Even if you don’t like sports, or don’t like track and field, I honestly believe you’ll love this article. Smith paints his picture so vividly that before page 2, you’ll feel like you know Bonnie and her coach and her family. You’ll be rooting for her – even though she doesn’t want you to. That might even make you root harder. I know I couldn’t stop reading for a second because I was so captivated by her story, which if written any other way may have come across as too stereotypical in that underdog-takes-all sort of way.
Someone (Mark Twain?) once said, ‘If you catch an adjective, kill it.’, but I’m glad Smith ignored that advice. The fact that Bonnie’s coach’s car is white or that she wears long, baggy, red-striped black shorts over her track shorts makes the story all that much more gripping. (Not to mention the reference to llamas.)
If you don’t get SI, you can read the entire article here. Enjoy.
October 5th, 2009
The best book I’ve read in a very long time. Being a busy mom, I don’t have a lot of time to read, but I love doing so. It usually takes me a little over a month to finish a book, but I finished this book in a week! From the first few pages, I could not put it down. I was completely pulled into the story and the characters, so much that I felt like I really knew them.
The book is set in Jackson, Mississippi in the 60s. It is the story of 3 women (2 maids and 1 black-sheep society lady) who come up with a risky idea that will change their town as they know it, by pointing out the lines that nobody wants to cross or talk about. It is Kathryn Stockett’s first novel, which makes me sad, as I would love to read more from her.
October 5th, 2009
Wow. Alice Sebold can’t write a book that doesn’t make you think, can she?
I know a lot of the ‘real’ book reporters out there (like Publisher’s Weekly) didn’t like ‘The Almost Moon’, but I did. The novel unfolds over the course of one day, which I think is an amazing way of writing a book, and moves very quickly. You know the premise of the story in the first sentence, but what comes after is very thought-provoking and moving.
Without saying too much, what the main character does in that first sentence seems un-understandable at first. To be honest, all of her actions seem crazy. But, all together, told over the course of the day/book, I think I understand. (I don’t condone her actions, but I can sort of understand them.)
Part of me wishes Sebold would have further explained some of the main character’s motives, but another part of me likes that she left some things up to interpretation. I’d love to hear what you thought.
September 30th, 2009
I. Loved. This. Book.
I thoroughly and completely loved this book. I know I’m a little late in reading it but I wanted to read it then see the movie. I can’t wait to see the movie now! Think I can drag my husband to the movie? We’ll see.
I really didn’t know anything about the book other than the obvious, that it’s about a Time Traveler. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I got into the story. I really enjoed the way it was written and the story itself was not plausible but believable because of the way it was written. And the love story is so sweet!
If you’ve read the book, click on the highlighted text below, because I’ll be giving away a few plot points and I don’t want to spoil it for those that haven’t read it.
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September 24th, 2009
I picked up Keeping the House by Ellen Baker on a whim at the library and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was set in the 50s and I can’t get enough of that era. What simpler times! The story is about Dolly, a newlywed who struggles with her role as a housewife. The story is also about the Mickelson family, who has its share of drama and mystery. Dolly uncovers small pieces of their history, one little nugget of intriguing information at a time. The story has a powerful twist that I didn’t expect at all. I was actually sad when I finished this book, I didn’t want it to end!
September 24th, 2009
Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son, and yay for him for not riding on his father’s coat tails and writing as Joe King! Heart Shaped Box was a pretty good read. It was a bit predictable, but it was also suspensful. When you’re reading it you kind of can figure out how it’s going to end, but at the same time you can’t wait to see if you’re right. If that makes sense. The story was unique and Joe writes differently than his father, which I appreciated. And he’s not so wordy! Joe’s book was a very manageable size. I also think that some of King’s work is a bit too graphic and gross for my taste, but Joe’s book was not like that at all. Heart Shaped Box is essentially a ghost story, with a few fun twists. Joe’s got a blog too, evidentally he’s a comic book writer too!
September 24th, 2009
Blah.
Even though I’m usually a fan of memoirs and memoir-like books (think Wally Lamb, Jennifer Lauck) I didn’t enjoy Running With Scissors, so maybe I should have been prepared to not enjoy Dry.
September 24th, 2009
Khaled Hosseini’s Kite Runner is magnificent. I started it Sunday night and finished it moments ago. I really couldn’t put it down.
I thought the story was going to be hard to relate to – after all, what do I know about any of the topics in the book – but it was a quick, easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t know what else to say. (Except that I cried at the end.)
September 24th, 2009
If someone takes the time to recommend a book, chances are I’ll read it. Take ‘The Glass Castle’ for instance. I love memoirs, but didn’t know a thing about this one until Two Pretzels praised it here.
I loved this book for several reasons: it wasn’t about abuse or even alcoholism really, the tone and my insane desire to meet the author’s parents.
How the author kept such a matter-of-fact attitude about her ‘crazy’ parents and lifestyle is amazing to me. And it pains me to admit this, but I think her dad and my dad are brothers.
September 24th, 2009
I don’t know where I was 13 years ago (oh, yeah I do, drinking, staying up too late – your general carousing), but I just got my hands on Billie Letts‘ Where the Heart Is. And I love it.
In case you too were participating in drunken merrymaking back in the day (which in this case is 1996), Where the Heart Is is the story of 17-year-old Novalee Nation and what happens after her craptastic boyfriend left her stranded 7-months pregnant at a Wal-mart in Oklahoma while on their way to California.
Letts‘ style of writing is easy and enjoyable to read. Her characters and their conversations are quirky. The juxtaposition between Novalee’s story and her baby’s daddy’s story meshes well.
It’s no secret that things are gonna work out for Novalee or that Willy Jack is gonna get his, but that’s OK. I give it an A.
