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A Whiff Of Death
Isaac Asimov
A professor finds one of his graduate students dead at in his lab, and the mystery begins. Was it an accident, suicide, murder? The professor tries for find out what really happened while playing University politics.
This was not quite what I expected from Asimov, renowned sci-fi author. It is basically a mystery, heavy on the science... although the solution is on in science, but in good old fashion human pride. A decent book.. just not what I expected.
Well.. it has been quite a week of reading with 3 books in 5 days.. that will help the totals for the year :)
Friday, April 20, 2007
Ernest Hemingway Fished Here (14)
Ernest Hemingway Fished Here
This is a collection of short stories about Northern Michigan, mostly set around the Traverse City area. Entertaining stories, probably more interesting if you are familiar with the Traverse area. Stories range from the 1860s to the 1960s and include fishing, ship wrecks, lumbering etc.
This is a collection of short stories about Northern Michigan, mostly set around the Traverse City area. Entertaining stories, probably more interesting if you are familiar with the Traverse area. Stories range from the 1860s to the 1960s and include fishing, ship wrecks, lumbering etc.
Cannery Row (13)
Cannery Row
John Steinbeck
It has been a long time since I read a book in 1 day, as I did with Cannery Row. In the early 1990's my mother went on a vacation to the Monterey area of California. While there she picked up Cannery Row which is set in this area. My mother passed away last fall and I came across this book when cleaning out her house. Monday was her birthday, and I picked up and read the book on that day.
An engaging story.. just following several groups of people, Mack and the boys, Lee at the store, the Doc, and the girls of the 'sporting house' as they go about their lives. It almost has the feel of an old black and white film, yet you can help but be entertained by it!
John Steinbeck
It has been a long time since I read a book in 1 day, as I did with Cannery Row. In the early 1990's my mother went on a vacation to the Monterey area of California. While there she picked up Cannery Row which is set in this area. My mother passed away last fall and I came across this book when cleaning out her house. Monday was her birthday, and I picked up and read the book on that day.
An engaging story.. just following several groups of people, Mack and the boys, Lee at the store, the Doc, and the girls of the 'sporting house' as they go about their lives. It almost has the feel of an old black and white film, yet you can help but be entertained by it!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Cat's Eye (12)
Cat's Eye
Margaret Atwood
After The Handmaid's Tale I decided to read the other Margaret Atwood book I had. This was a wonderful book that is hard to describe.
Elaine is a middle aged artist who is back in Toronto for a retrospective of her work. She lives in Vancouver, but grew up in Toronto. The book isn't a remembrance, but rather looks at pivotal moments in her life as they happened. The book is brilliantly written, so that you look at events, but Elaine does not recognize or remember some of the significance of what has happened in the past. Most pointedly when in college she visits her former best friend, and they discuss antics of their childhood, but she does not quite remember things. As the reader you recognize having read the account of what happened, so it is almost like a memory for you also. Toward the end of the book when Elaine is looking at her paintings you realize some of the significance of them from things that she experienced in her life.
It is a wonderful look at how events shape our life, sometimes without our knowledge. And also a pained look at relationships and loss. I was struck deeply at points about what she had lost... both in terms of friends she did not keep in touch with, people who had an impact on her life.. but she has no way of knowing their whereabouts (teachers, neighbors etc). And also her family, the death of her parents... One of the few constants in her life seems to be her ex-husband whom ages has mellowed, but she can still see what she loved, and hated about him.
I enjoyed this book a lot.. but it is hard for me to say exactly why... it was a good story, well told. I will have to look into more of Atwood's work!
Margaret Atwood
After The Handmaid's Tale I decided to read the other Margaret Atwood book I had. This was a wonderful book that is hard to describe.
Elaine is a middle aged artist who is back in Toronto for a retrospective of her work. She lives in Vancouver, but grew up in Toronto. The book isn't a remembrance, but rather looks at pivotal moments in her life as they happened. The book is brilliantly written, so that you look at events, but Elaine does not recognize or remember some of the significance of what has happened in the past. Most pointedly when in college she visits her former best friend, and they discuss antics of their childhood, but she does not quite remember things. As the reader you recognize having read the account of what happened, so it is almost like a memory for you also. Toward the end of the book when Elaine is looking at her paintings you realize some of the significance of them from things that she experienced in her life.
It is a wonderful look at how events shape our life, sometimes without our knowledge. And also a pained look at relationships and loss. I was struck deeply at points about what she had lost... both in terms of friends she did not keep in touch with, people who had an impact on her life.. but she has no way of knowing their whereabouts (teachers, neighbors etc). And also her family, the death of her parents... One of the few constants in her life seems to be her ex-husband whom ages has mellowed, but she can still see what she loved, and hated about him.
I enjoyed this book a lot.. but it is hard for me to say exactly why... it was a good story, well told. I will have to look into more of Atwood's work!
The Handmaid's Tale (11)
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
I read this book in about 1990, and enjoyed it. Last year I picked up another copy and finally got around to reading it. This is a dystopic story of a world gone wrong. Birth rates fall to a negative and fertile woman are rare.. they are rounded up and doled out to influential people.. essentially for breeding purposes. It is the story of one such woman and how she came to be there.
An excellent book for those who like dystopic stories.. dystopia being the opposite of utopia. Much in the vain of 1984, but in a different, but equally dark direction.
Margaret Atwood
I read this book in about 1990, and enjoyed it. Last year I picked up another copy and finally got around to reading it. This is a dystopic story of a world gone wrong. Birth rates fall to a negative and fertile woman are rare.. they are rounded up and doled out to influential people.. essentially for breeding purposes. It is the story of one such woman and how she came to be there.
An excellent book for those who like dystopic stories.. dystopia being the opposite of utopia. Much in the vain of 1984, but in a different, but equally dark direction.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The Passage of Plains (10)
The Passage of Plains
by Jean M Auel
This is the 4th book in the Earth Children series that follows Ayla on her journeys in pre-historic Europe. This book is 760 pages long and I wanted to be able to get though it in the 8 days I worked over 2 weeks.. so that is roughly 95 pages a day... I got behind at one point but got caught up and did read it in 8 days. The books was somewhat slow. The first 150 pages was mostly recaps of other books and history of the people.. useful if this is your first book.. or you have not read the other stories recently. I would probably benefit from reading Clan Of the Cave Bear again, because so much of Aylas personality and beliefs comes from her time with the Clan. I read this book over 25 years ago.. and don't remember all of it. I might try to cheat and watch the movie (again).
The book has long vivid descriptions of the land, terrain, weather and animals as they make their 1 year journey from Ukraine to France. Eventually they meet some people along the way which livens up the story greatly. Toward the end they encounter some people and have a great adventure with them.. and encounter some clan people that also adds and interesting twist to the book.
The book ends with Ayla believing she is pregnant.. and someone greeting Jondalar as he approaches the Ninth Cave of his people. I have the next book and will read it soon.. does not appear to be so lengthy and will hopefully add more to the story.
The anticipated 6th book has not been written yet, hopefully it will be coming along soon.
In general I would not recommend this book by itself.. However, I do enjoy this series. Start with Clan of the Cave Bear, and if you enjoy it work your way through the series.
by Jean M Auel
This is the 4th book in the Earth Children series that follows Ayla on her journeys in pre-historic Europe. This book is 760 pages long and I wanted to be able to get though it in the 8 days I worked over 2 weeks.. so that is roughly 95 pages a day... I got behind at one point but got caught up and did read it in 8 days. The books was somewhat slow. The first 150 pages was mostly recaps of other books and history of the people.. useful if this is your first book.. or you have not read the other stories recently. I would probably benefit from reading Clan Of the Cave Bear again, because so much of Aylas personality and beliefs comes from her time with the Clan. I read this book over 25 years ago.. and don't remember all of it. I might try to cheat and watch the movie (again).
The book has long vivid descriptions of the land, terrain, weather and animals as they make their 1 year journey from Ukraine to France. Eventually they meet some people along the way which livens up the story greatly. Toward the end they encounter some people and have a great adventure with them.. and encounter some clan people that also adds and interesting twist to the book.
The book ends with Ayla believing she is pregnant.. and someone greeting Jondalar as he approaches the Ninth Cave of his people. I have the next book and will read it soon.. does not appear to be so lengthy and will hopefully add more to the story.
The anticipated 6th book has not been written yet, hopefully it will be coming along soon.
In general I would not recommend this book by itself.. However, I do enjoy this series. Start with Clan of the Cave Bear, and if you enjoy it work your way through the series.
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