Bibliosue: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Europa Challenge

I am very excited to be participating in The Europa Challenge, which I found out via Indie Reader Houston. As I've mentioned before, if I could claim to have a favorite publisher, Europa Editions would be it; I've enjoyed every book I've read from their list, and I have several more waiting on my shelf as well as more on the to-read list. Their distinctive covers make them "stand out" to me when I'm browsing the bookstores and in the mood to make a purchase, but it is ultimately the quality of the books they publish and the exposure they give me to world literature (mostly in translation) that makes me return to them again and again.

I aim to become a Europa SuperFan, and read their entire list (here), but for now I will start with the books I already own and have yet to read. I am aiming to qualify as a Conoisseur at the Europa Haver level by reading 7 books by the end of 2011. I currently have 10 Europa Editions titles on my to-read shelf, so the lack of books will certainly not hamper me in my effort!

The books I currently have (in alphabetical order by author) are:

From the Land of the Moon by Milena Agus
Broken Glass Park by Alina Bronsky
The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante
In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
Cooking with Fernet Branca by James Hamilton Paterson
Hygiene and the Assassin by Amelie Nothomb
The Most Beautiful Book in the World by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
First Execution by Domenico Starnone

Titles I have already read include:

The Homecoming Party by Carmine Abate
A Kind of Intimacy by Jenn Ashworth (link to review)
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery
A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse (link to review)

This is going to be a lot of fun -- stay tuned to The Europa Challenge blog for reviews from other readers across the blogosphere (including yours truly!)

And the winners are.....

leeswammes -- won a copy of The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady

Col (Col Reads) -- won a copy of The Bee-Loud Glade (you did not leave an e-mail address so please comment to this post with it so I can get your mailing info)

Thank you to everyone who visited and commented -- I found several new books to add to my to-read list and was excited to see several of my own favorites included among your favorite books.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

French Lessons by Ellen Sussman

Published: 2011 by Ballantine Books

Source: Received from publisher for review

Regular visitors to this blog know that I have an affinity for Paris. When I was offered the chance to review the novel, French Lessons, with its premise of three Americans seeing Paris and learning French, I jumped at it and couldn't wait to fall in love with the story.

Alas, this love was not meant to be.

Instead of a novel about learning French and experiencing the life of a Parisian, I found a novel about a woman unable to get over the death of her (married) lover, an expat wife seemingly wishing she were anywhere else but Paris (I know -- really?) and a man uncomfortable with the celebrity lifestyle of his actress wife; in addition to the troubles of their French tutors . While not a problem, necessarily, it just was not the story I was looking for. I wanted to experience Paris with these people, seeing how or if the French language practice enhanced it for them.

For what it is, I guess it is not a bad novel, it just was not for me. However, it did make me want to look into hiring a French tutor the next time I visit Paris, so something good did come out of it after all.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

5 Best Books of 2011 (so far)

The 5 Best Books meme is hosted by Cassandra at Indie Reader Houston.

This week we are asked to list our 5 Best Books so far in 2011. I have read some great books so far this year, so it is rough to only come up with five, but here goes -- in no particular order (links are to my reviews):

The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis. This one might be hard to appreciate if you aren't Canadian, but even though I've been out of the country for 12 years I still loved its humorous look at politics.
Paris Was Ours, edited by Penelope Rowlands. This is the kind of book that makes you want to visit Paris right away, whether its your first or tenth time.
Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe. A celebrity memoir that is actually well-written (and the audiobook is well-narrated by the author).
A Kind of Intimacy by Jenn Ashworth. This is a page-turning thriller that dresses up like a work of literary fiction and it totally works.
Something Missing by Matthew Dicks. A fun novel about a quirky thief that you can't help but like.

Two other books that I loved so far this year, The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady and The Bee-Loud Glade, could be yours by entering The Literary Blog Hop Giveaway!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Literary Giveaway Blog Hop

Judith at leeswammes has done it again and organized a fantastic giveaway throughout the literary blogging community. Sixty blogs are participating and ready to give lucky readers some great books. Be sure to check them all out.

I had such success with the last giveaway that I feel especially generous this time around and will be giving away two books so that two lucky commenters can experience two of my favorite reads so far this year:

The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady by Elizabeth Stuckey-French
The Bee-Loud Glade by Steve Himmer (BONUS: copy will be signed by the author!)

These authors attended the Books on the Nightstand Readers' Retreat (best weekend ever) that I attended in April and they are both great people in addition to great writers.

How to win? Just leave me a comment (with an e-mail address) letting me know which book you would prefer (if you like both, mention that too) and, for my own curiosity, tell me what has been your favorite book so far this year. The giveaway is open internationally.

I will randomly select two winners on Thursday June 30 and contact them by e-mail.

Good luck and have fun hopping! Make sure to visit all of the other participants in this fantastic giveaway:

Sunday, June 19, 2011

5 Best Books About Travel

The 5 Best Books meme is hosted by Indie Reader Houston.

This week's list is for our 5 best books about travel. One of my favorite genres is travel narratives, so I have had no trouble coming up with five books, in no particular order:

The Great Typo Hunt: Two Friends Changing the World, One Correction at a Time by Jeff Deck and Benjamin D. Herson. A fun story about guys correcting spelling and grammar errors on signs and other public displays across the country.
Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo. A novel about two unlikely companions on a cross-country road trip.
Walking Israel: A Personal Search for the Soul of a Nation by Martin Fletcher. An unusual yet thoughtful trip along the length of Israel
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner. This is one of my all-time favorites - a great book about how one's environment can contribute to ( or detract from) one's happiness.
Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman. A story of two friends travelling through China.

What are your favorite books about travel?

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography, by Rob Lowe

Published: 2011 by Macmillan Audio

Source: Purchased (audiobook)

As a rule, I avoid celebrity books of any sort like the plague; partly because I am a mild book snob but also because I never see any that would interest me. I don't care to read about the "troubles" of being a celebrity or whatever else they choose to write about, because most of the time they are just doing it for the paycheck.

That said, I still was skeptical when I saw Rob Lowe had written an autobiography, but I thought I'd give the audio version a try because: a. I had a HUGE crush on Rob Lowe back in my teenage years; b. Rob Lowe narrates the audiobook; and c. I had heard favorable things about it. Oh, and if I may be so shallow -- that cover photo is AWESOME. Mr. Lowe is still a fine-looking man.

So I spent about two weeks listening to it driving to and from work, and I absolutely LOVED it.

This is a true autobiography. Lowe starts almost right at the beginning, from his young years growing up in Dayton, Ohio, to his move to Malibu, California as a teenager with his mom and brother after his parents' divorce, to his start as an actor, his spectacular rise (The Outsiders -- what a great movie!), his fall (the sex scandal at the Democratic Convention in Atlanta, his battle with alcoholism), and his revival.

Through the highs he is generous with praise to those who helped him along the way, yet with the lows he does not really blame anyone but himself; even though it appears at times that there were those deserved blame. It is an honest story of his life, where he admits he made mistakes, but also recognizes that he had and continues to have a very privileged life.

And aside from his personal story, Lowe provides a unique insight into the entertainment industry. He specifically highlights the process of making The Outsiders (did I mention that I loved that movie?), which was his "big break"; and his efforts to be cast in The West Wing. For me, since I listened to the audiobook, what made these anecdotes that much more interesting was Lowe's pretty decent impersonations of his castmates.

Add some fascinating stories of his life in the fast lane (a brief relationship with Princess Stephanie of Monaco, for example) and an eerie connection to the 9/11 attacks and you have a book that is never boring. This is the first audiobook I've listened to in a long time where I can say that my mind didn't wander once from the narration.

And now I have to get on Netflix to put The Outsiders on my queue so I can relive my lost youth :-)

Highly recommended (especially the audiobook)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Canadian Book Challenge 5 -- I'm In!

Ok, folks, I'm doing my patriotic duty and signing up for The Canadian Book Challenge 5, hosted at The Book Mine Set. Don't you love this awesome logo?

So I fell down on the job and did not complete the 4th challenge, but as I was a newbie to blogging and to challenges last year I did not have a plan. This year, I have compiled more than half of my reading list so far, just from the books patiently waiting on my shelf or on my nook:

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Free World by David Bezmozgis
The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre
Beyond the Blue by Andrea McPherson
The Factory Voice by Jeanette Lynes
Doing Dangerously Well by Carole Enahoro
King John of Canada by Scott Gardiner
The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence
The Diviners by Margaret Laurence
The Road Past Altamont by Gabrielle Roy

In addition I hope to pick up:

Irma Voth by Miriam Toews
Practical Jean by Trevor Cole
Stanley Park by Timothy Taylor

I also heard a rumour that Rohinton Mistry will be coming out with a new book soon and if that is true I will be purchasing that and reading it immediately.

Any other Canadian books (fiction or non-fiction) that I should add to my list?

Sunday, June 12, 2011

The Discovery of Heaven Readalong - Part 3

Hosted by Iris on Books

Part Three of The Discovery of Heaven is primarily focused on Quinten, the son of Ada and Onno (or Max?). After his birth, Max and Sophia - Ada's mother - take Quinten to live in a castle that has been converted into a condominum-like setting; as Quinten gets older he is a regular presence in the homes of the other residents and learns enough that he becomes wise beyond his years.

Onno still plays a role in Quinten's life but it is fairly hands-off; he supports his upbringing financially and occasionally visits him, but with his ascendant career in Dutch politics it is apparent that he made the right decision in letting others raise his son. Quinten doesn't seem affected by this distance; in fact if anything he seems that much more in awe of Onno.

Quinten knows he has a mother and that she is not able to be with him, and when he is young he creates some touching make-believe scenarios to explain her absence. When he is older and goes to visit Ada for the first time, I was touched by his maturity and how Mulisch described the scene.

Two important deaths cause huge upheavals in the lives of everyone. After the first death, Onno goes off the grid and refuses to be contacted by anyone, not even Quinten, and probably has not (yet) been made aware of the second -- more shocking and surprising -- death. This second death has caused Quinten to question everything, like Onno has; and he becomes bound and determined to find him.

The final part of the book is going to be interesting and I cannot wait to see how Mulisch brings it all together. I'm especially looking forward to finding out the significance of Onno and Max's initial meeting.

Friday, June 10, 2011

A Game of Character by Craig Robinson

A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond

by Craig Robinson

Published: 2011 by Gotham Books (paperback edition)

Source: Received for review as part of TLC Blog Tour

Craig Robinson is Barack Obama's brother-in-law, the older brother of Michelle Obama. In the world of publishing today, when just about anyone can get a book deal (Snooki, anyone?), this family tie likely did not hurt his chances, but it is a shame that some people might judge him and his book on that point alone, because Mr. Robinson has put together a pretty successful and inspirational life of his own.

It's not a "rags to riches" story; the Robinson family was working class and made do with what they had, and even when Craig achieved his dream of coaching college basketball I don't think he would consider himself wealthy. But when at the age of nine a classmate commented that he wanted to have a family like the Robinsons because they were "rich":

At nine years old, I didn't know what rich was. But I did suspect what he meant was that my sister and I had both a dad and a mom, and that my parents really cared. And if that was being rich, then there was no question that's what we were.

The fact that the Robinsons were a rare entity in their neighborhood - a strong, cohesive family -- not only makes the achievements of their children understandable, but you still have to respect and admire Fraser and Marian Robinson for their parenting abilities.

  When Craig starts playing basketball, first in neighborhood pickup games and then at the high school and college levels, he takes the lessons he learned from his parents and builds on those provided by his coaches.  The details of basketball strategy are a bit too heavy for my taste, but he as he is so passionate about the game he seems to be able to use them to explain anything.

  The historic Presidential election of 2008 is covered in the book, but only as another anecdote in the life of the Robinson family. Barack Obama just happens to be his little sister's husband who happened to achieve a very important position.  Of course Craig's political views are implied, but not overtly so, and there is no political message to be taken from the book.

  This is a very positive book and since I generally avoid these types of stories (I'm a bit of a cynic) I was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed reading it.  It is at times a bit too cheery (the editor should have limited the use of exclamation marks) but it is a book that anyone can read and can learn from.

Recommended

Make sure to check out the other stops on A Game of Character's blog tour here

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Aquarium by Aleksandar Hemon

In addition to being a bookaholic, I am also a magazine-aholic and have several subscriptions that pile up alongside the bookshelf. One of my subscriptions (on my nook -- less clutter!) is to The New Yorker, and the current issue is "The Fiction Issue" with essays and short fiction by a wide range of authors.

If the first piece - "The Aquarium" by Aleksandar Hemon - is any indication, this is going to be one amazing issue. (Sadly, it is behind the website's paywall so I can only provide a link to the abstract)

My only familiarity with Hemon to now has been his work as editor of the Best European Fiction anthologies (I have The Lazarus Project patiently waiting on the shelf, which now may be moved to the front of the pile). Last November, as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival, he was to moderate a selection of readings from the anthology and I attended; however at the beginning of the program another gentleman came to the podium to say that Hemon was not able to be there because his daughter passed away.

This essay is about his daughter Isabel -- only nine months old when diagnosed with a rare brain tumor -- and the progress of her illness and how it affects not only her parents but her 3 year old sister Ella. I am not a parent so I cannot imagine the experience of seeing one child go through so much pain and suffering while trying to keep a brave face for your other child. Ella seems wise beyond her years, keeping Isabel smiling when she is able to visit her in the hospital, while at home creating an imaginary brother; all the while appearing to understand that things are wrong.

This is a heartbreaking story (Isabel only recently passed her 1st birthday when she died) but so well-written, and if you're a marshmallow like me (and, frankly, even if you're not) make sure to have a tissue or two handy if you have the opportunity to read it.

Highly recommended.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

5 Best Books .... That Take Place During a War

The 5 Best Books meme is hosted by Cassandra at Indie Reader Houston.

This week's 5 Best is the 5 best books that take place during a war. I am bizarrely fascinated with anything set in World War II so this one is an easy one for me, though I am focusing only on novels:

Hitler's Canary by Sandi Toksvig. A wonderful story about how the war affected the citizens of Denmark (link is to my review)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. I mention this in almost every "best of" list I've made. Just read it.
City of Thieves by David Benioff. If one could describe a WWII novel as "comic", this one would be it, but still the horrors of the war in the Soviet Union are not ignored.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. The war is not a direct part of the plot in this novel, but its effects on Japanese-American citizens (and other Asian-Americans) is prevalent.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This is not set in WWII, but partially in the Soviet/Afghan war of the 1980s. A wonderful wonderful novel.

What do you think are the best books that take place during a war?

Friday, June 3, 2011

A Kind of Intimacy by Jenn Ashworth

Published: 2010 by Europa Editions

Source: Purchased

I admit -- I picked up this book because of its publisher. I have enjoyed everything I've read from Europa Editions so when I am browsing a bookstore with an itch to purchase if I see one of their distinctive covers on the shelf I will pick it up.

And with this book I was most definitely not disappointed! A Kind of Intimacy is a thrilling novel that gave me the creeps at times but never made me want to stop reading.

The novel is about Annie, an overweight woman moving to a new home to make a new start. It is not immediately clear why she needs that new start, but it seems that she may be running away from something. But she settles in and appears to be working toward that new start by reading all of the self-help books stocked at the public library and making an effort to get to know her neighbors; especially Neil, the man who lives next door with his girlfriend Lucy and who Annie believes she has met before.

I think because of her weight problem and the fact that some of the neighbors (ok, Lucy) are indirectly rude to her because of it, I initially felt extremely sorry for Annie and understood her infatuation with Neil (haven't we all done that?) And as she made the efforts to improve herself -- emotionally if not physically -- I wanted to cheer for her. But as she describes her progress in self-improvement, she also provides anecdotes to the life she left behind -- about her emotionally distant father, her deceased mother, her childhood friend Boris and his family, and her husband Will -- the picture of Annie completely changes and with each revelation of her past the scenes get darker and you start to wonder how -- not if -- Annie's illusory world is going to crack and who is going to be affected.

I mentioned that the book gave me the creeps at times, and I think part of the reason is because I saw something of myself in Annie. I'm not the most outgoing person in the world and sometimes feel awkward in social situations, so I have been known to "attach" myself to anyone who pays me any positive attention. And that could also be why I initially felt sorry for Annie. Thankfully, though, that is the only characteristic her and I have in common.

If you like literary fiction, you will love this book. If you like page-turning thrillers, you will love this book. In fact, I think anyone will love this book, so just do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Highly recommended.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Jerusalem Maiden by Talia Carner

Published: 2011 by Harper

Source: ARC received from publisher for review

Esther Kaminsky is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish girl in Jerusalem of the early 20th century, and as a result her role in life is simple: to marry and have many children (preferably sons). However, when her teacher notices Esther's talent for drawing and encourages her artistic talent, she begins a lifelong struggle with her obligations to family and faith and her desire for self-expression.

Esther definitely has rebellious tendencies, and merely by studying with her French teacher, Mademoiselle Thibaux, she would be causing shame to her family if they knew about it. But her family is still central to her life, and when crises and tragedy strikes, her art is put aside; but it is always with her:

"You may have forbidden yourself to hold a pencil or a brush," Mlle Thibaux said, "but you can't change the way your eyes distinguish hues where everyone else sees merely bland colors. You can't change the fact that you watch the world from a perspective unavailable to others. You can't change the nature of the dreams that come to you at night."

After an arranged marriage and the birth of her children, Esther seems settled and content with the life chosen for her. But when she sails to Paris -- to meet up with her husband who has been in Europe on business -- the inner conflicts of her youth resurface.

Of course being the francophile that I am I loved the part of the book set in Paris the best; but it wasn't only the setting that I loved reading. It's probably a cliche but when she was in Paris, Esther - sheltered from the outside world essentially her whole life - was allowed to completely be herself, without any obligations to anyone but herself. Yes, she had doubts about whether her choices were right or proper, but she did them anyway and let the consequences fall where they may, and for that I have to admire her ability to develop such courage.

I did find the first part of the book a little dry, though I understand its necessity to the novel as a whole, and I probably needed a longer timeline to appreciate the novel's epilogue; but otherwise I found Jerusalem Maiden to be enjoyable and an insightful look into Orthodox Jewish life in the early 1900s.

Recommended.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

June Reading List

Bookish things of note for June:

I will be attending The Printers' Row Lit Fest in downtown Chicago on Saturday June 4. The schedule arrived this week and I've already circled a few panels I'm looking forward to (and put aside a few $ for some new books!)
I will once again be participating in the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop, hosted by Judith at leeswammes that will run from June 25-29. I still haven't figured out what I will be offering, but be sure to stay tuned!

In the meantime, here is what I have on the reading agenda for the month:

For Reading Groups:

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (who will be calling in to our discussion!)
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

For Reading Challenges:

The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston
Fabulous Small Jews, stories by Joseph Epstein

For Review:

French Lessons by Ellen Sussman
The Most Beautiful Walk in the World by John Baxter
Quarantine: Stories by Rahul Mehta

What are your June reading plans?