The pickles! The pickles!

Ethan Frome
Edith Wharton

I have a love-hate relationship with DailyLit. On the one hand, it lets me have free reading material at the ready, even when I'm, say, at work. On the other hand, it doesn't give me hard copy, which -- in this case, anyway -- is a BIG problem.

Quite simply, I didn't expect to love Ethan Frome as much as I did. My mind has somehow come to equate Edith Wharton with TEH BORE, and so I figured reading this short little novel via DailyLit was the best way to slog through what was sure to be an excruciatingly slow read. I didn't expect to read it all in nearly one sitting (okay, it was more like two), requesting installment after installment until I had finished.

Ok, so Ethan lives alone with his dour, invalid harpy of a wife, and he's the stolid and "I'll just suck it up" type. BUT THEN his wife's cousin, Mattie, comes to take care of things -- and she's cute! And has a red ribbon in her hair! (symbolism!) And she gives Ethan pickles for dinner! (symbolism!) Meanwhile his wife remains all sick and dour and confined to her room, so one nearly hopes that Mattie and Ethan can continue to share secret glances and long, meaningful sighs in peace.

BUT NO! Of course, this is not to be. The story is told in flashback, and since we know Ethan is miserable at the beginning of the book, we know he'll be miserable at the end, too. But the end! It's so good! The sadness! The irony! The pickles!

In a nutshell: A gem of a novel; it's impossible not to love Ethan. And Ethan. And probably Edith, too, although I'm less convinced about her.

Bibliolatry Scale: 6 out of 6 stars (yeah, I said it)

FTCBS: DailyLit :( booooo I need Ethan all for myself!

Want to make an enemy? Try changing something.

Dear Enemy
Jean Webster

So, at some point in August, I hit a mini-slump, and I thought: Self! You fool! You've been saving Dear Enemy for just such an occasion! Don't you remember the quickness that was Daddy-Long-Legs?!?

Alas, my love for Dear Enemy was not quite as great as my love for its predecessor. That's not to say this wasn't a good novel: it was nice, it was quaint, and it even made me long to work in an orphanage, if you can believe that, so long as one could enjoy the beautiful English countryside and a nice spot of tea. But something was still missing.

Dear Enemy is the "sequel" (of sorts) to the aforementioned Daddy-Long-Legs. Also an epistolary novel, Dear Enemy's letters are written not by Judy Abbott, but by her friend, Sallie McBride. It seems Judy has tricked ol'Sallie into being a temporary superintendent of the orphanage where Judy grew up. That slippery Judy, though, never seems to find a permanent replacement, and Sallie is left to deal with all sorts of troubles -- including the "Enemy," the orphanage's doctor.

Ultimately, Dear Enemy was a neat, somewhat predictable little novel that was charming and entertaining -- just not as charming and entertaining as its predecessor.

In a nutshell: Fans of Daddy-Long-Legs will enjoy Dear Enemy, but n00bs should start with the DLL.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: same ol' copy as before, since these two be one

The Classics Circuit: Emile Zola

Therese Raquin
Emile Zola

Today I'm pleased to welcome Emile Zola as part of the the Classics Circuit!

For my stop on the Classics tour, I've read Therese Raquin, which has been on my TBR list for years. The tour finally gave me the kick in the pants I needed in order to get this thing done.

And now that I've read it, I can't help but wonder...what took me so long? Because, hands down, Therese Raquin was an INSANE read. INSANE! I was shocked by how graphic and disturbing this short novel was, and I can only imagine how Zola's readers reacted when it was first published almost 150 years ago.

In Therese Raquin, Zola is more concerned with temperament than character. So he combines three different "humors" and allows them to go crazy. There's phlegmatic Camille (who is NOT a girl, despite what my brain kept telling me), who is married to Therese, who is choleric and therefore full of energy. As you might think, Camille + Therese = unhappy marriage. And the two, together with Madame Raquin, Camille's maman, pass day after day after day doing THE SAME FRIGGIN THING over and over and over. LE SIGH.

Why, yes, there IS a cat in Therese Raquin, but sadly he is lacking bacon

Therese is resigned to her life of eternal return with only other "living corpses" to keep her company as her life unwinds.

BUT THEN! Entre Laurent. He's a beast! He's a man! He's pure sex on wheels! (Oh, and he's also sanguine, so he's creative and extroverted and if you really want to know more about humors then just go here). So Therese starts making googly eyes at Laurent and then before you know it THEY'RE HAVING SEX ON THE BEDROOM FLOOR.

Add lots of animal imagery, some plotting, more sex and what the back of my edition describes as "a crime that will haunt them forever" and you have the book in a nutshell.

Again, I was stunned by the graphic nature of Therese Raquin, and I was pleasantly surprised by the fast-paced nature of the plot. While I hated every single one of the characters (with the exception of Madame Raquin, the feisty little minx), I was still able to enjoy the novel -- surely a testament to Monsieur Zola. So thanks again to the the Classics Circuit for giving me reason to get my rear in gear.

In a nutshell: The melodrama! The gruesomeness! The cat! (Vraiment, Laurent?) Therese Raquin is fast enough to be read in a day, yet powerful enough to last a lifetime. (Possibly. It's only been a few days.)

Bibliolatry Scale: 4.5 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: Personal copy over here.

Who wants to be my Daddy-Long-Legs?

Daddy-Long-Legs
Jean Webster

Imagine being told a mysterious benefactor is going to pay to send you to college -- and all you have to do is write him letters detailing your progress! It must be too good to be true, right? Or maybe some people are just good like that.

DUDE. What if someone was like, "Dear Bibliolatrist. Here is 5k a month. Just read books and hang out, and zip me the occasional email to keep me updated." I'd have to address my anonymous friend as "Dear Best-Human-Being-Ever-to-Live-on-the-Planet." Alas. Best not to think of what will never be.

Anyway, that's the idea behind Daddy-Long-Legs. Jerusha Abbot is a poor orphan who is one day sent to college by an anonymous benefactor. His only requirement? Write him letters. Which, of course, she does, because a) that would be a dick move if she didn't, and b) Webster needs a novel.

Daddy-Long-Legs (DLL being the nickname she calls him) is a delightful little novel that is truly a joy to read. It's a little too perfect, but that's part of the charm. Many thanks to Nymeth, who brought this book to my attention. In fact, she discusses the book in far more detail (I'm too obsessed by my own lack of anonymous benefactor), so head on over there for some excerpts and whatnot.

This edition also includes a "sequel" of sorts (called Dear Enemy), but I am saving it for a rainy day. Or a snowicane, which I'll apparently be experiencing tomorrow. JOY.

In a nutshell: A fast, light read that is truly delightful. Also included are Webster's original illustrations (see the cover), which are equally charming.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: Bought this one myself, so my love has no strings attached.

The triffids will kill us all

The Day of the Triffids
John Wyndham

I must thank m'dear Biblibio for bringing The Day of the Triffids to my attention. I'd been woefully ignorant of this novel; what made it so good?

A short look online prompted me to nab the book -- it seemed like something I would love. And I did -- I read it all in one large gulp. The prose is simple and straight-forward, the plot compelling. The two combined created a novel that I couldn't stop reading until I had finished.

The novel begins as Bill Masen, in the hospital with a bandaged head and covered eyes, realizes something has gone horribly wrong outside. He soon comes to understand that nearly everyone has gone completely blind -- the result of staring at a celestial phenomenon the day before. Fortunately for Masen, his recent injury had prevented him from witnessing the phenomenon (something that had angered him at the time, but which later seems to be quite fortunate).

At right: some crazy triffids

Masen leaves his room and searches for survivors. There aren't many though -- and, what's worse, he's got the triffids to contend with. These mobile, carnivorous plants began appearing all over the world years before. Despite their dangerous nature, triffids became quite a lucrative enterprise and were thus cultivated in spades. Now, as the triffids begin killing the helpless blind, that decision doesn't seem too intelligent.

Are the triffids connected to this worldwide blindness? And can the survivors rebuild? How can they prevent the inevitable return to savagery? Will the triffids claim the earth?

In a nutshell: Spooky, thought-provoking, and prescient, The Day of the Triffids is a classic that shouldn't be missed.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: Bought this one meself, suckers!

Technology implies belligerence

Blindsight
Peter Watts

Ok, so, full disclosure: Blindsight has proven that coleslaw is more intelligent than I am. This novel is certainly not for the faint of heart; it discusses the nature of consciousness, delves into bio and genetic engineering, and ponders the essence of human (and alien) life.

Sometimes, I didn't know quite what was happening in the novel, and yet (oddly enough) that didn't hinder my reading. While I might not have understood all the finer points, I *think* understood the greater points. For the most part.

Here's my pitiful attempt at a summary: Somewhere in our solar system (near Jupiter? Saturn? the Oort? ef it -- doesn't really matter), we find evidence of an alien presence. So we send a group of individuals to investigate. And, because making it that far is kinda hard, we like shrink-wrap them or something. At any rate, they're really wrinkly when they come out. Oh, and they're all modified in some way -- ah, our dependence on technology. It'll be the end of us. Or will it?

So, anyway, journey journey journey - and voila! Aliens. Can we communicate with these beings? Are the scramblers even sentient? Is sentience the same thing as consciousness? (I'm still not sure.) And what the ef are they even building? (I'm still not sure.) And what's going on back at earth? (I'm still not sure. Actually, I don't know if we're meant to be sure. So THAT's good.)

At right: my mental image of Watts' "scramblers." Minus the happy smile, of course.

In Blindsight, Watts gives readers an ambitious novel that discusses a variety of topics. While many have to do with the future, one point remains all-too-relevant: that of technology slowly encroaching upon all aspects of life, finally controlling (and even suffocating) us. Will we ever break the chains?? (Not any time soon, according to Watts. Although we probably should.)

In a nutshell: Difficult, ambitious, thought-provoking -- and unlike anything I've read before, Blindsight presents a future in which technology has come to control us.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: This is another present from Santa. HOWEVER, you can read it online, seemingly in its entirety, here.

Memories are worse than bullets

The Shadow of the Wind
Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Whew! My first read of 2010 was of the magical kind, the type of novel you don't ever want to put down and the kind that haunts you after you do.

Do you even need a summary of this book? Because I feel like the last person to have read it. Also, it seems as though it's the type of novel that defies easy summary, and I am feeling particularly lazy today. (Today, you're thinking? As opposed to how you feel everyday!?!?! Touche, reader, touche. And, ouch.)

Anyway, here's something via Amazon:

The time is the 1950s; the place, Barcelona. Daniel Sempere, the son of a widowed bookstore owner, is 10 when he discovers a novel, The Shadow of the Wind, by Julián Carax. The novel is rare, the author obscure, and rumors tell of a horribly disfigured man who has been burning every copy he can find of Carax's novels. The man calls himself Laín Coubert -- the name of the devil in one of Carax's novels. As he grows up, Daniel's fascination with the mysterious Carax links him to a blind femme fatale with a "porcelain gaze," Clara Barceló; another fan, a leftist jack-of-all-trades, Fermín Romero de Torres; his best friend's sister, the delectable Beatriz Aguilar; and, as he begins investigating the life and death of Carax, a cast of characters with secrets to hide. Officially, Carax's dead body was dumped in an alley in 1936. But discrepancies in this story surface. Meanwhile, Daniel and Fermín are being harried by a sadistic policeman, Carax's childhood friend. As Daniel's quest continues, frightening parallels between his own life and Carax's begin to emerge.

Ok so that was a lot better than I'm capable of doing right now. Suffice to say, I loved reading this novel; it was fun, it was engaging, it was about books, and -- this is key -- the ending was perfect, in a heart-wrenching kind of way.

For some reason, though, I can't give it a perfect score. Why? I'm not sure. At times it was too perfect; I also have beef over some points that seemed important at the time but then didn't come to much. But these are minor quibbles. And I'm giving it a nearly perfect score, anyway.

However, this book made me feel like A Really Stupid American. Spain had a civil war?? That happened when??? For real? Who knew? Clearly, not me. To wikipedia I go!

In a nutshell: Fun, magical, both highbrow and lowbrow -- what's not to love?

Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars

FTCBS: Santa left this one at my mom's house, and she was kind enough to pass it along. Many thanks, mom!

envy is ignorance

The Little Stranger
Sarah Waters

You know, I don't even want to do an August recap, since everyone will vomit when they see that I read two books in August. That's right, TWO.

I know, I gagged a bit as well.

Sarah Waters gave me such an auspicious start to the month, as I tore through The Little Stranger like a bat outta hell. I loved Fingersmith, and, when The Little Stranger was longlisted for the Booker Prize, I went right out to see if it lived up to the hype.

It did.

In fact, perhaps Waters is to blame for the rest of the month being so non-bookish for me -- The Little Stranger was so good, so riveting, that nothing I picked up afterward could hold my attention. That's it! Damn you, you feisty little minx.

Anyway, in The Little Stranger a powerful, supernatural force is threatening the inhabitants of Hundreds Hall, and Dr. Faraday is there to save the day. We watch events unfold with increasing intensity, as Faraday is frequently called upon to lend a helping hand. Faraday himself is a bit of an outsider and his understanding is incomplete at best. The reader plunges along with him as he comes to know the family and their mysterious home better.

The Little Stranger is equal parts ghost story, social commentary, mystery, and psychological profile. There's so much to say, but it's better not to spoil the fun.

In a nutshell: Better than Fingersmith? I think so. The Little Stranger is a moving, thrilling, ultimately heartbreaking examination of class, love, and longing.

Bibliolatry Scale: 6 out of 6

I will not make a finger joke, I will not make a finger joke, Iwillnotmakeafingerjoke

Fingersmith
Sarah Waters

Sarah Waters is one of those authors I often hear praised, but yet have never read myself. After a respected fellow booklover (Nymeth from things mean a lot) told me to read Fingersmith, I thought I could excuse myself from my darned resolution to try a little Waters. AND THANK HEAVENS I DID.

Fingersmith is many things -- thriller, mystery, Gothic romance -- but the one thing it's not is predictable. Just when you think you've put your finger on it (sorry, I could only hold out so long...just count your blessings it wasn't a worse finger joke, cause I have a few), you find out you're wrong.

First, a warning: If you think you're interested in this novel, I'd stay away from any online summaries. I read them after the fact, and they give a wee bit more information than is strictly necessary. I only read the book's back cover, and that suited me just fine. Anything more is too much.

A quick, spoiler-free overview: Sue Trinder is an orphan raised by thieves in Victorian England. Despite the excitement of living outside the law, life really picks up when "Gentleman," a member of their merry band, arrives with a plan to make their fortunes. His plan is simple: dupe a rich girl into marrying him, then dump her in a madhouse. Sue, acting as maid to said rich girl, is to aid Gentleman's plot by talking him up. It won't be long before the marriage is legalized and the riches are shared. Huzzah!

Of course, it won't be that easy. I could say more, but in this case, I think the rest of the plot is better left unsaid. What follows is a complex and intricate plot that twists and turns much like Sue's native Borough. This hefty novel (about 600 pages) flew by in quick gulps, and I finished it faster than novels half its length.

True, it's not perfect: there were a few elements I'd like better explained at the end, and a couple things that didn't really make sense to me, but these trivialities pale in the face of the novel's entirety. My biggest complaint is that I didn't read it in the fall, because it would be perfect in October thanks to a hefty dose of fog and mist, a dark and oppressive English manor, one or two madhouses, and, of course, the cramped and dirty streets of London. Did I mention the fog?

In a nutshell: With its gorgeous prose, riveting plot, and enthralling characters, Fingersmith delivers on all counts. Now, the only question that remains is, which Waters' novel should I next read?

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

The power of Twitter

Lottery
Patricia Wood

Truly we live in an age of wonders: Twitter has saved me from hating a book.

Lottery recounts the story of 32-year-old Perry L. Crandall, a slow adult who happens to win the lottery. With an IQ of 76 (one point higher than those deemed mentally retarded), Perry is nevertheless in danger of getting taken advantage of, and false friends (and family) appear on all sides immediately after his big win. Thankfully, Perry keeps in mind the sage advice of his late grandmother and experiences both ups and downs as he learns to deal with his newfound fame and fortune.

Despite its readability, it was taking me forever to get through Lottery. I found it cloying, too perfect, too predictable. The narrator was just oh-so wonderful, the antagonists too facile. Add to these the fact that Lottery was deemed one of the Washington Post Book World's Best Books of the Year, and my indignation was nearly complete.

I was about to throw the book across the room after nearly suffocating from the sickeningly sweet nature of Mr. Perry L. -- by the way, the L. stands for Lucky (gag me) -- Crandall, when I happened across a tweet by one Mr. Nigel Beale (@nigelbeale). Beale, whose litblog Nota Bene Books is well worth your time if you aren't already familiar with it, tweeted that "a book should be evaluated in terms of its capacity to elicit 'real' feelings rather than upon how 'realistic' it might be."

Right: Patricia Wood, not Nigel Beale (obviously)

Beale's tweet couldn't have arrived at a more fortuitous moment. Upon reading these words, I was immediately chagrined. I was condemning Lottery because I believed Perry much too insightful for a man with an IQ of 76. I was criticizing the unrealistic superficiality and one-sidedness of the antagonists and hating the unrealistic "good" characters, who were equally superficial. The whole thing's totally unrealistic! I crowed.

And then, I encountered a scene in the final third of the book. Despite my previous feelings about the novel, this scene -- a wholly unexpected one, I might add -- elicited real tears. (Nevermind that I cry at the drop of a hat.) What had happened? The unbelievable had occurred: Lottery had moved me.

And so, what had been a mediocre, predictable read was transformed into . . . well, if not a outstanding read, at least a moving experience. I came to care for Perry and had his best interests at heart. The rest of the book flew by in a blur of pages, and I finished Lottery feeling as though I had spent my time well.

Lesson learned. Many thanks, Mr. Beale.

In a nutshell: A fast, easy, enjoyable read with a lovable main character, Lottery elicits real feelings, even if it may not always seem realistic.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Take a ride with Lowboy

Lowboy
John Wray

I've recently read and reviewed Lowboy for the great Pajiba.

Lowboy follows a troubled teen as he roams New York City's underground. Click here to read my review.

In a nutshell: Lowboy is intriguing, fast-paced, and overall enjoyable.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Nothing remains but to let the darkness come

Julian
Gore Vidal

I don't know where on earth I found out about this book (I've never before read Gore Vidal, and I'm not particularly interested in the Ancient Romans), but I'm so glad whoever it was introduced me to Julian. Simply put, this book was amazing.

My surprise at the awesomeness of Julian comes as a result of a few hefty handicaps already stacked against it: for one, I keep confusing Gore Vidal with Al Gore, a man who -- despite his good intentions -- seems to me synonymous with TEH BORE. For another, the summary of the book made me feel like reading Julian would be as much fun as reading a textbook. Clearly, I was wrong on both counts.

Although such an overview is laughably superficial, I'll do my best to give a quasi-informed look at the man that was Julian Augustus. The emperor Julian was many things: philosopher, military strategist, essayist, and Hellenist. As a Hellenist, he rejected Christianity (despite Christianity being advocated by his uncle, Constantine the Great). However, Julian (also known as Julian the Apostate) did not want to force his countrymen to worship the old gods; rather, he sought to institute a society of religious tolerance in which all could worship freely. Unfortunately, not everyone was thrilled at such freedom.

Julian

Julian, for his part, never sought the throne. From the time he was a young boy, he aspired only to be a philosopher. The fates had their way, however, and Julian eventually took the throne. Vidal chronicles Julian's life from the time he was a young boy up to his death at the age of 32. The novel is told from a few perspectives: that of the Emperor himself, and two of his friends, the philosophers Priscus and Libanius.

right: Gore Vidal

Julian's portion is told from a manuscript taken after his death; Priscus and Libanius have their say via letters to one another and in notes annotating the text. This interplay often gave rise to humor, especially as rivalries and jealousies arise between the two old philosophers.

In a nutshell: In rereading this review, I feel I've made an awfully good book sound frightfully boring. This couldn't be further from the truth. Julian is what historical fiction should be: fascinatingly intelligent, deeply moving, and highly entertaining.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars

Be not hasty in judgment, O Bibliolatrist

The Interloper
Antoine Wilson

Mr. Wilson, I owe you an apology. See, I had been really intrigued by the premise of The Interloper, but something put me off. That something?

Your name.

Allow me to explain.

A quick overview of The Interloper's plot is enough to convince anyone that the novel has promise. It concerns average ol' Owen Patterson and his quest to avenge the murder of his brother-in-law. Unfortunately, I had recently read The Power of Flies, a very French (read: depressing) novel, and, well, your name sounds French. Therefore, I thought The Interloper would get all heavy, all philosophical in an existentialism-is-so-hot sorta way, and quite frankly I didn't want to deal with it, so I ignored you and your book.

Well, slap my ass and call me Betsy, cause The Interloper was simply fabulous, darling. A hefty 250+ pages, it took only hours to read.

Owen's plan to avenge the death of his brother-in-law is so fascinating that it's impossible to stop reading once he unfolds his idea. It's not that Owen really misses his brother-in-law (he hardly knew him), but rather that the murder has had some pretty adverse effects on his life. His wife has become a ghost of herself, and Owen feels like an outsider when with his in-laws, all too aware of the hole he cannot fill. The murderer, Henry Joseph Raven, sits in prison, but Owen knows this isn't enough.

To punish Raven adequately, Owen sets out to create the ingredients necessary to force Raven to truly understand what he has done. To achieve this end, Owen writes as Lily Hazelton, a lovely, lonely young lady who decides to reach out and write to an incarcerated man. Owen plans to slowly seduce, then abandon, Raven. Soon, Raven will know just how it feels to lose someone you deeply love.

I especially enjoyed how Wilson subtly alludes to the story's resolution, but he never fully tips his hand. The novel's end is both expected and surprising, both brilliant and satisfying.

In a nutshell: Sorry for judging your book by your name, dude.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

Almondine, I love you

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
David Wroblewski

My latest review for Pajiba has appeared, and this time I read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Oprah's latest book club pick. I heeded her advice and deliberately ignored the book jacket; as a result, it wasn't long before I found myself in awe of the story that followed.

You may click here to read my review.

In a nutshell: Not perfect, but close enough for me.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

She is all States, all Princes I, Nothing else is

The Stone Gods
Jeanette Winterson

"Why would a man destroy the very thing he most needs?"

This question is central to Jeanette Winterson's novel The Stone Gods, a novel which concerns humanity's destruction of its home planet and its attempt to find another rock on which to live. Of course, humanity never learns; the new home soon faces the same fate as the former one.

Winterson suggests this is a cycle played out many times in humanity's history: we find a home, move from stone-age thought to space-age thought, push the planet to the brink of destruction, and find another planet to colonize. The cycle continues. We never learn from our mistakes, instead destroying the very thing we most need: our planet.

These lessons are certainly important, and I agree with Winterson that our current behavior towards our planet is entirely and utterly lacking, and I doubt we will ever truly learn. Our greed is too great. Winterson deftly proves these points, but unfortunately, her novel does little else, leaving me ultimately cold.

The Stone Gods begins as a new planet, Planet Blue, has been discovered. Humanity has been occupying Orbus, a planet on the brink of destruction. (It's not entirely clear whether Orbus is Earth; it seems as though Orbus is the planet to which humanity moved after Earth's destruction.) The Central Power (one of three world powers, the other two being the Eastern Caliphate and the SinoMosco Pact) plans to colonize Planet Blue.

Planet Blue appears much like the Earth during the time of the dinosaurs. It's pristine, jungle-filled, and totally unpolluted. (Give it time, says Winterson. We'll fix 'er.) Billie Crusoe, a maverick scientist who refuses "Fixing" (a procedure which genetically "fixes" individuals at a certain point to prevent aging), finds herself on the ship headed to Planet Blue. With her is Spike, a beautiful Robo sapiens capable of evolving.

The second section is a historical re-imagining of Easter Island during the 1700s; the natives' destruction of Easter Island becomes an analogy for humanity's treatment of Earth as a whole.

Left: the Gods themselves

The third and fourth sections take us to a post-apocalyptic future controlled by corporations instead of governments. These sections are connected only by Winterson's belief that "Everything is imprinted for ever with what it once was," a message that seems, at times, a bit forced. I couldn't muster much empathy for any character, although Billie's dog, Rufus, abandoned in Section One, did elicit from me a pang of regret.

If anything redeems The Stone Gods, it’s Winterson’s language, which is at times both lyrical and playful. Her prose often reads more like poetry, and I found enjoyment in her use of language even if the plot began to bore.

In a nutshell: Intriguing but ultimately unfulfilling.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3 out of 6 stars

A Disappointing Farewell

Armageddon in Retrospect
Kurt Vonnegut

I've had the honor of reviewing Kurt Vonnegut's Armageddon in Retrospect for Pajiba.

You may read my review here.

In a nutshell: If you haven’t read anything by Vonnegut, don’t start here; however, for die-hard Vonnegut fans, Armageddon in Retrospect is a must, even if it’s not on par with his seminal works.

Bibliolatry Scale: I'm going to rate this at 4 out of 6 stars, but I'm wondering if I didn't add a star just because this is from Vonnegut. So take this rating with a grain of salt.

Lady of the Meez

Lady of the Roses: A Novel of the Wars of the Roses
Sandra Worth

I usually begin reading historical fiction with some trepidation. My brain automatically associates the term “historical fiction” with hokey covers, bad writing, and long, boring passages designed to educate the reader. Aaron Hamburger, in his article for Poets & Writers entitled "The Pitfalls of Historical Fiction" hits the mark when he writes that "too often, works of historical fiction suffer from what Henry James called 'fatal cheapness' – moments of crude, awkward writing and oversimplified representation of both history and literature."

Thankfully, the above description cannot be applied to Lady of the Roses. Sandra Worth manages to instruct without falling prey to those moments of crudeness so often experienced by readers of historical fiction. She is able to bring Lancastrian England to life without such detail seeming heavy-handed.

For those unfamiliar with the period, allow me to recap to the best of my knowledge (which is admittedly limited, coming as it does from a mediocre Brit lit textbook and Shakespeare’s Richard III): The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars during fifteenth-century England. Both the Lancasters (represented by the red rose) and the Yorks (represented by the white) believed themselves to be the rightful heirs to the throne.

The novel begins as King Henry VI, a Lancaster, rules England. His rule is especially problematic because he is a weak ruler who allows his French wife (Marguerite d’Anjou) too much control. Clearly, the Yorkists are not happy with this situation. Fighting ensues. And ensues. And ensues some more.

Lady of the Roses opens in the midst of this turmoil, as young Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, a ward of the queen, travels to court in 1456, hoping to find a husband. Her travels lead her to meet the handsome (and Yorkist) John Neville. Isobel’s happiness at meeting the man of her dreams is short-lived, however, for it seems doubtful that the queen will agree to a marriage with her enemy.

Surprisingly, the queen does agree to the union – for a price. However, this price is small compared to the greatness of their love for one another, and John and Isobel are quickly married. Lady of the Roses, which spans twenty years, follows Isobel’s boundless love for John, which manages to survive despite the hardships created by political turmoil.

Lady of the Roses has also been billed as a romance, a term I find a bit disparaging. It seems to imply that it isn’t a “serious” book in its own right. This certainly isn’t the case: Lady of the Roses is well-written, informative, and gripping. Even though I already knew the ultimate fate of many of these historical figures, Worth still managed to create a suspenseful read. I won’t lie, either: I cried. Twice. Yeah, and?

My only beef with these novels is – and I admit I’m going to sound like a kid here, but whatever – is the lack of pictures. When reading historical fiction, I like to see how these people looked in real life. This is a silly issue to quibble over, however, and I’m sure adding pictures is not really cost-effective. Thank heavens for Google!

Unfortunately, a GIS for Isobel Ingoldesthorpe yielded nothing. In despair, I decided to create my own. Without further ado, I give you: Isobel Ingoldesthorpe!

this dress cost 1000 meez coins

Yes, I realize that Isobel probably didn't look like a friggin Meez. Yes, I realize I don't have a life. And YES, I am aware that designing this stupid thing ate up thirty minutes of my life that I will never see again.

In a nutshell: Even if you’re not already fascinated in this period of history, you’ll still enjoy Lady of the Roses.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

The Longest Title EVER

The Fall of the House of Bush: The Untold Story of How a Band of True Believers Seized the Executive Branch, Started the Iraq War, and Still Imperils America's Future
Craig Unger

My latest review for the good people over at Pajiba is up, for a book that is astounding for, among other things, its amazingly long title: The Fall of the House of Bush: The Untold Story of How a Band of True Believers Seized the Executive Branch, Started the Iraq War, and Still Imperils America's Future.

Spurred on by allusions to Poe, I was hoping for a little more incest (well, any incest), but Fall was all about politics. Shocking. So although it lacked an abundance of really juicy scandals, it was an interesting analysis of America's past, present, and future -- but I doubt it will earn any converts.

You can read my review here.

In a nutshell: Interesting, but not as interesting as I'd thought it would be. Felt like a reallly long research paper.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

The Meaning of Life Revealed! Many Lives, Many Masters, by Brian Weiss, M.D.

Many Lives, Many Masters
Brian Weiss, M.D.

As I have said before, I want to believe. Such desire should quickly lead one down faith’s path, but it has had the opposite effect on me. My need to believe makes me more skeptical than ever, and I am wary of believing foolishly or dogmatically.

Life of Pi said that even atheism is better than agnosticism; the hazy non-belief of the agnostic is a sort of indecisiveness, I know, and indecisiveness is one of my flaws. And yet, I can no more not believe than believe. So I read on. Maybe one day, I’ll find something that clicks.

Enter Many Lives, Many Masters, a book which supports many beliefs I would have if I could commit to them. I feel many of its “tenets” to be true, but I stubbornly resist them. Why? Let’s see, shall we?

In the book’s favor, the author is a pretty educated guy. He graduated magna cum laude from Columbia and attended the Yale University School of Medicine. He has worked at several prestigious schools and is well published in his field of psychiatry. So he should have a good idea of what he’s talking about, right? Right?

Many Lives, Many Masters chronicles Dr. Weiss’s work with one patient, Catherine. This troubled woman came to him with many phobias and neuroses. After working with her as he would normally, he decided to try hypnosis to rid her of her deep-seated problems. Upon regression, he realized he was dealing with something far greater than the issues of a troubled woman—he was dealing with her past lives. (He knew schizophrenia or other illness was not at work here.) So their treatment continued for months, and Weiss got to hear about many of her lives. He also spoke through her, to the “masters,” or spirits who guide us from the other side.

Through the course of his therapy, Weiss learned that reincarnation is a fact, as is the immortality of the soul. The purpose of life is to learn, grow, and evolve. During life, we are supposed to solve certain issues. Either we do or don’t—but if we don’t, we carry those unsolved issues into our next life in addition to the new ones we must solve. We choose when we are born and when and how we die. All life is a classroom, every time. The ultimate goal is to perfect ourselves so that reincarnating is no longer necessary.

The purpose of this book is ostensibly to inform the public, so that we might lose our fear of death and make better decisions as we navigate our lives. But I’m troubled by—and this prevents me from believing more in his ideas—seeing how many books the author has published on this subject. You can even get your own cd to help you regress into your past lives! It just seems to me that if the doctor is in earnest, he wouldn’t be capitalizing so much on this profound truth. (Visit his website to see more.) But I’m probably just being judgmental. That’s another of my flaws.

At any rate, the premise of Many Lives, Many Masters seems true to me, that the purpose of life is to learn and love. But it just seems too easy. The “void” – the nothingness of death -- seems rationally correct, if ultimately disheartening. So this got me thinking: presuming (although this is unlikely) that I am able to intuit what to improve during my lifetime, what do I need to work on? Here’s the results of a quick brainstorming session:

I need to learn patience. I need to learn acceptance. I need to learn faith. I need to learn self-discipline. I need to give of myself. I need to not hold myself back. I need to be more social. I need to -- Jesus. I’m going to come back as a slug, aren’t I? Aren’t I????

Bibliolatrist in 100 years

In a nutshell: Comforting, although not entirely believable. Or maybe I want to believe too much. At any rate, it reminds you of what is important in life and directs you to live better.

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 (for style of writing) + 6 (for the potential it has to positively affect your life) = 4 out of 6 stars

Orlando, by Virginia Woolf

Orlando
Virginia Woolf

Ah, Ginny. You're just too smart for me. I suspected as much after toiling through Mrs. Dalloway. Orlando, though a million times more entertaining (and easier to understand), has only confirmed my suspicions. Overall, Orlando is quite interesting (and quite hilarious in places), except that certain parts made me feel woefully inadequate.

To recapitulate briefly, Orlando is one lucky individual who gets to experience it all. His "biography" begins with his youth in Elizabethan England and ends three centuries later with his adulthood--as a woman. This scenario allows Woolf to grapple with gender roles, societal expectations, and the nature of reality.

While I enjoyed Orlando, I simply have no idea what to say about it. I have no idea even what to rate it. Should I rate it based on its genius (and Woolf is one who deserves the term, to continue an idea from my previous post) or my enjoyment of it? Argh.

In a nutshell: Way more fun than Mrs Dalloway, and easier to comprehend. Pretty hilarious, too. Just be prepared for a difficult final chapter.

Bibliolatry Scale: 6 for genius and 4 for enjoyment...so 5