Are you a virgin?

Mr. Muo's Travelling Couch
Dai Sijie

You know what? There are some books that defy a serious review. This is one of them. Allow me to present to you Random Facts about Mr. Muo's Travelling Couch:

1. Mr. Muo REALLY wants a virgin.

2. This book was part of my reading resolution.

3. I didn't really care for this book.

4. While a lot happened in the novel, not much ever seemed to happen. Puzzling.

5. This book has appeared under the (much better, in my opinion) title "Le Complexe de Di," or The Di Complex (much like the Oedipal complex that so fascinates Muo). I prefer the other title, as it emphasizes how another's desires influence Muo. In all honesty, though, I probably wouldn't have cared for the book no matter what title it had.

6. I much preferred Sijie's Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress.

7. Oh well.

In a nutshell: In finding a virgin to offer to the wily Judge Di, Muo hopes to free his love from prison. While this sounds interesting, I couldn't must a care for anyone in the bok.

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars

Great idea, okay execution, mediocre editing

The Raw Shark Texts
Steven Hall

I've written the title first for a rare change, and I can't help but think it says it all, leaving me stumped as what to write in the actual review. Mother effer!

Okay: I've actually been reading this book FOREVER (literally almost two years), but I stalled out midway through. It's just sooooo taxing. But still, resolution and all that, so I plugged on.

It all started out so...erm, swimmingly: Eric Sanderson awakes, an amnesiac who has completely forgotten his former life. Bits and pieces return thanks to letters he has written himself. Remembering brings its own dangers, however: a Ludovician -- a conceptual shark -- is hunting him. Wait -- what?

This conceptual, metaphysical shark is not a real shark as one might expect: it hunts words, memories, thoughts. Soon Eric is on the run, hoping to avoid the shark before his memory is wiped clean again. And then things get REALLY weird.

Hall plays with words and their concepts, giving words a power they've never had before. He uses the visual appearance of the words well, too. Unfortunately, the novel gets bogged down in...well, WORDS. He's got a brilliant idea here, but the novel could have lost a good chunk of text without being the worse for wear, not to mention some scenes getting more complicated than was really necessary.

In a nutshell: Oh well.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3 out of 6 stars

Never con a Con

The Ivy Tree
Mary Stewart

Hm. This one had such promise. Perhaps it hasn't aged well?

The Ivy Tree promised to be a fast read. It had mystery, it had romance. It had a gorgeous English manor that made me envious. I thought it would be an easy read to knock off another title in my resolution. Unfortunately, I was a bit deceived.

Mary Grey meets a mysterious man while visiting Northumberland. This angry, even frightening, man believes Mary to be his long-lost cousin Annabel. When he learns Mary is not his cousin, Connor Winslow hatches a plot, and soon he's convinced Mary to return to his home posing as Annabel in order to secure an inheritance. What's in it for Mary? Money, of course -- enough to live easily for the rest of her life. Mary agrees and quickly finds herself knee-deep in trouble.

Like I said, The Ivy Tree started out well enough, but then things just seemed full of teh obvious. I mean, the bad guy's named Con. CON. Certainly not surprising when he proves himself dishonest. Furthermore, some of the dialogue was a bit stilted and VERY old fashioned and even a bit sexist, which was awkward given the author is a woman.

There were a few positives. It wasn't so awful that I gave up. I was interested enough in these (rather flat, unfortunately) characters to make it to the end. Still, while a few things surprised me, and the novel's bit o' romance was sweet enough, I don't feel interested in reading more by this author.

In a nutshell: Mystery + romance + intrigue + deception = YAWN

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars

Nature = scary (not to mention buggy)

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Stephen King

Trisha McFarland is royally screwed.

Her parents are getting divorced: dad's an alcoholic, and mom's hatching one crackpot bonding plan after another. Her love of baseball (especially Tom Gordon, her favorite player) is one of the only things capable of bringing a smile to her face. Unfortunately, the comforts of home are far away after she finds herself lost in the middle of the woods with no tools and barely any food. Hoping rescue is just an hour or two away, she begins walking back toward what she believes is the path from which she first veered.

Needless to say, Trisha is wrong.

What follows is a harrowing misadventure that reminds anyone with half a brain NOT TO LEAVE THE FRIGGIN PATH when you're traipsing through the woods. Unless, of course, you happen to be a) older than 9, b) insane, or c) equipped with basic hiking gear, like, say, a compass.

What she thinks is a shortcut isn't; what she believes will take her back won't. Trisha gets lost and lost again, all the while struggling to survive in the face of some pretty awful obstacles.

As if this weren't already enough, King throws something ELSE at this poor kid: something is stalking her in the woods. What is this thing - is it beast? or human? Real, or a figment of her imagination?

In a nutshell: A fast, entertaining read that might have been better as a short story; still, readers can easily sympathize with Trisha and will want to see her through to the end.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Much madness is divinest sense

Martian Time-Slip
Philip K. Dick

I don't know how I got on a Dick Kick, but somehow I bought the first Library of America edition (see my previous reviews here and here), so of course I was obligated to buy the second edition containing five of his novels from the 60s and 70s. Because each novel received its own entry in my reading resolution, I figured it was time to knock one of these bad boys down.

The first novel in this collection, Martian Time-Slip, blew me away. It was by far better than I remembered the previous novels being (even though, upon rereading my reviews, it seems I enjoyed those quite a bit). Martian Time-Slip is unlike previous Dick novels I've read: there were no drugs, no crazy technology -- in fact, the novel contained only one main hallmark of Dick's fiction: the male protagonist whose grip on reality is threatened by powerful forces, both external and internal. Will said protagonist defeat these forces and keep his sanity? (With the final scene still burning a hole in my brain, I must say I doubt it.)

Speaking of the brain, I loved how PKD dealt with the mind in this novel; it was different from my previous PKD experiences. Martian Time-Slip, in fact, seemed only nominally "science fiction-y" in that it took place on Mars. The real setting, however, is the human mind, especially the mind of the mentally ill.

PKD questions whether those who have a mental illness like schizophrenia or autism are truly mentally ill, proposing instead that they have astounding gifts simply unknown to the rest of us. In Dick's world, several characters locked in their own internal worlds actually see and know more than they should, including that which has not yet happened. Such a talent is easy for one with power and money (not to mention an unflappable will to exploit the less fortunate) to use for his own devices.

I haven't yet attempted to write a conventional summary because the plot is both too simple -- and yet somehow too complex -- to condense into a basic paragraph, but I'll try. There's a colony eking out an existence on Mars. Some people have gifts. Other people have power. The latter uses the former. The result is disturbing and utterly unforgettable. Clearly, this summary leaves something to be desired; there is too much I have neither the time nor the place to include.

In a nutshell: Martian Time-Slip transcends the traditional Dick-ian trope of paranoia and drug use to take a compassionate (and fascinating) look at those with debilitating mental illness.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars

Why doesn't the Gingerbread Man wear shorts?

The Fourth Bear
Jasper Fforde

You may have noticed a lack of posts lately (actually, you probably haven't, but let's pretend) -- and this is a good thing. No posts = kicking ass in my resolution. It's been trying, especially when some books just suck.

Which brings me to The Fourth Bear. I wanted to like it: everyone else seems to. Fforde's got a good enough idea going, treating fairytale characters as though they are real, but the jokes and gags that follow all seem like too much effort for not enough of a return.

First, a recap: The Fourth Bear begins as Goldilocks, an investigative reporter, questions a local cucumber grower. Soon, the grower is dead and Goldilocks is missing. Jack Spratt of the Nursery Crime Division investigates her whereabouts, and he soon finds -- wait for it -- the three bears. These honest bears, however, know nothing about Goldilocks present location, leading Spratt to believe in the presence of a fourth bear. Meanwhile, the notorious Gingerbread Man is running amok, leaving innocent victims in his wake. If only Spratt can solve the crime in time...

Sure, he looks cute. . .
but wait until he rips off your arms

Unfortunately, for Spratt and his cronies, I was rooting for the Gingerbread Man, who was the most interesting character in the book -- Fforde should have let the Man do as he pleased. I really didn't care whether Spratt ever found Goldilocks and solved the cucumber mystery (which became way too complicated for my blood). The running jokes involving fairytale characters in real-life setting were cute at first, but the humor faded quickly. I had to force myself to finish, and, had this not been the only book available during an interminable transatlantic flight, I probably wouldn't have finished at all.

In a nutshell: Cute and quirky at first...but the cute and quirky wore off quickly. Fforde's novels are immensely successful, though, so you might not want to take my word for it.

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars

Oh, and if you want the answer to the question posed in the title of this post, it's because he has crummy legs. Get it? GET IT? That's so funny right? Just like this book.

A world rich with lunacy and sorrow

The World According to Garp
John Irving

Don't think I haven't forgotten my reading resolution; I've just given myself some slack with it. Instead of reading ONLY resolution titles, I'm allowing myself the occasional splurge, but I'm still plugging on.

My latest resolution title is one that gave me some trouble at first. I started reading The World According to Garp at the beginning of May, but it took me awhile to really get into the story. The beginning of the novel, which seemed like so much unnecessary backstory (more about this in a sec), weighed me down and prevented me from reading faster. However, once Garp got out of high school, the story picked up and I couldn't put it down.

Although I found the beginning of the book slow, I wouldn't delete a single word now that I look back on it. We begin well before Garp's birth by meeting his mother, Jenny. Garp himself doesn't make an appearance right away, but, while this information bored me at first, I soon found that it allowed me to truly come to know Garp and his family as though they were flesh and blood.

I feel as though I'm the only person left who hasn't yet read this book (or seen the movie starring Robin Williams. Really? Robin Williams as Garp? I wouldn't have thunk it), so a summary probably isn't necessary, but here goes: Garp's born, he's a bit quirky, his mother's even quirkier, Garp becomes a writer, shit happens to him and a lot of others and life goes on. That's pretty much the entire book, and yet it's somehow so much more. In fact, I felt as though I lived a lifetime while reading about Garp.

In a nutshell: Has anyone read anything else by John Irving? Because Garp was so good, I'm going back for seconds. Irving also has a new novel out in October, entitled Last Night in Twisted River... so be on the lookout, Irving fans!

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

Learning to free ourselves from insane passion for the truth

The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco

Once upon a time -- forever ago, it seems -- I was in high school. My years at this drab institution were colored by a variety of characters, including one particular young lady whom I'll call...Jane.

Jane was one of those annoying little twits who was too smart for her own damn good. Of course, being smart is never a bad thing -- unless, like Jane, you take every opportunity to shove your erudition into the face of EVERY SINGLE PERSON within a 10-mile radius.

a dead-ringer for the little know-it-all snit

(True story, though: During my senior year, members of my physics class were forced to take a national test euphemistically called "The Physics Bowl." Why labeling a test as a "bowl" should make it more palatable is beyond me, but, as it didn't affect my actual grade, I didn't really sweat it. Anyway, as they announced the winners -- and here I shit you not -- Jane stood to accept the grand prize...only they didn't call her name. Who did win, you ask? ME! She was none too happy that I had taken the highly-coveted (snort) prize, and even more embarrassed that she had stood to collect a prize that wasn't hers. I still have that plaque to this day. Victory = mine.)

Why do I bring this up? Well, as much as I hate to say it, Umberto Eco reminds me of my old nemesis, Jane. Like Jane, Eco loves showing off how much he knows, as he did the last time I encountered him. Still, EVERYONE praises The Name of the Rose, and it was another title in my reading resolution, so I plowed though like any good reader would do.

For those who don't know, The Name of the Rose follows William of Baskerville, a monk who investigates a death at a monastery. With him is his loyal but obtuse sidekick, Adso. William is a unique monk, since he is quite rational and given to logical arguments, even if logic leads him to beliefs counter to those of the Catholic Church. The Church is in upheaval at this time, and heresies are not taken lightly. But what, exactly, is heresy? Is it heresy to believe that Jesus owned property, or that he didn't? Is it heresy to believe that Jesus laughed? These monks argued such issues NONSTOP. Really, it was a bit much after the third or fifth (or tenth) such argument.

In truth, The Name of the Rose is a great book, but I just wish Eco didn't put in EVERYTHING he knew about the times, the beliefs, the customs, etc. of the period. However, the central issue of the whodunit is what really pushed me to the end. I was fascinated by the mysterious library at the center of the abbey, loved the Borges connections, enjoyed the semiotics at the heart of the novel, and found the ultimate solution to the mystery quite compelling.

In a nutshell: I'd have liked it more if there had been less arguing and more murdering. Just kidding, at least as far as the murdering goes. But seriously, some paring down and I'd have adored it. Still, I recognize that I'll appreciate it even more after I reread it...in a few years.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Poop or get off the pot

African Psycho
Alain Mabanckou

Shh. Listen. Can you hear that?

That's the sound of me tearing through another title in my reading resolution. Woot. Woot. Although, to be fair, this was an easy one: Mabanckou's African Psycho is a slim book at a little over 150 pages.

African Psycho, as one might expect, is the African version of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. However, unlike Patrick Bateman, who had a thirst for murder and (may have) racked up more than a few bodies, Gregoire Nakobomayo is more a murderer in thought than in deed.

You see, Gregoire wants to kill, but somehow never manages to do so. He wants more than anything to please the soul of his dead idol, the serial killer known as Angoualima. Gregoire visits Angoualima's grave frequently, and imagines the ghost of his idol berating him for his failed attempts at infamy. Vowing to please his idol at last, Gregoire plans to kill his girlfriend by the end of the year.

Murdering his girlfriend will have another important effect than just getting Gregoire in Angoualima's good graces: it will help him be somebody and do something important. Gregoire imagines that murdering his prostitute girlfriend will actually benefit his city in the end.

Unfortunately, it's Gregoire himself who gets in his way. As one might have guessed, our poor narrator thinks too much and as a result does very little. Consequently, African Psycho is a frequently humorous, if not entirely violent, novel.

In a nutshell: Psychological and philosophical, African Psycho is intriguing but not necessarily enjoyable. The disappointing ending prevented it from being a solid four stars.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3.5 out of 6 stars

Trying to be a good person, one review at a time

I Never Saw Paris: A Novel of the Afterlife
Harry Freund

Oh, brother. What to say about this book that won't make me sound like an asshole? In the spirit of Christian fellowship (much like the focus of I Never Saw Paris), I'm going to try to say 10 nice things about this book.

1. I Never Saw Paris is part of my 2009 reading resolution.

2. I Never Saw Paris is a really quick read.

3. I Never Saw Paris concerns the immediate afterlife of five people who perish in an accident.

4. I Never Saw Paris reminds us to love one another and to enjoy every minute of our lives.

5. I Never Saw Paris cautions us that every action, no matter how innocuous this action may seem, has a consequence.

6. I Never Saw Paris teaches us that even not-so-admirable individuals have redeeming characteristics.

7. I didn't pay for I Never Saw Paris.

8. . . . .Let's see . . . . . number 8. . . . . .


Okay, I can't do it. I can't quit carbs, I can't run for longer than two minutes at a time, and I can't say more than 7 good things about this book. If I may, though, I'd like to point out some not-so-good things:

1. What could be an intriguing story is undermined by overly simple writing.

2. Cliches abound.

3. I'm a little uncomfortable with the notion that gay men are not truly men, especially when Brett, the gay character, bemoans his being born with the heart of a "softhearted, warm, and cuddly girl" instead of having "a bald head, big ears. . . .and the heart and soul of a man." Alrighty, then. . .

4. Also, the book just kinda sucked all-around. How in the hell did it get so many five-star reviews on Amazon.com??

Look: the book's heart is in the right place, but I just didn't feel the telling was a particularly good one.

In a nutshell: While I may not have enjoyed the book, Freund's point is a valid one: We never know when the reaper will come a'knockin, so stop being a douchebag while there's still time.

Bibliolatry Scale: 1 out of 6 stars

No easy answers here

The Book of Revelation
Rupert Thomson

This far in my reading resolution, I've somehow avoided works by those authors whose names appear toward the end of the alphabet. Seeking to balance things out, I picked up Thomson's The Book of Revelation. I was surprised to find this book such a mind-blowing read.

Here's what I knew going into the novel: a man goes out for cigarettes. Instead of reaching his destination, he is instead kidnapped. Obviously, his life is forever changed.

The reality, however, is much, much more unsettling. He is held for eighteen days by three women whose faces are never revealed to him. They abuse, rape, and mutilate him repeatedly during his captivity. And then, without warning, he is released, returned to life.

Except, of course, returning to life will not be that easy.

He becomes obsessed with his captors, intent on finding them and having his revenge. Knowing only their nakedness, not their faces, he goes to extreme lengths to learn whether each woman who has crossed his path is innocent or not. The result demonstrates the effects of violence both on the individual and on society at large.

The Book of Revelation is a simple enough read, but is one that stays with you for a time after it's finished. Be warned that it's disturbing, but quite powerful. I came to care for our nameless narrator and know that -- somewhere, somehow -- he's found peace at last.

In a nutshell: Intense, disturbing, and gripping...The Book of Revelation won't easily be forgotten. The narrator's captivity and abuse is only a small portion of the novel, so readers shouldn't be dissuaded from reading based on this aspect of the novel.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time

Then We Came to the End
Joshua Ferris

Once upon a time, I worked in an office. It was the most depressing, most soul-crushing, most horrible time of my life. The seconds passed like hours, the days like weeks. I often had no work to do, yet had to appear busy (which is more difficult than it sounds, trust me). Everyone was miserable. The only relief came during those ten blissful minutes during which I tramped outside for a smoke break. In fact, even writing these few short sentences is enough to bring this time back in all its depressing glory. That's why I'm surprised to find I liked Then We Came to the End as much as I did. Although it often struck too close to home, it is truly, as The New Yorker said, a "masterwork of pitch and tone."

Then We Came to the End is both comic and tragic, both uplifting and utterly depressing. If you've spent time in an office, you'll understand how this can be so, and so you'll recognize yourself in these pages. If you've never worked in an office -- you're quite lucky, aren't you? -- allow Ferris to take you on a tour of the life that could have been yours. True, such a life is filled with moments of humor (gossip, interoffice intrigue, the occasional anecdote that helps to lighten a day), but it is often filled with moments of pain, as well, as interoffice politics, layoffs, and a general malaise abound.

Then We Came to the End follows several characters who work in an ad agency, but this novel is not so much about these characters as it is about the effect office life has on the soul. To this end, Ferris employs the first-person plural, a corporate We, if you will. This technique doesn't feel old or overdone, and it's a testament to Ferris' skill as a writer that he is able to maintain this voice for the duration of the novel (except for a short divagation to the third person in the middle). I was surprised by how connected I felt to these characters both as a group and as individuals. Although I'm not counting Then We Came to the End among the best books I've ever read, I'm glad I had the experience.

(Note: Because of the monster Drood, Then We Came to the End is the first entry in April's reading resolution.)

In a nutshell: Full of humor and pathos, Then We Came to the End lives up to the hype.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

Intriguing but ephemeral

Songs for the Missing: A Novel
Stewart O'Nan

Stewart O'Nan's Songs for the Missing was March's first book in my reading resolution. It didn't rock my world, but I didn't want to hurl it across the room, either. Songs for the Missing is a melancholy, thoughtful analysis regarding what happens to those left behind after a family member disappears.

The Larsen family is thrown into disarray when Kim, their eighteen-year-old daughter, disappears on her way to work one afternoon. Unfortunately, her family doesn't realize Kim has disappeared until the next morning, and it's not surprising to find that leads are few. Kim is happy, popular, and looking forward to college in the fall: she has no reason to runaway. The search expands when Kim's car is found in a nearby town.

This isn't, however, Kim's novel. Instead, the novel zeroes in on how Kim's parents and her younger sister each cope with the crisis. Her father can't stop searching; her mother organizes the media assault and plans fundraisers; her younger sister tries to find her own place in this new, crazy world.

O'Nan's exploration of how a family is irrevocably changed by the disappearance of a core member was intriguing, but its effect faded quickly. Nearly a month after having read Songs for the Missing, I remember it as thought-provoking but ephemeral. I didn't care too much about any of the characters, and felt rather distanced from and apathetic about their plight. The effect was rather like Gloucester's wanton boys playing with their flies: I was interested in their suffering, but not moved by it.

In a nutshell: Intriguing, but not memorable

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars

A king knows what to do and does it

Mystic River
Dennis Lehane

I've heard many good things about Dennis Lehane's Mystic River, and I wasn't worried about liking it due to how much I enjoyed his Shutter Island. Ultimately, I found Mystic River to be a riveting, suspenseful read that was a fast addition to my reading resolution.

The novel begins as three young boys are playing on the streets. A car approaches and stops them -- two men are in the car, claiming to be cops. One boy, who lives across town, gets in the car with them to be taken home to his parents; the other two boys are left behind to walk home. As a result of this obviously bad decision (it's immediately clear these men are not cops, despite the fear that blinds the boys to this fact), the lives of all three are irrevocably changed.

The novel then shifts years ahead to their adulthood, as each man struggles to loosen the effect of that fateful day so long ago. While the three are still local, their paths have diverged, and they are no longer the singular unit they once were. That, however, is about to change: a murder soon reunites them, drawing the three together again to confront both the present and past tragedies.

I suspected different people of different things at different points in the novel, and, while I did anticipate a few twists, the overall denouement was surprising and satisfying. I closed Mystic River with a feeling of content -- if not for the characters, then at least for myself. Now I can see the movie . . . at some point.

In a nutshell: Taut, compelling -- nicely done all around.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

Manderley!

Rebecca
Daphne DuMaurier

Despite my glee at April's arrival, I'm grumpy. Why? I didn't purchase a new copy of Rebecca, one of the latest titles in my reading resolution. Instead, I bought a used copy, thinking I wouldn't really care about having an old and used one.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. I've fallen in love with this most-amazing book, and now I'm pissed that I don't own a better copy. Also, I'm angry that I totally sucked on this resolution this month. And, not surprisingly, I'm behind in my reviews.

But I digress.

I feel as though I'm the only one who didn't know the story of Rebecca, so a summary probably isn't necessary. If you're one of the few left alive that hasn't raved about this book, allow me a brief recap: our young narrator has just married the man of her dreams: the rich and mysterious Maxim de Winter. Things aren't so peachy, however, after their return to the de Winter estate, Manderley. Mrs. de Winter finds it impossible to run such a large household, and it seems as though she's doomed to fail. Even worse, the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, seems to hate her, her husband seems to be hiding something, and everywhere she turns, she is haunted by Rebecca, the first Mrs. de Winter who died a year before. You may think you know what's really going on -- but just wait. The suspense slowly builds until the mysteries of Manderley are unveiled in a stunning, surprise ending.

For years, I had heard Rebecca was good, but I didnt realize it was THAT GOOD. I couldn't put it down. I read while working, during eating -- even in the car (hubby was driving, obviously). Upon finishing the novel, I felt engulfed by the sadness one only feels at the end of a rare, amazing book. I could go on -- in fact, I can't say enough good things about Rebecca -- but now that I'm so far behind in both reading and reviewing, I haven't the time. Suffice it to say, if you haven't yet read this novel, do so immediately -- I can't imagine you'll be disappointed.

In a nutshell: Suspenseful, gorgeously written, utterly un-put-down-able -- Rebecca is a glory of a novel.

Bibliolatry Scale: 6 out of 6 stars

As flies to wanton boys are we

Fool
Christopher Moore

The next title of my reading resolution is also my newest review for Pajiba.

This time, I've read Fool, the latest by Christopher Moore. Long-time readers of Bibliolatry may remember my first encounter with Moore, the excruciatingly painful Fluke. Ah, good times.

Anyway, the good news is that Fool is way better than Fluke. You can read my full review here.

In a nutshell: I didn't hate it, but I'm still not a fan. Sorry, dude.

Bibliolatry Scale: 3.5 out of 6 stars

The downward spiral

Dangerous Laughter: Thirteen Stories
Steven Millhauser

My reading resolution has stalled.

I've been in a reading funk lately, unable to read more than a few pages at a time. The book that marked the beginning of my downward spiral? Dangerous Laughter.

Steven Millhauser's Dangerous Laughter has been described as one of the best books of 2008. Unfortunately, I couldn't agree. I had to force myself to finish the majority of the stories in this collection: the stories were boring, the writing so-so. Many pieces were clunkily "profound."

I'd recount with more specifics, but I can't even be moved to do that. I'm so disappointed; I waited so eagerly for this to come out in paperback, and reading it has been such a major let-down. I'm bummed.

In a nutshell: Seemed kinda flat and lifeless to me. I expected so much more based on all I'd heard.

Bibliolatry Scale: 2 out of 6 stars

Review, Interview, Giveaway -- Oh My!

Aberrations
Penelope Przekop

Today I'm happy to feature Penelope Przekop's Aberrations as the latest title on my reading resolution. Not only am I happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed Przekop's novel, but I also had the opportunity to interview her about both her book and her writing process.

That's not the best part, however!

I'm also proud to host a giveaway of Aberrations -- and trust me, this book is one you'll want to read. For details about entering to win a copy, read to the bottom of this post. But first, my review.

THE REVIEW

Angel doesn't have your normal, run-of-the-mill problems. She's never filled the void created by her mother's death, her father is untrustworthy, and she's screwing a married man. But that's not the worst of it all -- she's a narcoleptic to boot. When her father decides to move on (and move in) with his girlfriend, Carla, Angel doesn't handle it well. It soon becomes clear that her father is hiding a secret about Angel's past, and she's determined to discover the truth at any cost.

The above synopsis might make Aberrations sound like a superficial mystery -- but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Przekop delves into the nature of aberrations, the good and the bad. One's aberrations, like anything in life, can be viewed positively or negatively; it's our perception of our differences that truly matter. Do they define us, limit us, constrain us? Or do they add spice, becoming a venue for thought, discussion, and growth?

Angel's journey is one we all share, even if we don't share her narcolepsy. At the novel's beginning, Angel is defined by her narcolepsy and lets it control her life. By the end of the novel, Angel has learned some profound lessons and has come to view narcolepsy as only one small piece of her pie.

Overall, Aberrations is a thought-provoking, well-written novel that was a joy to read. Przekop reminds us to celebrate our differences and learn from our own personal aberration.

In a nutshell: Fast-paced and profound, Aberrations reminds us to celebrate what makes us individuals and grow in the process.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

THE INTERVIEW

What sparked your interest in aberrations as a theme? Of all the hundreds of "aberrations" in the world, what made you focus on narcolepsy for your main character?

The theme emerged based on my initial interest in writing about narcolepsy, as well as some of my own aberrations. I have a degree in Biology, and after learning about it, had always found narcolepsy fascinating from a biological perspective. I recognized that it was usually made fun of in movies and television, and that it had not been fully addressed in the literature. I also thought it could serve as a metaphor for how we can all be susceptible or guilty of sleeping through our lives at times. And it’s an aberration that isn’t easily hidden. It provided a perfect avenue to show Angel’s loneliness and seclusion.

Do you think a happy life is the result of ignoring or embracing one's aberrations? How can our own aberration(s) become a vehicle for happiness, in your opinion?

Well, I don’t want to sound like Dr. Phil or Tony Robbins ... but I don’t think it’s wise to ignore our aberrations. I do believe that embracing one’s aberrations whether emotional, physical, or situational is a good first step to figuring out what to do about them. What you choose to do, feel, say, and think about them makes all the difference. My belief has always been that no matter how bad something is, if we choose to think positive— positive outcomes will result. In a way, it’s a “Captain Obvious” concept, but one that alarming numbers of individuals can’t seem to put into practice. I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s hard as hell sometimes, but choosing the alternative feels like giving up.

Why did you choose Darwin as Angel's study of interest? How does his evolution complement Angel's?

I actually wrote a graduate term paper on Charles Darwin for my History of Science course in college. I was fascinated with his story of holding back what he knew or believed for the sake of his family and society. As I developed the novel, it seemed to fit on multiple levels. Angel is evolving, as are the other characters. Her father is holding back and suffering, and while we come to understand why, we also struggle with his decision to do so, and how in part that decision is based on fear. Darwin’s evolution complements that of Angel’s father although she’s also evolving. What she learns about Darwin gives her an avenue to discuss and confront her feelings about her father.

Carla believes that Angel needs "to relearn her ABCs." How can one apply this idea to her own life?

At the beginning of the book, Carla believes, like Kimmy, that life is supposed be a certain way, and that anything that doesn’t follow that path is a deviation from the norm. However, neither of these characters is enjoying the ABC reality they feel so strongly about. Throughout the story, Carla learns that life can’t occur in ABC order, and that it’s okay. This slow and subtle realization begins to soften her and enables her to bond with Angel in a way that doesn’t seem possible at the onset.

Can you discuss your writing process? Do you compose with a pen and paper, or on a computer? Do you use dictation? How do you edit, by hand or as you type?

I write using a combination of pen and paper, and computer. I do edit a lot by hand however. Ultimately, I have to read what I’ve written on a printed piece of paper. I read out loud a lot because I need to listen to the flow and music of the words. I’ve come to appreciate how much creative writing is a combination of left and right brain thinking. There is the imagination, emotional investment, and the beauty of words, but there must also be planning, order, and strategy. I plan out as much as I can before I begin writing a novel (I’m on my third now). I’m a bit methodical initially. Then I put apply my right brain to the left brain plan. I wrote a blog entry about using both sides of the brain for creative endeavors. If interested, you can read it here.

Is there a particular time of day during which you're more productive? Are certain times of day better for certain writing tasks, such as composing or editing?

For years, I only wrote at lunch time and at night. I had so little time to write that I learned to write almost anywhere that I could find 15 free minutes. Now I’m able to write more throughout the day. I haven’t established a solid routine yet because I happen to be traveling quite a bit these days. I set creative goals for the week, and then map out when I will work on what. I paint as well so I factor in time for that. I’ve done a lot of writing on airplanes and in hotel rooms lately.

Do you have any writing rituals? Candles? Food and drink? Music?

I don’t have anything that I’d call a ritual but I do always listen to music when I write.

Do you ever find yourself faced with writer's block? If so, what techniques do you find most helpful in overcoming it?

If I have a plan to write (which I always do), I usually do it even if I don’t feel like it. I’ll just write whatever comes to mind even if it’s horrible— just to keep moving forward. I’ve learned over time, that once I have something on paper, I can always make it better. When I’m not in the best writing mood, I just accept it and forge ahead. It used to bother me, because I’d read what I wrote, and get into an “I stink” funk, but now I have more confidence in myself and my ability to eventually get it right. I coach myself through the “off” times. Sometimes I’m so “on” that I have to jump out of bed to go write, or pull off the side of the road to write things down. I’m lucky I haven’t had a car accident over the years. Those are the times when I can usually fix all the crappy stuff I wrote the day before. So my advice is that if you feel blocked just write stuff, even if you know it’s bad. The other thing that works for me is that I often write dialogue when I’m in a “non-writing” mood. That’s the part that comes easiest for me so I focus there.

Which author has most influenced your writing? What book has?

This is a tough question to answer. The authors who have most influenced my writing overall are Dostoevsky for his ability to illuminate the human condition, Ayn Rand for her ability to make a novel stand for something beyond the story, and James Michener for his ability to create a believable world inside a book. These are writers I read when I was younger. Some of my more recent influences are Philip Roth, Junot Diaz, and Albert Camus.

If I had to choose one book, it would be Crime and Punishment. I’ve always been an avid reader, and have wanted to write, but when I read Crime and Punishment in college, something in me absolutely knew that I not only wanted to write, but that I wanted to say something honest, powerful, and timeless. I wanted to find my own way to do that. For some reason I knew that going the English Degree way wasn’t going to get me there so I kept studying Biology. But I knew I would be a writer ... someday ... At the time, I didn’t know what I would have to say yet but I knew it was brewing. It’s still brewing and I’m still working on it. I don’t feel that I’ve arrived yet.

As a reader, what annoys you the most? What annoys you the most as a writer?

As a reader, I think superficial books annoy me the most. Of course, I love to be entertained but I only have so much time on this Earth, and when I spend hours reading a book, I want to learn something from it. As a writer, I get annoyed and frustrated that the time I have to write is limited. It’s not so much how many hours in the day I have, but rather how many years I have left. I’ve been writing for a long time but it’s been slow because I’ve had to deal with other priorities. I’m not bitter about that but I fear that I need more brewing time, and that I may not meet my writing goals in what happens to be my lifetime. I realize that it may sound a little morbid, but that thought is a strong drive for me, especially now that I’ve hit middle age. You start to realize that you have less and less time to waste.

If forced to choose, which three books -- excluding your own -- would you want to have with you on a deserted island?

Assuming that I have to take three novels, I’d choose Crime and Punishment, The Scarlet Letter, and The Fountainhead.

What is the best advice you can offer to aspiring writers?

Don’t give up if it’s what you really want. Reality Check: If there’s something else you want just as much, focus on that instead because becoming a successful writer is a long road that may never end. But if you’re in it for the long haul, be more methodical. Set short term goals and stick to them. Before you know it you’ll have met your long term goals. Also read as much as you can! Don’t copy anyone else’s style or voice. Listen to your words; use your ears more when writing.

Besides reading and writing, what are some of your favorite hobbies?

I love to paint. It’s my fairly new hobby for me but I’m extremely serious about it. I also love to go camping. We go a few times a year. We’re not hard-core campers; we have a fridge in our trailer. I love movies, and can’t see enough of them. I’ve thinking about taking a stab at adapting Aberrations or my other novel for the big screen. I may tackle that after I finish the novel I’m currently working on.

Finally, do you have any future projects planned? Anything for us to anticipate?

Yes, I have four projects that are currently being handled by my agent. One is another novel called Boundaries. The other two are non-fiction projects. One is called War & Peace: Tales from the Delivery Room, and the other is called Aberration Nation: What to Read When Life Sucks. It’s based on my blog, Aberration Nation. I’m also half way through a third novel called Centerpieces. I’ll also be completely overhauling my web site and blog over the next couple of months, and am quite excited about that. I’m fairly diverse in my creative endeavors, which I hope will work for me, and keep people interested in what I have to say. So as you can see, I have several irons in the fire. I made a commitment last year to downgrade my career in the pharmaceutical industry so that I can focus more heavily on my creative endeavors. Hopefully I can make a bigger splash over the next couple of years. I’ll never give up!


Thanks, Penelope, for an awesome interview. And may I just say that I'm quite chagrined by the four -- FOUR -- major projects you have underway. I'm still slogging through the same book from a few weeks ago. Ugh.

Anyway, on to the *really* good stuff -- it's time to give away a copy of Aberrations!

THE GIVEAWAY

What to win a copy of Aberrations? Silly question, I know -- of course you do. The winner will be chosen at random; to enter, read on:

- to enter once, simply leave a comment in this post
- to enter again, post about my giveaway on your blog (just be sure to return and leave a link in the comments!)

The giveaway ends Friday, March 13th (cue the ominous music). The winner will be announced via a post on this site, so be sure to check back or else subscribe to my feed so you don't miss it.

Best of luck to you!

Perfect pacing and polished prose

20th Century Ghosts
Joe Hill

I'm officially a fan of Joe Hill. His Heart-Shaped Box wasn't perfect, but it was thrilling and well-written. His collection of short stories, 20th Century Ghosts is even better and lacks the major weakness I found in his novel. In fact, the dragging pace that plagues some parts of his novel is not an issue in his short fiction. 20th Century Ghosts was a great addition to my reading resolution.

The stories in this collection all involve the supernatural in some way. (Don't be fooled by the title, however: ghosts do not often appear in these stories.) While I enjoyed mostly all of the stories, the ones that still stand out in my mind involve a kidnapped boy and a ghostly phone connection; a boy and his odd, inflatable bestfriend; and the final story, about a young boy who really loves playing with cardboard boxes. I didn't find every story perfect, but this collection was ultimately satisfying and thrilling overall.

I'm not sure when Hill's next work will appear, but I'm eagerly anticipating to see what he'll do next. Between his writing chops and his flair for storytelling, Hill will undoubtedly enjoy as prolific a career as his father. Knock on wood, and all that.

In a nutshell: Thrilling and fun, 20th Century Ghosts offers both pathos and chills.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

I want to run away for a year, too!

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Elizabeth Gilbert

So I finally rode the Eat, Pray, Love train, even though this book isn't exactly new and exciting to most people. I feared the hype machine would trick me into reading yet another turd, but I was pleasantly surprised. The latest stop on my reading resolution tour wasn't perfect, but it was a fast, engaging piece that -- for the most part -- lived up to its hype.

Eat, Pray, Love is a memoir that recounts one woman's quest for fulfillment. Elizabeth Gilbert's life falls apart when she realizes that her marriage is over. After a bitter divorce, Gilbert leaves the US to find herself. She spends a year abroad and travels to three different areas to learn three different lessons. She travels to Italy to embrace physical pleasures and lots of pasta. From there, she travels to India to embrace spiritual fulfillment in an ashram. Finally, she travels to Indonesia to achieve balance between the worlds of the physical and the spiritual.

I enjoyed Gilbert's style, and found her writing to be conversational and enjoyable. Part of me felt more than a little bitter at her ability to just "run away" for a year and live totally free of any "real life" issues. (And I'm not saying that her journey was problem-free -- of course that isn't the case, but you get my point.) I also balked at the ending, which was just oh-so-perfect and not entirely believable. I'm sure her reality wasn't as neat and tidy, but it did come across that way.

In a nutshell: Eat, Pray, Love didn't rock my world, but it was enjoyable enough. Some parts were less believable than others, but overall the experience was a good one.

Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars