20 posts tagged “fiction”

Synopsis: "Frazier's deadpan comic voice was once a staple for New Yorker readers. Two previous book collections resulted: Dating Your Mom (1986), an assembly of very short pieces, and Nobody Better, Better Than Nobody (1987), featuring longer essays and profiles of odd denizens of American culture, a much superior showcase for the author's prodigious narrative and journalistic skills. These later came into full flower in his acclaimed travel volume, Great Plains (1989), and in last year's moving Frazier genealogy, Family. This latest collection, much of it also from the New Yorker, harks back to Mom?short, arch, cynical takes on some of the idiocies of American life: letters from banks crowing about their human services; the habit of highbrow reviewers of insisting that impersonal entities ("Language," "Dublin") in a play or a film are in fact "characters." As usual, Frazier is awfully good, smart and wicked at the same time. "Boswell's Don Johnson," for example, is a hilarious ditty written after the style of the famous biographer, but in this case he is engaged in hagiography of the star of Miami Vice. The title essay, with its exposition, in deadly legalese, of one Wile E. Coyote's complaints against a generic purveyor of explosive devices, shows Frazier's great comic range, however trite the subject. Although this book is not Frazier at full-bore, readers of his generation will find an occasional cultural reference long thought lost, and find themselves oddly beholden to a fellow who can resurrect Billy Joe McCallister from beneath the Tallahatchie Bridge." (from Publisher's Weekly)

Rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Synopsis: "Holidays on Ice is a collection of three previously published stories matched with three newer ones, all, of course, on a Christmas theme. David Sedaris's darkly playful humor is another common thread through the book, worming its way through "Seasons Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!" a chipper suburban Christmas letter that spirals dizzily out of control, and "Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol," a vicious theatrical review of children's Christmas pageants. As always, Sedaris's best work is his sharply observed nonfiction, notably in "Dinah, the Christmas Whore," the tale of a memorable Christmas during which the young Sedaris learns to see his family in a new light. Worth the price of the book alone is the hilarious "SantaLand Diaries," Sedaris's chronicle of his time working as an elf at Macy's, covering everything from the preliminary group lectures ("You are not a dancer. If you were a real dancer you wouldn't be here. You're an elf and you're going to wear panties like an elf.") to the perils of inter-elf flirtation. Along the way, he paints a funny and sad portrait of the way the countless parents who pass through SantaLand are too busy creating an Experience to really pay attention to their children. In a sly way, it carries a holiday message all its own. Read it aloud to the adults after the kids have gone to bed." (from Amazon.com)

Rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Synopsis: "Seventeen is a novella in size. Its seventy-three pages may not be tedious to read, but the concepts are overwhelming. Simply, the narrative consists of a first person narrator taking the reader with him through a few months of his life. The events can be broken into two phases: phase one is before he enters the right wing party, and phase two consists of his life after he joins. Phase one begins (and thus the entire narrative begins) with the narrator announcing, "Today is my birthday." (1) And in this empty statement, the entire novel is hashed out. "Seventeen," as is the only name for the speaker throughout, has little interaction with anyone on an emotional level except for the reader. We become a type of confidant as we witness his ritual masturbations, his anger against his indifferent family and the alienation he feels from his peers. His most intimate externally generated experience is with a cat named Gangster who comes to visit him in the "ship" he has made in the shed, a place where Seventeen can sleep, think and experience fear in private. Gangster licks saliva from Seventeen's lips, but once he is done taking what he needs, he'll dart off.

The second day of the narrative begins as Seventeen is late for school. When he arrives, he finds that he is late for exams. He feels he has done poorly on the morning ones and winds up feeling defeated for the afternoon physical exam portion as well. He is required to run eight hundred meters and upon completion, urinates all over himself.The second phase of the narrative begins when a classmate, Shintoho, invites him to go to a right wing rally. He agrees to go, and winds up standing up to dissenting party opinions vocalized by some bystanders. This throws him into the world of the right and thus begins a new course of his life. Seventeen takes on the party identity, and while at first we see him as being fairly similar to his original characterization, over time a metamorphosis takes place. Seventeen becomes a confident, yet brutally violent young man. One decisive event in this transformation is his outing to a bathhouse where a young woman masturbates him, he ejaculates in her face and thereby feels power over her. From here, he beats down party antagonists without shame, guilt or weakness. To him, he has become a strong individual. The narrator finally tells us that he is, "...the one and only blissful Seventeen." (from http://www.willamette.edu/~rloftus/OePage.htm)

Impressions: I had had a different impression of what Oe's Seventeen & J would be about going into the book. I started reading it a long time ago and had actually only finished it just recently given enough free time. I didn't like Seventeen or J as much as Oe's later works after A Personal Matter. Even though Oe's use of the dark erotic-grotesque literature genre appeals to me, his much more confessional and mythical works later on rotating around mental dysfunction (vis a vis his son) and sexual perversion from a married life, or an adulterer, seems more... sincere(?)... than the confessions of Seventeen. I can understand the death threats that  Oe received during the time of this publication, phew! I sure wouldn't have liked to have been in his situation at such a time. 

In A Silent Cry it is the townsfolk and the grassroots community that provide the mysticism and history behind the character. In A Persoanl Matter, the mature protagonist must battle himself but he relies upon another woman to comfort him during the birth of his defected son. His weaknesses, when shared with another human being, strike me as more human than the approach that Seventeen had. Although I can't say that I liked the dramatic conclusion of A Personal Matter, in truth what other realistic (or rational, I should say) alternative is there? In Seventeen, I just don't see the ending as making sense. Either Seventeen will die very young or... I don't know..that sort of life just can't be lived, I imagine.

J was perhaps the more interesting read. I was amused by the idea of a chikan club. The old man and J and the young man presented a sort of perverse trio of deviants. I didn't quite understand how the young man's death, the series of events leading to it, came about. When he coerced the young girl to follow him to the train tracks, did he change his mind at the last minute and try to save her and kill himself or did he fully intend to molest her and die the ultimate sinner/chikan along with her on the train rails. I wasn't quite sure. The old man, a politician, was a great addition to the troupe. Way to go Oe for putting in Japanese politics into such a scandalous area of society. J was much more a self-concious being than Seventeen, and pragmatic (or rational?), that for this reason his choice of being who he was and how he managed such a life was much more agreeable and understandable. Of course no life for any one person can be understood by any other one person in all instances, but for me this was the case.

Unfortunately I have almost exhausted all of what has yet been translated into English of Oe's works but I did just begin Somersault, and so far it is very interesting.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Synopsis: "The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience." (from Amazon.com)

Impressions: Finally!

Rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Synopsis: "Tolkien fans are sure to treasure this tale of Middle-earth's First Age, which appeared in incomplete forms in the posthumously published The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. Those earlier books, also edited by Tolkien's son, Christopher, only hinted at the depth and power of the tragic story of Túrin and Niënor, the children of Húrin, the lord of Dor-lómin, who achieved renown for having confronted Morgoth, who was the master of Sauron, the manifestation of evil in the Lord of the Rings. The lengthy and fatiguing battle against Morgoth forms the backdrop for the moving account of the life of Húrin's eldest son, Túrin, a valiant but proud warrior whose all too human frailties augur an unhappy end. Perhaps Tolkien's most three-dimensional figure, Túrin flees from the elven kingdom where he has grown into manhood, sheltered from the forces of evil, after he's unjustly judged responsible for another's death. He hides his true identity as he begins a new life as leader of a band of outlaws, a choice that has dire consequences when he crosses paths with a family member after many years of separation. Deftly balancing thrilling battles with moments of introspection, Tolkien's vivid and gripping narrative reaffirms his primacy in fantasy literature." (from Publishers Weekly)

Impressions: Wow! I had no idea going in what Tolkien's latest book was going to be about. I am very surprised by what I just finished reading. I never imagined that I would read something tragic by Tolkien. It seemed at times like a overly-melodramatic Romeo & Juliet story set in an archaic era. Turin was far too brash and hot-headed. His sister was the very example of a "damsel in distress." I thought that his mother had the most depth as a character. And what of Hurin? After his imprisonment we never learn of his fate, save his ultimate end. Most likely that is a by-product of throwing together much of Tolkien's unfinished work.

Perhaps the... tale(?) didn't quite live up to LOTR (of course) but as a story to tell to children at bed time, or as a stand-alone novel, it had all the works of a classical fantasy book.I shouldn't criticize too much. After all the fact that Tolkien's children are even allowing this work to be exposed after their father's death is... um, well, I don't know... Good for readers but... what it does to his works... maybe it doesn't really harm them at all. In fact I don't think it really does. It simply adds more and more levels to the story. In my mind it is like this big jenga puzzle built upon itself and there are pieces in the story missing everywhere on each shelf below. Only if we could possess Tolkien's own mind when he told these stories to his children in their youth could we have seen the whole puzzle as it were..

The Children of Hurin was much easier reading than Silmarillion! I could hardly read Silmarillion and I feared that this book would be the same.

Despite that, the next book is Harry Potter! Can you tell that I'm excited? Well I am. I'm excited. (*Good God! *cringes at the nearly-800 page, 4-ton brick*) Very excited. Truly.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars.

"All God's Children Can Dance is based on the short story of the same title by Haruki Murakami. First time filmmaker Robert Logevall's stylish interpretation is as deceptively simple as his source material, and equally rich with mystery. Kengo (Jason Lew) is the son of a woman (Joan Chen) who found salvation in a church shelter. Endowed with a big wee wee, Kengo is the object of his girlfriend Sandra's (Sonja Kinski) marital desires, but he refuses her proposal because he is "the son of God". A chance sighting of a man with a misshapen ear ignites a visitation with memories from Kengo's adolescence, and finally, confrontation with the secret of his true nature."

I know one thing... I truly wish to see it. Soon.

Not since Tony Takitani has a filmmaker come along who has masterfully captured the essence of Murakami's spirit of storytelling and psychological beauty. I just hope that Logevall will succeed in making a film that is not too obscure that it will be doomed to the fate of being prematurely cast-aside by main-stream critics. Only a matter of time will tell.

What a beautiful story to make into a film adaptation as well.

Synopsis: "Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life -- money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers -- men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible." (from back of book)

Impressions: Absolute bologna.

Rating: 1 of 5 stars.

Synopsis: "Sparks logs more miles on the winding high road of romance with the story of two middle-aged people who meet by chance in the small North Carolina coastal town of Rodanthe. The impassioned but doomed romance seems to owe much to Robert James Waller's The Bridges of Madison County. Once again, a housewife who has focused on everyone but herself indulges in a brief, intense, secret affair with a stranger who changes her life forever. As the story begins, Adrienne Willis is 60, the divorced mother of three grown children. To help her troubled daughter cope with the untimely recent death of her husband, Adrienne tells her the tale of her love affair, which took place 15 years before. At the time, Adrienne was an uptight matron whose ex-husband had just left her for a younger woman. This rejection colors her entire life, and Sparks realistically portrays a vulnerable and isolated woman who throws herself into raising her children to escape her despair. Paul Flanner, her paramour, is a surgeon and an obsessive workaholic with no genuine connection to his wife or son, whose world completely falls apart when one of his patients inexplicably dies. Sparks builds a taut, plausible relationship between his protagonists, but even fans may be irked by the obviousness of their story and the inevitability of their fate." (from Publishers Weekly)

Impressions: I couldn't genuinly relate to any of the characters. I found the book somewhat... eerie? The retelling of the story from Adrienne to her daughter subtracts from Sparks' presence... but I couldn't really feel like I was there, next to, listening with, or inside her. The book seemed more like a 'tale' (of an affair) than a novel or a work of fiction. Not entirely engaging; somewhat more like a harlequin romance novel. I guess there is a pretty large audience for that genre anyway, despite. I'm still in the midst of reading Sparks' The Rescue and about six other books (by different authors). The Rescue is a bit more fast-paced as the characters are younger and less... nostalgic? There was this one line from Nights in Rodanthe that stuck with me... I think it went something like this: "Young people are always looking towards the future and for what has yet to come in order to discover their happiness, but it is the older generations who are always looking toward the past for that same happiness." Kind of like Fleetwood Mac's "Silver Girl"... people don't know what they want, and if they do...

Rating: 2 of 5 stars.

Synopsis: "America's first psychological novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is a dark tale of love, crime, and revenge set in colonial New England. It revolves around a single, forbidden act of passion that forever alters the lives of three members of a small Puritan community: Hester Prynne, an ardent and fierce woman who bears the punishment of her sin in humble silence; the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected public figure who is inwardly tormented by long-hidden guilt; and the malevolent Roger Chillingworth, Hester's husband--a man who seethes with an Ahab-like lust for vengeance. The landscape of this classic novel is uniquely American, but the themes it explores are universal--the nature of sin, guilt, and penitence, the clash between our private and public selves, and the spiritual and psychological cost of living outside society. Constructed with the elegance of a Greek tragedy, The Scarlet Letter brilliantly illuminates the truth that lies deep within the human heart." (from back of book)

Impressions: What a story! I know that this will sound cheesy, but this book was captivating! The plot, the twits, the turns, the surprises. I was seldom able to imagine what was just around the bend. A very tormenting storyline. Just makes you want to think time and time again about what Oe means by "Teach Us To Outgrow Our Madness"! Damn you societal expectations!

Rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Synopsis: "Part exuberant celebrator, part human Murakami encyclopedia, Rubin, a Harvard professor of Japanese Literature and a Murakami translator, puts about the author's life and writing under a microscope in this homage to all things Murakami. The internationally bestselling Murakami began publishing at age 30, while he and his wife ran Peter Cat, a Tokyo jazz club, and, as the title of this volume suggests, Murakami's writing is filled with musical references. Rubin starts by introducing the reader to "The 1963/1982 Girl from Ipanema," "one of Murakami's most musical stories." Rubin delves into Murakami's obsessions, from animals (particularly cats) to detachment, sex and hunger, by breaking down many of Murakami's stories and all of his novels. Rubin's plot summaries can go on too long before he gets to his critique, but his analyses are colorful and heartfelt, opening new ways of understanding the coolly surreal Murakami. Only in a few instances does Rubin point out a misstep, such as in Sputnik Sweetheart. Quips Rubin: "In one of the worst lines of the book, the narrator actually thinks to himself: 'Sumire went over to the other side. That would explain a lot.' Indeed it would, just as the existence of gremlins would explain how my glasses moved from my desk to the dining-room table." While Rubin states this book is for other Murakami fans, casual Murakami readers and those baffled by the writer's works could gain something from this volume." (from Publishers Weekly)

Impressions: Good book. Good insight. Much of the information I already knew or had picked up. Not much added to my knowledge of Murakami. To other readers, though, probably lots of new info. Not really an autobiography. More a bunch of info about the author and various quotes from interviews. A little bit about his wife who keeps even more private than himself. Interesting.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars.