We'd been traveling for eight months, and all my inquiries had led nowhere. Though I now possessed his glasses, his shoes, and the description of a man unravelling in Edenburg. Perhaps I was the one unraveling?
-The Book of Madness and Cures
At the beginning of the novel, Gabriella is comfortable (if not happy) with her life as a woman doctor in late sixteenth-century Venice. Her father has been gone for ten years and her relationship with her mother is strained, though it seems that she could have continued this slightly unhappy if comfortable existence indefinitely. Two events force her into action. First, she received a letter from her father saying that he doesn't intend to return to Venice. Second, the Guild of Physicians informs her that they no longer support her membership without her father. She sets out to find her father by retracing his steps across Europe.
Even though Gabriella is thirty when the novel begins and is set in her life and career, it's still a coming of age story. In the beginning, Gabriella worships her father and has a strained relationship with her mother. She views Lorenzo and Olmina, the married couple who accompany her on her journey, as servants despite the fact that they had been with her since her birth and Olmina nursed Gabriella after her own daughter was stillborn. Gabriella has also given up on marriage following the death of her lover twelve years earlier.
As the story unfolds and Gabriella learns more about her father and his apparent reasons for departing, she's forced to reconsider her relationship with both her mother and her father. She begins to see her father a regular, if flawed, person and as her view of her father changes, her view of her mother and her mothers' motivations also evolves. After a few of traveling with Lorenzo and Olmina, she also reexamines her relationship with them and their motivation for accompanying her on a difficult journey. And, of course, because it's such a common plot, she also encounters potential love interests who help to change her view on marriage and her future in that regard. Personally, the last element felt a little tacked on and obligatory, if not downright cliche.
Initially, I had trouble getting into the story for some reason, but it was worth it. Watching Gabriella's growth was interesting, as was reading about her time in various cities. Throughout the book, there are excerpts from The Book of Diseases, a collection of illnesses that she is helping her father to finish. The excerpts gave insight not only into Gabriella's feelings, but also of the medicine of the era.
That said, as with a lot of similar novels, there was one major shortcoming. Gabriella and most other characters seemed a little too progressive. Very few of the people she encountered had a problem with the idea of a woman doctor or of a woman pretending to be a man (which happened a couple of times). Since Gabriella is following the travels of her father and staying with his acquaintances, this makes sense in a lot of cases because a man who trained his daughter as a doctor would presumably correspond with similarly progressive people. It makes less sense for people she randomly encounters. The views of Gabriella herself wouldn't be out of place today. I'm not an expert on the attitudes and beliefs of sixteenth century Venice, so it's entirely possible that Gabriella's attitude was reflective of the time. Also, if Gabriella has been a traditional woman, there wouldn't have been much of a novel since she would have just married and accepted her father's absence. Furthermore, I don't think the majority of readers would have enjoyed Gabriella discussing how she completely agreed with her city's decision to force Jews to live in ghettos. I also noticed that Gabriella tended to encounter fewer problems from other people as her journey progressed.
Overall, I really enjoyed the novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed that time period or reading about older medical treatment.
This book counts toward the Support Your Local Library Challenge and 2012 Debut Adult Fiction Author Challenge
Monday, June 4, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A Year Without "Made in China" by Sara Bongiorni
Cross-posted to my other blog, A Life Less Cruel.
The title of A Year Without "Made in China" is pretty self-explanatory. It's a chronicle of Sara Bongiorni's attempt to live without products made in China.I can't remember where I heard about this book, but when I found out that the library had a copy of it, I was fairly excited to read it. I wanted to like it. I absolutely love reading about someone who has drawn an ethical or moral line in the sand and their experiences with it. A couple of examples off the top of my head are A Plastic-free Life and The Zero Waste Home. Unfortunately, I didn't like it.
The opening paragraphs give a pretty good idea of the tone of the entire book.
Bongiorni primarily viewed as an experiment or a game. In fact, she sold it to her husband as a reverse scavenger hunt and put a lot of focus into creating rules (such as allowing gifts that were made in China). Later, she used those rules to technically adhere to the boycott while getting what she needed (like encouraging her husband's sister to buy an inflatable pool as a birthday gift for her husband when she is unable to find an inflatable pool that wasn't made in China). A few times, she made references to globalization and the fact that so many things were made in China that we were fast approaching the point that we no longer had a choice in whether to buy Chinese goods. In fact, in some areas, we don't have a choice now. Early in the book, when she was shopping for a new lamp, she found out that light switches are no longer made in the US. The subject of toys comes up frequently, since she has younger children, and she was only able to find a handful of toys (mainly Legos) that weren't made in China.
Unfortunately, aside from a few "China is too big" references in the book, she never really gave a well-reasoned argument for boycotting China, despite the fact that it's pretty easy to make a strong argument. China has a horrible record of human rights violations in factories (Foxconn, anyone?) and they're very lax on environmental issues. There's also the animal cruelty issues. In fact, I avoid fake fur and fake sheepskin (for instance, Ugg knockoffs) due to the fact that both are often made from animal fur (dog in the case of fake fur and raccoon doss for the Uggs and the slaughter process is poorly regulated and incredibly inhumane. (I'm not providing links because I don't feel like digging through the stories, but if you want to research the issue on your own, be warned that it's very disturbing.) Bongiorni doesn't really consider any of that, though, and the best explanation she gives is when she tells her son that it wasn't that they don't like China, but China was too big and they wanted to give someone else a chance to make things. Not surprisingly, given her reasons for the boycott, she had no problem with buying products made in countries with equally horrible working conditions as long as the products weren't made in China.
I was also disappointed with how she handled the issue with her family. She spends a lot of time in what strikes me as a power struggle with her husband, clinging to the idea that they must boycott China at any costs. Early on in the book, her husband loses his sunglasses and, despite the fact that he was supposed to wear sunglasses due to a growth on his eye, she pushes him to do without and, later, comes up with ridiculous and ineffective solutions to keep him from buying new sunglasses since American or Italian sunglasses were too expensive and the cheaper options were all made in China. This continues throughout the book and, frankly, it doesn't make either of them look good.
The way she handled it with her children was also a problem for me. She doesn't really make an attempt to change their values or really give them reasons to boycott China (though her daughter was probably too young to understand anyway). This means that her son develops what seems to be a hatred of the Chinese, saying at one point that he was glad people were hungry because they were bad. Bongiorni spends a lot of time worrying that the experiment had made her children xenophobic. I couldn't understand why she just didn't say "We like the people of China, but the people that make things in China make the people work in bad conditions, so we don't want to support them" or some variation of that. I can't find remember her son's exact age, but I remember understanding that sweatshops were a bad thing and that buying products made there was bad even when I was pretty young. I also found it interesting that, while she was pretty quick to deny things her husband needed (sunglasses and, arguably, flip flops for the beach), she decided that her son was suffering, yes, suffering for not being able to buy Chinese made toys.
Finally, I was annoyed at her lack of balance. One thing I struggle with is balancing various concerns, like buying a plastic free product vs a cruelty free product or choosing organic produce with plastic packaging (it happens more than you'd think) or plastic free conventional produce. Bongiorni, however, placed "not made in China" above all else. When she had mice, she had to choose between a Chinese humane trap or an American snap trap. After completely avoiding the issue and letting mice run rampant in her house, she chose the American snap trap. If she were boycotting for human rights reasons, I could understand her logic. But since it was just "China is too big," then why buy snap traps and kill mice when you'd prefer humane traps?
The writing style was that of a good blogger, if that. In fact, I think the book might have been better if she had kept a blog first and then condensed it into a book. That seems to be a very effective method in writing books like this, based on what I've seen in other books. I read the book in an afternoon and spent the entire time hoping it would magically improve. It didn't.
On the plus side, I suppose I learned a couple of things. Or, more accurately, it confirmed what I already knew or should have realized with a little thought. Chinese-made products dominate the market, especially in certain areas, and it's hard to avoid them. It's also positive to live without them, though it doesn't seem to be a long term solution to the problem. It was a good reminder to be more thoughtful about the products I buy, though, and I think that country of origin will be a larger factor in my choices. It's also encouraged me to read up on globalization a bit more.
This book counts toward the Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge.
The title of A Year Without "Made in China" is pretty self-explanatory. It's a chronicle of Sara Bongiorni's attempt to live without products made in China.I can't remember where I heard about this book, but when I found out that the library had a copy of it, I was fairly excited to read it. I wanted to like it. I absolutely love reading about someone who has drawn an ethical or moral line in the sand and their experiences with it. A couple of examples off the top of my head are A Plastic-free Life and The Zero Waste Home. Unfortunately, I didn't like it.
The opening paragraphs give a pretty good idea of the tone of the entire book.
We kick China out of the house on a dark Monday, two days after Christmas, while the children are asleep upstairs. I don't mean the country, of course, but pieces of plastic, cotton, and metal stamped with the words Made in China. We keep the bits of China that we already have but we stop bringing in any more.
The eviction is no fault of China's. It has coated our lives with a cheerful veneer of cheap toys, gadgets, and shoes. Sometimes I worry about lost American jobs or nasty reports of human rights abuses, but price has trumped virtue at our house. We couldn't resist what China was selling. But on this dark afternoon, a creeping unease washes over me as I sit on the sofa and survey the gloomy wreckage of the holiday. It seems impossible to have missed it before, yet it isn't until now that i notice an irrefutable fact. China is taking over the place.
Bongiorni primarily viewed as an experiment or a game. In fact, she sold it to her husband as a reverse scavenger hunt and put a lot of focus into creating rules (such as allowing gifts that were made in China). Later, she used those rules to technically adhere to the boycott while getting what she needed (like encouraging her husband's sister to buy an inflatable pool as a birthday gift for her husband when she is unable to find an inflatable pool that wasn't made in China). A few times, she made references to globalization and the fact that so many things were made in China that we were fast approaching the point that we no longer had a choice in whether to buy Chinese goods. In fact, in some areas, we don't have a choice now. Early in the book, when she was shopping for a new lamp, she found out that light switches are no longer made in the US. The subject of toys comes up frequently, since she has younger children, and she was only able to find a handful of toys (mainly Legos) that weren't made in China.
Unfortunately, aside from a few "China is too big" references in the book, she never really gave a well-reasoned argument for boycotting China, despite the fact that it's pretty easy to make a strong argument. China has a horrible record of human rights violations in factories (Foxconn, anyone?) and they're very lax on environmental issues. There's also the animal cruelty issues. In fact, I avoid fake fur and fake sheepskin (for instance, Ugg knockoffs) due to the fact that both are often made from animal fur (dog in the case of fake fur and raccoon doss for the Uggs and the slaughter process is poorly regulated and incredibly inhumane. (I'm not providing links because I don't feel like digging through the stories, but if you want to research the issue on your own, be warned that it's very disturbing.) Bongiorni doesn't really consider any of that, though, and the best explanation she gives is when she tells her son that it wasn't that they don't like China, but China was too big and they wanted to give someone else a chance to make things. Not surprisingly, given her reasons for the boycott, she had no problem with buying products made in countries with equally horrible working conditions as long as the products weren't made in China.
I was also disappointed with how she handled the issue with her family. She spends a lot of time in what strikes me as a power struggle with her husband, clinging to the idea that they must boycott China at any costs. Early on in the book, her husband loses his sunglasses and, despite the fact that he was supposed to wear sunglasses due to a growth on his eye, she pushes him to do without and, later, comes up with ridiculous and ineffective solutions to keep him from buying new sunglasses since American or Italian sunglasses were too expensive and the cheaper options were all made in China. This continues throughout the book and, frankly, it doesn't make either of them look good.
The way she handled it with her children was also a problem for me. She doesn't really make an attempt to change their values or really give them reasons to boycott China (though her daughter was probably too young to understand anyway). This means that her son develops what seems to be a hatred of the Chinese, saying at one point that he was glad people were hungry because they were bad. Bongiorni spends a lot of time worrying that the experiment had made her children xenophobic. I couldn't understand why she just didn't say "We like the people of China, but the people that make things in China make the people work in bad conditions, so we don't want to support them" or some variation of that. I can't find remember her son's exact age, but I remember understanding that sweatshops were a bad thing and that buying products made there was bad even when I was pretty young. I also found it interesting that, while she was pretty quick to deny things her husband needed (sunglasses and, arguably, flip flops for the beach), she decided that her son was suffering, yes, suffering for not being able to buy Chinese made toys.
Finally, I was annoyed at her lack of balance. One thing I struggle with is balancing various concerns, like buying a plastic free product vs a cruelty free product or choosing organic produce with plastic packaging (it happens more than you'd think) or plastic free conventional produce. Bongiorni, however, placed "not made in China" above all else. When she had mice, she had to choose between a Chinese humane trap or an American snap trap. After completely avoiding the issue and letting mice run rampant in her house, she chose the American snap trap. If she were boycotting for human rights reasons, I could understand her logic. But since it was just "China is too big," then why buy snap traps and kill mice when you'd prefer humane traps?
The writing style was that of a good blogger, if that. In fact, I think the book might have been better if she had kept a blog first and then condensed it into a book. That seems to be a very effective method in writing books like this, based on what I've seen in other books. I read the book in an afternoon and spent the entire time hoping it would magically improve. It didn't.
On the plus side, I suppose I learned a couple of things. Or, more accurately, it confirmed what I already knew or should have realized with a little thought. Chinese-made products dominate the market, especially in certain areas, and it's hard to avoid them. It's also positive to live without them, though it doesn't seem to be a long term solution to the problem. It was a good reminder to be more thoughtful about the products I buy, though, and I think that country of origin will be a larger factor in my choices. It's also encouraged me to read up on globalization a bit more.
This book counts toward the Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Winter's Respite Wrap-Up
Winter's Respite Read-a-thon
I'm a little behind on this, but here's my wrap-up post for the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon hosted by The True Book Addict. My goals were to finish the three books I was currently reading (A Personal Matter, A Charmed Death, and A Mid-Summer Night's Dream and to start 1Q84. I accomplished none of those goals. I did, however, read The Second Duchess.
All in all, I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't more on the ball with the challenge, but last week was a little hectic and so my entire schedule was thrown off. That said, I'm glad I did the read-a-thon and look forward to doing more in the future. Next time, I definitely want to set aside time to read every day, as opposed to "I'll read when I read." I'd also like to pay more attention to mini-challenges and Twitter, since I was really looking forward to the social interaction aspect of the challenge.
I'm a little behind on this, but here's my wrap-up post for the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon hosted by The True Book Addict. My goals were to finish the three books I was currently reading (A Personal Matter, A Charmed Death, and A Mid-Summer Night's Dream and to start 1Q84. I accomplished none of those goals. I did, however, read The Second Duchess.
All in all, I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't more on the ball with the challenge, but last week was a little hectic and so my entire schedule was thrown off. That said, I'm glad I did the read-a-thon and look forward to doing more in the future. Next time, I definitely want to set aside time to read every day, as opposed to "I'll read when I read." I'd also like to pay more attention to mini-challenges and Twitter, since I was really looking forward to the social interaction aspect of the challenge.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012
Today kicks off the 2012 Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon hosted by The True Book Addict. It's also my first Read-a-Thon ever, so I'm pretty excited.
Here's my list for the challenge:
A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe
A Charmed Death by Madelyn Alt
A Mid-Summer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
I've already started the first three and I'm reading Shakespeare for Reading Shakespeare . I'm already one act behind and I participated in the discussion yet. I haven't started 1Q84 yet and I doubt I'll finish it by the time the Read-a-Thon's over, but I'd like to at least get a head start on it. I also need to start Gone with the Wind for the Gone with the Wind Read-a-Long.
I'm not sure how far I'll get, but I'm definitely looking forward to trying!
Here's my list for the challenge:
A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe
A Charmed Death by Madelyn Alt
A Mid-Summer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
I've already started the first three and I'm reading Shakespeare for Reading Shakespeare . I'm already one act behind and I participated in the discussion yet. I haven't started 1Q84 yet and I doubt I'll finish it by the time the Read-a-Thon's over, but I'd like to at least get a head start on it. I also need to start Gone with the Wind for the Gone with the Wind Read-a-Long.
I'm not sure how far I'll get, but I'm definitely looking forward to trying!
Friday, January 13, 2012
2012 Read Alongs/Read-a-thons
I thought I would try keeping track of the read alongs I've signed up for this year.
A Midsummer Night's Dream,
Runs: January 15, 2012 - January 30, 2012
Specific Works: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Specific Rules: None
Status: In Progress
Winter's Respite Read-a-thon
Runs: January 23, 2012 - January 29, 2012
Specific Works: None
Specific Rules: No
Status: Completed
The Second Duchess
The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas
Gone with the Wind Read-A-Long
Runs: January 16, 2012 - Unknown
Specific Works: Gone with the Wind
Specific Rules: No
Status: In Progress
A Midsummer Night's Dream,
Runs: January 15, 2012 - January 30, 2012
Specific Works: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Specific Rules: None
Status: In Progress
Winter's Respite Read-a-thon
Runs: January 23, 2012 - January 29, 2012
Specific Works: None
Specific Rules: No
Status: Completed
The Second Duchess
The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas
Gone with the Wind Read-A-Long
Runs: January 16, 2012 - Unknown
Specific Works: Gone with the Wind
Specific Rules: No
Status: In Progress
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
2012 Reading Challenges
I was a little disappointed with the results of my 2011 reading challenges, both in the number of challenges and the amount of books I read for each challenge. (Although I just noticed that a couple of them don't end until early 2012, so I can at least get one non-Tanizaki book in for the Japanese literature challenge.) This year, I'm being a little more aggressive by signing up for more. I met the goals for all the challenges I signed up for in 2011 (all three of them), so why not aim higher this year?
So, here's my list of 2012 Reading Challenges:
Banned Books Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 1, 2012
Rules: Read banned or challenged books. No re-reads.
Level: Starting at Level 1, Read 12 Banned/Challenged books
A Tale of Redwall
Runs: January 1, 2012 - Perpetuity
Rules: Read all the books in the Redwall series
Reading Challenge Addict Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules Enter and complete reading challenges.
Level: Starting goal is Easy as Pie, 1-5 challenges
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read Young Adult Novels
Level: Starting goal is The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read library books
Level: Starting goal is Level 1 - Read 12 library books, but I'm pretty sure I'll go much higher
1. My Year Without Made in China by Sara Bongiorno
2. The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny
3. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon
2012 Adult Fiction Debut Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read debut books by adult authors
Level Starting goal is Bronze: 1-5 Reviews, Interviews and/or Guest Posts
1. The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny
2012 Sci-Fi Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read one sci fi book per month.
War Through the Generations - World War I
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the WWI as the primary or secondary theme. Books can take place before, during, or after the war, so long as the conflicts that led to the war or the war itself are important to the story. Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.
Goal: Wade: Read 4-10 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
1. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon
Non-Fiction Non-Memoir Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read non-fiction, non-memoir books.
Goal: Bachelor's Degree - 15 nonfiction books
1. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon
2012 Science Fiction Reader Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read sci-fi books from twelve selected categories
2014 Winter Olympics Reading Challenge
Runs: March 1, 2010 - Feb 6, 2014
Rules: Read a book featuring a country that got a Medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Goal Level 1 (Gold): Read a book from every country that won a medal.
Northern Africa
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 1, 2012
Rules Read eleven books either set in this region or written by authors from this region in 2012.
2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read from your To Be Read pile.
Goal: Starting with 1-10 - A Firm Handshake
Tea and Books Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read books with more than 700 pages.
Goal: Chamomile Lover - 2 books
The Dystopia 2012 Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read dystopian books.
Goal:Starting with Asocial– 5 books
Off the Shelf 2012
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read books acquired before 2012
Goal: Starting with Trying - 15 books read
Immigrant Stories Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Books read must include an immigrant story. Any country counts.
Goal: Starting with Just off the boat: 1-3 books
Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - Perpetuity
Rules: Read the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
Fairy Tales Retold Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read original fairy tales or retellings.
Goal: Princess - 12 books
2012 Mammoth Book Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read books with 450 or more pages.
Goal: Starting with Level 2 - Read 4 mammoth-sized books
2012 Witches and Witchcraft Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Any full length book that includes a witch as a main character or major witchcraft elements counts. They may be fiction or non-fiction.
Goal: Initiate - 1-5 Witchy Books
Rizzoli and Isles Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read the Rizzoli and Isles series by Tess Gerritsen
Goal: Reread the three books of the series I've already read and read the other six, so nine books total.
2012 Nordic Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules Read books by an author born in a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and/or Sweden) or set in Nordic countries
Agatha Christie Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1,2012 – December 31,2012
Rules: Read works by Agatha Christie in order of publication
Venice in February Reading Challenge
Runs: February 1, 2012 - February 28, 2012
Rules: Read books set in/about Venice.
So, here's my list of 2012 Reading Challenges:
Banned Books Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 1, 2012
Rules: Read banned or challenged books. No re-reads.
Level: Starting at Level 1, Read 12 Banned/Challenged books
A Tale of Redwall
Runs: January 1, 2012 - Perpetuity
Rules: Read all the books in the Redwall series
Reading Challenge Addict Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules Enter and complete reading challenges.
Level: Starting goal is Easy as Pie, 1-5 challenges
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read Young Adult Novels
Level: Starting goal is The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read library books
Level: Starting goal is Level 1 - Read 12 library books, but I'm pretty sure I'll go much higher
1. My Year Without Made in China by Sara Bongiorno
2. The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny
3. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon
2012 Adult Fiction Debut Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read debut books by adult authors
Level Starting goal is Bronze: 1-5 Reviews, Interviews and/or Guest Posts
1. The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny
2012 Sci-Fi Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read one sci fi book per month.
War Through the Generations - World War I
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the WWI as the primary or secondary theme. Books can take place before, during, or after the war, so long as the conflicts that led to the war or the war itself are important to the story. Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.
Goal: Wade: Read 4-10 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
1. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon
Non-Fiction Non-Memoir Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read non-fiction, non-memoir books.
Goal: Bachelor's Degree - 15 nonfiction books
1. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon
2012 Science Fiction Reader Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read sci-fi books from twelve selected categories
2014 Winter Olympics Reading Challenge
Runs: March 1, 2010 - Feb 6, 2014
Rules: Read a book featuring a country that got a Medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Goal Level 1 (Gold): Read a book from every country that won a medal.
Northern Africa
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 1, 2012
Rules Read eleven books either set in this region or written by authors from this region in 2012.
2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read from your To Be Read pile.
Goal: Starting with 1-10 - A Firm Handshake
Tea and Books Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read books with more than 700 pages.
Goal: Chamomile Lover - 2 books
The Dystopia 2012 Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read dystopian books.
Goal:Starting with Asocial– 5 books
Off the Shelf 2012
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read books acquired before 2012
Goal: Starting with Trying - 15 books read
Immigrant Stories Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Books read must include an immigrant story. Any country counts.
Goal: Starting with Just off the boat: 1-3 books
Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - Perpetuity
Rules: Read the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
Fairy Tales Retold Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read original fairy tales or retellings.
Goal: Princess - 12 books
2012 Mammoth Book Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read books with 450 or more pages.
Goal: Starting with Level 2 - Read 4 mammoth-sized books
2012 Witches and Witchcraft Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Any full length book that includes a witch as a main character or major witchcraft elements counts. They may be fiction or non-fiction.
Goal: Initiate - 1-5 Witchy Books
Rizzoli and Isles Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules: Read the Rizzoli and Isles series by Tess Gerritsen
Goal: Reread the three books of the series I've already read and read the other six, so nine books total.
2012 Nordic Challenge
Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Rules Read books by an author born in a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and/or Sweden) or set in Nordic countries
Agatha Christie Reading Challenge
Runs: January 1,2012 – December 31,2012
Rules: Read works by Agatha Christie in order of publication
Venice in February Reading Challenge
Runs: February 1, 2012 - February 28, 2012
Rules: Read books set in/about Venice.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Quicksand by Junichiro Tanizaki
I've finally finished my third Junichiro Tanizaki novel (The Makioka Sisters and Naomi were the other two). Mel u over at The Reading Life actually recommended it to me last summer and I completely agree with her review, especially the part about reading everything written by Tanizaki because his writing style is amazing. In fact, one of my goals for 2012 is to read all of his books in the order they were written.
In Quicksand, after her affair with another man, a young married woman, Sonoko, enrolls at "a third-rate private school, with departments for painting, music, sewing, embroidery, and all." He husband, who had studied German law and wanted to be a professor, has just opened a law practice. His reasons for doing this are unclear, though Sonoko suggests that he was ashamed of depending on her parents' support.
At school, Sonoko notices Mitsuko, a very beautiful classmate, and unconsciously models her painting of the Kannon Bodhisattva after Mitsuko, drawing the attention of the school's director and creating rumors about the relationship between the two women, despite the fact that they hadn't met. Mitsuko approaches Sonoko and, after explaining that the rumors are the result of an attempt to discredit her to a potential husband, encourages Sonoko to spend time with her publicly in an effort to "make fun of everyone."
Their friendship quickly becomes a romantic relationship and Sonoko eventually meets Watanuki, the man Mitsuko plans to marry, and Sonoko and Watanuki become both rivals and uneasy allies, which produces, in my opinion, one of the more disturbing scenes in the book. Eventually, Sonoko's husband becomes entangled in the relationship.
Looking back over my reading notes, it's obvious nearly from the beginning that Mitsuko isn't being completely honest. Part of this might come from the summary of the book, which refers to Mitsuko as "a femme fatale as seductive and corrupt as any in the history of fiction, and a deceiver so heartlessly accomplished that she can turn even Sonoko's husband into her accomplice." At first, I was annoyed when I realized that by revealing the Mitsuko's involvement with Sonoko's husband, it spoiled almost 90% of the novel, but since the plot as advancing until the last paragraph, it's not as much of a spoiler as it would seem. Of course, the reader also knows from the beginning that, whatever happens between the three of them, Sonoko's husband is dead by the end of the book.
Sonoko, unlike the narrator of Naomi, is aware of what's happening. In of my favorite quotes, she says:
So I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into the quicksand, and although I said to myself I had to escape, by this time, I was helpless. I knew I was being used by Mitsuko and that all the while she was calling me her dear sister she was actually making a fool of me.
I suppose it would be more accurate to say she's somewhat aware, much the same as the reader is. Like Sonoko, I started doubting everything Mitsuko said or did fairly early on, assuming that there was a hidden motivation or goal in all her actions. There generally was, but, like Sonoko, I was unprepared for the end of the story. It takes a talented writer to create a situation where the reader questions everything in the narrative, yet is still shocked by the ending.
The book has a lot of the themes I've come to expect from Tanizaki. First, there was the eroticism and obsession, as well as self-destructive love. There was also the feeling of a society on the brink of change and a battle between the traditional and modern. For instance, while Sonoko studies traditional Japanese painting, Mitsuko studies Western painting. A book on Western birth control also plays an important part in the story.
Family also plays a significant role, or, more specifically, the issues springing up from an unequal match and the feeling of obligation to a family. Sonoko's husband's family is apparently below Sonoko's family. Her family supports him, even considering him a good catch because of his academic record, going as far as to take him into the family "like an adopted son" and ensuring that the couple are supported while her husband is studying, but also allowing them to go abroad for two or three years. This apparently leads to friction, with Sonoko saying that her husband found her "too willful" because of her family's position. This leads indirectly to Sonoko's relationship with Mitsuko.
Tanizaki is one of my favorite authors, but while I love reading his books, I hate writing about them because I never feel like I'm doing his work justice. I absolutely loved Quicksand though and wholeheartedly recommend it.
In Quicksand, after her affair with another man, a young married woman, Sonoko, enrolls at "a third-rate private school, with departments for painting, music, sewing, embroidery, and all." He husband, who had studied German law and wanted to be a professor, has just opened a law practice. His reasons for doing this are unclear, though Sonoko suggests that he was ashamed of depending on her parents' support.
At school, Sonoko notices Mitsuko, a very beautiful classmate, and unconsciously models her painting of the Kannon Bodhisattva after Mitsuko, drawing the attention of the school's director and creating rumors about the relationship between the two women, despite the fact that they hadn't met. Mitsuko approaches Sonoko and, after explaining that the rumors are the result of an attempt to discredit her to a potential husband, encourages Sonoko to spend time with her publicly in an effort to "make fun of everyone."
Their friendship quickly becomes a romantic relationship and Sonoko eventually meets Watanuki, the man Mitsuko plans to marry, and Sonoko and Watanuki become both rivals and uneasy allies, which produces, in my opinion, one of the more disturbing scenes in the book. Eventually, Sonoko's husband becomes entangled in the relationship.
Looking back over my reading notes, it's obvious nearly from the beginning that Mitsuko isn't being completely honest. Part of this might come from the summary of the book, which refers to Mitsuko as "a femme fatale as seductive and corrupt as any in the history of fiction, and a deceiver so heartlessly accomplished that she can turn even Sonoko's husband into her accomplice." At first, I was annoyed when I realized that by revealing the Mitsuko's involvement with Sonoko's husband, it spoiled almost 90% of the novel, but since the plot as advancing until the last paragraph, it's not as much of a spoiler as it would seem. Of course, the reader also knows from the beginning that, whatever happens between the three of them, Sonoko's husband is dead by the end of the book.
Sonoko, unlike the narrator of Naomi, is aware of what's happening. In of my favorite quotes, she says:
So I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into the quicksand, and although I said to myself I had to escape, by this time, I was helpless. I knew I was being used by Mitsuko and that all the while she was calling me her dear sister she was actually making a fool of me.
I suppose it would be more accurate to say she's somewhat aware, much the same as the reader is. Like Sonoko, I started doubting everything Mitsuko said or did fairly early on, assuming that there was a hidden motivation or goal in all her actions. There generally was, but, like Sonoko, I was unprepared for the end of the story. It takes a talented writer to create a situation where the reader questions everything in the narrative, yet is still shocked by the ending.
The book has a lot of the themes I've come to expect from Tanizaki. First, there was the eroticism and obsession, as well as self-destructive love. There was also the feeling of a society on the brink of change and a battle between the traditional and modern. For instance, while Sonoko studies traditional Japanese painting, Mitsuko studies Western painting. A book on Western birth control also plays an important part in the story.
Family also plays a significant role, or, more specifically, the issues springing up from an unequal match and the feeling of obligation to a family. Sonoko's husband's family is apparently below Sonoko's family. Her family supports him, even considering him a good catch because of his academic record, going as far as to take him into the family "like an adopted son" and ensuring that the couple are supported while her husband is studying, but also allowing them to go abroad for two or three years. This apparently leads to friction, with Sonoko saying that her husband found her "too willful" because of her family's position. This leads indirectly to Sonoko's relationship with Mitsuko.
Tanizaki is one of my favorite authors, but while I love reading his books, I hate writing about them because I never feel like I'm doing his work justice. I absolutely loved Quicksand though and wholeheartedly recommend it.
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