Kiki68

• Rated 3 stars

“Read this one in high school, read this one again for one of my book groups. Definitely related better to this book the second (or third) time around. I found lots of things from this book related to other things I've been reading, I'm so glad I read it again. Very interesting.”

Kiki68 wrote this review Wednesday, February 15, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“The first thing that got me interested in this book were the very amusing "book trailers" I saw on the internet last month, featuring the author calling two other well known authors (Sarah Vowell and John Hodgman)in which Mr. Auslander calls his two author friend separately and asks them that if he needs to hide in their attics, would that be possible, and would he and his small family would be welcome? A main theme in this novel is hiding in the attic. The father figure of the family in the book, Solomon Kugel, discovers a certain well know and young victim of the Holocaust is alive and, while not exactly well, is hiding in the attic of the upstate NY house he and his wife have just purchased and moved into, causing all sorts of problems, mainly for him.

I know this sounds like a very unlikely plot, but believe me, Shalom Auslander makes it work. Is it irreverent? Well, kind of, but not really. Somehow, Auslander makes you believe him, and makes you understand this unlikely survivor's many reasons for hiding after all these years. And I laughed quite a bit in certain spots, because Auslander is very funny. Although, you kind of know this guy is doomed. Because that's the other theme of this novel. Hope is a useless lost cause. there is no need for it, because you are going to be met with constant disappointment at all turns. Or so believes the therapist that Sol has been seeing for a while.

This book called to mind a more than a few Woody Allen characters. Guilt ridden, trying to get through life, expecting the worst, and so often facing the worst, Solomon Kugel tries to endure, to overcome the worst, but is constantly met with unfailingly tough opposition, usually in the form of his family (his mother, who maintains she is a Holocaust survivor, although she clearly isn't, his wife a frustrated writer who worries constantly over money, his sister in law and husband, who cannot have children, but try loudly to conceive every time they spend the night, etc.). The book is dark, yes, but also, it is funny.

Shalom Auslander is a very informal writer, he is loose and unstructured, and the style here seems to mimic the life the main character has been living. When an unforeseen change interrupts that usually predictable but relaxed life, the tension becomes thick. Great book, I really enjoyed it.”

Kiki68 wrote this review Friday, February 3, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“This was a book group read, and I was tentative, since I had heard mixed things from different friends. I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, nor worse! The descriptive writing was lovely, the Night Circus was completely brought to life by Morgenstern's gorgeous poetic prose. I was very much reminded of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes at times.

The plot revolves around a competition, one that is created by two magicians who have incredible powers. One passes on some of these powers to his beautiful daughter; the other to an orphan he chooses at a young age and raises completely immersed in a school of his own devising. Celia and Marco are both intriguing enough characters, as are many of the other characters in this story, but don't expect deep characters with lots to say.

All in all, not a bad story, it was fun to discuss, but lots of unanswered questions at the end, leaving room for possible sequels, I'm sure. ”

Kiki68 wrote this review Friday, February 3, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“In full disclosure, Amy Welborn is a friend of mine, and I was very honored to get a copy of her book, from her, before it is released next week. That being said, Amy is also a very wonderful writer, and has long been known for her Catholic devotionals and articles. This is her own personal story.

Amy lost her husband very unexpectedly. He was a young man, only 50, and died at the YMCA while running on a treadmill. Amy and Michael had two small children, and they are her biggest concern in this book, with her faith and doubt about what "happens next" playing in a close second. Amy plans an adventurous trip to Sicily and points beyond the following summer with her three children (Katie, is 17), and learns much about herself and her faith while exploring a new and alien country with her kids.

This book is so tenderly written and so lovingly focused on her children, her dear husband and her own feelings and fears. Amy is a very honest writer, and funny, too! But I often found myself tearing up and even, at times, sobbing, at the unimaginable anguish that Amy and her family were put through with the surprise death of their dear,loved one. I can't recommend this book enough for anyone. This book is far superior to the "I've been to heaven and here's what it's like" variety. This book is about the truth of the here and now, the possibility of heaven, and the promise of God's eternal love. ”

Kiki68 wrote this review Friday, February 3, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“This reminded me a little bit of Ian McEwan's On Chesil Beach, mainly for it's shortness, but also the setting (1960's England), and the feeling of distance from everyone that the main character felt. Told in first person narrative, we learn of Tony Webster's formative years in school, his friends and a little later, his first romantic relationship. Fast forward to the more recent past, and Tony tells us how he one day receives a mysterious (to him at least) portion of the estate of a woman whose name he does not initially recognize.

The book takes an interesting turn here. This is a man who has been fairly satisfied with his life, including his behavior. And we think we know everything there is to know. I don't want to give anything away about this novel, because it isn't long, and I'd hate to reveal any main plot points and ruin this for anyone.

Not my favorite book of the year, but well worth the time, since it is so very short. I also just finished re-reading Camus' The Stranger, and I couldn't help but feeling the two were somehow related when I read Barnes' book last week.”

Kiki68 wrote this review Monday, January 23, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“I really loved Bridget Jones' Diary, but most other "chick lit" leaves me cold. I usually read A Christmas Carol during the holiday season. But when this popped up on my library's download page, I requested it out of curiosity and it came just in time for Christmas.

I was not expecting to laugh quite as much as I did, nor I was expecting some of the shocking language coming from a female writer/journalist, which I guess may be a double standard on my part, but I just don't read a lot of novels with such excessive swearing in conversation. I was amused though! It was all good!

Clara is a middle aged mother, dealing with a slump in her marriage and self esteem. Her life changes dramatically over a three year period, and we get to see the changes as observers at her annual Christmas party. Fun little book, easy read, very funny and at times, poignant. I may try more of Ms. Knight's writing in the future!”

Kiki68 wrote this review Friday, January 6, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“My Amazon review. I read this on Kindle as a public library loan.

I have been looking forward to reading this book for a while. Colson Whitehead paints a very sad, but initially hopeful portrait, of a United States transformed by a zombie virus. "Mark Spitz" as he is referred to throughout the novel (not his real name, which is never revealed)spends his days in this new world disposing of dead bodies and zombies, as directed by the newly established order in a refugee world. Everyone is dealing with PASD (post-apocalyptic stress disorder)which can reveal itself in many ways and at any time.

Mark Spitz seems to find himself dwelling on his life previously to some extent, where he believed himself to be a fairly average human being. Now, however, he sees himself as fairly closed off and guarded. His reflections of the past seem to indicate that perhaps he was a lot like he is now in the old world.

Whitehead's writing is imaginative and creative. Even thought this is a "zombie" novel, it is not your average, run of the mill horror story with excessive amounts of gore and blood. This is a story created to make one think about what it is to be a human being. I enjoyed this.”

Kiki68 wrote this review Friday, January 6, 2012. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“From my Amazon review, ARC

I know this book was originally published in 1947, but it is completely new to American readers. If you loved any of Irène Némirovsky's other books (I've read and loved Suite Francaise and Fire in the Blood) you should also LOVE this beauty of a book.

If Ms Némirovsky had survived the war, I imagine she would have become a most powerful writer. Her observations of life and love, especially in times of hardship and distress are very astute and well crafted. I'm sure this also has something to do with the excellent work of translator Sandra Smith, who should be given credit for translating the poetic prose of Némirovsky into a lovely English language novel, yet still true to its author's intentions, I'm sure.

The story is of two French Provincial families, and they truly embody the meaning of the word "provincial." Before the start of World War 1, the Hardelot and Florents families both lived idyllic and worry free lives. Their biggest concern was marrying off their children to just the right person: arranged marriages were still attempted, but in the case of these families from the small town of Saint Elme, the arrangements fall through. The elders of the families struggle to regain the control they have exerted over the children, but war and passion rip anyone's control of their quiet lives away from them.

Némirovsky's character studies are contemporary and universal, very appealing. I highly recommend this novel and her others to anyone with an interest in France during both World Wars.”

Kiki68 wrote this review Tuesday, December 13, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“
This is NOT my usual reading. I seldom read paranormal/supernatural fiction. I read a few Anne Rice back over 20 years ago (love Interview With the Vampire AND The Mummy), and with the exception of a ghost story here and there, and Twilight, which I read because my girls were reading it (took one day, 4 hours of my life I will never get back--UGH!), this kind of book doesn't usually show up on my reading radar.

However, somewhere, somehow, I came across it in discussion somewhere on Facebook, and downloaded a sample onto my Kindle. I was intrigued. I didn't exactly run out looking for it, but when I came across it at the library last week, I snatched it up. Mindless, fun reading, this story is a whirlwind of vampire do's and don'ts! The main conceit of this novel is a seemingly normal English suburban family with a big secret--they are "abstaining" vampires. Unfortunately, the two teenage children don't know they are vampires, so they are sickly and weak and don't know why (don't worry, this is all laid out pretty quickly in the book, no spoilers here!). Horror (and even some hilarity) ensues.

I would say this is a notch or two above the writing style of Stephanie Meyer, very readable (and movie ready, I might add) with it's short chapters a la Dan Brown and highly visual descriptions. But Haig is a grown up writer with references to stuff quite a few teens are not going to get--the "vampire culture" presented in the novel extends from the Romantic poets to Jimi Hendrix and lots of folks in between. Clever and fun, a good one for Anglophiles with its English village setting. I'm sure it will make a fun movie (I just read the screenplay was being written by the same writer for PD James' 'Children of Men.'

I also could not help but think the family's name, Radley, had to be a nod to the reclusive Boo Radley of To kill A Mockingbird. I just founf this after searching for a clue on Goggle: "The family's surname, in case you wondered, is a tribute to Boo Radley of "To Kill a Mockingbird" fame. "'Yes, Boo, pale-faced, misunderstood suburban outsider, was definitely my inspiration,' Haig told Publishers Weekly. He also learned that "Radley," meaning "of the red meadow," sports nice vampiric connotations." So, mystery solved![http://www.standard.net/topics/features/2011/01/17/fiendish-family-turmoil-comes-comic-bite] ”

Kiki68 wrote this review Wednesday, November 30, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“I was immediately hooked by this funny, little novel. The story is told from the point of view of several different characters, all somehow in relation to Miles Garth, a man who attends a dinner party as a guest and locks himself in the spare room of the hosts' home for weeks on end without explanation. We aren't told why, and know when really seems to know. His story is told in relation to these varying acquaintances throughout the book. It seems key that no one who is part of the story is particularly close to Miles.

The story takes place in Greenwich, England, and the city itself plays a large role in the novel, with its role in how we keep track of time, and how time has such an important role in our lives. The style of writing varies from chapter to chapter, in accordance with the character who we are learning about, and their lucidity and awareness. Ms. Smith is not afraid to take chances with her prose, and it really enhances the characters and the novel as a whole. At many times this novel bordered on being a stream of consciousness type book, and while I usually shy away from that kind of literature, in this case, I loved it.

It is hard to describe this novel without explaining it, which takes away the experience of reading it. Mysteries are introduced and never really 'solved,' but this is how life is, and it is done here in such a natural way, it doesn't really matter that there are unresolved issues. Very reflective of true life. A pleasure to read. I look forward to reading some of her other novels.”

Kiki68 wrote this review Friday, November 25, 2011. ( reply | permalink )