Marnie

• Rated 3 stars

“The End of Your Life Book Club By Will Schwalbe

3 Stars

In 2007 Mary Ann Schwalbe returned from a trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan to discover what she thinks is Hepatitus is actually advanced pancreatic cancer. Mary Ann was an accomplished educator and humanitarian who spent the last 10 years of her life building libraries in Afghanistan. She continued this effort until her death. Books were also an important and included part of her life and deaith.

During the next two years Mary Ann and her son create a book club of just the two of them. The resulting memoir is their journey in books and life. It brings them so much closer and they learn so much. The power of listening to opinions and life's lesson's. They read all sorts of books from classics to popular, some are rereads and some are because of their needs at the time. They may be a way to tell the other something or open up a difficult discussion.

This was a moving novel. And I can say that if given a choice this how I wish my life to end being surrounded by the books I love and retaining that passion and ability to read until the very end. It was interesting learning what their choices were for the book club and why. What did they gain from them, and what they learned about each other. Some I knew well, some were on my radar and others I had never heard of and some I added to my own ever growing list. Books are so important for so many things and that is why I love them so. They have throughout my life been my rock and have solidified my relationships with my children as well. The discussions we have had over a book are priceless. I recommend this to anyone with a love of reading and how it enriches your life.
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Marnie wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“The Psychopath Test By Jon Ronson

3 Stars

Jon Ronson is a journalist known for his quirky investigative work. He wrote The Men Who Stare At Goats. This book all started with him being called in to solve an odd mystery that the world's renowned scientists are experiencing. This results in Jon going down the path to find out what he can about Psychopaths who and what are they? How do we know? What is the history of it in the world of psychiatry?

Jon explores many avenues in this book. He speaks to Scientologist's who are totally against the study of psychiatry in general. He meets Tony, a person who is locked in a maximum security psych ward and has been for many years. Tony presents himself to people as having faked the tests to get an insanity plea and seems normal at first glance but who is he really. There are naked therapy sessions including all the LSD you could want where subjects became the therapists and the patients. That one may have backfired on the researchers. He interviews many of the most knowledgeable on the subject including the gentlemen who wrote DSM III and Bob Hare the creator of the Psychopath Test.

Jon does a good job of interviewing subjects from many variations on the subject. He meets with them many times, returning after someone new has come up and new questions to answer. There were witty parts and sarcasm laced throughout. At one point Jon is invited by Bob Hare to attend training that he does for people to be able to use the Psychopath test. They consist of prison officials, psychiatrists, officers and the like. Bob Hare later critized Jon's liberal use of his knowledge after that training. Stating that did not give him the knowledge to use that the way it was intended it would take years more training. Some of the people that attended the training had no more background than Jon, I just don't believe Mr. Hare liked that particular light shed on it. It questioned the validity of the test because after it Jon would run through the test in his mind when he met with people. I did not see the validity of Mr. Hare's angst over the book. It's sort of the same thing that happens when people go on the internet and self-diagnose medical conditions. I don't think Mr. Ronson was saying that that course made him qualified to do diagnose people but you certainly can't resist it when you know what the symptons are.
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Marnie wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Plainsong By Kent Haruf

4 Stars

Like a comfortable old shoe I immersed myself in Holt County in this wonderful book by Kent Haruf. The title says a lot about the book. One definition of Plainsong is any simple unadorned melody or air. Holt is simplicity, an unadorned place on the map. Plainsong can also mean a chant that builds and that also happens here, a crying out from the people of Holt.

This is a story of different people living in the same area dealing with the complexities of even their simple lives. This is farming country, things are handled simply and no one wants to bother anyone with their troubles. Some don't even know what it is they needed or lacked until someone comes along and they realize. There is a pregnant 17 year old who has been disowned by her mother. A teacher who is lonely and his two young boys who have been left by their wife and mother. Two old farming bachelors who are set in their ways discover there is room for a change even 17 miles from anywhere.

This is a poignant novel, you feel for this place and these lives that are contained there. I couldn't put it down. It transported me back to my childhood and rural country. To a simpler time and age. There were still problems of course and there always will be but it felt good remembering how that life was and how much I miss it.
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Marnie wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Fool On The Hill By Matt Ruff

4 Stars

Mr. Sunshine a retired god who is a storyteller has wrote the story of Cornell University from it's foundation. He's been sitting by watching as the story unfolds, checking in from time to time while taking a break from his other stories. The players are all there The Bohemians, who are saviors of the day in an unconventional way, the dogs who are fighting their own battles, the sprites who help out on the hill and the evil to beat all evil Rasferret The Grub. What's story without a Hero right? Enter Stephen Titus George, who is a storyteller of his own and liar extraordinaire. George is looking for love in all the wrong places he seems until he finds Calliope, sound familiar? Calliope sets many events in motion for Mr. Sunshine bringing lovers together and tearing others apart. Calliope leaves when her work is done to leave George with Aurora Borealis, are they meant to be?

That is all up to Mr. Sunshine or is it? Can George writes the ending to this story? Someone has to save the day don't they? Will he get the girl, will evil be thwarted? Happily ever after or Greek tragedy, we'll have to what till the end of the story to find out.

This book had everything packed into one heck of a story. Everyone loves reading about the fight between good and evil and this book is one very interesting way to do it. An amazing cast of characters from literally all walks of life. There is magic, harnessing of the wind, mans best friend and Tolkein. What more could you ask for. This was action packed and wonderful until the bitter end.”

Marnie wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Still Life With Woodpecker By Tom Robbins

4 Stars

What a spectacularly wonderful month of reading this has been! This is a fairy tale of sorts. When fairy tales involve princess' and royalty, purity, romance, and being saved by an outlaw? Leigh Cheri is the princess, an environmental princess that is that takes up all the important causes. Her royal family is in exile in the northwest of the united states. She lives with her father the gambler, her mother the opera loving socialite and one loyal subject. Leigh Cheri is a fallen cheerleader who had an unfortunate outcome with her supposed prince charming culminating in her search for reliable contraception. Princess' are to be pure to marry a great prince and she can't do that without it. Especially given that she is of all things a redhead.
Leigh Cheri goes on a trip in search of answers and a better way to live. Happier with good contraception and knowing how to make love stay. What happens while on the islands of Hawaii is mayhem. Running into Argons which believe redheads are the bane of existence. They are to blame for everything of course. Along comes the Outlaw, the Woodpecker. What secrets and answers does he hold? Will they live happily ever after?

This book was very funny. Especially since I am of the redhead persuasion. I pondered the moon, romance, the environment and what's really important in this life.

Quotes - "Don't you understand that you've been mutated by solar radiation acting upon the excessive sugars and sex hormones in your body? You can't fool the sun."

"I asked Mr. Wrangle what you were like. He said you were hornet juice and rosebuds in a container of gazelle meat. He does speak colorfully, doesn't he?"”

Marnie wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“The House Of Mirth By Judith Wharton

3 Stars

Lily Barton is a 29 year old beautiful woman who is chaparoned by her wealthy aunt. Lily is stuck in the 1890's society, with no where to go, and no fun to be had. At least not if you want to marry well and be taken care of. Deep tradition, rules and double standards surround her. Young women who were unmarried could be taken advantage of and ruined for virtually nothing. No one would ever forget either once that happens.

Lily's aunt disowns her prior to her death for one such infraction which may or may not include gambling debts and affairs with married men. Lily tries to survive using her intelligence and wit. She wants to be independent and find a man she can love for love's sake. Fate, and the cruel world are very much against her.

Well written and true to the age. Wharton captures what a women such as Lily would have gone through during this time in our society. We've come a long way in some respects and others we haven't.
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Marnie wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Brave New World By Aldous Huxley

3 Stars

Bernard and Lenina live in a Utopian London. London is where the Central Hatching and Conditioning Centre is located. Hatching, conditioning, cloning, brainwashing - Utopian speak right? The Director oversees all of this, everything is controlled percisely clones are produced according to a Greek class system consisting of Alphas, Betas, etc. Each hatchling is then conditioned according to their destiny to have certain talents and be repelled by others. Perfection! There is no wanting there is no needing it is all provided for. And if you can't handle something there is always SOMA in tablet form to take you away to blissful retreats.

Bernard and Lenina do not quite fit into the mold of perfection. Bernard as an Alpha isn't quite as strapping that he should be and there is talk of alcohol being supplied to him pre-hatching. Lenina has been in a longer term relationship with Henry, and that is unheard of. You are to copulate freely with no thought or care of any consequences because there are none, no babies are born there are no diseases. Lenina is pressured to try out others so she seeks our Bernard and they are off to the Savage Reservation. The Savage Reservation represents the stuff of pure nightmares the dystopian on the fringes society at least to the hatchlings. Which is better Utopia or Dystopia? Is it a matter of perception or reality?

When reading books such as this that were written so long ago but are still so relevant I am always amazed. Cloning, conditioning, morality questions, we as a modern society struggle with these daily. Should we or shouldn't we? To struggle or not to struggle. There is so much within these pages to think about, things you recognize and so much social commentary. That utopian society may be closer than you think.
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Marnie wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“Franny and Zooey By J.D. Salinger

4 Stars

Oh Franny and Zooey, what a family! Salinger has done it again, I love reading his work. It's a love I share with my daughter who has loved A Catcher in The Rye forever it seems. Reading this called a myriad of thoughts and emotions. We begin in the first part reading a narrative between Franny and her lackidaisical boyfriend Lane. The narrative develops and you realize Lane is wrapped up in college and the frivilous things college boys find important and not so much with what Franny is truly struggling with. She actually becomes ill and we learn she is searching for life's meaning and deeper things then her surrounding world is currently providing her.

Next enters Zooey reading a letter in a bathtub which is uninterupted by his mother whom he refers to as the fat lady. This family is really something. They have a an older brother who taught Franny and Zooey a lot but committed suicide. The brothers and sisters were also highly intelligent with the whole family competing and devouring a lot of literature and knowledge. What effect has this had on them and how do they function around normal society when so many things are going on in their minds all the time? Franny is obsessed currently with a book called The Way of the Pilgrim which wants you to chant a religious mantra continiously to reach an mind expanding experience. Zooey is giving the task by the fat lady to sort out Franny before she becomes like her first born.

I've read in reviews that this feels like reading a play to some and I would agree with that. A much more interesting one in my opinion then say Waiting for Godot, which I did enjoy, and Death of a Salesmen which I lothed.

While reading this it reminded me of my household and some of the conversations I have with my son. It's randomness and has no real goal or plot but the journey is oh so interesting. I was totally fine with it, it was like I was visiting these characters for a weekend. At the end even though the conversation can go on for what seems like ever it does end and then, you rest.
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Marnie wrote this review Wednesday, April 17, 2013. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Ready Player One By Ernest Cline

5 Stars

Virtual reality in the year 2044 is the setting for this quirky, nerdy book. Wade Watts is our main player who is deep into the virtual reality world of the Oasis. Things have progressed far in our world, it's a grim, dirty, and depressing place to be. Not so when you're plugged into the Oasis. You can pretty much live your whole life there if you choose and most do, going to work, school and trolling for love all from the comfort of their homes. Or un-comfort of their homes which is why they are all there in the first place.

The creator of the Oasis James Halliday has hidden an easter egg within it. He set up an elaborate contest that was to go on after his death that would result in the ultimate prize worth killing for. Wade is one of the Gunters, (computer geeks) who devotes most all of his time in the hunt for, all the while watching out for the baddies that are the Sixers. Wade finds out a lot along the way about himself, his friends, and how he lives his life. One thing though is that James Halliday loved pop culture from the 80's, gotta love this man. This is one wild adventure, the ultimate quest, much like being given the golden ticket to enter the chocolate factory. Don't worry there's a reference to that in there as well.

What a wonderful book! It really had a lot within it. It was a trip down memory lane for me and I'm sure for anyone that grew up during the 80's, or remembers them. I did not think that I would like this book initially since I really was not much of a gamer growing up. I did play a lot of Atari 400, Missile Command, etc. Not to mention the 400 had a "keyboard" and I spent a LOT of time banging out the typing mantra across a blue screen. Oh, those were the days. Regardless of what I thought there was not a reference that I didn't recognize and there are lots of them. I didn't need to be a computer gamer geek to get this at all. I laughed so much at the 80's song and catch phrases that the narrator on the audio played out.

This book also had a serious side at least to me. It's a look at where we came from in our tech savvy world and how we got where we are today. There are pros and cons to everything. It's a look at what the future might hold and how disconnected we all could be. It is very very possible. I did not game when I was younger, however I did play many many many hours of a popular MMORPG called Starwars Galaxies Online, and I will tell you it can consume you. I did not sleep or eat for periods of time. It was a virtual world where I was dealing with real people that you can develop very real relationships with, some that I still have. It has a cost though. Now I do not play, there just isn't time. Facebook can be just as dangerous with it's little games or any other social media.

Overall I recommend this to almost anyone. It is just an utter delight and you won't be disappointed.
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Marnie wrote this review Wednesday, April 17, 2013. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas By Hunter S. Thompson

4 Stars

This was not on my to read list this month but my son wanted to watch the movie so I had to step it up. I did watch the movie directly following and found it to stay fairly true to the book.

I thought I would have a difficult time getting throught this given that I had heard stream of conscienceness in reference to the book. I do not do well with those. However Ulysses this is not so I sped right through the short 200 pages.

The novel unfolds in the deserts on some amazingly wild rides. Roaul Duke and his lawyer Dr. Gonzo speed throught the deserts picking up stray hitch hikers and avoiding many other, "hazards" on their trip, many self-induced. They have a cache of every major illegal drug they can get their hands on. They are in search of, "The American Dream" does it exist in these times? These times being the 1960's and beginning of 1970's. It must somewhere and they are going to find it but first, pass the ether would ya?

Gonzo Journalism is a term penned by Hunter S. Thompson and is used in this novel. The melding of fiction and fact. The character Roaul Duke calls himself a doctor of journalism and his lawyer is Dr. Gonzo. Did Mr. Thompson go on a trip to cover the Mint 400 with his lawyer, yes indeed he did. Was there a drug fueled, hallucination filled, hotel room destroying good time had? Maybe, that is an argument for the ages.
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Marnie wrote this review Thursday, April 11, 2013. ( reply | permalink )