Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2010
326 p. ; 22 cm.
Like Going Bovine, this book won the Printz Award. Unlike Going Bovine, which I just didn't care for, I think this book is more likely to circulate among teen readers. My friend and I were discussing this book, and she was less positive about it than I was. We both thought that Bacigalupi was masterful at setting and atmosphere, but she felt the plot was a stretch - even for the willing suspension of disbelief required of dystopian sci-fi.
Like her, I question whether this is the best book of the year for young adults [my vote would have gone to The Curse of the Wendigo], but I thought the plotting was tight, suspenseful and would engage many readers.
Both of us agreed that the adolescent main character,Nailer, and his original crew were both interesting and strong - and that the opening scenes of the novel are really compelling. I think both of us found that the relationship between Nailer and the rich swank - Lucky Girl - he saves to be too cliche. We both thought that his moral code of crew loyalty would not have made such a quick acceptance of this girl.
I thought his father's power and evil to be overdone, and think that a more powerful ending would have had Nailer ultimately betrayed by Lucky Girl - or at least betrayed by the swanks who take her back in....alas, that might have made the novel too depressing...
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Classic Yuck!
The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey
New York : Simon & Schuster BFYR, c2010.
424 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.
Yancey's follow-up to The Monstrumologist is great; I think an even better book than the first. As in The Monstrumologist there is plenty of gruesome gore and supernatural violence - bodies turn up flayed, eviscerated, and missing eyes and faces. There are basements full of green sewage and dead bodies. What raises this book above all the ick is it's finely crafted plot and superbly drawn main characters - Dr. Warthrop the late 19th century monstrumologist and his orphaned assistant are fully developed and interesting characters.
The framing of this novel, like the first one, is a clever device attributing the story to the journals of a very old, deceased William Henry - giving the novel an air of authenticity. It also benefits from many references to people and events of the period, so that it reads a bit like historical fiction - but without the dullness that genre sometimes exhibits.
Our book group at the high school just finished Stephen King's Pet Sematary - and the contrast couldn't be greater. Where King's writing is sloppy and uneven, this book was tight and elegant. I'm definitely a fan.
New York : Simon & Schuster BFYR, c2010.
424 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.
Yancey's follow-up to The Monstrumologist is great; I think an even better book than the first. As in The Monstrumologist there is plenty of gruesome gore and supernatural violence - bodies turn up flayed, eviscerated, and missing eyes and faces. There are basements full of green sewage and dead bodies. What raises this book above all the ick is it's finely crafted plot and superbly drawn main characters - Dr. Warthrop the late 19th century monstrumologist and his orphaned assistant are fully developed and interesting characters.
The framing of this novel, like the first one, is a clever device attributing the story to the journals of a very old, deceased William Henry - giving the novel an air of authenticity. It also benefits from many references to people and events of the period, so that it reads a bit like historical fiction - but without the dullness that genre sometimes exhibits.
Our book group at the high school just finished Stephen King's Pet Sematary - and the contrast couldn't be greater. Where King's writing is sloppy and uneven, this book was tight and elegant. I'm definitely a fan.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
More Darwin, Yes!
Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species: a Graphic AdaptationMichael Keller, illus. by Nicolle Rager Fuller
New York: Rodale, 2009.
192 p.
I think I fell for Darwin after reading his Voyage of the Beagle about 15 years ago. (BTW, it's a great adventure read.) That prompted me to read several biographies of Darwin, and these only improved my admiration for him. He was a ridiculously rigorous scientist and a very humane person. I remember being especially impressed by his rather progressive attitudes toward parenting and by his generous decision to share the discovery of natural selection with Alfred Wallace - even though Darwin had arrived at his theory (though unpublished) many years before Wallace. Finally - which brings me to the book I'm highlighting here - I tried (but failed) to read all of Darwin's Origin of Species. Well, let's just say that it is not an easy read - it's labored and technical at times; after all Darwin, was trying to cross all his t's and dot all his i's - knowing how controversial his theory would be. So it was with interest that I found this "graphic novel" adaptation of the Origin of Species.
I'd recommend this book with a few qualifications. The book is an excellent introduction to Darwin's theory of natural selection. I especially appreciate how it follows the organizing structure of Darwin's work and distills its main points of evidence and argument in a clear and understandable way. The book is also colorfully illustrated and lovely to look at (that's why I've included a picture of its cover). My only complaints are that it is nearly impossible to tell what are exact quotes from the Origin of Species, quotes from Darwin's letters, or the authors own retelling. I would have appreciated some kind of key to this such as all excerpts from the letters in quotes, while excerpts from Origin in italics, or some such format. At times it was also a little confusing to tell what findings were modern contributions vs. those contemporaneous with Darwin. These complaints aside, this book is a wonderful contribution to popularizing Darwin's stunning discoveries and insights.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Quantum Science Goes to the Dogs
How to Teach Physics to Your Dog
Chad Orzel
New York : Scribner, 2009.
241 p.
Have a student interested in quantum theory? This is not a bad book for that. Orzel uses humor and the shtick of his dog supposedly asking question after question about the fundamentals of quantum theory.
In spite of the book being meant for the lay reader, I still had a lot of difficulty with understanding the author's explanations of wave functions and his attempt to explain decoherence and the idea of infinite universes. But, there is plenty to enjoy in the book and I LOVED his last chapter where he debunks and derides the shameless hucksterism of people like Depak Chopera who use shallow quantum theory mumble-jumble to sell their self-help and self-improvement books.
Other books I've liked that touch on quantum theory are the book You Are Here by Christopher Potter and The Elegant Universe by Brian Green (which is more about super string theories, and yet discusses a lot of quantum theory, too.)
Chad Orzel
New York : Scribner, 2009.
241 p.
Have a student interested in quantum theory? This is not a bad book for that. Orzel uses humor and the shtick of his dog supposedly asking question after question about the fundamentals of quantum theory.
In spite of the book being meant for the lay reader, I still had a lot of difficulty with understanding the author's explanations of wave functions and his attempt to explain decoherence and the idea of infinite universes. But, there is plenty to enjoy in the book and I LOVED his last chapter where he debunks and derides the shameless hucksterism of people like Depak Chopera who use shallow quantum theory mumble-jumble to sell their self-help and self-improvement books.
Other books I've liked that touch on quantum theory are the book You Are Here by Christopher Potter and The Elegant Universe by Brian Green (which is more about super string theories, and yet discusses a lot of quantum theory, too.)
Flowers for Flowers for Algernon
Flowers for Algernon
Daniel Keyes
Orlando, Fla : Harcourt, 2004, c1959.
311 p.
I was recently at a public library where the librarian was looking for a recommendation for a young man who had read A Child Called It, and wanted to find a book that hooks you in and is a fast interesting read. Our book club at Urbana High School had just finished reading and discussing Flowers for Algernon and so I suggested it as a choice for the young reader. It came to mind quickly because the main character in the book also reveals life with a mother who - though not as monstrous as the one in Child Called It - is a horrible, abusive parent.
It's pretty amazing that this book was written in 1959. There is a certain timeless quality to it, and it still captivates readers; our book club readers all liked it. There are a few dated moments in the novel, but its plot is so engaging and the emotional impact of the novel is really compelling.
If you are completely unfamiliar with this novel, it involves a 30+ year old man with mental retardation who becomes the subject of an experiment that not only eliminates his retardation, but rapidly turns him into a polymath genius. Of course, there is a catch, but you'll have to read the book to find out what that is. What saves the book from being just an interesting curiosity, is its grappling with issues of what does it mean to be "intelligent" - and how does intelligence shape our understanding of what it means to be human. The main character also must come to terms with family memories, his stunted emotional life, new and old friendships, and of course, love.
Do you have a young reader looking for a catchy, plot driven book? Then suggest Flowers for Algernon - and old, but good read that doesn't disappoint.
Daniel Keyes
Orlando, Fla : Harcourt, 2004, c1959.
311 p.
I was recently at a public library where the librarian was looking for a recommendation for a young man who had read A Child Called It, and wanted to find a book that hooks you in and is a fast interesting read. Our book club at Urbana High School had just finished reading and discussing Flowers for Algernon and so I suggested it as a choice for the young reader. It came to mind quickly because the main character in the book also reveals life with a mother who - though not as monstrous as the one in Child Called It - is a horrible, abusive parent.
It's pretty amazing that this book was written in 1959. There is a certain timeless quality to it, and it still captivates readers; our book club readers all liked it. There are a few dated moments in the novel, but its plot is so engaging and the emotional impact of the novel is really compelling.
If you are completely unfamiliar with this novel, it involves a 30+ year old man with mental retardation who becomes the subject of an experiment that not only eliminates his retardation, but rapidly turns him into a polymath genius. Of course, there is a catch, but you'll have to read the book to find out what that is. What saves the book from being just an interesting curiosity, is its grappling with issues of what does it mean to be "intelligent" - and how does intelligence shape our understanding of what it means to be human. The main character also must come to terms with family memories, his stunted emotional life, new and old friendships, and of course, love.
Do you have a young reader looking for a catchy, plot driven book? Then suggest Flowers for Algernon - and old, but good read that doesn't disappoint.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Don't Rush to Rush
Rush
Johnathan Friesen
New York : Speak, 2010.
295 p. ; 21 cm.
I honestly wanted to like this book, but Publisher's Weekly judges that Friesen's "effort mars the excitement of rappelling into wildfires with flat characters that seem more motivated by the needs of the plot than real development....and too many of the other characters...are paper-thin archetypes." I couldn't agree more.
It's a shame, though, because there's a lot of good storytelling in this novel, and I confess that Friesen has a knack for hooking you in so that you want to read on - which is no small achievement, especially when looking for books that will interest young adult readers. However, I found some of the over blown heroics and feats of the main character just downright silly. His first day in elite firefighting training he runs a five mile wilderness course in 25 minutes flat and is barely winded! Additionally, motivations of the wooden characters leaves much to be desired. For example, one can never really understand what the main female character - Jake's love interest - sees in him, his main trait is a disturbed, depressed personality that only comes to life in adrenaline pumped danger.
I probably should have read Friesen's book, Jerk, California - which is probably a bit better. This book misses a chance to be a thrilling read that could have seriously wrestled with what makes thrill-seekers tick, the nature of courage, and definitions of honor. Instead it's more like a Saturday morning cartoon: fun, but ultimately very, very thin.
Johnathan Friesen
New York : Speak, 2010.
295 p. ; 21 cm.
I honestly wanted to like this book, but Publisher's Weekly judges that Friesen's "effort mars the excitement of rappelling into wildfires with flat characters that seem more motivated by the needs of the plot than real development....and too many of the other characters...are paper-thin archetypes." I couldn't agree more.
It's a shame, though, because there's a lot of good storytelling in this novel, and I confess that Friesen has a knack for hooking you in so that you want to read on - which is no small achievement, especially when looking for books that will interest young adult readers. However, I found some of the over blown heroics and feats of the main character just downright silly. His first day in elite firefighting training he runs a five mile wilderness course in 25 minutes flat and is barely winded! Additionally, motivations of the wooden characters leaves much to be desired. For example, one can never really understand what the main female character - Jake's love interest - sees in him, his main trait is a disturbed, depressed personality that only comes to life in adrenaline pumped danger.
I probably should have read Friesen's book, Jerk, California - which is probably a bit better. This book misses a chance to be a thrilling read that could have seriously wrestled with what makes thrill-seekers tick, the nature of courage, and definitions of honor. Instead it's more like a Saturday morning cartoon: fun, but ultimately very, very thin.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Breaking the First Rule of Fight Club
Fight Club
Chuck Palahniuk
New York : W.W. Norton, 2005, c1996.
218 p. ; 21 cm.
"The first rule of fight club is you do not talk about Fight Club."
A student recently asked me if we had any other books by Chuck Palahniuk besides Fight Club, and I said, "No, we don't. Do you like his books?" We got into a short discussion and when I explained that Fight Club was on my "to read" list, the student told me I absolutely had to read Fight Club as soon as I could. So this weekend, I put aside Crime and Punishment (our Book Club choice for October and November) and read Fight Club.
Wow! It is an amazing first novel. It opens strong, has taut, crisp writing and dialogue, and develops its opening premises through to the very end. Additionally, there is a lot to think about in this novel - ideas of masculinity, violence, alienation, reality v. delusion, leadership, and individual v. group identity predominate, but are by no means the only subjects. This would be a great book for a book group.
The novel has mature/graphic subject matter and so it wouldn't work as a high school classroom text, but is suitable for a library collection. The novel's most graphic material are the descriptions of the fights, the violence positive attitude of its main character, and some sexual situations.
Part of Fight Club's widespread popularity is due to its being made into a movie starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. The movie is an excellent adaptation of the novel, but - as I told my son - I wish I had read the book first because it was impossible for me to get the movie characters out of my head as I read the novel.
Given the strength of Fight Club, I'll definitely have to see about adding a few more titles by Palahniuk to our library's collection.
Chuck Palahniuk
New York : W.W. Norton, 2005, c1996.
218 p. ; 21 cm.
"The first rule of fight club is you do not talk about Fight Club."
A student recently asked me if we had any other books by Chuck Palahniuk besides Fight Club, and I said, "No, we don't. Do you like his books?" We got into a short discussion and when I explained that Fight Club was on my "to read" list, the student told me I absolutely had to read Fight Club as soon as I could. So this weekend, I put aside Crime and Punishment (our Book Club choice for October and November) and read Fight Club.
Wow! It is an amazing first novel. It opens strong, has taut, crisp writing and dialogue, and develops its opening premises through to the very end. Additionally, there is a lot to think about in this novel - ideas of masculinity, violence, alienation, reality v. delusion, leadership, and individual v. group identity predominate, but are by no means the only subjects. This would be a great book for a book group.
The novel has mature/graphic subject matter and so it wouldn't work as a high school classroom text, but is suitable for a library collection. The novel's most graphic material are the descriptions of the fights, the violence positive attitude of its main character, and some sexual situations.
Part of Fight Club's widespread popularity is due to its being made into a movie starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. The movie is an excellent adaptation of the novel, but - as I told my son - I wish I had read the book first because it was impossible for me to get the movie characters out of my head as I read the novel.
Given the strength of Fight Club, I'll definitely have to see about adding a few more titles by Palahniuk to our library's collection.
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