First Post

I wasn't sure I was actually going to make this blog, so here are some posts that would have gone up earlier:

1/8/11

I am a reader.  I am always reading.  I learned how to really read (more than just sound out the letters) in second grade, and since then, I cannot remember a time when I have not been reading a book.  I estimated that I read a book about every week or so during school, and about two books a week during break but since I don’t keep track of the books I read, I don’t know if this is accurate.  Here I will record what I read as I finish it, and perhaps a thought or two on each book.  (Don’t expect feats of exceptional writing ability, I am a scientist and they train us to write in the most obscure and un-understandable manner)

Since the new year began, I’ve read three books, Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, Aravind Adiga’s White Tiger, and just a few hours ago, Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto.

The Lost Symbol was mostly very predictable, as all of Dan Brown’s other books have been.  Like Jodi Picoult, he has a formula for bestsellers that he follows very closely.  The first book of his that I read was The Da Vinci Code (some would say this is his best book) which I enjoyed.  I was let down when I read the other books because I was able to predict plot points before they occurred since he follows his formula so rigidly.  I would recommend The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons as beach or plane reading, but don’t read The Lost Symbol.  (Or, if you insist, get it from a library)  The story was simply not compelling, and I read through hundreds of pages wondering when the fun would start.  For me, the worst part was that he got D.C. geography wrong!  I’ve lived in the area for a while now (I know some of you would roast me on a spit for saying I’m from DC, so I won’t even try) and I think I have a general grasp of how the city works.  I’m sorry, Metro Center is not at Freedom Plaza, and no cab driver would ever call the Metro the subway.  Long and short:  don’t read this book.

White Tiger was entertaining.  It reminded me a little of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children.  It is, more or less, about the life of a guy in India.  There is probably a lot of hidden literary “stuff” that totally went over my head, but I still enjoyed the book and found it quite funny at times.  It’s a bit of a slow book though, so its probably better for exam time (because you can put it down easily) than for reading while waiting for your brother to get out of the airport already.  (Note:  this last activity is a clear sign that you are not about to leave, and it makes the cops come and flick their hands at you so you will move.  If you want to keep your spot, don’t read.)

Bel Canto, a recommendation from a fellow reader and a book obtained at the Brandeis Book Store in Florida (apparently it’s a fund raiser) was absolutely fantastic and a pleasure to read.  You must read it.  It takes some time to really get started, but that works well for the structure of the book.  The start is slow enough that it might take some perseverance to get hooked, but trust me, it is very much worth it! 

In short:

Lost Symbol:  Don’t read

White Tiger: Read, but I’m not sure I’ll read it again

Bel Canto: Read, and I will read it again.

I’m already well into my next book and have four more lined up after that, so I’ll be posting again soon.

1/12/10

I’ve been sick the past few days, so I’ve finished two more books:  Godless by Pete Hautman and The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall. 

Godless was cute and entertaining, but definitely young adult literature.  It’s a good book for when you want a quick read.  I’d suggest getting it from the library though.

The Raw Shark Texts was a crazy crazy book.  Granted I read most of it between midnight and 7AM for 3 days when I was unable to sleep because I was sick, but still, very trippy.  It reminded me a lot of House of Leaves.  In high school, a copy of House of Leaves was passed around and everyone who read it (myself included) insisted to those who had not read it that “it will change your life”  I’m not so sure about the life-changing thing anymore (maybe its just because I haven’t read it in a few years) but I would recommend both of these books.  (Although House of Leaves is better than Raw Shark Texts.)  Both can get a bit tedious at times, so don’t expect a super fast read.

I don’t plan on re-reading either of these any time soon, but I did enjoy both of them.