![]() Amir and Hassan are brothers from other mothers, but the social and ethnic hierarchy of Afghanistan in the second half of the 21st century divides them. Then some more stuff happens and they are divided further until eventually, Amir decides to return to Afghanistan in the summer of 2001 to make amends. I remember when my sister read this book as a required summer text for her first year at MSU. I also remember watching the movie that came out that same year. Furthermore, I remember feeling horrified, sad, and uncomfortable with The Kite Runner as a twelve year old. Reading this novel as an adult, I still have those feelings, but they are entrenched in some kind of tragic beauty. The story is powerful and honest and beyond worth reading.
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![]() Lahiri's collection of short stories feature Indian characters, sometimes protagonists, sometimes supporting, and sometimes both. The conflicts she writes range from ordinary to outrageous, and all show facets of the human experience. A few years ago I read Lahiri's The Namesake, which I read because I watched the movie version starting Kal Penn of Harold and Kumar fame. This collection features similar topics of the Indian diaspora and the unique traits of Indian culture. I enjoyed reading the stories for the most part, although some were certainly more endearing for me than others. ![]() This post is actually about a series of books: 50 Ways to Wear a Scarf, 50 Ways to Wear Denim, and 50 Ways to Wear Accessories. Friedman writes and illustrates these beautiful books with suggestions and models of how to wear, well, scarves, denim, and accessories! The artistry is gorgeous and the content is inspirational. Friedman is a native Ann Arborite and was friends with my older sister growing up. She is an alumnus of Pioneer High School and the field hockey program here! After following Lauren's Instagram for so long, I really felt that I should go ahead and buy her books. They are will worth the read and they have much more to say than simply how to wrap a scarf around your neck. ![]() The title character of the epic may be Oscar, a lovelorn fellow with a deep love of all that is nerdy, but his is not the only life we learn about. Oscar and his sister Lola are first generation living in New Jersey, their mother having left the Dominican Republic years before. The narrative follows each of these characters and even dips into the story of Oscar's grandparents in the DR during the time of Trujillo's regime. I read this book because it is touted as unique and impressive. I certainly believe it is unique, but in all honesty I did not love it. Diaz' writing is complex in style, structure, and content, to the point that I compared it in my head to some kind of youthful David Foster Wallace text. However, I definitely read the whole thing and felt for the characters throughout the story. ![]() Love That Dog is an endearing story of a young boy's experience learning about poetry in his class. Although Jack repeatedly says his words are not poems, Creech writes the entire story in verse and according to plot, Jack's teacher believes his words are poetry. I read this book again because it was recently brought up in conversation, but I remember one of my teachers reading Love That Dog to the class in elementary school. Jack is a relatable young boy and he ultimately tells quite a heartfelt story through his poetry. This time reading the book was possibly better than the first because I am more familiar now with the poems Jack reads in class and which he samples in his own writing. ![]() Arram Draper is a young mage studying at the university in Carthak. His magical gift is extensive but not yet developed. With a few good friends at his side and only a little bit of trouble, Arram dives into his studies and begins to make a reputation for himself. This novel is the first in what I expect will be a preseries to Pierce's The Immortals series, in which Arram (Numair) has a main role. I read The Immortals as an adolescent and just loved it. I leaped at the chance to read the backstory of such a huge character. This novel is definitely accessible without reading the other series and may even make the other one richer if read first. ![]() On a calm evening in Lithuania, 1941, Lina and her brother and mother are arrested by the Soviet police for the counter-Soviet actions of her father. They have twenty minutes to pack anything that could be helpful to them, and they are taken to the train station to board cattle cars. Over the next two years, Lina, her brother and her mother experience the brutality of the NKVD (Russian police) as they are forced to work and travel from Lithuania all the way across Russia and into the Arctic Circle. I do not tend to enjoy historical fiction relating to WW2, but this novel is powerful. Sepetys did quite a bit of research into the experiences of the thousands of Europeans who were arrested by the Soviet Union and put into labor camps far from their homes. Sepetys' diligence and Lina's narrative voice combine for a compelling reading experience. |
J. HiEBERBibliophile Archives
June 2020
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