Book Blog #214: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Title: The Handmaid's Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
# of Pages: 311 (paperback)
Genre: Fiction, Classics, Science Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis: Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...
Review: For a classic, this book is very easy to read.

Yes, The Handmaid's Tale is definitely a more modern classic than most, yet it is refreshing to be able to read something higher on the respectability scale than your run-of-the-mill YA book with such ease. This is not to say Atwood's writing style is simply written, rather, she is a good storyteller. For the most part, her writing flows very naturally. However, not using quotation marks when Offred is recalling a memory is bothersome; although it may aid in separating actual speech and thought, it doesn't make it any less difficult to distinguish the dialogue.

I nearly gave this book three stars because I didn't like how exaggerated the dystopian world Atwood created is. Although there are instances of woman subjugation in this book that parallel situations in real life, the United States is warped into such a strange and unrealistic state that the story seems more like a tall tale you'd tell children rather than a warning against an undesirable yet probable future.

I was worried about how this book would portray sex and was impressed with how desexualize "The Ceremony" is portrayed. There is nothing romantic with how the society forces women to reproduce, and I was glad Atwood didn't make it that way.

The book held my interest the whole way through, and the ending leaves me thinking about it still. I would highly recommend this book!

Book Blog #213: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Title: Heart of Darkness
Author: Joseph Conrad
# of Pages: 72 (paperback)
Genre: Fiction, Classics, Africa
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Synopsis: Dark allegory describes the narrator's journey up the Congo River and his meeting with, and fascination by, Mr. Kurtz, a mysterious personage who dominates the unruly inhabitants of the region. Masterly blend of adventure, character development, psychological penetration. Considered by many Conrad's finest, most enigmatic story.
Review: This is one of the few classics I've read purely recreationally.

I might have enjoyed this book more if I read it in a classroom setting where I could learn to appreciate all the fine details of this book. However, since I did not delve into deep analysis of the book, I read it as it appears: a sloppy narration by a man's experience voyaging up the Congo. Whether Marlow, the protagonist, was a bad storyteller for some deeper reason does not change the fact that he is a BAD storyteller.

Although this story may also serve as a demonstration of how life was in Africa during the boom of ivory trade, it is so finely focused on one man's experience, one that is taken up by the obsession of finding Mr. Kurtz, I didn't find it very enlightening.

To paraphrase someone of Goodreads, the book is not long, yet far too long. The read can be finished in one sitting but is not worth your time.

Book Blog #212: The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott

Title: The Ninth Hour
Author: Alice McDermott
# of Pages: 247 (hardcover)
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Religious
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Synopsis: On a dim winter afternoon, a young Irish immigrant opens the gas taps in his Brooklyn tenement. He is determined to prove—to the subway bosses who have recently fired him, to his badgering, pregnant wife—“that the hours of his life belong to himself alone.” In the aftermath of the fire that follows, Sister St. Savior, an aging nun, appears, unbidden, to direct the way forward for his widow and his unborn child. We begin deep inside Catholic Brooklyn, in the early part of the twentieth century. Decorum, superstition, and shame collude to erase the man’s brief existence. Yet his suicide, although never spoken of, reverberates through many lives and over the decades—testing the limits and the demands of love and sacrifice, of forgiveness and forgetfulness, even through multiple generations.
Review: The fact that I didn't realize this was a religious book by reading the title says a lot about how religious I am.

I was uncertain whether I should continue reading this book when I discovered how big of a role Catholicism played in the plot. I have no interest in reading about nuns nor do I necessarily have the same views and values of them. Thankfully, I realized as I progressed through the book, the story was a tale of a girl and mother who's lives inevitably were intertwined with Catholicism because of their residence in Brooklyn. It wasn't a super uptight, wholesome story like the religious stereotype led me to believe; in fact it was the exact opposite. Sally struggles with what she is told is right for her life and what she feels is right for her.

Although the writing itself is well done, Dermott's abilities as a storyteller were lacking. The story jumps across many generations and since it was not always chronological, it made it difficult to follow and stay interested.

I noticed a lot of people fell in love with this book. I just don't think the topic is for me. I wouldn't read it again, but if the synopsis (and perhaps Catholicism) interest you, I would recommend it. Otherwise, I would look elsewhere for a book to pass the time.

Book Blog #211: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Title: Howl's Moving Castle
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
# of Pages: 429 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Magic
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis: Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.
Review: I love love love this book.

I've been a huge fan of Miyazaki movies for many years. However, I did not realize the iconic Howl's Moving Castle was based off of this book until a few days ago.

Although this book is labelled as YA, it is on the lower end as far as reading level. It's a suitable read for children, teens, and adults alike looking for a quick read. I was charmed by how Jones is able to develop the characters without putting a major emphasis on the romance as many modern books tend to do to draw in readers. Jones is able to captivate her readers through her storytelling rather than with a cheap romantic plot.

I love Howl and Sophie and wish the second and third books had more of them in them. However, this book is for sure a recommended read.

Book Blog #210: What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Title: What Happened
Author: Hillary Rodham Clinton
# of Pages: 512 (eBook ver.)
Genre: Nonfiction, Politics, Autobiography
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: For the first time, Hillary Rodham Clinton reveals what she was thinking and feeling during one of the most controversial and unpredictable presidential elections in history. Now free from the constraints of running, Hillary takes you inside the intense personal experience of becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party in an election marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference, and an opponent who broke all the rules. This is her most personal memoir yet. In these pages, she describes what it was like to run against Donald Trump, the mistakes she made, how she has coped with a shocking and devastating loss, and how she found the strength to pick herself back up afterward. With humor and candor, she tells readers what it took to get back on her feet—the rituals, relationships, and reading that got her through, and what the experience has taught her about life. She speaks about the challenges of being a strong woman in the public eye, the criticism over her voice, age, and appearance, and the double standard confronting women in politics.

Review: I read the last hundred pages across the past month or so, so it is difficult to collect my thoughts on the book as a whole. Although I have no interest in “leftist propaganda” (for lack of a better phrase), this book was exactly as I excepted it to be, and for that I cannot blame it.

Below are my notes from when I was reading the beginning-middle of the book:

I am not reading this book as a Democrat nor a Republican but rather as someone curious of the story of the election from someone directly involved. And who better to provide me with that narrative than Clinton herself who was a candidate? There will be some people who read her book because they strongly support her. Others will give this book a bad review, perhaps without even reading it, because they abhor her. Although this book is political, I have no intention to portray my political beliefs in this review. Like I said before, I just want to understand different perspectives; if Trump wrote a book about the election, I would read his too.

I was pleased hear Clinton’s voice so clearly through her writing (although with this comes her cringey attempts to be “hip”). I read this book to learn more about her perspective on the election and that’s exactly what this book gave me.

“I prayed that my worst fears about Donald Trump wouldn’t be realized, and that people’s lives and America’s future would be made better, not worse, during his presidency. I’m still praying on that one, and I can use all the backup you can muster.”

What surprised me was how pessimistic she is during and after the inauguration. Having recently listened to Barack Obama’s interview with Prince Harry for BBC Radio 4, I couldn’t help but compare Obama’s calm and optimistic take the future to Clinton’s ominous one. However, this is simply Clinton’s perspective; it hasn’t been long since she lost the election, a campaign where she derogated the very man who is being sworn into the presidency she fought for. It’s only natural for her opinions to be a bit skewed and morose.

Even with this in mind, it’s still uncomfortable for me to read Clinton’s snarky description of some of the people she runs into post-inauguration, regardless of my opinion on their character. Clinton is a lot more open with her opinions than I expected her to be while at the same time sounding as if she is still running her campaign for presidency.

Side note: I liked this little nod to programming humor; if you can’t fix a bug, call it a feature.

“For [GOP leaders], dysfunction wasn’t a bug, it was a feature”


Relevant links (events involving Hillary that were mentioned throughout the book):

“On Sunday, when I got to the memorial, the sun was beaming down. My head ached. You know the rest.” -A Day in the Life

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/hillary-clinton-falls-ill-at-the-911-memorial-ceremony/2016/09/11/995139d8-7843-11e6-8064-c1ddc8a724bb_video.html?utm_term=.1eab699ca8e3


“SNL asked me to play a character named Val the Bartender, who would pour drinks for Kate McKinnon, who played me. “Would you sing ‘Lean On Me’ together?” they asked. I said yes, even though I have a terrible singing voice.” -A Day in the Life

https://youtu.be/6Jh2n5ki0KE

“On Between Two Ferns, when Zach Galifianakis asked me, “I’m going to sneak up on you in a gorilla mask, is that cool?” I said sure. Why not? You only live once.” -A Day in the Life

https://youtu.be/xrkPe-9rM1Q


“Philippe had raised the issue that, unlike two men debating who just meet in the middle and shake hands, there was a question of whether Trump would try to hug or—dare I say it—kiss me. Fair enough, I said, let’s practice. Philippe came at me with his arms outstretched. I tried to stiff-arm him and get away. It ended with him literally chasing me across the room, putting me in a bear hug, and kissing the back of my head.” -A Day in the Life

https://twitter.com/philippereines/status/865578947076997120


Links to misc. referenced events

Trump’s Access Hollywood Tape (mentioned in A Day in the Life): https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-recorded-having-extremely-lewd-conversation-about-women-in-2005/2016/10/07/3b9ce776-8cb4-11e6-bf8a-3d26847eeed4_story.html?utm_term=.808322efabb8

Bill losing Governor’s race because of Hillary’s maiden name (mentioned in On Being a Woman in Politics): http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/12/16/in-1979-interview-hillary-rodham-explains-why-she-didnt-use-bill-clintons-last-name/

Chelsea being called the “White House dog” when she was 13 years old: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2124301/Chelsea-Clinton-tells-Rush-Limbaugh-fun-looks-13-comparing-dog.html