Giant

"In Texas the truth is often too strange for fiction." - Edna Ferber

Full disclosure here: I am a proud Texan.  I have been all my life and continue to be, despite being displaced some eleven years ago.  My love for Texas runs deep in my blood, as my family can be traced back for well over 100 years to the diverse geographical expanse known as The Lone Star State.  But, that does not mean I can't be objective about Texas.  I realize Texans are a prideful people, they revel in the bigness that is Texas, they are fiercely independent; and though loyal to the United States, in most Texan hearts, Texas comes first. 

I picked up the novel Giant a couple months back and bought it solely because it (the movie incarnation, at least) is featured in my favorite song about Texas ("The Front Porch Song" - This old porch is a palace walk in on a main street in Texas. It ain't seen or heard the days of G and Rs and Xs and that '62 poster that's almost faded down and a screen without a picture since Giant came to town.).  The fact that Ferber won the Pulitzer led a little credence to the whole purchase as well. 

Ferber was lambasted for her portrayal of Texas within the confines of the state, but lauded for her realist depiction of the "new rich" of Texas in the rest of the 47 states.  I think Texans just needed a little perspective.  Though some of the scenarios and statements hit a little too close to home, it is an incredibly accurate portrait of the people of Texas (not just the rich).  But, I have the objectivity that comes with letting a book breathe for about 50 years. 

Overall, Ferber told an amazing story of the decline of the ranch life of Texas as the discovery of abundant resources of oil turned Texas from the cattle king to the oil oligarch.  She tells the story of the end of an era with less of a "good riddance" but more of a hopeful "here we go."  The closing line of dialogue of the book tells the reader, Ferber had kind intentions in her satire.  That said the satire is played up nicely by the over-the-top vocabulary she uses in the telling.  For the first 100 hundred pages, I strongly recommend having a dictionary by your side.  The words she puts into her character's mouths are often so esoteric, they strain believability.  I think it must be her way of pointing out the difference between the Texan and the rest of the country.  She overtly states later in the book that Texas was less than desirable on the education front.  Other gripes: racism, classism, ostentatious lifestyles, bull-headedness; the list goes on.  

The story is well told and the characters, though some would call them caricatures, are engaging.  I recommend this book, but I am Texan, so that might be because I "get it" more than others.   Ferber's inconsistent use of commas was a little maddening, as well as some errors in the text (come on this book is 50 years old, the manuscript should be edited by now!), but not enough to put the book down.

Rating: 5 out of 7

-L

Surprise Mail? AWESOMENESS!

I'm going to publicly thank my wife for signing up and getting awarded an advance copy of The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archive, The) by Brandon Sanderson! He's the author that took over the Wheel of Time after Robert Jordan's passing. I wasn't expecting to see an advanced copy of anything, so that's very cool! This does mean that I'm putting The Stand again.... I'm 400 pages into that so maybe a mini-review is in order.

Thank you!

-D

The Sadness, In Particular

Since we started the book blog, we have a lot of suggestions for books to read from friends and acquaintances.  Rarely, someone will actually bring a book to me and say, please read this and let me know what you think.  Since this is so rare, I often take up the person on the offer.  It seems rude to do otherwise. 

I think I might start to be rude!  Here's the story:

I am into cooking.  I am currently taking a professional baking course at a local cooking class.  One of my classmates asked me if I had read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.  I told her I had heard of it but I have not read it.  The next week, she brought the book and asked me to read and let her know what I thought of it.  Since the class is winding down, I put it on the top of my to read list. 

So, now that you have background on the reason for the read, here's what I think:

I didn't like it!  I thought the beginning was compelling enough, but then it just died on the vine.  It was all idea and no substance.  The premise suits foodies well enough (I guess): a girl who can taste a person's feelings by eating the food they prepare.  Yeah, imagine what that would be like, think about it for a good 4 minutes.  Now you can skip reading this book.  Apparently, that is how long Aimee Bender thought through the plot lines of this book. 

I kept comparing it to "Heroes" (without the really interesting superpowers) and The Lovely Bones (without all the murder and stuff).  I can't tell you very much else about the plot of this book, because, although, things happen, they happen without direction.  The story just meanders on, without any resolution, without any real point.  Does she use her superpower for good or for evil, or is it just a burden she lives with forever?  You will never know because the author really didn't care enough to tell you. 

I would skip this one.  I think Ms. Bender should have thought of a direction for the protagonist and then shortened the novel to a short story.  It would have made for a much more exciting 20 pages. 

Rating: 2 out of 7

-L

Does the blog need a change?

*UPDATE* - Added a plain white background, and a colorized version. The color is just conceptual and doesn't include the new blog picture links or the final color. The white gives me the added width but not the background. Maybe we'll rotate? =P

We both happen to like a lot of simplicity for the blog, but I'm wondering about spicing it up a bit. The wife doesn't want to change anything, and I'd like to add a background image and a little modification to the blog template we're using.

I like it that way.. gives a little more width. Are the books too busy? L thinks the books should be gone. Opinions greatly appreciated.. even if you don't agree with me.

-D

The Death of a Literary Giant

Well, maybe not a giant.  More like really small.  But really important! 

Have you noticed the "trend" (I am calling it this because I have read a few books like this lately) of modern authors to "forget" to use quotation marks?  I have.  And I am saddened by it.   Those little quotes help guide me along.  They tell me, "Wake up! Someone may say something important here."   Alternately, they tell me when one character stops talking and another picks up the conversation.  They also decorate pages of dialogue quite nicely (look at all the pretty commas!  It's like they are hanging themselves!). 

Why the infatuation with disregarding such an important literary piece of the puzzle?  I say bring them back and keep them FOREVER!

-L

Boo, Stephen King, Boo!

Well, so much for getting back to the Dark Tower series. I was going to read through Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5) so I could be that much closer to finishing the series, but the book has some ties to The Stand: Expanded Edition. It would appear that I wouldn't get the full experience out the Dark Tower if I didn't first finish The Stand. I'm only 160 pages in on a thousand page book. I'm sure you won't see much of me this week in regards to review unless I cheat and read something tiny to fill in. =\

-D

I Laughed out Loud

A couple weeks ago, I posted a request to our lovely readers for suggestions on funny books.  I was in a rut and I thought a good laugh would do.  I received a lot of feedback - some laughable, some insightful.   The top suggestion was something about a Guide to the Galaxy.  I was thinking it was probably not for me, but we went to the bookstore to check it out anyway.  On the way to locating the book, another book caught my eye.  Undaunted, we went to the Guide and -D read the leaf for me.  I tuned out about two sentences in.  It is not a book for me - I just don't think I will "get it."  The point is to cry from laughter, not from boredom.  Sorry, lovers of the Guide - maybe some day.

 The book I spotted on my way to the Guide was The Bible of Unspeakable Truths  by Greg Gutfeld.  Listen up those who are unacquainted and I will acquaint you. It all started a few years ago at 12AM.  I turned on my TV to find a short, somewhat portly man speaking heinous things while his repulsive sidekick, a hot FOX news lady, and a CIA operative watched.  This Gregalogue (it's a monologue with Greg) introduced me to what would become a household staple around here.  Sadly, last month, we decided to cut our ties to the extended world by getting rid of our cable, so Greg is no longer a household staple (oddly, enough this dovetailed quite nicely with my need of a humorous book, coincidence? ithinknot).   We no longer get to hear the misadventures of a post-operative, houseboy enthusiast and his preoperative, questionably coiffed sidekick. 

Naturally, when I spotted Greg's roundish face on my way to the guide, I immediately thought, "This is what I need!"...and it was.  This book is basically a collection of Gregalogues so it does not really find a cohesive theme...unless you consider his love of underground rooms, houseboys named Pablo, and fastidious research(of books not yet written) a theme.  It is more a book you read bits of at a time because his Gregalogues can be quite short (sometimes even one sentence).  There are some truths in here, some head scratchers and some overshares.  But, overall, it is like watching an episode of Red Eye, which I find cathartic.  Greg really seems to want to connect with his readers.  He even invites them to join him for various events (usually in a park, scantily clad, with only a birthmark as his true source of identification).   He wants his readers to be well-fed.  Thus, he includes what looks like a great recipe for lemon bars.  I had never considered the inclusion of a prostitute, but that might add a little something.  Oh, and he cares about his readers' safety.  His argument for guns is quite cogent. 

Overall, this book is a treat.   And for you, a treat:


Rating: 5.5 out of 7
-L