#68: The Buried Giant

Ishiguro, Kazuo: The Buried Giant. New York: Random House, 2015. Print. 317 pages. 

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SETTING: 6th-century England ("Sub-Roman Britain" according to Wikipedia).
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SUMMARY: Axl and Beatrice are an elderly couple who begin to notice that not only they, but their entire village, have forgotten series of events, both significant and insignificant.  They simply have no memory of them occurring.  One morning, Axl and Beatrice suddenly remember they have a son and start on a journey to find him in his village, a place they only have a vague memory of.  On the way, they discover that there is a reason behind why everyone is so forgetful, and they have the chance to help change this.  But with this change comes the possibility of unwanted memories surfacing, memories that might test Axl and Beatrice's love for each other...

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'...And then he ventured something I dismissed at the time, but have since much pondered.  The stranger thought it might be God himself had forgotten much from our pasts, events far distant, events of the same day.  And if a thing is not in God's mind, then what chance of it remaining in those of mortal men?'" - Chapter 3, page 64.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I saw this book while browsing a Barnes and Nobles in DC.  I liked the cover and bookmarked it in my head to read at a later time.  I found it at the local library near my parents' home this past winter break and picked it up to read.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The idea that some things are better left forgotten.  Throughout the entire book, Axl and Beatrice grapple with the fact that remembering forgotten events could bring forth unexpected and unwanted negative emotions, like sadness, anger, guilt, etc., and they are constantly battling with whether or not it is to their benefit to keep the forgotten buried.  I really liked this theme in the book, because it is something we all face in everyday life.  We are curious by nature, but sometimes curiosity can lead to the exposure of information we did not want or need to know, information that can possibly be hurtful.  Sometimes we receive information that, had it not been divulged, our lives would have continued without a hitch, but now that it has been revealed, it has led to something negative.  On the other side, sometimes knowing is a positive that enhances our lives or helps make better decisions.  Unfortunately, the outcome in such a situation is unknown until it happens.
2. The reason behind why everyone has a hazy memory of the past.  It's intriguing.
3. Edwin's other-worldly connection to his mother.  Although... see point #3 below.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. Boring storyline.  The action packed scenes that were supposed to be full of meaning and wonder?  BORING.  The characters?  BORING.  The ending?  BORING.
2. Gawain's character.  He is whiny and annoying.
3. The lack of a conclusion regarding Edwin's other-worldly connection to his mother.  This part of the book isn't fully explained, and I was really looking forward to the explanation.  
4. The ending.  It is one of those endings where the meaning is up to the interpreter, which is all fine and well, except I have the tendency of leaning towards a negative interpretation in such situations, and then I'm sad at the end of the book.  This is exactly what happened here.

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I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I would.  It is obviously a book that is trying to relay a higher message through a simple tale, and I do appreciate such books, but this is not one of them.  This seems like one of those pretentious books where people who adore it will argue that I didn't enjoy it because I'm too stupid to understand the message.  This may very well be the case, but I'm pretty sure I got it, and I still didn't like it.  Also, this is one of the few times where my often used method of picking a book based on aesthetics failed!
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Recommend?  No.

#67: A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver

Konigsburg, EL: A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, 1973. Print. 201 pages. 

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SETTING: Heaven, with flashbacks in England and France.
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SUMMARY: After nearly eight centuries since her death, Eleanor of Aquitaine has the chance to be reunited with her second husband, King Henry II of England.  To keep her anxiety at bay, Eleanor keeps herself in the company of her mother-in-law and two friends, an abbot and a knight, and begins to reminisce about her life, before, during, and after her marriage to Henry.    

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "... self-righteous people never look beyond themselves for the reasons that things happen." - Part 2, Chapter 1, page 83.

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I read this book when I was in middle school and I remember really enjoying it.  I wanted a fun, light, read and unfortunately didn't have time to go to the library when I needed a book, so I thought I'd re-read this and see if I still enjoy it as an adult.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The storyline.  This is obviously a book for children because it is written in very simple language.  However, I really enjoyed reading it.  It is a fun concept and story.
2. The setting.  It takes place in the twentieth century in Heaven with people who lived during the twelfth century.  It makes for a great combination.
3. The concept of Heaven and Hell.  The book begins by explaining how one is not automatically accepted into Heaven.  An individual has to first pay penance in Hell for their sins, and only then do they have the chance to move up to Heaven.  Eleanor, for example, spent two centuries in Hell before being accepted into Heaven.
4.  Historical fiction.  One of my favorite genres.

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I don't have much to say on this book.  As you can see, there is no "dislikes" section in this post.  This is a children's book that I decided to re-read, mostly so I could see if I still liked it as an adult... and I do! 
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Recommend?  Yes.

#66: Neverwhere

Gaiman, Neil: Neverwhere. New York: HarperCollins books, 2003. Print. 370 pages. 

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SETTING: London, England.
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SUMMARY: Richard Mayhew, a Scottish-born businessman working in London, finds himself trapped in London "Below" after helping an injured stranger he finds on the street, who is from London Below.  His existence is completely erased in London "Above," with neither his friends nor his ex-fiance recognizing him.  The stranger he initially helped, along with two others from London Below, are on a mysterious quest, and Richard attaches himself to them in hopes of finding help to return to his normal life in London Above.  

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'How old are you?' asked Door.  Richard was pleased she had asked; he would never have dared.

'As old as my tongue,' said Hunter, primly, 'and a little older than my teeth.'" - Chapter 10, page 225.

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I bought this book when my connecting flight at the Denver airport was delayed an extra three hours on top of the already long 3-hour layover.  The airport bookstore was cute, and they had an entire table dedicated to Neil Gaiman.  The simplicity of the cover is what first caught my eye, and, since I liked what the back cover had to say about the book, I decided to buy it.  It also helped that all of his books proudly displayed the fact that he is a "#1 New York Times Bestseller Author."  Usually can't go wrong with that, right?
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Things I liked about this book:

1. Fantasy!  One of my favorite genres.  
2. The alternate world of London Below.  I thought it was fun that the author created a magical underground world in London, which happens to be one of my favorite book settings.  I love stories that take place in London!  London has a magical feel to it, so an entire underground world in London was a win-win situation in my eyes.
3. The storyline.  It is very creative and I really enjoyed reading this book.  I read the majority at the Denver airport, sitting in a (surprisingly) cozy terminal chair while drinking a latte and eating a chocolate chip cookie.  It was probably the most comfortable airport layover + delay I've ever experienced.
4. The idea that what is "right and normal" is not always what will bring satisfaction and contentment in life.  As I'm growing older, I've come to realize that what is expected of me in life isn't necessarily what will make me happy.  I recognize that it is a luxury that I am able to think this way and take steps to create the life that will make me happy, but that being said, since I have the opportunity, why not take advantage of it?  Going back to the book, Richard has all of his ducks in a row, and finds neither joy nor contentment in his life.  At the end of the novel, he finds that his true happiness lies in a place he could have never imagined, and I really liked that aspect of the book.
5. The Marquis de Carabas.  He's a slimy character, but I grew very fond of him by the end of the novel.  He loves to cheat and lie, but he sincerely believes that a promise is a promise, and he consistently delivers on his promises.

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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. The ending.  It was a little bland.  Having a magical, otherworldly place as the setting gives the author a lot of room for creativity with the storyline, as was the case in this book.  However, I thought that that creativity didn't extend to the ending.  The ending was predictable and dry, which is a shame because the potential to be considerably more magical was definitely there.  

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I enjoyed this book, but I wasn't all that excited about it by the end.  It was an entertaining and fun read, but I think there are better fantasy novels out there.  I might give one of his other novels a try at some point in life, but for the time being I'll probably look to other authors to provide me with the magical and fantastical worlds I so love to read.
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Recommend?  Yes, but not a very enthusiastic "yes."

#65: At the Water's Edge

Gruen, Sara: At the Water's Edge. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015. Print. 378 pages.

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SETTING: In the year 1944, at the peak of the Allies involvement in World War II.  The story begins in Philadelphia, and then moves to a small village in the Scottish Highlands, where the majority of the story takes place.
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SUMMARY: Maddie Hyde, a naive woman from a rich background, with very little formal education, finds herself dragged across the Atlantic to the Scottish Highlands with her husband and husband's best friend, as they embark on a quest to find the Loch Ness monster.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "The sheer scope of detail and information, as well as its seemingly random placement, was proof to me that the world had both gone mad, yet remained the same as it ever was.

Mass killings were described right next to information about laxatives.  Cities were bombed, men slaughtered each other in knee-deep mud, civilians were blown to pieces from stepping on mines, but horses still spooked, people still went to the cinema, and women still worried about their schoolgirl complexions.  I couldn't decide if this made me understand the world better or meant I'd never fathom it at all." - Chapter 32, page 271.

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I haven't posted in months!  You must be wondering if I have even been reading...  Don't worry, I  have.  I actually have five books piled up that I need to write about, but I've just been so lazy!  It's terrible because I have quite a bit of free time on my hands right now.  Usually my blogging absences are the result of not having time to read anything to blog about, but this time around I have been reading, but not motivated enough to write.  It's terrible.  This book is actually the third one I've read since I last posted.  I don't have the other two books with me, so I'll have to wait until I return to school to write about those.  Hopefully I'm not so far removed from when I finished reading them that I've forgotten my likes and dislikes... 

I bought this book at the airport before a flight this past Thanksgiving break, and picked it because I've enjoyed two other books written by this author.  Here's a previous post I wrote for one of those novels: 

http://artemisiaeupraxia.blogspot.com/2012/12/23-ape-house.html.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The writing.  I really enjoy Sara Gruen's writing style.  The two other books I've read written by Gruen are Water for Elephants and Ape House, and I not only enjoyed the storyline in both of those books, but the writing style as well.  Gruen continued with the same style in this novel, which was exactly what I was hoping for.
2. Maddie's character development.  Gruen does an excellent job describing Maddie's character, and how she changes as a result of this expedition to the Scottish Highlands.  I really enjoyed reading and following this progression.
3. Love as a theme.  Although I felt that the focus of the story was Maddie's growth and maturation, I also thought that love, especially her discovering the meaning of true love, was a predominant theme.  It was everpresent as she matured into who she was at the end of the novel.
4. Elements of magic in the novel.  There is no overt magic in the book, but there is an aura of magic to the story.  I'm not sure if this is something I can describe well in writing...  There was just this undertone of magic I felt while reading the story, and I thought that served to only enhance my reading experience. 
5. What happens to Maddie's husband and her husband's best friend at the end of the novel.  I won't give any spoilers.  All I'll say is that I was very satisfied. 
6. Maddie's friendship with Meg and Anna.  I really love that they become great friends by the end of the novel.

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Things I was less than enthusiastic about in this book:

1. The storyline.  Sadly, I didn't find the story itself all that interesting.

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As you can see, I don't have a "dislikes" section for this novel.  Yes, I was disappointed with the storyline, but overall this book was a quick, enjoyable read.  Sara Gruen is definitely on my list of favorite authors, and I hope to read her first two novels when I get the chance.  Now that I have read three of her novels, I will say that Water for Elephants is my favorite, followed by Ape House, and then At the Water's Edge.
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Recommend?  Yes, but I would recommend reading Water for Elephants or Ape House first if you haven't already.

#64: A Discovery of Witches

Harkness, Deborah: A Discovery of Witches. New York: Penguin Group, 2011. Print. 579 pages.

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SETTING: Majority takes place in Oxford, England and a castle named Sept-Tours in France (I wasn't able to find the exact location of Sept-Tours.  There's a Chateau des Sept Tours in real life, but not sure if that is the same as the Sept-Tours in the novel.  Most likely is, but it is not confirmed.).
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SUMMARY: Diana Bishop is an American professor of alchemy at Oxford University.  She is also the daughter of two powerful witches, a part of her identity she has tried to keep suppressed for years.  But when a mysterious book falls into her possession, she can no longer deny who she really is or continue to ignore her past.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'..And happiness is always louder than sadness...'" - Chapter 36, page 480.

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I picked this book because of the title: it's about witches and magic!  This book is part of a trilogy, and I accidentally grabbed the third book in the trilogy instead of the first, so I had to go back to the library and exchange the two books.  I'm going to do things a little out of order this time by first listing the things I did not like about this book before the things I did like.
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Things I didn't like about this book:

1. The first 400 pages. SO BORING.  I attribute my patience to getting through those 400 pages to the fact that (1) I had a lot of time on my hands, (2) really just wanted to read, and (3) had a feeling that it just had to get better.  How can a book about witches, vampires, and daemons be absolutely terrible?  Glad I persevered!
2. Diana during the first 400 pages.  She thinks she's so independent and doesn't need anyone, but again and again the author puts her in situations that are just over her head.  She lacks the ability to learn from her past experiences and mistakes, and is headstrong to a fault.
3. Not enough magic.  Again, during the latter half of the book, it picks up a little bit, but I was expecting a lot more magic throughout the entire book, and was sorely disappointed.  

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Things I liked about this book:

1. Diana during the last 179 pages.  She finally becomes less whiny and actually takes initiative and responsibility for her actions.  She is a strong character near the end, and I am positive this new-found strength will follow her in the next two novels in the series.
2. Matthew Clairmont.  He is so patient with Diana, and she did not deserve his patience during the first 400 pages of the book.  She was very rude to him and wrote off his efforts as an annoyance, when in reality most of what he said and did was correct.
3. The Clairmont family.  A very regal and strong group of vampires who aren't afraid to speak their mind.  I really enjoyed their interactions with each other.
4. Diana's aunt's eventual acceptance of Matthew.  Matthew is a vampire and Diana's aunt, Sarah, is a witch.  In this novel, witches, vampires, and daemons (there are three separate species of non-human creatures), do not get along, and indeed, it is illegal for them to interact with more than a few passing words between each other.  Sarah initially hated Matthew based off of principal, but her eventual change of heart is described very well by the author, and that progression was a nice read.
5. The aspect of time travel.  Always fun to read and the way they practiced and planned for their trip to the past was described in great deal.  They were very smart about it, and the author did a wonderful job putting those scenes in writing.
6. Diana and Matthew's love.  It all happens very quickly, but there is an aspect of fate in their story and, as a hopeless romantic, I loved it.  No matter how hard they tried, all events led to their eventual relationship.

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I ended up enjoying this book, and will probably read the next two in the series when I'm home next and can check them out from the library.  Even though I've been in DC for three years now, I haven't joined the local public library.  I don't have all that much time to read while I'm here, and the books I usually pick up are either borrowed from other people or purchased from a used book store.  If I read more frequently, I would have to get a library membership, otherwise I'd run out of material really quickly!
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Recommend?  Yes, if you're feeling patient...