Life of a Book: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

I'm obsessed with this book. Or, rather the idea of this book. By no means do I meant that lightly. First of all, one of the goodreads reviewers references Dr. Seuss in his review. Considering this is a blog named after the very first Dr. Seuss book ever written, well, do I need to say more? But that's all surface stuff. Just look at the book. It's fiction in its finest. I've come to the conclusion recently that I'm not really a YA person, or at least not the YA person I once was. Every YA story is the same formula. Every fiction story is the same formula. The difference is that I've read a whole ton of YA. I've read about a feather's worth of fiction. That's why my current books of choice are books like The Beauty of Humanity Movement, Last Dragon, Napier's Bones, etc. There's a different vibe from fiction, I think.

In 1799, Jacob de Zoet disembarks on the tiny island of Dejima, the Dutch East India Company’s remotest trading post in a Japan otherwise closed to the outside world. A junior clerk, his task is to uncover evidence of the previous Chief Resident’s corruption.

Cold-shouldered by his compatriots, Jacob earns the trust of a local interpreter and, more dangerously, becomes intrigued by a rare woman – a midwife permitted to study on Dejima under the company physician. He cannot foresee how disastrously each will be betrayed by someone they trust, nor how intertwined and far-reaching the consequences.

Duplicity and integrity, love and lust, guilt and faith, cold murder and strange immortality stalk the stage in this enthralling novel, which brings to vivid life the ordinary – and extraordinary – people caught up in a tectonic shift between East and West.

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet embodies everything I love about life. Just read that last paragraph - it seems to scream my name. There's something compelling about a book that has themes beyond teenage angst. That's why books like The Hunger Games are still enjoyable to me. While YA, it still explores themes that we all understand. Its why The Book Thief remains my favorite book. Its YA, but not in the typical way.

As for the Life of a Book "analysis", this book was published a year ago, May 2010. Raise your hand if you've heard of it. I see no hands. That may or may not have something to do with the thousands of miles between the two of us, but no matter. My point remains: its unknown. It's probably amazing, although I don't speak for it because I haven't actually read it. I'd suggest it, but I don't want to be responsible for its content. They say for better or for worse, but that's only in marriage, and as much as it may seem like it sometimes, I'm definitely not married to my library.

I guess this whole life-of-a-book thing is turning more into another one of my "let's talk about books" posts under the guise of a "this is what I'm looking forward to that's already out" post.

I was in a very hyper mood when I wrote this, apparently. I'm currently on vacation, which means this was written last week in advance for you. I probably won't post again 'til the Saturday review, just because I didn't prepare anything else. Have a good week! (I know I will...)

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Quick Review: The Floating Islands, Bumped, Ted Chiang

Some books aren't meant to have full reviews. It may be that they weren't finished, or they're easily summarried in a few sentences. Maybe the time just isn't there or the book just isn't worth it. That's why quick reviews. A quick synopsis of recently read books that I just don't have the time or maybe the willpower to give a full review. Usually, it'll be more than one book. This week, I've chosen the books that I've read most recently: The Floating Islands, Bumped, and Stories of Your Life and Others

  

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier

The Floating Islands will forever remain a DNF book for me. It was, for me, all at once lovely and disappointing. You may have noticed from my previous posts that I think the writing is a big deal. It can make or break a book, and in this case, it broke it. I absolutely loved the world that the author created. I was reminded a bit of a scene in Avatar where they go to visit those mountains or whatever that was. (It's been a long time, sorry.) The world was excellently and expertly created, and I loved every detail of it. However, the story itself fell a little flat. There was nothing in it for me to feel for the characters. They were both brats, although that may be a little unfair considering Trei's parents and everyone he knew had just died. I think if I had finished this book, I could find myself very much enjoying it. I just couldn't get very far in it. Maybe I'm just in a book slump or something. Anyway, I would neither recommend nor not recommend the book. I say give it a try, just don't have great expectations for it. It might not disappoint, but it might not live up to them, either.

Bumped by Megan Cafferty

Bumped was an experimental read. I have never really enjoyed satire because I tend to take it too seriously. So when I started reading bumped, I went in with no expectations. The subject is a rocky one for me - teen pregnancy, especially where I firmly believe in no sex before marriage. Still, I found the book entertaining. The switching of perspectives between Harmony and Melody was interesting, especially when the two girls looked at the world is such different ways. I'm not sure that I appreciated the author's representation of Harmony and Goodside, mostly because it hit so close to home. It is a completely inaccurate representation of Christians, and I'm not sure how to respond to it. I know that the book is satire, and it therefore walks what I would call a very fine line. Now don't think I'm feeling offended or upset by it, I simply am not sure how much of it is truly satire when there ARE "christian" cults that behave that way and I sincerely feel for the people who are subject to it. In any case, back to the book itself. The entire story was about choices and identity and the two subjects are handled very well. Both girls go back to their lives with a different mindset and a different view of how they live. Not that they suddenly are against their society's methods or ways, but they simply have realized that they had a choice they did not have before. The lingo quickly gets tiring, but it's not enough to ruin the book. Definitely an interesting look at a future not so far from being possible. Still haven't decided if I'll read the sequel or not. The cliffhanger ending does not help.

Stories of Your Life And Others by Ted Chiang

This book is a masterpiece of science fiction, as far as I am concerned The writing is gorgeous. It's eight short science fiction stories that may have just reaffirmed my love of science fiction. I don't read sci fi very often, mostly because I don't spend a lot of time around those sections of the local library/bookstore and I don't know enough people who read it to know the right books to read. I stumbled across this one during my short story obsessive phase - a phase that I am still in, I might add - and I heard only great things about it. The book certainly does not disappoint. Ted Chiang is a fantastic author. He knows how to weave a story within a few short pages. The stories in this anthology are all about discovery of oneself and one's universe. From the inside flap: ". . .What if men bult a tower from Earth to Heaven - and broke through Heaven's other side? What if we discovered that the fundamentals of mathematics were arbitrary and inconsistent? What if there were a science of naming things that calls life into being from inanimate matter? What if exposure to an alien language forever changed our perception of time? . . ." Chiang calls us to our own realities within another reality. He poses real questions that are outside our ability to fathom and answers them with more questions, but he does so with the ease and comfort of having actually answered those questions. He's a science fiction genius, if I may be permitted to say so. This is not a book for science fiction fans to miss.

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New books!

There's no better feeling than getting a new book. There's also a difference between getting a "new" book from the library and getting a new book from the bookstore. This is the case of the second.

A week and a half ago I ordered four books online. The fourth wasn't due to come out 'til July 5th, so it was set to mail all four on the 5th. I couldn't wait that long, so I cancelled said fourth book. Today, I received the other two and let me tell you, I am stoked.

  

The books I received are: The Hunger Games, The Knife of Never Letting Go, and Napier's Bones.

Now, I tend to avoid reading the popular books. It never goes over well for me. Case in point: Twilight, The Mortal Instruments series, etc. Alright, so those are the only two that I can think of, but I think you get my point. What is "popular" these days never really seems to be my kind of book. There's only ever two reasons something is popular. One, it's really good. Two, it's written to be popular.

Unfortunately, the second case is way more common. Books that are really good are often not popular at all. Example? The Book Thief, Last Dragon, the Books of Pellinor, the Looking Glass Wars. They have a very loyal following but not much further. It's unfortunate, but that's just how it is. That's why when a book series becomes popular, I immediately become wary. Therefore, I have avoided The Hunger Games like it was a disease, even though every one of my very good friends whose opinions I trust told me to read it time and again. After working at a bookstore for two weeks watching customer after customer purchase the books belonging to the series, I gave in. It's never too late to jump on the bandwagon, right?

The Knife of Never Letting Go was purchased as a result of a free short story - The New World - that I downloaded on my nook app. I guess it did its job, because I just had to get the first book of the Chaos Walking series. First of all, the name is striking, and I did not intend that to be a pun. There is something about the name that draws me in. Second, the cover is striking. Again, no pun intended. Unfortunately, I did not receive the edition with said "striking" cover. Third, the premise is interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about reading a book about kids on the very young side of the YA range, but I love the concept and I seriously believe in the potential of the book. Let's hope it doesn't disappoint!

The third book I received is Napier's Bones, a book I randomly found while browsing Amazon one day. The premise is that Math is magic, and that was really all I needed to know to want - no, need - this book. As a math lover and future engineer, it's right up my alley. Still, I'm interested to see how the author presents it. Is it a book for only math lovers? Or is enjoyable by everybody? The latter is the option I'd really like to see this book take, but I guess we'll find out.

Are the any books that have you excited recently?

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Delicate Edible Birds: And Other Stories

Delicate Edible Birds: And Other Stories is a short fiction anthology, and let me tell you, I was so excited for this book. I checked it out of the local library, and if it's any indication for how excited I was for it, I immediately went to find its section. Out of a list of 12 wanted books, it was this one that I made a beeline for. I was stoked. As I am currently writing a short fiction anthology, it was this book that I looked forward to reading, to get an insight on short fiction and anthologies. I craved this book in a weird sort of way, and this made it all the more disappointing when I actually read it.

Lauren Groff is a fantastic storyteller. She weaves stories of heartbreak and pain, making your own heart break for the characters within a matter of pages. She's a master at what she does, and it impressed me. However. This is where you learn a little more about me. I'm steadfast in my beliefs. Not even master storytelling can make me waver in what I believe, and that's exactly where this story falls short for me. I'm not one for reading of people's sexual endeavors. In my opinion, that is something that is private and should remain so. Real or fake, I don't feel the necessity to read this in detail, great or minor.

L. DeBard and Aliette is, in all honesty, what killed it for me. [Warning: Spoilers, though I don't believe that spoiling a short story is really a crime, but I digress.] I might have felt for the characters. I might have ached for their love and inability to be together. I might have been a little bit sad when they were broken apart or when Aliette never saw her son again. But the reality is, I didn't. Far too much time was spent being disturbed by the beginning. The story might have been a little bit more compelling had their been fewer - can I say, unecessary - details. Instead, it was, all-in-all, slightly perturbing, and left me with an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Let me just say, as a disclaimer of sorts, that I am not judging the entire anthology based on one piece of it. It's like saying the sandwich tastes bad because I didn't like the crust. My statement is merely this: I can't bear to own a book or a bit of a book that so clearly goes against my beliefs. There are stories in Delicate Edible Birds that I very much enjoyed, but I could not forget L. DeBard and Aliette for fear of its unabashed storytelling popping up again. So, then again, maybe I am judging the book based on one of its stories, but it's hard to only like part of a book. To give another cheesy analogy, its like trying to use a bit of cream cheese after ridding it of the moldy bits. It may be fine, but you just can't forget those moldy bits.

Lauren Groff is, as I said before, an excellent storyteller. I admire her writing and her ability to weave a story. Also, the cover is beautiful. In all, I can't bring myself to give it a lower rating as a book than I have done already. So, I merely settle for being ambivalent about this bit of literature. I probably will not recommend it to friends, and I will content myself with admiring it from afar.

Rating: 4, Could've Been Better 
Recommended For: No-one. Beautiful piece of literature, but not the kind of thing you want lying around your house. It feels a bit more like a guilty sin that a pleasurable read. I still love you as a writer, Lauren Groff!

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Austenland

Jane is obsessed with Pride and Prejudice. It's unhealthy, and not normal at all. When her rich great aunt dies, instead of leaving Jane a fortune, Jane is bequeathed a three week vacation to Austenland. Austenland is the epitome of what every P&P-obsessed girl dreams of. Handsome men in Regency-era clothing, dancing, tea and games of whist. For three weeks, Jane Hayes doesn't have to be anyone. It's an escape like no other, and her chance to rid herself of her Darcy-obsession. Of course, nothing goes as we plan and Jane ends up with exactly what she wanted, just not in a way she expected.

Alright, it's an excellent premise. I am a self-proclaimed P&P obsessee. I love it. Especially the BBC version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Awesome. Naturally, this book caught my attention. I checked it out of the Library yesterday and stayed up until 1:30 am reading it. There's a certain charm about the novel, something that draws you in and doesn't let you put it down until it's over. That being said, I do not thing that this novel lived up to its true potential.

The prologue drew me in. It was witty and well-written and gave me insight into the character I was about to spend three and a half hours reading about. The next two chapters were... enlightening, to say the least. I say that because I don't know how else to describe it. Slowly, I felt like I was finding myself in a different world than the one of the prologue. It was less witty and more trying-too-hard-to-be-witty. I kept reading hoping the witty narrator would come back, but alas, they did not. 

I'm a big fan of Shannon Hale. I love every novel I've read by her, and it was mainly this reason that I felt so disappointed in Austenland. Besides the potential the subject had, the author gave more reason to expect this novel to be wonderful, and it just never quite measured up. Instead of fresh and new, it felt stale and overdone. The main character was annoying, and she behaved much more like 16-year-old than a thirty-something woman trying to do something different. Maybe that was the idea, but somehow it just didn't quite work.

I'll probably read the second one that's coming out in Jan 2012, because I've never been able to start a series and not finish it, and I still believe in the potential of the idea and the author. If you're ever bored on a rainy day or have nothing to do on a summer afternoon, I'd give this book a shot. It's got a great happy ending, although while Jane found she didn't need a Mr. Darcy after all, it only reinforced my desire for a Mr. Darcy of my own.

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Rating: 6 - Good; A Rainy Day Sort Of Book
Recommend For: Jane Austen lovers, or anyone who needs something to while away the warm summer afternoons or cold winter evenings.

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The Book Thief

  

I am not sure exactly how to give a proper review for this book. It is, without a doubt, my favorite book of all time, and I doubt there is a single book that can or ever will replace it. So to say that my review will be biased is an understatement. That said, I hope you'll now forgive me for any bias you might find within the following review.

Here we find a book on a subject that can never be happy or good or nice. Liesel Meminger is a good girl with a sad fortune. Her mother is leaving her in the hands of strangers and her brother has died, leaving her with nothing left in the world but the book she stole from her brother's graveside. With the help of her foster father, she learns to read and write, all the while stealing books from wherever she can find them, including book-burning piles and the library of the mayor's wife.

Narrated by Death, who is at once an omnipresent narrator and a vulnerable character, we find ourselves in the middle of a subject that, on another occasion, might leaving you feeling very unhappy. However, there is something immensely beautiful and inviting about this novel, and it is for this reason that I love it. Instead of feeling depressed at the end of the novel, I found that I felt exactly the opposite: I wanted to pick it up and read it again and again, savoring every word and memorizing every line.

The writing itself is strange and sometimes feels stilted and awkward. It is the awkwardness that makes it feel real, and it's stilted character that makes it feel almost beautiful at times. This is the kind of book that I feel is practically written for book lovers. In The Book Thief, we find ourselves discovering the power of words, not just the power of books. We see the power of words when Liesel's foster mother calls her Saumensch again and again, or with Frau Diller and her insistence of each of her customers saying, "heil Hitler" as they enter her shop. Words have an important bit to play in this novel, and the way Markus Zusak uses them is extraordinary.

I don't know how much I can say without spoiling the novel for you, except to say that it's amazing, and I think it should be a must-read for everyone. The genre-type of "young adult" can often be so misleading to those of us who might not consider ourselves "young adults" or not even "old adults" or whatever. The "young adult" label often makes me shy away from books that I might very much enjoy, but I am afraid of, because they might be too young or too silly. This book is neither too young nor too silly. I read somewhere once that the main difference between "middle grade" and "young adult" is that the characters in "middle grade" books are 11-14 while the characters in "young adult" are 14-16 or somewhere close to those ranges. All I can say is if the age of our main character is the only thing keeping you from reading this book, you're most certainly missing out on an amazing piece of literature and a beautiful story.

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I just want to share with you some passages from the book so you can appreciate the writing as I do:

p.4: "People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spat blues. Murky darknesses, In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them."

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p.129: "Certainly, something of great magnitude was coming toward 33 Himmel Street, to which Liesel was currently oblivious. To distort an overused human expression, the girl had more immediate fish to fry:

      She had stolen a book.

      Someone had seen her.

      The book thief reacted. Appropriately.

Every minute, every hour, there was worry, or more the point, paranoia. Criminal activity will do that to a person, especially a child. They envision a prolific assortment of caughtoutedness. Some examples: People jumping out of alleys. Schoolteachers suddenly being aware of every sin you've ever committed. Police showing up at the door each time a leaf turns or a distant gate slams shut."

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p.391: "On Munich Street, they watched. 

      Others moved in around and in front of them. 

      They watched the Jews come down the road like a catalog of colors. That wasn't how the book thief described them, but I can tell you that that's exactly what they were, for many of them would die. They would each greet me like their last true friend, with bones like smoke and their souls trailing behind.

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p.550: "A Last Note From Your Narrator:

I am haunted by humans."

Rating: 10 - Pitch-perfect

Recommend For: Everyone. It's the kind of book that not only challenges you and makes you think, but is also a literary achievement, as far as I'm concerned. I've never read another book written like it, and I doubt it can be rivaled in that respect. It's written off as "young adult", but as I said before, it's the kind of all-age-appropriate book that everyone can enjoy.

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