The Hours- Michael Cunningham

The Hours- Michael Cunningham (1999)

Short and Sweet Synopsis:

This entire novel takes place in one day and follows the lives of three women: Virginia Woolf (1920’s), Clarissa Vaughn (late 20th Century), and Laura Brown (1940’s). Virginia Woolf (the only non-fictional character) is focused on writing her novel Mrs. Dalloway while she tries to shut out her husband and house servants that treat her like she is insane. Clarissa Vaughn is an editor living in New York that is throwing a party for her friend that is dying of AIDS. Laura Brown is a wife and mother, helping her son make a birthday cake for her husband, and resenting her picture-perfect life. This story follows these women through one day in their lives, eventually revealing how all three are connected.

Humble Review:

The stories and events were not exactly captivating, but I sort of felt like that was the point. I think the beatuy is in the simplicity. Considering this story only let me see one day of their lives, I was surprised at how much depth there really was. I was also surprised that a male author could so accurately and uniquely depict the innermost thoughts and feelings of a woman– let alone, three women. Although I don’t consider this a great read, I did love this book for its original discussion of gender roles. It was also the first book I read that included so many unorthodox subjects like suicide, homosexuality, and women that didn’t follow “the rules” that dictate what a woman is– gasp!

Cut-Throat Rating:

B  I read this my freshman year of college, when my reading bank hadn’t much exceeded young adult fiction. I remember feeling slightly uncomfortable as I read it, which I think is always a good way to stretch your mind! I would recommend this to all women.

Your turn:

What do you think? I found a discussion question in my version of the novel that I find really interesting- you can answer that or simply share your own opinion. Either way, I’d love to hear it!

Virginia and Laura are both, in a sense, prisoners of their eras and societies, and both long for freedom from this imprisonment. Clarissa Vaughan, on the other hand, apparently enjoys every liberty: freedom to be a lesbian, to come and go and live as she likes. Yet she has ended up, in spite of her unusual way of life, as a fairly conventional wife and mother. What might this fact indicate about the nature of society and the restrictions it imposes? Does the author imply that character, to a certain extent, is destiny?

Fight Club- Chuck Palahniuk

This is your life, and it’s ending one minute at a time.

Fight Club- Chuck Palahniuk (1996)

Short and Sweet Synopsis:

This book asks the question- what is the meaning in life? Only, it doesn’t give the answers in a pretty package wrapped in a bow. Example: “You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everyone else, and we are all part of the same compost pile.” The unnamed narrator is an average, working class guy just going through the motions of life. He is unhappy and tired of trying to be something he is not- something society has labeled as acceptable (making a humorous reference to the Ikea catalog).  His path intersects with Tyler’s, a man that seems to have all the answers. Together, they pull pranks, conduct experiments, and start a Fight Club- focusing on the living of life and not what society teaches them to focus on: jobs, possessions, and relationships. The Fight Club was built upon the notion that feeling pain is better than feeling nothing, but it turns into quite a complicated social experiment.

Review:

AWESOME book. Books like this one are truly eye-opening. I felt like parts of my brain that had been unused were suddenly working overtime. There were several situations that disturbed me, and many ideas presented that actually upset me. However, to me, (and maybe this seems backwards to some) that was a better reason to read it than any. I am pretty critical of an author’s ability to WRITE (not come up with a great story, but actually write it) and Palahniuk is an excellent writer. I read this novel with the same can’t-look-away reaction we have when driving past an accident. I was left pondering over it for days, even weeks, after I finished it.

Rating:

A+ I truly enjoyed this novel, but I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone due to some of it’s hard-to-swallow content.  

 

The Book Thief- Markus Zusak

 

It kills me sometimes, how people die. -Death

The Book Thief- Markus Zusak

Short and Sweet Synopsis:

This story takes place in Nazi Germany; a time when book burnings served as a way to cleanse the nation of ideas. The narrator of this story is Death, and he becomes intrigued by a little girl named Liesel, whom he keeps running into while he’s “working.”  Everything in Liesel’s life is strange and new, including her foster parents but she eventually does find comfort in her foster-father, her friend Rudy, and her books. As everything around her crumbles, and Death begins to visit more frequently, Liesel finds a friend in the unlikeliest of circumstances.  

Humble Review:

The narrator of the story is Death, which I thought was the best part of the book. Liesel’s life is a little bleak, but her adventures with Rudy were always fun to read. I also love the idea that a little girl finds comfort in literature. There was a time, toward the middle of the book, that I began to lose interest. However, it picked back up and I anxiously read the ending. I had enough invested in the characters to keep me going, but I would not consider this novel a page-turner by any means. It was a nice beach read, and I really did enjoy reading through the unique perspective of Death.

Rating:

B I hesitate to recommend this book because I didn’t absolutely love it. However, I think it would appeal more to a 15-17 year old.

Your Turn:

What did YOU think of this book?

The Joy Luck Club- Amy Tan

The Joy Luck Club- Amy Tan

Short and Sweet Synopsis:

This is a story of eight women: four mothers and their four daughters. The four mothers have immigrated from China to America to give their daughters the opportunities that would only be available to them there. Their relationships are strained as the mothers attempt to pass on their Chinese traditions and customs and the daughters live a modern, American life. The mothers form “The Joy Luck Club,” which is a club that meets to play mah-jong, eat great Chinese food, and discuss their daughters. The novel itself is structured like a mah-jong game with four parts and four chapters within each part, making sixteen chapters total. Each story begins with a parable that relates back to the game.

Humble Review:

I love Amy Tan’s writing. This a great book for anyone with a mother or daughter (so umm… all women). The stories, many of which are derived from Amy Tan’s own life, are profound and perfectly placed within the story. The beauty is not just in the story-telling, it is also in the way this book was put together. I truly enjoyed the stories and quickly loved all of the characters.  

Rating:

A I recommend this to ALL women- especially those that find Chinese culture (more importantly Chinese women) fascinating.

Your Turn:

What was your favorite story within this novel?

Anthem- Ayn Rand

Anthem –Ayn Rand (1937)

Short and Sweet Synopsis:

Have you ever known someone that refers to themselves in the third person? Remind you of a Seinfeld episode? Well, that’s the only way the main character, Equality 7-2521, refers to himself in Anthem. Equality 7-2521 is a member of a society that has been stripped of individuality. The only purpose any one member has is to perform the task they are assigned to- Equality 7-2521 is a street sweeper. However, Equality 7-2521 is also a rebel that wants nothing to do with a society that has banned the word “I.”

 Humble Review:

I read Anthem when I was fifteen years old and I still remember the impact it had on me. Ayn Rand is an excellent author and she has a gift for illustrating the harmful impacts of collectivism and socialism (she has several other novels with similar themes). I really enjoyed this story and the ideas it presents.

Rating:

A+. Read this book- it has a wonderful ending and it’s a novella so it will take you no more than two days to read it.

Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury

Synopsis:

Coming soon

Review:

Coming soon

Rating:

A

 

Harry Potter- J.K. Rowling

 

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Harry Potter Series- J.K. Rowling

1. (1997) Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone

2. (1998) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. (1999) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. (2000) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. (2003) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. (2005) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. (2007) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

 

Short and Sweet Synopsis:

 

A young boy named Harry, discovers he is more special than his caretakers have been treating him. After learning he comes from wizard parents, Harry begins attending school at Hogwarts, a school for young wizards (boys) and witches (girls). At Hogwarts, Harry becomes fast friends with Ron and Hermione, and together they refine their magical skills, set out on adventures (some fun, some not so fun), and work toward a common goal: defeating the darkest, most evil wizard of all: Lord Voldemort.

 

Humble Review:

 

I spent many years turning up my nose at these books; I began reading them because all seven books were required reading for a literature course I took at ASU. I am so glad I took that class! I fell in love with almost all of the characters (even some of the bad ones) in the way where I felt like they existed in my world. I dreamt about them, worried about their future’s, rejoiced with them, and cried with them. An author that can make fictional characters (especially wizards and witches) come to life that well, truly has a gift. It is no surprise to me that these books are wildly popular and were turned into movies that are also huge hits. This series is truly wonderful for ALL ages.

 

Rating:

 

A++++ These books are brilliant and you will love them. And when I say you, I mean whomever is reading this sentence right now because no matter who you are, I know you will love them.

 

Your turn:

 

What was your favorite book and why?

Who were your favorite characters?

How do you think Rowling best portrayed the theme of good vs. evil?