Books I've read lately

The People's History of the United States
Author: Howard Zinn Genre: American History Subjects: The history you didn't learn in school Date Read: July, 2004	I confess, I haven't actually finished this book yet, even though I've been reading it since July (and its now September). The book isn't bad, its just not a great "summer read." The book should actually be titles something like The History of surpressed, exploited, and disadvantaged People of the United States . The material covered by the auther is interesting, and I do think people should see this darker version of American history. However, there's few bright spots in this book. Given the social progression since the coming of "white man", I find it hard to believe that no one featured in the book has accomplished some small victories over the wealthy and powerful. Or perhaps I didn't get to that part of the book. In any event, this book is not a beach book, which was probably more up my alley this summer. Therefore, I think I'll have to leave the book for some time when I've more free time and exams no longer loom over my head.
The World According to Garp
Author: John Irving Genre: Fiction Subjects: Family, Gender Date Read: June, 2004	I liked this book, but not as much as I liked A Widow for One Year.This book is very John Irving, for those that have read his work. He often takes a multi generational approach to his novel, without turning them into sagas. Irving also takles a number of pertinent social issues, which I like. In Life According to Garp, Irving includes a number of themes, including feminism, radicalism, parental duty, infidelity, and family structure. All of these are interesting in themselves, and my small complaint in the book is that they don't mix well together at times. In a way, Garp feels a bit schizophrenic in covering its "issues"- sometimes dwelling on a single one for several chapters and then switching to another suddenly. Another critique is the interuption of some of the short stories that appear in the book (The main character, Garp, is an author). Many times it felt as if the book had been written as a framework to display some of the short stories that Irving has written over the year and never published. Or worse, stories that were started and, for whatever reason, never finished. Its as if Irving using the novel to clean out his literary closet. Despite this shortcoming, the book read well. Its main character had enough flaws and facits to make him interesting, and enough charm to make me feel sympathetic towards him. However, I thought the story of the main character's wife was more compelling at times. I would recommend this book to those that like Irving's other works and suggest people try "A Widow for One Year" if they want to try Irving.
Wicked
Author: Gregory Maguire Genre: Fiction Subjects: Wizard of Oz, Evil Date Read: March, 2004	Wicked is the tale of Oz you didn't get from the movie starring Judy Garland. Those who have read the L. Frank Baum books, as I did as a child, know the land of Oz is a much darker place than the MGM version. Wicked continues in this strain, attempting to create a plausible history for the Wicked Witch of the West. Maguire does a good job of remaining true to the world Baum created (at least from my recollection) while not demanding too much for those who've merely seen the movie. The plot follows the life of Elphaba (The Wicked Witch) from her birth, through her school days and development into a resistor in a war against the tyrant known as the Wizard. Thats right, the Wizard is the bad guy. Or is he? What makes Maguire's book so good is that he never creates a sense of absolute evil or goodness- just a realization that different perspectives lead to different interpretations of who is "wicked". A few brief times, Maguire becomes a little heavy handed in his discussion of "evil" and its nature (it doesn't help that there was a study guide in my version of the book), but he does an excellent job of creating compelling characters all around. I really liked Elphaba and could sympathize with her. Maguire also takes and interesting approach to Glinda, the Good Witch, was well. I look forward to picking up a few of his books in the future.
Alias Grace
Author: Margaret Atwood Genre: Historical Fiction Subjects: Early psychology, split personalities Date Read: January, 2004	This book follows the life of Grace, who we discover is convicted murderess, who can't remember committing her crime. The book follows the tale of Grace as well as the man who comes to help/study her by apply the then-new field of psychology. This implication is that Grace suffers from multiple personality disorder (which the modern reader recognizes, but the characters do not) I thought the book was interesting until nearly the end, when suddenly the protagonist turns into a lusty, cowardly twit. Perhaps its the cowardice that bothers me so much, because as an academic, I can't imagine that serious person would high tail it like the main character does, abandoning his subject. The behavior of the leading man in the final chapters left me completely unsatisfying. Its not that the ending was unhappy-it was just abondoned by the auther in the way that her characters abaondon Grace. In the end, I felt the whole exersize was a waste of my time. I liked Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale , but I hated this book.
Njal's Saga
Translator: Robert Cook Genre: Icelandic Saga, Historical Document Subjects: Early history of Iceland, Icelandic conversion Date Read: December, 2003	The Icelandic sagas are a series of documents written in the 12th and 13th centeries about the settlement of Iceland. They're based on the oral traditions passed down from several generations. The sagas depict a unique and remarkable society in language as stark as the landscape. They're fastinating, but difficult reads. Njal's saga records the events surround the burning of Njal's home and household (the most heinous crime in icelandic culture). The sagas give many details of the legal and honor codes in iceland. I particularly enjoyed reading about the gender roles and the rights of women in the society. Njal's saga isn't the most exciting book I've read, but its definately worth picking up. I suggest interested readers try Laxdalea Saga first, which tends to be a more digestible read and is equally interesting.
The Little Prince
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery Genre: Childrens Fiction Subjects Life Date Read: October, 2003	My sister sent me the Little Prince for my birthday. I read it in an evening and it was an interesting, quirky little tale. The story is a fictional biography of a prince from a very little asteroid and his trip to other asteroids and then the earth. At each stop the Prince learns a life lesson. Its a bit overbearing, but it is written for a younger age group. However, sometimes even adults need to be reminded about the simple pleasures in life, including reading a novel piece of writing. It was a good respite from my homework and I recommend it as a good read on a cold night when you don't have enough time to sit down with a longer book.
Macbeth
Author: W. Shakespeare Genre: Play, Drama Subjects English Drama Date Read: September, 2003	I read Macbeth in the evenings when I stayed in Leysin, Switzerland. I was staying with a bunch of New Age Mystics who were in Leysin for a conference, but they only spoke french. So I spent my evenings reading while they preformed "healings" on the first floor. Unfortunately, I didn't find Macbeth as amusing as my roommates. Macbeth is not my favorite WS work. It seemed to lack the depth and pathos of Hamlet. As a drama, its not as purely entertaining as the comedies. Still, its a good one to have under your belt because it crops up in a lot of literary references. I did enjoy a number of the more memorable scenes, like the sleep-walking Lady Macbeth. I would like to see it performed, since all of WS plays seem to be better when taken in live. Its a short read, so it won't consume much of your time. I'm glad I read it, and I'll be moving on to King Lear, another oft-quoted WS play at some point.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy Subjects Harry Potter Date Read: August, 2003	I admit, I've read all the Harry Potter books. And while I find them enjoyable, I definately don't put them in the 'best book every written' category. They have been getting better, and the fourth book was a great story. Therefore I was a little disappointed by The Order of the Phoenix , which seems to be a rehash of the same old potter gimmicks with a bit more teenage angst. I was hoping that that fifth book would sparkle as much as the fourth. Thankfully, though, the fifth book doesn't spend as much time on the quiddich scenes or summerizing the previous books. On the whole though, the book was fun and it had me up well past my bedtime. Rowling has kept me caring about the characters she has created in the Harry Potter world, and so I'll probably pick up the next one when it comes out.
American Gods
Author: Neil Gaiman Genre: Science Fiction SubjectsMythology, belief Date Read: July, 2003	Like many of his previous novels, American Gods examines the dynamics of a system where Gods walk amoung us, and are fed by our belief (If you've read any by Terry Pratchett, a friend of Gaiman's, this isn't new). In American Gods, Gaiman follows the trials of his protagonist, Shadow, who has become entangled in the affiars of gods. Some of these gods were imported by immigrants in centuries past, others are the spawned of American's worship of the TV and the world wide web. There is friendship, love, trials, and betrayl-all the elements of a good book, but American Gods is very long and strung out. By page 400, I was wondering when things would wrap up (not for another 200 pages evidently). Gaiman's works are notorious for their rich and sometimes obscure literary, religious, and mythological references. At times,the frequent of allusions come across as a intellectual egotism-clearly the reader is meant to marvel in great awe at Gaiman's literary prowess. Although the references where a bit overdone, I did appreciate Gaiman's efforts not to insult my intellegence and I freely admit that the more one has read, the more enjoyable Gaiman's books are. American Gods was long, but those who like Gaiman will enjoy this novel. For those who would like to give him a try (and he is worth a try), but don't want the commitment should try one of his Sandman Comic series.
The Lady of Avalon
Author: Marion Zimmer Bradly Genre: Historical Fiction Subjects:Authurian Legend, Early English History Date Read: July, 2003	This novel is a prologue to the Mists of Avalon, a book that brought Bradly much deserved praise. The Lady of Avalon contains three stories of the fictionalwomen who lead Avalon from the Roman Era to the Authurian Era. Although not as engrossing at the Mists, this novel is well worth the effort. A few bits seem recycled, but one can forgive Bradly as she her storytelling is outstanding. The stories are exciting, the landscapes are vivid, and the characters and their relationships to one another are compelling. I enjoyed Bradly's look at female relationships. Men may not find this story as interesting, as it focuses on female characters. But they can go read a Tolkien.
The Map that Changed the World
Author:Simon Winchester Genre: Biography Subjects: Geology, 19th Century English History Date Read: June, 2003	A NY times best seller about a little known figure in scientific history, William Smith. He is now touted as the Father of English Geology. I picked up the book because I started graduate school in a Geology department, even though I know nothing of geology. I thought the book would be eductional and entertaining. Although Winchester has been praised for his writing style, I found it redundant, meandering and, occasionally, preachy. The author systematically kills any sense of suspense as he reveals far too much of the Smith's future throughout the book. The story itself is interesting, but the book is much too long. It is a pity, because this author has written a number of books on fastinating topics and I now hesitate to pick them up.

Here are some of my favorite books that I've read so long ago that I couldn't faithfully review them. In no particular order:
Literature A Widow for One Year, John Irving The Red Tent, Anita Diamant Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen	Academic The Histories, Herodotus The Golden Ass, Apeleius Metamorphoses, Ovid Greek Lyric, Sappho Canterbury Tales, Chaucer Laxdaela Saga, Anonymous	For Fun Small Gods,Terry Pratchett Good Omens,Pratchett & Gaiman By the Sword,Mercedes Lackey

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