Classic Book Review: A Separate Peace

TITLE: A Separate Peace
AUTHOR: John Knowles
PUBLISHED: 1959
CATEGORY: Young Adult (sort of)
GENRE: Historical Fiction
PREMISE: A man remembers his time in school during WWII.
MY THOUGHTS: Sigh. This is yet another book in what I'm beginning to think is a sub-genre: Old (usually white and straight) guy thinks back on one memorable thing from his childhood. I've stumbled across so many literature books that do this and...honestly dudes? I'm sorry, but your childhood is not as interesting as you think it is. This one had all the problems that books that do this idea have: mainly...it's dull.
I get what the author was doing with it. War is hell, it effects us all, even those not in the war, etc. etc. Probably also some metaphors for losing your innocence as well. This is not a difficult novel to grasp or even to read. Which is probably why it winds up on reading lists for schools all the time. But personally, I suspect this is better read as an adult. I have no doubt that teenage me would have hated this. Adult me....didn't enjoy it, but appreciates what the author was trying to do.
I just, for the life of me, couldn't get into this one. Yet another classic that is just not for me.
WHO SHOULD READ: literature fans, those that don't mind slow-paced books

Book Review Catch Up Part 3: The Second Half of July 2018

Last of the review catch up posts, I promise. Here are all the things I read in the second half of July.

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding Book 1 by Alexandra Bracken
Category: Middle-Grade
Published: September 2017
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Enjoyable read, as usual, from Alexandra Bracken. Turns out this is going to be made into a movie, so I read it just in time.
Rating: Four out of Five snarky demons

Another Country by James Baldwin
Category: Adult
Published: 1962
Genre: Contemporary
Read mostly because it was on the Great American Read list. I'm kind of slowly going through the ones I haven't read. Not all of them, because there are some I'm just not interested in, at all (Atlas Shrugged, for instance). But most of them I will be reading....at some point.

Robots VS Fairies anthology by various authors
Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi
Published: January 9th, 2018
Fun short story anthology that had stories featuring either robots or fairies.
Rating: Three and a half out of Five short stories that I wanted to be whole books

Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Chang
Category: Non-Fiction
Genre: Social Commentary/Feminism
Published: February 6th, 2018
A deep look into the sexism of the tech industry. How bad it is, how we got there, why it persists, and how we can change the culture. The book is good and interesting...it's just draining, hearing about all these incidents and seeing all the indifference from some of the people in the industry.
Rating: Three and a half out of Five informative, but sad books

Kat Holloway Book 1: Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley
Category: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Published: January 2nd, 2018
Okay historical mystery. Didn't really impress me, but didn't really fail me either. It's good for if you just want some Downton Abbey-esque feelings with a dash of mystery.
Rating: Three and a half out of Five nosy maids getting shit done

Veronica Speedwell Book 3: A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn
Category: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Published: January 16th, 2018
This series continues to be delightful. If you like slow burn romances, heroines who don't give a fuck about society's expectations, and snark, seriously pick this series up.
Rating: Four out of Five awesome snarky heroines

The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Category: Play
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: 1953
I started to read this one, and it turns out I actually already have read it...way back in school. I just apparently forgot that. Oh well. If nothing else, it was a good refresher.

Comics read:
Captain America original 1940s series on Marvel Unlimited
Heavy Vinyl vol. 1

Reading Through the Classics (Play version): Waiting for Godot

TITLE: Waiting for Godot
AUTHOR: Samuel Beckett
CATEGORY: Play
GENRE: Um...Magical realism...I guess?
PUBLISHED: 1952
PREMISE: Two old men wait for a man they call Godot every day. Here are just some of the things that happen to them while they wait...
MY THOUGHTS: This is a weird play. Like, of all the plays I've read so far I think the weirdest is either this one or Angels in America. But like Angels in America....this works for me.
A large part of it is the banter. I love me some good banter, and this play has that in spades. It just makes you laugh, even as you have no idea what's going on sometimes.
I enjoyed this. It is a weird ass play. But apparently, weird ass plays are my thing. What can you do?
WHO SHOULD READ: fans of the play, Angels in America fans, philosophy fans

Reading Through the Classics (Play Script Version!): A Raisin in the Sun

TITLE: A Raisin in the Sun
AUTHOR: Lorraine Hansberry
PUBLISHED: 1959
CATEGORY: Play
GENRE: Realistic Fiction/Family Drama
PREMISE: In Chicago, a family during the forties live out their lives...
MY THOUGHTS: I'm still very new to this reading a play thing. But I am very quickly growing to like it. Play reading is very quick and if the play is damn good, like this one is, it can pack a powerful punch in just under two hundred or so pages. Sometimes even more punch then a novel can. This particular edition I got from the library talked about some of the history of Raisin in the Sun and I wish I could be shocked that apparently there were productions where people white-washed a play that is basically about being black in America, but I've learned to never underestimate people's ability to white-wash something.
One thing that quickly struck me is that despite the fact that this was written over fifty years ago, it's still relevant. In fact, I kind of want them to do a revival of it on Broadway. I have a feeling it would resonate with people like whoa. I bet you could do a modern adaptation of it and not have to lose much because many of the topics are still relevant. Which is both amazing...and sad, especially where the racism part is concerned.
If you're a fan of plays, or are just getting into them, absolutely pick this one up. It's a good beginner play and gives you lots to think about and digest.
WHO SHOULD READ: James Baldwin fans, theater nerds

Reading Through the Classics: On the Road

TITLE: On the Road
AUTHOR: Jack Kerouac
PUBLISHED: 1957
CATEGORY: Adult
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
PREMISE: A guy and his friends travel around the USA .
MY THOUGHTS: I'm going to be completely honest: I...did not like this book. At all. Are some of the prose very pretty? Sure. Do I understand its importance in the Beat Movement? Absolutely. Doesn't change the fact that I was bored too tears while reading this. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: all the pretty writing and great prose in the world is not going to save your book, if your story is as dull as dishwater.
That is my big issue with it: it's boring. It's basically a constant repeat of the narrator going 1) we traveled to this spot, here's who we traveled with. 2) We had booze in this place, and had sex here. If there wasn't sex, there was sexist commentary aimed at the women who didn't give them sex. There was also some racist commentary thrown in for good measure. Yes, I know, it's the fifties. Keroauc was a product of his time/insert excuse here. Doesn't mean I have to like the sexism/racism.
While there could be a case made for how Kereouac did present a non-filtered view of the US...it doesn't change the fact that literally nothing happened. It was just the narrator and his friends traveling and honestly being jerks while...doing nothing, really. Unless you count partying as doing something. It says something that the most interesting part of this book for me was the introduction that talked about the publication process of this book, Kerouac's life and the book's influence on the Beat Movement. When your introduction is more interesting then your story, you've got problems.
This is one case where I actually wish I had an English teacher there to give context to this book. This was my first Beat Movement book so perhaps that was an issue with why I couldn't connect with this book at all. In any case, this was not a classic for me. I will be trying other Beat books though, this is just an early example of the movement and from what I understand it changed over the course of time. Perhaps there are Beat books out there that actually have a plot and aren't completely sexist and racist like this one was. Though that's a big perhaps. It was the fifties/sixties after all.
WHO SHOULD READ: Lit fans I guess, Jack Kerouac fans, those interested in the Beat Movement

Reading Through the Classics: The Price of Salt

TITLE: The Price of Salt (or Carol depending on the edition)
AUTHOR: Patricia Highsmith
PUBLISHED: 1952
CATEGORY: Adult
GENRE: Romance, Realistic Fiction
PREMISE: Therese gets a job at a department store and meets Carol, a housewife in the midst of a divorce...
MY THOUGHTS: This is actually my first Patricia Highsmith novel. When the movie Carol came out last year, I actually had no clue Highsmith had wrote the book it was based on. I know who Highsmith is. She's known for books like Strangers on a Train and other mystery thriller classics. Somehow, none of the literary buffs who talked about her to me mentioned she wrote a lesbian romance at some point. I wish I could be surprised at that...but I'm sadly not.
As far as romance novels go, this is fairly standard. Two people meet, fall in love, have messy lives and those messy lives interfere with said love, work out how to be together in the end. Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that it was two women in love, this book would look very similar to books like The Reader, The Husband's Secret, Me Before You etc. etc. Honestly, it's no wonder the Oscars ate it up.
This was a very interesting read. I look forward to whenever I eventually tackle Highsmith's other books.
WHO SHOULD READ: those looking for happy ending LGBT reads, those that like drama filled romances, Patricia Highsmith fans

Reading Through the Classics: Cotillion

TITLE: Cotillion
AUTHOR: Georgette Heyer
PUBLISHED: 1953
CATEGORY: Adult
GENRE: Historical Romance
PREMISE: Kitty is on the brink of inheriting a fortune from her guardian. But first, she must marry one of his grand-nephews...
MY THOUGHTS: If ever there was a precursor to category romance, particularly the regency category romance, Georgette Heyer is probably it. She was a prolific author who wrote many historical romances as well as a few detective novels from the thirties on through to sixties. The one I read here is just one of her many books.
From what I understand, she took many of her cues from Austen and that definitely shows in her books. But for me personally, it lacked the charm of Austen. It was just too bogged down by the historical details and honestly was a little dull for me. The historical detail is top notch but ultimately stalled the book quite a bit.
I suspect this is a matter of different audience. Heyer was writing for the crowd of the 1950s with this one. Maybe people back then weren't as aware of the regency era as we are now. I have noticed many things written back then feel slower then things written now. So for me personally, Heyer's not really my thing. But reading her books is interesting nonetheless. Mostly just to see how different the romance category was approached back then as opposed to nowadays.
WHO SHOULD READ: Romance fans, Jane Austen fans, Georgette Heyer fans, regency romance fans

Reading Through the Classics: Fahrenheit 451

TITLE: Fahrenheit 451
AUTHOR: Ray Bradbury
CATEGORY: Modern Classic/Adult
GENRE: Dystopian
PUBLISHED: 1953
PAGES: 159 (for this version anyway)
THOUGHTS: Yes, believe it or not, I never had to read this one for school. I suspect there are two reasons. The first is that I went to school in the bible belt. This book is generally not popular among that crowd (don't know why though, it doesn't go into religion that much at all). The second is that all of my teachers were very into the teaching only dead white dudes who wrote the serious kinds of literature. In other words, no fantasy/sci-fi of any kind. If you're looking for one of the things that probably helped make me a genre book lover, this right here is probably one of them.
Reading a book like this is a strange experience. It's one of those that are very influential and as I was reading I kept thinking to myself "oh...so THIS is where that sort of idea came from!" I suspect many read this book and misinterpreted many of the messages in it. I can also clearly see where it has influenced dystopian writers as well.
Personally...I have mixed feelings about it. As a classic, it is absolutely important, and I think everyone should read it. As a book though....I liked the things it talked about more then the actual book, if that makes sense. There's a reason this book gets assigned in school: it's a great conversation starter. There are so many ideas floating around that get you thinking. It was just a little too anti-technology for my taste (and I strongly suspect that this is where baby boomers got their technology-ruins-us-all attitude from). Also, after reading the coda and afterward that was included in this book...I don't particularly like Bradbury much as a person. But that happens with a lot of writers for me, so oh well.
This is a fascinating read though. If you're into dystopians, it's a great way to look and see where the genre got a lot of its influence from.

Mini-Review Catch Up

It's time to face facts: I'm behind on the reviewing. So, I'm going to just do little mine reviews here and then tomorrow start reviewing the books I've finished this week. Then I'm going to try try try to keep up on this stuff.

Darker Shade of Magic Book 1 by V. E. Schwab
Pub. 2015
-Loved it. But I adore this author so this is probably no surprise to anyone.
Rating: Four and a half out of Five

Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein
Pub. 2015
-Engrossing historical fiction as always from Wein.
Rating: Four out of Five

Sekret Book 2: Skandal by Lindsay Smith
Pub. 2015
-Eh. Wasn't as good as the first one. But it did end in a satisfactory way so mission accomplished.
Rating: Three and a half out of Five

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman
Pub. 2015
-Like most short story collections. Some were great, some were okay, some I kind of wish were actual books.
Rating: Three and a half out of Five

Discworld series: Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
Pub. 1989
-Hilarious! One of my favorite Discworld books yet.
Rating: Four out of Five

This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
Pub. 2012
-Eh. Got what the author was doing but it wasn't my cup of tea.
Rating: Three and a half out of Five

Night and Fog Book 2: Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman
Pub. 2015
-Loved it! No sophomore slump here folks!
Rating: Four out of Five

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
Pub. 1958
-Was much like how I feel about the movie: dated but with good commentary that everyone seems to miss because they're too focused on gushing about the style of Holly.

After the End 2: Until the Beginning by Amy Plum
Pub. 2015
-Good satisfying end.
Rating: Four out of Five

The Girl at Midnight Book 1 by Melissa Grey
Pub. 2015
-Fun and entertaining, if a bit business as usual when it comes to YA fantasy.
Rating: Four out of Five

Lois Lane 1: Fallout by Gwenda Bond
Pub. 2015
-Pretty much everything I wanted when I heard about the scenario of Lois Lane in high school.
Rating: Four out of Five

Undertow Book 1 by Michael Buckley
Pub. 2015
-Was expecting better. Honestly this is way too similar to Alienated for my taste. But to the author's credit it's a little better then Alienated. I was probably just expecting too much because I love the author's Sister's Grimm series so much.

Okay. I think that's all of them. Hopefully we're now back to regularly scheduled reviewing.

Reading Through the Classics: I, Robot

Title: I, Robot
Book 1 in a series
Author: Isaac Asimov
Category: Adult/Classic-Modern Classic
Published: 1950
Genre: Science Fiction
Premise: A collection of stories from the future about robots.
Thoughts: I've been meaning to read this one ever since I saw the Will Smith movie years ago. I admit, I have a fondness for the film. If you're going to take a book and not follow the plot at all...at least make a good story out of it, and that film definitely did that. It got all the world stuff right anyway. I actually can kind of see the film as a lost tale of sorts that wasn't in the series.
So yes, the book is very different from the movie. Instead of focusing on one story that's part robot ethics/part mystery, Asimov goes into several stories about robots that is all about things like can robots gain a soul, do we sometimes go too far with technology, etc. It's all very interesting and thought provoking if nothing else. Whether or not there's a plot...is probably a matter of opinion. Having read this, I now totally get why they went the route they did with the film, because the book as is would make a hell of a confusing movie. Plus while they changed everything, they still got the basic theme of the book right, which sometimes is more then I can say for some films that follow their book to a T.
WHO SHOULD READ: fans of the I, Robot film, Isaac Asimov fans, science fiction fans, robot book fans