I think I’m going to have to go back and read the first book, The Taking before The Replaced comes out because I totally forgot so many things.
What I’m Reading Now: The Replaced by Kimberly Derting
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This Month in Reality…and the Oscar Goes to…
When Beth and I talked about what to do for this month, I got really excited about travel memoirs. But, then, everyone in the Northeast is probably dreaming of warm beaches and sunny locales. (Although, it has been sunny this week. I love the look of the sun on clean, white snow. It makes the world so bright and beautiful. Of course, this beauty has also been accompanied by dangerously cold temperatures and wind. Win some, lose some.) But, then we got to talking about something that has always been a fun night for us: The Oscars. It is fun to watch people win, the speculate and to discuss the films that we saw (and didn’t see). We’ve been known in the past to drink a lot of wine, make and eat a lot of food and be pretty irreverent in our cheering and jeering (which, this year, we’ll be doing over FaceTime.)
In honor of this glorious night of fancy dresses and finger food, I give you the low-down on three books that inspired Oscar-nominated films. All of these books I listened to rather than read and all of them came from the Buffalo and Erie County Public libraries. Go, Library Card!
This is the tale of Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Written by Northup after he was rescued and returned home this memoir is a painful inside look into the institution of slavery. It is every bit as harrowing as you expect it to be but that is what makes this such an important piece of history. Slavery was very real and it destroyed many, many lives and we still live with its legacy. The audio book was read by Louis Gossett, Jr. Northup’s strength and courage are inspiring but the situation that he finds himself in is utterly despicable. This book is totally worth the read.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this when I picked it up because I remember being only a little into the film. This biography follows the life of John Forbes Nash, Jr., a brilliant mathematician who had a promising career ahead of him until he fell ill with schizophrenia. The first part of the book details his early life and schooling. He’s great at math, he gets scholarships and it becomes apparent that he’s good enough that he has a serious shot at a prestigious academic career in mathematics full of groundbreaking research and accolades. He works for the Rand corporation. He fathers a child. He has homosexual encounters that cause some upset in McCarthy era America. He gets married and fathers a second child. He holds a position and almost receives tenure at MIT. He is, like most geniuses, a lot a bit arrogant and kind of a dick. He’s a possible candidate for the Fields medal ( which is like the Nobel of math). And then his illness strikes. Much of the rest of the book chronicles the harrowing struggle that is schizophrenia and how he, and the people around him, worked to manage it, manage him, or sometimes, failed to manage either. This was a terrible tale of losing ground, gaining ground and then losing it again. Towards the end of the book, when Nash’s work in game theory was being considered for a Nobel prize, it was also a tale of how people tried to use his illness as an excuse to not give him the prize. This was a harrowing picture of mental illness and how the mentally ill are perceived. It did have a small light at the end of the tunnel, though. Nash seems to have had a long remission from schizophrenia later in life which allowed him to return to his work and he did receive the Nobel memorial prize for Economics in 1994. This is an important book for how it sheds light on schizophrenia and perceptions of the mentally ill.
This book broke me open put me back together and then broke me again. A memoir of Cheryl Strayed’s 20s in which she gets married, loses her mother, graduates from college, does a lot of drugs, gets a divorce and hikes the Pacific Crest Trail had me laughing and sobbing and laughing again. I spent a lot of time texting and calling my mother after reading this book, so grateful I was to have that opportunity. I like hiking memoirs (and travel books in general) so I enjoyed the descriptions of the hike and her monster backpack. This story was beautiful and poignant and I’m so happy to have read it. Unlike the two previous books, I feel like I can say that I enjoyed this one. (The other two I’m happy to have read but I can’t really say that I enjoyed them.)
We hope that if you have Oscar plans that they are enjoyable and that your favorites win!
What I’m Listening to: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I want so badly to not like this book and yet I find myself charmed.
I used to work in a Bookstore. I don’t anymore
I’ve talked about my job as a bookseller. Well, I don’t work for that bookstore anymore. For the last three years, I had a second job at a museum as well. New York City is an expensive city to live in, especially if you don’t make a livable wage. A couple of weeks ago, I got a new job at the museum that made it possible for me to have one job. So what does this all mean. Well, I’m no longer going to be surrounded by books all the time. Also, means, I’m going to have to buy more books and use my library card more too. I already miss that employee discount and check out program. Oh well. That’s life. I’ll definitely miss working there and all the great people I worked with.
A little history for you. Kate was the first one to work for the bookstore. She started working there her senior year in high school. When she started college, they were opening a branch in her college’s town so she transferred and worked there during her college years. Our Mom would often visit her at work and one day the manager asked if she wanted a job. At the time, I was planning on going on a class trip to Europe so Mom decided she would work a couple of hours, so she could give me some more spending money for Europe. Little did she know, she would eventually be promoted and start working there full time. After I graduated high school and I also got a job there. So there was a time that Mom, Kate and I all worked at the same store at the same time. People joked it was the Family bookstore. Over the last 17 years, Kate has come and gone and is now only works during the Holidays. I transferred to a store here in New York but Mom has stayed at the same store. You could say she has come full circle because she is back to only part time.
It’s weird not working there because it has been a huge part of my adult life but also my family’s life too. I guess it still is since Mom still works there and Kate does occasionally too but I’m happy with my new job. I’ve been wanting something different for a while now and the two job thing was killing me. So thank you to all my coworkers over the years. Many are my friends and will remain so. And Books will always be apart of my life, even if it is no longer my vocation.
What I’m Reading: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan
In an older post, I talked about the trend of YA authors who write novellas as an add on to their series. Last year Cassandra Clare took it to a whole another level with The Bane Chronicles. With the help of fellow authors Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson. Clare wrote a series of ten novellas about everyone favorite Warlock of Brooklyn, Magnus Bane. Over the 10 stories, they wrote about Magnus’ past that is often hinted out in both of Clare’s The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments series. It was fun to read about Magnus adventures before he met Tessa, Will, Jem and later Clary, Jace and Alec. Of course the series also served as a introducing characters of upcoming series and fill in gaps between series as well.
This year she is doing the same thing but with another fan favorite, Simon Lewis in the Tales from Shadowhunter Academy. This time she is joined again by Breenan and Johnson and also Robin Wasserman. Now the following is sort of a spoiler to those who have not finished City of Heavenly Fire, the last book in the The Mortal Instruments series. Simon is attending the newly reopened Shadowhunter Academy as the Clave tries to add new Shadowhunters to their numbers after the loss of life in the last war. Those who have finished City of Heavenly Fire will know why Simon can attend the academy in hopes of becoming a Shadowhunter himself and for those who haven’t finished will want to before reading. Personally, I thought the last three books of The Mortal Instruments were three too many but I am looking forward to several Simon centric stories since he was easily my favorite character from that series. Also it gives us something to read while we wait for Clare’s next shadowhunter series, The Dark Artifaces about Shadowhunters in LA.
Review: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
This is a beautiful book.It really is. I guess that should be surprised since it has got nothing but good reviews all over the place. It was all *THE* book of the holiday season, as my bookstore I worked at kept running out of it. Despite all of this, I really didn’t have much of an interest in reading it. It doesn’t fall into my normal fantasy/teen genres but it was the pick of my friend Katy’s book club so I read, I did. I’m glad I did because it’s beautiful.
It’s about Marie-Laure, a blind French girl and Werner, a German orphan. That first sounded a little cheesy at first, especially when since the narratives goes back in forth with their childhoods before World War Two and the lives during the war but it isn’t cheesy. Their stories are intertwined as we watch them grow and at time mirroring each others experiences. In between their stories is the Heart of Flames, a diamond that is housed in the Natural History Museum in France, where Marie-Laure works. The diamond has a curse, the owner will liver forever but their love ones will end in tragedy. As the Germans take over Paris, the museum intrusts the diamond with her father for safe keeping. Soon a German Major Sargent, who’s job is to find treasures the the Third Reich becomes obsessed with the Diamond and tries to track it down.
I’ll try my best to spoil but there may be some spoilers behind the cut. Continue reading
Sometimes the Internet is Awesome!
I do love reading YA dystopian novels. The Hunger Games and Divergent are probably the most well known books in the genre but may I also suggest The Dustlands series by Moira Young and The Hunt Trilogy by Andrew Fukuda. Knowing my love for the genre, on our Facebook page, my friend Jack alerted us to this awesome twitter account. Dystopian YA Novel is a parody twitter account, telling a Dystopian YA novel one tweet at a time. It’s kind of brilliant. So far the author has already hit on several themes. She has already established a heroine, Valentine, who sees herself as nothing special but obvisously is. There is a love triangle. A sorting of teenagers into groups that will determine where they belong or what they will do for the rest of their lives. A threat of being ostracized if one does not conform and even a possible fight to death. So far, I don’t think she has left anything out. Here’s a sample.
Those are just the beginning. If you’re on twitter and like me loved the The Hunger Games I suggest you follow because it’s great!. And if will indulge me in a little self promotion, follow us on Facebook, as well. There’s been a lot of great conversations going on there that I don’t think you want to miss.
Dear Stackologist: You seem to know about love and reincarnation
Dear Stackologist,
I read your column and you seem to have some idea of how to deal with love and reincarnation. I have a love and reincarnation problem. Um, the world might end because of my one true love and me. I know, sorry everyone. I really love him, he’s great. Our friends are great. But, in order to save the world I have to be careful and keep a low profile. This has meant that I’ve had to stay away from my family and I really miss them. Do you have any advice for how to keep in touch with your family without blowing your cover?
Sincerely,
Love Gives You Wings
Dear Wings,
Pre-paid cell phone? Hotmail account you and your parents both have a password to that you save messages to the drafts folder in? I don’t know, I’m a blogger not a spy, Jim. I am happy that you are trying to reach out and keep in touch with your family, though. And, I’m happy that you really love your guy and that he is great. I do worry for you, though. Separating someone from their support structure, the people who know and love them is also a tactic used by abusers. Please do find a way to reach out to your family and keep in touch with them. Please be careful with yourself while you’re saving the world.
-The Stackologist
Dear Stackologist,
I recently spent some time in prison. It’s complicated. As I’m sure you’re aware, the government is corrupt and has been targeting minority populations for oppression, marginalization and extermination. Before I was, uhm, released from prison, my keeper and I had a chance to get to know each other and come to trust each other. I see him as a strong ally in my fight against a corrupt government. I also maybe see him as a bit more. (I think he feels the same way, too.) However, I’m afraid to admit to my feelings because I think my friends will see our relationship as nothing more than Stockholm Syndrome. I just don’t know how to approach this topic with them.
Dear Prison Tat,
Life is complicated, isn’t it? I think it’s great that you were able to find an ally (and maybe more!) in such a horrifying situation. I also think it is wonderful that you have kept strong ties with your friends. I think you have to ask yourself some hard questions but it sounds like your head is in the right place and I feel like you’ll come to the right decision for you. First, are you afraid that your friends will think you have Stockholm Syndrome because part of you also might feel that way? Really examine your feelings and their origins. If you think you might be coming to identify with your captors then I think you may want to consider a cooling off period without you ally with benefits. If you aren’t, and your feelings, like the world around you, are complicated but coming from a good place, then you should consider being honest with your friends and frankly discussing your feelings. Discussing your feelings with people who care for you will let them know you still trust and value their opinion. It may also help you gain new perspective on your situation. Most of all, it will help to reinforce your support system and if you’re about to take on a corrupt government, you’re going to need that. Finally, we here at Stacks Exceed Life Expectancy have always found that the traditional view on Valentine’s Day, where you focus on romantic love, is misguided. Saint Valentine was martyred for marrying people who was told not to marry. He stood up for what he believed in and fought the power. Today is a day for bold and revolutionary acts. So, today, we here at Stacks Exceed Life Expectancy stand up with you against your corrupt government and say:
Vive la Révolution!
Yours,
The Stackologist
Dear Stackologist: Life is Full of Tough Choices
Dear Stackologist,
I am married. I thought I would be happy to be married to my husband. He is exactly the type of man I should be married to as we come from the same background and status but he isn’t my true love. That belongs to my father’s ward. He would be unsuitable to marry, I know but we are kindred spirits. We used to run all over the moors together. I think what makes me the most unhappy is that my love has ran off with my husband’s sister and married her. I think I was much happier when he was mine and mine alone. Am I wrong to be so down? I just might die if I can’t have him.
Dear Moors,
First of all, I feel like you got married for the wrong reasons. While it might be important to please your family, this is your life and not theirs so if you are not happy with your husband then maybe it’s time for a divorce. Chances are, if you are not happy neither is he. As for your other issue, I’m not sure you really love him but want to possess him. That’s not exactly healthy. If he has gotten married, you should respect his decision but again I do worry about his reasons for marriage too but that’s for another letter. Also I’m a little worried about you saying you will die without him. No man is worth dying for. Life is full disappointments and you must learn to live with them. Nor can you expect someone to stay single just because you want them too. You moved on, you have to allow that they will move on, too.
Sincerely,
Stackologist
Dear Stackologist,
I really like this guy but we sort of met under unusual situation. He’s funny, and charming and also an addict. He traded in doing drugs and alcohol for another vice, so to speak, but he still partakes in self destructive behavior. I couldn’t take it. I could not stay and watch him destroy himself. So, I left. I moved to California with my Mom. I have my own problems to deal with like my brother’s death and my parent marital problems (they’re divorcing). I don’t need to his on top of that. I thought I was getting over him when one day he showed up at my job. Now all the feelings I had for him are back but I’m not sure I can trust him. He says he is no longer doing what he was doing but I just don’t know. I’m not sure I can let him back into my life.
Ugh. I can’t believe I’m one of those letter-writing girls
Dear Letter-Writer,
I think it’s brave that you saw that you were in a bad situation and you took yourself out of it. It’s not easy, especially when it involves someone that you care about. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now and by taking him out of the equation you are on the right path. I think this is one of those cases where the only person that can truly help them is them. It’s obviously difficult now that he is back in your life. You want to believe he is better and maybe he is but more importantly, how are you? Who is supporting you? Who is helping you cope with your brother’s death and your parents’ separation? I think you need to deal with you first before him. If he cares for you, then he will wait for to get yourself back together.
-Stackologist
What I’m Reading Now: All The Light You Can Not See by Anthony Doerr
Our friend Katy started an online book
club and this is the first selection. I know this book got great reviews but I’m not sure I would have picked up on my own. So far so good. That’s what’s so great about book clubs, is they often challenge you to read books that you normally never think of. (Also gives you an excuse to hang out with friends and get drunk.) Anyway, back to Marie-Laure and Werner.
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2 Women, So Many Books 