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[Okay trying this again. Will see if it posts this round without deleting half the content.]
[As an aside, enjoyed the Kennedy Center Honors....in particular the final number, mainly because how often do you get to see C3PO, R2 D2, and 20 Stormtroopers grooving with Aretha Franklin and James Taylor to Carol King songs? The ultimate cross-over of Carol King and Star Wars fandoms courtesy of the Kennedy Center and CBS.]
In lieu of my Wednesday Reading Meme post, although it's not Wed so it hardly matters, this is the notable books of 2015 year end post. Well, with the following caveats - 1) while I read them in 2015, they most likely weren't published in 2015, mainly because I rarely read recently published books (too pricey), and 2) notable is most likely defined as memorable not necessarily best. (Also, I reserve my right to change my mind at a later date. So none of this set in stone. Opinions rarely are, at least mine aren't...they tend to change with the wind.)
Notable Books That I Happened to Read in 2015
1. The Most Dangerous Book: The Battle For James Joyce's Ulysses by Kevin Birmingham - must read for anyone who claims to be a James Joyce or an Ulysses fan, and even if you aren't a fan of either - if only for the author's in-depth and often humorous recounting of the censorship battle, and the effect the work had on all the major writers of the time, including Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Virgina Woolfe.
2. The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler - which is actually different than the version I read. The performance version changes year to year, with new monologues added and removed. If you want to perform it for free - without paying for the rights, you have to agree to the rules, including performing all the monologues, exactly as written, and in the order provided. For example - the version that I read, co-produced and performed included a monologue about transgender women. These monologues are taken from interviews with actual women about their vaginas. The focus or thematic thread is sexual repression and sexual violence. It's worth reading - for all genders, in that rises awareness on how we each view sexuality, and how societal repression and sexual violence affects women around the world.
3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman -- one of his better novels, in part due to its tight structure and focus. A man returns to Sussex, England to attend a funeral and stumbles onto a forgotten corner of his childhood- which is both horrific and magical. Gaiman takes the myths and legends of his youth and intertwines them into a story of regret and loss of innocence. Through it he manages to show the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. Lyrical and haunting...it stays with you long past the final flip of the page.
4. The Gobline Emperor by Katherine Addison -a beautifully written tale of political maneuverings. The hero is an outsider, who inherits the throne almost by default. Yet struggles to maintain it with kindness and compassion, even though he is surrounded by those who wish him ill. It may well be the most detailed fantasy novel that I've read since Tolkien, yet the author, unlike various fantasy novelists, doesn't skimp on characterization. Each character is well-drawn and complex. And the plot does not meander. If anything, I wanted more upon its conclusion, but it is just as well that is not to be.
5. The Martian by Andy Weir - a self-published novel, that is character-centric with a hard sci-fi plot. Most of the science in the novel is factual and has been confirmed by actual astronauts. Due to an accident, Mark Watney finds himself stranded on Mars. This is the story of how he manages to survive. This is amongst the funniest novels that I've read, yet also the most moving. At one point Watney entertains himself with his crew's 70's collections, disco and vintage television reruns, which they'd left behind in their race to evacuate.
6. Among Others by Jo Walton - told in an interesting and rather ambitious style - the diary of a half-mad adolescent girl, struggling to come to terms with her unique brand of magic, and her twin's death. She's fled from her half-mad mother, to stay in a boarding school funded by her eccentric father. The diary focuses on the books she reads - which are science fiction and fantasy novels, and the time period is the 1960s and 70s. It reminds me a little of Ocean at the End of Lane...in both it's stark beauty and dark undertones.
7. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown - a emotionally stirring recounting of the quest of nine working class Americans in the 1930s to be oarsmen at the 1936 Olympics. The author focuses the bulk of the story on Joe, who outlived most of the characters, so was able to give the author full access, and juxtaposes Joe's story with Leni Renistefl's quest to film the Olympics. Joe is a poor working class boy, isolated and distrustful of others, who becomes part of a team of oarsmen, and trusts his fellow oarsmen with his life. While Leni is all about Leni. The author does a good job of depicting the time period and the obstacles the characters had to surmount. Amongst the better works focusing on the WWII time period that I've read.
8. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - what Mitchell accomplishes regarding narrative structure rivals James Joyce. He creates what amounts to an anthology of interconnecting stories nested inside each other. The beginning stories echo the stories at the end, in a sort of mirror narrative effect. So the end is the beginning. All of which serve the theme, that our stories build upon each other, and we are all characters inside each others stories. And each story is indelible to its time period and specific genre. One hints at Melville and takes place in the 1800s, another hints at a 70's pulp thriller and takes place in the 70s. When I initially reviewed this novel I stated that Mitchell skimped a bit on character, but I don't believe that is necessarily true now. Since I can still see, smell, and taste each one clearly in my head. It's not an easy book to read, but those are often the best. The book you read through in a day...is probably the weakest book you'll read. Since it did not require time to fully digest.
9. The Uncanny X-men: Revolution by Brian Bendis and Chris Bacchalau - this is the comic series (it's about 36 issues and 300 pages) that caused me to become obsessed with Scott Summers/Cyclops for about three months. Bendis sets up a team of anti-heroes, yet by the end of the series, it's no longer clear who the heroes actually are. Former boy scout, quintessential field team leader, and boss of the X-men, Scott Summers aka Cyclops, accidentally killed his father figure and long-time mentor Charles Xavier. Xavier frenemy, and Cyclops former nemesis, Magneto, breaks him out of prison, with the help of the half-mad Magick, who channels the mystical energies of hell. Joined by Emma Frost, Cyclops ex-girlfriend, they set up headquarters in an old military torture facility, then got about saving mutants and people, while alternately threatening to start a Revolution. Although their revolution ultimately has more in common with Xavier (Martin Luther King) than Magneto(Malcolm X). With at times biting wit, the writers shine a light on superhero comics, and what exactly is a hero, and the moral ethics involved in saving one's people. Yet, while raising these questions, they never answer them -- allowing the reader to come to their own conclusions. More character-centric than plot-centric - we are given in-depth look at almost all the characters, while, at the same time, various themes are examined. This is not your father's comic book.
10. All New X-Men by Brian Bendis and Stuart Immonen - the 1960s original five X-men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Angel) are brought by an adult Dr. Hank McCoy (Beast) to 2015, in an attempt to shake some sense into the adult and much older Cyclops. Witty in places, and relatively uneven in others, this series of 40 some issues shines a light on superhero trope, and the hypocrisy of how some are considered heroes and forgiven all sins while others are condemned. Again it raises more questions than it answers, leaving the reader to come to their own conclusions.
What are your notable reads for 2015? And what would you suggest for 2016? (I'm in a bit of reading slump. Haven't enjoyed anything since Cloud Atlas.)
[Another aside - the problem seems to be with the visual editor - which cut out half my content for some reason, while HTML left it alone. Also, is it just me, or every time someone decides to update technology, instead of fixing the bugs and improving it, they just create more problems? It's getting so that I cringe whenever a software developer, database developer or IT person says the word update or my systems says it needs to be updated to the latest version. NO! You evil people! NOOO!]
[As an aside, enjoyed the Kennedy Center Honors....in particular the final number, mainly because how often do you get to see C3PO, R2 D2, and 20 Stormtroopers grooving with Aretha Franklin and James Taylor to Carol King songs? The ultimate cross-over of Carol King and Star Wars fandoms courtesy of the Kennedy Center and CBS.]
In lieu of my Wednesday Reading Meme post, although it's not Wed so it hardly matters, this is the notable books of 2015 year end post. Well, with the following caveats - 1) while I read them in 2015, they most likely weren't published in 2015, mainly because I rarely read recently published books (too pricey), and 2) notable is most likely defined as memorable not necessarily best. (Also, I reserve my right to change my mind at a later date. So none of this set in stone. Opinions rarely are, at least mine aren't...they tend to change with the wind.)
Notable Books That I Happened to Read in 2015
1. The Most Dangerous Book: The Battle For James Joyce's Ulysses by Kevin Birmingham - must read for anyone who claims to be a James Joyce or an Ulysses fan, and even if you aren't a fan of either - if only for the author's in-depth and often humorous recounting of the censorship battle, and the effect the work had on all the major writers of the time, including Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Virgina Woolfe.
2. The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler - which is actually different than the version I read. The performance version changes year to year, with new monologues added and removed. If you want to perform it for free - without paying for the rights, you have to agree to the rules, including performing all the monologues, exactly as written, and in the order provided. For example - the version that I read, co-produced and performed included a monologue about transgender women. These monologues are taken from interviews with actual women about their vaginas. The focus or thematic thread is sexual repression and sexual violence. It's worth reading - for all genders, in that rises awareness on how we each view sexuality, and how societal repression and sexual violence affects women around the world.
3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman -- one of his better novels, in part due to its tight structure and focus. A man returns to Sussex, England to attend a funeral and stumbles onto a forgotten corner of his childhood- which is both horrific and magical. Gaiman takes the myths and legends of his youth and intertwines them into a story of regret and loss of innocence. Through it he manages to show the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. Lyrical and haunting...it stays with you long past the final flip of the page.
4. The Gobline Emperor by Katherine Addison -a beautifully written tale of political maneuverings. The hero is an outsider, who inherits the throne almost by default. Yet struggles to maintain it with kindness and compassion, even though he is surrounded by those who wish him ill. It may well be the most detailed fantasy novel that I've read since Tolkien, yet the author, unlike various fantasy novelists, doesn't skimp on characterization. Each character is well-drawn and complex. And the plot does not meander. If anything, I wanted more upon its conclusion, but it is just as well that is not to be.
5. The Martian by Andy Weir - a self-published novel, that is character-centric with a hard sci-fi plot. Most of the science in the novel is factual and has been confirmed by actual astronauts. Due to an accident, Mark Watney finds himself stranded on Mars. This is the story of how he manages to survive. This is amongst the funniest novels that I've read, yet also the most moving. At one point Watney entertains himself with his crew's 70's collections, disco and vintage television reruns, which they'd left behind in their race to evacuate.
6. Among Others by Jo Walton - told in an interesting and rather ambitious style - the diary of a half-mad adolescent girl, struggling to come to terms with her unique brand of magic, and her twin's death. She's fled from her half-mad mother, to stay in a boarding school funded by her eccentric father. The diary focuses on the books she reads - which are science fiction and fantasy novels, and the time period is the 1960s and 70s. It reminds me a little of Ocean at the End of Lane...in both it's stark beauty and dark undertones.
7. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown - a emotionally stirring recounting of the quest of nine working class Americans in the 1930s to be oarsmen at the 1936 Olympics. The author focuses the bulk of the story on Joe, who outlived most of the characters, so was able to give the author full access, and juxtaposes Joe's story with Leni Renistefl's quest to film the Olympics. Joe is a poor working class boy, isolated and distrustful of others, who becomes part of a team of oarsmen, and trusts his fellow oarsmen with his life. While Leni is all about Leni. The author does a good job of depicting the time period and the obstacles the characters had to surmount. Amongst the better works focusing on the WWII time period that I've read.
8. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - what Mitchell accomplishes regarding narrative structure rivals James Joyce. He creates what amounts to an anthology of interconnecting stories nested inside each other. The beginning stories echo the stories at the end, in a sort of mirror narrative effect. So the end is the beginning. All of which serve the theme, that our stories build upon each other, and we are all characters inside each others stories. And each story is indelible to its time period and specific genre. One hints at Melville and takes place in the 1800s, another hints at a 70's pulp thriller and takes place in the 70s. When I initially reviewed this novel I stated that Mitchell skimped a bit on character, but I don't believe that is necessarily true now. Since I can still see, smell, and taste each one clearly in my head. It's not an easy book to read, but those are often the best. The book you read through in a day...is probably the weakest book you'll read. Since it did not require time to fully digest.
9. The Uncanny X-men: Revolution by Brian Bendis and Chris Bacchalau - this is the comic series (it's about 36 issues and 300 pages) that caused me to become obsessed with Scott Summers/Cyclops for about three months. Bendis sets up a team of anti-heroes, yet by the end of the series, it's no longer clear who the heroes actually are. Former boy scout, quintessential field team leader, and boss of the X-men, Scott Summers aka Cyclops, accidentally killed his father figure and long-time mentor Charles Xavier. Xavier frenemy, and Cyclops former nemesis, Magneto, breaks him out of prison, with the help of the half-mad Magick, who channels the mystical energies of hell. Joined by Emma Frost, Cyclops ex-girlfriend, they set up headquarters in an old military torture facility, then got about saving mutants and people, while alternately threatening to start a Revolution. Although their revolution ultimately has more in common with Xavier (Martin Luther King) than Magneto(Malcolm X). With at times biting wit, the writers shine a light on superhero comics, and what exactly is a hero, and the moral ethics involved in saving one's people. Yet, while raising these questions, they never answer them -- allowing the reader to come to their own conclusions. More character-centric than plot-centric - we are given in-depth look at almost all the characters, while, at the same time, various themes are examined. This is not your father's comic book.
10. All New X-Men by Brian Bendis and Stuart Immonen - the 1960s original five X-men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Angel) are brought by an adult Dr. Hank McCoy (Beast) to 2015, in an attempt to shake some sense into the adult and much older Cyclops. Witty in places, and relatively uneven in others, this series of 40 some issues shines a light on superhero trope, and the hypocrisy of how some are considered heroes and forgiven all sins while others are condemned. Again it raises more questions than it answers, leaving the reader to come to their own conclusions.
What are your notable reads for 2015? And what would you suggest for 2016? (I'm in a bit of reading slump. Haven't enjoyed anything since Cloud Atlas.)
[Another aside - the problem seems to be with the visual editor - which cut out half my content for some reason, while HTML left it alone. Also, is it just me, or every time someone decides to update technology, instead of fixing the bugs and improving it, they just create more problems? It's getting so that I cringe whenever a software developer, database developer or IT person says the word update or my systems says it needs to be updated to the latest version. NO! You evil people! NOOO!]