A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby

I always want to call him Hornsby - the musician instead of the writer. I have to admit, I like the writer much better. Hornby wrote High Fidelity and About a Boy - and a few others that haven't been turned into movies yet. This book won't be turned into a movie I don't think. The story of 4 people who meet on New Year's Eve at the top of a building where they planned to commit suicide. Four dysfunctional characters - OK, maybe 2 really dysfunctional ones and 2 that are just letting life happen to them. Maybe those 2 need to read A Bend in the River?

The book went by quickly, I finished the same day I started. I must be on one of those reading binges I get on after I haven't read much. But anyway, back to these poor saps who meet on the roof. Suicide is a personal thing, unless it is a suicide pact, so with an audience none of them take the leap. The four unlikely folks decide to hang out together and meet again.

One aspect of the book that made it more likable is something I normally hate. Each of the four characters narrated - moving back and forth between them in no real order through the book. You can see what each one thinks as well as how they are perceived by the others. It makes the unlikeable characters more likable - and more readable.

While it was good and I would recommend reading it once. It is not one that I would pick up and read again. So, it is in the pass it on or donate pile.

Les Misérables - Victor Hugo

This is one of my mom's favorite books. It's a book I have tried to read before - several times. This time I suggested it for book club, figuring that I would HAVE to finish it. In talking to Mom, I also got the recommendation to skip over the history parts unless I was really in the mood for them. I could always go back for them later if I wanted. With that, I started in on the 1400 page tome.

It starts with a detailed description of a bishop - the man who shapes the rest of the story. Once you get past these 100 pages, the story really picks up. At least until you hit on a lengthy history section. Once Jean was introduced, the pages flew by, although I did stop to read The Margarets near the death of Fantine. This is a book that in today's world would be a series - but for once, all the cliff hangers have endings. There is so much commentary on life hidden in the pages (or in some sections hammered home over and over), it was a surprisingly fun read that at times I couldn't keep myself from continuing.

I skipped many of the historical sections - Waterloo, convents, sewers (yes, I know they are interesting topics, just wasn't in the mood).

I highly recommend this book. Since I borrowed it from the library, it will have to return. Since we recently cut back on the number of bookshelves for my books (giving some up for toy storage), I won't be buying a replacement for the library.

The Margarets - Sheri S. Tepper

I love Sheri Tepper. I love the cadence and language of her books. I love the feminist, environmentalist, anti-religion messages contained in her books. So often I find myself reading a segment and just nodding to myself. Realizing I she had put into words what I had often thought. Or realizing that a paragraph had perfectly summarized one of the things that bothered me about some topic or behavior. Most of the time, it's something that I hadn't even thought until I was reading. So it was with pleasure that I saw a new Tepper book for the first time since The Companions in 2004. Surprisingly, I was looking for something to read while I went to dinner by myself and I realized the book had come out 2 days before.

Off I headed to the bookstore - yes, I buy her books in hard cover. I was quickly drawn into the story of Margaret. her lives and how they split. Most of Tepper's books take a feminist, anti-religion stance. Others focus more on environmental issues. This one combines all three. There are the usual array of intergalactic races - each with varying degrees of ethical behavior and restrictive religions. But this one comments the most on the human race and how we destroy the very planet we rely on. This destruction is placed at the feet of religion and a lack of memory of previous generations; an inability to remember the effects the actions had on previous generations.

I loved this book and I look forward to reading it again. I have already made room on the book shelf and passed it on to Mom.

Why am I not reading?

Did it all start with my week away from the printed word? Is it because of pregnancy brain and belly and...? Is it because Owen's been going to bed about an hour later than he used to? Is it because work keeps making my mind wander when I get to a slow part in a book? Is it the fact that I haven't been sleeping? Is it the 1400+ pages of Les Miz staring me in the face?

I am sure that each of these things have contributed, but I need to get out of the lull. There's only so much TV a girl can watch. - and TiVO is out of suggestions. At least it is season/series finale season.

Arc of Justice - Kevin Boyle

Having grown up in the latter part of the 20th century, I have always found it hard to believe what was acceptable behaviour in the early part of the 1900s. This book reminded me how much I don't know about the time leading up to the civil rights movement in the 1960s. It is always amazing to me what man can do to fellow man, especially when they are hidden in a mob of people. The book covers the case of a black/colored/African-American doctor who moves to a neighborhood of white/Caucasian near Detroit. When someone in his house shoots out into the mob about to storm his house, all 11 of the people in the house are arrested on conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

Boyle does a good job of introducing each character (although sometimes it is bit too lengthy), giving their background and presumed motivation. This does break up the flow of the main story and I found myself putting the book down in the midst of some character background and not feeling the urge to pick it up again. However, once the NAACP gets involved, the pace really picks up; the back stories are more succinct and don't interfere with the flow as much.

A very interesting book and one I think I'll be passing on and then possibly giving to the library. This is a book that deserves to be read.

Early-start Potty Training - Linda Sonna, Ph.D.

Can you imagine potty training a 3 month old, a 6 month old? This books gives you an idea how it's done. But heck, I am not sure I can do that. However, I wanted to start my own son on his way to diaper independence. This book gives you the encouragement you need to start, no matter the age of your child. Of course, my only goal on finishing is to be done by the time he's 2.

I am sure it will stick around until after #2 makes it out of diapers. Of course, since we are just starting this week, I have no idea how effective the advice is yet.

A Bend in the River - V.S. Naipaul

Have you ever felt like you were sleep-walking through your life? Just letting events happen to you, rather than proactively working toward a goal of some kind? This is one of those books that makes you think about your life - are you missing the big trouble on the horizon, is your mind so down in the day to day details that life is happening around you?

This is the story of a shopkeeper in an African nation as it transitions from colonial to native rule. It highlights the changes in the culture, how the government programs affect day to day living, and shows how people cope in those situations. When I read/hear news stories about war torn someplace or riots in someplace, I always wondered how do people do it. This gave me a little glimpse of how it is done.

I am not sure if I will keep the book, but it did make me think - even weeks after I finished it. I will definitely be passing it on.

Update 5/30: Passed it on, not planning to keep it.