May and June in books
Jul. 1st, 2008 12:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eveglassSince I only read a single book in May (gasp! shock!), I decided to combine the two months into one post. Here we go.
23. Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke
I haven't read much Arthur C. Clarke, but what I've read, I've liked. Rendezvous with Rama is no exception. The basic scenario: astronomers spot a small comet hurtling towards the centre of the solar system, which turns out to be the product of some distant civilization. Is it hostile? What are its intentions? As always, Clarke does a masterful job of portraying human range of emotion and thought, while still maintaining a great sense of suspense. Final verdict: definitely a sci-fi classic.
24. Small Loans, Big Dreams: How Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance Are Changing the World, Alex Counts
In this second edition of the book, Alex Counts, former chair of the Grameen Foundation chronicles the lives of two groups of women: one in rural Bangladesh and one in inner-city Chicago. Both groups are borrowers from local micro-finance institutions. Counts relates their day-to-day struggles and successes, weaving in a history of micro-finance and in particular of the Grameen Bank. He is doesn't shy away from the problems of micro-finance, but also points out its many strengths. Very well written and easy to read. Final verdict: a great introduction for people who are interested in learning about how micro-finance really affects people.
25. A Geisha's Journey: My Life as a Kyoto Apprentice, Komomo (photography by Naoyuki Ogino)
Essentially a picture book with annotations, this book wonderfully depicts Komomo's life as she progresses from new arrival at the geisha house, through her apprenticeship, to her "graduation" to full-fleshed geisha. Komomo (a stage name; the Japanese means "little peach") has a simple yet engaging way of writing, and Ogino's photographs are captivating. Final verdict: an absolutely beautiful book, and a fast read; highly recommended for anyone interested in geisha culture.
26-28. His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass), Philip Pullman
Having seen the movie of The Golden Compass, I wanted to read the books, and my friend Eric was kind enough to lend them to me. The first book takes place in a world more-or-less like our own was at the turn of the 20th century (ie: around 1900), but with one important difference: all people have a "daemon," an animal companion that is the embodiment of their soul. The books progress as Lyra, the protagonist, becomes deeper and deeper enmeshed in the mystery of Dust -- what it is, where it comes from, and why it's necessary -- while her father plots a war against God himself. The writing style is simplistic for adults, but the ideas are perhaps more mature than the Harry Potter books. The scope of the books expands exponentially as things progress, and towards the end, especially in the third book, Pullman may have bitten off more than he can chew. Despite that, it's quite enjoyable. Final verdict: a fun read, something you could share with older children, but you'd need to be in the right mindset for it.
29. What Now?, Ann Patchett
A very short book, an expanded version of an address given by Patchett to a class of graduating college seniors, it essentially explores the question "what now?" What do we do with our lives now that we're out of school, on our own, and so much is expected of us? Patchett values both education and serendipity, encouraging the seniors to continually keep their eyes and hearts open to the world around them. Final verdict: probably safe to skip, unless you're mired in the "what now?" question yourself.
30. My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, Jill Bolte Taylor
I saw Jill Taylor's talk on TED and enjoyed it, so I when I saw her book on the shelf at my library, I thought I might pick it up as well. In short: Taylor was a brain scientist who experienced a stroke in her left hemisphere, experienced the bliss of living in the moment and the feeling of interconnectedness of living in the right hemisphere, and slowly rehabilitated herself over the next eight years. It's a compelling story. On the whole, I thought the TED talk did a better job of explaining the experience of her stroke (the beginning and end of the talk are a bit mystical for my tastes, but the middle part is quite good), while the book does a much better job of explaining how she recovered. Final verdict: the book is much like the TED talk at times, so if you like one, you'll probably like the other. The book is highly recommended for anyone trying to help a loved one recover from a stroke; otherwise, you can probably safely skip it.
23. Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke
I haven't read much Arthur C. Clarke, but what I've read, I've liked. Rendezvous with Rama is no exception. The basic scenario: astronomers spot a small comet hurtling towards the centre of the solar system, which turns out to be the product of some distant civilization. Is it hostile? What are its intentions? As always, Clarke does a masterful job of portraying human range of emotion and thought, while still maintaining a great sense of suspense. Final verdict: definitely a sci-fi classic.
24. Small Loans, Big Dreams: How Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance Are Changing the World, Alex Counts
In this second edition of the book, Alex Counts, former chair of the Grameen Foundation chronicles the lives of two groups of women: one in rural Bangladesh and one in inner-city Chicago. Both groups are borrowers from local micro-finance institutions. Counts relates their day-to-day struggles and successes, weaving in a history of micro-finance and in particular of the Grameen Bank. He is doesn't shy away from the problems of micro-finance, but also points out its many strengths. Very well written and easy to read. Final verdict: a great introduction for people who are interested in learning about how micro-finance really affects people.
25. A Geisha's Journey: My Life as a Kyoto Apprentice, Komomo (photography by Naoyuki Ogino)
Essentially a picture book with annotations, this book wonderfully depicts Komomo's life as she progresses from new arrival at the geisha house, through her apprenticeship, to her "graduation" to full-fleshed geisha. Komomo (a stage name; the Japanese means "little peach") has a simple yet engaging way of writing, and Ogino's photographs are captivating. Final verdict: an absolutely beautiful book, and a fast read; highly recommended for anyone interested in geisha culture.
26-28. His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass), Philip Pullman
Having seen the movie of The Golden Compass, I wanted to read the books, and my friend Eric was kind enough to lend them to me. The first book takes place in a world more-or-less like our own was at the turn of the 20th century (ie: around 1900), but with one important difference: all people have a "daemon," an animal companion that is the embodiment of their soul. The books progress as Lyra, the protagonist, becomes deeper and deeper enmeshed in the mystery of Dust -- what it is, where it comes from, and why it's necessary -- while her father plots a war against God himself. The writing style is simplistic for adults, but the ideas are perhaps more mature than the Harry Potter books. The scope of the books expands exponentially as things progress, and towards the end, especially in the third book, Pullman may have bitten off more than he can chew. Despite that, it's quite enjoyable. Final verdict: a fun read, something you could share with older children, but you'd need to be in the right mindset for it.
29. What Now?, Ann Patchett
A very short book, an expanded version of an address given by Patchett to a class of graduating college seniors, it essentially explores the question "what now?" What do we do with our lives now that we're out of school, on our own, and so much is expected of us? Patchett values both education and serendipity, encouraging the seniors to continually keep their eyes and hearts open to the world around them. Final verdict: probably safe to skip, unless you're mired in the "what now?" question yourself.
30. My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, Jill Bolte Taylor
I saw Jill Taylor's talk on TED and enjoyed it, so I when I saw her book on the shelf at my library, I thought I might pick it up as well. In short: Taylor was a brain scientist who experienced a stroke in her left hemisphere, experienced the bliss of living in the moment and the feeling of interconnectedness of living in the right hemisphere, and slowly rehabilitated herself over the next eight years. It's a compelling story. On the whole, I thought the TED talk did a better job of explaining the experience of her stroke (the beginning and end of the talk are a bit mystical for my tastes, but the middle part is quite good), while the book does a much better job of explaining how she recovered. Final verdict: the book is much like the TED talk at times, so if you like one, you'll probably like the other. The book is highly recommended for anyone trying to help a loved one recover from a stroke; otherwise, you can probably safely skip it.
