Separate Beds - Elizabeth Buchan

I picked this up at the library because I keep seeing it at work and thought it sounded semi-worthwhile; I almost gave it up as a bad job after the first few pages but generally never do that unless I have something better to hand...and I didn't, so I plowed through. It was alright.

A British book about a family dealing with the onset of the financial chaos the world is only just now recovering (somewhat) from, it covers predictable themes like loss, rebuilding, and family.  At first I found the character of the father to be insufferable.  I realize one shouldn't get too annoyed at a fictional character but I often have a hard time with those that seem to exacerbate the suffering of those they supposedly care the most about. Though I do realize that it is true-to-life.  I also find it irritating to read endless paragraphs of a character's self-absorbed whining (don't even get me started on Bella of the Twilight series).  In the early stages of the book, the father loses his job and seems to lose his will to live for a while, further neglecting his family.  I know its very hard for a man to lose his job, but I'm going to be sexist here and say most women would just suck it up and get on with it as there is no other choice.

However, the man redeems himself towards the end of the book, the family finds ways to cope, and of course the marriage is rebuilt along with everything else.  I guess besides the little rant above I don't have much to say about this one.  Not terrible, but more mediocre than good.  Not that the writing is bad - it's more the story itself.  Blah, recession, blah, bad marriage, wah, children are hard.......tell me something I don't know.

Freakonomics - Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything 


A collaboration between a journalist and one of the top economists in the US, this is a great book.  I read it a few days ago and it's remained on my mind.  I've also found myself talking about it a lot, telling people about various ideas put forth in the book.

Startling in terms of both its scope and the concepts put forth, the book takes a meandering path through a variety of issues, touching on subjects as diverse as crime and parenting.  Though some conclusions may shock readers (the legalization of abortion in the US led to the greatest drop in crime rate in history) they all make a lot of sense once you read the background information.

It also gives an informative look at how studies are conducted and researchers sift through piles of data to arrive at their results.  I liked that it was so straightforward and easy to understand, even for someone like myself who had no real grasp of what an economist's job might entail prior to reading this.  Everything is well explained, easy to follow, and often very funny.  A perfect book for anyone with a curious mind.

I got this one from the local library and read it a few days ago; the authours also recently put out a sequel of sorts called Superfreakonomics, that I'll be reading soon.

And The Rest Is History - Marlene Wagman-Geller

Full Title: And the Rest Is History: The Famous (and Infamous) First Meetings of the World's Most Passionate Couples

I guess I was influenced by all of the Valentine's merchandise out and about because I was feeling romantic and decided to read this little book on Sunday. All I can really say about it was it was slightly less than mediocre. It was kind of neat to read about how certain people first met (people like John Lennon and Yoko Ono {art gallery}) but the stories felt very loosely researched and more like myths than based on fact, which I don't appreciate. 

That's all I really have to say about this (I should have known better because the cover wasn't that great). I hate reading stuff I end up not liking. I'm going to the library to find something new. 

Beauty Queens - Libba Bray

I picked this up in the cupboard at work and after reading the jacket (in summary: teenage beauty pageant contestants end up sole survivors of a plane crash and must fend for themselves on an apparently deserted tropical island...pirates were also mentioned) I thought, well, that could either be very, very bad or very hilarious.   I opted to give it a try although it was impossible to tell what to expect (beauty queens? pirates? is this a joke?).  Being an very visual person (and shallow as a cookie sheet) I always judge books by their covers, and I liked this one, so that also swayed my decision to take it home.

Anyway, long story short, I read this on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised.  This book does have a lot going on, perhaps borderline too much, but for the most part it's funny and clever.  It really does feature planewrecked teen beauty queens and pirates, as well as "The Corporation," which is basically a metaphor for our modern world.  It also features an unexpected dose of satire that give it a lot of its oomph, and a way of lingering in the mind.

The practical everyday hardships of both being half-woman, half girl-child and trying to survive alone on the island are starkly contrasted to the satirical footnotes peppered throughout the book.  These footnotes and other interludes including "commercial breaks" often bring some serious social commentary to the pages that I loved. (ie: "Bridal Death Match, the popular TV show about brides who cage fight each other in order to win the wedding of their dreams.")

So, despite some flaws and a strange style that wavers between campy, girl-power and stick it to the man (like I said, this book has a lot going on), I'll definitely be giving this to the teen girls who live upstairs; I think they'll like it.

Battle Royale - Koushun Takami

(Still catching up)

So my brother gave me this book after I told him about The Hunger Games (a decent series itself) and I read a bit before putting it down. Now, several months later, I picked it up a few days ago and just tore through it, finishing yesterday morning. AWESOME book. Definitely moved to my all-time favorites list.

Okay, so normally, high school kids killing each other wouldn't be something I would generally enthuse about.

However.

This is a wicked, vivid story that completely draws you in.  It reads like an action thriller movie (which of course it now is - can't wait to see this movie now).  Though there are over 43 characters (at first), each is subtly nuanced, giving them all depth and a backstory that makes them real.  Each short life plays out in full, a small perfect bubble of life seen just as it bursts. You find yourself rooting for almost everyone, not to mention just as boggled as they are at the 'game' they have been forced to play.

I also found this book more than a  little terrifying in its scope. Once you start thinking about the major themes at play here there is almost no end to it.  How can you really trust someone? How do you actually know what someone is thinking? How well do you really know any of the people you think you know?  What are we really capable of?  If you and a bunch of your day-to-day acquaintances - your grade nine class, your co-workers, your friends - were forced into this (admittedly insane) situation - what would happen?

Would you play the game?

Pretty Little Mistakes - Heather McElhatton

Catching up a bit here - read this earlier in the week.

 It's not often you can describe a book as fun but this one certainly is. A grown up version of the choose-your-own-ending books I loved as a kid, drawn with skill, humour and hundreds of endings.  Reading the book you can experience hundreds of different lives, deaths and even afterlives - end up anywhere from heaven to hell to reincarnated as a huge tuna fish. The lives themselves are as vibrant as the endings awarded them; unlimited options allow you to do anything from become a Jamaican drug dealer to a multi-millionaire shoe designer.

Turn the pages long enough, experiencing more and more of the book, and you will begin to see common threads woven throughout the lives.  I loved the real woman's voice throughout and felt that the author has a very good grasp on the way women think; why they make certain decisions; what they want for themselves. It comes through.  Also enjoyed the way the book forced me to consider every moment in a life where one tiny decision matters the most.

Catch Me If You Can - Frank Abagnale

Found this at the library last week - of course I love the movie so I thought I'd read the book to find out a bit more about his exploits.  In the end I think his real life was more dramatic than the movie.  In this memoir he describes everything from his decision to leave home, to how he executed his cons across the globe, to his final escape from federal prison (with a little help from his future wife).  The story really brings to life the ups and downs of such a life with humour and total honesty.

 I liked that he does not shy away from discussing anything, whether it be his man-whoring ways or his brush with insanity in a terrifying French prison.  Also liked the subtle and graceful way in which an era past is brought to life.  A great, unbelievable-and-yet-true-and-thus-even-more-awesome story.