Beastmomma

From goodreads:

The titular Oscar is a 300-pound-plus "lovesick ghetto nerd" with zero game (except for Dungeons & Dragons) who cranks out pages of fantasy fiction with the hopes of becoming a Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien. The book is also the story of a multi-generational family curse that courses through the book, leaving troubles and tragedy in its wake.

Pages: 335 (paperback)

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz is an incredible book! It was the December selection for the Partners of Professor book club.  Even though I had not finished the book in time for our meeting, I was excited to keep reading.  I learned a lot about the political history of the Dominican Republican.  During our discussion, we commented on how the romantic relationships were twisted.  To every character, except Oscar, sex was a conquest and being in a monogamous relationship was something for losers.  

I loved the relationship between Oscar and Lola.  They were siblings who were tied together through family ties.  I also loved how kind Lola was to Oscar and tried to look out for him.

Another thing which ties the characters together is the quest to find meaning and answers.  In particular Oscar searches for love and the reason behind his family's curse.  One of my favorite quotes is related to Lola's daughter. 

"One day she will stop being afraid and start looking for answers."

Each character has a point where he/she starts looking for answers.  The process and consequences of the search are what drives the story.   The only thing I had a hard time with was the Spanish and the cultural references.  I did not get all of them and having more footnotes may have helped.

I am counting the book toward the  Orbis Terrarum challenge.  The author was born in the Dominican Republic.

From goodreads:

In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime: analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. When Hanna, a caustic loner with a passion for her work, discovers a series of tiny artifacts in its ancient binding--an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair--she begins to unlock the book's mysteries. The reader is ushered into an exquisitely detailed and atmospheric past, tracing the book's journey from its salvation back to its creation.

In Bosnia during World War II, a Muslim risks his life to protect it from the Nazis. In the hedonistic salons of fin-de-siècle Vienna, the book becomes a pawn in the struggle against the city's rising antisemitism. In inquisition-era Venice, a Catholic priest saves it from burning. In Barcelona in 1492, the scribe who wrote the text sees his family destroyed by the agonies of enforced exile. And in Seville in 1480, the reason for the Haggadah's extraordinary illuminations is finally disclosed. Hanna's investigation unexpectedly plunges her into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics. Her experiences will test her belief in herself and the man she has come to love.

Pages: 372 (Hardcover)

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

I finished the book almost 27 days ago (according to goodreads) and I am still enthralled with it.  This was one of the best books I read this year and I am giving it as a gift to quite a few people during the holiday season.  In addition to having interesting and multi-dimensional characters, I learned a lot of history.   The book starts in 1996 with Hanna doing a book autopsy to learn more about the journey of the book.  As she works to figure out each piece, we go back to a point in history where we learn how that mark or object got into the book.

The characters in the book all experience loss and their relationship with the book symbolizes a bit of connection and a chance at restoration.  As a lover of books, I appreciated the high status and sacredness books were given.  I also loved that saving the book became a metaphor for saving lives.  The book is a Higgadah which is a Jewish holy book; however, Christians and Muslims also risked their lives to save the book. 

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks was the December selection for book club.  One of the members of the group HATED the book and I found myself upset.  One positive thing about the experience was that I talked much more than I had at any other meeting.  In a way, the book helped me find my voice.  I was impressed with all of the details.  As I wrote in my Sunday Salon post, I had to reread paragraphs a few times because I wanted to make sure that I got everything.

In addition to heavy topics such as religious persecution and relationships, one of the character spends time in Boston. I feel that she captured the flavor of the people here, particularly on the road, very well:

 "I took the T from Logan airport to Harvard Square. I hate driving in Boston. It's the traffic that drives me spare, and the absolutely terrible manners of the motorists. Other New Englanders refer to Massachusetts drivers as "Massholes."

The terrible manners of the motorists is such a delicate way of saying that people on the roads of MA are rude!! I brought the quote up in book club and was happy to realize that other people who had lived here much longer than me felt the same way.

In book group a couple of people did not like the story of line of Hanna. She is the rare-book expert whose story centralizes what we learn about the book and its path.  I enjoyed reading about her crisis with her relationship with her mother, her challenge with her career choice, and trying to regain her confidence with her career.  She also struggles with having healthy intimate relationships.  From a structural standpoint, all of those themes are reflected in other people's stories and journies in the book.  I liked Hanna because she was struggling with things that many people, particularly women do: how to balance life and work.  How to make people understand what is it about your work that gives you passion.  How to be both independent and connected to a family.

I am counting the book towards two challenges:

Women Unbound: There are several strong female characters who are struggling to find their place in a field and world dominated by men.  Even though I did not discuss it above, several female characters struggle with their sexuality being used as a means of oppression.

 Orbis Terrarum:  The author was born in Australia.

From Goodreads:

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

This improbable story of Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.

Pages: 226 (paperback)

Rating: 9 out of 10

I had this book on my night stand for a few months and read a few pages before I went to bed.  Sometimes, I would even read a few pages before getting out of bed in the morning.  The short chapters made this book easily digestible in small chunks.  In spite of the short chapter and paragraph length, I had to re-read sections to make sure I understood.  I loved Christopher's voice and perspective.  Being able to have insight into an autistic teenager was a gift. One of the major themes of the book was being brave.  Even though I finished reading the book over a month ago, I am still struck by the idea of overcoming fear in an effort to try to be happy or safe.  Christopher had a lot of things with which he was coping; what started out as a simple quest to figure out how killed his neighbor's dog turned into something much grander.

Because of the book's location in my house, I wrote about reading the book for three Sunday Salons.  In the first post, I discussed Christopher's power of observation.  As I have been trying to get accustomed to a new place, I am trying to be more observant and hoping to transform that into some type of super power that will somehow make it easier to adjust to new surroundings.  In my second post, I discussed my admiration and respect for Christopher's efforts to talk with strangers.  I felt inspired to try to be more outgoing and speak to strangers.  Meeting new people in a city where folks avoid eye contact is tough.  I feel like I have to summon all my courage to smile and say good morning to people.  In the book Christopher's bravery is what helps him solve mysteries and accomplish some of his goals.  In my last post, I described a little bit about a relationship between transformed by the solving of a mystery. In his quest to discover the truth, Christopher learns some unsavory things about people who are important to him.

Even though it took me a long time to finish Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon, I loved it!! My favorite part was the last sentence and without giving away too much, it reiterates how he was brave and why that means people will be proud of him.  The only thing I had trouble with was the math formulas which were a bit distracting.  I would certainly recommend this book to a friend or anyone that wants to get a deeper understanding of autistic teenage boys.

I am using this book to complete part of two challenges:

What's in a Name Two: It is fulfilling the time of day category

Orbis Terrarum:  The author is British and lives in England.

From Goodreads:

Thirty years ago, on their Cape Cod honeymoon, Jack and Joy Griffin made a plan for their future that has largely been fulfilled. He left Los Angeles behind for the sort of New England college his parents had aspired to, and now the two of them are back on the Cape—where he’d also spent his childhood vacations—to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura’s best friend. Sure, Jack’s been driving around with his father’s ashes in the trunk, though his mother’s very much alive and often on his cell phone. Laura’s boyfriend seems promising, but be careful what you pray for, especially if it happens to come true. A year later, at her wedding, Jack has another urn in the car, and both he and Joy have brought new dates.

Pages: 272 (hardcover)

Rating: 4 out of 10

I started this book in Maryland while I was riding the Metro into DC for a conference.  It is the book club selection for my Partners of Professor book club.  I would not have picked this book up on my own, but I thought that it was okay.  The main character was arrogant and whiny.  I had a hard time liking him or caring about his troubles.  None of the characters in the book seemed to be kind to people with whom they were intimate.  I wanted to see a romantic relationship where the parties were faithful and happy.  It seemed like most of the relationships were being held together with fear and wrapped with doubt.

One person in book really loved the book and thought that it was funny.  I missed a lot of the sarcasm.   Maybe I would be amused by the confidence and rudeness of the New England characters if I was not around so many bloated egos everyday.   Many people love Richard Russo and while I did not enjoy this particular body of work, I would be willing to read something else by him.

From goodreads:

Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of the powerful businessman Mr. Hosokawa. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening -- until a band of gun wielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots, intimate friends, and lovers.

Pages: 318 (paperback)

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

I read Bel Canto by Ann Patchett for the second meeting in October of the public library book club I joined.  Prior to reading the book, I had heard that it was an unlikely engaging tale; I totally agree with that assessment.   While it took me over a month to write my review, the story has stayed with me.  Questions about the enemy and the search for meaning are explored.  The characters are transformed, some by what they shed and others by what the acquire.  All engage in a bit of daydream where the lines between terrorist and hostage are blurred.   When I finished the book on the commuter rail, I had to stare out the window to keep people from seeing me cry.  The book finished as strongly as it started.  While some in my book club were not pleased with the ending, I liked it.  I wish that I could follow the characters for a bit longer to see what becomes of them.