People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Rating: 6 out of 10
Summary: 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 anti-Semitism. 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. (From BN.com)

Commentary: I’m not sure why, but I just couldn’t get very involved in this novel at all. There was a lot of publicity for it, and I saw it in basically every bookstore I passed until I bought a copy in Borders. It just couldn’t keep my attention–I finished several other books while in the middle of reading this one.

I like the author’s style, and the novel was well-organized with good ideas. Creative. I don’t know… it just didn’t draw me in at all.

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Rating: 6 out of 10
Summary: It all starts when Matthew observes a heroic scene in a convenience store: A man named Murdoch puts himself between an abusive father and his son. Matt is determined to get to know this man. And when, amazingly, Murdoch begins dating Matt’s mother, it seems as if life may become peaceful for the first time.

Matt and his sisters have never before known a moment of peace in a household ruled by their unpredictable, vicious mother. And so, after Murdoch inevitably breaks up with her and the short period of family calm is over, Matt sees that he needs to take action. He refuses to let his family remain at risk. Can he call upon his hero, Murdoch? And if not, what might his desperation lead him to do? From Barnes&Noble.Com

Commentary: Pretty in-depth Young Adult novel. Presents the complexity of abuvsive parents pretty well. Matthew was an interesting narrator and the novel in the format of a letter or narrative to his little sister was a good idea.

Mmm, not much else to say. Nice hero.

Threshold by Sara Douglass

Rating: 7 out of 10
Summary: Over the hot southern land of Ashdod looms the shadow of Threshold, the pyramid which the Magi of Ashdod are building to propel themselves into Infinity.

Over the years, thousands of slaves have given their lives to the construction of Threshold. Now construction is almost complete; the Magi need only to add the finishing touches.

The Master of the Magi knows the glassworker slave Tirzah is hiding something, but he would never guess her secret is forbidden magic. Tirzah can communicate with glass-and the glass in Threshold screams to her in pain. For it knows what neither Tirzah nor any of the Magi suspect:

Something waits in Infinity, watching, biding its time, and when the final glass plate is laid and the capstone cemented in blood, it plans to use Threshold to step from Infinity into Ashdod…

Commentary: This is a re-read; I first read this novel a couple years ago. I remember enjoying it a lot and recently it popped back into my mind and I put it on hold at the library. Then I stopped by the local Borders store and saw it was in stock and picked it up there instead.

Threshold involes serious world-building and lots of magic and the usual fantasy fare. Douglass based her world on a sort of medieval/middle-eastern template, and it worked out pretty well. The pyramids, the middle east, hot desert sands, the obscure and mystical, polytheistical religion of the Egyptians… except with magic. Nothing super-spectacular.

I didn’t expect it to be so romantic when I first read it–in fact, I had my doubts about how Douglass would navigate this tricky situation. Boaz and Tirzah start on opposite sides of the story as deadly enemies. There’s abuse and pain and ugly happenings–but somehow, the author made it work out in the end and had it make sense and be romantic at the same time. No small feat considering how the two characters began.

I definitely enjoyed the first half a heck of a lot more than the second. The latter half was just a bit of a letdown… like the climax has already happened and we were just wrapping up loose ends.

Overall a good read–I would have given it a higher score except that the ending sort of let me down.

The Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Thomas Roszak

Rating: 8 out of 10
Summary: In The Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein, Theodore Roszak offers us a subversive, erotically charged counterpart to Mary Shelley’s classic, Frankenstein. It is presented in the form of a secret autobiography, a soul-baring document intended for the eyes of a single reader: Elizabeth’s brother, lover, and spiritual other half – Victor Frankenstein.

The writings are discovered by Sir Robert Walton, the Arctic explorer who, in Mary Shelley’s original novel, recorded Victor’s deathbed confession. Walton becomes obsessed with learning the full story behind the mad doctor’s last words. From the tattered pages of Elizabeth’s journal and the scattered clues Walton finds as he re-creates her life, a compelling tale of moral horror unfolds. In her memoirs, Elizabeth emerges as a spirited woman far ahead of her times. Rescued as a child from the Gipsies by the brilliant Lady Caroline Frankenstein, she is raised as young Victor’s adopted sister.

Under Lady Caroline’s guidance, Elizabeth is initiated into a circle of “cunning women” – outsiders would call them witches – who are the guardians of long-forgotten pagan ceremonies and healing arts. She and Victor are schooled in ancient teachings that have been transmitted through female adepts who understand the mysteries of nature. The goal is to unite the two in the “chemical marriage,” a step toward the union of all opposites that will restore the Earth to balance.

The two youths pursue their education through the shadowy realms of alchemical lore and tantric sexual rites until a moment of weakness disrupts the quest. Tormented by shame and anger, Victor turns to the “unhallowed arts” that result in his misbegotten Creature, the vengeful fiend who will haunt Elizabeth’s fatal wedding night (from BN.com).

Commentary: Read this on the plane back from Mexico and finished it (425 pages) in about 2 hours–it was engrossing and I could not put it down. I was kept reading it as I was waiting for the American Airlines representative behind the counter to find my ticket and check me in to my flight.

I read the real Frankenstein novel by Mary Shelley a couple of years ago and loved it. I passed Elizabeth Lavenza off as a weak-minded, shallow woman who was much too dependent on Victor even after all he had done to her–leaving her alone with no notice for long periods of time, creating this horrible monster that ended up destroying her on her wedding night.

Although nobody will ever know Shelley’s reaction to this novel, it’s definitely feminist and goes on and on about the wrongs of the patriarchal society. At many points throughout the novel I was surprised and had to keep reminding myself that, yes, it had been written by a man. It had many valid points (although I don’t consider myself a full-blown feminist, I ardently agree with gender equality and all those things we’re supposed to have in today’s free-thinking, modern world) even when it delved into the slightly more fantastical world of alchemy and secret female cults.

The above mentioned “magic” was interesting and provided some good mysticism and mystery for the novel, as well as a substantial amount of eroticism. Not a novel for the young reader who thinks it’ll be a sequel to the classic, humorous kids’ Halloween movie Young Frankenstein. Sex and the glamour/mystery/ associated with it in Romantic literature is a very prevalent part of the novel, contributing greatly to the plot and tone.

Quite entertaining and a good, fast read. I’d definitely recommend reading the original Frankenstein first.

E.E. Cummings Selected Poems by Richard S. Kennedy

Rating: 10 out of 10
Summary: More of a synopsis, I suppose. Everything from BarnesandNoble.com:

“No one else has ever made avant-garde, experimental poems so attractive to both the general and the special reader.”—Randall Jarrell

The one hundred and fifty-six poems here, arranged in twelve sections and introduced by E. E. Cummings’s biographer, include his most popular poems, spanning his earliest creations, his vivacious linguistic acrobatics, up to his last valedictory sonnets. Also featured are thirteen drawings, oils, and watercolors by Cummings, most of them never before published.

The selection includes most of the favorites plus many fresh and surprising examples of Cummings’s several poetic styles. The corrected texts established by George J. Firmage have been used throughout.

E. E. Cummings (1894-1962) was among the most influential, widely read, and revered modernist poets. His many awards included an Academy of American Poets Fellowship, two Guggenheim Fellowships, and the Bollingen Prize.

My Thoughts: E.E. Cummings is my favorite poet, followed closely by Emily Dickinson. I said in my previous post on Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men that I don’t much like Modernist literature, but I definitely love Modernist poetry (William Carlos Williams, Ezra Pound, Robert Frost, etc.)

Cummings’ work is just so different from anything else out there. I probably tried to copy him when I was like 8 or 9 (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!) because I thought it was just so cool.

The way this edition is arranged is insightful and easy to read. Accompanied by drawings (I did not know Cummings drew) and photographs, and some background/history before every section, it’s very informative and creates a good atmosphere. The only drawback I could find was a personal one–one of my favorites by Cummings is “may i feel said he” which you can find if you scroll down this page here, and this edition didn’t include it. That’s a very biased thing on my part though. Otherwise I’d definitely suggest this copy for any poetry fan.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Rating: 6 out of 10
Summary: Of Mice and Men was John Steinbeck’s first masterpiece. Originally published in 1937, it’s the timeless story of George Milton and Lennie Small, ranch hands who drift from job to job, always one step ahead of the law and a few dollars from the poorhouse. George is small, wiry, sharp-tongued and quick-tempered; slow witted Lennie is his opposite—an immense man, brutishly strong but naturally docile, a giant with the mind of a child. Despite their difference, George and Lennie are bound together by a shared vision: their own small farm, where they’ll raise cows, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, where they’ll be their own bosses and live off the fat of the land.

When they find work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, the dream at last seems within reach. If they can just save up a little money. . . . But their hopes, like “the best-laid schemes of mice and men,” begin to go awry. The story unfolds with the power and inevitability of a Greek tragedy, as Lennie commits an accidental murder, and George, in a riveting, deeply moving finale, must do what he can to make things turn our right. (from back cover).

Commentary: This was a really short, quick read–but I think that was part of its impact and message. Good story, great descriptions… still generally undecided about Steinbeck.

I realize now I’m not a huge fan of Modernist literature.