The Increment by David Ignatius

My DH recently finished reading this book.  Here is his review:

My dear wife (DW) loves the spy novel genre.  My interest sparked after reading her beloved copy of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carre.  Ignatius is a master at writing about the "nothing is as it seems" world of espionage.  In The Increment our protagonist, Harry Pappas, is head of the CIA's Iran Operations Division.  After receiving an unsolicited email from a contact, later determined to be an Iranian scientist, describing Iran's work on developing nuclear weapons, Harry must decide on the authenticity of the information.  Harry is given two weeks to determine the authenticity of the information before the United States plans to bomb the crap out of Iran.  Since the CIA has no assets on the inside, Harry must turn to the British for help. A plan is hatched to bring in the Iranian scientist with the help of a covert ops team dubbed The Increment, a group which doesn't legally exist.  Can the Iranian contact be brought in before it's too late? Is the information for real or a ploy?  I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good spy novel.

Rubicon or Most ominous use of a four-leaf clover

Has anyone been watching Rubicon?  Seems like it is just me, my DH, and a handful of geeks who like their spy stories with less gadgets and bombs, a la Three Days of the Condor and John Le Carre.  I am enjoying it, even though i have to force myself to watch it sometimes.  It's like I know they are going to cancel it, so why bother?
What I like so far:  Will, great acting.  He is subtle but you can really tell he's trying to keep his shit together.
Miles is manic, funny and sad.
What I don't like:  Arliss Howard is totally miscast as Kale, Will's boss.  Is he good or bad?  Is he on Will's side?  Is he plotting with Spengler?  Why does he walk funny?  Why does he comb his hair like that? Blah blah blah.
On the fence:  the fact they they never ever ever look at a computer.  i have never seen so much paper in a TV series (and The Office doesn't count).  is this realistic?   

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Just finished this book.  Wow.  What a great read.  The premise is this:  Little Bee, a 16-year-old Nigerian orphan, is being released from a detention facility in the English countryside for refugees.  Half of the story is told through Little Bee's eyes and the other half through the eyes of Sarah, a journalist who met Little Bee on a beach in Africa two years ago while on vacation with her husband.  Their meeting in Africa ends horribly, but their fates remain entwined.
Little Bee's voice is unique and her attempts to explain to the reader how the girls back home in her village would never understand the complexities of a globalized society are touching and bittersweet.  Refreshingly, Cleave does not make Little Bee a saint nor does he make Sarah or her journalist husband, Andrew,  typical self-righteous do-gooders.  The storytelling is suspenseful, and the more I read, the more I began to feel an overwhelming sense of dread.  Like, how could this ever end happy when reality isn't happy? How did you interpret the ending?  Do you think Little Bee lived? Did Sarah write her book?  Did Charlie ever put his Batman suit back on? 
This book made me feel insignificant, like this behavior (corrupt governments/evil corps seeking natural resources at any cost) cannot be stopped.  Like I know it happens, but since I am little-ole-me, what can i really do to make a difference?  Write a letter to my congressman?  Hardly.  It's easier to ignore things that happen half a world away.  

Switching Gears: Drop Dead Diva

Who loves this show as much as I do?  It is hilarious and, along with Arrested Development, is one of the few shows that makes me giggle.  Brooke Elliott plays Jane, a brilliant but boring attorney, who ends up in the emergency room after taking a bullet meant for her boss (way to guarantee partner).  Deb is an aspiring model who is in a fatal car accident.  Deb is accidentally reincarnated into Jane's body, hijinks ensue.  Seriously, though, if it weren't for Elliott's serious acting chops, this show wouldn't be believable.  It was a smart move to keep Jane's intellectual ability even though she is now inhabited by Deb.  As a viewer, I totally buy it when she spouts some legal mumbo jumbo then stops to hold her head and say "ow."
I know Jane will eventually tell Grayson (Deb's distraught fiance) who she really is, but I hope the show drags it out a while.
Can't wait for next season!

Franzen-bore

Guess I should say something about the brou-ha-ha over Jonathon Franzen's latest novel, Freedom.  I must admit that The Corrections, which was published seemingly forever ago, was one book I could not finish.  I mean, I didn't even get far into it.  I just knew it wasn't for me.  I was exceedingly bored with the whole thing and no matter how I hard I tried, I could not keep reading it.  On second thought, I probably didn't try that hard.  There were so many other books beckoning that it didn't seem important at the time to keep reading.  When any book is hailed as the second coming, my defenses are immediately up, as is the case with Franzen's latest novel, Freedom.  After striking out with The Corrections, I just don't think I care about Freedom, no matter what the NY Times says.  And no one can make me read it!  Ha ha.  Good thing I'm not in a book club, although with Franzen's seeming egocentric-ness, I am sure he would rather his book not be elevated to any #1 book club pick (ahem, Oprah).  Maybe, when all the madness fades away, I'll try to read it, but not a minute sooner.

Series Review: Stephanie Plum or as I like to call them "Doughnut Porn"

Recently finished reading all the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich.  Loved them.  They gave me the giggles...and it isn't often I have that reaction from books.  Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter in New Jersey.  She is mediocre at best.  She really only catches her bounty through dumb luck and help from other sources, including a bad ass bounty hunter named Ranger.  These books really shine though when they focus on Plum's family, including the random people she happens to pick up along the way.  Stephanie's circle of friends and family is like a huge keychain with normal keys, keys you can't remember where they came from, keys that you don't use much, keys you forget about, and keys you only use in emergencies.  These characters sometimes pop up in several books and they are usually a welcome addition. 
The scenes with her parents and grandmother are hilarious and I hope these translate on the big screen.  Of course, a movie starring Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum is in the works.  Hope they get her Jersey swagger right. 
Through a tragic event, Stephanie ends up meeting Lulu.  Lulu, former prostitute turned filing clerk/wannabe bounty hunter.  Their adventures together are one of my favorite parts of the books.
However, as much as I love these books, I do not recommend reading them back-to-back.  Sometimes reading a series in this manner, especially light/fluffy books as I call them (where you know no one you care about is going to die and the plot is usually resolved nicely), draws more attention to the flaws.  Stephanie's quirks began to grate a little by Sizzlin Sixteen, especially her indecisiveness when it came to the two men in her life.
More than anything, these books made me want to eat doughnuts all the time.  Good doughnuts, which my city is totally lacking.   

True Blah

It must say something about my general feelings towards True Blood this season when I still haven't watched the most recent episode.  True Blah indeed.

Can't Commit

I have been trying to read Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert.  Much as I enjoyed EPL, I cannot seem to get through Committed.  I just don't care about the history of marriage, blah blah blah blah.  However, I do feel enormous sympathy for what she and her DH had to go through.  It just doesn't seem fair that they would have to go through so much trouble/red tape to live in the great USA.  But, as my dad always said, Life Isn't Fair.  Cue the eye roll.

Book vs TV, Vol 2: Pillars of the Earth

My DH and I have been watching Pillars of the Earth on Starz.  Both of us read the book and loved it.  So well written.  And there is just something about a book so heavy you could inflict a serious head wound with it.  So far, we are really enjoying the series.  They made some interesting (and, in one instance, icky) changes.  The icky change is obviously the incest thing with William Hamleigh and his mother.  Quite unnecessary and way too over-the top.  It was perfectly believable in the book that William was just a bloodthirsty son of a bitch who enjoyed killing, maiming, raping, etc. without the extra dose of parental abuse.  I don't know if they are just trying to find a teensy bit of sympathy for William by showing that he (in the TV series) is emotionally and physically abused by his mother.  I am not falling for that! 
Also, as much as I love Ian McShane, I feel he was miscast as Bishop Waleran.  He was so delightfully arrogant and over the top on Deadwood that it feels like he's holding back as Waleran.  There is no glint of mischief in his eyes.  He seems flat and wooden.
At first I was unsure of Jack but Eddie Redmayne has really grown into the character.
Rufus Sewell as Tom Builder has also grown on me.  I think it is because I've only seen Sewell playing the villian or that guy who gives you the creeps. 
Last but not least, Prior Phillip.  Love Matthew MacFayden.  Huge MI:5 fan.  I am enjoying his take on Prior Phillip.  He really shows how hard Phillip struggles with his pride.

Rock Hard

My DH recently finished Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston.  Here is his review:

I always wanted to be a mountain climber, but living in a state where the highest point is Woodall Mountain (elev. 806 ft.) my Eiger dreams were crushed at a young age.  So I live vicariously through the stories of Jon Krakauer, David Brashears, and now Aron Ralston.
Aron's story takes place in the back country of Moab in Robbers Roost.  Shortly into his planned half-day excursion, a half-ton bolder becomes dislodged and pins Aron's right hand against the canyon wall.  His outlook bleak, he must spend the next five days trapped in his personal hell.  Being an avid outdoorsman and highly experienced mountain climber, Aron must use his survivalist skills to deal with his diminishing water supply and sleep deprivation.
Aron's never-say-die attitude and love for family and friends becomes his mantra to get out of this canyon alive.  After five days, Aron is reduced to drinking his own urine, which causes further dehydration.  The decision has to be made to cut off his hand (with a dull knife) or die.
I love these stories of ultimate survival, and Aron Ralston did not let me down.  So grab a large glass of water (you will need it) and read this book.

Book vs TV, Vol 1: Sookie say what?

So, who is completely underwhelmed by True Blood?  I know it's because I have been reading Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books for years.  I love them.  I love how silly they are and how it seems completely natural that there are vampires, werewolves, other shifter-types, and fairies.  I especially love how the descriptions of Sookie's clothes sound so tacky!  Like, of course she would wear scrunchies and white-lace dresses with matching glove/sleeve thingys.  The books are dark and twisty but have moments of levity as well (Hello Bubba!).  The books of course are not without their faults.  It's impossible for every book in a long series to be great (HP excepted).   
I just do not get excited about the show, even though my DH and I make sure to watch it every Sunday night.  For one thing, True Blood Sookie (TBS) gets on my last nerve.  She is way less whiny in the book and lots more self-sufficient.  Book Sookie (BS) would never have let her house stay that dirty after a crazy maenad spread mud all over the place.  Also, the most important thing about Sookie is her ability to hear people's thoughts.  In TB, the characters discuss her "ability" but we rarely get to hear what she hears.  I guess that is one drawback of switching from a first person narrative to a third person, multi-character focused plot.  And TB has apparently bestowed some other, yet-to-be-named power upon our poor, unsuspecting heroine...cue suspenseful music.  Plus, Sam's TB story is redonkulous (sp?) and I want to FF through his scenes.

Attraversiamo!

Just finished EPL.  Really enjoyed it.  It didn't blow me away like I thought it would.  I think it is one of those books that I will continue to think about and what I can take away from it.  It does, however, make me want to search for my own balance.  Not that I want to fly to India/Bali to learn how to do so (nor do I have the time or money or inclination to leave my DH alone while I do so), but I want to simplify.  Maybe take up yoga and learn how to meditate.  Could I sit still for an hour, much less five minutes and focus on something other than my legs tingling or the urge to grab my phone and check my messages or play Angry Birds (damn that game)?  Not sure, but I want to try.  That's all for now.  I will keep digesting and maybe revisit EPL at a later date.  Namaste!

More pasta please!

Since the movie is about to be released, I thought my first post would cover Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
First, I am wondering why there are so many females out there who hate this book.  I guess it's that weird, jealous-thing where females have trouble being supportive or happy for other females.  I've had a friend who thinks the book is entirely selfish and who thinks its ridiculous that someone got an advance from a publisher to leave their life and go on a year-long adventure.  Mind you, this person has not read the book.  I told her she was just jealous.  She agreed.
To be fair to the author, Gilbert was a successful writer with street cred, not some random nobody whose only published writings consist of blog posts (ahem).  Another friend, who did read it, said she got annoyed with the selfish parts.  But, isn't that the point of a memoir?  A memoir is an account of one's personal life and experiences.  I'm not sure how you feel, but I don't want to read someone's memoir that leaves out the messy, selfish parts.  Isn't that the point?  That by reading this person's journey, you might learn a little bit more about yourself?
I haven't finished the book, but so far I find Gilbert's honesty about the end of her marriage and her insecurities to be refreshing.  It's hard for women to tell the world how we really feel without worrying about being stuck. By stuck I mean typecast.  Like, she's emotional or she's a bitch.  Once you shed that first tear, you'll forever be "the emotional one."  Forgetting the fact that women (and people, in general) are too complex to be generalized in such a way.

Let's talk about spoilers

Since this is a book review of sorts, we need to discuss the appropriate use of spoilers.  I will try not to reveal major plot points, such as twist endings or surprising character reveals.  However, if the ending or suprise twist or whatever is ridiculous or doesn't make sense, then I reserve the right to discuss said ridiculousness/stupidity.  If the book has been published for a while and was immensely popular, then you are out of luck.  If you don't know the ending of something like the Harry Potter series, then I have no sympathy.  I mean, where have you been?  (I am sorry DH*, but it's true)  It's like if you still haven't seen The Crying Game or The Sixth Sense, sorry, but she's a he, and he's dead, respectively.  Depending upon how this blog progresses, I will probably tweak my spoiler policy.


*DH is how I will refer to my dear husband, who has yet to read the Harry Potter series.

First blog post ever

Hello fellow book lovers!  This is my first blog post ever.  I never had any desire to start a blog post.  I mean, who wants to waste time writing personal things for the world to read and inevitably criticize?!  Then why start now, you ask?  My husband enjoys his blog, and I need a new hobby.  If no one reads it, then I'll consider it an opportunity to hone my writing skills. 
Why then, books?  I have always loved to read.  I love books, love the way they smell (even the funky-smelling library books), love the way they feel in my hands (an upcoming post will discuss how this love coexists with my Kindle), love the way they transport me somewhere else for a short time.
The purpose of this blog is to discuss books I am reading, have read, and want to read.  These won't be reviews per se, just my initial reactions plus likes and dislikes.
What this blog will NOT do:  resemble an English lit class; contain boring essays on themes/motifs/blah blah blah; attempt to impress you with my large vocabulary. 
I just want to talk about what is good, bad, annoying, funny, silly, heartbreaking, etc.  Sounds easy, right?
I am also hoping that this blog will force me to branch out to books I don't normally read, like memoirs, biographies, and science fiction.
Some upcoming posts will also include the topics such as books adapted to TV/movies, which books to read depending upon your mood, and bargain books.