FIVE WEEKS IN THE AMAZON by Sean Michael Hayes has been released through Amazon this month. I was asked to review this book and have done a small review on Amazon. Would I have taken this adventure, probably not. Though I want to visit South America and experience the culture, I do not think that I would take part in the Ayahuasca ritual that Mr. Hayes does for 5 weeks.
This is a journey of self awareness and finding a way to be better, in health, love and overall well being. It is a full of raw emotion about what drew him to this place and the events leading to and after the rituals. There is also plenty of philosophical debates with the understanding of self and existence of a godly being. With all that happening we are given a wonderful description of this trip through the jungle, the people he meets and the life in this small town that is surrounded by jungle. We are also part of the Ayahuasca ritual, living the moment with Mr. Hayes and his struggle with finding what he is searching for with this ritual.
Again, I have a hard time being sick in front of people or taking any type of medicine, let alone going someplace and doing it on purpose. More power to the people who can let go and take that type of adventure. I am content to read about other people's adventures into this realm. I will think of other less risky ways to determine myself. You are a brave man Sean Michael Hayes.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Review: Serena by Ron Rash
SERENA by Ron Rash was a very interesting book. I had to take it back to the library and realized that I had not copied down pertinent information on publisher and date of publication. This book is one of the 16 to read before it comes out in movie form.
The main characters are as the title suggest Serena, a woman who is used to getting her way and will do anything to stop people from stopping her. I lose count of the number of people she had murdered in cold blood. She is the wife of Mr. Pemberton who has a logging camp in North Carolina. Her father also was in the logging industry so she is very comfortable as the ruler of the camp.
You first get an inclination of her character when she comes into camp sees the girl, Rachel and her father. Rachel is pregnant by Mr. Pemberton and her father has come to settle a score. Serena immediately accesses the situation, arms Pemberton and enjoys it when Pemberton kills the father. Then she turns to Rachel and tells her that she is to expect nothing from them. Fortunately, Rachel is mountain strong so she expects nothing.
I did not see the movie, but saw that it got terrible reviews. The story falls apart a little, but the essence is psycho woman will do what she needs to surround herself with yes men and do away with anyone who she feels thwarts her goals, even if that goal is to kill a child and his mother.
I like books with strong women, but do I like strong women portrayed as psychopaths, not so much. However, having said that during the depression if a man murdered someone to get ahead, would we call him a psychopath or just a good business man?
The main characters are as the title suggest Serena, a woman who is used to getting her way and will do anything to stop people from stopping her. I lose count of the number of people she had murdered in cold blood. She is the wife of Mr. Pemberton who has a logging camp in North Carolina. Her father also was in the logging industry so she is very comfortable as the ruler of the camp.
You first get an inclination of her character when she comes into camp sees the girl, Rachel and her father. Rachel is pregnant by Mr. Pemberton and her father has come to settle a score. Serena immediately accesses the situation, arms Pemberton and enjoys it when Pemberton kills the father. Then she turns to Rachel and tells her that she is to expect nothing from them. Fortunately, Rachel is mountain strong so she expects nothing.
I did not see the movie, but saw that it got terrible reviews. The story falls apart a little, but the essence is psycho woman will do what she needs to surround herself with yes men and do away with anyone who she feels thwarts her goals, even if that goal is to kill a child and his mother.
I like books with strong women, but do I like strong women portrayed as psychopaths, not so much. However, having said that during the depression if a man murdered someone to get ahead, would we call him a psychopath or just a good business man?
Review of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury was first seen in the issues of Galaxy Science Fiction under the title "The Firemen." My copy is from Del Ray books of the Random House Publishing Company. Its was republished several times my copy is from 1996.
I had a powerful reaction to this book for several reasons: The first being my house would be burned because of the treasure trove of books I have on my shelves, second the burning of books just makes my skin crawl, and third is because we have come to a time when people do not like to read as much and would prefer a story on the big screen instead of reading the story.
It is kind of eerie that this story was written in the 1950's originally, because it describes some things that are happening now, big screen TV's that take up a whole wall and commercials that make you believe that you just have to have this item or be incomplete. We do not have spider dogs, thankfully, but we do have the capability to spy on the actions of people. Camera's line the intersections of streets and of course we have the ability to see what others are watching on there computers. Not so far off the mark from this story.
I was at a writer's conference and was told there are two types of writers, ones who want to see their name in print and do not care what they write and those who want to write the best story they can no matter how long it takes. Maybe this is the sentiment of Mr. Bradbury when he wrote this book, so many just write with no substance that people lose interest. I do not know, all I know is that I had a visceral response to this book, I wanted to display the books for all the world to see. Would I burn with my books? No. Life is more important because that is how you are able to write. Enjoyed the reading of this book and liked the writer's comments at the end, especially how if he was inclined to do so he would have changed the book.
I had a powerful reaction to this book for several reasons: The first being my house would be burned because of the treasure trove of books I have on my shelves, second the burning of books just makes my skin crawl, and third is because we have come to a time when people do not like to read as much and would prefer a story on the big screen instead of reading the story.
It is kind of eerie that this story was written in the 1950's originally, because it describes some things that are happening now, big screen TV's that take up a whole wall and commercials that make you believe that you just have to have this item or be incomplete. We do not have spider dogs, thankfully, but we do have the capability to spy on the actions of people. Camera's line the intersections of streets and of course we have the ability to see what others are watching on there computers. Not so far off the mark from this story.
I was at a writer's conference and was told there are two types of writers, ones who want to see their name in print and do not care what they write and those who want to write the best story they can no matter how long it takes. Maybe this is the sentiment of Mr. Bradbury when he wrote this book, so many just write with no substance that people lose interest. I do not know, all I know is that I had a visceral response to this book, I wanted to display the books for all the world to see. Would I burn with my books? No. Life is more important because that is how you are able to write. Enjoyed the reading of this book and liked the writer's comments at the end, especially how if he was inclined to do so he would have changed the book.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Number left to read.
Of the 100 books I am suppose to read I have 28 left. I have finished SONS AND LOVERS by D. H. Lawrence and have to say that if you want to talk about or read about dysfunctional families, this is the book to read. Oedipus Complex would be a good title for this book. No girl good enough. Life seemingly over when mother dies. Then their are the girls who want to mother him, of course he compares them to his mother. Life, love in all the wrong places. Still a good book. Enough about that book, here are the next books that I will be reading.
16 books to read before they come out at the movies: Unbroken-Hillenbrand and Dark Places-Flynn
From the 100 book list: Fahrenheit 451-Ray Bradbury and Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky
I have read excerpts or abridged copies of many of the 28 books I have left on the list, but I want to read them again. This includes the two above, so though I have the gist of these books, I feel like I am cheating if I do not read them completely. I hope to have all 4 of these read by the end of the month. We do not have a book for December's book club. I also will probably add a few other books into the mix.
After all of my 100 books from the reading challenge are done I am going to make a list of the 100 books that I wish to read. Ones that are in my personal library that I have been meaning to read or that someone has given to me as a present or that someone wants me to read for a review. It is going to be a very diverse set of books. I may even finish my own book and review it. No bias on my end I am my harshest critic.
16 books to read before they come out at the movies: Unbroken-Hillenbrand and Dark Places-Flynn
From the 100 book list: Fahrenheit 451-Ray Bradbury and Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky
I have read excerpts or abridged copies of many of the 28 books I have left on the list, but I want to read them again. This includes the two above, so though I have the gist of these books, I feel like I am cheating if I do not read them completely. I hope to have all 4 of these read by the end of the month. We do not have a book for December's book club. I also will probably add a few other books into the mix.
After all of my 100 books from the reading challenge are done I am going to make a list of the 100 books that I wish to read. Ones that are in my personal library that I have been meaning to read or that someone has given to me as a present or that someone wants me to read for a review. It is going to be a very diverse set of books. I may even finish my own book and review it. No bias on my end I am my harshest critic.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Review: WILD by Cheryl Strayed
WILD From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed was published in 2012 by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc., New York and also in Canada by Random House Canada Limited, Toronto.
This adventure is true and based on the life of Cheryl Strayed after a death, adultery, divorce and heroine fascination. It is a true finding oneself while traveling on a trail that is not heard about hear on the East Coast as much. Over here on this side of the USA we tend to think about the AT or Appalachian Trail which runs from Georgia to Maine. So I was intrigued by the fact that there was a PCT or Pacific Crest Trail.
If you are going to do this type of hiking I think this would be a good book to read. As a woman I do not know if I would have attempted this by myself. I have always traveled with a companion. In the book, Cheryl does meet several trail hikers and forms a bond. They are inspired by her and she is inspired by them. I wonder if I traveled with someone on a trail whether I would give up if they wanted to stop. Maybe it would be a good idea to be on ones own, not to be pressured to stop or go on if you were feeling really vulnerable.
I was surprised she met only good folks with good intentions, except for a couple of times. The book lets you know the pratfalls of not being prepared, ill fitting equipment and how to make sure the boxes you ship to yourself actually make it in time.
The real story of course is the feeling of being lost in life. Not finding what you are looking for in the relationships that push you out into a world of exploration. I am not sure my natural thoughts after the bad events that happened in my life would be to hike a trail. I probably would be more of a run away to Europe for a month or drive across country type. I think that I would be to chicken to walk on a trail without a companion, no matter how much I could reflect on life without other input. Maybe a cabin in the woods with running water, showers and a fireplace would be a good compromise.
I liked the book it took her over 18 years to put this adventure into book form, I think it would be difficult to put your life on a plate for others to push around with their forks. I liked that she found herself in the end.
This adventure is true and based on the life of Cheryl Strayed after a death, adultery, divorce and heroine fascination. It is a true finding oneself while traveling on a trail that is not heard about hear on the East Coast as much. Over here on this side of the USA we tend to think about the AT or Appalachian Trail which runs from Georgia to Maine. So I was intrigued by the fact that there was a PCT or Pacific Crest Trail.
If you are going to do this type of hiking I think this would be a good book to read. As a woman I do not know if I would have attempted this by myself. I have always traveled with a companion. In the book, Cheryl does meet several trail hikers and forms a bond. They are inspired by her and she is inspired by them. I wonder if I traveled with someone on a trail whether I would give up if they wanted to stop. Maybe it would be a good idea to be on ones own, not to be pressured to stop or go on if you were feeling really vulnerable.
I was surprised she met only good folks with good intentions, except for a couple of times. The book lets you know the pratfalls of not being prepared, ill fitting equipment and how to make sure the boxes you ship to yourself actually make it in time.
The real story of course is the feeling of being lost in life. Not finding what you are looking for in the relationships that push you out into a world of exploration. I am not sure my natural thoughts after the bad events that happened in my life would be to hike a trail. I probably would be more of a run away to Europe for a month or drive across country type. I think that I would be to chicken to walk on a trail without a companion, no matter how much I could reflect on life without other input. Maybe a cabin in the woods with running water, showers and a fireplace would be a good compromise.
I liked the book it took her over 18 years to put this adventure into book form, I think it would be difficult to put your life on a plate for others to push around with their forks. I liked that she found herself in the end.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Review of: Where'd You Go Bernadette, by Maria Semple
Where'd You go , Bernadette by Maria Semple was published in 2012 by Little, Brown and Company a division of Hachette Book Group.
The narrator of this book is a little girl nicknamed Bee by her mother, because when Bee was born she has a heart defect and she was blue so her mom Bernadette, thought to name her Balakrishna. This God was blue. Bee is a smart girl who spend more time with her mom than anyone else. The people in her life are her mom-Bernadette, her dad- Elgin, her friend Kennedy. All the other people in her life are the school folks and their moms. Bernadette lovingly calls them gnats. The story is set in Seattle, with flashbacks to a time before Bee was born, provided by letters to a person named Manjula Kapoor and Paul Jellinek from Bernadette.
Everything centers around Bernadette, the gnats are constantly doing things to annoy her and are just mean. One gnat in particular Audrey Griffen even pretends her foot is run over by Bernadette's car to get sympathy from her fellow gnats. Elgin is not around to see any of this because he is ensconced in his Microsoft world trying to make Samantha 2 online for the vets to use. Samantha 2 works by turning on and off things with just a simple thought from the person wearing the headgear. But one of the gnats starts working with him and she idealizes him. She starts putting thoughts into his head about him being abused and they should have an intervention.
This book is about disappearance, see Bernadette removes herself from the public eye as an architect when her baby the Twenty Mile House, is bought and knocked down by her neighbor. She goes into a deep depression and add several Seattle. She buys a school to live in which she initially intends to revive, but starts dealing with the gnats and well nothing happens with the house. Their is a trip planned for Antartica, which initially Bernadette does not want to go to, she hates people. AN intervention is planned and Bernadette disappears again. The gnat at Elgins office takes advantage of this and gets Elgin to sleep with her, ONCE.
I am not going into all the details, but it was a fun read. I relate to Bernadette in a weird way. When I first moved into my home I was meet with people who really wanted to get into our lives. I am reticent about this and so I did not join Bunko or other things that were supposed to be want the IN moms did. When we first moved to the area we were coming from DC and moving into this small own town on July 4. There was a block party scheduled that they wanted us to come to on the third. That was when our movers were coming, we could not drive 5 hours away for a block party. They never forgave us, we were the outcasts, not born and bred in this city. Things are better, but I definitely identified with Bernadette and just wanting to be able to do my thing without being scrutinized about my choices.
The narrator of this book is a little girl nicknamed Bee by her mother, because when Bee was born she has a heart defect and she was blue so her mom Bernadette, thought to name her Balakrishna. This God was blue. Bee is a smart girl who spend more time with her mom than anyone else. The people in her life are her mom-Bernadette, her dad- Elgin, her friend Kennedy. All the other people in her life are the school folks and their moms. Bernadette lovingly calls them gnats. The story is set in Seattle, with flashbacks to a time before Bee was born, provided by letters to a person named Manjula Kapoor and Paul Jellinek from Bernadette.
Everything centers around Bernadette, the gnats are constantly doing things to annoy her and are just mean. One gnat in particular Audrey Griffen even pretends her foot is run over by Bernadette's car to get sympathy from her fellow gnats. Elgin is not around to see any of this because he is ensconced in his Microsoft world trying to make Samantha 2 online for the vets to use. Samantha 2 works by turning on and off things with just a simple thought from the person wearing the headgear. But one of the gnats starts working with him and she idealizes him. She starts putting thoughts into his head about him being abused and they should have an intervention.
This book is about disappearance, see Bernadette removes herself from the public eye as an architect when her baby the Twenty Mile House, is bought and knocked down by her neighbor. She goes into a deep depression and add several Seattle. She buys a school to live in which she initially intends to revive, but starts dealing with the gnats and well nothing happens with the house. Their is a trip planned for Antartica, which initially Bernadette does not want to go to, she hates people. AN intervention is planned and Bernadette disappears again. The gnat at Elgins office takes advantage of this and gets Elgin to sleep with her, ONCE.
I am not going into all the details, but it was a fun read. I relate to Bernadette in a weird way. When I first moved into my home I was meet with people who really wanted to get into our lives. I am reticent about this and so I did not join Bunko or other things that were supposed to be want the IN moms did. When we first moved to the area we were coming from DC and moving into this small own town on July 4. There was a block party scheduled that they wanted us to come to on the third. That was when our movers were coming, we could not drive 5 hours away for a block party. They never forgave us, we were the outcasts, not born and bred in this city. Things are better, but I definitely identified with Bernadette and just wanting to be able to do my thing without being scrutinized about my choices.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Another apology
I have been substitute teaching and trying to write a story, so by the end of the day I have not the eyes to read. I am almost through SONS AND LOVERS, by D. H. Lawrence, but it has been a few days since I have visited the Paul, his mother, Miriam and Clara. I have been really amazed at the sexual tension between, Paul and his girls,, that includes his mother. No girl is right for him and even though she says she wants him to find a nice girl, she refuses to let that girl be Miriam. Of course, if Paul had his way I think he would marry his mother. His fantasy is to have her and him live together in a nice house, just the two of them until she dies. I get the creepy feeling he would be like one of those people who keep the dead mother preserved in the bed she died in.
At this particular time Paul is infatuated with Clara Dawles, a married woman who is reseparated from her husband. Everyone knows this, but he is pretending that they are mere acquaintances, though his description of her neck and breasts when she bends over lead you believe otherwise.
Very interesting book.
At this particular time Paul is infatuated with Clara Dawles, a married woman who is reseparated from her husband. Everyone knows this, but he is pretending that they are mere acquaintances, though his description of her neck and breasts when she bends over lead you believe otherwise.
Very interesting book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)