1/31/10 – Week in Review … And A Winner
by Jenners • 01/31/2010 • Book Talk • 16 Comments
Hard to believe January is already over! I’m off to a fantastic start reading this year; I’ve already finished 12 books, which is amazing for me. I’m beginning to think I can read 100 books in 2010.
Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon. I loved this book! It was filled with these amazingly entertaining yet surprisingly touching essays on topics related to fatherhood, being a man, and life in general. Mr. Chabon has a true gift for language, and reading his essays was such a treat. Besides the amazing writing, I found so much to relate to in the essays; I was marking pages to excerpt in my review like cray. One of the essays talked about how listening to the radio can hijack you and whisk you away to a specific time and place in your past. I thought of this essay several times after being “hijacked” by songs while out and about this past week. Today I heard the Go-Gos song “We’ve Got the Beat” and immediately flashed to my high school friend Catherine and the Go-Gos concert we went to—my very first concert without parental supervision. On Wednesday, I heard Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come On Eileen” and flashed back to seeing this video on MTV back when MTV was about music videos. It also reminded me of quite a few weddings; this was one of my “go to” dancing songs in the 1980s. I can’t say enough about how much I loved this book. Although I was supposed to give it away as part of my Reading from My Bookshelves Challenge, I think I will be keeping it. 5 stars!
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach. I wish all science writers wrote like Mary Roach. She has a great sense of humor, a dry wit and a way of making odd things fascinating. The book is about examining various scientific attempts to document what happens after death. Ms. Roach looks at everything from reincarnation to mediums to near death experiences and more. The book was incredibly readable and entertaining. I initially got the book in the hopes of finding out something concrete about life after death as a result of losing my dad last year. (And Ms. Roach acknowledges that most researchers who work in this area are driven to it by the loss of their own loved ones.) Although Roach is unable to find any conclusive evidence one way or another, the journey was fascinating—full of odd historical facts, colorful characters and just plain good writing. Roach isn’t afraid to insinuate herself into her story, and it makes for an interesting read. I also have a copy of her book Stiff, and I’m quite excited to read it now. Although it might sound like a depressing or offbeat topic, the book was extremely mainstream and readable, and I would highly recommend it.
A Sidenote: I had my Little One pick out my next book for me from my bookshelves. He picked this one because he could read the word “spook” and he liked the tiny mirrors on the cover. He asked me to tell him about as I reading it. I explained to him a bit about reincarnation—that some people believe that after you die, you are born again in another body as a little baby. My Little One said very definitively: “That is not what I think happens. I think when you die you go to God, and God has more hearts.” I thought that was so sweet and a lovely way of looking at things. It just reminded me that when you have “big” questions, sometimes the best answers come from children.
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. Well, if you read my recent review of Lamb, I’m sure you’re not surprised I’m reading another Christopher Moore book. This one is part of the Take Another Chance Challenge (Blogroll Roulette). The premise is that Charlie Asher (a Beta Male) unknowingly becomes Death. (You know, like the Grim Reaper.) I’m only about 50 pages in, but I’m happy to see the Moore I know and love present and accounted for. One neat thing is that the cover of the book glows in the dark! (At least my version does.) I didn’t realize that, and it was a bit startling to turn off the lights to go to bed and have the little skeleton baby and Christopher Moore’s name glowing up at me. If you have this book, check it out and see if your cover glows too.
It is time to announce the winner of Esquire Presents: What It Feels Like… Drum roll please…
I was so excited that the winner of this particular giveaway is a friend of mine from college, Michael5000 from The Life and Times and Michael5000. I asked all entrants to tell me what interesting or unusual experience they would like to see described. Michael’s answer? “I’d like to learn what it feels like to pay off a mortgage.” Wouldn’t we all love to know that feeling!
And because I actually know him in real life and his advice helped me launch my “blog empire,” I must tell you more about his blog by sharing his mission statement:
The Life and Times of Michael5000 aims to be the Internet’s preeminent provider of difficult pop quizzes on arbitrary topics. It further seeks to delight its community of creative, engaging, drop-dead sexy, and bracingly intelligent readers with glib little posts about the creative arts and dork culture generally, including but not limited to literature, film, the visual arts, music, history, geography, and college football.
Earlier this year, I was actually elected Vice Dork of Michael’s blog, a job that entails a lot of seething (that I wasn’t elected the official Blog Dork) and a chance to pick out two books for him to read from his Reading List. Although his blog is chockful of esoteric information and obscure topics, I personally find it very entertaining and it does include book reviews from time to time. And I double-dog dare you to try one of his Wednesday quizzes. About the only one I’ve ever even had a shot at was one on book covers, and even then I flamed out at the end.
Oh hey, a shout-out! Sorry I'm late to the party…
I am always curious when I see books like Spook, to hear what people's experiences are (esp. near death).
I'll have to go check out your friend's blog – you make it sound like a lot of fun.
I love that your little guy is interested in what you're reading!
LOVE LOVE LOVE DIRTY JOB! One of my favorite Chris Moore books! I hope you enjoy it. Happy reading this week.
WOW, in spite of the fact that I always seem to be reading, I did not read 12 books, What does your little one do when you're reading. I've strayed from my challenges to read a book that is more interest in what this author is all about. Shall post when I'm done. Have a great day.
Greetings, Jenners (great name). I'm new to your blog, and must tell you that I enjoy your humorous writing style very much. January has been a great reading month for you!
I so loved Stiff, I really should read another Roach. I haven't read Chabon — bad me.
I love Mary Roach. I've read Stiff, Spook, and Bonk, and while Stiff is still my favorite of hers, I'm waiting for her to come out with a new one and top it.
Great books this week! I hope you enjoyed them all.
Out of the mouths of babes eh?
What a sweetheart your little one is!
I have a contest running on my blog right now for the book Break by Hannah Moskowitz. Feel free to check it out.
Enjoy A Dirty Job! It is my second favorite Christopher Moore book so far (after Lamb of course!
Oh, and I almost forgot. Little One's comment was the best. Young children have a way of looking at the world that never occurs to adults. That is one reason I love working with that age!
I just love the way you write, Jen. You can make even a long-ish post seem to fly by with your wit and easygoing-ness.
Both Chabon's and Roach's books sound fascinating. I need to add them to my list! Christopher Moore is one I had on there from your high recommendations previously. But now I totally want the book if just for the glow-in-the-dark feature.
Congrats to Michael5000 on winning! Your blog sounds really interesting, although I am now very intrigued by your quizzes…
And, like Molly, thanks a lot for getting "We've Got the Beat" and "Come on Eileen" stuck in my head…jeez…:)
is that… kathy lee griffin(sp)… naked… in that photo??
that's a cute story about your Little One. I honestly think children are not making up stories, they actually know!
I keep hearing wonderful things about Mary Roach. I really need to find one of her books soon.
I think your Little One has a book inside him. He has the most amazing, insightful quotes of someone just 5 years old!
You have now completely convinced me that I need to read Chabon's book (I have never read this author – but this is the one that I will read first).
And, as a final note, I want to thank you for getting the song, We've Got the Beat now stuck in my head
What a sweetheart your little one is! I love the things that come out of their mouths. Words to live by, very often. I will be interested to hear about Christopher Moore. When I was in Chicago last year in a bookstore, the owner REALLY pitched his books, but I had to fit all my purchases in my carry-on and had to restrain myself. They sounded great!