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Book Talk: Back to your book roots

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I have very few complaints about being a grown-up. Why, just today I had Triscuits and cheddar cheese for dinner and I plan to stay up as late as I want tonight. Cray-zay. But sometimes, I get to feeling a little longing for the great Young Adult fiction of my awkward years.

C’mon, you remember how “Harriet the Spy” was more than just a book character; she was a role model, right? I’m here to tell you that some YA fiction, like the wine we can now drink as grown-ups, is even better with age. Reread these and you won’t regret it:

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Required reading in 5th through 8th-grade classes across the nation at one point, I have no idea if this book is still popular. Gary Paulsen made reading cool for boys back in the 1980s and 90s. He also planted the love of survival fiction in me. Follow Brian, the young hero, as he lives in the wilderness after a plane crash. Since it’s a kids’ book, you probably don’t have to worry too much about whether he’ll make it to the end.

 

 

 

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Katherine Paterson can write. This touching book is both imaginative and starkly real. Lonely friends, Jesse and Leslie, create a fantasy world they call Terabithia. It’s their escape from the real life bullies, poverty and eventually tragedy and grief. For me, it stands out as one of the first times an author made me really feel some emotion. It still does.

 

 

 

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
While Shel Silverstein’s poems about eating a lot and turning into a TV if you watch too much of it are clearly aimed at children, a lot of the poems are surprisingly adult. The messages of other poems range from silly (“I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor and I don’t like it one bit”) to serious (“All the magic I have ever known, I’ve had to make myself”). “Where the Sidewalk Ends” mesmerized me at 8 and decades later has the same effect.

 

 

I’m not sure R.L. Stine, “The Babysitter’s Club,” or Choose Your Own Adventures hold up the same way, but it’s great fun to pick up your old childhood favorites and slow down on a Saturday morning. You can do grown-up stuff later.

- CATILIN

Book Talk: Off to see the Wizard

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L. Frank Baum was a little one-sided when he first wrote The Wizard of Oz in 1900, which as you all know, is the tale of an innocent young girl named Dorothy who was tormented by the evil Wicked Witch of the West when she found herself in the Land of Oz.Didn’t you ever wonder, was the Wicked Witch really that Wicked? And if so, how does one become Wicked? And why was she green? And I certainly can’t be the only person who found Glinda the Good Witch unbelievably annoying.

Gregory Maguire took on the amazing task of exploring all these issues and more in “Wicked: The life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” “Wicked” offers another perspective on the story of Oz we all grew up with. Maguire takes events, characters and plot points from the original Wizard of Oz and presents them through a different lens. No longer is Dorothy an innocent young girl. And the Wicked Witch, whose name is Elphaba, is not that horrible evil villain you always thought. She’s simply misunderstood. (An interesting side note, Maguire came up with the name “Elphaba” from the initials of L. Frank Baum, L.F.B.).

Wicked takes the reader from the time prior to Elphaba’s birth through her murder. We meet wonderful characters, including Elphaba’s parents and Elphaba’s sister (Nessarose) who was squished by Dorothy’s house. We learn more about the Land of Oz and all of its political, social and ethical problems. And who knew that at one point Elphaba and Glinda were actually friends who were “changed for the better” because they knew one another. “Wicked” is completely entertaining and is not the easy, simple read you would expect. I had no idea the Land of Oz was fraught with so much drama.

After reading “Wicked”, I was a slightly uncertain as to whether I should read the sequel “Son of a Witch” for fear that I would be disappointed. But I was pleasantly surprised. “Son of a Witch” takes us back to the Land of Oz and tells the tale of Liir, the little boy hiding in the shadows when Dorothy brutally murders the Wicked Witch (aka Elphaba). Don’t let the title “Son of a Witch” mislead you. It is more of a question than a statement. Liir spends the majority of the book searching for who he is. This search includes trying to determine who his parents are.

What I found especially interesting about both “Wicked” and “Son of a Witch” is how Maguire used this fantasy world to put some of what we see everyday (war, famine, power struggles, sexual confusion) in a different light and offer a new perspective. These books are not meant for kids; they have adult language, adult relationships and adult issues. I highly recommend both of these books. And once you are done reading, you can go see the Tony award winning musical “Wicked” which is absolutely amazing!

 

- NATALIE

Up next for me is “A Lion Among Men,” the third book in the “Wicked” series.

Book Talk: Spring Break Books

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It’s spring break. Time to read something fun. Depending on your spring break plans, you may want to check out one of these books:

Heading to the beach?

It’s kind of hard to just pick one, but now’s a good time to get started on the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Meet Stephanie, the tough girl from Trenton who drives (what else?!) a Mazda Miata when we first meet her. “Sweet Valley High” for grown-ups with more murder and less cheerleading. Stephanie along with her flashy pal Lula, are always getting into trouble and solving mysteries. Hilariously light and fun, start with “One For The Money,” get to “Two for the Dough” by Wednesday, maybe finish up “Three to Get Deadly” over the weekend, and save the other 17 books in the series for your summer vacation.

 

Living it up in Vegas?

Lose yourself in the fantasy world of scamming blackjack tables for millions in “Bringing Down the House.” An amazing true story of a group of MIT buddies who develop an elaborate system of signals and card counting to ensure good luck at casinos, this book shows just how much fun you can have in Vegas. Of course, it helps to win thousands. Like any good book, there’s a moral: teamwork is good, especially when cheating.
WATCH IT: “21,” starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth tells the same story as “Bringing down the House.”

Traveling abroad?

If your spring break plans are more along the lines of escaping life and finding yourself through international travel (or dreaming of escaping life and finding yourself through international travel while actually sitting at home eating ramen noodles) grab “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. Gilbert is struggling to regain her footing in life after a horrendous breakup and heads over seas to escape and regroup. She travels to three countries – Italy, Indonesia and India – and learns a little more about who she is in each country. This book evokes just about every emotion possible. I laughed, I cried. It was great. So whether you are traveling overseas this spring break, or just wishing you could, remember to pack “Eat, Pray, Love.”
WATCH IT: If you like the book, stay tuned for the movie. Julie Roberts has signed on to play Gilbert.

Outdoor adventuring?

“Into the Wild” by John Krakauer is a must read for outdoorsy types everywhere. After Christopher McCandless graduated from Emory University in 1992, he gave his entire life savings to charity and hitchhiked across America. He ended up in the wilderness of Alaska. Four months later, he turned up dead. This is a true tale based on information obtained by Krakauer through McCandless’s diary, letters, a couple of notes found at his Alaska campsite and interviews with the various individuals McCandless met along his travels.
WATCH IT: Emile Hirsch plays McCandless in the movie version of “Into the Wild.”

 

– NATALIE and CAITLIN

Book Talk: A truly chilling tale

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I couldn’t let winter end without telling you about “The Terror” by Dan Simmons. Did you think that the -20 degree days we had this year were scary? Well, make that -70 degrees and picture your food supply rotting while trying to avoid a terrible demise at the hands (claws?) of a vicious snow beast who hunts humans with specific glee. Oh, and imagine that you’re low on rum. That’s the fate of the men of the Terror and Erebus, a two-ship expedition to find the Northwest Passage.

The triumphant crew of the Erebus and Terror, led by Sir John Franklin, begins with high hopes of finding a short way to Asia via the yet-undiscovered Northwest Passage. The plan gets literally stuck, for years, when the ships are frozen in place. Sir John dies right away, and a lot of the book is told from the perspective of the his captain, Captain Crozier. The crew slowly dwindles away as the group scrapes and scratches across the Arctic, seeking rescue. War books and other stories of extreme human suffering tend to stick around in my head for a while, but “The Terror” takes it to a new level.

The psychological aspects are just as [insert favorite synonym for scary] as the outright gore. And what’s a good ol’ exploration book if cannibalism isn’t at least alluded to? The book was relentlessly scary. Simmons pens some amazing descriptions; the reader feels the cold, craves the rum and fears the beast, as if right there on the ship. Unlike a lot of other horror fiction, this book does not disappoint in the end. The message is one of caution against arrogance when dealing with nature. Work with it, don’t try to defeat it.

If you like your history fictional, frightening and with a twist of supernatural, check out “The Terror.” Read past dark at your own risk. Brrrrr.

– CAITLIN

*EDITOR’S NOTE: This week Caitlin and Natalie return to discussing books after sharing their favorite area book dealers with us throughout that last few weeks.

Book Talk: Northside Book Market and Haunted Bookshop merge

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What do you get when you join two local treasures: Northside Book Market and the Haunted Bookshop? One fantastic book destination.

Imagine my surprise when I walked up to the door of one of my favorite used book stores in Iowa City, Northside Book Market and saw a sign on the door that read “The Haunted Bookshop.” I thought, ‘Huh, what is my other favorite Iowa City used book store doing advertising at Northside…odd.’ Turns out the two stores merged earlier this year. The store will retain the Haunted Bookshop name but operate at Northside’s former location, 203 North Linn Street, Iowa City.

When you walk into the store you are immediately surrounded by thousands of nonfiction jewels. They have Atwood, Demille, Irving, Updike and so many more. It is wonderful. Take some time to meander through sections dedicated to literary criticism, history, foreign language, self-help, sports, biographies and children’s books. The Shop has literally thousands of books, which they get through donations, estate sales, garage sales and buying used books from customers.

The Haunted Bookshop was started in 1978 by Rock and Jan Williams, who named the store after a book by Christopher Morley called, surprise, surprise, “The Haunted Bookshop.” Naille (pronounced “Neil) Sylvan took over in 2004. Both sets of owners were married in the bookshop, in separate ceremonies. If that is not the sign of a true book lover, I don’t know what is! Both ceremonies were appropriately interrupted by customers coming in the shop in search of the perfect book.

Naille’s favorite thing about owning the shop is the people because she “loves readers as much as [she] loves books.”

When the Haunted Bookshop merged with Northside in January, the move, which could have taken months given the sheer number of books that had to be moved and rearranged, didn’t take long at all because of the volunteers, who wouldn’t accept any payment other than pizza.

Naille loves getting to know her customers and gets a certain joy from finding that perfect book that she just knows one of her customers will love, like the time she helped a women find a book she’d been looking for since 1942. Naille didn’t have the book in but got on the internet to see if she could find it. While the woman waited a man came in with a box of books to sell. Not only did the man have the exact book the woman was looking for, his copy had had an inscription to the woman’s cousin! It was just amazing, says Naille.

When you stop by the Haunted Bookshop, pick up The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. A great read that stretches the reader’s imagination and definitely makes you think.

 

– NATALIE

These books are good company

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“The Company You Keep” by Neil Gordon

This book surprised me, since I chose it only for its low price tag at the local Half Price Books. Thoroughly enjoyable, I tore through this book in a couple of days, stopping only when my sandwich required two hands. Written in the form of e-mails sent to a 17-year old daughter from her father and his various compatriots, the book is really three stories in one. The first story is of 1960s student radicals and their years as fugitives. The second story is of the father character in 1996 and chronicles a traumatic event involving him and his daughter. The third story is of the present, when the father tells his daughter about the other two stories. Neatly woven, this book leaves no plot strand untied. My only complaint is that the back cover contained a clear spoiler

“Underworld” by Don Delillo

“Underworld” follows the game-winning home run ball from the final game in the 1951 Giants-Dodgers World Series. It starts in the hands of a young boy in the crowd, and crosses the United States in both time and space. It touches important historical events and the people involved. Delillo uses his poetic sense of language to make unique observations that you won’t see in “The Company You Keep.” Both books share the time, place and character-jumping style of story telling. Think: movies like “Crash” or “Love Actually.” Both books provide a commentary on American history through the eyes of its participants. Different prose styles, similar narrative devices, much different time commitments required (“Underworld” is over 800 pages). Both good reads. Check ‘em out.

Next on my list: Maybe some Tom Robbins? Malcolm Gladwell’s latest, something from the 100 Greatest Books list, “The Doomsday Book” by Connie Willis. And definitely some poetry.

Best book sale ever

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The Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library held their annual Book Sale November 14 to 16 at Westdale Mall and it was FABULOUS. If you missed it, my heart goes out to you; if you made it to the sale I hope you found as many treasurers as I did.

 

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of attending the annual book sale, let me explain. The sale is a fundraiser for an organization called Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library. The Friends collect books of all kinds throughout the year and hold an annual sale. At the sale, thousands of books are divided into broad categories, laid out on long tables and sold for less than $2. People line up well in advance of the start time with boxes in hand to load up on reading materials for the year (or the month depending on how much you read).

 

I would disclose how many books I took home after two trips to the sale, but that would be admitting I have a problem and I am not ready to do so. I will however tell you about a few of my new found treasures (I apologize to all of our male readers because the following books may be more appealing to the opposite sex):

 

 

 

“Open House” by Elizabeth Berg

“Open House” is about a woman named Samantha whose obnoxious husband leaves her with a son to take care of and a mortgage to pay. In order to make ends meet, she rents out rooms in her house. While admittedly the story line is familiar and the ending is totally predictable, Berg conveys Samantha’s struggles with such honesty that the book was impossible to put down. This is a must read.

 

“Away” by Amy Bloom

Here is a story set in the 1920s about Lillian Leyb, an immigrant from Russia who flees her homeland in the midst of violence. At the time she flees, she is convinced her young daughter is dead. After coming to America, Lillian learns her daughter is alive and begins her quest to find her daughter. Bloom is open and honest about the sacrifices Lillian makes to survive (even though some of them truly made me cringe). Another great read.

 

“Missing Mom” by Joyce Carol Oates

Nikki Eaton is a 31-year old single woman in the midst of an affair with a married man who finds her mother murdered. “Missing Mom” is Nikki’s story of change and growth after her mother’s death. While, in my opinion, Nikki’s character is not as compelling or likable as Samantha in “Open House,” Oates still does a remarkable job conveying the struggles Nikki goes through.

 

Next on my list: “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas and “A Changed Man” by Francine Prose.

– Natalie

 

 

Natalie talks about … books Baby!

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I recently finished reading four books by Stephenie Meyer — “Twilight,” “New Moon,” “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn” — commonly referred to as the “Twilight” series. When I first decided to read the “Twilight” series, I was perfectly comfortable with my decision. I was completely unashamed of the fact that I looked forward to getting home from work at night to learn what would happen in the lives of Bella (a teenage girl), Edward (her vampire boyfriend) and Jacob (her werewolf best friend). 

Like I said, at first, I was totally unashamed.

Then, as I was heading home from work one day, “Breaking Dawn” in hand, eager to find out what would happen next, I passed a young girl about twelve years old exiting a middle school and lo and behold, she was carrying the same book. Part of me wanted to yell out to her “Hey, I’m reading ‘Breaking Dawn’ too. How COOL!”

Another part of me wanted to run home and grab the first literary classic I saw and start reading. So I did. 

I reached for “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte. “Wuthering Heights,” first published in 1847, is essentially the tale of a doomed love affair between Catherine Earnshaw and a man named Heathcliff. Many people love “Wuthering Heights’”and consider it the best of the Bronte sisters’ (Charlotte, Anne and Emily) novels. In fact, “Wuthering Heights” was one of Bella’s (the main character in the “Twilight” series) favorite books. Bella often quoted portions of “Wuthering Heights” and compared her love for Edward (her vampire boyfriend) to Catherine’s love for Heathcliff.

After much deliberation, I have decided to take a stand on behalf of closet “Twilight” readers everywhere and admit that I enjoyed the series much more than “Wuthering Heights.” I did not relate to Emily Bronte’s characters and the story did not make me want to run home to find out whether Catherine would come to her senses and marry Heathcliff. 

I was more interested in the story of Bella and her vampire boyfriend. In fact, “Wuthering Heights” just made me mad. I understand and appreciate that it is a classic but unlike “Persuasion” by Jane Austen (which was WONDERFUL), “Wuthering Heights” is not a classic I would recommend.  

I would however recommend the “Twilight series.” If you are looking for a fun read that will most certainly take your mind off the often too serious adult world we live in, the  “Twilight” series is perfect. What could be better than a tale of teenage angst mixed with vampires, werewolves and the occasional battle of the underworlds? But make sure to start with book one, ‘Twilight,’ as each book builds off the previous.

– Natalie

our in circle

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Don’t you kinda wish you were hot like us? Not necessarily hot like Carmen Electra hot. More like iPod hot. Or twitter hot.

Because our In Circle is totally like that.

Take Caitlin. I met her at a good friend’s going away party. A girl that gets that excited over cheese balls has to be someone you need to meet. Little did I know that she’s also an avid reader and a journalism major turned private practice lawyer yearning for a creative outlet.

Caitlin introduced me to Natalie, the other half of the Book Talk duo. Another lawyer. She reads more than Caitlin. I was nervous about asking someone to write about books every week, especially since I’ve been reading the same book since January. No problem, says Natalie. She reads at least a book a week. Plus she as a friend with a rockin’ library. Complete with floor-to-ceiling shelves and a ladder. She had me at library.

Andrea and I met over soup and salad at Olive Garden. Strangers until our first meeting, I told her to look for an average height brunette who had a baby nine months ago. Great, she says. I’ll look for myself. It was kismet from that point on. She gets excited about everything a foodie should, locally grown food used in creative ways by hometown chefs. And she’s not too proud to lick her plate clean when a dish is just that delicious.

Expect cool things. I do. 

And don’t be jealous. Join us. E-mail Carly@hooplanow.com

– Carly    

Book Talk: Crime, nirvana and a beach-worthy whodunit

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For years, my reading followed patterns. I got on kicks. Crime novels (James Patterson! Michael Connelly!) chick-lit, parenting books, bestsellers and, yes, fantasy.
Not anymore: I’m officially a genre-jumping, non-monogamous reader. I often read a couple books at one time. Rarely are they alike.

My recent faves have been:

“A Secret History,” by Donna Tartt
A group of college students lives are changed by studying Greek history. The book had a looming sense of dread draped over it. I had to get through it quickly for catharsis of discovering what I was dreading. At times it is a crime novel, at others, a novel about college friendships and insecurities.
When to read it: A gloomy rainy day in spring, or a November evening when short days make you want to turn indoors.
You might also like: Donna Tartt’s “The Little Friend”

“Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse
This book was a bright summer day in comparison. It’s an optimistic novel about a young man’s journey to discover his reason for being and the people he meets along the way. Heavy on philosophy, but in a short, readable format, it’s a book that runs through your mind long after you finish reading it.
When to read it: Crisp fall afternoons.
You might also like: Herman Hesse’s “The Journey to the East”

“Bangkok 8″ by John Burdett
“Bangkok 8″ is the classic vacation/beach/airplane book. It takes place in (surprise!) Bangkok, and the reader enters the fast paced world meth trafficking, the sex trade and the gem/precious stone trade. A whodunit with a twist, John Burdett knows how to catch the readers’ attention.
When to read it: Summer vacation or a time you wish you were on vacation.
You might also like: The rest of the Bangkok books by John Burdett
Next on my list: “How to Talk to a Widower” by Jonathan Trooper, “The World Without Us” by Alan Weisman an d “New Moon” by Stephanie Meyer.

What are you reading? 

- Caitlin

Have book suggestions or want to see what else Caitlin and Natalie are reading? Friend them on www.goodreads.com or e-mail booktalk@hooplanow.com