J.K. Rowling does not disappoint in her last installment of HP. I love how all her books are so wonderfully cohesive and are of a consistent (excellent) quality. I do miss the fun and innocent qualities of the first few books, though. But Rowling has created so much more than just a fanciful children's story so I concede that the descent into darkness is necessary.
And I won't say much more as most people are still reading ...
Four out of five 
Having read and enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, I decided to check out Haddon’s latest offering. It is interesting that both his latest books tackle mental illnesses, first autism and now depression. I’m guessing he probably has had experience with both, whether personally or not. However, neither book is depressing which is a good thing in some respects as these topics don’t always have to carry with it all gloom and doom. On the other hand, I can’t say that his portrayal of depression, in particular, was very realistic at all times. Especially in the ending of A Spot of Bother, Haddon seems downright flippant about the protagonist’s condition which I thought a) made for a less than satisfactory ending b) could be taken to offence.
Haddon has a similar style to David Sedaris. They both have a humorous take on the screwed up lives of different families. Haddon’s writing also has a bit of likeness to Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones), probably because both use Brit humor. But I suppose Bridget Jones is all about messed up relationships as well. So I think if you like Sedaris/Fielding, you would also enjoy a bit of Haddon. It's a good quick read. I've had to speed read through it in anticipation of getting Harry Potter soon!
3.5 out of 5 
Total pisser of a mood this morning. Would've thought tomorrow, Friday the 13th, would be the stinker.
Bigfoot's car was broken into yet again last night and his iPod was stolen out of his car's glove compartment. Now he is left with no iPod even though he does have a spare because his 2nd iPod was left at his brother's home and now they can't find it because they live in a pig's stye.
Couldn't sleep last night because I was thinking about my work situation. Woke up with a sore throat and of course it was raining (again). Really didn't want to take the bus but there were no cabs available (as usual). I had to make a run for the bus because I really didn't want to wait for the next one. Bus breaks down so didn't need to run for it after all. Bus starts smoking and spewing out a suspicious bright green liquid so people push and rush off the bus, not wanting to let me off. I don't know anything about buses or mechanics but I didn't think that anything bright green was used to run buses. Am probably wrong. After rushing off, they then proceed to stand right next to the bus like a bunch of simpletons. I have been through enough suspicious/terrorism-like events that I leg it to the next bus stop, not taking any chances.
Annoying fire drill at work. Escape to the drugstore and on the way there see a girl take a face plant to the street and almost get run over by a big truck.
The day just gets progressively worse and worse for other reasons that I cannot disclose because it is work-related.
Pre-Friday the 13th has a terrible bite.
It's best when you approach a book with skepticism and then you find yourself extremely pleasantly surprised. This is how I felt about A Thousand Splendid Suns. All the hype of the Kite Runner completely escaped me. The Kite Runner was good but predictable I thought. A Thousand Splendid Suns really impressed me. It made me feel all the emotions that its predecessor was meant to evoke in me but failed. I was so touched by the intertwining stories of two women who are brought together by marriage to the same tyrannical man. I found it amazing that Hosseini was able to so thoroughly represent the female psyche. It always impresses me when an author is able to write so convincingly using the voice of the opposite sex. I remember the last time I felt this way was after reading Memoirs of a Geisha.
A co-worker of mine felt like she didn't want to read this book because it's based in Afghanistan and we have all already heard so many stories of suffering originating from that country. I had the same passing thought but I still think there is more to be told and it really depends how the story is presented and I feel like Hosseini has done an amazing job.
No book is perfect but I have to give this one 5 out of 5. It's a definite re-read.
Can't wait for Harry Potter!!!
Last night we had our company summer party at the Air Gallery. There was a portrait of a woman with an uncanny resemblance to someone I know.....
The gallery was filled with colorful psychedelic prints like the one you see next to the portrait and in the background. And then you had a portrait of me???
Turns out it is a portrait of the artist's wife! I didn't think the resemblance was that strong but all my co-workers insisted otherwise.
To share my love of books and to find another excuse for social drinking - I've formed a book club! I never thought people would be so excited to join in. I mentioned it in passing at work and 3 girls simultaneously squealed "ooooh, we want to join!". And less than 24 hours after our first 'meeting', people were already bugging me about what book we are reading next.
I picked the book this time around and hosted it at my place. I bought some nibbles and asked all the girls to bring wine. Oh yes, this is a girls only book club. The decision was a bit arbitrary to limit it only to girls but it's a good thing now that I think about it. You hear that girls in single sex classes at school are more free to express their opinions. What if there is a boy you like in the class and he *gasps* thinks your questions/opinions are stupid? As women now, I'm sure we are all more confident and won't be nearly as self-suppressed. But I did have a friend come who I normally only see as a plus one to her boyfriend when we do a couple's date. Clayton + me/Her and boyfriend. Her boyfriend has a very dominating personality and she doesn't get much in when he's around. Not because he doesn't let her speak, but because he is always talking so just about no one gets to speak! So it was nice to see her in another circumstance and I was really surprised at how much she had to say about the book. It was great and my first thought was that we should get together sans partners more often. Heh.
So now about the book! The Interpretation of Murder is a great murder mystery that deftly wraps in the history of New York (where it is set) along with the psychological theories of Freud (one of the characters) and even a dash of Shakespeare. I don't normally read murder mysteries but I doubt many of them are written with this much intelligence and scope. At the same time, I do get the feeling that Rubenfield is trying to show off his skills a bit in his debut novel. He did his undergraduate thesis at Princeton on Freud and studied Shakespeare while at Juliard. Now he is a law professor at Yale. So he's a bright dude and I think he wants us all to know it. But I learned quite a few interesting tidbits while reading this book because of his eagerness to 'share' in his knowledge. The story is both interesting and engrossing.
The mystery is revealed and unraveled quite quickly at the end of the book but I'd imagine that is quite common in the genre. The murder plot gets a bit complex so it'll probably one of those books where you quickly forget exactly what happens at the end soon after reading it but The Interpretation of Murder will definitely leave an impression.
4 out of 5 smiley's
And the book for July is The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.
The other day my co-worker announced, "I think those people who blog about their lives should die". Wow - harsh! It was a common view in the office that no one should spend time posting up the minute details of their lives in cyperspace for all the world to see. Of course I did not volunteer the information that I kept a blog. Not because I'm ashamed that I do keep oneg but because I know that my co-workers would then demand to see mine. Um no. They are already nosey enough about my life. I don't need them to get any more up my business. Anyway, the conversation went on to include people to send out Christmas letters. "I think people who send out Christmas letters should die." Well, I don't think anyone should die. But I think there is a distinct difference between the two. I am not subjecting anyone to read my blog. I have told about 5 friends in total that I have a blog. But by sending me a Christmas letter in the mail, I do the courteous thing and read it even though I don't really want to. But people don't generally mail me links to their blogs. I seek them out myself and it's my choice if I want to 'waste' my time reading them.
I've start to blog about the books that I'm reading just because I have a bad memory and these entries will help jog my memory about the storylines. Why do I feel the need to post publicly? I don't know?? It is fun??
And since I do have a terrible memory, I need to record it here that the weather this summer has SUCKED. SUCKED DONKEY'S BALLS. May and June have been cold and rainy. Torrential down pours. Flooding. People are still wearing boots and scarves. It was warmer in April which has been our one good month this year. Please please please July be better or else I'll be ready to shoot myself by August.
I know Paulo Coelho has written oodles of books but somehow I've gotten away with not reading any of them until now. I don't know anything about his other books, but based on the Dedication in the begininning, I'm guessing that Eleven Minutes is a bit of a departure from his other works. Correct me if I'm wrong ...
I feel like there were two distinct sections to the book. The first half moved along pretty smoothly with the story of Maria, disenchanted with life at a young age...moved from Brazil to Geneva in search of better things...only to choose a life of prostitution. Although some people may have no choice in selling their bodies; Maria makes it quite clear that the choice was hers to make. Even though she needed the money and didn't have many viable skills, she really did not need to resort to prostitution for survival. I was quite surprised at how much she was able to intellectualize life. Coelho has her journal entires throughout the book so that you are able to hone into Maria's thought process. Although I don't doubt that there are intellectuals stemming from the most rural regions of Brazil, some of Maria's journal entries just weren't believable for me. I believe she was about 19 years old and even if she had the intellect to write some of those things ... I don't believe she could've also had the maturity.
Anyhow, as I said, the first half of the book progressed nicely for me and then it spirals into a jumble of musings on love/sex/life/touchy feely mumbo jumbo. All really not for me. And then you have a fairy tale Hollywood ending - literally, as it mimics the famous scenes of Casablanca. That was just the icing on the cake in me really(!) not caring much for this book.
Two out of five smileys
Allison & I thought we would check out what Copenhagen had to offer. Here are some random thoughts:
The cuteness of Copenhagen - this is it!
Everyone gets around by bike. You can pick one up anywhere in the city and drop it off. And it's all free.
Carlsberg - Probably the Best Beer in Town. A confidence lacking motto if I've ever heard one.
Me enjoying my first Carlsburg
Some dodgy Copenhagen stylings
You DID ask for a large hot dog, Allison!!!
Cow Parade 2007 in Copenhagen. A red bull market?
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