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Published: December 17, 2007 02:14 am
BOOK REPORT: Sedaris lived up to his billing
The Tonawanda News
Sedaris lived up to billing
When Dave Hill presented me with humor essayist David Sedaris’ “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” I was excited. Upon finishing it, the book lived up to my expectations.
Sedaris, as I’ve detailed throughout each week during this round, is incredibly witty. And he’s the sort of writer who doesn’t mind making himself the butt of the joke. His keen eye for human foibles is directed at himself as much as anyone else. It’s not just humbling, but necessary for Sedaris’ style. If he only made fun of other people, he’d come off as mean-spirited. That he includes his own twisted thoughts on the same level as others makes things more human.
One thing that surprised me was the amount of truly touching stories Sedaris tells. His writing has heart in addition to the hilarious observations that he sprinkles throughout.
My recommendation: If you haven’t read anything by Sedaris, do it. You won’t be sorry.
— Managing Editor Eric DuVall read "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" by David Sedaris
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“Curious Incident” has empowering ending
There have been several moments each of tenderness and gut-wrenching sadness in this book. Allow me to extrapolate on one such incident.
Christopher Bone, the story’s main character and, well, actually, the one writing the story from his perspective, departs his home in the town of Swindon to head to the big city of London in search of his mum.
The gut-wrenching part comes when Christopher takes in the scenery of his neighbor’s home. Near the beginning of the book, he tells us that he enjoys math — he calls it “maths” — and wants to become an astronaut. However, upon soaking up one final look of his surroundings, Christopher has an epiphany: He will never be able to fulfill his desire of visiting space because he’d miss home too much.
The book closes with an especially empowering revelation from Christopher, one that makes the reader satisfied in knowing that this autistic adolescent knows he’s going to be all right. It’s impossible to close this book without smiling.
Having wrapped up two installments of the book club, I can happily report that I’m 2 for 2 in getting good reads. I don’t know whether to be fearful of the third selection, or if I should take comfort in knowing that I’ll get another dandy. Either way, I’m looking forward to it.
— Staff reporter David J. Hill read "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon
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Not Shreve’s best work
In London, Kathryn finally discovers the truth about her husband, Jack. She comes face-to-face with Muire, who also is Jack’s wife. She meets his children, visits his house, sees their bedroom, discovers the Christmas present Jack bought Muire.
And we also discover Robert Hart’s deception. He had an inkling of what Jack was up to and was using Kathryn to discover the truth.
As it turns out, Jack was used, too.
So learning the truth, which she keeps from Mattie, Kathryn returns home and begins a new life sans Jack.
She learns Muire is in prison. Robert returns to Kathryn, wanting a relationship. In the end, though Kathryn’s thoughts are with Jack’s children. “I just wanted to know if the children are all right.”
I went through “The Pilot’s Wife” quickly, but was a little disappointed. The flashbacks I could have forgiven. The plot was excellent, but I wanted more from the characters. The lack of emotion was a serious drawback and left me wanting more from the story.
People raved about this novel online, and I thought I was missing something. Then I read a comment about how this wasn’t Anita Shreve’s best work by far. I think I’ll check out some of her other novels like “The Weight of Water” and “Resistance.”
— Copy desk chief Linda Noworyta read "The Pilot's Wife" by Anita Shreve
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“Cholera” was too much to handle
I have tried every evening to complete several pages of this book, but it has been difficult, and, I am sorry to say, I have not finished it up to now. If I were a college student, reading this as an assignment, I would have purchased the cliff notes already. The author has, up to this point, taken a long time to set the stage and develop the main characters of the story. His sentences are descriptive and eloquent, for example, "Along the rough cobbled streets that had served so well in surprise attacks and buccaneer landings, weeds hung from the balconies and opened cracks in the whitewhashed walls of even the best-kept mansions, and the only signs of life at two o'clock in the afternoon were languid piano exercises played in the dim light of siesta."
They are lengthy to a fault. I find myself reading a sentence, and loosing track of his point, so much so that I have to read it again. He is masterfully, though, planting little hints of a mystery and some intrigue along the way. Because of this, I will continue to plow through, if only to find out the true identity of Dr. Urbino's deceased friend, Jeremiah Saint-Amore; apparently the letter he wrote before his death was full of all kinds of secrets that Dr. Urbino was distraught to discover, but have not been revealed in the story. And I still haven't figured out which characters the love story is actually about.
— Linda Crist is reading "Love in the Time of Cholera" By Gabriel García Márquez
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“Blink” delivered on premise
If you want to learn more about judgment and why we make certain decisions, pick up “Blink.” (I know, that’s not really the kind of quote you can pull for the back cover, but I’ll try again later.)
Despite using multiple anecdotes from all walks of life, “Blink” never feels contrived, which is both a testament to the talent of the writer and the book’s overlying theme.
It’s not hard to see why this is such a popular book. The selected anecdotes are top-notch, the insight ranges from intriguing to remarkable and most importantly, it’s an easy read.
That’s probably the most impressive thing about “Blink” and Gladwell. A book this analytical could easily be dragged down by psychological and scientific technicalities, but it never happens. In the end, “Blink” isn’t just a book for those with a fleeting interest in psychology — it’s a book for everyone. (Now that’s a back cover quote.)
— Staff reporter Phil Dzikiy read "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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Pictures proved their worth
I would have never read an illustrated novel if Phil Dzikiy, my book club swap-ee, hadn’t provided one for me. The 500-plus page novel was a quick read, but I think I was caught up more by the picturebook style of the novel than the plot line. Still, I’m certain that seeing every emotion in the face of the main character as he makes his lonely way through the convolutions of adolescence, drew me into his life in a way that words could not. I finished the book early and asked Phil to bring me another illustrated novel from his collection. “Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid in the World,” was his second pick and after spending time with Jimmy, a sad sack adult boy with a life so miserable that even his fantasies turn out badly, I found I was still charmed by the silly, yet evocative illustrated style of Jimmy’s story.
Surely, my behavior has been changed. Now, when I walk into a book store, I’ll include the illustrated novel section among my wanderings. My friend, Tricia, a copy editor for our papers, told me I need to check out a Japanese illustrated novel called “Emma,” which has a great love story, so I suspect that will be my first purchase.
— Niagara Living Editor Michele DeLuca read the graphic novel "Blankets" by Craig Thompson
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Tall, dark and handsome
Blink’s third chapter is titled “The Warren Harding Error: Why We Fall For Tall, Dark, and Handsome Men.” It is thus named for the apparently handsome Warren G. Harding, who is now generally considered one of the worst presidents in U.S. history. He must have been really bad. If the middle name “Gamaliel” can’t save you, nothing can.
As expected, this chapter is all about the link between physical appearances and decision making, whether through physical attractiveness, race, height or any other factor. Boiled down, the essential message of the chapter is “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Otherwise, you may end up with a president who was never fit for office in the first place, and freely admits it.
It sounds ho-hum compared to previous chapters, and I guess it is. But Gladwell fills it with enough anecdotes and studies to make it worthwhile.
— Staff Reporter Phil Dzikiy is reading “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell
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Insight into a coworker's mind
One of the best parts about reading one of somebody’s favorite books is that you get a bit of insight into that person. I received my book, “Blankets,” an animated novel, from Tonawanda News columnist Phil Dzikiy. As his colleague, I find it fascinating to get a chance to see a what captivates his imagination. Phil, typically, is the kind of person who keeps the newsroom alive with off beat ponderings and questions. He is interested In the thoughts of everyone in the room, and he likes to gather opinions. Among writers, that is like setting a match to twigs, and it keeps the conversation far more compelling and honest than anyplace else I’ve ever worked.
So, anyway, back to the story. A novel written by an illustrator is a whole different experience than a novel written by a writer. Definitely more engaging to those of us who grew up loving comic books. Further, I find the young man in this animated novel is a lot like myself, looking for answers in life about relationships, spirituality and just what exactly is right or wrong in the world. These are also the questions of my life and I’m rather encouraged about the future of the world that they also engage the mind of my younger colleague as well.
— Niagara Living Editor Michele DeLuca is reading “Blankets,” an illustrated novel by Craig Thompson
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Headed off to London (again)
Kathryn is seeking answers and she still isn’t receiving them.
Her stormed out of her interview with the Safety Board and union guy Robert Hart still is being evasive.
And, now, the first tell-tale signs of her Jack’s double life begin to emerge. She learns from Hart that Jack has dinner reservations for two the night before his plane crashed. She also learns he didn’t spend the evening in the crew apartment, like he was supposed to do.
Kathryn requests a list of names of people her husband flew with, which Hart provides.
Muire ... Kathryn hesitates, remembering finding that name among Jack’s papers.
And so, it’s off to London to find the elusive Muire and details that Kathryn wants to know.
Hart encourages and accompanies her on the trip.
At www.barnesandnoble.com/writers, there’s a biography of the author, a link to Shreve’s official Web site and if you like her work, a list of suggested authors. At www.bookbrowse.com/reviews, check out excerpts from the book, a reading guide and much more, including reader/media reviews.
— Copy Desk Cheif Linda Noworyta “The Pilot’s Wife” by Anita Shreve
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Headed off to London
While the first half of the novel is devoted to the charming accounts of our ambitious crime-solver, the second half kicks off with a gut-wrenching revelation for Christopher Boone.
I won’t be too specific here so as to not spoil it for anyone who may be reading along. If you aren’t checking out this book, you certainly should in the near future. It will take you all of a few days to read, perhaps even less if you fire through it during the three hours you’d otherwise spend watching one of the most boring NFL teams this season (that would be our very own touchdown-challenged Buffalo Bills).
As you may recall, Christopher is working on a detective novel in which he’s in search of the person who killed the neighbor’s dog Wellington.
Frightened and emboldened by a certain revelation, Christopher, who is 15 and autistic, easily makes what would normally be a very difficult decision. So he sets off from suburban Swindon to London. One problem, though, Christopher doesn’t know where the train station in Swindon is located.
With the help of some locals, Christopher finds his way to the train station and eventually onto a train bound for London — but not before nearly getting run over by one while trying to retrieve his pet rat “Toby.”
More next week on what happens in London!
— Staff reporter Dave Hill is reading “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon
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A true Sedaris love story
I’ll be perfectly honest, I only read one story this week. And it was a short one.
Brevity aside, it was one of the more moving offerings from humorist David Sedaris in the book so far.
He details a rather simple anecdote about going to a movie with his partner Hugh. If you hadn’t picked up on this so far, Sedaris is gay. This short story, “The End of the Affair” does a lot to help Sedaris’ wide-ranging pop culture audience understand that homosexual relationships are exactly like heterosexual ones.
David and Hugh live in Paris. They go to see the romance movie “The End of the Affair” and take diametrically opposed tacks. David spends the entire film making wisecracks while Hugh is in tears by the end. They go to a cafe afterward and begin to bicker about David’s behavior. After joking that he needs hand puppets to express emotion, David cuts to the chase.
In summing up their relationship, David asks a trademark poignant and funny question. “We both love country music and bacon. What more could you want?”
Hugh doesn’t respond and David writes one of the most honest takes on love I’ve read:
“When he failed to answer, I was reminded of how lucky I truly am. Movie characters might chase each other through fog or race down the stairs of burning buildings, but that’s for beginners. Real love amounts to withholding the truth, even when you’re presented with the opportunity to hurt someone’s feelings. I wanted to say something to this effect, but my hand puppets were back home in their drawer. Instead, I pulled my chair a few inches closer, and we sat silently at our little table in the square, looking for all the world like two people in love.”
Well said, sir.
— Managing Editor Eric DuVall is reading “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim” by David Sedaris
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Sedaris' satiric gems
Update number two and I’m right on schedule, half way through David Sedaris’ “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.”
And though the stories have taken a more introspective bent, they still maintain my interest and hold some satiric gems.
In the last batch of six or so stories I’ve read, Sedaris has written about his youthful foibles, his father’s insecurity with the author’s homosexuality and life as an obsessive compulsive.
Included in the group is the story “Blood Work” where a note about his writing work in the New York Times mentioned that he was employed at the time as a house cleaner. The article seems to have done more to jump-start the cleaning career, with people requesting his services specifically. The focus of the story is a creepy fat man who has confused David’s actual legitimate cleaning job with that of an erotic service that is really a front for prostitutes.
As the man exposes himself to David, he writes of his “client”: “It had now become the kind of (thing) that’s an exercise in determination rather than pleasure. You’d give up, but dammit, you’re the kind of person that carries a job through to the end, whether it’s making a fool of yourself in front of a stranger or vacuuming somebody’ living room.”
Have to admire that kind of gumption, I guess.
— Managing Editor Eric DuVall is reading "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" by David Sedaris
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The action in “The Pilot’s Wife” starts on the first page with Kathryn Lyons being awoken to learn that her husband, Jack, died in a plane crash.
At the door is Robert Hart, who is “with the union.” He seems a tad shady. He doesn’t want to answer Kathryn’s questions, yet he interjects himself on the family as they are grieving. It seems like there’s something going on that he doesn’t want her to know.
The novel also flashes back to Jack and Kathryn’s courtship ... a bit annoying and long-winded. The present story is so much more interesting as Kathryn deals with the speculation that the crash was a bomb, pilot error and — even more shocking to her — Jack’s suicide. The last tidbit being broadcast on the news as from a source who supposedly heard the recording from the cockpit voice recorder.
The summary at the back of the book hints of Jack’s double life ... guess I’ll have to wade through a few more flashbacks , but it sounds interesting.
Anita Shreve’s novel was an Oprah Book Club selection. Visit www2.oprah.com and click on the Oprah’s book club link. Then type in the book’s name to learn more. It offers links to the author, a synopsis of the book and questions for a discussion of the novel. It seems like I might be right about Robert.
— Linda Noworyta is reading "The Pilot's Wife" By Anita Shreve
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I’ve already read Gladwell’s last book, The Tipping Point, a sociological exploration of trends and little things. Blink also focuses on something small as well, that is, small increments of time. Blink examines how quick decisions can be the best decisions of all. It’s a closer look at human instincts.
I was a fan of The Tipping Point because it provided new ways of looking at situations that are taken for granted. Anytime there’s a new way of looking at things, I’m interested, especially when it’s explained by someone as talented as Gladwell.
I’ve gotten through the introduction and first chapter of Blink and it’s safe to say I’m hooked. The intro covers the case of a statue that was too good to be true, while the first chapter deals with predicting how long a marriage will last in only a few moments. Gladwell takes this concept of “thin-slicing” to other aspects of life and argues that a small sample can often be the best representation when it comes to just about anything.
Anyone interested in checking out Gladwell’s writing can get a taste on his Web site, www.gladwell.com.
— Phil Dzikiy is reading "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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I’m beginning to think that my experience with “Love in the Time of Cholera” will be similar to my partner’s college experience with the book-somewhat unimpressed, so far. As intriguing as the cover of the book is, with a curvaceous naked female semi-covered within in a rich, green forest, the title is not so inviting, especially if you know what cholera is. I had to find out. A visit to the Web site of the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholera) has ascertained that I absolutely do not want to be exposed to any form of the cholera bacteria, as it is the worst form of acute, violent intestinal distress, and it could be fatal.
Not only do I not want to acquire it, I certainly can't figure out why anyone would or could fall in love at a time when it is rampant, risking the spread of this highly contagious disease. To find out, I had to open the book, if only for the purpose of this blog. I have to admit that I got stuck on the first page for three days.
For the benefit of the story, it could be that my mind is on the decorations I have yet to put up, and the presents I have yet to purchase and wrap, and the cookies I need to bake...or perhaps the author too wordy, stringing his words into lengthy sentences without completing a thought until 40 words later? (Hello - sounds like ...!). Needless to say, I've trudged through the beginning of the story to find a relatively slow moving opening scene.
It begins with the apparent suicide of, what I can gather, a dear friend of Dr. Juvenal Urbino, a not so well liked doctor/teacher in the community where the story takes place. I prefer to read books that capture my attention immediately and draw me in until the end, and am finding this story without that initial pizzazz. There is a hint of intrigue, though; as the author alludes that there is more to their friendship than what meets the eye. I could have it all wrong, and am curious to see.
— Linda Crist is reading "Love in the Time of Cholera" By Gabriel García Márquez
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