An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin

I have always loved Steve Martin as an actor, but when I read his book, Shop Girl, a few years ago, I realized that I loved him as a writer as well. While Shop Girl was more about the story of the mian character and her developments, this novel is about not only the main character, but the art industry as well.

What I appreciate most about this book was Matin's ability to weave an interesting story into information about the business of art. As an art major, I have always had a great appreciation for art, but this book opened my eyes to the business side of art, which is something I never really thought about before. The images included in the book are pictures I have never seen before, so it was cool to read about the artists I have known about forever but the paintings of theirs I had never seen. One image is by Andy Warhol, a pop artists with an very unique style. Well known for his images of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell's soup lables, the image that Martin chose to include is a simple one of flowers. The images go along with the story, and so being able to see the actual pieces that the characters are seeing made me, as a reader, feel more part of the story.

The story itself is of Lacey Yeager, a woman who is beautiful and motivated, and her experience working in New York City during the 1990s through present time. Martin writes about women very well, and his knowledge about the art world during this time very intersting to read about. While most of Martin's work is an actor is comdic, this book, while it does have some funny lines, is more about the art industry, Lacey's realationships with people, and her journey to owning and operating her own gallery. Comedic, this story is not, but I enjoy seeing Martin as a story teller, since he does it so well.

The Two Towers by J.R.R Tolkien

This is the second book in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The first book really peaked my interest and was very interesting. This book was a bit dryer, and I actually had a hard time getting into the story and connecting to the characters like I did in the first one.

This book continues the story of Frodo and his journey with Sam to take the ring to Mordor to destroy it. Along the way, they meet up with Gollum, a being who was once in possession and is still under the spell of the ring. He refers to the ring as his "precious" and its power over him is apparent in his conversations with himself. He has a split personality; one personality is his former being before he found the ring, Smeagol, and the other, Gollum, the creature he became once the ring had exerted its power over him. I feel very sorry for this creature, since he represents the power of the ring itself. His character contrasts with Frodo's, representing how weaker people will give into the power of the ring, and stronger people will continue to fight against it. This book presents Frodo's character as that hero who doesn't realize that he's a hero, and that is exactly why he is the only peoson who can complete the task of ridding the world of the ring's evil for good. Sam, then, is the faithful, honorable, simple friend who will stop at nothing to serve his master. He shows bravery in his unending committment to Frodo, suffering with him through a horrible journey of pain and hardship, not leaving Frodo's side for anything.

The parts of this book that were challening for me were the parts dealing with the larger fight at hand: the gathering of good forces against the evil ones. Gandolf, the "good wizard" has to travel around convincing people to fight against the evil forces that are changing the world around them. Unfortunately, it takes a while to gather these foreces, and as a reader, I began to lose interest in the story iteslf. While I was interested in Frodo and Sam's journey, I was not so interested in the other parts of the book.

Most series books lose my interest, but I can say that I am excited to continue the series with the third book. While a good part of the second book failed to capture my immediate interest, I can tell that once I decide to reread the series, I will get more out of the second book than I did the first read through. I can tell that this series is one that I will read and reread again and again.

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis

I’ve never read anything like The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.  The plotline was simple – told chronologically – but the characters and their amazing-but-human flaws are what make this such an intriguing read.  In her debut novel, Mathis brilliantly illuminates the toughest situations anyone could experience, chapter by chapter, character by character. 

The first chapter is unforgettable.  I’m not sure I’ve ever been as moved by the opening chapter in a novel before.  Hattie, the title character, finds herself (at age seventeen) in a new city, newly married, newly motherless, and a new mom – of sick twins.  With little money and absolutely no friends, Hattie is forced to take desperate measures to save her babies.  In this chapter Hattie is so likable, because I can identify with her situation—I too have had sick babies.  But the outcome of the chapter changes Hattie.  She turns into a different person.  And as a reader, I didn’t like her anymore.  Chapter two, which takes place about twenty years later, tells the story of Floyd, one of Hattie’s many children.  Chapter three was about Six, another son.  And the novel carried on in this structure—a different chapter narrated by a different child of Hattie’s.  But all the while, Hattie remains the main character, as she has played an important role in each of her children’s lives. 

Although I was much more engaged in some chapters more than others, I found myself completely in awe of the author’s craft.  Not only was the structure amazing (I often wondered if each chapter could stand alone as a short story) but the language the author pieced together was almost poetic.  I highlighted several similes, metaphors, parallel structure, personification, and imagery to share with my students.  I do think the author intended to make some kind of statement about race, religion, and relationships in this novel.  I like how she has woven those themes into her text.

I don’t think this critique could be complete if I failed to mention the other texts that I could see in Twelve Tribes.  I could clearly see that Mathis was a hardcore reader.  She obviously was a Toni Morrison fan, but I caught glimpses of Angela’s Ashes, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Color Purple, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in this novel.  Hattie struggled with poverty, racism, an unfaithful husband, mental health issues, loss, and many, many children—a tribe, in fact.  I’m not sure if I would call the ending happy or unhappy, but it certainly is deep. 

#readitinaweekend

 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

             I’ve been scared of this book since it arrived on my shelf.  I bought it.  I knew what it was about.  But I couldn’t bring myself to read it.  I also was very hesitant to let my students read it.  It has been nagging at me for a while, so I had to read it.  And I do not regret it.

            Thirteen Reasons Why is a fictional story about a series of tragic events that happened to Hannah Baker and many of her acquaintances.  The structure of the story is one I have not encountered before – and I think it is brilliant.  Written in an italic font, is the narration of Hannah Baker, in the form of her speaking into cassette tapes, retelling her story.  In a normal font, the reader follows the thoughts of Clay Jensen as he listens to Hannah’s tapes.

            I don’t think I’d be giving anything away by revealing that Hannah Baker committed suicide; that information is on the back cover of the book, and then more specifically on page seven.  But the mystery that makes this book a real page turner is the fact that Hannah has narrated her story onto seven tapes, thirteen of the fourteen sides, each side centered around a person who had something to do with Hannah’s big decision – her thirteen reasons why.  Clay cannot believe it when he starts listening to the tapes.  And he definitely is worried about how he has played a part in Hannah ending her life.  Because the truth is, Clay was in love with Hannah.  But I’m not going in to that story. . .

            As a teacher, nothing is scarier to me than my students thinking about suicide, so the thought of having this novel on my classroom bookshelf really freaks me out, but after reading it, I think any student with any kind of intellect will see the LESSONS that can be learned from this novel.  For example, gossiping can be tragic.  Drinking can be tragic.  Not telling someone exactly how you feel can be tragic.  Not sticking up for an innocent victim can be tragic – for you and for that person.  Oh, there are so many lessons to take from this novel, so I will bring it back to my classroom and put it back on the shelf. 

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

            Usually readers consider taking a break after completing a 600+ page novel, but I literally finished The Girl Who Played with Fire and started The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest within seconds of each other.  First of all I had to find out if Salander was going to live (which I figured she would – this was, after all, supposed to be a series of ten novels, had the author not suffered a fatal heart attack after writing just three).  Secondly, I was interested to see if this third book would actually have a conclusion, or if it would leave the reader hanging as much as the first two.  I was not disappointed.

            So this novel was focused around Salander and her “spy” father, whom she hacked up with an axe in self-defense in the second novel.  After recovering from brain surgery (because her father shot her and buried her alive) Salander is in the hospital only yards away from where her father is recovering also.  One night he tries to limp down to her room and end it for good, but he is unsuccessful.  It turns out that he doesn’t get another opportunity. 

            A majority of this novel is hard for me to follow, not knowing the government organizations of Sweden, but I believe it to be very similar to what we would consider a CIA story.  (Again, this series reminds me of the Jason Bourne series with a Law and Order twist.)  There were many new characters in this novel, but a lot of the regulars, including Michael Blomkvist and Berger, play major roles.  Basically the plot revolves around Salander’s court case and the crew of characters who work behind the scenes to make sure she is proven innocent and declared competent.  Many characters are put in harms way and there are many intense, suspenseful scenes, but overall I was pleased with the outcome and the series. 

            This was a very challenging read: many characters to keep track of, many Swedish words that I was (and still am) unfamiliar with, and FULL of new information from start to finish.  But I encourage strong readers to give it a try (and mature readers, due to graphic language, violence, and sexual scenes).