"Candide" by Voltaire

I had never read anything by Voltaire. I knew very little about him, other than that he was an accomplished and famous french author. "Candide" was recommended to me by a friend, in part, for the everyman character played by Candide. The book follows our protagonist through the most outstanding adventures. Starting with the protagonist being banished from his home because he is in love with a girl in a higher caste than his own, through his trial, tribulations, reunions, blessings and near death experiences we gain insight into the soft-minded characters philosophical evolution. It seems that each new chapter either confirms, contests or disproves his prior philosophical bent or he adopts a new one from a chance interaction with a stranger. In truth, I found myself becoming angry with Candide as his unsubstantial nature was tossed to whichever direction the wind seemed to blow at any given time. Nonetheless, through it all, Candide holds strong to his eternal Optimism, which is an alternative title for this piece 'Candide, ou l'Optimisme'. Through the ups and downs of this simpleton's years we are taken on a far-fetched but entirely appreciated trip to many well known locales, some real, some fictional, in the world of his time. Voltaire writes in a manner fairly normal for his era. The characters, their motivations and outlook all reflect a time long past. That said, this book is still a fantastic read and I hope i will find more Voltaire to enjoy. Perhaps a more philosophically based piece next time.

"Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary" By David Sedaris

"Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary" is a collection of short stories in which animals play all roles. This book was a delightful social satire. I always enjoy reading David Sedaris and this work deviated from what I've become accustomed to from his books. Instead of a series of personal anecdotes, we find pieces built around one animal or another as they face some occasion. In one, we have an ewe who meets a crow. In another we have a compensating guard of a gate. I loved this book because the chapters were short and could be read in any order over any amount of time. Of course I will read more Sedaris.

"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

I spent a substantial portion of 2011 living in Vietnam. I have been greatly interested in reading anything I find pertaining to the U.S./Vietnam conflict as a consequence. There was something about the binding of this book that caught my eye from across the thrift store floor. I'm a sucker for any book bound in paperback with the orange tag on the top corner. It tells me that this is a book that could, and very likely has, been included in syllabi. I had a week of vacation so "The Things They Carried" was thrown in my bag for the trip. Instead of a cohesive through line narrative, O'Brien takes us through his Vietnam experience in an emotionally engaging piecemeal manner. Characters which are introduced will appear in later chapters, some even have later chapters revolve around them. Reading this book helped bring home for me they reality of what our young men were put through in the Vietnam War. Making friends like they are in their first year of college, but, on this campus, people can be killed anytime. The way O'Brien pens his ideas, characters, incidents is unique and haunting. I, for one, will remember many of these characters and their stories. I feel this gives me a new and more realistic understanding of the Vietnam War.

"Stories I Only Tell My Friends" by Rob Lowe

I picked this partially autobiographical book while my sister was reading it. If she set it down, I picked it up. When she finally finished it I was able to give it my all and I chewed through it in hours. Rob Lowe is someone I have always known about but I am a little too young to have known exactly how impressive the early years of his career actually was. He was a real child star of the 80's and he rode it high into the early nineties. I think he would agree that many of the movies he starred in early on weren't box office smashes that someone of my generation would have heard of but the caliber of people he was working with is, without doubt, as high as it gets. Understandably, Lowe sort of skims over the sex tape debacle he found himself in the center of in the early nineties. Most readers of his book would have been old enough to follow the story and aftershocks as they happened. I don't know much about it but it seems evident that it greatly affected his career for nearly a decade. It seems like Lorne Michaels was his only real supporter through much of the 1990's and even in the beginning of the new millenium, Lowe had to audition for a career changing role. He has certainly revived his stardom in the past 11 years and rightly so. He is, indeed, a very good looking man and talented in both comedic and dramatic stylings. As his book moves from Lowe's early days in Ohio, through his family's move to California, through the decade of sex and alcohol, and past his stint in rehab to his happy domestic and work-related lives, we see an incredible amount of chance meetings, impressive sexual accomplishments (a princess), and tons of anecdotal moments of hilarity. Even more so, I was inspired by the manner in which Lowe approached his career and progressed through the, mostly unnavigable, Hollywood environment. To see how optimism, drive and constantly striving for perfection can affect a person route to the top was greatly appreciated. Lowe is a very capable writer. In his book he indicates that he is working on several film projects and penning some himself. I have little doubt that they will be well written. He understands how to include only what is necessary and pointedly, while still amusingly at times, delivering a story. If he writes another book I will definitely pick it up (when my sister sets it down).

"At Home" by Bill Bryson

I love learning. I also love anecdotes. This was the first book I have read by Bill Bryson. It combines historical anecdotes, revelatory back stories of everyday items that we often overlook, and fascinating stories of individual accomplishments. I honestly think I could pick this book up and re-read it forever. I wish I could buy note cards with all the fun facts demonstrated between the two covers. It would be a few thousand cards but I'd like them nonetheless. The basic premise of the book is a walk through a mid 19th century English Country home. As Bryson moves through the house he delves into the architectural evolutions of the past few centuries, the ways a house has changed, the etymological roots of everyday words, and the origins of many things we use everyday in the home. This book was a revelation and I would be thrilled to pick up another Bryson novel.

"Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts

My friend cautioned me while handing me this book, 'this is the most dangerous book I've ever read.' Right he was. This book's purpose is to demonstrate the realistic possibility of living a semi-transient life. Not necessarily a "leaf blowing in the wind" type of lifestyle but a lifestyle that enables one to travel about, live in, or explore any part of the world in a more satisfying way. Potts would say that the way most people travel is based in a tourism mindset. Tourists travel to see sights and get a taste of a distinct part of the world. Potts stresses the value of 'vagabonding' instead. His definition of vagabonding is traveling in style that is slow, freeing, and fully immersive. He demonstrates, through his own experiences and the anecdotes of others, how some of the most affecting travel experiences happen off the 'tourism beaten path' and are sometimes more influenced by interactions with other people, whether they be natives of where you are or other like minded travelers. After demonstrating the higher value of these experiences, Potts lays out the most likely scenario in which to encounter them. Through saving money and taking long periods of time off from work or finding employment on the road, a person is better enabled to get to know people from others walks of life, find jaw dropping sites of beauty, take in moments of sheer and utter inspiration and discover great things about yourself in the process. "Vagabonding" inspires a lifestyle then lays out a clear cut game plan that can be used to achieve it. This book is very dangerous for anyone who feels like they should stay in one place and only allow themselves short periods of time for worldly experiences. It is also a book I would recommend to any and everyone.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Catch-22 is possibly the best book i've ever read. I love to read, do it often, and have held many great books but this work by Heller floored me. Almost every page had me cracking up and laughing out loud. The way Heller writes and describes these, scarcely based in reality situations was spectactular. For example, our protagonist, Yossarian, moves a string on a mission map in the middle of the night. Because no one knew who had done it, they simply assumed the change was accurate. This was just one of the countless examples of outrageous reactions in the military. Most are aware that this novel is set near Italy during world war two. We join the conflict after Italy's fascist party has already crumbled and Americans are fighting the Germans to regain possession of Italy. Our characters are all part of a flight group. Yossarian is a man who has come to realize that he really doesn't want to be fighting this war any longer. He attempts various means of removing himself from combat as the story progresses. In the preface, Heller mentions that he has written another piece following Yossarian after the events of this chapter of his life. I would be very curious to read this and see what external or internal conflict would catapult Yossarian through the plotlines. The themes of bravery vs willingness for sacrifice and the moral evaluation of the true costs of war make such great framework in which Yossarian is to exist that any other circumstances sound underwhelming by comparison. I hope I will get the chance to read more Heller. His wit and mastery of the absurd make me feel intelligent and amused. As the slogan reads, 'Yossarian Lives'.

'Dreams from My Father' by Barack Obama

Wow. First, I feel honored that our president is so well spoken and genuinely involved in the struggles of the middle and lower classes, not only in our country, but through out the world. 'Dreams from My Father' takes the reader through Obama's early life up to his moments of self-discovery while visiting his distant family in Kenya. We are walked through his unique and storied childhood from the days in Asia with his mother and his play with the poorest of the worlds children, into his education and teenage angst in Hawaii, passing through is stereotypical years of self-identification in a California college to his days of civic organizing in Chicago. Finally, Obama travels to Kenya to trace his roots and learn more about the legacy his father left behind. This journey is well crafted, insightful and inspirational. Not all citizens of America have such a deep and poetic story behind their antecedents but we all have a need for tracing the hopes, dreams and accomplishments of our lineage. This book truly opened my eyes to the growth undertaken and the struggles that motivate our president. I have more respect and understanding of where he is trying to lead our country after learning about the conversations he's had, the moments of revelation he's experienced and the struggle of identity he's overcome. I hope I will come in contact with his second book 'The Audacity of Hope'. I can only imagine the beautiful picture he describes in his unique, well framed manner. Good Job Obama!

'Promise Me' by Harlan Coben

I have loved reading the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. These books are not terribly deep but they are a quick read and I enjoy the fluff between books of more substance. 'Promise Me' delivered as well as any other of the series. I skipped a few books in the process as this one was available to me but, as with many series, it always kind of picks up where the last ones left off. This installment finds Myron a few years out of action. He, unwillingly, is pulled back into the life of private investigation and the dark underbelly of New York. When his neighborhood girl, and daughter of a old, dear friend, disappears Myron is drawn into the search both by his need to help a seemingly innocent girl and his need to clear his name. The plot of this disappearance seems to hint at a previous runaway teenage girl and as Myron, Win, Big Cyndi and the crew grow closer to solving the first case, they gather information that will help them solve this, more recent and apparently linked case. As is typical in the Bolitar books, the end is never as simple as the preceding chapters would lead one to believe. And, as Bolitar's personal life takes steps, we grow ever closer to the unexpected and, somewhat, tricky conclusion. The guilty party is, as usual, introduced early on but the reasons for their actions are only explained after the dust has settled. This was the first book I have seen that strayed from the world of sports and celebrity representation. The crime and the subsequent drama are not tied very closely to Bolitar's clientele but this variance from the norm does not diminish the entertainment value of the story. I recommend this book as highly as the other Cobens I have read and I will continue to pick up his novels as often as the opportunity presents itself.

'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens

If you skim this blog you will notice that I, on occasion, like to delve into books that are considered "classics". On or very near the top of most 'Best books written' lists you should find 'David Copperfield'. I am not saying this because I think you should find it there, but because I have consistently found it there. The story of Copperfield is a bit of a soap opera which is not terribly uncommon of the era in which it was written. Consistently faced with unfortunate events and grevious characters Copperfield remarkably maintains his pleasant demeanor through his childhood to early adult years amidst some of the most dire circumstances. His nanny is the one constant as his mother passes away and he is sent by his stepfather to boarding school then to work for his own keep. As a preteen Copperfield sets off to find his long lost aunt. She shows greater love for him than could have been expected and his life is enriched as he is sent to a find school and then placed in a field of study to gain credentials. He is on the path to a comfortable life before he discovers his aunts money has run out. I could go on through the rest of the novel but it is filled with many rises and falls of characters, both primary and secondary. When it's all said and done the reader is left to envision Copperfield and a fine man, a great friend and a blessed person. I made one grave mistake in reading this book. I, sadly, read an abridged version. Many books of this era are abridged and republished in the hopes of entertaining further generations without maintaining all the expected elements that satisfied the previous generation. Like a fool I skipped past the 'Abridger's' notes and dove in. I had days where I chewed through this book and weeks when I never once felt compelled to pick it up. I found it to be an engaging read with likable characters. One problem I foun was I had a hard time recalling characters as they appeared for their second time in the book. I don't know if this was a problem I encountered because this was the abridged version, with entire chapters cut out because they were found to be superfluous, or if the fault lies in my reading the novel in such a sporatic manner. After completing the book I went online to see what parts I missed from the complete version. There were sections that the editor found unnecessary, including a longer, more detailed ending. I regret that I did not read these in the order in which Dickens intended. I would and, in fact, am going to read more Dickens. I have started Oscar Wilde.

'People of the Book' by Geraldine Brooks

'People of the Book' was a surprisingly delightful read. Surprising in that I expected it to be a factual look into the lives of one tribe of peoples. Instead I found a centuries long description of how one particular book came into being. Brooks wove an interesting and seemingly believable account of how a religious book of great historical and spiritual significance was drawn, written, traveled, survived and affected the lives of those it came into contact with. If you have seen 'The Red Violin' you have a grasp of the style of this narrative.

The central figures that Brooks introduces are intriguing, fascinating and exceptional. Every single person we meet is masterful at what they do and, in spite of upbringing or societal restraints, they elevate a certain field with their abilities and actions.

The protagonist in this novel is Hanna Heath, a world class book expert of analysis and conservation. In truth, her story is secondary and, sadly, superfluous to the rest of the characters in this novel. She is offered the task of a lifetime when an extremely rare and thought to be destroyed copy of the Haggadah appears in Sarajevo amidst intense warfare. As she uncovers clues within the book we are transported back in time to learn the actual events that led to what she discovers. These tales are often brief but moving and impressive.

As the novel progresses Hanna meets a man, falls in love, has her confidence shattered, learns incredible things about her family and makes incredible changes in her life. As interesting as this all might sound, it's hard to find any of her story as compelling as the centuries old accounts of peoples in hard times, striving for excellence.

All said and done, 'People of the Book' was a compelling, and, for all the deep, fact inspired drama, a light read.

I won't seek out more Brooks but I would give it a second look if I came across another.

'100 Things Twins Fans Should Know & Do Before They DIe' by Alex Halsted

I love the Minnesota Twins. They are my hometown team and, although I live a few time zones away, I still follow them obsessively. This book was on my Christmas list as per the recommendation it received on Twinkietown.com. I am glad to own it. Many interesting, and theretofore, unknown facts and stories are contained within it's covers. I lament the fact that it was published before the 2011 season as many new, and perhaps more memorable, moments took place last season. Jim Thome hitting number 600 will definitely make the next edition.

As a Twins fan I was satisfied with the book.

As a reader I was disappointed. I believe the author to be relatively young and perhaps they will more firmly find their voice in time. My impression was that a few of the 100 segments were sloppily edited. Not enough to discourage me from recommending this book to others but enough to give the read a jerky and, at times, repetitive feel. As impossible as such a task would be I also yearned for a structure of some kind. Of course, a person would love to read the less 'important' notes at the front of the book and end with the unanimous top thing to know or do before you die factoid. This book was not set up in that manner and that's ok. I also would have preferred sections. Perhaps a chapter entitled: 'Sites of Note'. Another under the name: 'Persons of Interest'. A section would have to be titled: 'Momentous Moments'.

Again, I did enjoy this book, but I am sure that my Twins bias shielded me from many a literary shortcoming.

'Everyone Loves You When You're Dead' by Neil Strauss

I have read one other book by Neil Strauss and was excited to delve into this, a compilation of particularly insightful portions of interviews he has given.

The premise of this collection is in most interviews, after the new cd, the autobiography, or the hype of a celebrity have been handled, the interviewee will give a deeper, more honest, insight into who they are and what they believe. I presume that most, if not all, of these interview portions have never seen the light of day until the publication of this book.

Some artist showed great sadness and an utter inability to cope with the rigors of stardom and all it entails. Others proved to hold onto a greater meaning in their lives and, through it all, maintained a real grounded and appreciative state. Still others prove to be clinically insane. Strauss does a magnificent job of realizing where each interviewee belongs in the design of this book and it reads, remarkably, in a linear manner. One can, certainly, jump around and seek out those that they, in particular, want to learn more about but, in my opinion, a straight through read provides greater depth and comedic value. There are many instances where one artist references the words or actions of another and immediately following their section is the aforementioned artist. In other areas the theses of the artists seem to pony off of the previous interviewee.

Neil has been a journalist for several decades working for such prestigious publishers as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and other music based magazines. His writing, and most importantly, his interview style make this a must read for anyone intrigued by what makes celebrities and artists tic.