The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye, if I can say nothing else that resembles a positive comment about it, is very unique.  I expected this book to be something completely different than what it is.  I felt like it was a poor rendering of The Color Purple in some way.  This book came out to be less of a story and more of a jumbled series of unfortunate, no actually downright abominable, events.  Many endeavors have been made to have this book banned from libraries and schools due to its controversial content.  I am surprised to be saying any of this about this book, being that it is a winner of the Nobel Prize in literature.  It also sports the 'Oprah's Book Club' seal, but I just don't get what all the hype is about.
This book takes the reader through a year in the life of a black girl named Pecola in the early 1940's.  As for the storyline, there's not much to say.  It's a generally short book and was, I felt, very sporadic.  This book seemed to be nothing more than depressing short entries, somewhat pertaining to Pecola.  The book is not always told through the narrator (Claudia) but sometimes through second person and third person omniscient parties.  There are quite a few more things I could say about this book, but none of them are positive so on to what to watch out for- get ready it's a lengthy list.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR:

First off, this book has a good bit of racism which is understandable considering the time period it is based on.  But secondly this book deals with child molestation and incest.  These don't occur until later in the book, but there are references made that they will happen beforehand.  Overall, I felt this book had an unnecessary amount of 'questionable' material in it.

If you have not already derived this, i was not a fan of this book.  But, since I'm a trooper, I trudged through until the end.  Plus I hate starting books and then never finishing them.

I Give This Book:
Uniqueness: 6/11 (C)
Though I wasn't a fan of this book, I have to give it credit that in some ways it was unique while in others, I felt as if I'd read it in another book.
Flow: 4.5/11 (D+)
This book was hard to follow, I didn't like the changing of point of view.  I was also not a fan of the way it would just turn into another story once you reached the next 'chapter'.
Inspiration: 7.2/11 (B-)
I will give this book a decent score for inspiration because the people who dealt with the unfairness showed to them truly were inspirational in themselves.  This makes it hard for anything written about them not to be inspirational.
OVERALL: 5.36/10 (C)

Like always, if you have any comments leave them below!

A Thousand Splendid Suns

I discovered that Khaled Hosseini is an amazing author when I read A Thousand Splendid Suns, this thought was solidified when I read A Kite Runner a short time later.  Hosseini does not just write an entertaining story, he pulls you in and you become part of it.  These books opened my eyes and heart to the desolate and devastating situation in Afghanistan in a way that the news never did.  Hosseini makes it personal.  A Thousand Splendid Suns is, at this point, possibly the best book I have ever read.  I enjoy a book more when it has real life application and provides insight and inspiration; this book does all of that and more.
Mariam lives on the outskirts of Herat with her mother.  Her wealthy father, Jalil,  lives in the city with his wives and children, but Mariam is his illegitimate child and, therefor, cannot live with him.  Jalil visits Mariam sporadically, bringing her gifts,  and she idolizes him.  Her mother is hostiles towards Jalil and any feelings Mariam has for him.  When Mariam runs away in hopes to live with her father, the devastation begins.  An unexpected serious of quickly unfolding and unfortunate events that force Mariam to marry at a young age and move to Kabul.
In the same neighborhood in Kabul live Laila and Tariq who are secretly fond of each other, but must be wary of social boundaries.  When war comes to Afghanistan, their families decide to leave Kabul but for Laila's family the decision is too late.
The stories of the two women become laced together in an unexpected way.  Their bond and struggles are meaningful and enlightening.  I absolutely could not put this book down, and to be honest I cried a few times.  It's definitely a tearjerker.

THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR: This book has some violence, SC, language and some gruesome murder descriptions.

UNIQUENESS: 11/11 (A++)
I have never right a novel quite like this, and especially one that moved me in such a profound way.
FLOW: 10.9/11 (A+)
like water.
INSPIRATIONAL: 10.8/11 (A+)
This book is just so great, I can't say enough.
OVERALL:  9.9/10 (A)

As always, comments more than welcome.

The Piano Teacher

The Piano Teacher is one of those books you're just not ready to be done with.  It's leaves you feeling a bit dismal when it's over because it's such a great book.  I was not immediately absorbed into the story of this book, in fact it begins a little slow.  But what this book lacks in introduction it makes up for in everything else.  Janice Y. K. Lee didn't leave out anything in her debut novel; a tangled web of love, war, and a touch of mystery made this book impossible to put down.
This book begins with newlywed Claire who is moving to exotic Hong Kong with her husband, Martin, in the 1950's.  Claire is a reserved and, unknowingly to herself, beautiful woman.  She is left to herself most days due to Martin's line of work.  Besides exploring the various markets and shops of Hong Kong, she becomes listless.  She soon begins teaching piano lessons to the daughter of a wealthy Japanese couple, the Chens.  Claire soon meets Will Truesdale and this is where the story truly begins.  This book jumps back and forth over a 10 year span of time.  History's events unfold and alter the lives of all the characters involved.  I would say this book is easily in my top ten all time favorites, it does not disappoint.

Things to watch out for:

This book is pretty clean.  There is a tad bit of sexual content, some language, and some war violence but these parts are all brief and not described in detail. I would say it's pretty PG.

I give this book: UNIQUENESS: 10.7/11 (A+)
I was really impressed with the way this book is written.  It's rare a book can so seamlessly combine two time periods and two different stories without becoming confusing.  The story is unique and unpredictable.  It easily sets itself apart from anything else I have read.
FLOW: 10.7/11 (A+)
Again, Lee pulls off this style of writing without a hitch.  Very easy to read.
QUALITY OF THE STORY: 10.8/11 (A+)
OVERALL RATING: 9.78/11 (A)

Since I am such a fan of this book I would love to hear from anyone else who has read it!

A Million Little Pieces

This book is undoubtedly a somewhat controversial subject.  I have recently, as in today, found out this book is a fraud while reading it at work.  Three customers were more than happy to share this news with me before I decided to put it up so I didn't have to hear it anymore.  I only got about 1/5 of a way through it before this was brought to my attention.  I am aware I should probably not be doing a review on a book I have not finished, but I am a little disappointed to find this out.  I was not very impressed with what I have read of the book in the first place, but I had a little hope it would pick up at some point.
James Frey is the author of this book and it is written as if it is a true account of his life of addiction to drugs and alcohol and his path to recovery.  The book begins with him on an airplane with no recollection of how he got there.  He also discovers he has a hole in his face and is covered in blood, vomit, and urine. (yum)  While it may already sound like a phony to you this book ropes you in with its climatic opening chapter.  Oprah even added this book to her book club, but apparently discovered at a later date that James Frey fabricated the 'true story' of his life. [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNQTF0q8Wm8 ]  In it's day, this book was even the #1 nonfiction paperback on Amazon and topped the New York Times Best Seller List.  Frey admitted in 2006 on the Oprah Winfrey Show that he "fabricated crucial portions of his 'memoir'."
Once i found this out, I went back through and skimmed over what I had read, there were quite a few things that stood out as questionable.  Overall, what I read of this book was not gold.  It is redundant and has entirely too much language, to the point that it pollutes the story.  He also portrays himself to have this annoying tough guy attitude that never falters.  Not impressed with you, James Frey, not that you care because you probably made a pretty penny off book sales for this book and your sit down with Oprah.  I give this book a flat F and say don't waste your time.

She's Come Undone

Though I read this book roughly a year ago, I feel I must do a review on it.  I glanced over to my book pile and it caught my eye.  I am a sucker when it comes to despairing books and She's Come Undone is no disappointment in that department.  This book tips the scale for its uniqueness. Wally Lamb will enthrall you with his debut novel.
She's Come Undone traces the life a Dolores from the age of 4 to 40.  Her life is no fairy tale as it seems she has no one she can rely on besides her mother.  Dolores becomes overweight and self-pitying as she camps herself out in her room with mountains of junk food.  Dolores never feels good enough and this novel follows her through her pain and struggles with her imperfections.  I feel that many people can identify with Dolores on some level, and isn't that what makes books interesting?

Things to watch out for:

This book is definitely rated R.  Lamb tells this story in first person through Dolores, so there are provocative thoughts and vulgar language throughout the book.  There are a hefty amount of sexual references and some sexual content as well.  I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of 16.  Though I enjoyed this book, I would really just not recommend it to anyone.  Between the language and the sexual content I would not have read it all the way through had I fully known.

I give this book:
uniqueness: 10/11 (A)
Though I do not agree with all of the content of this book, it's storyline and writing style are very unique.
flow: 10.5/11 (A+)
Very easy to read.
inspirational: 6.3/11 (C)
Though this book takes you through the heartbreaking struggle of Dolores first-hand, I was just not getting the awe inspiring effect.  This book is inspiring, I guess it's just overshadowed by such a profound book like The Kite Runner since it's pertaining to a devastating modern day issue.  Depression is also a modern day issue, but once you've read The Kite Runner, it might be easier to understand my feelings.  Of course, this is all just my opinion, not fact.
Overall Rating 8.12 (B)
and if you subract another point or two (which I would) for the excessive SC and Language, it's more like a 7 or D+

If you are considering reading this book and have any further questions, please comment!  If you have read the book, tell me what you think.  Agree or disagree with my review?

The Kite Runner

Having recently read this book, I cannot think of a better way to start this blog.  This book is a unique and heart wrenching fictional story of two boys and the trials they face in Afghanistan.  I was actually drawn to read this book because of another of Khaled Hosseini's books titled A Thousand Splendid Suns.  Hosseini makes the everyday news of destruction and war in Afghanistan personal and real in his books.
The Kite Runner begins with Amir and Hasaan, two young Afghan boys who come from very different circumstances.  Amir, who is very privileged with a wealthy father; and Hasaan, son of a servant, and a servant himself.   Tragedy strikes the boys in an unexpected way, and the way Amir copes with the devastation will change his life forever.  Things become worse when the Taliban take over and completely change life as anyone knows it.  This is truly a story of redemption and one that made me realize how incredibly blessed I am to be an American.

Things to watch out for:

This book contains graphic material, I do not recommend it foranyone under 13.  There is a rape scene, references to sexual child abuse, brief obscene language, violence, and descriptions of devastation caused by the Taliban that includes dead bodies.  This book is commonly assigned as required reading in high school to upperclassmen.  It is an enlightening book, but definitely for mature audiences.

I give this book
UNIQUENESS: 9.7/11 (A)
This book is certainly unique, it is definitely not something you come across everyday.  The story is unlike any I have ready before.  I couldn't put this book down.
FLOW: 9/11 (A-)
INSPIRATIONAL: 10.6/11(A+)
This book is not only an absolute inspiration in so many ways, but also a reminder that nothing in life should be taken for granted, especially freedom.
OVERALL RATING: 8.87 ( A-)

If you are thinking of reading this book and have any questions, please ask!  I try not to include too many details as not to spoil the story.  If you have read this book and have anything you want to say, comment and start a discussion!