Geisha Girls

Geisha Girls

Dec 13, 2012

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Release Date: November 2005

Publisher: Random House | Vintage
Pages: 434 pages

Source & Format: Bought; Kindle ebook

Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Amazon)

Speaking to us with the wisdom of age and in a voice at once haunting and startlingly immediate, Nitta Sayuri tells the story of her life as a geisha. It begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old girl with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. We witness her transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha: dance and music; wearing kimono, elaborate makeup, and hair; pouring sake to reveal just a touch of inner wrist; competing with a jealous rival for men's solicitude and the money that goes with it.

Thoughts on Memoirs of a Geisha

I don't think I've ever read anything quite like Memoirs of a Geisha - in a good way. The narrator, Nitta Sayuri, introduces the reader to the life of a Geisha. I thought I knew exactly what a Geisha was before I started reading, but I soon realized that it's so much more than I thought. 

It's an exotic setting, and I really don't think I've read anything else set in Japan. I was so intrigued by the value system, the way of life, and the cultural traditions. I was caught up in the story and fascinated by the unfamiliarity.

It's a very detailed book with a lot of descriptions, which can be both good and bad. It made for really gorgeous writing at certain points, but it also made the book drag a little bit in other parts. For the most part, I really loved the flow of the book. It has a very lyrical feel to it!

The book is constructed as if its true - set up as if it was narrated to the author by a real geisha. To be honest, that totally confused me! I legitimately thought it was based on a real woman, so you can imagine my surprise when I realized it wasn't. The author is an American man, so I think it's important to keep in mind that, like any work of fiction, it's not entirely accurate. I wish he hadn't tried to make it seem like it was real because that colored my experiences with the book. I'm not 100% sure why, but it did.

Despite a few flaws, I really enjoyed this book and know it will hit the spot with fans of historical fiction!

So Quotable

"Adversity is like a strong wind. I don't mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be."

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The Floor Opens Up

The Floor Opens Up

Dec 12, 2012

Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor

Release Date: April 2011
Publisher: Random House | Broadway Books
Pages: 322 pages
Source & Format: Bought; Kindle ebook
Amazon | Goodreads

Sum It Up (from Amazon)

Twenty-four-year-old Natalie Taylor was leading a charmed life. At the age of twenty four, she had a fulfilling job as a high school English teacher, a wonderful husband, a new house and a baby on the way.  Then, while visiting her sister, she gets the news that Josh has died in a freak accident.  Four months before the birth of her son, Natalie is leveled by loss.  

 

Thoughts on Signs of Life

I saw signs of life while wandering around Barnes and Noble, and I was attracted to the cover. Don’t let the balloons fool you – this is one heartbreaking book.

I identified with Natalie – she was twenty-four with a wonderful job and handsome husband, a new house and a baby on the way. While I don’t have the baby yet, I am in almost the exact same place in my life.

Except.

Natalie’s husband dies unexpectedly in a freak accident. Four months before their son is due.

Can you even imagine?

I felt like I was on edge while I was reading. I kept imagining myself in her situation, analyzing how I might react and feeling like at any moment I might cry.

As an English teacher, Natalie finds a lot of comfort in books. She turns to words and well-loved stories to help her heart heal.

Her grief is raw, uncomfortable and not pretty. She tells you in the beginning that the book comes from things she wrote in her journals and acknowledges that it doesn’t always put her in the most flattering life.

She complains about her family. She feels smothered by her own grief and their attempts to help. She questions and whines and you’ll feel your compassion wearing thin.

But when you feel like judging her reactions, focus instead on the fact that she is honest and real about her emotions. And remember that you aren’t in her place and don’t know what you’d do.

It haven’t read anything quite like this, but I am really glad I picked this one up.  If you enjoy memoirs, I’d recommend picking up Signs of Life.

So Quotable

"I want my students to see that sometimes fiction has answers because our own lives don't, and sometimes we like seeing things resolved in books because the reality is, it's the only time where problems end neatly or where problems end at all. I want my students to see books as a way to learn about other people's and other worlds, but also as a place to learn about themselves."

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Author Obsessions in 2012

Author Obsessions in 2012

Dec 11, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/Top Ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. I'm so obsessed with lists!

Top Ten Favorite New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2012

{Contemporary & Dystopian}

1. Melina Marchetta - I am convinced that Melina Marchetta can do no wrong. It started with Jellicoe Road, which was seriously amazing. Even though I was really confused at first, I soon fell in love and haven't looked back since. I haven't reviewed them yet, but I recently finished Saving Francesca and The Piper's Son... I think Melina Marchetta may be my absolute favorite author discovery of 2012. I don't know of anyone else who writes quite like this lady. She's amazing!

2. Veronica Roth - For some reason, I waited a long time to read Divergent and Insurgent. I think I was suspicious of all the hype, but I totally get it now. Roth creates a really interesting world with characters that you're invested in, and that's a sign of a really good writer in my mind. I can't wait to read the third in the series, and to see what else Roth creates in the future. She's one to keep an eye on! 

{Non-Fiction}

3. Rebecca Skloot - I kept reading about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks because it's been on all the bestseller lists, but I was really put-off by the summary. It's a science book, and I don't really like reading about science-related things. BUT HOLY COW. I got so caught up in this book - I read the entire thing in just a little over a day and that's a testament to how talented Rebecca Skloot is as an author. You'll get so caught up in the drama and emotion of it all, and you might learn a little more about science along the way. Skloot understands the science, but she also knows how to tell a good story.  

4. Laura Hillenbrand - Several people recommended Unbroken to me, and I wish I'd dropped everything and read it when they first mentioned it. Instead, I waited a while and finally grabbed it when I saw it at the library one day. I sat down to read a little, and I was hooked. Soon after, my mom, dad, grandma and uncle all read it. Because I told them it was that good... and they all agreed. You can really see how much research went into the book, and I can't wait to read Seabiscuit. I'll be checking out anything Ms. Hillenbrand writes.

{Fantasy}

5. Maggie Stiefvater - I've only read The Scorpio Races so far, but I can't wait to check out more from Maggie. I loved the atmosphere of the world she created - the setting was like another character in the book. It was such a rich tale that was unlike anything else I've ever read, and I love when I find an author who takes me to places and introduces me to characters I never would have imagined or met on my own.

6. Kristin Cashore - I thought Graveling sounded like the weirdest book, and I wasn't interested in reading it. Even a little bit. Then, I decided that I couldn't just dismiss something without giving it a try, so I checked the first book out from the library. And I couldn't put it down! I loved Katsa and Po, and I was legitimately sad when the book ended. I wanted their adventures to continue! I've since read Fire, but I haven't gotten around to Bitterblue just yet. Either way, I'm so happy I took a chance on Kristin Cashore. 

7. Laini Taylor - I actually owned Daughter of Smoke and Bone for a while before I ever got around to reading it. I waited for some of the hype to die down and the reviews to fade out of my mind so that I could approach it without bringing all that to my reading experience. But once I finally picked it, I was transported to the crazy world Laini's created. It was so unique and different, and I kept thinking about how it felt like I was discovering a new favorite author.

8. Robin LaFevers - So here's the thing, I had to suspend my disbelief a lot when I was reading Grave Mercy. But I didn't care at all - I was totally in love with the book! Assassin nuns are so unrealistic, but they are also so fun to read about! And who cares if something is remotely believable as long as it's enjoyable?! I can't wait to see read more from Robin, and I may even check out some of her middle grade books.

{Historical Fiction}

9. Elizabeth Wein - After everyone in the blog world started raving about Code Name Verity, I was really intrigued. I love good historical fiction, so I was excited to read something that people were so in love with. And I wasn't disappointed! I've already been thinking about re-reading it just so that I can fully appreciate all the thought that went into crafting this novel. Wein knows her stuff, and I really hope she writes some more historical fiction. I'm a fan!

10. Jody Hedlund - Jody Hedlund writes Christian historical fiction, and I knew I had to include her on the list. After reading her first book, I immediately found her two other books and read them in quick succession. I really loved all three! I had been in a little bit of a reading slump, and these totally helped get me out. The romance was sweet and swoony, and I loved the stories behind her books. I will definitely be reading more from her!

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Going Gothic

Going Gothic

Dec 10, 2012

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Release Date: January 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Pages: 277 pages
Series: Austenland #2
Source & Format: Bought; Kindle ebook
Amazon | Goodreads

Sum It Up (from Goodreads)

When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stay a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies.

Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And - perhaps of the most lasting importance - could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?

Thoughts on Midnight in Austenland

I really enjoyed Shannon Hale’s other Austen-inspired book, Austenland, so I was really excited to return to her Austen adventures. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

I didn’t enjoy Midnight in Austenland nearly as much as the original. Taking its cues from Northanger Abbey, this book has a Gothic feel. But it’s nowhere near as awesome as Austen’s first novel! Austen wrote Northanger Abbey as a parody of Gothic fiction. By comparison, Hale’s book takes itself just a little too seriously. It’s like every “clever” line had to be included, even if it didn’t fit in at all. And there were definitely a few moments I wondered why there wasn't a little more editing.

The whole thing seemed too clichéd. I didn’t care very much about the main character, and I wasn’t invested in the whole mystery. I didn't hate this book, by any means, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

I was disappointed because I wanted to love this book! If you’re still thinking about picking it up, make sure you go in without expecting it to be anything like Austenland. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more if you aren’t comparing it to its predecessor!

So Quotable

"Here's the thing about home: you can create it most anywhere, as long as you gather your people around you."

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Three Friends, Four Continents, One Trip Around the World

Three Friends, Four Continents, One Trip Around the World

Dec 9, 2012

The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett & Amanda Pressner

Release Date: April 22, 2010

Publisher: Harper Perennial 
Pages: 560 pages

Source & Format: Bought; Paperback

Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Amazon)

With their thirtieth birthdays looming, Jenny, Holly and Amanda are feeling the pressure to hit certain milestone - score the big promotion, find a soul mate, have 2.2 kids. Instead, they make a pact to quit their jobs, leave behind everything familiar, and embark on a yearlong round-the-world search for inspiration and direction.

Traveling 60,000 miles across four continents, Jen, Holly, and Amanda push themselves far outside their comfort zones to embrace every adventure. Ultimately, theirs is a story of true friendship—a bond forged by sharing beds and backpacks, enduring exotic illnesses, trekking across mountains, and standing by one another through heartaches, whirlwind romances, and everything in the world in between.

Thoughts on The Lost Girls

My anniversary is July 2, and we happened to be at the beach this year to celebrate. My husband and I enjoyed a delicious dinner in Seaside, followed by a stop at one of my favorite bookstores – Sundog Books.

Of course, I couldn’t leave without buying a book, and I decided on The Lost Girls. It was on a display table at the front of the store, surrounded by other travel memoirs. For some reason, this one really jumped out at me.

I loved the cover – and the idea of dropping everything for a year to circle the globe. I decided to start it right away, and I was soon caught up in the girls’ adventures.

The three friends – Jennifer, Holly and Amanda – each write their own sections, but they all have a similar voice. While they have unique perspectives, there are still common threads tying them all together.

If you have wanderlust, this is a book you’ll really enjoy. Determined to save money and see as much as possible, they definitely don’t travel in style. I’m not much of a backpacker – I’m sorry, but it always sounds more romantic than it actually is.

While it wasn’t the way I’d travel, I still loved reading about their experiences. There were a few times I wanted to yell, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” Maybe I’m too cautious and worried about my safety, but they put themselves in a few dangerous situations that made me really nervous.

Parts of the book went on a little long, but I really enjoyed this for the most part. I don’t know if I’ve read a travel memoir before, but I felt like this was a great place to start. It was also really fun to check out their blog after I finished to see photos from their travels!

Bonus - I loved all the maps inside!

So Quotable

"Floating there I held onto faith. Because you can't know who might cross your path or who will take your breath away. You can't know what friends might actually become sisters because they stayed by your side. You can't know when there'll be an unexpected detour that'll take you to the place where you were always meant to be."

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