Book Review: The Rich Part of Life

As many of you know, I have a tendency to read books that are a little dark/serious in subject matter (Moroccan coup d’etat, Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Cultural Revolution in China, etc).  I constantly have a prioritized queue of books that I’m going to read, and as I was reading Atonement by Ian McEwan (which was anything but uplifting), I realized that “on deck” was The Rape of Nanking about a Japanese Atrocity in China during WWII.  My friend recommended a nice “fluff” book to act as a buffer:  The Rich Part of Life by Jim Kokoris

Yes, my books are a series of downers, and I needed one of a happier nature.  This book is about a young family who wins the lottery, so it totally fit the bill.  I enjoyed this book because it held my attention, was of a happy subject matter, and while didn’t teach me about world events, it didn’t make me stupider.  Jim Kokoris is a fellow Chicagoan and a good writer.

This book won’t change your life, but it will make you think, and will remind you that the grass isn’t always greener.  As we embark on a lovely summer, we all need something light (“beach reading” if you will).  Consider this book over an US Weekly Magazine or the Millionth sequel in the Shopoholic Series.

3 Stars.

Get a Library Card for Goodness Sake

An AP poll revealed yesterday that one in four adults read no books in the past year. Apart from factors such as education level, age, gender, race and religion, analysts point to the high level of competition from other media fraying people’s commitment to reading.

Sometimes following your favorite celebrities inhibits productive book reading.

Having majored in English and married the son of an English teacher, I have many family members who are constantly reading and recommending books. In this poll, it showed the average person read four books last year, and I know many people who do this in just a month or two. Another finding indicated that Westerners and Midwesterners had read at least one book in the past year, more than many in the South. Based on Chicago-based LeMare’s many book recommendations, I’m taking a stab that she fits into this group.

The group that read not a single book last year tended to be older, less educated, from rural areas, minorities and lower income. All areas have libraries so access to books isn’t the problem. Older people should have more time to read if they are retired, so it appears that some people just never get into the habit of reading. Almost a third of men fit into this category as do a quarter of women.

So if you’re looking to get out of the “haven’t touched a book in a year” category or above the national average of reading four books a year, consider some last minute summer reading. Books I’d suggest are The Glass Castle, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series, Expecting Adam (although read this disclaimer first to understand Beck’s definition of non-fiction) and two sisters-in-law and my college roommate have given stellar endorsements of BYU grad’s Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, Eclipse and New Moon vampire series. Any other good books you’ve read recently?

More Harry Potter

OK, Lowdogg from SPOTD just referred me to the most moving tribute from the man who made all of us hate clowns, Stephen King.  This article was penned shortly before the release of the seventh Harry Potter masterpiece.

Uncle Stevie, as he calls himself expresses the sadness so many of us Potterheads feel knowing the magic is coming to an end.  “And I’m a grown-up, for [goodness] sake — a damn Muggle!”  I couldn’t have said it better.  I’m dispondent that the journey has come to an end.  My mother is reading slowly because she wants to savor it… and you know what?  I’m jealous she still has more to discover, more pages left to turn.

King goes on to say:  “The Internet blog sites will be full of this was bad and that was wrong, but it’s going to boil down to something that many will feel and few will come right out and state: No ending can be right, because it shouldn’t be over at all. The magic is not supposed to go away.”

And yet it has, because, as the celebrated author pointed out:  “No story can be great without closure. There must be closure, because it’s the human condition. And since that’s how it is, I’ll be in line with my money in my hand on July 21.  And, I must admit, sorrow in my heart.”

So I admit my envy of all of you who deemed yourself too cool to read Harry Potter until you read my last post and learned you’re not.  Now you can start and have a whole new world open up to you!  A world that to me, is sadly closed.

And so, with humble heart, I turn this discussion to the particulars of the series.  It is time to discuss the ending, so if you have not read it, please do not read the comments in this posting.  So tell me, is it what you expected?  Did you like how it ended?  What shocked you?

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

*For those of you who plan on reading and have not finished, I will divulge no secrets, so you are free to read this posting. 

You know who you are.  You, the person who thinks that YOU are too cool for Harry Potter.  You would never read a book that uses words like “muggle” and “Hufflepuff.”  Sit down, this may be hard to hear.  You THINK you’re too cool, but you are not.  Illiterate?  Perhaps.  Untreated ADD prohibiting an 800 page book?   Perhaps.  Too much time watching Reality TV?  Perhaps.  But too cool?  No, no you’re not.  Not even close.

 See, I remember what it was like to be you.  Trying to hide Book #1 behind a jacket of another book… ANY other book would have done.  I would have stooped to Grisham.  But as I read, J.K. Rowling’s tale ENCHANTED me.  Slowly, I began to read the book where other people might see me.  I was ready for the criticisms of smaller, narrower minds.  I was ready to come out of the closet and admit to the world that I’m a Potterhead.

Many years have passed, and I, myself, have grown older, grayer, and maybe just maybe, a little cooler.  Alas, my affinity for the tales remains as strong as ever, and it is time for you to admit that your fear of Harry Potter simply exhibits your OWN personal insecurities… And we all know that insecurities are RARELY attractive.  Yesterday, the three hottest girls (myself being one of them, naturally) on the Southbound Orange Line were all reading the new book.  YOU’RE not too cool.

 Rowlings latest and last book in the Harry Potter series had a bit of a slow beginning, but it picked up, and as always, I was dazzled, hooked, and surprised.  I also must admit, that I enjoyed the woman power elements of the book…  The “Hell Hath No Fury” vengence of women such as Professor McGonagall and Mrs. Weasley…  I liked that.  A lot.  Plus, Harry abandoned some of his annoying brattiness that surfaced in recent books. 

All in all, without divulging any of the books secrets, I will simply give it two thumbs up.  Especially the back half.  Though I have to admit, I’m kind of sad that there will be no more Harry Potter books to look forward to.  If the disappointment gets acute, maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to convince myself that I am not too cool for the movies.