Tuesday, May 13, 2008

books

38. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
I did not like this book. I read it because it was so lauded and so many people said it was life changing. I just didn't get it. Basically, as far as I could tell, it was about a dad and his son wandering through post-Apocalyptic America, speaking in very short sentences without quotation marks. My review to R sums my feelings on this book up very well: "I think it is supposed to be about the human spirit or some crap but I don't get it." Anyway, for me this book was just depressing with no purpose.

39. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Luckily, the next book I read was this awesome fantasy/fairy tale by Shannon Hale. It is one of the best books I have read in a while. This is the story of Miri, a small (in stature) girl living on top of a mountain in a small village that makes their living working a quarry. One day a messenger from the King comes saying all the girls need to go to a "Princess Academy" from which the prince will choose a wife. The Princess Academy is not what you might expect it to be and all the girls really learn about themselves. This is an awesome coming of age story with one of the best young woman protagonists I have come across. Seriously, if you are at all interested in kick-ass young women in a slightly fantastical setting, you should read this book.

40. My Life in France by Julia Child
Another excellent book. This is mostly the story of Julia and her husband Paul as they go to France and learn about food and cooking. I have always enjoyed watching Julia Child on TV, but I didn't know a lot about her. There were so many interesting tidbits in this book, and she sounded like such an awesome person. I really enjoyed this, and Julia Child has been catapulted into my personal pantheon of heroes, right next to Madeline Albright.

5 comments:

Cath@VWXYNot? said...

I didn't get The Road either. I found it in my seat pouch on a flight home from LA and decided to give it a try. It mostly seemed to be about finding food. (Cold Mountain had similar elements but was a much more enjoyable book IMO). I finished the book, because I'm obsessive-compulsive that way, then I left it in a public place for someone else to "enjoy". And I'm usually the kind of person who keeps books forever!

Come to think of it, the person who left it on the plane probably did so on purpose. They were only halfway through if the bookmark was in the right place.

I've heard it said that The Road is Cormac McThingy's most accessible book. I'd hate to see the others. Although the Coen brothers did a good job adapting No Country for Old Men.

Laurie K said...

I'm glad to hear you didn't get it either. I seriously thought I was totally missing something as so many people love it.

I really liked the movie, No Country For Old Men, so maybe I will try the book. It definitely won't be an uplifting read, though. :)

Laura said...

I will request "Princess Academy" from the library forthwith.

Laurie K said...

Laura, do so, and then read it to your offspring when she is old enough.

Laurie K said...

Also, gold star for saying "forthwith"!