( Books 1-60 )

( Books 1-62 )

( Books 1-58 )

( Movies 1-161 )

I won't be tracking movies for 2008. We watch a lot of movies chez eek-chats, but mostly the same movies over and over.

It's unlikely that I'll find time time to finish another book, so here is this year's list. I made my goal, but I am three short of last year's total. Ah well. Another year, another challenge.

( Books 1-58 )

I so bought these "I Read Banned Books" bracelets.

Man demands that book about book-burning be banned--during Banned Books Week: "It's just all kinds of filth," said Alton Verm, adding that he had not read Fahrenheit 451.

Hoo, boy. He's lacking in critical thinking skills just a wee bit. Check out how proud of their ignorance he and his daughter look in the sidebar pic.

Hey kids! It's BANNED BOOKS WEEK! Exercise your intellectual freedom by reading a banned or challenged book, perhaps one from the American Library Association's 10 most challenged books of 2005 or 100 most challenged books 1990-2000.

Edited to add: deletecensorship.org

Bram Stoker's Dracula in real time!

Not too long ago I was lamenting the lack of comfortable indoor sitting areas in my office building.  I spend my lunch hour reading in the courtyard during nice weather and Chicago winters are not conducive to that activity.  Well, guess what.  The building has installed not one, but TWO seating areas in the main lobby, each with enough comfy chairs for 10.  One whole side of the lobby is all glass, great for catching a little sunlight.  There are even live plants & flowers and new art to gaze at.  Yesterday I tried one of the areas--the one with a view of The Bean--and it was so nice.  Not quite a winter garden, but it'll do.  Would have been even better if I'd remembered to bring the headphones for my iPod.

My tribal basics class was cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Again. The good news is that there are three intermediate students who want a Sunday morning class, so Gab offered it to me. She also pointed out that as a teacher I'll be expected to do a solo in the annual studio show in May. Eeep!

One link today.  Grum Lee is a french guy who records acoustic covers sung as badly as possible to maximize teh funnay.  Over 200 cover songs since 2002!  I'm particularly fond of "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "I Will Survive."

This morning's tea wisdom:

"The will is always near, dear, though the feet vary." ~Emily Dickinson

#61 Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Norville, a closeted werewolf, hosts a popular late night call-in radio show on supernatural topics. The local Were and Vamp communities don't like the show because they fear that humans will find out that they are real. Eventually some of the humans do, including the local police who enlist Kitty in helping them find a supernatural serial killer.

#60 The Autumn Castle by Kim Wilkins

A gripping dark urban fantasy novel set in the Real and Faery worlds.  Christine Starlight has returned to Berlin after many years absence to be with her lover, Jude, as he works in an artists' collective.  Being back stirs up old memories of May Frith, a childhood friend who was stolen from her bed one night and never found.  Mayfridh is the Queen of Faery.  One day, a human from her past comes to her land and reminds her of the time before she came to the Faery World.  Mayfridh returns to the Real World to seek more contact with Christine. Mandy Z, sponsor of the artists' collective, has a secret: he is a faery hunter (and deranged--his journal entries turned my stomach). Recommend.

#59 Haunted by Kelley Armstrong

This is the fifth installment in Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, but the first that I've read.  The bulk of the story is set in Armstrong's version of the ever-after for supernaturals. We meet all sorts of beings including the Fates, demons, ghosts, werewolves, angels, and necromancers.  Eve Levine, former coven member and mother of Savannah, is a ghost. She attempts to watch over Savannah, but cannot affect the living world.  A demi-demon Nix has escaped the Hell dimension and is partnering with humans in the real world who have the propensity to kill.  When asked by the Fates to find the supernatural serial killer, Eve jumps on it as a chance to make contact with her daughter. Recommend.  

#58 French Cats Don't Get Fat: The Secrets of la Cuisine Feline by Henri de la Barbe (Henry Beard)

A parody of French Women Don't Get Fat by the author of such gems as French for Cats, Poetry for Cats, and Latin for All Occasions.

Previous selections (including updates for October and November that I couldn't be arsed to do until now).

Sixty-one is the magic number for 2005.  I beat my goal, but I used to read so much more: 2-3 books a week not too long ago (pre- marriage and -bellydance).  Goal for 2006 will still be 52 -> don't want to risk turning a pleasure into a chore.

#57 Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

An witty epistolary YA novel that the authors created by corresponding with each other in character.  The story is set in an alternate England in the year 1817. Cousins Cecelia and Kate write each other of magical scandals in London and the country that turn out to be connected.  The authors are obviously fans of and inspired by Jane Austen.

#56 Alternate Beauty by Andrea Rains Waggoner

What would you do if you woke up in a world where big is beautiful?  Size 28 Ronnie Tremayne sees how the other half lives and learns a valuable lesson: it's the size of your heart that really matters.

#55 Interstellar Pig by William Sleator

Are Barney's mysterious new neighbors from Europe or somewhere far, far away?  And why does gaming with them seem so dangerous?  Loved this YA novel!

#54 Wren to the Rescue by Sherwood Smith

Spirited young orphan Wren must go on a quest to save her best friend--and her kingdom--from an powerful sorcerer.  A well-written YA novel with likeable and intelligent female characters.

#53 Cattitude: The Feline Guide to Being Fabulous by Christine Montaquila, photographs by Kim Levin

Furry god & goddesses share their secrets to life. Great pics, amusing text.

#52 When Cats Assassinate by David Watts and Andrew Davies

Angry cats express their dark sides. Silly angry kitten humor (and we all know how much I love angry kittens).

Previous selections.

#51 Breakfast at Tiffany's and Other Stories by Truman Capote

A reread.  If you've only seen the movie, give this novella a try.  You may be surprised by the story.

#50 Searching for Anne Frank: Letters from Amsterdam to Iowa by Susan Goldman Rubin

A nonfiction book for young adults that compares and contrasts the lives of two sisters in Iowa with their pen pals, the Frank sisters of Amsterdam.  Includes an excellent historical overview and discussion of the Holocaust.  Published in association with the Simon Wiesenthal Center-Museum of Tolerance Library and Archives.

#49 Declare by Tim Powers

A combination of espionage, politics, religion, and fantasy makes for a thrilling supernatural suspense novel.  Andrew Hale, an Oxford lecturer who first entered the British secret service as the age of 18, participated in an action that culminated in a deadly mission on Mount Ararat at the end of WWII.  In 1963, Hale is reactivated for another attempt to complete the operation and bring down the Soviet government before Moscow can harness the supernatural forces concentrated on the summit of the mountain.

Previous selections.

#48 Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Amazingly I never had to read this in college. Siddhartha is a Brahmin youth who leaves his family and comfortable surroundings in a search for spiritual truth. He joins a group of ascetics, numbs himself to the world, and seeks to subjugate his ego. After years of this existence, he goes to hear the Buddha speak. As great as the Buddha's teachings are, Siddhartha believes that he has to discover truth for himself. He goes from his ascetic lifestyle to an opulent one in which he enjoys pleasures of the flesh. But even then, he ultimately feels the need to move on in his spiritual journey. He becomes a ferryman's assistant and discovers that he can learn much by listening to the river talk.

#47 Dinner at Deviant's Palace by Tim Powers
#46 The Drawing of the Dark by Tim Powers

In Dinner at Deviant's Palace, technology has vanished in a post-nuclear holocaust California run by messiah Norton Jaybush who boasts his own Holy City in Irvine. His young followers, aka "Jaybirds," wander and gather new recruits, while "redeemers" strive to rescue them. The story focuses on Gregorio Rivas, a musician and former redeemer who comes out of retirement to save a former girlfriend from Jaybush.

The Drawing of the Dark takes place in the year 1529. After a chance meeting with an old monk, soldier of fortune Brian Duffy finds himself hired to be the bouncer at the famous Herzwesten brewery and inn (formerly a monastery) located in Vienna. During Brian's voyage to Vienna, he is attacked by wouldbe assassins. Dwarves and mythological creatures assist him in vanquishing his attackers. The Fisher King is a central character, as are King Arthur and Merlin. The legendary heroes are allied against the Turkish Ottoman Empire under Suleiman and his wizard Ibrahim, who try to conquer Vienna. But what does Suleiman want? Vienna or Herzwesten beer?

#45 Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This is an intelligent and unforgettable novel. Pi is a teenage boy growing up in a family that runs a private zoo. He practices Christianity, Islam, AND Hinduism, much to the consternation of his family and various religious mentors. As Pi and his family immigrate to Canada with some of their animals, the ship they are on sinks. Pi lands in a lifeboat shared by an orangutan, a hyena, and a tiger. He lives for 227 amazing days in the lifeboat before landing on the coast of Mexico. There Pi provides the authorities with two explanations for his amazing survival. It's up to the reader to decide which story is true.

Previous selections.

There's a touch of autumn in the air today. As I sat in the courtyard reading during my lunch hour I thought "damn, in about a month I'm really going to be missing this." There is absolutely no place inside this complex where you can just sit and read. Poor building planning if you ask me, especially in a city where winter lasts about 6 months.

Hey kids! It's BANNED BOOKS WEEK! Exercise your intellectual freedom by reading a banned or challenged book, perhaps one from the American Library Association's 10 most challenged books of 2004 or 100 most challenged books 1990-2000. Just for fun I took the 100 list and bolded the ones I've read:

( I read banned books )

Many are kids' books, and most of those were around when I was a kid. I read 'em and turned out normal, you know, except for the thinking for myself thing.

Lifted from lostsatellite: Below is a list of books from 100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature, which lists 25 titles for each of four categories of censorship. Again I've bolded the titles I've read:

( Still reading them banned books )

There is a bit of overlap with the ALA list, but fewer kids' titles and more choices for your banned-books-week reading pleasure.

Hm, which banned book(s) shall I read this year?

#44 Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
#43 The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

The Thursday Next alternate history/mystery series was recommended by a coworker who saw me reading Gregory Maguire's books. The books are set in an alternate Great Britain where the Crimean War has dragged on for 130 years, Wales is a Socialist state, and literature is taken extremely seriously. The Eyre Affair (book one) introduces the reader to Thursday Next, a Special Operations literary detective, as she battles a foe who kidnaps literary characters and threatens to change the plots of books. Solving the crime involves Thursday following her nemesis into Jane Eyre.

In Lost in a Good Book (book two), Thursday's husband is erased from time by the all-powerful Goliath Corporation and exists solely in her memory. She can only get him back by freeing a dangerous Goliath employee that she trapped in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven". At the same time, Thursday is drafted into Jurisfiction, the police force that operates inside books, and is apprenticed to Miss Havisham (yes, that Miss Havisham). As if that wasn't complicated enough, Thursday also must prevent a strange pink sludge from engulfing all life on Earth.

I liked these books well enough. They distracted my from my morning commute admirably, though at times I thought they were a bit too clever.

#42 Babies and Other Hazards of Sex: How to Make a Tiny Person in Only 9 Months, with Tools You Probably Have around the Home by Dave Barry.

Dave Barry discusses pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing in the way only Dave can.

#41 The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst

After his wife dies, a linguistics professor becomes obsessed with teaching their dog, the only witness to the incident, to speak so he can find out the truth about his wife's death--was it accidental or did she commit suicide? It was painful to read this exploration of grief, depression, and madness. I still get sad thinking about it. I can't remember the last time a book affected me so much.

#40 Seraglio by Janet Wallach

A real 18th-century kidnapping is reimagined by biographer-turned-novelist Wallach. While Aimée du Buc de Rivery, cousin to Josephine Bonaparte, is on her way home to Martinique from boarding schoool in France, she is kidnapped by pirates and given as a gift to the sultan of Turkey. The story traces her rise from the lowliest harem slave to Valide Sultan--mother of the sultan and the second most powerful person in the Ottoman empire. As Wallach discusses in her preface, no one knows for sure that Aimee is Sultana Nakshidil, but there are enough coincidences to support the legend. I remember my French prof talking about the possible Aimee-Ottoman connection when I was in college many moons ago. Guide Martine says it's true (under "Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mosque"), Istanbul Guide says maybe.

#39 Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
#38 Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire
#37 Lost by Gregory Maguire

Okay, so I went on a little Gregory Maguire binge--I liked Wicked so much I just couldn't help myself.

Of the three above I'd have to say Confessions is the weakest. This is Cinderella from the perspective of one of her stepsisters. The story is set in 17th-century Holland during the tulip mania. Maguire also blends in the Plague, the rise of the Dutch masters, and the Medici family.

Mirror is a dark retelling of Snow White set in 16th-century Tuscany remixed with the Borgias and a quest for a holy relic. The dwarves are strange beings caught somewhere between mineral and animal. This book is every bit as good as Wicked.

Lost, a modern-day ghost story, is the best of Maguire's adult works (so far). American writer Winifred Rudge goes to London to research a legend that one of her ancestors was the inspiration for Ebenezer Scrooge. When she arrives at her family's ancestral home, her cousin has vanished and strange things begin to happen. Maguire riffs not only on A Christmas Carol, but also Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dracula, The Exorcist, Dante's Inferno, and Jack the Ripper.

#36 Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

I picked this one up for something light to read after my recent foray into heavier nonfiction. I was expecting your basic chick lit novel but instead was quite moved by the story. Cannie Shapiro, entertainment columnist for a large Philadelphia newspaper, learns that her ex-boyfriend has been hired by a women's mag to write a column. To her horror, the first article is about her. More humiliatingly, the column is called "Loving a Larger Woman." Cannie's heartbreak is the jumping off point for personal growth, exorcising childhood demons, and coming to terms with her place in life.

Previous selections.

Well now, this is interesting: Eight hit with teen bride sex charges, especially since just last weekend I read Under the Banner of Heaven. The communities and most of the men mentioned in the news article are discussed extensively in the book.

Okay, so we might as well make this a book challenge entry.

#35 Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer

This book uses the ritual murder of a young Morman woman and her baby to launch an exploration of Mormonism and Mormon Fundamentalism.  The murder and the events surrounding it take up a very small portion of the book.  The author claims that in order to understand what happened one needs to know not only about Fundamentalist Mormons, but also the mainstream Mormon church. A compelling exploration of the birth and evolution of a major religion and devolution by some into religious fanaticism. 

The book raised ire of the Church of Latter-Day Saints.  The edition I read includes an appendix containing the LDS criticism as well as Krakauer's response to it.  BYU NewsNet has a few comments from the author, as well as some reactions from young Mormons.

#34 Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi

Nafisi was born and raised in pre-revolution Iran.  As an adult, she taught English and American literature for 20 years at universities in Tehran, both during and after the Islamic revolution.  In this book she reflects on her time as a professor using stories about her students and commentary on the books she taught.  The theme of Nafisi's classes--and this book--is the relation between fiction and reality.

#33 Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

I was expecting this prequel to the Wizard of Oz to be a light summer read.  Instead I found a fascinating exploration of good and evil, choice and responsibility, the role of Religion, the existence of the soul.  I adore that the author made allusions not only to the classic film, but also to themes and characters from L. Frank Baum's Oz series--a favorite from my youth that I now want to reread.

#32 Eleven Minutes by Paul Coelho (tr. Margaret Jull Costa)

The story of Maria, a young Brazilian girl who seeks fame and fortune in Europe only to fall into the world prostitution.  While she works to save money to go home, Maria spends her days reading and pondering the nature of love and sex.  Inspired by a true story.

#31 Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka

Following a prophetic vision, the last lord of the Okamichi clan welcomes Christian missionaries from the United States to Edo, Japan in 1861.  Japan has had almost no contact with the West in nearly 2,000 years.

#30 Fifth Life of the Cat Woman by Kathleen Dexter

The story of Kat O'Malley, a 'half-cat' gifted/cursed with nine lives.  Her first four lives were horrible--she has memories of poverty, prejudice, even losing her life at the hands of a husband.  In her fifth life she retreats to live in a desert mirage occupied by 50 wise, witty, tuna-loving cats.  Everything changes when Angelo, another half-cat who was her brother in her first life, stumbles into Kat's mirage and persuades her to reenter society.  As in her previous lives, Kat is confronted by intolerance and must decide whether to fight or flee.  I loved this book.  It's poignant, joyful, funny, painful at times.  Highly recommended, even to those who don't normally like speculative fiction.

#29 Baby's First Mythos by C. J. Henderson and Erica Henderson

Learn your ABCs and 123s with Cthulhu!  C is for CTHULHU / Who lies in R’yleh a’ dreaming / One sight of whom leaves most / Gibbering, drooling or screaming.  (Reviewer assumes no responsibility for any soul-blasting or mind-loss that may occur as a result of reading this book or the quote preceeding this disclaimer.)

#28 Tumbling After by Paul Witcover

Full disclosure: the author was eeknight's editor at his first publisher.  A dark coming-of-age story of 12-year-old twins Jack and Jilly set during a summer on the Delaware shore.  In the evenings, the twins play a role-playing game called Mutes & Norms--part of the book describes the action taking place on the alternate Earth of the game.  A near drowning seemingly awakens a strange power in Jack--the uncontrollable ability to alter reality--and his life becomes a twisted game of Mutes & Norms.

Previous selections.

Work, work, work...wasn't I just here?

( Fri: PURE )

( Sat: Books & scifi sharks )

( Sun: tofu! )

Khazna's class tonight and I really should go considering I skipped last week.  Cooler today, so I won't be dying at the studio at least.

#27 The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland.

A novel imagining the life of 16th-century painter Artemisia Gentileschi during and after the notorious rape trial.  When she was 18-years-old, her father publicly accused Artemisia's teacher of raping her.  Artemisia is tortured and humiliated in papal court and must rebuild her life and her career.  Kind of a bodice-ripper disguised as a serious historical novel.

#26 The Greenstone Grail by Amanda Hemingway

A different sort of Arthurian fantasy tale about Nathan, a young boy whose dreams seemingly send him to a dying alien world called Eos.  While exploring the woods behind his uncle's house, Nathan stumbles upon an ancient altar and has a vision of a glowing green cup filled with blood.  The cup appears on Earth and Nathan learns though his astral visits that it may be a key to saving Eos.  Part 1 of a trilogy.

#25 The Mysterious, Magickal Cat: The Magick of Claw & Whisker by DJ Conway

A look at all things feline: lore, history, anatomy, breeds, body language...

#24 Postmark Paris: A Story in Stamps by Leslie Jonath

A young girl and her parents spend a year in Paris where her father introduces her to stamp-collecting.  The girl's memories of her stay are illustrated with stamps from her collection.

#23 Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen

Yet another of Quindlen's essays turned into a book.  This is a graduation speech warning of the perils of comforming to society's ideal of perfection and impressing the importance of being yourself.

#22 Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi

This is a short graphic novel by the author of Persepolis and Persepolis 2.  Set during afternoon tea time with her female relatives, Satrapi share family stories of love, sex, marriage, and divorce.  Most of the stories are funny, some are heart-breaking.

#21 Flawed Dogs: The Year-End Leftovers at the Piddleton "Last Chance" Dog Pound by Berkeley Breathed

On the surface this is funny little book with goofy illustrations and silly poetry about strange dogs.  If you read between the lines, it's really about the millions of unwanted animals who are euthanized each year.  If you want a pet, consider adopting from your local shelter.  Spay/neuter your pets!

#20  Belly Dance: The Dance of Mother Earth by Tina Hobin

The title makes this sound like yet another new age look at bellydance; in fact, it is serious work by a British authority on the dance.  Topics discussed include origins and evolution; religious significance of dance; myths; and musical instruments.  IMO the section "teaching" bellydance should have been cut.  Guess I'll have to keep saying this until I'm blue in the face: you cannot learn to dance from a book.

Previous selections.