Interesting note, the book was published in 1995, but re-published in 2004, when it began to catch some steam. I have the 2004 version. Just throwing that out there.
What would you expect from a memoir by a politician? Is it a lyrical and incredibly well written piece reminiscent of The House on Mango Street? Probably not, but that's what we have here.
I am not a huge fan of Obama. His campaign strategies remind me far too much of the campaign strategies Bush used (and I absolutely loved Bush, what a great president. He wasn't a tool, or anything), and that doesn't ring well with me.
So what. This is a good book.
I've read biographies. Too many, if you ask me, many of them can be quite boring. But Dreams From My Father is evocative from start to finish. Some of the story he tells has already been heard, maybe many times before, but those stories were probably not told as well as they are here.
Here, Obama is just showing off. And I think that's kind of cool.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
October Blog #6: Dave Barry's Greatest Hits, by Dave Barry, published 1988
On to another collection of essays. In fact, these are Dave Barry's best!
Obviously, I haven't finished the book, considering I just got it from you today. I'm on about page 60, and I think I find him to be more entertaining than Sedaris, at least so far.
Not much has happened. He's buying a house right now, and being funny about it. Barry also seems to really enjoy Miami. Or maybe he's kidding, I don't know. He's also talking a lot about taxes. Yay for politics!
Which brings me to my next, and completely off topic, point. I absolutely detest politics, and Barry is only making me think more about the daggum politicians! Curse you for being so entertaining Barry!
Obviously, I haven't finished the book, considering I just got it from you today. I'm on about page 60, and I think I find him to be more entertaining than Sedaris, at least so far.
Not much has happened. He's buying a house right now, and being funny about it. Barry also seems to really enjoy Miami. Or maybe he's kidding, I don't know. He's also talking a lot about taxes. Yay for politics!
Which brings me to my next, and completely off topic, point. I absolutely detest politics, and Barry is only making me think more about the daggum politicians! Curse you for being so entertaining Barry!
October Blog #5: When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris, published 2008
David Sedaris is a pretty funny guy, and When You are Engulfed in Flames is a funny book. But what makes WYaEiF such a fun book is the variety in story telling and some surprisingly touching essays (though these tend to be a bit strange as well).
Sedaris's writing is autobiographical in nature. His topics tend to be a tad random, his writing and tone whimsical, and his jokes can be both intelligent and silly.
Whether he's writing about lancing boils or a New York cab driver who won't shut up about his sex life, Sedaris makes for a fun read.
Sedaris's writing is autobiographical in nature. His topics tend to be a tad random, his writing and tone whimsical, and his jokes can be both intelligent and silly.
Whether he's writing about lancing boils or a New York cab driver who won't shut up about his sex life, Sedaris makes for a fun read.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
October Blog #4: Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, published 2002
Did the owls live? Yes.
Was anyone surprised? No.
Then why, oh why, is this book such a fun read? Because it is such a novel novel (see what I did there?). The plot behind Hoot is different and fun. I don't know of any novels (save Hiaasen's similar novel Flush) that has a story as innocent and (strangely) gripping as the one told here. It really is beautiful, in a way.
Speaking of Flush, however, makes this book lose a little magic. Having already read Flush, I can tell you that the two are very, very similar, though Hoot is definitely the better of the two. In any case, Hoot is definitely worth the read and highly recommended.
Was anyone surprised? No.
Then why, oh why, is this book such a fun read? Because it is such a novel novel (see what I did there?). The plot behind Hoot is different and fun. I don't know of any novels (save Hiaasen's similar novel Flush) that has a story as innocent and (strangely) gripping as the one told here. It really is beautiful, in a way.
Speaking of Flush, however, makes this book lose a little magic. Having already read Flush, I can tell you that the two are very, very similar, though Hoot is definitely the better of the two. In any case, Hoot is definitely worth the read and highly recommended.
October Blog #3: Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, published 2002
A hippie book if I've ever seen one!
Hoot is all about saving owls. That's right. And it's pretty dang good considering it's a book about saving owls. Scratch that, it's a great book period.
Hoot is beautifully paced, it's one of those books you just can't put down. In fact, I'm blowing through it right now! If there is one thing wrong with this book, however, it's that the characters are a little stale. Roy is a kind of stereotypical protagonist. "Mullet Fingers" is kind of cool though, I guess.
Will the burrowing owls die a gruesome death at the hands of the bulldozer (of course not, this is a children's book...)? Will Roy ever see the bulldozing company put to rest? Stay tuned in next time on "Hoot: Live or Let Die"!
Hoot is all about saving owls. That's right. And it's pretty dang good considering it's a book about saving owls. Scratch that, it's a great book period.
Hoot is beautifully paced, it's one of those books you just can't put down. In fact, I'm blowing through it right now! If there is one thing wrong with this book, however, it's that the characters are a little stale. Roy is a kind of stereotypical protagonist. "Mullet Fingers" is kind of cool though, I guess.
Will the burrowing owls die a gruesome death at the hands of the bulldozer (of course not, this is a children's book...)? Will Roy ever see the bulldozing company put to rest? Stay tuned in next time on "Hoot: Live or Let Die"!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
October Blog #2: A Briefer History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, published 2005
I have (finally) completed this book.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, it was almost like reading a more entertaining and more concise physics textbook. There is only so much you can take at a time!
I also found Hawking had a sharp wit, and I kind of wish he put it to use a little bit more. The sparseness made it stand out more, I guess.
Hawking is a genius. A modern Einstein. What makes him all the more incredible and inspiring is the sickness he has been battling for more than a decade, which is much longer than the average ALS patient.
Hawking, you're the man.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, it was almost like reading a more entertaining and more concise physics textbook. There is only so much you can take at a time!
I also found Hawking had a sharp wit, and I kind of wish he put it to use a little bit more. The sparseness made it stand out more, I guess.
Hawking is a genius. A modern Einstein. What makes him all the more incredible and inspiring is the sickness he has been battling for more than a decade, which is much longer than the average ALS patient.
Hawking, you're the man.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
October Blog #1: A Briefer History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, published 2005
I never thought I would ever enjoy reading about the theory of relativity. Is it possible? Stephen Hawking thinks so.
Hawking makes the insane sensible with a bluntness that can only come from someone who knows he is slightly more intelligent than the average person. And by slightly more intelligent, I mean a lot more intelligent.
I personally have never stopped to think about how my perception of a ping pong ball on a train is entirely different from the person hitting the ping pong ball. If this is a somewhat stripped down version of "A Brief History of Time," then I dread to think how tedious that book might be.
Hawking makes the insane sensible with a bluntness that can only come from someone who knows he is slightly more intelligent than the average person. And by slightly more intelligent, I mean a lot more intelligent.
I personally have never stopped to think about how my perception of a ping pong ball on a train is entirely different from the person hitting the ping pong ball. If this is a somewhat stripped down version of "A Brief History of Time," then I dread to think how tedious that book might be.
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