Tag Archives: quirky

Book Review: Where’d You Go Bernadette

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Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple (pub date 8/14/12)

“A little social anxiety never hurt anyone, am I right?”

We all know a “Bernadette.”  She’s the one who doesn’t join in with the rest of the group, the one who chooses not to adhere to social convention, the one too smart and too interesting for the room.  She’s the one you might think is weird, but might surprise you if you got to know her.  In this novel, author Maria Semple introduces us to just such a character.

Bernadette Fox is a wealthy wife and mother living in Seattle.  Her husband is an executive at Microsoft and their teenage daughter, Bee, is a gifted student about to move across the country to an exclusive boarding school.  But just below the surface, Bernadette is a wreck.  A once-successful architect and still a legend in the field, she left her profession suddenly and moved from Los Angeles to Seattle.  This turn of events led her to become increasingly agoraphobic, anxious, and socially awkward.  She would become a nuisance for the other mothers at Bee’s private school, a worry to her husband, and a neighbor from Hell.  Then one day, shortly before she was supposed to take a family trip to Antarctica, Bernadette suddenly vanishes.

The story is told largely from Bee’s point of view, as she tries to discover the cause behind her mother’s disappearance.  The point of the story is not only finding out where Bernadette went physically, but emotionally as well.  What would cause a successful career woman and recipient of a genius grant to suddenly give up her profession?  Why would a someone who spent her life creating beautiful buildings choose to live in a dilapidated house and let it fall further into disrepair?  Why does everyone judge her so harshly?

Where’d You Go Bernadette is delightful.  I absolutely loved this book; I read the first third and the entire second half in one sitting each.  It’s an absorbing character study and a wicked satire of wealthy Seattle society and Microsoft corporate culture.  Hilarious is some parts and touching in others, it’s a book that can be enjoyed by many different audiences.  Until now, I wasn’t aware that Semple wrote for Arrested Development (and other shows), but I can definitely see the resemblance in the dialogue and writing style.  I would recommend this book to just about anyone.  Bernadette is a character you won’t be able to get out of your head for a long time!

Book Review: Sarah Court

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Sarah Court by Craig Davidson (2010)
 

 
This is one of those books that when someone asks you what it’s about, you have a hard time describing it.  But it’s also one of those books that you won’t want to put down once you’ve started.  It was another score at the Borders liquidation sale, and probably the last book I’ll ever be able to buy at Borders.  But if that’s the case then I’m glad I found such an amazing last book to buy there.
 
Sarah Court is a collection of five novellas, interwoven in a nonlinear “Tarantino-esque” narrative style.  The stories focus on five families who all live on Sarah Court, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.  The residents of Sarah Court are certainly diverse: a washed-up daredevil, a former boxer, a disgraced surgeon and a young boy who thinks he’s a vampire.  Each character is flawed in his own way, and each struggles with his or her own personal issues and sense of hopelessness.  The book explores themes of relationships between parents and children, and of people trying to make right what is wrong in their lives. 
 
Davidson’s prose is stark and understated, and that’s what makes this book so powerful.  Without relying on flowery descriptions, Davidson still manages to draw you in and hook you from the beginning.  He makes you feel each character’s despair, and he holds nothing back.  With elements of dark humor and subtle horror, this is an unforgettable piece of writing. 
 
If you’re a Chuck Palahniuk fan, you’ll enjoy Sarah Court.  There is definitely a Palahniuk influence in this book, yet this is not an imitation.  Buy it on Amazon, since your local Borders is probably defunct by now.

Book Review: Dead Artist

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Dead Artist by Ivan Jenson (eBook format only, pub date 6/24/11)
 

 
“But Milo had sacrificed all of that…the comfort of a body in bed, of a hand holding his hand, of home cooked dinners smoking on the stove.  All in the hopes that one day that champagne wave of financial riches might crash over him.”

It’s a long-accepted idea that artists’ lives are more complicated than those of average people.  Neuroses and self-consciousness are often thought to be the price for being creative.  And in this inventive novel, author Ivan Jenson takes this idea to a whole new level.  Jenson himself is a successful artist and poet; his art has sold at Christie’s and has been featured in Art in America.   
 
Meet Milo Sonas, a once-successful New York City pop artist, famous for selling his works out on the street.  After a nervous breakdown, Milo finds himself at middle age living in a run-down hotel in Michigan, not painting, and supposedly doomed to obscurity.  Among his many personal issues are his dysfunctional family, his propensity for dating much younger women, and the fact that he sees and talks to dead artists, specifically Picasso and Van Gogh.  Milo’s life seems to turn a corner when a generous benefactor wants to restart his art career.  But his mother’s illness and reunion with his resentful brother Ray make him unsure of the path he thinks his life should take.
 
This is an edgy and interesting book, written in a stream-of-consciousness style that may be an acquired taste for some readers, but fully matches the tone of the story.  Milo is a relatable character, someone who feels adrift in life, wondering if he should give in to the pressure to get married, settle down, etc.  But in the end he shows us that not all who wander are lost.  The strained relationship between Milo and Ray adds a lot of depth to the story, and the issue of parental favoritism is one that I can relate to personally, as I’m sure many other people can as well.
 
With its quirky characters and dry humor, Dead Artist is definitely worth checking out.  It’s cleverly written and is sure to please those who are looking for a unique kind of story.

Book Review: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children

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Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (pub date 6/7/11)
“I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary.  I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was.”
 
In the tradition of Coraline, here is a clever and well-written YA novel that adults can also enjoy.  Miss Peregrine’sis a whimsical adventure story infused with Burton-esque imagery and well-rounded characters.

16-year-old Jacob has always had a special bond with his grandfather Abe.  As a child Jacob used to love hearing Abe’s fantastic tales of children who could fly or become invisible, and he vowed that when he grew up he too would see the wonders of the world.  When Abe dies mysteriously, Jacob struggles to get over his loss.  Soon Jacob finds an old letter which reveals clues about his grandfather’s past, and he travels to a small Welsh island where Abe grew up.  In the ruins of Abe’s childhood home, he finds a collection of bizarre photos depicting the very children that Abe used to tell stories about.  Strangely enough he also finds the children, alive and well despite being told that they had died years ago.

Miss Peregrine’s is a wonderful and inventive story, and at times quite creepy.  Author Ransom Riggs beautifully blends fantasy and reality, and creates a world in which magic is real…and monsters are too.  Riggs’ writing truly makes the characters and settings come alive, from the way he portrays Jacob as both a brave young man and a smart-alecky teen, to capturing the quaintness of the Welsh fishing village.  But what really makes this book a treat are the photos.  Riggs borrowed an assortment of amazing (and somewhat disturbing) black and white photos from antique collectors and included them in the book, making the story as real to the readers as it is to Jacob.  The photos alone are worth the price of the book.

Reading Miss Peregrine’s is a unique experience; it’s a great story for anyone who’s looking for an escape from the ordinary.  It’s available now and would make great summer reading for any teen or adult who enjoys a “peculiar” kind of book.

National “I Don’t Give a Shit” Day

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June 21, 2011 is National “I Don’t Give a Shit” Day…or at least it is according to Facebook.  So in honor of this makeshift holiday, here is a book which embodies the spirit of not giving a shit.

F**k It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way by John C. Parkin (2010)

If you look past the novelty of the title, you’ll find this book has some interesting things to say.  First published in the United Kingdom, F**k It is a Western perspective on Eastern philosophy.  Parkin breaks down some of the basic tenets of Buddhism and Taoism, such as self-acceptance, letting go, and living in the moment.  According to him, this kind of spirituality can be attained by simply saying “f**k it” to your problems.

“F**k it is a most profane way of saying the most profound thing: that when we relax and give in to the simple flow of life, we will experience the ultimate freedom.”

In this book Parkin advises his readers to say “f**k it” to dieting, relationships, illness, money, jobs, parenting, plans and goals, and self-control and discipline.  According to him if we can learn to stop trying to control these things we will ultimately end up happier and less depressed if things don’t go our way.

I’ve never been 100% sold on the idea of self-help books.  To quote the late great George Carlin, “If you did it yourself, you wouldn’t need help.  If you buy a book to help you, that’s not self-help, that’s help!”  But Parkin’s humorous spin on Eastern spirituality makes this book an interesting read.  I agree with some of the ideas outlined in the book, but Parkin’s advice wouldn’t necessarily work for everyone.  For example he asserts that if we say “f**k it” to controling our diet we’ll be more likely to eat healthier food because we feel like it, and thus end up losing weight.  For someone with a food addiction this is easier said than done.

F**k It is a unique book that’s worth checking out, but you may want to take it with a grain of salt.  If offers some interesting ideas and some good basic principles, but don’t expect it to relate to every aspect of your own life.

Early Review: Domestic Violets

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Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman (Pub date September 2011)

Domestic Violets

Anyone who’s ever wanted to do something creative for a living will likely have a ‘dreams v. responsibility’ crisis at some point in their life.  Is it better to stay with the job you hate because it’s safe, or should you give it up for a chance to live your life the way you’ve always wanted?  It’s a feeling I can certainly relate to, as I am currently lingering in corporate hell waiting to finish my degree.

Domestic Violets is a novel about choosing the road less travelled.  Our protagonist, Tom Violet, is a man living in his famous father’s shadow, working at a mindless job while secretly working on his Great American Novel.  At the same time he’s plagued by the suspicion that his wife is having an affair, while also dealing with his womanizing father showing up at his house for an extended stay.  Things come to a head when the subversive Tom decides to make a daring move that shocks those around him and sets his life on a different course.

The best thing about Domestic Violets is the writing style.  With a biting wit, Matthew Norman expresses Tom’s feelings of frustration and resentment as he goes through his near-midlife crisis.  And Norman’s descriptions of corporate absurdity are downright hysterical:

“The team of mouthbreathing goons in IT couldn’t monitor the broad side of a barn.  I could be buying plutonium from the Libyans on http://www.jihad.org right now and no one would know the difference as long as I kept staring straight ahead like a good hardworking employee.”

This book captures perfectly the sense of despair and bitterness that often affect creative people stuck in the hamster wheel of corporate America.  It reminds me slightly of Fight Club, although not quite as bold.

This is an enjoyable book.  It’s not the most original story I’ve ever read, and a little predictable, but the humor and snappy dialog make it worth reading.  Anyone with a weird family, a boring job, or a desire to change their life will find it relatable.

Book Review: The Blue Light Project

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The Blue Light Project by Timothy Taylor (2011)

The Blue Light Project: A Novel

I have a tremendous nerd crush on Werner Herzog.  For anyone who may not be familiar with him, he’s an award-winning German filmmaker who has been making films for over 40 years.  Seriously, Netflix his movies.  They’re amazing.  Not only does he make interesting movies, but he has fascinating insights on life and the world around us.  For example:

“If you switch on television it’s just ridiculous and it’s destructive. It kills us. And talk shows will kill us. They kill our language. So we have to declare holy war against what we see every single day on television.  We need adequate images, or we’ll go the way of the dinosaurs.”

The Blue Light Project is a novel inspired by this Herzog quote.  It’s a unique story about people who overcome their personal struggles, and of the power of human creativity and expression.  It’s a slow-paced story that gradually builds to its climax, taking the reader on the spiritual journey of the three main characters.  Eve is a former Olympic athlete, searching almost obsessively for her missing brother.  Rabbit is an idealistic street artist, working on his “big project,” who left a lucrative job after experiencing a moral crisis.  And Thom is a once-respected journalist, reduced to interviewing celebrities after a scandal cost him his nomination for a Pulitzer prize.  Their three paths are united after an unknown assailant storms a television studio during a taping of a talent program and takes the contestants hostage.

It’s a slow-starting story with a touch of satire, seemingly nebulous and abstract, that gradually comes into focus as the details are unveiled one at a time.  Taylor’s writing style contains little dialog but beautifully flowing descriptive prose.  The ending is uplifting, and truly manages to capture the sentiment of Herzog’s quote on a grand scale.

This book take a little time to get into, but is a very rewarding read.  A truly original and clever concept.  It’s nothing if not thought-provoking, and is sure to inspire the artist in all of us.