I was introduced to Paul Auster's work by a professor I had during a semester abroad in London when I was 21 years old. I was working on a book of my I was introduced to Paul Auster's work by a professor I had during a semester abroad in London when I was 21 years old. I was working on a book of my own (an artist's book) that told the story of my existence in London through a series of lists: how much trash I produced each week in my tiny studio flat, the people I came into contact with and when, careful records of every game of solitaire I played- every card played, what I listened to, what I ate. This teacher suggested that I might like Auster, so I started with The New York Trilogy and loved it but soon changes in my life made his work less apt, and Winter Journal is the first book of his that I've picked up in many years. I bought a copy after seeing him in conversation at City Arts, and for the second time in my life I find his writing both incredibly relatable but also inspiring. The idea of a memoir based entirely on sense memories, the way a list of apartments one's lived in can weave a compelling and fascinating story... It makes me want to start writing again for the first time in nearly as many years as it has been since I read Paul Auster.
I can't decide whether I liked this one or not. It might be my least favorite Chabon, but I really love the rest, so that's not saying much. Maybe my I can't decide whether I liked this one or not. It might be my least favorite Chabon, but I really love the rest, so that's not saying much. Maybe my expectations were too high- I certainly think that being an Oakland native worked against my enjoyment of the book, since it was hard not to find flaws in the geography and such. And I do think that the storyline was a bit predictable, leaving the ending somewhat anti-climactic. But mostly I just didn't feel much affinity for the characters- save Mr Jones and Fifty-Eight- who were all surprisingly unlikeable. I feel like one of Chabon's best qualities as a writer is that he makes even his villains sympathetic, but in this case it was quite the opposite. I didn't find myself rooting for anyone, and I was even mildly disappointed in how peachy everything turned out in the end. So yeah, maybe I didn't like this one so much. ...more
I don't know what to say except that this was the most enjoyable book I've read in quite some time; it reminded me how much fun fiction can be. I saw I don't know what to say except that this was the most enjoyable book I've read in quite some time; it reminded me how much fun fiction can be. I saw Chad Harbach interviewed at City Arts & Lectures last month and he mentioned that some of his favorite writers have written the longest books: David Foster Wallace, Tolstoy, Melville, etc.. Having just finished another 500 page book I was nervous to start The Art of Fielding, but I couldn't have been more pleased with the pacing, and wound up reading it quickly. ...more
I just haven't been feeling this one. I plan to come back to it one of these days.I just haven't been feeling this one. I plan to come back to it one of these days....more
I picked this up after hearing Ondaatje interviewed by Michael Chabon at City Arts and Lectures last month, because the selections that he read were sI picked this up after hearing Ondaatje interviewed by Michael Chabon at City Arts and Lectures last month, because the selections that he read were so compelling. I love a good sea voyage, and am fond of coming of age stories, so I figured this would be a great read. And until about the last quarter of the book, it was. I loved the tiny details of life on the ship that became such a huge and mysterious world to these young boys aboard. The characters were rich and intriguing. But in the last portion of the book, Ondaatje switches the tone from quiet and wondrous to suspenseful and dramatic, and that wasn't what I had bargained for. I liked the Idea of this book being a chronicle of an ordinary voyage, made interesting by the narrators perspective. When events that were not so ordinary started to occur, it took me out of my belief in the characters, and I stopped feeling like they were real. Too bad....more
This is the best coming of age book I've read in a long time. Amazing how a dozen moments contained within a year can say so much about growing up, faThis is the best coming of age book I've read in a long time. Amazing how a dozen moments contained within a year can say so much about growing up, facing one's fears, and finding one's identity. I kept thinking, "wow, it must be so hard to be a boy," but it was so heart-warming that _this_ boy was such a good one. How many similar novels deal with adolescent boys making the wrong choices and learning their lessons that way? It's nice to meet a protagonist who always does the right thing for a change....more
You know, this certainly wasn't Chabon's BEST book but it was incredibly charming and I am pretty sure that every young dad should read it. Chabon canYou know, this certainly wasn't Chabon's BEST book but it was incredibly charming and I am pretty sure that every young dad should read it. Chabon candidly admits to many shortcomings and limitations that I think most straight men (fathers or not) share and would find comfort in relating to; as a woman, not only do I find these admissions to be endearing, but it was refreshing to confirm that all the idiotic things that I have always suspected men of thinking are indeed being thought. Politically incorrect as it may be to say, as a species we often do conform to certain gender stereotypes and sometimes it can be a relief to look at our patterns in relationships (in this case specifically parenthood and marraige) in the simplest terms possible: men think this way, women think that way. And as always, the inevitable truth is that while women are being insightful and observant, and taking care of problems before they can even arise, men are thinking about... comic books. (And perhaps how to best protect their own egos.)...more
I have to admit that I've always been a little bit scared to read Hemingway. He's right up there with Bukowski in the "authors for men" category. Not I have to admit that I've always been a little bit scared to read Hemingway. He's right up there with Bukowski in the "authors for men" category. Not to mention his reputation as a person. But, as he appears twice on Patrick's list of books I must read, I decided to conquer my fear. And actually, I didn't hate this book! It is still not very "me," but it was much easier to read than I'd anticipated. Bring on "For Whom the Bell Tolls"! ...more
I'm not really sure what to say about this book, except that it was strangely compelling. The pace is both slow and fast, endlesssly describing the miI'm not really sure what to say about this book, except that it was strangely compelling. The pace is both slow and fast, endlesssly describing the minute details of life on the farm while also glossing over the span of a year in a paragraph. There's no question that the story is a metaphor for industrialization and urbanization, which would normally put me off, but, as I say, I didn't want to put it down. ...more
I think this is Michael Chabon's best, which is saying a lot. The characters are so charming and sympathetic and I love that it made me laugh out loudI think this is Michael Chabon's best, which is saying a lot. The characters are so charming and sympathetic and I love that it made me laugh out loud on occasion, which few books do. ...more
I would say that this is one of the best pieces of fiction I have read in the last five years, and possibly in all my life. It's very different from MI would say that this is one of the best pieces of fiction I have read in the last five years, and possibly in all my life. It's very different from McCarthy's western novels, but incredibly rich....more
This book is about twice as long as it should be, but aside from that it's a good read. The story of two boys growing up in the 1970's in Brooklyn, anThis book is about twice as long as it should be, but aside from that it's a good read. The story of two boys growing up in the 1970's in Brooklyn, and the different paths they choose....more
I find war books so boring, but this one is a favorite of mine. If you've seen the classic film, this is MUCH better. I find war books so boring, but this one is a favorite of mine. If you've seen the classic film, this is MUCH better. ...more
This is one of the best American travel narratives out there. William Least Heat Moon sets out in a van to explore the less-traveled roads around the This is one of the best American travel narratives out there. William Least Heat Moon sets out in a van to explore the less-traveled roads around the country and meets some amazing characters along the way. Definitely a favorite....more
Jim Carrol is an amazing writer, and his memoirs of the early Seventies are a great read. One can only imagine what it would have been like to live inJim Carrol is an amazing writer, and his memoirs of the early Seventies are a great read. One can only imagine what it would have been like to live in the Chelsea hotel at that time, coming in contact with so many talented and influential artists and musicians. A great read!...more
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