6/81 Chalice by Robin McKinley - 4 Stars

Chalice by Robin McKinley, just for fun category

How many times can Robin McKinley rewrite Beauty and the Beast? Well, if every retelling were as fresh and original as this one, she could keep it up for as long as she wanted and I would keep right on reading them! 

Chalice starts with a young woman awaiting the arrival of the new Master of their lands. The young woman is named Marisol, but is called Chalice, because that is her customary function. As Chalice, she is to work closely with the new Master and restore the Willowlands to harmony and balance. 

I really enjoyed this book. My main complaints are that first, there was so much description and not enough dialogue; and second, that the book often jumped around in time and sometimes had me confused about if the event I was reading about was happening now or in the past. 

But I can recommend this book. I liked Marisol as a character and couldn't wait to see how it would end. My daughter, whose book I borrowed, says that she enjoyed it more the second time she read it. Maybe I will try it again myself and see if she's right.

Levels of the Game by John McPhee (8/81)

Levels of the Game by John McPhee
Category: Nonfiction

In 1968, the U.S. Open Championship was first opened to amateur players. They weren't expected to do very well against the players on the pro tour, but both Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner made it to the semifinals. This is the story of that game. McPhee starts right off with the first serve, moving cinematically for a close shot of several points, then backing out to focus on the perspective of someone in the player's box or watching the match on television, or maybe taking a panoramic shot of the background of one of the players and how they started playing tennis, and moving in again for a closeup of a game or two.

I chose this read because in an interview recently the author of The Best Game Ever, Mark Bowden, said that it was a model for his writing in his book about the 1958 Championship football game. I also found it excellent preparation for the Australian Open. Levels of the Game, published in 1969, is a little dated in the description of the "modern" game of tennis, and by comments made by some of the players, like "he plays like that because he's white" or "because he's black", or he has a "Latin temperament". McPhee was definitely at his best describing moments in the match, a tense point, a solid ace, and the reaction of players and fans. A worthwhile read that left a smile on my face in the end. 4.5 stars.

Cross posted at Born Reader.

The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman (7/81)

The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman
Category: New-to-me Authors

In the 1960s, Natalie Marx and her family are looking into various hotels and cottages around Lake Devine, where they're going to be vacationing. Most get back to them with rates and accommodations, but one in particular, the Inn at Lake Devine, suggests that Gentiles would feel more comfortable in this lodging. Natalie becomes somewhat fascinated with the establishment that would flout laws (she sent the proprietor a copy of the Civil Rights Act), and finagles her way into a visit.

This is hardly even the start of the story, but the plot is much more delightfully fun when you don't know what's coming. Natalie is the narrator as well as the main character, and she's a fun person to be "in the head" of. All the characters were great: I never had the sense that any of the secondary characters were cookie cutter or background, all of them felt very real. Also, it was a somewhat "local" New England story, so it was fun recognizing a surprisingly large number of locations mentioned in the tale. Though racism is a main theme throughout, it's dealt with both seriousness and humor and isn't a heavy story. I'm definitely going to be looking to read more by this author. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to LibraryThing members detailmuse and bonniebooks for recommending this as my first book by Elinor Lipman!

Cross posted at Born Reader.

Things I've Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi (6/81)

Things I've Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi
Category: Nonfiction

This is the second book I've read by this author, who also wrote Reading Lolita in Tehran. Though both books are nonfiction about her life in Iran, Things I've Been Silent About is much broader in scope than the first. This book focuses much more on Azar Nafisi's personal life, particularly her relationship with her parents. Written in roughly chronological order from before her parents were married through the early 2000s, the narrative covers many years in Iran and the U.S. with some historical and political events, particularly as they related to the author directly. For those memories that seem particularly poignant, she lapses into the present tense taking the reader into the moment with her. Her memoirs are often sad, but beautifully written.

Here is a sample of her writing, from the prologue when she discusses the meaning of the title: "There are so many different forms of silence: the silence that tyrannical states force on their citizens, stealing their memories, rewriting their histories, and imposing on them a state-sanctioned identity. Or the silence of witnesses who choose to ignore or not speak the truth, and of victims who at times become complicit in the crimes committed against them. Then there are the silences we indulge in about ourselves, our personal mythologies, the stories we impose upon our real lives" (xxi). This book speaks of all these types of silences. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

Cross posted at Born Reader.

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die ed. by Peter Boxall (5/81)

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, edited by Peter Boxall (2006 edition)
Category: Books about Books/Reading/Writing

In his introduction, Peter Boxall writes about the difficulty of compiling such a finite list. As many books as it contains, it covers hundreds of years of fiction (and some nonfiction) writing, and could hardly cover all books you ought to read, ever. Of course, any such finite list could not possibly encompass all of the "great books" one could read, and the introduction makes clear that the compilers are aware of that impossibility. The chosen titles are organized chronologically by publication date. Each summary begins with the author's birth and death dates, the date of publication, and the publisher. Depending on the book and author, we are also told other information, such as the author's real name or an award the book won. Then, one of the 100 contributors summarizes and offers a bit of literary criticism in approximately 300 words.

Of the completed offering, the editor writes, "this book reflects a set of priorities that are shared by today's readers, a certain understanding of where the novel comes from, a particular kind of passion for reading" (9). This was an interesting way to read the list, as I kept reflecting on what each choice had to say about the world we live in now and the worldview of the contributors. Though I haven't read many on the list (56), and don't really want to read many more (approx. 71), I found it interesting reading all the same because of what it says about today's interpretation of "where the novel comes from, [and] a particular kind of passion for reading" (9). Especially in the largest section - the 20th century - many of the choices seem to question authority, religion, government, or push the boundaries of fiction itself. The editor also hesitates to say that this book should be read as any type of "canon"; in fact, many newer titles (approximately 100 pages of 949 cover the 1990s alone) are included. One thing I found extremely frustrating was the spoilers - many of the summaries summarized to the end of the book. So if you are planning on reading all the 1001 books, I recommend that you use the book mainly for reference and don't read the summary until after, so you don't get any spoilers for those titles you're not familiar with. 4 stars.

Cross posted at Born Reader.

The Warrior Heir

The Warrior Heir
Cinda Williams Chima

Hyperion Paperbacks
February 2007
ages 9 - 12
448 pages (trade size)

Jack had heart surgery when he was a baby and must take medicine everyday for the rest of his life or he will die, so he & his mother were told by the London Specialist flown to Ohio just for him. Except, one day when Jack is 16, he forgets. And he's never felt better! Stronger, fiercer and more confident than ever before. Then he loses control and almost kills another player during soccer try-outs, never mind that the kid is a bully.

One forgetful moment leads him into a world of waring wizards intend on capturing him to use in a tournament. A tournament to the death to decide the next ruler of the Council.

Jack is one of the last warriors left and the two strongest fractions are looking for him, dead or alive.


This book throws some history at you but it is a delightful read. A classic good vs evil but sometimes you can't tell who is on which team!

Glad a read it? YES, will I read the next? Already ordered.

The Wizard Heir & The Dragon Heir follow



review at my blog has cover picture

Anne's House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery (4/81)

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery, read by Susan O'Malley
Category: Audiobooks

In Anne's House of Dreams, the fifth book in the "Anne" series, newlyweds Anne and Gilbert Blythe move to Four Winds, where Gilbert will take over his uncle's medical practice. In her new home, she meets new people like Captain Jim, the keeper of the lighthouse, Leslie, who is trapped in an unhappy marriage, and the unique Miss Cornelia, who entertains all Four Winds' inhabitants with her pronouncements against men and Methodists.

This was a reread for me. Though I already knew what to expect in terms of the story, reading it now as an adult was very different from when I was a young teen. Then, I was rather scandalized by some of Miss Cornelia's ways and Leslie's strongly emotional outbursts. This time around, Miss Cornelia was much funnier and though I couldn't really relate to Leslie's feelings I could understand them a little bit more. Because of this, and the fact that most of the characters are in their 20s and married, I think calling this a "teen" novel is a bit of a misnomer. 4.5 stars.

Cross posted at Born Reader.