The Marriage of Opposites

The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The historical novelization of Camille Pissarro's mother's life. It starts out on the island of St. Thomas, which has become a haven for persecuted Jews, freed slaves, and Moravians. But there are still rules of who can marry whom, and religion, class, and race become lines that society forbids crossing. Love often breaks those rules, however, and the myriad consequences make for a rich tapestry of secrets, grudges, and enduring love stories. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it even more interesting.

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We were meant to be mice, to go unnoticed so that we would not bring hatred upon our people, who had been so ill-treated in every nation.  But I was not a mouse.  In the fields where I walked, I was much more interested in the actions of the hawks.

Perhaps that was what my mother disliked most.  I resembled her.  I could not help it, but wonder if for some women, that was the worst sin of all.

Fever Dream

Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is how I like my horror--with hints of "The Yellow Wallpaper" and the inevitable doom of Ethan Frome . It's a short novel and it begs to be read in one sitting. It is strange and haunting and the fact that you can clearly discern some of its underlying truths such as environmental hazards, our uncomfortableness with death and disability, and our false feeling of safety that only bad things happen to others, makes the tale only better.

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Amusing Ourselves to Death

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Andrew Postman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An insightful view of how television has changed the way we get information--from entertainment, to the news, to education. While I wouldn't argue with any of its conclusions, I think the more pressing need is to understand how the internet and social media has further changed things. I would love to see a supplement chapter on that, because while tv has changed us, who watches tv the same way anymore? I do think understanding how technology and entertainment work is key to helping us navigate it without being manipulated by it.

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Brave New World

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not as shocking as 1984 , BNW is probably more relevant. Keep the masses entertained, doped up, and conditioned to accept their lot in life, and you have the perfect society. Family bonds, literature, and science are all sacrificed to keep people from wanting more, having connections, or feeling anything real. It may not be as dramatic as Orwell but it's just as scary.

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shift the emphasis from truth and beauty to comfort and happiness.

Patron Saint of Liars

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors, but this is not my favorite book by her. The book is told from three pov--each one-third of the novel. So in a way, it became three novellas, the other characters continuing the story but without understanding all the interior motivations of the other characters. Patchett does such a good job of immersing you in the characters that it can feel a little jarring and disorienting with the shift, until you get the new character's rhythm down. It's a family drama that is at once unique and melancholy. The sort of story of a family that is chosen, not made, from a framework based on letting go those whom you love.

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Apex by Ramez Naam
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The end of the Nexus trilogy. What started out as mind-blowing became mind-numbing. Naam's strength is taking technology that is feasible and creating a world around it, bringing up ethical and political issues that might occur because of it. However, by the third novel, there are so many characters, so many locations, motivations, and schemes that it ground all the momentum to a halt. Most of the same issues and philosophies are repeated here, though I did enjoy the movie-star holograms that appeared in people's living rooms to help the government control people's information and attitudes. It's still an interesting story, just needed more focus, and to be about 2/3 shorter.

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The Good Braider

The Good Braider by Terry Farish
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a lyrical novel a.k.a. book written in poetry. I have to admit that the first poem undid me. This book tells a refugee story--the good and the bad, the hardships of travel, leaving loved ones behind, frustration with bureaucracy, the clash of different cultures, the hope of starting anew. It also recounts the devastation of war, how especially women and children suffer from its effects. I loved it until I realized it was not true, and not even written by an immigrant or a refugee. I actually thought it was a non-fiction book and I thought how powerful it was. It is still powerful as a fiction book--the struggle still valid--but I learned not to just plow into a book, or my expectations might get in the way of my enjoyment.

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