Book Thoughts: Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

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Go Set A Watchman is the sequel to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (you can read my review of To Go Kill a Mockingbird here). It is a short read, at fewer than 300 pages. This book takes place about 20 years after To Kill a Mockingbird, set in Maycomb, Alabama. Scout, the narrator of To Kill a Mockingbird returns home from New York during vacation and observes the changes that have taken place within Maycomb, and how Maycomb differs from New York.

Scout returns home to see her father, Atticus, aunt Alexandria and kind-of beau/perhaps future fiancé, Hank. Apparently, Scout and her brother Jem grew up with Hank and were close friends. I don’t recall Hank from To Kill a Mockingbird so it is strange that they were such close friends but Hank was never mentioned… Anyway, Scout catches Atticus and Hank at a citizen’s council meeting that espouses deeply racist thoughts. I don’t want to go into too much detail in case you want to read the book, but this event calls into question everything Scout thought she knew about her father, Hank and Maycomb as a town. Scout seeks counsel from her Uncle Jack and ultimately confronts Hank and Atticus. The narration focuses on the tensions between the North and the South in regards to race relations and states’ rights and the high racial tensions between White and Black residents of Maycomb.

I’ll be honest, I did not enjoy this book. The continuity between this book and To Kill a Mockingbird was off (e.g., there is no mention of Hank in To Kill a…) and it was full of pointless flashbacks (e.g., playtime to set up the relationship that supposedly existed between Scout, Jem and Hank). A lot of the storytelling felt forced or out of place. The book did not do enough to set up events or delve deeply into racial tensions that were growing during the Civil Rights Movement. I don’t think you’ll be missing anything if you skip Go Set A Watchman.

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Book Thoughts: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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In case you are unfamiliar with it, To Kill A Mockingbird is the classic novel by Harper Lee. It takes place is a small town in Alabama in the 1930s. This is one of those books you are supposed to read, but I never did so I decided better late than never, especially since a sequel,  Go Set A Watchman, was published this month. These are Harper Lee’s only two books, published 55 (!!) years apart.

This book centers around the Finch family; Attitcus, a lawyer, and his two children Scout (the younger sibling, and the book’s narrator) and Jem (the older sibling). Since Scout is the narrator, the world is framed from a child’s point of view which is obviously the point that Lee is trying to make. More on that later…

To me, there are three parts to this book. The first part set up the characters that live in the town and points out the differences between its inhabitants. During this section, Scout and Jem also wonder about Boo Radley, who lives on their street, and never comes out of his parents’ house. He is an enigma to them so they try to look inside the house, pass Boo notes, etc. This part of the book was very slow to me as it was mostly the children playing and going to school. I was getting impatient…

The second part of the novel picks up a bit and focuses on the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, with Atticus Finch appointed as Tom’s lawyer. In particular, the court scene and dialogue between lawyers and witnesses is what finally drew me in. Not only was the content interesting, but the novel really began to address racial inequality, tension and outright racism that was ingrained in the South. Don’t worry, I won’t give away the outcome if you haven’t read the book yet.

The third part of the novel dealt with the aftermath of the trial and served as commentary on race relations during the time. We also finally learn more about Boo Radley  bringing the book back around full circle.

This book was published in 1960 and seeing as race is still a sensitive topic in 2015,  I can’t even imagine the controversy and conversations it stirred when it was first published. To Kill A Mockingbird highlights a town’s struggling to overcome racism (well, some of the townspeople) and how prejudicial thoughts are passed through generations. In an especially poignant moment, Scout is talking to her brother Jem about how there is just one type of people in the world, not the various types that Jem thinks there are—essentially that we are all just people. Jem comments that he used to think that, too. Food for thought.

I would recommend this book, not only is it a classic but once you get through the first part of the book the writing is really well thought out. I will be reading Go Set A Watchman once I can get it from the library! I got my copy of To Kill A Mockingbird at the library--your local library will most likely have it since it is a classic novel.

Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird? Let me know your thoughts on the book if you’ve read it!

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Book Thoughts: Life After Life and A God In Ruins by Kate Atkinson

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I recently read Kate Atkinson’s two newest novels, Life After Life and A God In Ruins. These are described as “companion novels,” The two books take place during roughly the same time period (1900s, focusing on World War II) but A God In Ruins is not a sequel to Life After Life. Life After Life focuses on the life of Ursula Todd and A God In Ruins focuses on the life of Ursula’s brother, Teddy. Atkinson has a unique writing style that is very fresh and engaging. She also makes her characters seem really alive and every character (main or supporting) elicited some sort of response from me.

Life After Life

Took me a minute to get into, couldn’t quite figure out where she was going with the writing style. The main character, Ursula Todd, repeatedly dies and her life starts over again, with a different outcomes (sometimes) à la a butterfly effect. There is a lot of repetition for the first third or so of the book, but then it picks up. I’ve never read a book like this so I enjoyed it. Ursula is vaguely aware that something is not “normal” about her. She realizes that if she takes an action (say, pushing someone down the stairs) the end result (that person not dying) will be better. It’s interesting to read the multiple paths her life could/did take depending on her actions.

A God In Ruins

I liked this book better than Life After Life. It too deals with the choices that people make and the subsequent consequences. It really gets at how we humans are an imperfect species and how the past shapes the future. This book follows Teddy, Ursula’s brother, through his life and the life of his child and grandchildren. The sequencing of the story was a little confusing at times, but what I think is the main message of the book came across: life is fickle. The ending was very poetic, but in a non-cheesy way.

I would really recommend these books, but read them back to back or you might be a little lost in the second book—there are references to things that happen in the first book and the characters’ backgrounds that you learn in the first book aren’t recapped in the second.

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Review of: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

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Ahhh, spring cleaning! One of my favorite things to do (organization-wise, not actual cleaning). I saw a video on YouTube of Jennifer Ross decluttering her closet using the “KonMari Method.” I was intrigued as I love to organize and I love to get rid of stuff. Weird, I know, but it’s refreshing to me to clear out old clutter and make room for something new. After watching the video, I decided to read Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. I was already planning on going through all our “stuff” so I figured I would try Kondo’s KonMarie Method.  

The KonMarie Method focuses on purging one category at a time (as opposed to the ever popular one room at a time or X number of minutes a day) in a short period of time. Her method has you gather all you have of one item (e.g., clothes) and put them in a pile so you can see all you have. Next, you discard. She suggests using feeling over logic here. No, “I may use that for…” If it doesn’t bring you joy it goes. After you discard and are left with only things that “spark joy,” you organize. I’m usually a person who works more rationally than emotionally so this was an interesting exercise for me.

Kondo has you start by visualizing your ideal lifestyle, why you are motivated to declutter and what will bring you happiness. If it doesn’t “spark joy” it goes. Kondo makes a very good point—focus on what you want to keep, not on what you want to throw away. That way, you are left with only what you really want (and don’t feel bad for throwing away so much because you are left with what makes you happy). You can also donate what you are no longer keeping!

There is a strict order to what you declutter: Clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous stuff and lastly, mementos. The rationale to this order is that by the time you get to mementos you will have mastered the art of decluttering and will be able to part with items that may at one time had sentimental value.

Kondo gives good organization tips in regards to clothing: Fold clothes and store them vertically (as opposed to piled on top of each other) to save space and put less wear on your clothes, put heavier clothes on the left side of your closet and shorter, lighter clothes on the right side to make your closet seem airier (I tried this, it worked) and organize based on ease of storing, not ease of use (so that you actually put stuff away).

For books, “sometimes means never.” So, if you think you will read a book at some point, chances are you will not. And I’ll just add that if you change your mind down the road, you can always go to my favorite place—the library! Kondo also advocates throwing out basically all paper, unless it is something important like a contract or needed for taxes. She pulls no punches.

Kondo can use judgmental language at times (e.g., people are lazy, if you wear sweats you will end up being unattractive) and talks in metaphors a lot. I’m assuming the metaphors are a little off because of cultural differences. She also encourages you to talk to your possessions every day. For example, you should thank your shoes for protecting your feet and your bag for carrying your stuff. Again, this may be more of a cultural difference but I don’t see myself doing that. She also makes a bunch of health and fortune claims based on this method of decluttering. These claims are based on anecdotal evidence and not research.

Decluttering videos and tips on a minimalist lifestyle are very popular right now, so it’s easy to see why this method has caught on so quickly.

My husband and I go through our stuff at least once a year and donate what we don’t need or want so I wasn’t sure we would have much to get rid of using the KonMari Method. Boy was I wrong! We have four bags of clothes to donate, in addition to throwing a bunch out.  We are donating almost 100 books, 62 DVDs and 13 DVD TV series. I’m sure there is more we will get rid of in the near future too. We’re not people who accumulate things or buy random things, but this method really forces you to really pare down to the essentials that bring you joy. As far as my clothing/closet goes, I definitely feel lighter. Just about everything in my closet is something I want to wear and I’m not bogged down by seeing things that I never wear.

This is a very strict method of decluttering. It will probably be hard for people to stick to Kondo’s exact rules, but I suggest giving it a try and modifying the method to best suit your lifestyle. Just make sure you don’t get caught in the trap of only keeping something for sake of keeping it. I think it’s most important to follow the joy rule—only keep things that “spark joy.” Chances are you’ll feel lighter and happier. I know I do.

Now, what to do with all these empty hangers….

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What I’m Currently Reading…

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I know I said I was going to be reading the second installment of the Splintered Series by A.G. Howard, but I just wasn’t feeling a fantasy novel. It seems like Spring may be finally coming to New England (*knocks on wood*) so I’m getting the Spring cleaning itch.

I already had plans to go through all our “stuff,” but then I heard about the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo and decided to read that book and perhaps follow her method. So, that’s what I’m currently reading.

From what I have gathered, Kondo’s method of decluttering, called the KonMari Method, is different from other methods because she advocates decluttering in one fell swoop—not room by room or a little each day. She suggests putting all you have of one item (e.g., clothes) out where you can see it (so you see how much you actually have) and then going through and discarding items you don’t want. After discarding, you organize what you have left.

My husband and I do a pretty good job of purging what we don’t need/want (Goodwill got a hefty donation the last time we moved), so I’m curious to see how much we discard after I read this book and try the KonMari Method. I’ll let you know what I think of the book!

What book are you currently reading? Let me know!

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Review of: The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

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My reviews won’t ever be in-depth literary critiques, but I’ll let you know my general thoughts on the books I read, without giving away the story. Reading is a de-stressor for me so I don’t want to get too analytical about it.

Summary: Touted by Book Page as “The Next Gone Girl,” I was really looking forward to reading this book. The book follows Rachel, who is struggling with alcohol issues, as she tries to solve the murder of a woman, Megan, she does not know but saw everyday as she passed by Megan’s house on her train ride into London. Rachel is viewed as an “unreliable witness” to the murder because of her alcoholism and possible mental health issues. Rachel inserts herself into the case, nonetheless. This is very disturbing to her ex-husband (Tom) and his new wife (Anna) and baby who live on the same street as Megan and her husband, Scott. Rachel has a history of harassing her ex-husband (Tom) so they don’t appreciate her hanging around the neighborhood. As the book unfolds, we learn how the characters’ lives intertwine.

Assessment: All the characters in this book are a little “off,” but not blatantly so like in Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. A lot of the time it is hard to know what is happening (because Rachel blacks out) so it doesn’t have the hooky, vindictive brilliance of Gone Girl. Side note: If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend doing so but since I don’t want this to turn into a comparison of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, let’s move on…

It was hard for me to empathize with any of the characters because so much of who they are remained hidden throughout the book or the character wasn’t explored in-depth. The storyline was fine, but it wasn’t a story that hadn’t been written before and it was pretty predictable. It was a bit repetitive in the beginning and there were a lot of extraneous side notes that just muddled the story, in my opinion. The narrative was hard to follow at times because of the British-isms—British expressions are different than American ones so I had to use context clues to figure out the meaning. That being said, it might not sound like it but I still liked the book. I thought the main character, Rachel, was interesting and most people enjoy a murder mystery. You are also constantly wondering if Megan’s death will be Rachel’s salvation or unraveling.

Rating and Recommendation: I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I think it’s worth the read; since it’s getting a lot of (in my opinion, somewhat undeserving) hype so you may want to be it to be in the loop. It was a quick read.

What I’m Currently Reading: I’ll be starting Unhinged, the second book in the Splintered Series, by A.G. Howard soon.

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Review of Splintered by A. G. Howard

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My reviews won’t ever be in-depth literary critiques, but I’ll let you know my general thoughts on the books I read. Reading is a de-stressor for me so I don’t want to get too analytical about it...

Summary: Alyssa Gardner’s great-great-great grandmother is the Alice from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, and Alice’s antics in Wonderland set a curse upon her family. Alyssa must go back to Wonderland to right Alice’s mistakes in order to break the curse and prove that her mother, Allison, is not insane. Alyssa goes through the rabbit hole with her real-life crush, Jeb, and the adventure begins. Their Wonderland guide is the mysterious Morpheus who has a long history with Alyssa. Twists and turns ensue, and many of the beloved characters make an appearance, including the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter’s tea party guests.

Assessment: Overall, I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a really inventive take on Wonderland, and was not just a straight retelling of Alice in Wonderland. I felt like the characters, especially Morpheus, could have used a little more development. The relationship between Alyssa and Morpheus definitely needed more development—it did not feel real to me. The ending got a little confusing because a lot was jammed into a few pages. There was also some parts that really made you think that what is weird to us may actually be preferable for others. For example, when the characters in Wonderland were chasing around a goose to eat it, Morpheus (I think) told a disgusted Alyssa that the goose actually wants to be eaten but that the goose enjoys a good chase first. I really enjoyed the new take on a classic, while still tying in the original story.

Rating and Recommendation: I would recommend this book if you like young adult adventure/fantasy type books. It’s not in the utopia/dystopia realm (thankfully, I’m a little dystopia-d out), but there is a love triangle. I would give this book a 4 out of 5.

What I’m Currently Reading: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. It’s supposed to be the next Gone Girl so I’ve been waiting to read it. The main character, Rachel, rides the train everyday and people-watches those who live near the tracks. One day, she sees something concerning and goes to the police. She becomes involved in the investigation and in the lives of all those involved. From what I’ve read so far, it is really catchy and all the characters tie in nicely together.

After I finish The Girl on the Train, I’ll dive into the second book of the Splintered series called Unhinged. 

Favorite 5: Books Series & The Series I’m Currently Reading

I love reading. I especially love reading series. Usually, the longer the series the better. I really like getting invested with characters, understanding their world and then sticking with them for awhile. Unfortunately, that can lead to a lot of sadness when a series ends (J.K. Rowling, please make a series featuring the generation before Harry Potter! Please!). Below are my five favorite book series and a brief description of the series I am just beginning to read. I won’t go into too much detail, because I don’t want to give anything away.

5 Favorite Book Series (in a particular order):

1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (7 books)

            No description needed. A must read! The Half-Blood Prince (Book #6) is my favorite.

2. The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett (3 books)

Follows five families in varying countries through the 1900s. From World War I to the Cold War, you become engrossed in the lives and relationships of these families, and how the families’ experiences overlap.

3. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin (aka Game of Thrones; 5 books currently, 2 more expected)

            First off, the books are much different than the TV series. Second, there are lots and lots of families, making the family tree listing in the book very helpful. If you like mostly reality meets some fantasy, this is a good series for you. The first four books were excellent, I felt the 5^th dragged but I can’t wait for the 6^th. Unfortunately, Martin is notorious for taking years to publish a book in this series. I’m not kidding, the last book came out in 2011 and there’s absolutely no word on when the next will be done. The good thing is he does publish mini-stories that are connected to the series in edited volumes and he’s heavily involved creatively with the writing on the show. Then again, that’s probably why it takes so long to get the actual book out.

4. The Tudor Saga by Jean Plaidy (9-11 books depending on who you ask; Her real name is Eleanor Hibbert and she wrote under many pen names)

            This series chronicles the life and times of the Tudor family. From their rise to power during the War of the Roses to the infamous Henry VIII (and his wives) and the reigns of Henry VIII’s children, Elizabeth I and Mary. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read and Plaidy brings in a lot of historical fact without making it boring (but does not embellish either).

5. Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon (8 books and counting)

            This series follows Claire as she travels back in time through history (mainly in Scotland/England and America). I highly recommend these if you like a long and involved series. The last two books have dragged, but the first 6 are excellent. I haven’t seen the TV series so I don’t know how they compare. Like A Song of Ice and Fire, it can take several years for the next book in the series to come out, but just like Martin, Gabaldon has written short stores in edited volumes. Fun fact: They even contributed to the same volume, Dangerous Women.

Honorable Mentions: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Cormoran Strike Novels by J. K. Rowling, Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich (very easy beach reads),  The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor (inventive, but begins to drag), Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson (aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

The Book Series I’m Currently Reading:

Splintered Trilogy by A.G. Howard (published by Amulet Books)

This series follows Alyssa Gardner as she tries to break a family curse. She and her mother can hear bugs, flowers, etc. talk, and this curse has landed Alyssa’s mother in an institution. Alyssa’s great-great-great grandmother is the Alice who inspired Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. To break the curse, Alyssa must go back into Wonderland to tame its unruliness. It wouldn’t be a young adult series without a love triangle, and Splintered is no exception. I’m excited to see what develops…

What are your favorite book series? Let me know if the comments below. I’m always looking for a new series to read!

Review of: Thrive by Ariana Huffington

Summary: Thrive by Ariana Huffington (published by Harmony Books) focuses on Huffington’s creation of the Third Metric of success, which is comprised of well-being, wisdom and wonder. Huffington argues that the Third Metric needed in order to truly be successful. Basically, power and money are not the be-all end-all to success. Huffington walks us through the components of the Third Metric, each with its own dedicated chapter, and explores giving in a fourth chapter. This book claims to give pointers on how to disconnect from technology and balance work-home life to be a more successful, productive person.

Content: I felt that the first chapter, Well-Being, was on point. It really emphasized that we must take care of our bodies physically and mentally in order to thrive and be effective at work and at home. She discusses sleep, exercise, free time and work productivity. Huffington gave many examples of how she changed her life to increase her well-being and connect with her family/friends. This chapter really inspired me to focus on creating a stable work-life balance so that I can be more effective at both places.

The Wisdom chapter started to wander off and I felt the Wonder chapter just lost focus entirely. The Wonder chapter started talking about how coincidence is due to the existence of God and talked about death a lot. The content was not really brought back to thriving, success or productivity. There was also a fourth chapter on Giving that was choppy and basically a summary of research that concludes volunteering and giving are good for you. Giving was not named as part of the Third Metric, so I was surprised when there was a fourth chapter. I felt Huffington’s voice was lost the further into the book I got. She went from talking about changes she has made personally in her life to disconnect from technology and to “thrive” to listing off research findings.

Huffington did not talk about her own routine as much as I would have liked. What does her typical day look like? Does she truly disconnect from technology, and if so, how often? I would have liked to see more of her suggestions in action, and perhaps have set challenges for the reader to try.

The book also did not touch much upon how technology and hyperconnectivity is affecting real-life relationships. Are social skills degrading? Is anxiety rising because we always need to be “on”? How do you limit kids’ technology use at the risk of them not developing skills necessary to navigate today’s world?

Voice/Writing Style:  The writing style itself made the book easy to read. However, the writing style and voice changed throughout the book. Like I said, I felt Huffington’s voice got lost at points and the narrative just became a listing off of research findings. I felt some disconnect between the earlier and later parts of the book.

Applicability to Life: This book had great potential to be applicable to everyday life. I think this book can be whatever you take out of it. It can be a great motivator to start making some changes, like “no tech time” or getting more sleep. I feel a companion book outlining challenges to help people thrive would be a big-seller.

Rating and Recommendation: I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5. I would recommend it for those who are having a hard time with work-life balance and/or those who are really obsessed with their gadgets. This book may be able to kick start some change. It was an easy and fast read so even if every chapter wasn’t totally applicable I didn’t feel like I wasted my time. I would definitely recommend the “Well-Being” chapter.

The Book I’m Currently Reading…

I’m currently reading Thrive by Ariana Huffington (published by Harmony Books). I picked this up from one of my favorite places—the library! Huffington discusses what she calls the Third Metric of Success, which includes well-being, wisdom and wonder. I’ve just begun reading this, but I was drawn to it because of the emphasis she puts on work-life balance. This is something most people struggle with, myself included, and I wanted to reinvigorate the importance of work-life balance within me. Huffington argues that when we take time to unplug and recharge (from work, and from technology), we are more productive and successful at work. I’ll let you know what I think of it when I’m done.

What are you currently reading? What books do you want to read? I’m excited for The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (published by Riverhead). Book Page touted it as “The next Gone Girl” in their January 2015 edition (it’s a free book review magazine available at libraries). I’ve got it on hold at a few libraries.