Joy Completes Challenge!

I'm having difficulty posting, so here's my list of books with links for this completed challenge:

New York Times Notable Book Challenge

I will be doing a synopsis of the challenge at the end of the year.

"Thoughts of Joy..." ~ Everyman (Roth)

"Thoughts of Joy" can be found here.

If you like to read or listen to someone complaining about aches and pains, medications, surgery, sickness, infidelity, divorces, estranged relationships, and death - this one is for you. It was NOT for me!

"Thoughts of Joy..." ~ The Road

"Thoughts of Joy..." can be found here.

NO, I did not read this as an Oprah Book Club member! I checked it out from the library and had it nicely nestled in a pile of TBR books days before she announced it. However, I did put it on the top of the pile once I knew I wouldn't be able to renew it because hordes of people would be placing it on hold.

*I'm not sure why I felt compelled to share the above, but I feel better now. :)

Normally when I finish a book, I run to the computer (okay, I don't run, but I do make it there rather quickly) and type out my thoughts. I don't feel 100% finished until I click "PUBLISH", and then I can move on to the next book. I tell you that because that didn't happen this time. It couldn't. I couldn't. I couldn't put my thoughts together enough to make any sense. (I'm not quite sure if I waited long enough now!) Anyway...

Wow! Bleak. Powerful. Thought-provoking. This author was as new-to-me as was the subject matter, so I had two whammies at once. What a well-written post-apocalyptic novel, although on occasion it felt a little drawn out. I attributed that to my traveling "the road" with this father and son duo and feeling every pothole and pebble along the way. I continue to feel a little battered from the ramifications of that journey and suggest all readers be prepared.

I have been left in somewhat of a funk. I am in need of something a little more uplifting. I'm off to find some happiness...

"Thoughts of Joy..." ~ Eat, Pray, Love (Gilbert)

"Thoughts of Joy..." can be found here.

This is the recollection of Elizabeth Gilbert's healing, spiritual journey. She traveled to Italy, India, and Indonesia in search of self and the meaning of life, ultimately seeking peace and tranquility. I admire her independence and determination to pursue this right and privilege as a human being.

While there are numerous bits of wisdom or sheer observations that can be taken from this book, here are just two nuggets that happened to stick with me:

"This is what rituals (ceremonies or celebrations) are for...to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of joy or trauma so we don't have to haul these feelings around with us forever weighing us down."

"Make peace with what you were given."

Both of these quotes are not necessarily profound, yet in their own way have made an impact on me. I do think they are a good representation that being in a reflective mood when reading this book will contribute to it being a pleasant and thought-provoking experience.

A few times throughout the book, I wanted her to stop being so self-absorbed, but when that happened I would say to myself, "Hey, it's HER memoir. I think that's allowed." :)

"Thoughts of Joy..." ~ Reading Like A Writer (Prose)

"Thoughts of Joy..." can be found here.

Anything goes. That's what I gleaned from this book. I chose to read this as a reference book for me as a teacher, not as a writer. Therein lays the reason for my rating. Even though I understand and agree with all that Prose discussed, from the get-go, I just wasn't on the same page. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind or thought it would be different, I'm not exactly sure, but my rating remains my rating.

I do believe that this book could be a useful tool for those that need to look at their personal writing from a new perspective. Reading though purposefully chosen excerpts to show different styles in word choice, sentence structure, paragraphing, narration, character development, dialogue, details, and gestures could definitely be a help to those in need. Her selections were well-chosen and depict exactly what she was trying to convey.

Prose also touches on the mentality of writers and how many feel trapped or compelled to follow the "rules" of writing, when those "rules" are consistently and effectively broken throughout literature. Here's how Prose relays that very same message:

"...literature not only breaks the rules, but makes us realize that there are none."

Ultimately, Prose believes (which I agree and teach) that the light that guides the path of writing and is the core encourager is ... reading.

"Thoughts of Joy..." ~ Digging to America (Tyler)

"Thoughts of Joy..." can be found here.

The story was very shallow and repetitious with no direction or point and the characters were boring and unimpressive. Thankfully, I was able to accomplish many other tasks while listening to it. If it wasn’t a BOiPod, I may have abandoned it; there wouldn't have been anything compelling enough to keep me reading. I like to be either entertained or informed (or both) when reading or listening to a book, unfortunately this one didn’t deliver in either arena.

"Thoughts of Joy..." ~ Beasts of No Nation (Iweala)

"Thoughts of Joy..." can be found here.

You can't let the light-weight of this book fool you; it is very heavy in content. It was an extremely difficult book to read and to rate. The language in which the narrator speaks is broken pidgin English, but I found it to be easy to comprehend; however, it may cause some to be annoyed.

The story of civil war is told through the eyes of Agu, a young boy, that is torn from his place of hiding to either join the rebel soldiers or die. Agu's experience is horrifying and leaves him stripped of all innocence. What else would you expect with the oxymoron "child-soldier"?

This by no means is a pleasurable read. It is filled with brutality and sadness. I learned from it, so ultimately I'm glad I read it, but it's not for everybody.

"Thoughts of Joy..." ~ The Inhabited World (Long)

"Thoughts of Joy..." can be found here.

I had an 'on again/off again' relationship with this book. I first was introduced to it by Kristin at Books for Breakfast and was very intrigued, so I put it on my forever long TBR list. Then, I decided I wasn't interested in reading about a ghost and crossed it off. However, when the NYT Notable Book Challenge came along (it being on the list of choices) and my desire to stretch myself in genres, I decided to take the plunge. All in all, it was a bit somber, but I'm glad I read it.

What stands out most to me is the in-depth emotional content and well-developed characters. Long's ability to weave deep connections to these characters was very well done. The concept of Evan (the main character) being a 'ghost' is far from freaky or scary, despite his ability to 'live' on the premise where he lived and died, as he seeks the reason "why?" he was led to suicide. So, we go on the journey with him, going from who lives in the house now back to Evan's childhood and forward again.

Closure to the plot was there, yet I had hoped for a more satisfying ending. I feel a vague sense of being left to dangle. Maybe that's how Evan felt. Hmmm, something to ponder.

Spoiler Alerts

I just want to say "THANK YOU!" to all of those that have been posting a "Spoiler" alert in their reviews. I truly appreciate it.

My thoughts on books do not contain spoilers and I don't like to read them either; I barely read dust jackets! Over the years, I have found that it is often helpful to know something about a chosen book through the dust jacket, a review, word of mouth, etc. because I have been burned many times by plain and simply not knowing...however, I still do not want to read much.

Anyway, this blog is the perfect place to review and discuss the books with freedom. I can't wait to read my choices so I can read all of your reviews!

THANKS AGAIN!

~*~ Joy ~*~

Joy's Progress

I'm just waiting to be informed by the library that my hold on The Inheritance of Loss (Desai) is in. I'm reading for other challenges as I wait.

*After finally receiving the book from the library and giving it much thought, I have decided NOT to read The Inheritance of Loss. I did not have it as part of my original 12 and added it due to another book group, but ultimately...I don't have any interest in reading this book at this time.

Joy's Challenge Choices

1. Half of a Yellow Sun (Adichie)

2. One Good Turn (Atkinson)

*3. Eat, Pray, Love (Gilbert)
Finished on 1-15-07

*4. The Inhabited World (Long)

Finished 3-25-07

*5.The Road (McCarthy)
Finished 4-03-07

6. Black Swan Green (Mitchell)
Shelved for another day.

7. Suite Francaise (Nemirovsky)
Shelved for another day.

*8.Beasts of No Nation (Iweala)
Finished 3-29-07

9. The Echo Maker (Powers)

*10. Reading Like a Writer (Prose)
Finished on 11-5-06

*11.Everyman (Roth)
Finished on 5-22-07

*12. Digging to America (Tyler)

Finished on 09-7-06

*Click on a title will link you to "Thoughts of Joy..."