The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

No boring mythology here.

Synopsis of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights—and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes. 

My two cents

Throw away the tale of the invincible Achilles foiled because of that vunerable spot in his heel that wasn't touched by the waters of the river Styx. Now replace this with a man-god who falls in love with his childhood friend Patroclus, a man who would follow him to the ends of the earth. But Achilles needs to choose his path: will he answer the call of his destiny to become a god? Or will he choose true happiness with the man he loves?

***

*Sigh.* I've fallen in love. Again.  

This was among my favourite reads for 2013. I had been meaning to review this but I seem to have such a harder time reviewing books I love because I agonize over how to express why I love the book so much. In the meantime, I decided to re-read it and now I have to put this book among my all-time favourites.

I got my first taste of mythology in high school through, you guessed it, Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey. I remember I was ahead of the pack in high school because I really enjoyed mythology; something about it just drew me in. Revisiting mythology through this award-winning book was such a treat! I honestly could. not. put. this. down. I remember feeling like this when I first discovered Philippa Gregory... so excited and wanting to read more in the genre! (What is this genre Miller has created, I don't know: mythological retellings?)

If you got bored with mythology in school, this is a far cry from it. This is well written, engaging and entirely accessible. It features a bevy of gods and goddesses but with oh-so-human feelings and personalities. There is drama, love, backstabbing and politicking, and epic heroic battle. There are lessons to be learned. There are stories to be immortalized.

This is about tortured souls, heartache, and ambition. The golden boy Achilles torn between true happiness of loving and of the call of his destiny for godhood. The weakling Patroclus who eventually grows into his own and is torn between protecting Achilles' reputation as a god-man and of declaring to the world his love. The chilling sea nymph Thetis is torn by her raw ambition for her son's success and her deep love for him. 

If you want to feel every emotion, hang on every word said, and find out how this love story plays out, I urge you to pick this up. I am willing to bet that you will love it just like I did.

There are books. And there are books that are a cut above the rest. This one is way above those.

Verdict: An intimate retelling of the love story between the mythological characters of Achilles and Patroclus, this book will throw away any misconceptions that mythology is dull or boring and will seal your love of all things Madeline Miller.

Shout out to Ellie of Curiosity Killed the Bookworm -- I won this over on her blog during a Literary Giveaway Blog Hop last year!

Book Depository

Mountainfit by Meera Lee Sethi

Ahh, to fall in love with the natural world  

Synopsis: In 2011, a tiny bird observatory in far western Sweden found itself hosting its first American volunteer, and Meera Lee Sethi found herself exactly where she wanted to be: watching great snipe court each other under the midnight sun and disturbing lemmings on her way to find a gyrfalcon nest. Mountainfit is an ecological field notebook, a keenly observed natural history of the life that sings from the birches, wheels under the clouds, and scuttles over the peat bogs of the Swedish highlands. And it is a letter, in 21 jewel-like parts, from a well-read and funny friend. Meera's vigorous, graceful prose communicates a wry understanding of how utterly ordinary it is to long for more out of life--and how extraordinary it can feel to trust that longing. Meera's intent was to create a book small enough to fit in your pocket and read on the train to work in the morning. It is that. But it's also large enough to contain a mountain or two.

My two cents

I declared this among my favourite reads of 2013, so I figured I better say why I love this little book so!   Because it captures the sheer wonder of discovery! Meera Sethi Lee has captured in her deliciously perceptive prose the joy, the wonder, the glee of feeling like a little child once again in this beautiful, wondrous world that we live in. There is no place for cynicism when you read this.

I have had this book for a while. I even hosted Meera on this blog with her array of beautiful photography and even more cheerful words. I held off on reading this but my timing couldn't have been better. I picked this up when I was feeling a little worn down (probably because of the sudden drop in temperatures) that I thought a little bit of humour was needed. Because really, why would I want to miss witnessing a lemming do a back flip?

Reveling in Meera's words and wonder is the next best thing to being out there in the slopes of Sweden.

Bird lover? Animal enthusiast? Love the outdoors? Have a soft spot for a contemplative life without the hum and distractions of a city life ... you need to read this.

There. A short, simple yet much-deserved rave about a great book!

Verdict: Everything about this book puts a smile on my face. You need to read it!    I received a copy of the print version of this book from the publishers in exchange for nothing :) I had a gut feel about this book when I read the synopsis and consequently hosted the author my blog. 

My Favourite Reads of 2013

I welcome the new year yet look back on the past year with some sentimentality.

It's been a great reading year, as I say in my previous post. I've read a fantastic lot of books ... thanks to fellow book lovers/bloggers for their reviews and recommendations, to publishers and authors who pitch their books to me ... and to serendipity (because really, sometimes, I just have a gut feel about certain books)!

In no particular order, here are some of the books I enjoyed in 2013.

(I've reviewed majority of them, but there may be that odd one that I haven't so don't be too surprised if the link leads to a Friday 56 post!)

Oh, and let me know if you've read any of them, as I'd love to compare notes :)

Fiction

   

• Some Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson (romance): An atypical romance for those who gag (me) at typical romances.
• Countdown City (The Last Policeman II) by Ben H. Winters (sc-fi): 74 days left for the asteroid to hit the earth, and Hank is still being the policeman! The anticipated second book in the trilogy, it exceeded my expectations! 
• The Death of Bees by Lisa O-Donnell (dark comedy): Weirded me out that I liked it so much. 
• Ru by Kim Thuy (essays based on true events of a Vietnamese immigrant to Canada): Stark, stripped, unsentimental writing. An immigrant story that hits really hard.

   

• The Round House by Louise Erdrich (Native American lit): Hard-hitting. This book's story about the desecration of what is considered sacred in life and in the Native American culture is such a powerful read.
• An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (young adult): Intensely smart, witty, and funny young adult lit.
• The Tragedy of Fidel Castro by Joao Cerqueira (satire, alternate reality): Definitely out of my comfort zone, but so funny it felt good. A satire of the Cuban missile crisis.
• Persephone's Torch: A Novel in Three Acts by freder (historical fiction): An homage to theatre and theatre professionals, this book is deliciously atmospheric. 

   

• This is Paradise: Stories by Kristiana Kahakuwila (short stories): I had an affinity to the cultural context of these short stories about the gritty side of Hawaii. Loved every single story! A debut novel.
• A Vision of Angels by Timothy Jay Smith (crime/suspense): An intense read, this humanizes and highlights the futility of war as depicted in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The author was a journalist who covered this area and he really breathes life into his characters. 
• Loteria by Mario Alberto Zambrano (novel, but more like a novelette): A short quick read which has Mexican Loteria cards being revealed as the page turns, and slowly piecing together the tragic pieces of 11-year-old Luz. Yet another great debut novel!
• The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro (historical fiction): A story that draws upon the powerful memories that scent triggers. Set in both the 1920s and the 1950s, this is about the mystery of identity. Intriguing and sensual. 

• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (mythology): A re-imagining of Homer's Iliad, this s a look into the life of Achilles and his friendship with Patroclus ... amidst wars, and the bickerings of gods and goddesses. Inventive, engaging, and makes mythology so damn sexy!
• The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (satire): Balram Halwai is "The White Tiger, a Thinking Man and an Entrepreneur," who in his autobiography announces he is a murderer. Apparently that's what it takes to move up in a corrupt India!

Non-Fiction

• Mountainfit by Meera Sethi Lee: Essays ruminating about life and the sheer wonder of being out and interacting with the natural world. 
• This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett: Essays about life, love and commitment. Funny, insightful, and oh-so-accessible.
• However Long the Night by Amy Molloy: A biography about a woman and a group that put a stop to female genital mutilation in Africa. Amazing stuff. 
• Pain, Parties, Work: Sylvia Plath in New York, Summer 1953 by Elizabeth Winder: A magazine-like compilation of Sylvia Plath as a young woman, pre-suicidal. Compelled me to read Plath's The Bell Jar. Such a provoking read!

   

Special mention

Uno Kudo Volume 2: Naked: I wasn't sure how to classify this book but it is unlike anything I have ever seen! It is the product of an art collective and draws in the best of art -- poetry, photography, essays, graphic art -- to explore nakedness. It is all around gorgeous! 

***

Well, that's it for this round-up! Happy New Year! Have a wonderful reading year ahead!

2013, a great reading year!

Happy New Year! This is my last post for the year, and since I have been generally quiet (come on, life must go on ...), I thought I'd sum up my reading year really quickly. 

Overall, it's been a fantastic reading year for me! I've read:

• A total of 78 books
• or a total of 21,215 pages
• with an overwhelming number being 3, 4 or even 5 star ratings (which translate to I liked it, Really liked it, or it was Amazing!)

I'll make a separate post of my faves because I really need to go through all those 4 and 5 star ratings.

Check out this nifty diagram that I got from my Goodreads!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's ... and here's looking forward to more great reading in 2014.

Morning Light by Holland Kane

Not light reading. Not at all. 

About Morning Light by Holland Kane: Emily, a twenty-four-year-old dancer and choreographer, confronts her husband's fixation with right-wing Catholic dogma that condemns her use of birth control. His faith is so powerful that he refuses to have sex with her, even though he desperately wants to. As awful as this broken faith feels, she is troubled more by her best friend's losing fight with cancer, and seeks to help her friend's grief-stricken, precocious, son--the seventeen-year-old David. But the boy's willful ways turn the tables on her. Denied intimacy by her husband, the boy's passion asserts itself, and everyone's life is explosively altered. 

Twenty years later, the successful David, a theater director, gets his hands on Emily's secret journals and uncovers her covert emotional life, revealing family secrets unknown to him, and discovering prickly truths about himself. Part literary memoir, part poignant psychological drama, this haunting love story explores the secrets of attraction and the mysteries of obsession--a boy's coming-of-age, and one woman's search for love and success in a year of intense achievement and painful loss.

My two cents

Emily is young and beautiful; she is a choreographer and dancer. Her husband Rick loves her ... but is going through a dilemma-of-sorts, his extreme Roman Catholic faith (or is it blind belief in a priest he idolizes?) gets him on an abstinence kick, much to Emily's dismay.

Not that Emily has a lot her on plate already: her dear friend and mentor Sara is battling cancer and she is choreographing her next major piece for her big debut. David, Sara's teenage son, becomes Emily's distraction and she succumbs, making him her lover. What does this action hold for Emily and Rick's marriage? How will besotted David get over Emily? What does the future hold?

***

This is beautiful storytelling! I found especially intriguing (and well-done) how this was told in retrospect -- the successful theatre director David is telling his love story and musing upon Emily's actions and feelings, including his insights into some of Emily's diary entries.

One highlight is that I found the descriptions of creating art and dance very engrossing. Dancers and art lovers will surely enjoy Kane's appreciation of the rapture (and disappointment) of creating anything of beauty.

The subject matter is heavily laden with hot buttons: religion, sex with a minor, pornography, adultery. This is heavy stuff. There are some sections which turned into some rather dense rambling and if you're not in the mood for that, this may grate on your nerves. Otherwise I think the book does a wonderful job of showcasing various religious, ethical and moral dilemma, and how it can potentially impact people's lives over the long haul. Hold any judgement and I think you'll be fine.

***

Verdict: Unfolding as a retrospective, this book will prod, poke and challenge you. I'd recommend this to people who like Jodie Picoult's ethically challenging tales, and those who have a soft spot for dance and art.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson

You'll want your own love story after reading this.

About Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson: At twenty-one, Shandi Pierce is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old genius son Natty, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced Catholic mother and Jewish father. She’s got enough complications without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up in a gas station mini-mart and falling in love with a great wall of a man named William Ashe, who willingly steps between the armed robber and her son.

Shandi doesn’t know that her blond god Thor has his own complications. When he looked down the barrel of that gun he believed it was destiny: It’s been one year to the day since a tragic act of physics shattered his universe. But William doesn’t define destiny the way other people do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in science and numbers, destiny to him is about choice.

Now, he and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head on, in a funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness; about a virgin birth, a sacrifice, and a resurrection; about falling in love, and learning that things aren’t always what they seem—or what we hope they will be. It’s a novel about discovering what we want and ultimately finding what we need.

My two cents

I put this down with a sigh and a smile on my face. It's a love story that I can't help but like. I didn't roll my eyes once; I did not find anything cheesy or corny or sappy; and I did not at any time have the urge to gag. As you probably have inferred, romances make me do that in general ... but this book is a rare exception.

***

The book opens dramatically: I fell in love with William Ashe at gunpoint, in a Circle K. We walk into this robbery as it is happening and are introduced first to William Ashe ... and the woman narrating,  Shandi Pierce, is a young mother of an adorable three-year-old. The first chapter was so well written, Jackson, just had me in the palm of her hand!

The storyline delves into this "love story" we've unwittingly stumbled upon. But life is never simple (is it?) and we learn about the tragedies in these two characters' lives: 

Shandi, caught in the crossfire of this robbery, was waylaid from her new start in her life away from her mother Mimmy. Her adorable and love-of-her-life Natty is a precocious child. But Shandi has done everything in her power justify her lovely child—including believing in a virgin birth - to erase the  horrible truth of one night at a college party which Shandi has virtually no memory of. 

William, was in the middle of buying detergent on the anniversary of his wife's death. William has not only lost his wife but his daughter, who is around the same age as Natty.

The robbery plays itself out and impels two people at a crossroads in their lives to deal with their past and create the lives they are worthy of. 

*** 

I love the idea of love, but time has taught me that loving takes time, effort, and commitment. Sometimes, too, love shows up in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected of people. While this is entitled "someone else's love story," this has actually multiple love stories which highlight the sweetness, the tragedy, and the unpredictability of loving. (I don't dare give spoilers, but I loved how the story played out!)

I enjoyed how unique, complicated (and quirky!) the characters were, not only just Shandi and William: the geeky Walcott (Shandi's long time best friend), spunky Paula (William's one time fling and then become fast friend who stuck by him after losing his wife), Mimmy (Shandi's dear gorgeous mother and Natty's rather cloying grandmother), and even the annoying robber. They were well fleshed out, and had credible backstories. They felt real, their dialogues were unique and realistic, and they all had their own little moments in the story ... a combination of so many good things that these characters were memorable to me.

The storytelling shifts between Shandi's first person narration to third person narration and back; I was surprised that it did not grate on me at all. I found this very deftly accomplished and lent a rather additive pacing to the story.

The way Ms. Jackson writes is interesting and engaging, nor does she mince words—the detail, the little nuances she has with the characters, the metaphors so deftly used, oh, and the sly sly humour—I loved everything about it. I am eager to see what else she has written solely because I'd like to see what else she has up her sleeve!

Verdict: A sweet and charming yet dark bundle of love stories that I would wholeheartedly recommend to cynics and hopefuls alike. Definitely something for those who crave a different type of love story minus all the sappy trappings of stereotypical romance novels. Makes my favourite reads for the year!

Uh-ohs: I am writing this section as a warning to potential readers and not because I found these as issues with the book. This has a darkness to it that some people may find off-putting—totally understandable if you're after a love story. There are graphic descriptions of the near-rape, various lovemaking scenes, and some instances of violence.

About Joshilyn Jackson
Joshilyn Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, including gods in Alabama and A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages. A former actor, Jackson is also an award-winning audiobook narrator. She lives in Decatur, Georgia, with her husband and their two children.

Find out more about Joshilyn at her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Check out the rest of the tour here. 

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Hardcover: 320 pages 

Publisher: William Morrow (November 19, 2013)

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

Hi Ann, it was so lovely to visit with you.

About This is the Story of a Happy Marriage: Ann Patchett’s novels have been feats of imagination—from the tale of an opera singer held hostage inside a vice presidential mansion, to a forgotten tribe along the banks of the Amazon river—she has created entire worlds for the reader to inhabit. Now, with her new book, she puts fiction aside and invites us into the very real world of her own life.

This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage is both wide-ranging and deeply personal, overflowing with close observation and emotional wisdom. Stretching from her tumultuous childhood, from a disastrous early marriage and a later happy one, she charts the hard work and joy of writing, and the unexpected thrill of opening a bookstore. Patchett shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed. Brimming with thoughtful advice and emotional wisdom, this collection brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, writer, and friend.  An irresistible blend of literature and memoir, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a unique examination of the heart, mind, and soul of one of our most revered and gifted writers.

My two cents

Let's meet Ann - writer, daughter, good friend, dog lover, married, not married, in love, re-married, owner of a bookstore, unlikely advocate of the independent bookstore ... and, believe it or not, she can jump over walls!

I am in love with Ann and her writing. This is a wonderful set of essays, collected over the course of her career, and appearing in various magazines. I've only read her Bel Canto, but now I feel like I know better as a writer ... and as a lovely human being. This book feels like plopping down next to her on the couch with some tea and just chattering the afternoon away with an acquaintance ... and coming away with a new friend.

The title is deceiving. This isn't just about Ann Patchett's happy marriage from which the title was derived. This is about Ann's deepest loves and her greatest commitments in her life.

This subject matter is varied but it is a solid collection with a unifying thread. Ann touches upon her first naive and disastrous marriage and, essays later, how she eventually finds love once again, but not without much with much trepidation of getting hurt once again. She recounts how she was compelled to write yet stresses that writing takes great discipline and commitment (even if it means working in dead-end jobs to support herself). She shares her writing successes and disappointments. She talks about Truth and Beauty and her friendship with Lucy Grealy which is the basis of that book, and her response to the criticism of this bookand even more hurtful insinuations of this friendship. She talks about her policeman father's desire for her to succeed, leading to her taking the exams for the police force (and learning to jump over walls in the process!). She waxes poetic over her longtime companion,  her dog destined for the pound who she rescues as a pup.

(I've only just touched on a few essays so I encourage you to get a copy because at least one essay is bound to resonate.)

Ann talks about her life in an honest and matter-of-fact way, with introspection, with seriousness but never taking herself overly seriously. Never preachy, Ann's voice has such a wonderful accessibility and warmth. I feel privileged to have gotten to know her through these essays.

This is such a beautiful read, one essay at a time ... don't rush it.

Verdict: An intimate look into the life of a renowned writer, in an eclectic collection of essays about life, love, and commitment. A must-read for Patchett fans, for readers and writers alike. Sit and stay awhile and enjoy your visit with Ann! 
 

About Ann Patchett

Photo credit: Heidi Ross

Ann Patchett is the author of six novels: the New York Times bestselling State of Wonder and Run; The Patron Saint of Liars, which was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; Taft, which won the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize; The Magician’s Assistant; and Bel Canto, which won the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Orange Prize, the BookSense Book of the Year, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

She is also the author of two works of nonfiction: the New York Times bestselling Truth & Beauty and What now? Patchett has written for many publications, including the Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s Magazine, Gourmet, the New York Times, Vogue, and the Washington Post. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Check out Ann Patchett's website. Or follow Ann's Blog on Parnassus Books (the bookstore Ann co-owns), or on Twitter.

Check out the rest of the tour here.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

 

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Harper (November 5, 2013)