Book Review | NIRVANA by J.R. Stewart

When the real world is emptied of all that you love, 
how can you keep yourself from dependence on the virtual?

This is a Science Fiction set in a distant future. The Earth as we know it no longer exists due to the extinction of bees and the cessation of pollination. The lands are barren, and artificial farms are too few. Needless to say that these farms are monopolized, and so is the water supply. Only the rich are able to luxuriously dwell in the domed-cities, called Bubbles. And the only place people can see the world as it was is through Nirvana, a virtual world people can visit with a steep price and limited time. Both the Bubbles and Nirvana are controlled by Hexagon.

In the midst of this new world is Larissa, a grieving wife who cannot come to terms with the loss of her husband Andrew. Deep inside her she knows that she mustn’t give up looking for Andrew, he is alive, and seeing Andrew during her Nirvana visits confirms her conviction. No matter how people convince her otherwise she is not persuaded, even though she knows the danger of crossing hairs with Hexagon.

The premise of this book is very interesting. The complexity and the real “would be” effect of the bees’ extinction is a new dystopian storyline indeed. But it’s a premise that the whole plot limply supported. It was a struggle plowing through the story when nothing much is developing. The sudden change in the timeline within paragraphs and the info dump didn’t help at all. I didn’t like it very much when a whole chapter was solely dedicated to two antagonists having a conversation just so the narration could disclose how these two literally screwed the world. I’m sure there’s a better way to do that, right?

I truly understand Larissa’s plight, I can grieve with her, but I cannot invest in her or on any of the other characters. I cannot invest in the Larissa-Andrew relationship either, because it was not fully developed to start with.

Book details:
Title: Nirvana
Author: J.R. Stewart
Publication: November 10, 2015; Blue Moon Publishers
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating:

*A copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for this unbiased review. 
**A revised copy of the book was recently sent to me by the publicist and will publish my update as soon as possible.

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2015 Reading Challenge | October

Aaannnddd we are down to the last quarter! Three more months to go and my reading challenge is down to eleven books. Yes, folks. Eleven more books to conquer my reading challenge for the year. But before I start counting chicks, let me list down what I read last September.

• Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier - 3/5 stars - The premise and prose were undoubtedly good, but for some reason, it can't hold my interest together. It was just probably me, right?
• Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee - 5/5 stars - TFG's book for September, which we discussed with FFP. 
• Family Life by Akhil Sharma - 4/5 stars - A bittersweet story that will stay with me for a while.
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - 5/5 stars - A really sad book with a good, good purpose.
• Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill - 3.5/5 stars - An examination of the life and (mostly) of its attachments, leaping from observation to observation.
• Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio - 4/5 stars - A delightful read for all ages. 

And while we're at it, here are the books I chose for the Banned Books Week this year...

• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson - 5/5 stars 
• Drama by Raina Telgemeier - 4/5 stars 
• It's Perfectly Normal by Robbie H. Harris - 5/5 stars

For October,

• Monstress by Lysley Tenorio -  TFG 's book for the month.
• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - A carryover from September, 47% thru the book. 
• Nirvana by JR Stewart - A carryover from September, 57% thru the book.
• The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson - From my 2014 to-read-books.
• The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - From my  2015 to-read-books.

I hope to cross these off from my lists before the month is out, so keep your fingers and toes crossed for me. Thanks!

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Book Review | Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio

     

November 24, 2015
Quirk Books

Warren the 13 is an orphan and the last heir to the Warren Hotel. Unfortunately, his Uncle Rupert and new bride, Aunt Annaconda, are in charge of running the place until Warren reaches eighteen. Due to Uncle Rupert’s incompetence, the Warren Hotel is now but a shadow of its former glory and the staff was gravely reduced to a chef, a librarian, and Warren –hotel’s only bellhop, room servant, handyman, and all-around errand boy. For now, Warren is doing everything he can to keep the place together. 

     

I had the most delightful time reading this. Warren may be the loveliest of kid you'll meet, Also, he is industrious and kind-hearted. I love joining Warren to go through his predicaments, yet still, keep his heart in the right place and remain hopeful at the end of each day. His love for his family and unquenchable desire to make them proud are inspiring to behold.

     So, I have nothing but good things to describe Warren and this book. It’s a story that kids will truly enjoy. It’s got all the fun, craziness, adventure, and mystery they will appreciate. Plus, the illustrations are all wonderful; meticulously done in red, black, and white, it will surely catch the kids’ attention.

WARREN THE 13th  AND THE ALL-SEEING EYE will make a good Christmas gift, put it on your list!

Book details:
Title:  Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye
Author:  Tania del Rio
Illustrator:  Will Staehle
Publication: November 24, 2015; Quirk Books
Genre: Middle-Grade Fiction

Rating: ★★★★

* Thank you Quirk Books and Netgalley for giving me access to a copy
in exchange for this unbiased review.

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Book Review | Two Years, Eight Months, and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie

   

September 8, 2015
Random House

From one of the greatest writers of our time: the most spellbinding, entertaining, wildly imaginative novel of his great career, which blends history and myth with tremendous philosophical depth. A masterful, mesmerizing modern tale about worlds dangerously colliding, the monsters that are unleashed when reason recedes, and a beautiful testament to the power of love and humanity in chaotic times. 

Inspired by 2,000 years of storytelling yet rooted in the concerns of our present moment, this is a spectacular achievement--enchanting, both very funny and terrifying. It is narrated by our descendants 1000 years hence, looking back on "The War of the Worlds" that began with "the time of the strangenesses": a simple gardener begins to levitate; a baby is born with the unnerving ability to detect corruption in people; the ghosts of two long-dead philosophers begin arguing once more; and storms pummel New York so hard that a crack appears in the universe, letting in the destructive djinns of myth (as well as some graphic superheroes). Nothing less than the survival of our world is at stake. Only one, a djinn princess who centuries before had learned to love humankind, resolves to help us: in the face of dynastic intrigue, she raises an army composed of her semi-magical great-great--etc.--grandchildren--a motley crew of endearing characters who come together to save the world in a battle waged for 1,001 nights--or, to be precise, two years, eight months and twenty-eight nights. ~ Goodreads

I told a friend that Rushdie is an acquired taste. Sometimes, acquiring that taste may take time. And yes, the key to reading Rushdie is taking your time. He allows his reader to sit and read all through his meanderings, his plots, and twists. Digestion of his work comes between those moments of impatience and deviations. So when asked if I was a fan, I answered that I can't say I am on the whole, but his satirical sense of humor is something worthy of praise and deep thought.

Salman Rushdie gives us a rundown of the book's content. A thousand years from the future, our narrator relays to the present reader of an event that will turn the whole world into chaos, as the magical world of the jinn leaks into ours through the cracks. And for 1,001 nights our world will host the war between the most powerful of the jinn in history.

Using two philosophical characters, Ibn Rushd and Al-Ghazali, Rushdie employed the core argument that only great fear will shift sinful men towards God.  Through Zamurrud Shah, a powerful jinni, Al-Ghazali was given a chance to prove this point by unleashing terror upon the mortals. The claim and weakness of this argument is the subject that will worm in detail throughout the story.

I recommend Rushdie’s creativity and wit. He is a man of allegory, and obscure ideas are mostly integrated into his stories. Various philosophical and theological disputations are woven through this whimsical story. Playfully, at most, questions of morality, frailty, and integrity are addressed and given a substantial amount to ponder. The use of distinct characters is very clever, their personality, point of view, and development gives great insight into human understanding.

What’s curious about this story is that the reader could only appreciate the philosophical and theological arguments if he absorbs the absurdity of the fantastical/whimsical side of the story.  Argue that point with me. Go, get a copy today!

Book details:

Title:   Two years, Eight Months, and Twenty-eight Nights

Author:  Salman Rushdie

Publication:  September 8, 2015; Random House

Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism

Rating: ★★★★

*Thank you Random House for lending me a copy in exchange for this unbiased review.

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THE GOOD GIRL by Mary Kubica

This novel wowed me. And I don’t believe that just because it was a debut novel it shouldn’t be praised for its merits. Mary Kubica did a great job with this book, and I believe that a lesser hand wouldn’t be able to accomplish what she did here.

     THE GOOD GIRL is alternately narrated by the characters, in a non-constricted timeline, and in spite of that, the book maintained its fast-paced thrill. It was never confusing, nor difficult. In fact, I believe it’s this style that kept me at the edge of my seat all the time. I was pretty hooked from the beginning.

I liked all the characters; they are developed according to their purpose for the story. Sure, there is a weak link, but every story has one, and for me, it did not deter this story in the least. Colin was the most developed character in the story, which was pretty interesting since he is the appointed antagonist. Having said that, Stockholm Syndrome is employed curiously here, because the antagonist is our hero too, and our victim is no ordinary victim.

There is danger in staying here. I know it. She knows it.

But my biggest concern now is not having her with me.

As I said, this is a fast-paced thriller. I admire Kubica for pacing that thrill and withholding the twist until the epilogue. As I get to the end, my anxiety grew stronger. And her simple and unswerving prose made this all the more gripping. I rarely bawled over reading, the last time was The Time Traveler’s Wife, six years ago, until now. This is heartbreaking but complexly satisfying. I listened to the audiobook as well, and it just swept me. It was beautifully done.

The problem with this novel is not its plot, or characters, nor its writing. The problem lies in its promotion. I don’t know where it started, but comparing this with Gone Girl, or quoting this as the “next Gone Girl” is pretty unfair and made the wrong impression/expectation in the reading community. As far as I can tell the similarity of the two books begins and ends with having a missing person in the story. This novel conveys a very different structure and message. As I said from the beginning, this book should be praised for its own merits. 

If you have a taste for suspense, you shouldn’t skip this one.

Book details:

Title:  The Good Girl

Author:  Mary Kubica

Publication:  Blackstone Audio; July 29, 2014 

Genre:  Suspense/Thriller, Fiction

Rating:  ★★★★★

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2015 Reading Challenge | September

Hello! Isn't it exciting, the BER months are here? If time indeed flies, it zoomed. I went back to what I've read so far and realized that no matter how fast I read, there'd be more books that I need and want to read. The pile just kept on adding up. Same old story, 'no?

Here are the books I've read last August.

• Everlasting by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - 3/5 stars - The author's last book and this my closure.
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - 5/5 stars - A reread. I still love it after so many years.
• A Bottle of Storm Clouds by Eliza Victoria - 3/5 stars - A short story collection from one of our local speculative fiction writers. I breezed thru this.
• The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence - 5/5 stars - A heartfelt tale of an extraordinary friendship. In spite of the expected ending, I was still caught off guard and cried. I can't entirely blame it on hormones.
• Slade House by David Mitchell - 5/5 stars - ARC. Releasing this October 27. The whole reading community should be very excited.

To cut off some books from my TBR, I've decided to read a book off my 2014 list and a book off my 2015 list simultaneously, starting this month. Although, I may add more along the way as time permits. This way, I can closely monitor how I'm doing. 

• Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill 
• All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I'm currently reading Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, a book club dare-to-read challenge. I'm terribly slow at it so I may take a while finishing. Meanwhile, TFG is reading and discussing Go Set A Watchman this September with FFP. Listened to it a week ago and Reese Witherspoon did a wonderful narration. 

Unexpected circumstances happened some time ago, and my commitments took a drastic change. It was because of these circumstances that I missed some book club F2F discussions.  Same reason why I have not been replying to most emails and review request lately. Forgive me for cutting down on requests.

Until next time! Meanwhile, have a wonderful September.

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THE GHOST WRITER by Philip Roth

Postmodernism or “pomo” has made itself an everyday name today. In my earlier reading experiences, I’ve never put much thought into the term. It is only recently I realized that I’ve read some really good postmodern literature and considered them favorites -The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, The City and the City by China Miéville, White Teeth by Zadie Smith, and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf- just to name a few. Although I am skeptical touching some books even at arm’s length because I’ve been burned before by If On A Winter’s Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, I still considered daring some selected authors. Philip Roth is one of them.

As it turns out, following Philip Roth isn’t going to be hard. Over the years, he had established a postmodernism framework through his Zuckerman Bound books. The character Nathan Zuckerman, a writer and a Jew will be a constant presence in this collection, albeit not always as the main character. Zuckerman is Roth's alleged fictional alter ego, which makes complete sense considering postmodernism obsess on self-reflection. The Ghost Writer is set in 1959, wherein the young Zuckerman is still in his twenties, enjoying a burst of success from his short stories, mirroring Roth’s debut on the path of postmodernism as his life career.

Nathan Zuckerman had a quarrel with his father, who was offended by the “Jewish humor” he employed in a semi-autobiographical short story he wrote. Hurt and seeking validation, he went to see E. I. Lonoff, a figure reputed for his literary somberness and observant understanding of Jewish experiences. He was treated with an afternoon of food, significant conversations, the affirmation of his own works, and firsthand experience of the Lonoff domesticity. Later, the night carried with it a snowstorm, bounding Zuckerman to accept further hospitality from the Lonoffs and spend the night over. In the fits of sleeplessness, his thoughts went back to Lonoff’s assistant, Amy Bellete, and her history, true or not, depend highly on Roth’s careful cleverness and audaciousness.

Standing with E.I. Lonoff over the disobedient arm of his record player,I understood the celebrated phenomenon for the first time: a man, his destiny,and his work – all one. What a terrible triumph!

The center of THE GHOST WRITER tackles the problem of a young writer confronted by a story that may affirm the anti-Semitic view of Jews as greedy and plutomanic people, a story that may ultimately hurt his family and community. Ironically, such a story nowadays is regarded as funny and normal Jewish life, a well-embraced sitcom on primetime TV, like The Nanny, The Goldbergs, Even Stevens, Rugrats, and Seinfeld. Whether Roth and other postmodernist author contributed to their successes, where even non-Jewish people appreciate the variability of normal Jewish life, depends entirely on the viewer.

People don’t read art – they read about people. And they judge them as such.

Roth wrote an engaging narrative. He managed to be brief, yet witty and thoughtful at the same time. His words will lug the reader through, allowing a significant slow contemplation. A reader will gain more in several sittings.

I am not sure when I can come back to this series, but I am glad to have experienced Roth’s writing. So, if you are considering taking up postmodernism as your next target read, do consider including Philip Roth’s Zuckerman Bound series on your list.

Book details:
Title:  The Ghost Writer
Author:  Philip Roth
Publication:  August 1995, 1^st Vintage International Edition
Genre:  Postmodernism
Rating: ★★★★

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