Book Review - Neuromancer

I couldn't spoil this book if I wanted to.

Let me say right off, I loved this book. This is a story: "Case was the sharpest data-thief in the Matrix, until an ex-employer crippled his nervous system. Now a new employer has recruited him for a last-chance run against an unthinkably powerful artificial intelligence" Quoted from the book, my mind is too numb-happy to come up with something on my own. I can say that I loved the atmosphere, the world, fully realized. It is a dark and grimy future, but not depressing, just real.

This book is so much more than the story, and trust me, while I understood the overall concepts, there were times I was lost in the details. The details of the deals, the arrangements made, the futuristic landscapes, heck, even the nature of the characters, at times eluded me. And while usually, that would drive me insane..the need to understand each word, each plot direction, the ride was so incredible, that I did not care.

Gibson wrote this book in 1984, pretty much before "cyber" anything, he coined the phrase "cyberspace", but there is nothing prophetic about the writing, no, you knew while reading this piece was not only the inspiration for Blade Runner, The Matrix and so much about science-fiction in all avenues, but that in his writing, he brought about the technologies described. How? Because you know people read Neuromancer and set out to create the imaginations on the page, in atmosphere, clothing and technology. Now, that is awesome.

Gibson has found another fan, late in the game, but better late than never. I can't wait to read his other books.

5 out of 5 Iggystars

Lunchtime Knitting

Detroit got snowed in today, but I made it to the lunchtime knit class where I'm learning to knit...City Knits.

I learned how to purl (awwww, aren't I cute?), how to fix some of my twisted stitches...yeah basic stuff, but big for me. I feel like a baby taking her first steps, I don't even know what to want, what I could make. I see all of these complex shawls and scarves, hats and sweaters...it's hard for me to believe that so much comes from your basic knit and purl stitch, or that I can master the technique.

More to come!

New Hobby Alert!

With my love for reading rekindled, my bookcase overflowing with new reads and my participation in two book challenges under way, I thought to myself, "What more can I do to solidify my destiny as the neighborhood cat lady?" Take up knitting!

Just kidding, reading is cool and knitting is also quite the fun, hip hobby, not just for your grandmother anymore.

With encouragement from one of my geek buddies, Diela (holla girl), I went to this lovely place here in Detroit, called City Knits and signed up for six weeks of classes.

So far so good. My first class was last week, I finished my knitting homework and it doesn't look too bad, if I say so myself. It is enjoyable and calming, but I can't wait until I really know what I'm doing. I'm not at yarn obssession yet, but I've heard from established knitters that this disease is inevitable.

I'll keep you posted.

Book Review: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Book number three in my Expanding Horizons Challenge!

In 19th century China, a young girl is paired in a lifelong friendship with Snow Flower, her “laotong”. They communicate in a secret language called “nu shu”, one created by women, by writing on a beautiful fan that is sent back and forth between the two. As they get older, they share their struggles and joys, but their committed relationship is put to the test because of a misunderstanding that threatens to completely demolish their friendship.

This book made me recall the theme of this challenge, more than the others I’ve read. I was brought into the world of foot binding (OUCH!), arranged marriages, family customs, festivals, where women and men were kept separate in conversation and daily activities. Women during this time were viewed with such little value, only as good as the children they bore (you’d better hope it was a boy). However, through the interactions between Lily and Snow Flower, you see just how strong and smart women have always had to be.

Friendship is also an important theme; actually it’s the central theme. As Snow Flower and Lily get older, their lives become different, as is the case with many life-long friends. This is very relatable if you’ve had the privilege of such a relationship. Expectations and attitudes shift, and this book shows the challenges of such changes.

Some of the book, particularly dealing with the friendship during the later years, feels a little rushed, but other than that I felt this was a good choice to expand my horizons.

3.25 out of 5 Iggystars

Book Review: Love in the Time of Cholera

The second book from my Expanding Horizons Challenge.

Ok, right off the bat I'm going to admit that I'm pretty conflicted about this book. There is a disturbing turn, which I won't go into complete detail, but will alert by way of a spoiler warning towards the end of my review.

A young Florentino Ariza falls madly in love with the beautiful Fermina Daza and his affections are returned, however, Daza later decides to marry a young, successful doctor. Ariza, with fiercely held devotion, still loves Daza over the decades and makes love to many women (yeah, like hundreds) to cope with his pain. Some fifty years later, he is allowed once again to profess his love to the true woman of his dreams.

There was so much I loved about this book. This book is about love. That first love before you knew what physical love was about. You wanted to be with a person, and you didn't know what you'd do with them once you got them. The love of family. Love out of duty. Love that's tempered with reason. Love that is steady. Love that burns in your heart, makes you get goosebumps or allows you to tend to a person when they are sick. Love when you're older. Secret love. Loving with your body, but not your heart. All written with such beauty.

All these subthemes about love are explored in this book that flashes back and forward while focusing on several different characters, but mainly Ariza and Daza. Ariza pines for Daza and some have expressed that he seemed like a stalker. I think that anyone who feels this way is obviously in a good relationship. If you're alone, if you haven't found your true love, who do you think of? That first love, the love that isn't tarnished by real life, it's completely idealistic (and unrealistic). Through that reasoning, I understood this character.

However, I totally got Daza as well. Real love isn't a fantasy and the decision she makes to marry well was a good one.

Spoiler Warning**********

Ok, I have to express my disappointment in the decision to have Ariza get into a relationship with a much younger...girl. Many have argued that the book is set in a time where young girls were considered women at an early age, many marrying in their teens. Well, I almost bought that theory. I wanted to buy it. However, in the book, this relationship is set up so that Ariza is a grandfatherly figure to the girl, and uses his position to take advantage of the situation. Not cool, I don't care when the time period, this turns a character that I had so much sympathy for, into a creep and from that point on, it was hard for me to root for him. I like my antiheroes to be a little less grimy.

Another theory is that the story is to be more about the theme of love, than the actual characters. Nope, still not buying it. Too much literal storytelling for that to be true and if it is allegorical, then this plot could have easily been left out.

Spoiler Ended*************

Overall though, I enjoyed this offering from Marquez. I can't wholeheartedly recommend it...oh, I want to so badly, but it has to get knocked down a point or two because of the one glaring problem I had with it.

3.5 out of 5 Iggystars

Book Review: The Kite Runner

This is the very first book I’ve read from my very first book challenge and I think it's a pretty good start to the world of challenges.

The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, a child of an affluent business man and Hassan, a servant of the family and their life-long friendship set in a changing Afghanistan. The book details their lives, their love and loyalty, deceit and ultimate redemption.

The subject matter for this challenge (Expanding Horizons, link to the right) was daunting, which is why I chose it. I want to expand my knowledge of places completely foreign from my own. What better way to do this than to immerse yourself in a good yarn? However, would I fully grasp tales from different lands, about different cultures? To Hosseini’s credit, The Kite Runner’s foreign terms, concepts and customs were very well-defined and assessable. The historical content was set as a back drop to the compelling human drama, allowing me to fully grasp the details of the country’s political upheaval enhancing what I’d learned about Afghanistan while watching the news over the years.

I have a few complaints that have been shared with the book’s detractors. Some of the plot seemed to be a little contrived, making it feel a slightly like a soap opera at times. But, honestly, as I looked at some of the ironic and heartbreaking nightmares of my own life, I guess Kite’s turns could be possible, so I was able to push that minor quibble aside. Also, the main characters, especially Hassan, are portrayed in morally black and white terms, which isn’t always realistic, but again, the story was well-written enough to overlook this as well.

In the end I found myself drawn to the characters and their stories. My heart ached and I cared about their outcomes. I also learned more about a culture that was previously mysterious to me and my horizon was expanded by this great book.

3.5 out of 5 Iggystars.

Next book….I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Book Review: Alek

This is the cover that launched model, Alek Wek, into the supermodel stratosphere and the book, Alek, tells the story of her amazing rise from a Sudanese refugee to the fashion runways of Paris.

Alek was a quick and enjoyable read. This is not a insider's view of the fashion biz, as a matter of fact, that aspect is not given much attention at all. The main focus is on Alek's childhood, her family and their struggles in the war-torn city of Wau. Alek's young life was filled with uncertainty, as their family had to move from their home and try to survive while civil war raged in their country.

The things that really impressed me about Alex the person, is how down-to-earth and unaffected she is. She is strongly grounded by the traditions and love shown by her amazing parents who taught her to be appreciative of life and to work hard. Another really amazing fact is that Alek suffered from a horrible case of psoriasis as a child, one that caused her to have flaky lizard-like skin. This is particularly hard to imagine as her dark, rich, smooth and very beautiful skin is one of her trademarks (I would love to have such a perfect complexion). Due to this disease, Alek was often ostracized, but on the other hand, this shaped her view of beauty in general. She mentions that she thinks it very ironic that she makes money off of her looks, as she was considered ugly as a child....it's the same Alek on the inside, nothing has changed.

Indeed, as she made it through the ranks of the fashion industry it is clear that this career, one she fell into by chance, is a way for her to be a voice for her native country, Sudan. She hasn't got, "the big head" from being a model, but approaches modeling as she would any other job, to her it's very much like any other job. She's just a hard worker, again, learned from her parents.

In the end I found this book to be eye-opening more about Alek, not as much about modeling and that's fine. After I finished I immediately went on the 'net to look at some of her pictures and she was more beautiful than I'd ever thought, all because I'd learned a bit about the inner beauty of this fashion model.