Book Report

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

 

 My rating system:

10 – life-changing, an all-time favorite

5 - average for what I read

1 – terrible; why did I finish it?

 

First report in a while that has more fiction than non-fiction.

 

The Misfit’s Manifesto by Lidia Yuknavitch – The book is exactly what the title says it is. The author defines herself as a misfit, and even appreciates that status. She shares her story and that of other misfits, and encourages every misfit to embrace who they are. My reaction: I wanted to love the book; it’s a cool concept. But the execution was just okay. I can’t say I really learned anything or felt awe or anything like that. Grade: 6

 

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner -  A novel about a woman who is serving two consecutive life sentences for killing her stalker. We learn of her life in prison, and what has gotten her to this point. We also get interconnected stories of others in her life. It’s gritty and raw and very intriguing. Grade: 8

 

Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler – A memoir of a man who grew up in an extremely religious family. His parents were loving most of the time but also beyond strict (no TV, no music unless it was clearly Christian, but even many Christian singers were off-limits if they’d ever done anything wrong ever). And the author eventually realizes that he’s gay. The book was fast-moving and interesting, but I feel ripped off! We never get his family’s reaction to his coming out. It ends just as he’s starting to realize that he’s gay. So like – what happened after that?? Grade: 6 (Would’ve been higher if the author hadn’t left us hanging).

 

 

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh – A novel taking place in modern times; I think you’d call it a “tragicomedy”? A young, wealthy, beautiful young woman is miserable so she decides to just basically sleep for a year, aided by an array of drugs. It’s sardonic, dark and cynical but very readable. Grade: 6

 

House of Stairs by William Sleator – Not long ago, my sister handed me this paperback. The book was first published in 1974, and she had and I had read it as kids. We both re-read it recently, and a quick trip to Good Reads indicates that many people also did the same. It takes place in some strange futuristic world. Five teenage orphans are placed inside an experiment. They’re in a large structure with boatloads of staircases leading nowhere, a few landings, and a bizarre machine that provides food only when they do certain things. You can easily read this in just a couple sittings – of course as long as you don’t mind a book that is at times strange and dark. Sidenote: it is hinted that one of the male characters is gay, and I think I might’ve even picked that up the first time I read the book. A quick look at the author’s obit tells us that he was gay too. Grade: 7

Comments

[nytshd3]

omg, why would the author of rapture practice tell you all about his strict religious parents and not tell you what happened when he came out? Unless... he didn't come out and he's counting on them to never read it? Maybe it's a pseudonym? Still though!

My year of rest and relaxation sounds like my kind of year! ;) Sounds interesting though.

I don't think I've ever heard of House of Stairs, sounds like an interesting book!

Thanks for sharing, as always!

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

Thanks for reading! I imagine with school you don't have as much time to read books and report on them?