Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

I really liked this book. It is a fictionalized account of a love affair that took place between Frank Lloyd Wright (the architect) and Mamah Cheney, a client of his. The book is set in the early 20th century, and takes place in both the United State and Europe.

While this book is most identifiably a love story, it also explored how pervasive Wright's opinions about design were in his personality. I enjoyed learning more about Wright, although I am tempted to read a biography of him soon to learn what is really true about him and what was imagined by Horan.

The book also tackled themes of feminism, as Mamah gets a job translating essays by Ellen Key (Swedish feminist) into English. In doing so, Mamah struggles with how early 20th century feminism viewed her leaving her husband (ok) and children (bad).

What I liked most about the book was how much the author was able to teach me about Wright and about feminism without my noticing.

Soliciting Recommendations!

This is the time of year when I've generally gotten through all the books from last year's booklists that I am interested in and despite my bookshelves being overwhelmed with books I haven't read I'm on the prowl for new recommendations.

In addition, I'm looking for good biographies of The Beatles, Freddie Mercury, and Frank Lloyd Wright.

What say you, reader?

A Free Life by Ha Jin

I remember liking Ha Jin's Waiting (although I can't remember what it was about other than something relating to a ponytail) so when I saw this on the shelf I picked it up. I didn't even notice until now that it was a book about freedom and I was reading it during Passover.


The book is about a young family who immigrate from China to the United States and what their first decade or so is like in the U.S. I was enthralled by the story and the decisions they faced. It is probably the best book I've read in a long time that gave me a window into a particular 'universe' so elegantly. I learned a lot about the economics of starting over in a new country, and especially enjoyed the sections about their owning a Chinese restaurant in Atlanta.



I did not think the writing was as good as it could have been, although the story was, but that may have been intentional since the main characters' first language is not English. Aside from finding the style simplistic and lacking in physical details in places, the book was intriguing.

Remainder by Tom McCarthy

I think I saw this book recommended somewhere; in any case it showed up in my library queue. It's about a man who is recovering from a bad accident. One day he sees something that reminds him of childhood and becomes obsessed with re-enacting scenes from his memory to the tiniest detail. The author played with concepts around memory and reality, as well as authenticity.

While the book started off slow, I really enjoyed the middle 75% of the story. However, I was disappointed in the ending. Like the Sopranos, it didn't really end, although I don't think McCarthy has any illusions about their being a movie made of this book. If you've read this and have any insight, please comment below!

Humans by Robert Sawyer

Humans is the second book of the "Parallax Trilogy" Sawyer wrote about a parallel Neanderthal world that contacts our world. I usually wait a bit longer between books of the same author but I could not wait to read this continuation. I was not disappointed.

Sawyer continued to build his vast social commentary, this time focusing on reproduction, environmental issues, and criminal justice. At the same time, he draws some interesting conclusions about the fossil record and what we know about evolution. While it is not entirely clear that the fantastical nature of the Neanderthal world could have been derived from the differences between humans (ok, Robert, I'll call them homo sapiens) and Neanderthals, I'll let Sawyer chalk it up to the randomness inherent in the creation of multiple worlds because I liked this book so much. He created a great pair of universes and a believable love story to boot.

I do not know how long I will go without breaking down to read the finale, Hybrids.

I'll Fly Away by Wally Lamb

This book is a continuation of Lamb's 2002 compilation of woman's' writing from the York Correctional Institution (i.e., Jail) entitled Couldn't Keep it to Ourselves. While I enjoyed the original book for its honesty and the stories around how women got into situations that ended with their committing crimes, this follow-up was disappointing.

After a multi-page forward about the political troubles at the York jail, the book has about a dozen women's' short essays and poems with no discernible theme. While I'm sure the writing was therapeutic for the prisoners and their teachers, it's less than inspirational for the reader.

I'm ready for Lamb's next novel already. Which he promises is coming.

Update on the Book Swap

A few months ago I mentioned going to a party with a book swap. This weekend we actually did it and here are the results:

• I gave a book about the invention of longitude based on my lifelong obsession with maps


• Web gave a book on the science of science fiction writing, because he loves sci-fi and most people don't know that about him


• Sara gave a book about storytelling since she is a new mom and has been struggling to be creative in her stories to her son at night on three hours' sleep


• Ethan gave Tom Sawyer, a childhood favorite of his


• Jamie gave Bill Clinton's Giving, because she once met him at a basketball game


• Jay gave a Real Simple cookbook because he used to cook dinner for his mom when she worked late


• Jenn gave a book about travels in India and one of crossword puzzles because of one lifelong and one new obsession


• Greg gave me a book on modern art and one on the game of Go. I could have pegged him as a Go aficionado but the art was a complete surprise.
  

All in all, a fun way to learn a little more about close friends.

Wildfire by Nelson DeMille

I bought this book (and Michael Crichton's Next) at Costco a few months ago before several business trips, thinking they would be good airport reads. Something about the cover art turned me off and I just got around to reading it now.

This is a very typical DeMille John Corey book. In case you are not familiar with this series, the John Corey books feature a very sarcastic protagonist who retires as a New York City detective but works for the FBI. He is always getting himself into trouble and uses very unusual tactics to solve crimes. Incredibly, he has a beautiful and talented girlfriend / wife who plays his straight man (woman?)

This particular story was about an elite group of business people and government officials who hatch a plan post-9/11 to address the growing terrorist threat. Problem is, their plan is itself terrorism and Corey rightfully disapproves and figures it out just as it is being executed. He throws himself into trying to stop the events from taking motion.

I liked it. Completely what I wanted from this type of book.

Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh

I first read about this book where most people did, referenced in Freakonomics. Freakanomics talks about a young sociologist who did extensive research in the economics of gangs, seeking to understand who makes money in a gang and how the money flows. The particular question he was asking to attract attention was, "why do so many drug dealers live with their mothers?"

So when Venkatesh' book was published I was first in line (err...on the electronic library queue) to read it.

I was a little disappointed with the theme of his book at first, because I though it would be about the results of his research. Instead it was about the methods and experiences used in his research with few conclusions. It was more of a memoir of the spending several years with this particular gang.

That said, I did learn some of the material I was interested in about day-to-day economic life in a (Chicagoan) gang. I had no idea that most of the gang violence we read about in the papers is based on turf wars over drugs. I also appreciated learning about all the different below-board businesses run by gangs and how they make money. I would have enjoyed more insights like that and fewer soliloquies about Venkatesh's moral dilemmas.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

This book should be called "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar WOW." This book was incredible -- narrated by a voice stronger than nearly any other character I've ever read.

The book is about a young man named Oscar who immigrates with his mother and sister from the Dominican Republic. The book alternates between each of their stories to paint a family history that spans the D.R. and New Jersey, going back several generations. Having read several books lately that take place in an unnamed South American country, it was impressive to read such a carefully researched and executed story taking place specifically in the D.R. and the Dominican-American community.

Though the story is often tragic, Diaz masterfully injected humor and sarcasm throughout the telling of the story. The writing is great - the voice of the narrator is strong and particular from the first page. This books makes me want to read Diaz' earlier book (Flood) as well as a couple strong-voiced books I've skipped in the past. Beloved comes to mind.

The Assist by Neil Swidey

I heard Neil Swidey interviewed on NPR when this book was published, and I think I had also read a few excerpts in the Boston Globe Magazine several months earlier.

This book started as a series of articles in the Globe about the coach of the Charlestown, MA high school basketball team. This coach took high-risk kids from all over Boston and made a state champion team several years in a row. While this was hardly a Michael Lewis level of writing, it was an interesting story about a dedicated coach and some inspirational students. The author painted a vivid picture including racial, educational, and class-based angles.

I was left dissatisfied with the end of the book, though. The book seemed to end at a certain date, rather than at a natural end of a story.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

I had liked Brooks' other books (Nine Parts of Desire and Year of Wonder) so I was excited to see that she had written another. This book was probably my favorite by her and one of the most engaging book I've read in a long time.

The book is about a famous illustrated manuscript known as the Sarajevo Hagaddah. (Interestingly, the Sarajevo Hagaddah really does exist, although the rest of the book is fictionalized.) The book opens with a well-known ancient book restoration expert being called to Sarajevo to look at a Hagaddah that is rumored to be a particular ancient illustrated Hagaddah. Brooks uses her journalistic background and skill in storytelling to imagine a history of the Hagaddah reaching back to the 1400s. Each time the main character learns something new about the Hagaddah, the books goes back 100 years further into the past to learn where the Hagaddah started.

I really enjoyed the stories and main character's personality. It was also fun to read this book with Passover coming up.

Senator's Wife by Sue Miller

Sue Miller is typically one of my go-to authors when I don't know what to get at the library or when I haven't read anything I liked recently. I noticed she had a new book out so I decided to try it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with this one.

The story follows a young newlywed couple (Nathan and Meri) who moves into a two-family home. Their neighbors are a well-known, well-liked senator and his wife (Tom and Delia). While the Nathan is impressed by their famous neighbor, Meri (suddenly pregnant and lonely) gets to know Delia and learns that their marriage is not as happy as it would seem. Delia continues to support Tom publicly, but their private relationship is far more complicated.

I think the story is supposed to contrast an old marriage with a young one, and to humanize the "stand by your man" strategy practiced by political wives today. Instead, I thought the book was preachy, slow-moving, and the characters one-dimensional. While there is a stunning climax, it did not make up for the entire book's dull pace.

Eye Wide Shut

When I get really tired but I'm reading a good book in bed at night, I start to read with one eye closed at a time. I close one eye to rest it, read with the other eye, then close the second eye and read with the first one.

I did not realize that was unusual until recently. I also have my 14-digit library card number memorized but I knew that was weird from the start.

What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman

This was on one of the booklists recently and I am glad I took it out of the library. It is a good old fashioned mystery, well-wrtten and well-constructed.

The story is about elementary-aged sisters who are abducted from a suburban mall. Decades later, a woman shows up in their hometown claiming to be one of the girls. As the story of their abduction is told through flashbacks, questions about the woman's identity emerge. The story is further enhanced by excellent characters, including her mother and several members of law enforcement and social services.

What I liked about this book was that it was straightforward and easy to read, like a simple novel. However, it was also deceptive in its complexity, as the climax demostrates. I'd definitely like to read other books by Lippman in the future.