Reading Lolita, Memory Keeper's Daughter, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
My friend Matt sent me this book while I was still in Korea, and I had to hurry and finish it before I left Korea, so I could leave it with my roommate, Stephanie. What an interesting read. How often we take for granted our liberties and freedoms when it comes to thoughts and ideas.
The basic premise of this non-fiction story is the small book group that Nafisi creates after the termination of her position as a professor of English literature at a Iranian university. But, along with how she applies the literature this book club reads to their lives, she also touches on her life under the fundamentalist regime at the time, living as a liberal academic, as well as a Muslim woman. At some points slow, but always interesting, Reading Lolita was a great book about reading books.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
I picked up this book at the bookstore in Korea for a few reasons: it was small, yet long, and wasn't too expensive. Edwards tells of a difficult birth and the decisions that come afterward that forever change those involved. The book was at least captivating enough and well-written enough that I cared about the characters so much that I finished the book, but I wouldn't count this among any favorites.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
I had heard of this book before, in that category of 20th century American classics. And hey, I love a 20th century American classic just like everybody else. I was convinced then, to read it, when it came up as "recommended reading if you like..." when I looked at To Kill a Mockingbird on the Powell's website. Well, I think that got my hopes up a bit too much. Having just read Angela's Ashes, I might have just had my fill of poor Irish family stories.
However, the story is sweet, and I got attached to the characters. The story of the daughter's growing up is poignant for its time and place. There was a hopeful, yet not cheesy, ending, and I felt like the story came into a full circle, which I enjoy. I liked reading the book, but I probably had exceedingly high expectations, which left me a little disappointed.
My friend Matt sent me this book while I was still in Korea, and I had to hurry and finish it before I left Korea, so I could leave it with my roommate, Stephanie. What an interesting read. How often we take for granted our liberties and freedoms when it comes to thoughts and ideas.
The basic premise of this non-fiction story is the small book group that Nafisi creates after the termination of her position as a professor of English literature at a Iranian university. But, along with how she applies the literature this book club reads to their lives, she also touches on her life under the fundamentalist regime at the time, living as a liberal academic, as well as a Muslim woman. At some points slow, but always interesting, Reading Lolita was a great book about reading books.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
I picked up this book at the bookstore in Korea for a few reasons: it was small, yet long, and wasn't too expensive. Edwards tells of a difficult birth and the decisions that come afterward that forever change those involved. The book was at least captivating enough and well-written enough that I cared about the characters so much that I finished the book, but I wouldn't count this among any favorites.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
I had heard of this book before, in that category of 20th century American classics. And hey, I love a 20th century American classic just like everybody else. I was convinced then, to read it, when it came up as "recommended reading if you like..." when I looked at To Kill a Mockingbird on the Powell's website. Well, I think that got my hopes up a bit too much. Having just read Angela's Ashes, I might have just had my fill of poor Irish family stories.
However, the story is sweet, and I got attached to the characters. The story of the daughter's growing up is poignant for its time and place. There was a hopeful, yet not cheesy, ending, and I felt like the story came into a full circle, which I enjoy. I liked reading the book, but I probably had exceedingly high expectations, which left me a little disappointed.
posted by Meghan at 11:53 AM
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