What the hell is the point of spending 50 pages introducing the reader to characters that never reappear in a story? I honestly have no clue. I can say with finality that I did not enjoy this book.

Within those first fifty pages we meet four characters, a sheriff, his wife, the villain and the villain’s henchman. Somehow it reminds me of Mccarthy’s No Country For Old Men. Except, I like Mccarthy and his books. It probably has to do with the fact that the henchman couldn’t have been anymore prototypical, “He had that air of affability that let you know know he didn’t give a fuck about you or anybody else.” I’m pretty sure I’ve read about that character a couple of times in the past 6 months alone. And to be clear, Chigur was way more bad ass.

Following those 50 pages Burnside decides to start the actual story which involves missing boys, a derelict chemical plant, a social divide and hormonal adolescents. Reading the back cover of the novel you’d almost think that there might be something in here worth checking out. It did actually make the book sound compelling and even encouraged me enough to buy it (if anyone wants it, please, just let me know).

Not uncommon in a book that situates a town near a derelict chemical plant, the incidence of cancer and disease is unfathomably high. The environment has been decimated and the moral of said town is, well, down in the dumps.

oh hell, just keep going…

This is now the fourth of Eggers books that I have read, or at least remember reading, and the second work of fiction. I had and have high regards for the works I’ve already read Zeitoun, Wild Things & What is the What. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when reading this book although it had been recommended to me by many people, including people in the publishing industry and a girl who has a crush on Mr. Eggers (if he weren’t married, I’d tell him he’d be foolish not to get her number).

You Shall Know Our Velocity! is a whirlwind, a veritable tornado of adventure, action and words. I had no idea that that’s what I was getting into, it threw me for a loop to say the least. I know that, or believe that, Eggers is a very intelligent guy. Therefore it’s somewhat impossible for me to just read the story as a story, while the whole time knowing there is depth in the words he chooses to use.

When two characters, Will and Hand, have to confront the death of their close friend, Jack, who has died in a tragic accident, they are besought my misery. It is hard for me to imagine them feeling any other way. Their pain is compounded when the title character, Will, is unable to use a large sum of money he has received to try and save Jack’s life. In lieu of using the money to save their friend Will and Hand decide to travel the world and disperse the money to those who seem deserving.

This book would be a little more typical and stagnant if it weren’t for the fact that Will and Hand aim to travel around the world in only one week. Most of us know that this is next to impossible, but the creative ways in which these two design itineraries is awesome. I only wish I could make something like that happen. While their trip and actions on the trip, doling out money, may be perceived as a statement about the nature of American tourists and their over zealous consumerism and propensity to want to do the right thing, I do not see that as being the mission behind the story or their adventure.

Velocity: Rapidity or speed of motion; swiftness. Keep moving…

After reading 3 pages I had an inkling I was going to enjoy this book. After reading 5 pages describing a birth and the formation of the MISCS or Mothers In Support of Caesarian Sections campaign (with a slogan/image of a circle with a vagina in it with a line through it) I had more than a feeling that this book and I were meant to be. And by the time I reached the 11th page whereby Not Sidney (the main character) questions his teachers use of the comma I knew this book and I were going to probably get married. Then again, in this day and age, with all those conservative, god fearing, man – woman marriage people would probably throw a shit fit so maybe not.

This book is funny. Funny in a “you’re going to laugh out loud” kind of way. The simplest miscommunications in this book are truly divine and will make you snicker.

I Am Not Sidney Poitier is about a boy named Not Sidney and his transformation from adolescent to grown man in the antebellum south. Of course with a name like Not Sidney introductions with people are forever going to be a harder task than they ever should be. Imagine yourself saying “whats your name?” and getting the response “I am Not Sidney.” Well, you can kind of imagine that it ends up playing out similar to Abbott and Costello’s Who’s on First. That alone of course would cause some confusion but add to that the fact that Not Sidney Poitier actually looks like the real Sidney Poitier and the confusion is compounded.

“History passes the final judgment.” – Sidney Poitier (the real one), now keep reading…

I have been made aware by several people that this book has been getting mixed reviews. It’s very much so my policy to not read other reviews prior to reading a book or writing my review. Unfortunately, as in this case, that is not always possible. In this particular instance, once I finished the book and before writing this review, I decided to read some of the more biting reviews. I did so because I was curious why people were upset with the book, something I will get to later. My review, however, will not be a scathing review, instead it will be review wherein I tell you why I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel.

I had to read the first page of this book several times, I didn’t get it. It just did not make sense. But, I moved on and soon enough it did make sense and I didn’t want to stop reading regardless of how late it was getting.

Some time ago I read Ferris’ first novel Then We Came To The End, a book which I found to be amusing, light and fun to read and often times associate with the tv show The Office. I’m not going to lie, going into The Unnamed I had expected something very much the same. But boy could I have been any more wrong. Instead of being light, this book struck me as being extremely heavy and dense in content and theme. From where I see it, the book is a dynamic look at family and in particular how the family in this novel deals with a problem which seems insurmountable.

What would you do if your legs started moving without your conscience ability to stop them? I for one would probably a.) scream out for help, b.) tie my feet together, c.) put on roller skates or d.) enjoy the ride. Four very viable solutions if you ask me. Actually, I’d be scared out of my mind. That right there is pretty much the premise of this novel (not the four options bit of course). Tim Farnsworth is afflicted by an unknown disease or psychological illness which causes him one day to start walking, with no power to stop, and continue walking until he crumples in exhaustion wherever he may be. Unfortunately for him and his family this is not a singular occurrence. In some instances it leaves him out in the cold in the dead of night wearing next to nothing close to freezing. In others it puts him in contact with people whom he has no strength to resist and into harms way.

Walk this way…

After having read Bel Canto I had numerous people recommend Run to me and proclaim that it was their favorite of Ann Patchett’s novels. My mom thinks otherwise, she liked The Magicians Assistant. But, what kind of son would I be if I actually went along with something my mother recommended? (Note: In actuality I go along with her recommendations frequently, I am a proverbial “good son.”)

I had definitely expected this story to be more of a plot driven story akin to Bel Canto but was pleasantly surprised when it was not. Instead it’s more of what I consider to be an emotional character study. Patchett’s determined style of setting up each character to be defined as she wills, is really quite powerful. Although I found the story to be somewhat uninteresting, the characters themselves easily made up for this.

What Patchett was able to pull off so seamlessly in Bel Canto she replicated in Run. By this I simply imply that she manages to place in a single room the most unsuspecting of characters to be juxtaposed. Bernard Doyle, widower and former mayor of Boston, has three sons, two of which who by all appearances would not seem to be his own. When the family is re-united under duress and a young girl named Kenya is thrust on their family it is apparent that this girl may be more a part of their family than they had imagined.

The characters all have very distinct interests which would, in most normal circumstances, set them up for conflict. Yet, their devotion to another and individual introspection during this period of their life helps to display their true adoration for one another. Teddy and Tip, Mr. Doyle’s unassuming son’s are respectively an aspiring priest and a Harvard scholar. Sullivan, the displaced son who is blamed for ruining his father’s political career has reentered his family’s life after resurfacing from an extended stay in Africa. And Kenya, the young girl, is an athlete and innocent mind. Of course there are others who also make an impact on the story but these characters really are the focus of the novel.

Walk, don’t “Run”

It’s been awhile since I’ve read something that I would actually deem to be “funny.” For no particular reason at all, I decided it was time to read another book that would fall into this category. Looking back at the books I’ve reviewed, Christopher Moore’s Lamb is by far the funniest. So, I decided I’d give Mr. Moore another shot, couldn’t hurt right?

Looking around the web I found that most people varied in what they felt was Mr. Moore’s greatest work. So, when I got to the bookshop I just picked one on a whim. At the end of the day, I wish I had read Bloodsucking Fiends before reading Lamb. Bloodsucking was good, just not as good. Bloodsucking was funny, just not as funny. Bloodsucking just was.

Obviously with a name like Bloodsucking it’s somewhat obvious that it’s a book involving vampires. Then again, it could also be about housewives that live in Orange County, a bunch of women who live in a city and talk about sex, a similar group of women trying to marry a bachelor or a mall cop named Blart (that last one may be a stretch). But yes, in case you were wondering, it is about vampires.

Where Lamb had a pretty straightforward story, Bloodsucking was kind of lacking in that department for me. It’s a story of a girl, Judy, who by all normal standards has had a pretty shitty day. She’s broken up with her boyfriend, lost her job, her car’s been impounded and she’s been turned into a vampire. When she realizes that running everyday errands is now impossible (you know, vampires and daylight go together like dirty diaper curry with a booger sandwich on the side) she recruits a lackey to get stuff done. That lackey goes by the name of Tommy.

Stopping now will hurt you more than me…

Turtledove sounds like the surname of an author who writes romance novels. Just thought I’d throw that out there.

Shabam! That’s kind of how this book hits you. Pretend the South had actually won the Civil War (I know, it’s pretty hard, but try). How would things be different? I tell you what, it would sure as hell be hard to imagine Obama being president. Oh yeah, imagine the South having won the Civil War with the aide of the AK-47 assault rifle. But, but, but… that’s not fair! Well, in Turtledove’s interpretation of how the South defeated the North, that’s just how they did it.

I was thinking about this book last night and it really actually made me start thinking of the Back to the Future movies. Two parts in particular. The sports almanac which could inevitably make someone wealthy and the whole third movie in which they travel back in time to the wild west. I don’t really feel like making all the allusions myself so I’ll leave it up to you to figure out what I’m talking about. I’d also like to point a small bit of irony. I think that irony can be found just about anywhere but I found it particularly ironic that I finished reading this book just after President Obama gave his State of the Union Address. Not too clear on the irony there, but I think it’s there.

I’ve pretty much already outlined the basis of the story but I promise you there is a lot more to it than just that. Take for example the portrayal of General Robert E. Lee. Here is a gentleman that I was taught in school was a bad man (my use of the English language is amazing isn’t it?). What Turtledove has done in this novel is portray the war through Lee’s eyes and given some context to the war behind the slavery conflict. Beyond the motivations for the war that we all know about (slavery, cessation from the Union), Turtledove also brings to light some of those which are less commonly known to those of us who haven’t not really studied the civil war (aka me). Lee is not the only historical personality present in the novel. It’s quite evident that Turtledove went to lengths to uncover the philosophies and personalities of other civil war notables like Abe Lincoln, Jefferson Davis and Nathan Bedford Forrest.

If you stop reading now, I’ll be forced to call you a coward

Thank you San Francisco, thank you for helping to make this past week better than the one prior to it. I’m not really going to give you, the city, too much credit but I will certainly give you some.

I think this past week wasn’t so bad because nothing really happened, or should I say nothing really changed. Of course getting away for a night wasn’t so bad either. And the fact that they took the dehumidifiers out of my apartment didn’t hurt, although my apartment is still a disaster zone. These things happen though.

So, let’s cut to the chase and see what’s going on this week in book events.

Tuesday, February 2nd
@ 7pm
- Michael Chabon, author, will be appearing at the Book Passage store in Corte Madera as part of One Book One Marin. One Book One Marin is intended “to provide readers with a shared reading experience that leads to open dialogue.” This year they’ve selected Chabon’s The Adventures of Cavalier and Clay as their selection. If you haven’t already this book I think there may be something wrong with you, to put it simply, it’s awesome. It would be well worth seeing Mr. Chabon talk about it.

Update:

Wednesday February 3rd
@ 7pm
- Chris Cleeve, author, will be appearing and talking about his book Little Bee at the JCCSF in conjunction with Books, Inc. Tickets are still available (I believe) on the JCCSF website. Cleeve, a British journalist who writes about the plight of refugees, has come a long way since the release of his book so do him a favor and go see him, I am sure he’d appreciate it.

Yay! So much not happening this week, pretty disappointing. Go to Los Angeles if you want some real events, gosh SF, way to let me down.