Jess' Review: Sikander (M. Salahuddin Khan)

(photo from Goodreads)

Title: Sikander
Author: M. Salahuddin Khan
Publisher: Karakoram Press, Lake Forest, IL, 2010
Notes: I was offered this book to review from the publisher.

A brief summary: Sikander Khan, a Pakistani student turned mujahid after family turmoil in the mid-1980s, is the aptly named protagonist of Sikander. He returns to Pakistan after the fight, falls in love, and settles down to a normal life. Eventually his interest in English and the United States—from his years as a student—reemerge, and he finds himself journeying to America in a pre- and post-9/11 world.

My thoughts: This book is well researched, and author Khan is quite good at explaining and weaving the political history of South and Central Asia into the plot. Even if you don't have a strong background in the history, politics, and religion of the area, you'll learn a lot. You'll also learn slang, religious terminology, and various phrases in Pashto, Urdu, and Arabic in this book. I really enjoy that, though I know it can be distracting for some readers, and I found Khan's glossary explanations thorough and sufficient.

One area where I felt this book was seriously lacking was in Khan's dialogue. The descriptions are sparse and the dialogue common—which is somewhat unusual in the books I typically read—but the dialogue flops occasionally. The characters are flat, and many lack that aspect that make you feel connected to the book. I personally did not find any of the female characters to be particularly compelling either, though I'd be curious to read your thoughts on that.

I think it's difficult to pick apart the book without veering into spoilers, but I would say that the second half of the book is much more interesting than the first. I think the plot is good, though long and drawn-out in a frustrating way at times, and that anyone interested in this area of the world will find it thought provoking. I'm excited to see modern fiction written by Muslim authors popping up in the post-9/11 era, so I think it's worth a read.

Rating: 3 stars

Jen Reviews Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World

Title: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes For Cupcakes That Rule

Authors: Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero

Published: 2006, Marlowe & Company

How I Got This Book: Purchased myself a few years ago

Rating: 4 cupcakes (couldn't resist!)

Review:

A few years ago I came across this book, an entire book of vegan cupcake recipes. This intrigued me because I was interested to see how well a cupcake would turn out with no eggs or milk. Honestly, I didn't think they would be very good...they'd be too dry or dense. But I'm never one to turn down a cupcake so I bought the book and headed to the grocery store to pick up a few ingredients.

For the next couple of months I baked a different kind of cupcake every week. And you know what? They all turned out delicious. Since I was making so many cupcakes I would share them with pretty much anyone who wanted to try them. Unfortunately, I know people who would not try these cupcakes if I told them that they were vegan cupcakes. So I tricked those people into eating them. They were all shocked to learn that the dessert they were going back for thirds and fourths for were vegan.

There is quite the variety of cupcakes recipes in this cookbook. They range from your basic chocolate or vanilla cupcake to a banana split cupcake to a s'mores cupcake to green tea cupcakes to coconut lime cupcakes. Plus there are recipes for vegan frosting. Is your mouth watering yet? The peanut butter cupcakes are a personal favorite, I've made those multiple times.

However, I do have one gripe about this book. It lies. There are not "75 dairy-free recipes for cupcakes". I counted. There are only 39 cupcake recipes. Then there are an additional 14 recipes for frosting or glaze. 39 + 14 = 53. So where are the other 22 recipes?? I'm thinking the authors are counting the variations listed at the end of some of the recipes. That disappointed me a little, I was looking forward to 75 original recipes.

Overall, this is a great book filled with amazing cupcake recipes. If want to make a batch of vegan cupcakes or just try a new recipe (apple cider cupcakes anyone?), then this book is a great place to start.

Top Ten Tuesday: R's Top Ten Books I'm Dying to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND sign Mister Linky at the bottom to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Don't worry if you can't come up with ten every time..just post what you can!


My current TBR list is a 13-page Word document in font size 10, arranged in a terrifyingly haphazard manner, so I have to admit that it's pretty difficult for me to narrow down the books I want to devour to just ten. But I finally managed to summon up my organizational abilities, so here are the

TOP TEN BOOKS I’M DYING TO READ

1.The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Muriel Spark
There are certain themes whose presence in a book generally means that I will instantly develop an interest in reading it. In this case, the applicable theme is that of idealistic teachers pioneering novel forms of education on their hapless students. As far as I can tell, this book definitely has that covered.

2. English, August: An Indian Story
Upamanyu Chatterjee
Based on the reviews I’ve read, this book looks like something that I might be able to identify with. For the record, it’s not a direct parallel between his life and mine (I thought it might be a good idea to put that on the table considering the descriptions of his vices in the synopses floating around the Internet). But it's the whole confluence of cultures in a post-colonial world thing that makes me think I'll enjoy this one.

3. Wanderlust: A History of Walking
Rebecca Solnit
I enjoy walking. I really enjoy walking. In fact, I enjoy walking to the extent of wanting to read books about walking… instead of actually walking. Yeah. That must make some sense, in some way or another.

4. Meetings with Remarkable Trees
Thomas Pakenham
I must be going through some kind of outdoorsy phase, which is just as well. Trees are our friends, not just potential books that have yet to be called to service. Anyway, this book is about old trees that have been witness to various historical events – so it’ll be a combination of pretty pictures and history lessons all in one go.

5. Wise Blood
Flannery O’Connor
It’s about some guy who was raised in fire-and-brimstone Pentecostalism, fought in the Korean War, came back to find his family have disappeared, and starts preaching a strange brand of Christianity of his own creation. I don’t know about you, but I like the sound of that. Also, it’s the only Flannery O’Connor book I can find in the library, which is a shame because I think I’m really going to like her.

6. Samarkand
Amin Maalouf
I like fiction based on people who really existed and events that really happened, and in this book we get both of these together in one neat little package. It manages to be about both the pre-Renaissance Renaissance man Omar Khayyam and the sinking of the Titanic at the same time. Which is awesome.

7. A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines

Janna Levin

Another book about real people and real events. This one is about the mathematicians Gödel and Turing, both of whom I feel vaguely fond of (especially Alan Turing, poor dear Turing). I'm not sure how it manages to be about both of them at the same time considering that they never knew each other, but I look forward to finding out.

8. Bel Canto

Ann Patchett

So this one isn't technically about real people and real events, but it kind of is inspired by a real event. Hence my interest... Well, no, not exactly. It's difficult to explain why one would want to read a book based on true crime or, in this case, a prolonged hostage situation. But there it is. It just sounds really interesting.

9. A High Wind in Jamaica

Richard Hughes

The Wikipedia page for this book describes it as having paved the way for books like The Lord of the Flies, so I figure it's worth a shot. Plus I'm very happy to look for new opportunities to read about pirates and be freaked out by creepy children.

10. The Woman in the Dunes

Kobo Abe

I've heard so much about how great Kobo Abe supposedly is, but I have to admit that I've been putting off reading it because it just feels like one of those surreal, weirdly mind-blowing books that you just have to be in the right state of mind to appreciate. And right now I suspect my head might be too full of college stuff to fully appreciate existential stories about digging a useless hole. But one day soon.

So what books are you dying to read?

Next week the topic is: Top Ten Favorite Book Quotes

Daisy's review of The Pillars of the Earth

Book Title/Author: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Publisher/Year published: Pan Books, first published in 1989
How I got this book: I bought it
Why I read this book: Why I read this book now is probably a better question (I'd been meaning to for some time): I'd heard about the series coming out in July and after seeing the awesome trailer I decided I really needed to read this before watching the series (I have this rule about that..).

This book scared me to begin with, the sheer size of it (mine has 1076 pages) and the whole idea that it centers around a church, since I'm not exactly religious. But let me start of by saying The Pillars of the Earth is so much more!

I tried to write a summary of this story, but it's so complex and has so many separate storylines at first, which come together in the end, that it's nearly impossible without giving away the whole plot.
The story centers around Tom Builder and his family and the priory of Kingsbridge with prior Philip as the other main character. After the cathedral in Kingsbridge burns down, Tom is hired as master-builder to build a new one. The rivalry between Alfred, his son, and Jack, the son of his second wife Ellen, doesn't make family life any easier.
Prior Philip, taken in by monks after his parents were killed when he was 6 years old, struggles against the rigidity of the older monks, the malice of the bishop of Kingsbridge and William of Hamleigh, a nobleman's son, determined to destroy Kingsbridge.
Against the backdrop of the building of the cathedral and the civil war in 12th century England, the story is set that contains family, love, loyalty, malevolence, treachery, greed and of course religion.

I really loved the pacing, I thought it would be slow, which happens a lot with bigger books, but it turned out to be a really fast read. Follett introduces you to the characters and then builds his story around this. You're thrown right into the action from the start. Some of the characters have become especially dear to me, most of all Prior Philip and Jack. Of course there are the characters who oppose them and I always appreciate them not being evil for the sake of evil, but we are given reasons for the way they act. To me it shows the skill of the author that I can really hate one of the characters, William Hamleigh, he made me care enough to.

Follett doesn't shy away from physical violence, including sexual abuse, which made me gasp in horror at the things people are capable of, but without it, the book probably wouldn't have been realistic. And although it centers around a priory, there's no preaching, which probably has to do with the author himself not being a christian. I believed Philip in his religious moments of doubt and in his devotion to God.

All in all, this is such an epic tale of everything about human life, with lovable and strong characters and it completely blew me away. If I wasn't so busy, I probably would have read this without putting it down, it was that good (I swear I heard hallelujah sounds while reading it).
I give this book 5+ stars because it is a new favourite and I'm adding the sequel World Without End to my to-read list.

Spy Glass

Book: Spy Glass

Author: Maria V. Snyder

How I got my hands on it: I bought it the very day it was available

Why I read it: Love this series and I’ll read anything by Maria V. Snyder

So this review is going to be a little bit tricky. This actually the final book of a trilogy, and that trilogy is a spinoff of another trilogy. So if I’m not careful I could give away spoilers for 6 books! But I am going to do my best to tell you about this book without spoiling anything!

Ok, so Spy Glass is the final book in the Glass Trilogy. The author truly continues to amaze me. She has a way of taking a character and developing their stories in ways that you never expect. Opal is the protagonist of this story. She is a “Glass Magician”. Whenever she words with glass, a bit of magic is added to it. Her magic is very unique and is well known. You’d think with that sort of reputation, Opal would be at the top. Confident, with lots of friends. Instead she is a very real character. She’s insecure, wants only to live up to her reputation and make friends along the way. She has some dark secrets, things that have happened to her and her family that have completely changed how she looks at life. She trusts easily, and loves unconditionally. My personality and Opal’s personality are rather different, but somehow I still managed to relate to her in certain ways. There is just something about her that you cannot help but love. Even though she can be aggravating at times.

There is a wonderful mix of characters. Ari and Janco, oh my. Read the books simply for them and you'll be happy. They're fantastic. Absolutely hilarious. You have the romantic characters, the tough characters, the lovable characters. And what's so wonderful is that all of this characters are three dimensional. They aren't just flat characters thrown in there because they were needed.

Spy Glass (And the Glass Trilogy as a whole) is filled with magic, love, action, friendship and humor. Just the right mix for a good book. Spy Glass was a very satisfying end to the series and I was smiling as I turned the last page. I was sad to see it end, but at the same time I had enjoyed the book so much, and I was so pleased with the events of the book that I couldn’t help but be happy about it.

Even if you aren’t a big fan of fantasy, I think you will like this. The books are just so darned enjoyable! BUT before you pick up the Glass Trilogy, I suggest the Study Trilogy. (Jana reviewed the first book in the series, Poison Study. Great review too, except I gave it more stars). And Opal really is a strong female heroine, despite her weaknesses. She isn’t like…. Some heroines that are whiny and let themselves be destroyed by a boy… Anyway.

So hopefully this was a helpful review! I really wanted to review this book but didn’t really know how without giving away too much information.

Rating: 5+ Stars

Follow these links to learn more about the other books in the series

Poison Study

Storm Glass

Natanya's Ramblings on The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

Title/Author: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

Publisher/Year: Doubleday 2010

Where I got it: Splurged on a signed copy from Powell’s

Why I read it: I heard Bender speaking about it on NPR and the novel sounded interesting

This is one of those weird novels that you come out of not knowing whether or not you liked it. In fact, I almost decided against writing a review because I had no idea what to say about it. I tend to write most of my book reviews while I am reading the book: I write down all of my thoughts as I read, then organize and add onto them as needed after finishing the novel. By the time I get to my computer, I tend to have most of my review written. But with this, as I read I distinctly noticed that I had no idea what to think. It’s not that I didn’t understand what was going on, but that I had so little idea as to where the novel was heading that I couldn’t formulate an option. Maybe that’s a bad thing, but I was certain that I was enjoying the novel, even though it just got weirder as it continued.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake follows the life of Rose Edelstein, who, on her ninth birthday, discovers that she can taste the emotions of the person who cooked her food—sometimes feelings of which even the cook is unaware. The novel then follows her life as she grows up and copes with this gift (or curse), the normal tribulations of adolescence and teenage-hood, and, particularly later in the novel, her brother’s mysterious habit of disappearing.

The novel goes somewhat unevenly between Rose’s relationships with her mother, brother, father, brother’s best friend, and other people in her life. In doing so, it often jumps suddenly forward in time, making it a bit fragmented—but it kind of works, given the content. However, as I was reading I did feel like I was kind of on the outside, occasionally getting glimpses into Rose’s inner thoughts and desires, despite the novel being told from her first-person perspective. Consequently, I suppose it lacks the character development that one might expect. It also doesn’t exactly have a plot, but again, I feel like that suits the premise (that doesn’t mean that nothing happens, but that the things that do happen are more gradual changes). But if you need a book with a very solid, consistent plot line, this is probably not the book for you.

Especially in the beginning, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake reads like it should be light and fluffy, but, until late in the novel, everything is tinged with a depression that is never really pointed out. I read this novel immediately after finishing This Mean Disease, Daniel Becker’s memoir on growing up with a mother suffering from anorexia nervosa. In comparison to Becker’s straightforward memoir, Bender’s novel never says anything straight out—hence the feeling that I was just getting glimpses of the character’s lives, peering through a window just as Rose’s mother so frequently does, seeking Rose’s missing brother.

Though it lacked that certain “oomph,” I enjoyed the novel for reasons that I struggle to pinpoint. It is bizarre, and it is hard for me to say who it is really about—her or her brother, who, even when he is not there, is lurking in the shadows. Perhaps the novel could have benefitted from more focus, but I did like it as it is.

4 stars

R holds forth on Important Artifacts and Personal Property from... by Leanne Shapton

Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry by Leanne Shapton

Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2009

How I got this book: The library; O, hallowed repository of knowledge.

Why I read this book: The title attracted my attention. (It is strangely gratifying to type it out in full.) Also, there are pictures. Lots of pictures.

So basically, this book chronicles the blossoming and subsequent disintegration of the relationship between Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris... through presenting their mementos as auction lots.

I think it is interesting to point out that, as far as the basic narrative goes, no new ground is broken here. It's pretty openly indicated in the blurbs and synopsis on the back cover: The story here is the age-old boy-meets-girl-and-then-they-break-up plot line that is seen all too often in fiction (and, unfortunately but pertinently, also in real life).

But that doesn't matter, because the narrative isn't the point. The first of the couple's books to be put under the hammer in the fictional auction - well, I think it was the first; my memory may have deceived me... still, it's only a minor point, so heigh ho, on we go - is Exercises in Style by Raymond Queneau, which struck me as being a bit of a parallel to what Shapton was endeavouring to do here. From what I've gathered thanks to it being on my to-read list, Exercises in Style features the same scenario played out over and over again, each time retold in a new style...

So there you have it - The point of the book is that this is an age-old story retold in a totally different way, disdaining regular prose for the elaborately mocked-up auction lots. Considering that Shapton is primarily known as an artist, I guess that's the artist's heightened sense of presentation evincing itself.

The main thing I like about the whole conceit of auction lots is that, if you think about it, it's actually so mundane. I don't mean mundane as in boring, I mean that it's something familiar, something that a reader could connect more easily to his or her life, especially considering how it deals with a theme that - as I mentioned briefly earlier - occurs frequently in the realm of reality.

I understand that Shapton drew inspiration for this volume when going through auction lots and realizing how much could be gleaned about the owners' lives. And that's what it is, really. The little souvenirs in the book could easily have been some of the random knick-knacks that any non-fictional, real live person has accumulated over the course of a relationship - or, actually, over the course of his or her life. And, in fact, if the non-fictional, real live person in question were to sit down and go through their belongings, arranging them chronologically as has been done in this book, a fairly accurate timeline of their lives could very well be revealed.

As a direct result of all that, my belief somehow has been suspended nearly as far as it can possibly go, and there's a part of me that almost believes that Lenore and Harold exist, somewhere out there. The fact that the actors' names aren't mentioned anywhere in book (as far as I could tell) adds to the whole Twilight Zone feeling, although a Google search quickly surrendered their names up to me. (But I shan't tell you because that would totally spoil the magic of it all.)

Incidentally, in reading up on stuff for this review, I found out that the book has been optioned to be made into a film starring Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman. Now, I like Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman. But the inexplicably visceral Twilight Zone thing inside me did in fact lead me to think, No! What a cop-out, they aren't the real Doolan and Morris! - as if the real Doolan and Morris actually existed.

So yes, to sum it all up, I am in fact a creepy voyeur with a shaky grasp of reality. Also, while I'm not sure if this is the kind of book I'd pore through over and over again, I predict that I'm going to be fondly thinking about "that auction book thing" for awhile yet. It gets 4 stars from me.