Tahleen reviews: "Feed" by M.T. Anderson

Title: Feed

Author: M.T. Anderson

Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2002

Where I got it: I listened to the audio version and got it from the library.

Rating: ★★★★

Titus lives in a future where everything is connected with and through the feed. The feed is how people chat, buy, browse, research, and select—it is a computer built into the brain, an implant that not only allows you to have what we would cal the Internet in your head, but also TV shows and commercials, suggestions as to what you might like based on past purchases or inquiries, and anything else along those lines. Titus is just another teenager who has grown up with the feed as something normal, and he lives to bask in the corporate-controlled world. But this all changes when he meets Violet, an unconventional girl who has some weird ideas and perspectives on the feed and the world they live in.

You know you've found a great dystopian/science fiction book when it makes you grateful for the life you have. You also know it's even better if it makes you look at our world and get a little panicky. Titus sounds like many teens in today's world, dependent on the feed for everything he is capable of doing. He also recognizes the dangers of leaving the world's fate on the whims of the corporations that control practically everything, yet sees it more as an inevitability than as something to fight against. That hits really close to home; so many people in our world, sometimes myself included, see what goes on as impossible to change or have an effect on.

Anderson creates such a believable world, and such a terrifying one. The people are completely at the mercy of the corporations—even School™ is a corporation, and not government-run (Titus is appalled at the idea of a government-run school, saying it's "completely, like, Nazi"(109)). They all embrace the instant gratification the feed provides; the instant chatting, the instant purchasing, the instant information—and all this is reminiscent of how we're all plugged in to the Internet at all times. Yet Anderson doesn't come off as being anti-progress or anti-Internet; it's just the way it is, and that's what makes it so scary.

There are also an infinite number of environmental problems that lead the reader to the conclusion that the world will soon end. People start to get lesions, which are of course turned into a fashion statement to deflect the attention from what is causing them, and there are no more trees or natural anythings. Forests are completely gone, as is wildlife. Violet says that the earth is dead; there is nothing that mankind hasn't created or planted, nothing straight from the earth. Everything has been destroyed.

The characters were all really well-formed and rounded, even the stock characters. Titus is not a hero by any means—he thinks more than the average teen in his world, but he wants to belong and be normal and so doesn't talk about his thoughts to his friends as he does to us, the readers. He is often a major jerk to Violet, but shows brief glimpses of a deeper character. I was surprised to see his friends showing sides that I wouldn't have expected from them, especially the completely superficial and unoriginal Quendy when she is talking to Titus about Violet—she shows real compassion and insight, kind of giving Titus a swift kick in the butt. All the teens show some bits of intelligence and occasionally a rare bit of individuality, though it gets harder and harder for them to do so as the feed steers them toward the latest trends and hot topics.

Though this comes before the dystopian trend that has been so prevalent in young adult literature as of late, it is an important contribution to the genre. Science fiction at its core, this is also a statement about our world and where we might be headed. It's protagonist is not extraordinary, though he meets an extraordinary girl. His thoughts are mostly wired into the feed and what it wants him to think, with just a little room for independent thought.

Also, just a warning: the language was pretty strong in this, so it might be better-suited to older readers.

Note on the audio version: This was narrated by David Aaron Baker, and he did a great job. His voice for Titus was perfect, and he was able to make most of the characters' voices unique. Unfortunately I didn't really like his voice for Violet, which was softer—I thought of her as having a more sassy kind of voice. But other than that, his acting was superb. I would also recommend this for its ensemble cast in the feed commercials—with added music, they sounded like ads we see and hear every day. This actually made me panic a little, especially when I saw three commercials in a row that sounded straight from Titus's world. I give the audio 4 out of 5 stars.

Kelly's Review of "Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff

Title: Cleopatra: A Life

Author: Stacy Schiff

Published: Little, Brown and Company, November, 2010

Where I Got It: Tahleen sent it to me, courtesy of Hachette!

Why I Read It: I love pretty covers.

The number one thing that I learned from Cleopatra: A Life was this: I had deceived myself in thinking I knew anything about her before reading this book. Stacy Schiff digs deep into the life of one of the most well-known yet misunderstood women in history. Most of us know her as the Egyptian queen who had affairs/children with both Caesar and Mark Antony, the two most powerful men of their age. She herself was much, much more than that.

Cleopatra was a fabulously rich woman. In contemporary terms, her net worth would be around $95.8 billion dollars. She was worth more than three Queen Elizabeth IIs. Amazingly, she also lived in a culture were women were greatly empowered. A woman in first century B.C. could choose her own husband, own property, grant their own divorces, operate businesses, and serve as priests. As much as one third of Egypt was controlled by female hands.

There are many other things that stick out to me about Cleopatra's life. The biggest was her incestuous family ties. Her grandparents were uncle and niece, her parents were brother and sister, and Cleopatra herself was married to both of her brothers. I question how there were no physical or mental deformations! Another interesting point pertains to her beauty. Third century A.D. records call her "strikingly exquisite" in appearance, while those of the Middle Ages say she was "famous for nothing but her beauty." Shakespeare raves about her looks. However, her contemporaries, those who actually knew and saw her, say nothing about her beauty. In fact, her appearance was called "not remarkable." Quite different from what most of us have heard about her!

Stacy Schiff wrote an extremely entertaining book full of fun, interesting facts. I loved her sarcastic voice and the humor she injected into the characters. I will say that it seems to drag on forever at the end. The story began to focus too much on Mark Antony and the military, which quickly lost my interest. I skimmed the last 100 pages. That being said, I'd rate it 3.5 stars; the plethora of amazing facts was overshadowed by the fact that I felt I had to force myself to even finish it.

This book hasn't even been published, yet it is already the basis for a movie to be released in 2013, starring Angelina Jolie. You can read more about it here.

R holds forth on The Loser by Thomas Bernhard

The Loser by Thomas Bernhard

Knopf, 1991

How I got this book: The library

Why I read this book: It has (a fictionalized version of) Glenn Gould in it.

Three men study together under Horowitz in their youth - One of them, a Canadian named Glenn Gould, ascends to the highest level of talent and fame. Another leaves the world of music, ostensibly with no regrets. The third, having firmly believed in his own virtuosity and potential until hearing Gould play, falls apart; he is the eponymous loser of the novel. If it can be described at all, The Loser is a rambling treatise about how their time together as friends went on to colour the rest of their lives.

One of the things that intrigued me about this book is that it had been described to me as consisting of one long, run-on paragraph. Just to clear things up: As it turns out, there are actually a grand total of four paragraphs throughout the entire length of the novel, although all four of them start on the first page. So yes- while this edition has a font that is reasonably sized and margins that are relatively wide, it does in fact mostly consist of a 150-page monologue.

That said, the slight trepidation I felt upon flipping through the pages and not finding any paragraph indentations was ultimately allayed, because this monstrous passage is not remotely as unreadable as it might have been. The stream-of-consciousness style certainly helps: It feels conversational rather than impenetrably Joycean and dense, and the whole effect is similar to having a slightly drunk stranger regale you about his life in a tavern somewhere - as, I suppose, it may well have been intended to be.

There is a downside to the monologue style of the prose, unfortunately: Our drunk stranger in question tends to get repetitive and long-winded, repeating the same ideas again and again and again (etc.). There is no doubt that the cyclical pattern of the narrative is intentional - perhaps for the purposes of mirroring the variations on a basic theme that are woven through a piece of music - so I certainly can't fault Bernhard for not having crafted his piece with such detail. As it is, as engaged as I was by the conversational monologue of his narrative at the beginning, after reading for the umpteenth time that the titular "loser" in question fell apart "because of Glenn", I started to almost feel physically tired just looking at that same phrase again.

I think the thing to note about The Loser is that, ultimately, its main focus isn't on a singular climactic point. It may help to know that the main thing is the process - Getting lost in the stylistic meanderings, windmilling back over and over to the same themes of perfectionism, failure, family and how horrible Austria is. (In fact, look out for the depictions of Austria - for me the savageness with which Bernhard rips into his homeland is one of the funniest things in the book.)

With that in mind, I'm giving The Loser 4 stars for the finesse with which it took me on its rambling journey.

Julia Reviews "Bloodmaiden" by Christine E. Schulze

Title/Author: Bloodmaiden by Christine E Schulze
Publisher/Year Published: 2010 by Old Line Publishing
How I got this book: I entered the Goodreads giveaway, didn't win, got a message from the author that offered an eBook in trade for a review
Why I read this book: The premise was really interesting
Rating: 3 stars

I haven't read a good fantasy book in a while. In fact, I very well may say that I haven't read a good fantasy book since I read The Lord of the Rings. So I am in the market. I stumbled into a description of Bloodmaiden and thought it sounded promising. Dragon and humans living in harmony with each other and something goes wrong and must be fixed. Sounds like the beginning of a great fantasy.

So I started reading. My first shock was that the book was only 200 pages (in my eBook form at least). The first chapter or two was really gripping (though groan! first person storytelling). I was really interested in this world of virgin forced marriages and sacrifices. Let's learn more.

But as I was itching to know more about the world I was only given confusion. Willing to be introduced gradually I read on. I love a plot driven book and this is certainly plot driven, but sadly I think it as the expense of the characters. I really wanted to know more about who these people I was reading about were. They were very flat and I honestly couldn't figure out why I should care what happened to them.

I feel like the problem wasn't with a boring story, I actually liked the plot, but with how things were told to us. It would be like someone going up to someone who has never read Harry Potter and saying "He lives in the Muggle world and has the power to apparate" without ever explaining what Muggle or apparate mean.

I really wanted to like it more than I did. I wanted to fall in love with these characters as it is clear the author has. She has made up a world that I would love to get to know, but it just felt like I wasn't allowed to be let in on the secret. Maybe it's just me.

I'm giving it three stars though, because it was written well and the plot was interesting and unique. Plus dragons are cool.

Jess' Review: Pretty Little Things (Jillian Hoffman)

Title: Pretty Little Things (website)

Author: Jilliane Hoffman

Publisher: Vanguard Press, 2010

Notes: I received this book to review from FSB Associates. My review is 100% my own and is not influenced by any external influences.

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Lainey Emerson is the middle child in a home police are already familiar with: her mother works too much and her stepfather favors his own blood over another man’s problems—namely Lainey and her wild older sister, Liza. So when Lainey does not come home from a Friday night out with her friends, it is dismissed by the Coral Springs P.D. as just another disillusioned South Florida teen running away from suburban drama and an unhappy home life.

But FDLE Special Agent Bobby Dees, who has headed up the Department’s difficult Crimes Against Children (CAC) Squad in Miami for more than a decade, is not quite so sure. Nicknamed “The Shepherd” by colleagues, he has an uncanny ability to find the missing and bring them back home— dead or alive. Haunted by the still-unsolved disappearance of his own daughter, Bobby recognizes the all too familiar up-swell inside him, the gut feeling that Lainey Emerson is no runaway. A search of her computer and a talk with her best friend reveal Lainey was involved in a secret internet relationship, spawned over a chat room, and nurtured through untraceable instant messages. Bobby fears she may be the victim of an online predator, and when chilling hand-painted portraits of other possible victims are mailed to a local television station, he realizes she may not be the only one.

The faceless monster from cyberspace, who has gone to remarkable lengths to stay invisible, now seeks a captive audience. And it is Bobby Dees he wants watching. Can Bobby win this deadly game of cat and mouse, one involving the most prolific killer he has ever encountered? And will he be able to save Lainey and the others before it is too late?

My thoughts: Pretty Little Things immediately struck me as the type of book that a James Patterson might read. The chapters are short, there's a consistent amount of action, and it reads relatively quickly. The subject matter even fits pretty well, since both Pretty Little Things and James Patterson's books fall under the thriller genre.

I enjoyed this book because Jilliane Hoffman did an excellent job at alternating narration. You're constantly wondering who the villain is, what will happen to the victims, and whether the protagonist, Bobby Dees, will figure things out in time. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is easily scared, but I think it's a good thriller and the plot is relatively fast-paced.

One aspect of the book that I didn't love was that the characterization seemed forced or contrived. I didn't feel particularly attached to any of the characters, and sometimes personalities or dialogue felt flat or uninspired.

Overall, I think Hoffman did a great job at addressing a topic that seems to interest people. She also builds suspense and keeps the reader interested, and you'll never guess who the villain is!

Rating: 4 stars

Tahleen reviews: "The Body of Christopher Creed" by Carol Plum-Ucci

Title: The Body of Christopher Creed

Author: Carol Plum-Ucci

Publisher: Harcourt, 2000

Where I got it: The lovely library.

Rating: ★★★½

Torey Adams is member of a well-off, slightly rural small town where everyone seems to get along... except for Torey's classmate Christopher Creed, the local weirdo and annoyance. But when Creed goes missing and leaves a cryptic note that could point to running away, suicide or murder, old secrets and the ugly side of the community come out in the open. And when Torey tries to dig up the truth, he is one of the main targets for their hatred and fear.

This is a mystery and a thriller, but also a look at small-town life and ethics. In Torey's community, everyone wants to showcase their virtues without having to deal with their and their neighbor's imperfections and flaws. Blame is passed from person to person, and because no one wants to accept the responsibility they share in Creed's disappearance (as well as other incidents in the town from years earlier), they point their finger at anyone who might be able to serve as their scapegoat. The boons are a favorite target, the poorer and more wild group of people that live on the fringes of the town, though anyone will serve the purpose so long as the accusers are cleared.

Torey is very philosophical about his ethics and beliefs, especially in reviewing his own treatment of Creed and others in the past. He is forced to reevaluate his life and his choices in light of Creed's disappearance (and possible suicide), leading him to change his attitude and actions toward everything. His inner monologue will also spark readers to think about the way they treat others as well. Plum-Ucci highlights that a person's family life might lead them to act the way they do, and readers should get the message that they can't truly judge a person until they really know them. There is more to a person than the way they act in public.

My problems with the book lie in the language and telling of the story. Torey is a sympathetic character, but the way he and his friends speak sometimes sound off. They use slang that make me double take, which throws me off from the story. It was something that consistently bothered me throughout the book, though it wasn't something that happened on every page.

The action of the book is what keeps the story moving along, despite its philosophical and ethical undertones. Torey and his friend Ali are scrambling to find the answer before the disappearance is pinned on someone innocent, thus driving the story forward. But through all this the ending is left ambiguous, with a few hints as to what really happened.

Because of the action-centered nature of this book and because of the male narrator, this would be a good quick pick for a boy, especially if they like mysteries or thrillers. They might be turned off by the introspective parts a little, but it's a good read.

Top Ten Tuesday--Top Ten Books I'll Never 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!
I am slightly scared for this topic. I (Jamie) don't want to offend anybody. Please understand I am not bashing anybody's books. I'm sorry if I put one of your favorite books on here. Chances are you probably hate some of my very favorite books. And I'm not trying to make anybody feel bad for what they read...at all. I'm not a book snob. I read what I want, you read what you want. :)

Top Ten Books I'll Never Read:

1. The DaVinci Code-- I know so many people have loved this book! I just don't think it is my cup of tea. And not to mention the fact that it is so hyped and talked about that I've practically heard every spoiler you could ever hear. Doesn't seem worth it to me.

2. Eragon -- This one is more personal reasons for why I'll never read it. Let's just say that somebody I used to like was obsessed with this book (before I ever got into read ANY sort of fantasy at all)  and wanted to take me on a first date to see this movie. Luckily, my friend stepped in and said that this movie would not be anything I'd want to see. Sorry, Eragon. Just can't do it.

3. Men Are From Mars, And Women Are From Venus -- Pointless to read this considering that I already know this fact...and I've been reconciled to the fact we'll never understand each other.

4. The Notebook -- Or probably anything else by him. I know SOO many people that love Nicholas Sparks. Like really good friends. I just don't think I'd really enjoy these books and most of them end up being movies anyways. I think these are books that I'm ok with not reading before I see the movie. With The Notebook in particular, I've seen the movie so many darn times (and that was after many years of hating chick flicks--which I do happen to LOVE now) that I just would never read the book. I'm sure it's wonderful.

5. The Stephanie Plum series -- My best friend loves these. I read one page of one and just knew I would rather be reading something else.

6. The Historian -- Here's the thing about this one. I think I'd like it. However, I've heard so many negative things (and some positives) that I just don't know that I'm ready to commit to a  book such as this for a letdown. I just don't think I can. Please tell me if you think I should.

7. Miles to Go -- Sorry Miley. I just don't think I'll ever read about "you just being Miley." And you can also add whatever Snooki from Jersey Shore is writing to this list, too.

8. Your Best Life Now -- Joel Osteen, your cheesy smile is enough to make me not want to read this. Now understand this, I'm a Christian, but I just find these books to be hokey. Really hokey. And not to mention that a theology professor that I really admire may or may not use these books as examples of all that is hokey. :)  That's just my opinion though. I'm sure lots of people have gotten alot out of his books..or else they wouldn't be selling. They just don't connect with me.

9. Heart of Darkness-- Ok, I tried to read this for college. I just COULD NOT even get through a page of it. Yeah, that's right. I used Sparknotes and the Internet to write an A paper without reading it.

10. Anything by Danielle Steel -- This is kind of cheating but I couldn't find just one of her books that I won't read. I just really don't LOVE the romance genre. There are many people that I respect (my mom did!) that do read from that genre but I just could never get into it. Also, you could lump in any sort of Harlequin romance novel. I've tried but I just can't get into them. I know I should..I mean what's not to like about ripped, oily men but I just can't. Sorry.


NEXT WEEK'S TOPIC: Jen takes on Top Ten Fictional Crushes...a topic that we in the Goodreads College Students group giggled and squeed about for the past 2 years.