Saturday, July 9, 2011
Do you really know your Mom?
How well do you really know your Mom? That is the question posed to the family in this international best seller by a Korean author. PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOM (Knopf, 978-0-307-59391-7) by Kyung-sook Shin is a deeply touching story of a Korean family who begin a search for their somewhat elderly mother who has become lost in the milling crowds of the afternoon rush hour at Seoul Station. Their mother, who has terrible headaches and becomes disoriented and confused at times, has become separated from her husband in the crush and is lost. The entire family begins to search for her. Each adult child invokes the memories that he or she had of their mother and how they believed her to be. Each has a totally different recollection of their mother and what she meant and was about. As they search for her and uncover her past they have to rethink how they saw her and what she was. Each child comes to the conclusion that they only considered her as their mother and the role they thought she should have, They never considered how she really felt or if she was truly happy. They never considered her innermost thoughts and dreams. Only as they hunted for her did they learn about her life that was quite different than they had imagined. Each adult child tells their perspective of their mother when they were at home and now after they left for the city. Even the family has totally different views of her. A poignant picture of a women who loves her children fiercely and works constantly to give them what she has not had emerges. Even though they recall her more as a housewife and constant presence. They come to understand that she also had a life. One that was secret and We learn from her husband's viewpoint of a marriage that may not have been what it seemed, but what he appreciated much too late. We even get to hear the side of the mother as she is recalling at the end, or so It seems, the family life, her children and her hopes and dreams. Thisbook is assuredly universal in its appeal. the love of a family for their mother shines through even when they seem totally unaware she exists. This story could take place in any country. The story of a family who love each other but are too busy to connect and who take things for granted is timeless. And the family dynamics could occur anywhere in the world. Sisters and brothers who are too busy with their lives and families to keep in touch as well as a husband who has strayed even though he loves his wife are not confined to Korea. An elderly parent becoming confused is happening all too often. This is a beautiful book to read. And it may well bring tears to your eyes. I challenge you to read this without being moved. I also challenge you to read it and not reconsider how you see your own mother. Do you really know her dreams? Do you know what she had wanted for herself? This story is food for thought. A book club could have a field day with it, particularly an intergenerational one. This is definitely a keeper
Sunday, July 3, 2011
More quick takes on summmer reads...
I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and curling up with a cool drink and a hot book. Here are some quick takes to whet your reading appetite.
THE RANGER (Putnam, 978-0-399-15748-6) by Ace Atkins. This is a gritty and extremely violent thriller set in the contemporary south. The ranger, Quinn Colson, comes back from fighting in Afghanistan and discovers his hometown is riddled with meth, corruption, and rampant greed. To top it off his uncle, the sheriff has supposedly committed suicide under very suspicious circumstances. Colson cleans up the town, solves some crimes, and exterminates a few bad guys along the way. It is dark and violent, but jam packed with action, interesting characters, and a good plot. Should become a series.
THE PROFESSION (Crown, 978-0-385-52873-3) is another thriller set in the near future and paints a very bleak picture of the United States and the world. The US, as well as the world, is in trouble. Mercenary armies have become the go to source for countries in conflicts and a disgraced and exiled former US general, Salter, is leading a force that plans to take over the county so he can return home. The hero is a person who has known Salter for years, Gent Gentilhomme, who is trying to defuse the situation before it explodes, literally.It is another jam packed with action tale, not only of war, terror, and mayhem, but also of defining character and pride. Fast, furious, and overly realistic.
A TIME FOR PATRIOTS (Morrow, 978-0-06-198999-5) by Dale Brown. Could this happen here? This takes a look at the US in an another time that is suspiciously similar to what we have been experiencing. Except this is more vicious, more violent, and even filled with more corruption and greed. than the present. A newly elected president must deal with a galloping recession, homegrown militia insurgency in the western states, and general unrest and dissatisfaction. The county has lost national departments and agencies to budget cuts and most programs are at a standstill. The citizens have banded together to help themselves, or in some cases to take over the country.Radioactive material is stolen and terror is expected, But a group made up of the Air Force, The Civil Air Patrol, come to the rescue by getting the good guys organized and fighting back, This book will have you playing guess who and turning pages as fast as you can read. It has quite a bit of wow factor as well as lots of action. Characters are interesting as well.
And for something entirely different... we have two non fiction titles. HOW THE GOVERNMENT GOT IN YOUR BACKYARD ( Timber Press, 978-1-60459-001-0) by Jeff Gillman and Eric Heberlig. This is an excellent look at all sides of many questions. Environmental issues, energy problems, modifies plant genes, and almost all the things we wonder about.The sides presented are the left and right views of a subject as well as the science and politics of it all. And it is succinct and readable.It might help you understand some of the rhetoric being bandied about.
THE BOND ( Morrow, 978-0-06-19678-2) by Wayne Pacelle. Pacelle is the president/CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. This is about our relationship with animals. It is a look at the historical background of our relationship with animals as well as how we react to them currently. It is also a call to better treatment of animals and our own pets. H also explores the vast and often ignored intelligence of animals We also see way animals are mistreated as well as exploited. Not all will agree with the premises or agree with some of the ideas and tactics. But it is a interesting look at the way animals have been used over time and how we see and use them now. If you have a pet, you might find this interesting and provocative.
THE RANGER (Putnam, 978-0-399-15748-6) by Ace Atkins. This is a gritty and extremely violent thriller set in the contemporary south. The ranger, Quinn Colson, comes back from fighting in Afghanistan and discovers his hometown is riddled with meth, corruption, and rampant greed. To top it off his uncle, the sheriff has supposedly committed suicide under very suspicious circumstances. Colson cleans up the town, solves some crimes, and exterminates a few bad guys along the way. It is dark and violent, but jam packed with action, interesting characters, and a good plot. Should become a series.
THE PROFESSION (Crown, 978-0-385-52873-3) is another thriller set in the near future and paints a very bleak picture of the United States and the world. The US, as well as the world, is in trouble. Mercenary armies have become the go to source for countries in conflicts and a disgraced and exiled former US general, Salter, is leading a force that plans to take over the county so he can return home. The hero is a person who has known Salter for years, Gent Gentilhomme, who is trying to defuse the situation before it explodes, literally.It is another jam packed with action tale, not only of war, terror, and mayhem, but also of defining character and pride. Fast, furious, and overly realistic.
A TIME FOR PATRIOTS (Morrow, 978-0-06-198999-5) by Dale Brown. Could this happen here? This takes a look at the US in an another time that is suspiciously similar to what we have been experiencing. Except this is more vicious, more violent, and even filled with more corruption and greed. than the present. A newly elected president must deal with a galloping recession, homegrown militia insurgency in the western states, and general unrest and dissatisfaction. The county has lost national departments and agencies to budget cuts and most programs are at a standstill. The citizens have banded together to help themselves, or in some cases to take over the country.Radioactive material is stolen and terror is expected, But a group made up of the Air Force, The Civil Air Patrol, come to the rescue by getting the good guys organized and fighting back, This book will have you playing guess who and turning pages as fast as you can read. It has quite a bit of wow factor as well as lots of action. Characters are interesting as well.
And for something entirely different... we have two non fiction titles. HOW THE GOVERNMENT GOT IN YOUR BACKYARD ( Timber Press, 978-1-60459-001-0) by Jeff Gillman and Eric Heberlig. This is an excellent look at all sides of many questions. Environmental issues, energy problems, modifies plant genes, and almost all the things we wonder about.The sides presented are the left and right views of a subject as well as the science and politics of it all. And it is succinct and readable.It might help you understand some of the rhetoric being bandied about.
THE BOND ( Morrow, 978-0-06-19678-2) by Wayne Pacelle. Pacelle is the president/CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. This is about our relationship with animals. It is a look at the historical background of our relationship with animals as well as how we react to them currently. It is also a call to better treatment of animals and our own pets. H also explores the vast and often ignored intelligence of animals We also see way animals are mistreated as well as exploited. Not all will agree with the premises or agree with some of the ideas and tactics. But it is a interesting look at the way animals have been used over time and how we see and use them now. If you have a pet, you might find this interesting and provocative.
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