More reading in the news

Last week I linked to an article in the WSJ by author Ann Patchett, who discussed the rise of reading. I just stumbled upon another great article, this time in The New York Times about President Obama's reading habits.

From Books, New President Found Voice by Michael Kakutani.

Coming soon: a review of Some Like it Haute by Julie K. L. Dam and a very bookish tour!

Movies + Books

Not too long ago I finished The Da Vinci Code, so it was about time to watch the movie too! I always kick myself when I see movies before reading the book, because it takes me far too long to read the book afterwards, since I know what's going to happen and all. But I'm always so disappointed that the movies are never as good as the books. Still, I had high hopes for this one.


What I did like about the movie was that I was actually able to see the details that were described in the book. Sometimes it's just too hard to get the visual that the author is painting, and this is where I'm glad I watched the movie. Some of the details really came to life and I found myself nodding my head because it all made more sense.


The obvious downside to turning a book into a movie is the lack of detail in other places, which certainly occured in this one. The search for clues to the keystone at the library was totally eliminated in the movie, as were many other details I remember from the book. All in all though, I was sucked into the movie but of course, the book was better.


Have you read + seen The Da Vinci Code? I'm curious what others thought about this one.

Patchett hits the mark with "The Triumph of the Readers"

Did anyone see the article in The Wall Street Journal last weekend called The Triumph of the Readers? Author Ann Patchett wrote about the upswing in fiction reading despite the economy's downswing.

I admit that sometimes I just scan the newspaper, even start reading a particular article but don't finish it, for whatever reason. This one though, hooked me from the beginning. It's so very true that reading is on the rise, library usage is on the rise, and that people even go back to school in flocks when the economy is in the dumps. Something that really hit me: Patchett wrote that reading is on the rise - even in the 18-to-24-year-old group. I suppose I could believe this because these are the folks who grew up with Harry Potter (as she so clearly points out) and because every time I turn around there is another teenager engrossed in the Twilight series, which seems to have revolutionized reading for tweens and teens. But this is also the generation that has grown up with a plethora of technology, so while I'm thrilled to hear that reading is on the rise for them, I'm also a bit shocked.

This was one of my favorite parts of the article:

"I'm a firm believer in the fact that it isn't so much what you read, it's that you read. Reading fiction not only develops our imagination and creativity, it gives us the skills to be alone. It gives us the ability to feel empathy for people we've never met, living lives we couldn't possibly experience for ourselves, because the book puts us inside the character's skin."

Another particularly awesome quote:

"I'm all for reading bad books because I consider them to be a gateway drug. People who read bad books now may or may not read better books in the future. People how read nothing now will read nothing in the future."

Patchett went on to discuss how some people who wish to read simply don't know where to start. I admit that my first time through Barnes + Noble was a bit overwhelming. Where to start? What genre to begin with? Avid readers will give a list of good books in a heartbeat to start someone on their way to a lifetime of reading. That, I believe, is a great gift. I'm off to find me some Patchett titles to add to my collection :)

More books

I can't stop! Two more books to add to the mountain: The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright, and The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. Heard great things about both.

Currently reading Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan. She's got some great advice about creating a plan for all age groups. So thankful that I am young while we face this economic crisis, because I have time to rebound from it.

Hope you're all enjoying your Monday! I'm teaching myself how to use Paint Shop Pro and catching up on some DVR shows.

Lottery - Patricia Wood

Oh how fun this book was!

Perry L. Crandall is in his early 30s and lives with his Gram. He is not retarded, as is often said about him, although he is slow, a fact that is constantly with him. He has worked at a boat store in Washington state for 16 years, where he met his 2 closest friends, and the only other people in the world he can trust besides his Gram. When his beloved Gram passes away, and he wins the lottery shortly after, his entire world changes and he is faced with the challenge of everyday life on his own. He struggles in dealing with his mother and 2 brothers, none of whom actually care about him, and he struggles with learning how to get through the day without the help from Gram.

When Perry wins the lottery, Gary and Keith, his two friends from work, assist him as he moves into his new apartment, and with his lottery win. Perry does do a few things he always wanted to do if he won, such as buying a 27" TV and DVDS, and taking a trip to Hawaii. Gary and Keith try their best to help Perry navigate his finances, and to avoid his 2 brothers, who start begging for money once they hear about Perry's windfall. I must say I was furious with Perry's scumbag lawyer-brothers begging for money because they'd created their own problems in life. I just kept turning the pages, hoping Perry would not give in.

Perry's brothers were not the only ones to befriend him after his big win. He turns into somewhat of a local celebrity, which is great for business at the boat shop. And even though Perry is slow, he sees what is happening:

If I look into people's eyes deep down, I can almost tell what they are thinking. Their eyeballs sort of dart around like dropped screws on the floor. Before I won the lottery, they did not want to talk to me. Now they do, but their eyes look the same. It is spooky, but fun. I mean, I do not know how they really feel.

When Perry learns that his best friend Keith is dating Perry's crush Cherry, he is heartbroken, but he continues on, as his Gram would have told him. "Move on, Perry, move on." I loved how Patricia Wood allowed Perry to continue hearing his Gram's messages even after her death.

Soon enough, Perry is facing more challenges and he shines throughout. By the end of the book, he truly seems to have figured out the game of life. He also turns out to be one hell of a businessman, as Gary makes him partner in the boat shop and the business expands.

And in the very end, Perry gives up his lottery winnings to his family. He does not entirely understand what he is doing, but he is willingly giving up the money, because as he says, he doesn't need it and his family does. Perry was obviously much smarter with money than both of his highly educated but morally challenged brothers. I wanted to be mad when Perry signed away the money, but I couldn't, because it was such a great lesson. He gave it away because he didn't need it. (And his naughty brothers got what they deserved anyway.)

Such a great story. Loved it. Highly recommend it!

Free Suze Orman E-book on Oprah.com!

As part of Oprah's new Best Life series, Suze Orman introduced her latest book, Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan, on the Oprah show last week. You can download a copy of the book for FREE until January 15, 2009 on Oprah's website. Go get your free book!

First did-not-finish of 2009

Only 11 days in and I can't finish a book. It just wasn't sucking me in. I didn't want to pick it up because I didn't feel gripped by it. I gave it 145 pages, about 45 more than I should have. With at least 50 books in my pile, I don't have time to waste on non-page turners.

It's like in The Dip...sometimes you just have to know when to quit.

I'm reading Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan, the free e-book from Oprah's website. Also still working on this.

Has anyone else given up on anything this soon into the new year? Do you ever give up on books or do you muddle through? Please share!