July 2016

You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost)

By Felicia Day

You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost) by Felicia Day was the July selection for our public library book club.  I have to admit that I’m a Baby Boomer, and that age was definitely a factor as I read this book.  This book was written by, and probably for, an entirely different demographic.  When I first started reading, I quickly learned that the author was a Millennial Tekki, and that I was out of my area of comfort.  I have to admit that, if it hadn’t been a book club selection, I probably would not have gone farther than the first chapter.  However, I’m glad that I continued for several reasons.

First, I learned a little about Millennials and generational differences.  Felicia Day’s memoir is filled the thoughts and words of a true Millenial.  She is a creative, entrepreneurial, and majorly tech savy.  Her world is global and virtual, in a way that I’ll probably never understand.  However, it gave me a much better understanding of my son and, especially, my daughter-in-law.  She, too, was an early gamer and has also evolved into a global Internet job. 

Related to that, I’ve gotten a glimpse into the world of gaming and the place of females in that world.  As a teacher, I always had more concerns about boys playing video games.  I never thought about girls or their part in that world… obviously, a big mistake.

Day also expressed some universal truths that I think apply to many people.  I understood her need to get all A’s and to maintain a 4.0 GPA in college. I recognized her need to basically give up her life for a summer to get an A instead of a B. Unfortunately, I also related to her discovery that after graduation her GPA meant nothing… period. 

Finally, I really liked that Day accepted and embraced her weird childhood, and ultimately her own personal weirdness.  As with everyone, all of her experiences molded her into a unique adult.  It’s to her credit that she discovered this at such an early age.

One of the biggest reasons that I enjoy book clubs is that I read books that are out of my comfort zone.  You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost) definitely qualified as out of my comfort zone.  I’m glad that I read it.  I’m rounding my 2.5 stars up to 3.  It provided a lot of food for thought and will, hopefully, provide material for a good book club discussion.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

By Robin Sloan

Narrated by Ari Fliakos

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore  by Robin Sloan was a total surprise.  I thought that it would be a bookstore fantasy, which it was, but it was also so much more.  The old-fashioned bookstore was the center of a twenty-first century adventure, complete with tech-connected, entrepreneurial Millennials and silver-haired, senior readers.  I loved the mystery, the bookstore and the eccentric characters, both young and old.  Ari Fliakos’ narration was great on the audio version.  I was so sorry when the story ended.  It made me want to run to the nearest independent bookstore.  Definitely a great listen or read!

Into the Beautiful North

By Luis Alberto Urrea

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

After listening to the audio version, I have to amend my review of Into the Beautiful North.  My listening experience was very different from my reading experience.  The audio narration by Susan Ericksen was excellent and I still enjoyed the book.  However listening to the audio version, I did not notice as much Spanish being spoken.  Perhaps they eliminated some of it, but more likely, it flowed more easily when read aloud.  I wasn’t stumbling over the language; I was just assimilating it as the story unfolded.

Also, when I read the book, I felt that it was a very light version of the illegal immigration situation.  I did not feel that at all when listening to the book.  Perhaps the narrator’s expression gave a different tone to the words.  Perhaps I’m getting older and my reading comprehension is failing.  In any event, I would still highly recommend the book.  I would also recommend the audio version.  For me, they were two different experiences.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

By James Joyce

Librivox audiobook

Despite the reputation of the author, I found A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man to be a dated and offensive book.  The quality of the Librivox audio edition was good, as was the narration by Tadhg (probably not the real or whole name).  The book, however, was anti-Semitic and misogynist.  It was also dark and depressing, with alcoholism and poverty prevalent throughout the book.  All of the above should serve as trigger warnings to anyone with sensitivities in those areas.  I read it as a precursor to the reading of Ulysses, also by Joyce.  I’m only reading the books on the recommendation of one of my sisters, although I’m finding it hard to understand why she would be reading Joyce’s books.  I definitely do not recommend either of them.

The Girl on the Train

By Paula Hawkins

I read The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins as a book club selection.  The book was well written, and obviously, very popular.   It was #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was nominated for various awards.  As with all books, I read Girl on the Train with my own personal experiences running in the background.

The story unfolded through the eyes of three young women with serious, emotional issues.  Each woman told the story through her own perspective in a series of morning and evening entries.  The dates of the entries are not all consecutive, which I found confusing at first.  Once I realized what was happening, it read more smoothly.  As mentioned in all of the book promos, there is a mystery that involves something viewed by the girl on the train.

I would add trigger warnings for those sensitive to the topics of alcoholism, sexual addiction and/or domestic abuse.  Having been raised by alcoholic parents, I found the reading of this book difficult.  I did finish it, but memories of a childhood in an alcoholic household definitely clouded my reading.  Viewing blackouts and the struggle with drinking through an alcoholic character’s perspective was interesting.  As difficult as the struggles were on the pages, they seemed much messier in real life through a child’s eyes.  I didn’t enjoy the book and don’t plan to attend the meeting to discuss it.  However, The Girl on the Train did what all good books do.  It made me think and feel.  For me, however, it was not a great read.