book-club's Diaryland Diary
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Siddhartha
I recently read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. It's the story of one boy's, Siddhartha's, journey to find self-enlightenment.
Siddhartha is the son of a Brahmin who grows restless of that life because he feels that he can't find inner peace living as he does. So starts his and his friend's Govinda's journey to find that inner peace and wisdom. At first they join the Samanas ut after three yars of contemplating and escaping the Self Siddhartha grows tired of that life and he and Govinda leave. On their journey they meet Gotama, the living Buddha and Govinda decides to follow him however, Siddhartha learns that he cannot follow Gotama's teachings and that in order to find the peace and wisdom he seeks he must find his own path and not rely on the teachings of others. Siddhartha travels into a town and meets Kamala, a beautiful courtesan and stays for many years in that town, leving behind the life of comtemplation that is the life of a Samana and becomes a businessman and lives as the townspeople do. Years later he becomes disgisted with that life for he feels that it has clouded his better judgment, unbeknownst to him he has conceived a son. Despair over takes Siddhartha and he comes close to jumping intot he river but then he hears a wonderous sound from the river. So Siddhartha stays with Vasudeva, the boatman, to learn the secrets of the river and on the way finds the inner peace and wisdom that he seeks.
While this book is not hard to read, nor does it take long to read, it's only 152 pages long, it'll stay with you for a while. Though Siddhartha follows no teachers and makes many mistakes on his path to enlightement, it doesn't matter, the mistakes are a necessary part of his journey and so is striking his own path. Only then can he attain enlightenment. What Siddhartha find out is that the path to Nirvana, or enlightenment, is not really a path for it cannot really be shown in the literal 'here's where you go' way, rather it's up to each and everyone to contemplate how they each are connected to everything.
-- Erin
7:55 p.m. - 2004-10-16
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Trickster's Queen
Well, it's been a while, so I thought I'd leave a review of the book I just read - Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce.
Now I am a huge Tamora Pierce fan. I have every one of her books and I read them over and over again. And previous quartets that led up to these two books are amazing. But this series - Trickster's Choice is the prequel to Trickster's Queen - didn't quite live up to my expectations. I found Trickster's Queen to be better than the first one, and I really do love the main character, Aly. The plot of the book is based around a plot to remove the oppressive luarin (or white) people from power and replace them with a raka (or dark skinned) queen in a fantasy country, and Aly is in charge of the spy network. The story is detailed and intriguing, and contains a lot of action, but there was something missing from this series that is in all of her previous books.
People. Not a lack of them - there are tons and tons of people - but a lack of developed characters. Because I knew nothing about any of them, it was so easy for me to get confused as to who was who - and I rarely ever get confused about characters in books. We're supposed to like Sarai, one of the potential raka queen, but she tends to be annoying. Dove, another potential raka queen, is far more developed and far more likable, yet is kind of pushed to the side until the end. Taybur, the captain of the guards, is one of my favorites, but he is barely in it at all, when he has so much potential to be a valuable character. And the tyrannical rulers are developed too, in a typically eveil way. But everyone else, all the spies and rebel leaders, remain completely one-sided and boring.
And then there's Nawat, the crow turned man. Throughout the entire first book he drove me crazy with his inability to talk properly and the way he acts like, well, a crow. Yet it's obvious from the beginning that Aly and he are destined for some kind of romantic relationship. Which is why it bothers me that he disappears for most of the second book, off doing "something" for the rebellion as if the author simply thought he was in the way. And then he returns, and true love blossoms - no, I don't think so. It was the most unbelievable romance in any book. Though, Saria's relationship with a man who never actually said anything in the book was unbelievable too.
Now, don't think that all of that meant I disliked the book. I did like the story, I thought it was well written and endless plots against the rulers were intriguing and intelligent. Aly is an amazing fictional character, as could be Dove and Taybur, both of whom I wished there had been more of. But all the other people and the relationships just didn't meet up to Tamora Pierce's standards.
That said, I suggest anyone who likes fantasy go read a Tamora Pierce book now, preferably starting at the beginning of her Tortall series, with the Song of the Lioness quartet. They are all amazinf, even her side characters.
Anyone else read these books?
Ellen
9:04 a.m. - 2004-10-03
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alice sebold
hi, my name is cindy. i've been putting this off for a while now but i finally decided to post an entry. i have about four dozen favorite books right now but i'll narrow the list down a bit for this post. :)
i just finished reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. it's a great story told from the point of view of susie. susie is the main character of the book and it just happens that she was murdered at the begining of the story.
basically susie goes to her version of heaven and watches her family and friends as they move on with their lives, or attempt to anyway.
it's a great read and i definitely recommend it. alice sebold also wrote Lucky: A Memoir which is the true story of her college years. she was raped at the end of her freshman year and it takes her years and years to finally deal with things. it's a great story and it gives you a nice insight into who she is and how she became the person that she is.
just a suggestion, but try to read Lucky first if you read these two books. sorry, i tend to ramble on. i'm gong now i promise. lol
happy reading ~ cindy
12:04 a.m. - 2004-09-06
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Naridu's favoutie novel
Thanks Annie :) I guess I should post my own favourite book here since I'm asking everyone else too. It is quite a difficult request isn't it? I had to think for a while, and my thoughts kept returning to the same book over and over... The Ancient Future by Traci Harding.
It's a time travelling, spiritual and kickboxing adventure romance...phew, I think that covers all the basics. The protagonist, Tori Alexander, is caught in a time pool and whisked back to the middle ages, here she meets the gorgeous Prince Maelgwyn, and must fight for her own survival and that of her new found friends (many of whom interestingly resemble friends and family in the 2oth century).
This book is merely the first in a trilogy, but remains my favourite because of it's incredible positive energy and just plain kickboxing fun style.
The Author, Traci harding, is also one of the loveliest people I have ever had the chance to chat with online. For more information on the lovely lady and her books visit the homepage, and visit the community to discuss her novels and their ideals.
--naridu
9:10 a.m. - 2004-09-03
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Alright, I'm updating... at last
Gaah! Just received an email from Naridu saying participation is the key to a successful book club. That reminded me that I haven't contributed at all.
(I best tell you about me, so... I'm Annie, I'm 15 and I live in the rain capital of the world, England. There! :P)
My favourite book, the one I can read time and time again is Back Home by Michelle Magorian. I started reading it at school and found it so boring, but when my brother gave it to me for my birthday a couple of years ago I was forced to read it and loved it!
If you haven't heard of it, it's about a girl called Virginia - rechristened Rusty by her sea-vacuee American family. It's set in 1945, at the end of the war, and tells Rusty's story from the point she steps off the boat back home. And of course, she has a lot to get used to - England is not America... England has been bombed, has rationing, and single-sex boarding schools. America is intact, bountiful and has co-ed schools.
I love it because it's told in a brilliant way, and the characters are so intersting - my favourite being Rusty's grandmother (the English one!). It's a unique plot and has a plausible happy ending. And it's not too long, and not too short... so basically, I love it. Read it already!
Well, over and out.
-- Annie
(PS if you want to read my diary, email me for the password at [email protected])
1:18 p.m. - 2004-08-31
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Deliver us from Evie
As part of my studies at the moment I read quite an interesting book the other day, and I thought some of you here might be interested in it for something different.
The book is called Deliver Us From Evie, and is about the coming out of Evie, an 18 year old lesbian, in a small rural town, and yet is actually told through the perspective of her younger brother Parr.
I was a bit hesitant when I found the book was written from Parr's viewpoint, but it actually opens up the reading audience by doing so. Allowing the issue to be read and delivered from a 'hetero' point of view, and the insights and effects the issues have on the entire family.
Parr dosen't want to be a farmer, and is counting on his older brother Doug, who is at college, or Evie, carrying on the family farm. When Evie starts to fall in love with Patsy though, the daughter of the town banker, things start to look a little worrying for Parr.
I also quite liked the way the novel portrayed the farm life and rural community.The nit and grit of fixing machinery and considering economic options. While my back did stiffen a few times, I had to sit back and admit to myself that yes, rural communities truely can be so small minded. It is all handled extermely well, and in a very straightforward style.
Another good review of the book can be found here.
--naridu
9:42 a.m. - 2004-08-19
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Reading Lolita in Tehran
Wow, it's been a while. Hey, it's me Erin, I recently moved my diary.
So I finally got around to finishing Reading Lolita in Tehran. I found the way that Azar Nafisi intertwined the literature that they were discussing in class with real life to be quite interesting. It was a very good book but if you're not familiar with the works discussed and critics takes on said works then it can be a bit confusing at times. Also the timeline itself can be bit confusing because while the book starts off with the first class that Professor Nafisi held in her home the second part jumps into the past and focuses mainly on her time when she taught at her last university position in Tehran and then the third part returns to the shortly before she and her family make the decision to move to the states.
All in all, I found it to be a quite satisfying book and I enjoyed howthrough the literature discussed and through the class itself we are given the opportunity to take a peek at what life in the Islamic Republic of Iran for women after the revolution.
8:51 p.m. - 2004-08-16
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Book-club update
I'm posting this online as well because some of the emails instantly bounced (bouncing email addressed will be listed below... please check if it is you!)
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Hey all-
If you want to update your Member Details please use the handy form I've
set up at
updateinfo.html
Also, don't forget to include your Member ID (which is a 4 digit code that you
can can find at
members.html)
It helps me find you so much easier!
I've half-way through The Birth of Venus!
Keep posting,
-- sootica
On 30 Jul 2004 at 8:50, naridu wrote:
<snip>
> I've also noticed that a number of members have
> changed website address and have tried to update this
> where I could. It would be a great help however if you
> could drop a quick note advising of any changes,
> thanks.
>
> The password for the book-club site once again is:
> 982456. So get posting people :)
<snip>
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Okay, the following emails bounced:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected].
-- sootica
8:06 p.m. - 2004-07-30
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Wow....it's been a while
Hi ya'all. Vixen here. (I've forgotten most of my html, so you'll have to suffer if that didn't work. I kind of moved over to LJ, but I'm trying to keep up with this diaryland. So, it's been a while since I've been around here, and I thought I would post a few thoughts on books, since I have a little bit of time on my hands.
I'm currently jumping on the Oprah bandwagon (actually, my mom pulled me along by my hair) and I'm reading Anna Karenina. It's not bad, but incredibly long, and I have found myself way to freakin' busy this summer. I had so many plans...
I have also been reading A Room of One's Own (kinda dry) and a whole bunch of books on teaching. YAY!
I'll check in once in a while, I promise.
6:33 p.m. - 2004-07-29
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Discworld Series - Terry Pratchett
I am a huge obsessive fan of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. I've read all of them, and I own 12 of them. I want these products. I love his sense of humour, the way he writes, his characters - the twisted way he looks at our world.
I think my favourite books involve the Witches, and Ankh-Morpork. I'm not a huge Rincewind fan, and I think the first few books aren't great - Pratchett gets into his stride a little later. Some of my absolute favourites are Lords and Ladies, Carpe Jugulum, and The Fifth Elephant. If you've never read any before, I think Guards! Guards! is a good place to start.
I'm often rereading Discworld books (at the moment I'm reading Men at Arms again, which is fantastic), and am impatiently waiting for Going Postal to be released. I'm on the waiting list at the library. I've also just realised that A Hat Full of Sky has slipped under my radar, so I'm put a hold on that as well. Lots of new Pratchett coming up for me in the future. I want to read Monstrous Regiment again as well.
Maybe I can get a few of you addicted to the Discworld as well...
- Sif
10:22 a.m. - 2004-07-30
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Reaper Man - Terry Pratchett
Well amongst all the other books I've been reading for university, I picked up one of the Terry Pratchet novels the other day from his Discworld series. Reaper Man is set on the Discworld 'which is flat and supported on the backs of four elephants which travel through space on the shell of Great A'Tuin, the world turtle' and tells of what happend when it is decided to replace DEATH. The Revenoo have decided that DEATH has developed too much personaltiy and must be retired. As a gift, Azrael gives DEATH some TIME so he may experience life before he is retired.
The problems begin when DEATH takes his holiday, and those that die have nowhere to go. With an excess of life flowing through the community, strange little globes start appearing in the city, undead walk the streets, vampire bats are afriad of heighs, and bogeymen are afraid to jump out from hiding.
I enjoyed every odd moment of the book, the last Pratchet book I read was Maurice. Hmmm, I think I'll have to find some more of these...
Cheers,
--naridu
1:33 p.m. - 2004-07-29
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