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How Soccer Explains the World, Franklin Foer
Okay this is a weird one. It's a bit niche, I'll admit it. Full title is How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization. It's written by an American soccer fanatic who traveled the globe in search of the deeper meaning of-you guessed it-soccer. So perhaps you might not be so interested if you're not into soccer, or economic theories. I'm not what you'd call a "soccer fan." But I do love a good economic tale. Foer writes detailed analyses of soccer's effect on its people, its adversaries, and even its country, revealing the deep seated sociology of the sport. In his book, he includes essays on more teams than I could name here, which to me, could be an advantage or a detriment to the book. It's good that he was so thorough, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who love to read about that kind of thing, but I found it boring to read about teams that I don't care about, like Red Star Belgrade or Hakoah Vienna (not even a team since it was dissolved in 1938). I did, however, really enjoy the chapters on teams that I'm familiar with and care about, like Glasgow Rangers (though the author is an outspoken Celtic fan), the classic Madrid-Barcelona rivalry, and of course the middle class phenomena that is soccer in the United States. I don't know, if you dig soccer and sociology, or are just curious as to how the hell the two are connected, give Foer's book a go.
The Time Machine, HG Wells
The Time Machine is a classic, one which many of you probably have read before, so I'll keep this short. It's an interesting futuristic dystopia-type novel with a strong commentary on current (still relatively current) society. What made me want to read it was an article in AdBusters magazine (yes I read AdBusters magazine please don't judge me) that spoke about the real-world evidence of the kind of divide in Wells' book. In futuristic Earth, there are beautiful land-dwelling creatures, the Eloi. They're lovely and kind, but also display a distinctly childlike fear of the unknown, and of darkness. They're not very smart, and their language is simplistic (the time traveller is able to learn it a few days). They keep a very intentional distance from the Morlocks, a race of ugly, ape-like creatures who live underground and only come up at night. The time traveller's conclusion is that the human race has evolved into two subspecies: the middle/upper class has become the passive, unaware Eloi, and the Morlocks were evolved from the working class. The Eloi have become ineffectual and unintelligent, almost lazy, in the lack of hard work they have to do to survive. The Morlocks live underground and, as the time traveller discovers, provide all the food for the Eloi. How representative of the current growing wage gap. The poor will become poorer, the rich will become richer and drive them underground. What commentary! #wagegap #raisetheminimumwage
The Body, Stephen King
I fully credit my love of reading with JK Rowling and her beyond-famous Harry Potter series. Before it, I never really read apart from what was required in elementary school. But the boy wizard was everywhere and by the time Prisoner of Azkaban came out (the third in the series, for those of you who live under a rock), I decided it was time. I read Harry Potter, and like many others before and after me, I fell in love with the story. I read the entire series before the release of every new book and every new movie. When the whole thing ended, I reread the entire series more than 15 times. This is what The Body is for me now. My best friends and I in sixth grade watched the movie version, renamed Stand By Me, over and over and over again. We would quote it and talk about our favorite characters and moments. It was only a few years later that I realized it actually came from a book, and made a mental note to read it. Very recently, I learned that you can download books like you can download movies (I know, I'm a caveman). I downloaded The Body and read it in two sittings (you could probably do it in one sitting; I'm a slow reader). The Body has a particularly nostalgic quality for me, as it's a special memory of my best friends from sixth grade. But it's also just an inherently nostalgic book; it's the coming of age story of a group of best friends, aged 12, as they embark on an adventure only a 12 year old could call "life changing." It's endearing to read about mundane events (like camping in your friend's backyard) and see it as such a big deal, as only a 12 year old could. Nostalgic and precious and recommended.
Benjamin Button, F. Scott Fitzgerald
This is another book-turned-movie that I watched without even knowing there was the option to read. I don't remember much about the movie apart from it was really long and that I was really impressed with how young they were able to make Old Benjamin Button Brad Pitt look. Honestly, it was a bit nothing. It read like the quick note of a thought you want to remember scribbled in the margins of your notebook. It is a classic story, however, and it's worth noting that it's not even a book. It's a short story that you'll finish in much, much less time than it takes to actually watch the movie. So give it a go.
The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
You can't tell from where you are, but I'm hiding under my desk as I write this so you people don't hurt me. I didn't love The Fault in our Stars. Okay, wait, before you go and vow to boycott my blog for years to come, listen: I love John Green. I began watching YouTube about three years ago, and I discovered the vlogbrothers, run by both John and his brother Hank. I loved their content so much, and I was excited to learn that their viewer numbers were growing, as was their output of work. They were putting out more vlogbrothers videos, starting up more YouTube channels, launched or promoted several other businesses, and (I know I was the last person in the world to realize this) John Green writes books.
I don't know if you readers know my taste well enough at this point, but I'm not big into love stories. I find them tiresome. They have to be really cool and really different in order for me to appreciate them, because I just don't feel like there are a whole lot of love stories that haven't been told already. And to my slight disappointment, John Green's novels are pretty much all love stories. Don't get me wrong: they're charming and endearing, always with engaging characters, it's just that the plots follow the same boy meets girl/boy chases girl/boy and girl are in love formula. I haven't come across one (still haven't read Will Grayson Will Grayson, to be fair) that hasn't at least entertained me, that hasn't made me laugh. You'll find yourself connecting with the characters and really caring about them and what happens to them. But I just wish John Green would put his tremendous talent for writing great, dynamic, funny characters toward something other than your regular YA love story. Perhaps the broader analysis here is that I just don't really like young adult fiction anymore (oh please don't think I'm being pretentious).
I will say (again, still haven't read Will Grayson Will Grayson) that I think The Fault in Our Stars is John Green's best so far. That is because it's not a simple girl meets boy and they fall in love story. It has another theme to it, namely cancer and cancer survivors. I think that's what makes the story so strong with its fans. It makes TFIOS that much more dynamic and relatable. The story may have survived without the cancer theme (if you're saying no, just give it some thought and be creative*), but it's this that distinguishes it from the rest of the many YA love stories out there. Yes, TFIOS is funny and charming and it might make you laugh and cry and all that. Objectively, it's a well crafted love story, and not without its sappiness. I guess I'm just saying that I'm not one for love stories.
Paper Towns, John Green
I know I said I don't like love stories. And I know I've pointed out that John Green writes love stories. But there is a charm and readability to them, and I'm a big fangirl of John Green as, like, a person (while reading Paper Towns by John Green, I was also reading Regarding the Pain of Others, a book recommended by John Green). Also I've mentioned I'm a big book antihipster, so after the success of Paper Towns, I had to read it. Paper Towns was yet another love story, but before I had the chance to roll my eyes, I actually really enjoyed the book (not that I was expecting to hate it). It was a love story that focused heavily on the main character, Quentin, and the object of his affection, Margo Roth Spiegelman, as two separate people, and not as much on their relationship. Most of the novel follows Quentin on his massive goose chase to find Margo, and I like that it's not your average guy-trying-to-win-girl story. Quentin is on a literal hunt to find Margo, and the result is a unique character study that emphasizes this lovely little point that many struggle to articulate: Women are people. In point of a broader fact, people are people, as Quentin's mother says, "we find it difficult to understand that other people are human beings in the same way we are. We idolize them as gods or dismiss them as animals." The ones we place on a pedestal and the ones we label as assholes are all just that, when all is said and done: people. Anyway, that's what I got from the book. As much as I find love stories to be passé, John Green has an incredible talent for making his readers really care about his characters.
The Expats, Chris Pavone
Okay, I suppose this was going to happen at some point, but here it is: My first all-out negative review. This book is fantastically crap. What happens when an ex CIA agent gives up her exciting, crime-fighting life to be a stay-at-home mom because her computer-geek husband accepts a banking security job in Luxembourg? A whole lotta shit. Like, actual poo. This is a perfect example of how poor pacing can be annoying as hell. The chapters are punctuated by page breaks, which was clearly meant to build suspense, but it's really just bothersome, especially when a page break can (and often does, in this case) represent the passage of just a few minutes' time. It's meant to cause tension, for you to sit on the edge of your seat and say "ooh, I really want to know what happens next," but in reality I just found myself groaning, rolling my eyes, and saying "Why is this taking so long?!" In the end, it just felt pointless. People are calling it "expertly crafted" and "intricately plotted" but I just think it was stupidly complicated with too many layers and it ended up being cheesy. In the big reveal at the end, it was all "if that didn't happen," *dramatic pointing* "and that didn't happen, then what did happen?" It was secret upon secret upon secret, and it turned out that *gasp* he knew the whole time! But she knew that he knew, and this other guy knew that she knew that he knew but everyone knew that this guy knew and holy god just shut the book and put it down. I won't give too much away, in case you want to read it. But listen, I'm trying to be objective here. It's a mindless mystery novel with no substance. It's a quick read. If you're looking for entertainment for entertainment's sake, just to keep yourself busy, give it a go. If you want something that will actually entertain or inform or inspire you, pick something else. Anything else.
I bought this book while I was at the airport after I'd noticed I'd forgotten to charge my kindle. I thought I'd buy a book for my travels, and it was a sorry waste of 10€.The title is what drew me in, as I thought, "Hey! I'm an expat!" Next time I'll be more choosy. The Expats is Chris Pavone's first novel, and I really hope it's his last.
*Hazel could have gone to any kind of support group, really. The trip to Amsterdam, though as a gift really demonstrated Gus's love for Hazel, could have been organized any number of ways. To be clear, I'm saying the cancer theme didn't have to be there, but I'm glad it was, because it added a lot to the story.
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