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1. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
I read most of this book in 2018. This book was hit and miss for me. Some parts were pretty funny and the narrative moved well along. And some parts, especially in the castle, dragged for me. Over the last few years I read a lot of fantasy/sci-fi children's book that I missed as a child. I read "Wrinkle in Time", which I hated. I read "13 Clocks", which I didn't like. (Last Unicorn actually reminded me a lot of that book with its awareness of fairy tale rules). I read "Wizard of Earthsea", which was ok but not my favorite. Maybe I'm just too old for these books and reading them too critically. In this book, once the unicorn is turned into a woman, she loses all agency it seems. And the book in the end become Schmendrick's origin story. I could never figure out Molly's purpose, other than making Schmendrick do something and turn the Unicorn. So in the end, I am glad I read it but there were parts of it that dragged for me.
2. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
It is very clear just how much Trevor Noah loves his mother. The book is also really great in telling the reader what apartheid was like and what life in South Africa was like when he was a child. Some chapters are stronger than others and feel like his voice more - similar to the comedy specials I've seen. They are organized by stories; each chapter can stand apart. I think he is funnier in those specials but it is not like his life as a child was easy. His family was often poor; there was a lot of violence in his life and the life around him; he had to navigate a lot of racial tension and issues because he was a mixed child. It's a good autobiography. I got really into it by the end.
3. Enemy Mine by Barry B. Longyear
When I was 10, I saw the movie, dubbled in Russian, and I absolutely and utterly loved it. This movie and "Flight of the Navigator" are my favorite movies from my childhood and I have both on DVD. After reading the novella, I want to rewatch the movie again. I didn't even realize the movie was based on the book until my Dad mentioned that he got it last year. When I was at his house for New Year, one of the things that I did was hook up my Kindle to his Calibre library and download a bunch of books into it, including this one. And at 77 pages, I just wanted to read it pretty much right away. And I liked this novella a lot even though the second half is not like the movie at all.
Frankly I think the movie was better than the book, as the book felt too compressed. They are friends a bit too quickly. And the boy grows way too quickly in the book. I did like seeing a little more into Drac culture in the book and the social consequences to Zammis. I'm glad I read it - and I really should rewatch the movie.
4. Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris
It was a cute book. I really like Neil Patrick Harris and he is pretty honest about his experiences. If he doesn't like a person, he says it. His description of Elton John's villa are pretty great. But he also had a pretty happy childhood and pretty happy life so there is not a lot of drama. He writes about what happens mostly, descriptively, not over analytically - what life was like when he was filming HIMYM, what going through surrogacy entailed, different award hosting challenged. It is a pretty light book which was very pleasant to read.
Currently reading
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
I'm loving this book so much. I also think I picked a perfect time to read it, in the middle of cold freezing January. I read this book on my train commute, so I'm wrapped in my fur coat, and it is very very cold outside the train and in the train stations. So it really sets the mood. I wasn't expecting multiple narrators since I was avoiding all possible spoilers for the book and I'm really enjoying that aspect of it. I liked it much more than "Uprooted."
How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 by Joanna Faber & Julie King
In the beginning of January![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
falena.livejournal.com mentioned a classic parenting book written by one of the author's mothers and I commented that I had this one. My mother-in-law gave it to me for my birthday last year but I didn't have a chance to open it. It was just in the living room and then on my nightstand. Olivia even chewed it a bit. But after that exchange on LJ with another person commenting about this book as well I decided to actually read it. So I brought it to work and I'm reading it at lunch. So far I'm finding it very helpful. Mostly for keeping my own sanity when Tanya is having a tantrum. Now instead of getting angry and frustrated, I still get angry and frustrated but much less so. Now I'm trying to think in terms of solutions. And I've been using some of the tools in the book, like acknowledging feelings and trying to problem solve with Tanya so she won't just hit Olivia when Olivia takes her toys. Today I read about useful tips about praise.
I read most of this book in 2018. This book was hit and miss for me. Some parts were pretty funny and the narrative moved well along. And some parts, especially in the castle, dragged for me. Over the last few years I read a lot of fantasy/sci-fi children's book that I missed as a child. I read "Wrinkle in Time", which I hated. I read "13 Clocks", which I didn't like. (Last Unicorn actually reminded me a lot of that book with its awareness of fairy tale rules). I read "Wizard of Earthsea", which was ok but not my favorite. Maybe I'm just too old for these books and reading them too critically. In this book, once the unicorn is turned into a woman, she loses all agency it seems. And the book in the end become Schmendrick's origin story. I could never figure out Molly's purpose, other than making Schmendrick do something and turn the Unicorn. So in the end, I am glad I read it but there were parts of it that dragged for me.
2. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
It is very clear just how much Trevor Noah loves his mother. The book is also really great in telling the reader what apartheid was like and what life in South Africa was like when he was a child. Some chapters are stronger than others and feel like his voice more - similar to the comedy specials I've seen. They are organized by stories; each chapter can stand apart. I think he is funnier in those specials but it is not like his life as a child was easy. His family was often poor; there was a lot of violence in his life and the life around him; he had to navigate a lot of racial tension and issues because he was a mixed child. It's a good autobiography. I got really into it by the end.
3. Enemy Mine by Barry B. Longyear
When I was 10, I saw the movie, dubbled in Russian, and I absolutely and utterly loved it. This movie and "Flight of the Navigator" are my favorite movies from my childhood and I have both on DVD. After reading the novella, I want to rewatch the movie again. I didn't even realize the movie was based on the book until my Dad mentioned that he got it last year. When I was at his house for New Year, one of the things that I did was hook up my Kindle to his Calibre library and download a bunch of books into it, including this one. And at 77 pages, I just wanted to read it pretty much right away. And I liked this novella a lot even though the second half is not like the movie at all.
Frankly I think the movie was better than the book, as the book felt too compressed. They are friends a bit too quickly. And the boy grows way too quickly in the book. I did like seeing a little more into Drac culture in the book and the social consequences to Zammis. I'm glad I read it - and I really should rewatch the movie.
4. Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris
It was a cute book. I really like Neil Patrick Harris and he is pretty honest about his experiences. If he doesn't like a person, he says it. His description of Elton John's villa are pretty great. But he also had a pretty happy childhood and pretty happy life so there is not a lot of drama. He writes about what happens mostly, descriptively, not over analytically - what life was like when he was filming HIMYM, what going through surrogacy entailed, different award hosting challenged. It is a pretty light book which was very pleasant to read.
Currently reading
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
I'm loving this book so much. I also think I picked a perfect time to read it, in the middle of cold freezing January. I read this book on my train commute, so I'm wrapped in my fur coat, and it is very very cold outside the train and in the train stations. So it really sets the mood. I wasn't expecting multiple narrators since I was avoiding all possible spoilers for the book and I'm really enjoying that aspect of it. I liked it much more than "Uprooted."
How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 by Joanna Faber & Julie King
In the beginning of January
falena.livejournal.com mentioned a classic parenting book written by one of the author's mothers and I commented that I had this one. My mother-in-law gave it to me for my birthday last year but I didn't have a chance to open it. It was just in the living room and then on my nightstand. Olivia even chewed it a bit. But after that exchange on LJ with another person commenting about this book as well I decided to actually read it. So I brought it to work and I'm reading it at lunch. So far I'm finding it very helpful. Mostly for keeping my own sanity when Tanya is having a tantrum. Now instead of getting angry and frustrated, I still get angry and frustrated but much less so. Now I'm trying to think in terms of solutions. And I've been using some of the tools in the book, like acknowledging feelings and trying to problem solve with Tanya so she won't just hit Olivia when Olivia takes her toys. Today I read about useful tips about praise.