Recent Reads

10. The Orphan Master's Son
My book club pick for this month won both the Pulitzer Prize and more importantly (for me), The Morning News Tournament of Books in 2013. Add to that it is a novel set in North Korea? Sold. 

Citizens! Let me first caution you that this is not an easy book to read. It will educate you about North Korea, and the depiction of torture and life under a dictator will make you squirm. Possibly even give you nightmares. You might kid yourself that you are reading a fantasy dystopian novel, but this is the DPRK.

Citizens! Let me also caution you that this novel will require work. It is written in a non-linear fashion, and is not a book to pick up when you think about a cozy afternoon read with a pot of tea and some scones. Might I also recommend reading this in three or four sittings. Do not sip from this book. You might not return.

Citizens! I think the most important key to unlocking this novel are the lines: For us, the story is more important than the person. If a man and his story are in conflict, it is the man who must change. The author is masterful. The narrator is not important - forget about your typical unreliable narrator notions - in this novel we have multiple narrators, some who are unnamed. 

Citizens! If like me you find yourself laughing out loud in the midst of the horror, remember that you are not alone. Yes it is jarring, but I applaud the skill with which the author weaves in satire and humor into the tapestry of the story.

Citizens! I would not say that I loved reading this book, but it will stick with me for a long time. It changed my mental models, educated me, and introduced me to a really skilled author. I cannot wait to read his back list. Rating: 5 stars.

11. My Friend Dahmer
This is a graphic biography about serial killer Jeffery Dahmer, as told by the author who was Dahmer's classmate. 

I wonder about the history of people who end up as serial killers, or psychopaths of some sort. Who were they as children? How much was nature versus nurture? What pushes a person over the edge where they go from hurting themselves to hurting other? Could it have been prevented?

This book sheds some light into Dahmer's early years, and I did feel for the lonely boy who was isolated, and abandoned, and friendless. Who wouldn't? Everyone reading this must ask the same question - where were the adults in his life? Is is possible for a kid to get so dang lost in the cracks? The sad answer is yes. 

While the art is really good, I found the narrative and writing weak. Maybe it was because the point of view is from a classmate/friend, who was really more of an acquaintance, but I expected more. Rating: 2 stars.

12. The Art of the Photograph: Essential Habits for Stronger Compositions
I am a huge fan of Art Wolfe. His photography capture a time and place and mood in a manner that resonates with me. 

Most photography books tend to focus on the technical details of photography: f-stops, shutter speeds, etc. and I've read my fair share of those. What I really liked about this book is that it is not about the technical details. Reading it is like attending a master class on the art of photography (hence the title ha!). Would recommend it to all amateur photographers. Rating: 4 stars.