IMA’S BOOKWORM REVIEW: FORGET ABOUT IT ISSUE

At times, you just have to stop reading. These are books never sparked my interest enough to complete the novel. If you have suggestions of better works by these authors, please let me know.

The Rise of Ransom City by Felix Gilman Zero Worms
Discombobulated fake memoir. Difficult to follow the story. I gave up after a couple chapters of confusion.

Lenin’s Kises by Yan Lianke Zero Worms
Terrible format for translation. Every other chapter featured background information as “Further Reading.” It would have worked better to have the translation information at the back of the novel instead of interrupting the narrative. Unable to trudge through the novel.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Zero Worms
Disturbing subject for such a gifted writer. Justification for pedophilia was disgusting. Quit reading when I learned that the child was twelve.

Silent House by Orhan Pamluk Zero Worms
Perhaps something was lost during the conversion to English. Characters didn’t compel me to keep reading even after three chapters.

The Forgetting Tree by Tatjana Soli Zero Worms
Intriguing story until the work of fiction was ruined by subtle racism. It began with the Latino characters all in the role of servants and the only black character being overtly romanticized. When Minna was “[sic] hunched, as if enduring a strong wind, or preparing for a lash” on page 143, I quit reading. Racist banter is especially appalling when related to modern characters. I just hope the author was not intentionally discriminatory.

Just forget about it.
© 2013 Ima B. Musing

IMA’S BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME III, ISSUE 5

Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey Three and a half worms
Refreshing approach to a reluctant main character’s evolution into a heroine. Humor injected into a modern day small town, which co-exists with a magical community. Of course, the main characters are nauseatingly attractive but at least they have personality flaws. The beginning of a science fiction fantasy genre series, undoubtedly.

The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde Three and a half worms
Clever with horrendously silly puns. Paramilitary training for librarians is a nice touch. Sections of the books become discombobulated and disconcerting until the situation is explained. Good humor and provides enough background for readers who are new to the chain of Thursday Next adventures.

Tiger Moon by Antonia Michaelis Three and a half worms
Complicated folktale with rich descriptions. The female lead isn’t a wimp, despite her circumstances. Some of the trials and tribulations are a bit egregious, though. Quick reading and suitable for teenagers.

Wisdom of the Shire by Noble Smith Three worms
Read the four Tolkien novels before this book. Author clearly adores Hobbits. Halfling-related Tolkien writings and the latest movie version are extensively referenced. The wisdom is dispensed in a convoluted fashion and present-day politics mires the advice.

The Legend of Broken by Caleb Carr Two worms
Veins of a good tale were suffocated by insufferableness. Serious editing needed to reduce unnecessary thoughts. Character development was scattered and difficult to care about anyone since no one was given proper attention. Abrupt ending did not complete the story. Perhaps part two will be better.

Looking for the fifth worm.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

IMA’S BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME III, ISSUE 4

Popular Music from Vittala by Mikel Niemi Three Worms
Bombastic description of listening to rock-n-roll was hilarious. Funny bits about growing up in a far north town. Silly, sad, and gross bodily fluid fixation. Creative insights into the main character’s developing soul. Some similarities to rural small town life in Minnesota.

The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose by Susan Wittig Albert Three Worms
Light prose but the characters are well developed and connected to each other. Took a while for the main plotline to bloom. It could have been fleshed out more since the resolution was hasty. Recipes a nice touch as the appendix.

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson Two and a Half Worms
Story never fully came to fruition. Timeline wandered aimlessly and it needed a concluding chapter. Some beautiful sections marred by uncertainty.

The Bad Miss Bennet by Jean Burnett Two Worms
Poor continuation of the Pride and Prejudice novel. Characters too shallow to care about their fate. Prose lacks sparkle and acerbic wit.

Nick & Jake by Jonathan and Tad Richards Two Worms
Epistolary novel, which is deficient in continuity and connection with the characters. Very few environmental descriptions and the story-line grew weak.

Still looking for a perfect book!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

IMA’S BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME III, ISSUE 2

Bartender’s Tale by Ivan Doig Four worms
Delightful reminiscence a saloon owner’s son. Charming innocent humor and layers of meaning add texture to a much-documented subject. Several surprises made the novel compelling. Ending was rather abrupt; perhaps the author could continue the story in another novel.

XO by Jeffery Deaver Three and a half worms
Well written but author’s note should have been as an epilogue. Perhaps he is hankering to change careers and become a lyricist. Expected one narrative twist and surprised by more. Good pacing and insights into obsessive behavior. However, the author made disparaging remarks about plump people.

Cats Behaving Badly by Celia Haddon Three worms
Explanations why felines do the naughty things that they do. Common sense tips and insights offered with a bit of humor. A few too many stories that don’t clearly relate to the topic. Author clearly distains indoor-only cats.

Beautiful Sacrifice by Elizabeth Lowell Three worms
Turning of the Wheel and the changing of the gods to begin the Fourteenth Baktun. The world as we know it ends on December 21st, 2012. Flirting smothered an otherwise interesting storyline. Main characters were distracted by burning desire. Interesting view into archeology and cultural anthropology efforts, could have used further explanation of terminology.

The Wurst is Yet to Come by Mary Daheim Two worms
Beginning is convoluted and choppy. Relationship between the two main characters needed to only be mentioned occasionally, not in every paragraph. One of the main actors was rude, crude, and unlikable. Author clearly revolted by overweight people. Intermittent good writing with humor. Sauerkraut ending was abrupt and didn’t follow through with the story at home.

Whole Lot’O Reading
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

IMA’S BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME III, ISSUE 1

Mercury Falls by Robert Krose Three and a half worms
End of the world as we know it with humor. Ribald witty puns and allegories fill this novel. A bit obtuse at times but very clever. Got Armageddon?

The Risk Agent by Ridley Pearson Three and a half worms
Intriguing foray into modern business practices in China. Of course, the main characters were beautiful, gag. At least the author gave them personality flaws and complicated lives. The adventure became rather complicated, it would have been nice to have a glossary to help keep track of who is who. Happy for the map!

The Shape of Desire by Sharon Shinn Three worms
Why do authors presume that women are attracted to beasts? Ugh. Jumping back and forth through time was difficult to follow. Some very good humor and insights into the main character’s soul. However, the female lead was insufferable and the plot line banal. Ending so glucose filled that it will put you into a coma.

The Wrong Man by David Ellis Two worms
The wrong title is more like it. Dah, it ruins the plot line when you already know that the accused is innocent. There were some episodes of good solid writing but the plot line is flimsy. Irritating when the perspective flipped from character to character without much ado. The Tori character was painfully obvious.

Dream of the Celt by Mario Vargas Llosa Two worms
Loose biography of Roger Casement. Great parts were muted by long trivial passages. Exasperating that every other chapter featured reminiscences, chronological would have been easier to follow. The details were too knotty to try to remember when you can’t read the book in one setting. Perhaps something was lost in translation. Terrible that his sexuality was used as a reason for execution, sadly still happening in the world today.

Just search this blog with “bookworm” and you can peruse previous reviews.

Read On!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

IMA’S BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II OVERVIEW

Unless someone suggests a title, the novels were selected at random. I shy away from romance novels and violence. Both are stuff of nightmares. A few tomes have been adjusted from their original rating to be in better alignment. Don’t bother reading anything at 2.5 or below.

Read the entire eight-book Tales of the City series, very entertaining. Seem to have perused a lot about WWII with perspectives from Japanese civilians, Chinese civilians, American POWs, and survivors of European concentration camps. Odd coincidence. Rankings are alphabetized by author. Full reviews are in the Volume II series, just search for them on this blog (via Bookworm Review). I prefer to keep the evaluation brief without giving away too much of the plot.

IMA’S BOOKWORM RATINGS:
FIVE WORMS = Perfection
To Be Determined, got any suggestions?

FOUR AND A HALF WORMS = Excellent
Anshu by Juliet S. Kono

FOUR WORMS = Very Good
The Water Children by Anne Berry
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
More Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Moon Maze Game by David Niven and Steven Barnes
Driftless by David Rhodes
A Cavalcade of Lesser Horrors by Peter Smith
Strindberg’s Star by Jan Walletin
Zone One by Colson Whitehead

THREE AND A HALF WORMS = Good
Kingdom of Strangers by Zoe Ferraris
Citadels of the Lost by Tracy Hickman
Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin
Significant Others by Armistead Maupin
Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs
The Highest Frontier by Joan Slonscewski
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
The Rules of the Tunnel by Ned Zeman

THREE WORMS = Fair, but readable
Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall
The Invitation by Anne Cherian
When the Saints by Dave Duncan
The Arrogant Years by Lucette Lagnado
Interpreter of the Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Further Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Mary Ann in Autumn by Armistead Maupin
Sure of You by Armistead Maupin
Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
The Technologists by Matthew Pearl
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Red Earth, White Earth by Will Weaver
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
The Late Homecomer by Kao Kalia Yang

TWO AND A HALF WORMS = So-So
The Good Muslim by Tahmima Anam
The Measure of the Magic by Terry Brooks
Master and God by Lindsey Davis
The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind
Glass Asylum by JoAnn Bren Guernsey
Foundation by Mercedes Lackey
Babycakes by Armistead Maupin
The Healing by Jonathan Odell
Solaris Rising edited by Ian Whates
The Divining by Barbara Wood
Song of the Silk Road by Mingmai Yip

TWO WORMS = Oh-Oh
Journal of a UFO Investigator by David Halperin
Nanjing Requiem by Ha Jin
Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey
Here Comes The Nice by Jeremy Reed

ONE WORM = No-No
None, because I just stopped reading the manuscript.

Seeking Five Worms!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

IMA'S BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE TEN

Strindberg’s Star by Jan Walletin Four worms
Unique blend of myth, mystery, and mayhem. Unappealing main character with some science fiction thrown in to the mix. Unsettling descriptions of the horrors of armed conflict upon civilians. Perhaps a bit was lost in translation to English but overall a very strong book.

Kingdom of Strangers by Zoe Ferraris Three and a half worms
Peek into the secretive society of Saudi Arabia. Lifting the veil of crime and punishment. Well written mystery with some wit. Unnecessary to repeatedly remind reader of weekend days. Good to have a glossary of terminology. Hope for more of Katya’s adventures.

Master and God by Lindsey Davis Two and a half worms
Mixed bag of a book with both good and bad elements. Flawed main characters is a positive. Star-crossed to the point of pain. Side stories about minor characters and hints about their future is a negative. Need a map and succession/genealogy chart because so many names are similar. Irritating at times and well done at others. Uneven overall.

The Divining by Barbara Wood Two and a half worms
Romantic journey of a young woman’s self-discovery. Hopefully, the author actually based some of the story on fact. Veiled proselytizing. Of course, the two main characters were nauseatingly beautiful.

Nanjing Requiem by Ha Jin Two worms
Cold account of the horrors of WWII inflicted upon Chinese civilians. Lacked emotional insight of the characters and the relationships didn’t connect authentically. Proselytizing was very evident.

Read previous review on June 18th.

Cup of tea or glass of wine, both go fine with a book.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE NINE

 Most recent review was posted on May 21st.



Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand Four worms

Disconcerting biography of Louis Zamperini’s prisoner of war experience. Map was nice but the preface was unnecessary. Disturbing details of the atrocities of war when the Geneva Convention is violated and the POWs struggle to survive. Not to be read if you are prone to nightmares. Epilogue was rather confusing but the research notes impressive.



The Water Children by Anne Berry Four worms

Poetic languid exploration of the characters. Discombobulating in sections where it isn’t clear who is being discussed but weaves together well. Strong storyline and sugary ending after so much pain.



The Invitation by Anne Cherian Three worms

Four college friends reunite for an emotional event. Good insight into the internal workings of the characters. Structure of story could have used some tweaking and the ending was rather abrupt. The email conclusion was clever.



Glass Asylum by JoAnn Bren Guernsey Two and half worms

Tale of a writer’s angst. Strong writing convoluted by perplexing plot. The short story examples were a rude interruption in the narrative. The teacher character was the most interesting and should have been the focus of the book.



The Healing by Jonathan Odell Two and half worms

Some nice passages and good description of the swamps. Author rather clueless when it came to the female “flowering.” It ain’t flowers that flow but the imagery of a river through time was notable.



Read or Write, just do it!

© 2012 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE EIGHT

More science fiction and fantasy novels, though the library doesn’t categorize them all that way. Odd.

The Highest Frontier by Joan Slonscewski Three and a half worms
Rough beginning, too much new terminology not adequately explained. Strong storyline with a lot of interesting twists. Fascinating futuristic teaching methodology, definitely penned by a professor. Why aren’t men bred to be less aggressive?

Zone One by Colson Whitehead Three and a half worms
Sharp shocking hip-hop beat poet vernacular. Zombie pox. Striking observations but bewildering language. Better storyline congruency would have improved the book. Be aware that the visual imagery is macabre, don’t read at night.

Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall Three worms
Quick read and rather witty. Zombie pox invades a Star Trek convention (the cover artwork gives away the plot). Clever mocking of people who take fantasy one or more steps too far. Editor should have corrected timeline mistake.

The Technologists by Matthew Pearl Three words
Tale about the founding of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Steampunk genre. Chronological storytelling would have been more appropriate, the flashbacks were confusing. Some strong writing enveloped by weak prose. Motivations of the culprit were not convincing.

Journal of a UFO Investigator by David Halperin Two worms
Illogical storyline jumped back and forth through time. The character seemed to be hallucinating or tripping on some sort of chemical. Disappointed that it did not accurately reference reported sightings, which would have improved the believability of the story.

Most recent review was posted on April 23rd.

Read at least one book per month.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE SEVEN

Latest review was posted on March 26th

Life of Pi by Yann Martel Four worms
First half of the book is outstanding in its examination of religion. Chapter 25 excels as it scrutinizes the self-righteous morality of the devoutly faithful. “To me, religion is about our dignity, not our depravity,” stated Pi. Time in the boat becomes arduous and fantastical. Should have kept a chronological order instead telling of the conclusion before the story was finished.

Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett Three and a half worms
Clever examination of feline behavior. Especially good for people who are thinking about procuring a cat companion, dealing with behavior issues, adding a child to the family, or just want to learn more about the felix in your home. Good stories but some needed a conclusion, as did the book. What happened to mourning Sophie?

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin Three and a half worms
Well written but bewildering when the biographies were mixed together. I frequently became confused as to who was whom and what they were doing. It would have been better to write each biography independently and then blend them together when they met. Story became much more compelling after the President Lincoln’s election, about one third into the book. Well worth the effort to read though you may need to take notes to remember all the persons involved. Look at the photos, first, so that you can more easily visualize the people mentioned.

Red Earth, White Earth by Will Weaver Three worms
Harsh exploration of farming on a reservation. Lots of swearing and uncomfortable situations. Horridly prejudicial against Native Americans and Ojibwe Nation. Difficult to sympathize with the main character, his mother was much more interesting. The last few pages of Chapter 18 are fantastic. www.whiteearth.com

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson Three worms
Three compelling profiles of courageous people who journeyed from the South to the North during Jim Crow. Extensive historical research and interviews with a lot of notations. Unfortunately, the affectionate biographies were mixed together. It was very perplexing to determine who was being discussed because so many extra names were included in each story. Chronological exploration of each person would have been easier to read.

Book suggestions appreciated. Seeking a five-worm winner!

Read with a cat (or dog) on your lap.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE SIX

Latest review was posted on February 27th.

Interpreter of the Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri Three worms
Short stories, some were terrific and others mediocre. Unsatisfying because the brevity only provides a taste of the character. I’d rather read more of the story.

Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley Three worms
Military veteran returns to war at home. Ezekiel abhors violence but uses it as a tool to advance into a new profession. Well-written mystery crime novel. Characters needed more development and could have easily doubled the length of the book. Disturbed that all the women were either sexualized or marginalized.

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami Three worms
Disturbingly violent twist on a survival story. Don’t read if you are prone to nightmares. Same vein as the popular Hunger Games.

The Measure of the Magic by Terry Brooks Two and a half worms
Legends of Shannara series from a prolific author. No map and did not provide enough background story. Weepy women, ugh. Lacks logic that so many characters would suddenly be bestowed with special abilities and no instruction. The magic was never measured.

Here Comes The Nice by Jeremy Reed Two worms
Insufferable characters see-sawing between two time periods. Story-line best appeals to readers interested in the fashion, drugs, and music of the 1960s. Misogynistic view of women as only sexual orbs. Convoluted writing which was difficult to follow. Gave me a headache. Needed a map. Author’s superciliousness to promote himself in the book is untenable.

Read every day!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE FIVE

Memoirs are the focus of this issue. Memory all depends upon the storyteller. Three people standing next to each other experiencing the same five-minute interlude will offer three diverse perspectives. Each is accurate but determined by their personal life record.

A Cavalcade of Lesser Horrors by Peter Smith Four worms
Laughed at the foibles and his unique perspective. Hilarious vignettes from the author’s life. Chapters could have been arranged in a more linear fashion and a few more added to fill in the gaps. Vigil Candles chapter was stunning.

The Rules of the Tunnel by Ned Zeman Three and a half worms
Brilliant insight into the churnings of mania and depression. He seemed most comfortable writing about others to the point of distraction. Wickedly self-deprecating humor and silly cats. Mystifying holes in the timeline. Lucky to have a supportive network.

The Arrogant Years by Lucette Lagnado Three worms
Personal memoir that captures the superior attitude of youth. Strongest sections are biographies of her mother and Alice. The story gets a bit hazy when the remembrances are not pleasant. Very good insight into her internal life. I wish her well.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls Three worms
Some people should never reproduce. Terrible parents neglected and abused their children. The parents probably were dealing with mental health issues but continuously made horrible choices causing their children to suffer. Somehow Jeannette and her siblings survived their selfish parents and awful circumstances. Shouldn’t give away the ending in the first chapter.

The Late Homecomer by Kao Kalia Yang Three worms
War and rotten refugee camps wrecked havoc but the fortitude of her family is to be admired. Book became rather bewildering when relating stories of the entire family. Final chapters were most insightful regarding her grandmother.

Prior review was posted on February 2nd.

Have you journaled today?
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

B IS FOR BLOG

Sometimes I dream of words. During the past two years I have become reacquainted with the joy of writing. I’ve always created perfunctory documents at work but had little interest in leisurely writing at home. One of the few positive aspects of sustained unemployment is the time and energy to write. I’m a non-fiction journal maker, a memoirist with arts, social, and political commentary. I post my thoughts, opinions, and feel honored that you are reading these words.

Despite my dislike of spelling, I wanted to be a journalist when I graduated from high school. After one year at the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism I switched majors. I was disillusioned because of the sexism in the 1980s media. I studied Studio Arts but it is profoundly difficult to make a living as a full-time artist. I ended up graduating with a degree in Speech-Communications and working in the non-profit 501(c)3 field.

My heart is in helping the community but the pay is generally poor and funding unstable. I usually remain at a job for about two years before switching due to boredom. I ask too many questions. A combination of my forthright personality and insecure supervisors has lead to conflict and being fired. I have no desire to start my own business. I have ideas but it would be absolute agony to deal with the technical aspects of sales and accounting.

Language is powerful and precious. I couldn’t figure out how to read until I was in third grade due to mild dyslexia. Writing has always been a challenge. The words form in my mind but spelling is atrocious. Playing Scrabble is akin to torture. Thank goodness for spell-check. Whoever invented it should be rewarded with lots of good karma.

I really enjoy sharing my stories with the world. I am curious what draws you to this blog. Please leave a comment and join the other Followers, connect on Facebook and Twitter, too. If you write a blog, let me know the address and I’ll become your Follower. Thanks! This is my 150th posting.

Keep On Reading!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE FOUR

Most recent review was posted January 2nd.

Anshu by Juliet S. Kono Four and a half worms
Sorrowful tale of wartime woes capturing the horrible impact on Japanese civilians. Haunting examination of the main character’s development. Brilliantly written prose about the struggle to survive. The final chapters could have been expanded a bit. I hope there will be a continuation of the story.

Driftless by David Rhodes Four worms
Bewitching language. Reminded me of home. Aptly describes many people I knew who reside in tiny towns or where the town is only a collection of memories. Beautiful descriptions but the book was a bit too crowded. It might have been a bit better to divide into two parts and flesh out some of the chapters. Stunning work.

Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs Three and a half worms
Well written with humor in addition to the macabre scene at NASCAR. Romance was not nauseating as most female writers overdo this aspect of their novels. More details needed for the murderer. Odd that all the characters were assumed to be Caucasian unless indicated otherwise. Q and A at the end of the book was interesting; I hadn’t realized that this was the inspiration for a television series Bones. The tv character barely resembles the book, they should have given her a different name.

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson Three and a half worms
Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws for Robotics are ignored by a frighteningly possible scenario. What do humans sacrifice by intensive reliance upon computers and machines? Author disregarded the entire Southern Hemisphere and there is always a rear facing guard. If the story had been structured a bit differently, it would have been more readable. Don’t give away the ending in the first chapter.

The Good Muslim by Tahmima Anam Two and a half worms
War is horrible and its terrible legacy continues to haunt the survivors. The final chapters were brilliant. Would have been better as a linear chronology instead of jumping in-between two time periods. Some chapters were unclear with the identity of the narrator, which made it very confusing.

Song of the Silk Road by Mingmai Yip Two and a half worms
Schmaltzy romance novel with bit of erotica. Main character could have used more development. Gaps were obvious. Why are the central characters always beautiful?

Libraries are awesome.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE TWO

Tales of the City series of books by Armistead Maupin, Part II of review. Please read Part I posted on December 7th, first. Mr. Maupin has also authored several other books but I haven’t had the opportunity to read them, yet.

Significant Others (5th in series) Three and a half worms
Calamity returns! The characters get back to silly chaos and humor. The Grove sounds like more fun than the Wood but what happened to Frannie’s retreat? Serious topic of HIV and AIDS included, though very little was known about the disease at the time. Characters seem to have abruptly ceased chemical use without explanation.

Sure of You (6th in series) Three worms
No murder mystery or kidnapping, just solid character development though one person has devolved. The holiday in Greece was most amenable. Nickel-Dime chapter is a frank discussion about terminal illness and those left behind.

Michael Tolliver Lives (7th in series) Three and a half worms
Single narrative voice is a modification from the multi-character storyline. Strong storytelling and humor. Some of Michael’s viewpoints are repeated to the point of exasperation, once is adequate. Relationship status should not define a person.

Mary Ann in Autumn (8th in series) Three worms
Return to a simplified multi-character storyline. Interesting twist with the return of a character, though it was obvious to me after the email scene. Several good passages augment character development. Perhaps one or two more books will continue the story…

Spoiler Alert! Don’t read this paragraph if you haven’t read the books, the plot line will be discussed. Michael is my favorite character. He is a “nice” person who muddles through the roller-coaster of life. Mary Ann became unlikable. She morphed into an unfeeling monster and only showed a little vulnerability in the last book. Mrs. Madrigal is fascinating and deserves a biography-style treatment. I like her wisdom about change, “You don’t have to keep up dear. You just have to keep open.”

Stay open to change.
© 2011 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW, VOLUME II, ISSUE ONE

Summary of Volume I was published on November 6th. Decided to review a series of books by Armistead Maupin. Intrigued by the scandalous BBC miniseries rebroadcast on PBS (nude scenes severely edited) to read the first three books about fifteen years ago. It would be cool if BBC would film another miniseries. Too bad Thomas Gibson won’t be included; he was deliciously naughty in the BBC show.

Tales of the City (1st in series) Three worms
Story line is a bit choppy but that is probably because it began as a newspaper column. Limited space makes the story terse at times. I especially enjoyed Michael’s diatribe about the holiday conspiracy.

More Tales of the City (2nd in series) Four worms
Stronger narrative flow with better developed characters. Events woven together for the adage of “small world in a big city.” Once again, the voice of Michael is the most poignant. His “Letter to Mama” could be used for the current “It Gets Better” campaign. Thankfully, our culture has become more inclusive but we have a ways to go to accept people for who they are instead of merely tolerate or openly despise them. Michael would definitely be a Little Monster fan of Lady Gaga and gleefully sing out “I was born this way!”

Further Tales of the City (3rd in series) Three worms
Storyline becomes a bit fantastical. Chemistry lacking since of the main characters is completely absent. The thriller aspect kills off the humor. The writing is strong but I miss the whimsy. Odd that the characters continue use of mind-altering substances despite aging.

Babycakes (4th in series) Two and a half worms
Creative bookends to the storyline, I like how the beginning and the end are tied together. Overweight people are maligned and the Little People of America (or the English counterpart) should have been consulted for respectful verbiage. Ending is a bit too sweet and tidy.

Other notable:
Visited the 1968 Exhibit at the Minnesota History Center and thought of death by macramé, which occurs in one of the Maupin books. The exhibit starts with the Vietnam War and then moves into politics and arts. The grade-schoolers who were there giggled at the old voting machine, which I remember being awed by as a little kid. It sounded so cool with the lever jingle and looked like the wizard’s booth in Wizard of Oz. Exhibit ended with the Apollo program. The display cases need rounded corners, an audio tour option, and better exit signage. All I remember about 1968 was being in the hospital for a tonsillectomy. www.the1968exhibit.org

Reviews of the series will be continued in the next edition.
© 2011 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW VOLUME I SUMMARY

Updated rankings of books that I have previously read. I have adjusted ratings of a few to get them aligned with other books and alphabetized by author. Don’t bother to read anything below three worms.

Five Worms (Crème du la Crème)
TBD (to be determined) still searching for the perfect novel!
Suggestions are welcome.

Four and One Half Worms (Excellent):
* Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
* Plainsong by Kent Haruf
* Spiral by Paul McEuen
* Under Fishbone Clouds by Sam Meekings

Four Worms (Very Good):
* Half Life by Roopa Farooki
* Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Hurston
* Oyster: History on the Half Shell by Mark Kurlansky
* Black Mamba Boy by Natifa Mohamed
* Pirate Queen by Barbara Sjoholm

Three and One Half Worms (Good):
* I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive by Steve Earle
* Hit By a Farm by Catharine Friend
* Blindness of the Heart by Julia Franck
* Song Yet Sung by James McBride
* True Grit by Charles Portis
* Little Indiscretions by Carmen Posadas
* Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie
* Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
* The Help by Kathryn Stockett
* The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson (first half of novel)

Three Worms (Fair):
* Stormchasers by Jenna Blum
* Healer by Carol Cassella
* Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen
* Sheepish by Catherine Friend
* Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man by Steve Harvey
* Private Patient by P.D. James
* Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer
* Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
* The Eight by Katherine Neville
* Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin
* I Think I Love You by Allison Person
* Nemesis by Philip Roth
* The Secret History of the Mongol Queens by Jack Weatherford
* To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
* Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeannette Winterson

Two and a Half Worms (so-so)
* Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show by Frank Delaney
* Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
* The Way Things Look To Me by Roopa Farooqi
* Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
* Absent a Miracle by Christine Lehrer
* Midnight and the Meaning of Love by Sister Souljah

Two Worms (oh-oh):
* Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
* Busy Body by M.C. Beaton
* Cat’s Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown & Sweetie Pie Brown
* The Aloha Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini
* Cat in a Topaz Tango by Carole Nelson Douglas
* Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich
* Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
* The Cat Who Went to Paris by Peter Gethers
* Wicked Lies by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush
* Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov
* The Wilding by Benjamin Percy

One Worm (heavy sigh):
* Troublemaker by Janet and Alex Evanovich
* Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels
* The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers

Not Rated (due to special circumstances):
No One in the World by E. Lynn Harris and RM Johnson

Most recent review was posted on October 17th.

© 2011 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW: VOLUME I, ISSUE NINE

I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive by Steve Earle Three and a half worms
Ghostly tale of characters fighting to survive on the outer fringes of society. Befittingly, the characters swore a lot. Addiction is horrible and leads to terrible consequences. It would be intriguing to learn the fate of the two characters that follow the butterflies.

Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen Three worms
Well-written tale of the woes of the European monarchy. Many generations of inbreeding create monsters. The main character’s mother would have been more fascinating subject. Happy that both a map and genealogy chart were included. Loosely based on historical fact.

Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man by Steve Harvey Three worms
Good humor, practical advice but a subtle under-current of chauvinism. He mixed in some specific theology, which was not needed. When will men see equal partnership as not threatening?

No One in the World by E. Lynn Harris and RM Johnson Not Rated (see note)
Reads like a soap-opera movie. Intriguing plot but should be placed in pre-DNA era because the crime scene would have been checked. Needed a concluding chapter taking place a few years after the climatic scene to learn the fates of the characters.
Note: This book is not rated because it was not completed by the primary author but based upon his notes.

The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers One worm
One of the most tedious books that I have ever encountered. I nearly stopped on several occasions and then a brilliant page or two would inspire me to read more. Highly creative ideas but the journey was never ending. The editor should have trimmed out about a third or half the book, it would have been much better.

Most recent review was posted on September 15th. I am searching for the “perfect book” if anyone has suggestions, please send me a note. The book needs to be available in the MELSA library system since I read only library books at this time. Alas, I can’t afford to purchase literary volumes…

Read on!
© 2011 Ima B. Musing

BOOKWORM REVIEW: VOLUME I, ISSUE EIGHT

Spiral by Paul McEuen Four and a half worms
Complicated thriller focused on biological weapons of mass destruction. Bio-technology WMDs pose a frighteningly possible scenario. Intelligently written with multifarious plot twists. Cornell University is glorified but the romance elements were not nauseating.

Sheepish by Catherine Friend Three worms
Funny in a healthy, platonic, non-gross sort of way. Farming is a soulful experience. Sheep and wool product promotion usurp the story. She never states if Muffin’s operation was a success or not, I hope it was and that everyone is healthy now.

The Secret History of the Mongol Queens by Jack Weatherford Three worms
Interesting tale about the leadership of the females while the males get all the credit (no surprise). The first half of the book was fascinating but then it became mottled in histology. He stitched together as much fact as possible.

Private Patient by P.D. James Three worms
Foretelling of the upcoming story spoiled the first few chapters. Stiff upper lip is more like a stone upper lip featuring characters without much emotion. Exquisite examination of the internal mind of the characters but lacked heart, why care about unsympathetic people? A bit heavy with literary references and philosophical inquiry. Romances were tidy and with little emotion, like the rest of the book.

Cat in a Topaz Tango by Carole Nelson Douglas Two worms
Better than most serial mystery writers. Well developed writing skills though it can be difficult to follow whom is speaking during dialogue. The cat provides a unique narrative with human-like thoughts. Saboteur was easy to determine early in the book. Overweight people are never portrayed in a positive manner. The secondary story was distracting. What happened to Gloria’s injured wrist? Editor should have caught these errors because it could have earned another worm.

Five worms is top of the bookshelf! Most recent review was posted on August 15th.

Curl up with a book (paper or e-version), and a cat on your lap.
© 2011

BOOKWORM REVIEW ISSUE VII

Peruse previous reviews posted on July 12th, June 6th, May 9th, April 10th, February 17th, 2011 and September 14th, 2010. Please join the followers of this blog, link on Facebook and Twitter. I welcome suggestions of books to read which are available in the library system (MELSA in the Twin Cities, MN area). Alas, I do not have the budget to purchase at this time.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf Four and a half worms
Wow, captivated by the simple complexity of the story. The boys’ attackers would have been prosecuted, though. Author doesn’t quite articulate the thoughts of the female characters. I’d love to read more about the McPherons; they remind me of some bachelor farmers that I knew as a kid.

Black Mamba Boy by Natifa Mohamed Four worms
Yeah, a book with a map! Much easier to follow the story by knowing where the character is located during his travels. Gritty tale of a young boy’s struggle to grow up during war and its aftermath. Good examination of the character’s inner journey however the final chapter should have been fleshed out a bit more. Perhaps the story will be continued in another book… England?

Little Indiscretions by Carmen Posadas Three and a half worms
Profoundly clever with a creepy romantic storyline. Lots of humor. The mystery gets confusing at times, perhaps due to the translation. I wish that I knew more about Spanish culture because I’m certain that there are many more layers to the story. Could be a movie (please, no Hollywood actors…).

The Cat Who Went to Paris by Peter Gethers Two worms
Cute photo of the main character on the dust jacket. Spoiled the story in the first chapter. Some delightful tales but it is mostly boring. He is absolutely gaga for the feline. It would be compelling to learn how he dealt with the loss of such a beloved animal.

Cat’s Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown & Sweetie Pie Brown Two worms
Odd to have cats and dogs use human sentence structure but interesting to speculate what they are thinking. At least the female lead sounds like an average middle-aged person. Rather obvious mystery. Too much religious content and didn’t need the romance angle.

I pine for female mystery writers who don’t rely upon romance as a tool. Some of the characters should be average sized. Too many are skinny and pretty. I’d relate better to a 40-year-old sleuth with wrinkles, aches and pains. Praise to Rita Mae Brown for penning a realistic female main character.

Let me know your suggestions!
© 2011