The Great (??) Gatsby

Committing the ultimate faux pas in book-reviewing (ok, really on in my anal-retentive mind), I'm book-jumping to squeeze in The Great Gatsby during its 15-minutes of popularity due to the latest Leonardo DiCaprio movie. Go figure.

Hailed as one of the greatest works of fiction - and F. Scott Fitgerald's - The Great Gatsby is a story of complete and utter absorption, from the main character, Nick's, preoccupation with the ostentation neighbor, to Gatsby's unhealthy infatuation with a woman he knew long ago, Daisy. The intense imagery and plethora of metaphors transport the reader back to a different era that keeps them plenty occupied while they wait for the actual story to begin.

Just shy of halfway through the short 180-pages, the story actually begins; a pretty messed up one at that. More of a short story, Fitzgerald's tale lack a lot of the drama, mystery, and mystique we've come to know and love with contemporary novels. Just as quick as the story begins, it's over and we're left wondering why we were participatory.

The span of several months, and even years, reads much like the length of only one day, and our knowledge of the main character - our accomplice, if you will - is startlingly limited. Even our knowledge of the would-be main character, Gatsby, is rather limited and sporadic and is seems like we're only left with the attributes of him that are grossly unflattering and downright sad. DiCaprio's Gatsby, however, will no doubt melt even the coldest hearts to pools of rich butter while his predecessor couldn't melt anyone's, even with a hearty helping of the finest champagne, the finest food money can buy, a mansion, and an air of mysterious, intriguing, possibly troubling past.

For most, this was required high school reading and in the beginning I could for the life of me fathom why; "spectroscopic gayety," really?! And, "...[she] began to cry stormily. 'They're sure beautiful shirts. It makes me sad because I've never seen such beautiful shirts before.'" Then, as the story gets moving, I realized walking through the world of The Great Gatsby (more specifically, his somewhat nosy neighbor) is an over-analytical individual's utopia. What better way to waste an hour than sit in a classroom and hypothesize why this book takes us through the various twists and turns, and analyze the supposed symbolism in the plenitude of metaphors? Perhaps, then, I might have liked and appreciated it more, and why my friends who did read it in high school think it's "AMAZING."

This might be the very first case where I enjoy the movie considerably  more than the book. At least if the story is told equally as bad, I'll get to preoccupy myself with looking at all the pretty outfits.

Sharp Objects

There was a lot of chatter about Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl within the book club and - as I later realized - all over the non-literary world (not book-snobs, just people who can appreciate a good book). My friend - you all know and love her - Mer, read it and after reading a few chapters of Sharp Objects, decided Flynn needed serious psychological help. As most of the group had read Gone Girl, we opted to read Sharp Objects, which was equally dark and disturbing, but lacked Gone Girl's humor so the reader just ended up feeling...violated...by the end.

Don't get me wrong, Sharp Objects is such an amazing story that Flynn should be praised for her creativity by the best of mental health professionals as she's strapped so a bed in a padded room (ok, I'm slightly biased since I have also read Gone Girl). We follow a woman, Camille, who is fresh out from just some situation because she was addicted to cutting herself; although not in the traditional way. Her obsession was of a different nature that also happened to correspond with her career as a reporter.

As her first assignment, she is to return to her hometown and cover the murders of two pre-teen girls. That means, of course, confronting the demons of her own past. One such demon in human form is her half-sister, who is the very definition of creepy.

Like most whodunits you've read, the killer seems obvious, but - as you also know - things aren't always that simple. The beauty of Flynn's storytelling, though, is that she's able to plot the most basic of stories - by that I mean a lack of overly dramatic emotion - with incredible intricacies, complexities, and - naturally - the creepy twist you never saw coming.

It is definitely a book you can read in a weekend, but you may need to put it down every once in awhile just to reassure yourself you don't live in this perpetually-grey world Flynn has made so vivid. I'll be honest - I felt taxed.

What I Was Reading February 3rd

Former Navy SEAL Fatally Shot at Texas Shooting Range

Black Delegate Decides Against Va. GOP's Redistricting Map

The 'E-Nup' Contract I Want All My Facebook & E-mail Friends to Sign

Boehner Steadies Republican Team, Reframes Deficit Debate

I've been a real book-nerd this year so I'm hoping to eventually find the second - and motivation - to write some reviews. If you have any extra, send it my way!

A Clash of Kings

For the first time since reading Harry Potter, in my reading career, I immediately picked up the next book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, A Clash of Kings. I finished it awhile go - after it took me over a month to read - and I realized I had better write my review before it completely escapes me. And there is so much going on in the book, it's possible for a lot of things to escape me.

In George R.R. Martin's sequel to Game of Thrones, the war for the Iron Throne has just begun with more than a handful believing it is rightfully theirs. Some seem a bit of a stretch but it proves what we all know deep down - when the rights to a throne are at stake, everything matters.

Once again, the story is spellbinding. Almost in-discussable. We get a front-row seat to the surprises, shock, and heartbreak of war, as well as the intrigue, mystery, and treachery that takes place behind the scenes. As my friend and fellow book-clubber so eloquently put it - the guys you think are good guys are actually the bad guys; you don't know which end is up. And the beauty of it is that you are never tricked into thinking you do; you're completely aware of the fact that you don't, based largely on the fact that with each change of chapter, you're transported to a completely different world.

The entrance of new characters to a story is always a bit confusing and off-putting. But with each new chapter heading comes a new dimension to this world we already don't completely comprehend. And we're 100% ok with that. I don't re-read books as a practice - I can't think of one I actually have since I was addicted to the Fear Street: Cheerleaders series - but these are books I feel I could read again and again and get different things out of it each time.

I do find the story difficult to follow, and feel it requires a great deal of concentration, so my general level of book interest needs to be slightly higher than normal. But it often doesn't take much to get me sucked in, and I find myself reading during any bathroom break I get - much like my friend who devoured the series while pumping.

I've since taken a break from the series between book two and book three - A Storm of Swords. I felt some book club guilt for not participating due to this captivating fantasy series.

For the hefty page amount and the wordiness of each page, this monolith of a book is totally and completely worth the time and effort. If stolen moments are all you have, the race for the Iron Throne makes them all go way too fast, but it's impossible not to be captivated the entire time. Each character provides such a pivotal aspect to the story, you may not find yourself liking every character, but you end up respecting them and their personal rationale of their means to their ends. With twists and turns at every bend, there are actual moments you can feel your heart beating slightly faster.  

The Return of "What I'm Reading Now"!

I've been experiencing book ADD lately - can't pick what I want to read, and can't get sucked into my picks - so here's the luke-warmly anticipated return of What I'm Reading Now (or as it was previous called, What I'm Reading Today).

Miss American 2013 Mallory Hagan Sounds Like a Genius Next to Her Competition

Tom Cruise Crazy Aliens Theory Is the Least of His Problems

Boy, 13, Drives Car 500 Miles Across County to Find Birth Parents

Super Easy, Wildly Delicious Homemade Oreo Ice Cream Cake Recipe

5 Surprising Ways to Prevent This Year's Nasty Flu

See Cheerleaders Evolve from Timeless Spirit to Tiny Shorts

New Girls Scouts Super Cookie

Sunday Talk Shows (1/13/13): Gun Control, Chuck Hagel, Meet the Press, Face the Nation

*Update*

Lincee Ray: 'Bachelor' Premier Recap: Season 17 Kicks Off With Some Crazies

Armstrong Will Answer 'Honestly' During Oprah Talk

Still Alice

Lisa Genova's Still Alice was Drink Wine and Gossip's November choice. I haven't been as diligent as usual with my book-club books, mainly because I've been too selfishly absorbed in my person bookshelf books; i.e. Game of Thrones (I've since started Clash of Kings). So I guiltily picked it up, but was unwitting immediately sucked in.

Still Alice is not a book I would have chosen myself. It's quite the sad story, about a highly educated and respected published Harvard Psychology professor who is diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. If nothing else, this book provides a wonderful window into the world of Alzheimer's; there are so many facets to the disease that I never knew or even thought about, like forgetting how to read, speak, play games, etc. As a whole, those details made it quite the sad story and concept, but in general I felt the book had a relatively upbeat quality to it.

Things start out simple and innocent enough - Alice can't find the word she's thinking of during a speech, relatively normal behavior we all exhibit more times than we'd care for. She did - and continued to do so in the beginning - what we all do: chalk it up to exhaustion, stress, busy schedules, and just life in general. But then a particularly scary aspect of the disease reared it's ugly head and Alice was forced to face the ugly truth.

Being a smart and highly educated woman, Alice knew something was wrong that required doctor intervention. Once she is diagnosed, her world becomes centered around the disease, how she can stay "normal," for as long as possible, how she can test herself and her wits, how she could possibly beat it. At her [dick of a] husband's urging, Alice goes on medication and agrees to participate in a medical trial, but since the chapters are written in month increments, the disease manages to continue on it's rapid downward spiral, with Alice to do nothing but go along for the ride.

What is heartwarming, though, is that she doesn't go on the ride alone. She fears alienation and isolation in her profession - which is inevitable - but finds incredible understanding, support, and love. From her children she always felt a little "off" from, they are brought closer in a more loving and compassionate way. As a woman, however, I was perturbed by the husband and his reaction to most everything Alice went through. He made me appreciate my own husband, especially when considering that one of us might go through this one day, and that my husband will do everything the exact opposite of John.

It was also optimistic to follow along with Alice on her journey and witness her keep herself together. I don't know if I could be as strong and not get scared at the "stranger [who] walked me home," that was actually my husband. Maybe that's part of it, forgetting to be scared?

Lisa Genova's story was mind-boggling. Literally. I wouldn't classify it as a book that is a must-read before the world ends in a couple of weeks, but if you find yourself at a loss of what to read and want something interesting, thought-provoking, and that moves quickly, Still Alice is worth a serious consider. As the crude review reads on the back cover, "a book you won't forget."

Game of Thrones

*mouth hangs agape* I'll begin by saying that I have no idea where to begin.

As I've mentioned before, I'm late to the party in terms of pop culture phenomenon, so, naturally, I've only vaguely heard of some show called Game of Thrones on HBO, a channel I'm not even close to getting. At least when I was a kid, it sort of, fuzzily came through on one of the triple digit channels. I was also vaguely aware that the show had originated from a book, as most good movies and television shows do, this one by George R.R. Martin, specifically.

Earlier this year, my friend began posting on her Facebook how amazing the books were and how closely they followed them in creating the TV show. As she is a virtual Drink Wine and Gossip book club member, my interest was instantly piqued. The only difference was that she had seen the show and I had not, so I was going in completely unawares.

Like I said, I don't even know where to begin. I couldn't begin to tell you character or city names, or story lines that I enjoyed, that repulsed me - ok, Dany eating the stallions heart is up there - that stuck with me, or even how I really felt about it all. That's the thing with Game of Thrones; it's as if the book must be felt as opposed to read and processed. And I'll be honest - I'm totally addicted.

For one, the chapters aren't numbered, but rather labeled with a different character name, thus either consciously or subconsciously causing the reader to become fully absorbed rather than keep count. Which - let's be honest - is a feat in and of itself. Reading this book feels second to reading the Bible, which I only got to the apple part. There again, the feeling is the most important part.

Second, since each chapter is labeled with a different character's name, we're transported to a different world and unfolding drama, with different players, different follies, but all immensely interesting and fascinated. To say that Martin is the true epitome of fantasy is a great understatement. I often find myself marveling at the sheer level of his imagination. And my friend guessed he must have maps hung up everywhere in order to keep track of where everyone lives, comes, goes, was born, dies, rules, makes offspring, etc.

The gore is not of personal taste but I'm able to compartmentalize it that it goes with the times, and that it doesn't actual exist in the first place, as there really aren't wild wood people who hunt mortals and turn them mad. Ok, maybe in the South.

All I can say is that there are many fantastically good reasons why this book - and the others in the series that follow it - are on NPR's must-read list, as well as a few others, I'm sure. It, did, after all give me Book Hand (hand-cramp from holding books). I can't explain it. You just have to pick it up and figure it out for yourself.