Psycho & Big Fish

I finished Psycho. I thought it was well done. The novel is much more cohesive than the movie, although they are very similar. I liked this novel for the same reason I like Dashiell Hammet's novels and others written around this time in similar genres- they get to the point and keep the ball rolling. The characters never develop into 'real' people, but they develop enough to keep the story going. It's a nice piece of light reading.

Rating:8/10

Just this afternoon I finished Big Fish by Daniel Wallace. At first I wasn't so sure whether I liked it or not, but after about 30 pages I was hooked. This is a marvelous little novel. It is more charming than it should be and so optimistic. I really enjoyed it. So far this year I have read 16 novels and this is definitely one of the very best so far.I hope it has staying power. I think everyone should read this! It is such a fun read. Much better than the movie, which I never really cared for.

Rating:10/10

I'm not too sure what I am going to read next. I was thinking In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami, but I don't think so... Something more whimsical sounds about right. I will have to figure it out :)

Have a good night everyone!

Do not forget little kindnesses and do not remember small faults.

-Chinese Proverb

 

Sonic is Four

Today is Sonic's (one of my wiener dogs) fourth birthday. These things always make me sad when it comes to pets. It's a reminder that it is one year closer to them not being around and I don't like that. It's always a more blue time for me. And I try to not have favorites between my three dogs, but Sonic pretty much is my best little guy. He is awesome. So I am not having the worlds best day. Certainly not the worst either, though.

Sonic with his birthday presents

I finished The Five People You Meet In Heaven and I liked it. I was expecting it to be as good as Have a Little Faith, which it wasn't. I enjoyed it though and would recommend it for a bit of light reading. I don't have too much to say about it. It's a unique story, but the writing is a little run-of-the-mill.
Rating: 6/10

I also read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir by Haruki Murakami. It was spectacular. First of all, Murakami is an amazing writer, so the writing alone is nice to read. Secondly, the story is highly inspirational and motivational. And third on the list is that you get to know Murakami as a person a little more. The third item may only be interesting to his fans, which I am. It is a memoir that is mainly about his running and how that specifically has changed and shaped his life. It's pretty incredible. I think anyone could take something memorable from this little book. I know that I did. Eventually I may even consider this as a favorite.
Rating: 10/10

Currently I am reading I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali. I will be finishing it sometime today. It is really interesting. Here is a link about her story.
Basically, she is a 10 year old girl from Yemen who is sold to be some guys wife and she fights to get a divorce. It is a true story that took place not long ago. It is a sad insight into the culture of that area. I'm sure my review of it will be short, seeing as I am about 75% done with it already. I am just blown away by the way women are treated in parts of the Middle East. From a western standpoint, it seems insane. I wish I could better understand how this happens and continues to happen. It's wild. In the worst possible way.

I am proud of myself, because so far this year I have read more nonfiction than I read in the past 5 years combined. And I have been really enjoying it too. I am trying to expand my world in a lot of different ways, mostly in little ways, but already I feel like I am growing :)

This is a link about food.

Kiiiind of interesting. And gross.

I hope everyone has a nice Valentines Day tomorrow. 

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you."
-A. A. Milne