Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts

Another huge tome about India. This time, the book was set in the 80s in Bombay. The author writes a fictional novel about himself and his arrival in Bombay. You can tell from the way he writes that he LOVES India, loves the city, loves the chaos. And now I'm really anxious to go visit for myself.

I was impressed by the wide variety of characters that were presented. Each one becomes like a true friend. Gregory Roberts reports on his website that he has fans asking about where to meet some of the characters he's created. He has done a great job of making everyone seem so real.

I'm really ready for another trip to India! The next trip must include a trip to Bombay and a visit to some of the places mentioned in this book.

Recommendation: Lots of fun!

The Golden Notebook, by Doris Lessing

I had only vaguely heard that Doris Lessing was the Nobel Laureate named in 2007. This book was sitting on the shelves and I was headed toward a long flight home. So, I picked it up.

It is unbelievable this book was written 50 years ago. The themes of women's liberation, sexual freedoms, and the shifting dynamics between the relationships between men and women remain so true to today. I'm not sure that we've moved much in the last 50 years.

I loved how the different notebooks were used to describe different aspects of her inner life and thoughts. It made for a much richer appreciation for the characters and their experience.

Recommendation: Surprisingly fresh and relevant.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski

I picked up this book because I'd forgotten to bring the one I was already reading onto a recent business trip. I subscribe to enough book review and book store emails to have noticed the title earlier in the summer. But with so many books reviewed each week - it's hard to decide which ones I'm going to have to read. In the bookstore, it stood out, and I remembered the reviews.

The story is set in northern Wisconsin - near Ashland (probably in Bayfield County). I have spent enough of my life up there to have an affinity for the beauty of the area. So, I was excited to see something set in a place that is familiar to me.

It's a story about a young boy who is mute. His family raises dogs who have been bred for their intelligence and a quality that remains nameless throughout the book. During the novel, he grow up and painfully learns that the world can be a tough place. The dogs seem to have a mythical ability to commune with people. The story itself is part myth, part fairytale, part mystery. Yet, it always remains completely believeable and grounded.

I loved the scenery of northern Wisconsin. There was a scene where he sat on the shore of a small lake on the evening of 4th of July. The pink, orange and purple colors of the sunset were reflected in the stillness of the lake. The echo of fireworks from across the lake were followed by the sounds of families and children enjoying the summer evening. It took me back to so many of my own summers and evenings.

I loved the relationship between Edgar and his dogs. I loved the mystery that kept you wondering what whould happen.

Recommendation: It is a great story, beautifully told.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, by Bill Bryson

I like reading books by Bill Bryson. He has a way of seeing humor in everyday situations. The first book of his that I read was Notes From a Small Island about his early days moving to England. I read it a few years after living in London and his observations about the English were exactly what I was experiencing. Even now Russell and I will say to each other, "Ooooh lovely, toast!" just like he observed the English getting so thrilled about their morning toast.

The book is a memoir of his childhood in Des Moines, IA. He tells stories of his father and mother - who both seem to be caught up in their jobs and somewhat absent minded when it came to keeping an eye on the kids. So, he spent a lot of his childhood days with the freedom to roam his neighborhood, get into trouble, and experience the adventure of growing up.

He misses the days when kids could freely roam. I miss them, too. I feel sorry that Lyra won't have the same childhood freedoms I had. We had some great adventures when I was a kid.

Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen

I started this book because of our upcoming trip to Kenya. The author lived in Africa during the early 1900's. She and her husband moved to Kenya to start a coffee plantation which eventually went bust (not good coffee growing climate) and then she had to move back to Denmark. This book is written nearly 20-30 years later as she looks back on her life in Africa.

It's clear that she really loved Africa and the people there. She has a respect for the Africans that I think was rare in those days. Nevertheless, there are some aspects of her perspective that are very colonial and paternal toward the country and the people there. I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of the different types of people. The locals, called Kikuyus, the nomad Masai, and the Somalis (who consider themselves Arab and are "Mohammedans") are all portrayed as unique cultures.

The stories are told as little vignettes without any particular plot line that holds them together. But in the end these stories combine to paint a picture of a life in Africa that doesn't exist anymore. The lion hunts in the morning, flying freely over the country to observe the wildlife, acting as doctor/nurse/judge to the locals on her land, building dams for water supply, seeding ponds with fish - these are all tales of a historical time and lifestyle now gone.

Recommendation: I'm glad I read it and am looking forward to our trip to Africa.

The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

As millions have already seen in his You Tube video, Randy Pausch does an incredible job of inspiring people to live a life of integrity and passion. Since he was dying from cancer at the time he gave his Last Lecture at Carnegie Mellon and when writing the book, his words carry a weight that we may not give to others. I read this book first and then went to watch his video on You Tube.

It's hard to say what this book does without sounding all cliche. I'm challenged to think about whether I'm living the life I dreamed. I certainly have always felt I should never get to the end of my life and have regrets. And I feel I've done a pretty good job of that. My life feels pretty good - I'm happy with the choices I've made and the options I've chosen. But for me, I'm challenged to think about things that I'm doing that are getting in the way of living my dreams. Quite honestly, I'm not sure I could tell you what are my dreams. There are things I'd like to do with my life that I haven't started yet. I'm not sure what they are, but this book and his video challenge me to start dreaming big and see what I can do.

Recommendation: Yes. Read this book. A profound look at the simple rules that make living a pleasure.

Milwaukee, by Bernice Rubens

For obvious resons, I noticed this book on the shelf at the book store.

It was a pretty quick read.

The overal premise is a woman on her deathbed who is cycling through all her painful memories so that she can reach forgiveness and reconciliation. Milwaukee is where one of the characters is from. It's not a book about Milwaukee (and I wasn't expecting it to be either).

It was an interesting story as the time perspectives kept shifting back and forth from her memory to the present. It did seem like she and the members of her family were quick to blame one another and get themselves into situations where they would hold grudges for the rest of their lives. I guess there are families out there like that. But it seemed a bit odd to me that after 16 years of what seems like a pretty blissful family situation then her daughter gets mad enough at her for one mistake that she never forgives her for the rest of her life.

Gee - I hope my daughter is a bit more forgiving than that.

And this one lack of forgiveness leads to a series of mistakes and instances that essentially lead to an entire breakdown of the family (sorry for any plot spoilers there).

Didn't love it. Didn't hate it.

Recommendation: Not really - there are so many other things to read.