Brutal

Little Bee was a really unique book - about a refugee teenager and an English mother.  I knew that pretty much everyone had read it, and that it had great reviews so I picked it up.  I had no idea what I was getting into.

The book is good.  It's well-written and tells an important story.  It is not however a great read for a new mother whose hormones have yet to settle into normal status yet.  It was a brutal read and towards the end I was just determined to finish so I could move onto something that wouldn't freak me the hell out and decide to lock my baby up somewhere safe for all time. 

So if you're feeling a bit fragile, maybe put this one off until you've shored yourself way up. 5/10.

Gourds!

McSweeney's piece on decorative gourds =  Awesome!

Still wondering

The Coffins of Little Hope was a charming read about a mystery in a small town.  It had passages like this:

“We could endlessly reminisce, live in the past to an unhealthy degree, then politely kill each other some winter night before bedtime, stirring poison into our cups of whiskey-spiked chamomile tea, wearing party hats. Then, nervous about our double homicide, we could lie in bed together, holding hands again, frightened and waiting, still wondering, after all these years, if we even believed in our own souls.” 

Gorgeous, right?  I adored the characters (an octogenarian obit writer and her family) and the premise was fascinating.  At the end though, it felt like things petered out a bit.  Still a pretty great read.  6/10.

Lovely

Buildings

Sidewalls is an Argentinian film following two people who are a great match but have not met.  It's charming and rather sweet.  The beginning of the film is rather visually dark and claustrophobic (which totally fits the story).  However, if that sort of thing gets to you, watch it on a sunny day with the blinds wide open.  I loved how the story concludes.  6/10.

Deserving

Home is a documentary following a single mother and her children who live in public housing and want to better their situation.  It's an honest look at the struggles one family faces and how hard it can be to change.  I work for a social service charity, and we often lament how those in need are expected to be perfect in order to be considered the "deserving poor."  Everyone is human and flawed.  That does not mean that folks do not deserve compassion.  /end rant.  7/10.

'Cause "sexy crayons" are dumb

Take Back Halloween is a resource for women who don't feel the need to limit their Halloween costume choices to "sexy _______."  Awesome!  (Kinda tickled that two of the costumes featured are for ladies I dressed up as the last couple of years - Medusa and Frida Kahlo.)

Locks

Cool idea.  Was just talking to the boy-o the other night about how house locks need to be more like car locks.

Lively

Anyone else catching the Stewart O'Reilly debate tonight?

Dipping into

More Baths Less Talking is the perfect book for someone in my situation.  Almost two weeks ago, our little babe made an early arrival.  We're ecstatic and adjusting to interupted sleep, feeding the kiddo every two hours or so, and lots and lots of diaper changing.  It's absolutely fantastic.  (Keeping my promise not to turn into a mommy blogger though!)

This book was perfect for dipping into during late night feedings while absolutely exhausted.  Hornby writes about the books he's purchased, the books he'd read, and his opinions on all.  I so enjoy these essays.  This is his fourth book like this - all collected from his column in The Believer.  I may need to go ahead and get a subscription.  8/10.

Anyone have other books about books to suggest?

At least there is the scenery

A Good Year sounded up my alley.  An Englishman inherits a vineyard in France and hijinks ensue.  It kind of missed the mark though.  The actors seemed pretty mis-cast.  The story was not so great.  But the scenery was rather lovely.  3/10.

Sadly disturbing

My Friend Dahmer is a graphic novel recounting the high school years of the infamous serial killer.  My little brother (aka my library fairy) reserved it for me at the library - his way of making a suggestion. 

I would not have picked this one up on my own but I'm glad I did read it.  It did not delve into gruesomeness.  It was more sad and disturbing.  6/10.