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Anna's Books for 2014


Anna Begins

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I'm going to post my own random responses to the bookadayuk for September.  Just cause :smile: I don't do them everyday.

September 2nd, Favorite book set in a school.

I'm not even looking at how many people will say Harry Potter.  I want to say Vampire Academy for some reason.  I scored it pretty low when I originally read it, but as time has gone by, I think I've forgotten all the things that irked me about it.  I'm still not too interested in the others in the series, but I think I enjoyed it more than I thought.

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Title: Burt Tongues

 

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

 

Genre: Transgressive Fiction

 

Pages: 400

 

Format: Kindle

 

 

Right from the beginning, Chuck Palahniuk is off and running- starting with the introduction, for Heaven’s sake.  He says, “The worst thing you could do is read this book and enjoy every word.  This book, the book you’re holding, I hope you gag on a few words- more than a few.  May some of the stories scar and trouble you.  Whether you like or dislike them doesn’t matter; you’ve already touched these words with your eyes and they’re becoming part of you.”

 

 

Despite that introduction, Burnt Tongues falls flat as a collection of Transgressive Fiction; which Wiki defines as a genre of literature that focuses on characters who feel confined by the norms and expectations of society and who break free of those confines in unusual or illicit ways. Because they are rebelling against the basic norms of society, protagonists of transgressive fiction may seem mentally ill, anti-social or nihilistic.  The genre deals extensively with taboo subject matters.

 

 

This is group of short stories, selected by Palahniuk, were submitted to him and he picked the final 20 out of 100 he was sent.  The 100 was whittled down from 1000’s of entries.  

 

 

The problem I had with this book is it was often hard to determine if it was a male or female protagonist.  It was also hard to keep track of the title of the short story I was reading- I had to flip to the Table of Contents a lot.  It would have been nice if instead of just “Burt Tongues” at the top of the page, it said “Burnt Tongues: Paper”, etc.  Um… they were also sort of boring.  I kept reading, thinking they would get better.  On the whole, I think Palahniuk is losing his touch, his latest, Doomed was a terrible and I think this one is bad too.  I also constantly wondered what the other 80 were like that Palahniuk turned down.  All in all, I expected more from this book and have started to stray after 50%.  I think it will turn into a continuous/ between books read for me.

 

2/5, it was just ok.  Sorta recommended, if you like short stories that boarder on the bizarre.

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bookadayuk

September 3rd, Best home front novel

This has GOT to be The News from Paraguay by Lilly Tuck.  The first time I read it, I was so grossed out by The War of the Triple Alliance that I almost became physically sick.  This novel, is about Ella Lynch, the wife/ mistress of a ridicules dictator in Paraguay and the war fought between Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay against Paraguay in 1864.  During the war, some historians estimate Paraguay lost the majority of its population, and 90% of all men in the whole nation.

Was definitely a 5/5 for me. 

Edited by Anna Begins
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That introduction to Burnt Tongues sounds horrible - I think it would rub me up the wrong way. I'd probably end up taking it back to the shop without reading it. :giggle2:

:giggle2: It would've been better had it paid off!!

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September 3rd- Book I bought because of the cover

Has to be Keith Luethke's A Zombie Apocalypse.  I read 5 of 14 or so and they all were horrible!  Thankfully, they are short stories- and the covers are great.

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September 5th- Book I bought despite the cover

Great novel, bad cover.  I wonder if Hemmingway would've liked this.

Edit: Someone on Twitter said any cover that has to do with the movie.  Totally agree- I hate that.

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Edited by Anna Begins
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September 6th- Best short story collection

Goes to my second favorite writer of all time, Raymond Carver.  Master of the short story.  Specifically, Where I'm Calling From.

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September 7th- Favorite Fictional Monarch

I'm not sure how fictional he is, but the Bloodletters Daughter, taking place in 1606, is a fiction book, billed as a Historical Fiction.  Linda Lafferty is a guilty pleasure for me, so I pick Don Julius, crazed son of emperor Rudolf II of PragueDon Julius was real, just no reports of him being mad or needing bloodletting.  It was a fun read though.

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I'm very far behind on the BookADay tweets at the moment, but I've just caught up with yours above.  Interesting choices, and just shows how we all have different tastes - the books you bought because of the cover would put me off, as they look far too creepy to me! :D

lol I wish they had been creepy!  I love bookadayuk.  Since no one else joined in, in August, I figured I'd just answer them in my thread, like you originally did.  I was just wondering if anyone had been looking at my choices :smile: Thanks for looking in!  I loved your choices, so if you want to pick it back up, I'd totally visit your thread.  Do you post on Twitter or just lurk?

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September 9th- Your favorite literary crush

I still have to say Jack Reacher.  Although he is NOT my type at all, I just can not get over that guy!  I wish he'd protect me!

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Title: Trainspotting

Author: Irvine Welsh

Format: Immersion reading (audiobook with Kindle book)

Narration: Tam Dean Burn

Language: Scottish & Scottish slang

Pages: 344

Book #58

 

Ma heid’s gaun doon.  It jerks up so suddenly and violently, ah feel it’s gaunnae fly oaf ma shoulders ontae the lap of the testy auld boot in front ay us… so continues 344 pages of this- Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, made into the movie with break-out star Ewan McGregor.  Prepare to get inside the mind of several characters, including Mark “Rents”, a heroine addicted punk who serves as the most sane member of his gang (McGregor’s role).  Told in first person, third person and in present and past tense, the book is broken into more than 35 Chapters and some short stories.  One particular moment stands out when two characters see an Iggy Pop concert.  “Iggy Pop looks right at me as he sings the line: ‘America takes drugs in psychic defense’ only he changes ‘America’ for “Scatlin” and defines us mair accurately in a single sentence than all the others have done…”

 

I had to buy the audio version of this book and read along with the text, as the language and style has proved to be just too much for me on several attempts.  This is my second audiobook (the first was of a re-read) and it proved immensely helpful.   As with my first Immersion Reading of Carrie, I can highly recommend reading this way for difficult stories.  I wouldn’t read anything too long on it however, as the narration can be slower than your actual reading speed.  This one and Carrie too, were just about the right speed (You can adjust the speed if you want).  Brilliantly narrated by Tam Dean Burn.

 

My first thoughts were to compare Trainspotting with Naked Lunch.  Then, it became a little more like Fight Club in tone.  I started thinking, Chuck Palahniuk has got to look up to Irvine Welsh and can only hope his stories are as good as this one.  Graphic, hard hitting and extremely squeamish, it isn’t for the light at heart, but does have it's humorous moments.  Even though I loved it, I wouldn’t go around recommending this to people.  By the way, ken= ya know? and Puff= my life.

4/5

Edited by Anna Begins
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I must get round to Trainspotting! Everything I've read suggests awesomeness once you get past the style- which should in theory be easier for me given I spent three years north of the border.

 

When I first came home after leaving I started saying dinnae ken a lot (I don't know) and Mum was terribly offended thinking it meant I didn't care when asked a question!

 

Personally have really enjoyed reading your bookaday selections Anna. I rarely base my book choices on covers (particularly since splitting my reading between paperback and kindle).

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When I first came home after leaving I started saying dinnae ken a lot (I don't know) and Mum was terribly offended thinking it meant I didn't care when asked a question!

I thought that was what it meant too, before I caught on :giggle2: Thanks about the bookadayuk peaks!

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Now youve read that you should read the prequel Skagboys, find out what they were up to before Trainspotting.

Oh lord, I dunno if I could do another one!  :giggle2:  Porno is the third one, right?

Is it about

Mark in Amsterdam?

 

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haha, yep Porno is a sequel to Trainspotting, i havent read that one yet

Oh wow- I think there is even an audio version for that one.  So much for easier books in the near future- that goes on the short list.  I think Mark Renton is now my Literary Crush :P

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bookadayuk (http://www.welovethisbook.com/features/bookadayuk-September)

September 18th: Favorite coming of age book

Could it be anything other than Stephen Chobsky's Perks of Being a Wallflower?

Edited by Anna Begins
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I quite liked it but I didn't love it (I gave it an 8 out of 10). Growing up for me was quite different from Charlie's story (I believe that's the main character's name) so I couldn't identify with certain parts of the story. I think I should re-read it some time though and see how I get on. I did like the mention of books and the epistolary form.

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I quite liked it but I didn't love it (I gave it an 8 out of 10). Growing up for me was quite different from Charlie's story (I believe that's the main character's name) so I couldn't identify with certain parts of the story. I think I should re-read it some time though and see how I get on. I did like the mention of books and the epistolary form.

Ya see, we did alllll that stuff in High School- even dressing up to see midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show :smile:

Edited by Anna Begins
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