Monthly Archives: June 2011

TLC Book Tour Review: Thoughts Without Cigarettes

Thoughts Without Cigarettes: A Memoir
by Oscar Hijuelos
Published June 2, 2011 by Gotham Books
Advance copy received for review from TLC Book Tours
384 pages

Have you ever wanted to sit down at the kitchen table and have a long chat with a Pulitzer-winner?  While this may not be within reach for most of us, reading Thoughts Without Cigarettes provides the same sort of experience without having to worry about spilling your coffee all over Oscar Hijuelos.

Upon his first trip to Cuba at a young age, Hijuelos contracted a bacteria infection that attacked his kidneys and, upon returning to the US, was sent to a convalescent hospital in Connecticut. His time here, surrounded for the first time by people who only spoke English, affected his understanding of Spanish and left him unable to communicate with his mother who did not know English. This removal from his family’s ancestral language leads him to question his “Cubaness,” as he calls it, through out his life.

While Hijuelos examines his family roots with sensitivity and introspection, he does not apply the same sort of insight regarding folks he is uncomfortable with, mainly gay men. For instance, on meeting William Burroughs:

I don’t even know if he was gay–at least he did not check me over the way some men downtown in the Village did during my occasional excursions to see a show or check out music. Instead he seemed like he would have been perfectly at home in some midwestern high school counselor’s office. (p. 212)

Hijuelos also worries at one point that by going to a therapist he is becoming a “faggot.” Because, you know, that’s what talking about your feelings with a professional does to a person. Obviously. In a similar vein, women, at least those outside his family, are only given a cursorily acknowledgement, mostly in his haste to describe his sexual encounters with them. I found the treatment of women and gay men offputting (to say the least), even while trying to cut Hijuelos some slack like I do with my macho Italian-immigrant relatives.

For the book nerds Hijuelos name checks a few other authors beyond William Burroughs, including John Irving (who Hijuelos seems to have admired a little for attracting ladies) and Alan Ginsburg (who Hijuelos didn’t take to because he was a) “homosexual” and b) a phony).

Overall Thoughts Without Cigarettes is an intriguing and heart-felt, if uneven, examination of one award-winning author’s life and path to success. The memoir is at its best when examining the author’s frustration with the lack of acknowledgement Latino authors receive and when examining his relationship with his father.

 

 

To read more reviews of Thoughts Without Cigarettes, check out the list of participating bloggers on the TLC site!

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Filed under 2011 Reviews, Non-Fiction, Print

OPINIONS OF A WOLF Faces THE RETURN OF BOOK APOCALYPSE

(Ed. Note: For mysterious reasons unknown to you, citizens of the world are suddenly panicking because the time of the Apocalypse has indeed come. You have been offered a place in the official Bonjour, Cass! bunker, sponsored by the Bonjour, Cass! Book Apocalypse Protection Agency (BCBAPA™). In order to secure your spot, you are required to submit a form listing the ten books from your to-be-read list to bring with you. Today, ever-prepared Amanda from Opinions of a Wolf shares her Official Application.)

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking: If there’s an apocalypse raining down around us, I want to understand how the universe works.  This book is supposed to be incredibly deep and difficult to understand, so it also should help eat up the time.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover: My best friend recommended it to me, so I have a hard time imagining disliking it.  Also, it’s supposed to be a dystopia about religion sucking, so that can’thurt either.  I love that kind of book.

Thinner by Stephen King: To distract me from the horror going on outside the bunker with the horror that comes out of Stephen King’s head.

The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson: This book is an alternate history in which Islam and Buddhism became the two dominant world religions.  In addition to that incredibly thought-provoking concept, it is also really long.  I’m noticing a theme here…..I want my reading to last a while!

Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham: I’ve always had a secret guilty pleasure (er, not so secret anymore) for trashy British chick lit, so I may as well indulge myself in it during the apocalypse, yes?

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson: It’s a classic in the scifi circles that I’ve somehow never read.  What better time to get around to it?  I’m also intrigued by his vision of vampires.  Also, I really want to wipe the bad Will Smith movie version from my mind.

Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter: If I’m stranded in a bunker in the apocalypse, I’m just going to need a romance novel.  This one has aliens and whips, can it get much better than that?  Plus, it’s longish.

The Wanting Seed by Anthony Burgess: I remember this is supposed to be a funny futuristic scifi novel that deals with overpopulation.  I’m kind of obsessed with that sub-genre of scifi, and who can’t use some humor?

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin: First, this is yet another renowned writer who I’ve never read.  Second, the cover of my copy is exquisitely beautiful, and I can’t wait to check out the world she’s created in it.

Mulliner Nights by P. G. Wodehouse: In addition to the fact that I know I can trust Wodehouse for the lolz, the cover features a cat and a wine bottle.  Two of my favorite things! Can’t go wrong there.

BONUS QUESTIONS

  • In the ultimate battle to the death, who would win: Bridget Jones or Natalie Bloom (from Running In Heels)?

Hmm, well, I honestly haven’t heard of Natalie Bloom before, so I’m gonna have to go with Bridget Jones.  I mean, she does run down the middle of a London street in winter in her panties.  That’s pretty bad-ass.

  • Name three ways you could make canned peaches interesting: 

My first thought for canned peaches would be to make some sort of a glaze to put on seitan. Second, I would make peach ice cream or sorbet, depending on what all we have in the bunker. ;-) Finally, I’m reminded of a story my dad told me of leaving a can of food too close to a kerosene lamp and having it explode, so I would make a bomb out of it as well.

  • Which book blogger would you like to take with you?

For a book blogger to take with me, I’d have to take Amy of Amy Reads!   She reads such a wide array of interesting books and is fun to talk to on twitter, so I think we could find a lot to talk about to help pass the time in a good way.

STATUS:

If you’d like to participate, write up your list and fill out the form. (If you have already emailed your list, you do not need to resend. If you haven’t yet received your bonus questions, don’t fret! I’ll be sending them out this week.) You can check my post announcing the feature for further details. Be prepared for a follow-up email containing a few random (and odd) bonus questions regarding your stay in the bunker.

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Filed under Book Apocalypse

If These Books Were Cupcakes, I Would Eat Them All (And They Would Be Delicious)

Or, The Six Books I Am Most Excited to Read (BEA EDITION!)

The Books from BEA I Am Most Excited About!

Shelter by Harlan Coben

Mickey Bolitar’s year can’t get much worse. After witnessing his father’s death and sending his mom to rehab, he’s forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.

A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey’s train-wreck of a life is finally improving – until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley’s trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn’t who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey’s father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury – and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.

First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben’s latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about. With this new series, Coben introduces an entirely new generation of fans to the masterful plotting and wry humor that have made him an award-winning, internationally bestselling, and beloved author. (via Goodreads)

I actually read this one already–on the train ride home from New York–and I finished it in about two and a half hours. Shelter was the book I was most excited about pre-BEA, and I’m pleased to say that it was everything I wanted (except for one tiny absence of a character from the Myron books, but what are you going to do). If you love Myron Bolitar, or if you just like well-written, witty mysteries, you’ll enjoy Shelter. 

RELEASE DATE: 9/6/2011

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson:

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities. (via Amazon)

I started reading Maureen Johnson’s books last year in order to prepare(/know who she was) for her speech at the Book Blogger Convention. I don’t read much YA, but I love how smart her books are. I’m excited to see what she does with the interesting premise for The Name of the Star.

RELEASE DATE: 9/29/2011

The Hangman’s Daughter by Oliver Potzsch:

A historical thriller set in Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play in his small Bavarian town. Whispers and dark memories of witch trials and the women burned at the stake just seventy years earlier still haunt the streets of Schongau. When more children disappear and an orphan boy is found dead—marked by the same tattoo—the mounting hysteria threatens to erupt into chaos.

Before the unrest forces him to torture and execute the very woman who aided in the birth of his children, Jakob must unravel the truth. With the help of his clever daughter, Magdelena, and Simon, the university-educated son of the town’s physician, Jakob discovers that a devil is indeed loose in Schongau. But it may be too late to prevent bloodshed.

A brilliantly detailed, fast-paced historical thriller, The Hangman’s Daughter is the first novel from German television screenwriter Oliver Pötzsch, a descendent of the Kuisls, a famous Bavarian executioner clan. (via Goodreads)

I picked this one up by luck; I was walking past the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt booth and the cover caught my eye. Then the summary sounded super interesting, and thennn I decided it should be mine.

RELEASE DATE: 8/2/2011

A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski:

Intellectually dynamic and endlessly provocative, A Queer History of the United States is more than a “who’s who” of queer history: it is a book that radically challenges how we understand American history. Drawing upon primary documents, literature, and cultural histories, noted scholar and activist Michael Bronski charts the breadth of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history, from 1492 to the 1990s, and has written a testament to how the LGBT experience has profoundly shaped our country, culture, and history. 
 
At heart, A Queer History of the United States is simply about American history. It is a book that will matter both to LGBT people and heterosexuals. This engrossing and revelatory history will make readers appreciate just how queer America really is. (via Goodreads)

The very nice people at Beacon Press handed me a copy of this after I kind of fan-girled out about their books, and I AM SO HAPPY. I’m going to read it as soon as I finish the books I’m reading right now. So. Excited.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

Sister Citizen by Melissa Harris Perry:

In this groundbreaking book, Melissa V. Harris-Perry uses multiple methods of inquiry, including literary analysis, political theory, focus groups, surveys, and experimental research, to understand more deeply black women’s political and emotional responses to pervasive negative race and gender images. Not a traditional political science work concerned with office-seeking, voting, or ideology, Sister Citizen instead explores how African American women understand themselves as citizens and what they expect from political organizing. Harris-Perry shows that the shared struggle to preserve an authentic self and secure recognition as a citizen links together black women in America, from the anonymous survivors of Hurricane Katrina to the current First Lady of the United States. (via Goodreads)

Melissa Harris Perry is a frequent contributer on MSNBC and I always look forward to her super smart commentary. I didn’t know ARCs of her new book were going to be at BEA, and when I walked past a pile of them in the Yale Press booth I was beyond thrilled. I may have happy danced.

RELEASE DATE: 9/2011

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta:

What if the Rapture happened and you got left behind? Or what if it wasn’t the Rapture at all, but something murkier, a burst of mysterious, apparently random disappearances that shattered the world in a single moment, dividing history into Before and After, leaving no one unscathed? How would you rebuild your life in the wake of such a devastating event? 

This is the question confronting the bewildered citizens of Mapleton, a formerly comfortable suburban community that lost over a hundred people in the Sudden Departure. Kevin Garvey, the new mayor, wants to speed up the healing process, to bring a sense of renewed hope and purpose to his traumatized neighbors, even as his own family falls apart. His wife, Laurie, has left him to enlist in the Guilty Remnant, a homegrown cult whose members take a vow of silence but haunt the streets of town as “living reminders” of God’s judgment. His son, Tom, is gone, too, dropping out of college to follow a sketchy prophet by the name of Holy Wayne. Only his teenaged daughter, Jill, remains, and she’s definitely not the sweet A student she used to be. 

Through the prism of a single family, Perrotta illuminates a familiar America made strange by grief and apocalyptic anxiety. The Leftovers is a powerful and deeply moving book about people struggling to hold onto a belief in their own futures. (via Goodreads)

I had the pleasure of meeting Tom Perrotta (one of the nicest guys around) at BEA and he kind of charmed my socks off. Also this book sounds fantastic, so there’s that, too.

RELEASE DATE: 8/30/2011

 

Is anyone else excited about any of these tites? What’s your #1 MOST EXCITING UPCOMING release?

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Filed under Features, Lists

April & May Round-Ups

 

April
Total Books Read: 20

  • Audio: 7
  • Print: 13

Non-Fiction

  1. The Best American Crime Reporting 2010 edited by Stephen J. Dubner: This is the first “Best American” title that I read all the way through.
  2. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell: Oh Sarah Vowell, you are so funny.
  3. The Terrible Axe-man of New Orleans by Rick Geary
  4. I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas by Lewis Black (audio): I like when comedians narrate their own books. It’s like listening to an extended comedy show.
  5. Rape New York by Jana Leo (via Feminist Press subscription)
  6. The Other Eighties: A Secret History of America In the Age of Reagan by Bradford Martin: A look at the 80s through a counter-culture lens. Super good.
  7. Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America by Matt Taibbi (audio)
  8. Delusions of Gender by Cornelia Fine
  9. Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed America by Les Standiford with Det. Sgt. Joe Matthews (audio)
  10. First Family: Abigail & John Adams by Joesph J. Ellis (audio)
  11. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein: This book gave me nightmares IN A REALLY GOOD WAY.
  12. The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and Religion at the Twilight of the American Empire by Matt Taibbi

Fiction

  1. Townie by Andre Dubus III (audio)
  2. Stories: All-New Tales edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio (audio)
  3. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
  4. Hello Kitty Must Die by Angela S. Choi: Like the movie Heathers, only contemporary and with less white folks (aka thoroughly enjoyable).
  5. Holding Still For As Long As Possible by Zoe Whittall: Oh, my fangirlness for this book (that just won a Lambda Literary Award!) knows no bounds. REVIEW SOON.
  6. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly
  7. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen (audio): I really liked it. Shhh.
  8. hidden by Tomas Mournian: Eligible for the GLBTQ category for the Independent Literary Awards.

May
Total Books Read: 9

  • Audio: 5
  • Print: 4

Non-Fiction

  1. The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobin (audio): Politics nerd, sorry.
  2. Bossypants by Tina Fey (audio): I giggled a LOT while listening to this book. Highly entertaining.
  3. My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis: A children’s picture book about gender identity.
  4. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
  5. The Race Beat: The Press, The Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff (audio)
  6. Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin by Timothy Snyder (audio): Twenty hours of HISTORY. Nerd nerd nerd.

Fiction

  1. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan: I didn’t love it, oops.
  2. Live Wire (Myron Bolitar #10) by Harlan Coben (audio)
  3. Shelter (Mickey Bolitar #1) by Harlan Coben (ARC): I brought this one with me on the train ride home from BEA. REVIEW SOONish.
Now that the drama of moving, etc., is over, I’m BACK. Lets see what happens. ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

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Thoughts on Angels In America

Angels in America (TV miniseries)

Image via Wikipedia

Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes
by Tony Kushner
1993

For some silly reason, my library does not have the second part of this two part play. They do, however, have the both discs of the made-for-HBO mini-series, so I’ve at least been able to see all of the screen version.

Some observations:

  • The mini-series is about 6 hours long, but the play (when both parts are produced together) has a total runtime of about 7 hours. WHAT IS IN THAT EXTRA HOUR THAT WAS CUT OUT FOR THE MOVIE? I’ll never know, I guess, because I couldn’t read that second part. I bet it was really good, too.
  • I think I started crying about six minutes in to the first episode. It’s that kind of situation.
  • It’s also incredibly moving, hopeful, and beautiful, so, you know, I kept watching. Note: keep tissues nearby. Like two or three boxes.
  • Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, that lady from Weeds, that guy from Weeds (and some other people) star, which if you discount the Weeds folks is basically my dream cast for anything, and even the Weeds folks are really good.
  • Mike Nichols directed! MIKE NICHOLS. This is a very big deal. To me.
Reasons You Should Spend At Least Six Hours of Your Life Watching This
  • Al Pacino
  • Meryl Streep
  • Emma Thompson
  • It will make you cry
  • It will make you laugh
  • The play won a Pulitzer, if you’re into that kind of thing
  • It’s a movie about gay men with AIDS in the 80s that doesn’t rely on stereotypes or one dimensional characters
  • Because I am reduced to humor and poor-list making because trying to detail all the complex emotions this play/mini-series stirred in me didn’t work out so well
This post is part of Erin of Erin Reads Reading Buddies Project. She and Emily of Eat the Books posted much better reviews today, which I highly recommend you check out.

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Filed under 2011 Reviews, GLBTQ