The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is perhaps F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous short story. It was adapted into a 2008 film starring Brad Pitt.

Benjamin Button is born an old man in 1860 and ages in reverse from then on. Over time, Benjamin gets married, has a child, goes to college, and fights in a war -- while his mind slowly regresses. By the end of the book, he returns as a baby to the care of a nurse.

This book was rich for its length. In fifty-two pages, Fitzgerald portrays an impossible situation while making the themes of youth and age seem relatable. He uses a depressing tone to describe aging which is still relevant today.

Fitzgerald's writing is the perfect mix of being concise yet still infused with richness and meaning. This novella is short but enjoyable. Five out of five stars. 

I would like to wish all my readers from around the world happy holidays and a happy new year.

Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Inherit the Wind is a 1955 stage version of the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial. In the real-life trial, John Scopes, a substitute high school teacher, was accused of violating the state of Tennessee's "Butler Act" by teaching the theory of evolution in a state-funded public school. 

This book is set in the sleepy southern town of Hillsburo, US. The town's torpor is disrupted by the arrival of Matthew Harrison Brady for the prosecution and Henry Drummond for the defense. The event is reported by E. K. Hornbeck. Most of the action takes place in the courtroom between Brady and Drummond. 

The best parts of this play are the science and religion puns. For example, there is a character called "Mrs. Krebs" named after the Krebs Cycle, a scientific process directly related to evolution. These little references added smart humor. 

The many symbols and motifs added depth to the play. For example, people named "clock-stoppers" represent Southerners still clinging to the Bible. Conversely, the radio symbolizes Northern believers of evolution. 

Overall, this piece of fiction stands out because it brings to life the way that new ideas can influence people's opinions. Five out of five stars. 

The Principles of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman

The Principles of Uncertainty is a book by the noted children's book illustrator, Maira Kalman, who has in the past drawn covers for The New Yorker.

The Principles is Kalman's memoir of "everything that is in her heart." Her heart is filled with tales of travel, possessions, people, and other interesting things. She shares her thoughts by writing and drawing them.

This book is unique. On each of the book's 325 pages, there is a hand-drawn picture or photograph accompanied by few or no words. In this case, a picture is really worth a thousand words.  Just by looking at a picture, I really understood what she was thinking in her reminiscence. Usually, I don't read heavily illustrated books but this was a great change of pace from my steady diet of prose. 

The drawings in this book are phenomenal. The detailed and colorful miniatures contribute much to the story and put a whimsical spin on Kalman's memoir. The comments are in her hand in script. You can see her thought process and where she made changes and crossed words out. I had never seen that before and it was creative.

The best parts of this book are Kalman's drawings and her observations about life which are honest and relatable. A solid five out of five stars. 

Orkney by Amy Sackville

Published in 2013, Orkney is Amy Sackville's second novel. Her first, The Still Point, won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 2014. 

Newlyweds Richard, a sixty-year old literature professor, and his wife (her name is never mentioned), his twenty-one-year old ex-student, venture to the Orkney Islands for their honeymoon. As the two weeks of their honeymoon pass, we discover just how little Richard really knows about his wife. 

Richard narrates the story in diary style (he starts each chapter with the day of the week). I liked this style because it established a genuine voice for Richard and it helped me get to know his character best.

The writing in this book is sublime. The descriptions of Orkney are beautiful and there is much imaginative imagery, symbolism, and figurative language. There is also a plethora of literary allusions shared by the couple. All of this made the book a rich and savory stew.

On the other hand, I found the book sometimes repetitive. Each night is the same: Richard's wife has a nightmare about the ocean and wakes him up. Each morning is the same: they wake up quietly and eat the wife's bad cooking. Each afternoon is the same: Richard's wife goes out alone to walk on the beach while he tries to concentrate on writing his book, but he can't because he is obsessed with watching her. I did not need to read this five times to get that Richard's wife is not who he thinks she is.

This novel and Gone Girl (previously reviewed) share some strong parallels. The husbands in both novels are completely unaware of their wives' depths. They try to connect to their wives and it becomes harder over time. Then, both wives do something radical to their husbands, but to say more would ruin Orkney's plot for you. 

The writing in Orkney is excellent, however, the redundant plot scenarios and lack of resolution are not. Three out of five stars. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Published in 1999, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an American teen novel written by screenwriter Stephen Chbosky. The book served as an adaptation for the 2013 movie starring Emma Watson.

Charlie is a sensitive boy in high school. He has no friends and is still dealing with the deaths of his favorite aunt and best friend. Charlie meets two step-siblings - Patrick and Sam - and they make his world a whole lot better. 

This book is told in a unique way. Charlie writes letters to an unknown recipient and always starts with "dear friend" and always ends with "love always". This added a sense of intimacy and made for an honest, informal voice, which I appreciated.

Charlie is by far the most interesting character in the novel. He is very sensitive and cries over anything remotely emotional. He also annoys his family and, as a result, they don't usually communicate with him. When he finally gets into good situations, he messes them up and transforms them to bad ones. 

Despite this, it is hard not to feel sorry for Charlie. He had a tough childhood and close people to him have died, so I understand why he is the way he is. However, as a reader who wants this protagonist to succeed and overcome his misfortune, it is frustrating to see him screw it all up.


This book strongly echoes The Catcher in the Rye (previously reviewed here). I believe that Charlie is an exaggerated version of Holden Caulfield. They are both teens. Their families don't interact with them. They get emotional about many things. They both have a teacher in their lives who is a strong influence. They both have siblings in college. They both turn to substances to help with their problems. Overall, Charlie is more emotional than Holden. The set-up of Perks was overwhelmingly similar to The Catcher. I prefer the latter.

The main problem with this book is that its plot, characters, and message seem tired and familiar. A shaky two out of five stars. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief is Markus Zusak's fifth work. First published in 2005, it was on The New York Times' best seller list for over 230 weeks and has won numerous awards. In addition, The Book Thief was made into a movie in 2013.

Liesel Meminger is a nine year old orphan living in 1939 Nazi Germany. Fortunately, she does not have to face the world alone - she is taken in by Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Hans teaches Liesel how to read and inspires her love for words and books. Sometime after Liesel settles in, the Hubermanns hide a Jew in their basement, and Liesel learns to adjust.

The Book Thief is narrated by Death, who tells the story through a detailed and omniscient lens. Death's account of Liesel's journey adds a dark, humorous tone which is surprising and unexpected.

 Zusak's writing is stellar. The book is chock full of clever comparisons, interesting chapter juxtapositions, and well thought-out symbols. The writing was the best aspect of the book. 


This is a book which I felt was almost perfect. It pulls on every thread of emotion and I really admire Zusak for accomplishing such a feat. A solid, well-deserved five out of five stars. 

Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Tell The Wolves I'm Home is Carol Rifka Brunt's 2012 debut novel. It has been well-received by many critics. 

It's 1987. June Elbus is a fourteen year old girl who lives in Westchester, New York with her parents and sister. June's Uncle Finn is her world and when he dies of AIDS, her world is completely destroyed. A few days after his funeral, June meets Toby, a complete stranger with whom she has one thing in common: a love for Finn. 

I really liked the interesting and quirky characters in this book. June is obsessed with the Middle Ages and often ventures into the woods where she imagines going back in time.  June's sister, Greta, is possibly the most intriguing character. She and June were best friends but grew apart. Greta tries to revive their friendship in meaningful and unexpected ways, and her efforts make for enjoyable reading.

The detailed and accurate descriptions of New York City (where Finn lived) added depth to the novel.

The writing was solid but nothing too special. What was special, however, was the emotional plot. June experiences the grief of losing the only person in the entire world who understands her. To top that off, her parents never seem to be around and her sister seems to despise her. The only place June feels comforted is in the woods. 

This book is a heartfelt account of how tough life can get, told in an innocent and honest voice. However, the ending was not completely satisfying because the author left many characters at loose ends. Four out of five stars. 

The Wave by Todd Strasser

Published in 1981, The Wave is a fictional story based on a real incident in a 1969 high school history class in California. 

Laurie and David are students learning about WWII in Mr. Ross' history class. No one in the class can comprehend how the German people blindly followed Hitler and the Nazis in the 1940s. Mr. Ross creates an experiment, The Wave, in order to demonstrate to his students the influence of authority. The Wave is a metaphor for the Nazi party and Mr. Ross becomes its dictator.  In The Wave, everyone is viewed as equal despite their social differences. The entire high school soon joins the movement. Only Laurie and David recognize The Wave for its manipulative nature and try to stop it. 

This book stresses the importance of independent thinking and of not blindly following the majority. If we are not aware of the importance of independent thinking, we can allow ourselves to be manipulated by dictators.

I think this story is poorly written; there is no clear writing style and I will not remember the author's name. The only good thing about this book is its main message, but for that alone, it is worth reading.

This book rates two out of five stars because the writing was terrible. 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Published in 2009, If I Stay has received positive reviews and a surge of popularity thanks to the film adaptation released in August, 2014.

If I Stay tells the story of seventeen year old Mia Hall, a girl with a bright future, a supportive family, and a loving boyfriend. Mia and her family take a drive on a snowy day and a catastrophic car crash follows. Plunged into a coma, Mia has an out-of-body experience as she contemplates whether to wake up or to die.

The meat of the story is the memories that Mia reflects upon as she lies in her hospital bed. I don't usually enjoy a book with too many details, however, in this case, they made the story more powerful. 

And the story is indeed powerful. Mia is still young and the decision she must make may be the most critical one she will ever face. The story line is interesting because you imagine what you would do in Mia's situation. The seriousness of the matter makes the book heart-wrenching and sad. 

This book is a tough read, but it is worth the effort because it is powerful and moving. Five out of five stars.

Whip It/Derby Girl by Shauna Cross

Originally published in 2007 as Derby Girl, Whip It was made into a film in 2009 directed by Drew Barrymore.

Bliss Cavendar is an indie-music-loving sixteen year old, stuck in the tiny town of Bodeen, Texas. Her mother is obsessed with beauty pageants and Bliss' only outlet to the "cool world" is traveling to Austin, Texas with her best friend Pash. In Austin, she discovers roller derby, which flips her world upside down for the better.

This book is not as well-written as Shakespeare but it is laugh-out-loud funny. It has a certain charm and Bliss' observations about the world are infused with the unmistakable sarcasm of a moody teen. 

The plot holds one's interest and the book is full of great descriptions of roller derby, a sport about which I previously knew little.  


This book is simply easy to read and enjoyable and does not require your full attention. I rate the book four out of five stars, because while it is fun and fairly well-written, it is not phenomenal. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Published in 2012, Gone Girl is Gillian Flynn's third novel. It's gotten a surge in popularity due to the recent release of the film adaptation. 

Nick Dunne and Amy Elliott meet in New York City. They marry and move to Missouri so that Nick can be closer to his dying mother. This is where Amy disappears.
I won't share any more of the plot -- I'd spoil it otherwise. 

This book is told in a really interesting way. Each chapter alternates the points of view of Nick and Amy, both told in first person. I enjoyed this because, over time, you can really see how both Nick and Amy morph into different people.

Flynn's writing is addictive. She ends each chapter with a brilliantly captivating sentence which begs you to turn the page and read on. 

My only negative criticism is about the novel's length. It was too long because there were a lot of unnecessary details which bloated the book to 432 pages.  

The book's plot is like a tightly woven rope, its unraveling catalyzed by Amy's disappearance. While I enjoyed the book greatly, I wish it were shorter. Four out of five stars. 

Looking For Alaska by John Green

This is John Green's (The Fault In Our Stars) first novel. It won the Michael L. Printz Award and there are plans to adapt it into a film.

It is difficult to summarize this book's plot mainly because mid-book, there is an event that changes the course of the novel. I'll just fill you in on the first half.

Floridian Miles Halter is looking for a fresh start to his junior year in high school and opts for his Dad's old boarding school in Alabama. There he makes new friends including the mysterious Alaska. She sucks Miles into her complicated life while making him fall in love with her. That is really as far as I can go in summarizing the novel without giving away the plot.

I read this book three years ago and decided to reread it after the recent explosion of popularity of The Fault In Our Stars. I didn't really appreciate the beauty of Looking For Alaska the first time around. This book has so much depth, richness, and sadness. In addition, its message is so relatable to the teen experience; teens are often lost in their own mazes of life from which it can seem like there is no way out. 

Green's writing is neither beautiful nor imaginative, but it is raw and still entertaining. That is what gives the book its distinct edge.

Looking For Alaska can be read on multiple levels. You are required to interpret the ending for yourself and the author does not give much closure. If there were no additional thinking required, this book would be a meaningless tale about teenagers. I rate this book five out of five stars because it is a labyrinth (read the book, you'll get the diction) in and of itself. 

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

I picked up this book at Barnes and Noble last week, straight off the shelf. With no prior research on the book or its author, I took an uncharacteristic chance in choosing this book for this week's review -- and it turned out to be great. 

Starting in Cinque Terre, Italy, the story follows Pasquale Tursi as he manages a small inn that he inherited. Every character that emerges subsequently is, in some way, connected to Pasquale. The story hops across continents and spans decades while beautifully detailing the romance, hardships, and happiness that occur in each character's life. 

I really enjoyed this book. The writing in this story is like kettle corn; savory, but ever so sweet. The plot is like 60% cacao chocolate; bittersweet, but enjoyable. Reading the book is a slow-melting indulgent treat. 

I'd recommend this book to anyone because it is a masterpiece of great story-telling. The way the characters' stories intertwine is magical and I award it five out of five stars.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Ahead of its time when it was published in 1932, Brave New World explored a number of advanced ideas like eugenics and cloning. 

This novel's world is very unlike those of the other dystopian novel that I have read. The citizens treat Henry Ford as the God (in place of Christ) because he invented assembly line-style manufacturing. The government applies Ford's invention to manufacture human clones who are assigned to five different castes. Additionally, when  people are overwhelmed, they turn to a drug called soma that makes them forget their troubles. Despite these attempts made by the government in order to control the way people grow and feel, one individual is unhappy and discontented. He acts on those feelings to disrupt the authorities' controls.

This book is frightening, but not like a horror novel. The government thinks that it is better to control the development of the human species as opposed to having diversity among people. The ideas of the book foreshadowed Adolf Hitler's attempt to eliminate the Jews and many other groups to further his desire for a master Aryan race, although no killing of this caliber is described in the book. The caste system in the book parallels that of India where the lower castes perform the menial jobs and the upper castes have more opportunities and wealth. The ideas of this book, when executed in the real world, can have enormous and harmful consequences for society. 

Huxley writes with passionate style. Even when he describes scientific concepts and structures, he uses an imaginative voice which is refreshing and unexpected. 

There is little closure at the end of this book and many plot elements are left unresolved. The story hops around frequently, making it hard to keep up, so I'm giving BNW three out of five stars. 

I think this book marks the end of my dystopian-classical literature phase -- for now. 

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Published in 1962, A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian novella that is  Anthony Burgess' most popular work, despite his preference to be known for his other books.

Alex is a teenager who acts like a character in a violent video game; he rapes and kills, ransacks and steals -- all for fun. One night, the police catch Alex and lock him up for murder. The standard sentence for this crime is 14 years; however, Alex has heard about a way to shorten it -- a new correctional program. In treatment, he is forced to watch violent films and receive injections, both of which hyper-sensitize him against violence. After he is "cured", Alex is released back into society. However, he has now grown up and realizes that his old ways were childish and he plans to abandon them.

I can only describe this book in one word: unpleasant. The descriptions of murder, rape, and torture are very brutal. Still, Burgess is an incredible author whose writing style displays virtuosity and originality. 

This book is a difficult read. It's not the plot, it's the gibberish. Many words in the book are made up, comprising an original language shared by the protagonist teenagers. It's a read that requires a lot, if not all, of your attention. 

A Clockwork Orange is like the strange love child of Nineteen Eighty-Four and The Catcher in the Rye (both previously reviewed here). The government disapproves of Alex's desires to participate in unlawful activities and they set out to cure him. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, the government disapproves of Winston's contrary beliefs and sets out to reeducate him. Holden Caulfield (of Catcher) and Alex both grow from their youthful selves to more mature almost adults.

I rate this book four out of five stars because I really like the message about there being a time to grow up. I dropped one star because the invented language can be hard to comprehend.  

To Autumn by John Keats

Preface: My apologies - this week I was extremely busy and I didn't have time to read. However, dear readers, I'm happy to say that I will definitely have another book review next Sunday. 

This week, please enjoy one of my favorite (and timely) poems. In 15 days, the Northern Hemisphere's summer will die and fall will be reborn. This poem reflects on joys that accompany this season. 

To Autumn 
(written by John Keats, September 19, 1819)

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, 
  Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless 
  With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees, 
  And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; 
    To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells 
  With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees, 
Until they think warm days will never cease,
    For summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store? 
  Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor, 
  Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep, 
  Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
    Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep 
  Steady thy laden head across a brook; 
  Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
    Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? 
  Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,-
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, 
  And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn 
  Among the river sallows, borne aloft
    Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; 
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn; 
  Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
  The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft, 
    And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Published in 1953, over ten million copies of Fahrenheit 451 have been sold and its ideas and messages are still relevant today. I liked Fahrenheit 451 so much that I included its numeral in my blog's name. 

Things are very different in this futuristic world. Firemen now burn books and homes  instead of putting out fires. Emotional connections are limited to TV presenters. Guy Montag, a fireman, meets Clarisse, a spirited young girl, and she opens his eyes to a world where he imagines and observes more.  Guy is unique among firemen because he steals and reads the forbidden books. He is eventually turned in and is forced to burn his own house but he escapes arrest and joins a secret group where books and ideas are appreciated.

The most enjoyable part of reading this book was imagining every scene. The beauty of Bradbury's writing is in giving enough information to visualize the scene but letting the reader create the rest. 

The book's burning message (pun intended) is the importance of connection between humans and the discussion of ideas. Whether it's through The Bible or Shakespeare, we can connect with the feelings and thoughts of people who are alive now and people who lived long ago.

I rate this book five out of five stars because it speaks to me deeply about freedom and connection in our modern society and serves as a warning about the dangers of too much government control of our lives.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Published in 1949, Nineteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell's last novel and one of the most famous contributions to dystopian and political fiction. 

Winston Smith lives in the dark, grim superstate of Oceania. Members of The Party control Oceania and Big Brother acts as their poster-boy and leader, although his existence is uncertain. The Party's political philosophy consists of paradoxical slogans like "War is Peace". The masses are under constant surveillance by The Party which rewrites the past so that its principles are not contradicted.  The Party's goal is to suck the pleasure out of people's lives and abolish rebellious thoughts. Winston Smith is an individual thinker and he is eventually "remedied" by O'Brien, a leader of The Party. By the end of the book, Smith loves The Party and Big Brother. 

Nineteen Eighty-Four gives us an appreciation of the importance of knowing and remembering our history. Because all accurate records in Oceania have been expunged, the only knowledge that an event actually happened or that a person actually existed is contained in someone's memory. Reading Nineteen Eighty-Four makes me grateful that I live in a society where family and friends don't betray us to the government and where it's OK to trust others.

I rate this book four out of five stars - because it's a true pleasure to read. I deducted one star because at times the novel was a bit slow. 

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew is C. S. Lewis' prequel to the Chronicles of Narnia series and lays the foundation for all the adventures to come in the mythical world of Narnia. 

The story's protagonist, Digory, lives with his Uncle Andrew, a magician, and befriends a girl called Polly. Digory's mother is direly ill and lies in bed all day. Through his magic, Uncle Andrew plunges Digory and Polly into Narnia but, inadvertently, they bring a malevolent witch into the enchanted land. In Narnia, the children meet the iconic lion Aslan who gives Digory a magic apple to cure his mother's illness. Digory and Polly return to London, Digory's mother is healed, and we discover why the wardrobe is the portal to Narnia.

Sewn into the thin spine of this book are pages with incredible descriptions of a truly magical world. C.S. Lewis' writing style and use of sense-provoking imagery make reading this book a breezy pleasure. If you plan to read the Narnia series, start with this book - it will immediately hook you. 

I rate this book five out of five stars because the writing is beautiful, engaging, and descriptive. This makes the story seem more real than your average fantasy book. The characters also seem more alive and three-dimensional.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm (1945) takes place on both literal and allegorical levels. On its literal level, it is a story about talking farm animals. The allegorical level combines the literal meaning with chilling echoes of and correspondences to the Russian Revolution. 

Animal Farm is the epitome of a dystopian world. Set on an English farm, the book's characters are all four-legged. The farm animals are introduced to the dream of a dying pig of a future in which human contact and man-made objects are abolished, all animals are equal, and their human masters are overthrown. After their rebellion, however, reality differs -- the pigs take over and rule over the other animals. Napoleon, the head pig, returns to old human ways and becomes an overweight dictator.  By the end of the book, all the other animals are starving and life is worse than when the animals were kept in check by humans. 

There is no main character or hero to be found in this novel, but that makes the story even more interesting. Each character's journey is a puzzle piece in the story. Could-be heroes are numerous, but all eventually fail in their quests to overthrow the pigs. 

Animal Farm poses a warning both to political leaders and to the average citizen. For political leaders, the message is to treat the people fairly and not starve or execute them (I'm looking at you, Stalin), because otherwise they will rebel and potentially overthrow the authority. For the average citizen, it's a lesson on not letting political rulers take advantage of them and their labor or their devotion to their country. 

I rate this book five out of five stars for its strong lessons and dire warnings against the abuse of power.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

My first book review is of The Catcher in the Rye, a 1951 high school English classic. It's about a depressed teen, Holden Caulfield, who hops between boarding schools. Holden narrates the story, giving the novel a consistent, strong, and sometimes even predictable voice. Throughout his journeys, Holden makes mature observations about the world as he experiences it. He realizes that there are many phonies and that most of the people in his life are insincere. 

Over the course of the novel, Holden matures. Before Holden had a taste of the real world, he was somewhat apathetic. The more he saw and experienced, the more empathetic he became towards people in all types of situations. 

I don't see a moral lesson that could be learned from The Catcher. I can learn from it what mistakes not to make; not to get kicked out of boarding school, not to order a prostitute up to your hotel room (it ends in embarrassment because you're not mature enough for it), or not to blow all your money over the course of two days - but no moral lessons. 

I would rate this book three out of five stars because it was good but not great.