Book review: HAMLET'S BLACKBERRY by William Powers

HAMLET'S BLACKBERRY: Building a Good Life in the Digital Age
by William Powers

I've been feeling overwhelmed lately by the demands of the various online communities and social networking sites to which I belong. Well, not just lately; a few months ago, I actually did a major purge of Facebook, 'unfriending' everyone to whom I didn't feel I had a real connection. It was over 200 people, which boggles the mind. Two hundred people I had 'friended' just to, what? I wasn't sure. Which is why I cut them loose. I haven't missed a single one.

But still, my digital, online life has been taking up far too much of my time, so when I saw this book offered for review by Harper Perennial, I jumped at it. And I'm really glad I did. I was recommending this book before I'd even finished it.

The first part of the book is about how connected we are, and how this is causing stress and other problems in our lives. Powers uses personal anecdotes as well as general stories to illustrate his points, using himself and his family as examples to bring home the impact of all the screens in our lives, as he puts it. Being connected is a good thing, he says, but it's taking over our existence.

In part II, he explores seven thinkers and philosophers from history, from Plato to McLuhan, and how they dealt with changing technologies in their times. Being overwhelmed by the crowd, as new technologies bring them into our homes and lives, is nothing new. What's interesting is how they managed to integrate these technologies into their daily lives without letting them take over, and how that pertains to us now. Then, as now, there was often a backlash against new tech. An example Powers uses is the recent resurgence of the popularity of Moleskine notebooks (of which I am also a fan: I love carrying around a little notebook to write snippets in as I think of them). Something that would have been high tech a few hundred years ago is now retro cool, and that's a good thing.

The last part of the book is about putting into practice ways to break away from the addiction to screens, both computers and smartphones. As an experiment, he and his family declare weekends to be Digital Sabbaths (something the Rowdy Kittens website calls Digital Sabbaticals), when the modem is unplugged and mobile phones turned off. It takes them a while to get used to it, but eventually it's something they all look forward to, and it makes them closer as a family.

This is something I'd like to put into practice myself: make at least one day per week a connection-free day, and not go online at all. I spend far too much time checking Facebook, Twitter, LiveJournal, and now Google+ multiple times per day. And I don't even have a smartphone! It would be ten times worse, I'm sure, if I did. And yet, I still want one. I find it annoying when people I'm with keep checking their phones, yet would I be like that if I had one? Probably.

I do make a conscious effort to step away from the computer when I'm at home, going out for walks or into the living room to read or write (on paper, with a pen, even!). But as soon as I get home, or finish a chapter, I'm back at the screen, checking email or what have you. It truly is an addiction. I feel like this book has given me the tools to break that addiction, or at least manage it.

What I liked best about this book is its emphasis on creating and maintaining human interactions, with depth and connection you can't get in the small, quick world of the screens. You can make deep and lasting connections with people online, but don't forget the flesh-and-blood humans in your life as well. And don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

DEVOTION a memoir by Dani Shapiro

I don't remember what initially attracted me to this book, but when it was offered by Harper Perennial for review, it somehow intrigued me and I requested it. I had not read any of Shapiro's other books, and memoirs are not my usual fare, but the spiritual quest has always been something that I've identified with, and I guess I was curious to read about another person's personal quest.

The funny thing is, I got two or three chapters in before I remembered that this was not fiction. The short chapters, which jumped around in time and place, initially put me off until I remembered that that's how my mind works, too: jumping from place to place, as thoughts lead to other thoughts, memories lead to other memories. It's how the story of life is told; not in a linear fashion, but in snippets of pertinent information that, in the end, form a whole story.

Even though I don't have much in common with the author (she's married, with a child, privileged, and Jewish), her journey is a universal one, and her questions are ones we all ask at some point in our lives. Her quest begins with a query from her son: What do we believe? She seeks answers through her yoga practice, through exploring her Judaism, from a Buddhist teacher, and from her extended family.

I found Shapiro's exploration of her relationship with her parents interesting, as well as her disconnect from her relatives and their unquestioning faith. I identified with her connection to the rituals of her youth, and how they strengthened her connection to her family despite her lack of belief.

I also identified with her initial dismissal of people who use the smorgasbord approach to spirituality as dabblers with commitment issues, but ultimately embraced the idea as valid because, for many people, it works. What brings you inner peace is what works for you.

If you are a spiritual seeker (of any stripe), I recommend this book for its honesty and insight into the psyche of a seeker.

This new trade paperback edition includes an interview with the author from ELLE magazine, and an essay about its creation by Shapiro.

$14.99 from Harper Perennial.

Book review: SIZZLING SIXTEEN by Janet Evanovich

I started reading the Stephanie Plum series at the recommendation of my mother a few years ago, and found them to be fun, quick reads. Stephanie is likable as a main character because we can relate to her: she lost her job; she has car trouble; she is attracted to men who may not be good for her, but are irresistible; her family drives her crazy, but they love each other. In other words, she's not perfect.

Stephanie ends up working as a bounty hunter for her sleazy cousin, and gets herself into all sorts of scrapes trying to do her job. Most of them are funny, but some of them are real bad guys and she gets herself into dangerous situations from which she must be rescued by either her on again-off again cop boyfriend, her mysterious but sexy coworker, or both.

She is surrounded by a cast of quirky characters, like her grandmother who goes to viewings at funeral homes for entertainment (and cookies), her coworker Lula, who is a former 'ho and is food-obsessed, and various other eccentric characters who come and go.

The problem I have with these books, and it gets worse as they go on, is that no growth or progress is ever made by either Stephanie or anyone else. The things that were funny in the first few books get annoying by the sixteenth, like the fact that Stephanie is still torn between Morelli (the cop) and Ranger (the coworker). All Lula cares about are food and shopping. Stephanie still has to get rescued because she does something impulsive and dangerous.

The jokes are getting stale, as are the characters. At this point, it's just more of the same, and it's not so entertaining anymore.

I would love to see Stephanie make a real decision instead of going with the flow. Ranger and Morelli have a fistfight. Anything to break up the monotony.

Alas, Evanovich has a cottage industry with these books, and I don't see her changing anything significant with her cash cow. That's unfortunate, because life doesn't really work that way. Stagnation is not a good thing, but apparently it's what the fans want: more of the same.

There are so many more interesting books out there, so I think I am done with Stephanie Plum.

HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY by Audrey Niffenegger

This book had been on my to-be-read list for a while, and when a friend posted recently about reading it, I was reminded why it had sounded so intriguing: London, ghosts, a cemetery, twins. Sounds perfect!

Like London, the story meanders around several interesting characters, but is all about places and the people who inhabit them. Julia and Valentina are twins on the cusp of adulthood, who inherit a London flat from their estranged aunt Elspeth, who is their mother's twin. Upstairs lives Martin, crippled by OCD, and downstairs lives Robert, Elspeth's lover. Next door is Highgate Cemetery, where Elspeth is buried and about which Robert is writing his thesis. It is as much a character as any of the people, along with its eccentric group of caretakers and its wildlife.

The relationships between twins is also explored, as the girls are inseparable but their mother and aunt had a mysterious falling out many years before. As they try to figure out what to do with their lives, Robert struggles with memories of Elspeth as he finds himself attracted to one of the girls.

Ah, and the ghost. You thought I forgot about the ghost, didn't you? Yes, Elspeth makes an appearance, so to speak, and her explorations of spirit life, and interactions with the ones she left behind, become the central focus of the story. She is not what she seems to be at all, and where the story goes is both a surprise and is oddly satisfying. After moving slowly through most of the book, it suddenly speeds up and leaves you breathless, amazed at how quickly life (and death) can change. I did not see where it would end up, and it was harrowing getting there, but I liked it.

And now I want to go explore Highgate Cemetery!

THE SWAN THIEVES by Elizabeth Kostova

I was very much looking forward to reading THE SWAN THIEVES, as I had really enjoyed Kostova's previous book, THE HISTORIAN. This work is very different in subject and style, but similar in historical scope. This time her subject is the art world, and Kostova brings it alive with rich history and prose.

The story begins when a prominent artist attacks a famous canvas in the National Gallery of Art, saying only, "I did it for her." He then remains mute, much to the frustration of his psychiatrist, who then goes on to try and solve the mystery of the attack.

As in THE HISTORIAN, there is an old mystery intertwined with the new, and Kostova expertly threads the two mysteries together into a compelling story. Her characters are well-rounded, real people whose voices are distinctive. The narrator (the aforementioned psychiatrist) takes us on a journey with him to discover the artist's past, his relationships, and who the mysterious woman he keeps drawing could be.

Kostova really captures what the life of an artist is like, as well as showing an understanding of the tools and techniques. You feel as if you know these people and their world, what it is like to be a painter. Her descriptions are cinematic; you can almost see the paintings she describes, and feel what it's like to paint them. Her fictional historical characters are so real, you want to look them up and see their paintings. You want this story to be real.

I highly recommend THE SWAN THIEVES, and eagerly look forward to Elizabeth Kostova's next offering.

THE PRISONER (1967)

Inspired by the AMC remake of the classic show, I recently rewatched the original The Prisoner, the trippy 1967 British series starring Patrick McGoohan. It was even weirder than I remembered.

I first watched it in the mid-80's, when my local PBS station played the entire series. I remember being somewhat baffled by it, and not understanding the ending at all, but on the rewatch I was blown away by how psychedelic it was. Much of it made little, if any, sense to me.

Oh, I get what it was about, the overarching themes. But the actual stories were just bizarre.

There were a lot of science fiction devices used in various episodes, and an uncannily prescient use of virtual reality in the western-themed episode that reminded me quite a bit of a similar episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Actually, come to think of it, there was a western-themed episode of the original Star Trek as well, which would have been contemporary with this show.

Definitely a product of its time, as well as ahead of its time in many ways, I can see why the remake had so much trouble finding itself. The world is a different place now; not the paranoid cold war atmosphere of the late 60's, but a paranoid post-9/11 corporate culture.

One thing it did do for me, though: I'd really love to visit Portmeirion, the Welsh seaside town where most of it was filmed. What a picturesque, lovely place!

Book review: THE BELL AT SEALEY HEAD by Patricia A. McKillip

Every evening, just at sundown, a ghostly bell rings just once in the village of Sealey Head. Most of its inhabitants don't even notice it anymore, but a couple of them wonder about its mystery, and an enigmatic stranger is determined, with their help, to solve it.

This is the premise of THE BELL AT SEALEY HEAD, but the story is much richer and more layered the deeper you delve into it. There is the bookish daughter of the local merchant, Gwyneth, who is determined to write the story of the bell's origins. Her childhood friend, the equally bookish son of the local innkeeper, Judd, is intrigued by a visitor from the city who arrives with a load of books and aspirations of solving the mystery once and for all. Then there is Aislinn House, the local manor, full of secrets, where the dying lady dreams her days away as her heir arrives from the city with an entourage, exciting the local society. Add a local wood witch, several amusing townspeople, and a Fairy Princess, and you've got a recipe for a wonderful fairy tale set against the backdrop of the ever-present sea.

McKillip is a wonderful storyteller; I have yet to read anything by her that I didn't love. Every one is different from the others, yet all are full of rich, rounded characters and well-thought-out stories and settings. Like the last book of hers that I read, SOLSTICE WOOD, this one was just really fun to read. I liked the characters a lot, which is vital to enjoying any story. It left me wanting more, which is a high compliment in my book. Evocative without being bloated, a quick read without being fluffy, I found myself looking forward to stealing away some time to continue reading it, and was sorry when it had ended. Highly recommended.

Review: THE MYSTERY OF GRACE by Charles de Lint

I've long been a fan of Charles de Lint's work, going back about twenty years, when I first read GREENMANTLE. He practically invented the genre of Urban Fantasy, blending myth and magic with contemporary settings and characters, and he does it well. Many of his stories and books are set in the fictional city of Newford, and it's a pleasure to revisit familiar places and characters, learning new things about them along the way.

In this, his latest offering, he takes us far away from Newford, to a fictional city in the Southwest. New characters and landscapes take us to a whole new place, and it's quite different from his recent stories.

It's difficult to talk about the story without giving away too much, because some pretty major things happen fairly early on in the book that would spoil it if you knew they were coming. The titular character, Grace, finds herself in a mysterious place, and her path is to figure out why she is there, and how she can get out. She crosses paths with various others who have also ended up there, and together some of them try to figure out the mystery.

There's some interesting world-building, and glimpses of the world of hotrod enthusiasts, Hispanic culture, and a different magical mythology from de Lint's usual offerings. There's a sense of melancholy that pervades his stories, and here it is even more pronounced. His love of the desert and of the Southwest shows in his writing, bringing to life a region that has long intrigued me as well. As much as I love Newford, it was nice to explore a different place with a favorite author.

Book review: HAND OF ISIS by Jo Graham

Jo Graham is working her way through the ancient world, retelling tales that we've all heard before in new and intriguing ways. Her first book, BLACK SHIPS, was the story of Aeneas and his people finding a new home after the sacking of Troy. Her latest book, HAND OF ISIS, tells the story of Cleopatra and the Romans Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.

It's a story that's been told many times, in literature and on film, but Graham manages to find the humanity in such a storied character, making her surprisingly sympathetic. Told in first-person point of view by her sister Charmian, we learn about Cleopatra's life from childhood to her death. What makes Graham's books so interesting are not necessarily the main, famous characters, but rather the supporting characters, and the detail about their lives. She brings ancient Alexandria to life for us, making it as much a character as the people who inhabit it. Seeing such famous characters, such as Julius Caesar, as human beings rather than the larger-than-life figures we are used to seeing, makes for fascinating reading as well.

Graham takes a few liberties with history, but as this is a work of fiction and not a reference book, good story is what matters, and this is a good story. What makes this different from most historical fiction is Graham's grasp of ancient religion, and the role of the gods in individuals' lives. This is really what makes it shine for me, and what I liked best about her previous book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in ancient Egyptian, Greek, or Roman religion, as well as ancient history buffs.

Her next book is about the aftermath of Alexander, and I look forward to reading it.

Review: THE COYOTE ROAD ~ Trickster Tales

Edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, with illustrations by Charles Vess.

Having previously enjoyed Datlow & Windling's collections (The Green Man and The Faery Reel), I was looking forward to reading this latest anthology, now out in trade paperback. A smart collection of short fiction and poetry, featuring many of my favorite writers, it did not disappoint.

All of us are familiar with stories about tricksters, whether we're aware of it or not. From Br'er Rabbit and Bugs Bunny to Anansi and Coyote, every culture has tales of tricksters. The stories in this collection are as varied as the cultures and time periods they cover, and the form the trickster takes is often surprising. While some stories feature familiar characters out of legend, many of them show us that anyone (or anything) can be a trickster, and as it goes with tricksters, you never know how it's going to turn out.

The tales take you from ancient Greece to the near future, from China to the Louisiana bayou, and many interesting times and places in between. I enjoyed all of the stories, some more than others of course, but there wasn't a dud among them. Each story or poem has an magical illustration by Charles Vess that adds to its mystique.

If you enjoy mythic fiction, fantasy, or even just a good yarn, I highly recommend The Coyote Road.

Book review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Technically a children's book, THE GRAVEYARD BOOK appeals to readers of all ages. Neil Gaiman is at his best here, telling a clever story that puts new twists on old tropes. It's the story of Bod (short for Nobody), who is raised by ghosts in an old graveyard after his family is murdered. The ghosts promise to protect Bod, who is given the freedom of the graveyard but must not leave it. He is provided for by the only one who can leave, a mysterious character named Silas (whose nature is hinted at but never named).

The book follows Bod's growth, education, eventual contact with the outside world, and the mystery of his family's murder in a charming and inventive story. Though written for children, it is never patronizing or childish. The characters are well rounded, interesting, funny, and sometimes scary. It's lovely how Bod is not afraid of death, because all of his friends are dead, and the figure of Death is not the one we've encountered numerous times before, but something beautiful and comforting. He is reminded, however, that life is worth living, and he can only learn and grow while alive. It's a nice message to send to kids. The spooky illustrations by Dave McKean add to the story and atmosphere of the book.

The deserved winner of the Newbery medal, this is a book to share with your kids, and enjoy for yourself.

Book review: Solstice Wood by Patricia A. McKillip

I've read some of McKillip's fantasy in the past and enjoyed it, and this book was recommended to me by a friend, so I dove in, knowing it was different from her other work.

I had just read Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist, which has a similar theme of the world of faerie intersecting with the modern world, and had been disappointed by it. I found it to be formulaic and predictable, written like a treatment for a bad 70's TV movie.

Solstice Wood couldn't be more different. Yes, it takes place in "upstate NY" and yes, it features faerie in the modern world, but that's where the similarity ends. The characters are realistic and well-rounded, not stereotypes and caricatures. The descriptions of faerie are ethereal and believable, and McKillip didn't feel the need to invent an evil nemesis to ramp up the conflict. The fae are mysterious and slightly menacing, yes, just as they are in the lore, but they are not evil.

The story is told from multiple points of view, which is especially interesting when you see the same scene as experienced by different characters. It adds layers to the story that you might not get from a third-person POV.

The story revolves around Sylvia Lynn, who returns to her hometown to attend the funeral of her grandfather. Her grandmother, who raised her, is trying to get Sylvia to move back home, which she ardently resists. Mysterious happenings surround Lynn Hall, the family home, and a series of eccentric characters surround the family, especially the strange Fiber Guild, who seem to be doing more than just needlework in their monthly meetings.

I loved the little charming touches added to the story, like the Community Phone Bush (the only spot in town able to receive a cell phone signal), and the changeling who loves Gram's cookies.

I liked this book a lot, and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, magical realism, or mythic fiction. If you like Charles de Lint, Emma Bull, or Teri Windling, you'll enjoy Solstice Wood


Find Solstice Wood at Amazon.

DVD Review: Casanova

I don't know how anyone can make a movie about Casanova boring, but these filmmakers managed to do it. The plot, such as it is, plods along without much happening at all. I found it curious that Casanova's reputation is more alluded to than shown, and no mention at all was made of the fact that he was a practicing magician. An unfortunate stumble for Heath Ledger, who could have made this role great. I fell asleep not once, but twice while trying to watch it; I never made it to the end.

DVD Review: Transformers

I am not the target market for this movie, being the wrong age and gender, but I enjoyed it all the same. It requires a big suspension of disbelief, with huge plot holes you could drive Optimus Prime through, but the "wow" factor more than makes up for it. The effects are truly incredible, even if the robots are a bit on the overdone side. The protagonist is likable, a sort of every-teen who isn't special or handsome, which makes you root for him all the more. He's a good kid, and his parents are great comic relief. The ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel which, due to the success of this movie, I would be willing to bet on. I hope they do as good a job on it.

DVD Review: Doctor Who Series 2

I am a Doctor Who fan from way back, when Tom Baker was still the Doctor. I was thrilled when they brought the franchise back, and I loved Christopher Eccleston's Doctor, so I was not sure how much I would like David Tennant in that role. The only role I had seen him in was his very brief stint in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I'm happy to say that I love David Tennant as the Doctor. I think he is the best yet. His relationship with Rose is wonderful, his sense of humor is great, and he's just a lot of fun to watch. There are a couple of stumbles, but no series is great every episode. The extras are interesting, especially David's video diary. I highly recommend it to fans of the show.

DVD Review: Beowulf Director's Cut

Despite being cowritten by one of my favorite writers (Neil Gaiman), I found this movie very disappointing. The visuals, instead of being stunning (as was obviously meant) were no better than those of a video game. The story was too much of a departure from the original, lacking both power and subtlety. The 3-D 'tricks,' not being seen in 3-D, were just annoying. The bits-hiding maneuvers were better in The Simpsons Movie. The overall tone and themes of the movie seem to be aimed at twelve-year-old boys. If this is what you are, you will love this movie. If you are not, skip it.