Some books that made a lasting impression on me:
The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman
I loved this book because it was one of the first books I had read that was nothing but pure comedy. Some examples of this can be seen in the titles of chapters such as: Nine Presidents Who had Hooks for Hands, What You Did Not Know About Hobos, Jokes that Have Never Produced Laughter, and History's Worst Men's Haircuts.
Giant: Road to the Super Bowl by Plaxico Burress with Jason Cole
This was one of the first autobiographies I've read, and it helped that it was written by a favorite (and active) football player of mine. It had some good tidbits of advice and unintended humor.
Pakistan: Eye of the Storm by Owen Bennett Jones
This is one of the most complete and informative books I have read about my parent's homeland.
The Real Fidel Castro by Leycester Coltman
In my quest to learn more about the Cuban dictator, I came across this book by a Former British Ambassador to Cuba. In it, he details the larger historical circumstances behind Castro's rise to power as well as what could be considered trivial information about this Cuban.
A Conspiracy of Fools by Kurt Eichenwald
I include this book partially because I'm proud that I finished this 700 page monster. In addition, it was amazingly detailed and a surprisingly interesting account of the reasons for Enron's collapse.
Stupid White Men by Michael Moore
In Stupid White Men, Moore analyzes several controversial current events issues, such as the 2000 election, with spectacular clarity and wit. It was one of the first political books I had ever read and didn't disappoint.
Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
This book was fascinating in what it explored and how it explained it. It provoked my thoughts and made me consider things I hadn't even dreamed of thinking about until then.
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins
This book opened my eyes to activities that have been taking place which I could scarcely imagine. It was an engaging read into what goes on behind the scenes with multinational corporations.
The Hardy Boys Series by Franklin Dixon
I've read more of the Hardy Boys than is ever necessary. It's surprisingly fun to read over forty books about how two detectives along with a bumbling friend of theirs can solve different crimes.
Mr.Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
This was one of the first "chapter" books that I had read. Then, I read it a couple of more times making it one of the few books that I've elected to read more than just once.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Summer Reading––The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
The Kite Runner is a truly gripping read from beginning to end. However, the success of the story is that it's the not your traditional feel-good plot. The book takes place primarily in pre-revolutionary Afghanistan, not the typical setting for your average American reader. The main character is Amir, a young Afghani boy growing up in relative luxury. He is inseparable from the son of his father's servant, Hassan. Amir is internally tormented by a single event in his childhood––witnessing the rape of his childhood friend by a bully. Furthermore, Amir witnessed the entire rape and did nothing to stop it. Meanwhile, the protagonist is plagued by feelings of inadequacy because he doesn't quite measure up to his father's standards. Although the majority of the book continues in a relentlessly depressing fashion, the end provides some resolution; Amir is able to resolve some of his feeling of guilt by helping Hassan's son.
Some of the most memorable scenes in the book are moments when the young Amir is made to feel guilty by his or other people's actions. Almost immediately after the rape, Amir and Hassan climb to the top of their favorite hill. Here, Amir is unable to cope with the tremendous feelings of guilt from letting his friend get raped (something his father would have never let happen). He then proceeds to take pomegranates from the tree and hurls them at the face of his recently victimized friend. Finally, Hassan, in frustration, splatters a pomegranate at his own face and asks Amir if he is happy. Thisw action demonstrates the relationship between the master and the servant, but also shows Hassan’s loyalty. Another instance of remarkable imagery in the novel takes place at Amir's birthday party. Here, Hassan is serving the guests with punch and other refreshments and is faced by Assef, the bully who raped him. Assef makes small talk and then playfully punches him. While all of this is going on, Amir is watching from the inside of his house, which shows Amir’s inability to act once more. Another scene that does a wonderful job of juxtaposing Amir's guilt and his feelings of inferiority to his father takes place later in the book. Amir and his father have to leave Afghanistan for Pakistan because of political turmoil in their homeland. They are traveling with a group of these migrants in a truck. At a checkpoint, an officer offers them passage on the condition that he gets to spend “30 minutes” with one of the married women on the truck. At this point Amir’s father can tolerate no more. He argues with the officer and risks his own life in the process. Ultimately, the officer gives up on his attempts to be with the woman. What Amir must be going through at this point must be truly indescribable.
In the end, we learn that Amir as the witness may have fared worse than Hassan as the raped. It was Hassan’s outlook that helped him cope. He wasn’t worried with living up to his father’s legacy. Rather, he was just focused on his life. On the other hand, Amir was constantly suffering from what happened to Hassan. He had insomnia and was unable to properly handle what he was facing. In the end, however, Amir is able to live a seemingly normal married life. He also adequately addressed the demons of the past by helping his friend’s son escape from cruelty and subsequently adopting him. (579)
Some of the most memorable scenes in the book are moments when the young Amir is made to feel guilty by his or other people's actions. Almost immediately after the rape, Amir and Hassan climb to the top of their favorite hill. Here, Amir is unable to cope with the tremendous feelings of guilt from letting his friend get raped (something his father would have never let happen). He then proceeds to take pomegranates from the tree and hurls them at the face of his recently victimized friend. Finally, Hassan, in frustration, splatters a pomegranate at his own face and asks Amir if he is happy. Thisw action demonstrates the relationship between the master and the servant, but also shows Hassan’s loyalty. Another instance of remarkable imagery in the novel takes place at Amir's birthday party. Here, Hassan is serving the guests with punch and other refreshments and is faced by Assef, the bully who raped him. Assef makes small talk and then playfully punches him. While all of this is going on, Amir is watching from the inside of his house, which shows Amir’s inability to act once more. Another scene that does a wonderful job of juxtaposing Amir's guilt and his feelings of inferiority to his father takes place later in the book. Amir and his father have to leave Afghanistan for Pakistan because of political turmoil in their homeland. They are traveling with a group of these migrants in a truck. At a checkpoint, an officer offers them passage on the condition that he gets to spend “30 minutes” with one of the married women on the truck. At this point Amir’s father can tolerate no more. He argues with the officer and risks his own life in the process. Ultimately, the officer gives up on his attempts to be with the woman. What Amir must be going through at this point must be truly indescribable.
In the end, we learn that Amir as the witness may have fared worse than Hassan as the raped. It was Hassan’s outlook that helped him cope. He wasn’t worried with living up to his father’s legacy. Rather, he was just focused on his life. On the other hand, Amir was constantly suffering from what happened to Hassan. He had insomnia and was unable to properly handle what he was facing. In the end, however, Amir is able to live a seemingly normal married life. He also adequately addressed the demons of the past by helping his friend’s son escape from cruelty and subsequently adopting him. (579)
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