read what brandi reads

The Journal of Joyce Carol Oates: 1973-1982 by Joyce Carol Oates

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book as I read Son of the Morning, one of the novels that Oates is writing as she keeps these journals. I'd recommend reading the two together or Bellefleur, another novel she talks about in the journals.

Reading the two together helped me as a writer. I especially liked reading about her process. It amazed me how committed she is to the art of writing. At least during these years, she wrote every single day, often in marathon sessions. I wish I had the time to do that -- and dedication, as I often get distracted when I sit down to write.

One of the things that helped me most was witnessing the freedom Oates gave herself in her journals. If she felt like ranting, she ranted. She talked about her sadness when beloved friends passed away. She wrote about her anger and confusion when interactions with colleagues went awry. She talked about her hopes and her dreams and she did so in a way that made sense for her. Reading her method of journaling gave me freedom as I approach my own journals.

It's rare that we get to read the journals of a living writer and I appreciate that Oates chose to share them with us.

The Value of Imagination: The Story of Charles Dickens by Spencer Johnson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this series as a present for, I believe, my kindergarten graduation. It's wonderful to go back to read it to my daughter. This is a biography with a twist.

Each person (in this case, Dickens) has an imaginary friend who "helps" him make the right decision. The book teaches the value of a specific trait (imagination) by showing how the subject exhibited that trait and how it helped that person.

I think this series has weathered the years well and serves as a good introduction to a host of wonderful people. I'm looking forward to reading this book and the rest of the series to my daughter for years to come.

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars 

My writer friend Karen gave this book to the baby while I was still pregnant. I read it to her the day we made our first trip to our local library.

Library Lion is an amazing introduction to the library. Michelle Knudsen imagines the answer to a question many library lovers have asked ourselves: "Wouldn't it be cool if the lion statues that guard the library also read books?" Personally, I'd be a little freaked out if the gargoyles that guard Chicago's main library came to life as those suckers are creepy, but that's not true of Michelle Knudsen's lion.

The Library Lion is sweet, charming and helpful (he even dusts!). Despite his large size, he's allowed to stay in the library as long as he follows the rules, which include "no roaring." One day, he breaks the rules to help a friend and has to deal with the consequences.

I loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful, it's set in a library and it encourages readers to think about rules and not blindly follow them like robots. I'm looking forward to reading this with my daughter for many years to come.

The Twits by Roald Dahl

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In fifth grade, my awesome teacher read this book to us. The image of the couple shrinking so the only things left of them were their piles of clothes has stayed with me throughout the years. When I saw the book available on Amazon at a discount price, I knew Santa would have to bring it for my infant daughter.

I read sections aloud to her (she slept through most of it), but I was impressed with how well it stood the test of time and adulthood. I had forgotten about the collaboration between the monkeys and the birds but found that to be quite funny. I had also forgotten how much Mr. and Mrs. Twit hated each other. (It's absolutely not the model for a healthy marriage.) At times, that made me uncomfortable because I knew that this book was aimed at children, but then remembered that I read it as a child and no harm was done to me so relaxed a little.

I'm really glad The Twits is still funny. I'm looking forward to reading it again to my daughter when she has a little more comprehension.

This is the second book I finished in 2010.

Days of Awe by Achy Obejas

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Days of Awe is a poetic book. It's the story of a family of exiles who settle in Chicago after leaving Cuba. Told from the point of view of narrator Alejandra, who was born on the same day that Fidel Castro rose to power, the novel explores what it means to belong.

This novel is as much about the family as it is about Alejandra. They're all caught between multiple worlds, trying to find how to balance being Cuban with being American and, for Alejandra's father and his extended family, how to balance being Cuban with being Jewish.

Both Alejandra and her father work as translators, which adds a lyrical edge to the novel as the readers get to explore the root of words in Spanish and English (love is one of them) along with the characters. Achy Obejas also excelled at writing landscapes: In Havana, everything is so crisp, it feels like you're there. I especially appreciated the descriptions of my Chicago neighborhood.

The novel unwraps like an onion and it's well-crafted; however it ends abruptly after a critical plot point is revealed. I felt a touch cheated, as the final incident didn't seem strong enough to be the catalyst for the rest of the book. At times I was annoyed by the constant switch in the way she identified people. She'd use "my father" and "Enrique" (his name) in the same paragraph, which pulled me out of the story. And, even though there's a glossary in the back, so much of the allusions and symbolism is based on an understanding of Judaism and Cuba that I wonder if the novel would make sense to someone unfamiliar with Hebrew and Spanish.

That said, it's a beautiful book that I'm glad I read.

This is the first novel I finished in 2010.

Milagros: Girl from Away by Meg Medina

My rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Let me first disclose that Meg Medina was one of my writing teachers. Even if I didn't know her, I would still think this book is amazing.

Milagros is the title character, a feisty 12-year-old who is the only survivor after a terrible attack on her home, a gorgeous island in the Caribbean that is so tiny it can't be found on a map.

Before the attack, she lives with her mother, a mysterious avocado farmer who can cure anything using her salves. After the attack, Milagros sails in a dingy to a cold island north of Maine where she is taken in by a kind couple and their obnoxious, jealous daughter. In her new home, she's treated with suspicion until she learns how to make her own way.

This book is stunning. The writing itself is funny, lush and heartbreaking, often in the same sentence. Milagros is a character in whom you can see yourself and the places are written with such precision that you feel like you're there. The use of magic sprinkled through the novel makes it sparkle. It's the kind of book that makes you want to hug everyone you love. It's an amazing read. 

I love to read. I've always loved to read. I'd argue that reading sustains me as a writer. And a person. So I read a lot. And every January, I tell myself that I'm going to keep track of all the books I've read that year. (Note: I'm pretty good for the first couple of months but then time and other responsibilities pull me away. I don't stop reading; I just stop keeping a list. I'm not saying that's going to change this year, just as a warning. It's just something I'm pointing out.)

So it's January. Time to start logging that list.