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PING
Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg
Book
PING, which was originally conceived in 2016, precedes the current cultural popularity in Ping Pong,...
Literary Fiction Historical Fiction Women in Sports Table Tennis
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Noise of Time in Books
Oct 9, 2017 (Updated Oct 9, 2017)
Historical fiction at its very best
There is a huge amount of non-fiction elements of this bleak novel about one of Russia's most noted composers and musicians Dmitri Shostakovich, who fought inner demons for the majority of his life due to the immense pressures and threats posed by the Soviet Union.
From his complex relationships with women, to the government, the artist was forced to live a life of paranoia, after many of his fellow composers and musicologists mysteriously disappeared following talks with the "Power" at the Big House. There were many moments where it resembled Room 101 from George Orwell's 1984, and the oppressive atmosphere that Shostakovich had to live through.
In the end, Julian Barnes explains that agreeing to Stalin's and Khrushchev's demands had been the ultimate downfall to his health. and in many ways it was a fate worse than death. It is grim and tragic to think about such an important composer in history being treated in such way.
From his complex relationships with women, to the government, the artist was forced to live a life of paranoia, after many of his fellow composers and musicologists mysteriously disappeared following talks with the "Power" at the Big House. There were many moments where it resembled Room 101 from George Orwell's 1984, and the oppressive atmosphere that Shostakovich had to live through.
In the end, Julian Barnes explains that agreeing to Stalin's and Khrushchev's demands had been the ultimate downfall to his health. and in many ways it was a fate worse than death. It is grim and tragic to think about such an important composer in history being treated in such way.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated The Book of Joan in Books
Dec 13, 2017
I really wanted to love this. The storyline is right up my street: fantasy, dystopian, science fiction. It ticks all my favourite genre boxes. I liked it, but I didn't love it. As the story went on, I found that the time jumps just seemed to confuse me. How could the biological changes happen so quickly? Surely they would have had to have happened at least in utero, if not over generations? But it all seemed pretty 'immediate'. This is fiction, I know, and an author should be allowed to manipulate a timeline however they want to. I just felt a little lost! I loved the characters Joan and Christine: particularly Joan's 'superpowers' and connection to the Earth. The prose was beautiful to read in places and really descriptive. Also the poem at the end makes me curious to see if Yuknavitch will write more poetry, or indeed, whether she already has. I'd read it!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet in Books
Jan 15, 2018
First off the title of this book is entirely fitting!! The end was a bittersweet pill to swallow... it was the perfect ending to the story and yet so frustrating to have it end so abruptly!!
The story itself took me awhile to really get in to, but it is a fascinating story. One that is not touched on much in any WWII fiction.... that of the Japanese internment camps in the US. It focuses on 2 elementary students who are supposedly on opposite sides of the war in the pacific despite being classmates & born in America.
It had all the components of hope and heartbreak, putting you in the story & making you feel like you were there. I just didn't like how slow moving the plot was but what redeemed it was the colorful characters & the fact that it was well written. Being realistic fiction it is hard to make it too fast paced & believable at the same time.
The story itself took me awhile to really get in to, but it is a fascinating story. One that is not touched on much in any WWII fiction.... that of the Japanese internment camps in the US. It focuses on 2 elementary students who are supposedly on opposite sides of the war in the pacific despite being classmates & born in America.
It had all the components of hope and heartbreak, putting you in the story & making you feel like you were there. I just didn't like how slow moving the plot was but what redeemed it was the colorful characters & the fact that it was well written. Being realistic fiction it is hard to make it too fast paced & believable at the same time.
Kyera (8 KP) rated Zodiac (Zodiac, #1) in Books
Feb 1, 2018
Every time you think you have something figured out in this book, the author throws you a curveball. I never knew what to expect when reading this book but enjoyed it overall. The world building was good, but I hope it is developed more in subsequent books. It could be so rich and immersive if that happens. Some of the scenes were weak and made the pacing drag. The main character is relatable despite her unexpected change in station and dramatic odyssey. As seems typical in recent YA fiction there is an element of a love triangle. I don't find it entirely believable, so it pulls me out of the narrative at times. Some of the scenes were weak and made the pacing drag. Overall, it's an enjoyable read and I will be reading the subsequent books in the series. Definitely recommend reading this book if you like YA fiction about space, technology, bad guys, adventure or romance.
Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated What Would She Do? 25 True Stories of Trailblazing Rebel Women in Books
Jun 4, 2018
My classroom library is somewhat lacking when it comes to non-fiction. I often have a difficult time finding non-fiction that is engaging for a middle school audience.
While I think that this will interest my students, as an adult reader, it's a bit lacking in depth.
I like the bite-sized chunks of information and the bold illustrations of each woman profiled in the book. The biographical information is just the right amount for this age group.
What I really objected to was the attempt to provide life advice from each woman. After each biography, the author imagines a modern real life question readers might have and then attempts to answer that question as the woman who was just profiled might. The whole thing feels incredibly contrived and, at times, not even loosely connected to the woman who was just profiled. I think I actually cringed with some of them because of how cliche and didactic they are.
While I think that this will interest my students, as an adult reader, it's a bit lacking in depth.
I like the bite-sized chunks of information and the bold illustrations of each woman profiled in the book. The biographical information is just the right amount for this age group.
What I really objected to was the attempt to provide life advice from each woman. After each biography, the author imagines a modern real life question readers might have and then attempts to answer that question as the woman who was just profiled might. The whole thing feels incredibly contrived and, at times, not even loosely connected to the woman who was just profiled. I think I actually cringed with some of them because of how cliche and didactic they are.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Bride Test in Books
Jun 21, 2019
As you may know, I have a child with Autism and reading books fiction or non-fiction that give me a little more insight into what is going on in his brain, always make me feel like I get to know him a little better. Stella doesn't always say and do the right things, but that is what makes her so lovable. I think everyone who reads this book will fall in love with Stella.
The Kiss Quotient had me wanting to know what was going to happen with Stella. Was she going to find the love she wanted? Was her relationship with Michael going to be just temporary? Will Michael stop helping Stella if he finds out about her labels? I laughed, and cried during while listening to this book. I was happy for Stella for going for what she wanted and making her own happiness.
I think I've found a new favorite author!! I will read everything she writes.
The Kiss Quotient had me wanting to know what was going to happen with Stella. Was she going to find the love she wanted? Was her relationship with Michael going to be just temporary? Will Michael stop helping Stella if he finds out about her labels? I laughed, and cried during while listening to this book. I was happy for Stella for going for what she wanted and making her own happiness.
I think I've found a new favorite author!! I will read everything she writes.
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated Woman of Courage: Collector's Edition in Books
Jan 15, 2019
I did not know that Wanda wrote historical fiction as well as Amish fiction. I do enjoy the story. I got the book woman of courage Collection edition. We get the full story of Woman of Courage along with Woman of Hope which is Little Fawn story.
We meet up with Amanda Person and we go along for her journey. That I really what this book is mostly about. We get a little bit more of Little Fawn's story in the story of Woman of Hope. Wanda does a wonderful job with her writing that she does take you back in time.
Go along with Amanda as she travels you go along as she goes though some of trails and learns about where she is going. Will she find love? Will she be able to spread God word to the Indians? To find out and to read Little Fawns story you should pick up this book.
We meet up with Amanda Person and we go along for her journey. That I really what this book is mostly about. We get a little bit more of Little Fawn's story in the story of Woman of Hope. Wanda does a wonderful job with her writing that she does take you back in time.
Go along with Amanda as she travels you go along as she goes though some of trails and learns about where she is going. Will she find love? Will she be able to spread God word to the Indians? To find out and to read Little Fawns story you should pick up this book.
The Last Love Song
Book
Joan Didion lived a life in the public and private eye with her late husband, writer John Gregory...
Morningstar: Growing Up with Books
Book
In her admired works of fiction, including the recent The Book that Matters Most, Ann Hood explores...