March 26th - Book Seventeen: Lord of the Flies-lof

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

I didn’t get a chance to read William Golding’s famous first novel in high school. I guess Mr. Secrest – or who ever my grade 8 English teacher was back then – chose Charlotte’s Web or The Outsiders instead. This book is not an easy read. It’s easy enough to get through the plot of this book but I can just imagine all the difficult and inquisitive questions that an English teacher could come up with about this book. One question, for example: The conch in this novel obviously plays the part of symbolizing how delicate and fleeting true power is for people in competition for ruling control. However, what is Mr. Golding trying to symbolize with the pink granite that “thrust up uncompromisingly through forest and terrace and sand and lagoon to make a raised jetty four feet high”? Think of all the delicate answers you might get from the boys in the class. Obviously, the book is an amazing study of power and development (or de-development) of civilization with the absence of authority and the defying of rules but still it seems like a book that I’ve read before. Can anyone say William Butler’s “The Butterfly Revolution”? It’s a good book and I enjoyed the ideas it produces and the thinking it provoked. However, if I was 13 – or however old you are when you read this in school – the writing style would have bored me to death. Based during the Second World War and written in English from that time period, I can totally understand how students that have to read this book think it’s boring. I stole my copy from school. Rating: 4/5. (225 pages. Total for the year: 4301 pages)

March 21st - Book Sixteen: The Ball.

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This book, which I think I purchased from Black Bond Books a couple of years ago is about Mark McGwire's 70th homerun baseball. Obviously, it's only a ball - with an actual worth of $5, considering materials and workmanship - but the preceived value, because of connection to baseball history, was almost a million times greater. The book, by Dan Paisner, follows what happens to the young man that sprawls out and smothers this ball after it bangs into the box suite he and his office buddies where sharing at the last Cardinals game of the year. The story isn't really that exciting nor is it very interesting but I always finish books I start. The only cliffhanger in all of this was trying to determine who had actually purchased the ball for $3.005 Million. And whether or not he feels like an idiot paying out $3.005 Million for a ball that quickly depreciated back to $5 after Barry Bonds smashed the 70 homerun mark a couple of years later. Without mention of the troubles McGwire has had in the recent past with allegations of steroid use during this amazing feat, obviously there are no chapters set aside to question the legitimacy of his feat. It's a book. I read it. Rating: 2.5/5. (206pages. Total for the year: 4186 pages)

Going to Kuwait

So, I've finally accepted my next overseas position and it's in Kuwait. I'm leaving next Tuesday to teach Biology at an English curriculum school in Kuwait City for the remainder of this year and possibly for the duration of next year. I don't know a whole lot about Kuwait City except that it's got a lot of sand. Plus, it has a Virgin Megastore. Well, I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say about Kuwait once I get there in a few days. These are pictures of a gummy bear carpet. Yum.

March 11th - Book Fifteen: Devil in the Details.

A book by Jennifer Traig. Jews and OCD. Who knew? I purchased this book for $5.99 from Chapters in Richmond. I bought it because of Dave Eggers. She writes for McSweeney sometimes and I guess that's how she wrangled Dave Eggers into writing a dust cover comment for her book. Good book, though. Highly enjoyable and I highly recommend it. 4/5 stars. Go get it. (246pages. Total for the year: 3980 pages)

Next year's Canucks jerseys?

These are the proposed designs of next year's Vancouver Canucks Jerseys that I found on the Canucks.com website. I think they look great but, well, what's up with Johnny Canuck? I think it's a great idea for them to go back to the original "rink and stick" C jersey.

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

March 3rd - Book Fourteen: The Third Brother

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Nick McDonell wrote a book called Twelve three or four years ago and it was one of my favorite books for that particular year. He was written up as being the next big American author having published Twelve at the age of only 17. Though Twelve was flawed with a weird and unfinished writing style, the story was good and the characters true. The Third Brother is his second, very much anticipated book. I bought it not because I liked his first book - I find that liking one book of an author doesn't necessarily mean you'll like his/her other books - but because it was a starred review for Kirkus; I usually like books suggested by Kirkus. This book reads very, very easily and it's because he writes like he's still in high school. Maybe it was planned, as the protagonist is supposed to be a first or second year university student - and we all know how poorly they write - but I don't think so. Really, it must be at a grade eight or nine reading level, which doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad book but it does make it a bad book if the plot is poor as well and, well, this book also has a bad plot. I know that writing a follow up book to such a well received first book must be difficult but Mr. McDonell's second attempt is disappointing. Try again, Nick. Or maybe not. I give it 1.5/5. (288pages. Total for the year: 3734 pages)

March 1st - Book Thirteen: Into Thin Air

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Jon Krakauer's book "Into Thin Air" is a very well known and very well read book about the 1998 Everest climbing year, which at the time was the deadliest year for Everest climbers. It reads very easily and the story is very well written. It's interesting and informative, giving insight into what extreme altitude mountaineering actually entails. Obviously, it's much more than climbing a couple of hundred metres of slight incline as the handicap of low oxygen and ice creates a nasty and unforgiving situation. The only thing that I question is the detail that Mr. Krakauer puts into describing the events. He often comments on the decrease in lucidity with increased altitude but writes of the events as if there wasn't even a slight imparement of his cognitive ability. I bought this book at Value Village on Victoria Drive for $2.99 and I recommend the book to anyone. I give it 3.5/5. The other book in the picture is Woodstock and Snoopy painting Easter Eggs. I read that book with my niece Emma. A very good read as well. Even though it's a book and I read it, I'm not including it as one of my 50 books. (416 pages. Total for the year: 3446 pages)

February 23rd - Book Twelve: Fat Girl

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This book, by Judith Moore, is my book number 12 and it was an okay book, I guess. Ms. Moore wrote this book as a memoir of her being overweight. It's very touching at times but not the type of story that I normally read. I bought it at bookwarehouse for $5.99 because the dust cover contains a review by David Sedaris. It's insightful but sometimes over the top. I know that I'll probably never get to the situation where I'll be any more than empathetic to an overweight people's burden but the story seems a little too self pitying. My inability to relate left me less able to relate. Very well written, though, and the pages fly by. I'd give it a 2.5/5. (196 pages. Total for the year: 3030 pages)

February 17th - Book Eleven: Checkpoint

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This is a book by Nicholson Baker. I bought it at Pulpfiction on Main Street at the corner of Broadway for $9. (It's a first edition.) He wrote some very good books like Vox, The Fermata, and The Mezzanine all which have a strong "cultish" following. Checkpoint may seem a lot different than the books that he's written in the past but I think that there is a very subtle similarity. When I read The Fermata, The Mezzanine, and Vox the first thing that came to mind was Mr. Baker was telling us a story about things that he wants to do. His personality comes through his characters. I think Checkpoint is doing the same thing. This book is based on a conversation between two friends on the possibility of assassinating George W. Bush. The character Jay feels a need to kill Bush to stop all the nonsensical murders that he's causing in the countries the United States at at war with. I think the book strongly suggests Baker's political leanings. An interesting read if you want a quick abridged history of what GWB has done to create the situation that he has put the US in. However, be warned that it is a politically charged, strongly left leaning book. I give it 2.5/5 and I recommend it to those that like Michael Moore. For those that would rather read David Hardy (He wrote the book "Michael Moore is a big fat stupid white man" this'll just raise your blood pressure. (128 pages. Total for the year: 2834 pages)

Lui

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

The next coming of Kirk McLean but with a little bit more personality, there are millions in this town that are betting on this guy to take the Canucks to the promiseland that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. He's been amazing, almost super-human in his actions and this is getting many people around the water cooler talking. Here are some Luongo-isms;
- Luongo doesn't sleep... he waits.
- Some wear Superman pajamas.... Kipper wears Luongo pajamas.
- Luongo lost his virginity before his dad did.
- On the 7th day God rested... Luongo took over.
- Luongo can shoot a plane down by holding up his stick and yelling "BANG!"
- Luongo is Luke Skywalkers real father.
- Luongo is the reason why waldo is hiding.
- Luongo counted to infinity. twice.
- Luongo's glove hand is the only one that can beat a Royal Flush.
- When the boogyman goes to sleep everynight... he checks his closet for Luongo.
- Icey-hot is not strong enough for Luongo. After each game he rubs his muscles with liquid MAGMA
- The bible was originaly named "Luongo and Friends"
- Luongo was what Willis was talkin about.
- When God said "let there be light" Luongo said "Say please."
- In a fight between Bieksa and Iginla you know who the winner would be? Luongo.
- In the words of Julius Caesar: "Veni, Vidi, Vici, Luongo". Translation: "I came, I saw, i was shut out by Luongo".
- Mr. T "Pities the fool" Luongo pities Mr. T.
- Chuck Norris is revered for his roundhouse kicks. It was once said that Chuck Norris performed a roundhouse kick so powerful; it's caused the Earth to reverse it rotation. Time stopped altogether when Luongo made a basic kick save.

Go, Canucks, go.

February 13th - Book Ten: The Cutting Room

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Louise Welsh won a lot of praise and a even more accollades for this book. Her first, it was applauded by British newspaper The Guardian as the year's best crime fiction when it debuted. It's on this praise that I bought the book. Based on a homosexual male auctioneer (that should have warned me off right there) it follows the plot of the main trying to figure out if some pictures he gets his paws on of an apparent snuff are real or fake. Why did I mention that the protagonist was gay? It shouldn't matter, you say? Well, Ms. Welsh doesn't let us forget the sexual orientation of the Auctioneer. The story is somewhat schizophrenic, jumping from his (numerous) sexual conquests and/or sexual desires, stereotypical private investigator reactions - car chases, drinking problems, little white lies to gain an advantage in the search, etc, etc, etc. - and less than informatiive meanderings that have nothing to do with the plot. Really, having a tough guy homosexual auctioneer with so much sensitivity seemed wrong. He's portrays more as a strong woman, which Ms. Welsh should have had as a lead instead. I don't read a lot of detective/crime/whodunits so maybe this is how they all play out but this novel doesn't rate very high for me. Actually, it was work just to finish the last 100 pages. The only thing I really know after reading this book is that Gin and Tonic is considered a woman's drink and I won't be reading another detective novel in the remaining 46 or so weeks. I bought it at the Bookware House on 4th. I may release it as a bookcrossing book close to there, too. Out of 5, it's a 1. (294 pages. Total for the year: 2706 pages)

February 8th - Book Nine: Bloodletting and miraculous cures

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This book is a very good read. I bought it because it won the Giller and I' m not disappointed at all over the purcahse. (I bought it from Bookware House on Broadway at 20% off. It's on sale at the Chapters.ca website for much better than that.) Similar in style to "Jade Peony" by Wayson Choy, another book by a Chinese Canadian, the chapters are narratives from different characters linked to a same story. The writing is very strong and elegant. Sometimes, it was too nicely written...I'm not so well read that I could get into the glamorous writing easily all the time. The story of the discovery of this literary star is as good as the book. Apparently, he found himself on the same boat cruise as Margaret Atwood and he asked her to read it. She obliged and it was off to the races. Good book, buy it now!!!! 5/5 stars. (368 pages. Total for the year: 2412 pages)

February 2nd - Book Eight: Bongwater

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Originally uploaded by
cherubichomer.

I just finished Michael Hornburg's book Bongwater, which I picked up at Camelot Books at West 10th Avenue in Vancouver for $7. Set in Portland,the book is an interesting story about a 20 something slacker guy during the early to late 90s. It reads very easily and the opening chapters of the book really drew me in. The story's plot builds chapter after chapter and then the book just ends. No, there isn't a catastrophic event that satisfies the abrupt ending. Instead, the book just ends. Very disappointing. Possibly, Mr. Hornburg had to meet a deadline. 3/5 stars. I may set this book free via bookcrossings. If you don't know what book crossings is, check it out at www.bookcrossings.com. (208pages. Total for the year: 2044 pages)

January 29th - Book Seven: The Game

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This is Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden's famous book about one week in his last year with the Montreal Canadiens. Mr. Dryden, now a famous Canadian politician, certainly has a way with words. Bob Clarke, the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Flyers and Dryden's teammate on many National team events during the seventies, once said of Mr. Dryden, "If you asked him the time, he'd build you a watch. You didn't dare ask him a question because you'd have to stand there and listen to him spout off for half an hour." Yeah, his writing is pretty much the same. However, his writing is interesting and intelligent. It gives great insight into the meaning of hockey to Canadians. I suggest that every Canadian, hockey and no-hockey fans alike, read this book. Actually, I think it should be a future recommened "Canada Reads" book. I give it a 5/5. (248pages. Total for the year: 1836 pages)

January 24th - Book Six: Early Bird

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

My sixth book was Early Bird by Rodney Rothman which I purchased from Book Warehouse for the fabulous price of $4.99. I bought the book primarily because it has a jacket cover "praise" from Jon Stewart of the Daily Show. (Now, I know everyone is hyping the Cobert Report right now but nothing, not even Stephen Colbert, can hold a candle to Jon Stewart.) Obviously, if Mr. Stewart finds this book funny, it's gotta be funny. And it is. It's a great book. His writing style and humour is akin to David Rakoff or David Sedaris but much easier to understand as he's heterosexual - so the sex jokes he writes actually makes sense to me - and younger - so the sex jokes he writes acutally makes sense to me. Mr. Rothman was once the head joke writer for "The Late Show with David Letterman" and writes hilariously of retiring in his late 20s to a retirement facility in Florida. Slowly morphing into the type of people the he finds himself surrounded by in Florida, he sheds light on how it feels to be old and retired in the US. I recommend this book highly - and if you rush out you can probably find a few still available at the $4.99 table at any of the Book Warehouses in Vancouver. I give it 4.5/5. Pick it up! (256pages. Total for the year: 1588 pages)

January 21st - Book Five: About the Author

I finished another book yesterday. Book five is John Colapinto's book "About the Author" published a few years back. I bought it at Book Warehouse for the great price of $4.99 a couple of years ago. A crime/mystery story about stealing, blackmail, and deception, the book has a very good opening chapter that "hooks" very well. However, the ending is somewhat less well developed and it makes the telling of the story a little disjointed. Similarly importnat points that took Colapinto hundreds of pages to describe at the beginning of the book only took him a few pages to write at the ending; It felt very rushed at the conclusion. Regardless, though, the book is very well written and a very exceptional read. (Recommened by Stephen King, what more endorsement is needed to get anyone to read this book? Okay, more proof: It also rate very high on Amazon.com.) The story plays out in a very unpredictable way and surprises with each passing chapter. I give it a 4/5 and recommend it to anyone that can get their little paws on it. (272pages. Total for the year: 1336 pages)

January 15th - Night out

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Finally, I got a night out. Here's Guy, Howard, and Mariko outside of Shopper's Drug Mart.

January 14th - Book Four: The One Minute Manager

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

My fourth book of the year was The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. It' s a very good book based on providing a plan for good managing. The writing is very simple and somewhat dry but I guess people don't read this book for its amazing writing but for its amazing management plan. It's concept is basically the same one that is provided to us during education school. However, the defining difference is to make it clear that there is a difference between a person that understands how it works or wants it to work and a person that follows the steps and actually puts it to work. The only thing that this book doesn't provide is clear case-study examples of following the steps to make it work. I think it's a 4.5/5 and recommend it to everyone. (111 pages. Total for the year: 1064 pages)

January 12th - Book Three: Pure

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Book 3 is Pure by Rebecca Ray. I bought this book from Heathrow Airport on my way home to Vancouver. It's a book about the trials of a high school girl growing up in England and contains a lot of references to schooling in England, which is ultimately the reason I bought it. About an eighth into the book, it dawned on me that this book is either: (a) a young adult fiction book or (b) poorly written. I think it's the latter as the topics written about are not really young people issues. As well, Rebecca Ray left school at 16 to write this book and having taught in an England school, I can say these types of grammatical errors have an origin. She writes with strong knowledge of certain issues and I believe that she probably experienced a lot of the things that she writes about. I wonder if this book is actually an autobiography for Ms. Rae. The story has to do with the weird relationship between father and daughter and it's very difficult - confusing, maybe - to figure out how everything goes wrong. I don't think the book is available in Canada anyways so my rating of this book can't persuade you to read it or not but here it is anyways: with poor writing and a moderate plot, I'd rate it a 2/5. (416 pages. Total for the year: 953 pages)

January 7th - Book Two: Shanghai Baby

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

It's amazing what a person can do when they don't have anything else to do, I've finished another book. Book 2 is Shanghai Baby by Wei Hui. I bought it some time ago from Powell's Books in Portland for $5.95. It's a book that I read a review about and the fact that it was banned in China left me wanting to read it and I remember feeling pretty lucky finding it at Powell's. Obviously, it's been translated (which explains the many grammatical errors) and I think that the book probably would have read much better in its original form but I'm sad to say that this copy of the book is very disappointing. Actually, I think, based on the copy that I read, it's a poorly written and poorly told story. I'd give the book a 1.5/5. (258 pages. Total for the year: 537 pages)