O.o.O.C.: "Out" by Natsuo Kirino

Out of Orbit Critiques are reviews of books outside my usual genres. Out is a contemporary crime thriller set in Japan.

What continues to strike me about this novel is that, despite having finished it awhile ago, it's one of those stories I won't soon forget. Often I can read a book and a few days later if you ask me something about it, I'll be unable to conjure up anything unrelated to what I've written on this blog- I simply have more important things to remember: like when my next appointment is. Out remains in my fickle brain despite almost a month passing since I finished it, and having written no notes about it.

The many characters in Out are what hasten the plot- Yayoi Yamamoto may have been the central character in any other crime book, having been the perpetrator, but in Out that isn't the case. Her work friend Masako Katori takes the spotlight from her to help solve her "problem"- a problem I myself would find distasteful to even think about helping with. Luckily for Yayoi, her work friends are eager enough to help... for the right price.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Natsuo Kirino's novel tells a story of random violence in the staid Tokyo suburbs, as a young mother who works a night shift making boxed lunches brutally strangles her deadbeat husband and then seeks the help of her co-workers to dispose of the body and cover up her crime.
'The ringleader of this cover-up, Masako Katori, emerges as the emotional heart of Out and as one of the shrewdest, most clear-eyed creations in recent fiction. Masako's own search for a way out of the straitjacket of a dead-end life leads her, too, to take drastic action.
'The complex yet riveting narrative seamlessly combines a convincing glimpse into the grimy world of Japan's yakuza with a brilliant portrayal of the psychology of a violent crime and the ensuing game of cat-and-mouse between seasoned detectives and a group of determined but inexperienced criminals. Kirino has mastered a Thelma and Louise kind of graveyard humor than illuminators her stunning evocation of the pressures and prejudices that drive women to extreme deeds and the friendship that bolsters them in the aftermath.'

To be honest, the character who intrigued me most in this book wasn't all that involved: Yoshie Azuma. Yoshie is the eldest of the work crew (earning the nickname "the Skipper"), takes care of her mother in law and daughter, and doesn't have all that much money to her name, which may be why she ends up helping with the plot of Out. Kuniko rounds out the work crew as the only supremely unlikable character, who did introduce some problematic elements in my opinion. True, she was vain to an exacerbating degree, but it seemed like her weight presented more of a problem to other people's perception of her than it should have. This was originally published in Japan in 1997, which makes many of the problems I had with it seem less irksome- the '90s weren't precisely a high-tech time for crime solving, perhaps because CSI didn't premier until 2000.

As I don't often finish books involving crime and mystery, the only one I have to compare this one to is The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. In some ways, they're similar- Out is also gruesome, but has somewhat less sexual violence, and both books feature females who aren't purer than the driven snow. Where they differ is with the setting, and somewhat of a difference in the tone- I found Out to be a bit bleaker than The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but perhaps it's because this is a standalone novel.

Out is the blast of cold air I needed this October in terms of shaking up my usual tried-and-true genres for reading. It hasn't converted me into a crime thriller fan, but the next time I see a translated crime thriller, I'll be all the more likely to pick it up. I recommend Out for those who enjoy darker elements in the human nature, because this one lacks a fairytale ending.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an excellent crime thriller that gave me chills.

Age Advisory: Ages 18+ for graphic violence, sexual violence/assault, and fearsome women.

Page Count: 400 pages

"The Vagrants" by Yiyun Li

Two years ago, I read Farhana's review of The Vagrants at Digesting the Words- even then, I'd owned this book for a long time. I noted I wanted to read it soon, but somehow it got forgotten among the many (many) tomes that comprise my pile. Earlier this year, I decided to reorganize the unread books in my stash in an attractive manner that I thought might catch my attention better than having them sit in the windowless room that is my library. The Vagrants was one of the books I put at eye level on the shelf, and eventually it wore me down enough to pick it up.

Historical fiction is usually hard to crack into for me- the first fifty pages are an effort to acquaint myself with all the characters the author decided needed to be included. Although this book has many characters and points of view, it was easy to tell each of them apart- each had a distinct voice, reminding me somewhat of Alice Hoffman's penchant for including the main players of a village in a book. Although it's set in a city, it definitely is given the small town feel, where everyone seems to at least know of everyone else.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Brilliant and illuminating, this astonishing debut novel by the award-winning writer Yiyun Li is set in China in the late 1970s, when Beijing was rocked by the Democratic Wall Movement, an anti-Communist groundswell designed to move China beyond the dark shadow of the Cultural Revolution toward a more enlightened and open society. In this powerful and beautiful story, we follow a group of people in a small town during this dramatic and harrowing time, the era that was a forebear of the Tiananmen Square uprising.
'Morning dawns on the provincial city of Muddy River. A young woman, Gu Shan, a bold spirit and a follower of Chairman Mao, has renounced her faith in Communism. Now a political prisoner, she is to be executed for her dissent. Her distraught mother, determined to follow the custom of burning her only child’s clothing to ease her journey into the next world, is about to make another bold decision. Shan’s father, Teacher Gu, who has already, in his heart and mind, buried his rebellious daughter, begins to retreat into memories. Neither of them imagines that their daughter’s death will have profound and far-reaching effects, in Muddy River and beyond.
'In luminous prose, Yiyun Li weaves together the lives of these and other unforgettable characters, including a serious seven-year-old boy, Tong; a
crippled girl named Nini; the sinister idler Bashi; and Kai, a beautiful radio news announcer who is married to a man from a powerful family. Life in a world of oppression and pain is portrayed through stories of resilience, sacrifice, perversion, courage, and belief. We read of delicate moments and acts of violence by mothers, sons, husbands, neighbors, wives, lovers, and more, as Gu Shan’s execution spurs a brutal government reaction.
'Writing with profound emotion, and in the superb tradition of fiction by such writers as Orhan Pamuk and J. M. Coetzee, Yiyun Li gives us a stunning novel that is at once a picture of life in a special part of the world during a historic period, a universal portrait of human frailty and courage, and a mesmerizing work of art.'

Usually with books like this one, I edit the blurb from Goodreads because most of the few paragraphs I generally find overly gushy about the author's writing. This is one of those rare cases where I don't delete those large swaths- Yiyun Li deserves and earned that praise of her writing style with this book. I think the best word for her writing style is fluid- you aren't tempted to skip or skim anything, because most of the paragraphs in the book are necessary, and written in a way where you want to read and absorb every word.

I had preconceptions about the plot, being it's set in late 1970s Communist era China, but most of my ideas about what the plot might be like were wrong. It's less about the politics, and more about the people/characters, which I do feel is the right way to go about it. I do like idea books, but generally my five star ratings go to books where I felt I was the character, or identified with them. More than that, I got a feel for the changing atmosphere of the city of Muddy River as the book went on- as little as I've traveled physically, I do feel like this book took me to China.

The Vagrants is an elegantly written book that leaves you feeling satisfied with most aspects of it. However, some of the characters were so predatory and chilling, it was a bit difficult to enjoy reading about their exploits. Nonetheless, for the experienced adult reader, The Vagrants offers an alarming, yet somehow complementary look at the people of China during that timeframe.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a fluid historical that evokes a multitude of feelings.

Content: Ages 18+ for disturbing scenes not limited to violence (including to animals) or sexual assault.

Page Count: 349 pages

"Corelli's Mandolin" by Louis de Bernières

This is a book I've hauled around with me for a while now- I bought it when I lived in Montana, and then it languished on my shelf until I packed it for moving. I was a bit excited for this one because it takes place on an island, making it perfect for the TTWIB (Travel the World in Books) monthly theme (islands). As I've never, to my knowledge, read a novel set in Greece, I was excited to learn more about that region of the world.

There seem to be two camps of WWII fiction- those who loathe it, and those who adore it. I generally like it, but I think my only real issue with this book is it can't decide what it wants to be. The first half of it is the most eloquent imagery I've read in a long time, while the second half devolves into plot twisting (which I found unnecessary, given the first half was a slow and steady read). Once past the first chapters, it's hard to stop reading, but near the end I almost wanted to stop (to preserve the good parts of the story, in my eyes).

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is set in the early days of the second world war, before Benito Mussolini invaded Greece. Dr Iannis practices medicine on the island of Cephalonia, accompanied by his daughter, Pelagia, to whom he imparts much of his healing art. Even when the Italians do invade, life isn’t so bad—at first anyway. The officer in command of the Italian garrison is the cultured Captain Antonio Corelli, who responds to a Nazi greeting of “Heil Hitler” with his own “Heil Puccini”, and whose most precious possession is his mandolin. It isn't long before Corelli and Pelagia are involved in a heated affair--despite her engagement to a young fisherman, Mandras, who has gone off to join Greek partisans. Love is complicated enough in wartime, even when the lovers are on the same side. And for Corelli and Pelagia, it becomes increasingly difficult to negotiate the minefield of allegiances, both personal and political, as all around them atrocities mount, former friends become enemies and the ugliness of war infects everyone it touches.
'British author Louis de Bernières is well known for his forays into magical realism in such novels as The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts, Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman. Here he keeps it to a minimum, though certainly the secondary characters with whom he populates his island—the drunken priest, the strongman, the fisherman who swims with dolphins—would be at home in any of his wildly imaginative Latin American fictions. Instead, de Bernières seems interested in dissecting the nature of history as he tells his ever-darkening tale from many different perspectives. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin works on many levels, as a love story, a war story and a deconstruction of just what determines the facts that make it into the history books.'

There is a lot going on in this book, but as long as you remember the main characters' names, it's not hard to puzzle out. The characters I liked the most were (by far) Pelagia and her father, along with their pet pine marten. The rest of the characters were interesting, but not given enough backstory to give them depth, though Carlos is a slight exception in that aspect. Although I'd hoped to learn more about Cephalonia and Greece as a whole, much of the information and backstory given had to do with WWII.

As I mentioned, the ending of this book was painful to me- not only has it been done before, it just simply didn't match the beautiful beginning of this book. For that reason, this book was hard to rate- it does have some worthy stories to tell, but they are given an ending more suitable for some dramatic contemporary fiction- not historical fiction with light romance. Another reviewer had mentioned a similar dislike of the second half of the book, so I suppose it isn't just me.

Corelli's Mandolin is a beautiful historical with another book's ending. As much as I've pondered a reason why the book would end so weirdly, I just can't figure out why the characters would end up as they did, if it were actually meant to be their story. The historical cohesion of the story suffered as well. I only recommend this one if you have a pointed interest in anything set in Cephalonia, because as a story this book doesn't make much sense to me.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for a beautiful book with a mismatched ending.

Content: Ages 18+ for sexual content, war crimes (violence- lots of violence), and an unsatisfactory ending.

Page Count: 437 pages

"Peasant Tales of Russia" by V.I. Nemirovitch-Dantchenko

Since this is a collection of short stories, I'll review each of these and then summarize my experience of the collection. I found this ebook on Amazon and picked it up (despite its poor rating) because the book I had been reading for #TTWIB May Russian book read wasn't grabbing my attention. Since I gathered this would be a shorter read with folk tales (something I generally enjoy), it didn't take much thought to switch what I was reading.

"The Deserted Mine"
The plot of this one is simple- miners are trapped with no apparent escape in a deep shaft that is filling with water. They look to a somewhat senile-seeming old man (who they all know has worked the tunnels for the longest) for a way out.

This story almost seems like a Russian addition to the Bible, for spoilery reasons that I cannot disclose. That said, religious imagery of the Christian variety is front and center for this story, and it kind of spoiled the end of it for me (and I'm a Christian, darn it!). There is a fine line between inspirational and oh my word- look, it's an INSPIRATIONAL story. Subtlety is not one of the virtues of this short tale, but I did enjoy the first part of it more than the other stories in this collection.

"Mahmoud's Family"
I'm not too up on my history, so all I can say of the plot for this one is it's set during a war between the Russians and the Ottomans (or so I'm led to believe). Russian soldiers find an escaped prisoner of war (Mahmoud), who they plan on taking back to the main encampment for safekeeping, though he begs them not to. The soldiers are forced between a choice of duty and common decency, which proves to be a difficult decision.

This story has the flavor of a fable about it- leaning less towards religion-y lesson and more towards morality tale. I think other than The Luck of Ivan the Forgetful, it's my favorite of the bunch because of its concise storyline. Although there was still plenty of description, this story was a lot faster paced than the others.

"A Misunderstanding"
The plot of this story isn't apparent until the end- Helene became a nun for what seemed like an altruistic reason, but something went terribly awry.

My main complaint with this story is that there's really not much buildup to the end- most of the story is just fluff about Helene's martyrdom and humility. The thing is, becoming a nun isn't something one should take lightly, as she seemed to. She resigned herself to it without a really good reason, though it's unclear what the timeframe was for her decision (I'm thinking it's set in the 1800s). Regardless, it was a choice that didn't make sense, but I'm sure it could've happened back in those days.

"The Luck of Ivan The Forgetful"
My favorite of the book, this story reads the most like a fairytale. Ivan the Forgetful escapes jail to stumble upon an orphaned girl in the forest. He tries his best to teach her right from wrong despite his seeming unsuitedness to parenthood. But will his luck run out?

There's lots of imagery and some minor anomalies in this story (I think it may be missing a page or a paragraph) but it captured my attention regardless. I think there's something more human about this story than the others, which may be why I like it so much. Ivan isn't a paragon, which many of the previous main characters appear to be. He's somewhat relatable, though the author tries to make him seem horrible by injecting out-of-character speech and deeds to impugn him. I guess in my eyes, the author didn't succeed in that.

I wish I could give Peasant Tales of Russia a higher rating, but there too are many issues that stick out for me to raise it. It may be an issue of translation or of time, but some of these tales which may have once been regarded as timeless seem to have lost some luster over the years. Nonetheless, I recommend it for those interested in Russian folk tales, as it is available in multiple formats online for free.

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars for a good collection of folk tales that could use some edits.

Content: Ages 14+ for violence and death.

Page Count: 112 pages in my Kindle edition

O.o.O.C.: "Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" by Doris Pilkington ~ Nugi Garimara

Out of Orbit Critiques are the reviews on books that stray outside my usual genres. Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence is a nonfiction account of three girls of Aboriginal and Caucasian heritage traveling back to their families across Australia.

This book is told in a style that isn't quite a memoir and not quite nonfiction. The result is a slightly unevenly paced novel, which is actually quite a short read at 136 pages (or so Goodreads professes). I had seen some of the movie version of this, so my opinion may not reflect what some first time indulgers in this story might feel about reading it. Just something to keep in mind.

That disclosed, I have to admit the true story behind both the book and the film is absolutely incredible (and horrifying to those of us who want the best for children). Molly and her cousins Daisy and Gracie are taken from their home to a "school" (that resembles either an institution or a prison) to learn a trade (a trade they likely could've learned better from their parents). If you aren't just a little bit mad to learn this is a true story, well, you have more Vulcan-like emotional restraint than I do.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'This extraordinary story of courage and faith is based on the actual experiences of three girls who fled from the repressive life of Moore River Native Settlement, following along the rabbit-proof fence back to their homelands. Assimilationist policy dictated that these girls be taken from their kin and their homes in order to be made white. Settlement life was unbearable with its chains and padlocks, barred windows, hard cold beds, and horrible food. Solitary confinement was doled out as regular punishment. The girls were not even allowed to speak their language. Of all the journeys made since white people set foot on Australian soil, the journey made by these girls born of Aboriginal mothers and white fathers speaks something to everyone.'

A problem I had with the novel was in part due to my own negligence- the author uses many Aboriginal words and phrases, often not mentioning what they mean. However, there is a glossary in the back, that, had I known it was there, I would have used much more often. Google does not seem to know any of the Aboriginal words in this book.

Since I already knew the trajectory of this book, some of the revelations were anti-climactic to me, and because the writing was on the nonfiction side of things (keeping to the facts and not inserting many flowery phrases) I was a little underwhelmed with some of the book. Luckily, there were things I hadn't recalled happening to surprise me, as well as descriptions of scenery I can scarcely imagine. This is one of my Travel the World in Books picks that really showed me places I have never been before- all through the imagery of the written word.

A glimpse of the writing style:

Patrol officers travelled far and wide removing part-Aboriginal children from their families and transported them hundreds of kilometres down south. Every mother of a part-Aboriginal child was aware that their offspring could be taken away from them at any time and they were powerless to stop the abductors.

       ~Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington ~ Nugi Garimara, about 29% Kindle edition

Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence is an epic story of the power and perseverance of girls. Having been the same age as these girls were when they made the trek, I have to admit I feel in awe of their ability to keep going, despite their goal seeming insurmountable. Beyond girl power, this story also educates on the history of the Aboriginal people: I had no idea that many of the things mentioned briefly in the beginning of this book even occurred- and I watched some of the movie version(!). So if you want to learn about the Aboriginal culture and the history of early Colonial Australia, but also want a story of three young (and very determined) girls, there is no other book I'd recommend except this one.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for a great (and short) eye-opener into a darker time in the history of Australia.

Content: Ages 14+ for racial injustices (including violence and death), hunting and gathering, and survival.

Page Count: 136 pages

"The Incarnations" by Susan Barker

I received a free (and gorgeous) hardcover copy of this book via Goodreads' Giveaways. My opinion remains as impartial and forthright as ever.

With magical realism, generally you expect some rather happy-go-lucky magical elements along with a more disturbing storyline. For example, with one of my favorite authors, Alice Hoffman's work, generally the storyline could be strictly fictional, but the magical elements are what boost it out of the ordinary, enhancing the plot. With this story, the plot wouldn't work (at all) without the magical elements in place, unless you're a huge believer in past lives and reincarnation, in which case, disregard that assertion. The plot would not make sense in a strictly fictional setting of historical or contemporary, even in one of those odd, choppy, past-present overlap books. The Incarnations is dependent on a relationship between two souls throughout times and places, regardless of the shells those souls might be inhabiting.

This isn't one of those books you read because you are particularly in love with the characters- or at least, in my case it wasn't. I found myself none too sympathetic with Wang, even having seen his past incarnations. Every character in this book is decadently flawed, which is part of why I enjoyed it so much: I didn't enjoy the characters, but the flaws made them perilously mortal, so in a way, I did. I admired their humanity, frailty, and spirit, but it was difficult (if not impossible) to admire their actions.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Who are you? you must be wondering. I am your soulmate, your old friend, and I have come back to this city of sixteen million in search of you.
'So begins the first letter that falls into Wang’s lap as he flips down the visor in his taxi. The letters that follow are filled with the stories of Wang’s previous lives—from escaping a marriage to a spirit bride, to being a slave on the run from Genghis Khan, to living as a fisherman during the Opium Wars, and being a teenager on the Red Guard during the cultural revolution—bound to his mysterious “soulmate,” spanning one thousand years of betrayal and intrigue.
'As the letters continue to appear seemingly out of thin air, Wang becomes convinced that someone is watching him—someone who claims to have known him for over one thousand years. And with each letter, Wang feels the watcher growing closer and closer…
'Seamlessly weaving Chinese folklore, history, and literary classics, The Incarnations is a taut and gripping novel that sheds light on the cyclical nature of history as it hints that the past is never truly settled.'

Beyond the imperfections of the characters, what makes this book compelling is the breadth of history and settings it covers. Most of it is set in China, with a few possible outlying meanderings. The characters, or the soulmates, are constantly at odds with each other throughout their reincarnations and always seem to have this unusual sibling rivalry (as best I can describe that relationship) going on. In most books, I would assume all these short snippets of past lives would make the entire book feel like a bunch of short stories, but with this one, the characters seem themselves (and are themselves) in every stage of their past lives. You wouldn't think Wang the taxi driver would be like he is in his first incarnation, but put a soul through a different set of circumstances and I think the answer would be yes.

I think what shocked me (despite having been warned of it beforehand) was the sheer harshness of the content of this book. Although I was easily drawn in from the first page, after the first 50-ish pages I had to stop and read something else because it was so blatant and unabashed. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just that my review won't prepare you to read the book, even if I listed all the content I could think of, like with my A Game of Thrones review. It's like falling asleep snug in your bed and being doused at midnight with a bucket of ice cold water. This book isn't for those who are sensitive to adult content- even halfway through, I kept being surprised with the turns in the story. A lot of people refer to such things in fantasy as grimdark- well, this is grimdark magical realism.

The Incarnations is magical realism that expands its bounds to romp in both historical and contemporary settings. Don't let it's cover fool you into thinking it's like a million other books, because this one is definitely a special shade of gray, gray morality, that is. If you enjoy unusual books without characters that seem particularly heroic (in either the anti- or plain hero fashion), set in a familiar country that seems unfamiliar once you finish reading the book, The Incarnations may be just the book you're seeking.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a magical realism with exquisitely flawed characters.

Content: Ages 18+ for all kinds of sexual content (rape, incest, castration, masturbation, and everything else you can dream up), violence, and the eating of strange meat.

Page Count: 371 pages in my hardcover edition

O.o.O.C.: "The Autobiography of a Runaway Slave" by Esteban Montejo

Out of Orbit Critiques are the reviews on books that stray outside my usual genres. The Autobiography of a Runaway Slave is an autobiography, that was penned and slightly edited by Miguel Barnet, as Esteban Montejo couldn't write at the time it was written (but he learned to read shortly after this book was published, as he wanted to make sure it was good).

It's hard to rate and review a book like this, because in all ways, it is well worthy of being read and of great interest to those of us who wonder what life was like in historical Cuba. There is an enormous attention to detail that you won't find in many autobiographies: this book truly brings you the culture of long ago Cuba, along with an absolutely amazing survivor's tale. The only downside is, due to the way this was produced (an oral autobiography written down), you do lose some of the magic and find yourself lost on certain occasions.

Esteban grows up in a hostile environment I'm not sure I would've survived in. He doesn't even know who his parents are, and there is no familial bond to keep him on the plantation, as he was raised by wet nurses. As I read, I was reminded of the dystopian society of Brave New World which I read around this time last year- this autobiography was like that, except Esteban was aware that society in general wasn't in any way beneficial to him. It seemed even from the beginning, he was destined to run away.

The Plot (As Seen on the Back of My Book):
'There were four periods in the life of Esteban Montejo. Born on a plantation in 1860, he was raised as a slave, spent ten years in the Cuban forests as a runaway, returned to the plantation when slavery had been abolished, the returned to the hills to become a revolutionary in the Cuban War for Independence of 1895. His story, told in the wise, humorous voice of a survivor of this vanished world, brings to life with rare simplicity and integrity this crucial period in Cuba's history.'

The most moving part of the book is likely the first part, the chronicle of Esteban's daily life while he was enslaved. It's simply unimaginable the conditions he and others lived under- locked into a dirt-floored shed at night (he called them barracoons) where there were no bathrooms.

In his own words (during one of the times he tried to run away):

But they caught me without a struggle, clapped a pair of shackles on me (I can still feel them when I think back), screwed them up tight and sent me back to work wearing them. You talk about this sort of thing today and people don't believe you, but it happened to me and I have to say so.

            ~Autobiography of a Runaway Slave by Esteban Montejo, about 20% through

It's during the other sections of his life that you learn more about Cuba's culture as a whole: he tells of the varying religions and magic practices (apparently, you don't mess with the Congolese as they are wickedly talented with their magic), the different dances (some were only for "white" people, as a law), the varying food (there was a chocolate drink with vinegar in it I wanted to try), and how he survived in the forest after having escaped slavery, utilizing different plants to heal his wounds, and avoiding snakes. There is a wealth of culture in this book, but due to the way it was written, you often get lost, or wonder if things are being repeated (because they 'sound' very familiar). If it had been written/told when Esteban was a younger man or the 'writer' had inserted some details to give those of us who don't really know much about Cuba a clearer picture, this book would likely rank higher in my esteem. As it stands, though, you do need to know a little about Cuba or infer it yourself to enjoy reading this book.

The Autobiography of a Runaway Slave is a journey into Cuba's past- and a primer on some of the lost cultures. It is also the story of a man who survived despite the odds being stacked against him, overcoming many things, and teaching us, the readers, many things through the telling of his story. In some ways, this book is flawed, but I have no doubt that he told everything exactly as he saw it, which makes me respect him even more. If you know something about Cuba's history but want to learn more about its historical culture, especially from the perspective of a person of color, I recommend this book for you.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for a great autobiography set in a culture long passed.

Content: Ages 16+ for some sexual mentions and violence.

Page Count: 223 pages in my paperback edition

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that I have needed to read this book for a long time. One friend really liked this book in junior high, the other said it was way overrated. I may have abstained from reading it just to keep on good terms with both of them- and also because I couldn't bring myself to complete other romantic-ish classics like Anna Karenina and Wuthering Heights.

Given it was published in 1813, it's true that there is a lot of archaic writing to be had in this book. Long sentences are almost assured on every page, but I grew to enjoy the style (and the pacing that goes with it). I have to disagree with the many articles that have been written on the reading length of classics like this: some of them say this book will only take 2-3 hours to read. I guess if it's a reread (for the 3rd or 4th time) that might be true and very feasible. However, for the modern reader, this will take a fair bit longer, unless you've got a doctorate in English literature (in which case, why would it be your first time reading this???).

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
'So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners--one of the most popular novels of all time--that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.'

Among the reasons I read this was that it was recommended for my personality type (INTJ- or so the myriad of internet crash courses/pop psychology tests tell me). Mr. Darcy is supposedly INTJ, and also an antihero. When you start reading the book, it's clear he's the sort you wouldn't be paid to associate with- he's got an excessive amount of pride. Meanwhile, Elizabeth has an excessive amount of prejudice, which sometimes is revealed through her judgy judgy thoughts and actions.

As Sheldon Cooper and the writers of the Big Bang Theory put it:

From Pinterest, but likely stolen from someone else,

In some ways, this book is absolutely a masterpiece. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, perhaps due to my excessive viewing of Pride and Prejudice adaptations, or perhaps due to something else entirely. It's difficult to know now, but I know in some ways I was absolutely irked with Elizabeth's attitude. She was constantly trying to find fault with others, to the point she alienated me. People, much like characters in a book, are never perfect- I try to see the best in others, in order that they may someday see the best in me.

Pride and Prejudice is not a modern love story- and that's perhaps why it has withstood the test of time. There is one scene in the book that nearly brought me to tears- a rarity in four star reads. But, in others, I was rolling my eyes at Elizabeth's superiority complex and counting the sentences/paragraphs until her scene was over. If you are a fan of classics, this is a must read, just for the purposes of intense discussion- Pride and Prejudice is a treasure trove of social maneuvering and thought, which is why I think it shouldn't be read in a few hours.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a classic that is equal parts love story and guide to social manipulation.

Content: Ages 12+ for advanced wordplay, people who make cow eyes at each other (okay, it wasn't mentioned, however, I read between the lines), and the pursuit of an honorable courtship.

Page Count: 210 pages in my paperback edition

O.o.O.C.: "Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal" by Ben Macintyre

Out of Orbit Critiques are the reviews on books that stray outside my usual genres. Agent Zigzag is a nonfiction biography of Eddie Chapman.

I love a good antihero, and Agent Zigzag is the story of one real life antihero, so it wasn't a hard decision for me to snatch this up as a Kindle Daily Deal. I usually prefer autobiographies or memoirs to biographies, because then you have the actual impressions of that person in their own words (and not just what was written down), but I did feel like the author gets close to the truth of Eddie Chapman, even though Chapman himself is one slippery character.

If you go to read this with James Bond-type expectations, you will be sorely disappointed. Although Agent Zigzag does feature undercover action scenes, they aren't of the type you'd find in your typical spy movie. In other words, no evil masterminds will be dispatched before your very eyes, but there are massive operations of ingenious deception, so I wasn't disappointed. Think less James Bond and more Ocean's Eleven, but again with a bit less action- it's history, not Hollywood.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Eddie Chapman was a charming criminal, a con man, and a philanderer. He was also one of the most remarkable double agents Britain has ever produced. Inside the traitor was a man of loyalty; inside the villain was a hero. The problem for Chapman, his spymasters, and his lovers was to know where one persona ended and the other began. Based on recently declassified files, Agent Zigzag tells Chapman’s full story for the first time. It’s a gripping tale of loyalty, love, treachery, espionage, and the thin and shifting line between fidelity and betrayal.'

Halfway through this I was determined not to stop reading, but it became difficult for me to read on, as you're introduced to many characters who get an entire paragraph of description, despite only being active characters in the book at one point/scene. I must say I really wouldn't like to be a biographer, since you are writing about real people and might feel pressure to include everyone in order to get it just right and do people forgotten to history justice by telling their stories, but at the same time... I likely skipped their fifty written words of fame, anyhow. They may have made up the machine that took down an evil mastermind, but I bought this to read Eddie Chapman's story, not theirs. Luckily, with some strategic skimming on my part, I was able to get past the minute details that clogged up the pace of this biography.

Throughout the book, your impressions of Eddie Chapman will change, sometimes by the chapter. Even though the author does his best to capture him from the flesh into print, you are still left with nagging questions as to who he really is beneath the charismatic exterior. In part, this is the magic ingredient to the book: if it were about anyone else, I would've likely given up halfway through. Eddie Chapman is the secret to the success of this biography, as it should be with any biography.

Agent Zigzag is a biography heavy on the history side and rife with detail, but one which nonetheless compels you to finish it. Those disinterested in books with excess detail I would warn off, as this book has a lot of it, even though the story finishes with flair. If you like histories on World War II and want to dabble in biographies, this would be an ideal book for you.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an excellent biography that has its dry spells.

Content: Ages 16+ for a womanizing conman who has a penchant for getting into trouble (violence and slight sexual misconduct- no rape).

Page Count: 384 pages

O.o.O.C.: "Astrid & Veronika" by Linda Olsson

Out of Orbit Critiques are the reviews on books that stray outside my usual genres. Astrid & Veronika is a work of contemporary fiction.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up, other than a book about female friendship set in Sweden. As I prefer books with lots of female characters, I looked forward to one about an unconventional friendship between two women of somewhat similar experiences with an age gap between them. Astrid has lived in the small Swedish village all her life, rarely venturing outside it, while Veronika was a world traveller, even as a young woman.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'With extraordinary emotional power, Linda Olsson's stunningly well-crafted debut novel recounts the unusual and unexpected friendship that develops between two women. Veronika, a young writer from New Zealand, rents a house in a small Swedish village as she tries to come to terms with a recent tragedy while also finishing a novel. Her arrival is silently observed by Astrid, an older, reclusive neighbor who slowly becomes a presence in Veronika's life, offering comfort in the form of companionship and lovingly prepared home-cooked meals. Set against a haunting Swedish landscape, Astrid & Veronika is a lyrical and meditative novel of love and loss, and a story that will remain with readers long after the characters' secrets are revealed.'

My only other Swedish read prior to this one having been The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I also had no idea what to expect on that front. Unfortunately with this read, the focus is less on the setting than on the friendship, so I didn't feel I got to experience anything distinctly 'Swedish' in culture, although the descriptions of the surrounding wilderness were lovely. Since this was set in a small village, I had wanted to see more of the village lifestyle, but since Astrid and Veronika were so honed in on each other from the very start, I suppose that would be a slightly unrealistic expectation.

As much as I did empathize with the characters, there was something rather contrived about them. Astrid was more my speed than Veronika, and yet she still irked me in that she was rather static. Veronika was less dysfunctional, but I really didn't understand her motives throughout the book. Why a small village in Sweden? Sure, Sweden is her native country, but of all the places in the world? As a world traveller, I would suspect her of wanting a change of pace to write her novel in, not something so familiar. I found a few of Astrid's scenes problematic as well, but she still felt more realistic to me than Veronika.

Astrid & Veronika is more unfocused than I would like, but an interesting book about two women's life stories. Although I found the main plot dealing with Astrid and Veronika's friendship to be lacking, their flashbacks kept me engaged, helping me finish this before the Travel the World in Books readathon ended. If you enjoy contemporary fiction about friendships, you may find this book of more interest than I did, since I'm more interested in historical narratives.

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars for a good, if a little too meandering, read.

Content: Ages 18+ for violence and abuse.

Page Count: 247 pages in my paperback edition

Travel the World in Books Readathon Update/Wrap Up and Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

This week I decided to mostly ignore my blog to read more books around the world! I accomplished my goal of reading three books the other day, but not the books I'd planned on reading. My reading mood was more set towards historical romances, so I devoured two, both set in England:

The Harlot Countess (Wicked Deceptions #2) by Joanna Shupe
Rating: 2ish Stars
This featured a scene with a couple from the previous book in the series that basically ruined my enjoyment of this book and that book. I kind of wish I'd just skipped this one.

and

The Lady Hellion (Wicked Deceptions #3) by Joanna Shupe 
Rating: 3 Stars
Much better than the previous two, due to one of my favorite tropes: crossdressing. I also loved that the hero was agoraphobic and essentially housebound- I really doubt the 'treatment' would've worked in real life, though.

For a less fluffy read, I chose Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson.
Rating: 3 Stars
It's contemporary fiction that follows an unlikely friendship of an older and younger woman who live in a small village in Sweden. The younger woman, Veronika, has traveled the world and experienced the sudden loss of her husband. Astrid has remained in the village almost her entire life, trapped by secrets and regrets. It's a rather pensive read, but I will expand upon my thoughts in a review (eventually). I felt like the essence of the book was somewhat lost in the meandering storyline.

Right now I'm reading a nonfiction biography: Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre. It's set in a smorgasbord of nations: England and France mostly so far. I think my favorite thing is that Eddie Chapman is such an antihero- he's a conman, he takes advantage of women, and yet, you want to cheer him on. It's hard to read a man by his biography, though.

That's all I'm up to this Halloween, other than handing out candy this coming evening. I hope to have Agent Zigzag halfway finished by the end of the readathon, if not read in its entirety.

Update 11/1: I didn't manage to make any more progress on Agent Zigzag, but getting 31% through during the readathon was pretty good for me and nonfiction books. A big thanks to the many hosts of Travel the World in Books Readathon:

Tanya (Mom's Small Victories)

Becca (I'm Lost in Books)

Savvy Working Gal

Lucy (Fictional 100)

Aloi (Guiltless Reading)

I've had a great time, even though I wasn't able to participate as much as I did last year. This is such a great concept, as it is so easy to stick with books written in the US about the US, when I think it's important to diversify your reading. You may even find your new favorite author!

Happy Halloween Bookish Travels!

Recommendations: World Literature

Although technically we were supposed to recommend certain areas, I decided I'd make a master list so all my recommendations for world lit could be found in one place. I'll include the rating, the country the book is set in, the genre, and a blurb from my review of it, if available. Depending on when I read the book (pre-blog days or blog days), the title will either link to my review or the book's Goodreads page.

Africa (I'm sadly lacking for recommendable books on this continent):

Rules of the Wild: A Novel of Africa by Francesca Marciano
Where: Kenya
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
I can't recall much about reading this book, since it was pre-blog, but I do remember enjoying it.

Asia:

Fiction:

The Third Son by Julie Wu
Where: Taiwan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "The Third Son takes you on a roundabout journey to America- but along the way, you learn more about Taiwan than you'd expect."

Peony in Love by Lisa See
Where: China
Genre: Historical Fiction/Magical Realism
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "...if you don't mind keeping an open mind to a different way of life, and don't mind some serious otherworldly elements, Peony in Love won't disappoint you."

Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
Where: Set in Russia, but flashbacks (half the book) are set in Vietnam
Genre: Historical Fiction/Political Critique (it was banned in Vietnam)
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "Pensive, often melancholy, and completely absorbing, Paradise of the Blind paints a bold portrait of everyday life in Vietnam during the beginning of the rule by the Communist Party."

The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
Where: Japan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5 Stars (on the very precipice of 5 Stars)
Review Blurb: "The Samurai's Garden is one of the most lovely and placid books I'll read this year, and it almost breached the five star club- it's simply that good."

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran
Where: India
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "Rebel Queen takes you back to the beginning of the power struggle between the then many kingdoms of India and the empire of Britain."

Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors
Where: India
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "I would recommend this book to people who want to feel like they're travelling back in time to 17th century India, without the need for a time machine."

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
Where: Masada (Israel)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review Blurb: "one of my favorite stories by Alice Hoffman."

Nonfiction:

Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
Where: North Korea
Genre: Nonfiction
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review Blurb: "Nothing to Envy is a major wake-up call for those of us who think life isn't easy or fair and happen to live outside North Korea."

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung
Where: Cambodia
Genre: Nonfiction Memoir
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "The reason I redubbed this as The Actual Hunger Games is Loung spends more time hungry in this book than Katniss ever did- and her family grows very sick from the hunger (i.e. they can't work, function, or shoot arrows like a boss)."

The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal by Vicki Constantine Croke
Where: China
Genre: Nonfiction Biography
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "Not only was Ruth Harkness a female pioneer in exploration, she was also a fashionista, a widow, and someone who you really wouldn't think would be willing to climb steep hills in order to find a panda."

Europe:

Fiction:

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Where: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Among Other Locales
Genre: Historical/Contemporary Fiction with a chance of Vampire
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "If you like vampires, historical fiction, and conspiracy theories, and don't mind a bulky book, The Historian may be your kind of read."

Embers by Sándor Márai
Where: Hungary
Genre: Classics/Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "a classic that proves it's anything but bland"

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Where: Spain
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
I think this is a must read for anyone who loves books.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy #1) by Stieg Larsson
Where: Sweden
Genre: Contemporary/Thriller/Mystery
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Highly recommended, as long as you can deal with intense violence/sexual scenes. I haven't reviewed it yet, but I greatly enjoyed it.

Legacy by Susan Kay
Where: England
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "If you're looking for a cursory glance into Elizabeth Tudor's life, this isn't it."

Nonfiction:

The Pianist by Władysław Szpilman
Where: Poland
Genre: Nonfiction Memoir
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "If you've watched the movie and haven't gotten to the book yet, I strongly recommend this heart-rending memoir."

North America/South America (also sadly lacking for recs):

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Where: Hawaii
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review Blurb: "Moloka'i more than fulfilled my expectations of it, giving me characters to root for as well as picturesque settings to satisfy my curiosity of the islands."

Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
Where: Haiti
Genre: Vintage/Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review Blurb: "Overall, this is a great novel I recommend to those interested in the complexities of women's relationships and the resilience of the people of Haiti."

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
Where: Ontario, Canada
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
This one was read pre-blog, but I highly recommend it. It's one of the books that made me a Margaret Atwood fan.

Pirates! by Celia Rees
Where: Bahamas
Genre: Historical Fiction/YA
Rating: 4 Stars
Review Blurb: "This is a book choice both the adult and teen me can agree on- Pirates! is a historical adventure that goes beyond being just a story."

                                             Happy Reading Travels!