by Katie Smogoleski on June 22nd, 2009
[Editor's Note: We love summer reading lists. Katie, an amazingly powerful reader, took on the first one, so we now go to you to send us your reading list for this summer. Work, play, or whatever. We want to know what you are reading, or planning to read.]
Every summer, I look forward to Farmers Markets, concerts on the square, Sunday afternoons at the splash pad and lazy nights spent reading in the hammock. I love my kids dearly, but 8 pm is that magical time when they’re both in bed for the night, and I have a half an hour or an hour to myself, and most of this time is spent reading. On tap for this summer, I hope to enjoy the list below. Please share your insights, suggestions and your own book lists for the summer.
1. Ghost Writer by John Harwood
I checked this out from the library and started reading it last night. So far, the story centers around Gerard Freeman, growing up with a strange and secretive mother, and I expect things to become enthralling and eerie. Entertainment Weekly claims that with his “intricate and engrossing first novel, John Harwood raises the ghost of the Victorian ghost story, goosing the action with a modern spin.”
2. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
My mother loaned me this paperback, and I try to read anything my mom suggests. Reading is a pasttime I share with my mom and sister, and it’s nice to be able to discuss books we’ve all read. Plus, I haven’t seen the movie based on the book yet, so nothing major has been spoiled for me. I think this is mostly about marriage and its struggles and rewards, which sounds interesting enough to me.
3. The U.S. Army Survival Manual by the U.S. Government
Because I bought this a while ago, and it’s still in my to-read pile, and I should learn something useful from my book list.
4. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
I have heard nothing but good reviews for this book. It’s a loose retelling of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the wicked witch’s perspective. “Maguire combines puckish humor and bracing pessimism in this fantastical meditation on good and evil, God and free will, which should, despite being far removed in spirit from the Baum books, captivate devotees of fantasy,” according to Publishers Weekly.
5. Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Daniel, the book’s main character is the son of a widowed bookstore owner and is 10 when he discovers a book called The Shadow of the Wind. Rumors speak of a gruesomely disfigured man burning every copy of this book that he finds. A friend suggested this to me, and I’m a sucker for a book about books.
6. King of Lies by John Hart
I recently read Down River by this author and was entertained enough to seek out more of his work. Publishers Weekly calls this a “stunning debut, an exceptionally deep and complex mystery thriller, comparing favorably to the best of Scott Turow.”
7. Wish You Were Here by Stewart O’Nan
I have read a handful of books by O’Nan and wonder why he isn’t more popular. His books are intriguing and clever, and his characters are raw and real and relatable. This one is about a dysfunctional family who has lost their husband/father, and they all go to their summer cottage for a week to officially say goodbye to him.
8. Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
My official “beach read” for the summer, this is the first of a series about a knitting store which draws loyal locals and a few oddballs. I crochet and am hoping to teach myself to knit this summer, so perhaps this will provide inspiration when my scarf turns into a legwarmer.
9. Immortality by Milan Kundera
This will probably my most difficult read this summer, but I enjoyed Kundera’s Unbearable Lightness of Being and think I’m ready to read more from him. I own Immortality and the Book of Laughter and Forgetting, so I will be happy if I read either.
10. Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
This was a Mother’s Day gift, and I read any book from my husband and children. I think this fulfills my obligatory chick lit requirement for the summer, though Stephen King has it on his summer reading list, claiming “Men out there who think Ms. Picoult is a chick thing need to get with the program. Her books are an everyone thing.”
11. Perfection by Julie Metz
A memoir about the author’s seemingly perfect marriage, until her husband dies unexpectedly, leaving Julie a widow and a single mother. Things go from bad to worse when she discovers her late husband’s infidelity.
12. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge is possibly the best book I’ve read this year, plus it won the Pulitzer. I need to read more from Elizabeth Strout.
by Katie Smogoleski on March 6th, 2009
1. Have you ever protested or picketed anything in town?
The Family Planning Clinic on 1st Ave. has people outside with signs in response to banners on the building advertising “Condoms Save Lives.” One sign I saw this morning said “Purity + Abstinence = Wise Choice.” I don’t have the heart to explain the banners or the picketers to my curious 3-year-old son each morning as we drive by. I realize I’ve never protested like this against anything, and I wouldn’t do it over condoms.
2. Where is the best place in town to watch the sun rise and set?
In response to a set of earlier questions, yes, I have an extensive bucket list. It’s in a notebook where I store momentos of my tasks, like a bulletin from the Latin Mass I attended for the first time. It ranges from quiet, easy activities such as “Watch the Godfather trilogy” (completed now) and “Learn a card trick” to more adventurous, expensive things like “Go on an African safari” and “See a play on Broadway.” Despite going through the college experience of drinking and being out until dawn, I have never actually sat down to watch the sun rise or set, and this is on my bucket list. Where is the nicest place in town to see this? Is this sort of activity better done with a loved one or alone? Is it better to do this during a certain season?
3. When was the last time you went to the mall? What stores do you frequent there, and about how much do you spend?
I am not really a shopper. I buy things I need, often small things I want, but I don’t use shopping to cheer myself up, and I don’t give myself makeovers or any thing of that sort to make myself feel better. I basically only go to the mall now so my children can play there, visit Santa or the Easter bunny and ride on the little machines. What do you do there most?
4. Which hotels or inns in the area do you recommend to visitors?
As a wife of a teacher and coach, I am insanely relieved once winter sports are done each year. My husband coaches football, then wrestling, and I’m on point with the kids each night and many Saturdays until he gets home from practices, conferences and meets. I like to allow myself a weekend getaway to celebrate making it through another grueling season, and I think this year, I’d like to stay in town, possibly at a bed and breakfast.
5. Do you enjoy your job? Would you leave your job if you could?
I do. It’s tedious and I’m not saving the world, but I get a sense of contentment from it. I enjoy working, I think I’m good at it, and I can pack up at the end of the day and go home to enjoy my family. With the economy suffering, I think a lot of people are settling in jobs they don’t enjoy because they need to pay bills, and I’m hearing a lot more complaints from people about work.
by Katie Smogoleski on March 5th, 2009
I read many books from many different authors and genres, but I have encountered very few life-changing books. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, definitely tops the list, followed closely by The Life of Pi and Who Pooped in the Park, of course.
Although intended and published as an adult novel in the author’s native Australia, American publishers have marketed this book as a young-adult read. This is a nearly 600-page novel with very mature themes, such as death, war, religion and basic humanity. Whether it’s better suited for adults or young adults is irrelevant, as it is a read that surpasses boundaries and typecasts.
The novel is narrated by Death, a concept that sounds odd and ridiculous, but doesn’t take much time to digest once you begin reading the extraordinary narrative. And there’s probably some unofficial rule out there that anything narrated by Death has got to be worth reading. Death, as it turns out, is darkly humorous, a sardonic, entertaining and tender storyteller. He observes colors in the sky when he comes to take people away and is as afraid of humans as they are of him. Death has a way with words in this story, perhaps the most profound being the last sentence of this beautiful book, “I am haunted by humans.”
Death encounters the protagonist of this story, Liesel Meminger, for the first time when she is 9 years old and he takes her brother. She becomes and endearing force in his life, despite his efforts. “I traveled the globe handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity. I warned myself that I should keep a good distance from the burial of Liesel Meminger’s brother. I did not heed my advice,” he writes. Liesel lives in a small town in Germany during WWII, and she is surrounded by fascinating, warm characters. A neighborhood friend provides comic relief, and her foster father, a jolly, warmhearted man, is the heart of her universe.
One of the major themes is the power of language and words and the weight they hold, something I put a lot of stock in. Words can do so much. They can cut, they can hurt, they can destroy; but they can also soothe and strengthen and protect. The title character, the book thief, steals books to learn how to read and continues to steal books- from a burning pile or from the mayor’s library- after discovering that reading opens new worlds to her. These books are a comforting diversion from the bombings in Nazi Germany, something to cushion the feeling of impending doom throughout most of the novel.
I read this book several months ago after a coworker suggested it and loaned it to me. I hadn’t heard of it before then, but often hear it mentioned now. My memory of all the details is foggy and to reveal them wouldn’t be prudent anyway, but the concept and themes remain stark and real in my head. My heart pulls when someone mentions this book, and tears smart in my eyes. I can remember passages vividly, many, many days and books later. I envy people who have yet to journey through this book, and I look forward to reading this with my children when they are older.
This book, on the New York Times Children’s Best Seller list for over 70 weeks, is the next selection to be discussed by the Women’s Night Out book club at the Wausau library on Monday, March 16, 6:30 p.m. Gentlemen, I don’t know how strict the library is in regards to Women’s Night Out. Perhaps it’s time to dust off those Tootsie duds.
by Katie Smogoleski on February 15th, 2009
I love books. If there is one thing that is a constant in my life, it is books. They have been in my life as long as I can remember, and I can turn to them during any condition or mood. I began reading words at the age of three (thank you Sesame Street!) and have not stopped. I love the smell of books, the feel of their cool covers and soft pages and the look of their comfortable, worn bindings. I am Katie, a lover of literature, a student of books and a citizen of Wausau.
I am somewhat of a book snob, usually opting for things on top 10 lists or books that have received stellar reviews, or simply choosing a classic. Having studied English for years, I find I usually can’t go wrong with a classic, with my favorite authors being F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Hardy. But such high standards require a break from time to time, right? I will try to read something relevant to Wausau each week: a selection from a library book club, Janke’s pick of the week, a book from a local author or any suggestions from Wausau locals.
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert (nonfiction)
I picked this out after hearing much about it. In magazines, from friends, at bookstores, on Oprah. Because if you’re going to read a book, Oprah should dictate which one. Plus, I’ve been to Italy, and I like to eat and love. And sometime pray.
The story chronicles the author’s travels, beginning at age 34. After a difficult divorce, she decides to travel for a year, spending four months each in Italy, India and Indonesia. The purpose of the visit to Italy is simple pleasure by savoring all of the country’s delights: food, wine, relaxation and good conversation. This is a fun segment of the book, reading of her struggles to learn the language and her affinity and overuse/misuse of the beautiful word attraversiamo, meaning “let’s cross over,” her connections with the locals, her touring of historic and well-loved areas.
Then it’s on to India to achieve communion with the divine at a sacred ashram. This section lagged for me. The beauty and warmth of Italy is a tough act to follow, and I found this section to be less interesting. Finally, she travels to Indonesia to achieve balance. She studies with a jolly medicine man and is charmed by a local and finally achieves some serenity with herself.
I enjoyed the book for the most part, but at times, the author struck me as the typical spoiled American. Though she doesn’t do anything too inconsiderate, she does devote many chapters to complaining about her marriage and her subsequent depression, and the book is littered with “I.” Almost all situations, comments and anecdotes point to herself or her personal problems, and I would have liked to see her view widen more as she visited these exotic locales.
Through all of these travels, the most interesting concept to me was a conversation she had with an Italian, where he suggested that “Maybe you and Rome just have different words. Don’t you know that the secret to understanding a city and its people is to learn- what is the word on the street? Every city has a single word that defines it, that identifies most people who live there. If you could read people’s thoughts as they were passing you on the streets of any given place, you would discover that most of them are thinking the same thought. Whatever the majority thought might be- that is the word of the city, and if your personal word does not match the word of the city, then you don’t really belong there.” He went on to claim that Rome’s word is SEX, that Vatican City’s is POWER, and the author chimed in that New York City’s is ACHIEVE, while her Swedish friend said that Stockholm’s word would be CONFORM.
Which got me to thinking, what is Wausau’s word? I think of something like GROWTH or CREATIVITY, and I feel I fit in here. What do you think Wausau’s word is? Is yours different than Wausau’s?
by Katie Smogoleski on February 1st, 2008
I love the library. I visit several times a week, sometimes to drop off or pick up items, sometimes for a book club meeting, sometimes with my toddler so he can enjoy story time or the play area. Wausau has an awesome library, staff and interlibrary loan offerings.
The parking lot is what really puts a damper on the library visits. My understanding is that a drive-thru window is being constructed at the lower level, which will hopefully reduce the parking issues. In the mean time, I have grown frustrated at what appears to be overuse or unfair parking in the lot.
After receiving my first parking ticket (in all honesty, I was not parked in a legit spot and have sent in my ticket with payment), I have become even more disgruntled. This incident involved me circling the lot twice shortly after 5 pm on a Tuesday, then leaving to pick up my toddler from day-care instead with the intent to stop back at the library later. After returning to the library around 5:20 and circling the lot a few more times, I parked in front of the bike racks and ran inside with my son to return two books and pick up a DVD while my car was running. Right? No. But it is simply not practical for me to park in a lot across the street and cart my toddler over my 5-months pregnant belly through a busy street in frigid temperatures simply to return books. Or park in the lot below and hike up and down a hill. So, reasonable? Definitely. I came out of the library minutes later to find a ticket on my windshield (and one on the car parked illegally next to me).
This prompts some questions. Mainly, why is this lot constantly packed? It’s like this when I try going at different times also. Are these valid library patrons or are these people who work in an office nearby? Do they monitor the other cars parked there? The parking spots designated as 15-minute drop-off/pick-up spots were all full with engines off and nobody sitting in the cars. There’s a sign stating that the limit for parking in the lot is two hours. The person who ticketed me was not there nearly long enough to enforce either of these rules, only to ticket the short-term offenders. Is this fair? Will the drive-thru window option alleviate these problems?
