Jacobs thought he would challenge himself to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in one year in his quest to become the world’s smartest man. The idea came from his fathers attempt to perform the feat of reading the whole encyclopedia from “A” through “Zywiec” but didn’t have the stamina A. J. had to complete the task. I’ve often wondered how much one could get if one decided to read the whole Britannica tomb but never thought of reading the whole thing. When I started reading this I thought the idea was a little odd and wondered why more people haven’t done this. Then I began to wonder why I haven’t done this. And thought this would be a great task to try and accomplish after I’ve finished my stint over seas and settle some place.
While writing this book Jacobs tells his whole story while he attempted to read everything enclosed in those hallowed covers of the great Britannica. Including a previous interview with Alex Trebek the host of Jeopardy! Which disqualifies him from ever being a contestant on the show. To his appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and doesn’t fair very well (I think I may have even seen the episode). The book is often witty, especially when he gets into a “who knows more” contest with his brother-in-law. Throughout this challenge the Jacobs’ family is confronted with another challenge…becoming pregnant, which brings about several more laughs.
Jacobs has attempted another quest and his book for this quest has come out recently, this time he thought it would be great to live one year living by all the laws encompassed in the Bible (The Year of Living Biblically). Lisa Guidariani interviewed Jacobs for Estella’s Revenge this month. The interview can be found here. I enjoyed this book but I don’t think I’m all that keen on reading the new one, but if it were to land in my hands I’m sure I would eventually open the book and get it read. The concept of this book isn’t as interesting to me, so, I’ll just leave it.
I must conclude by saying that The Know-It-All is a fantastic book and it was often difficult to finish. To top it off it has given me an idea for some heavy reading in the future, when I don’t have to get all the books back to Canada.
I took my time getting up in the morning and spent the day in bed reading. I read a good portion of The Known World by Edward P. Jones, reading this for Bookleaves, the book club I’m a part of in Seoul. This is a great book; I’m really enjoying it. I didn’t think I would like this book so much but I really find it interesting. At first I found the continuous use of the word slave and the big “N” word offensive and very off putting. It’s language I’m not used to hearing and the amount of times it was said seemed like it was being crammed down my throat.
I’ve been enthralled in this novel, I found it much better after the first chapter. Since getting into to I’ve found it difficult to put down, I just want to consume the entire book. It’s been more than I thought I could be. I’m looking forward to the discussion that this book would bring about at our meeting next weekend.
Now that I’ve gone out and had dinner and picked up my latest vice (lemon twist strawberry smoothie from Smoothie King) I thought I would come back and do some blogging. I’ve been meaning to write about last weekend. Which was a weekend of book buying. I was at three different bookstores and got a total of 18 books (including the 4 that I ordered from What the Book).
The books are of several genres and a range of topics. Just to wet everyone’s appetite I’ll give you the list;
Non-fiction:
The Devil’s Picnic by Taras Grescoe
Taras has traveled the world in pursuite of finding all the forbidden foods.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
This book explores what happens to the body after it’s expiration date. Not only the act of embalming but also the various uses of bodies post mortem.
Devices & Desires: A History of Contraceptives in America by Andrea Tone
An everything you have ever wanted to know about contraceptives (and probably things you never wanted to know about this industry). I’ll be using this book as my fifth book for the Non-Fiction Five Challenge starting in May.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Gilbert talks about her travels in Italy, India and Indonesia.
The Reluctant Communist: My Desertion, Court-Martial, and Forty-Year Imprisonment in North Korea by Charles Robert Jenkins
Jenkins tells his side of the story, explaining his experiences in North Korea. I am interested in the book for several reasons; I’m currently living in South Korea, and I watched the film Crossing the Line by BBC which follows one American that crossed the line at the DMZ to defect to the North. Jenkins was one of four to have crossed at about the same time. Jenkins appears in the film.
Tolkien A Biography by Michael White
This man led an interesting life and wanted to find out more about him and learn more about his influences while writing The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I’ve wanted to know more about the man after taking Tolkien and Medieval Literature in University.
The Key to My Neighbor’s House: Seeking Justice in Bosnia and Rwanda by Elizabeth Neuffer
This book explores the lives of those on both sides of conflict in these areas of the world and looks how they are trying to restore both justice and find a sense of normalcy after such atrocious acts.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
The life of one boy living in Sierra Leone and his travels to America.
Young Adult:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The story of a girls love affair with books and she amasses her collection of books. Winner of the Printz Award.
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
The story of Matteo Alacran and his unlikely…um…harvest. Winner of the National Book Award, Newbery Honor, and Printz Award.
Fiction:
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The story of Calliope Stephanides and three generations of the Stephanides family. This is a book for Bookleaves.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This requires no explanation. I picked this one up because of my commitment to attempt to read more classics while doing last weeks Booking Through Thursday.
Graphic Novel:
The Manga Bible by Siku
The Bible told as a graphic novel.
Buddha: The Forest of Uruvela (Book 4 in the series)
This is a collection of books that retell the life of Buddha. I loved the first three books and I’ve waited a while to get this one.
I’ll leave the list of books I ordered until they show up. This is already a very long list. But I’m excited to read them all and will be using a number of them for challenges I’m participating in.
Well, this is already getting quite long and I have more reading to get to. And I wanted to mention the book giveaway that is happening at Naked Without Books. Susan is giving away a copy of Korea Bug, so go there and enter your name if you are interested in learning for more about South Korea.
* Pick up the nearest book. (I’m sure you have one nearby.)
* Turn to page 123.
* What is the first sentence on the page?
* The last sentence on the page?
* Now … connect them together …
(And no, you may not transcribe the entire page of the book - that’s cheating!)
Okay I have to begin with the disclaimer that I’m not really a writer, I wish I was and could write the great Canadian novel but that’s not bound to happen. But I must also say that I like this idea for Booking Through Thrusday, this might be a fun thing to do once every couple of months. It’s a great way to get the creative juices flowing. So, don’t say I didn’t warn you but read at your own risk!
“Then he disappeared into the lee of the mountains.”
It wasn’t long after Preston disappeared that I was reminded of the Geldings that dwell in this very mountain. It’s not that these little freckled three feet tall sprites are dangerous but I would hate to encounter those glowing eyes and be forced into a battle of wits with them, after all I’m the most intelligent Waldore around. And Preston has an intelligence quotient is exactly two and a half points lower than your average Toadman (at 68 on the human IQ scale).
The last time Preston and I bumped into a Gelding my brain was black and blue from the mental beating we encountered. That’s how I was; Preston required several injections of Lanadore before he could even begin functioning again. I’d hate to see him like that again but then again I cannot rightly leave him in there on his own…or can I? It’s definite that he wouldn’t go in for me. He’s making the trek in there so he can finish the spell so that Francine will marry him. I’m not sure I’m ready to face them again just to help the fool on his mission.
I don’t have a lot of time to decide. I either need to jump in there or run now. I made my decision. “I drew three deep breaths and made my way into the dark tunnel.”
The book the quotations come from is The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers. I’m reading this book for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge.
I want to introduce you to my hero, and this great person truly deserves the title of hero. The man is outspoken, and for good reason, and is willing to tell any politician off that deserves it. He was himself a politician in Canada and people have wanted him to enter the fray again, I hope he doesn’t because he cannot be as vocal as he has been if he does. Without further rambling here he is….Stephen Lewis:
That was a minor introduction to the man that was the head of the UN special envoi for AIDS in Africa. He no longer has that role, and the world is who are going to loose out because of it. I hope that because he doesn’t hold that post anymore that he will go into hiding.
The CBC plays the Massy Lecture serious on the radio every year. Lewis was the lecturer in 2005 and his series was entitled Race Against Time. In this book/lecture series he talks about the short fall that will happen with the Millennium Development Goals, and the other travesties that the world has allowed to befall African nations.
Lewis is so passionate about what he talks about you feel for the people as much as he does. It’s hard to hear him speak, I first heard a few of these lectures on CBC, and not be moved almost to tears, if not weeping. It is his passion and drive to bring about change for the people of Africa that make me look up to this man. He does this selflessly, which doesn’t happen often. When he took the role for the UN he was asked how much he wanted, he declined any payment because he was already getting paid for his role as Canadian ambassador to the UN. I applaud Lewis for that.
It makes me very angry when people speak out against this man. I recall the last federal election that took place in Canada. I was in Winkler MB one of the few ridings that has only ever been Conservative, and I was at a debate one night and one man stood up and had me writhing in my chair for the majority of the night because of what he said. He made this statement, “what does the panel have to say about people like Stephen Lewis who spend their time out in the world propagating sexual intercourse outside of marriage and hand out condoms as if they were candy. Men and women like him need to be stopped, I want to know what the various members have to say about Lewis.” And I’m not sure if it was his comments that angered me the most or if it was the lack of response to defend this man by every single person running that riding.
I was moved so many times reading Race Against Time and I enjoy hearing Lewis speak. I hope to one day meet this man. He is a great among greatness, and I hope he still speaks out for those that aren’t being heard by anyone else. I’m going to close by leaving you with the final words he gave at the AIDS conference in Toronto, his last speech as UN envoi for Aids in Africa. Contribute to the Lewis fund and keep your eyes and ears open to what he has to say. I hope one day I can speak as openly and free about issues of the day as he does.
The world owes Lewis a great deal of gratitude and I know Lewis will get what he deserves. I’m going end with more Lewis, I cannot help it!
Hay Lady! Whatcha Readin’? is giving away a copy of Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis and if you don’t want that book she is also giving away to one lucky person a $25 gift certificate for Amazon.
The Hidden Side of a Leaf is giving away two books, of $20 value. That means two people will receive one book at the $20 value. Another drawing will happen on April 13th. That is for also for a book at a $20 value, this time to celebrate her one year blogiversary.
The Page Flipper is giving away a prize pack! The package includes:
Class Favorite by Taylor Morris
Totally Joe by James Howe
Hershey Herself by Cecilia Galante
Shug by Jenny Han
Dumped by Popular Demand by P.G. Kain
There are many more. I just wanted to let everyone know about some of the give aways that are out there on the world wide web. Best of luck and have a great Buy a Friend a Book week.
The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martinez of Argentina takes place on the island nation of England. I think that is a little obvious from the title but I was a little surprised to find out Martinez was Argentinean, I thought he may be from England. The story is a young Argentinean starting a year at Oxford to further his studies in mathematics, where he is being mentored by the well known Arthur Seldom. It’s not long after his arrival to England than the young Argentinean’s landlady is found dead.
The story progresses when Seldom and the grad student investigate the murder, which ends up being a series of murders. They are all connected by a series of symbols. The two work together to deduce who the murderer may be and assist the police as much as they can.
I wasn’t a huge math fan in high school and I didn’t even consider pursuing the subject when in University. But this book may the subject interesting. The series of symbols found in the book were interesting and I wanted to know more about them. They are described in some detail but I’m still keen to know more about it.
As for the book’s readability, it’s very easy to read. There aren’t many books where I look down and find that I’ve already finished over one hundred pages. It’s great that the book was able to keep me drawn in, given the amount of math that was present in the book. I think it also helped that it was a mystery and I was trying to guess who the murderer may be, and it’s actually very easy to guess. I’m sure the average reader can figure it out after about twenty pages into the book. But that didn’t take away from the book at all.
Even though you can easily guess who did it (and it wasn’t the butler!) the book still had a significant amount of suspense. I was glad that I selected this book for my facebook book group (Bookin’ Around). It was because of this selection that I really felt like joining the Orbis Terrarum Challenge. I found the book very intriguing and look forward to reading more by Guillermo Martinez.
There was one thing that got on my nerves. That was the constant use of the word “maths”. I don’t know what it is about that word but it made my skin crawl every time I read it. And it kept cropping up, not surprisingly given the prominence of arithmetic in the story. It showed up so much it almost made me want to stop reading the book and not look at it again. I’m glad I kept going at it; it was well worth the read.
Then about a year and a half ago a friend of mine gave me a copy of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which I started to read immediately upon receiving it. I read for some time and then because very disenchanted with the novel. It’s a collection of various people telling their story to an individual in search for a missing cat. I wouldn’t say that I don’t like the book but I didn’t really feel it was moving forward. I’m not ready to give up on The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle so, I have the book sitting on my shelf with the bookmark still in it. I hope to get back to it some day, after reading this book my interest in Murakami has peaked again.
When the book club I’m a part of in Seoul (Bookleaves) wanted to read something by Murakami, because none of us has read a book by him, I suggested we read Kafka on the Shore. The book came to mind because I had a conversation of my former employer at Family & Company in Stratford ONT and they have read a number of his novels and told me this was his best. I must say that I am glad we chose this book for the group.
Kafka on the Shore is the story of the teenage runaway Kafka Tamura and the story of the elderly Nakata. The two tales do interest that help bring about a great conclusion to the story. The story is full of wonderful images and great descriptions. My favorite is the library that Kafka ends up working it. It sounds like the perfect place to go and read, so serene. There are also some odd events such as fish and leaches falling from the sky. And the amazing talent that Nakata posses, the ability to talk to cats.
There were parts of the story I really didn’t like. The one that bothered me the most were the scenes of Kafa’s sexploits. First we are dealing with a 15-year-old boy having sex with someone he thinks might be his sister and then with a woman in her 50s. If that were not enough the way Murakami talks about sex and his sexual references come across a being very disturbing. When they came up I couldn’t help but squirm in my seat. To top it all off the scenes don’t really add to the story and I have great issue with gratuitous sex scenes, why have it if it’s not necessary for the plot. The only point that these sexual encounters have to do with the novel is the prediction Kafka’s father made about him and his mother and sister, and this seems like a ploy just have these in the novel.
Apart from all that the novel was great. And it has me looking forward to reading A Wild Sheep Chase, which I’m reading for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge. I’m also bound to get back to The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle because I enjoyed the book enough, even though there were times I struggled. Kafka on the Shore is an interesting book and a great intro to Murakami.
This week’s Booking Through Thursday question goes as follows:
When I think of literature my mind immediately drifts to the classics. Dickens, Tolstoy, Hawthorn, and Bronte are just some of the names that come to my mind when someone says “literature.” Lately I’ve been thinking I need to read more literature. It used to be primarily what I read and now I’m missing it. So, for the last couple of weeks I’ve been listening to The Scarlet Letter on my ipod. I also did the book on tape thing when I took classes in Winnipeg and was commuting from Winkler. I find that I enjoy listening to these types of books on tape or on my ipod because I tend to drift when I try to read them but I’m really interested in this type of novel.
What I really should do is give literature another shot. Pick up some Bronte or Austen and read it, no matter how challenging it might be. I’m always up for pushing the limits and perhaps if I do that again it’ll be worth it. I don’t find it a struggle or anything like that, I just feel like I’ve neglected them lately and I’m feeling it.
So, Austen ready or not here I come.
That little red head is of course Anne Shirly. Anne of Green Gables was published in April a mere one hundred years ago. There are many places that are probably celebrating this milestone, none more than the folks on Canada’s smallest province. To see what’s happening there are a number of websites dedicated to Anne turning 100. It’s amazing to think that it’s been 100 years ago that L.M. Montgomery created Anne and decided to share her with the world.
Regardless of how you have experienced Anne in the last hundred years take some time to reintroduce yourself to Anne. Or, experience Anne for the first time; you never know you may find a kindred spirit.
