Asylum (1998), Patrick McGrath

Reviewer: Elle Ewok

Rating: 4 Pierogies

Review: Keeping in line with my newly discovered obsession with Gothic Literature I recently read Asylum by Patrick McGrath. My husband got it for me for Christmas (upon request) and I tore through the 272 page book like it was my job.

Asylum takes place on the grounds of a crumbling victorian mental hospital for the criminally insane in the English countryside during the late 50s. A new psychiartrist begins work at the mental hospital while his wife (Stella) and child live in a large house on the hospital grounds. Stella begins a passionate yet totally retarded love affair with one of the patients (Edgar) who is on work duty in her garden. Edgar is a nutball who murdered and mutiliated his wife. However, Edgar is hot and an artist so Stella is able to romanticize the murder. Edgar as the whole "tortured artist" schtick going on in spades. Stella becomes sexually obsessed with him (slut) and acts accordingly. Asylum basically details the affair and its aftermath. The story is narrated by an elderly psychiatrist who is clearly an unreliable narrator with his own motivations (any astute reader will pick up on this early on).

I loved the imagery in Asylum. The big, empty victorian spaces, english gardens, barren Welsh countryside and crumbling hospital are all described in interesting and gorgeous detail. I could see the sets in my mind's eye perfectly while reading. The best part is McGrath doesn't drown the reader in long, annoying descriptions of the settings. His descriptions are short and tight yet incredibly effective. This is a are skill. BRAVO Mr. McGrath!

The story is addictive - and how could it not be? The first page of the book tells the reader that the story is a tragedy and a tale of sexual obsession. HELLO?! Then the book takes off running. There is no long exposition or character backstory. The stage is set and Stella and Edgar are banging almost immediately. This isn't really a character study book - you learn some things about the characters through the book but there is no deep analysis as to why the characters are such selfish, crazy, horny jackholes. I hated pretty much everyone in the book but the story was so compelling I couldn't put it down. The plot actually went into a direction I was not expecting which is cool and there is a morbid twist (arguable) at the end.

Although I hate graphic depictions of sex in books I didn't have a problem with the sex in Asylum even though the book is filled with it. The narrator is a doctor and describes the sexual encounters in a clinical way which keeps them from coming off lurid and trashy. I dug it.

I guess some readers would disagree with me, but this book did not strike me as a character study or a commentary/analysis on any deep social, psychologoical or emotional issue. It is just a really morbid yet fascinating story. Crazy people in atmospheric settings begetting tragedy - the perfect gothic tale.

In 2005 Asylum was made into a movie starring Ian McKellen, Natasha Richardson and Marton Csokas. I heard the movie is depressing as all hell but I netflixed it anyway. Here is the weirdly disjointed trailer - it will give you all an idea of the story.

Holidays on Ice (1997), David Sedaris MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Elle Ewok

Rating: 4 Pierogies

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah (for my Mexican Jewish friend Sam)! I am stuck at work because my boss is a tyrant but the rest of you should go home and enjoy one of the most entertaining Christmas Stories of all time: Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris. Actually, I prefer to listen to David Sedaris' books on tape as his narrations are priceless.

Holidays on Ice is a book of 6 holiday-related essays. The most well-known is called Santaland Diaries and recounts Daivid Sedaris' time working as an elf Macy's. Although not my favorite David Sedaris book (Naked is my all-time favorite), Holidays on Ice is a light and hilarious way to enjoy the holidays.

As my holiday gift to you I will leave you with my favorite Christmas dinner movie scene.

Cat at a Bookstore in Santorini, Greece

I spent most of my honeymoon taking pictures of feral Greek cats. This one clearly likes to read. ~Elle

F U George R.R. Martin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Elle Ewok

You may have noticed that it is now December 2010. How was A Dance With Dragons you ask? You know the book that was supposed to be released in September 2010 after years of missed deadlines and delays?

Well I don't know, because once again George R.R. Martin is too busy housing fried chicken to finish the damn book. I cannot even remember what happened in the previous 4 books at this point.

WHAT ARE YOU SMILING AT YOU TUBBY TEASE!!?!??! Put down the gravy and get to work!!!!!!!!!

At least HBO seems to be on track with filming A Game of Thrones. You can watch a great Behind the Scenes Video of the production here.

Beloved (1987), Toni Morrison

Reviewer: Elle Ewok

Rating: 5 Pierogies

Review: Beloved is one of those books that everyone who wants to consider themselves "well-read" knows they should read at some point in their life. It won a Pulitzer prize and is probably the most well-regarded book written by a black woman of all time.

I avoided this book for years. I assumed, like most thing academics and media elites fawn about, that Beloved would be overrated, self-indulgent and pretentious. The fact that the New York Times' book editor named it the Best Work of American Fiction in the Last 25 Years only magnified my complete distrust for the hype around this book. Then the godforsaken French inducted Toni Morrison into the Legion Honor Society with Mitterrand saying she is the "greatest American novelist of her time" and I swore her work off completely.

Being a malcontent and cynic I assumed that people so wanted this to be a good book that they labeled it one regardless of merit. I figured I would be totally let down after reading Beloved and feel like I did after reading the Great Gatsby (yes, I hated the Great Gatsby okay?). However, one day I passed my bookshelf and Beloved seemed to be calling my name so I grabbed it and dug in.

Well don't I just feel like a giant A-hole right now? As it turns out, Beloved is magnificent. The awards, accolades and hype were well deserved for once. I really loved this book. It is one of the few books out there when both the story and the quality of writing combine into an amazing piece of art (and I will only refer to novels as "art" if both the story and writing are excellent). Beloved is art.

Had I known Beloved was essentially a ghost story (or arguable ghost story) I probably would have read it a long time ago. Although the "main" plot line is the ghost story, the tales of the various characters' past (the story of slavery in America) is told in flashbacks. Although the book jumps around in time it is not difficult to follow.

The main story and ancillary stories told in Beloved are all interesting, emotionally charged and significant. Beloved is a ghost story, a mystery and historical fiction all rolled into one. This book tackles the horrors of slavery but does not do it an an overwrought, maudlin, preachy or emotionally abusive way. It states the reality is stark, untouched terms - which makes the telling all the more beautiful and horrible.

In short, Beloved tells the story of Sethe and her daughter Denver and their lives after escaping from slavery. Their home is haunted with the ghost of Sethe's murdered daughter and it affects their already complicated lives in significant and frightening ways. There is literally endless scholarship devoted to the ghost in Beloved - what is it? what does it represent? In the end it doesn't really matter - Beloved will affect the reader in a profound way regardless.

Perhaps my favorite part about Beloved was the uniqueness and strength of the writing. I haven't given any thought to the simile since 5th grade when we learned how to differentiate between similes and metaphors. Beloved, literally, made me fall in love with the simile. Morrison's writing is stark, raw and earthy. The descriptions she creates with plain, even harsh words, used in ways I had never conceived of makes her writing so incredibly powerful. Morrison writes using a vocabulary and tone that former slaves would used - plain, nature-based, utilitarian. Yet, she transforms it into something exceptionally beautiful - something incredibly unique and special. I was truly moved by the literal writing in this novel and I cannot remember the last time I felt this way about a book.

Beloved is exceptional and special. I am so glad I read it.

OMG! Song of Fire and Ice has Begin Filming!!!!!!

Posted By: Elle Ewok

Imagine me jumping up in down in a circle and squealing like an idiot as I write this.

OH My God OH My God OH My God OH My GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!

FILMING HAS BEGUN for the HBO series based on George R.R. Martin's series a Song of Fire and Ice. I'm so excited I feel like puking on myself!!!!! Began three days ago to be exact. Supposedly it will be released Spring 2011.

The series Tag line will be - wait for it - "Winter is Coming." Hell yeah it is!!!!

I have a very complicated love/hate relationship with this series. I hate the series because it is disgusting sexually in a Roman Polanski sort of way but it is pretty much awesome in all other respects. Major characters are killed off constantly, your allegiance as a reader switches from the "good guys" to the "bad guys" constantly (presuming you can tell the difference between the two). The books are just totally exciting and entertaining and awesome.

HBO has released a viciously short teasor. They are also being stingy with the promotional photos although the three they have released are all of Sean Bean as Ned Stark so at least their marketing department seems to know what we want to see.

YOU. ARE. WELCOME.

The full cast has also been released. Aside from Boromir, I mean, Sean Bean and that guy who is always cast as the "Little Person" (is that the PC term du jour?) in any acting role requiring a little person I have no idea who any of these people are. I just hope the actors playing Cersei and Jamie Lannister are kick-ass because those characters are awesome.

The have cast alot of characters who don't even appear until later books in the series, it makes me wonder if they are screwing with the plots and timing of the story arch too much. If they are going to edit/change any part of these books it better be the gratuitous child-rape and gratuitous gang raping and nothing else!!!

CAST

Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen
Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
Sean Bean as Eddard Stark
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle
Michelle Fairley Catelyn Stark
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon
Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont
Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell
Richard Madden as Robb Stark
Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane
Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo
Kristian Nairn as Hodor
Dar Salim as Qotho
Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
Roxanne McKee as Doreah
Sibel Kekilli as Shae
Amrita Acharia as Irri

To see cast photos go here. The girl who they cast to play Arya looks perfect for the role. We'll see...

Here is the "trailer". I need more frankly. ENJOY!

The War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between Britian and France (1793-1815), Robert Harvey

Editor's Note: My uncle told me he won't read this blog until there are more manly books featured. Upon further questioning, I learned that by "manly books" he means military history books. Since my fiance reads nothing but military history books I asked him to contribute a review.

Reviewer: Mr. Ewok

Rating: 3.75 Pierogies (Mr. Ewok ignored S-LYBC protocol of not quartering pierogies)

Review: Robert Harvey’s The War of Wars chronicles the conflict between Great Britain and France that began during the French Revolution and ended with the final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. This book is an ambitious undertaking and, on balance, Harvey performed his task quite well. Most popular histories of this period tend to focus exclusively on the main protagonists or on specific military campaigns and battles. Moreover, such works usually cover only the Napoleonic era itself while treating the French Revolution as a mere stage setting device. Harvey, however, gives the reader a fairly detailed overview of the entire period and the major players in both Britain and France prior to Napoleon’s entry onto the scene. He then seamlessly continues the story without allowing the French emperor to completely dominate the story (no mean feat).

Harvey is at his best in introducing the events, politics and personages of Europe during the tumultuous French Revolution. He does quite well in describing the factionalism and shifting political sands of Paris during the Revolution. Harvey also gives appropriate credit to a host of historical figures that are often overlooked - perhaps most notably Lazare Carnot and Charles Dumouriez, the founders of the French military machine that Napoleon so vigorously wielded. Likewise, Harvey does a good job introducing the relevant British statesmen, such as William Pitt (the Younger), and their reluctance to recognize the brewing threat across the Channel. Further, the author’s depiction of the various naval engagements between the British and French (and allied) fleets is compelling. Harvey paints a balanced portrait of the relevant players – with due regard given to Horatio Nelson’s personal flaws (mainly public infidelity and hubris) while singling out the actions of lesser known heroes, such as Thomas Cochrane, for well-deserved praise. This evenhandedness extends to Harvey’s portrayal of both Napoleon and Arthur Wellesley (Wellington). Indeed it seems not much has changed for male celebrities over the ages – as even the insufferably priggish Wellington pulled a Milledgeville or two in his day.

Harvey also adeptly handled the Peninsular and Russian campaigns by devoting an entire section to the conflict in Spain before moving on to address Napoleon’s ill-fated invasion of Russia. Despite the overlap in events and the interrelated strategic picture in both theaters after 1812, Harvey shrewdly kept them separate in his book. This provides the reader with a more focused narrative that may have become muddled by a traditional chronological narrative.

So obviously I enjoyed the book yet it gets only 3.75 pierogies. That’s because unfortunately for Harvey I am somewhat of an authority on this area of history myself – albeit only a semi-literate yinzer authority. As such, this book inevitably failed to satisfy because as a general history perfect for the casual reader it necessarily lacks some of the historical detail and minutiae that appeals to readers with pre-existing Napoleonic conditions. This is particularly evident in the cursory treatment given to the many land battles. The Napoleonic Wars are punctuated with famous battles such as Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, and Borodino. If you are expecting a detailed blow-by-blow tactical account of these battles, this is not the book for you. To be fair, this was not Harvey’s goal and could have added hundreds of pages to an already thick tome – but in my view it was still a notable shortcoming to address major battles in mere paragraphs. And to the extent Harvey, a British author, betrayed any bias it was through the disparate treatment he gave to the land battles (dominated by France) vs. the sea battles (dominated by Britain). Even a minor engagement between a British frigate and its prey was often given more ink than a battle that resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and altered the balance of power in Europe.

One last sticking point for me was Harvey’s rather odd justification for Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. The author pulls no punches in casting Napoleon as the power-hungry ogre that he undoubtedly was – from his buffoonish attempts at diplomacy and premeditated slaughter of prisoners outside Jaffa to his naked aggression against Spain. Yet oddly when it came to one of Napoleon’s most boneheaded moves, Harvey justifies the Russian campaign as a defensive war. Eh, maybe. It’s certainly true that Tsar Alexander had grown hostile to Bonaparte in the years since Tilsit, but this was largely due to Napoleon’s insistence that Russia participate in a costly self-defeating embargo against British trade and his inflexibility in meeting Russian diplomatic concerns. Moreover, it would seem Napoleon’s decision to conquer Moscow rather than contenting himself with a new frontier at Vitebsk or Smolensk belies such a defensive motive.

That said “War of Wars” is an immensely readable and well-balanced account of the conflict between Britain and France, which defined early nineteenth century Europe. It is the perfect book for readers seeking an introduction to the events and personalities of the age and a great jumping off point for further reading. In that spirit, here are some recommendations.

For a good general biography of Napoleon:

The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte - Robert Asprey

For a more detailed account of the invasion and retreat from Russia:
Moscow 1812: Napoleon's Fatal March - Adam Zamoyski

For a thorough diplomatic and military analysis of Napoleon’s defeat of the Second Coalition and the events that led to Austerlitz, see:
The End of the Old Order: Napoleon and Europe, 1801-1805 (v. 1) – Fred Kagan (of Iraq’s surge fame)

For those looking for detailed accounts of individual battles or campaigns, Osprey Publishing has an excellent series that covers the Napoleonic Wars. Each book includes a chapter on the modern layout of the battlefield for readers interested in historical tourism. Here is a partial list from the reviewer’s own library. These are great primers on the overall strategic picture of the Peninsular Campaign, with Austerlitz thrown in for kicks: Fuentes de Onoro, Vimiero, Badajoz (where the British army committed a full blown Roethlisberger upon taking the city), and Austerlitz.