where’d you go, bernadette

Posted on 15 May 2013 by kristinshafel

After seeing this one land on several best-of lists and reading numerous positive reviews, I decided to add Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple to my recent impulsive book haul purchase.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette is told in various forms of correspondance—letters, emails, receipts, bills, etc.—gathered by the titular character’s precocious 15-year-old daughter, Bee. After her genius but psychologically troubled mother Bernadette mysteriously vanishes one day shortly before their anticipated trip to Antarctica, Bee investigates by using these materials to find her.

I was highly entertained by Where’d You Go, Bernadette—difficult to put down! I probably could have read this in two sittings (ended up reading it in three). After ever letter I was all like, OMG WHAT is happening here?? I can’t believe she did that! And you just have to read the next letter to see what the hell is up. And then something you totally don’t expect would happen. Some of the accounts were downright hilarious in their absurdity—especially from neighbor and fellow school-parent Audrey. Although I never felt entirely endeared to Bernadette (I suspect we are supposed to find her cool and quirky rather than maybe psychologically disturbed and misunderstood, as I found her), many scenes between her and Bee that came off as genuine and touching.

The first two-thirds of the book were fast-paced, but when the last third switched to Bee’s narrative (and stopped with the correspondance), it slowed a bit for me. Also, I felt like the letters and emails started becoming repetitive and too explanatory. The book took many twists and turns that I didn’t necessarily see coming, which is always a good thing. The best part, though was definitely the bond between Bee and Bernadette—funny, I believe I started reading this on Mother’s Day. I had no idea how auspicious the timing was, ha!

The characters are outrageous satirical takes on big-city elitist entitlement, Montessori-type parents, technology-savvy über-successful brainiacs, and more. Much of the book requires a huge serving of suspension of disbelief. But so what! It’s fun, entertaining fiction. Great for a quick summer read!

**NOTE: I read this for the Bout of Books 7.0 read-a-thon.

Read from May 11 to 13, 2013.

the art forger

Posted on 13 May 2013 by kristinshafel

I received a copy of The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro for Christmas and just now finally getting to it! I admit I cheated on the book jar with this one—couldn’t wait on it any longer.

The Art Forger is inspired by the infamous heist of Boston’s Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, two thieves dressed as cops strolled into the museum, easily dispatched two guards, and in just over an hour stole thirteen paintings by the likes of Degas, Rembrant, Vermeer, and Manet. Nearly 25 years later, the heist still remains one of the world’s most notorious unsolved crimes, with no trace of the artworks—which are valued today around $500 million.

B. A. Shapiro’s novel, which follows three timelines, blends fact and fiction in re-imagining historical figures’ relationships and a chases a wild mystery surrounding the events of the Gardner heist. Claire Roth, a struggling Boston artist who found herself blacklisted in the art world after a scandal with her former professor/lover, makes her living painting copies of famous works for an online reproductions company. One day, the owner of chic gallery Markel G, Aiden Markel, approaches Claire with a clandestine offer she almost literally can’t refuse: make a copy of Degas’s After the Bath, stolen from the Gardner. He unveils the original for her to work from, and Claire, a self-proclaimed “Degas expert,” is eager to begin. Before long, though, Claire suspects this Degas is not what it seems.

I really enjoyed The Art Forger! It was an intriguing mystery and engaging story, and a bit of a love letter to Boston, even. I wish that Claire had been just a tiny bit smarter, especially with men… maybe a little less romance in the book would have made me love it even more (although I have admitted here before that I’m not much of one for romance in general). The techniques for art forgery were fascinating, and there were enough twists and turns in the novel to keep it moving at a good pace. I had no idea how it was going to end up—I was imagining several possible outcomes, and ultimately I was satisfied with the ending. In the afterward, Shapiro went over exactly what was fact and what was fiction in the book, which I appreciated. I would have had no idea about some of the relationships, personalities, and art history. No spoilers here; go read it!

The Art Forger was my selection for “historical mystery” on the 2013 Eclectic Reader Challenge, hosted by Shelleyrae at book’d out, and my fifth read of twelve books total for the challenge.

Read from May 7 to 11, 2013.

bout of books 7.0 goals

Posted on 9 May 2013 by kristinshafel

Here are my Bout of Books 7.0 goals! I admit they are still pretty modest, but I did decide to amp it up just a little from the January read-a-thon. I will probably post my daily progress on Twitter, and then a final recap blog post here at the end of the week.

My goals

Read two books and post reviews; and start reading a third book
Participate in at least one #boutofbooks Twitter chat
Participate in at least two challenges/giveaways
Comment on at least 15 Bout of Books participants’ blogs

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++—The Bout of Books 7.0 team

how to get filthy rich in rising asia

Posted on 8 May 2013 by kristinshafel

A recent impulse book-buying venture included How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid. I had never read any of his work before, and this one got some stellar reviews, so I had to check it out.

How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is ultimately something of an unrequited star-crossed love story, disguised as a rags-to-riches story, presented in a self-help book format. Told in a second-person narrative, Rising Asia follows the journey of an unnamed protagonist from his boyhood in rural poverty through his shady business as a fraudulent entrepreneur peddling counterfeit products (namely bottled water).

The main character is brazen and proud, never faltering in his drive for professional success (which, obviously, he measures in dollars). Despite his self-focus, he falls in love with “the pretty girl,” whom he cannot shake from his heart no matter how many years go by. The Pretty Girl also has her own rags-to-riches experience, and their paths intertwine several times.

At first, the self-help format and instruction-style narration is a little jarring and takes some getting used to, and it even facetiously has twelve chapters with titles like “Get an Education,” “Work for Yourself,” and “Have an Exit Strategy.” The protagonist is only referred to as “you,” and everyone (and every place) in the book also go unnamed. The second-person, present-tense writing really engages the reader, and I did feel more a part of the story. There are many beautifully crafted scenes that stretch the imagination and are visually evocative.

How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is fast-paced and relatively short, too; I read the whole thing in only a couple of sittings. I’m not exactly sure where it is supposed to take place, which was part of the fun in reading it. I sometimes imagined India (probably due to my reading Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance last year), but the author is from Pakistan. Hamid found a creative and provocative way to describe different facets of modern life in South Asia—wide class divide and economic hardships, bureaucratic corruption, and disparate urban and rural conditions. Great read!

Read from May 5 to 7, 2013.

bout of books 7.0

Posted on 7 May 2013 by kristinshafel

Just in time for the end of the school year/concert season…

I’m looking forward to participating in Bout of Books again! I had a fun time in January during the 6.0 read-a-thon, and I’m in the same boat now as far as time commitment goes (again no rehearsals in the evening, but I do have normal workdays so I’m limited to participating during lunch hours and in the evenings). Goals post coming soon!

in defense of food

Posted on 6 May 2013 by kristinshafel

In anticipation of Michael Pollan‘s visit to Kansas City on Friday this week to discuss his new book Cooked, I figured I had better knock his In Defense of Food off my TBR before the event!

I have read two of Pollan’s books before: The Omnivore’s Dilemma (published 2006, read in 2008) and Food Rules (published in 2009, read in 2010). I’m a little out-of-order and a couple years behind on them, but still they’re good, worthwhile reads.

Much of the information in In Defense of Food is also in Food Rules, just more expanded upon with citations. The middle section was pretty bleak, laying out exactly all the problems with American food and eating habits from so-called “reductionist” science (where scientists and researchers just try to identify and isolate one nutrient and its effects rather than the whole food itself), of course processed foods, and the dissolving of the traditional family meal. But it is eye-opening to read about how everything really is connected—soil, sun, natural chemicals, flavors, etc.—and how certain nutrients or components in one food effect the others. Pollan’s writing style is accessible, too, without too much scientific jargon. A problem, though (that he acknowledges) is that people of only certain high enough income levels are likely to be able to follow his advice. Sad.

I can’t speak for all the scientific evidence, exactly, as neither Pollan nor I are scientists. But I do appreciate that he gives you a lot to think about as far as being more aware of what you’re buying and putting into your body. His mantra “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants” is a great starting point to healthier eating. Looking forward to reading Cooked later on and hearing Pollan speak on Friday here in Kansas City!

In Defense of Food was my fifth read of twelve books total for the 2013 TBR Pile Challenge, hosted by Adam at Roof Beam Reader.

Read from May 1 to 5, 2013.

the fifth child

Posted on 4 May 2013 by kristinshafel

A few weekends ago while visiting my cousin, I saw The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing sitting on her bookshelf and I remembered it being on some “best of” lists around Halloween last fall as a great horror book. She loaned it to me and I read it in just a couple of days.

Harriet and David are newlyweds in the 1960s, and know already that they want a big family of 6–10 children. In anticipation of this, they buy a huge house in the English countryside, and regularly host weeks-long holiday parties for their parents and extended family. Early in their marriage, Harriet and David welcome four beautiful, healthy, perfect children. Not long after their fourth is born, they are surprised with another pregnancy, which they didn’t expect so soon and is unusually difficult and painful for Harriet. Their fifth child, Ben, is described as monstrous, goblin-like in appearance, with piercing yellow eyes, stout in build and strong beyond comprehension, and from the beginning exhibits sociopathic behaviors. David is disgusted with Ben and refuses to touch him or acknowledge parentage. Harriet is generally blamed for bringing the boy into their lives, not only by her husband but also by their parents and siblings. Ben proves burdensome, dangerous, and terrifying to everyone and everything he encounters, save for a few adolescent neighborhood boys.

Foreboding in the beginning, the story becomes more hopeless and doomed with each page. I get why the family was disapproving of Harriet and David desiring so many children (money issues), I found their harsh judgement rather hypocritical and rude, not only because ultimately it is none of their business but also because they freely took advantage of the couple’s generosity in those long holiday parties. And then I was really offended by David’s attitude after Ben was born. Poor Harriet! I felt so badly for her. She wants to love Ben and help him, tries to, but ultimately can’t, honestly through no fault of her own. She is dismissed as hysterical by her doctor and family when she tries to get support for her obviously mentally and emotionally disturbed child. Instead of rallying around Harriet and getting Ben some appropriate help, they banish him to an asylum. Things only get worse from there.

Only a slim 133 pages, The Fifth Child packs a big punch and leaves you with lots to think about. While I do think this book runs in the vein of horror, it’s more of a commentary on often taboo subjects such as society’s general judgmental nature of parenting and mental healthcare.

Read from April 28 to 30, 2013.

the godfather

Posted on 3 May 2013 by kristinshafel

Even though I started a book jar last month, once in while something going on in my life compels me to pick a specific book next. When we were heading to New York a couple of weeks ago, I was inspired to read The Godfather by Mario Puzo, a book I’ve had on my shelves for a long time and fit perfectly with my list for the Eclectic Reader Challenge.

I am stupid in love with the Godfather films. Well, definitely the first two, of course. The third is “meh” for me. But seriously I think I could play the first two in my head entirely by heart. It’s pretty rare that I would have seen the movie before reading the book, so of course while reading I pictured Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, etc. as the characters. I didn’t know about the book until much later, well after I had watched the movies.

If you don’t know the story already, here’s the basic version: in 1945, Don Corleone, head of the Corleone Family (one of the Five Families of organized crime in New York), is approached to incorporate drugs into his business because of his connections with judges and politicians, for protection. Don Corleone is old school, believing drugs are too dangerous to deal in, and so declines. His refusal incites violent actions which spark a war between the Families, and Don Corleone’s youngest son, Michael, who always vowed not to be a part of that world, is forced to join his family in the fight.

The films (Parts I and II) are very faithful to the book, of course thanks to Mario Puzo writing the screenplays. (It is really difficult not to compare…!) There are additional scenes in the book (sometimes lengthy) that seemed to not have anything to do with anything at first, but did end up giving depth and backstories to minor characters, if nothing else. Also, the writing style, while solemn and deliberate but still highly descriptive, occasionally became repetitive.

The characters are flawed, which humanizes them and makes them compelling. Their brutal and vengeful actions can be shocking, but everything they do is calculated and explained logically. It’s incredible how Don Corleone is described as being the most convincing person ever. I was convinced! The women in the book are fairly one-dimensional… but it works. They are so in the films, too. Mostly I just loved reading The Godfather because it gives a greater understanding to these beloved characters’ thoughts and feelings. Reading the book made things that happened in the movies connect better in my mind.

The Godfather was my selection for “made into a movie” on the 2013 Eclectic Reader Challenge, hosted by Shelleyrae at book’d out, and my fourth read of twelve books total for the challenge.

Read from April 12 to 28, 2013.

bobby mcferrin

Posted on 1 May 2013 by kristinshafel

On Friday night I was fortunate to see Bobby McFerrin perform on the Harriman-Jewell Series in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center. Known for the mega-hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” McFerrin is actually a musician of many talents and projects beyond pop music. I had no idea he loved bluegrass music so much! It was an unforgettable, enjoyable show. I wish I could have brought everyone I know! Full review at KCMetropolis: Musically and joyfully spirited away

I had two more wonderful weekends in April, too. The weekend after our New York City trip I went up to Chicago and further up north in Wisconsin to celebrate my cousinephew’s first birthday (so much fun!!), and last weekend, after seeing Bobby McFerrin on Friday, I had my final Kansas City Civic Concert of the season on Saturday. We played “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg, Hovhaness’s Symphony No. 2 (“Mysterious Mountain”), von Suppé’s Poet and Peasant Overture, and Haydn’s Farewell Symphony. Throughout the Haydn, orchestra members are supposed to leave the stage at designated times, when their part is over, so at the end there are just two violinists in duet to conclude the work. Right before my exit, I had a solo that I totally rocked! I was nervous, but it turned out great (I’m not really much of a soloist!). Otherwise, the school year/season is finally winding down, and I’m finally catching up on reading my books (two review posts coming soon!). I love playing in my orchestras and being busy, but I think everyone can agree that a break is in order!

new york city

Posted on 28 April 2013 by kristinshafel

A couple of weekends ago Nick and I went to New York City! Nick had a performance with Society for New Music/Vision of Sound, and I tagged along for fun. It was my first trip to NYC and it was amazing! Honestly, I didn’t end up taking many pictures; just too in-the-moment for this trip. Still, it was a memorable weekend.

Times Square We arrived on Friday morning. After checking into the hotel, we started exploring on foot. Nick has been to NYC before, so he had some ideas of where he wanted to take me already. We walked from the hotel to Rockefeller Center, past Radio City Music Hall, and finally over to the Lincoln Square area to see the New York Philharmonic perform that night. Before the concert, we wanted to get some real New York pizza, and Nick took me to Serafina Always, a charming Northern Italian restaurant he enjoyed on his last visit to the city. We had a delicious marinated tuna and salmon tartare appetizer and uh-maz-ing pizza that had creamy burrata cheese, tomatoes, and basil. Tiramisu and a lemon/vodka sorbet for dessert. YUM. Then we stopped across the street from Avery Fisher Hall at Bar Boulud for a glass of wine before heading in to the hall for the NY Philharmonic concert.

Conducted by David Robertson, the NY Phil opened the concert with Messiaen’s Les Offrandes oubliées, which was probably my favorite piece of the evening. Next they invited pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard on stage to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 and the U.S. premiere of Tristan Murail’s Le Désenchantement du monde. I really liked the first half of the Murail but the second half lost steam for me. It was really thrilling to hear a pianist like Aimard perform a U.S. premiere though, regardless! The Mozart of course was performed impeccably, and the closing work was Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2, met with wild applause and a standing ovation at the end which surprised me. In Kansas City we are used to seeing standing ovations for pretty much everything. I guess as a Midwesterner I was sort of expecting the NYC classical audience to be more discriminating, tougher to impress or please, or something. Oh well, still awesome to experience a live NY Phil concert with my husband!

Courtyard at MoMA

On Saturday Nick and I spent much of the day with the Vision of Sound people before the performance at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church on E. 74^th St. In the morning on our walk up to the venue, we stopped at Tal Bagels on First Avenue for breakfast (garlic bagels with lox spread) and ended up arriving at the church early, so we walked around the neighborhood there a bit. I liked the shops around the Upper East Side/Third Avenue area, so we decided to come back on Sunday when we had more time. Nick’s concert went very well—standing room only! Vision of Sound performed a selection from his funeral symphony for string quartet and his guitar solo danza di fuoco, both with choreography (visit Nick’s website for more about his music). I don’t have an opportunity to hear his music live very much, so that was a treat for me. It was wonderful to meet some people from Nick’s past, too; former professors and their spouses who worked with Nick when he was an undergraduate performed or had music on the concert as well. After the show, we went to Bella Blu on Lexington to celebrate. I had veal ragu pasta dish that had a lemon-rosemary scent which I loved and wish I could recreate at home.

Sunday was a totally free day, and we were able to fit in a lot of fun stuff. We went to the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and later downtown to Chinatown and the Italian districts. At MoMA we saw The Scream by Munch, Starry Night by Van Gogh, The Sleeping Gypsy by Rousseau, and so, so much more. Those were just a few of the famous ones. I learned that “the Finnish know [the @ symbol] as the miukumauku, the ‘sign of the meow,’ because it resembles a curled up sleeping cat” which struck me as awesome and hilarious. I liked the Painting and Sculpture II gallery a lot, and the work of Wolfgang Tillmans… there was so much to take in! We went to every floor and gallery.

Central Park

After the museum we strolled through Central Park and back up to the Upper East Side/Third Avenue neighborhood to shop for a new purse for me but struck out, however we did have some good sushi at a restaurant there, Haru Sushi. Naturally, we started thinking about dinner next, and decided to hop the subway downtown to have the famous pastrami at Katz’s Deli. We wandered all around Chinatown and the Italian district, where we sampled mini cannolis and DID find an Italian leather purse for me in a shop on Mulberry Street, called “bag.” Nick found a leather briefcase in a shop called “shoe,” just down the block from bag. Huh! Anyway, it was my only souvenir and I’m really happy with my purchase! [photo hopefully coming soon…]

Katz's Deli Pastrami Katz’s Deli was for sure an essential experience for a first NYC trip. The pastrami was melt-in-your-mouth good, without being too heavy (I’m used to spicy slow-cooked BBQ ribs, and you don’t do ANYTHING the rest of the day after one of those meals!). After dinner we headed back up to the hotel and had wine and dessert at Deux Amis, a little French café near our hotel, to end the night.

Looking forward to visiting NYC again in the future!

my little heart melodies

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