Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Title: Frankenstein
Author: Mary Shelley
Genre: Horror, Classic
Rating: 2.5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~12hrs
Date read: August, 2010

The epic battle between man and monster reaches its greatest pitch in the famous story of Frankenstein. In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor himself to the very brink. How he tries to destroy his creation, as it destroys everything Victor loves, is a powerful story of love, friendship... and horror.

I knew almost nothing about this book when I started it, but it turned out to be very different from my expectations. I'd expected it to be somewhat similar to Dracula (although that one ended up being different from my expectations as well, but that was mostly because of the writing style), but the similarities were slim to none - which ended up being to the detriment of "Frankenstein". The writing wasn't as captivating, and the characters were either unlikable or just plain boring.

While I did find the story interesting enough to finish it, I have to admit, I didn't care for it much, and it puzzles me how it managed to obtain the rating of 'a classic'.

The Year of Living Biblically - A.J. Jacobs

Title: The Year of Living Biblically
Author: A.J. Jacobs
Genre: Non-fiction, memoir
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 332
Date read: August, 2010

Raised in a secular family but increasingly interested in the relevance of faith in our modern world, A.J. Jacobs decides to dive in headfirst and attempt to obey the Bible as literally as possible for one full year. He vows to follow the Ten Commandments. To be fruitful and multiply. To love his neighbor. But also to obey the hundreds of less publicized rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers; to play a ten-string harp; to stone adulterers.

The resulting spiritual journey is at once funny and profound, reverent and irreverent, personal and universal and will make you see history's most influential book with new eyes

As a Christian who believes in a mostly* literal interpretation of the Bible, I found this memoir absolutely fascinating! First of all, it was interesting to see the Bible through a non-religious Jew POV. And secondly it was fascinating to see anybody attempt to follow all the laws of both the Old and the New Testament.

I really enjoyed A.J. Jacobs' writing style, and was releaved to see how respectful his approach was. He actually ended up teaching me a thing or two about how to follow the Bible as well.

I've wanted to read this book for ages and was very gratified to see that it completely lived up to my expectations.


* There are some passages that are obviously meant to be taken figuratively - when Jesus calls the disciples "salt of the earth", He didn't actually mean they were made of NaCl ;)

Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson

Title: Three Cups of Tea
Author: Greg Mortenson
Genre: Non-fiction, memoir
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 330
Date read: August 2010

Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan's treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools--especially for girls--that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson's quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit

I started this book with mixed expectations. One of my friends had LOVED it (all capital letters), another had thought it extremely overrated. As I usually trst recommendations from both people, I had no clue where on the scale I would end up. However, it kept popping up in discussions, reviews and on bookshelves, and the story fascinated me, so I decided I had to give it a chance.

It took me a bit to get into it - I've started to think that introductions should really be read last rather than first - but once I did, I was absolutely captivated. Greg Mortenson's story is extremely fascinating, and I'm deeply impressed by all that he does for the people of Pakistan. Also, it was really interesting to see the USA-Pakistan relationship from the Pakistani side of the fence.

I'm amazed by Tara's fortitude and bravery in letting Greg go off so often and for so long periods of time. I doubt I'd be able to do the same.

Three Cups... is in no way a literary masterpiece - it could definitely have profitted from a thorough editing - but it blew me away.