My book group chose Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks based on the recommendation of one person who read it in college and remembered liking it, but couldn’t remember what it was about. Knowing that Ms. Brooks’ other books have gotten excellent reviews, I thought this would be an excellent choice.

Hrmph.

I wasn’t the only one irritated to find out this wasn’t fiction, and the lesson we (well, more like me, since I’m the one who heads it up) learned was that we shan’t be taking anyone’s recommendation without a little research if they can’t remember what the book’s about. A little  research is required when recommending a book.

I’m reluctant to say I enjoyed it, since that would be akin to avoiding a particular food all my life, tasting that particular food, and deciding I like it, realizing that I’d never even given that particular food a chance. Despite my enjoyment of Nine Parts of Desire, most likely I won’t be picking up any non-fiction (voluntarily) in the near future. I love to learn, LOVE TO LEARN, but for me, reading (books in particular) is for pleasure, enjoyment, and escape (I realize that this is not the case for everyone). Escaping to facts is not the same as escaping to fiction.

On to the book.

Nine Parts of Desire is Ms. Brooks’ attempt to understand why Muslim women take up the hijab and how the culture has slowly been eroding women’s rights, rather than furthering them. The author delves into the history of Islam, examining Muhammed and the subsequent attempt to interpret his messages.

Many subjects are examined, such as Muhammed, women in politics, genital mutilation, and Queen Noor. While the author was very good at staying objective, it was still difficult for her to understand why women would voluntarily submit to wearing the hijab.

My favorite part was the chapter on Queen Noor. She is a fascinating person, an American who met and fell in love with the King of Jordan, converted to Islam, and reigned with dignity and grace. Google her. Now.

Unfortunately, the person who’d recommended the book was unable to attend our book club meeting, so the discussion was lackluster. The problem with non-fiction, we felt, was that we couldn’t really discuss the author’s writing, the characters, plot development, etc. We briefly discussed what we liked and didn’t like, but as there’s nothing that we as white American women can do (seeing as how the Muslim women themselves can’t even effect change), there wasn’t much to discuss.

One of the book club members was able to find an anonymous critique of the book, but the critique didn’t hold much water, in our opinion. So the discussion fell a little…flat.

I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy non-fiction. Ms. Brooks has a compelling writing style and keeps up the pace. But for your book club? Maybe not.

Rating: 88 out of 100

You can find another review here.

A while ago I ran across this shirt. You have to see this shirt to understand my nightmare, but I know not everyone will click on the link, so here is what I’m referring to:

I totally want this shirt (*cough*I wear a medium*cough*). I’m poor and can’t buy the shirt (I think being a newleywed and being poor go hand-in-hand), but I think about it ALL THE TIME. No, I don’t obsess much, but thanks for asking.

So last night I had this dream (most of my dreams are more like nightmares, often they’re just plain ol’ nightTERRORS), and I was in a Macy’s-type place, in the makeup area. And I REALLY HAD TO GET TO THIS ONE PLACE, but this lady somehow got ahead of me and placed her very large stroller right in the middle of the walkway so I couldn’t get around. The only other way to get around was to go around the small makeup counter, which was just like a tall round table, and rather small.

I ask her if I can get by and she doesn’t let me. She’s insistent that I go around or wait for her to finish, and I get so angry that I finally just go around the makeup counter, but before I do I tell her, “I’m blogging this.” And she says, “Good! I’d love to read what you say about this.” And I think, great, she’s going to read my blog and everyone will side with HER. Even though they should side with ME. So I go around and THE OTHER SIDE IS BLOCKED TOO. I’m so frustrated I can hardly see straight. I say more about how I’m definitely blogging about this NOW, and somehow I get through the baracade.

So when I woke up and thought about the dream, I thought, I’m (totally) blogging this.

Have you had any nightmares lately? Do you get many nightmares?

I’d say on average I get one a night, but they usually cluster into 2 or 3 a night, nightmares that wake me up. There was a time I even thought about trying to get my doctor to give me something to help me sleep at night so I wouldn’t get nightmares so often, but after being summarily dismissed by my doctor, I decided it wasn’t worth the effort.

My tagline used to be, Welcome to my nightmares…, but I’ve since changed it to Reading is sexy. Isn’t that cute?

Jen over at Jen’s Book Thoughts tagged me for the six quirky things about me meme. I know, I know, I’ve done this meme before. But I don’t care! I love getting tagged!

Ze rules are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

Okay, so six quirky things…

1. I like to eat marshmallow creme right out of the jar.

2. I use an epilady-type thing on my legs, and when I haven’t shaved, I like to tweeze the hair on my legs.

3. I’m not really into purses. I’ve had the same purse for 10 years.

4. I get jealous of other people’s handwriting. I have pretty good handwriting, but I’m often coveting someone else’s writing.

5. I’ve chosen glasses over contacts. I have light skin, light hair, and light eyes. My face is feature-less without my glasses. And yes, I could use makeup to enhance my eyes, but that takes time. Time that I’d rather be sleeping.

6. I love all things vintage.

What’s quirky about you?

I’ll tag Tammy at Tammy’s Book Nook, iubookgirl at Reader for Life, avisannschild at she reads and reads, Ti at Book Chatter and Other Stuff, Kim at I Smell Books, and Shannon at Confuzzled Books. If any of you have already done this, I sorry. I can’t keep track of ev-wything. And if you want to play along, ’cause you’re a weirdo, then please do!

I got an email from someone associated with the eighth annual National Book Festival. She wanted me to tell you about this book festival, so I will, but I was wondering if any of you have ever been to something like this. But before I get to my questions, let me tell you about this festival.

Here’s the info:

For authors and readers, the event is a great opportunity to meet in-person and interact with some of the nation’s best-selling authors, illustrators and poets. For those not local to the DC area, the festival is providing several online resources to encourage participation across the nation!

This free event, featuring over 70 award-winning authors, attracts over 100,000 book lovers of all ages to the National Mall in Washington, DC to celebrate the joys of reading and lifelong literacy.

Sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, this year the Festival will take place rain or shine Saturday, September 27th 2008 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on The National Mall (Between 3rd and 7thstreets) in Washington, DC. Additional details on the festival are housed here: http://www.loc.gov/bookfest.

Authors, illustrators and poets will interact with festival-goers at seven themed pavilions such as the Fiction & Mystery pavilion and the Poetry pavilion.  The pavilions will feature several participating authors who will sign books and give readings from his works.

In addition to the DC festivities, the Library is offering a variety of ways for people around the country to participate in the event online:

• Podcasts, also available on iTunes, featuring interviews with some of the award-winning authors participating in the 2008 National Book Festival.
• Online chats hosted by washingtonpost.com featuring a select group of Festival authors. These live text-based discussions will take place throughout September leading up to the Festival at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/liveonline/index.html, where participants can submit questions and comments any time before or during the live chat.
• The National Book Festival Young Readers’ Online Toolkit features information about National Book Festival authors who write for children and teens, podcasts of their readings, teaching tools and activities for kids. This resource shows educators, parents and children how they can host their own book festival.
  For additional details about participating authors, illustrators and poets please visit, www.loc.gov/bookfest.

But the best part about this festival? THE AUTHORS. Here’s some authors I’d love to see: Neil Gaiman, Geraldine Brooks, Sandra Brown, Marisa de los Santos, and Philippa Gregory. How cool would that be??

Here’s the poster for the National Book Festival…it’s so beautiful that if I got to go I would totally grab a poster and hang it in my home as art: nbf08-poster. And if you ARE going, here’s a map of the who thing: 2008-nbf-public-map-final.

Jill’s trying to get me to go to the Book Group Expo in San Jose. I’m debating about it because I really don’t have the money. But I could network! And write it off! (lest you’ve forgotten about TLC Book Tours) The authors at that event that I’d love to see are: Brunonia Barry (author of The Lace Reader), Marisa de los Santos, and Selden Edwards (author of a new book called The Little Book).

Oh, the fun I could have!

But have any of you been to something similar to one of these two events? IS it that cool to listen to authors talk? Did you get to see as many authors as you wanted? Did you feel the authors had time constraints? Was it totally lame?

Oh, and if anyone wants to fly me to the National Book Festival I just told you about, I’m totally free this weekend.

This week’s Booking Through Thursday question is:

What was the most unusual (for you) book you ever read? Either because the book itself was completely from out in left field somewhere, or was a genre you never read, or was the only book available on a long flight… whatever? What (not counting school textbooks, though literature read for classes counts) was furthest outside your usual comfort zone/familiar territory?

And, did you like it? Did it stretch your boundaries? Did you shut it with a shudder the instant you were done? Did it make you think? Have nightmares? Kick off a new obsession?

Well, I just read Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks. I haven’t written the review yet, but it’s non-fiction and I DO NOT read non-fiction. But I liked it! I was surprised, actually, that it didn’t bore me to death. I figure if Brooks writes such good non-fiction, her fiction must be KILLER.

But will this book encourage me to pick up other non-fiction. H-E-double-hockey-sticks NO. I read to escape, not to have reality come crashing down on me. So it’ll be a very strange day when I voluntarily pick up more non-fiction.

The strangest thing I ever read, though, was probably The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing. Weird weird weird. If you’ve read it, I’m sure you’ll understand. If you haven’t read it, well, you should. It’s a little novella and just downright creepy.

What’s your answer to this question?

Oh, and have you weighed in on the food issue?