Twelve Years a Slave

Summary: This unforgettable memoir was the basis for the Academy Award-winning film 12 Years a Slave. This is the true story of Solomon Northup, who was born and raised as a freeman in New York. He lived the American dream, with a house and a loving family - a wife and two kids. Then one day he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in the deep south. These are the true accounts of his twelve hard years as a slave - many believe this memoir is even more graphic and disturbing than the film. His extraordinary journey proves the resiliency of hope and the human spirit despite the most grueling and formidable of circumstances. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com) 

Review: “12 Years a Slave” was an interesting book I would recommend everyone to read.  There was a very conscious effort to avoid exaggeration, hyperbole or judgment and document the facts.  This has the effect of the writer appearing very honest and resonating with the reader, but is also what also had me demote the book a star because it can also be a bit dull.

That being admitted, read in the modern context, we have to understand that the factual writing style protected Northup.  In 1853 when the book was published, slavery/racism was very much present in the US and his approach protected against accusations of slander.  

When being written, the goal wasn't to create propaganda.  The purpose was to provide an accurate description to one individual’s experiences and leave the judgment to the reader.

Historically, this is an important book as the matter of fact presentation encouraged many people to take abolitionist action preceding the Civil War.  I would highly recommend taking the time to read the book.

Rating: 3 stars! 
Who Should Read It? Everyone interested in a unique historically accurate perspective of slavery preceding the Civil War.

Humans of New York

Summary:
In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton set out on an ambitious project: to single-handedly create a photographic census of New York City. Armed with his camera, he began crisscrossing the city, covering thousands of miles on foot, all in an attempt to capture New Yorkers and their stories. The result of these efforts was a vibrant blog he called "Humans of New York," in which his photos were featured alongside quotes and anecdotes.

Humans of New York is the book inspired by the Internet sensation. With four hundred color photos, including exclusive portraits and all-new stories, Humans of New York is a stunning collection of images that showcases the outsized personalities of New York.

Surprising and moving, Humans of New York is a celebration of individuality and a tribute to the spirit of the city. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

"Humans of New York" is a fascinating insight to the 'average' human's extraordinary life and story to tell.  The blog and book are successful because Brandon is able to encourage individuals to respond to questions that give the reader a peek to important moments in their lives.  Without his commentary, the photos would be interesting, but less moving.

I received this book after a work trip.  Despite the late hour, I sat down and read the book cover to cover in one sitting - still in my work heels.  I highly recommend the book, checking out the blog or following the Facebook page.  This definitely gets 5 stars from me.

To see the blog, go to: http://www.humansofnewyork.com/

                                                                                    

Rating: 5 stars!
Who Should Read It?  Everyone should at least take a look at the blog, it is fascinating!

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Summary:

A powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe—and built her back up again.

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone.

Strayed faces down rattlesnakes and black bears, intense heat and record snowfalls, and both the beauty and loneliness of the trail. Told with great suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild vividly captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

Wild was a book that I am split on.  The beginning of the book was painful for me to get through as it provided the background to what initiated the interest in the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).  Essentially the first few chapters trace Cheryl’s life imploding after her mother’s death.  Whining, tears, sex, drugs – she went through them all in an almost stream of consciousness description.  In fairness, I have not experienced the death of a loved one so close, but there were a lot of times I just wanted to give her a HUGE kick in the ass.  Others who have experienced a similar loss may disagree with my tough love and not find it quite so annoying.

That being said, once Cheryl did make it to the PCT, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.  She is a talented writer and did a fantastic job describing what could have been a boring description of a long-distance hike.  Her impulsive decision to hike, and therefore lack of preparation, in many ways provides both humor and mild suspense.  I enjoyed the “take it as it comes” attitude and was engrossed to see if she would make it to the end.

Warnings: Drug Use, Sexual Content

Rating: 3 stars!
Who Should Read It? Travel/hiking/adventure story enthusiasts who can put up with some whining and explicit moments.

Eat, Pray, Love

Summary: 

In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want--husband, country home, successful career--but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com) 

Review:

Now I will start out with this review acknowledging that Elizabeth Gilbert has received a lot of criticism about what it must have cost for her to indulge in the year of self-exploration in this book.  I want to point out that 1) I believe she still had a flexible job while traveling (travel writer - and writing the book), 2) there are many ways to travel cheaply (particularly if you are renting and not staying at a hotel as she did) and 3) she was divorced, unattached, and had sold a bunch of her stuff.  Who cares how she chose to spend the money she did had?

Fiscal responsibility aside (and I would argue this book talked a lot about shucking guilt-induced, self-imposed responsibilities), this book was a fantastic journey around the world and into the mind of Gilbert.  In the fast-paced world of today, it is easy to see how quickly one can get caught up in being who you’re “supposed to” be and doing the things you are “supposed to” do.  While recognizing her family/friends thought she was crazy, Gilbert’s hilarious commentary around the world was refreshing and insightful.  I may not be ready to take the leap as Gilbert did, but I certainly loved following along with her journey from the comfort of my armchair.

Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It? Folks looking for a book that will challenge the cookie cutter definition of normal and encourage a second-look at what creates happiness in their life.  Or someone just looking for a travel experience lived vicariously through a book.