When I finished the Virgin Suicides, I gave it 4 stars. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I thought the writing was beautifully done, and the story was too dark for my over sensitive heart. That was a couple nights ago. Now, I’d give it 5 stars. I can’t stop thinking of the Lisbon sisters. I know it’s fiction, but Jeffrey Eugenides makes me forget this. Maybe because I’m familiar with the atypical depression teens faced, or maybe because it was the mystery that a young woman would take her life, it’s so real for me. It’s like the story is haunting me.

I can’t stop thinking of Lux’s halter top, I can’t stop thinking of Cecilia and her bracelets over the bandages. Or how the suicides of the sisters affected the economic state of their neighborhood. Or how poor Trip and the women he bedded down to replace what he was missing in his heart from Lux. Even Eugenides detailed description of the dead grass during the Fall on the Lisbon’s lawn I can’t get out of my head. Being a writer, having a writer in my family and being married to a writer, I know words can be used as an emotion. Eugenides’ words flow so well in the book, I forget I’m reading, and he’s describing my emotions, my curiosity, my sadness, my confusion. This isn’t real life; I never met any of the Lisbon sisters but I mourned their death just like the coroner did.

When I read about the plot, it was silly. Pretty girls with problems, I’ve read a ton of books like this. I was over it before I began reading it. It sounded boring and I assumed it was overwritten. How can suicide be glamorous? Eugenides doesn’t glamorize suicide. At the end of the book, suicide is grotesque as are the Lisbon sisters. Whether it was because they were beautiful or rarely seen, the idea of them will always remain a mystery, more than them living.

The Virigin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides is one of the two books for The Slow Readers Book Club. 

Into the Forbidden Zone

I wanted to read this story because if you weren’t a reader at the time, I was scheduled to leave to Tokyo two days after the earthquake. I love Japan- the culture, the food, the history, everything Japanese. It was a perfect way to celebrate my 30th birthday and anniversary with Scott. As I watched CNN on March 11, with shock, I’ll admit, I had a “Seinfeld” moment- you know, one of those, “what about my vacation?!” moment. That selfish feeling lasted for a few seconds. It wasn’t just an earthquake with shaken walls, it was a blanket of ocean taking thousands of lives, stealing a last breath without warning. It was devastating and I cried for weeks, I felt like I was mourning with Japan.

William T. Volmmann returned to Japan shortly after the Tsunami last year. I was curious on reading a detailed story besides small bits through news stories. It was a good book, and I rated it two stars, “just ok” (according to Goodreads ratings). I didn’t love it, but the stories of the people who experienced and lived through the event was the reason I kept reading. As for Volmmann’s writing, he’s a book award winner, but for my taste, it was overwritten. I couldn’t keep up with his style. The actual journalism was great; it was factual, detailed, and emotional. At the time same time, it seems he writes for the art of it, rather for the certainty of it, which I don’t like. It also felt like it was cut short. What happened to each person he interviewed? What happened when he went in deeper to Sendai?

Into the Forbidden Zone is recommended for the curious on Japan and the March 2011 earthquake. It’s also a short read- it’s about 50 pages and took me a couple hours to finish. This is one of the many books I’ll be reading this year for Shelved 2012.

In 2011, I purchased 272 books on my Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Borders (before they closed), Nook and iBooks. Some were free, 99¢ in the Kindle store, on sale, and some I paid full price for. They were cookbooks, fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, technical books, vintage books, children’s books, you name it, I (thought) I’d read them as soon as I purchased them. This doesn’t include what I actually owned prior. My husband is a librarian and with our marriage came a documented certificate, a wedding, and a houseful of books. There’s nothing wrong with books, the more the merrier by all means. I love books in any form. Well, after looking back at the year and how I’ve spent my money, I decided to stop buying books for just 2012.

For 2012, I will borrow from my bookshelves, and my digi library. I won’t be buying any books for 2012. I know it’s almost impossible for some of us, but I think I can do it! This crazy idea (well, crazy for me) was prompted after unpacking books after my move and looking at my online collection. Part of our home was specifically made into a home library, and I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t even read half of what’s on my shelf. I realized I had so many books, it’s inexcusable to keep adding to the shelves and storage if I don’t really read them. Sure, there are some I’ve actually read and loved, but it’s not enough to merit spending and storing so many books that are going unloved. It doesn’t matter what the topic of the book is, I will read it. My girl scout Cadette handbook? Reading. My favorite Bukowski I’ve read a few times? Reading that, too. A children’s book from the thrift store? Add it to the list. Am I eyeing another vegan cookbook to my kitchen? Nope, instead I’ll use the collection I already have. That explicit fantasy book I got as a white elephant gift? Reading.

It was the romance of reading, not actually owning the books, that swayed me to purchase them. So why not stop buying books, save some money, and visit some old favorites and new adventures through reading? I want to do this project to test my love for consumerism. Really, I love shopping for books. I love clicking on that “add to cart” button, walking out of the book store with a ton of used books. There’s nothing wrong with it, but for myself, it’s a habit closer to hoarding. Scary.

Are you with me on this? Is there anything you’ve vowed to stop buying for 2012?

{Just to clarify, if a book is required for a book club or a work, I’ll be going to the public library, friends or neighbors to check it out rather than purchasing and still be able to keep my no-buying books for 2012 project consistent}