The Woman in Black

The Gist: Susan Hill's "The Woman in Black" is a ghost story styled after all the classic Victorian thrillers (See Wilkie Collins, "The Woman in White") but in a short story format. At around 100 pages, it packs a lot of wallop for such a small amount of text.

Layout: The book uses a flashback narrative to introduce the main character first, set up his relationships and life at "current" time, and institute him as the narrator. The narrative takes the reader on the emotional ups and downs and then... well, I wouldn't want to ruin the ending!

Thoughts: I am a sucker for a Victorian story, and even though Susan Hill wrote this story in 1983 I wouldn't have known if I hadn't looked it up (which I did just now). I assumed from its presence in the e-book section of the library it was actually newer, but that could be attributed to the movie based on the book that just came out. Her writing is evocative of Dickens in its style and heavy imagery, and her plot lines are very Wilkie Collins-esque. She does not, however, depend on a big bad villain such as Count Fosco to intimidate the reader. Instead, an insidious character and frightening context weave a wonderfully suspenseful story!

Overall Impression: A must read for the thriller/Victorian lit/Brit lit/horror addict like myself! I ended up reading until 2a because I was honestly freaked out... if the movie is half as creepy as the book, I'm going to have to watch it mid-day on a Saturday and follow it up with "Old School" to shake the unnerved feeling I had at the end!

The Omnivore's Dilemma

The Gist: Michael Pollan, NYT writer and author of "In Defense of Food" (requested from the library; will review post haste!) goes in depth in to the American food system to discover the man behind the door, and how straying so far from our roots has changed our diets and lives.

Layout: The book is in three parts, with a good ramble in each part. The first is about the corn industry in the US and how sociopolitical pressures have made this grain the ever-present ingredient in everything from toothpaste to Kool-aid. The second part is a visit to a self sustainable farm for a look at local farming, sustainability, and the natural food chain. In the third and final part, Pollan befriends a group of hunter-gatherers in his own Berkeley to attempt to create a wholly local, self-caught-and-cooked meal for his friends and family.

Thoughts: The corn and farm sections are absolutely fascinating-- the twists and tangents sometimes get a little confusing, but Pollan does a good job of reiterating his point to keep you on the same page as him. The last section was a bit tedious for me, however the payoff is completely worth it. The last two pages actually made me tear up a bit, the sentiment was so deep-rooted in what I see to be the Southern way of life and reminded me desperately of the two people I miss most: My paternal grandfather and my maternal great grandmother.

Overall Impression: Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" is a fantastic book; I'm completely obsessed with it and if I could buy ten copies to consistently loan out or hand to strangers on the street, I would!