Deviation Actions
Welcome to my quarterly newsletter, in which I review the books I've read the previous season which I've found to be the most profound, helpful and/or interesting. 
Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis
Goodreads link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/25…
I listened to this one on audio, which was a good idea as listening to the book read aloud helped me visualize the action and the setting. Considering that I wrote a 25 page mini-biography of Lewis for my senior project in undergrad, this was one of his books that I meant to read for that but didn't. Of course, it's nothing like Narnia – Out of the Silent Planet is the first book in an epic space triology – but I enjoyed it because Lewis still manages to weave philosophical questions into his plot. It is clear that the journey Ransom (the main character) takes is not only a physical journey to a new world, but also a spiritual one. Read this if you want a sci-fi thriller that is timeless and encourages you to question yourself.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Goodreads link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/22…
I read this book a couple years ago while I was in college, but I reread it for CRLiterature's Monthly Book Club in September. (So cool!) Anyway, the only thing I really have to criticize about this book is that sometimes that it seems to address too many issues at once, which can affect the suspension of disbelief. Apparently the movie version of this book made one of my friends who is infamous for not crying start sobbing. And even though I have never seen the movie, I could believe the emotional tug, especially because of the unexpected ending. This is a book about being true to oneself and about the infinite value of speaking up – how inaction is often more harmful than poorly executed actions. This is a lesson I've heard the hard way, so I can appreciate it here.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Goodreads link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/43…
Yeah, I know, another young adult book. But I really can't put into words how much this book affected me. I read it in a day and a half – I felt like I was knocked upside the head with the plot, characters, and implications of the novel. Perhaps it's because I can relate to the distant family situation, or to self-isolation in general. I don't know if a plot summary would give it much justice, so I'll just say that it's about a girl who hides an unspeakable event in her life; it threatens to consume her until the ending. Just read this.
An Armenian Sketchbook by Vasily Grossman
Goodreads Link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/15…
This is a travelogue of sorts of a Russian writer about his observations and ruminations while traveling in Armenia in the 1960s. You think it would feel dated, since it was written about fifty years ago, but Grossman's writing reveals both his own inner struggles and unforgettable imagery about the people and place of Armenia. Some parts are a bit dense, but it's worth a read. As a plus, it's fairly short, clocking in a little over a hundred pages.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Goodreads link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/12…
I feel as though I have read many books on writing, and also that there are many well-written books on writing, but this one is pretty amazing. Anne Lamott isn't afraid to be blunt, and it often seems as if she is speaking directly to the reader, which is very difficult to pull off but by some mysterious magic she manages it. Definitely a swift kick of inspiration for any writers or anyone interested in writing.
A Jab of Deep Urgency by E Kristin Anderson (aka PinkyMcCoversong)
Goodreads link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/22…
Yes, I am doing a little personal pimping here, but I think I'd like to keep my articles well-rounded (with both fiction, non-fiction, and poetry), and this book of found poetry is the best book of poetry I've read this season. I'm astounded at how much the author says with so few words in each poem. And though this book has its source in A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, the author does something wonderful with each poem to make it hers. So read this if you want to read something by a contemporary author, are curious about found poetry, or just want to read good poems. You won't be disappointed.
I Am Spock by Leonard Nimoy
Goodreads link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/77…
This book is both a sequel and an apology for the last memoir Nimoy wrote, I Am Not Spock, which angered a lot of people in the 70s, I guess. I Am Spock examines both the character of Spock and the acting career of Leonard Nimoy. (For example, I had no idea that he was in a major theatrical projection of “Fiddler on the Roof.”) Complete with photos, I enjoyed this immensely. Going into it, I thought it was going to be dense, but Nimoy's narrative voice was easily readable and for the most part likeable. Definitely for Star Trek fans or anyone who might take an interest in acting. The book was, might I say, “fascinating.”
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K LeGuin
Goodreads link: www.goodreads.com/book/show/59…
For being a relatively short fantasy novel, the author manages to make it quite imagistic in the places that matter the most. An old novel, but profound in its ruminations of power, good and evil, and choice. Basically it's about a guy who has the power to change reality with his dreams, and when a psychiatrist sees this in action, he attempts to manipulate it. This is a thought-provoking read for sure.
And that concludes my book reviews for the fall of 2014. Comments, suggestions, discussions and questions are encouraged!! 
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