Moonlight in Odessa

. . . Just finished Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles. Called "a stubborn alternative to the classically male post-Soviet narrative," the book looks at the world of international matchmaking agencies; basically the marketing and exploitation of desperate women in need of new opportunities. Moonlight takes place in Odessa, Ukraine, and shines a light on American men who select brides from struggling countries and bring them home, expecting dutiful and totally dependent homemakers and wives. Daria, a bright, independent woman working for one of these matchmaking agencies, gets sucked into the idea of the American dream herself, and her insight into marriage and relationships is painfully honest.

Good people, Good reads

A small survey of my friend's exquisite reading tastes. Please take all of these as recommendations. I can assure you they are all worthwhile reads. And answer the questions yourself if you haven't done so already!

Mara Panich . . . Artist, Grad Student at UM

1. Favorite Books:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
I'm Not the New Me by Wendy McClure
Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut
Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins

2. Favorite Authors:
Sherman Alexie
Kurt Vonnegut
Tom Robbins
Louise Erdrich

3. Book I Love to Recommend the Most:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman

4. Book I'm Currently Reading:
The Corner by David Simmon & Edward Burns

5. Next Book I'm Going to Read: Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles

Chris Magee . . . Student at UM, Musician

1. Favorite Books:
The Magic Journey by John Nichols
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

2. Favorite Authors:
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Raymond Chandler

3. Book I love to Recommend the Most
The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols

4. Book I'm Currently Reading
The Adolescent by Fyodor Dostoevsky

5. Next Book I'm Going to Read
Viriconium by Neil Gaiman & John Harrison

Morganne Armstrong. . .Student at UM, my roomie!

1. Favorite Books:
The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Napalm and Silly Putty by George Carlin

2. Favorite Authors:
David Sedaris
J.D. Salinger
Tess Gallagher
A.R. Ammons

3. Book I love to Recommend the Most
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig

4. Book I'm Currently Reading
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

5. Next Book I'm Going to Read
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

about the blog

So, if you know me, you've probably guessed that I am a definite book nerd. I don't necessarily know if it's the norm to bring a suitcase full of books on a four-day long vacation, or to immediately ask "What book are you reading?" to friends, before a greeting is even uttered. I'm proud to say that I have a small following of friends and family who faithfully follow my book recommendations. It is probably not everyone's ideal night to discuss the virtues of Dostoevsky v. Tolstoy, but I have done it. Yes, I may not be a normal beast, but I'm proud to say that books pretty much consume my life.

Dutifully, I am enrolled as an English Literature major at the University of Montana; an experience that has enabled me to expand my reading list and knowledge of the literary world. I thankfully landed the dream job for any bookworm: bookseller at both Fact and Fiction Downtown and Fact and Fiction On Campus (check them out if you haven't, they are the best), and I love recommending books, whether it be to friends, strangers, and customers. There is a certain rush that comes upon learning that a book you have suggested has been enjoyed, and in some cases, even re-recommended throughout a different circle of friends. Of course, it also didn't feel too bad when I realized that the book I love to hand-sell on the job (Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery), is one of the top sellers at the store.

Anyway, I love books, the act of reading itself, discussing and recommending literature, etc., and I've been meaning to put my reviews and raves in an accessible forum such as this for a while now, but the decisive factor came from the quickly approaching adventure I am about to embark upon: a semester-long study abroad, on the tiny Meditarranean island of Malta. Although under an academic pretense, my main excitement has stemmed from the reading opportunities I will have while there. What better way to spend time on the Meditarranean than reading for pleasure?! Already stacking, listing, and obsessively planning which books I'm going take, I have substantially pumped myself up for the journey. My plan for this blog is to review books, hopefully plug the ones I've found worthwhile, and generally share some insight on my reading experiences in Malta.

I leave in less than two weeks, but am planning to post a little introductory reading survey before I leave (favorite books, currently reading, and so on), and I will hopefully incorporate some of my reading buddies and their valued opinions while I can still communicate easily. Of course, I love receiving recommendations and hearing about books people are raving about just as much as I love rambling. So if I've sparked your interest at all, please follow The Reading Beast blog, and treat it as a public forum for you to commend books you've read and loved/are currently reading and loving.

More to come... soon...