Ape House by Sara Gruen - Book Review

Ape House by Sara Gruen is about bonobos, a language specialist working with the bonobos, and a reporter, John. They're all interconnected, but they all have separate stories. The bonobos are attacked and sold out from under Isabel, their caretaker and researcher.

The foreshadowing throughout the book is done so deftly I had to facepalm every time something happened that I should have known about. She hides the concepts well. But on the other hand, everything seemed so perfectly planned and coincidental that it was a little too perfect. I can imagine that she had charts laying out what order things needed to happen in and not leaving any loose ends.

As in Water for Elephants, the animals are as much characters as the humans, if not more. They have a depth that most people can't impart on an animal. There were times I was frustrated by what the bonobos did; I didn't just blindly love them. It's that range of traits that makes Sara Gruen's writing simply amazing.

The plot has a lot of twists. They aren't huge but they are big enough. I was very happy because I assumed the two main characters, John and Isabel, would have an affair because of a strong attraction and problems in their own lives. But she didn't ever bring sex into it, at least not in that way, and it made the book that much more wholesome. There is sex, even some monkey sex, but it's all natural.

Reread Books in 2010

I read two more books the last week of 2010. So my total for the year is now 59. I'd say that's pretty good considering I didn't have access to a lot of books. I'm trucking through this year already with 5. (Loving the Kindle.) With last year's list I read 60 in 2009 and read 5 books by January 28.

So I'll start with the books I reread in 2010. I rate on a scale of 1-5.

La Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery - 5

I read this in both German and English. My mother used to read it to me in the original French. Wonderful children's classic with a depth unfathomable by children. Definitely something to read as an adult.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein - 5

Read this one with Albert. He liked it and wants to read the Lord of the Rings. I can't say much about the Hobbit except that it's awesome.

Harry Potter 4 by J.K. Rowling - 4

This is my absolute favorite Harry Potter. I bought a fancy signed version in London.

Harry Potter 7 by J.K. Rowling - 2

I don't like this one as much. The movie was awesome. (I hate you Hollywood for splitting it into two, grrr.) It's too psychological and philosophical instead of constant action for me.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - 3

Love love love this series. Especially the first one, Outlander. Anyone who can keep me hooked for 1,000 pages and never let up on the humor, love, and action is amazing.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer - 2

I don't like these books very much. The Host is so much better. But the movies are fun so I reread before the movies. They are quick easy reads when I just want to relax.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - 4

Amazing.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - 3

Good book. I struggle with her writing. It doesn't quite hook me. But the story is wonderful.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer - 4

This book grabs from the beginning and doesn't let go. The world is well developed and interesting. The characters are heart-wrenchers.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - 3

Had to reread before Mockingjay came out!

And those are my rereads for 2010. I will keep listing what else I read this year in small chunks. Also, I'll have a Kindle review at some point.