A heartwarming story of compassion and tolerance, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, by Helen Simonson, follows retired Major Ernest Pettigrew’s new relati...moreA heartwarming story of compassion and tolerance, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, by Helen Simonson, follows retired Major Ernest Pettigrew’s new relationships in the months following his brother’s death in the countryside of southern England. As Major Pettigrew develops a friendship with village shopkeeper Jasmina Ali, predictable lives become unpredictable, lifelong conformists rebel, insiders choose to become outsiders, and cultures clash in the struggle to do what’s right. In addition to being a story of timeless values of compassion and tolerance, this is a love story. The author describes most of the book’s characters and ridiculous scenes with tongue firmly in cheek. I thoroughly enjoyed this book’s humor. And Major Pettigrew proves a worthy hero.(less)
Though I very much enjoyed Graham Greene’s humor and the way Henry’s and his Aunt Augusta’s adventure unraveled, I felt detached from the characters. ...moreThough I very much enjoyed Graham Greene’s humor and the way Henry’s and his Aunt Augusta’s adventure unraveled, I felt detached from the characters. In that way, I suppose I was in the voyeur position that Henry was in as the story begins—as a bank manager just learning about clients’ lives but never becoming part of them. I also cannot say because Henry was winsome to me, I applauded his epiphanies. I liked that he stopped being a hermit as he began caring about people he encountered on his quirky travels. I liked his slow acceptance of his bossy aunt’s eccentricities and openness to discover past secrets of his family. But ultimately, I didn’t admire that Henry chose his aunt’s attitude that to have fun you cannot have a conscience. I never traveled out of my voyeur position to care about anyone in this story.
Having said that, I must also say Greene’s writing is very, very clever. Here is just one example of witty dialogue: “The question of names,” said my aunt, “is an interesting one. [Henry] is safe and colourless. It is better than being given a name like Ernest, which has to be lived up to. I once knew a girl called Comfort and her life was a very sad one. Unhappy men were constantly attracted to her simply by reason of her name, when all the time, poor dear, it was really she who needed the comfort from them. She fell unhappily in love with a man called Courage, who was desperately afraid of mice, but in the end she married a man called Payne and killed herself in what Americans call a comfort station.”
Greene creatively describes his characters, such as Tooley, the young hippie who befriends Henry on the Orient Express. The author’s outrageous stories range from mildly amusing to outright hilarious, such as the hijacking of World War II general’s car. The bizarre story of Uncle Jo’s believing that moving to a different room in his house every week would stretch out his life seems to be a metaphor for Aunt Augusta’s wanderlust. I enjoyed how Greene wrote this novel, even if I didn’t empathize much with his characters. (less)
Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain [possible spoiler alert: This review contains a general comment about the ending but does not reveal the ending....moreReview: The Art of Racing in the Rain [possible spoiler alert: This review contains a general comment about the ending but does not reveal the ending.]
Garth Stein has written a touching family story told from dog Enzo’s point of view. Dog lovers will love and completely understand how insightful Enzo is about his master Denny’s emotions, and vice versa. Enzo’s relationships with Denny’s wife and daughter and in-laws and coworkers (and zebras and crows) are all different and fun to see. As gripping drama unfolds in Denny’s family, Enzo anticipates the next responses of his hero (Denny) through lessons learned from Denny about race car driving, Denny’s profession.
I liked this book on several levels: the powerful-love-of-a-dog level, analogies comparing racing in the rain to life’s challenges, and humor in the midst of anguish. Though a happy relief, the fairy tale-ish ending seemed odd because the rest of the story is so heart-breakingly real. The Art of Racing in the Rain is a good read for anyone, but I especially recommend this cleverly and creatively written book to any dog lover, as well as anyone needing hope in an agonizingly slow-to-resolve situation. (less)
Zakhor. Remember. Al Tichkah. Never Forget. My hotel in Paris was not far from where Velodrome d’Hiver stood in 1942. I wonder how many times I wa...moreZakhor. Remember. Al Tichkah. Never Forget. My hotel in Paris was not far from where Velodrome d’Hiver stood in 1942. I wonder how many times I walked by but didn’t see the plaque honoring the Jews cruelly kept there and then sent to death camps. If I had read Sarah’s Key at the beginning of September, I would have sought out the plaque. But not knowing about the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup until now, I will be haunted by my inadvertent ignoring of so tragic a part of the Holocaust. Thanks to Tatiana de Rosnay for weaving the story of young, brave Sarah Starzynski, haunted by what happened to her in July 1942, into the story of a modern-day journalist and her cross-cultural family. Sarah’s Key is a riveting story, one I’ll never forget. (less)
I was enchanted by this novel. Bridget Asher’s insightful characterizations are vivid, their emotions raw and real. Family tensions and secrets are re...moreI was enchanted by this novel. Bridget Asher’s insightful characterizations are vivid, their emotions raw and real. Family tensions and secrets are realistic, as are portrayals of the French and French life. Asher delightfully nails typical 7- and 16-year-old behaviors (with the possible exception of a few rather mature statements by the 7-year-old). Winsome heroine Heidi courageously faces grief after losing her husband and tentatively steps toward new possibilities. The Provence Cure is simply a wonderful story I thoroughly enjoyed.
On a personal note … I have never experienced the sudden death of a husband, and reading this book helped me better understand widowed friends’ healing of this profound loss, and it increased my appreciation for every day I have with my husband. Also, although Aix-en-Provence is not my favorite—nice but that’s all—memory of Provence, I may give the area another try, thanks to this novel. (less)
Couldn't quite get into this book. I like Anne Lamott's writing a lot. And I imagine she did a masterful job of describing what loving parents of a te...moreCouldn't quite get into this book. I like Anne Lamott's writing a lot. And I imagine she did a masterful job of describing what loving parents of a teenager think and feel and doubt and believe and want to believe. And do. Because of my life circumstances, I just couldn't identify. But if you are a parent of a teen, read this book!(less)
If I were Carol Birch’s writing teacher—an absurd supposition because she is a better writer than I could ever hope to be and I would be lucky to be a...moreIf I were Carol Birch’s writing teacher—an absurd supposition because she is a better writer than I could ever hope to be and I would be lucky to be a student in her writing class—I would give Jamrach’s Menagerie an A+++ for evoking emotion and vividly describing sensations and an F--- for choosing subject matter.
As likeable narrator Jaffy describes wonders and horrors on his first ocean sailing voyage aboard whaler Lysander, I eagerly see, hear, taste, touch, smell everything. I have never been so amazed by a writer’s gift for simple, exact descriptions as I was awed by Carol Birch’s in this book. When the shipwrecked sailors take desperate measures to survive, however, I can still see, hear, taste, touch, and smell everything—but I no longer want to. I felt tricked, lured by Birch’s siren song, into living this fantastical voyage with Jaffy, only to be party to his revulsion as well.
I can see my reader’s voyage as part of Birch’s brilliance as a writer. I experienced what Jaffy experienced. It was hard, painful, stomach-turning, but it happens. But I can also see the plot as yet another cheap answer to the question people seem to ask more and more often in the trendy quest for extremes: What can we do now to shock people even more? Reminds me of one writing teacher’s challenge to me: Writing about everyday life will never sell; you can’t just have this girl in a bar—have an alien land in the bar and abduct her!
I think life’s most exciting drama is in everyday relational challenges, not in pursuit of outrageousness. Many of society’s problems exist precisely because we don’t see loving difficult people, overcoming common fears, handling disappointments, and making tough choices (to name a few everyday issues) as the most rewarding adventures. As for the argument that sometimes we read novels to escape everyday life and Jamrach’s Menagerie is certainly a fabulous escape, I go back to my grades at the opposite ends of the spectrum. I reveled in every cool descriptive droplet spraying my face as I gripped Lysander’s railing. I sailed high on waves of Jaffy’s victories in establishing relational footing on a slippery deck. (See four examples of issues above—Jaffy faced them all.) But what Birch’s story is ultimately the story of is not something I enjoyed escaping to. (less)
Turner's narrator, Margaret Tuttle, pens this story of a remarkably generous woman, Birdie Freeman, who changed Margaret's life. Margaret, always prop...moreTurner's narrator, Margaret Tuttle, pens this story of a remarkably generous woman, Birdie Freeman, who changed Margaret's life. Margaret, always proper and correct, holds herself aloof from everyone for justifiable reasons. Then she meets Birdie. Through Margaret's account of about a year of interactions with Birdie, we see how Margaret came to be the person she is today (she is middle-aged). Turner masterfully creates the old Margaret for us even as the new Margaret blooms under Birdie's loving touches. Many changes, including a bitterly cynical view of Christians and a distrusting view of everyone, are to come.
I liked that Turner shows how Margaret thinks through things. She doesn't give up old defenses easily, but she reasons logically through her old decisions in light of what she observes in Birdie. I liked all the literary references and what Margaret's take-away was from books she'd read. I liked the wry humor, too. (less)
Cutting for Stone is a fascinating story about well-crafted characters. In addition, it offers insights into Ethiopian and American culture and medica...moreCutting for Stone is a fascinating story about well-crafted characters. In addition, it offers insights into Ethiopian and American culture and medical practices and politics in both countries. I got a little lost in many medical details. The narrator's first-person account of things he could not possibly have known, like what he was thinking before he was born and what another person was thinking, distracted me. I came to care about the characters. One of the best scenes was the Ethiopian narrator's first impressions of New York City. Where are the roadside goats?(less)
Book Review: How to Live or A Life of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell
Author Sarah Bakewell has masterfully organized the facts of Michel de Mont...moreBook Review: How to Live or A Life of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell
Author Sarah Bakewell has masterfully organized the facts of Michel de Montaigne’s life into highly readable stories. She has done this using Montaigne’s own best-selling essays (Essais) on life. One has to admire his powers of observation and reflection, as well as her gleanings from them.
Subtitled A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer, the book’s twenty chapter categories include: Q. How to live? A. Question everything Q. How to live? A. Survive love and loss Q. How to live? A. Be convivial; live with others Q. How to live? A. Do a good job, but not too good a job Within these categories, Bakewell relates incidents in which Montaigne’s Essais and behavior reflected these ideas.
Yes, Bakewell tells a lot about Montaigne’s well-chronicled life. But also, through engaging stories, she helps readers glimpse Protestant-Reformation splits in countries, cities, and families; motives for France’s wars with Britain and Italy; municipal politics; medicine in the 1500s; family tensions and generational influences; reasons why learning the Latin language was considered critical to a good education; experiments in educational techniques; and many more eclectic tidbits.
Having just finished reading The Betrothed, which showed Italian life in the early 1600s from the peasants’ point of view, I was particularly fascinated to see French life in the late 1500s from a nobleman’s point of view. Although life for landed gentry was much more comfortable, plague and highway robbers were scourges affecting all classes. Montaigne’s dear friend died of the plague, leaving a permanent void in his life. Montaigne had the money to travel in the relative safety of many servants; yet he fell victim to violence of roadside bandits, sometimes even more so than peasants did because bandits knew they could rob more from him.
Though a scholarly work, How to Live is lighter than similarly titled How Should We Then Live? [Francis A. Schaeffer, 1976] and How Now Shall We Live? [Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey, 1999]. Schaeffer’s book is a moral history of civilization. The Colson/Pearcey book recounts history with the point that how we think influences how we live. Montaigne’s Essais and Bakewell’s reshaping them into his how-to-live advice are much different in tone and purpose. Though not exactly whimsical, Montaigne’s reflections are not didactic or deeply philosophical either. Though generally wise, they are his personal opinions. One side note is that Bakewell’s commentary how Montaigne chose to live (and not live) does illuminate a number of popular philosophies such as the Romantics, the Stoics, the Epicureans.
And my personal note is that while I agree with some adjectives, like bright, absorbing, and lively, in the book’s back-cover testimonials, I think the book presents more than an average reader like myself wants to know about Montaigne. I found it fascinating—just a bit much. I’ll finish with one of the book’s delights:
Montaigne wrote: If others examined themselves attentively, as I do, they would find themselves, as I do, full of inanity and nonsense. Get rid of it I cannot without getting rid of myself. We are all steeped in it, one as much as another; but those who are aware of it are a little better off—though I don’t know.
Bakewell writes of this: That final coda—“though I don’t know”—is pure Montaigne. One must imagine it appended, in spirit, to almost everything he ever wrote. His whole philosophy is captured in this paragraph. Yes, he says, we are foolish, but we cannot be any other way so we may as well relax and live with it. (less)
The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni [Spoiler Alert: Review tells the ending.]
Manzoni’s 1827 historic novel of epic scope is a classic in Ita...moreThe Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni [Spoiler Alert: Review tells the ending.]
Manzoni’s 1827 historic novel of epic scope is a classic in Italy and required reading for Italian students. Because of its universal themes and well-researched depiction of early 17th century life in Lombardy, this novel deserves to be required reading for history students everywhere.
This story poignantly portrays interplay between church and state, widespread famine, plague, politics of tyrants, and territorial wars in ways that helped me understand what these peasants went through better than a history text could have. Talking points in history class after reading The Betrothed might be: The incestuous influence of clergy on politicians and vice versa is why we don’t want a church-state. The self-sacrifice of the Capuchin monks shows us why society is better when people follow Jesus Christ’s examples of grace and truth. The lawless terror of petty tyrants and their bravos is why rule of law protects us—and is precious enough to be protected. Compare the courage and cowardice of each main character and describe the qualities most important in a ruler/leader. What is government’s role in preventing famine and plague? What is government’s role in managing famine and plague? Discuss the difference between doing what’s right and doing what one feels like doing.
At its core, The Betrothed is a love story between Renzo and Lucia. Their marriage is thwarted by a local tyrant and cowardly priest, and they must flee their home village. Their separation and ensuing trials wind through epic historic events of Lombardy in the late 1620s. Comprehending 700 pages of Manzoni’s dense descriptions took perseverance, which really put me in protagonist Renzo’s shoes for his whole hike through many troubles, toils, and snares to finally marry his betrothed. As Lucia revealed steady, faith-filled character by how she responded to seclusion, betrayal, abduction, and plague, I felt she and hot-headed Renzo were mismatched. Manzoni redeemed Renzo in the end by listing some of the lessons he had learned, so that tempered my unease with the match.
The Betrothed is a good story and fascinating book. (less)
The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde’s color commentary on the tug of war between Basil Hallward (good) and Lord Henry Wotton (evil—think Wormwoo...moreThe Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde’s color commentary on the tug of war between Basil Hallward (good) and Lord Henry Wotton (evil—think Wormwood in C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters). The rope they pull is the young Dorian Gray. The score in this classic battle is widely known; in the end Wotton pulls Gray completely to his end of the field with Hallward dragged face-down in the mud. For those who have not read it, I will not reveal the absolute ending.
Several themes apply to us all: the high price of pleasure and self-indulgence as a way of life; the absurdity of our superficial preoccupation with outward beauty; and how idolizing appearances blinds us to the truth. (less)
The Man with Two Left Feet is a delightful collection of 13 short stories by P.G. Wodehouse. Each is clever and witty. Two are written from a dog’s po...moreThe Man with Two Left Feet is a delightful collection of 13 short stories by P.G. Wodehouse. Each is clever and witty. Two are written from a dog’s point of view, which I appreciated, since my dog Charlie blogs (http://dogblog1.blogspot.com/). I loved that the dog calls himself a “mixer,” since my dog likes people, too; and it was so funny how the mixer’s sensitivity to the “shyness” of a gentleman carried the story. The little romances were sweet. “At Geisenheimer’s” was my favorite. I was hoping for more Bertie Wooster stories, but this volume included only one, “Extricating Young Gussie,” whose ironies and silly names I thoroughly enjoyed.
I’ll finish with an example of Wodehouse’s subtle humor, taken from the anthology’s final story, titled “The Man with Two Left Feet.” Henry liked to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and he took notes as he read. “He read the BIS-CAL volume because, after many days, he had finished the A-AND, AND-AUS, and the AUS-BIS. … The ordinary man who is paying installments on the Encyclopaedia Britannica is apt to get over-excited and to skip impatiently to Volume XXVIII (VET-ZYM) to see how it all comes out in the end. Not so Henry.” (less)
Amy Chua lost me long before she got to the end of Red Square. I began this book with a mind open to benefits of Chinese parenting, open to criticism ...moreAmy Chua lost me long before she got to the end of Red Square. I began this book with a mind open to benefits of Chinese parenting, open to criticism of Western parenting, but somewhere between the birthday card and Chautauqua, author Amy Chua’s way of parenting discredited her definition of parental love. I became so appalled by her insensitivity, shaming rants, and blindness, my mind closed to her “authority” on parenting styles and searched for other take-aways from this book.
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is an excellent book on several levels. Chua underscores Malcolm Gladwell’s findings in his book Outliers: People who seem “genius” at some skill have already practiced that skill at least 10,000 hours. Chua also adeptly points out cultural differences. Her writing style is engaging, her family memoir interesting, and her teaching gifts admirable. The real heroes of this book are Chua’s daughters Sophia and Lulu, for their courageous honesty and self-discipline.
I give Chua credit for her Red Square epiphany. But she should have listened to what those who loved her most told her long before then, long before shaming and guilting her daughters for not putting as much thought and effort into birthday cards as she had when she was a child. Even after reading Chua’s Chinese-culture explanations and knowing Western parenting is not perfect, I find it difficult to believe children wouldn’t be wounded by venom spat at them by their mother. Maybe that’s my Western viewpoint, I don’t know.
I certainly admire the self-discipline instilled in Chua’s children, but the end does not justify Chua’s vicious, obsessed means, in my opinion. And the underlying message, “if you’re not first/best, you’ve failed,” smacks of the all-or-nothing thinking that sends many people into depression. What about the millions of Chinese children who are not as accomplished as Sophia and Lulu? Perhaps Chua’s criticism of Western parents’ leniency is correct, but does that mean the polar opposite is the solution? Okay, letting your child watch TV for four hours a night might not be in their best interests, but is practicing their piano/violin skills four hours a night, to the exclusion of play and friendships, in their best interests? Where is the middle ground? Because Chua forced her obsessions on her children, they are amazingly accomplished. But at what cost? Only time will tell. (less)
I had heard that The 36-Hour Day is the Alzheimer's caregivers bible, and I can see why. Having read other books on the subject, I'd say The 36-Hour D...moreI had heard that The 36-Hour Day is the Alzheimer's caregivers bible, and I can see why. Having read other books on the subject, I'd say The 36-Hour Day is a more complete reference guide, helpful in many different stages of caregiving. Chapter titles are Dementia, Getting Medical Help for the Person with Dementia, Characteristic Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia, Problems in Independent Living, Problems Arising in Daily Care, Medical Problems, Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia, Symptoms That Appear as Changes in Mood, Special Arrangements If You Become Ill, Getting Outside Help, You and the Person with Dementia as Part of a Family, How Caring for a Person with Dementia Affects You, Caring for Yourself, For Children and Teenagers, Financial and Legal Issues, Nursing Homes and Other Living Arrangements, Brain Disorders and the Causes of Dementia, Research in Dementia. My copy is 306 pages.
Because of my family's situation, the chapters that helped me most at this time were on daily care and medical issues. When these chapters described some issues my dad has, I was able to recognize the symptoms as being connected to the dementia. When these chapters gave suggestions for dealing with arguments and providing recreation, I was enlightened and given hope for more ways to make my dad's last days more enjoyable. The chapters on caregivers' emotions are supportive. I have trouble feeling guilty that I'm not doing more, so reminders that caregivers need respite cannot come too often.
I recommend buying this book and keeping it handy. Read it, but make a point to page through it at least once a month to see what info might refresh you in that moment.(less)
Peter Lovesey's The Last Detective is the proverbial page-turner murder mystery, written with humor and surprises. Lovesey builds a case to elicit a c...morePeter Lovesey's The Last Detective is the proverbial page-turner murder mystery, written with humor and surprises. Lovesey builds a case to elicit a confession by the first suspect. But he stubbornly will not confess. The next obvious suspect's case takes the rest of the book to build. Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond is pulled off the case and almost murdered before he solves the crime. Personalities of Diamond and his reluctant sidekick, their boss, the suspects, the victim, the solicitor, and the murderer play off each other in humorous ways throughout. Of literary interest are two Jane Austen letters that figure into the plot. (less)
**spoiler alert** Funny, endearing, heart-rending. This book fully engaged me from start to finish. I loved Aibileen, liked Minnie, identified with Sk...more**spoiler alert** Funny, endearing, heart-rending. This book fully engaged me from start to finish. I loved Aibileen, liked Minnie, identified with Skeeter; and my heart ached for all three as they determined to tell the truth about racial prejudice at a time when doing so was dangerous. The Help is a modern To Kill a Mockingbird.
Seeing what colored maids of white families endured in the 1960s disturbed me. Seeing what whites did to blacks who crossed arbitrary, capriciously hateful lines made me sick to my stomach. Knowing I was alive but oblivious when all this went on, when I was old enough to be aware and care, sobered me. I appreciated how effectively this story of three brave women transported me to that historic time. This book also made me so grateful for progress in the racial equality arena.
Although The Help deals with a serious topic, the book is humorous, thanks to Aibileen's and Minnie's senses of humor and precious, precious candor. Author Stockett brilliantly portrays the three main characters, as well as the landed gentry.
My only disappointment was a weaker ending than I'd hoped for. That societal changes at the end of the book weren't more dramatic reflects conditions in the 1960s. It gratified me that the courage of Aibileen, Minnie, and Skeeter throughout the story generated even more courage in them, for their personal futures. I was rooting so hard for them, I guess I forgot the strength of hindsight cannot instantly overpower longstanding hatred.
Among many things I liked about The Help ~ including the use of dialects and the three-points-of-view approach to telling a story about points of view ~ was the example of Aibileen's and Minnie's Christian church being truly the family of God.(less)
I sure was relieved to finish reading Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom. For one thing, the ending was satisfying in ways I never thought possible while Patt...moreI sure was relieved to finish reading Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom. For one thing, the ending was satisfying in ways I never thought possible while Patty and Walter Berglund were slogging through their respective hells. For another thing, finishing reading Freedom ended my own hell slogging through Franzen’s various political and pet-project rants.
Reading Freedom caused me a fair amount of discomfort throughout. Yes, Franzen’s rants annoyed me so much, I lost count of how often I almost abandoned the book. Had not the other discomforts held me, however, I would have quit reading long before page 562. Patty and Walter, their children, and friends epitomized the last 50 years of American culture. Often the picture wasn’t pretty, but I became entwined in the plot because I lived it, some of it literally, some figuratively, some in my own home, some next door.
I came to care about both Patty and Walter, who having been deeply, bleedingly, scarred in different ways by the sixties’ sexual revolution and government mistrust, could not seem to find inner peace in any endeavor. Walter’s finding comfort in his son’s doing the “right” thing by donating ill-gotten gains to a charity rather than confessing his illegal money-making scheme showed alarmingly how “situational ethics” is just a raft floating downstream to be tossed by the rapids rather than a raft anchored in a harbor. Franzen captured current culture well (God help us!).
I can’t say I liked the whole book, but I liked parts of it very much. I liked the way Franzen unpacked complex motives. Although the ancestral stories fragmented the flow of the main story, I liked their showing how we rebel and conform to the previous generation, how we repeat and avoid their mistakes, and in the end, each generation is just as human as the generation before. The reflective reader would ask himself how s/he might be like or unlike Patty and Walter, their siblings, and children. Freedom’s family resentments rippled through my memories to prickle raw nerve endings—also one of the discomforts that kept me reading. And I kept plodding through Freedom’s forest of too-many-words in hope of stumbling into a beautiful sunlit clearing revealing a golden Franzen nugget like “It was the season of migration, of flight and song and sex” or “impeccably quirky” and other well-crafted descriptions.
Bottom line: I’m glad I stuck with this book until the end. (less)
I never tire of this story. Give me a romance based on humility any day!
Rather than review Pride and Prejudice or Jane Austen, I would lik...moreI never tire of this story. Give me a romance based on humility any day!
Rather than review Pride and Prejudice or Jane Austen, I would like to compliment Bethany House Publishers on the margin notes in this Insight Edition. The editors supplemented this beloved classic with notes on historical and cultural details, facts from Austen's life that parallel or illuminate the novel, modern (including films) references, tips for love, themes of faith, comments on the characters and plot, and "parts of the novel that just make us smile."(less)
When I toured Monticello, Montpelier, and Mount Vernon, all the guides relayed stories of our founding fathers and Lafayette. I simply had to learn mo...moreWhen I toured Monticello, Montpelier, and Mount Vernon, all the guides relayed stories of our founding fathers and Lafayette. I simply had to learn more about him and his relationships with our early presidents. This book fit the bill.
Why Not, Lafayette? is a lively account of [to quote the back cover] "A man who threw off the boundaries imposed upon him to stand up for what he believed was right, the Marquis de Lafayette grew from an idealistic young man searching for honor and glory, into an idealistic statesman with rock-solid principles of liberty."
I enjoyed learning this interesting piece of American history.(less)
I thought I was a word freak. After reading the book Word Freak,however, I realize I'm apparently just a lover of words. I'm fascinated by words for t...moreI thought I was a word freak. After reading the book Word Freak,however, I realize I'm apparently just a lover of words. I'm fascinated by words for their meanings, their specificity, their nuances, their stories, their sounds. Scrabble, for me, is just plain fun. The word freaks described by Fatsis memorize words for competitive gain in Scrabble tournaments. His word freaks are strategists, often obsessed, often genius.
Fatsis introduces readers to the interesting world of competitive Scrabble. He tells personal stories of key players and includes amusing anecdotes and amazing anagrams. He reveals winning strategies. And he involves the reader in his own desire to move up the ranks of competitive Scrabble players.
But unless you ARE a word freak in the obsessed sense or someone really really really wanting to win at living room Scrabble, this book holds limited interest.(less)
Fascinating. Turns out, outliers aren't outliers at all. They are products of history, community, opportunity, and legacy.
I not only liked...moreFascinating. Turns out, outliers aren't outliers at all. They are products of history, community, opportunity, and legacy.
I not only liked Gladwell's challenging assumptions, but I also liked his well-supported research. Reading Outliers is like looking at life and history under a microscope. For example, what you see with the naked eye is the Fab Four bursting on the international music scene to wow the world. What you see under the Outlier microscope is their earlier 10,000 hours in Hamburg learning stamina and expanding their repertoire. Another example: What you naturally assume might be the correlation between intellect and achievement ~ isn't. The Outlier microscope shows achievement depends on much more, including fortuitous timing and the ability to make life work for you. In other examples, Gladwell turns his microscope on supposed disadvantages that are, in fact, advantages.
Through a series of interesting stories, Gladwell builds his theories, then shows results of studies done on the subjects. History and culture come alive in this book; they twist and turn and tell some surprising stories.(less)
In The Last Time I Saw You, Elizabeth Berg creates five main characters anticipating their 40th high school reunion and then shows us how their hopes ...moreIn The Last Time I Saw You, Elizabeth Berg creates five main characters anticipating their 40th high school reunion and then shows us how their hopes play out. We see how the prim, fearful character, the good-hearted people their classmates mocked, the cad, and the smart beauty have turned out after all these years. They each want something different from this reunion. What they get, ultimately, is a chance to get to know each other better, with the maturity that only 40 years can produce.
As usual, Berg captures the range of human emotions with sharp perceptions and a soft touch. Since I am near the age of her characters, their emotions hit home with me. But I think anyone who can look back on high school would enjoy this novel. Also, I admire Berg's brilliant show-don't-tell characterizations in this story.(less)
Things Fall Apart presents a relative insider’s view of a primitive African society changed by colonization and evangelization, probably in the late 1...moreThings Fall Apart presents a relative insider’s view of a primitive African society changed by colonization and evangelization, probably in the late 1800s. Achebe frames his story of life in fictional Umuofia villages (Nigeria) around Okonkwo, a respected village leader, and his family. We learn some of the familial forces that formed Okonkwo’s personality. For example, his shame over his lazy father propelled him into a strong work ethic, as well as harsh judgment for people who did not meet Okonkwo’s standards. He was an angry man with a short fuse, but he showed much tenderness for his wives and children.
In the story, many situations arise to showcase the villagers’ justice system based on fairness and longstanding custom. Even anger-prone Okonkwo peacefully submitted to tribal custom requiring his exile from all he had built, because he knew it was fair. Although an-eye-for-an-eye tradition led to some violence, generally the villagers lives were peaceful. Traditions were rich, and people knew what to expect. Even Okonkwo’s three wives seemed not inclined to jealousy; the place of each was clearly defined by custom. They were at peace with where they stood and freely supported each other.
Enter the white man with militaristic government and Christian beliefs. A fair judicial system was now brutal and senselessly violent. Tribal oracle and nature gods were now suspect as impotent. The white man’s changes also brought schools, hospitals, and trading posts, but Umuofia’s traditional way of life had been turned on its head, and Okonkwo despaired of life itself under this new rule.
Things Fall Apart is an important book for historical and anthropological reasons. But I also think it speaks to any corporate change agent today or in the future—it says, “This is how not to do change.” Diplomats and missionaries would also do well to heed this book’s message of respect for indigenous cultures. Although simply told, this tale is richly complex.
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Pat Conroy’s gift for language is prodigious, and South of Broad’s lyrical descriptions inspire flight. Not many authors create characters so distinct...morePat Conroy’s gift for language is prodigious, and South of Broad’s lyrical descriptions inspire flight. Not many authors create characters so distinct, the reader would know them at a cocktail party without being introduced. And Conroy hands readers 3-D glasses to touch and feel the big screen of complex human emotions and relationships of South of Broad’s characters.
At the risk of sounding like his hero Leo King’s imperious mother, however, I must ask: Why does someone with such formidable command of the language employ the largest collection of common obscenities I’ve ever seen in one place? It’s not as though Conroy couldn’t have found other words to express the anger, hatred, and frustration of his characters; he is not a lazy writer. I don’t even find it believable that most of these characters spoke as crudely as they did, especially in the 1960s. As long as I’m in Leo-King’s-mom-mode, I may as well mention the depraved content of this novel. How low can you go? And how much drama can you pack into a few family’s lives? I’m exhausted from it all.
Spanning 20 years, the novel follows the unlikely friendships of six Charleston families and a few other characters. Most of the action takes place in Charleston, but the friends do travel to San Francisco for a significant part of the plot.
Perhaps surprisingly, I think South of Broad has strong redeeming features. As I have already said, language, characters, and relationships are the big three for me. Also, this novel contains interesting plot twists and plenty of suspense. Conroy is a master portrayer of interracial tension and the courage it took in the sixties to stand up against the segregationist establishment. Another Conroy specialty is generational interplay. In this novel, some parent-child relationships are onions, some roses—but Conroy peels back the layers of both types with equal ease. The descriptions of Charleston, San Francisco, Hurricane Hugo, and young Leo King’s relationship with his dad and the cantankerous Harrington Canon were my greatest delights in this novel.
I’ll end with these two quotes from South of Broad:
One of Leo’s best friends, a cop who has seen the depths of evil said: “Humanity is best described as inhumanity.”
And Leo, trying to make sense of his life, dreamt “… and all the rivers contain strange currents of desire and intrigue.”
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If you seek a break from novels reading like the six o’clock news on steroids, you might enjoy the innocent interlude of The Secret Garden. Be prepare...moreIf you seek a break from novels reading like the six o’clock news on steroids, you might enjoy the innocent interlude of The Secret Garden. Be prepared for Snow White meets Pinocchio meets St. Francis of Assisi—a character named Dickon who enters one scene with a crow named Soot on his right shoulder, squirrels named Nut and Shell on his left shoulder and in his coat pocket, a rescued newborn lamb in his arms, and a little red fox trotting by his side. Though at times a bit syrupy, this book refreshes between other novels about calamity after calamity, evil upon evil.
The Secret Garden reminds adults of the healing power of childlike wonder over childhood wounds. The golden nugget of wisdom at the heart of this charming allegory is the Proverb “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he,” or the words of Jesus in Luke 6, “For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks.”
At the beginning of the novel, cousins Mary Lennox and Colin Craven, both 10 years old, have developed self-defeating attitudes due to parental abandonment. The mystery of a locked garden, also abandoned for 10 years, intrigues them. Nurturing this garden, they nurture their own and each other’s hearts. Their transformation brings wonder and delight to the adults around them. Key change agents in the story are members of a local family, Dickon’s, who enjoy simple pleasures, are one with nature, and who love giving life.
As if the metaphor of tending the garden (with its need for weeding and seeding to produce beautiful flowers) weren’t enough, author Frances Hodgson Burnett plants another strong analogy. Dickon’s family speaks a broad Yorkshire dialect, which Mary delights in learning. I especially liked one vocabulary lesson, when she learns that wick means alive or lively. As she abandons her dour outlook, replaces it with newfound purpose and wonder, and reaches out to love others, Mary becomes more wick.
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My library puts this novel in its Romance category. And it is indeed a most intelligent romance. An alternate title might be Healing Grief, (but I dou...moreMy library puts this novel in its Romance category. And it is indeed a most intelligent romance. An alternate title might be Healing Grief, (but I doubt the library has a Grief category). At first, I found myself rooting for the walls main character Cosima had erected around her heart due to heartbreaking lifetime losses. At some point in the novel, however, I began aching for Codi (Cosima) to let people love her. And the ways in which Kingsolver surrounds Codi with opportunities to let love in are varied, creative, beautiful, and often funny. The only negative was that sometimes I felt that an American Indian character's "respect the earth" beliefs crossed the line into "worship Indian philosophy." Having said that, I will also say that the Indian wisdom Kingsolver chose to include fit perfectly with the healing Codi needed to embrace life and love again.(less)
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