I can't review this book by thinking about the plot or about theme and diction, for it is only (and truly) a series of snapshots, candid and sore, tha...moreI can't review this book by thinking about the plot or about theme and diction, for it is only (and truly) a series of snapshots, candid and sore, that piece together the lives of living people. The delicate sweet soul of a father; a grandmother with the heart of an empath; a sister whose youth and adulthood travel arm in arm; a numb and emptied mother; a young girl then grown woman living pierced on the periphery. This book is about the people in my life and yours whose very essence is pinned down to a spot in time and space--these lovely bones, growing in a soft-shelled skeleton around our lives. It is by turning the pages where these bones grow, that I could reflect on the wheel of life--what a joy (can you call it joy when it's sad?) to witness humanity breathing ceaselessly, moving forward, and loving without remorse. I am at peace to think that this sweet family, though scarred, will smile at another sunrise.
I wouldn't pay 15 bucks for this sucker, but the $3 I paid was well worth it! Combing through the Humor section of my local used bookstore, I came acr...moreI wouldn't pay 15 bucks for this sucker, but the $3 I paid was well worth it! Combing through the Humor section of my local used bookstore, I came across this hidden treasure and never looked back. Filled with horrendous pop-culture references from the late 90s, the CIGFD is Colbert before there ever was a Colbert (only not as funny). Authors Dullard and Dolt have written your best how-to on living the "ignorance is bliss" lifestyle. (I didn't even notice that the title's spelled wrong. Excellent! I'm well on my way to becoming dumber, and therefore happier!!!) By the time you're done reading it, you'll be glad your hopes and dreams didn't come true. After all, happiness can only be found in a bag of Nacho Cheesier Doritos, sweetly accompanied by a can of the Silver Bullet and an obsessive compulsion to watch High Def ESPN until your eyes bleed.
Soooo, it took me about 43 years to read this book. And upon thinking for a while and discissing it with Christina for a while I've come to the conclu...moreSoooo, it took me about 43 years to read this book. And upon thinking for a while and discissing it with Christina for a while I've come to the conclusion that my opinion is based on a two-fold rubric. (Can rubrics have folds?)
Anyway...
Point 1. Character Development. The character development in this book sucked balls. And not in the good way, either.
Point 2. Plot. The plot was fuckin' awesome. Except for the fact that it didn't start until a third of the way into the book. But whatev. It's still a clever story filled with science! (I love science!!!)
Let's discuss the above two points in more depth, shall we? As far as character development goes, I'm really disappointed. I mean, really. Amy is supposed to be some quirky gal whose personal slang consists of "mook," "jeepers," and other silly stuff. But she didn't develop that characteristic until we'd met her a half a dozen times. Another example, and I'll try to spare you details, occurrs @ the end of the book. There's a reunion. And it should be romantic and touching, but it's not. It's just quick and flat. Why even bother? Pissed me off.
Alrighty, plot... Underwater city and additional theories of evolution--genius! Carbon based passenger vessels navigated neurogically--double genius! Loved it. Kick ass. Cool. And then they saved the world. No surprises there.
That's all I have to say, really. The book was ok, not great. I'll probably read another Christopher Moore, but only because Christina (et al) really love him, so I figure it's worth giving him a second chance. (less)
Hmm... Ok, this book wasn't awful. I was upset at first that the entire book wasn't in first person, but actually, Pascal switches back and forth betw...moreHmm... Ok, this book wasn't awful. I was upset at first that the entire book wasn't in first person, but actually, Pascal switches back and forth between 1st and 3rd AND she switches between points-of-view of the different characters. Multiple POVs is one of my favorite storytelling vehicles!
I don't think I'd recommend this book for adolescent girls, because there is way too much value placed on sexiness and having boyfriends and stuff--it takes away from the storyline! The book is about a tough girl who can beat the shit out of a zillion people at once, and it just so happens that the bad guys are secretly watching her and sending people to try to beat her up. So I wish they'd get rid of the love shit. It's a really bad example for young women!
I didn't realize this was a series at first. But it is. Which means, of course, that nothing is resolved in the end. That's ok, though. It gives you a little hint at who the bad guys are, but it definitely doesn't tell you what they want with her. Intriguing enough to make me want to read the second one.(less)
November 19, 2008. I've read these books a zillion and one times and surely I shall read them a zillion more. Because every single time, I realize new...moreNovember 19, 2008. I've read these books a zillion and one times and surely I shall read them a zillion more. Because every single time, I realize new truths and find more honor in their pages.
Today, I've read a passage that I find disturbing and quite out of character for CS Lewis:
p.72 "Shall we go farther up for you, up to the crags? There's an Ogre or two and a Hag that we could introduce you to, up there." "Certainly not," said Caspian. "I should think not, indeed," said Trufflehunter. "We want none of that sort on our side."
Seems a bit racist, if you ask me. It really makes me wonder exactly what CS Lewis is getting at here. It's totally the opposite of what happens in The Last Battle when Aslan sorts the good guys from the bad guys by whether they're good oir evil in their hearts. So anyway, it seems weird and I don't like it. The Hag does ends up being a bad guy in the end, but still... I dunno.
I'll keep reading and blame the racism on the 1950s for now.
Oh yeah, as a side note, whenever I read British literature, I talk to myself in a British accent and rhythm for a while afterward. It's so dorky!!!
Later... I've read a bit more now. The race issue didn't come up again.
The battle scenes are not the same as you might see these days. There's something more frank and quick about them. Lewis doesn't explain every little move and maneuver, so in fact, if you're reading too fast, you might even miss a fight going on. Here's an example of a battle overview without much in the way of specifics: P. 187 But the new bout went well. Peter now seemed to be able to make some use of his shield, and he certainly made good use of his feet. He was almost playing Tig with Miraz now, keeping out of range shifting his ground, making the enemy work.
I think if this book had been written today by a different author, it might be about 500 pages of battle scenes. I'm glad its not. Instead, the book is more about people standing on the side of good. Here's a passage that I just love which describes Edmund who may be a boy, but is also a king: P.174An hour later two great lords in the army of Miraz, the Lord Glozelle and the Lord Sopespian, strolling along their lines and picking their teeth after breakfast, looked up and saw coming down to them from the wood the Centaur and Giant Wembleweather, whom they had seen before in battle, and between them a figure they could not recognise. Nor indeed would the other boys at Edmund's school have recognised him if they could have seen him at that moment. For Aslan had breathed on him at their meeting and a kind of greatness hung about him.
Ahhhhh... See? For Narnia and the North!
Also, you Tolkien fans will recognize the onslaught of trees which comes in at the end of the battle--Two Towers--and the river emerging (with the help of Bacchus and his grapevines) to take out the bridge and thwart the enemy in its path--Fellowship. Who came up with it first, I wonder... :)
Later still... As I finish reading this lovely little novel, allow me to drop off to sleep with feet towards the fire and good friends on either side... Thank you, Mr. Lewis. I have had a time. (less)
This book was cute and neat even if it wasn't fantastic and amazing. I love the little world that DuPrau creates--one in which they don't know what bi...moreThis book was cute and neat even if it wasn't fantastic and amazing. I love the little world that DuPrau creates--one in which they don't know what birds or dogs look like, in which noone chooses her job but it's chosen for her, one in which all the needs of the city are fulfilled by willing and able hands. It's facinating really. It's genius. Well, ya know, aside from your standard-issue greed and corruption which leads to the ultimate downfall of an entire "race" of people. But other than that, these Ember folks really have their shit together. (less)
As I walked out of Penn Station this morning, the proverbial country mouse blinking in the early morning city sunshine, the homesick hole in my heart...moreAs I walked out of Penn Station this morning, the proverbial country mouse blinking in the early morning city sunshine, the homesick hole in my heart was filled with a glorious and familiar sight--Borders Bookstore! Oh thank god, finally somewhere I can navigate with familiar ease. And familiarity is an understatement. Every table and shelf looked exactly the same as every table and shelf in the bookstore back home--Cormac McCarthy alongside Love in the Time of Cholera. Jane Green sidling up to Jodi Picoult. And over there, wouldn't you know it? An entire tower dedicated to the Twilight series and associated chachkis. Yep, Borders is ironically unbound by American geography.
Except for one thing--Dewey. Dewey doesn't grace our Carolina shelves as abundantly as he does in the Big Apple. This little Iowa pussy has, in fact, made himself quite the cosy home on Seventh Avenue. And I just couldn't resist. Prejudjed as a comely mini-tome for housecoated grannies (regardless of the fact that our own well-respected marketing team has been giving us hairballs for weeks on end), good ol' Dewey is exactly the knitted cardigan type of book you'd expect. The only exception (and not a minor one, in this cat-lover's opinion) is that Dewey the Cat is a fucking awesome, caring, and cuddly kitty. And, true to life, he's not nearly so annoying as the narrator, the library patrons, or the townspeople featured in this quaint feline biography. Granted, I only skimmed this little novel cover to cover, but the cat is heartwarming, even if the humans are conservative lameasses. It was just like being at home... :)(less)
The Wednesday Sisters are as delightful, insightful, and wonderful(ful) a group of women as you could ever hope to meet. Such a touching tale, I long...moreThe Wednesday Sisters are as delightful, insightful, and wonderful(ful) a group of women as you could ever hope to meet. Such a touching tale, I long for such sisterhood in my own life--to be able to bear my soul, raw and rough. This book is about people. About the power of being a woman. It is about you and me, your mother your sweetest sister-friend. I adored this book in a way I can't describe. So I'll just leave it at that, shall I?(less)
Good lord, I already love this book. While I haven't had sex with anywhere near forty men, I VERY MUCH understand what Kerry is describing just on the...moreGood lord, I already love this book. While I haven't had sex with anywhere near forty men, I VERY MUCH understand what Kerry is describing just on the book jacket. I was crying reading the intro in the bookstore!!! Ugh. I can't tell if this is gonna be a healty read for me or not. So far, I've only read about fifty pages. It makes me both disgusted and horny at the same time... We shall see...
7/23: About half way through now. God, such truth. Anything for love, I suppose.
7/25, 3:30am: I'm wondering if I need therapy.
7/25, 11am: Finished.
7/30: So, as I come away from this book several days later, I'm still not sure what I've taken away from it. Maybe it's too soon. I do know that this book illustrated the fact that all of us have stupid habits and idiosyncrasies that make our neruoses personal and that convince us we are on the path to wholeness. Kerry's was sleeping around--because she thought that would lead her to love. I suppose I do the same thing sometimes. As a way of dealing with stress and depression and a whole series of other shit, I'm sure. People eat, they do drugs, they drive fast, whatever. We're human. And we're empty. So it seems. Is it curable? Or is it chronic? Should we just get used to it? I don't know...(less)
Why do I keep reading these? This one was particularly bad, unfortunately. Thank god it only took a few hours to read...
First off, I'm sick to death...moreWhy do I keep reading these? This one was particularly bad, unfortunately. Thank god it only took a few hours to read...
First off, I'm sick to death of all the oil company conspiracy that people talk about in this country. And this whole book was about sabotaging the Alaska pipeline so some dummy could buy it out and make a billion dollars. Whatever. Secondly,it just wasn't a mission I think APO would normally concern themselves with, so I could never get into the story. And of course, the author tried too hard to make the characters talk like spies. They were always using their damn code names--something they rarely did on the show--and they were super serious about everything. None of their personalities shone through; they could have been any run-of-the-mill adventurers on a mission. Disappointing. My final point about how stupid this book is: Sydney hurled a bunch of throwing stars at the wing of an airplane as it was zooming down the runway trying to take off, and of course that made the plane crash as soon as it got in the air. Nadia shot at the plane with a machine gun which did nothing, but Sydney's throwing stars took it out??? Sure. (less)
I have finished the book. And it's yet another dark/twised book written by a GoodReader!!! (I'm beginning to think that you people were born of the sa...moreI have finished the book. And it's yet another dark/twised book written by a GoodReader!!! (I'm beginning to think that you people were born of the same womb and perhaps need group regressive hypnosis to cure you of your dark and twisty ways, but what do I know...)
Beatie is a girl who you never really get to know. A girl who sort of slips through your day with little more than glance at best and a quick and quirky lie to your face at worst. We see snippets of a life. Is this how we see people in reality? I think probably so.
**SPOILERS** Ginnetta, does she have sex with the roller rink guy? I think not, but it's hard to tell. It's the only place in the book where you shy away from biology--when we see poop and puke, I'm sure of what's going on, but the sex scene wasn't so clear. (Edit: Gennetta said no, she didn't have sex with dat boy. I read it right then. Good!)
I love Petey. Absolutely ADORE Petey! What a fantastic vehicle. I think lots of kids have their own Peteys and I'm fascinated by the fact that it's so much easier for kids to use that style of reasoning, when adults just don't know how to put it into perspective. (Ok, I'm sleepy and I'm rambling.)
I was really wondering for a while if Beatie is going to grow up to be crazy. She doesn't end up nutso by the end of the book, but she was still only 14 or 15. Hmmmm... I don't think this girl has an easy road ahead of her.
I love your use of the word "Episodes." I was probably on episode 30-something before I got the double meaning: episode means a scene (as in television or something) but it also refers to a breakdown.
Edit: Now that it's tomorrow and I've had some more time to think, I realize that this book makes me think of Cats Eye by Margaret Atwood. Not the style, or even the specific events of the storyline, but in the fucked up childhood sense. The girl in Cats Eye grew up to be ok. Will Beatie? Somehow, I think not... (less)
**spoiler alert** I was reading merrily along until Chapter 17 (I think) which was when the SHIT HIT THE FAN. In a plot-revelation kind of way. You pe...more**spoiler alert** I was reading merrily along until Chapter 17 (I think) which was when the SHIT HIT THE FAN. In a plot-revelation kind of way. You people have got to start warning me before I read books about fucked up shit.
Note: Richard, no, there was no Kenya in the book. Not even on the father's travels. Good!
I don't yet know what I've taken away from this book. I did think that Deo would turn out to be Deelee for a while. Guess I was wrong on that one...(less)
I made it to page 245. That's all I can do. I'm sorry, noble GoodReaders! I swear to god I tried. But 245 MORE pages of angsty teenage romance is just...moreI made it to page 245. That's all I can do. I'm sorry, noble GoodReaders! I swear to god I tried. But 245 MORE pages of angsty teenage romance is just too much torture. Especially on Christmas! (Plus, my mommy told me I could stop reading, so I did.)
You had your chance, Twilight Series, but now I'm breaking up with you. (less)
This book is a love story. 400 pages of love story, 50 pages of danger, then 50 more pages of love story. I liked it--it was cute and sweet (even thou...moreThis book is a love story. 400 pages of love story, 50 pages of danger, then 50 more pages of love story. I liked it--it was cute and sweet (even though I do hold a grudge against lovers). I shall keep reading the series...
The Genesis verse: eating of the tree of knowledge refers to drinking blood? Is that why there's an apple on the cover?(less)
The good guys win. Don't act surprised--it's billed as a love story after all.
At first, I loved this book because it was so lovely and loving and in l...moreThe good guys win. Don't act surprised--it's billed as a love story after all.
At first, I loved this book because it was so lovely and loving and in love. It was almost silly-cute and completely unrealistic. Like some kind of literary ballet, complete with twinkling and tremulos. But I was only half-way through the book--hell, it couldn't have gone on like that forever! I KNEW something bad was bound to happen. And then it did. Something bad. Something really really bad. Something...REALISTIC!
What the fuck???????????
YOU RUINED MY BALLET! How dare some Mr. Right Now come in off the street and ruin the perfect courtship? How dare sex replace love? How dare Agathe get scared and how dare she have doubts and how dare she make wrong decisions? How dare real life come in, stomping around and putting dirty footprints all over my clean white pages of this work of FICTION??? And this was fresh-laid marley, too. I'm mad at you, Truth! Look what you did to Agathe! And poor Tibo Krovic!!! Only Anna Karenina might know what it is to suffer like you've suffered, ol' Tibo.
*sigh*
I'm glad the bits of magic brought me back to a willing suspension of disbelief. And the bits that stroked my hair and snuggled me and reassured me and snuck a tutu or two out from the wings--those bits were good. I think my heart stopped beating once or twice out of pure sadness, but somebody came and massaged it back to life. I'm pretty sure it was deus ex machina.
Am I autistic? Am I Christopher Boone? What is it about my OCD (self-diagnosed, boo yah!) that separates me from this fifteen-year-old kid? Fate is ki...moreAm I autistic? Am I Christopher Boone? What is it about my OCD (self-diagnosed, boo yah!) that separates me from this fifteen-year-old kid? Fate is kind, but there is nothing more disturbing than learning that you possess so many of those qualities that categorize people as "special needs." I mean, shit. Choosing Item A over Item B because you like the color? Yep. Counting incessantly? Yep. Getting lost in London Underground? Yep. Quirky eating habits? Yep. Getting ridiculously sidetracked during storytelling? Yep. Yep, yep, yep. I've got it all. And it wasn't so bothersome at first, but as I read on, I grew to empathize with this kid so much so, that I felt like a fucking crazy person. I'm glad I'm done reading it.
Some items of note: 1. Christopher likes maths. I remember when I used to like maths. Maths are fun! 2. Christopher has a pet rat. I remember when I used to have a pet rat. Pet rats are fun! 3. I wish Siobhan was my girlfriend. Well, sorta. I mean, I don't think I'd be satisfied sexually, but still. She seems like a great gal. 4. I have decided that it is impossible for non-crazy people to ever reach peace and comforting solitude. That's why snatching it bit by bit is necessary. 5. I don't want to give birth.
Thank you, Mr. Haddon, for the quick read. Life is quite complicated, even outside London, huh?(less)
Oh. My. God. This play deserves every hint of praise and recognition it's ever been given. A perfect blend of realistic household bullshit and and spe...moreOh. My. God. This play deserves every hint of praise and recognition it's ever been given. A perfect blend of realistic household bullshit and and spectacularly weird fuckeduppery, the Weston family grabbed my heart and ripped it out through my tearducts.
How can you know when enough is enough? Or when it's not enough? How do you swim through oceanic waves of family crisis, when the breakers are nothing but violent reflections of your own personal doom? Goddamnit. This play is both human and animal at the same time. And regardless of the fact that some of the shit that goes down is pretty twisty, I'm astounded by Letts' perfect psychological portrayal of humanity kicking itself in the crotch. Repeatedly.
9/17--I saw some tiny ants today, all swarming around a piece of leftover food on the sidewalk. For a split second, I seriously considered bending dow...more9/17--I saw some tiny ants today, all swarming around a piece of leftover food on the sidewalk. For a split second, I seriously considered bending down to put my tongue amidst the pile of ants. I imagined they'd feel like PopRocks or like the tiny little orange fish eggs they put on top of your sushi.
And then the moment passed, and I kept walking.
9/19--Yesterday, I thought to myself, "That's some fine line." A fine line between being daring enough to do something outrageous and being chickenshit enough to reach out your hand and barely touch the outrageous with soft and nervous fingertips. How many times have I ALMOST done that one thing? Infinity times? Already? But today I thought to myself, "I'm a sucker! I fell for her quirkiness, but she's fucking sick." Sick and alone. Almost done reading Honda, and I'm scared that Melanie M. will never find her way. What does the world do with these folks? (Don't answer that.)
9/21--At the end of the title story: Jessica Treat, you're torturing me. TORTURING ME!!! I want a happy ending. Just one. Or at least resolve something for me, would ya? SPOILER: I've rewritten the ending of Not a Chance for you. Wanna hear it? The friend walks into the bakery at Plaza Neza, and sitting at a table in the darkest corner is the woman she's been looking for, tattered clothes falling off her body. The friend rushes to her side!!! They are reunited and live happily ever after. (Ok, so maybe I'm living in denial. Reality doesn't allow for happy endings.)
As a whole (thus far): A collection of betrayal by someone we know, treasure, trust. Can anything be more painful? Even death?
9/23--I am finished! An entire package of fantastic writing! Dead End struck me as quick and quirky--great! Zubeyde was sweet and real and perfect! Jessica Treat, there were times when I felt myself sitting beside you, resting on your shoulder as I read this collection. And other times I felt like I was reading over your shoulder, careful and quiet so you wouldn't notice me... Such a dismal cloud surrounding the sane and the insane--are we all a bit of both? I think there's no way we CAN'T be. Allow me to quote my favorite line, one that let me explore the depths of my own temporary insanity: "Grief has to go somewhere, be transformed into something, in order for it to disappear." p. 84. TRUTH!
Ahhh, Chairy. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to read these stories. I'm VERY MUCH looking forward to your up and coming.(less)
**spoiler alert** 6/09: So far, so slow. Don't get me wrong, I'm really liking it. But I thought it would be a quick read and that I wouldn't have to...more**spoiler alert** 6/09: So far, so slow. Don't get me wrong, I'm really liking it. But I thought it would be a quick read and that I wouldn't have to concentrate at all, but that's not the case. It's stylized, which makes it take longer. And all the colors and images are begging me to drink them slowly, savoring each drop. Not a good book to read on a deadline, or if your brain is fuzzy like mine is these days. I'll keep ya posted...
6/25: Ok, I'm still about 200 pages out from finishing this book. I was a little hesitant at first--too damn long (550 pages) and I don't like violence, particularly Nazi violence (and civil war violence). But there really isn't any violence, or if there is, I'm too American Television scar-tissued up to notice... Anyway, now I LOVE this book and am well on my way to five-starring it!
Don't let anyone tell you this book is about a little girl growing up in Nazi Germany. This book is about Death, the man. You know, cloak and sythe guy? (Don't tell him I said that.) The book is about Death walking through life, experiencing a horror like no other. And he takes moments to watch this little girl, to let his heart be warmed by her youth and growth.
I hope nothing bad happens.
6/27: Bad stuff does happen. Everyone she knows is obliterated. Jesus (Mary and Joseph). The death chapter at the end (just before the epilogue) takes way too long. Seems like Mr. Zusak got a bit full of himself. Which is a shame because it kinda colors the whole book now. Damn him.
Great book. Loved it! Hated the ending.
6/29: I wish I had reviewed this book before I got to the end. Because the end stole some of the beauty of the writing. For two reasons: 1, because I hate the fact that everyone in the town ended up dead. It's an issue with the storyline, that's all. 2, because Marcus Zusak went on and on and on and on about this death scene. Enough already. Stop with the flowery talk, dude. Methinks you're masturbating a bit.
Because, here's the thing. The rest of the book is flowery talk, too, but it's FANTASTIC! Smells have colors, emotions have scents, visions have texture, and life is three dimensional. That's why I like the book so much. It is alive with human nature. I'm very interested in reading other Zusak--Messenger next, I think.
6/30: Ah-Ha!!!! Epiphany! The reason I don't like the death scene at the end--I kinda thought Death and Liesel would have more interaction. Not that she would physically recognize him or anything, but more similar to the scene where the pilot died and Death said he knew Leisel could "see" him. I wish she could have emerged from the rubble seconds after the bombing and so could have been more present for this HUGE loss! Every other time some event happened, Liesel was there to witness it. The death of her brother; seeing Rudy chase her book down the river; retrieving the book from the fire and noticing the mayor's wife watching. Everything else was NOW. But this one event, was BEFORE. I long for that 'life breath' that I feel throughout the rest of the book.
Also, slightly off-topic side note: I'm glad we got warned about Rudy's death long before it happened. It made me want to savor every single moment he was on the page. I love Rudy.(less)
9/14--I also wish Bessie would shut up a minute...
9/15--I'm getting really sick and tired of Zooey whining and complaining a...moreSo far, so very very good!
9/14--I also wish Bessie would shut up a minute...
9/15--I'm getting really sick and tired of Zooey whining and complaining all the damn time. I think, perhaps, I'm not in the mood to listen to somebody waxing poetic about the pure drudgery of life and about how he just wishes everybody would just shut up. The fact of the matter is, they all talk to goddamn much. The whole goddamn family.
I think I didn't realize that this book would be a 200 page long conversation. I sorta expected some events to take place or something. Anyway, when I first started reading F&Z, I thought, "Holy shit! I think I might like this better than Catcher!" But now, not so much. I'm still holding out hope. I mean, I know I'm whining quite a bit about the damn book at the moment, but over all I do like it quite a bit. 50 pages to go...
9/16--I finished!!! And I have also eaten some "chicken" soup in celebration. Here's the thing. I think Zooey is kinda fucked up, and I don't think he's gonna get better any time soon. I think Franny will be ok, for a while, but not forever. Life is just like that, though. Ya know? No matter what, we are all gonna have times when we go through some shit, and sometimes we fully recover, sometimes we move on in pain, and sometimes we just break the hell down. Franny's breakdown was touching (bad choice of words). The kind of pain that keeps you tortured for days on end. Zooey was simply dull. Worn. Empty.
This is real life, set in an eccentric homeplace, to which there can be no turning back.
Perhaps I have more to say. But I am Zooey today.(less)
10/6--Kim, are you out there? Are you listening? You're Amy Krouse Rosenthal, aren't you? Me, too!!!
10/10--In a brief half hour of stillness, I open my...more10/6--Kim, are you out there? Are you listening? You're Amy Krouse Rosenthal, aren't you? Me, too!!!
10/10--In a brief half hour of stillness, I open my book. And my breath is stolen by the entry on Dying. A sudden snap, and life as we know it is over. And not so much by our own death, but by the death of someone we love or of someone we don't even know. This entry tells me that Amy Krouse Rosenthal has a hole in her heart that can't be filled by all the funny encyclopedia entries in the world, no matter how hard she tries...
10/11--Finished. I am reminded, time and again, at each turn of the page, that we are the same person, bonded by silliness and sentiment. My god, it almost makes me feel normal.
Some of my favorite parts: ~Tuesday Night. Amy and her kids walk along and a woman in the neighborhood runs out her door asking for help!!! Her zipper is stuck, and can Amy help her out of her dress. OHHH! So touching and sweet. ~Identity. An experiment you must see! ~Infinity. Is infinity even or odd? I LOVE THE NUMBER INFINITY WITH UNBRIDLED PASSION, YET I'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF ITS EVENNESS OR ODDNESS BEFORE!!! Really, it's both and neither, shit I really enjoyed thinking about it for a while. ~Good to Bad Mood. Yes, yes, and yes. ~Catch. The Mars sybmol means "throw the ball." Ha ha ha ha! ~Purple Flower. Where was I at that moment? Sitting in the farmers' market at our "today only because of A&T Homecoming" location, sitting behind a display and glancing occasionally at a pile of fresh kale beside me. I considered emailing Amy (Krouse Rosenthal) my story, per her request. But then I couldn't find her email address. And then I stopped looking because I chickened out. ~On the back page, after the book is technically over. Here you will find a list of things happening right at this moment in another part of the universe. I love this so much because I wonder what other people are doing all the time. I sit and I close my eyes and I think, "Wow. Other people in the world are breathing right now. Sarah Michelle Gellar is probably sitting at a bar with a dear friend, just chatting. Lee Lee Tran who was my best friend when I was in 3rd and 4th grade is somewhere in the world, maybe hugging her daughter (if she has one). Scott, the only man I've ever loved, is on the other side of the world, sleeping. And NOT dreaming of me. I hope he never has sex again for the rest of his stupid stupid life. Ohhhhh, but I bet somebody in the world is having perfect and passionate sex right now, and they will never forget this moment as long as they live. How cool is that? ~Wabi-Sabi. This is the new thing I learned today. I hope I remember it tomorrow.(less)
So far this book is an inspiration of living life to its fullest. Not because this teenager is necessarily more wonderful tha...moreAt the end of chapter 13:
So far this book is an inspiration of living life to its fullest. Not because this teenager is necessarily more wonderful than any other human being whose footsteps have fallen on this earth; but because you can read it and look at it from afar, and touch its edges of life lived; as if it's in a snow globe or behind a fog of time. You read and you know that there is a 90 year old woman sitting beside you, fingers outstretched, touching the same edge as you are, stirring her own past inside herself. She says she lives more fully and passionately at 90 because of this reflection of self; of the past, the present, and the future swimming together, holding hands, hearts beating in unison. 90 year old Florence will tell you that there is no separate Me Yesterday, Me Today, Me Tomorrow. There is only ME.
The comments I wrote in the Chicks on Lit book club discussion after finishing the book in its entirety:
As I come away from the book with some time to reflect, I find I have some overwhelming thoughts...
Everything we read affects us differently depending on where we are in our lives. I am in a transition. Mourning the loss of a future I'll never have, swimming upstream through the nagging desire to make my future my own, and finally, being immobilized by the realization that decisions are terribly difficult with no black or white answers. Florence, of course, affected me becuase she was in a transition, too (what teenager isn't). I don't think she would have married if she weren't pressured to do so, though I believe that she did love Nat. (Oh, what is love anyway? Now that's a topic for another thread...) Flo wouldn't have done a damn thing to change her life if it weren't by force--the force of her parents, the force of the war, the force of simple adulthood. And as she looked back, a 90 year old woman reflecting upon her youth, she oozed a sense of loss with her words. She said (I'm paraphrasing), "Yes I had a good life, but never the life I'd imagined." At the end, I found myself questioning whether it's ok to live a life never imagined. Can we feel satisfied, looking back from 90 years old, if our lives veered left, right, over, under? I think not. If we want satisfaction, we must embrace the unexpected, lay aside all plans, and swing as freely on our tethers as the wind allows--only then may our aged selves sink into peace.
I look to Lily Koppel as well. The image of her, standing in a pink flapper dress, the fusion of teenage Flo, crone Flo, and Lily herself beating as one heart inside one body. Lily is us. She is all of us. A woman affected by an anonymous life scribbled on diary pages. A woman in the midst of her own soul's path to peace. Is she sitting at her desk, as I am, staring up at ceiling tiles? Are you? And you and you? Are we women, as one, marching towards our future in the shadow of the adult Florence, aching to make our lives our own? I hope so. I hope we are moving forward, by inch and mile, hand in hand together, ready to take what comes. I hope for myself, that the day when I come into my crone self, I can look back and say, "Yes I had a good life, but never the life I'd imagined... And I loved every breath!" (less)
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