Marty

Marty rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Paradise Lost
by John Milton

read in April, 2013

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It is quite possible that two years ago I would have shuffled through this book dutifully, though with a great bit of endurance on my part. Nearly 300 pages of blank verse written about abstract Old Testament stories mixed with references to long-for...more It is quite possible that two years ago I would have shuffled through this book dutifully, though with a great bit of endurance on my part. Nearly 300 pages of blank verse written about abstract Old Testament stories mixed with references to long-forgotten legends from extinct Western civilizations is enough to make even the hardiest literature junky to shudder. Yet, I don't know what it was, but for some reason--the place where I'm at right now, the timing of the other things I'm reading, perhaps bolstered by my tempered expectations--I loved it. Absolutely loved it. What's more, I refuse to guarantee a similar experience for anyone else, including myself (for a second reading).

Still, though, even if stars do not line up for you even as they did me, let me at least vouch for some of the things Milton really manages to pull off:

1. The blank verse. In spite of a whiney, defensive preface about not needing rhyming to be high quality, the blank verse really does have a great, readable quality to it.

2. Giving mythical qualities to non-mythical traditions. I kept on pointing this out to people when they would ask about it, and then someone read the back of the book and assumed I got it from that, but I guess that particular edition and I had a mind meld (out of principle, I avoid reading the back cover of books unless it is necessary for the safety of my family--surprisingly, it never has been). I like how Milton took the feel of the great stories of Greek and Roman legend and inserted their life into the otherwise stoic and set Biblical stories. Yet, at the same time, he upheld the reverence of the source material and ensured a new and unique Christian theme to these old mythical forms. In fact, so successful was he at this that I suspect the almost cartoonish views of heaven we now have of Heaven (angels with wings, harps) and Hell (fire, winged devil with pointy pitchfork) have their roots in Milton's work ... though if so, it is an entirely too simplistic take on what is far more than just clouds and singing choirs. Milton's work is, especially for the time period he wrote it, scientifically based on the best information for how some things worked, astronomy and earth science--besides using lots of literary metaphor that many took at face value later on.

3. Theology. There are quite a few areas where Milton and I differ significantly when it comes to points of doctrine, specifically dealing with the physical nature of God, the overall guilt of first parents in the Fall, and particularly the cruel and inferior treatment of Eve (though I'm betting he felt as if he were being more fair to the fairer sex than perhaps was merited--sadly, taken in context historically, it's likely he was), but on the whole, I found Milton's carefully crafted narrative to be faith affirming and consistent with the story (theological, that is) of mankind. Perhaps some of his strongest moments can be found in his convincing plotting of the playing out of justice and mercy in the great theological courts above, and the necessity of a great Intercessor. Religious or not, these are fascinating themes to explore, and Milton is smart enough to give you plenty of potent examples to look through in your quest for knowledge.

4. Speculation. The Bible's version of these events are found scattered throughout just a few chapters/verses, so Milton had to do a lot of guesswork, filling in of blanks, and in a few cases create wholly new characters, scenes, subplots, and situations. These were perhaps my favorite parts. Possibly because Milton and I both recognized that he was backing away from the known, we could both sit back and compose/read without having to be careful about accuracy to the source material--instead simply being true to the spirit of the story, albeit fictional. Lucifer's otherwordly journeys, the War in Heaven, the noble and individualized angel characters ... these were both entertaining, and--in a lot of ways--had the parts of the story that I connected to better than the scenes with a clear Biblical parallel.

5. He just gets it right. Find the right time and situation for yourself and go read it.(less)

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"This is the Prologue to a story I hope to write this summer, one chapter at a time for ten weeks of the summer. Well, as long as I can reach my goal amount of $ from Kickstarter.com to make it worth my (and my family's) time. To find the project g..." Read more of this chapter »

Marty rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Roughing It (Enriched Classic)
by Mark Twain

read in May, 2011

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Mark Twain is one of the main reasons I went into the English Literature field. For many of my students, that probably is cause enough for desecration to his remains, yet it is undeniable that the man hit a chord with me that has never gone away. So,...more

Marty rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Washington: A Life
by Ron Chernow

read in June, 2011

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This book had been a long time coming. I had long been searching, in vain, for a satisfactory biography of this ultimate hero of mine—a frustrating endeavor considering his legendary status and how much of a paper trail there is dealing with him. Man...more This book had been a long time coming. I had long been searching, in vain, for a satisfactory biography of this ultimate hero of mine—a frustrating endeavor considering his legendary status and how much of a paper trail there is dealing with him. Many of those biographies I found were thorough, Many addressed very specific, limited aspects of his life, many attempted psychological probings, many tried to address his spiritual qualities … but all fell short in one way or another. Either the biographers lionized George too much … a common and mostly forgivable problem; or they tried too hard to humanize him by applying faux weaknesses where they didn’t exist. Neither gave me the believable portrait of Washington that I felt truly matched his words, events, and exploits.

The closest I got to viewing Washington in his most true form was through indirect means: David McCullough’s 1776 showed in vivid detail Washinton’s war time personality and leadership methods—but of course this did nothing to expound on anything coming before or after; then, in Ron Chernow’s impressive work on Alexander Hamilton, I was pleasantly surprised by how richly I would mine Washinton’s personality through his young and impulsive protégé. This indirect biography told me more about who Washinton really was than any other biography that directly treated the man. Often, while reading Hamilton, I told myself, “This is the biographer who should write about Washington … that’s a book I would read.” Well, apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so, because lo and behold, I find Chernow’s next biography is the very one I dreamed about.

These, you might think, are high expectations, but Chernow, like an old friend, neither rises above them or dips below: he pays off exactly as you would hope, and does so thoroughly, realistically, and engagingly. In fact, as far as I could tell, he improves upon his previous work through his more faithful reliance on primary documents—using secondary sources for confirmation or simply acknowledged insight, something that maybe speaks more about document accessibility between the two biographies than research methods.

All in all, what emerges is a man who is just that—a man. One with vies, ambition, and vanity—albeit, those were most prominent in his youth. But we also see and begin to understand the noble hero, who was truly a patriot, truly self-effacing to degrees, and a truly, undeniably, irrevocable indispensable piece of this nation’s history—the crucial linchpin that held it all together by force of will/character alone.

My only objection with Chernow’s work is his unapologetic approach to slave holding. While generally Chernow is realistic both about the culture of slaveholding and the advancing morality advocating abolition, he constantly snipes at Washington for his slave holding lifestyle-as if to constantly reassure readers that he—Chernow—does not in this comfortable modern-day context, support slavery in the slightest. Well, we know that, and we don’t need preachy reminders throughout the biography on something we are all in consensus about.

If anything, however, this is Chernow playing things overly safe, and I can at least understand that if you’re going to err, you might as well err on the side of giving the impression that you don’t endorse slavery.

Thanks to Chernow it is more clear than ever that George Washington was just a man, yet that is what makes his accomplishments—ad consequent fame—so much the more extraordinary and merited. Would that we would all be more like Washington: honest, moderate, innovative, courageous, and believers in something bigger than ourselves—whether it is spiritual, patriotic, or family. I finished Washinton satisfied that I had finally come to terms with our preeminate founding father, and my hero. I don’t think I could ask for more … yet, I guess, while I’m at it … Lincoln biography, Mr. Chernow? Just something to think about.(less)

Marty rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Memoirs and Selected Letters by Ulysses S. Grant

Memoirs and Selected Letters (Library of America #50)
by Ulysses S. Grant

read in May, 2011

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For some reason, I had this unexplainable Ulysses S. Grant craving. I think that part of it came from teaching American history, and when I reached the Reconstruction (in my mind, thinking it would be the most boooooring section ... I mean, come on,...more For some reason, I had this unexplainable Ulysses S. Grant craving. I think that part of it came from teaching American history, and when I reached the Reconstruction (in my mind, thinking it would be the most boooooring section ... I mean, come on, who can top the drama of a CIVIL WAR?!) I found that the scant sections on his participation as President fascinating. Then I heard from someone else, possibly NPR, mention that his memoirs were probably the only Presidential memoirs worth reading. Well, when I got my Kindle and found that they were free ... what else could I do?

The big surprise? His memoirs don't even address his presidential years AT ALL. It is simply Grant from kid to Grant as the eventual victor of the Civil War. ... and then, that's it. Truth be told, even as a teacher of history I have neglected to be a passionate aficionado of Civil War history. I've avoided it. I think it was so broad in scope and so trammeled by other historians that I simply didn't have the ambition to step into a serious study of it. And so, now I'm reading a two volume book that pretty much details every event from this war I had so carefully avoided for so long ... not what I had planned.

And yet ... this is by far the best way for any aspiring Civil War historian to get started on the Civil War. Instead of trying to swallow the monster events, people, and places that all encapsulate a nationwide war, you get the war from the point of view of one, single soldier. And, conveniently enough, this soldier participates in many of the most significant portions of the war, particularly towards the end. Ulysses, also, turns out to be a relatively humble guy ... well, no general can be truly considered "humble" and of course most autobiographies are tainted by the reputation someone would hope to have, but still. Ulysses is no eloquent author, yet he is still one that you trust. His assessments are simple, meticulously justified, and--whether you agree with them or not--they at least make sense. Besides that, Grant really knew how to put you in the moment. When he finally corners Lee and is able to extract a surrender, and then weeks later someone else hunts down Jefferson Davis, I felt as if I had been experiencing these things in the moment: I took a huge sigh of relief. I had to stop reading temporarily and swallow in the news. The fact that these events coincided with the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden only did more to increase my sense of understanding for the emotional impact of the events of that time. (Not that Lee or Davis were equals to Bin Laden, but the idea of a long, fought era of history being drawn to a close would be difficult to not compare.)

Now that I'm done, my only regret is that I didn't get to read more about what followed. I wanted to hear about Grant's presidency from Grant himself, but if I must, I suppose that I can look to others to fill in that remaining craving.(less)

Marty wrote The Loss of Selfishness: The Loss of Selfishness

"“Damon,” Cyrus said, “I’ve been so selfish.”

That’s a lie, Damon thought to himself. Then he corrected himself. No, not a lie. Cyrus doesn’t know how to lie. He just doesn’t know what it means to be selfish. In fact, if Selfish had come up to him i..." Read more of this chapter »

Marty rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Cato
by Joseph Addison

read in February, 2011

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Cato is what owning the Kindle is all about. An obscure, mostly out-of-print title that has historical if not literary value. You don't want to spend a ton of money getting some old copy and having it shipped to your house just to read it in five hou...more Cato is what owning the Kindle is all about. An obscure, mostly out-of-print title that has historical if not literary value. You don't want to spend a ton of money getting some old copy and having it shipped to your house just to read it in five hours and then be done. Enter the Kindle. (you'll pardon the stage directions, but it was a play). All of the sudden the play is free and immediately available, you can read it off and on over the course of a few days, and once you're done, you don't have an extra book laying around that you need to find some bookshelf space for.

I am glad I was able to read it. At the same time, I'm glad it was a play, which meant that it ended sooner. Cato is a jewel as far as historical insight goes. While it does shed a little bit of light on some Roman history that I wasn't entirely aware of, it does more for shedding some insight on the view of governments, nobility, and chivalry in the day that it was written. Its popularity, especially, amongst the Founding Fathers of the United States is especially telling. There are plenty of quotable lines, and many of these quotable lines are not lost on the Founding Fathers, who either directly quote or paraphrase several lines from Addison's play in their correspondences with each other and others. Like I said, pretty intriguing.

At the same time, as far as tragedies go, the main character is pretty direly lacking in, well, character. Shakespeare spent some time on his tragic heroes, so that when their tragic moment comes, it is a truly emotionally straining moment--especially because of the main character's weaknesses are highlighted so clearly in advance. Cato, however, is a demi-god from the very beginning, and his tragic ending is more about situation and circumstance than character. And, as far as I'm concerned, his downfall was a huge flaw in character and decision-making that wasn't not acknowledged by the author, who seemed to mark it more as fate and as Cato's reputation as untouchable.

That's not to say that the side characters and situations are not interesting. Nor that their tragic moments are not heartfelt, for they certainly are much, much more felt than when Cato has his moment of tragedy. And, again, the ideas in the play are truly republican and noble, which is why there is no surprise of how much of an impression it made on the Founding Fathers. So, I'm glad I read it and I enjoyed most of it. I think, however, that I will leave further looks at this play only to the second hand quotes that it endowed on America's Revolutionary leaders.(less)

Marty rated a book 5 of 5 stars

The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains
by Owen Wister

read in February, 2011

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Like many of my most recent reads, this book had been one that I was supposed to have read some time ago for a class. Like most of my classes, I didn't like ruining a reading experience by being forced to read something with a particular theme in min...more Like many of my most recent reads, this book had been one that I was supposed to have read some time ago for a class. Like most of my classes, I didn't like ruining a reading experience by being forced to read something with a particular theme in mind, rather than reading first and letting themes arise naturally out of the text and my own life. Like many of my most recent reads, this strategy of read later has paid off beautifully. What a wonderful reading experience.

I do not read westerns. I am not opposed to them, but I simply haven't been drawn to them as I have been to other texts. The Virginian is not a western in the sense of genre. If I were to assign this a genre, I would call it an American text. Then, if forced to be more specific, I might go as far to say as western American. But I don't think I'd call it a western. Of course, if you like westerns, this is Father of all western books. By that I mean one of the first written with the setting in the west and the main character being a gunslinging cowboy. Still, though, if you like westerns, this may be a bit of a disappointment. The action is extremely limited and even more subtle. The conflicts are under the surface, but they are raw and real, just as much as they are wild (western) and intelligent. And, as long as we are pidgeon-holing genres here, another one that could just as easily apply is romance. All told, this is the story of a couple and their courtship. The outside implications of this romance, however, extend beyond most other romances and tell more about American character than anything else, but, yeah, romance fits as well.

Wister's narrator does happen to jump around at the author's whim, which gets a bit difficult to follow at times. I cede to the author his desire to have an omniscient narrator, but Wister goes between 1st person and omniscient without any distinction besides chapters. Granted, it is less unsettling by the end of the novel, as I got used to it, but most of the book it did jar things a little bit. This is my only qualm with Wister's writing. Besides that, he shows himself not just to be a novelist, but an insightful American. Someone with ideas on our civilization's identity that are perceptive, non-intrusive, simple, and truthful. His narrative is not particularly fast moving, in most spots, but where it meanders, it does so in a ponderous way that allows for reflection on events and characters that leave for plenty of application outside of his story.

Finally, his climax. I must say, I thoroughly understand why it might be frustrating to some readers, and I would not attempt to convince them otherwise. But for me, it was strangely real and right. The build up, it seemed to me, was the real climax, and the actual event almost an afterthought. What a great book. It is a shame that Wister did not write more, but what he has written (that is available) I am going to happily lay my hands on, whether it is western, romance, American, or--well--just a regular, no-genre specific novel. Heck, I'd even read horoscopes if he had written them.(less)

Marty rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Harris and Me
by Gary Paulsen

read in December, 2010

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I am surprised I had not heard of this book before. I am acquainted with several Gary Paulsen book and tolerate to enjoy most of them, but in all the lists of "must read" Paulsen not once did I catch Harris and Me on the radar. And I should have. Tha...more I am surprised I had not heard of this book before. I am acquainted with several Gary Paulsen book and tolerate to enjoy most of them, but in all the lists of "must read" Paulsen not once did I catch Harris and Me on the radar. And I should have. Thank goodness I have a wise father, who highly recommended it as a book he used for his summer school program. From what he told me, it sounded awesome. And then the clincher came when a highly esteemed neighbor knew that I loved reading books and discovered that I had not read the very same one my dad so recently recommended. I was quickly given a spare copy and ... started the first couple chapters before being derailed by a bunch of assigned reading. A few months later, I ran out of assigned stuff, and there was Harris and Me and I was happy to pick up where I left off.

The result: this is what Gary Paulsen can do when he is left to himself, without writing pretenses, without forced conflict, without plot contrivances. This is superb, natural, nostalgic, and moving writing ... all because it is so matter-of-fact, simple, humorous, and beautiful. For most kids, it will be nothing more than a book about two kids doing crazy things on a farm in the summer, and that's okay. But, because it bears repeated readings, or if someone happens upon it during the right moment, or if they are simply a more mature reader who still hasn't given up on his or her childhood (probably boyhood, more like, because this is most definitely more of a boy story), then the story takes on a whole new light and level of literary power. Something very subtle, but real and lasting. That is what is missing in Paulsen's most acclaimed work, Hatchet, which forces its character development on with thick literary pretensions yet--in spite of this--is still a decent book.

In Harris and Me, Paulsen creates a whole new type of book. This is the type of book that calls for no sequel, doesn't blow you away, makes no huge gains in the world of academic young adult literature ... and yet it will always be a constant for me on the bookshelf. One that I will turn to fondly and impatiently wait for my kids to be old enough to read with again. Maybe I won't even wait that long, maybe I'll just wait for a nice, cozy summer evening, lay out on the hammock and read--just Harris and Me and me.(less)

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Marty rated a book 5 of 5 stars Paradise Lost by John Milton read in April, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
It is quite possible that two years ago I would have shuffled through this book dutifully, though with a great bit of endurance on my part. Nearly 300 pages of blank verse written about abstract Old Testament stories mixed with references to long-for...more
Apr 04, 2013 09:13am · see review
Marty added the Goodreads iPhone app
Jun 12, 2012 09:00am
Marty wrote Once Upon a Fjord-Prologue: Prologue "This is the Prologue to a story I hope to write this summer, one chapter at a time for ten weeks of the summer. Well, as long as I can reach my goal amount of $ from Kickstarter.com to make it worth my (and my family's) time. To find the project g..." Read more of this chapter »
Mar 21, 2012 06:59pm · 1 like · like
Marty rated a book 3 of 5 stars Roughing It (Enriched Classic) by Mark Twain read in May, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mark Twain is one of the main reasons I went into the English Literature field. For many of my students, that probably is cause enough for desecration to his remains, yet it is undeniable that the man hit a chord with me that has never gone away. So,...more
May 16, 2011 02:27pm · see review
Marty rated a book 5 of 5 stars Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow read in June, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book had been a long time coming. I had long been searching, in vain, for a satisfactory biography of this ultimate hero of mine—a frustrating endeavor considering his legendary status and how much of a paper trail there is dealing with him. Man...more
May 12, 2011 05:45am · see review
Marty rated a book 4 of 5 stars Memoirs and Selected Letters (Library of America #50) by Ulysses S. Grant read in May, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
For some reason, I had this unexplainable Ulysses S. Grant craving. I think that part of it came from teaching American history, and when I reached the Reconstruction (in my mind, thinking it would be the most boooooring section ... I mean, come on,...more
May 11, 2011 01:53pm · see review
Marty wrote The Loss of Selfishness: The Loss of Selfishness "“Damon,” Cyrus said, “I’ve been so selfish.” That’s a lie, Damon thought to himself. Then he corrected himself. No, not a lie. Cyrus doesn’t know how to lie. He just doesn’t know what it means to be selfish. In fact, if Selfish had come up to him i..." Read more of this chapter »
Feb 07, 2011 06:29am · like
Marty rated a book 3 of 5 stars Cato by Joseph Addison read in February, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Cato is what owning the Kindle is all about. An obscure, mostly out-of-print title that has historical if not literary value. You don't want to spend a ton of money getting some old copy and having it shipped to your house just to read it in five hou...more
Feb 03, 2011 07:13am · see review
Marty rated a book 5 of 5 stars The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister read in February, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Like many of my most recent reads, this book had been one that I was supposed to have read some time ago for a class. Like most of my classes, I didn't like ruining a reading experience by being forced to read something with a particular theme in min...more
Feb 03, 2011 06:15am · see review
Marty rated a book 5 of 5 stars Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen read in December, 2010	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I am surprised I had not heard of this book before. I am acquainted with several Gary Paulsen book and tolerate to enjoy most of them, but in all the lists of "must read" Paulsen not once did I catch Harris and Me on the radar. And I should have. Tha...more
Dec 20, 2010 06:38am · see review

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