Cathy Zane's Blog, page 7

Books As Teachers

In my last blog, High School Reunion, I talked about my favorite high school English teacher and the impact he had on my reading and writing. He was one of many wonderful teachers I had from grade school through graduate school, all of whom influenced me in different but important ways.

But books and their authors have been my most consistent teachers over the years. I’m talking specifically about non-fiction books. Many, like the “For Dummies” series, are actually “How To” manuals providing usual step-by-step strategies for learning. But more broadly, I have avidly read books on a wide variety of subjects that fall into categories such as parenting, self-help, personal growth, psychology, religion, philosophy, spirituality, creativity, and writing.

Having recently been ushered into grandparenthood—and watching my son and daughter-in-law navigate the “new parent” waters—I was led to reminisce about my own maiden voyage over 30 years ago. Benjamin Spock’s Baby and Child Care (my mother’s parenting source) was still floating around, but more popular were newcomers T. Berry Brazelton and Penelope Leach. Leach’s book, Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five, (still a bestseller today), was my bible for those early years. Later, when working with children and families, I was introduced to Daniel Siegal and Mary Hartzell’s Parenting from the Inside Out, which married my passions for attachment theory and neuroscience in a very approachable and relevant style.

My introduction to books as “writing teachers” also began close to 30 years ago with Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones. Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, were other early influences. I had no conscious plan of becoming an author at the time. Rather, I simply had an urge to write and was drawn to these books. It was a case of “when the student is ready the teacher appears”—though I wasn’t even aware of being ready! It took many years to finally recognize the seeds that were being sown.

Now, I seek out books on writing with the plan to become better at what I love. I know I’m a novice who has a lot to learn. I recently read Stephen King’s memoir, On Writing, in which he describes that writers fall into four categories: the bad, the adequate, the good and, at the top, the great writers—the gifted geniuses. He goes on the say that “…while it is impossible to make a competent writer our of a bad writer, and while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one.” (page 142.) I don’t know that everyone would agree with King on this point, but it motivates me to strive to become a better writer.

I also need to learn to be an author, which encompasses so much more than I ever imagined. Truthfully, had I known all that was involved, I might not have embarked on this journey at all! Brooke Warner’s books, What’s Your Book and Green Light Your Book have been invaluable resources, full of helpful information. I’m on a steep learning curve, but I’ve always loved learning and books have always been my primary pathway to new knowledge.

I just finished Betsy Graziani Fasbinder’s From Page to Stage: Inspiration, tools, and Public Speaking Tips for Writers, which was full of practical tools and compassionate advice for even the most introverted of those among us. Fasbinder, a self-proclaimed glossophobe, speaks to strategies she has both utilized and taught to improve performance and decrease anxiety. Written specifically for authors, she shares inspirational quotes and “Mental Shifts” to help authors think differently about public speaking – and even make it fun!

My current “go to” for writing inspiration is Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic in which she writes that living creatively is “living a life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than fear.” (pg. 9) I can tap into fear and self-doubt often, worrying about outcomes or the value of my writing. Gilbert’s message to accept my truth—that I need to write and that’s all I really need to know—is one that inspires me in my darker times.

I currently have a long list of books on writing and publishing, along with many fiction books, that I want to read. It’s always a case of “so many books, so little time,” isn’t it?

Have books been teachers for you? If so, what books in particular have been important to you?

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High School Reunion

In my last blog, Harry Potter, I talked about two fantasy series I remembered from my teen years: Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy and C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. That led me to think about other books I’d read in high school, and while several came to mind, I knew it was nothing close to the number I’d read. And I had no clue as to whether they were assigned reading or choices I had made on my own.

I wasn’t a happy camper when I started high school. Because of the way the school district lines were drawn, I went to a different high school than all my friends from Junior High. In retrospect I’m grateful, but at the time it seemed a huge injustice and I bemoaned the loss of most of my friends. But with time I settled in and made new friends. Two girls in particular, Katie and Sue, became close friends. We were a “bookish” Three Musketeers and ended up graduating first, second and third (me) in our class. – classic birds of a feather and all that!

So, I reached out to both of them to write this, asking what books they remembered reading in our high school English classes. Our discussions ended up falling more in the camp of lamenting the vicissitudes of memory than it did on any particular books we had read!

Katie did remember that in our senior year many of us had already read the assigned books in the curriculum. So, our teacher (one of my favorites of my high school career) created a separate reading list for us. Regrettably, The Lion in Winter (James Goldman) was the only title she could remember. Sue remembered several titles including To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee,) The Odyssey (Homer,) The Diary of Anne Frank (probably Jr. High) and “some Shakespeare.” But like me, she wasn’t sure if they had been assigned readings or something she had read on her own.

I remembered many of these were books as well as other titles such as Moby Dick (Herman Melville,) A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens,) and Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury,) Civilization and its Discontents (Sigmund Freud,) One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn) and Flowers for Algernon (Daniel Keyes.) And yes, there was Shakespeare. I know Romeo and Juliet was 9th grade and King Lear was my junior year. I remember Hamlet and Midsummer Night’s Dream, but I don’t remember the year. The one book I do remember clearly was Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. I was deeply affected by it which in retrospect may have been foreshadowing my future career as a psychotherapist.

I know these are only a few of the many books I read during my high school years, but more than I remembered before talking to my friends and taking this trip back into the seemingly murky and nearly vacuous recesses of my high school memoires.

But it wasn’t a totally fruitless expedition. More valuable than the few book titles we recalled was the nugget of memory of the teacher I mentioned earlier who taught senior English. His name was Mr. Patton and he opened a previously veiled door in the room of reading and writing for me, piquing my curiosity and making me think differently about what I was reading and how I wrote about it. As much as I was aware of it then, looking back now his influence feels more significant, leaving me glad to have taken this trip back in time.

Teachers often open doors for us in ways other adults in our lives can’t. Did you have a significant teacher in high school who inspired or encouraged you?

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Harry Potter

In my last blog, Child’s Play, I talked about Children’s books, a subject I know I’ll return to here in the future. This week I want to jump ahead a few years to Harry Potter. My younger son was eight when the first book was published and he is still fan, as am I. We both loved the books, as did a whole lot of other people! J.K Rowling’s story is an amazing one. Talk about being transported! What a magnificent feat to create an amazing world that speaks to so many.

When Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released, my older son, then eleven, had recently announced that he no longer liked to read. He is now an academic and reads quite a bit, all non-fiction and much of it well beyond my mental grasp! But at the time his declaration, of course, broke my book nerd’s heart.

So, I was thrilled to have Harry Potter to read with my younger son. We read together every night, each of us taking a page. I don’t remember how long that lasted, but I know it wasn’t much past the first book. He was getting older and the books were exciting. We both realized we could read more quickly if we read alone. But we continued to read at a similar pace (at least for a while) so we could talk about them together.

I’ve thought about what made Harry Potter so appealing beyond the magical creatures and exciting adventures. Is it the age-old struggle and question of good vs. evil and the many characters in the book that embody elements of both? Or the empathy engendered for Harry’s traumatic early losses and difficulties, leading us to cheer for him as he escapes to the exciting world of Hogwarts with the opportunity to learn and grow and become great. Or the relationships, human and otherwise, that explore issues of loyalty, love, trust, loss and betrayal.

Fantasy worlds seem to hold a special power over us. When I was young those worlds were found in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (J. R. Tolkien.) and The Chronicles of Narnia (C. S. Lewis.) I was as unsettled by them as I was enthralled. And I have that same dichotomy of feelings with Harry Potter. They are fantasy worlds, to be sure, but there is much reality and truth at the core.

Many books and movies later, on a trip to London, we rode the Underground to King’s Cross station and Platform 9 3/4. Yeah, a silly touristy thing to do, but meaningful still. There is something delightful about being able to place yourself inside the story. I experienced the same feeling walking the streets of Oxford, familiar to us both from both our love of Harry Potter and the British TV series Lewis or seeing Highclere Castle where Downtown Abbey was filmed. When a story transports you in your mind, it can be fun to physically transport yourself there as well.

And for me, it was a trip down memory lane, back in time to when my son was curled up next to me, reading that first Harry Potter book. For all parents of eight-year olds now, I’ll say something terribly cliched: Savor and cherish the time. Because it really does go by much too quickly. And never be shy about enjoying Children’s’ books. They can hold wonderful treasures for any age.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Are there other Middle Age or Young Adult books have you enjoyed as an adult?

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Child’s Play

I know this won’t be my first blog on this topic. I love Children’s Books. Especially picture books. One of my favorite rituals with my sons when they were young was our weekly trip to the library, and the daily reading of those books curled up together on the sofa. I asked them both recently what their favorites were. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (Harper & Row, 1963) was the book that first popped into both of their memories. It has a universal appeal for children (and adults!) that has made it a classic.

Pat the Bunny by Edith Kunhardt, has stood the test of time, being first published in 1940. It was a ‘touch and feel book’ that was another favorite, although neither of my sons remembered it now when I asked. They were too young; it is definitely a “first book” kind of book. I had to get a new copy for my younger son after my eldest son’s love of his volume left it in tatters. I was thrilled when his now wife was gifted a copy at her baby shower!

My younger son also talked about the Berenstain Bears series by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Random House.) Following the antics of Brother and Sister as they learned and grew and tried new things, afraid at times, confident at others, doing the right thing and getting into trouble, was instructive for child readers. Everything was grist for the mill and helped normalize the stuff of life!

Another beloved series were Frank Asch’s Bear books (Simon and Schuster) which chronicled the experiences of a little brown bear in fun and fanciful ways. My two personal favorites are Bear Shadow and Happy Birthday Moon. We read them often when my sons were young.

While I don’t remember any adult reading to me as a child, I did have a great aunt, my grandmother’s identical twin, who gave me books every year. I still have several of those books, my favorite being The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey (1931 by Platt & Munk.) It is a timeless classic about being yourself – and being careful what you wish for!

Another timeless classic, and definitely at the top of my all-time favorite children’s books is Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. It was published in 1947. I never knew of this book until I had children and then I read it nightly for several years. “Goodnight room, Goodnight moon, Goodnight cow jumping over the moon… Goodnight stars, Goodnight air, Goodnight noises everywhere.” It became our nightly ritual, but I never grew tired of it. There aren’t many books I could say that about!

Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood (Child’s Play) was another sing song rhyming book that was well worn in our household. “I’m as quick as a cricket, I’m as slow as a snail, I’m as small as an ant, I’m as large as a whale…” It illustrated the many different traits that co-exist within all of use, giving permission to be fully ourselves.

Another gem about being loveable just as we are is Ruby by Maggie Glen (Hutchinson’s Children’s Books) about a stuffed bear that gets stamped with an “S” and thrown into the “seconds bin.” She spearheads an escape for all the “seconds” with very happy results. I think I loved this book more than my sons. It spoke to the child in me who had never felt quite good enough.

In keeping with the theme of being valuable just as you are, Pobody’s Nerfect, by Nancy Parker Brummet, features “Farley the Technicowler Calf” who feels different because he is born with colored spots instead of simply being black and white like all the other calves. (Spoiler alert: there is a happy ending!)

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper (1930 by Platt & Munk) has also stood the test of time. This may be the book with the most staying power for me as a shy less than confident kid. To be able to call in the empowering “I think can, I think I can…” bolstered me then and still resonates for me today when new things feel overwhelming.

This may well be why I love picture books so much. The fact that a simple phrase or message can become such a positive part of one’s self for life is an amazing thing. It has been over two decades since I read children’s books on a regular basis. As a new grandmother, I can’t wait to get back out there, so to speak, to see what wonderful new offerings are out there.

What are your favorites? Let me know what I might be missing!

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Gothic “Light”?

I’ve mentioned several books in my earlier posts that I have seen on “Gothic Novels” lists: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, Jane Eyre by Charlette Bronte and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Yet I recently had it brought to my attention that many consider Gothic as synonymous with horror. If you remember, in my first post (Bog #1: Calling All Bibliophiles) I was very clear that I avoid horror stories in order to fiercely protect my sleep. (Stephen King comes to mind; he’s a great writer but a lot of his work scares the bejeezus out of me!)

Since I pride myself on my integrity, this idea made me question my consistency. I hadn’t considered any of the books listed above to be horror stories. What was I missing? It occurred to me that perhaps I didn’t fully know what characteristics of a novel would earn it the distinction of being Gothic. So, I decided to comb the internet for clues.

Merriam Webster offered this definition: “of or relating to a style of fiction characterized by the use of desolate or remote settings and macabre, mysterious, or violent incidents.” Wisegeek.org described that Gothic fiction “is characterized by the elements of fear, horror, the supernatural and darkness, as well as by characters such as vampires, demons, heroes, heroines and villains. Other elements that characterize this type of fiction might include mystery, romance, lust and dread.”

For the most part, both definitions didn’t sound like something that would be up my sensitive being’s alley. Violence, demons, and pure evil generally make me want to run for the hills! But other aspects, such as mystery and romance, I seek out in a novel. And if the supernatural elements feel more benevolently spiritual rather than dark and menacing, I can get on board.

I guess it really depends on the overall tone of the book. Case in point, Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s Shadow of the Wind is one of my favorite novels, but his later book, The Angel’s Game was unsettling to me. But then I’m drawn to real life stories of evil, such as the two Erik Larson books that I discussed in Blog #8: Back In Time. So, was I a Gothic fan or not?

I started to consider that Gothic stories might fall across a spectrum. On one end, the “Gothic-light” novels are more mysterious, romantic, and spiritual  — and on the other end, the “hard core Gothic” tales are more terrifying and violent. And then I happened upon a reference in Wikipedia that described that “The Historian is not a horror novel, but rather an eerie tale.” That distinction helped. Maybe some Gothic novels are eerie tales, but others fall more into the unbridled horror realm.

And we all know which ones I’ll be reading! I know there are many great horror books, and many people who love them. But clearly, I’m not one of them. That would be someone else’s blog!

What about you? Gothic light? Pure horror? Something in between? Or maybe not at all?

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Back In Time

There are those that eschew historical fiction; they say that if you want to learn about history, read non-fiction history books. And despite the argument by some that “non-fiction history books” may at times be an oxymoron, I understand their reasoning. Fictionalizing history seems irrational. If you want to know facts, you want non-fiction.

But if being transported is what you’re after, historical fiction can be a wonderful vehicle, making real and tangible what in a history book often feels antiquated and disconnected from our twenty-first century world. It often engages a reader in a way a non-fiction history book doesn’t. From Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, (“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”) to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, (“We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.”) Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, (“I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”) classic stories continue to take readers on a journey to times past.

Several examples of fictional travel to past times come to mind for me. I lived in nineteenth century Paris while reading David McCullough’s The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris. He made the people and events come alive in a way that few authors can. As a nurse, writer and lover of the arts, walking alongside my predecessors in those fields was exciting and edifying. I couldn’t put it down, eagerly devouring the nearly 560 pages and at the same time dreading that it would end. I wanted to continue into the 20th century, to follow the thread of advancement rather than have it cut short.

I experience this feeling more frequently with historical fiction than other genres. As much as I often don’t want a book to end, with contemporary fiction, it’s more about missing the characters or not wanting to leave the location. But with historical fiction, it can feel like forward progress is being interrupted; an unnatural ending has happened that feels disconcerting. More than once I have found myself gravitating to the non-fiction variety of history to learn more or to see where the story went.

I’ve talked about my love of mystery and psychological suspense (Blog #2: Who remembers Trixie Belden?) and that extends to historical fiction as well. Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian (which is also on my list of books about books) and The Swan Thieves (on my list of books related to psychology) are two of my favorites that incorporate history and also have an element of mystery.

I have also enjoyed Erik Larson’s books (actually creative non-fiction) for the interweaving of stories that kept me on the edge of my seat. The Devil in The White City and Thunderstruck are my favorites, although Thunderstruck’s setting has a strong. For me, location is a large part of the appeal of books with historical stories, and London holds a special fascination.

A recent read, Barbara Ridley’s When It’s Over, also had a London setting (as well as Prague and Paris) during WWII. Books set during wartime are often hard for me to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book which is based on the true story of the author’s parents. The relationships were the focus and that, along with the author’s meticulous research and beautiful prose, pulled me in.

Another masterful wartime story was Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See. Again, the characters and their relationships took hold of me. The hardship and brutality of war was difficult to read but the wonderful characterization, the unfolding thrill in the story and the beautiful writing kept me captivated until the end. Harsh reality is present throughout but the power of human connection and resilience shines brightly.

More enjoyable for me was the post WWII story, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows which I mentioned earlier in Blog #4: Books About Books. While there were tragic aspects of this story, the overall tone for me was hopeful and lighthearted. I enjoy epistolary novels and the characterization was wonderful. It thoroughly transported me to a different place and time, all the while wishing I could really immerse myself in such a community.

Much like in Blog #7: Girls Just Want to Have Fun, I know there will be more blogs to come on this genre, some in overlapping categories. Three of my favorites, Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, while spanning very different time periods, all have in common their southern settings. Since this is a blog subject that has been percolating, I’ll hold these wonderful books until then!

For any Historical Fiction fans out there, what most pulls you in: The story? The Setting? Characters? Something else? And what book most exemplifies this?

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Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Sometimes I just need to escape. Maybe life has been especially stressful or I’m feeling lonely or even lazy. All I want is to curl up with a book that is fun and even sometimes familiar. And for me, this generally means a female writer with a female protagonist and a theme in some way connected to relationships. Some would say women’s fiction, chic lit or beach read. I say fun! Fun to read and fun to write.

But just not any fun women’s fiction will do. I’ve read many authors who’s books I didn’t enjoy very much. Some I didn’t even make it all the way through. (And I really try to make it all the way through out of respect or something akin to that.) It isn’t that they weren’t’ good writers or good books. Many were bestsellers and critically acclaimed. But for some reason they didn’t pull me in, when they obviously did engage many others.

I know it comes back to personal preference, like choosing your favorite ice cream flavor or vacation destination. There are as many different writing styles as there are authors and we all have our personal favorites. I have several authors who can’t write fast enough for me. I’ve read everything they’ve written, sometimes more than once, and excitedly await their next book.

As I mentioned earlier (Blog #2: Who remembers Trixie Belden?) Cara Black, author of the Aimee Leduc Mystery Series, is one of those writers for me. She writes a book a year and each year I wait to see where Aimee’s life will take her, what new dangers and adventurers will befall her. Her books are fun and exciting and I don’t want to put them down! But I try. I really do, even though it can be very difficult with an exciting mystery. I have to repeatedly coach myself to savor each title, because it will be another year before I catch up with Aimee again.

Liane Moriarty is another author that falls into this category for me, although her books don’t revolve around one central character like Cara Black’s. My first introduction was with The Hypnotist’s Love Story which is the middle title of her seven adult books. I loved it so much that I went scrambling for everything she had previously written, and have read everything since. I love her characters and storylines. She always surprises me and that is what makes it fun for me.

Another author, Mary Kay Andrews, doesn’t surprise me as much as she brings me comfort. Her books speak to the transplanted southern girl in me. I love my home in California and have been here nearly forty years, but I still miss things about the south. And Mary Kay takes me back there in her fun and engaging books. I’ve enjoyed them all but I think my favorite is Ladies Night. The therapist in me loved the themes explored in the book, and the setting was so much like my hometown that I felt transported back in time!

I could, and will, write several blogs about books in this genre. I’ve already talked about Mia March’s books (Blog #6: Colin Firth revisited) and Curtis Sittenfeld’s book Eligible (Blog #5: All Things Jane Austen) but I have many others in the genre that I love, so more to come.

Until then, for you women’s fiction fans, who are your favorite authors and what do you like about their books?

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Colin Firth Revisited

In my last blog, I admitted unabashedly that I’m a Colin Firth fan. I’ve seen most of his films, and quite a few several times! I admire his versatility, his range and the combination of subtlety and depth that he brings to his characters. He has the ability to convey intense emotion with the subtlest of facial expression, body movement or change in demeanor, engendering empathy in the viewer and making us forget he is acting.

So, reading Mia March’s book, Finding Colin Firth, was a no-brainer. As I bought the book and considered all the fans who would undoubtedly also be purchasing it, I wondered: What is it that makes an actor have such universal appeal? I had the thought that Colin Firth was this generation’s Cary Grant, only to read those same words later that evening in Ms. March’s book: “For me, Colin Firth all the way. He’s our generation’s Cary Grant – that swoon-worthy older actor, tall, dark and handsome, debonair but still very masculine and completely epitomizing everything a woman wants in a lifetime partner.”

I thoroughly enjoyed Finding Colin Firth, much as I did Ms. March’s earlier book, The Meryl Streep Movie Club. It was fun to revisit the setting and characters from the first book in the second. I also appreciated Ms. March’s themes of women’s issues and relationships in both books as well as the premise that “a movie can take you right out of yourself for a couple of hours.” I loved the quote that a Meryl Streep movie is “as good as a chicken soup, a best friend, a therapist, and a stiff drink.” Movies are like books in that way; they tell stories we can relate to and in which we can find comfort and understanding.

But Finding Colin Firth also led me to reflect on what it would be like to be someone like Colin Firth or Meryl Streep or any number of other gifted actors. I thought about the fantasies and projections that people have and the impact that has on the actors. Ms. March has a quote from Colin Firth at the beginning of the book: “I’m fully aware that if I were to change professions tomorrow, become an astronaut and be the first man to land on Mars, the headlines in the newspapers would read: ‘Mr. Darcy Lands on Mars’.”

I’m not sure how true that is. While I can’t imagine anyone else playing Mr. Darcy, I associate Mr. Firth strongly with many of his roles, not solely his Pride and Prejudice character. But it illustrates the strange world celebrities inhabit. A scene from the movie Notting Hill comes to mind. Julia Roberts’ character, Anna Scott (a famous actress) is confronting Hugh Grant’s character, Will Thatcher (a bookstore owner and her love interest) and says: “The fame thing isn’t really real, you know…Don’t forget, I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”

I know. It’s just a movie. And that was a classic rom-com movie line. But there is truth in it. These actors we idolize are just people. Talented people for the most part, but fellow human beings nonetheless. And through their work they inspire, comfort and entertain us.

But I digress. This isn’t a movie blog, although I’d love to do that as well! Movies are high on my list of favorite things. And as much as I would love to shake Colin Firth’s hand and say “Well done,” I will return to the subject of books and say “Well done!” to Mia March for her enjoyable, touching, and thoughtful stories.

And I’ll ask you, to what author would you like to say “Well done” and why?

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All Things Jane (Austen)

I recently devoured Curtis Sittenfeld’s Eligible. It was fun, fast paced, and a wonderful re-visiting of one of my favorite novels, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

I have a big confession to make before I go any further. I came to Jane Austen late in the game. And in a manner (spoiler alert) that may offend many Austen fans. I’m not sure why I’d never read any of her books. I remember reading Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Little Women. But none of Austen’s books. I hadn’t even seen any of the movies. Not until the movie Bridget Jones’ Diary. (I warned you!)

Second confession of the day. I’ve watched Bridget Jones’ Diary more than once. I loved it. I thought Renee Zellweger was brilliant. And, like many, I fell in love with Colin Firth as Mark Fitzwilliam Darcy. It was Mr. Firth who led me to the wonderful BBC production of Pride and Prejudice (1995) and that in turn led me to the book.

And what a book! Pride and Prejudice will never grow old for me. It’s one of the rare books that I want to start reading again as soon as I finish it. I know it is a universally loved book so it must strike some common chord, or perhaps many, for its multitude of fans. That’s the wonder of a good book. It can speak to many different people in many different ways. For me, Austen’s wit, humor, and irony are pure enjoyment and comfort. I feel immersed in the world she creates and feel some respite from the stresses of my daily life.

But I think it is the consideration of relationship (dare I say love) as a means to personal growth that really pulls me in. (Yes, that is the therapist in me talking!) In self-reflection and openness to feedback from the other, Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy are humbled and changed. They see their own foibles and understand that there is no perfect person. And in that realization, comes understanding, forgiveness, respect and love. It is this hopefulness that keeps bringing me back.

I know I’m not alone. With so many books and productions with ties back to Austen’s original work, it is clear that many other’s want to keep coming back as well. I know I haven’t even begun to read all the Pride and Prejudice, let alone Jane Austen, inspired books that are available. My “For Later” list keeps growing longer and I know I will never have time to read all the books I’d like to read.

One ‘follow up’ book I did read was Death at Pemberley by P.D. James. It was one of her late in life novels and I’ve read several less than positive reviews. But I enjoyed it. As I mentioned earlier, (Blog #2: Who Remembers Trixie Belden?) I enjoy mysteries. This book is set at Pemberley six years after Elizabeth and Darcy are married. They are preparing for an annual ball when a murder occurs on the grounds. It was a triple treat for me: Further development of Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship and their life at Pemberley; a historical fiction of legal proceedings of the time period and a murder mystery that had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing.

As I mentioned last time in Blog #4: Books about Books, I’ve read Karen Joy Fowler’s The Jane Austen Book Club. I enjoyed the unfolding of the relationships as well as the discussion of Austen’s books. Other Austen inspired books I have read include Laurie Viera Rigler’s Confession of a Jane Austen Addict; Shannon Hale’s Austenland and Midnight in Austenland; and Elizabeth Eulburg’s YA Novel, Prom and Prejudice.

But back to Sittenfeld’s Eligible. Like many returns to Pride and Prejudice, the parallels were clearly there: The Bennet’s and their five girls, all with personality’s like the original Bennett sisters, Mr. Bennett’s wry sense of humor and detachment, and Mrs. Bennet’s attention to her station in life and her quest to find husbands for her girls. But it was also fresh and modern enough to be a new story. The characters were present day and I didn’t find myself envisioning the actors from past productions. With one exception. Fitzwilliam Darcy was Colin Firth. I couldn’t imagine anything else. I dare say he will always be Mr. Darcy to me.

So, what about you? Are you a Jane Austen fan? Do you have a favorite Austen inspired novel?

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Books about Books

At the end of Blog #2: Who remembers Trixie Belden, I mentioned two books that came to mind as inspiring me to travel. Last time I talked about Michener’s The Drifter’s. The other was Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s The Shadow of the Wind. It is one of my all-time favorite books. Really, it belongs in the category of “books about books” or “gothic novels”, but it crosses over into travel for me because I have yearned to visit Barcelona since first reading it. And I’ve read it three times now! It is a book within a book, a book about books and a wonderfully written story with diverse and intriguing characters. Just writing this makes me want to start reading it again.

Another of my favorite “books about books” is A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse. The love of good books is woven into an exciting mystery and tragic love story. I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful combination. I loved this book. I’ve read it twice and think it may be about time for another pass!  It also contains one of my favorite monologues about fiction. I shared this partial quote in Blog #1: Calling All Bibliophiles:

“My grandfather left me a great deal more – a passion for literature and something additional, fundamental: the conviction that literature is important….Novels don’t contain only exceptional situations, life or death choices, or major ordeals; there are also everyday difficulties, temptations, ordinary disappointments; and, in response, every human attitude, every type of behavior, from the finest to the most wretched….There are grown-ups who will say no, that literature is not life, that novels teach you nothing. They are wrong. Literature informs, instructs, it prepares you for life.” (pg. 150)

I’ve shared this passage many times over the years, maybe as a way to justify my incessant reading, but also as a way to express the passion I have for reading and writing. And to know that I’m not alone. For so many years, growing up in a family of non-readers, I felt like Roald Dahl’s Matilda: out of place and misunderstood. In Cosse’s quote I feel a kinship with Matilda and all the other lovers of fiction and bookstores out there.

And then there is Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, a high school read that terrifies me to this day. Imaging not only a world without books, but also one in which thoughtful dialogue, critical thinking and the natural world are eschewed leaves me feeling more than unsettled. As horrific as it sounds, it makes me relate to the character of the old women who chooses to be burned alive along with her books. I can’t say this was an enjoyable book to me at the time, but I knew it was an important one.

Another book on my list of “books about books” is Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale. Like The Shadow of the Wind, it falls into the gothic (I feel a future blog emerging!) as well as suspense genres. Not to reveal too much, but it addresses issues of loss, identity and healing. Again, a great combination for me. I consider it another favorite in this category.

Some others I’ve enjoyed include Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian, Charlie Lovett’s The Bookman’s Tale, Gabriele Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, Shaffer and Barrows’ The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Alan Bennet’s The Uncommon Reader, Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore, Markus Zusaks The Book Thief; Nina George’s The Little Paris Bookshop and The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. (Ah, yes, Jane Austen. I have much to say there. I think that will have to wait until next time…)

Clearly, I seek out books about books and bookstores so if you have your own pick, I’d love to hear about it. What is your favorite “book about books”?

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