Jan Notzon's Blog, page 30
October 4, 2016
Atwood redeemed
While I thought The Handmaid's Tale was basically political correctness on steroids, it was written a long time ago and is the only other Atwood I've read. The Blind Assassin, on the other hand, is truly great in my humble opinion. Review below.
The Blind Assassin
by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)
12121037
Jan Notzon's review Oct 04, 2016 · edit
really liked it
Read in September, 2016
I rather agonized between a 4 or 5-star rating. If I could, I'd give it 41/2. It's an extraordinary story, rather bleak, as Atwood tends to be, but an incredible family saga, with major world events having their keen and often painful effects.
The prose is frequently delicious, the insight into relationships prodigious and the wry, sometimes sardonic sense of humor at times delightful, at times biting, but always appropriate.
For any lover of literary fiction and the complexity of human relationships, I highly recommend it.
The Blind Assassin
by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)
12121037
Jan Notzon's review Oct 04, 2016 · edit
really liked it
Read in September, 2016
I rather agonized between a 4 or 5-star rating. If I could, I'd give it 41/2. It's an extraordinary story, rather bleak, as Atwood tends to be, but an incredible family saga, with major world events having their keen and often painful effects.
The prose is frequently delicious, the insight into relationships prodigious and the wry, sometimes sardonic sense of humor at times delightful, at times biting, but always appropriate.
For any lover of literary fiction and the complexity of human relationships, I highly recommend it.
September 25, 2016
Huck's values
I just finished "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I think Mark Twain is one of the most inventive authors I've read. I realize I'm probably preaching to the choir in saying that.
One thing I was struck by, though, was how socially-imposed values can be so perverse: Huck actually feels guilty for NOT turning in Jim. He thinks that to do right, he must return someone else's "property"! Yes, a different time with different values, but it is arresting to me.
While I don't believe in the summary rejection of all societal values, it is amazing to me how some socially-imposed ones can be so perverse.
Of course, he does the humanitarian thing in the end, but to feel guilty for it is astonishing. I suppose that kind of thinking has led to perversions throughout history, i.e.: follow orders regardless of how horrific they may be. And we all can name examples.
One thing I was struck by, though, was how socially-imposed values can be so perverse: Huck actually feels guilty for NOT turning in Jim. He thinks that to do right, he must return someone else's "property"! Yes, a different time with different values, but it is arresting to me.
While I don't believe in the summary rejection of all societal values, it is amazing to me how some socially-imposed ones can be so perverse.
Of course, he does the humanitarian thing in the end, but to feel guilty for it is astonishing. I suppose that kind of thinking has led to perversions throughout history, i.e.: follow orders regardless of how horrific they may be. And we all can name examples.
September 21, 2016
Objectionable
There is a very politically objectionable sign at the edge of my neighbor's yard, obviously set up by shamefully Eurocentric male chauvinists. It has the audacity to say "MEN WORKING".
I am disposed by this clearly offensive sign to write to my congressman and the president demanding that it be changed immediately.
I am open to suggestions as to emendations. The obvious choice would be "PEOPLE WORKING," but doesn't quite have the ring I'm looking for. Perhaps "HOMO SAPIENS WORKING," would work, but is rather long for a simple rhombic orange sign with black lettering.
Besides, it's so unfortunately human-centered. After all, dogs work. They actually do some extraordinary services that we humans can't possibly match.
What is the world coming to with such blatantly odious slights? Is there anyone so offended as I am? Speak out! Let you voice be heard! Do not count yourself among the fatuously self-satisfied!
I am disposed by this clearly offensive sign to write to my congressman and the president demanding that it be changed immediately.
I am open to suggestions as to emendations. The obvious choice would be "PEOPLE WORKING," but doesn't quite have the ring I'm looking for. Perhaps "HOMO SAPIENS WORKING," would work, but is rather long for a simple rhombic orange sign with black lettering.
Besides, it's so unfortunately human-centered. After all, dogs work. They actually do some extraordinary services that we humans can't possibly match.
What is the world coming to with such blatantly odious slights? Is there anyone so offended as I am? Speak out! Let you voice be heard! Do not count yourself among the fatuously self-satisfied!
September 11, 2016
Regrets
One of my great regrets is not taking an interest in history sooner than I did. I read little as a youngster (I was probably ADHD, but there was no such diagnosis at the time. I simply didn't retain what I read "because I wasn't trying hard enough!")
Consequently, my knowledge of history growing up was something like Dave Barry's who believed that Marco Polo discovered America in three ships the Nina, the Pinta and the Merrimac, where he sailed around Plymouth Rock and there discovered the cotton gin.
As an adult, I've tried to remedy those misconceptions and read "The Age of Federalism" by Elkins and McKittrick and it is amazing how history repeats itself.
To wit: at the time of the first real election in the recently born United States, the Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, among others, became very nativist and tried to exclude (and so alienated) the German and Scandinavian immigrants in the western part of the country. (That would be western Pennsylvania and Maryland and parts of Ohio, among others)
The Republicans (no relationship to the party of today) led by Jefferson and Madison, by contrast cultivated a relationship with them and consequently won the election.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Consequently, my knowledge of history growing up was something like Dave Barry's who believed that Marco Polo discovered America in three ships the Nina, the Pinta and the Merrimac, where he sailed around Plymouth Rock and there discovered the cotton gin.
As an adult, I've tried to remedy those misconceptions and read "The Age of Federalism" by Elkins and McKittrick and it is amazing how history repeats itself.
To wit: at the time of the first real election in the recently born United States, the Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, among others, became very nativist and tried to exclude (and so alienated) the German and Scandinavian immigrants in the western part of the country. (That would be western Pennsylvania and Maryland and parts of Ohio, among others)
The Republicans (no relationship to the party of today) led by Jefferson and Madison, by contrast cultivated a relationship with them and consequently won the election.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
September 9, 2016
21st century
Well, I have finally taken a few baby steps into this century! I have an author page on Amazon, an ad running on goodreads for my latest novel "And Ye Shall Be As Gods".
I have also finally contracted a web designer to convert (or replace) my actor's website for a writer's website.
I must confess, however, that the steps taken as far as technology is concerned are tiny. As a matter of fact, I was asked to PM a person featuring indie authors with my information and, as yet have not figured out how to do it.
OH, TO BE A MILLENNIAL, and not the stone-age baby-boomer that I am!
I have also finally contracted a web designer to convert (or replace) my actor's website for a writer's website.
I must confess, however, that the steps taken as far as technology is concerned are tiny. As a matter of fact, I was asked to PM a person featuring indie authors with my information and, as yet have not figured out how to do it.
OH, TO BE A MILLENNIAL, and not the stone-age baby-boomer that I am!
August 28, 2016
At odds
I find I am at odds with members of a group I belong to. It concerns the novel Jude The Obscure. While I found it extraordinary (5 stars), beautifully written and with amazing insight into human interaction and character, I find I am alone in believing that Jude should not be considered a helpless victim--of society, of fate, of life.
Yes, he is taken advantage of by Arabella, and driven crazy by Sue. But, as heartless as it may seem, Jude CHOSE to have sex with Arabella. I don't think we do anyone any favors by infantilizing them and absolving them of responsibility for the choices s/he makes.
It reminds me of the discussion I had with another group about Romeo and Juliet. One person, no matter what evidence was presented, refused to believe that in early Renaissance times that girls were considered marriageable at as young as 13.
It seems to come down to the determination of Socrates and Aristotle: "Reality Exists". It may not conform to what we would LIKE to be true; all too often it is at odds with what we'd like to be true. But it is true, nonetheless, unfortunately.
Yes, he is taken advantage of by Arabella, and driven crazy by Sue. But, as heartless as it may seem, Jude CHOSE to have sex with Arabella. I don't think we do anyone any favors by infantilizing them and absolving them of responsibility for the choices s/he makes.
It reminds me of the discussion I had with another group about Romeo and Juliet. One person, no matter what evidence was presented, refused to believe that in early Renaissance times that girls were considered marriageable at as young as 13.
It seems to come down to the determination of Socrates and Aristotle: "Reality Exists". It may not conform to what we would LIKE to be true; all too often it is at odds with what we'd like to be true. But it is true, nonetheless, unfortunately.
August 9, 2016
Review
Just thought I'd share what one reader said about And Ye Shall Be As Gods and rated it 5 stars:
Gwen rated it it was amazing
A haunting book with a story that makes the reader examine his or her own life as well as the life of the protagonist. The book is about a man, the trauma his sister is going through and his way of helping her. It is also about the man's love interest and her secret. All things are woven together in a delicious story.
I recommend this book highly.
Thanks, Gwen.
I also recently got a request for a copy from a critic who writes reviews for two newspapers in PA.
Gwen rated it it was amazing
A haunting book with a story that makes the reader examine his or her own life as well as the life of the protagonist. The book is about a man, the trauma his sister is going through and his way of helping her. It is also about the man's love interest and her secret. All things are woven together in a delicious story.
I recommend this book highly.
Thanks, Gwen.
I also recently got a request for a copy from a critic who writes reviews for two newspapers in PA.
August 8, 2016
Giveaway
Here's a link to my giveaway on Amazon: https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/1a4ee0e.... You have a good chance to win! Check it out.
August 4, 2016
Insularity
Just had a friend on Facebook say that he had to "unfriend" people who didn't have their heads in the right place concerning the next election.
Interesting: while I will probably not vote in the next election for the first time since I turned 18, this attitude I find intriguing. Does it say, "if you have a differing opinion, I will not consider anything you have to say?"
There is a famous quote from Judge Learned Hand: "The best guarantor of liberty is the proposition that you may not be right." I wonder if there was ever rational, civil discourse concerning the issues. Or is that simply my painting a rosy picture of the past?
Interesting: while I will probably not vote in the next election for the first time since I turned 18, this attitude I find intriguing. Does it say, "if you have a differing opinion, I will not consider anything you have to say?"
There is a famous quote from Judge Learned Hand: "The best guarantor of liberty is the proposition that you may not be right." I wonder if there was ever rational, civil discourse concerning the issues. Or is that simply my painting a rosy picture of the past?
July 29, 2016
Just An Old Fart
There seems to be a tendency in people as they get older to predict the breakdown of society. I have a socialist (self-described communist) friend who predicted the death of American society when GW Bush was president. I have conservative friends that are making the same prediction now.
What I wonder is if that tendency in me is just a function of the fact that I am in what the Spanish call "la tercera edad" (basically, retirement age). Believe me when I say that I hope so. I hope I am just "gilding the past". And, I must admit, the past had some horrible aspects: greater racial segregation, intolerance of alternative sexual preference, strict gender roles, belief that emotional problems were a character flaw, etc., etc.
And let me say before I go on that I think the death penalty is barbaric; I've been in favor of same-sex marriage as long as I've thought about the issue; and, as far as our "War on Drugs" is concerned, I think we've been met on the field of battle and soundly defeated.
But I wonder about the future of civilization when in this country we're murdering our policemen, when in Germany a person is denied asylum and blows up a bunch of innocent people (Hmm...I don't get my way, so everyone else has to die(?)), when in Sweden since it opened up immigration the incidence of rape has gone up by a factor of 15.
It seems to me that the rule of law is a necessary (but not sufficient) basis of civilization. And to blame all policemen for the acts of one or two is no different from making gross generalization about any other group.
I do hope I'm wrong in my concern that this is the product of a society of spoiled children. (i.e. "I don't get asylum, I'll kill a bunch of innocent people." Or, "if you arrest me and I try to beat you to death, you have no right to defend yourself.")
I had a great Aunt Allie who was a real curmudgeon. When I was a young radical leftist in the '60s she said, "I think all those college protesters just follow the crowd." I thought at the time that she was just an old reactionary biddy; I considered myself truly revolutionary. Now, I wonder if she wasn't right.
What I wonder is if that tendency in me is just a function of the fact that I am in what the Spanish call "la tercera edad" (basically, retirement age). Believe me when I say that I hope so. I hope I am just "gilding the past". And, I must admit, the past had some horrible aspects: greater racial segregation, intolerance of alternative sexual preference, strict gender roles, belief that emotional problems were a character flaw, etc., etc.
And let me say before I go on that I think the death penalty is barbaric; I've been in favor of same-sex marriage as long as I've thought about the issue; and, as far as our "War on Drugs" is concerned, I think we've been met on the field of battle and soundly defeated.
But I wonder about the future of civilization when in this country we're murdering our policemen, when in Germany a person is denied asylum and blows up a bunch of innocent people (Hmm...I don't get my way, so everyone else has to die(?)), when in Sweden since it opened up immigration the incidence of rape has gone up by a factor of 15.
It seems to me that the rule of law is a necessary (but not sufficient) basis of civilization. And to blame all policemen for the acts of one or two is no different from making gross generalization about any other group.
I do hope I'm wrong in my concern that this is the product of a society of spoiled children. (i.e. "I don't get asylum, I'll kill a bunch of innocent people." Or, "if you arrest me and I try to beat you to death, you have no right to defend yourself.")
I had a great Aunt Allie who was a real curmudgeon. When I was a young radical leftist in the '60s she said, "I think all those college protesters just follow the crowd." I thought at the time that she was just an old reactionary biddy; I considered myself truly revolutionary. Now, I wonder if she wasn't right.
