Thoughtful review!!

 ” "When I construct a novel, I back up from “effect” to “cause.”  I wanted to examine the modern American political psyche, using artists as a vehicle.” 

 “This novel is about, among other things, infamy and privacy, the role of the media in shaping public opinion, and its penchant for passing on gossip as news.” 

“ Informing the reader about facts and events is an important part of what I do.  But ultimately that’s not enough: I also want you to care.  A history book can educate you, but oddly, a novel is much more likely to move you to tears, because it creates empathy.  That’s the amazing power of fiction.”

 “I only set scenes in places where I’ve been myself.  When I create a world for the reader, I want to do it right, using all my senses.”  

“Reading history suggested to me that no matter what’s happening, we have probably been here before at some time, possibly with a better attitude.  Historical fiction carries that kind of useful information, and can render it emotionally compelling.”

The above statements are quotes from an interview with Barbara Kingsolver about this novel. I chose to include them as part of my review as a starting point for my comments about The Lacuna.

I have read several of her novels, and find them highly engrossing and entertaining. As she puts it, ”emotionally compelling.” This novel is no exception. Even the title is attention getting, with its many nuances of “things unknown” throughout the novel.  Her attention to historical background and place are extremely well researched and described in The Lacuna. Juxtaposing the Russian Revolution and the Red Scare in America was a daunting but brilliant tactic.

Kingsolver uses her main character, Harrison Shepherd, to drive the novel, but he is uncharacteristically not in the driver’s seat. She has drawn his personality in such a manner that his desire to remain a loner tends to underscore the other main characters, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Leon Trotsky, and Violet Brown. Kingsolver’s use of Shepherd’s journals to tell the story was effective in keeping him at a distance. However, through the other characters, we learn much about this enigmatic character. I am convinced that Kingsolver herself is conflicted by similar traits, for she is both passionate about her politics, but lives a rather reclusive life as an author and a farmer.  

The Lacuna was a book that slowed down for me in the middle, and I struggled to pick it back up for this reason. However, I’m thankful that I did. Even though I didn’t care for Shepherd’s character, I definitely felt his pain and his passion. Kudos to Kingsolver for that!

Lila by Marilynne Robinson

   Well -- it was a wonderful read -- but it didn't move me as much as Gilead.  The characters are vividly portrayed - and since I'm a sucker for great characters this book was definitely worth the time it took to read.  But the story of Lila seemed to drag.  Robinson appears to have written this book to explore more deeply the themes of abandonment, shame, faith, and loyalty.  But really this book spoke to me of grit and perseverance.
   Of course it is beautifully written -- Robinson's use of imagery and symbolism is her gift.  I so enjoyed reading the first 3/4 of this novel.  But I found myself rushing through the ending simply because it didn't seem as if there was anymore of value to be read.
   This is the story of Lila.  We met her in Gilead as the wife of the elderly preacher, John Ames.  And in Lila, we are given an opportunity to dive deeper into their relationship and a chance to understand their unlikely love for each other.   It is a sweet, tender love story -- and that in itself is worth reading the book.
    But mostly this novel explores how Lila comes to terms with her status as an orphan and the multiple times she experiences abandonment in her lifetime.  Her sense of shame at times overwhelms her -- and keeps her from connecting with others.  Until she meets "the old man."  Through that relationship and the kindness she observes among the folks in her new home in Gilead, she grows to understand the importance of relationships.
     It is remarkable to me how Robinson portrays the grit it takes to survive in a harsh world.  Lila was born before the dustbowl, and as an orphan was "stolen" by a woman named Doll who believed she could give her the care she needed to survive.  Even with the devotion she felt from Doll, Lila grew up understanding the world is harsh, and she just needed to do what it took to survive.  As a young girl, she and Doll took refuge among a group of migrant farm workers during the Dust Bowl.  That experience taught her to take pleasure in hard work -- especially working with the soil -- bringing forth new life in gardening.  As a young woman, she spent time as a housekeeper in a boarding house, and even spent time working as "one of the girls" in a house of prostitution.  
    She remains reflective through all of her experiences until she finally learns the importance of community. Regardless of that realization,  it takes a very, very long time for her to learn to trust others in any sense.  
    In Gilead, Reverend Ames writes his story to his and Lila's young son.  Through his story we learn of his devotion to Christ and his belief in goodness in the world.  In Lila we learn that she felt she was always waiting for this child.  At times she doesn't believe she will ever have a child -- though she continues to wait, and prepare.  
    I love Robinson's writing style.  This story loops back and forth through time, almost like a stream of consciousness.  But through that the reader gets a stronger sense of Lila.  Rather than feeling we are reading a narrated story, we are actually traveling along with her on her journey and are privy to her ongoing thoughts.
    This novel is a treat -- but I don't think it's one I'm going to list among my top ten all time favorites.  

Getting back to the list - maybe!

     Trying to stick to my TBR lists quickly taught me that I had a reason for letting these books languish on my shelves for so long!  Empathic Civilization is not a book to breeze through -- so I've given myself permission to just return to it and browse through whenever I get the urge!  Game of Thrones is incredibly well written -- but I grow weary of the war planning.  I do enjoy the dragons though - ha!  So -- that's another one that I'm going to just take slowly.
     But I have some books that aren't on my list that I wanted to read.  I haven't written about them here.  But I will.  
     The first is Anthony Dooer's All the Light We Cannot See.  I read it a couple of months ago and it quickly jumped to my "all time favorite books list."  It deserves a post of its own!!!  Currently I'm reading Marilynne Robinson's Lila.  Ohhhh -- it's such a treat!  So in the next few days I'll write about those two.  After I finish reading Lila I'll return to my TBR list and begin reading Dave Egger's A Hologram for the King. 
     Well -- at least I've got a plan!  That was the main point of this blog -- plus the absolute delight in sharing our thoughts about what we two sisters are reading!!!
 

THE BOOK THIEF

“Death, like Liesel, has a way with words. And he recognizes them not only for the good they can do, but for the evil as well. What would Hitler have been, after all, without words? As this book reminds us, what would any of us be?”

I found this provocative statement in a review of The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. For those of us who love to read, even the book’s title is titillating. What circumstances would lead anyone to steal books? World War II and the Holocaust have been common themes for writers to explore. Zusak’s book takes it to a whole different level, literally. As the narrator of the story, Death is a very relatable character who has a talent for figurative and colorful language. Kudos to Zusak for coming up with such a brilliant point of view.

His second point of brilliance is his theme of the power of words and language. The main character, Liesel, an illiterate child of nine, is the book thief. Zusak’s story hinges on how Liesel becomes engaged with other characters as she learns to read and react to the power of words. She learns how to trust when Hans, her foster parent, teaches her to read from her first stolen book. Ilsa, the mayor’s wife, develops a relationship with Liesel based on the large number of books in Ilsa’s home library. The give and take of this odd friendship turns out to be a huge blessing to both individuals.  Rudy and Liesel are partners in play and in the crimes of stealing books and apples, a means of survival for both. And then there’s Max, the Jewish man, whose life was most likely saved by Liesel’s determination to read to him. Even Death couldn't resist the power that Liesel’s own writing had, as he extracts her recently written memoir from the rubble of her bombed neighborhood.

This beautifully written tale is one that will appeal to anyone who values life, love, and reading!

  

The Empathic Civilization by Jeremy Rifkin

Well -- the only way I'll ever get through this book is to give myself permission to read it a little bit at a time -- an ongoing historical romp while I continue to read my novels and less intimidating books along with it.

Rifkin's stated purpose it to rewrite the history of human civilization through the lens of empathy: "...In short, it is the extraordinary evolution of empathic consciousness that is the quintessential underlying story of human history, even if it has not been given the serious attention it deserves by our historians."  And in a mere 615 pages, Rifkin will  lay out his thesis -- "...Empathy is the very means by which we create social life and advance civilization."

This could take awhile!!!

A Memoir of Wayfinding

I wrapped this book up by skimming the last few pages pretty quickly.  Nothing new -- no unique wisdom beyond the middle of the book.  

I had hoped to find this book inspiring and maybe a little motivational.  But it really was just a story of a middle-aged woman learning to live on her own by finding her way through the woods - literally.  I can only read about so many hikes and scrapes with being lost in the woods.  

I did appreciate her tenacity and problem-solving skills.  The one take-away -- we're never to old to learn!  But then, I suspected that already!!!

Moving on through my list.  Next up -- I think it'll be The Empathic Civilization

Straying from the list

It's time to fess up.  I haven't been reading as much as normal -- and not anything from my TBR list!  I've decided not to review the few books I've read during the last few weeks -- but I'll list them here:

Gray Mountain by John Grisham -- ok, but not his best
Missing You by Harlan Coben -- awful, should have abandoned  it
Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good by Jan Karon --  standard Mitford Series.  Simple plot and easy to read, but enjoyable characters 
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine -- halfway through it now.  It's terrific!

Time to get back to the challenge!  Still working through Game of Thrones -- but might not make it through the whole series!!!

I was looking forward to reading this since it's been on my shelf for so long. Alas, I'm just not at all impressed with Wallace's 1972 best seller. The subject, publishing a New Testament Bible, is intriguing...but the writing style and characters are completely boring. I found myself saying, "Blah, blah, blah, and skimming ahead. So after 80 pages I've decided I've got lots better books to tackle and will not plod through the remaining 500 pages. Big relief to take this one off my shelf! So, Janice, you can roll the dice for my second list.

THE GRAPES OF WRATH  by John Steinbeck

I wish Mr. Steinbeck was alive today to continue his assessment of the marginalization of the economically oppressed in our society. Instead of reading this classic, I listened to an abridged audio production. It was delightful to hear the different voices of each character, although I'm sure in doing so, I missed some powerful and emotional passages. The message is no less important today than it was 75 years ago, in fact, it is perhaps of greater importance since the gap between the haves and the have-nots continues to widen.

The plight of the Joad family as they traveled from Oklahoma to California looking for a better life, was filled with hope and despair. From Ma Joad, who always believed that one should never lose hope, to Rose of Sharon, the pregnant and abandoned daughter-in-law, who never was able to see a way out. However, Steinbeck created a bizarre twist at the end of the novel that gives the reader a sense that there is always something that can be done to make life a little better.

The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought by Marilynne Robinson

This book is a gift for the mind!  I always enjoy reading Marilynne Robinson -- I love her thinking!  And this collection of essays was food for my own thinking -- it challenged, affirmed, and enlightened!  These essays push boundaries -- warning off complacency by encouraging engagement in our world -- a world with its myriad challenges!  

I guess my biggest takeaway is the importance of staying informed -- of receiving information from primary sources and not accepting sound bites that diminish meaning.  She warns us that the ideas which informed and emboldened our founders and shaped our nation have been diminished and erroneously summarized through the years. We should not trust the conventional wisdom we learn of thinkers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards but we should take responsibility by reading what they actually had to say!  Robinson bemoans our willingness to abdicate responsibility for the health of our environment as well the spiritual health of our citizens.

"The assumption of present responsibility for the present state of things was a ritual feature of life in this culture for two and a half centuries, and is entirely forgotten by us now."

I'm always stretched by the thinking of Marilynne Robinson -- and I'm especially happy that I  found my way back to this book via our TBR challenge!!!

"If you must err, do so on the side of audacity."

Sue Monk Kidd has a talent for dredging up the rawest of emotions, both in her characters and in this reader. How come I had never heard of the Grimke sisters, two abolitionists from the early 1800's? They were among the forefront of the movement to free the slaves. Call it what you want...audacity, courage, fierce belief in their cause...these two Southern white women faced unbelievable odds. Not only did women not have the vote, they barely had a voice. I wanted to stand and cheer when I read what Sarah told her male colleagues: "Do what you have to do, censure us, withdraw your support, we'll press on anyway. Now, sirs, kindly take your feet off our necks." I'm sure there were several dropped jaws and rolled eyes in the room. 

Hetty, aka Handful, was my favorite character in Kidd's novel. Although she did exist as a real slave to Sarah Grimke, Kidd created a longer life for Hetty in the novel. When Sarah taught Hetty the basics of reading, I knew their bond would be lifelong. Their relationship is depicted well in this quote from Hetty,

"People say love gets fouled by a difference big as ours. I didn't know for
sure whether Miss Sarah's feelings came from love or guilt. I didn't know 
whether mine came from love or a need to be safe. She loved me and pitied me. 
And I loved her and used her. It never was a simple thing. That day, our hearts
were pure as they ever would get."

In my reading of other accounts of America's history of slavery, both fiction and non-fiction, I don't recall feeling such compassion as I did with Kidd's, The Invention of Wings. Maybe it was more powerful because she did such an excellent job of depicting the painful truth of the time in all walks of society, both in the South and in the North. 

I also loved her metaphor of the quilt as a story of life, and the black triangles depicting birds' wings. I read in a review of the book that Kidd broke down in tears after she had written the last sentence in the novel. I understand why.

"When we left the mouth of the harbor, the wind swelled and the veils round us flapped, and I heard the blackbird wings. We rode onto the shining water, onto the far distance."



   

MYTHOLOGICAL TRAIL DRIVE

I have owned McMurtrey's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Lonesome Dove, for almost 30 years, so I'm glad I've finally read it. I also own, and have watched, the mini-series. The series is by far the better of the two. That being said, it's one book I will keep because it is a signed first edition. Might be worth something some day. This western tale is mythological in its proportions. Almost every character (Augustus McCrae and Clara Allen being the exceptions) is over drawn. The good guys are too good, the bad guys are beyond evil, the dumb guys are laughable and sad. The 3000 mile trail drive was so full of bad luck and bad weather, that I began to expect another death or storm. It became laughable. (However, I must admit that I was somewhat taken aback when Deets was killed while holding the Indian baby.) It was a relief to me that McMurtrey didn't take as many pages to get Captain Call back to Lonesome Dove as he did to get him to Montana. 

What I liked about this novel was the colorful imagery. The settings were beautifully described from the saloons and brothels to the rivers, plains, and big skies. McMurtrey's Texas roots were definitely evident throughout.

Janice's List of Ten Books that Made a Difference

I decided to jot down the books that came immediately to mind.  It wasn't as difficult a task as I imagined. . .

In chronological order by the age I was when I read them:

Magic or Not by Edward Eager  

This is the first book I read by Edward Eager and the other books in his series quickly followed!! These novels about time traveling brothers and sisters enthralled me!  It ranks #1 on my "books that made a difference" list because this is the series that created my passion for book stores! I think I was 7 or 8 years old!!!  I would beg Mother to take me to The House of Books the moment I finished one of these little novels so I could immediately start the next. I vividly remember walking into that store -- heart beating fast, and finding the next title on the shelf.  I would sit right down in the aisle and begin reading while Mother did her own browsing.  I adored putting the book on the counter and watching the clerk write out the ticket for purchase.  I think we actually had an old-fashioned store charge account there! 

The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle  by Hugh Lofting  

I read this when I was in fourth grade I think.  This was the first book I couldn't put down.  I sat on the sofa in the living room and read, and read, and read until Mother insisted I either come to dinner or go to bed.  It was probably the longest book I read to date, and so it changed my life because I realized how much I enjoyed loosing myself in a great book!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl  

Still in 4th or 5th grade I think...this was probably the first book that I found myself enjoying talking to friends who had also read it!  We laughed at the crazy characters and don't think we didn't all dream of finding a special ticket in our regular old Hershey Bars!!!  So this book makes the list because it introduced me to the joy of being in a community of readers!!!  Not to mention the fact that it was just a great, entertaining book!!

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien    

I read this when I was about 11 or 12.  I was absolutely captivated by Middle Earth.  This book taught me how to suspend disbelief and to let myself fall completely into other worlds when reading. 

The Outsiders by SE Hinton  

I read this as an assigned reading in 8th grade.  It was probably my first serious novel of Realistic Fiction.  It aroused my compassion, and my sense of social justice, and I simply loved the discussions around this book during class.  It taught me that I could enjoy moving beyond fantasy in my reading.  Life changing book, for sure!

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

I read this in 10th Grade and it is still my favorite among so-called classic literature!  I simply love the story.  And this book changed my reading habits so that I craved high quality writing ever-after.

The remaining books I read as a young adult.  

Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver 

This one makes the list because I discovered my favorite author.  I love her voice -- her passion -- and her descriptive writing.  When I read a Kingsolver novel, I live in her world from first page to last.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

This book was a game-changer for me because it was my first experience reading an author who wrote so poetically.  The story captured me, of course, but her writing transcends through her use of metaphor.  Morrison stretched me as a reader.

A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman.  

I've always been fascinated my Medieval history -- but this book opened my eyes to how interesting and important a study of our history is because so much of it parallels our own experiences.  I think this might have been the first history book I read that was written in narrative form -- so, it also opened up an entirely new genre for me!

Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville
While this is technically not a novel -- it is far and away my most favorite short story and it was a game changer for my reading because I discovered the joy found in reading short stories.  In just a few pages Melville captured the human condition in his character of Bartleby.  It is a story I reread often -- more than any other.  

So there you have it.  This was a great exercise!!!!  Thanks for the challenge :-)

Patty's List ofTen Books That Made a Difference

I was challenged by a Facebook friend to list the top 10 books that I have read that someway or another resonated with me. It was a tough challenge to come up with just 10. The idea is not to spend too much time or think too hard, just list the ones that come to mind. OK, here they are and why:

1. Heidi, by Johanna Spyri, was the first novel I ever finished. I loved the mountain setting and how the characters helped one another.
2. Magic for Mary M., by Charlotte Baker. This East Texas writer of children's books set this tale in east Texas during the oil boom. Mary M. lived in her grandmother's boarding house, and the black cook talked to Mary M about God and how important it was to know him.
3. Watership Down, by Richard Adams. This tale about a warren of rabbits fulfilled my love of  fantasy and adventure.
4. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. What's not to remember about this classic?
5. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker. The fictional character, Celie, was able to overcome insurmountable suffering by writing letters to God.
6. Oliver Wiswell, by Ken Roberts. This was an assigned reading in a study of American literature. I was fascinated by this perspective of our American Revolution from the viewpoint of a Loyalist.
7. Life of Pi, by Yann Martel. The author tells the story of a boy from India searching for truth. The marvelous tale of survival on a raft with animals from his father's zoo is compelling. The ending is brilliant and left me questioning for days.
8. The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom. This auto-biography is another survivor story set during the Holocaust. Ms. Ten Boom's courage was beyond anything I could imagine.
9. Necessary Losses, by Judith Viorst. Ms. Viorst demonstrates what we have to give up in order to grow.
10. West with the Night, by Beryl Markham. This is a 1942 memoir about a woman pilot from Africa who ultimately accepts the challenge to fly solo from east to west across the Atlantic. Her inspiring story is well worth the read.

So there you have it. Janice, I challenge you to make your own list to share.

Books to Consider ???

I found this list and it just seems too perfect for our blog!!  How many have you read Patty?Books About Sisters

What fun! I've only read three...Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, and The Color Purple...all classics of course. Bodes well for the other seven.

All the Light We Cannot See

It has been awhile since a book caused me to experience a "book hangover."  Set during WWII in Germany and occupied France, this book was wonderful from beginning to end.  The story is riveting and Doerr's writing is simple and elegant. His use of language, especially metaphor, is breathtaking.  His characters are engaging -- very multi-dimensional and sympathetic.  On almost every page I found myself asking -- what would I do in this circumstance?

It is a story of loyalties, and moral dilemmas. But throughout the story, Doerr also establishes his stance on the importance of curiosity and education.  His characters are strong illustrations of how becoming educated about the world leads to developing compassion for others, as well as providing the tools for self-preservation.

This book was well worth taking time away from my TBR list!  

Light We Cannot See

     






It has been awhile since a book caused me to experience a "book hangover."  Set during WWII in Germany and occupied France, this book was wonderful from beginning to end.  The story is riveting and Doerr's writing is simple and elegant. His use of language, especially metaphor, is breathtaking.  His characters are engaging -- very multi-dimensional and sympathetic.  On almost every page I found myself asking -- what would I do in this circumstance?!  












Here's a sample from a 
conversation between the two teenage protagonists 
(Werner and Marie-Laure): 

"He says, 'You are very brave.'

She lowers the bucket. 'What is your name?'

He tells her.  She says, "When I lost my sight, Werner, people said I was brave.  When my father left, people said I was brave. But it is not bravery; I have no choice.  I wake up and live my life.  Don't you do the same?'  

He says, 'Not it years. But today.  Today maybe I did.'"

It is a story of loyalties, and moral dilemmas. But throughout the story, Doerr also establishes his stance on the importance of curiosity and education.  His characters are strong illustrations of how becoming educated about the world leads to developing compassion for others as well as providing the tools for self-preservation.

This book was well worth taking time away from my TBR list!  

I have a new list! Check it out on the right sidebar!

Thanks, Patty!  This is a powerful list of TBRs.  I had begun reading most of them, and put them on the shelf for a variety of reasons.  But they all are books I've been anxious to dive back into :-)  Hmmmm...which one to choose first!

WooHoo - finished my first five!!!

So this is a great feeling!  I have completed the first five books on my list!!!  (well -- I should say "whittled through" since I did abandon a couple of them - haha) It actually gives a nice sense of accomplishment -- along with the simple pleasure of having read some good books :-)

I am looking forward to seeing what my next five will be, Patty. 

So many books -- maybe THERE REALLY IS time!!!!!

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

From the New York Times:

"And so we finish this novel with an intimate understanding of who his characters are and how they’ve defined themselves over the years through the choices they have made between duty and freedom, familial responsibilities and independence, loyalty to home and exile abroad. All this, played out against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history — from the pre-Soviet era through the years of the mujahedeen’s fight against the Soviet Union, the rise of the Taliban and the American invasion after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11."

I couldn't have summarized any better.  

I enjoyed this novel more than Hosseini's previous one, 10,000 Splendid Suns.  Of course the setting is the same, and as with both his previous works, the challenges of life lived in Afghanistan since the 1950s is portrayed in heart-wrenching detail.  This book focuses on childhood relationships -- and there are multiple pairs of siblings and friends to keep track of throughout the story.  

In all three of his novels, Hosseini brings to light the plight of children living in that devastated country.  In this story, the relationships are tested by distance and jealousy.  But mostly, it is the story of how people grapple with survival amidst poverty, corruption, and physical hardships.  Hosseini's common theme is resilience.  Two specific examples of this in this current novel involve young girls with devastating facial injuries: one inflicted by her enraged step-father, the other by a step-father's favorite pet dog.  Of course, the implication here is the often cruel circumstance young girls and women find themselves enduring in this culture.  But Hosseini provides a counterpoint by portraying strong, dedicated and caring adults  who help these girls overcome their burdens to build successful lives. 

I feel like I've dived into the deep-end of Islamic culture with my reading of Radical, In the Light of What We Know, and now And the Mountains Echoed.  I'm glad I've read them as they have helped broaden my understanding of that complicated culture just a little! But I think I'm ready for something a bit more lighthearted!