Sunday Salon (Modge Podge)

Hey Saloners -

This is probably one of the latest-in-the-days I've ever done a SS. I've been running errands all week purchasing things for the classroom, taking care of things that I've overlooked, etc. I think the first of school is always a struggle. I love the novelty of a new group of students, but hate not knowing their names. And, I must be honest with you all - I am HORRIBLE with names. Trying to learn 110+ is overwhelming.

I also feel like I'm cheating in the book blogging world. The reviews that I've posted this week have all been prewritten and post-dated. I have a handful more coming up. It seems to be the only way I can manage my time right now, although I must say it doesn't strike me as authentic and I don't think that I like doing it this much. Still, the alternative is to not write the book reviews, which I can't bear either. I've found over the months of blogging that book reviewing causes the stories to stick with me a bit longer.

I'm catching up on bunches of starred posts or SS from this morning, and since I don't have anything worthwhile to share, I thought I'd link you guys to places that do!

Amanda over at Zen Leaf is discussing memes in the book blogging community this Sunday. Do you meme? (Can I even use meme as a verb?) How do you feel about memes? Sometimes, is enough enough? Go over there and check out her thoughts and others...

Amy at My Friend Amy asked her readers what type of themes in literature draw you in. It was really interesting to read what everyone wrote. Amy was on a roll with good questions this week. In another posts, she asked if it was important to have likable characters. I love both topics so much that I might have to borrow them for a full fledge post in the future! Yay Amy!

Kay over at Infinite Shelf posted some great cat covers. Representin'!

And finally, Susan over at Bloggin' 'Bout Books wrote an open letter to Shannon Hale.

Villa Incognito

Title: Villa Incognito
Author: Tom Robbins
Pub Date: 2003
Genre: fiction
Pages: 241

Summary

Brace yourself because this summary might just sound all over the place. (And if it does, then I've done an accurate job portraying V.I.). Once upon a time a very long time ago there was a Tanuki, an Asian critter that resembles a raccoon, who loves sake and women. This Tanuki meets and mates with a beautiful Asian woman who eventually bares his child. Now. Let's leap forward. We are in the late 90's and two sisters have seen their brother on the news, dressed as a priest and arrested for smuggling heroin. But wait. It can't be their brother, can it? I mean, he's been MIA since the Vietnam War. It would be ridiculous to think that he purposefully wanted to stay missing right? And even more ridiculous to assume his two best friends (also MIA) are somehow involved in this drug affiliated faux pa! By the way, whatever happened to that Tanuki child?

My Thoughts?

Tom Robbins almost writes folklore. I say almost, because his books also tend to be satire, social (and) political commentary, boundary crossing, awe-inspiring, laugh out loud witty, and a bit startling to boot. I've been a huge fan ever since Still Life with a Woodpecker and my all time favorite Skinny Legs and All (inanimate objects who talk to their owner people. Seriously.)

The best description that I've read about Robbins and his books can be found in the side flap of Villa Incognito.

"A female fan once wrote to Tom Robbins: 'Your books make me think, they make me laugh, they make me horny, and they make me aware of the wonder of everything in life.'"

Villa Incognito is very Tom Robbins. He is the one author who has never disappointed. I've read all of his books (o.k. except for B is for Beer, which I just found out about and a collection of stories that I just picked up) and even though I love some more than others, I've never actually disliked any. Plus I always feel an instant kinship with other TR connoisseurs. It's a quick nod and with an unspoken 'i get it'.

Robbins has a unique way with similes and metaphors. He's just brilliant, really.

"He sounded nothing like Elvis Presley. In fact, he sounded nothing like Dickie Goldwire. he crooned the way a can of cheap dog food might croon if a can of cheap dog food had a voice. Generic Puppy Chow Sings Holiday Favorites. On the Skippy label. His delivery was so flat, so off-key and toneless and awful that his own ears felt violated."

And yet, still, something important is taking place in his works:

" 'You know, when I met you, man, you were really in touch with your feelings. That's what turned me on about you, I guess. You were living in your heart. Now, you've packed up your khaki pants and polo shirts and moved into your head.' She propped herself up on one elbow. 'It's gotta be both, man. It don't matter how sensitive you are or how damn smart and educated you are, if you're not both at the same time, if your heart and your brain aren't connected, aren't working together harmoniously, well, man, you're just hopping through life on one leg. You may think you're walking, you may think you're running a damn marathon, but you're only on a hop trip, man. You're a hopper. The connection's gotta be maintained.' " (104)

On Writing

Title: On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft
Author: Stephen King
Pub Date: 2002
Pages: 320
Genre: NonFiction, Memoir, Education

I picked up On Writing not because I'm a huge Stephen King fan (I was back in middle school, but have to admit not picking up anything new since the early 90's). No. I grabbed a worn copy of the writing memoir because I constantly see it place out on display at BnN for academic reading lists (whether it is for the high school IB program or junior college). I fail at it miserably, but I do try to stay abreast to what my students will be reading/learning in the future. Plus, I still feel if there is one person who could write a "writing memoir" it would be the King himself.

This will be a relatively short review (damn, adverb. A big no-no for Mr. King) as most with common sense can figure out the story's theme.

On Writing is divided up into two sections (well, sorta three...) The first section is more autobiographical. King shares how his life as a writer was created. Who and what influenced him. In this section he candidly shares his fight with alcoholism and addiction, what it was like to be broke and finally have a story sell, and what made him write such books like Carrie.

The second section is geared more toward the mechanics of writing. What works. What doesn't. Mr. King lists what is needed in your writing toolbox (a handy little way to organize the process and skills). What I really liked about this section is how adamant that a writer needed a room with a closed door. If you truly wish to write, realize that it going to be a lonely place. You must have the willpower to close that door to the living world and enter one that you create. He also speaks about discipline, the importance of setting goals, and most importantly points out that you should not wait for the muse. (He has a rich and funny way of personifying the Muse. If I had my book highlighted I would share. Unfortunately I don't.)

The final section is more of an after thought. Mr. King retells the story of the car accident that nearly killed him. I found this to be rather interesting as well because I was probably the last person on the face of the earth who had very little clue about what happened. I'll admit, I knew he got hit. I knew that he had to go to the hospital and rehab, but I sure as hell didn't realize that he nearly died or had half his body nearly crushed. (You see how most media escapes me!)

The book dragged for me. What should have just taken a day or two to get through (it's not difficult reading) took weeks. I found myself setting it aside and then picking it back up again because I felt guilty. (I feel that way sometimes with my books!) I do believe, however, if I were an aspiring writer, that this little memoir would be write up my alley. So for any of yous that are interested in the writing craft as a career (not a hobby!) I highly recommend.

Voodoo Dreams

Title: Voodoo Dreams
Author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
Pub Date: 1993
Pages:436
Genre: Historical Fiction

Voodoo Dreams is the story of Marie Laveau, but it's also the story of Maman Marie, Grandmere, and the Voudon Queen. It is about legacy, fate, and bloodline.

When we first meet Marie, she is the Voodoo Queen and through the strength of Damballah, has murdered John, her baby's father in the midst of a ritual performance in New Orleans. We get the sense that she was held prisoner by his unrelenting desire for power.

When we first meet her, she speaks out that sometimes the beginnings must start from the middle.

And that's exactly how this novel becomes a storytelling of the Marie Laveau, Voudon Queen. Not quite linear, not quite accurate, but haunting and chilling none the less.

Next we see Marie as a young child growing up in Tethe, an isolated home by the bayou with Grandmere. The young Marie wants to find her identity, the same identity that Grandmere is protecting her from. "Who is Maman?" young Marie begs Grandmere over and over again. The only conversation to ever put Grandmere in a foul mood. Then, on Marie's twelfth birthday, after yet another fight with Grandmere, she storms out and has a sexually stimulating vision of a mysterious man beckoning her. Confused by the vision, young Marie feels even more isolated than before. The years that follow Grandmere anxiously awaits Marie to begin her menstrual cycle so that she might marry and Marie, curious about the man in her vision, knows that she must marry to meet him.

Marie's marriage to Jacques will set her destiny in motion. On her wedding night, John, the man from her vision, comes to her and she becomes his lover. He makes promises of showing Marie her past and making her Queen of the Voudon. Marie, unable to deny John anything, abandons her newly wedded husband and Grandmere.

What follows is Marie losing her soul in order to find out who she truly is. Her insecurities cause her to hurt those she loves and perpetuate a cycle of half truths and hidden shadows. Voodoo Dreams is not just about the imagined life of Laveau, but of a young girl becoming Woman. A young girl losing herself in Man and fighting to find Voice.

The reading of the book was much more intellectually and emotionally driven than what I would expect (I was able to even suspend my disbelief by the one flaw that I spotted, the dialogue seemed a bit traditional rather than 19th century).

Voodoo Dreams haunted me. Truly and deeply. I cannot remember ever being taken aback by a book that I would find myself having consecutive nightmares. (Luckily I read this book in three days; my unsettled evenings were beginning to dampen my daily energy). And yet, I want to expand more on "nightmares". They weren't in the ghastly sense. They weren't gory, tragic, heart pounding. No. Rather, they were soft and subtle. A dark shadow creeping into my sleep. Slow and haunting.

Juggling & Decompression

*whew* The first week back, students aren't even in the the school YET, and I'm having a hard time adjusting. I have been in meetings for the greater part of the morning and into the afternoon. I have been moving and unpacking more boxes than I thought possible, and realized that I have purchased so many more books and STUFF this summer for my classroom that I have no where to put it.

So what does all of this mean??

• I will have to go through my five bookshelves in my classroom and weed through my library. This will prove to be hard. How do I get rid of books? Do I take away my mazillions of Goosebumps? I'm not a fan, but it gets my non-readers reading. *sigh* Tomorrow will be a sad struggling day. (Bookmooch might be happy though).
  
• I have not been able to catch up on my blogs. Seriously. I try to peruse them every night because I know that they get backed up quite easily. I skim, and if it's an entry that really interests me, or a book I want to check out, or someone I want to say "hi" too, I'll star it for the weekend. The weekend is turning into my salvation, so to speak. Unfortunately, the skimming isn't helping that much because you people are writing and reading too many good things. I can tell that I'm going to have to work on finding balance here.
  
• And speaking of no time, want to know how much I've read since Saturday? Umm, MAYBE four pages?! I'm reading Middlesex, and although I've anticipated reading it for some time, I cannot get the necessarily jolt of enthusiasm to read it after I get home at work (it probably doesn't help that I've been working twelve to fourteen hour days). I'm just finding it very heavy and my mind wants light and fluffy or deep and quick. So set it aside, right? Nope..I'm about 100 pages in and I fear that if I stop now then I might not pick it up again this year.
  
• I haven't made it to the gym this week either. Which is absolutely killing me. I've been listening to Paper Towns on my ipod and am LOVING it.

I sort of anticipated my busyness and needed adjustment time so I have a handful of reviews already written. I hate doing that because it sorta feels impersonal (is it just me?) but I guess I'll deal with it. I'm already acting somewhat neurotic as is. :P

Cheers!

Quirkology

Title: Quirkology - How We Discover the Big Truths in Small Things
Author: Richard Wiseman, Ph.D
Pub Date: Sept. 2008
Pages: 306
Genre: Non Fiction; Psychology

Brief Summary? Quirkology opens with Wiseman explaining that he had "long been fascinated by the quirky side of human behavior." While earning his degree in psychology, he began paying attention specifically to these behaviors and random tests. (If participating in psych tests are something that interest you, check out their website ). The book is divided into many chapters that cover chronopsychology (does the time of birth, astrological sign, weather really play a part in your personality?), the psychology of lying and deception, the role of humor in psychology, how we make decisions, psychic and paranormal psychology, and why we help or hinder others. *Whew*

My thoughts? This book was just plain fun. At times it grew to be tedious because you're just reading test and study, one after another. So yah, it blurs in together. But, really, I want to focus in on the fun. There were handful of times I would stop what I was reading and find someone to share an interesting anecdote. (Like his research in finding the funniest joke in the world!)

Wanna know how to spot a liar?

"The most reliable signs of lying are in people's voices and in their unconscious choices of language: the lack of key details in their descriptions; the increase in pauses and hesitations; the way liars distance themselves from their deceit by avoiding self-reference such as "I"; the failure to describe their feelings; and the way liars seem to remember minute information that truth-tellers forget" (64)

Yay, Nay, or Eh? Yay. This was a -what's-the-word- OH YEAH --> FUN(!) book and not something that you necessarily need to read over a short period of time. Read a chapter, set it aside for a couple of months, and read another if you like. Or, you can devour it like I did. :))

**I'm really doing a disservice in this review. I read Quirkology weeks (?) months (?) ago and should have immediately written the review while still smitten. I marked up this book. It's highlighted, annotated, tagged. I just don't have the energy to go back and re-read through all of my notes and make a stronger post.

Sunday Salon (08.16)

What I should be doing? (1) Determining fundraiser dates and filling out appropriate paperwork for the school year, (2) packing up miscellaneous items that have been purchased/stored in the house for my classroom, (3) making phone calls to mom to meet up for lunch, (4) working out at the gym, (5) anything else than what I've been doing, which is leisurely sipping coffee and perusing thorough my GReader.

I just finished Naked Reading: Uncovering What Tweens Need to Become Lifelong Readers to ignite my creativity in the classroom. Among other things, author Teri Lesesne (who also blogs about YA books, check her out) shared that, while in the classroom, she set aside every Friday for Free Reading. I've been doing this as well for the past two years, and although at times it can prove to be frustrating trying to cram five days of curriculum into four, I felt it important to allow students to read for pleasure. (Of course, there were measures of accountability, but mainly it was merely telling me a six-word summary about what they read). The goal is obvious, lifelong readers are readers who enjoy reading, not those who are forced to. So, what's the easiest way to get kids to enjoy reading? Allowing them to choose their own books and essentially read for the hell of it.

Naked Reading brings up some scary statistics. For example:

"The average American adult reads fewer than three books per year for pleasure."

or,

"More than 75 percent of teens graduating from high school indicate that they will never read another book again."

How alarming! There is so much to gain from reading, whether that's understanding other cultures (which I have to admit, some of the books that I've been reading has made me realize just how ignorant I am), gaining knowledge about various areas of study (such as sociology, science, psychology, politics), improving vocabulary and writing skills (unsuspectedly even!), living vicariously through character experiences. I mean, you get it right? The list could go on and on and on.

I cringe every year when I open classroom discussion with: "What are your favorite books? What do you like to read? What is your least favorite book?" and here back some variation of "Read? I haven't read a book since my teacher in elementary school read out loud to us!". My classroom is not filled with just reluctant readers (and based on the book's definition, I gather reluctant means those students who will only read assigned texts and nothing further) my students tend to me non existent readers.

There was an interesting discussion over on Becca's blog about the "Secret Club of Readers" that sorta corresponds with my ramblings. What makes some of us readers and others not? Can non-readers turn into voracious readers? Is it as simple as finding 'the right book' for each child to get them hooked? Or even, each adult? And finally, with the increase of hyper-activity and sensory overload via Internet, Video Games, and Television (the three evils?) is reading just to slow and dull for these younger generations?

Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List

Title: Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List
Authors: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Pub Date: 2007
Pages: 256
Genre: Young Adult; Realistic Fiction

Brief Summary? Naomi and Ely are best friends. They have been best friends for-EVER, growing up in Greenwich Village. It was just assumed that they would get married, have lots of babies, and live happily ever after. And then, Ely realized he was gay. To avoid complications, Naomi and Ely create a no kiss list. Obviously. Except, hidden complications begin to arise. Like, Ely kissing Naomi's boyfriend. Or Naomi being in love with Ely.

My thoughts? OK. As many of you might remember, I gushed over Nick and Norah, so maybe my expectations were a bit too high for Naomi and Ely. Don't get me wrong, I am still fond of Naomi and Ely, okay, well, admittedly, more Ely than Naomi. Well, quite honestly, I thought Naomi was a bit of a selfish bitch. *sigh* I can't help it. I just didn't really deal with her all that well. Maybe because everyone else in her world couldn't stop gushing, thinking she was the coolest chick ever? There was just no heart there. It was actually Nick and Bruce #2's story that kept me engaged. Bruce #2 is/was Norah's boyfriend. Oh, there's a whole gaggle of Bruces and that was kind of fun. I know this is sorta disjointed, but the book kinda felt like a teenybopper soap opera. Perhaps I should have taken this a bit more serious? The emotions that Naomi was going through, dealing with her unrequited love for Ely. Maybe I'm the coldhearted bitch, because I just kept thinking, "C'mon, you're in college. Really? You really believed that him liking boys would not effect how he saw you?".

Yay, Nay, Eh? Still a Yay. Just not a bouncy Yay. Read it for Ely and Bruce #2. Or...read it in order to convince me that Naomi is a worthwhile character.

SS// Bookmooch & Book Lies

G'morn Sunday Saloners! This past week I found myself entranced by House of Sand & Fog (review coming soon!) and slowly psyching myself in saying goodbye to my summer months. That's right, this up and coming week is my last week of leisure. Soon I will once again be a scatter-brained teacher, grading papers, organizing fundraisers, putting on dances, talent shows, emptying recycle bins, and putting together the yearbook. Oh and of course "teaching" will be sprinkled through out for good measure. I'm a bit fearful over the initial adjustment. My quarters tend to be separated by various pressing deadlines (some more overwhelming than others). Since last year was the first year that I maintained a list of books read during each month, it will be interesting to see if certain months truly are "bad" for me, reading wise.

And with that in mind, I've been using this past week to go through my bookshelves and re-organize. I asked everyone last week: Bookswap vs. Bookmooch. And it seemed pretty unanimous that Bookmooch was the most favored. I grabbed a handful of books, created my log-in, and viola, I entered the world of mooching. Oh. My. Seriously. I'm addicted. And you know, it's not that I'm so much addicted with finding books (although that's definitely neat!), but what really gets me giddy is getting rid of my books. I love my books, mind you. But the same giddiness that I get when I walk into a book sale, or stumble across a Book Warehouse, I get knowing that I can give a book to someone who wants it. It's like Christmas. There's been so many books on my shelf that have just been sitting there - and I mean years people. I started asking myself, "Am I really going to read this?" as I listed them on my inventory. (I have the two little demons sitting on each side of my shoulder - and yes they are both demons *snicker* - one is guilting me with 'you can get rid of that book, you picked it up for a reason' and the other one is guilting me with 'are you kidding me? you haven't even looked at it in months. let it go. release it. there are soooo many books out there' LOL. I never said that I was entirely sane when i came to reading.) Suffice to say, I've given five of my neglected books to good homes.

Which sends me on to another tangent...do you ever LIE about books? You know, like, pretend that you have actually read them when you haven't? And I don't really mean that lie that you might have told in college while standing around a group of other students and they're talking about something and so you sorta nod your head in agreement in that way that leads them to believe that you know what they are talking about. I don't mean that kind of lie. Or even, I guess, I don't even mean lying in the sense that you're terribly embarrassed because someone says, "really, I mean, who hasn't read _x_y_z" I get that kind of lie under pressure (although in my years well into adulthood I'm pass the pretentious stage of life and will gladly admit my ignorance). 

No. I mean the lies that you tell friends (or acquaintances, or co-workers, or neighbors...) when they've loaned you a book that they were super excited about and you either (a) have no interest in reading it but somehow it got pushed into your hands, or (b) maybe had intentions to read it, but you've now had it on your shelves for-EVER and they've asked you A MILLION times if you've gotten around to reading it yet.

So. Do you? Do you go on Amazon? Do you read a couple of reviews? Do you skim the book? Read a passage or two? Convince yourself of some memory? Tell them that you did really enjoy it? But leave your comment general?

I ask, because there are eight books on my shelf given to me by others. Others that feel very strongly that I'm going to enjoy these books. Books that, I suppose, would interest me if I didn't already have a daunting stack of books waiting to be read. Luckily, none of the owners of said books have asked me about them, so I haven't found myself in "to lie or not to lie" position. But it has crossed my mind. Should I have a back up plan? I back up lie?

And while I'm in confession, I admit, I have been devious about some books borrowed. This past year a colleague handed over 3 books for me to read while I loaned her 2. A month or two passed and she returned my 2 in my mailbox (in the teacher's mailroom) with a pleasant note thanking me and a couple of comments about the two books - specific, but not too specific (hmmm...did she lie?) I kept looking at the books she loaned my way but they were so THE OPPOSITE of what I read and would ever be interested in (political crime thrillers set in DC). I couldn't do it. I couldn't even open up the books (although I did read the backs!) But, instead of owning up to this - I felt such guilt because she 'read' mine - that after about six months I slipped them in her mailbox with a post-it note thanking her. And so yeah, I made sure that I did it right before we went on holiday in the hopes that the two weeks away from work would put enough distance between us that it wouldn't occur to her to come find me in my classroom and ask what I thought. It seemed to work. It was almost a month later before I saw her and the books were long forgotten. *whew* Confession over.

No spill it. Have you lied? What are your thoughts? Or are you a better (wo)man than me and just owns up to your lack of interest/time/insert reason for not reading book.

Friday Five/BBAW

• Freebie! How many of you out there have not read The Uglies (I haven't!). Weeeellllll, through Bookblips, I found out that Scott Westerfield has a pdf file of The Uglies up for the month of September.
  
  
• I got my copy of EW in the mail a couple of days ago and for you Vampire Lovers out there, you'll be thrilled to know it's devoted to these dark creatures. As a bonus? The gorgeous Neil Gaiman gives his two cents. Check it out here. You know you wanna. Oh, and I know it's more for the zombie lovers than the vampire lovers, but check out these brain cupcakes! Sweet!
  
  
• I know that I should not even begin to play around with my blog layout, but am getting that itch. I swear, if it was easier to move furniture around in the house, I would come up with new looks once a month. I'm hml ignorant so will definitely be looking around on the 'net for pre-made layouts. Do you guys have any favorite spots?
  
  
• And how many others are devastated that John Hughes died? I heard it on the radio this morning while running errands. At first I thought I misheard. The man was young, a mere 59, to have a heart attach. Oh how I have fond memories of the Brat Pack and his teeny bopper movies form the 80's.
  
  
• Swine Flu? Really? OK. I admit, when Swine Flu hit the media, I rolled my eyes. I thought back to all of the other freak outs we've had (Bird Flu, Mad Cow Disease, etc.) I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but a part of me does mistrust media and their ulterior goals. (Gee, Brain. What do you want to do tonight? Same thing we did today, Pinky. Take over the world). Needless to say, Swine Flu did not really cause me to reach for my hand sanitizer. And now, although I'm still not terribly freaked out about it, I am rather shocked that due to the the Swine Flu cases found at UCF, during graduation this summer there will be no hand shaking. Can you imagine? I know it's not book related, and not to be a downer, but these statistics look kind of scary.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I hope everyone has marked it on their calendars. With how quickly July went by, I know it'll be a blink and September 14th will be here. For those of you who still haven't registered, pop over here. This is my first year and I'm super stoked. It looks like so much fun. And from what I've read by other book bloggers last year was a huge success. Now, onto the meme!

1) What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

I remember when I first stumbled upon book blogs toward the end of last year. I couldn't believe there were so many cool people out there reading as much as I do. I was a bit nervous starting my own blog. My personality leads me to start projects, go totally OCD with them, and then burn out. I didn't really want to do that here. I delayed my blog until the beginning of the year ( I know, how original) with the goal of reading one hundred books in 09. I'm well nearing 80 and don't think that I would have made it without the community of bloggers I've found here. You guys are like my crazy support system that nurtures (and feeds) my book obsession. I mean, hell, here I'm not weird because I get all giddy receiving books in the mail.

2) What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

I've stumbled upon some really cool people while here in the book blogging world. I don't really think it's fair to highlight just a couple because so many of you have inspired me, assisted me, encouraged me, and added to my TBR pile.

3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

Haha, what to expect? Seriously. I don't know if I have anyone specific questions. I've been reading through the answers of the first meme - for those who participated last year. Yay for fun memes.

Finally, thanks again to Amy over at My Friend Amy for putting this all together.

The Reader

Title: The Reader
Author: Bernhard Schlink
Pub Date: 1995
Pages: 218
Genre: Fiction, Literary, Historical, WW2

Summary

Set in post WW2 Germany, Sophomore Michael Berg meets the alluring Hanna one afternoon after getting sick. A chance meeting that turned into a relationship that would last a lifetime.

It's in this first part of the book that lays the foundation of Michael's emotional pull with Hanna. He is mesmerized by her beauty and sexuality, giving himself completely to this older woman. She pushes and pulls him, always on the cusp of wanting more and giving more. Until one day, she packs up and leaves.

Life is just not the same for Michael. It's as though Hanna has spoiled him from other women. He grows up and begins studying law. Now, in the second part of the book, Michael meets Hanna once more. Only this time she is on trial for murder after having been identified as a guard in a concentration camp.

In the last part of the book, Michael's strained relationship leads him to a very hollow existence. He maintains contact with Hanna, but is distant, and unemotional.

My Thoughts (possible spoilers?)

The Reader is such a beautiful philosophical novel. Hanna, although an adult from the moment that we meet her, hides her child-like vulnerability. It's only toward the end of her life, after she's damaged it already, can she admit to her cracks.

And Michael, really, how infuriating can he be at times. I get the inability to come to terms with loving someone who did monstrous acts. I also get understanding why they did those acts, feeling a mixture of love, hate, and pity, and not being able to sort those emotions out, falling back into behavior that your comfortable with (in this case, reading the books onto the tape recorder). But it was the moment when he meets Hanna, the elder Hanna, and she is not the Hanna that he has in his mind, and his inability to look at her then. That's not about what Hanna did, who she is, or what she stands for. No. That's about him being ruined by the tale he had wove, the image of Hanna, maybe? Did the ending justify his behavior? Did her ending justify her behavior?

And of course the book was so much more than that. There's the unnerving feeling that I am suppose to despise Hanna for what she did, the crimes she committed, and yet I equally feel sorrow for her. And enough feelings toward her that I feel bitter toward Michael's reaction.

*sigh* Then, even while being frustrated and tormented by Michael's behavior and choices, I have another layer of emotion that understands his motives and find them valid. After all, the poor young man was only fifteen when he embarked on this love affair with a thirty-something lady.

Oh, and the reading of the novels. Am I the only one that finds that almost more intimate than the lovemaking itself?

"Again, Hanna became absorbed in the unfolding of the book. But it was different this time; she withheld her own opinions; she didn't make Natasha, Andrei, and Pierre part of her world, as she had Luise and Emilia, bu entered their world the way one sets out on a long and dazzling journey, or enters a castle which one is allowed to visit, even stay in until one feels at home, but without ever really shedding one's inhibitions. All the things I had read to her before were already familiar to me. War and Peace was new for me, too. We took the long journey together."

I really have so much more to process. I feel as though my mind keeps making jumps to the next thought without thoroughly exploring the first thought. I quite like that freedom. I'd rather not outline my reactions to The Reader because reading it often felt primal to me. My reactions to the book were solely emotional.

Yay, Nay, Eh? Yay. Most. Definitely. This definite falls in the short list of books I'd like to re-read.

I haven't seen the film adaption yet. Does it do the book justice? What were your thoughts/emotions toward Hanna and Michael?

The Jane Austen Book Club

Title: The Jane Austen Book Club
Author: Karen joy Fowler
Pub Date: May 2005
Pages: 288
Genre: Fiction, Realistic

Brief Summary

Six Individuals. Six Months. Six Jane Austen books.

Jane Austen brings all walks of life together, and The Jane Austen Book Club illustrates just that. While exploring the characters and plots in all six of Ms. Austen's books, we get to explore the characters within the book club. (I suppose this book is a bit meta, huh?)

Jocelyn - the ring leader of the book club, independent and proud, but a romantic at heart or she wouldn't enjoy matchmaking like she does.

Bernadette - the eldest, logging in at 67 years. She might ramble a bit but the stories she could tell if you listened!

Sylvie - Jocelyn's bestie from eleven who might not be enjoying the Austen of romance since she's having marital difficulties.

Allegra - Sylvie's daughter, an adrenaline junkie whose risk-taking adventures tends to get her new girlfriends.

Prudie - high school French teacher, who sometimes goes overboard and speaks French regardless of the group finding that frustrating. Her life looks perfect, too bad she's struggling with Momma issues.

Grigg - the only male in the group. Poor sucker already has that strike against him. But then he admits to never having read an Austen novel.

My Thoughts.

As many followers know, I read my first Jane Austen book, Pride and Prejudice, this year. Instantly, I understood the attraction. Obviously it made sense then to sign up for the Austen challenge. I picked up the Jane Austen Book Club because I didn't know which Austen book to choose next. I figured this would illuminate the intricacies of each novel through the eyes of the book readers. The concept seemed awfully cool to me. Then, as an added bonus, I expected to be pulled into each of the book members world. As I said earlier, pretty meta.

Unfortunately, the book didn't really live up to my expectations.

The Good

• I liked the concept of each character getting a chapter that aligned with an Austen book as well as their own story, who they were and how that defines them presently.
  
  
• I really liked Jocelyn's character. Maybe not so much her present interaction with the members, but definitely her story.
  
  
• Oh, and Prudie's is perhaps the most interesting. Even though her husband absolutely adores her, there is a part of herself that she can't let go of because of her mother's inconsistencies. Prudie's story was definitely the most thorough.
  
  
• It was a pretty quick read.

The Bad

• Ummm, I'm not quite sure how to politely say this, but although I thought the concept was pretty cool, the writing oftentimes felt rather detached. I wanted the characters to be more three-dimensional than they were. For example,
  
  
• Grigg's story? Please. So he was the only boy in a house filled with overbearing sisters. I didn't really feel that type of relationship even when interacting with the his sisters.
  
  
• Show not tell. Unfortunately, overall, I didn't feel like the author really did that. We were told about each character rather matter of factly. LIke Grigg and his sisters. I never felt that sort of attachment.
  
  
• In fact, I was hardly attached to any of the characters.
  
  
• And, finally, reading the Jane Austen Book Club did no assist me whatsoever in deciding upon my next Austen book. I read the author's assistance pages that briefed the ignorant reader, like myself, on each novel, but still found the character's dialogue over the stories confusing.

Yay, Nay, Eh? I'm going with Eh on this one. I feel that it might be more enjoyable if I had read more than one Austen book ? In the very least, I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt and not completely oust it.

Your thoughts? Have you read it and reviewed it?

And just for the fun of it:

Gang Leader for a Day

Title: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets
Author: Sudhir Venkatesh
Pub Date: 2008
Pages: 290
Genre: Non Fiction, Sociology

Sudhir is a graduate student in Chicago majoring in Sociology during the 80's. He is beginning research for his dissertation and has decided to research poverty within the black community. After speaking with his professors they lead him in the direction of surveying. Determined to stand out in the crowd of students, Sudhir leaves the safe haven of college life and trek into the Robert Taylor projects.

Fairly innocent of the dangers that he was walking into, Sudhir meets darting glances and sneers upon entering one of the buildings. It is filthy, dank, and overall rather foreboding. The elevator is broken, but determined to preserve, he begins to ascend up the piss-stained stairs. Eventually he meets a group of hardened boys who shout, "Who sent you." This turns into badgering and their decision to not let him go. Eventually, hours maybe, a young black man, obviously their leader, walks into the corner and attempts to get the 411 on Sudhir and his business in his building. Sudhir tries to explain the surveys as the growing crowd laughs, mocks, and drinks beer. Sudhir realizes that he just stumbled upon the Black Kings. Eventually, when daylight comes, the leader, J.T., lets him go with a warning.

Sudhir is intrigued. He walks home from the projects, does some research, and decides to seek J.T. out again. Thus begins the long relationship between Sudhir and J.T., leader of the gang. J.T. introduces Sudhir to the community within the projects and Sudhir gets to understand first hand the inner workings of a gang.

J.T. openly shares with Sudhir that he grew up in the projects, gained a scholarship to a university, earned a degree, and began working in corporate America. But while leading the "right" life, he began to notice all of these white folks getting promoted for jobs that they were unskilled at while he just sat there, barely making a decent wage. Realizing that he could make more selling crack in the gang, he left civilized society and headed back to the PJ's. This opened up interesting dialogue between J.T. and Sudhir on how poverty is defined and what perpetuates it.

Sudhir was also a bit surprised at how the gang worked within the community, noting that its politics and business model mirrored corporate America. There were moments in the beginning of the book where you could almost feel Sudhir understanding the Black Kings and actually thinking that they weren't that bad. Hell, as a reader, he led me on that path as well, while J.T. initially hid the violence and bribery.

I really felt for the families within the projects. While reading their stories, in many ways, they struck me as having more compassion that my middle class upbringing. I think about my own neighborhood, and all of the neighborhoods that I lived in, apartments included. I consider how many of my neighbors that I truly got to know and who, likewise, got to know me. I think about how often, or not, that I go about my world isolated. And here, within the Robert Taylor buildings, everyone was family. Check out this passage:

"We live in a community, understand? Not the projects - I hate that word. We live in a community. We need a helping hand now and then, but who doesn't? Everyone in this building helps as much as they can. We share our food, just like I'm doing with you. My son says you're writing about his life - well, you may want to write about this community, and how we help each other. And when I come over to your house, you'll share with me. You'll cook for me if I'm hungry. But when your here, you're in my home and my community. And we'll take care of you." (p. 43)

I think what is the most frustrating is even after reading this, you're left with a sense of helplessness. The poverty revealed in this book was out of control. The inability of these community members to count on police, hospitals, the government to protect them. Ultimately they were forced to rely on the gang that caused the rise in crime.

They ended up destroying the Robert Taylor apartments because the crime rate grew out of control. The Chicago House Association claimed that they would give vouchers to those who lived in there so they could find newer homes. That didn't really happen. After all there were roughly 40,000 people in the community. Most were just pushed into other PJ's.

At first I was a bit skeptical of this book. I found the writing to be sterile and impersonal. I had a hard time connecting to Sudhir or J.T. I'm glad that I decided to follow my 50 page rule and read into the next chapter. At that point I was hooked. Frustrated, emotional, but hooked none the less.

Here is Sudhir actually speaking about his book.