Love is a Mix Tape

Title:  Love is a Mix Tape

Author: Ron Sheffield

Pages: 240

Pub: Crown Archetype

Genre: Memoir

Etc:

The Short of It

Music narrates moments in our life.

The Long of It

Rob Sheffield is a mix tape aficionado.  In fact, at one point in his memoir he mentions filling shelves upon shelves with mix tapes and still have boxes left unpacked filled.  Unlike other memoris out there, Rob shares roughly eight years of his life through music.  What makes these eight years so important, give or take? Rob processes the experience of his first true love and her death.  All before the age of thirty.

The Thoughts about It

What appealed to me is what will appeal to anyone else who immediately picks up this book.  The music.  I LOVED making mix tapes.  (And this is buggin’ me, but I’ve always spelt it as mixed tapes am I wrong here?)  I believe that my last mix tape that I officially made was back when I was an undergrad more than ten years ago.  Leading up to my mix tape hiatus (I refuse to say extinction) I had made mix tapes for EVERY occasion.  In fact, I even remember making a mix tape for a long-term boyfriend, a “break up” tape that sorta went through our whole relationship.  In hindsight it wasn’t the best move.  We listened to the tape together and then I was all like, “yeah this isn’t working out so much”.  Live and learn.

S’okay, I grabbed this book because of the music. I only glance-read the back.  I figured it was a romance book with an edge.  I DID NOT realize it was a memoir NOR did I realize that it would be a devastating one at that.

Soulful.  Isn’t that such a pretentious word?  But man is it the only accurate one that I can consider when it comes to reading this.  And really, I rather devoured it; I read it in one night. It only seems obvious that Sheffield’s story would be harrowing than expected because music is a core piece. C’mon, it’s why movies have soundtracks.  Given enough time and energy, I’m sure there is a song that can reflect any moment in one’s life.  Even the ones that we think aren’t so memorable.

I especially enjoyed how seamless the chapters were.  The past was interwoven with the present: we already knew walking into the story that there would be great loss. It was a nice reminder that sometimes the best things in books are nothing more than the process.

And also, this book kinda makes me want to spend a day in my room making mix cds.

Reading Women

on my couch

Title: Reading Women: How the Great Books of Feminism Changed My Life
Author: Stephanie Staal
Pub: February 2011
Pages: 270
Genre: Non fiction, Feminine Studies, Memoir-ish
Etc: Received via LT's Early Review Program

(If the amount of flags in a book is any indication to the enjoyment, it is obvious that Reading Women has its place in my home.)

Stephanie Staal, graduate from Barnard, anticipated a progressive career driven life.  And was on her way, until she meets a man, falls in love, gets married, has a baby and leaves The City.  (And speaking of The City, didn't we see that episode on SatC?)  It is about this time that we meet her, as our narrator and guide.  Her marriage is a wee bit rockier than expected, and even though both her and hubs work from home, she ends up with the role of "mommy" and not the equal partnership that she anticipated.

"Our shared parenting time appeared astonishingly equal to outsiders - maybe too equal. It didn't take long to discover that they viewed my time as a duty, whereas John's was a gift - he was a saint to my sinner." (46)

 Not knowing what else to do, she decides to audit a year long study of Feminine Texts at her alma matter.  Reading Women is her journey.

I received this book from LT in December and squealed knowing that it would align perfectly with The Year of Feminist Classics challenge that I signed up for.  Not surprisingly, the first text that Staal is assigned in her Fem Text course is our January read - A Vindication of Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft.

Staal excels in literary analysis.  I truly felt as though she combed the texts and spent the time to truly understand them as period pieces and contemporary sources of wisdom.  For example, while reading "The Yellow Wallpaper", she states: If men, too, are products of the culture, how culpable are they really? And how complicit might women be in their own imprisonment. (94)

She's obviously a very bright woman and I do understand her desire to go back to the text.  I imagine that it is difficult for a woman to manage both motherhood and a career.  She constantly goes back and forth trying to find the most accurate definition of  "woman" for herself as a feminist and all of her other selves. Her thoughts are candid both after running into other SaHMs who ask when she plans on having another baby, and while being in a college class thinking about her daughter at home.  I get that duality.  I get the stress on finding a defining foundation of womanhood.  Especially when I don't know if men think of themselves against women in the same way that women do.

There were moments when I found myself to be pretty frustrated though.  Not at her, really.  Because I get that this is her journey. But frustrated because she felt the pressure of being a mom and still wanting a career and how that looked to outsiders and I constantly have to deal with both the fact that I don't ever want to have children nor ever get married.  Both offenses clearly not "womanly" by general stereotypical culture.  Of course, amongst my friends I never feel the slightest bit of "are you kidding me?" pressure, but general population?  And then working with middle schoolers increases the frequency of "are you married miss?"  I'm hardly going to go into a long spell to twelve year olds about why I choose not to marry; and thankfully, I tease them and claim I don't have any children because I have 120 of them between 9-4.  My choice to not have children and not marry are not political ones.  I am not, for example, one of those individuals who believe our population is too large to bring in more.  Nope, it's much simpler, I like me.  I like doing what I want when I want.  I knew this about myself at sixteen when I told my Algebra II Honors teacher I'd never have children.  As for marriage?  I have too many issues not dealt with that correlates with matrimony.  Monogamy yes; matrimony no.  But here's the thing.  It wouldn't be interesting to anyone if I was a man.  At least not so interesting to my twelve year olds.  And I look through their eyes to see what roles society (us, we) have created.

I don't know where feminism stands now in this current decade.  It's been forever and then some since I've thought in terms of any sort of feminist movement.  I think that our gender roles are slowly blending with the nearing acceptance* of same sex coupling. How we define Man and Woman must change with that acceptance, yes?  

____
* I say nearing acceptance because we see more GLBTQ in film, television shows, and literature than in the past, but it's only nearly acceptable because there's still the fight for equal rights.

Fist Stick Knife Gun

Title: Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence
Author: Geoffrey Canada; (adapted by) James Nicholas
Pub: Beacon Press; 2010; 2005
Pages: 124
Genre: Memoir, Graphic
Etc: Received via LT's Early Review Program

Mmmkay...I have to make a confession. My ears immediately perk up when I hear or see a book that lends itself to a 'full disclosure on my life whilst in the bleak caverns of violence'. In fact, that little gem of Truth right there is the reason why I read (and reviewed) Gang Leader for a Day last year.

But why, you might ask. Especially if you knew me. I mean, I'm no Pollyanna by any means, but I do like to think of myself as a "let's just give peace a chance" kinda gal. No really. I am. Which means, if that's Truth and the inclination for reading about gang like violence is O-Natural then something must be amiss, yes?

I consider it more about research. Ya'lls know I am a teacher. And so I teach at a Title I school, which IS NOT synonymous WITH violence, but I have my fair share of evidence that says poverty and violence as power is a common equation. Plus, the need for community and someone to look out for makes gang life appealing. Reading personal accounts helps me understand motivation and an opportunity for dialogue.

As you've perhaps gathered, FSKG is about the author (Geoffrey Canada)'s story about violence. Not unsurprisingly you might then assume that Canada grew up in a poor area of town where violence equates to power.

Canada's experience with violence is a journey. It begins when a bully steals his jacket. Canada and his older brothers return home hopeful that their mother would have a solution. Surprise unfolds when she matter-of-factly tells the boys that they must return to the scene of the crime and take back what is theirs. "My mother told us we had to stick together. That we couldn't let people know we were afraid." At four years old, young Canada knew that life in the Bronx had multiple layers to it.

I don't want to get to in depth with this story as it's a quick read (easily completed in one session) and the amount of innocence and depth in these characters are fleshed out both in words and sketches

I knew nothing about Geoffrey Canada's memoir that he wrote in 2005 and that which this graphic memoir is adapted from prior to opening up these pages. I'm intrigued enough to want to pick up the book as well. Canada now runs Harlem Children's Zone.

Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp

Title: Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp
Author: Stephanie Klein
Pub Date: 2008
Pages: 320
Genre: Memoir, Health & Diet

I first heard about Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp from The Book Zombie's blog. It captured my interest and I flagged it on my LT account for future purchase. Of course it never comes up on PBS or BM so heading out to the Keys last week I decided to download it to my Kindle. I wanted something light (bwahahaha) to read while I played passenger.

First off, I gotta say, Klein is one helluva truthful lady. I mean, ya'll, I wanna do a couple of tequila shots with this woman. She openly discusses her weight loss struggle since childhood, her discovery of her body and sexuality, her winnings, gainings, and losses. *whew* I was exhausted at times, still cheering her on.

Okay so at a young age Klein (and I really feel like I should be calling her Stephanie, so Steph? Can I? I mean, I FEEL like we're buds; even if it's a one-sided kinda friendship.) is told by her mom that she must start seeing Fran, a nutritionist of sorts that reminds me of weight watchers, but not? And of course Stephanie is shouting and hollerin' cuz she don't need to see no foodie person. But she does, cuz man, she's a kid.

Moving on. Steph goes through yo-yos with her weight until eventually her ma sends her to fat camp. (I can't remember the name, but it started with a "Y"). At fat camp a new thing happens to Steph becomes the hottie. Or close to it. At least the playing field is a bit more even. So, she lets loose a bit. And maybe a bit more. But you know, haven't we all heard the psychotherapy about how people can use sex as acceptance ergo ego booster?

And she's sharing this man! Open honest dirty raw in your face sharing it.

It kinda came at an interesting time because this week ABC Family premired the new series, Huge (which is evidently adapted from a YA book this past week). Will (short for Willamena) is the leading teen who has been shipped to fat camp by her parents. Her resolution is the gain as much weight as possible while there. She's sorta the rebel with a chip on her shoulder who's super cool and insecure inside but has a tongue that bites and makes you laugh out loud, for real. I was surprisingly pleased with the first episode and will continue to see how the show progresses. I also thought it was cool to see similarities with the book Moose and the show, having recently read it.

From what I've gathered after reading most reviews of Moose, is gen pop is a bit annoyed that Klein never really "grows" or reaches some epiphany at the end of her journey as a fat kid turned struggling adult. And personally, this is what I liked the most about the book. Come on people, how many of us who really have "weight issues" ever truly deal with it? How many, with the exception of maybe Jillian, can say, I'm doing this solely to be healthy and it's not an emotional fight for me against food. So, yeah, at the end, she still has her dependencies. She's not cleaned up. She's still a fat kid living in a skinny body. Makes sense to me. Perhaps her book isn't there to inspire us to make weight loss resolutions as most fatty memoirs are, but to allow us to breath and say, "Hey, it's okay if I still struggle with what I eat. It's okay if I can't always buy into the, 'I want to be healthy more than I want to look good.'".

All in all, this memoir is totally worth it even if you've never had to deal with losing weight.

Logicomix

Title: Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
Authors/Illustrators: Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos Papadimitriou,Aleos Papadatos & Annie DiDonna
Pub Date: 2009
Pages: 352
Genre: Graphic Novel, Philosophy,
Challenges: GN

"Most humans behave irrationally. All the more reason to pursue the study of logic. Of course, I am also human and thus am no stranger to fits of non-logical thinking. But also I can discern these tendencies in myself and thus am more able to resist them..." (69)

I can totally relate to Bertrand Russel here. I mean, how irrational was it for me to read Logicomix during the RaT. Man alive were my eyes droopy, my brain swishy, and my body stiff. (Remember, this book was also the one that caused my BI).

But I read it. And for the most part really dug it. Even though I cannot remember why I purchased this book. I think, most likely, I was in a reading slump and after perusing through the graphic novels section in my bookstore I saw the title of this one and thought to myself, "Geez, I haven't read much nonfiction and my brain could probably need a jump start. And what do you think, this book sounds smart...and I'm always seeking out Truth. With that capitol T, mind you, for emphasis..."

Viola. It was mine.

And outside of some of the mumbo jumbo references in mathematics and philosophy that left me lost, it was pretty good and helped me become unlost.

Poor Russel had an awkward childhood. His parents left him to her grandmother after their untimely death. Oh yeah, and they were super progressive living as a menage a trois. His grandmamama was a rigid old lady who had rules, rules, rules. His gramps seemed pretty cool though - free-spirited and all. Then, he finds out craziness runs rampant in his family. *le sigh* Is it no wonder that dear ole' Bertie spent his life seeking out logic. He probably felt trapped in the illogical sorts that his world turned out to be.

Which, people, was why this book was so rad. I totally got Russel's desire to seek out logic because it was very human to do when your life was so questionable.

Plus it was neat to meet other philosophers and thinkers along the way.

The commentary was a bit distracting and that's probably what I liked the least about it. The book was all very meta - a story within a story as the authors talked about writing the book while the audience read the book. It's a cool technique that I've seen done elsewhere successfully. This time around, though, not so much.

All in all a very recommendable read. Even if you don't like mathematics that much. :P

The Year of Magical Thinking

Title: The Year of Magical Thinking
Author: Joan Didion
Pub Date: 2006
Pages: 227
Genre: Memoir, Death & Dying

Do you know who Joan Didion is? I didn't. But I read her memoir. I also, admittedly, didn't know it was a memoir when I started to read it. How might that have occurred, you might ask. Well, you see, I saw it pop up on bookmooch (and my list has grown so much that I've often forgotten why I've chosen some of the books) and it quickly made its way into my home and hand.

Within the first couple of pages I realized that this was a memoir of survival. While Joan Didion's daughter is in ICU in a comma, her husband (John Dunne) of forty years dies from a massive cardiac arrest. In her memoir she relives that night over and over again believing in the "if only's" to bring back the love of her life. She refers to the year that follows as her year of magical thinking. ("I needed to be alone so that he could come back. This was the beginning of my year of magical thinking.")

This memoir is raw, thorough, empowering, and REAL. Didion is a true artist capturing both the emotional repetition of conversations she shared with Dunne over mundane life and the sterile research a mourner dissects while looking through medical records or even an Emily Post article on the proper way to grieve.

Grief is this sacred experience isn't it? No one is ever lucky enough to not experience it and yet, even though it is universal and we might go through a similar process, the experience is unique to each individual. And the experience is different for each person we lose.

"People who have recently lost someone have a certain look, recognizable maybe only to those who have seen that look on their own faces. I have noticed it on my face and I notice it now on others. The look is one of the extreme vulnerability, nakedness, openness. It is the look of someone who walks from the ophthalmologist's office into the bright daylight with dilated eyes, or of someone who ears glasses and is suddenly made to take them off."

Mrs. Didion also pointed out that we often hide our grief. That at some point in time, mourning became shunned in our society because it only reenforced the idea of infallibility, of mortality. She cites Geoffrey Gorer who said in Death, Grief, and Mourning that "Death, so omnipresent in the past that it was familiar, would be effaced, would disappear. It would become shameful and forbidden."

I don't know how this ended up on my bookmooch list. I don't think that I ever would have picked it up if it hadn't. Thankfully, I did, so I don't have to wonder about reading what-if's. This is a book that will stay with me forever. One that will be cherished. One that will be read again when I lose someone dear to me. One that I will recommend when I know someone who has lost someone dear.

Stuck in the Middle

Title: Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age
Author: (Editor) Ariel Schrag
Pub Date: 2007
Pages: 210
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir, Young Adult

First I have to say that I love graphic novel collections, and this one is no different.

Stuck in the Middle is a collection of seventeen stories all from the chaotic (and neurotic) middle school years. The front cover of this book is absolutely fan-tas-tic! In the top right hand corner is the old looking lunch lady, with her hair net and smock. There are three or so tables squished together with tons of activity: notes being passed, a spitwad being spat, boys laughing and leaning back in their chairs. And finally, the only colored boy walking in the midst of it all, cringing and appearing absolutely terrified! For someone who lives middle school every weekday, this is exactly what the cafeteria would look like without adult supervision.

Some of the shorts that stood out:

BFF by Veronica Davis ~ the timeless tale of two besties planning on being "friends forever" until a boy comes in between them all. But rather than the friendship ending, we are left to speculate how it will survive.

Snitch by Tania Schrag ~ Poor little Tania tries to defend herself from merciless teasing in class only to be called a snitch and scorned by the rest of her peers. Her days are spent being bullied, ostracized and pushed out to find new friends. The only saving grace is it *is* middle school, and eventually there will be a new snitch.

Plan on the 7 Busy by Ariel Schrag ~ Two "friends" ride together on the public bus to another "friend's" house. Their sole purpose for the visit is to viciously (and slyly) torture the other girl. The catty chit chat is ear prickling and the mean-spirited behavior includes sharp one liners to one and another about each other.

Like a Weed, Joe by Daniel Clowes ~ Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking tales of giving into peer pressure. Young Daniel is stuck with his grandparents for the summer. In the beginning, although he is bored, he appreciates the loving and nurturing quality of his grandfolks. Then, as the summer moves along he pairs up with the 'riff raff' of the neighborhood. A smart mouthed boy with an attitude that screams delinquent. As the days go by, Daniel models similar behavior, ultimately scorning the old people who take care of him.

There were so many other great stories in this collection (The Adventures of Batboy and Starling by Nick Eliopulos was especially amusing) that I wish I had purchased a copy for my personal library. For the most part, I am pretty content with my middle school years (my high school years on the other hand....) but do recall how mean and nasty we could be if you put a group of us girls together in a room for a couple of hours. I think that even though each generation deals with their own demons, the underlying behaviors are pretty universal (base that on brain developments - they're still trying to build connections to their frontal lobe!).

Finally, the comics themselves didn't speak to me as some other graphic novels have, but I believe that has more to do with me and less to do with the artist. I don't have an eye for technique; I just base my opinion on what catches my fancy.

The Principals of Uncertainty

Title: The Principals of Uncertainty
Author: Maira Kalman
Pub Date: 2007
Pages: 336
Genre: graphic novel, memoir-ish

The Principals of Uncertainty is like no other graphic novel I have read. It is literary, political, philosophical, and artistic. Plus, it's very much stream of consciousness, which I love, and very rarely find.

I cannot remember how I stumbled upon this book; but I ended up checking it out of the library a couple of weeks ago. Whereas most graphic novels I breeze through (for good reasons, not because of any lesser than _______ reason) this one I wanted to savor. Kalman does a phenomenal job posing questions and thoughts about life in a mixed media, well, I only wanted to read a couple of pages a night. (You'll see spotlights of Shakespeare, Goethe, her family, friends, and strangers).

Can I just say that the book is about nothing and everything all at once? Also, unbeknownst to me when I checked this book out, Kalman is a NYT's writer. You can check out her opinion column here (Really. Click. You'll be able to see some of her work!)

I think that it is best to just share some of the pages from The Principals of Uncertainty to convince you to check it out!

Julie & Julia

Title: Julie & Julia
Author: Julie Powell
Pub Date: 2005
Pages: 307
Genre: Memoir

First, props goes to Sheila for hosting the contest that led me to owning this book!

Okay. I'm going to admit this. This book interested me because the movie trailer caught my attention. There might be a gasp in the audience of book lovers and cooks, but I really didn't have much of an idea or opinion about the great Julia Child. Nope. It was because of the publicity that made me think, "Wow, who'd have thought that a cooking show could have so much personality?"

I'm usually pretty determined to read the book first if I plan to watch the movie. I know in some cases this doesn't prove possible (i.e. watching a film and then having the *aha* moment that it has been adapted...) but in this one, I could control fate.

Score. I had such a good time reading J&J that I didn't (and still don't) feel the urgency to watch the production of it. (Although I hear that it would be a different experience because the film version revolves around more JC rather than JP).

But, I digress. I'm not much of a foodie or a cook. I'll try my hand at new dishes every now and again when the mood strikes; but overall, if I have to cook more than twice a week, I'm put off. So to take upon the challenge of cooking French recipes, all in a year? Uh, no.

So this is how I know Julie Powell's memoir was GOOD. It made me want to run out, buy a JC cookbook, open it up to any given page and COOK. I'll be damned people, we're talking cooking dishes I could probably not pronounce.

JP's portrayal of herself, her friends, her fans, blogging, her husband, her experience - well, it had me rooting for her, yelling at her, cringing, and laughing.

(Most of the cringing went along with some of the items she was eating).

Everything Sucks

Title: Everything Sucks: Losing My Mind and Finding Myself in a High School Quest for Cool
Author: Hannah Friedman
Pub Date:2009
Pages: 256
Genre: Memoir

Family Sucks

Hannah Friedman's life cannot get worse and makes that clear when she opens her memoir with "I am the firstborn human." You see, Amelia, Hannah's older sibling, is also a monkey. Really? Yup. Her classmates, who are hardly her friends, merrily call poor Hannah "Monkey Girl". In between making her school life miserable of course.

Periods Suck

Life does get worse. Imagine Dad going on the road trying to regain rock star status and the whole family tags along. In a bus. With rocker men. And a driver that doesn't talk. Yup, that's Hannah and where she is in life when she starts her period. Seventeen Magazine horror stories eat your heart out.

Everything Sucks

Hannah realizes, after finally getting accepted in a semi-prestigious school, when 'Everything Sucks' there's only one way to go - up.

And so she does. She begins to hang with the right girls. She dresses the right way. She dates the right boys. What's wrong with this though? Oh yeah, Everything Still Sucks.

This is one of those coming of age, self discovery memoirs that immediately captivate. Seriously. I read it as a passenger in the car and was annoyed when we got to where we were going. Needless to say, as soon as I got home, I hopped on the couch and positioned myself in a "Do Not Disturb" position.

Friedman's voice is strong, witty, open...someone who you feel like you're gabbing on the phone with. I wanna have a beer with this girl.

I'm always hesitant on accepting ARCs from authors. Man am I glad that I went with my gut and snatched this one up. Check out her blog here.

And . . . she's so damn cute!

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.

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.

The Notebook Girls

Title: The Notebook Girls
Authors: Julia Baskin, Lindsey Newman, Sophie Pollitt-Cohen, Courtney Toombs
Pub Date: April 2006
Pages: 352
Genre: Young Adult, Non Fiction, Memoir

High school girls exchange honest notes.

Summary

Julia, Lindsey, Sophie, and Courtney are all freshman attending the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. One of them (they still argue who's idea it was) suggest they keep a group journal that they can pass back and forth to one and another, and lo' and behold, the Notebook Girls are created. The journal holds within its pages nearly two years of honest detailed high school life. Whether it's getting high at a Friday night party, having sex for the first time, stressing over exams, or dealing with the emotions of NYC's first memorial of 9/11, The Notebook girls candid and raw journal will inspire giggles, generate nostalgia and invite its readers into the realm of contemporary teenagers.

Why did I read it?

I came across this book while making a list for the Dangerously Read Challenge (I wanted to focus on banned books). The blurb that I read said that the notebook was a creation by four freshman girls after 9/11. It seemed genuine and exposed.

What did I like the most?
The four girls were definitely candid and there was a certain depth there that I didn't necessarily expect. I had no information about NYC schools, how they operated or the various programs each schools focused on. Evidently Stuy is an "ivy-league" primer, and because of that some entries were quite profound. Of course you still had the normal sex questions (should I do it or should I wait), but following that entry would be a discourse on religion (two girls were jewish and one was an atheist).


Here is an entry that discusses national security and sexuality.

2/16/03

[...] You're right it is really scary. But also, you have to think, how much is true and how much is the current administration playing on our fears. The really scary thing about being in such a precarious international situation like we are right now is that I feel like our government and media can totally fuck with our emotions. When you think about it, they have the power to make us panic, and that makes me want to panic. Or move to Canada.

[...]

So I actually think I've found a way to solve the above problem, and that is my new progression from the world of dicks to the world of chicks. One word: Tori. OMG I wanna get with this girl so badly!

What did I like the least?

The same thing that I liked the most about The Notebook Girls, is what I liked the least. The authenticity. I mean come on! They act and talk like high school students! There are only so many times the novelty of "spying" on the inner thoughts of teenagers while they partied, puked, got stoned, made out, got grounded, bullshitted about gossip, bitched about boys (or girls) or shared the "did you hear that so and so did this over the weekend" and "I can't believe that they are saying that I...." could last.

Plus because the notebook really appears to have been photocopied, the handwriting would shift, the drawings would blur, and the side margin notes were soooo tiny that even squinty made it difficult to read.


Do I recommend this book?

Overall, I would recommend this book. It's interesting because I can see why parents threw their hands up in the air and fought for this book to get on the banned book list. These kids did everything that a parent doesn't want their fourteen + year old to do. I read an article somewhere that the girls show that you can experiment and party while still making good grades. I think that's what scares parents the most. They don't want their kids to get that idea.

I'm sort of on the fence. I think that these girls are definitely the exception. There are plenty of students that try to lead the same sort of lifestyle but do not have the maturity, life goals, and quite honestly intelligence to follow in their footsteps. But I hardly think that this book should be banned because of that. (** I'd also like to mention that some of the girls alluded to the difficulty that their parents had initially with the publication of this book).

Who would I recommend this book to? Hardly not a middle schooler, but definitely an upper level and mature high schooler. I also think that it would be a fabulous book to read with your high school student as a parent. It might open up the lines of communication.

Also, anyone who is interested in a voyeuristic adventure should also check it out.

Graphic Novels Galore

I've fallen pretty far behind in my reviews, so I thought I would combine four graphic novels that I read at the end of May/beginning of June.

Title: Breaking Up
Author: Aimee Friedman/Christine Norrie
Pages: 190 Pub Date: 2007
Six Words? Breakups with friends are even harder

My Thoughts?

This was such a fun read. Chloe, Erika, Isabel, and MacKenzie are all besties at an artsy school referred to as "Fashion High". The novel is told from Chloe's point of view as she deals with the changes junior year has on their group. Gossip, falling in love with a geeky boy, parties, deciding whether or not to have sex for the first time, and ultimately back-stabbing betrayals force the group to "break up". This graphic novel shows the importance of friendships, and how high school drama can crack even the tightest knitted groups. It's about self discovery and growth. A fabulous coming of age tale.

Title: Death Note Book One
Author: Tsugumi Ohba/Takeshi Obata
Pages: 200 Pub Date: 2005
Six Words? Opportunity to play god, would you?

My Thoughts?

This is my first introduction to manga (still trying to figure out how to pronounce it correctly!). Overall I was pretty impressed. Don't get me wrong, it took me a couple of pages to get used to reading backwards - especially the bubbles, but it was well worth it. (Okay, I lie, I was still making mistakes and reading the wrong bubble/box toward the end of the novel too! Shhh...it'll be our secret.) Death Note opens with a bunch of gods (?) playing a game when one, a bored Shinigami named Ryuk, happens to mention that he dropped his Death Note on Earth. We find out that a Shinigami is sort of like a death god, but honestly, he reminds me of the god Loki or Pan. What's a Death Note you might ask? Weeelllll, it's a book where the beholder can write within the pages the name of anyone whose face they can picture and BAM the person will die (of a heart attack unless you give more specific instructions). It turns out that Light, a brilliant high school student, finds the book and decides to use is for the good of humanity. In other words, to kill off all of the criminals. Death Note questions the notion of good and evil, what power can do to anyone with the best of intentions, and leaves the audience - ME! - curious how it will all end. This is the first in the series and I'm pretty into checking out more. In fact, I have a couple of them coming to me from the library. *smile*

Title: SKIM
Author: Mariko Tamaki/ Jillian Tamaki
Pages: 144 Pub Date: May 2009
Six Words? Goth girl discovers self and sexuality

My thoughts?

There was just so much to love about this graphic novel, especially the illustrations. In a nutshell, it is the story of Skim and her struggles with being slightly chubby, insecure, and rebellious in an 'emotional goth' and into wiccan way. And oh yeah, as if she wasn't already an outsider, she's fallen in love with her teacher, Ms. Archer. Let me tell you something, there were so many pages that were just beautiful: artwork and writing. For example, the climatic kiss between Ms. Archer and Skim is bashfully led up to a two page spread with no words, just the illustration of the two kissing. And then, even more appropriate, the emotional setting is created, the forbidden desire of it all, as the novel moves along accordingly, not really making a reference to the kiss. Oooh, and my favorite line? "I had a dream that I put my hands inside my chest and held my heart to try to keep it still..." As Skim's relationship with Ms. Archer unfolds the writing is constructed so that the reader is *not* omniscient, we become the adolescent girl asking question: How does Ms. Archer really feel? It's like watching an emotional train wreck, except all of a sudden through the language and artwork, I realize I'm on that train and I can jump off!

Title: Blankets
Author: Craig Thompson
Pages: 592 Pub Date: 2003
Six Words? Innocence of first love truly captured.

My Thoughts?

The protagonist (and author) Craig shares his intimately what it was like growing up and falling in love for the first time. Initially, I found the novel to be a bit dull. Had it not been a quick read in the beginning I could easily had set it aside. But because I could just breeze through the pages, I maintained, and damn if I'm not thrilled that I did. Blankets is eerily one of those novels that transports you back into your own history. It doesn't matter that your first love story might have begun differently, the innocence, the desperation, the belief and desire of something lasting forever is all there. Then, as childlike fantasies come roaring back, the doubt and immediate pressure of such overwhelming emotions settles in. I could understand from both Craig's point of view and Raina's. Oh and while all of that breathless love is going on, Thompson throws in a blanket of defining spirituality, losing faith, divorce, alienation, peer pressure, and everything else that makes a superb coming of age story. Blankets is definitely one of my favorite reads this year. I'm disappointed that I have to return it to the library soon. It makes me feel connected and reminiscent to my past just seeing it on the bookshelf.

A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer

Title: A Child Called "It" - One Child's Courage to Survive
Author: David Pelzer
Pub Date: September 1995
Pages: 195
Genre: Memoir
Rating: ???

This is the story of a young boy, David, who has to endure agonizing abuse at the hand of his drunken mother while his father, his protector, stands by and does nothing. This is the story of David, who goes from having a name, to being referred to as The Boy, and ultimately "It". This is a story of a young boy's despair, a young boy's tragedy, and ultimately, a young boy's conviction to never give up.

I had heard about A Child Called "It" for many years and it's always been a book that I've meant to read. But you know, it's hard to find yourself "in the mood" to pick up a book when you know it's about child abuse. And then, a couple of months ago, I found it at a thrift store. Still, even after purchased, it sat on my shelf, days turning into weeks. I even included it as a book for completing one of my challenges to ensure that it got read.

I finally picked it up on Sunday and finished it that day. Never before have I had such a visceral reaction to a book. There were moments when I found myself holding my breath, chewing on my life, and yes, even stomach turned - full on gagging.

I don't know if this is a book that I would "recommend". I mean, it kind of goes back to the same dilemma that I had when purchasing it. It's a book that should be read, in the sense that these situations do occur, this outrageous behavior is out there, and awareness is one of the best solutions in preventing child abuse and forcing people to step up and become child advocates. But saying people should read the book is quite different than recommending it!

Maus I & Maus II by Art Spiegelman

Title: Maus I My Father Bleeds History
Author: Art Spiegelman
Pub Date: August 1986
Pages: 160

Title: Maus II And Here My Troubles Begin
Author: Art Spiegelman
Pub Date: September 1992
Pages: 144
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir(esque?)
Rating: 5/5 (for both)

Summary

Maus I & II are graphic novels that explore the Holocaust experience through not just a survivor, but the survivor’s family. Art Spiegelman has always had a strained relationship with his father, Vladek, which was only exacerbated by the suicide of his mother, Anna. Knowing that his father was getting older and becoming weak and ill, Art realizes that he has little opportunity left to fully discover the stories of his parents experience in Auschwitz. He shares with us the process of the interviewing endeavor and what it meant to him, while engaging the audience in the tale of Vladek, how life seemed perfect in one moment, and the next more horrifying than imaginable.

My Thoughts

What’s unique about these graphic novels is the type of narration. Spiegelman moves between the past and the present, his relationship with his dad and his dad’s relationship with history. All of this is done seamlessly and evokes strong emotions for all parties involved. I found myself getting angry at Spiegelman and his annoyance with his father, but only because I remembered my own irritation with my grandmother, who recently died.

Now you see, the stories are quite different. My grandmother lived in East Germany during WW2, but was never in the camps. Instead, she was one of nine young German children, completely oblivious to the destruction that Hitler was causing. In order to help her poor family out, she moved away from their farm and worked many jobs – including cleaning homes of the German soldiers. My grandmother and I never really saw eye to eye on many issues, and in all honesty, she was one of the most difficult people I’ve ever known. Vladek reminded me so much of my grandmother on many different levels that it saddened me. It made me wish that I kept a journal of the stories that she shared with me: losing her first baby during the war, dealing with her first husband, a German soldier, who ran off to be with a Russian woman, meeting and falling in love with an American soldier (my popa), moving to the states and living on air force bases even though many despised her because she was German. All those stories that are barely lingering in my mind.

I know that I digressed from my thoughts about the story, but you see, that’s why Maus I & II became so special to me. It allowed me to remember a woman that I didn’t necessarily like, but still loved, which I believe to be the hardest relationships to have and accept.

My Lobotomy by Howard Dully

Title: My Lobotomy
Author: Howard Dully (and Charles Fleming)
Pub Date: 2007
Pages: 286
Genre: NonFiction, Memoir, Psychology
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary:

My Lobotomy is the heart wrenching story of a young boy who, at age 12, is loosely diagnosed with "schizophrenia" and assigned a frontal lobotomy as his treatment plan. But you see, the memoir is much more than Howard Dully's brain surgery under the ice pick held by the famous Dr. Freeman. It's a story of sickening proportions - a young boy who lost his mother at age five; a manipulative and cruel step-mother convinced that her stepson was a monster; an angry father who wipes his hands clean of the problem; and a group of brothers who fear for the safety of themselves and their brother. And yet, it's also a story of love and compassion; of overcoming obstacles; of growth and self discovery; and most importantly of perseverance.

Howard Dully at the age of 12 (to the right) could never have imagined that his visit to the hospital would change his life forever. In fact, as a young man, he felt a bit excited by the visit. He would be able to watch whatever he wanted on the TV, he would be doting on by the nurses, and he might even get jello for dessert. What was there to fear? He knew that he wasn't sick. Howard liked and trusted his doctor, Dr. Freeman. The hospital would be a break from school, his dad, and even better, his awful stepmom - Lou.

What he didn't realize was that Lou had been conspiring against him with Dr. Freeman. Howard had entered the hospital to have a frontal lobotomy performed on him. Was he crazy? Was he unstable? From all indications, it didn't appear so. Then why was he subjected to this horrifying surgery? My Lobotomy is Howard's quest to figure out that question.

My Thoughts:

Initially, I found that the memoir was difficult to get into. The first couple of chapters were filled with family lineage and background information. I found that my mind began to wander a bit. Still, I was interested in the premise of the book and decided the continue. I'm really glad that I did. The remaining 200 pages I read quickly and voraciously.

Dully shares his memories of living with his stepmom, Lou, and I am aghast at the behavior of this woman. For one reason or the next, she had it out for Howard Dully, her new stepson. She despised him, and spent countless hours seeking ways to get rid of him. The thing is, his behavior, although at times a bit troublesome, was never pathological. In actuality, he was a boy potentially acting out because the death of his mom at age five and then living in a volatile home environment. At the very most, I could see how a psychiatrist might have diagnosed Howard with H, but even that would be hard to determine based on the accounts shared in the memoir and his tumultuous life.

After hearing many doctors tell Lou that Howard wasn't the problem, and in fact, perhaps she needed to seek help, she finally found relief in Dr. Freeman. Now here's a man who has ulterior motives. After a few sessions, Dr. Freeman agrees to perform a lobotomy. The thing that is eerie about this is, I don't really think that Dr. Freeman was this evil experimenter; I truly believe that he believed in his own surgeries. Which sort of makes it scarier.

Howard Dully does a great job introducing Dr. Freeman in the memoir, devoting a whole chapter to his prior performances and the field in psychology and services that were offered in the 1950's. Scary crazy stuff. But it proves to question what we will think about our current treatment plans seeing as lobotomies were not held in basements out of the public eye. Nope, they were getting props in magazines that the public devoured.

While in graduate school, I was extremely interested in the field of neuropsychology. There were so many cool things coming into play as we began to understand more and more about the brain and what it's capable of. As a class we would get into heated discussions about the use of psychoactive drugs in children and teens since they're brains were still developing. We still don't know what the brain is capable of, how it heals itself, or how we can damage it. Sure we're smarter than we were 50 years ago (thankfully, scrambling someone's frontal lob with an ice pick is no longer considered 'smart practices') but how much smarter are we going to be 50 years from now?

Howard Dully is an incredibly generous man for sharing his story. I highly recommend this memoir.

Some links of interest:

Howard Dully on NPR Guardian Article Howard Dully's Blog

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Title: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

Author: Alison Bechdel

Pub Date: 2006

Pages: 232

Challenges:

Genre: graphic novel, memoir

Rating: 3/5

Bechdel creates a candid portrayal of her family life: fearlessly revealing all humorous idiosyncrasies and morbid compulsions.  Oh, and topped with a sprinkle of pretentious literary allusions.  

Bechdel's graphic novel, in ways, comes across as a cathartic remembrance of her dead father.  It opens with her as a young child and ends with her as a young child, her growing up and discovery of Family & Self all interwoven within the pages. She presents her child neuroses in matter of fact dialogues: her counting compulsion in elementary school, or the post-modern crisis where she believed that all creation is perspective (thus forcing her to include an "I think" prior to any written statement) in her teens. 

Her story is also interwoven with literary allusions, which seemed a bit overdone, and quite honestly took away from the story in many ways.  It struck me as a psychological defense mechanism -avoiding the messy feelings of such trying life moments by presenting your life as a comparative lit assignment. 

Fun Home was not terrible. It just lacked emotion for me, nor was I engaged enough with the author as much as I anticipated I would be.  

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Title: Persepolis: The Story of Childhood

Author: Marjane Satrapi

Pub Date: 2003

Pages:153

Genre: graphic novel, memoir

Challenges: World Citizen Challenge; Nymeth's Mini Challenge

Rating: 5/5

Title: Persepolis: The Story of a Return

Author: Marjane Satrapri

Pub Date: 204

Pages: 187

Genre: graphic novel, memoir

Challenges: World Citizen; Nymeth's Try Something New Challenge

Rating: 5/5

A couple of weeks ago, I signed up for a mini-challenge hosted by Nymeth.  The premise was, with a partner, share the experience of reading something new.  That's how I met Madeline (make sure you check out her blog - she posts great reviews and her pup Oliver is absolutely adorable).  

Madeline & I corresponded via e-mail, introduced ourselves, and shared where we were at in the reading world.  I was pretty open about what I wanted to read next, so when Madeline mentioned that she had Persepolis on her way from Amazon, I checked it out and thought, "why not".  

So the thing is, I have never been interested in reading a graphic novel.  I couldn't get the image of Sunday morning comic strips out of my head.  This was why I jumped at the opportunity to do so here.  I mean, the whole point was to try something new, right?  And I'm glad that I did. My biggest lesson?  Just because there are pictures, doesn't mean there's not substance!

Persepolis (named after the ancient capital of Persia) is a memoir of Marjane Satrapi and her experiences growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution (she was about 10 when it began). This is going to be very embarrassing to admit, but I knew very little about the history of Iran.  And the little that I did know was not from my education, but from a dear friend of mine. I felt as though Satrapi gave a brief enough history in the introduction for ignorant folks like me, and through incredible graphics and dialogue recreated a three-dimensional account that piqued my curiosity and at the same time didn't really overwhelm me because I was lacking in education.

I was captivated from the moment I opened Book I.  (I'm really glad that I ordered them both from the library together rather than have to wait). 

Somethings that stood from both books:

• Marjane maintains a childlike vice for her twelve year experiences. In particular, when the kids in the school yard play 'execution' "in the name of freedom".
• There is no G-rating here: Marjane does not coat the horrific executions or bombings. 
•  As Marjane's Self character ages, her discoveries of who she is and the turmoil of "growing up" is equally paid attention to.
• She doesn't self-censor, even those moments that she is not proud of.

Finally, the dialogue is incredible.  While in Austria for school, she finds herself reading as many books as possible to fit in.  Right after reading The Second Sex by De Beauvoir: 

"Simone explained that if women peed standing up, their perception of life would change. So I tried it. It an lightly down my left leg. It was a little disgusting. Seated, it was much more simpler. And, as an Iranian woman, before learning to urinate like a man, I needed to learn to become a liberated, emancipated woman." 

I would highly recommend these books to anyone.  I'm so glad that I read them; I feel as if a whole new genre has been opened up for me.

Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

Title: Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

Author: Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

Country: US (Sept. 2008)

Pages: 277

Genre: nonfiction, biography & memoir

Challenges:

Rating: ** 1/2

I first heard about Dewey one leisurely Sunday morning sipping coffee and watching CBS's Sunday Morning news program. I have always enjoyed how the show doesn't just focus on current events found on prime time news, but features interviews with dedicated celebrities, musicians, artists, philosophers, politicians, authors and various other special interest stories. It was here that I first saw this adorable lioness looking cat prance around. Dewey was a library cat. And a very famous one at that. After the vignette ended, my heart was captured. I had to get my hands on Dewey's memoir. Evidently so did a lot of other people; I was put on my library's waiting list for what seemed like forever. Dewey finally made it to my house and I finished it in two days.

Dewey's story began a long time ago, one freezing January morning in Spencer, Iowa. Vicky Myron, town librarian, heard some strange noise coming from the overnight drop off box. Initially thinking it was a chipmunk, she crouched down to inspect. She was quite startled to see a tiny kitten crouched in an attempt to stay warm. Vicky shares that even though it's quite cliche, her "heart melted". Thus begins Dewey's journey at the Spencer library.

After introducinsg Dewey to the staff members that morning, the group decides they want to keep the little guy. Next, Vicky must get the board on board with the idea of having a library cat. Then, she must tackle the small town of Spencer to gain acceptance of their furry find. Luckily, Dewey is a rather handsome and charming devil, most fall in love with him immediately.

The memoir (loosely used here) shares stories of how Dewey permanently gets his name - a contest with the town voting. We find out that Dewey has a full name even: Dewy Readmoore Books, which is a nice librarian pun "Do we read more books?". We glimpse into the memories of Dewey's first Christmas, the

Dewey tree, trips to the vet, and a variety of other cutesy feline tales that will, yes, "melt your heart".

The story of Dewey is so popular that through word of mouth, people from all over begin to visit this quaint little town to meet the famous librarian cat. In fact, Dewey's tale makes it across seas and a Japanese group of filmmakers fly over to add Dewey to an ongoing documentary about you guessed it, cats. Dewey was listed on "working cat".

So did I love the book? Oh how I wish I could recommend this to everyone! But unfortunately, I can't. It could have been so much more than what it was. It was a quick read, yes. Very easy, but often very dull. The writing was atrocious. The authors did not paint an emotionally captivating tale, but rather it was stale, much as you would expect from a friend retelling their day. The important details were there, but that certain something that breathes life into a story was missing.

There was too much information about Iowa, firstly, and more specifically, the town of Spencer. The memoir detailed the history of town and state from the late 1980's to present day. It wasn't that this history was interspersed within the memoir; I understand the merit of knowing about the farming crisis in a state where farming is their livelihood, and get that it affects the townspeople, hence the story. Unfortunately Myron & Witter lay it out in cold hard facts that left me with no one to connect to. I wanted more Dewey! And even the librarian, Vicky (who is the author). She merely glosses over her family and background even though she is the connection through out the whole memoir. Vicky is what ties Dewey, the library, and Spencer together.

Ultimately, the book was a large disappointment. There was no depth to the story.