I got lazy in the B section of my list. I don't think I can adequately review in detail the last four books I read in this category. So I'm simply going to put a brief synopsis followed by my opinion.
Babbit- Sinclair Lewis
Babbit is a forty-something, mid-life crisis American in the 1920s. He's not a very exciting character, rather dull, and unlikeable. Lewis apparently did this on purpose. Babbit reminded me of the obnoxious male characters typically seen in American sitcoms of today. He was simply that, obnoxious. I was surprised that Sinclair Lewis' depiction of the American household and various lifestyles of the 1920s were not far from the American household persona and varying lifestyle traits of the 21st century. He brought out the uglier side of the American dream, revealing the backstabbing, faithlessness (both spousal and religious), prejudice and rash stereotyping that go on in both societies (past and modern) For me, it was an eye-opener and motivated me to not become the obnoxious American so portrayed.
Barchester Towers- Anthony Trollope
A tale about gossip, and how it can really damage a career. Small town church politics and kind of a reinforcer to my opinion that politics and personal opinion should not delegate decisions made for any church. I didn't mind the novel, but it wasn't very exciting. Very dry, and the characters were a bit overly dramatic about seemingly pointless things.
The Beautiful and the Damned- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Another marriage book. But instead of being from the woman's point of view or focusing on the woman's dilemma and underlying psychological motivations, Fitzgerald's lovers both played an active role in destroying the love in their marriage.
Beowulf- Anonymous
Ah, Beowulf... Just like I remembered in eighth grade, kind of silly. Interesting to read the folklore my ancestors probably heard from original bards... but I can't help but giggle a little at the descriptions of Grendel and his mother. I don't know why it makes me giggle... Beowulf makes me giggle too. Maybe it's the names...
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie BrinkMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was one of my favorite books as a child. It was interesting to re-read it with my own children, and see how it held up. In some ways, the book--like the beloved Little House books--is strongly rooted in both the time it was written and when it took place. Particularly, there are some attitudes towards the Wisconsin Indians (the book never tells us the specific tribe), that should make a modern reader squirm. On the other hand, there are characters like Caddie's father and Caddie herself, who value the Indians' culture and recognize the prejudice around them for what it is.
Throughout the book there is a conflict between civilization and wilderness--Wisconsin vs. Boston, America vs. England, the escapades of Caddie and her brothers against the domestic pursuits of her mother and older sister Clara. I'm sure many would suggest that this is symbolic of the male vs. female sphere, but I love how Caddie's father sort of trumps this at the end. After a pretty rotten (but funny!) trick played on their Boston cousin Annabelle, Caddie is severely punished and her free days as a tomboy come to a screeching halt. Her father acknowledges the different roles of men and women, but points out that while different, they are equal in importance. He says "I don't want you to be the silly affected person with fine clothes and manners, whom folks sometimes call a lady...I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind." I was touched by this exchange, though I'm sure many will call it old fashioned. I also loved that the boys followed Caddie in this new world, and think that both Caddie and the boys would be better for their cross-training, so to speak.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The Witches by Roald DahlMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
It's not often that I have the experience of reading a book aloud that I haven't read before, but is one that my kids have. The girls could hardly wait to get to The Witches by Roald Dahl, and were literally giggling with anticipation the night we began. I'm no stranger to Dahl--I've been a fan since picking up James and the Giant Peach as a kid. I think he was a genius at writing for kids. He manages to get the perfect combination of funny, gross, and terrifying. His books are full of characters which--while never slipping into stereotypes--are reminiscent of archetypes: vulnerable yet ultimately courageous heroes (and heroines!), loyal guides, and truly wicked and evil villains. The Witches lived up to all my expectations...and then some.
That said, this book is not for the faint of heart. These witches are some scary ladies! What makes them truly terrifying is that they are not dressed in black cloaks and riding around on broomsticks, but instead look like ordinary people. Hmmm...evil masquerading as good--that never happens in real life. But just as I would wonder if Dahl was taking us over the line, he throws in a silly name or a ridiculous physical description, and the laughter saves us. And of course, there is the wonderful grandmama who loves her grandson to pieces, and has this amazing sense of adventure. Don't we all wish for a Norwegian grandmother? This is a perfect book for kids who like their books with a strong sense of fun and adventure--and their parents too!
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Sunday, November 28, 2010
Pippi Longstockings
OK, time to talk about some children's classics! The little girls and I are working our way through the list of 100 favorite children's novels as determined by a recent poll on the popular Children's Literature blog, Fuse #8. We are currently on number 97, The Children of Green Knowe, but recently jumped ahead and read number 95 Pippi Longstocking. This classic by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren is one of the few on the list that I've never read before. A couple of years ago I bought new edition illustrated by Lauren Child (of Charlie and Lola fame) for the public library, and I've been itching to read it ever since.
I don't know how this edition compares to earlier translations, but we fell in love with it. Of course. Pippi lives the dream life of every child--no one to tell her when to eat or sleep or how to dress. She shares her house with a horse and a monkey. Various attempts to "civilize" Pippi come to disastrous consequences, with the adults involved being clearly put in their place. There's no question who has the power--Pippi. Child's brightly colored, exuberant illustrations capture Pippi's free spirit, with Pippi herself constantly breaking out of the frame.
Reading a book in translation, it is difficult to comment on the style--not knowing what to attribute to the translator and what to the author. Still, the overall feeling of slight irreverence and kid empowerment reminds me of authors like Roald Dahl. In this age of helicopter parents, I think a lot of kids could use a dose of Pippi.
I don't know how this edition compares to earlier translations, but we fell in love with it. Of course. Pippi lives the dream life of every child--no one to tell her when to eat or sleep or how to dress. She shares her house with a horse and a monkey. Various attempts to "civilize" Pippi come to disastrous consequences, with the adults involved being clearly put in their place. There's no question who has the power--Pippi. Child's brightly colored, exuberant illustrations capture Pippi's free spirit, with Pippi herself constantly breaking out of the frame.
Reading a book in translation, it is difficult to comment on the style--not knowing what to attribute to the translator and what to the author. Still, the overall feeling of slight irreverence and kid empowerment reminds me of authors like Roald Dahl. In this age of helicopter parents, I think a lot of kids could use a dose of Pippi.
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Awakening-Kate Chopin
Contained in the edition of this book(Barnes and Noble of course! should collect royalties, even though I read these editions because my husband works there and I get a discount on a nice book.:) were also some of Kate Chopin's short stories. I may post a blog on my favorites, but the actual novel deserves its own.
Southern American Literature is so rich. It must be the slavery/prejudice issue that contributes so much drama. The pathetic sentiments in Southern Literature of one human usurping authority or supremacy over another leave plenty of room for work of literature to be rife with drama. The Awakening didn't deal with race or slavery directly, but it was still hugely dramatic and rich.
The entire novel was just dreamy, Kate Chopin's voice made the setting of deep south New Orleans golden, warm, urbanely classic and beautiful. I felt as if I was wrapped up in the dreamlike novel the entire time. It was a beautiful read.
The main character, Edna Pontellier slowly becomes "awakened" in a sense that she suddenly finds herself unable to pinpoint her uncertainty and emotions.
The ending of the story has so much to do with the total story that there's not much of a way to leave it off. If you wish to experience the entire novel yourself stop reading here.
Edna eventually discovers her reasons of feeling unsettled. She is in love with another man who is not her husband, and more the marriage to her husband was never out of love, but more out of spite, and her life she's been living was mostly a lie to herself. Unable to come to terms with her confusing emotions, guilt, and look past the Victorian society ideals of marriage, and maternal expectancies, she swims out into the ocean to her death.
As an active LDS woman, where marriage and family are VERY much an integral part of my religion, I was a bit unsettled by this ending. I honestly had to wonder if my own marriage would ever fall to such a fate.
Three books so far on this list have dealt solely with a matter like this. Aristocratic, partially arranged marriage, usually Victorian Era, manogamy, female expectations within marriage. Anna Karenina andThe Age of Innocence as well as this book.
AS I'm writing this down, my screen saver is replaying images of my wedding. I was married to my husband within nine months of knowing each other. Crazy? Perhaps. But it's been the best choice of my life. I'm reminded how wonderful that day was. How sacred, special, and holy the temple was. In our pictures, we are both glowing with happiness, and my mother's careful stitches made me to fantastic in my wedding dress. I will proudly let everyone know that my dress is the prettiest wedding dress of them all. And I looked stunning in it.
I'm not worried about my marriage failing. I love my husband, and he adores me. :) It was not arranged. And I do not live in the Victorian Era where sexual desires were so taboo it was ridiculous. I think these novels weren't preaching against marriage, but rather for a more love-involved, equal relationship for both husband and wife. And that, is precisely what I agree with.
Southern American Literature is so rich. It must be the slavery/prejudice issue that contributes so much drama. The pathetic sentiments in Southern Literature of one human usurping authority or supremacy over another leave plenty of room for work of literature to be rife with drama. The Awakening didn't deal with race or slavery directly, but it was still hugely dramatic and rich.
The entire novel was just dreamy, Kate Chopin's voice made the setting of deep south New Orleans golden, warm, urbanely classic and beautiful. I felt as if I was wrapped up in the dreamlike novel the entire time. It was a beautiful read.
The main character, Edna Pontellier slowly becomes "awakened" in a sense that she suddenly finds herself unable to pinpoint her uncertainty and emotions.
The ending of the story has so much to do with the total story that there's not much of a way to leave it off. If you wish to experience the entire novel yourself stop reading here.
Edna eventually discovers her reasons of feeling unsettled. She is in love with another man who is not her husband, and more the marriage to her husband was never out of love, but more out of spite, and her life she's been living was mostly a lie to herself. Unable to come to terms with her confusing emotions, guilt, and look past the Victorian society ideals of marriage, and maternal expectancies, she swims out into the ocean to her death.
As an active LDS woman, where marriage and family are VERY much an integral part of my religion, I was a bit unsettled by this ending. I honestly had to wonder if my own marriage would ever fall to such a fate.
Three books so far on this list have dealt solely with a matter like this. Aristocratic, partially arranged marriage, usually Victorian Era, manogamy, female expectations within marriage. Anna Karenina andThe Age of Innocence as well as this book.
AS I'm writing this down, my screen saver is replaying images of my wedding. I was married to my husband within nine months of knowing each other. Crazy? Perhaps. But it's been the best choice of my life. I'm reminded how wonderful that day was. How sacred, special, and holy the temple was. In our pictures, we are both glowing with happiness, and my mother's careful stitches made me to fantastic in my wedding dress. I will proudly let everyone know that my dress is the prettiest wedding dress of them all. And I looked stunning in it.
I'm not worried about my marriage failing. I love my husband, and he adores me. :) It was not arranged. And I do not live in the Victorian Era where sexual desires were so taboo it was ridiculous. I think these novels weren't preaching against marriage, but rather for a more love-involved, equal relationship for both husband and wife. And that, is precisely what I agree with.
Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man-James Weldon Johnson
I couldn't help thinking this book was slightly outdated to be applied to our modern world, seeing as the Civil War is very much over, and there's not much racism anymore. But that's just my tendancy to try and relate everything to now, or my life.
This book was incredible. It really made me think and imagine the spectacle the situation or idea would have created during the time frame. The main character spend a majority of his life living as a colored man. It isn't until the end when he decides to "play his joke on humanity" It's an excellent joke. No doubt about it. Laughing in the face of a society that put so much quality on the color of a man's skin. Snubbing a society that will only value a man's worth because he can pass as white. It seems so horrible that America ever thought that way.
In the end, the joke seemed to turn on him for a while. He fell in love with a white woman, and was torn between telling her the truth of his ancestry, or hiding it and marrying her with that lie in his life the whole time. I won't reveal the outcome of the situation.
I can understand why this book became included on the list of enduring works. Is there a way we think of a society of another group? Are there still these kind of feelings? I thought of the homosexual/bisexual issue, and same sex marriage controversy raging out society today. Yes, I agree homosexual/and bisexuals are people just like everyone else, but somehow, I feel that in matters of sexuality, things are much more taboo, sensitive, and even sacred to too many people for this to truly be compared. But, this is my opinion. Many I know disagree, but I only wish to be respected for at least having one.
This book was incredible. It really made me think and imagine the spectacle the situation or idea would have created during the time frame. The main character spend a majority of his life living as a colored man. It isn't until the end when he decides to "play his joke on humanity" It's an excellent joke. No doubt about it. Laughing in the face of a society that put so much quality on the color of a man's skin. Snubbing a society that will only value a man's worth because he can pass as white. It seems so horrible that America ever thought that way.
In the end, the joke seemed to turn on him for a while. He fell in love with a white woman, and was torn between telling her the truth of his ancestry, or hiding it and marrying her with that lie in his life the whole time. I won't reveal the outcome of the situation.
I can understand why this book became included on the list of enduring works. Is there a way we think of a society of another group? Are there still these kind of feelings? I thought of the homosexual/bisexual issue, and same sex marriage controversy raging out society today. Yes, I agree homosexual/and bisexuals are people just like everyone else, but somehow, I feel that in matters of sexuality, things are much more taboo, sensitive, and even sacred to too many people for this to truly be compared. But, this is my opinion. Many I know disagree, but I only wish to be respected for at least having one.
The Art of War- Sun Tzu
This book wasn't really what I expected. Then again, I don't think I really knew what to expect. I joked with my husband that after reading this book, I would instantly become a military genius, or at least fantastically great at chess and RISK.
The Art of War has apparently been around for ages. Parts of the original Chinese have been lost or undecipherable at times. Other parts make Sun Tzu seem a bit kooky. There were about ten commentator who have inserted their comments and personal understandings of Sun Tsu's workthroughout the ages. I couldn't keep track of the Chinese names, but their comments did helo make sense of some of the phrases. My one complaint was the format of the particular edition I read interjected the comments in the middle of the verse. So part of the verse would be there, then a comment, followed by the rest of the phrase. So I would have to read it all through a second time and then read the comment in order to understand the entire gist of the message, and the commentator's interpretation.
Some of Sun Tzu's principals could be applied to life situations. I thought of parenting teenagers, being in charge of a large group of people with a common goal. At the same time, a lot of information seemed a bit worthless, for me. When will I ever require the use of spies? and fire warfare? Probably not... Other concepts were very common sense, which raised an interesting thought. Are they really common sense? Or are they common sense because I've lived through and studied the numerous wars that have occured since Sun Tzu's application of The Art of War? hmm...
Other bits of information need to be given to the U.S. military again. Such as "It has never benefitted a country to be at war for a long time. How long has Iraq been happening? At the same time Sun Tzu made an argument that war was to be used to bring about peace, and to invade an enemy who is knowingly committing evils. To American politics and ideals, terrorism and the problems happening in the Iraq area can be viewed as pretty evil.
The Art of War didn't turn me into a Military genius. there were no reasonable applications for chess or RISK, I'm sure Im just as miserable at strategy games as before. But it did broaden my thoughts, and make me think about lots of new things. I guess that's why its a classic, and that's definetly the point of this insane project.
I did manage to get a copy of The Art of War without any commentators. Maybe when my first child becomes a teenager I'll crack it open and study it extensively and insert my own comments and interpretations. Then I really will be a military genius!
The Art of War has apparently been around for ages. Parts of the original Chinese have been lost or undecipherable at times. Other parts make Sun Tzu seem a bit kooky. There were about ten commentator who have inserted their comments and personal understandings of Sun Tsu's workthroughout the ages. I couldn't keep track of the Chinese names, but their comments did helo make sense of some of the phrases. My one complaint was the format of the particular edition I read interjected the comments in the middle of the verse. So part of the verse would be there, then a comment, followed by the rest of the phrase. So I would have to read it all through a second time and then read the comment in order to understand the entire gist of the message, and the commentator's interpretation.
Some of Sun Tzu's principals could be applied to life situations. I thought of parenting teenagers, being in charge of a large group of people with a common goal. At the same time, a lot of information seemed a bit worthless, for me. When will I ever require the use of spies? and fire warfare? Probably not... Other concepts were very common sense, which raised an interesting thought. Are they really common sense? Or are they common sense because I've lived through and studied the numerous wars that have occured since Sun Tzu's application of The Art of War? hmm...
Other bits of information need to be given to the U.S. military again. Such as "It has never benefitted a country to be at war for a long time. How long has Iraq been happening? At the same time Sun Tzu made an argument that war was to be used to bring about peace, and to invade an enemy who is knowingly committing evils. To American politics and ideals, terrorism and the problems happening in the Iraq area can be viewed as pretty evil.
The Art of War didn't turn me into a Military genius. there were no reasonable applications for chess or RISK, I'm sure Im just as miserable at strategy games as before. But it did broaden my thoughts, and make me think about lots of new things. I guess that's why its a classic, and that's definetly the point of this insane project.
I did manage to get a copy of The Art of War without any commentators. Maybe when my first child becomes a teenager I'll crack it open and study it extensively and insert my own comments and interpretations. Then I really will be a military genius!
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