Musing and Amusing

Dirty Diplomacy by Craig Murray

2011-09-19T14:47:00.001-07:00

If you are one of those Americans who believe we are a perfect country and the moral leaders of the world, then this book is not for you. On the other hand, if you want to get a better picture of why it is that most of the world sees us as a bully nation and some of the major corruption in our government, then you will want to read this one.

Craig Murray was the British Ambassador to Uzbekistan during the time that the U.S. declared the "War on Terror" and attacked Iraq. The U.S. became allied with Uzbekistan which was being led by a dictator, Karimov. His regime was infamous for torture...especially of Muslims and political dissidents. As Ambassador, Murray tried to expose the corruption in the government, but ran into constant opposition from his government and the U.S. because they needed the military base the U.S. had established in Uzbekistan for staging attacks in Iraq.

At the heart of this book is whether it is ever appropriate or useful to use torture as a means of getting government and military intelligence. I feel extremely strong about this, now, after reading this insightful book. I highly recommend the book, but be prepared to become disillusioned if you are a starry-eyed American.

The Four Agreements:A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz

2011-08-03T13:54:00.001-07:00

An interesting book of philosophy on how to become truly happy in your life by living four principles: 1). Be impeccable with your word; 2). Don't take anything personally; 3). Don't make assumptions; and, 4). Always do your best. The author is a Toltec shaman.

Georges by Alexander Dumas

2011-07-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

Georges is the first published novel by Alexander Dumas.I had never heard of this book until I was looking for a book for my Olympic Reading Challenge for the country of Mauritius. I was also unaware, until I started reading about this book that Dumas was actually a mulatto. The central concept in Georges is how mulattoes have been dealt with historically. Many interesting themes in the book...colonialism, prejudice, honor, etc. It has elements of swashbucklers and pirates, romance, heroism. It has been said that Dumas also began the development of some of his more famous characters (the Three Musketeers and the Count of Monte Cristo) within this novel. Georges was a very enjoyable read and interesting on so many level. Dumas was clearly a brilliant writer.

Keeper of the Night by Kimberly Willis Holt

2011-07-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Keeper of the Night is the story of the emotional aftermath of suicide and how it affects the members of a family. Highlights the importance of getting psychiatric help to help deal with the emotional crisis that results for family members. Some powerful insights into the emotional struggles along with how different people deal with such a loss in their lives.

Set in Guam, the novel is also a lovely exposure to the people, culture, and traditions of this country.

Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji

2011-07-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

I seemed to enjoy this book a lot more than the average person on Goodreads! I thought the writing was almost poetic in its descriptions of things. I was fascinated by Mukerji's descriptions of Indian life and culture and more exposure to the Hindi faith. I learned a lot about birds and training of pigeons that was very interesting to me. I also had no idea of the role that pigeon's played as messengers during WWI. More than anything, I appreciated the wisdom the writer shares about how we should treat each other through his story of pigeons. It was a beautiful parable which I appreciated very much!

Santa Evita by Tomas Eloy Martinez

2011-06-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

I wish I knew how much of this book is fact and how much it is fictionalized and speculation. Martinez specifically calls it a novel, but he is also so very careful about his sources. The book is the story of Eva Peron, focusing on the handling of her corpse after she passed away from cancer at the age of 33. Extremely interesting and engaging!

The Magic Gourd by Baba Wague' Diakite'

2011-05-31T12:35:00.001-07:00

This children's story from Mali is beautifully illustrated by the author. He gives insight into the culture of Mali as he uses symbols from mud cloth patterns to enhance the message of the story. The book becomes not just a tale from Diakite's native Mali, but an insightful and educational piece for children. Excellent!

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

2011-04-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

This was a difficult book for me because it is a science fiction piece...and I have never been that much of a fan of fantasy and science fiction. Brave New World is Huxley's version of a dystopia. The novel condemns the idea of mass production (Henry Ford) and creating a world where people are bred to be happy without really experiencing true emotions. Huxley clearly brings into his novel many people intended to represent other famous people of his time he means to condemn for what he believes is their role in the decline of society (Ford, Freud, J.P. Morgan, Lenin, Trotsky, etc.). At the same time, through his main character, John Savage, he exalts the "noble savage." I can see this book as being a part of lists of the 100 best books of all time, but it was still a difficult read for me.

Grenada: An Eyewitness Account of the U.S. Invasion and the Caribbean History that Provoked it by Hugh O'Shaughnessy

2011-04-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

The historical books on some countries are probably most dangerous for me to read because I end up seeing so much of our dirty underware. It is clear that the U.S. attack on Grenada in 1983 was illegal (we invaded a country we were not at war with), it was unnecessary as far as helping to establish the rule of law in Grenada, and caused a set back in the cause of political democracy and long-term economic development in the region. That is so discouraging to me. Time after time, the U.S. was more concerned about the possibility of a nation becoming communistic than that they had a self-governing nation. We have promoted far-right dictators in these nations because it was in our "best interest" not to have another nation become more socialistic. Too many times, the Land of the Free does not really believe in that concept as a value for other countries.

The Bronze Bow by by Elizabeth George Speare

2011-04-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

Lovely story set in Roman-controlled Galilee. It is amazing to me that a book dealing with Jesus Christ and his affect upon people of his time was chosen as a Newberry Winner. I am delighted that it happened.

The Witches' Ride and Other Tales from Costa Rica by Lupe de Osma

2011-04-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

Fun telling of a dozen fairy tales from Costa Rica written for children. It is always so interesting to see in how many countries the same children's stories show up in different variations. There is a Cinferella tale as well as Hansel and Gretel.

The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo by Peter Orner

2011-04-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

Peter Orner creates such vibrant characters in this novel based in Namibia. He gives insight into the effects of war upon the people of the country. Sometimes difficult to follow...rather poetic in flow. Not much of a story with a plot. Beautifully written, nonetheless.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

2011-04-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

I thought that this was a wonderful story. Newberry Award winner the same year that I graduated from high school, I found myself wishing I had read this book back then. The author, Mildren D. Taylor, did an amazing job of capturing the language of his characters. The novel is set at the same time in history when my parents were growing up in the south. The descriptions of what life was like for blacks in the south post-Civil War and pre-Civil Rights movement is intriguing and gripping. Powerful story!

The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Boy by Camara Laye

2011-04-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

This book is the enjoyable and interesting coming of age story of Camara Laye who grew up in French Guinea. Nicely told from the viewpoint of a child experiencing becoming a man in Guinea. Lovely plays on the tensions of the old way versus modernization. The insights into culture and tradition was especially interesting to me. Quick read.

My Fathers' Daughter by Hannah Pool

2011-01-16T09:50:00.001-08:00

My Fathers' Daughter is a very moving memoir. At the age of 6 months, Hannah Pool was adopted from an orphanage in Eritrea by a British father and American mother. Hannah tells the story of the search for her birth family. Fascinating story because of all of the cultural, political, social information about Eritrea and the countries struggles with border skirmishes, poverty, government problems, etc. The book is not necessarily well-written, but the story is touching. It really made me want to go spend a year in Eritrea simply to go to an orphanage and hold the many, many babies who have no one to care for them.
The story is also interesting because Hannah reveals a lot of what an adopted person experiences emotionally and socially. Especially when they are so far removed from their birth culture/race/nationality. Very insightful!

The Sins of the Wolf by Anne Perry

2011-01-09T17:29:00.001-08:00

This book was given to me by a friend (Sue) upon the recommendation of another friend (Alison). I have some stress over this book, now, because I enjoyed this murder mystery by Anne Perry so much, I will have to find time to read all of the other books in the William Monk Mystery Series. Set in Victorian Great Britain, Anne Perry does an excellent job of bringing us into another era and place and engaging us with intriguing characters. The plot twists and turns. At times a bit over-the-top in description, but such an enjoyable read. For any who have not already read William Monk novels, I would not recommend this one as a starting point. I wish I had read the first book, Death of a Stranger. There are many references in the story to past cases and the personal issues William Monk, Hester Latterly, and Oliver Rathbone that were developed in earlier novels. I think that my reading experience would have been even richer if I had read at least the first novel. Agatha Christie is still my favorite mystery writer, but Anne Perry has given me a second to enjoy.

Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey

2010-12-18T20:24:00.001-08:00

Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey of Ghana was an intriguing murder mystery. The novel kept me engaged, throughout. The most interesting part for me, again, was my introduction to a piece of the Ghanaian culture and customs...specifically the religious custom of fetish priests and trokosi (Wives of the Gods)which is the practice of marrying teenaged virgin daughters to these priests to atone for sins against the gods. The novel brings in the concern about AIDS in Ghana and the efforts to educate the people to end the spread of AIDS in Ghana.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2010-12-03T13:42:00.001-08:00

The genre of The Hunger Game books is definitely not my favorite and is usually very difficult for me to get through. I enjoyed this series, very much, even though the violence is so hard to get past. I know that Collins is making a statement about war, killing, power, etc., but it was a difficult thing to witness as you came to love the characters of the novels. I was specifically disappointed with the way Collins kills Finnick with no real honor or glory...it is almost an aside that he is killed as they flee the mutts that are chasing the rebels through the tunnel. Perhaps it is another statement that, in the end, death is a common thing and there is no real glory or heroism in it. I am just not sure.

I noticed a motif of flowers throughout the novels that I have also not figured out. Many characters names suggest flowers, real or fictious (Katniss, Gale Hawthorne, Prim [Primrose], Rue, Buttercup,and others. Then, there are Snow's roses, Katniss burying Rue under the flowers, the flowers of the meadows, daisies in the song, and a dandelion in the final paragraph of the last chapter. I am not sure if the flowers are significant and symbolic or much more simply there and should not be overanalyzed.

I look forward to the movie version of this series, although I cannot imagine how I can enjoy the gory violence that will have to be a part of this.

Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy

2010-12-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed this tragic story by Hardy! I definitely agree with those who say to skip the first 50 pages or so...losts of description of the heath that I cannot figure out how it was so important to the development of the story and characters. The description, itself, is poetic and thorough in its description, so if you are interested in that, you will love the first part of the book. I nearly quit reading, but plowed on because it is listed on one of the lists I have of the best 100 books of all-time. The development of the characters in the novel are fascinating. Descriptions of everything from the people to the locations are so well-done that it is easy to visualize the entire story and feel such a part of it.

Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

2010-11-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

I had been very nervous about getting into this book because I have often found the Russian authors so complicated in their writing. I enjoyed this novel very much! Turgenev's development of Bazarov as a character was amazing. The novel was interesting to me because it deals historically with a transition time in Russia from a more authoritarian society to one where people question the past and what is really truth. Sets up the situation of why people of Russia would later embrace communism.

Small Kingdoms by Anastasia Hobbet

2010-11-14T22:30:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed reading this book set in Kuwait between the Gulf Wars. It is a interesting look at the contradictions that occur between faith, politics, and culture in the Middle East. This novel is especially interesting because of the many different cultures from all over the world that come together in Kuwait...especially for impoverished people who come there to work as domestic help and are treated less than humanely.

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali

2010-11-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

While the topic was fascinating, this book was not as well written as many which have portrayed life as a woman (and this case, girl) in a conservative Muslim culture. Nujood was given to a man in his 30's to be his wife. The laws of Yemen and the Islam faith allow for such a marriage, but do not allow the marriage to be consummated until after the bride has passed puberty by a year. The courage and wisdom of this 10 year old girl to go to the authorities and ask for a divorce is inspirational...and has helped many other girls in the same situation to seek the same help. A very quick read.

Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes

2010-11-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

Probably the longest book I have ever read. I expected the story to be much more similar to the familiar "Man of La Mancha." The novel is clearly a historical masterpiece. Considered by many to be the first real novel in any language, Cervantes also standardized and unified the Spanish language. Even within the novel, Cervantes' characters continuously run into problems caused by people not being able to understand the various dialects found in 14th century Spain.

What an endearing character Don Quixote is. Even more so, I came to love, so much, his squire Sancho Panza. "Man of La Mancha" changes his character (and makes Dulcinea an actual character actively involved in the story--not true in Don Quixote). He is a simpleton, but so extremely wise and praiseworthy. For me, he is the real hero of the novel as he philosophizes about people, government, and what is really important and of value. Truly one of the most memorable characters of all-time in literature.

The novel just seems to go on and on with not a lot of progression of characters and storyline. I think that a person wanting to read Don Quixote should simply find a good abridged version of the novel. I am certain I would have enjoyed the book much better that way.

Cane River by Lalita Tademy

2010-10-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

Cane River is a very interesting read which was one of the Oprah's Book Club selections. In this historical novel, the author, Lalita Tademy, deals with 137 years of her family's history of dealing with slavery and the aftermath. She begins with her 4th great-grandmother who was a slave in Virginia and then sold into French Cajun/Creole Louisiana. Elizabeth's daughter with fellow slave Gerasime, Suzette, is the first in a line of women who become impregnated by a white man. The next three generations are born into slavery because the owners refuse to free their colored children. The novel portrays the life situation of the colored children who can not overcome the Negro part of their heritage within the Southern society even after the Civil War is long over and the children are generally fair skinned.

Another interesting piece of the novel is the introduction of the freed Negroes who become slave owners, themselves. Tademy reveals the social hierarchy of wealthy plantation owners, poor white farmers, free Negroes, and slaves.

Beautifully written and very engaging story.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

2010-10-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

This was a lovely book and another book of value for those who dare to look at some of the dark history of our country. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is set in Seattle, WA during WWII. The story gives a picture of what Japanese-Americans experienced during this time...the prejudice, the interment camps, the denial of civil rights simply based upon ancestry. It is a complicated issue, as we have experienced more recently since 9/11. How does a country have the faith that American citizens of specific ancestry or culture will not return in their loyalty to their "roots." It made me think, quite a bit, actually, about my own personal fears following 9/11 when I was on a plane or in other places with someone of Arabic background. "Is this person one of my enemies?"

I was also interested in the tie in the story of the Chinese history with the Japanese in this novel. I was made more aware of the ill feelings that Chinese people generally feel towards Japanese while I was in China. That is based on a long history of attack by Japan upon China. So, the age-old ill will is part of the conflict in this novel, as well.

The novel is engaging and interesting, although the plot was fairly predictable. Nonetheless, a book I would highly recommend to others to read.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

2010-10-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

We tend to be ethnocentric, especially as Americans. I consider this book a must-read book for any who want to come to a better understanding of what people of other cultures, religions, and languages experience as they try to become "American." At the center of this book is the problem the medical community faces in dealing with large numbers of immigrants...especially from countries we have less experience with culturally and linguistically. Doctors are basically reduced to practicing veterinary medicine with these people because of the inability to communicate. Another idea developed in the book is that of the medical community treating the whole person and not being so clinical. Thought-provoking work in ethics...what is right and wrong and how do we decide what is best?

Nicaragua: A Decade of Revolution by Lou Dematteis and Chris Vail

2010-10-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

I think that reading all of these books from and about other countries has become a very dangerous thing for me. I have gained more and more insight about what is going on in other countries and how the U.S. has impacted other countries...and it is often not a good thing. I have lost that innocent, wide-eyed attitude that the U.S. is the hero and defender of freedom around the world. This book gives a lot on insight into the revolution of the 1980's-1990's in Nicaragua. I understand, now, so much more about the role of the Sandanistas and of the Contras. I have learned how the U.S. disrespected the right of the people of Nicaragua to choose their own form of government and their leaders through direct election. The U.S. often seems to be more concerned with its own best interest and not those of other countries. It is so discouraging. I become more and more concerned as I hear indoctrination against any form of socialism now. Socialism has become the new ugly word to replace communism. Somehow, Americans have to be taught that socialism does not necessarily equal Stalinism.

Little Boys Come From the Stars by Emmanuel Dongala

2010-10-04T13:49:00.001-07:00

Emmanuel Dongala created such an interesting read. His storytelling is endearing and clever. He uses humor as he presents some very serious insight into the political struggles of the Congo (Brazaville) as it moves from a Communist dictatorship to a more democratic nation. Again, for most Americans, this is a situation most of us are totally unaware. Also interesting is the exposure that Dongala gives to the tribal religious and cultural traditions.

The Colour by Rose Tremain

2010-09-25T11:13:00.001-07:00

Interesting, well-written novel based upon the New Zealand Gold Rush of the 1860's. Insightful. Interesting, rich characters. Warning: sexually explicit, including some homosexuality.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

2010-09-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

I am disappointed that I did not read this book when I was younger. It truly is a classic! I was especially fascinated by Crusoe's personal experience with religion and his discovery of God on his own as he lives his solitary life on the island. Great messages and truths to be found in this novel, especially of God's personal love and concern for each one of us. My complaint against the novel is that I do not understand why Defoe did not end the novel shortly after Crusoe's rescue from the island. The other adventures seemed to distract from the story. I suppose that Defoe was writing before the time when it was in vogue to write sequels to your novels.

Candide by Voltaire

2010-09-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have read parts of this book in English classes in college, but never read the whole thing. I am certain that much of the humor in the story was better understood by people contemporary with Voltaire because it is clear that some of his jabs had to do with issues and people of the times. Would people 200 years from now understand what you are talking about with references to Watergate, etc.? It is clear that there are many jabs at government and governments, religions (and specifically the Catholic Church), and contemporary figureheads. I appreciated that so much of it was funny to me, knowing that I was not fully in on all of the jokes. I found his commentary on philosophers and philosophies the most humorous part.

A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

2010-08-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

I had mixed feelings about this book. It was a frustrating story for me. The central character, Mohun Biswas, spends his entire life trying to establish an independent identity for himself, symbolized by his aspirations of owning his own house. Some say that the symbolism also is a commentary on colonialism...the struggle of nations to free themselves from colonial rule (such as England over Trinidad and Tobago). Mr. Biswas struggles because he lacks the skills needed to push himself out of dependence upon his wife's family because of lack of education and opportunity.

The exposure to Indo-Hindu culture was interesting for me.

Naipaul is a Nobel Prize winner and this book is the one that thrust him into worldwide acclaim as a writer.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

2010-08-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

I found this book so engaging, I could hardly put it down. There is some serious language and sexual content, so be warned about that. Nonetheless, I thought the story was so interesting and the characters so well developed. The book is told from the eyes of a man (both at the time the events occured and later when the same man is in his nineties and in a nursing home) who worked as a zoo vet. Set in the time of the end of the Great Depression, it brings in much of the perspective of that era, as well. I actually listened to this as a book on tape and would highly recommend it. They had two different men reading...one representing Jacob as a young man and one who read the old man part. The gentleman who read as the old man was fabulous and made the story come all the more alive for me. The younger man did a wonderful job with going between different accents of the characters. A very well done book on tape! Some great messages on relationships with animals and on aging.

In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar

2010-08-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed reading In the Country of Men! I found it a difficult book to put down and would have preferred to read it in a single sitting. The most interesting thing about the book is that it describes life in Libya under Muammar el-Qaddafi following the Libyan Revolution. It describes the heroism of many as they fought for democracy against the tyrannical government. Inspiring as Matar tells his story through the eyes of a nine year boy living in this situation.

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer

2010-08-05T11:02:00.001-07:00

WOW! The must-read, inspirational story of Dave Pelzer's survival of childhood abuse. Dave Pelzer's story gives hope of surviving the worst of situations and rising above those those to still love and forgive. Looking to read the other books written by Mr. Pelzer!

The Brass Dolphin by Joanna Trollope

2010-08-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

Set in Malta, The Brass Dolphin is an almost Jane Austen-ish story of life and love in Malta during the time of the 2nd World War. The history and culture of Malta was unknown to me, so I found that very interesting. I thought the writing was beautiful and captivating as was the story, itself.

The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley

2010-07-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Beautifully written, The Flame Trees of Thika is a classic story portraying the European settlement of Africa (specifically Kenya) during the early part of the twentieth century. Interesting memoir told through the the insights of a child growing up as a European in Africa. Interesting insight to some of the different native cultures and tribes of Africa.

Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat

2010-07-13T14:04:00.001-07:00

Krik? Krak, is a fascinating collection of stories that gives insight into the lives of men and women in Haiti as they have dealt with extreme cruelties and brutalities under the country's dictator and because of superstitious beliefs. I believe that all of us would have a greater compassion and understanding of why the people are willing to risk their lives to flee to America as "boat people" as they read this finalist for the National Book Award.

Here's the Story by Maureen McCormick

2010-07-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting to me because of how faithfully I watched The Brady Bunch while I was a young teenager and I have a keen interest in the effects fame and the entertainment industry have upon child entertainers. The book was very revealing. Her openness and honesty were amazingly brave. Not particularly well-written, but an interesting memoir, nonetheless.

Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark

2010-07-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

The value in this book, in my opinion, is the exposure to the Aztec culture of Peru. Otherwise, the story was a strange one and I am not exactly sure what the message was. I felt that there was a lot of loose ends and unexplained. Nonetheless, I did find the Aztec culture information very interesting.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

2010-06-26T16:22:00.001-07:00

Thoroughly enjoyable book! Mma Ramotswe's detective cases are used to reveal her life story and her own dreams and sorrows. I loved how the author, Alexander McCall Smith, truly does make this an African story as he exposes us to the cultures of several African nations.

I will look forward to getting to know Mma Precious Ramotswe better as I read other books in this series.

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

2010-06-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

Reading Lolita in Tehran is the fascinating memoir of a woman professor who lived and taught in Tehran during the time of the revolution and Iran-Iraqi war. Wonderful insight into what life is like for a woman under radical Islamic leadership. I learned a lot about what was going on inside Iran during the time of the Ayatollah Khomeni. I consider this book a "must read"--especially for women who want to understand more about the plight of women in other cultures.

The Plague by Albert Camus

2010-06-09T02:20:00.000-07:00

Interesting, but strange. A clearly existential book in which the author seems to say that we really cannot control anything around us, so we just need to live with it. I understand that some feel it is actually a metaphorical work commenting on the response of various French people to the invasion of their country by the Germans in WWII.

I did appreciate the ending in which the main character, Dr. Rieux in reflecting upon the plague epidemic comes to the conclusion that there is more to admire than despise in people.

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

2010-06-09T02:17:00.000-07:00

I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I was mesmerized by the movie when I was younger and thought that the book would have the same effect. I often found myself having a hard time keeping track of who was who and found the ending so unsatisfying. Not the great romance novel I expected. Even the history of the Bolshevik Revolution was hard to follow. Disappointed.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

2010-05-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

Sarah's Key is a fascinating historical novel that covers a little known part of the events leading up to World War II...the persecution of Jews in German-occupied France by the Vichy government. The story weaves the past and the present together as journalist Julia Jarmond investigates the 1942 Vel'd'Hiv' round up and the subsequent disappearance of a 10 year old girl and her family and discovers the connection that this disappearance has to her own family. I highly recommend this book to others who enjoy historical fiction!

Amos Fortune: Free Man

2010-05-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

This was a very interesting read for me...discussing some different aspects of slavery that you do not often read about. It is interesting to read about the issues pre-Revolutionary War and occuring in the North. Even more interesting because the story is based upon a real person.

Wonderful discussion about what it truly means to be free and how we become free...when we truly are free. A great quote from the book: "It does a man no good to be free until he learns how to live." Highly recommended reading for all.

North Korea: Another Country by Bruce Cumings

2010-04-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Interesting inside view of what the root of the problems between America and North Korea actually is. Also, I believe people's perspective of North Korea as one of the "axis of evil" countries will be changed by reading this. It becomes discouraging to me as an American to learn more and more about how little we practice what we preach...it is not okay for Saddam Hussein to use chemical weapons upon people, but it okay for the U.S. It is okay for us to have nuclear weapons pointed at North Korea, but not okay for them to have the same. Of course, we believe that they have an insane person running their country...we certainly would never worry about that because we do not have those kind of eglomaniacs running our country....Eye-opening and told by an expert on Korea.

Strength in What Remains: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness by Tracy Kidder

2010-04-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

This was such an amazing and impactful book for me. Kidder is an wonderful writer whose narrative is such a joy to follow.

Strength in What Remains: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness is the story of Deo, a refugee to America from Burundi. We often hear of the genocide occuring in Rwanda...this is the same thing (Hutus vs. Tutsis). It is horrifying to read of what is going on in these countries and to realize that America has done so very little to help. Why are we not more aware? Is it because it is occurring in Africa in a country that does not have the oil we need?

It was also eye-opening to see what life was like in America as he came here with very little money or other resources. The account of his personal strength to overcome...going from being a homeless person sleeping to Central Park in NYC to graduating from medical school is inspirational. Then, even more amazing, is to witness his selflessness as he returns to his native Burundi to help build medical clinics 15 years after he fled. It was very moving to go with Deo to the places that he witnessed the most horrifying of events and share in a small way his shocking experiences.

I heartily recommend this book as one that others in America (especially) should read as we step outside of our comfortable world and into the reality of what life is for others who have not been blessed as we have. It is interesting to me to ponder whether we are creating, in America, the kind of society of Hutus and Tutsis where we would do horrifying things to each other simply because of the meaningless title that has been affixed to us.

The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong

2010-04-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

I loved this story of making the "impossible" happen! Another of the great themes is that of not prejudging people...getting to know people and finding their strengths. This is an important story for children and youth to read and internalize. Amazing thing happens as the children of Shora dare to dream the impossible and bring the entire village together as they never have been in order to make their dream come true.

Bambi by Felix Salten

2010-03-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Not your Disney version of this classic story! Salten does an amazing, poetic job in giving voice to the animals of the story and painting a picture of undisturbed...and disturbed....nature. Interesting social commentary on the interaction between nature and man and between the various animals. Rather dark, at times...especially when Salten brings in the problem of a character coming to trust man too much.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

2010-02-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

One of the most enjoyable Newberry Award winners that I have read! Mr. Curtis portrays the story of a young black orphan living during the Great Depression--telling the story through the boy's point of view and his 10 year old manner of speaking. It was delightful! Another on my list of books that people who enjoy good literature must read!

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

2010-02-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

I wonder if I would have loved this book as much if I had read it when I was younger. It was most inspiring to me. I loved how Ms. Forbes introduces her reader to some of the lesser known characters of the Revolutionary War period. I was reminded of the importance of freedom of the press. I shall long be inspired by James Otis' words as to why it was important for people to be doing what they were doing and to be willing to sacrifice what they did...not just for the freedom in this country, but for the freedom of people around the world. Inspiring, insightful, and motivating for me in the work that I am involved in that seems so thankless, at times.

To Destroy You is No Loss: The Odyssey of a Cambodian Family by JoAn D. Criddle

2010-01-23T01:14:00.000-08:00

I have been grateful for my decision to participate in the Olympic Reading Challenge because it has given me the opportunity to learn about people, places, and events that I would probably not have learned about, otherwise. This book is the story of Teeda Butt Mam who grew up in an elite, wealthy family in Phnom Penh prior to the fall of the Cambodian government under the Khmer Rouge. It details the genocide of millions of Cambodians under the hands of the Communist government. It is amazing to me that I was totally unaware of this happening in my lifetime! The book helped me to continue to change my outlook on the rest of the world and the individual worth of people all around us. It is so easy to get wrapped up into our prideful, nationalistic ways and not have the appropriate love and respect that we should have for people wherever they live...and to do more to reach out a hand to those in need of support and understanding. I am resolved to do more about the problem of refugees around the world who long for peace and freedom!

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

2010-01-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

This has been one of the more memorable books that I have read in a long time! It was difficult for me, at times, not to think that I was reading some Newberry Award winning book where the author tells the story od some fictious family with the strangest things happening to them; children with some of the weirdest parents of all times making it because of the strength of character of the children in the family. But then, I remember that this is the writer's memoir and she is telling the true story of her childhood.
It was so very impactful and full of wonderful insights into the lives of children raised by parents dealing with alcoholism and mental problems and how it is that many people find themselves living on the streets...and even choosing to do so. I highly recommend this book to all! You will be amazed by the Walls' children!

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

2010-01-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

I truly enjoyed reading this Newberry Award winner. It was a book that I had a difficult time putting down. I am not a huge fan of a lot of fantasy novels, but this one was such a fun read. The heroine is a female who is not beautiful and has many flaws, but still very noble and heroic in character. While it was clear where Ms. McKinley was going to take you in the novel, nonetheless, the trip there was enjoyable.
I look forward to reading other books by Ms. McKinley. I think that The Hero and the Crown is a book that will be enjoyed by both young adult and adult readers. One of my highly recommended reads...not for any earth-shaking moral statement or wisdom, but simply as an enjoyable read.

Monumental Propaganda by Vladimir Voinovich

2009-12-08T22:31:00.000-08:00

The author of Monumental Propaganda, Vladimir Voinovich, is from Tadjikistan. The book was extremely interesting to me because he covers life in the Soviet Union from the days of Stalin forward through modern times and the "collapse" of communism, then going back historically to bring in the philosophies of Lenin, Marx, and Engels as well as insights into the time of the czars. Many times the book deals with the troubles of the USSR in a light-hearted way, still the subject matter was interesting and held my interest. Interesting philosophical statements made, throughout, by the author.

The Known World by Edward P. Jones

2009-12-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

The topic of the book was fascinating and intriguing: slave holding by black people prior to the Civil War. A criticism I would have for the book was that there were so many characters developed in the book and because the author shifts back and forth in time and place, I often found myself confused as I tried to tie the story together.

The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

2009-11-22T19:06:00.000-08:00

I have come to appreciate why Goethe is considered, probably, the greatest German writer. The Sorrows of Young Werther is considered the first great tragic novel of European literature. I will read more of Goethe! An interesting look at the decent of the title character into deepest depression.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

2009-11-17T11:32:00.000-08:00

Pulitzer Prize winner for the year. There was some big surprise because the book beat out others by authors such as Philip Roth and John Updike. Here is what the Pulitzer Prize judges said about the book:
The Pulitzer judges said the book "packs a cumulative emotional wallop, bound together by polished prose and by Olive, the title character, blunt, flawed and fascinating."

I found their assessment right on. I loved how humanely the characters were portrayed and developed. Do you like or not like Olive? I think that as people really think about all of the characters in the book, they will see the struggles they have as they take the personality and character traits that came to them naturally and add in life's experiences and how they affect the way we deal with our lives and the people around us. I saw so much of myself in Olive and understand what it is like to be judged by people for outward things that they see, neglecting the true heart that is underneath that has trouble expressing itself.

I highly recommend this novel to others. Be warned, however, that there is some very bad language in the book, at times.

The True History of Paradise by Margaret Cezair-Thompson

2009-11-12T15:08:00.001-08:00

Interesting story portraying life in Jamaica during from its beginning through the 1970's. I was not aware of all of the turmoil and violence there and the mixture of cultures.

A neat quote from the story: 'I want to say I never stopped loving Monica. But age bring me wisdom. I stopped loving her when I lost the courage to stand up to my father. You understand? The love you have in you [sic] heart for somebody--that is not enough. I remember them teachin' me in school the difference between a noun and a verb: a noun is, and a verb does. Well, love don't count one rass [sic] unless it's a verb. I stopped loving Monica.' (pg. 271)

Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir

2009-11-06T15:30:00.000-08:00

Stolen Lives is the amazing story of Malika Oufkir, her brothers and sisters, and mother as they are punished by King Hassan II of Morocco for the failed coup be her father, General Oufkir. Malika recounts her life story as she and her younger siblings (the youngest 3 years old) are imprisoned because of their father's actions. An incredible story of the violation of basic human rights...the victims, in this case, innocent children!

The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois

2009-11-06T15:24:00.001-08:00

The Twenty-One Balloons was such a fun, fantasy-filled book! The story captured my imagination like the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory did. I think it was one of the better Newberry Award winners that I have read. It is sad that I took so many years to discover this story of Professor William Waterman Sherman and the magical island of Krakatoa!

I need to spend more time in my life "traveling by balloon"--leaving where I am taken "to nature" in an unrushed, free, spirit of awaiting what new worlds there are to discover around me.

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

2009-10-15T21:21:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Maniac Magee! At first, I struggled with having to suspend belief regarding how so much was not really believable. However, I came to understand that I needed to look at this story more as a parable with a lot of symbolism. I think a person has to ask a lot of questions about who does this character represent? How are names significant to the story? I think that the story is a lot deeper than just a children's story that would appeal to 12 year old boys.

The obvious criticism in the story is about prejudice, racism, and stereotypical or uninformed traditional thinking which can box people into totally unrational, illogical thinking. Maniac dealt constantly with people's fears of things they really knew nothing about, just had been made afraid of all of their lives. They were living in a state of fear...paranoia...about so many things...the Finsterwalds, the East side vs. West side, attitudes about elderly people, attitudes about people living in poverty, etc.

One of the best, most telling moments about what the story was really all about was when Maniac describes the things he did as dares to keep the McNab boys going to school. When he talks about the dare to put his hand into the hole and proceeds to not only put his hand in, but his whole arm and comes out without any kind of harm to himself. There is a real difference between those things that really can do us harm (like the incident that made Maniac flee...the incident on the trolley trestle) and what he stood up to...traditional fears that had no true foundation. Maniac refuses to deal with fear based around tradition and not fact.

A wonderful story!!! But, the story does require a very thoughtful reader to get beyond the surface extremes to a deeper, much deeper message. I realize that I will need to go back, again, to do another reading to see what other symbols I missed on my first time through.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

2009-09-25T10:30:00.001-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer!!! The book was a lot of fun, the characters memorable, the plot is engaging, and the information about different types of fairies interesting. I wish they would make a movie of this one!!! I would so enjoy it. Throughout my read, I could picture who would play each of the character, what they would look like, and how the scenes would look. Colfer did such a fine job in creating these images. I highly recommend the book as just fun, light-hearted read and look forward to reading others in the series.

Bombay Anna: The Real Story and Remarkable Adventures of the King and I Governess by Susan Morgan

2009-08-31T23:23:00.000-07:00

Since I was a young girl, I have loved the romantic tale of the musical, The King and I. I am a bit saddened to learn that the story was based almost fully on a fabrication of Anna Leonowens! Susan Morgan has done a wonderful job as she researched the true story of the Governess/Teacher to the children of King Mongkut, King of Siam. The true story is actually more interesting, probably, than one that the world is more acquainted with.

To overcome a world of classes where one lowly born could have little hope of rising up in the world, Anna created a new persona for herself upon the death of her husband, Tom. She abandoned her former identity and became another.

Fascinating historical piece. I think it is a must read for any who have come to love The King and I. The story will always have a different face for me, now.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

2009-08-29T12:25:00.001-07:00

To the Lighthouse was a difficult read, for me. The book is written in stream of consciousness and is not very easy to follow, however beautifully written. Virginia Woolf deals with themes of mens' and womens' roles, relationships, and permanence. Recurring is the idea of the fact that so much is fleeting in this life, but all want to leave a mark and have a permanent impact on the world.

In the end, Lily Briscoe realizes how permanence is to be had. One cannot simply live in their ideas, they must actually put these ideas into works. "Lily reflects that “nothing stays, all changes; but not words, not paint.”

The Republic by Plato

2009-08-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

I found this an amazingly tedious book to read. I was shocked, to a large measure, by what Plato puts forth here as he tries to define justice and the perfect State. His comments about democracy being just one step from tyranny were especially intriguing.

The most exciting part of this book, for me, were how very much his beliefs about the nature of God and the eternal nature of the soul are to my own faith.

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis

2009-08-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze is a fascinating book. Elizabeth Foreman Lewis describes life in China in the 1920's. The culture described was fascinating. I loved how she brought the foreshadowing of communism into the work and helped me to understand what led China towards that choice in government.

Young Fu is an endearing character who battles the "dragons" of his life and his culture...a life lesson for all youth about facing the trials that they face (and all of us face) with courage and tenacity. The great life message in the book is found in the chapter entitled "A River on the Rampage." Young Fu ponders the outcomes of the flood:

"...For one household, at least, the Dragon had been forced to admit defeat. Dragons! He sniffed to himself. After all it simply a matter of keeping one's head and outwitting them."

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

2009-08-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

Irene Nemirovsky's character development in this unfinished five movement symphony (she finished 2 of the five sections before she was taken to Auschwitz where she died) is amazing. The story was very engaging as she interweaves the lives of the characters. Set in Paris, France just after the German invasion at the start of WWII, Ms. Nemirovsky describes what was life for the French during the occupation. I think that the rather peaceful coexistence that existed between the French and the Germans will surprise many. The stories of love and family are lovely and endearing. Most interesting to me was her portrayal of class struggles and their role in the war and the lingering effect of aristocracy on a democracy.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

2009-07-31T22:15:00.000-07:00

The character studies in this Pulitzer Prize winning book were amazing. I found the weaving of the past and the present effective. I was grateful for my 13 hours of college Spanish, though, because Diaz intersperses Spanish sentences in with English sentences (and they are never footnoted so that non-Spanish speakers fully understand what has been said). Much of the Spanish are extremely vulgar language...and this book is not one for those who do not want to read vulgarity and adult content.

Especially interesting for me is the historical story of the dictator, Trujillo, and the effect of his 30+ year reign in the Dominican Republic. While we were concentrating on Hitler's genocide in Europe, in a country not far from us great atrocities were being committed upon the people there. Enlightening.

Twenty Years at Hull House by Jane Addams

2009-07-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

The book is not light reading, but is not a difficult read, either. I found the material extremely informative and enlightening, especially since I have spent more than 20 years as a State PTA leader. The events of this book overlap and deal with many of the same issues as why the National PTA was founded...child labor issues, poor public education, the importance of the arts, an understanding of other cultures, etc. Jane Addams has long been one of my socio-political heroines. She put into action her concerns with society...making her a true hero in my estimation!

One intersting thing about the book is to see how much things stay the same the more that we change. Does this situation sound at all vaguely familiar?...The situation is that President McKinley has been assassinated by a foreigner with anarchical leanings. A newspaper man of foreign origins in Chicago had been writing a lot of pieces that were antagonistic to the way government was running and had some anarchist leanings. He, along with many other foreigners were arrested immediately following the assassination. Here is Jane Addams description of the situation:'Perhaps it was but my hysterical symptom of the universal excitement, but it certainly seemed to me more than I could bear when a group of individualistic friends, who had come to ask for help, said: "You see what comes of your boasted law; the authorities won't even allow an attorney, nor will they accept bail for these men, against whom nothing can be proved, although the veriest criminals are not denied such a right." Challenged by an anarchist, one is always sensitive for the honor of legally constituted society, and I replied that of course then men could have an attorney, that the assassin himself would eventually be furnished with one, that the fact that a man was an anarchist had nothing to do with his rights before the law! I was met with the retort that that might do for a theory, but that the fact still remained that these men had been absolutely isolated, seeing no one but policemen, who constantly frightened them with tales of public clamor and threatened lynching.'(Addams, Jane. Twenty Years at Hull-House. 1910. New York: Penguin Books Ltd. 279-280.)

It is a sad statement about a government who upholds the Constitution of the United States with its Bill of Rights as the greatest, most imspired document for governing a people (and I firmly believe that it is), and yet fundamental civil liberties can be so disregarded by those in power in out nation. What a shame!

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

2009-07-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

Cormac McCarthy's command of the language is amazing. This was a difficult read because of the dark nature of the post-apocalyptic situation at the center of the story. Nevertheless, the prose is wonderfully rich, lyrical, poetic.

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

2009-07-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

Wide Sargasso Sea
by Jean Rhys is written to be the prequel to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It tells the story of Rochester's "insane wife" that he keeps locked away. I believe that it is a great read for those who have enjoyed Jane Eyre.
In Wide Sargasso Sea, Ms. Rhys deals with feminist themes of the controlling patriarchal world, particularly of the 19th century. She explores the descent into "madness" by the main character, Bertha Antoinette Mason as she is forced, little by little, to lose her own identity for one forced upon her by men. Also an interesting look at the issues around race and prejudice. Beautiful descriptions of the Caribbean nations the book is set in.

Onion John

2009-07-20T16:58:00.001-07:00

I had almost been discouraged from reading this book, right now, because I read a review from someone that the book hardly deserved to be a Newberry Award winner. Because I have made a commitment to read all the Newberry Award winners, I plowed ahead...and boy, am I glad that I did. I thought that the book was one of the best that I have read. I was frustrated by some poor editing of serious punctuation problems. That was the only problem that I saw in the book.
Onion John carries the important message of how we, as adults, trying to force our ideals of what a better life is upon other people. We, as Americans, do this so often to other countries, as we try to "improve" their standard of living. In reality, the people are very happy with the life that they are living. Andy Rusch's father is so busy trying to live his dream through his son and in trying to look good in the eyes of others by "improving" the living situation of Onion John. He does major harm to both as he endeavors to do this.
At a town meeting, Ernie, the reporter says:
"'Hasn't it become pretty obvious?...What we think is proper and what John thinks is proper, they're two different things. What are we trying to prove to him, that he's wrong?'"
I highly recommend Onion John to all interested in good literature with a great message...a message that we, as adults, should take very seriously!

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

2009-07-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah is a powerful book that I consider a must read for anyone interested in what is going on outside of their small, safe world. Ishmael Beah describes how he, as a boy of 13 years of age, could participate as a boy soldier, committing hideous acts upon civilians as he was forced into labor in the army of Sierra Leone. He talks of how starvation, drugs, violent videos, and planting a desire to avenge the deaths of their families were used to induce children to act in unnatural ways.

Courageous Journey:Walking the Lost Boys' Path from the Sudan to America by Ayuel Leek Deng, Beny Ngor Chol, and Barbara Youree

2009-05-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

Reading books like Courageous Journey: Walking the Lost Boys Path from the Sudan to America just seem to make me more and more aggravated with which countries the U.S. seems to feel it needs to intercede with and which we leave alone! It is hard to argue that it is not about oil...even though there is oil in southern Sudan, where the troubles of this book take place. It is even shown that Osama bin Laden was the person who started the conflict in Sudan between the Muslims of the north and the Christian in the south of Sudan.

I include, here, a long excerpt from this story of the Lost Boys of Sudan that talks of the hope these children had from their fellow Christian nations:

"Beny picked up the story: "Tiop said, 'You are small children, and most of you who made it here to Itang are boys. It is good for you to know why you left your homes where you were eyewitnesses to so much death. The Arabs want you to have Islamic names, like Mohammed.'...'They want to force you to be Muslims--they demand the boys and men dress like them and the girls and women dress like their women. They want you to say that you are Arabs, take on a whole new identity and not be Dinkas or Nuers, Christian or Animist. They want to rule over you, despite your qualification, if you are not Arab Muslim. But we have no right to rule over them.

"'In addition, now that they have found oil under your land, they are forcing you out, not only from Panrieng, Gokrial, and Bor, but all over southern Sudan. hat is why we took up arms and fought against them. That is why you see people here who have no hands, no legs--like me. We were wounded in the war fighting to free you from radical Arab Muslims who are yirabian--evil terrorists. They bomb us and use machine guns and tanks against us. All we have are AK-47s...'

"I interrupted him and asked where they got all that heavy military equipment. He said, 'From their Muslim brothers in other countries.'"

"Samuel broke in and said, "I asked Tiop where our Christian brothers were. I thought maybe the other Christians in the world didn't have guns or didn't know how to make them. But Tiop said, 'Oh, that is not the case. They have guns, tanks, bombs and all of that. Christian brothers in other parts of the world know how to build guns that are more powerful than what the Arab Muslims have.'

"I said, 'What are they waiting for? Why don't they help us? If they see what's happening to their Christian brothers, why don't they give us guns?'

"'Ah, that's where your part comes in,' said Tiop, setting down his cup of mou. 'They don't understand us because we speak a different language. They only understand English. You must go to school and learn English so you can tell your Christian brothers that the Arabs are trying to change the whole world to their beliefs whether we want to change or not. Then you can tell them we need guns to fight against this oppression.'

"...He [Tiop] did his part by fighting and losing his leg. Now, we've got to do our part and get an education."

Deng, Ayuel Deng, Beny Ngor Chol and Barbara Youree. Courageous Journey: Walking the Lost Boys' Path from the Sudan to America. (2008). New Jersey: New Horizon Press. 218-220.

Nobility

2009-05-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

An ancient Hindu proverb says, "There is nothing noble in being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self."

Ethical Behavior

2009-05-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean deliberated over the priority of moral principle versus personal security; his duty to others, the uniqueness of his situation, the examples of others who were ethically excellent, and the need to sonsult and rely on his conscience:

"Monsieur Madeleine [Jean Valjean] did not hesitate to sacrifice the first consideration to the second--his personal security to his moral principles. He had, it seems, concluded, after the manner of saints and sages, that his first duty was not to himself. But no situation like the present had ever before arisen. Never had the two principles governing the life of this unfortunate man ["to conceal his true identity and sanctify his life, and to escape from men and find his way back to God"] been brought so sharply into conflict..."

"It was his most melancholy destiny that he could achieve sanctity in the eyes of God only by returning to degradation in the eyes of men..."

"Whether he turned right or left the end was a sepulchre, the death of one thing or the other, happiness or virtue."

Hugo, Victor (Norman Denny, trans.), Les Miserables. (1976). New York: Penguin Books. 209, 214, 221.

Integrity

2009-05-18T22:49:00.000-07:00

"He does not believe that does not live according to his belief."
Thomas Fuller

Ethical Resolutions

2009-05-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
Thomas Paine

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

2009-05-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

One of the more enjoyable of the Newberry Award winning books. Criss Cross is a "coming of age" story of a group of young people in a small town. The title refers to how peoples' lives seem to criss cross and how people and new experiences are brought into our paths.

One of my favorite passages describes the choice of having new experiences in our lives:

"I think," he [Peter] said, "that it's a good thing to get out of your usual, you know, surroundings. Because you find things out about yourself that you didn't know, or you forgot. And then you go back to your regular life and you're changed, you're a little bit different because you take those new things with you. Like a Hindu, except all in one life: you sort of get reincarnated depending on what happened and what you figure out. And any one place can make you go forward, or backward, or neither, but gradually you find all your pieces, your important pieces, and they stay with you, so that you're your whole self no matter where you go. Your Buddha self. That's my theory, anyway."
Perkins, Lynne Rae. Criss Cross. (2005). New York:HarperCollins. pg.267.

Act

2009-05-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

"And if thou seest clear, go by this way content, without turning back: but if thou dost not see clear, stop and take the best advisers. But if any other things oppose thee, go on according to thy powers with due consideration, keeping to that which appears to be just."
Marcus Aurelius

Failures

2009-05-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

"Failures are divided into two classes--those who thought and never did and those who did, and never thought."
John Charles Salak

Infidel by Ayaan HIrsi Ali

2009-05-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

What a shocking book this one was for me. Her descriptions of life as an Islam woman go beyond anything I have ever read before. I tried to remember, as I read the book, that she was someone who left a faith and I have never run into anyone who has done that where their descriptions are not bitter nor totally fair. Reading Infidel has increased my commitment to read the Koran, myself, to see if she is accurate in what is found there, or whether her bad (extremely bad!) life's experiences so dramatically colored her objectivity. I think that this book is a must read to understand women's experience in a Muslim world. But, I am choosing to remain a bit skeptical on some of her analysis of what the Koran actually does and does not teach so far as war and peace.

Choosing to Serve

2009-05-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

"It is not enough to be ready to go where duty calls. A man should stand around where he can hear the call"
Robert Louis Stevenson

Being Other-Centered

2009-05-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

"In vain do they talk of happiness who never subdued an impulse in obedience to a principle. He who never sacrificed a present to a future good, or a personal to a general one, can speak of happiness only as the blind speak of color."
Horace Mann

Persistence

2009-05-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Ray Kroc

Duty

2009-05-07T06:24:00.000-07:00

"Men do less than they ought, unless they do all that they can."
Thomas Carlyle

Duty

2009-05-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble."
Helen Keller

Duty

2009-05-05T21:58:00.000-07:00

"When a person fulfills his duties he is keeping a promise."
(Funk, Alan V. Choosing Ethical Excellence. Salt Lake City:Promontory Publishing Co. (2006). pg. 104)

Competence

2009-05-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

"The prudent man always studies seriously and earnestly to understand whatever he professes to understand, and not merely to persuade other people that he understands it; and though his talents may not always be very brilliant, they are always perfectly genuine."
Adam Smith
The Theory of Moral Sentiments (Indianapolis:Liberty Fund, 1984), 213

"The Parable of the Eagle" by James Aggrey

2009-04-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

I found a wonderful parable as I am working on my 2012 Olympics Reading Challenge by the Ghanan writer, James Aggrey. I include it in its entirity:

"A certain man went through a forest seeking any bird of interest he may find. He caught a young eagle, brought it home and put it among his fowls and ducks and turkeys, and gave it chickens' food to eat even though it was an eagle, the king of birds."

"Five years later a naturalist came to see him and, after passing through his garden, said: 'That bird is an eagle, not a chicken.'"

"'Yes,' said its owner, 'but I have trained it to be a chicken. It is no longer an eagle, it is a chicken, even though it measures fifteen feet from tip to tip of its wings.'"

"'No,' said the naturalist, 'it is an eagle still: it has the heart of an eagle, and I will make it soar high up to the heavens.'"

"'No,' said the owner, 'it is a chicken, and it will never fly.'"

"They agreed to test it. The naturalist picked up the eagle, held it up, and said with great intensity, 'Eagle, thou art an eagle; thou dost belong to the sky and not to this earth; stretch forth thy wings and fly.'"

"The eagle turned this way and that, and then, looking down, saw the chickens eating their food, and down he jumped."

"The owner said: 'I told you it was a chicken.'"

"'No,' said the naturalist, 'it is an eagle. Give it another chance tomorrow.'"

"So the next day he took it to the top and the house and said: 'Eagle, thou art an eagle; stretch forth thy wings and fly.' But again the eagle, seeing the chickens feeding, jumped down and fed with them."

"Then the owner said: 'I told you it was a chicken.'"

"'No,' asserted the naturalist, 'it is an eagle, and it still has the heart of an eagle; only give it one more chance, and I will make it fly tomorrow.'"

"The next morning he rose early and took the eagle outside the city, away from the houses, to the foot of a high mountain. The sun was just rising, gilding the top of the mountain with gold, and every crag was glistening in the joy of that beautiful morning."

"He picked up the eagle and said to it: "Eagle, thou art an eagle; thou dost belong to the sky and not to this earth; stretch forth thy wings and fly!'"

"The eagle looked around and trembled as if new life were coming to it; but it did not fly. The naturalist then made it look straight at the sun. Suddenly it stretched out its wings and, with the screech of an eagle, it mounted higher and higher and never returned. It was an eagle, though it had been kept and tamed as a chicken!"

"My people of Africa, we were created in the image of God, but men have made us think that we are chickens, and we still think we are; but we are eagles. Stretch forth your wings and fly! Don't be content with the food of chickens!"

His message is so wise for the people of African birth. I take it to heart, personally, as well. We all, especially as women, have allowed ourselves to be convinced that we need to settle for the life we have been given. We forget who we are and what our true potential really is. We are created in the image of God and we need to soar!

The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andric'

2009-04-24T00:20:00.000-07:00

It was interesting to have the central "character" of the book be a bridge! Andric' weaves his story through the history of several centuries in Bosnia...from the Ottoman Empire, to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and ends with the start of World War I. As societies change, the bridge remains constant. Interesting history, for me, of the interplay/interaction between the Turks (Muslim), Serb (Christian), Jewish, and gypsy cultures through this time. My understanding of what led up to WWI has been dramatically increased through this reading.

In the Shadow of the Moons by Nansook Hong

2009-04-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

In the Shadow of the Moons: My Life in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Family is a fascinating read told by Nansook Hong, the 15 year old South Korean girl that Reverend Moon chose to marry his oldest son, Hyo Jin. Interesting insider look at the "Moonies" (Unification Church) and its leaders. Nansook describes the excesses, the abuse, and the outright hypocricy of life in the Moon family.
Nansook Hong's parents were some of the original members of Moon's church, so she was born into this world, knowing no other way to live her life. She is committed to full obedience to this second "Messiah." She struggles with inner conflicts that come as one fights with what they have believed all of their life and the damage that that belief is causing to herself and her children.
A great passage in the book is found in the end when Nansook realizes her own responsibility for her own life and gains te courage to flee the life of a battered wife:
"There is an old Korean proverb: Blame yourself, not the river, if you fall into the water. For the first time in my life, that dictum makes sense to me. I, alone, am in charge of my life. I, alone, am responsible for my actions and for the decisions I make. It is terrifying. I spent half of my lifetime ceding all decisions to a 'higher authority.' Learning to make decisions for myself means being willing to accept the consequences--the bad ones as well as the good ones." (Hong, N. In the Shadow of the Moons. (1998). Boston: Little, Brown and Company.) [pg. 234].

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

2009-04-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is an interesting look into the culture of Nigeria. I gained some great insights into the conflicts that occur between cultures as the modern, Christian world collide with a more primitive, tribal culture of Africa. Achebe describes the clashes that arise as Christianity is brought to a tribe in Nigeria and the struggles that ensue as people are told that their religion is based upon false gods. The story was very insightful to me as traditional values of a people are challenged in a modern world.

Blindness by Jose' Saramago

2009-03-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! Saramago is undoubtedly a Nobel Prize winning novelist. Blindness is rich in allegory. He portrays the best and worst in man's character. Some very disturbing reading, at times. Nonetheless one of the most amazing books I have read in a long time! The difficulty in reading this book (and I understand much of what Saramago writes) is the fact that he writes in paragraphs that are pages long; sentences go on for lines upon lines without a period; and, conversations are not put into quotation marks. Characters have no names, I believe making them everyman. In the end, Saramago raises the question about whether we are not all truly blind...we see, but really do not see the things that are most important. In our efforts to survive and get ahead of everyone else, we miss the important things, the personal touch of what humanity is all about.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

2009-03-24T10:35:00.001-07:00

The poetry of Kahlil Gribran is beautiful, rich, wise, and insightful. Some passages that I particularly liked:

On Work:
"Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste,it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
For is you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man's hunger."

On Joy and Sorrow:
"Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy."

Finally, on Teaching:
"No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge.
The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom, but rather of his faith and his lovingness.
If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.
The astronomer may speak to you of his understanding of space, but he cannot give you his understanding.
The musician may sing to you of the rhythm which is in all space, but he cannot give you the ear which arrests the rhythm nor the voice that echoes it...
For the vision of one man lends not its wings to another man.
And even as each one of you stands alone in God's knowledge, so must each one of you be alone in his knowledge of God and in his understanding of the earth."

A Thousand Splendid Suns

2009-03-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

I recently completed the book A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. My review follows:

Hosseini is an amazing storyteller. The characterizations are fabulous...so realistic. The historical value of the book is what I treasured the most as I have come to understand more of the history of Afghanistan and the political situation that led up to the events of 9/11 here in America. Valuable insight into the Islamic culture before and after the rise of the Taliban.
The title comes from a Persian poem of the 17th Century by Said-e-Tabrizi called "Kabul." I was fascinated by how Hosseini uses parallelism to weave Miriam and Kabul as one in their descriptions...their true beauty. The poem, translated into English by Josephine Davis follows:

"Kabul"
Ah! How beautiful is Kabul encircled by her arid mountains

And Rose, of the trails of thorns she envies

Her gusts of powdered soil, slightly sting my eyes

But I love her, for knowing and loving are born of this same dust

My song exhalts her dazzling tulips

And at the beauty of her trees, I blush

How sparkling the water flows from Pul-I Bastaan!

May Allah protect such beauty from the evil eye of man!

Khizr chose the path to Kabul in order to reach Paradise

For her mountains brought him close to the delights of heaven

From the fort with sprawling walls, A Dragon of protection

Each stone is there more precious than the treasure of Shayagan

Every street of Kabul is enthralling to the eye

Through the bazaars, caravans of Egypt pass

One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs

And the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls

Her laughter of mornings has the gaiety of flowers

Her nights of darkness, the reflections of lustrous hair

Her melodious nightingales, with passion sing their songs

Ardent tunes, as leaves enflamed, cascading from their throats

And I, I sing in the gardens of Jahanara, of Sharbara

And even the trumpets of heaven envy their green pastures.

The Pilgrim's Progress byJohn Bunyan

2009-03-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

I consider this a classic "must read" for all interested in truly classic literature that has affected so deeply American and English literature. The historical value of the book as an explanation of the environment around the Pilgrims coming to America is fabulous. Great insights into the early reformation religions. Also, Bunyan deals with political philosophies, particularly about concerns with capitalism. Written the year before Milton's Paradise Lost, many of the themes are similar.

A Meaningful Life

2009-03-04T06:12:00.000-08:00

"A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning."
Chaim Potok
1929-2002. Rabbi and American Jewish novelist