The author of this memoir is Paul Kalanithi, who was always interested in the question: "What makes human life meaningful?" For this reason, he studied both biology and English literature in university. He wondered where biology, morality, literature and philosophy intersect.
Quote: "Literature not only illuminated another's experience, it provided, I believed, the richest material for moral reflection". And reflect, he did! For example, another quote: "If the unexamined life was not worth living, was the unlived life worth examining?"
When he was finishing his residency in neurosurgery, Paul Kalanithi developed lung cancer. So now he was a patient and a doctor.
There is a lot of medical jargon in this memoir, including detailed descriptions of brain surgeries that he performed, some while he was dying of cancer. I skipped over some of that. But the epilogue, written by his wife, is devastatingly powerful.
This book is definitely not for everyone. But my son died of lung cancer and my best friend's husband, a doctor, also just died of lung cancer. I could see echoes of both of their lives in this memoir. Surprisingly, it is very life-affirming.
"Even if I'm dying, until I actually die, I am still living".
Here is another book that I chose because of the cover. Isn't it beautiful? The colours? The positioning of the title and author? The cover photo?
It just pulled me right into the book. It lets you know that this is a book about bees- lots of information about bees and their significance in the world.
But the subtitle lets you know it is more that just a book about bees: "a memoir of loss, courage and a girl saved by bees."
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I immediately was reminded of "Flight Behaviour" by Barbara Kingsolver. Although I love the author, the cover of this book is terrible. But it also has a very powerful environmental message. She is explaining about the significance of the monarch butterflies to the survival of the world. I have discovered that it has a new, brighter, more inviting cover now.
Both of these books are important in understanding the effect of climate change in the world.
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"The Honey Bus" is also important because it is a memoir. Meredith was almost raised by her grandfather. Her mother and grandmother were both emotionally damaged and either ignored or mistreated Meredith.
But Meredith does not denigrate or blame them. She focusses on the lessons that her grandfather helped her learn from the honeybees. Lessons that we all need to learn.
The ending (about the environment):
"There's a growing consensus that we each have to do our own small act, whether it's seeding the roadsides with flowering plants, starting backyard hives of our own, or breaking up the food desert by planting flowering borders around mono-crops.
It's the principle of the hive- if each of us does our small part, it could add up to a bigger whole.
I owe Grandpa at least that much- to try.
And I owe it to the bees.
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| author- Meredith May |
As long as honeybees stay strong, they can continue to pass their ancient wisdom to the next generation, so children can learn that even when they are overwhelmed with despair, nature has special ways to keep them safe.
My personality was shaped by the life lessons I learned in a bee yard. Every child should have that same opportunity to grow."
What a dilemma this book causes for me! I am reading it for a book club and probably I will be standing alone in my reaction to this book.
"The Aviator's Wife" is a fictionalized biography of Anne Morrow Lindbergh. There is the dilemma! It is fictionalized, although all real names are used- Anne's family as well as friends and acquaintances. You feel as though you are reading an actual biography. You are not! I kept reminding myself!
The book is beautifully written and carries you away with the story. Fascinating story! BUT....it shows the interior life of Anne. Isn't it presumptuous for the author to think that she understands all of Anne's thoughts and feelings? I realize that the author researched the subject well, BUT...does that mean that she knew her every thought, and needs the world to know?
The younger generations are not even aware of the Lindberghs.
Charles Lindbergh was the first pilot to fly from New York to Paris in 1927 at age 25. He became extremely famous! Swarmed and adored by the public! A hero to the whole world!
After marrying Anne, he taught her to fly and they became "The first couple of the air". They could not go out in public without being swarmed.
The kidnapping of their first son became world news.
Obviously there is an intriguing story there. BUT...as the author seems sympathetic to Anne having to live in this 'fishbowl', she continues to invade Anne's personal space. She actually seems to be attempting to expose Anne's soul to the public.
The author claimed that she wanted to tell Anne's ENTIRE story. BUT...Anne had already written a book and her daughter also wrote books about the family and specifically her mother. They told you what they wanted you to know. Anything more is 'invasion of privacy' to me.
I am protective of Anne because she wrote an amazing book that every woman should read:
"A Gift From The Sea"
Quote:
"I want to give and take from my children and husband, to share with friends and community, to carry out my obligations to man and to the world, as a woman, as an artist, as a citizen. But I want first of all to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can".
It is obvious that Anne had struggles, but she used them to write this beautiful book, lifting up other women, encouraging them in the challenges facing women.
Anne's daughter, Reeve, is also a great writer. I enjoyed reading both "Under a Wing" - about their family life, and "No More Words: a journal of my mother".
Anne's story has been told. Give her the peace in her death that she searched for in life.
