Librarians with a mission

 Aside from Marion the Librarian in the musical "The Music Man", how many other fictional librarians can you think of?
  While choosing library books for a retirement home, I was captivated by one of the books.  It has a beautiful, inviting cover.  And it is about a librarian. I opened the cover and this is what I read:

This is not the cover, just a great picture.

If my life were a book, no one would read it.  People would say it was too boring, too predictable.  A story told a million times.  But I was perfectly content with my life- that is, until the pages of my story were ripped out before I had a chance to live happily every after".  "Wonderland Creek" by Lynn Austin"

   I knew that I had to quickly read that book before delivering the 'stack'.
  With a backdrop of Illinois during the depression, Alice Grace Ripley, an unemployed librarian takes boxes of books to a needy settlement in Kentucky.  The library there delivers books to remote areas by horseback.
  This book was completely fiction, and a fun read, but it reminded me of another fiction book that was based on fact.

                                                                       "The Camel Bookmobile" by Masha Hamilton

   Fiona Sweeney an idealistic, 36-year-old librarian from New York, decided to take books to the bush in Kenya to improve the literacy rate there.  She was 'on a mission' and delivered the books by camel.  Each native in these villages of huts was allowed two books and if any book in the area was not returned, the bookmobile would not come back.  I was apalled when I read about the books they delivered- books by Hemingway, Mark Twain, and Dr. Seuss as well as Hollywood biographies and books on landscape and houses. For obvious reasons, some of the natives of Kenya objected to this invasion of Western culture.  But many Americans thought it was an important 'mission'.
  The author of this book, a journalist, had heard about the 'mission' and decided to make the story into fiction with a short trip to Kenya, which did not help to make the book sound authentic.

  Any other librarians???  Oh, yes, in one of my favourite books: "Where the Heart Is" by Billie Letts.  The librarian is actually a drunk who lives above the library.  Her brother, Forney Hull, one of the fascinating characters that makes the book special, covers for his sister in operating the library.  He had a copper-coloured beard and a brown stocking cap pulled over his head as he skulked among the shelves.  And he turned out to be the hero of the book.

  Any other librarians????  Oh, yes, me!

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

   Continuing with my "Hardy" summer, I finished reading "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" and wish that I could say that I loved it.  But I did not.  The very things that I enjoy about Hardy's writing made this book slow and uninteresting.  He has an amazing ability to describe people and places, animals, crops, buildings, landscape, weather, etc., etc., etc.  But his descriptions went on and on and on.   There was almost no plot for the first half of the novel. 

  The novel began with a detailed description of Tess' family - a peasant father who discovered that he had aristocratic blood, but was completely uninterested in the welfare of his family.  Right at the beginning the scene is set for Tess to be used and abused.  Since she is the oldest, she must visit the relatives to get some assistance.  But, while there, she is raped by her distant cousin.  It took many, many pages of reading to get to this point, and this encounter is barely mentioned so that you are not sure that a rape occurred until she delivers a baby.

  The second half of the book does have a little more plot, when Tess falls in love with "Angel", who seems to be perfect until the wedding night when they decide to disclose their faults.  When Angel hears of the rape, he is unable to continue the marriage. However, Angel also had a past story- he had experienced forty-eight hours 'dissipation with a stranger'. But the double standard sets the tone for the rest of the book as Tess tries to make her own way in the world unsuccessfully.
  The distant cousin, Alec D'Urberville, cannot control himself because of Tess' beauty and he is a constant torment to her throughout the book. In fact, at the end, Tess takes matters into her own hands (a little too late) and the ending is fast and shocking.

   I still can get caught up in the description of the countryside and the lifestyle.  Some sentences cause me to pause and think. e.g. "It was a typical summer evening in June, the atmosphere being in such delicate equilibrium and so transmissive that inanimate objects seemed endowed with two or three senses, if not five."

   Hardy loved this book and many people have also loved it since then.  It made a lot of money for him.  He had been writing for twenty years at this point. But his first three tries to get "Tess" published in serial form were unsuccessful.  Finally, he bowdlerized it and it was accepted.
  When the novel was published in three books the next year, the missing parts were replaced.
  Once again Hardy gave the book a subtitle that was problematic to the public.  "Tess of the D'Urbervilles: a pure woman".

The Mayor of Casterbridge

I read this book in 2006, and loved it so much that I recorded it.
 So I have just finished listening to the tapes. Here is the first page:
                                                                                                                                                    

   "The Mayor of Casterbridge" has a wonderful introduction with Michael and Susan Henchard walking down the road to Weydon-Priors, not speaking.  When they arrived at the fair, Michael bought furmity (laced) and, in this drunken state, sold his wife and child to a sailor Richard Newson.  When Newson ended up lost at sea, Susan and Elizabeth-Jane returned to Casterbridge and discovered that Michael was the mayor.  He married Susan again and eventually Elizabeth-Jane discovered that Michael was her father.  But after Susan died, it was discovered that Michael's daughter had died and Elizabeth-Jane was actually Newson's daughter.
   But the plot thickens!
   Michael had had an affair with Lucetta, and after Susan's death, Lucetta arrived in town expecting to marry Michael.  But she fell in love with his adversary, Donald Farfrae, and married him. Donald had started as Michael's manager but took over his business, his house, and finally his woman.
   The subtitle of this book is 'the story of a man of character' and that has confused many people. But the word "character" means simply 'the qualities that make a person who he is'. Michael had many flaws and no self-esteem, causing him to lose everything.
  When the town learned that Lucetta, who has married Donald, had been involved with Michael they organized a 'skimmington'.  What is a 'skimmington'?

                               
A skimmington is a procession made through a village intended to bring ridicule on and make an example of a nagging wife or an unfaithful husband.




   I really loved this book.  Michael was a real 'rascal' and all the bad choices that he made, came back to haunt him. There were always twists and interesting surprises.  This might be my favourite Hardy!

Victorian Literature

This summer, I had a desire to return to Victorian literature.  I found a formula for Victorian literature in a book called "How to Read Novels Like a Professor". And I said, "Ah hah!  That's why I love them".
Victorian novels have:
1.) a linear narrative
2.) plots centering around individuals either growing up or coming apart
3.) characters in whom readers can invest large emotional capital
4.) clear resolutions that give emotional pleasure
   Most of these novels were first published monthly,  either in magazines or in freestanding installments.  It often took two years to read the entire book.  So authors needed great continuity, memorable characters (often with odd names, weird quirks, grotesque appearances or goofy catchphrases).  The plot must be the driving force, with cliff-hangers at the end of the episode and a recap at the beginning of the next episode.
  These forms of story were very popular.  Subscriptions could jump by tens of thousands during the run of a particularly exciting new novel.  Bookstalls could be picked clean in an hour.  Some authors became very rich from these serialized novels.  Thomas Hardy was on of them.

   I had already read three of Hardy's novels and planned to re-read them, as well as reading three others.  I love to re-read a good book!
   The formula for Victorian literature gives some of the reasons that I love these books.  But I also really enjoy the syntax.  Thomas Hardy can put a sentence together in a magical way!  Of course, his vocabulary far exceeds anything I can imagine and sometimes I read with the dictionary beside me.  Most often, though, the manageable 'Oxford' is not sufficient and I need to get the unmanageable two-volume dictionary from the shelf.  But I love the words!
  Thomas Hardy is perhaps best known for his description of place.  I love, love, love England!  Perhaps because both of my parents were born there. When I visited, I was enthralled with the countryside.  In my mind, I could see Hardy's characters walking across the moors and it thrilled me!

Here are some pictures of my visit:

    Hardy always thought of himself as a poet.  He wrote poems, on and off, for nearly seventy years, resulting in almost a thousand poems.  He was about to issue a new volume of poems when he died at 88.
   But I am interested in his novels.  He wrote fourteen novels and I have discovered that, although they are not all available in the library system, you can buy them from the internet.

               
                 Hardy's family were not able to send him to university, so he
              became apprenticed to an architect who specialized in church
              restoration.  However, the weather in London did not agree with him
              and he returned home to the country where he began to write.


                 Hardy was married twice but had no children.  His ashes were
               buried in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.

Will Ferguson

Will Ferguson is a fascinating author and deserves a page of his own.  I was anxious to read "419" because I had read two books by Will and really enjoyed them.  I knew he was a talented man.  But I didn't realize the extent of his talent.
Will was born on a trading post- Fort Vermillion, Alberta.  He has lived in different parts of Canada, working for Katimavik and Canada World Youth.  He studied film production and screenwriting.  For five years, he taught English in Japan.  He married there, and returned to Canada, where he experienced severe reverse culture shock, resulting in his first trilogy of books.
I have read the first in that series: "Why I Hate Canadians".  It is basically his observations on Canadian history and culture.  But his humour makes it such fun to read.  I loved that book!  It won the Giller Prize in 2012.
I have also read his book that was originally titled "Generica".  The title later changed to "Happiness", which really captures the essence of the book.  It is a parody of self-help books- a very clever concept!
It raises many questions-basically: Do we experience happiness or the pursuit of happiness?  What if every self-help book could lead to happiness?  What would happen if people were truly happy? Can you really experience happiness without sadness?  Is underlying sadness what makes us human?
A very clever man- right?  Such diversity in his writing!  He has written 13 books and won 14 awards, including the Leacock Medal for Humour.  He was on the panel for Canada Reads in 2003.
He currently lives in Calgary.  What will Will think of next?

"419" by Will Ferguson

I love book clubs because you experience different responses to every book.  Barbara and I have often differed in our responses.  Often our differences are extreme.  Such was the case with this book.  Since Barbara was away, our discussion happened on the internet.



Barbara:
I was sorry to have missed the June meeting; I was travelling.  Just now finding time to read 419 and am loving it. 
I understand you were not fond of the book and am wondering why.  I can imagine the shifting of place/person may be one reason, although I find that adds to the intrigue.  I am enjoying reading this novel more than I have any others for several months.



Betty:
A connection to the novel is really central to the enjoyment.  I can see where your enjoyment would be increased by your understanding of the country.  Our life experiences and connections are so different.
My problems with the book:
1.) characters- I love getting inside the skin of a character.  I need characters that I can cheer for or even characters that I can hate. I had no feeling for any of the characters.  Amina took up many, many pages and her name was not mentioned until chapter 47.  I spent pages wondering who she is and where she is going and why.  I never felt that any of those questions were answered after persevering through the story.
2.) description- there was too much for my interest.  It overwhelmed the plot.  I wanted to get on with the plot while the pages were filled with detailed description.
3.) plot- too confusing with such uneven plot lines and when they came together it was chaotic.
Basically, and perhaps the real reason, I had difficulty with this book is because it is so depressing.  In last night's discussion it led to the whole aspect of scamming and I become discouraged about what the world has become.  Who can you trust?  Anyone?  It becomes overwhelming.

Barbara:
Have finished 419 now.  What a memorable read and in my opinion a fantastic novel.  A novel--not a true story, not real people, with a few flaws in the plot, elements of the unbelievable, but a wonderful story of Nigeria.  It is a chaotic country with 12 linguistic groups and  8 major ethnic groups.  A collection of people brought together by the British Empire that really do not belong together. Amina was probably the best described.  The story highlighted numerous times that she was Sahel.  African Sahel is a narrow band all across Africa from Ertrea, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal to Mauritania.  Only a tiny sliver of it goes through northern present day Nigeria.  If she was from Nigeria, although it was obvious she did not feel so, it was from the part where the strictest Sharea Law would have been.  Her pregnancy would have been out of wedlock or with a man other than her husband, most likely the former, and her family would have not only had the right but the obligation to kill her based on their strict beliefs.  She was fleeing that.  And through her we see so much of present day Nigeria and its diversity, what the west and the oil industry has done.
You are correct the novel had special meaning to me.  I  have met many Nigerians from those hectic years right after the civil war.  People with names like Sunday on a banjo, chief Ajao who sent my daughter designer clothes from Paris when she was a baby and introduced us to many famous musicians from around the world when we were in Manhattan and he would be visiting.  Fascinating people. I had my iPad next to me for most of the read checking places, expressions, words etc.
When reading I never expect the characters to be real people; they aren't.  I do expect them to capture a semblance of the characters who might be a part of the story.  I think Will Ferguson excelled in doing this.  If I had been at the book group, I would have given it an 8, a high rating for me.

A Tale of Two Books

Two books that I just read.
Two books that are popular now.
Two books with intriguing premises.
Two books that take place in different countries, in different centuries.
Two books that made me think long after I closed the covers.
Two books with irritating male protagonists!

1798:
Daniel Grube, with his 5 children and newly-married 15-year-old wife, left Pennsylvania to look for a new home.
Daniel was unkind, unforgiving, unprepared.
Although he was an abolitionist, he just happened to buy a slave that he did not have the money to pay for.








2013:
Harold Fry received a message from a friend that he has not seen in 20 years that she was dying.  He told her to hang on, while he walked 600 miles, thinking that she would survive if he kept going.
Harold was also unprepared (walking in yachting shoes) .
He also was unkind in expecting Queenie to continue living for his sake.





Both books are written by women and I felt that both male protagonists embodied those characteristics that women dislike. Neither Daniel nor Harold would listen to advice and made irrational decisions, affecting many people negatively.  They were unloving and unkind.
My husband says that I should 'cut these guys a little slack'.  After all, maybe these irritating guys are the reason that I couldn't put the books down and couldn't forget them long after the books were read.

"When She Woke"

A retelling of an old story.  From the Puritans to a dystopian thriller.
Same themes: shame and guilt
  Similar names: Hannah Payne / Hester Prynne; Rev. Dale / Rev. Dimmesdale; Pearl- the child

My Ideal Bookshelf

by Jane Mount and Thessaly LaForce

I was delighted to find this book in our local library.
Two women had asked well-know public figures
to fill in the titles that would be in their 'Ideal Bookshelf'.
Then the titles were painted on to the page.




The book did not live up to my expectations.
I only recognized a few of the public figures
and very few of the books.  Sadly missing
were authors such as; Dickens, Collins, Austen,
Tolstoy, Steinbeck.





The spines were painted and didn't look realistic.
The commentaries were not very interesting.
The authors had written that the books we
read can tell a lot about who we are.  But
I didn't feel that I got to know any of the
contributors.







Now this is what I call an "Ideal Bookshelf".






And here is my 'Ideal Bookshelf'.

An old classic

Jill's favourite book is an old classic- "Anne of Green Gables".  Many generations have been able to enjoy the wonderful characters in this book. When you finish reading the book, you want to read more. Thankfully, Lucy Maud Montgomery continued her unforgettable characters through a series:

Anne of Avonlea

Anne of the Island

Anne of Windy Poplar

Anne's House of Dreams

Rilla of Ingleside

Another passionate reader!

Christina is passionate about her books.  Thanks, Christina, for sharing some of your favourites:

"Trixie Belden" and "Nancy Drew" series

I can't say how many times I read every book in both series, between the ages of 10 and 14.  What I love about these books was that the protagonist was a feisty, clever young lady.  I think these books helped me through adolescence, providing me with excellent role models: females who were intrigued by mysterious happenings; could solve their own (and other's) problems; faced adversity with great bravery, and were generally wholesome.

"On The Road" by Jack Kerouac
This book undid my conformist thinking (cultivated from three years of studying business and economics) in about 3 days flat!  It woke me up, caused me to crave adventure, invited me to think deeply and stunned me with the beauty of language in a way that no other book ever had.  It gave me insight into my own parent's nomadic existence prior to my birth and in my formative years.  It reminded me that relationships with everyone we meet contain magic, but also that the smallest thing, when noticed intimately, also possesses magic.  This book made me want to live, really live, at a time when I had forgotten that life was for living.

 "Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston 
This book had a huge impact on my life.  It caused me to reflect on why I held on to things, and how to let them go.  I spent the better part of a year clearing out our house, throwing out junk and things I did not use or love.  This book has had a far-reaching impact - not only on my spending and acquiring habits, but also in the realm of my behaviour.  Because of this book, I began observing my own habits of holding onto mental clutter, in the form of thoughts and habits that did not serve me, and I embarked on a journey of 'letting go' of that which did not serve me conceptually.


Honourable mentions:

"The Power of One" by Bryce Courtenay
"The Places that Scare You" by Pema Chodron
"The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz
"Why People Don't Heal and How They Can" by Caroline Myss

More Favourites

Love in the Time of Cholera
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Terri's favourite:
"Love in the Time of Cholera" is a love story in all it's guises; young love, married love,romantic love, carnal love, even love with the symptoms of cholera. It takes fifty years, nine months and four days for unrequited love to become fulfilled almost at the end of life. This shows that love can blossom  even in your 70's! For me this is an unforgettable journey about love.
 

    

The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

Rob appreciates this book for the strong sense of character that shows the dynamics of life.  The sea and this story about the sea, represent life with its great accomplishments that eventually fade.  It is a beautiful story.




The drama of choosing
a
favourite book!

These pictures show Rob's great sense of humour in spite of his health challenges.
He also is a fan of Gabriel Garcia Marquez,
 really appreciating "A Hundred Years of Solitude" and "Love in the time of Cholera". 
Another important book for him is "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac.

More Favourites! Great!

I have been pleading with everyone to tell me their favourite book.  Penny was my first response.  Now I have a few more.

"The Art of Racing in the Rain:

My Life as a Dog"

by Garth Stein

Carol found this book had great insight into human behaviour.  The dog has understanding and compassion sometimes missing in people.
Her favourite quotes:

Your car goes where your eyes go.

The driver who cannot tear his eyes from the wall as he speeds out of control will hit that wall.

The driver who looks down the track as he feels his tires break free will regain control of his vehicle!

Now you have to remember this is a dog who speaks with the wisdom of a philosopher and sees things that we overlook.

He also says when he gets to be a person he would like to live each day as if it were stolen from death.

                 

                         "Bhagavad Gita"
Barb has read this book, also called "The Song of God" about 25 times and it always rings true.  It is a spiritual guide that was written originally in Sanskrit.  You need a good translation and it's best to read without the commentary in order to experience the essence.  Each time you read it, you will gain more insight.
Barb also enjoyed "Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh and "The Clan of the Cave Bear" series by Jean Auel.

        "How to be Sick" by Toni Bernhard
Anne finds this book is her personal favourite because it has been helpful.  It show you how to enjoy life with illness and would be helpful to anyone with chronic illness.



                                                                       


 


     "Stone Angel" by Margaret Laurence

Cathy thinks Margaret Laurence is a great writer.  She has read the book several times since she first read it in her early 20's and thinks it is really easy to connect with the issues in this novel.

                                                                       

"The Guardian" by Beverly Lewis

Evelyn loves all the books of Beverly Lewis but she especially enjoyed "The Guardian".  She could relate to the story because it was real and understandable.

My friends' favourites- at last!

Penny was my first response.

She is unable to choose only one book and I was delighted to get this list from Penny.  Here is the list along with her comments:
"A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry
I read this on the long flight to Australia in 2002.  I remember discussing it with a flight attendant who was also reading it at the time.  This book touched me deeply and I had a huge 'book hangover' when I finished.
The Winds of War", "War and Remembrance" by Herman Wouk
It's been many years since I discovered Herman Wouk's work.  I read the "Winds" and the sequel twice.  My son also liked these books due to his interest in WW2.  I was quite pleased with Robert Mitchum's portrayal of Pug in the mini-series.
"Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
I've read this one more than once as well.  I first read it as a teenager and I remember being ticked off at my mother for not recommending it to me sooner.  I was so glad to have read the book before seeing the movie.  I will probably read it again someday, perhaps in my dotage.
"A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving
I remember this as a really great read.  I believe Owen's speech was always in capital letters.  I was a huge fan of John Irving up until the last few books.  I have "In One Person" still on the shelf to be read.  I should read this again as I feel badly that I can't remember the story for the life of me.
"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
This was an Oprah pick and I read it in 2003.  In my book journal I wrote: "Might just be my favourite book of all time.  Wow-I don't say that very often!"  It would be great to reread it and see if I still feel the same way ten years later.
"I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb
I can't believe he's a man because he writes like a woman.  That's how well he knows what women are thinking!  It's a little scary.  Here's what I wrote in my journal: "897 pages, it was great! Awesome book - in my top ten of all time probably.  I liked it so much that I can't start another book right away.  I can't wait for another from this great author with superior storytelling skills".  That's a lot of praise.
Again, I wonder if I would think of it the same way today.

Thank you, Penny!

Favourite Book

                                                         
In the year 2000, I read "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver.
I was mesmerized by the characters, the structure, the plot, the language and the themes.
I loved the four daughters and empathized with Orleanna when she said, "I had washed up there on the riptide of my husband's confidence and the undertow of my children's needs".  It reminded me of "Gifts from the Sea" by Eleanor Morrow Lindbergh, when she talked about the complexities of a woman's life.
Orleanna was trying to support her husband in his personal mission, but she also was aware that there were four girls to protect and guide.  In this case, it was not possible to do both.  And she spent the remainder of her life with regret.
Perhaps because this book affected me so strongly, I read other books with a similar theme: "The Sea Captains Wife" by Beth Powning: "The Mosquito Coast" by Paul Theroux.   Even "Above All Things" by Tanis Rideout  has a mother who is attempting to keep her children connected to their father who is away from home for long periods of time.


Recently, I have been begging my friends to tell me their favourite book.  Many cannot chose just one.  I never have that problem.  I read in "Tolsty and the Purple Chair" by Nina Sankovitch,  that your favourite book tells a lot about you.  Perhaps my friends are afraid that I will be analyzing them.  But I have been analyzing myself and I realize that "Poisonwood Bible" taught me about arrogance.  Nathan Price did not have a voice in the book, but you learned everything you need to know about him in the way his wife and children were affected by his actions and attitude. His 'mission' was not endorsed, but was a personal drive that had no concern for anyone else.  He had no respect for anyone in the Congo - he even chopped down the wild orchids to plant his own 'demonstration garden'. This lack of respect and concern for others is my definition of arrogance. It was so pronounced in this book that I began to notice arrogance in places that I would not have before.
In 2002, we were exploring the state of Texas.  I love to read all memorials and have not forgotten the  civil war monument with quotes by Jefferson Davies.
"Eternal right / Though all things fail / Can never be made wrong".
"The impartial enlightened verdict of mankind will vindicate the rectitude of our conduct".
I felt that these statements were attempting to confirm that the decisions made by the south were right then and are right now.  I see that as arrogance.

I really enjoy a novel that contains a variety of good and bad characters. I have read hundreds of books since I first read this novel, but the characters in "The Poisonwood Bible" are crystal clear in my mind.

Now when are my friends going to tell me their favourite book?

My New Pile of Books

This is what I'm reading now.

"419" by Will Ferguson

"Secret Daughter" by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

"One Native Life" by Richard Wagamese

"The Enoch Factor" by Steve McSwain

"The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" by Jonas Jonasson

June 15

I have finished reading this novel and was disappointed.

It was a translation from Swedish.

It promised to be about a 110 year-old-man 'starting over',

but really it was a retrospective look at Allan's life.

He had done some really bizarre things and many people found the writing amusing.

He was an expert in explosives, sent by the U.S. to combat communism.

He travelled (often by foot) all over Europe and met some very strange people.

It seemed very far-fetched, silly, and LONG!

It was like the magazines that promise one thing on the outside

 and the story inside the magazine is actually something different.

Disappointment for me, but a great laugh for others.

"The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff

Book Clbus

Book clubs!  Book clubs! I love book clubs!

In 1998, I discovered a book club in a mall. 

The first book we discussed after I joined was "Middlemarch".

 And this book club has discussed a classic every other month since then.

 So I have read 90 classics with this group!
There is no summer break.
We read 12 books a year.

This is "The Monday Night Book Group".

The book we are reading here is not a classic, but a Victorian-inspired crime novel.

"Fingersmith" was written by Sarah Waters and we loved it!

My favourite classics:

The Good Earth / Uncle Tom's Cabin / Of Human Bondage / The Grapes of Wrath / The Woman in White / To Kill a Mockingbird / The Return of the Native / The Mayor of Casterbridge / Far From the Madding Crowd.  

And then there were the challenges!  Tough!  Tough!

Beowulf / The Iliad

This group just finished discussing "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith.  It was one of ten books that affected Oprah's life.  It was so popular when it was written in 1943 that several studios vied for the movie rights and movie stars were anxious to be involved.  That movie appears on T.V. regularly.

I struggled through the book, finding it tedious and long.  But when I finished, I realized that it was well-worth reading and I understood why it was so popular when it was written.

It is called a "bildungsroman", a coming-of-age novel.  But it is also a capsule of time and place.  Is there a fancy word for that?

I have been challenging my reading friends to share their favourite classic in a video on my blog.  No luck so far!

Black Beauty

 

Anna Sewell has a fascinating life story.She was born in England into a Quaker family.  Her mother was a successful author of children's books where she expressed her faith.  Anna helped to edit those books.  When Anna was 14, she fell, severely injuring her ankles.  For the rest of her life she had difficulty walking.  So she became very familiar with the horses that pulled her carriage.

   How interesting that she used this love of horses to write this beautiful book.  She was 51 when she started writing and her health was failing.  Her mother helped her greatly, especially near the end.  Anna only lived six months after the book was published in 1877, dying of hepatitis.  But she did see the success of her book.    It became the 6th best selling book in the English language.  
   
                                       

Fifteen years ago, I found a book club that was just getting started.  The beauty of this book club is that we read a classic every other month.  
On occasion we read children's fiction or youth fiction.
Although Anna Sewell did not write this book for children, the book does include moral lessons on kindness, sympathy and compassionate treatment of horses.  Her goal was to improve the treatment of horses and she accomplished that goal.
   

                         

What's John Reading?

I was surprised to see John so engrossed in Kate Morton novels.   His favourite author is J.R.R. Tolkien. He spent years reading fantasy authors. Now he is discovering other authors.  He even attends the Preston Library Book Club.  Being the only man there doesn't intimidate him and he is enjoying the choices.  

Kate Morton

The House at Riverton  C2006

The Forgotten Garden  C2008

The Distant Hours     C2010

The Secret keeper   C2012

Leaving the Faith

"Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape" by Jenna Miscavige Hill.   Since there is a Church of Scientology opening a couple of blocks away, I decided to learn something about the religion. Perhaps reading a book by a person who has become disillusioned and downright angry about the religion is not a good way to get a clear picture.  First of all, the word religion does not really seem to apply.  There is no mention of God or belief in any higher power.  It seemed to me to be a mind/body philosophy with the body coming back again and again.  At seven, Jenna signed a million year contract. One of the slogans "Think for Yourself" is actually not possible with the regimen that is imposed on the students.  "Auditing" is a type of one-on-one counselling, involving lie-detector equipment.   Jenna was involved in the organization since the age of two when her parents moved to the compound in California  to work for the church.  From then on, she rarely saw her parents but was raised communally.  As well as school work, there were scientology courses and lots of physical work.  Jenna had additional problems because her uncle was the head of the organization and her parents left the organization.  Leaving was not an easy option and caused repercussions for all family members.

  I was reminded of other books that I have read about people leaving their faith.  It seems important to realize that religions are made up of individuals and abuse of power is not uncommon.  When these individuals dig in their heels and insist that they are right, they cause great damage.

    Martha Beck's father was an apologist for the Mormon Church and well respected in the Mormon community, but he was abusive at home.   Here is her dilemma:"The Mormons around me were such good people, and much of their goodness was grounded in their religion, and their religion was stronger because of my father".  Martha talks about her obsessive spiritual hunger, but as an adult she had paralyzing pain connected to the flashbacks and could not work out any faith because of the abuse that took years to resolve.  She is now a well-known therapist.

  Martha's story was heart-breaking.  Her book is called "Leaving the Saints".

  "Stolen Innocence" is about the L.D.S. strand of the Mormons.  The author, Elissa Wall, grew up in a polygamous sect and was forced to marry her cousin at 14.  

  Miriam Toews found the Mennonite religion too confining.  Her biggest complaint was that she couldn't drink, party, dance, or listen to rock music.  She writes fiction but includes much of her life in the characters.  Many people enjoyed her book "A Complicated Kindness".  Her sarcasm was too biting for me.

   Rhoda Janzen, also brought up in the Mennonite faith wrote "Mennonite in the Little Black Dress". This was a memoir, but, once again, she tried to be humorous while making fun of her upbringing.  I was doubly disappointed in this author because, as an adult, she had lived a life away from the values of the parents who raised her, but then ran back to them when she was desperate.  They warmly took her in, while she wrote nasty things about their beliefs.

  "Unorthodox: the Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots" by Deborah Feldman is fascinating.  Once again, a very strict religion with a disastrous arranged marriage.

  Mary-Ann Kirkby has written a memoir- "I am Hutterite: the Fascinating True Story of One Woman's Journey to Reclaim her Heritage".  It is refreshing to read a positive story of growing up in a restricted faith community.

  

I love memoirs and these are some that I remembered as I read "Beyond Belief".

  

One Book One Community

Spring  is the time for O.B.O.C.!  And I can't wait!  In 2002, I jumped on board with this great new idea.I loved the concept of one book for the whole community to read! 

And every year, I try to get hints to figure out the book before it is announced.

This year, I have no idea!

The launch was expected to be on April 18th, but had to be postponed. 

I have great memories of past O.B.O.C. books and events.  The first choice of book and author cannot be beat!  Alistair MacLeod's "No Great Mischief" is a great book and he was delightful when he visited the area.  I read that book aloud at the nursing home where I volunteer.  We had a regular schedule of three readings a week and I played music as the residents arrived to create an inviting setting. There were about 10 people and many fell asleep as I read.  Others began coughing and I had to assess whether they needed help.  But I particularly enjoyed the experience because one man attending was the husband of my friend, Shirley.  When I first retired Shirley had ALS and asked me to read to her.  I spent many hours reading in person and on tape to fill her insatiable desire for books when she was unable to move any part of her body.  Her husband, now in the nursing home, was not alert as Shirley had been, but he looked forward to every reading.  However, just as we came to the last couple of readings, when the plot was coming to a climax, the nursing home was quarantined and I could not do the readings.  Unfortunately, when the quarantine was lifted, I was away on a trip.  No one in that group would have remembered the story after the passing of time. So it was never finished.  But what an experience!

Richard Wagamese

___________________________________________________________

April 25, 2013.
 We were happy to be at the O.B.O.C. launch this morning at The Commons Restaurant, when the 2013 book was announced.
                   "Ragged Company" by Richard Wagamese.
I have read this book and did enjoy it.  But John and I enjoyed "Indian Horse" even more.
So we are really pleased that Richard Wagamese will be coming to the area in September.
We will be there- for sure!  In the meantime, we plan to read his two autobiographical books:
"One Native Life" and "One Story One song".                      

Adventure: Daring or Destructive

This month I had two adventure novels to read for book clubs.

"Gold Diggers" by Charlotte Gray and "Above All Things" by Tanis Rideout.  Two women, writing about the wild and dangerous experiences that men seem to crave.  Both books show the sacrifices and depravation that are common.  Not only do I wonder why men are motivated in this direction, I also don't understand women spending so much time researching and writing about it.
   Charlotte Gray (as seen on Canada Reads 2013), is a dignified, intelligent lady who writes pages and pages of the minutia of those who raced to the Klondike during the gold rush in 1896. The women who are highlighted aren't digging for gold technically, but making money from the miners in one way or another.  The author's attention to detail becomes tedious- the number of mines on every river, the value of the gold, the menu of food served on the riverboats, etc., etc., etc.
   Tanis Rideout is a poet, interested in the environment and the music scene.  Her first novel seems to be an unusual choice for this young lady.

Jon Krakauer

    My first reading of this type of adventure story was "Into The Wild" by Jon Krakauer, recommended by my teenage grandson, David.  Perhaps every young man thinks that this daring life is desirable.
   "Into the Wild" chronicles the life of Christopher McCandless, who graduated from university in 1990, gave away all his savings, and headed out to experience the wilderness.  He spent a lot of time reading, and underlining passages, showing his desire to test himself in nature.  His final writing was a farewell letter as he realized that he would not survive.



I had already read "Above All things", which is an account of climbing Mount Everest in 1924. So before I began to re-read it, I decided to read "Into Thin Air", an account of climbing Mount Everest in 1996.  Jon Krakauer was on that climb and did, in fact, reach the summit.  But it is heart-wrenching to read about the emotional toll it took on him, as he saw many die.  His assent led to a general re-evauation of climbing and the 'romantic' commercialization.

And so, the question: Why?
One dictionary definition of 'romance' is: 'a quality of feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life'.  And that perhaps is one reason for these quests.  Of course, men were also looking for glory and money.  Along the way they found starvation, disease, physical breakdown, death.

Light Between Oceans

   M.L.Stedman wants to stay 'behind the curtain', so that people can fully connect with the book.  She believes that personal information about the author stands between the reader and the story.  So it is even difficult to find her first name- "Margot".  I love reading about authors and understanding their experiences that caused them to write the way they do.  And I was able to find out that Margot was a lawyer in Western Australia, but is now living and writing full-time in London.
   This book had nine international publishers bidding on the manuscript!  Can you imagine!  A first novel!  It really hit a chord!

                                                                     

Emotionally complex        

                                  Morally ambiguous   
        

Margot Stedman