I picked this book up because I enjoyed his other book, Little Bee. I LOVED this book, a whole lot more than I liked Little Bee.
This is a letter to Osama Bin Laden from a mother who lost her husband and son in a terrorist attack. This is a fictional tale and even the bombing is entirely fictional.
What did I love about this book? I loved the tone of the writing. It was very raw and followed the mother's stream of consciousness. I loved the plot of the book and the way it flowed. I loved the questions that it raised. Questions like: How much freedom should we give up to feel safe? What is humanity and what can take that away? How much is one life worth? And so many others that I can't write without giving away some key elements of the story. It was just really really good.
If, however, you are squeamish and don't like torrid details and people behaving badly, this is not the book for you. It is not pretty. But I think it's worth the ride.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Book 20-Tar Baby by Toni Morrison
I listened to this CD in the car and the plot really had me looking forward to my commute. There are so many tiny points of how we treat each other as people, friends, employees/employers, etc. I really thought I was going to love this book, but it killed me at the end.
The more time I spend stewing on this book, the more I like it, but I still feel like I'm missing some answers to my questions as a reader. Kind of like a European film-it just ended abruptly.
Here is what I got from the book: the value of every soul. I think that was the point... This is the story of several people living on a tiny Caribbean island. There is Valerian (I don't really know how the names are spelled since I listened to it) Street, a rich American recluse who lives in a huge house he had built on the island, his wife, his two employees (a married black couple), their niece Jadine, and a stranger who shows up on the island. There are also a couple of locals who take care of the yard and laundry. The book questions whether Mr. Street respects and loves his servants and their niece or whether they are simply there to cook his food.
There is a lot here to think about and I think it would be great for a book club, where several people can try to talk through it.
The more time I spend stewing on this book, the more I like it, but I still feel like I'm missing some answers to my questions as a reader. Kind of like a European film-it just ended abruptly.
Here is what I got from the book: the value of every soul. I think that was the point... This is the story of several people living on a tiny Caribbean island. There is Valerian (I don't really know how the names are spelled since I listened to it) Street, a rich American recluse who lives in a huge house he had built on the island, his wife, his two employees (a married black couple), their niece Jadine, and a stranger who shows up on the island. There are also a couple of locals who take care of the yard and laundry. The book questions whether Mr. Street respects and loves his servants and their niece or whether they are simply there to cook his food.
There is a lot here to think about and I think it would be great for a book club, where several people can try to talk through it.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Book 19-The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
Hmmmm...I picked up this book because it was recommended on Borders.com. Pretty lame reason to read something, I guess, but I've found several good gems this way in the past.
This is the story of several employees of an English-language newspaper headquartered in Rome. Each chapter is the story of one character, with in-between vignettes of the history of the paper. There's the story of the washed-up Paris-based reporter. The balls-clenching editor-in-chief. The newbie trying to make it in Cairo.
Each of these stories, when taken as a piece, is fantastic. I loved reading the stories of these...well....losers. Each one of them sucked for a different reason (I hope I'm not giving away too much), whether it be being too bull-headed, too pansy, too sex-driven, etc. I really liked the stories, but I have to admit that I was hoping for some big, bring-it-on-home moment a la Crash or Babel (movies with intertwining stories that all mesh together in the end). Instead, it just ended. No redemption. No climax to the story. Just a big let-down.
So I guess if you take each chapter as its own short story, I would recommend this book. But as a whole, I was disappointed!
This is the story of several employees of an English-language newspaper headquartered in Rome. Each chapter is the story of one character, with in-between vignettes of the history of the paper. There's the story of the washed-up Paris-based reporter. The balls-clenching editor-in-chief. The newbie trying to make it in Cairo.
Each of these stories, when taken as a piece, is fantastic. I loved reading the stories of these...well....losers. Each one of them sucked for a different reason (I hope I'm not giving away too much), whether it be being too bull-headed, too pansy, too sex-driven, etc. I really liked the stories, but I have to admit that I was hoping for some big, bring-it-on-home moment a la Crash or Babel (movies with intertwining stories that all mesh together in the end). Instead, it just ended. No redemption. No climax to the story. Just a big let-down.
So I guess if you take each chapter as its own short story, I would recommend this book. But as a whole, I was disappointed!
Book 18-I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Okay, I admit that I finished this a while ago and haven't had time to blog about it. AND this was actually my second time reading the book.
I've actually read all of Maya's autobiographical fare and have seen her speak in person. I think she is just amazing. Her voice is like honey and this time, I got to hear her read the words she wrote as I drove to and from school each day. Not only did she read, but she sang the gospel hymns she references in the book. I think I finally realized why those old gospel numbers sound so much better when sung by black folk. It's because we in the Catholic church try to sing them at such a high octave that it couldn't possibly sound good. If we would only lower the pitch just a tidge...or a ton, I don't know...
I'm sure that most readers have read at least one of Maya's books, but this is the first, following her life from about 4 (?) to 16 or 17.
One of the things, besides the singing, that hit me this time is the idea of respect and disrespect. I did my student teaching in a pretty urban (read, black) school and the kids always talked about "calling someone out of their name." I had never heard this term before, but I began to use it anytime a student didn't use another student's proper name. It came up in this book...that very phrase that I had never heard until a few years back. Names should be honored. Nicknames should be given with love. And hateful names should be banished, or at least punished. I don't know exactly where I want to go with this, but it seemed important that I, as a teacher, respect the names that students have and stand up for those names when others want to "call them out of their name."
Another thing that Maya tried to explain that I didn't quite understand is the reason why those in poverty choose to live in a shack but drive a brand new Cadillac. Maybe I missed her explanation in one of my drives, but she seemed to think it was reasonable or at least explanable. As a Dave Ramsey baby-stepper...I don't get it.
I would definitely recommend these autobiographies to anyone. They are fascinating reads because Maya has lived a life that seems more fiction than real-life.
PS-When I talk about books, I often refer to the author by their first name. I certainly don't mean any disrespect in this...but I always feel a certain kinship to an author after I spend hours delving into their mind through their books... Hope none of you are offended!
I've actually read all of Maya's autobiographical fare and have seen her speak in person. I think she is just amazing. Her voice is like honey and this time, I got to hear her read the words she wrote as I drove to and from school each day. Not only did she read, but she sang the gospel hymns she references in the book. I think I finally realized why those old gospel numbers sound so much better when sung by black folk. It's because we in the Catholic church try to sing them at such a high octave that it couldn't possibly sound good. If we would only lower the pitch just a tidge...or a ton, I don't know...
I'm sure that most readers have read at least one of Maya's books, but this is the first, following her life from about 4 (?) to 16 or 17.
One of the things, besides the singing, that hit me this time is the idea of respect and disrespect. I did my student teaching in a pretty urban (read, black) school and the kids always talked about "calling someone out of their name." I had never heard this term before, but I began to use it anytime a student didn't use another student's proper name. It came up in this book...that very phrase that I had never heard until a few years back. Names should be honored. Nicknames should be given with love. And hateful names should be banished, or at least punished. I don't know exactly where I want to go with this, but it seemed important that I, as a teacher, respect the names that students have and stand up for those names when others want to "call them out of their name."
Another thing that Maya tried to explain that I didn't quite understand is the reason why those in poverty choose to live in a shack but drive a brand new Cadillac. Maybe I missed her explanation in one of my drives, but she seemed to think it was reasonable or at least explanable. As a Dave Ramsey baby-stepper...I don't get it.
I would definitely recommend these autobiographies to anyone. They are fascinating reads because Maya has lived a life that seems more fiction than real-life.
PS-When I talk about books, I often refer to the author by their first name. I certainly don't mean any disrespect in this...but I always feel a certain kinship to an author after I spend hours delving into their mind through their books... Hope none of you are offended!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)