by Meg Waite Clayton
Two Thumbs Up (I could really use a few more thumbs for this one--it's that good.)
The story takes place in a San Francisco Bay area suburb, in the years beginning with 1967. Frankie tells the story of her friendship with Linda, Kath, Brett, and Ally. Each woman has her own family, worries, heartaches and secret dreams. The story is told in such a way that the reader feels a part of the evolving friendship these women share.
After meeting weekly at the playground long enough that they begin to feel comfortable with each other, a couple of the friends decide they'd like to use their time together to do some writing. Some of the women are less interested, but they are good sports about it. Soon what started out as a playdate for the kids becomes a writing date for the moms.
As the story continues, the readers are drawn along as these women pursue their writing goals. But within this primary story, we learn of the secret burdens the various women bear. We rejoice with them as they learn to trust each other; we share with them as they celebrate the good and mourn the heartache in each other's lives; and we see them grow and change throughout the years.
Interspersed within the story is the societal growing pains the country is experiencing. The story touches on the women's lib issue, the peace movement, and racial tensions. The women themselves strive to understand these issues. Each woman brings a different background and personality as she reacts to and assimilates into her person the various social changes. Ms Clayton accomplishes this very adeptly. Her characters and their friendships are never simplistic or artificial; they way they interact and the degree to which each embraces the changing cultures is richly developed.
The book will also be helpful for an aspiring author, as the women work through various books on writing, such as E.M. Forster's Aspects of the Novel. Each woman has a "model" story against which she compares her own work and to which she turns for inspiration. A couple of the women are very adept at pulling quotations from books and calling to mind the characters and plots. And on one occasion the couples get together for a costume party with a "famous couple from literature" theme. All these snippets offer readers a constant sampling from a literary smorgasbord.
The author has included a nice appendix in which she offers a paragraph or two on each of women's model books and also reading lists of the others works cited. I know I'm going to keep our librarian busy with requests from this list, such as The Great Gatsby, Middlemarch, and Breakfast at Tiffany's; I'll also have to try something by Somerset Maugham and Sylvia Plath; and the list goes on and on.
Showing posts with label values. Show all posts
Showing posts with label values. Show all posts
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Stolen Genes, Stolen Children
by G. R. Revelle
One half of a thumb up, one and a half down.
This is a hard review for me to do because it's by a start-up author who I believe self-publishes under his own company, Smultron Publications. Since I myself hope to have some of my writing published one day, I want to support the effort of Mr. Revelle. But there are things within this book that make it impossible for me to give it a two thumbs up.
The book is historical fiction, including bits of 20th century Norwegian and Swedish history, and World War II history. The historical information and several main themes within this book appeal to me. Progressivism, eugenics, and genetic manipulation are exposed and discussed. These are important ideas. Society benefits from conversations about the sins of its past. Too often they are forgotten under the broiling current of contemporary societal conversations, even when those conversations follow lines of reasoning similar to the ideas acknowledged as mistakes of past generations. From the introduction to Stolen Genes, Stolen Children, Mr. Revelle himself appears to have written, at least partially, with a goal of inspiring such conversation.
The plot is compelling. I was drawn in, although it took me several chapters to feel the pull. The characters are well done, although a few are somewhat one-dimensional. Mr. Revelle does a good job describing scenery and sounds in nature and the city.
The story is set in 1965, but also contains many flashbacks to the days before, during, and immediately after World War II. In some ways, the flashbacks are the story, more than the later story line.
While reading the paper one afternoon, Karin sees the name, Arlene Angel, in a list of nurses being tried for their participation in the euthanasia programs practiced under the Third Reich. This name jumped out at Karin, because it was a pseudonym occasionally used long ago by Alena Engela, a good friend from Karin's nursing school days. Reminded of the close friendship they had enjoyed in their early years, Karin sets out to contact this Arlene Angel to determine if it is indeed her friend. And if so, to lend whatever aid and support she can to Alena during the trial.
In the process of digging through old records, hoping to find a way to exonerate her friend, and at the same time experiencing continuing mortification at the extent of the euthanasia program, Karin discovers several unexpected connections.
The flashbacks in the narrative trace the history of Alena; aeronautics engineer, Lorentz Klein; the Norwegian Resistance movement; and Karin, herself; along with a number of less major characters.
The story line is very interesting and contains a few twists and turns that I perhaps ought to have seen coming, but didn't.
The negative aspects of the book begin immediately, in the first paragraphs of the prologue. The author introduces his work with a somewhat hoaky fictional account of how an early farming woman discovered fertilizer when an early herdsman let his water buffalo wander onto the woman's garden. The somewhat silly account seems unrelated to the point for which the author uses it. And it presents a weak beginning to what later in the prologue becomes a very good introduction to the philosophies presented in Stolen Genes, Stolen Children.
Regarding the narrative's exploration of the philosophies or ideals of genetic engineering and eugenics, the connection between the fictional narrative and a deeper analysis of such philosophies is somewhat weak. The author leaves to the reader most of the thinking and exploring . The narrative certainly introduces the the subject and shows it from several angles. But from the build-up in the introduction, I was expecting a richer or somehow different depth of discussion of the subject.
The biggest negative for this story, however, is that it is a prime example of the risks of self-publishing; or put another way, it lends credence to the importance of a professional editorial staff. The book is filled with grammatical errors. Truly filled. To the point of distracting from the story line. There are many points at which a sentence begins one way and ends in a different direction. The reader is left interpreting what the author intended. There are sentences in which the subject or object of a clause is missing, and again the reader must guess. Sentence parts often don't agree in person, number, tense, voice, etc. Commas are used very sloppily, often giving the sentence an entirely different sense than that which the author obviously intends. There are many places the spellcheck or auto-correct was trusted in error.
And let me reiterate. The book is filled with mistakes of this sort. Sometimes there are several examples per page.
The narrative also contains at least one historical error, of the sort which a professional editor is trained to catch. The author includes as historical, the mythology surrounding the song, Edelweiss, that Richard Rogers wrote for the 1959, The Sound of Music. One scene in the book describes a character getting sentimental over the song as an Austrian folk song from his childhood in the early years of the 20th century.
From the prologue, "The novel... is based on facts, figures, and personalities, though the characters and plot themselves are purely fictional." The author is making a claim to the historicity of the information presented within the fictional plot. The somewhat lengthy introductory pages of the prologue seem to be intended to make people consider and evaluate the idea of eugenics and its place in the world today. Besides just being annoying and distracting to a reader, the sloppy presentation of the story distracts from the author's purpose.
A reader is left wondering about the care that went into the historical research and the accuracy with which it is presented. "If the author is so careless with his editing, how can I trust his research?"
Especially when an author is making a claim toward a certain ideal, such an author ought to use care in presenting the material. The carelessness of presentation casts doubt upon the entire issue.
One half of a thumb up, one and a half down.
This is a hard review for me to do because it's by a start-up author who I believe self-publishes under his own company, Smultron Publications. Since I myself hope to have some of my writing published one day, I want to support the effort of Mr. Revelle. But there are things within this book that make it impossible for me to give it a two thumbs up.
The book is historical fiction, including bits of 20th century Norwegian and Swedish history, and World War II history. The historical information and several main themes within this book appeal to me. Progressivism, eugenics, and genetic manipulation are exposed and discussed. These are important ideas. Society benefits from conversations about the sins of its past. Too often they are forgotten under the broiling current of contemporary societal conversations, even when those conversations follow lines of reasoning similar to the ideas acknowledged as mistakes of past generations. From the introduction to Stolen Genes, Stolen Children, Mr. Revelle himself appears to have written, at least partially, with a goal of inspiring such conversation.
The plot is compelling. I was drawn in, although it took me several chapters to feel the pull. The characters are well done, although a few are somewhat one-dimensional. Mr. Revelle does a good job describing scenery and sounds in nature and the city.
The story is set in 1965, but also contains many flashbacks to the days before, during, and immediately after World War II. In some ways, the flashbacks are the story, more than the later story line.
While reading the paper one afternoon, Karin sees the name, Arlene Angel, in a list of nurses being tried for their participation in the euthanasia programs practiced under the Third Reich. This name jumped out at Karin, because it was a pseudonym occasionally used long ago by Alena Engela, a good friend from Karin's nursing school days. Reminded of the close friendship they had enjoyed in their early years, Karin sets out to contact this Arlene Angel to determine if it is indeed her friend. And if so, to lend whatever aid and support she can to Alena during the trial.
In the process of digging through old records, hoping to find a way to exonerate her friend, and at the same time experiencing continuing mortification at the extent of the euthanasia program, Karin discovers several unexpected connections.
The flashbacks in the narrative trace the history of Alena; aeronautics engineer, Lorentz Klein; the Norwegian Resistance movement; and Karin, herself; along with a number of less major characters.
The story line is very interesting and contains a few twists and turns that I perhaps ought to have seen coming, but didn't.
The negative aspects of the book begin immediately, in the first paragraphs of the prologue. The author introduces his work with a somewhat hoaky fictional account of how an early farming woman discovered fertilizer when an early herdsman let his water buffalo wander onto the woman's garden. The somewhat silly account seems unrelated to the point for which the author uses it. And it presents a weak beginning to what later in the prologue becomes a very good introduction to the philosophies presented in Stolen Genes, Stolen Children.
Regarding the narrative's exploration of the philosophies or ideals of genetic engineering and eugenics, the connection between the fictional narrative and a deeper analysis of such philosophies is somewhat weak. The author leaves to the reader most of the thinking and exploring . The narrative certainly introduces the the subject and shows it from several angles. But from the build-up in the introduction, I was expecting a richer or somehow different depth of discussion of the subject.
The biggest negative for this story, however, is that it is a prime example of the risks of self-publishing; or put another way, it lends credence to the importance of a professional editorial staff. The book is filled with grammatical errors. Truly filled. To the point of distracting from the story line. There are many points at which a sentence begins one way and ends in a different direction. The reader is left interpreting what the author intended. There are sentences in which the subject or object of a clause is missing, and again the reader must guess. Sentence parts often don't agree in person, number, tense, voice, etc. Commas are used very sloppily, often giving the sentence an entirely different sense than that which the author obviously intends. There are many places the spellcheck or auto-correct was trusted in error.
And let me reiterate. The book is filled with mistakes of this sort. Sometimes there are several examples per page.
The narrative also contains at least one historical error, of the sort which a professional editor is trained to catch. The author includes as historical, the mythology surrounding the song, Edelweiss, that Richard Rogers wrote for the 1959, The Sound of Music. One scene in the book describes a character getting sentimental over the song as an Austrian folk song from his childhood in the early years of the 20th century.
From the prologue, "The novel... is based on facts, figures, and personalities, though the characters and plot themselves are purely fictional." The author is making a claim to the historicity of the information presented within the fictional plot. The somewhat lengthy introductory pages of the prologue seem to be intended to make people consider and evaluate the idea of eugenics and its place in the world today. Besides just being annoying and distracting to a reader, the sloppy presentation of the story distracts from the author's purpose.
A reader is left wondering about the care that went into the historical research and the accuracy with which it is presented. "If the author is so careless with his editing, how can I trust his research?"
Especially when an author is making a claim toward a certain ideal, such an author ought to use care in presenting the material. The carelessness of presentation casts doubt upon the entire issue.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Nancy and Plum
by Betty MacDonald
Two thumbs up.
This book is awesome. I can't wait to read it to my kids. The characters are vivid, the scenery is colorful and richly described, the plot is engaging. The characters, while not perfect, strive to be good. There is a clear delineation between good and evil. And there is a sweet happy ending.
Nancy and Plum live with Mrs. Monday in her boarding home in Heavenly Valley. But life at the boarding home is anything but heavenly. While Mrs. Monday and her niece Marybelle live high on the hog, the other residents in the home are clothed in tatters and kept half starved.
Nancy is a calm quiet girl and her younger sister, Plum, is full of mischief. They make up pretend stories to get through the hard times. They go to story hour with Miss Appleby at the library. And they attend school with the dear, Miss Waverly.
The spirit of Nancy and Plum shines brightly through while they survive in these depressed circumstances. They hold each other up and they buoy the spirits of the other children who are stuck together with them in Mrs. Monday's Boarding Home for Children. The antics of the girls will make you laugh, and their heartache might just make you cry.
Mary Grand Pre had done nice illustrations to compliment this new edition.
This definitely qualifies as what Charlotte Mason fans would consider a living book. It ought to be a classic.
Two thumbs up.
This book is awesome. I can't wait to read it to my kids. The characters are vivid, the scenery is colorful and richly described, the plot is engaging. The characters, while not perfect, strive to be good. There is a clear delineation between good and evil. And there is a sweet happy ending.
Nancy and Plum live with Mrs. Monday in her boarding home in Heavenly Valley. But life at the boarding home is anything but heavenly. While Mrs. Monday and her niece Marybelle live high on the hog, the other residents in the home are clothed in tatters and kept half starved.
Nancy is a calm quiet girl and her younger sister, Plum, is full of mischief. They make up pretend stories to get through the hard times. They go to story hour with Miss Appleby at the library. And they attend school with the dear, Miss Waverly.
The spirit of Nancy and Plum shines brightly through while they survive in these depressed circumstances. They hold each other up and they buoy the spirits of the other children who are stuck together with them in Mrs. Monday's Boarding Home for Children. The antics of the girls will make you laugh, and their heartache might just make you cry.
Mary Grand Pre had done nice illustrations to compliment this new edition.
This definitely qualifies as what Charlotte Mason fans would consider a living book. It ought to be a classic.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thieves Break In
by One thumb up and one thumb down
I would have enjoyed this book more had I not read the quote on the back from The Santa Fe New Mexican, "For those who thrive on Jan Karon's Mitford novels." The protagonist in both is an Episcopalian Priest. The similarity stops about there. Yes, I'd say that's about the only commonality. But the comment would imply to me a hometown portrayal of American values and a rich depiction of the variety of personalities that makes life interesting. Those features are what makes the Mitford books stand out in the literary marketplace.
Another quote on the back, this from Sarah Graves, author of the Home Repair is Homicide mysteries, with which I'm unfamiliar "...Two smart quirky sleuths with a heart--and soul." The two quotes taken together gave the impression that the characters would be presenting some sort of morality. As I found out, they were. But the morality portrayed is not of the traditional Judeao-Christian bent.
For the one thumb up, the book is a pretty good murder mystery, nothing outstanding, but then, that's not usually the purpose in reading a murder mystery. The characters are mostly well developed, the plot has appropriate twists and turns, the settings are interesting and richly described.
An interesting departure from the typical murder mystery, is the sleuthing the primary gumshoes, Katherine and Tom, do. Although they are not primarily the ones who solve the mystery, they are instrumental in solving it, mostly through a series of coincidental incidents. Katherine and Tom spend their time unravelling the mysteries of the family line of the landowners where the murder took place. Everything of course falls together at the end, but I found this use of the sleuths an interesting twist.
The strong point is probably the author's use of time. The story-line unfolds in a non-linear manner and skips from one decade to another in a fashion exactly to my liking. I had to check back on people and places periodically, but not so much that it became frustrating. At two points, just when I thought I had lost all the connections completely, the author gave me a family tree to which I could refer. Some of the threads of story were only touched upon once early on and then left to the end. This device left me curious throughout as to how these strings were going to be woven in.
My disappointment with the book is based on my personal morality and my preference for reading books that either avoid moralizing completely or portray traditional moral lifestyles. This book seems to want to portray those things traditionally considered immoral, as sanctioned by those who are supposed to be the shepherds of the church.
The protagonist, the Reverend Kathryn Koerney, is an Episcopalian priest. Her cousin who has just died under mysterious circumstances was her best friend, and we find out was homosexual. This in itself is not important, nor was the gentleman's sexuality important to the story line, but the way it is portrayed is somewhat preachy and moralizing. I felt as though the whole reason for including it was as an opportunity to portray bigotry against the homosexual lifestyle.
Kathryn at one point in the book arranges to stay the night with a guy she's falling in love with, although because of the way the plot unravelled near the end, we're not told whether she kept that date.
From the beginning, it is clear that Tom, Kathryn's fellow sleuth and one of her parishioners is in love with her, but is himself married to another. At the end of the story, as a hooked line to the next book in the series, Tom is encouraged by a wise elder character to not give up on Kathryn. His final words of exhortation, "I seriously doubt that any man who does not have the balls to get out of a loveless marriage deserves Kathryn Korney."
All these moral points would not bother me as much in a different setting. But taken together and portrayed as they are, they seem designed to push the envelope. The idea of a pastor who accepts non-traditional values seems a bit contrived. At best, the effect does not make for pleasant diversionary reading. At worst, it just makes me plum mad. It seems deceitful and preachy. Especially when coupled with the endorsements the publishers chose to put on the back cover of the book.
I would have enjoyed this book more had I not read the quote on the back from The Santa Fe New Mexican, "For those who thrive on Jan Karon's Mitford novels." The protagonist in both is an Episcopalian Priest. The similarity stops about there. Yes, I'd say that's about the only commonality. But the comment would imply to me a hometown portrayal of American values and a rich depiction of the variety of personalities that makes life interesting. Those features are what makes the Mitford books stand out in the literary marketplace.
Another quote on the back, this from Sarah Graves, author of the Home Repair is Homicide mysteries, with which I'm unfamiliar "...Two smart quirky sleuths with a heart--and soul." The two quotes taken together gave the impression that the characters would be presenting some sort of morality. As I found out, they were. But the morality portrayed is not of the traditional Judeao-Christian bent.
For the one thumb up, the book is a pretty good murder mystery, nothing outstanding, but then, that's not usually the purpose in reading a murder mystery. The characters are mostly well developed, the plot has appropriate twists and turns, the settings are interesting and richly described.
An interesting departure from the typical murder mystery, is the sleuthing the primary gumshoes, Katherine and Tom, do. Although they are not primarily the ones who solve the mystery, they are instrumental in solving it, mostly through a series of coincidental incidents. Katherine and Tom spend their time unravelling the mysteries of the family line of the landowners where the murder took place. Everything of course falls together at the end, but I found this use of the sleuths an interesting twist.
The strong point is probably the author's use of time. The story-line unfolds in a non-linear manner and skips from one decade to another in a fashion exactly to my liking. I had to check back on people and places periodically, but not so much that it became frustrating. At two points, just when I thought I had lost all the connections completely, the author gave me a family tree to which I could refer. Some of the threads of story were only touched upon once early on and then left to the end. This device left me curious throughout as to how these strings were going to be woven in.
My disappointment with the book is based on my personal morality and my preference for reading books that either avoid moralizing completely or portray traditional moral lifestyles. This book seems to want to portray those things traditionally considered immoral, as sanctioned by those who are supposed to be the shepherds of the church.
The protagonist, the Reverend Kathryn Koerney, is an Episcopalian priest. Her cousin who has just died under mysterious circumstances was her best friend, and we find out was homosexual. This in itself is not important, nor was the gentleman's sexuality important to the story line, but the way it is portrayed is somewhat preachy and moralizing. I felt as though the whole reason for including it was as an opportunity to portray bigotry against the homosexual lifestyle.
Kathryn at one point in the book arranges to stay the night with a guy she's falling in love with, although because of the way the plot unravelled near the end, we're not told whether she kept that date.
From the beginning, it is clear that Tom, Kathryn's fellow sleuth and one of her parishioners is in love with her, but is himself married to another. At the end of the story, as a hooked line to the next book in the series, Tom is encouraged by a wise elder character to not give up on Kathryn. His final words of exhortation, "I seriously doubt that any man who does not have the balls to get out of a loveless marriage deserves Kathryn Korney."
All these moral points would not bother me as much in a different setting. But taken together and portrayed as they are, they seem designed to push the envelope. The idea of a pastor who accepts non-traditional values seems a bit contrived. At best, the effect does not make for pleasant diversionary reading. At worst, it just makes me plum mad. It seems deceitful and preachy. Especially when coupled with the endorsements the publishers chose to put on the back cover of the book.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Giants in the Earth
by O. E. Rolvaag
Thumbs up.
This classic tale of Norwegian immigration to Dakota Territory, tells the story of the Spring Creek Settlement. Per and Beret Hansa, Hans and Sorrina Olsa, Syvert and Kjersti Tonseten, and the two Solum brothers face together, the perils of westward expansion. Among the hardships they must bear are hunger, backbreaking labor, difficulties in childbirth, fear of the native people, grasshoppers, and summer and winter storms. But worse by far for some, is the fear and loneliness of this new country. The openness and stillness are so pervasive they are hard to ignore. And for some settlers, including Per Hansa's Beret, they sometimes lead to insanity.
Rolvaag, himself a Norwegian immigrant as a young man, tells all too realistically the sights and sounds of the prairie and the various emotions of the settlers. We laugh and cry with them. We appreciate the noble sacrifices they made in order to turn what is described as a desolate and forbidding landscape into the communities and farms that thrive in those prairie lands today.
We hear with Per Hansa and Beret the, "Squeak, squeak," of the wagon wheels and the, "Tish-ah, tish-ah," of the grasses opening before and closing behind the wagon.
We share with Beret the fear of the open spaces and the almost supernatural forces that inhabit them. We can feel the great silence along with those first settlers.
We experience the manic energy of Per Hansa to get more and more ground broken and keep ahead of his neighbors. And we rejoice over each acre of sod he breaks and the large sod house and stable he provides his family.
We feel Syvert and Kjersti's sadness, and even bitterness, when they are not able to have children. We breath a sigh of relief with Per Hansa, when his wife and child make it through a frighteningly difficult birth.
We rejoice Per Hansa's faithful friends, Hans Olsa and Sorrina, when their friend's wife returns to her senses. We can appreciate the import of their steadfastness to Per Hansa and his family.
But most of all, we feel gratitude and awe toward our forebears for the hardships they surmounted that we might have the farms and towns that make the great plains the great communities they are today. These people were truly giants in the earth.
Thumbs up.
This classic tale of Norwegian immigration to Dakota Territory, tells the story of the Spring Creek Settlement. Per and Beret Hansa, Hans and Sorrina Olsa, Syvert and Kjersti Tonseten, and the two Solum brothers face together, the perils of westward expansion. Among the hardships they must bear are hunger, backbreaking labor, difficulties in childbirth, fear of the native people, grasshoppers, and summer and winter storms. But worse by far for some, is the fear and loneliness of this new country. The openness and stillness are so pervasive they are hard to ignore. And for some settlers, including Per Hansa's Beret, they sometimes lead to insanity.
Rolvaag, himself a Norwegian immigrant as a young man, tells all too realistically the sights and sounds of the prairie and the various emotions of the settlers. We laugh and cry with them. We appreciate the noble sacrifices they made in order to turn what is described as a desolate and forbidding landscape into the communities and farms that thrive in those prairie lands today.
We hear with Per Hansa and Beret the, "Squeak, squeak," of the wagon wheels and the, "Tish-ah, tish-ah," of the grasses opening before and closing behind the wagon.
We share with Beret the fear of the open spaces and the almost supernatural forces that inhabit them. We can feel the great silence along with those first settlers.
We experience the manic energy of Per Hansa to get more and more ground broken and keep ahead of his neighbors. And we rejoice over each acre of sod he breaks and the large sod house and stable he provides his family.
We feel Syvert and Kjersti's sadness, and even bitterness, when they are not able to have children. We breath a sigh of relief with Per Hansa, when his wife and child make it through a frighteningly difficult birth.
We rejoice Per Hansa's faithful friends, Hans Olsa and Sorrina, when their friend's wife returns to her senses. We can appreciate the import of their steadfastness to Per Hansa and his family.
But most of all, we feel gratitude and awe toward our forebears for the hardships they surmounted that we might have the farms and towns that make the great plains the great communities they are today. These people were truly giants in the earth.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Day They Came to Arrest the Book
by Nat Hentoff
Thumbs mostly up.
More than telling a story, Mr. Hentoff uses this book as a platform from which to introduce, in a manner interesting to middle through high school aged kids, the idea of censorship and book banning. The setting is a somewhat generic Anywhere, USA, town high school, aptly named, George Mason High School. The cast of characters includes students: Barnaby, the high school newspaper editor of Jewish descent; Gordon, an African American young man; Kate, an aspiring feminist; and several other minor characters: students, teachers, the principle, a past and present librarian, and various townspeople.
The basic story line begins with a history teacher, Mrs. Baines, juxtaposing Huckleberry Finn with readings from Alexis de Tocqueville in order to introduce her 19th century American history class. Gordon, the African American student, is frustrated, seething would be more accurate, over the racial slurs and constant use of the "n-word" in Huckleberry Finn. After his father demands the principle remove this book from the school entirely, Mr. Moore, the smooth talking principle tries to deal with the situation discretely. He encounters resistance, however, from both Mrs. Baines and the new librarian, Miss Fitzgerald. They demand the principle follow official procedure.
This leads to the school board appointing a review committee which will hold community hearings. The committee will then approve a recommendation by vote and present it to the school board for guidance. The school board must then hold its own open meetings and cast a vote. Throughout this process the faculty, student body, and entire community becomes involved. Eventually the situation ends up on national news.
Mr. Hentoff does a fairly good job of trying to portray all the various sides of the issue of censorship within a school setting. He addresses the ideas of students being a captive audience, of schools being houses of learning, and the debate over at what age and in what way students ought to be introduced to analyzing ideas different than their own. He addresses the idea of a restricted book shelf and students opting out of certain class materials. He addresses teachers having autonomy within their classes. He is a little weak, in my opinion, on parental authority and rights.
I think Mr. Hentoff did a pretty good job of spinning a compelling plot out of a civics lesson.
The characters are somewhat unevenly drawn. The adults are developed very well. They are often quite comical in their idiosyncrasies. The kids are not very well developed except to tell us one or two things that might be important to them. The author takes a couple of chapters to introduce the students, but it seemed a bit rushed.
There is one somewhat blaring irony that I can't decide if the author stuck in intentionally. I think I've decided it was an oversight, since it was mentioned, but it's irony never brought out. At one point the kids are trying to think of an example of a book nobody could disapprove. Kate, the budding feminist, who has jumped on the anti-Huck Finn bandwagon for it's portrayal of women's place in society, suggests Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as a book about which nobody could complain. Since so many of the issues in Pride and Prejudice revolve around what we might consider very restrictive roles for women in society, it somewhat surprised me. It was either done intentionally, in order to show the blunders any strongly opinionated person might sometimes stumble into, or it was sloppy work on the part of the author and editor.
Another interesting point of view is portrayed in a conversation about a new class offering the content of which is aimed at teaching different sides of cultural issues. The stated goal is to pacify parents who might worry that teachers are too liberal on social issues. The list of typical issues with which conservatives might be concerned: flat earth, forced sterilization of the poor, and the use of military might against Russia. (This was written in 1982). I found it interesting that forced sterilization is portrayed as a conservative issue, since in its heyday, it was quite obviously a progressive issue. I also, even as an active Conservative, don't know too may people (read: any) who believe the earth is flat.
All in all this book could be useful for teaching about political activism, the role of community and parental involvement in schools, and the obvious topic of censorship and banning of books. But I would say that a parent would want to read this book along with a child, because of the many shades of opinion portrayed. The book also leads to a conclusion with which all parents may not totally agree.
I myself mostly agree with the solution, but there are things within the book I would have discussed further with a student. I didn't like the way some of the opinions were presented and the slant that was taken toward some viewpoints.
Thumbs mostly up.
More than telling a story, Mr. Hentoff uses this book as a platform from which to introduce, in a manner interesting to middle through high school aged kids, the idea of censorship and book banning. The setting is a somewhat generic Anywhere, USA, town high school, aptly named, George Mason High School. The cast of characters includes students: Barnaby, the high school newspaper editor of Jewish descent; Gordon, an African American young man; Kate, an aspiring feminist; and several other minor characters: students, teachers, the principle, a past and present librarian, and various townspeople.
The basic story line begins with a history teacher, Mrs. Baines, juxtaposing Huckleberry Finn with readings from Alexis de Tocqueville in order to introduce her 19th century American history class. Gordon, the African American student, is frustrated, seething would be more accurate, over the racial slurs and constant use of the "n-word" in Huckleberry Finn. After his father demands the principle remove this book from the school entirely, Mr. Moore, the smooth talking principle tries to deal with the situation discretely. He encounters resistance, however, from both Mrs. Baines and the new librarian, Miss Fitzgerald. They demand the principle follow official procedure.
This leads to the school board appointing a review committee which will hold community hearings. The committee will then approve a recommendation by vote and present it to the school board for guidance. The school board must then hold its own open meetings and cast a vote. Throughout this process the faculty, student body, and entire community becomes involved. Eventually the situation ends up on national news.
Mr. Hentoff does a fairly good job of trying to portray all the various sides of the issue of censorship within a school setting. He addresses the ideas of students being a captive audience, of schools being houses of learning, and the debate over at what age and in what way students ought to be introduced to analyzing ideas different than their own. He addresses the idea of a restricted book shelf and students opting out of certain class materials. He addresses teachers having autonomy within their classes. He is a little weak, in my opinion, on parental authority and rights.
I think Mr. Hentoff did a pretty good job of spinning a compelling plot out of a civics lesson.
The characters are somewhat unevenly drawn. The adults are developed very well. They are often quite comical in their idiosyncrasies. The kids are not very well developed except to tell us one or two things that might be important to them. The author takes a couple of chapters to introduce the students, but it seemed a bit rushed.
There is one somewhat blaring irony that I can't decide if the author stuck in intentionally. I think I've decided it was an oversight, since it was mentioned, but it's irony never brought out. At one point the kids are trying to think of an example of a book nobody could disapprove. Kate, the budding feminist, who has jumped on the anti-Huck Finn bandwagon for it's portrayal of women's place in society, suggests Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as a book about which nobody could complain. Since so many of the issues in Pride and Prejudice revolve around what we might consider very restrictive roles for women in society, it somewhat surprised me. It was either done intentionally, in order to show the blunders any strongly opinionated person might sometimes stumble into, or it was sloppy work on the part of the author and editor.
Another interesting point of view is portrayed in a conversation about a new class offering the content of which is aimed at teaching different sides of cultural issues. The stated goal is to pacify parents who might worry that teachers are too liberal on social issues. The list of typical issues with which conservatives might be concerned: flat earth, forced sterilization of the poor, and the use of military might against Russia. (This was written in 1982). I found it interesting that forced sterilization is portrayed as a conservative issue, since in its heyday, it was quite obviously a progressive issue. I also, even as an active Conservative, don't know too may people (read: any) who believe the earth is flat.
All in all this book could be useful for teaching about political activism, the role of community and parental involvement in schools, and the obvious topic of censorship and banning of books. But I would say that a parent would want to read this book along with a child, because of the many shades of opinion portrayed. The book also leads to a conclusion with which all parents may not totally agree.
I myself mostly agree with the solution, but there are things within the book I would have discussed further with a student. I didn't like the way some of the opinions were presented and the slant that was taken toward some viewpoints.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
The Corrections
by Jonathan Franzen
Thumbs down, down, down.
This was one of those books I wish I had never read. I made myself carry on, but several times since then, I've wished I hadn't. I kept hoping for a meaningful resolution. It didn't come.
On the bright side, there were entertaining moments. The characters are very well drawn and very creative. An example of this is one character who has the habit of scratching his scalp and smelling his fingertips. Eeeewww! But very vividly portrayed.
Unfortunately, Mr. Franzen takes this same talent to portray every twisted familial relationship imaginable. The characters are all unstable in their own ways. The family around whom the plot revolves is totally messed up.
Several of the characters enjoy a variety of deviant behaviors that are then described with this same flair for detail and memorable portrayal. And that is my fundamental complaint with this book. I am now stuck with these unseemly images in my head. I feel like I accidentally viewed something extremely naughty. I feel kind of violated. Yuck.
OK, for anyone who still wants to know more about the book, I suppose I ought to give brief plot summary. I think one is supposed to when one is reviewing a book.
Franzen takes readers along the lives of the Lambert family. The book is divided into sections, each section highlighting the history and evolution (devolution) of one member of the family, while still spinning the thread of the contemporary story line. The main story line is linear, but within each section, spun within the narrative, we hear each character's story.
Alfred, the father, is suffering from MS and early Alzheimer's. The mom, Enid, wants one more family Christmas at home. She really, really wants it.
The two brother and sister each have their own issues in dealing with what they see as their mother's somewhat obsessive desire for a family Christmas and with their father's impending demise.
Franzen drags his readers through the muck of each person's life and shows how they come to some sort of "correction" in their attitude. Unfortunately, the corrections are often more of the same. Selfishness and denial, submission within unhealthy relationships. And yet somehow, we're supposed to think it is all better. Or maybe we are not. Perhaps that is the point. Perhaps we are supposed to come to peace with the fact that everyone is screwy and as long as we feel OK with it, then it's OK.
I got the impression we are supposed to see the Lambert family as survivors, heroes. But I saw only a train wreck. I feel like I should add another indexed tab for this one called deviant behavior.
Thumbs down, down, down.
This was one of those books I wish I had never read. I made myself carry on, but several times since then, I've wished I hadn't. I kept hoping for a meaningful resolution. It didn't come.
On the bright side, there were entertaining moments. The characters are very well drawn and very creative. An example of this is one character who has the habit of scratching his scalp and smelling his fingertips. Eeeewww! But very vividly portrayed.
Unfortunately, Mr. Franzen takes this same talent to portray every twisted familial relationship imaginable. The characters are all unstable in their own ways. The family around whom the plot revolves is totally messed up.
Several of the characters enjoy a variety of deviant behaviors that are then described with this same flair for detail and memorable portrayal. And that is my fundamental complaint with this book. I am now stuck with these unseemly images in my head. I feel like I accidentally viewed something extremely naughty. I feel kind of violated. Yuck.
OK, for anyone who still wants to know more about the book, I suppose I ought to give brief plot summary. I think one is supposed to when one is reviewing a book.
Franzen takes readers along the lives of the Lambert family. The book is divided into sections, each section highlighting the history and evolution (devolution) of one member of the family, while still spinning the thread of the contemporary story line. The main story line is linear, but within each section, spun within the narrative, we hear each character's story.
Alfred, the father, is suffering from MS and early Alzheimer's. The mom, Enid, wants one more family Christmas at home. She really, really wants it.
The two brother and sister each have their own issues in dealing with what they see as their mother's somewhat obsessive desire for a family Christmas and with their father's impending demise.
Franzen drags his readers through the muck of each person's life and shows how they come to some sort of "correction" in their attitude. Unfortunately, the corrections are often more of the same. Selfishness and denial, submission within unhealthy relationships. And yet somehow, we're supposed to think it is all better. Or maybe we are not. Perhaps that is the point. Perhaps we are supposed to come to peace with the fact that everyone is screwy and as long as we feel OK with it, then it's OK.
I got the impression we are supposed to see the Lambert family as survivors, heroes. But I saw only a train wreck. I feel like I should add another indexed tab for this one called deviant behavior.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tortilla Flat
by John Steinbeck
Thumbs up, I think.
I seem to be giving alot of partial or mostly or kind of thumbs up lately. Some books are just not cut and dried, good or bad.
Tortilla Flat is a paisano community on the hills above Monterey, California. Steinbeck spends several paragraphs describing what this means. In summary, the paisanos are of mixed blood, early Spanish immigrants and Native Americans. They inhabited the American Southwest prior to the later waves of immigrants from Northern and Western European traditions. The paisanos live on the fringe of development and participate in modern society according to their own rules.
When Danny comes home to Tortilla Flat after his service in World War I, he finds he has inherited two homes from his grandfather. He is a wealthy man.
The story tells how Danny opens his homes to his friends and they enjoy the good life. They wake up when they want, they philosophize on sunny mornings on the front porch, they eat the charity food The Pirate brings each day. They drink wine from glass jars. And they take care of their own. Sort of.
In the end Danny is disenchanted with this subdued lifestyle. He engages in three weeks of dissipation, followed by a time of despondence. The communal structure between Danny and his friends winds to a halt after Tortilla Flat comes together for a memorable night of festivities in Danny's honor.
Danny and his friends do exactly what they want at all times. They are the protagonists. The reader cannot help but love them, in spite of their laziness, drunkenness, violence, thievery, prostitution and fornication/adultery.
Tortilla Flat was quite obviously written prior to our current age of political correctness. The paisano community is portrayed in what we today would call a negative light. But somehow, Steinbeck draws empathy from the reader toward such characters. I think the book reaches a bit of Rousseauvian romanticism in me.
There are many life lessons that a reader can ponder while reading this book. It might be useful for an ethics discussion with a upper highschool aged child. The book is rife with fodder for such an evaluation. Because of some of the vices touched upon, a parent should read the book first.
Thumbs up, I think.
I seem to be giving alot of partial or mostly or kind of thumbs up lately. Some books are just not cut and dried, good or bad.
Tortilla Flat is a paisano community on the hills above Monterey, California. Steinbeck spends several paragraphs describing what this means. In summary, the paisanos are of mixed blood, early Spanish immigrants and Native Americans. They inhabited the American Southwest prior to the later waves of immigrants from Northern and Western European traditions. The paisanos live on the fringe of development and participate in modern society according to their own rules.
When Danny comes home to Tortilla Flat after his service in World War I, he finds he has inherited two homes from his grandfather. He is a wealthy man.
The story tells how Danny opens his homes to his friends and they enjoy the good life. They wake up when they want, they philosophize on sunny mornings on the front porch, they eat the charity food The Pirate brings each day. They drink wine from glass jars. And they take care of their own. Sort of.
In the end Danny is disenchanted with this subdued lifestyle. He engages in three weeks of dissipation, followed by a time of despondence. The communal structure between Danny and his friends winds to a halt after Tortilla Flat comes together for a memorable night of festivities in Danny's honor.
Danny and his friends do exactly what they want at all times. They are the protagonists. The reader cannot help but love them, in spite of their laziness, drunkenness, violence, thievery, prostitution and fornication/adultery.
Tortilla Flat was quite obviously written prior to our current age of political correctness. The paisano community is portrayed in what we today would call a negative light. But somehow, Steinbeck draws empathy from the reader toward such characters. I think the book reaches a bit of Rousseauvian romanticism in me.
There are many life lessons that a reader can ponder while reading this book. It might be useful for an ethics discussion with a upper highschool aged child. The book is rife with fodder for such an evaluation. Because of some of the vices touched upon, a parent should read the book first.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Winterkill
by Gary Paulsen
One Thumb Up and One Thumb Down.
Paulsen is a great story teller and this book is no exception. But this book left me with a hollow feeling in my heart.
I've heard periodically since moving to this area about this book and the controversy associated with it throughout the years. I've heard from several local people that the books is somewhat autobiographical, with the fictional town of Twin Falls being a pseudonym for Paulsen's hometown of Thief River Falls, MN. Many of the characters and incidents, apparently, have basis in real people and happenings in Thief River Falls in the days during which Paulsen grew up. The character telling the story lived through many things that Paulsen lived through. Paulsen faced a libel suit over this book; after going all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, he was exonerated. But apparently it almost spelled an early end his writing career because he was so disheartened by the accusation. How can a writer write about things he or she has no experience with, after all?
The story is told by a thirteen year year old boy whose parents are violent drunks. He tells of his friendship with a mild mannered drunk, a local police officer, and his time at two different foster homes, his first girlfriend and his early jobs. The story ends abruptly after a crushing loss in the boys life.
Again, excellent story telling. But very sad.
One Thumb Up and One Thumb Down.
Paulsen is a great story teller and this book is no exception. But this book left me with a hollow feeling in my heart.
I've heard periodically since moving to this area about this book and the controversy associated with it throughout the years. I've heard from several local people that the books is somewhat autobiographical, with the fictional town of Twin Falls being a pseudonym for Paulsen's hometown of Thief River Falls, MN. Many of the characters and incidents, apparently, have basis in real people and happenings in Thief River Falls in the days during which Paulsen grew up. The character telling the story lived through many things that Paulsen lived through. Paulsen faced a libel suit over this book; after going all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, he was exonerated. But apparently it almost spelled an early end his writing career because he was so disheartened by the accusation. How can a writer write about things he or she has no experience with, after all?
The story is told by a thirteen year year old boy whose parents are violent drunks. He tells of his friendship with a mild mannered drunk, a local police officer, and his time at two different foster homes, his first girlfriend and his early jobs. The story ends abruptly after a crushing loss in the boys life.
Again, excellent story telling. But very sad.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Bella at Midnight
by Diane Stanley
Thumbs up.
Ms Stanley is a natural story teller. In this medieval tale she lets the characters tell the story, each in his or her own chapters, intertwining it all in a captivating yarn.
Maud reaches her sister's bedside in time to find the newborn Isabel a wet nurse. Isabel's mother does not recover; but the child is safe for now, out of the reach of her cold-hearted father.
Young Alice grieves for her father who has been lost at sea. When news of this tragedy comes to Alice, her sister Marianne, and their mother, they lose all they have. They must find their way in the world as paupers.
The peasant woman, Beatrice, served as wet nurse for Prince Julian, but he's had to return to the castle. God sends little Isabel to fill the hole he left behind. Thankfully the young lad still comes to visit. Julian and Isabel grow up as best friends, guided and shaped by Beatrice and her family.
Behind all these story lines is the long lasting war between Morinmoor and Brutanna, a short lived truce, and a prophecy of the Worthy Night who God will send to bring a more lasting peace between these two lands.
Ms. Stanley's characters live. Her setting is well drawn and historically consistent.
Underlying themes include fidelity, honesty, and contentment. Her characters must come to terms with the idea of true happiness as opposed to high social standing. She shows some characters embracing good choices and growing and thriving; and others who choose to hang on to grief, pride, and bitterness and therefore continue in unhappiness.
I also appreciate that Ms Stanley did not portray the religiosity of the medieval characters in a patronizing way. The characters the readers come to most love and admire are the ones who show what is probably a historically accurate faith in God and respect for the Church. This is not a primary theme, but it comes through in little ways throughout the story.
The book would make a great read aloud for a wide number of ages and would appeal to both boys and girls. For independent reading, I think an advanced third grader could easily read it. I think it would appeal to girls more than boys for independent reading. Because of the medieval setting, some words and topics might need explanation.
Thumbs up.
Ms Stanley is a natural story teller. In this medieval tale she lets the characters tell the story, each in his or her own chapters, intertwining it all in a captivating yarn.
Maud reaches her sister's bedside in time to find the newborn Isabel a wet nurse. Isabel's mother does not recover; but the child is safe for now, out of the reach of her cold-hearted father.
Young Alice grieves for her father who has been lost at sea. When news of this tragedy comes to Alice, her sister Marianne, and their mother, they lose all they have. They must find their way in the world as paupers.
The peasant woman, Beatrice, served as wet nurse for Prince Julian, but he's had to return to the castle. God sends little Isabel to fill the hole he left behind. Thankfully the young lad still comes to visit. Julian and Isabel grow up as best friends, guided and shaped by Beatrice and her family.
Behind all these story lines is the long lasting war between Morinmoor and Brutanna, a short lived truce, and a prophecy of the Worthy Night who God will send to bring a more lasting peace between these two lands.
Ms. Stanley's characters live. Her setting is well drawn and historically consistent.
Underlying themes include fidelity, honesty, and contentment. Her characters must come to terms with the idea of true happiness as opposed to high social standing. She shows some characters embracing good choices and growing and thriving; and others who choose to hang on to grief, pride, and bitterness and therefore continue in unhappiness.
I also appreciate that Ms Stanley did not portray the religiosity of the medieval characters in a patronizing way. The characters the readers come to most love and admire are the ones who show what is probably a historically accurate faith in God and respect for the Church. This is not a primary theme, but it comes through in little ways throughout the story.
The book would make a great read aloud for a wide number of ages and would appeal to both boys and girls. For independent reading, I think an advanced third grader could easily read it. I think it would appeal to girls more than boys for independent reading. Because of the medieval setting, some words and topics might need explanation.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Putting Away Childish Things
by Marcus J. Borg
Thumbs Down
If you've ever had to sit in a college classroom and listen to a professor or lecturer speak patronizingly about your personal beliefs, and if you enjoyed it, you'll love this book. Unless of course you are already not a Bible believing Christian, in the pre Enlightenment definition. If that is the case, you will probably get a hoot out of the oh-so-witty conservative Christian stereotypes and smirk to yourself about how insightful Dr. Borg is.
Dr. Kate Riley is a professor of religious philosophy. She lectures her students, she converses with her good friends (and an ex-lover), she writes in her journal, and she leads a Bible study at her Episcopal congregation. We are privy to all of these lectures, conversations, thoughts and teachings.
As Kate deals with a few life issues of her own and comes to a greater understanding of her connectedness to all things and of what it is to trust God, the reader is led through a survey course on post Enlightenment religious philosophy. One almost feels proselytized toward these religious views.
Putting Away Childish Things is a fictional narrative intended, it would seem, to educate a less scholarly demographic in post Enlightenment religious philosophy. The title refers to letting go of those "childish" notions like belief in an inerrant, inspired Scripture, creation, miracles and the resurrection story. It shows those of us who are still clinging to these outdated ideas what true Christianity is and how Christianity can be reconciled with more enlightened views of Scripture. It basically implies we need to just grow up.
Sorry, Dr. Borg, I'm not buying.
Please note, although it has a little Christian Fiction sticker from the library, I refuse to honor it with such label in my blog index.
Update 7/6/10
Joe thought my sarcasm might have been confusing. In the paragraph which starts, "Dr. Kate Riley is a professor of religious philosophy," I was trying to portray honestly the mindset of the character. I was not espousing her personal views or acknowledging them as truth.
Just to be clear...
Thumbs Down
If you've ever had to sit in a college classroom and listen to a professor or lecturer speak patronizingly about your personal beliefs, and if you enjoyed it, you'll love this book. Unless of course you are already not a Bible believing Christian, in the pre Enlightenment definition. If that is the case, you will probably get a hoot out of the oh-so-witty conservative Christian stereotypes and smirk to yourself about how insightful Dr. Borg is.
Dr. Kate Riley is a professor of religious philosophy. She lectures her students, she converses with her good friends (and an ex-lover), she writes in her journal, and she leads a Bible study at her Episcopal congregation. We are privy to all of these lectures, conversations, thoughts and teachings.
As Kate deals with a few life issues of her own and comes to a greater understanding of her connectedness to all things and of what it is to trust God, the reader is led through a survey course on post Enlightenment religious philosophy. One almost feels proselytized toward these religious views.
Putting Away Childish Things is a fictional narrative intended, it would seem, to educate a less scholarly demographic in post Enlightenment religious philosophy. The title refers to letting go of those "childish" notions like belief in an inerrant, inspired Scripture, creation, miracles and the resurrection story. It shows those of us who are still clinging to these outdated ideas what true Christianity is and how Christianity can be reconciled with more enlightened views of Scripture. It basically implies we need to just grow up.
Sorry, Dr. Borg, I'm not buying.
Please note, although it has a little Christian Fiction sticker from the library, I refuse to honor it with such label in my blog index.
Update 7/6/10
Joe thought my sarcasm might have been confusing. In the paragraph which starts, "Dr. Kate Riley is a professor of religious philosophy," I was trying to portray honestly the mindset of the character. I was not espousing her personal views or acknowledging them as truth.
Just to be clear...
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Careful Use of Compliments
by Alexander McCall Smith
Thumbs Up.
Until the other day, I had been under the mistaken idea that the Isabel Dalhousie series was to have only three books. I suppose this was a surmise on my part based on the neatly finished feeling at the end of the third book. But I quickly grabbed this the forth installment when I saw it. And I look forward to picking up the fifth and sixth books in the series.
For those who are unfamiliar with Isabel Dalhousie, she is the the editor of the fictional Review of Applied Ethics. She lives in Edinburgh and is independently wealthy. She is now mother to Charlie, who in this book is a few months old. In each book, Isabel ends up investigating/prying into some mystery. The difference between investigating and prying into is a fine line when viewed through the lenses of an expert on ethical matters. And this crux gives Isabel much food for her musings.
Although these books are mysteries, the focus is more on the ethical and social implications of the various circumstances Isabel ponders. I find them excellent material for re-examining my own worldview and they challenge me to internally defend my own stance on various contemporary social and political issues.
The characters are very likable; their personalities are well developed. The plots are always compelling.
The series is also very culturally rich. Isabel and her friends frequent the opera and orchestra; they discuss poetry and works of art. Although I didn't take the time to do so this time, the books often inspire me to read up on some of the composers or musical works, literary figures or artists who are mentioned.
In The Careful Use of Compliments, Isabel investigates the authenticity of some paintings that have recently come into the market. She nearly loses her job and faces an ethically tough decision regarding that potential loss.
Although Isabel knows that children do better in two parent homes, she still will not marry Jamie, which does not sit well with me. I just want to reach in there an twist their conversations to allow each of their true feelings to be addressed. Because she a woman who is so ethically upright, Isabel is loth to let Jamie know how she feels for fear of making him feel trapped into marrying her. This is just one example of how her reasoned ethical stances often lead to contradictory ends.
In The Careful Use of Compliments, Isabel and Jamie travel to the Isle of Jura in the Inner Hebrides. And yes, thanks to Mr. McCall Smith's vivid descriptions I now have yet another vacation spot to dream about. The author makes the landscape come alive for his readers.
It has been a couple of years since I have read one of these books, but in this one Isabel seems to spend more time than in the previous books examining the ideas of big government and social programs, inherited wealth and wealth in general. George Orwell and his writing of 1984 play a role in this title, as do the disparity of financial background between Isabel and Jamie, and also Isabel's grandfather's money from the oil industry.
Although I don't always come to the same conclusions as Isabel, I always enjoy reading about her and her exploits. And yes, exploit is not a word Isabel would like me to use regarding her investigations. She always operates from an ethically well-thought argument. She holds herself to very high standards within her rational humanist worldview. She would most certainly never intentionally exploit anyone.
Thumbs Up.
Until the other day, I had been under the mistaken idea that the Isabel Dalhousie series was to have only three books. I suppose this was a surmise on my part based on the neatly finished feeling at the end of the third book. But I quickly grabbed this the forth installment when I saw it. And I look forward to picking up the fifth and sixth books in the series.
For those who are unfamiliar with Isabel Dalhousie, she is the the editor of the fictional Review of Applied Ethics. She lives in Edinburgh and is independently wealthy. She is now mother to Charlie, who in this book is a few months old. In each book, Isabel ends up investigating/prying into some mystery. The difference between investigating and prying into is a fine line when viewed through the lenses of an expert on ethical matters. And this crux gives Isabel much food for her musings.
Although these books are mysteries, the focus is more on the ethical and social implications of the various circumstances Isabel ponders. I find them excellent material for re-examining my own worldview and they challenge me to internally defend my own stance on various contemporary social and political issues.
The characters are very likable; their personalities are well developed. The plots are always compelling.
The series is also very culturally rich. Isabel and her friends frequent the opera and orchestra; they discuss poetry and works of art. Although I didn't take the time to do so this time, the books often inspire me to read up on some of the composers or musical works, literary figures or artists who are mentioned.
In The Careful Use of Compliments, Isabel investigates the authenticity of some paintings that have recently come into the market. She nearly loses her job and faces an ethically tough decision regarding that potential loss.
Although Isabel knows that children do better in two parent homes, she still will not marry Jamie, which does not sit well with me. I just want to reach in there an twist their conversations to allow each of their true feelings to be addressed. Because she a woman who is so ethically upright, Isabel is loth to let Jamie know how she feels for fear of making him feel trapped into marrying her. This is just one example of how her reasoned ethical stances often lead to contradictory ends.
In The Careful Use of Compliments, Isabel and Jamie travel to the Isle of Jura in the Inner Hebrides. And yes, thanks to Mr. McCall Smith's vivid descriptions I now have yet another vacation spot to dream about. The author makes the landscape come alive for his readers.
It has been a couple of years since I have read one of these books, but in this one Isabel seems to spend more time than in the previous books examining the ideas of big government and social programs, inherited wealth and wealth in general. George Orwell and his writing of 1984 play a role in this title, as do the disparity of financial background between Isabel and Jamie, and also Isabel's grandfather's money from the oil industry.
Although I don't always come to the same conclusions as Isabel, I always enjoy reading about her and her exploits. And yes, exploit is not a word Isabel would like me to use regarding her investigations. She always operates from an ethically well-thought argument. She holds herself to very high standards within her rational humanist worldview. She would most certainly never intentionally exploit anyone.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Waterman's Boy
by Susan Sharpe
Thumbs mostly down.
Ben Warren and his friend Matt, are growing up along Chesapeake Bay. Ben's dad is a waterman. He does crabbing and clamming and oystering, all according to their season. The harvests are not as big as they used to be. Money is harder to come by and the towns along the bay are transitioning from home-town fishing villages to tourist destinations.
David Watchman is a scientist who is studying the microbiology of the bay to try to determine the causes of the decline in the health of its flora and fauna. Ben's father, Duke, along with others who make their living from the bay, is suspicious of scientists, and the government regulations and programs of which such scientists are harbingers.
This potentially volatile situation comes to a head when Ben and Matt discover an illegal dumping site hidden in the marsh. The site is filled with all kinds of junk including many barrels of what appears to be waste oil.
The story unfolds into a happy ending. Duke Warren comes to respect David Watchman. The town decides to study the effects of expansion before allowing more shopping centers and resorts and attractions to develop. Everyone realizes they want to save the bay and if they all get along and respect each other this will happen smoothly.
Anyone who loves both nature and small government will appreciate the quandary in which these town folks find themselves. My main complaint with the story is that the solution appears simple. The characters are somewhat one-dimensional. Duke Warren is set in his ways and is portrayed as somewhat naive for not wanting government regulations. The bad guy ends up being a newcomer to town (aka capitalist) who is involved in a business catering to the tourist trade. The scientist and Ben are the only multi-dimensional characters. Everyone else is a stereotype.
My second complaint with the story is not so much with the story itself as with the format of the book and what it implies. The book is obviously designed to be used in a classroom, because it has, in the front flap, one of those charts to show which students used it which years. As far as literature goes, the book leaves much to be desired. I can't imagine it being useful to teach about literature and good writing. The best use to which this story could be used in a classroom is to teach about pollution and environmentalism. I have a problem with using such one-dimensional characters to accomplish this. People are not only naive or evil or good or thoughtful. And in real life the solutions to problems such as those portrayed in the book are never simple. People and communities are affected by pollution and expansion and a changing income base on a multitude of levels. It seems somewhat manipulative to portray such a simple solution. I don't blame the author for this. I have no idea of her intentions. But using the book in a classroom to teach some sort of morality based upon such a simple solution seems somewhat dishonest.
Yet a third hurdle to my endorsement of the book is that Ben and Matt break some major rules and behave in a dangerous manner in order to help find the bad guy. The author does have an authority figure point this out to the boys, but then they are celebrated and thanked profusely by the community, which could tend to outweigh the effect of the rebuke in the mind of a young reader who might be drawn to the perceived heroism of the boys.
So to sum up, the plot is not bad. In fact the plot itself is somewhat well done. The yarn is good.
The characters ought to be better. The implications of how the book might be used are frightening. Any moral lessons are questionable and ought to include parental involvement.
Thumbs mostly down.
Ben Warren and his friend Matt, are growing up along Chesapeake Bay. Ben's dad is a waterman. He does crabbing and clamming and oystering, all according to their season. The harvests are not as big as they used to be. Money is harder to come by and the towns along the bay are transitioning from home-town fishing villages to tourist destinations.
David Watchman is a scientist who is studying the microbiology of the bay to try to determine the causes of the decline in the health of its flora and fauna. Ben's father, Duke, along with others who make their living from the bay, is suspicious of scientists, and the government regulations and programs of which such scientists are harbingers.
This potentially volatile situation comes to a head when Ben and Matt discover an illegal dumping site hidden in the marsh. The site is filled with all kinds of junk including many barrels of what appears to be waste oil.
The story unfolds into a happy ending. Duke Warren comes to respect David Watchman. The town decides to study the effects of expansion before allowing more shopping centers and resorts and attractions to develop. Everyone realizes they want to save the bay and if they all get along and respect each other this will happen smoothly.
Anyone who loves both nature and small government will appreciate the quandary in which these town folks find themselves. My main complaint with the story is that the solution appears simple. The characters are somewhat one-dimensional. Duke Warren is set in his ways and is portrayed as somewhat naive for not wanting government regulations. The bad guy ends up being a newcomer to town (aka capitalist) who is involved in a business catering to the tourist trade. The scientist and Ben are the only multi-dimensional characters. Everyone else is a stereotype.
My second complaint with the story is not so much with the story itself as with the format of the book and what it implies. The book is obviously designed to be used in a classroom, because it has, in the front flap, one of those charts to show which students used it which years. As far as literature goes, the book leaves much to be desired. I can't imagine it being useful to teach about literature and good writing. The best use to which this story could be used in a classroom is to teach about pollution and environmentalism. I have a problem with using such one-dimensional characters to accomplish this. People are not only naive or evil or good or thoughtful. And in real life the solutions to problems such as those portrayed in the book are never simple. People and communities are affected by pollution and expansion and a changing income base on a multitude of levels. It seems somewhat manipulative to portray such a simple solution. I don't blame the author for this. I have no idea of her intentions. But using the book in a classroom to teach some sort of morality based upon such a simple solution seems somewhat dishonest.
Yet a third hurdle to my endorsement of the book is that Ben and Matt break some major rules and behave in a dangerous manner in order to help find the bad guy. The author does have an authority figure point this out to the boys, but then they are celebrated and thanked profusely by the community, which could tend to outweigh the effect of the rebuke in the mind of a young reader who might be drawn to the perceived heroism of the boys.
So to sum up, the plot is not bad. In fact the plot itself is somewhat well done. The yarn is good.
The characters ought to be better. The implications of how the book might be used are frightening. Any moral lessons are questionable and ought to include parental involvement.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: the True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession
by Allison Hoover Bartlett
Thumbs Up.
After many hours of interviews and research, Ms. Bartlett narrates the stories of book thief, John Charles Gilkey, and rare book seller, Ken Sanders, whose perseverance tracked Gilkey down. Throughout, this tale is a celebration of books and book lovers. Ms. Bartlett describes various kinds of book aficionados and seeks to discover what makes someone who loves books and collecting them, cross the line into thievery.
A reader will learn about the history of collecting books, some of the premier venues for finding rare books, and a little of the terminology of the hobby. It's a great read for anyone who loves books, rare or common.
I could just about smell and feel the books Ms Barlett describes. I'd love to see, for instance, an example of fore-edge painting, in which the gilt edge, when fanned just slightly opened, shows a painting of a scene from the book. Occasionally, this process is done twice, so that when fanned the other way, an alternate scene is portrayed.
I could picture easily the wooden fronts and backs and the various leather and linen covers. I could imagine the aisles of such books in the shops Ms Bartlett highlighted. Mmmm.
The book is filled with the personal stories of books sellers and books. The author draws the reader along on the main two courses, that of Gilkey's world of book theft and Sander's drive to discover the thief.
But Ms Bartlett also meanders into frequent anecdotes showing how both a love of books and the stories within books themselves have effected people throughout time. The book pleases on many levels.
Thumbs Up.
After many hours of interviews and research, Ms. Bartlett narrates the stories of book thief, John Charles Gilkey, and rare book seller, Ken Sanders, whose perseverance tracked Gilkey down. Throughout, this tale is a celebration of books and book lovers. Ms. Bartlett describes various kinds of book aficionados and seeks to discover what makes someone who loves books and collecting them, cross the line into thievery.
A reader will learn about the history of collecting books, some of the premier venues for finding rare books, and a little of the terminology of the hobby. It's a great read for anyone who loves books, rare or common.
I could just about smell and feel the books Ms Barlett describes. I'd love to see, for instance, an example of fore-edge painting, in which the gilt edge, when fanned just slightly opened, shows a painting of a scene from the book. Occasionally, this process is done twice, so that when fanned the other way, an alternate scene is portrayed.
I could picture easily the wooden fronts and backs and the various leather and linen covers. I could imagine the aisles of such books in the shops Ms Bartlett highlighted. Mmmm.
The book is filled with the personal stories of books sellers and books. The author draws the reader along on the main two courses, that of Gilkey's world of book theft and Sander's drive to discover the thief.
But Ms Bartlett also meanders into frequent anecdotes showing how both a love of books and the stories within books themselves have effected people throughout time. The book pleases on many levels.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Cruel and Usual Punishment
by Nonie Darwish
Thumbs Up.
I really hate to give this book a thumbs up. Not because of the book itself however, but because the subject matter is so troubling.
Ms Darwish is an Egyptian born former Muslim. After 9/11 she decided to start a public stand against her former religion. This is her second book. She also is co founder of Former Muslims United and a public speaker and writer on issues of Islamic Sharia and jihad.
In the first part of the book, Ms Darwish leads the reader to a clearer understanding of how Sharia law affects individual Muslims. She shows the extreme violence against and oppression of women and non-Muslims particularly. She also analyzes of how that attitude negatively affects various other demographics like the poor and the sons and grown men and family life in general. She shows the culture of fear that is a necessary part of Islamic society. She shows how Sharia naturally effects the violence that we in the West like to think of as associated only with extreme Islam. Most of us are familiar with the Q'uran as the Muslim holy book. Ms Darwish introduces Western readers to the idea of Hadith, which is the collection of sayings by Muhammad that were collected by followers who were close to him; and also to the origins of Sharia, which was codified in the first hundred years or so after the death of Muhammad.
The result is quite frightening. I cannot summarize well what I felt after reading the first half of this book. Ms Darwish documents not only the many passages from the Q'uran, but also some of the many statements of Hadith that not only support, but also demand violence against particularly Jews; but also those of any religion outside of Islam; those without a religion; and also even those Muslims who don't do Sharia properly. More troubling still, Ms Darwish clearly shows how subjective the idea of following Sharia properly really is. And follow this with the truth that any individual Muslim has permission, by their own religious precepts, to kill anyone within Islam who can be perceived as not following Sharia. Oh, and that same permission extends, of course, to those outside of Islam.
In the second part of the book, Ms Darwish analyzes how Sharia law and its demands on individuals translate into society as a whole and international relations. She teaches about Dar al Islam (society within Islam, or the Islamic state, wherever that may be, geographically) and Dar al Harb (literally the house of war, or society outside of Islam). She shows how this distinction has evolved into the various geographical and political troubles today between Islam and others. These would include the constant violence in SE Asia and Somalia between Muslims and non Muslims, and even among Muslims; the civil war in what was formerly Yugoslavia; the constant acts of individual terror in western countries and elsewhere; and even the demands within western countries for more and more Sharia. By narrating many specific situations and also a chapter tracing the history of Egypt as an example, Ms Darwish successfully argues that the West needs to view Islam less as a religion and more as a political system. She includes a quite scathing reprimand of our media and its failure to report accurately the atrocities inflicted by Muslims around the world.
Ms Darwish uses an example that worked well to highlight the political nature of Islam and how we need to address it. She compared our relationship to the USSR during the cold war, to our relationship with Islam today. If Communism would have successfully sold itself as a religion, would we have allowed Communist temples in our communities or Communist studies departments in our universities? Just so, argues Ms Darwish, Islam is a political system. More specifically, it is a political system that in its purest sense views the West, and those who do not choose to subject themselves to that particular political system, as political enemies. And yet we invite into our communities the mosques that teach hatred of our way of life and even violence toward it. We allow Arab and Middle Eastern studies departments to be promoted and paid for by those who want to obliterate our society from the face of the earth.
Ms Darwish shows very clearly that Islam is not a religion of peace. Islam does call for violence. Through her use of only some of the 35, 213 verses calling for such violence, she shows that any one outside of Islam is at risk. But more troubling still is the second method Islam has used throughout history to spread itself and its violent and oppressive culture. That is the seemingly peaceful migration of Muslims into other geographic areas. These pilgrims, one might call them, are forbidden to assimilate. They are exhorted regularly by their religious leaders to hate those outside of their religion. They are encouraged to find fellow Muslims who are not following Sharia closely enough. And finally they have both encouragement and also the demand from their religion to show violence toward and even kill those with whom they disagree. Even what we might call a moderate religious leader finished up prayers every Friday with the exhortation to kill the infidel. It is part of what we might call the prescribed liturgy.
Ms Darwish shows, these communities of Muslims are spreading and growing like wildfire in western countries. Several European countries are already facing tough decisions with regard to the Muslim community and because of the very nature of Islam. And although there are upright Muslims who we might like to think of as moderate, the religion itself produces such a culture of fear, that we must not expect these people to speak out against the violence promoted by some within Islam. Their life could be forfeit, because of their own religious precepts. Even if perhaps only 10% of Muslims choose to follow the prescribed violence, we can see how risky speaking out is for those who might choose to do so.
When Islam is seen in this light, we in the West, with our relativist attitudes and multi-culturalism are faced with a dilemma. And so far we have not within our culture or political structures clarified a way to deal with this. Ms Darwish gives her list of nine things she thinks could be successfully implemented in the West to stop what she describes as the Islamization of our society.
Finally, Ms Darwish gives her hopes that the religion of Islam itself could experience a reformation. Unfortunately, I can't figure how this would work. Within the Christian church, the Reformation called for the church to return to its origins, the Holy Scriptures. If what Ms Darwish taught us in the whole rest of her book is correct, Islam cannot be reformed without entirely leaving its foundational writings. The entire religion is poisoned from its inception with violence and oppression.
Ms Darwish makes clear that something must be done by those who wish to remain free. Whether we have the strength of will or the moral fortitude to accomplish this is not at all clear.
Thumbs Up.
I really hate to give this book a thumbs up. Not because of the book itself however, but because the subject matter is so troubling.
Ms Darwish is an Egyptian born former Muslim. After 9/11 she decided to start a public stand against her former religion. This is her second book. She also is co founder of Former Muslims United and a public speaker and writer on issues of Islamic Sharia and jihad.
In the first part of the book, Ms Darwish leads the reader to a clearer understanding of how Sharia law affects individual Muslims. She shows the extreme violence against and oppression of women and non-Muslims particularly. She also analyzes of how that attitude negatively affects various other demographics like the poor and the sons and grown men and family life in general. She shows the culture of fear that is a necessary part of Islamic society. She shows how Sharia naturally effects the violence that we in the West like to think of as associated only with extreme Islam. Most of us are familiar with the Q'uran as the Muslim holy book. Ms Darwish introduces Western readers to the idea of Hadith, which is the collection of sayings by Muhammad that were collected by followers who were close to him; and also to the origins of Sharia, which was codified in the first hundred years or so after the death of Muhammad.
The result is quite frightening. I cannot summarize well what I felt after reading the first half of this book. Ms Darwish documents not only the many passages from the Q'uran, but also some of the many statements of Hadith that not only support, but also demand violence against particularly Jews; but also those of any religion outside of Islam; those without a religion; and also even those Muslims who don't do Sharia properly. More troubling still, Ms Darwish clearly shows how subjective the idea of following Sharia properly really is. And follow this with the truth that any individual Muslim has permission, by their own religious precepts, to kill anyone within Islam who can be perceived as not following Sharia. Oh, and that same permission extends, of course, to those outside of Islam.
In the second part of the book, Ms Darwish analyzes how Sharia law and its demands on individuals translate into society as a whole and international relations. She teaches about Dar al Islam (society within Islam, or the Islamic state, wherever that may be, geographically) and Dar al Harb (literally the house of war, or society outside of Islam). She shows how this distinction has evolved into the various geographical and political troubles today between Islam and others. These would include the constant violence in SE Asia and Somalia between Muslims and non Muslims, and even among Muslims; the civil war in what was formerly Yugoslavia; the constant acts of individual terror in western countries and elsewhere; and even the demands within western countries for more and more Sharia. By narrating many specific situations and also a chapter tracing the history of Egypt as an example, Ms Darwish successfully argues that the West needs to view Islam less as a religion and more as a political system. She includes a quite scathing reprimand of our media and its failure to report accurately the atrocities inflicted by Muslims around the world.
Ms Darwish uses an example that worked well to highlight the political nature of Islam and how we need to address it. She compared our relationship to the USSR during the cold war, to our relationship with Islam today. If Communism would have successfully sold itself as a religion, would we have allowed Communist temples in our communities or Communist studies departments in our universities? Just so, argues Ms Darwish, Islam is a political system. More specifically, it is a political system that in its purest sense views the West, and those who do not choose to subject themselves to that particular political system, as political enemies. And yet we invite into our communities the mosques that teach hatred of our way of life and even violence toward it. We allow Arab and Middle Eastern studies departments to be promoted and paid for by those who want to obliterate our society from the face of the earth.
Ms Darwish shows very clearly that Islam is not a religion of peace. Islam does call for violence. Through her use of only some of the 35, 213 verses calling for such violence, she shows that any one outside of Islam is at risk. But more troubling still is the second method Islam has used throughout history to spread itself and its violent and oppressive culture. That is the seemingly peaceful migration of Muslims into other geographic areas. These pilgrims, one might call them, are forbidden to assimilate. They are exhorted regularly by their religious leaders to hate those outside of their religion. They are encouraged to find fellow Muslims who are not following Sharia closely enough. And finally they have both encouragement and also the demand from their religion to show violence toward and even kill those with whom they disagree. Even what we might call a moderate religious leader finished up prayers every Friday with the exhortation to kill the infidel. It is part of what we might call the prescribed liturgy.
Ms Darwish shows, these communities of Muslims are spreading and growing like wildfire in western countries. Several European countries are already facing tough decisions with regard to the Muslim community and because of the very nature of Islam. And although there are upright Muslims who we might like to think of as moderate, the religion itself produces such a culture of fear, that we must not expect these people to speak out against the violence promoted by some within Islam. Their life could be forfeit, because of their own religious precepts. Even if perhaps only 10% of Muslims choose to follow the prescribed violence, we can see how risky speaking out is for those who might choose to do so.
When Islam is seen in this light, we in the West, with our relativist attitudes and multi-culturalism are faced with a dilemma. And so far we have not within our culture or political structures clarified a way to deal with this. Ms Darwish gives her list of nine things she thinks could be successfully implemented in the West to stop what she describes as the Islamization of our society.
Finally, Ms Darwish gives her hopes that the religion of Islam itself could experience a reformation. Unfortunately, I can't figure how this would work. Within the Christian church, the Reformation called for the church to return to its origins, the Holy Scriptures. If what Ms Darwish taught us in the whole rest of her book is correct, Islam cannot be reformed without entirely leaving its foundational writings. The entire religion is poisoned from its inception with violence and oppression.
Ms Darwish makes clear that something must be done by those who wish to remain free. Whether we have the strength of will or the moral fortitude to accomplish this is not at all clear.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Waking
by Matthew Sanford
Thumbs Up.
Matthew Sanford became a paraplegic at the age of thirteen, in the same car accident that killed his father and sister. In Waking, he tells the story of that experience, how it changed his life, and how he changed his reaction to the new life.
The book is interesting and inspiring. Mr. Sanford is a good story teller. He pulls the reader along to find out what happens next, and he gently guides through some very painful spots.
Throughout the book, Mr. Sanford uses the metaphor of darkness, silence, and sleep, to describe both his paralyzed limbs and his life experience. This is combined with the parallel metaphors of light and waking to refer to the new outlook he gradually took on.
I do recommend the book because I think many of Mr. Sanford's insights are worthy of consideration. But I am saddened that so many of the struggles he addresses and subsequently solves via his intense pursuit of the yoga way of life, could just as readily be solved with Biblical insights.
Mr. Sanford is a yogi, motivational speaker, and sustainable investment advisor.
Thumbs Up.
Matthew Sanford became a paraplegic at the age of thirteen, in the same car accident that killed his father and sister. In Waking, he tells the story of that experience, how it changed his life, and how he changed his reaction to the new life.
The book is interesting and inspiring. Mr. Sanford is a good story teller. He pulls the reader along to find out what happens next, and he gently guides through some very painful spots.
Throughout the book, Mr. Sanford uses the metaphor of darkness, silence, and sleep, to describe both his paralyzed limbs and his life experience. This is combined with the parallel metaphors of light and waking to refer to the new outlook he gradually took on.
I do recommend the book because I think many of Mr. Sanford's insights are worthy of consideration. But I am saddened that so many of the struggles he addresses and subsequently solves via his intense pursuit of the yoga way of life, could just as readily be solved with Biblical insights.
Mr. Sanford is a yogi, motivational speaker, and sustainable investment advisor.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Anna
by Dagfinn Gronoset
Thumbs Up.
Anna grows up in south-central Norway and then runs off with Big Karl to wander in the wilderness. Big Karl turns out to be not really a very nice guy. After facing neglect and poverty at his hands, he finally sells her to a Jo, wilderness farmer for 300 kroner. Jo's homestead was along the shores of Lake Ister, along the Swedish border, a very remote area.
With Mr. Gronoset, Anna, an elderly lady at the time of the writing, tells her story of survival. although her situation was often wretched by today's American standards, Anna finds hope and meaning in helping those who need her. It's inspiring to me to read about these kind of living conditions, but never hear the complaint in Anna's retelling. She seems at peace with her lot in life and considers it a success.
Thumbs Up.
Anna grows up in south-central Norway and then runs off with Big Karl to wander in the wilderness. Big Karl turns out to be not really a very nice guy. After facing neglect and poverty at his hands, he finally sells her to a Jo, wilderness farmer for 300 kroner. Jo's homestead was along the shores of Lake Ister, along the Swedish border, a very remote area.
With Mr. Gronoset, Anna, an elderly lady at the time of the writing, tells her story of survival. although her situation was often wretched by today's American standards, Anna finds hope and meaning in helping those who need her. It's inspiring to me to read about these kind of living conditions, but never hear the complaint in Anna's retelling. She seems at peace with her lot in life and considers it a success.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Fanny
by Holly Hobbie
Thumbs Up
I like this book on so many levels. Fanny wants a Connie doll for her birthday. Connie dolls somewhat resemble the Brats dolls. Although all her friends have them, Fanny's mom says no. "They are just too much."
After Fanny's mom explains this, Fanny sets out to make her own Connie doll. Although the finished product does not really resemble the sleek (slutty-my word) looking Connie dolls, Fanny kind of falls in love with her homemade Annabelle.
And what does Fanny get for her birthday instead of the ached for Connie? A box of fabrics and various sewing supplies. Very uncool.
By the end of the book, Fanny has come to peace with her gift and even uses it to make Annabelle a doll of her own.
I like the portrayal of a mom standing on principles. I like Fanny's imagination and the fortitude she shows in fixing her dilemma. And I love that she comes to a peace with her gift and shows further creativity by putting the contents to use.
I also like the example Fanny shows in dealing gracefully with her friends and their cool dolls and oh-so-cool opinions.
Thumbs Up
I like this book on so many levels. Fanny wants a Connie doll for her birthday. Connie dolls somewhat resemble the Brats dolls. Although all her friends have them, Fanny's mom says no. "They are just too much."
After Fanny's mom explains this, Fanny sets out to make her own Connie doll. Although the finished product does not really resemble the sleek (slutty-my word) looking Connie dolls, Fanny kind of falls in love with her homemade Annabelle.
And what does Fanny get for her birthday instead of the ached for Connie? A box of fabrics and various sewing supplies. Very uncool.
By the end of the book, Fanny has come to peace with her gift and even uses it to make Annabelle a doll of her own.
I like the portrayal of a mom standing on principles. I like Fanny's imagination and the fortitude she shows in fixing her dilemma. And I love that she comes to a peace with her gift and shows further creativity by putting the contents to use.
I also like the example Fanny shows in dealing gracefully with her friends and their cool dolls and oh-so-cool opinions.
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