A little bit of everything and so much more

Ok, it has been some time since I last posted. I have been reading a myriad of things over the last six months. The question then becomes which readings do I discuss that bring on the rant and illuminate some revelation that I feel the need to share with the world. Well the answer is found below with the following titles: Honolulu by Alan Brennert, Black Water Rising by Attica Locke and for fun a couple of titles by Christopher Moore Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove and Island of the Sequined Love Nun.

Honolulu, is an interesting read. As we look at immigration laws and all the issues centering around that debate, this book takes us back to Hawaii's history and all that this beautiful 'paradise' offered many people from many places. An historical fiction centering around the life a Korean girl as she struggles to make a life for herself away from the confines of being a woman in a male dominated world, this book brings to life the struggles of immigrating to a new land. As a picture bride our main character runs from all she knows in search of an education and a life her mother and "little sister" will never have. (Little sister is her brother's chosen wife, who at the age of 5 comes to live in their home to prep for her eventual marriage.) Our story begins in 1914 Korea and here we get a gilmpse of what role women were expected to play. Our main character is not happy in this role and seeks to learn to read. It is this struggle that kept me reading at first. I wanted this young girl to get the education she desired. I was pleasantly surprised with the story that unfolded.

Amid the story of Regret or Jin as she would later call herself, the history of Honolulu unfolds. As an historical fiction, there are a lot of facts to be found. It was after reading the book that I found some of the characters and facts to be true and this made the after-reading experience for me one of awe. I highly recommend this book. It was not a light read by any stretch of the imagination, but one worth reading.

Now for the rant...As a woman reading this I was able to identify with many of the struggles that Jin faces. While I am not a picture bride, the abuse and her desire to better her life did hit a cord with me, but it was Jin's desire to become independent and to get an education that really resonated with me. There is in 2010 a world of women out there who are still facing oppression. Not every girl in this world is lucky enough to receive and education or even the right to choose her own husband. While we have journeyed a long way since 1914 we still have quite a distance yet to travel. The revelation then is this as I make lesson plans for the fall: as a woman with and education I need to do all that I can to promote other women less fortunate than myself. I need to make sure all of the girls in my classes see their potential and then go out into the world and do something positive.

Black Water Rising is a read that sent my metaphorical mind reeling. The title alone screams metaphor and then once you finish the three levels of metaphor come crashing together. On one level this is a book about a black man's struggle to rise above all that is youth and family history have made him. The main character Jay is a lawyer with a 'criminal' past and a family history that nearly prevents him from moving into his current role as father-to-be. His role as husband has something to be desired as well. On another level this book is about civil rights. From the 1960s to the 1980s the struggle for all races to be treated equally is in the back story of this book. At times, the flashbacks to Jay's college days were a bit tedious to read, but in the end necessary for the story to come together. Finally the the last level is the story of the oil mogul and the murder mystery that grabs the at the very beginning from the murky black water of the bayou. Black Water Rising is another must read.

The Rant that this brings on has everything to do with the oil slick floating in the gulf...black water rising and washing ashore all because the big oil company BP didn't want to wait to make sure all was safe before drilling. They didn't stop to think about the human cost or the potential loss of marine life, jobs, etc. The spiraling effects of this spill will be seen for years. I don't even really want to get started so my revelation is that we need people like Jay Porter to stand up for the little guys. We need people to rise from their pasts that may seem to be holding them back and become what the world needs most: advocates. We can't have big business running things...they'll kill us all.

And now for the fun...I mentioned to a colleague of mine that I wanted to read Fool by Christopher Moore. I read, as I have mentioned before with Bubba's Book Club and Neil read and wrote about Fool. My friend set me on the quest for Fool via Moore's other books first. I am glad that I have embarked on this quest. The First book on this Quest was Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove followed by The Island of the Sequined Love Nun. I am about to start Fluke.

I will keep this short. Christopher Moore is a brilliant writer. I laugh my way through his books but I also find myself thinking about the characters he creates. Not always people you would like right away, but by the end of the book, have redeemed themselves and thus become worthy of friendship. So, now I am off to my summer reading pile...more posts to follow.

From Edward Sawtell to Sherlock Holmes...

Readings: Ok, so what haven't I been reading these past few months? Books: The Story of Edgar Sawtell, The Help, Dracula, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and I am sure that I am forgetting some. I won't mention the books that I use in my classroom as reads here, though I do reread them every year. I always seem to find new things to mention to my classes. I find it difficult to read the local papers. Not only do I get aggravated by what is going on in the world of politics, and local government but I find all the petty arguing that happens over so many things in the community distressing. Why can't people just agree to disagree and then work toward doing what is best for everyone? They spend more time trying to prove themselves above others that the problems just get bigger and bigger until no one can fix them. I guess you could call this my Ranting as well.

I do want to discuss the merits of a couple of the books listed above. The Story of Edgar Sawtell is a MUST read. Don't let the reviews stop you, especially if they say something about the book being Hamlet-like. While it does follow the Hamlet plot, it has so much more to offer a reader. This is one I didn't want to end, but while I knew how it would turn out, I couldn't stop reading.

The Help is another read that was gripping and telling of the civil rights movement. Told from several points of view, this book will take the reader into the lives of several women at the beginning of civil rights in the heart of the south. Many times during the reading of this book I found myself on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, fearing for the safety of the women telling their stories. I applauded their actions and cringed at the treatment they received at the hands of their employers. Humans are humans no matter their color, sexual preference or religious beliefs and deserve to be treated as such with dignity and respect.

I went to the movies, another 'read' here was Sherlock Holmes directed by Guy Ritchie. I found the story, and the film captivating. Enough so, that I "purchased" The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes for my kindle. I wanted to know if Ritchie was true to the character created by Sr. Arthur Conan Doyle. I was quite surprised that he in fact was. While some of the action needed in today's world for movies was a bit much, the characters and words were in fact based on the characters created by Doyle, even the boxing (my husband wondered about this). I hope there is a second Holmes in the works. I enjoyed this film. I have enjoyed reading the adventures that I did purchase the complete works for my reading pleasure.

Revelations: Even in this crazy world we live in there are things to find enjoyment in doing and experiencing. I love reading and I like the occasional movie. Apparently I am in a pretty good mood today that my ranting isn't so biting as some of the others have been. I guess this is a good thing, though I am sure that right around the corner there will be something to set me off. Until next time..."I will choose a path that's clear/I will choose free will." (Peart)

A little music never hurt anyone

This latest read is one that I think deserves more than a rant. I read An Equal Music by Vikram Seth. Wow! I started it on a quiet morning and could not put this one down. I went to bed that evening with roughly 100 pages left. I pick up a lot of the titles for books from "Bubba's Book Club" as I may have mentioned in an earlier post. (For those of you who don't know, Bubba is Neil Peart and he writes about books on his web.) This was one of those titles that I picked up after reading about it. I was not disappointed. Bubba has not let me down.

Without giving too much away, I must say that parts of this book were predictable but never the less I kept reading. There were some surprises too and it is these surprises that make those spots of predicability less irritating. The overall story was one that I couldn't walk away from. It is a love story on many levels. The main character was both endearing and someone I didn't really like at times. He came across as arrogant one minute and quite charming the next. At one point in time I wanted to slap him, but alas he is only a character in a book. It is music that makes this man who he is and it is music that breaks him.

The thing about this book that really stands out for me is the musical aspect and multitude of references to music and musical instruments, of which I have no clue. I did find a CD out there with the same title; many of the pieces that are mentioned in the book are on this CD. I am tempted to purchase it just to have it with my book. Music is something that brings us together. It can also tear us apart as is evident in the book. I often found myself thinking about the power of music. What would I do without music in my own life? I may not be able to hold a note or even play an instrument, but I sure to sing at the top of my lungs while I am driving in my car. Music is that common denominator, that language everyone seems to know and that bridge that crosses all barriers.

So, here it is my revelation. Music is that thing that every human has in common. We need to look to the songs in our hearts and find that drummer that makes us move as one. No conflicts, no wars, nothing pulling us apart. Impossible maybe, but still a song worth singing even if it is only in my head.

Summer Reading

Well, the end of summer is punctuated by the opening of the school year. As I reflect on my summer reading, a couple of titles stand out above the rest.

Babylon Rolling (the author escapes my mind) is the first read to rant about. I read this as an advanced reader's copy and thus I can not quote any passages. I do have to say that the voice and the point of view shifts are what make this book a great read. Each character's story is told and written in that character's voice and from that specific point of view. An author who can do this is one to be applauded. I really felt like I was experiencing each person's reality while I was reading. I was sucked into this book from the very beginning.

My first rant about this read has to do with the reality that each one of us lives on a daily basis. We so often take on the persona that we think others want us to have. We do this without regard for ourselves or the people closest to us. I guess this is what really drew me into this book. I try to live my life for myself, but often find that my true being is hidden because of what others around me expect. Sometimes this is a good thing but many times it really doesn't make much difference. A good example happened the other night when I had the perfect opportunity to express my views of the health care issue facing our society today. I was at a book club meeting with a friend, but because I was new to the group and didn't want to offend anyone, I didn't say what my heart and mind told me to say. I now regret not taking a stand and presenting my position. Can I go back and do over? No, but I can take this lesson from the book and from my experience and say something next time. I just hope there is a next time. Why do I find it acceptable to offend a classmate by stating my mind/opinion, but find it difficult to do so with strangers? Babylon rolls...

The second book I want to discuss here is Buffalo Lockjaw by Greg Ames. This is one of those books that makes you think about things in life that too soon many of us will face; the death of a loved one. The main character here is faced with the choice of ending his mother's suffering, as she clearly supported or not doing it because the law says it is a crime. I wonder myself what I would have chosen. I am not going to spoil this one for you, as it is an exceptional read. I will however, pose the question of assisted suicide: Is this acceptable? Many would say not. I think maybe it depends on the people involved.

As someone who doesn't really believe, I think that ending the suffering of another should be allowed if the person accepts this as an option. I know that if I were to become a vegetable, then I would want my family to 'pull the plug' before I became a burden. I wouldn't want to be remembered as someone needing daily care just to be kept alive in such a state. I am married to a man somewhat older than myself. I often worry about keeping him alive after his quality of life is such that he no longer 'lives'. What is the right thing to do? Who knows, but if he were to say "don't keep me alive on life support' then I know what would need to be done. My problem comes with other circumstances where he wouldn't be on life support, but wouldn't be himself either.

Fortunately, I don't need to make this decision at this time. This book is one that makes the reader think about such things.

What are my revelations then? The choices we make to speak up or not and the choices we make when faced with difficult decisions are our own to make. Nobody can influence them. We might regret making them in the long run, but if we don't think about them now and really consider them, how will we know and feel about them when we do have to make them? Hopefully we are strong enough to make them in the first place. I am ashamed that I was not true to myself at the book club meeting. I thought I was over that fear of offending others. I now see that I have things to work on. I also hope that I am not asked to choose life or death for my husband, nor him for me, but I hope that if I am put into that position I make the correct choice for myself and my loved one like the main character in Buffalo Lockjaw.

I have chewed on this one long enough.

Ok, I have ruminated over this book long enough. I usually read a book and forget it after a few days or remember it forever. This one, I have been chewing on for some time. I guess it struck me in such a way that I can't let it go until I've ranted. I read The Shack by William P. Young, published in 2007 by Windblown Media out of California, for my book club. As you can guess, we discussed it briefly before moving on to all the latest gossip. (So much for a book club that actually talks about the books we read. I am going to try another book club tonight.)

When my book club chose this one, I was a tad skeptical to say the least. Not being a very religious person and not wanting to be preached at, I wasn't really looking forward to reading this one. I thought it would be shoving God down my throat, choking me as I read. Growing up in a small town with only one church I had no real choice of religion. As kids we go where our parents go, or where they force us to go and for me this was the Baptist church. So, if you know anything about religion you know where my mind was going and I wasn't liking it much. My views on God, religion, politics and such have changed over the years. While I still believe in a higher power, I don't believe that there is just one god pulling all of the strings while we sit around and wait to see how it all plays out. I am all about freewill. There are many ways to pray and living rightly is what matters. I don't think a benevolent God would approve of people doing things in his name that harm others, but I digress...

The question of who God is or what God is can not really be answered, though many have tried. This book, The Shack has done a great job of presenting God in such a way that I am still thinking about it. I have not yet put my finger on what it is about this book that keeps my interest. I have not changed my religious views or my thoughts about God, but because of this book, my god now has a face. (I am still not a fan of organized religion, but that would be another digression.) The book itself starts out as an unbelievable story and one that I sort of snickered at as I was reading. I thought I knew where the author was taking me and I wasn't in the mood for a sermon on how God speaks to us through others and how all we need to do is listen. I wasn't able to put the book down, after all it was a book club book and how could the English teacher show up to the meeting without finishing the assignment? I kept reading. To my surprise the flashback to the accident kept me on the edge of my seat, and I wasn't being beaten over the head with God or religion. The best surprise came when God's character showed up along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit as Mack entered the shack. The philosophical aspect of the book kept me riveted. I really enjoyed Mack's discussions with God and the way in which God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit enveloped him. I am not saying that his questions were answered because they weren't to any real satisfaction, but the answers Mack got were enough, just what he needed. I think this is the aspect of this character I like the best. God in The Shack gave Mack only what he needed and exactly when he needed it. (I am sure I sound like a preacher myself here but this is where my conventional views on God end.)

It is the nature of god that so many people, like me and the main character struggle with that this book attempts to answer. I won't give anything away here, you'll need to read the book for yourself, but this central question is answered to my satisfaction in this book by the character, God. The characters of the Holy Spirit and Jesus also add to and support the answers regarding the nature of God laid out in this book. These characters offer comfort and answers to some of the toughest questions humans throw out there where God is concerned, especially in difficult times. Mr. Young creates some characters that will probably stand the test of time, if you will, and keep people talking. I think the biggest question he attempts to answer is the one where people questions God's motives for allowing bad things to happen. Again, you will need to read the book to see for yourself Young's answer.

I have since discussed this very book and this idea of the nature of God with a friend of mine who holds many of the same views as I. Her Catholic background is much like that of my Baptist background. Here is where my rant ends and the revelation begins. It doesn't matter what any one of us believes as long as we can come together speaking and listening equally to reach a common understanding. We need not try to force our thoughts, beliefs, ideals etc. onto others. Our own understanding of the world will come when we learn to listen to what others say and then apply what we know. I have found that great books offer a stepping stone into that conversation, listening and speaking to others, necessary for growth. A book is more peaceful than any weapon. Once the conversation begins, like a ripple in the water, it continues even after the conversation seems to be over and books offer many generations the opportunity to join the conversation.

God, from The Shack is a character who like many good teachers doesn't offer the answers to questions, but instead offers new questions and new ways to look at and think about the questions we are asking. This allows us to find our own answers. This character encompasses all aspects of all religion, equally and this is the God I choose to believe in, rightly or wrongly but without judgement.

Ranting #1

Welcome to Readings, Rantings and Revelations.  I love to read, I rant on about nothing in particular and my revelations may not be of use to anyone but me.  I just need to put it out there.

Nothing much to rant about tonight except the weather and there is nothing I can do about that. Why do so many people complain about things they have no control over and couldn't change even if they did have control?  I am not really complaining, but rather wishing Mother Nature would stop with the games and just let Spring, well, spring.  I think that once the weather changes people will start smiling at one another instead of walking with their faces buried into their chests to avoid the wind and blowing snow/rain.  At least with the rain (or snow) one can snuggle up with a good book, in front of a fire with a warming drink and escape into the wonderful world of imagination that only a book can deliver.  And, here it is the revelation.  Cold weather is good for something.  Reading.

Well, I ranted, touched on reading and had a revelation.  Not bad for my first post to the general "public" of the world wide web.