Science Fiction Fabulous

 Science Fiction.  Land of logical freedom -- the limits of science are both free and necessary to create worlds that are only *somewhat* like the one we live in. I've claimed that Sci-Fi is out of my box. As far as books are concerned it really, really is.  But truthfully, I like Sci-Fi TV and movies.  Nothing that hardcore--The X-Files was a bit too creepy for me.  However, I do love Star Trek, Star Wars and various other fun Sci-Fi-based films (read: Zombieland).  In the "what's your favourite action movie" game my answer is definitely the new Star Trek.  And not just because Chris Pine (aka Captain Kirk) looks just like my husand (wink, wink). I just like Star Trek.   When it comes to books my science fiction forays were few and far between.  Until recently...all of sudden book club and friends and websites (cause I listen to the interwebs) were all about Science Fiction.  And...

It has been so much fun!  Sobering events in the last few make it even more desirable to imagine that the world could change drastically.  (Obviously imagining the world away is not the solution; yet a break is still deeply appreciated.)  Onto nicer thoughts...

I have read three books -- a classic of Science Fiction Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card), a comedic one, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams) and a present day sci-fi, Wake (Robert J. Sawyer).   What a lovely cross-section, no? 

Reading Ender's Game is like reading a intro to Science Fiction.  And it did what I never expect Science Fiction to do: grabbed my attention and held it.  I did social sciences in school -- I naturally am (geekily) enthralled by history, politics, trivia.  But futuristic claims?  Not what I'm used to.  Ender's Game, friends.  So great.  Here's what Science Fiction does that I love: using more far-fetched realities it creates real commentaries on our current society.  Most are built on the premise that in the future our problems will move to deeper extremes.  Thus, reading these books that exist in the 'extremes' of society helps to illuminate our own current problems.  When you read a book set in distant future and it seems to be pretty truthful to what is happening in present day (especially around propaganda), you know it is good.   Ender had characters that I grew with, plot turns that were widely unexpected and a full, complete story.  I found myself really wanting to talk to people about it which is definitely the mark of a book that has surprised and enthralled me. A great gift the reader in your life (which might be you) but also for a teenager -- boy or girl.  


Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (HGG) is essentially reading a British comedy.  Think of reading Run Fat Boy Run or Death at a Funeral (if you haven't seen those movies, you really should).  It's hilarious, slightly irreverent and quippy.  Thoroughly enjoyed this book.  It's commentary isn't subtle at all, but well worth reading anyway.  And you'll learn the answer to the eternal question.  What more could you ask? 







Finally, Wake.  This book was probably the biggest stretch for me (didn't have the far-off futuristicness of Ender's Game or the humour of HGG).  Set in present day Waterloo, Ontario Wake follows the story of 15 year old Caitlin, who is about to make some huge discoveries about the world and the Internet.  It weaves several disparate stories into one (albeit not quite -- this is the first book in the series and few pieces have been left hanging) which is a style I enjoy. I'm good with switching around and trying to perceive where all the stories will intersect.  Some of the Canadian/math/physics humour was a bit on-the-nose for me.  My big beef?  I don't like it when I have to read more books to get to the ending.  I like books that tells its own story and then I can choose to go farther if I want.   That being said, I totally want to know how it ends.

There is something about the Sci-Fi genre that loves a sequel.  All of these books are the first of series.  But with Ender's Game  and HGG I have been warned several times that the subsequent books aren't worth reading.  This is my PSA not to read the rest of those series.  With Wake, you can check in later.  I'm going to have to read the next two to find out what happens.  

Any recommendations of Sci-Fi reads?  Based on these three, I'm open to what the genre has to offer.  And yes, I have read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  And yes, it is awesome.  

A Tired Month and a Hopeful Month

I have definitely been letting down my side of this blogging bargain -- the part where you read what I write...clearly I haven't been writing.  A few things have happened -- nothing major, just life-- but things that have slowed my hands and my eyes.  Things that are good even: seeing people, spending time with friends, late nights and early mornings.  But things that tire me out, things that change my focus, things that capture my heart.  All good, not bad.  But busy.  Busy so much that I stopped reading.  I stopped reading. 

I went to book club in November and had read not one single word of the book.  Not one.  And, in case you wondered, I'm that kid that did her homework and met deadlines.  I don't go to book club unprepared, let alone unread.  I just don't.  But, then in November, I did. My Kindle sat with lots of choices, I had fresh new books from the store.   But I was tired.  Good tired, but tired nonetheless.  

Realizing I had let go of reading made me feel a little lost.  Adrift.  Unanchored.  And while faith is my great anchor, my tree and my mountain, reading (in all forms) keeps me steady.  Refreshes me and stills me.  It moves me between worlds, ends my day and restores my soul.  Reading is my outlet.  Always has been.   I was in a good rhythm this fall -- reading lots, exploring different genres, carving time out during my day to ground myself.  But when a good rhythm gets broken it is hard to reinstate (read: exercise).  So I have been pushing myself to read for 5 minutes at night or during the day.  Trying to get my head back into the space where it flourishes rather than sleeps.  I still need more sleep; I'd still always choose relationship over convenience and I'd still rather sacrifice a bit of me to be with people.  But I am going to be more careful for myself and making space for what builds me up.  

So now, I'm going to go read a bit.  I've actually been reading sci-fi (WHAT?!?).  If I thought non-fiction was outside my comfort circle, well, sci-fi is practically a foreign language.  But I have, with the help of friends, discovered some gems. More on those soon.

Merry Christmas.  I hope to write again soon, but if not, I hope this season brings small, profound measures of peace and hope in your world.  I do hope, always, for humanity.  I hope for pain to be comforted, thirst to be quenched and peace to be restored.  And my hope is more certainly for you.

Love and peace to all.   

The verdict is in! Food, Glorious Food!

Friends!  

The food from The Homemade Pantry is amazing!  I have made the cornbread, hummus, granola bars and a few other recipes and I have to say -- amazing.  Just delicious.  If I could give you food, I would...but as we are Internet friends, I'll use a story.

Here's my example...

DIY Granola Bars tend to be some epic compromise.  Either they aren't chewy or they aren't crunchy, generally they aren't delicious and seem like a lot of work when the ones in the wrappers are soooo good.  You can disagree with me, it's fine, but in my experience of making granola bars, I hadn't found a recipe that outstripped the ease and yumminess of the store bought brand.  Until Alana Chernila's Car Snacks #3 The Nutty Granola Bar blew my mind.  It is perfect.  Sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, filling, portable--perfection.  They are on my weekly to-make list and when I'm eating one my little 22 month old buddy says, "More! Share! More! Please!"  That's probably the highest praise there is.

This book is officially on my to-buy list.  Added bonuses: great storage tips and the canning method is integrated into the recipes so you it is all spelled out for you.  Anything I can freeze, can or shelf is a win in my world.  

I am about to make a advent calendar that is about doing something each day that prepares our family for Christmas, reflects what it means to us and helps us spend time with each other in quiet, significant ways.  One day is definitely going to be making homemade marshmallows and hot chocolate.  Actually, maybe more than one day!  

Reading and Eating...my version of DIY.

You might have guessed that I love to read.  And I love to eat.  So reading about eating is kind of my favourite thing.  And I love cookbooks.  

My big hesitation around sampling/eating through a cookbook is food cost (not to mention the cost of the books!), specifically random ingredients that I am going to use in tiny portions and be left with a bag full of when the meal is complete.  Not my thing and not my stage of life.  I need recipes that are simple, delicious, healthy and cheap.  And, I am learning, this is completely doable.  

To my great joy, I found The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making by Alana Chernila.  Here plentiful book contains great pictures, captivating stories and (what I hope are) delicious recipes.  I started reading this book when I should have been napping and my fingers have been itching to start creating a pantry full of treats ever since (Thanksgiving kind of got in the way).  

My library-borrowed book now looks like this (picture is also a mini-plug for the ease of these removable tabs):  

I'm excited to get started and see if this book is a buyer (ie, I'll buy it) or a library books (ie, borrow and use intensively for a short period of time).  On my list to make...well, everything!  Butter, ricotta, creme fraiche, instant oatmeal, ketchup, hummus, pesto, roasted tomatoes, granola bars, fish sticks, hot chocolate, marshmallows, butternut squash soup, graham crackers, cheese crackers, caramels and potato chips.  To start, anyway.  I *might* need more than a two week loan!  

This weekend we made cornbread (perfection -- exactly how you want cornbread to taste -- a little sweet, buttery and amazing dipped in chili) and potato chips (time consuming but worth it!  Will absolutely do again.  The crunch and flavour were fully addictive).  I'm going to keep going...so far this one reads and tastes like a winner!

Quitters Sometimes Prosper: Books I've stopped reading & others I should have stopped

I generally like to see things through to the end.  Especially food.  Chocolate should never be left unfinished.  Or these maple covered nuts.  Just sayin.

And I do like to finish most books. But every once and a while, I quit.  I just do.  My need for public confessions makes it clear that peace has not been made with these abdications.  I would love to know if you have ever finished one of these books, if you have loved it and even why I might try again.  (And I am totally up for trying again...that is how I fell in love with Margaret Atwood.  Long story.) I used to think that I would never quit a book--I would always see it through.  Then I became a parent and I learned that words like "never" and "always" are just plain foolish.  

So here is my confession.  I have quit some books. 

(Spoiler alert: At the end are some books I am looking forward to reading, lest this post feel too woe-is-me.)

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Series (Stieg Larsson).  I read the first book and part way through I started skimming.  A) I was (very) bored.  The characters ate way too many sandwiches.  B) I didn't like the violence.  I didn't feel the story was powerful enough to merit the amount of violence involved.  C)  EDIT (and I may be one to talk, but this is a blog, not a book).  So I quit on the whole series.  There was no way I was entering into another long, poorly edited, graphically violent book that seemed to be gruesome just for the sake of it.  But I'm willing to listen to another side of the story.

 

 

Middlemarch (George Eliot) A classic, right?  Have you read this classic?  I tried.  I QUIT.  It was too deep for me.  I don't balk easily at long sentences.  I like to think that any sentence, read properly, is understandable.  ERRONEOUS.  I had to read and re-read sentence after sentence.  It was hard for me to do so--this book as serious theological underpinnings and I have done some schooling in theology.  So I wanted to understand.  My pride wanted me to get it.  But I couldn't follow it.  And yes, it haunts me.

Vanity Fair (William Makepeace Thackery).  Again, a classic.  And while I could follow this story--I just got bored out of my skull.  I wasn't engaged.  Bigger confession: watched the movie just to see the ending. Terrible, I know.  

Lord of the Flies (William Golding).  I'm not sure I quit this one *per se* but I didn't really read the whole thing.  I read the beginning (in grade 11), got busy, saw the movie, read the end for a project (still grade 11) and then never got to the middle.  I feel like a Lord of the Flies flake.  I hope I can't retroactively fail grade 11 English.  

Uh-oh.  This list is getting longer the more I think about it.  Maybe I'll stop.

After all is said and done, I do think it is worth sticking most books out until the end.  That being said, here are a few I wish I had read differently:

Little Bee (Chris Cleave).  This book has a great beginning.  I loved it.  And then the whole thing falls apart.  My book club all felt the same way: great start, riveting and interesting...but then...blurg.  Everything goes downhill.  It is either a brilliant comment on the contrast between Western-suburban culture and rural African life OR it is just not that great.  I think the latter might be the case. 

 

The Expats (Chris Pavone).  I didn't mind this book, I just wish I hadn't started reading it while I was home alone with my kids.  It was midnight before I went to bed because I had to know what happened.  Good read, Bourne-like mystery...but don't read it home alone.  Consider yourself warned.  

 

State of Wonder (Ann Patchett).  This book is added to the list hesitantly because I like Ann Patchett's writing, especially Bel Canto (it is a go-to recommendation for me).  However, this story was too thin or almost too thick--I'm not sure which.  It was well-written but weakly told.  Great moments but too long before anything happens.  However, if you are looking for an exercise in character writing, you could check this book out.

Most books I have read from start to finish, whether I like them or not.  But sometimes, you just have to give up and let a book slide.  Not to worry.  Behind each disappointment is another book waiting to wow you.  I'm off to start Divergent (Veronica Roth), Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)  and The Virgin Cure (Ami McKay).  I'm sure my high hopes will be met!

Good food, good books, good advice!

Friday nights in our house are pizza night.  We used to get take out, but for a few months now we have been making our own.  Not only because my next door neighbour makes the best pizza dough in the world or because our little guy will eat anything sandwiched between bread and cheese, but because there is something so deliciously creative about concocting colourful, plentiful and fanciful pizzas.  If art class had been about pizza making, I would have been a much better student.  

Last night's pizza included on our favourite combos: pepperoni, pineapple and olives.  We amped it up a bit substituting local pork chorizo sausage for the pepperoni and adding some dollops of pesto for a bit of zip (totally inspired by our garden's basil fiesta).  It was amazing.  But I didn't come up with this perfect blend of salty/savoury/sweet on my own...it was on the advice of a good friend.  Who has taught me much about life and love--including how to buy books.

How does one buy a book?  The shelves of bookstores & libraries, large or small, are packed with options.  While I love to bend the ear of our local bookstore experts, they aren't always on hand while shopping online or browse at the library.  So how do you pick?  My good friend, who inspired our pizza last night, taught me her own reliable method:

1) Look at the cover and pick something that looks interesting.  I know, I know -- don't judge a book by its cover.  Fine.  THEN MAKE COVERS BORING.  If you don't want me to use them, stop investing in them.  Until then, I'm going to be drawn to books that have cover I like/find compelling.  And book cover artists know this moth-to-a-flame tendency is true.  Go ahead...use the cover.  Pick something pretty or scary or funky or simple.  Follow your gut.

2) Also use the cover to read about the book .  I'll skip this step on books that come with strong recommendations as I am willing to trust my book-loving friends.  But when I'm on my own, you have to check out the back and find out what you are getting in to.   [nb: I am always wary of the words "disturbing" and "chilling".  These tend to indicate dark topics inside.  Which can be fine, I just like to be warned and to have decided I'm good with some sad content.]  Read the quotes from others and check out who is reading the book as well. 

Still interested?  Okay, step 3.

3) Open to a random page and read a bit.  This step is key.  You will get a sense of the writing and content.  It will give you a chance to engage the book a little bit.  I would also read the Acknowledgements.  They are the 'big picture' of the book and offer a bit of insight into the character of the author without giving away the plot.  

If you are still intrigued about the material then find the book at the library, purchase it or borrow it.  There are lots of local booksellers online and amazing online used bookstores (I like www.abebooks.com).  Look around before going with the big guys...you will be amazed what you can find.

How do you buy a book? 

Why I love Graphic Novels

Oh, the graphic novel.  All of a sudden, a few years back, these came across my radar.  In my naivety, I scoffed--pictures?  comics?  Who needs those?  I like the pictures I create in my head; slowly building up the details as the author paints a word picture.  I'm a reader, I don't need pictures!  Then again, I've been wrong before.  

After all a picture is worth a thousand words.  Especially a good, provocative picture.  Then it is worth a million words (or maybe more).  Graphic novels can go to deep places quickly, because the pictures can move with a speed words cannot. It might not take long to read, but this genre leaves a lasting impression.  

My first graphic novel came from Canada Reads 2011:  Essex County.  I read it as I decided to read all the books but was the least familiar with the style and content of Jeff Lemire's work.  Turns out, it was gripping.  Great story, interesting pictures, heartfelt.  I really enjoyed it.  But I still felt 'out of touch' with the world of graphic novels.  How does one even begin to engage a whole new kind of book.  My limited, incorrect definition of comics (Saturday mornings, super heroes, or Japanese anime) crippled me when I walked into the section.  I hardly knew where to start.  I really liked reading Essex County, but then what?  

 

Recently I came across Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy Delisle (from CBC Book's Summer Reading List).  Also a graphic novel, I was excited to dig in.  And while Essex County was heartfelt, Jerusalem was heart wrenching.  With a wit that transcends his pictures and a poignant eye that notices truth in little moments, Delisle's take on the people, the realities and the challenges of life in the Holy Land fascinated me.  Delisle's story follows his year there with his wife (works with MSF/Doctors without Borders) and children, showing aspects of daily life (like finding a good playground) and big moments (like living through bombings).  He provides lots of simplified background information so that his vignettes are accessible even if you aren't familiar with Middle East relations.  Absolutely challenging subject matter.  But this book is a great way to start engaging with a reality that ought not be ignored. 

Both graphic novels I have read opened my eyes to the beauty of the genre and to the emotions, truths and moments which pictures can convey better than words.  I'm on the hunt for more (probably going to check out Delisle's other books).  Any suggestions? 

Juliet, Czechs and the Saddest Book Ever

I like starting books when I know nothing about them -- it adds a sense of adventure to my literary travels.  Going on recommendations or just curiosity, I stumble into incredible worlds and stories that I might have steered away from had I read the back.  

So it was with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  The title gives away nothing and I walked in blind, joined by a few friends, to the world of Juliet Ashton.  Even though I highly recommend starting books without knowing exactly what to expect, I am going to give you a small snapshot of this book.

World War 2 has just ended and England is searching for footing, hope and stability after a long and arduous war.  Rationing, coupons and devastation still fill the air as author Juliet Ashton provides some relief through her light-hearted stories.  While searching for subject matter that goes deeper, she engages with a group on the small English Channel Island of Guernsey and...well, that's all you need from me.  

You know what I loved about this book?  It was so balanced.  It was funny, sweet, poignant, intruiging, heart breaking, devastating, challenging and witty.  I was captured in minutes.  It took me two days to read this book -- and I have two children under the age of two.  So that meant something (ie, my own sleep) went largely neglected for the sake of the story.  But it was worth it.  When people want to read something 'light but not frivolous' I think this is what they want.  A good story, with great heart, that doesn't burden you with suffering but still goes deeper than surface interactions.  

What would I change?  Just one more chapter.  That's all I wanted.  One more look into what happened.  I would have liked that.  

I love reading about World War 2 (we go way back).  Here are some other books that I would recommend:

Far to Go (Alison Pick).  A story of Czech citizens in World War Two, this story is a present day-past day interaction that culminates in the past and present meeting.  Lovely writing, interesting story and made me want to head back to Prague.  Also, written by a Canadian.

The Book Thief  (Markus Zusak).  See my other posts.  READ!  

 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by (John Boyne).  This story is told from the perspective of a little german boy in WW2.  Adorable in his naivety, it is also one of the saddest books ever.  At one point my hand flew to my mouth and it stayed there until the end of the book.  However, it is a good read.  Just be warned: saddest book ever. 

Reality TV and Food? Count me in!

I like Gail Simmons--not only is she very knowledgeable about food but she gets to wear great clothes and eat for a living.  She has THE BEST JOB EVER (other than being mother to my children, which is the greatest job, period).  But, seriously, I want to be paid to eat for a living.  Unfortunately, my food knowledge is almost entirely gleaned from Food Network shows and one encounter with Susur Lee and his food (totally amazing) so I'm pretty sure I would be a terrible food presenter.  But Gail is a great food presenter.  AND she's on Top Chef.  AND she's Canadian.  AND she wrote a book!  How could I resist?  
  
Eating with My Mouth Full by Gail Simmons

I love food on TV and I particularly love good reality TV about food...and the best of the best is Top Chef.  As a person who has extensively googled about reality shows are filmed, Gail's chapters on being a Top Chef judge and Top Chef: Just Desserts host were enthralling!  She provides great anecdotes without giving away too much.  All the details, little insights and explanations of how such a production happens were morsels of goodness to my ever hungry behind-the-scenes appetite.  Now I just have to get myself on a set one day to see it happen in person! 

Even better than the reality TV dish are her food descriptions. They are amazing.  Drool worthy.  Made me want to live at the St. Lawrence Market and my next trip be to the Aspen Food & Wine Festival.  I was inspired to cook (and bake) for days.  I was made a better cook through her little hints and offerings as she weaves her tale, starting from childhood in Toronto to line cook in Toronto to marketing manager to event producer to TV personality.  Her tone is upbeat and optimistic while maintaining a vulnerability and honesty that I wasn't expecting but really appreciated.  She seems so real as she tells her story and yet the food seems completely unreal and incredibly delicious.  Her lovely, conversational tone adds accessibility to high-end food and life experiences.    

It is clear that Gail loves food.  She made me want to eat and eat and eat.  It was a truly delicious read.  But more than that, it is clear she loves people, her family, her friends and her colleagues.  Her love and respect shine through; her humility and openness make you love her.  

Enjoy the book but make sure you have good snacks handy!  

Elizabeth & Hazel -- the unexpected!

I started reading Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock (on my fancy new e-reader!) blissfully unaware of the subject matter.  I knew it was about a black woman and white woman during desegregation in Arkansas; I naively assumed it was the story of how they became friends and forged a relationship despite the societal pressures against them.

WRONG.  I'll take, "Sarah is completely wrong for $200, Alex" wrong.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.

It is about two women during desegregation, but not two women who get along.  Not even two women who engage in a conversation (or at least them haven't yet, I'm only half way done).  But, so far, they are not forming a friendship.  Admittedly, this lack of relationship-despite-the-odds-theme made me feel remotely better.  Apparently, I was afraid of reading another tale of people overcoming situations.  Reading it against my own life made me feel inadequate and I feared the judgement I would bring on myself.  

I'd like to think I'm a fairly decent person who doesn't discriminate or judge others I don't know based on things like race, ethnicity, social class, etc.  But I do fall prey to many cultural norms and tend to hang out people who are like me.  Okay, fine, people who are exactly like me.  I'm not pushing the boundaries of societal pressure with my relationships.  At all.  So when I started reading Elizabeth and Hazel I thought this would be yet another book that would make me question whether or not I would have been able to be as brave as these women were (to be clear, I'm not brave like Elizabeth but that's another story) and if I would have been able to befriend the outsider.  I was actually pleasantly surprised to find the book more of a historical account of the situation that I find completely fascinating. 

As I am realizing that my assumption was wrong and enjoying the alternative presented, it became clear that a fear of having my relationships examined was a bigger issue than I wanted to admit.  I should be making friends with people who aren't like me: that's how we grow and learn.  I should want to be inspired and challenged into change, not just comforted into complacency.   But sometimes comfort is nice.  But when the potential content of a book brings up fear of examination (and internal struggles), then it is time for a change.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Real life and reading

There are a lot of things that are easier to take in a book than they are in real life.  Tragedy, pain, suffering, rebelliousness, ethical questions are all a bit lighter on the soul when they are hypothetical instead of very real and happening to people you know and love. 

My life has been largely untouched by significant tragedies.  I do not boast in the this but realize that life is the most unpredictable thing and, therefore, I simply live each moment fully and try not to worry about that which I don't control (easier said than done, right?).  But when our little friend was struck by a recycling truck while alighting from her school bus and is in serious but stable condition, it seems like the world has flipped over and I want to go back to the moment before it happened--for her sake, for the family's sake, for the bus driver's sake and for the sake of the truck driver.  One minute before the bottom dropped out of their world.  One minute before things changed irrevocably.  

This is the moment when I want to hide in my books, retreat into worlds that aren't real and therefore aren't causing soul-crushing pain.  I want to be the 9 year old listening to Little Women as an audio book and the 16 year old secretly staying up until 2 am to finish whatever love story I was devouring.  I, like anyone, can use books to escape.  To disappear.  To find reprieve when all seems to painful.  And there is nothing wrong with having an outlet--we all need one--but there is something up if the only reason to read is to escape. 

But reading can also help us engage worlds, stories and people we don't know.  This is perhaps the more important function of reading--to give voice to stories and ideas that need to be heard.  For this reason I have branched in non-fiction--letting situations I would generally avoid because they are painful, unpleasant or ugly speak into my life and stretch me.  Thankfully all non-fiction isn't super serious (read the surprisingly delightful Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? and other concerns by Mindy Kaling) but I try to engage some that is super serious so that reading not only allows me to escape into the romance I love so much and the mythical worlds I find enticing but also teaches me to be a better human, to handle the painful moments better, to live with perspective and balance in a world that feels topsy turvy.

We are praying and hoping deeply for our little friend, Lydia.  Her story is real and will be told, I trust, with an incredible outcome.  But for now we wait and ponder how to help.   All I can do now is try not to escape but engage.  Reading can do both of these -- and there is a moment for each.  How I wish escape and fun were for now, but it is not that time.  Now is the time to engage, learn and grow.  And pray, pray, pray. 

The Paris Wife

I read this book with my book club (some of the most fantastic women I know!) and really had no idea what I was getting into.  Book selection for last month and the coming months all happened while I was having my second little guy, so I was not a part of the process.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the selections the group has made and I have loved being surprised by what the books are about.  So great to have someone guiding the choices sometimes as I end up reading books I otherwise might have missed out on.

The Paris Wife is the story of Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife. At first glance, the title suggests she is central but the very title is actually indicative how how the whole book really revolves around Ernest and his work and not Hadley (even though she tells the story).  After all, the book isn't entitled Hadley Richardson: The Paris Wife but just The Paris Wife.  Her location (Paris) and role (wife) define her in relationship to Ernest rather than explain anything about her own person.  

Ernest Hemingway would have been hard to live with--I'm sure I couldn't have done it and as their marriage disintegrates (not a spoiler alert, it's there from page 1) I really, really wanted Hadley to get out too.  It can be hard to read through such disappointment (my head was ever screaming LEAVE HIM!) but I was curious to see how it all turned out.  Unfortunately, I think this book is only fascinating because it is Ernest Hemingway.  Otherwise, the most interesting character is Europe in the 1920's. 

I am actually a bit more fascinated by how this book was written.  It lives in the land somewhere between fact and fiction.  Historical events and people populating the pages and narratives; meanwhile, the words, behaviours and choices they make are the creation of the author (and, technically, fiction).  I actually love this quality of the book.  Western, modern culture loves black-and-white, true-or-false, fact-or-fiction--when lines blur, when it is hard to discern truth in this hard and fast way, we have trouble knowing what to do.  So this book is fiction but lives in the space of factual relationships.  Can it be true without being fact?  Our desire to determine fact/ficiton, true/false is a pretty new concept.  Before the enlightenment and the 1800-ish's, no one worried so much about fact or fiction...they weren't even really categories.   Therefore, pre-modern interpretations of stories and the world were much more fluid, flexible and open.  Proof didn't come from scientific fact -- proof was in whether or not truth was being told.  Don't get me wrong, I think science has done great things for the world.  But in terms of narrative and story-telling, well, I think we have lost something in our on-going quest for fact and our relegation of fiction.  I like questing for truth--a much more interesting, but blurry, experience!

Some questions to consider:

1.  Ernest is clearly an angst-ridden artist with some deep personal issues.  The hedenistic society of 1920's Paris that he and Hadley inhabit seems to suggest many artists had similar struggles.  Does great art require a certain personal struggle?  Can contendness create great art?

2.  How do you feel about fact/fiction?  Do you value one over the other?  Would you be comfortable reading a book without those labels?  Why or why not?  

What I learned from my children about reading...

I was listening to Stuart McLean yesterday, who I just love, and he was doing a Mother's Day show.   Telling the story of a daughter who taught her mother to read, he said: "A good parent teaches their children the necessary skills to get through life.  A great parent learns from their children."  I thought about how much I love to read and how I hope to translate that to my little boys.  But then I consider what I had already learned from them about reading in their short little lives.  In honour of mother's day, and parents everywhere, this is what I have learned about reading from my children.

Most stories are better if you let someone else tell them.  I'm pretty used to reading in my head and figured this method was the best way to really 'hear' a book.  But as A will bring me book after book and will bring book after book to his grandparents and friends, I started to consider that maybe it much better to have someone else give you their spin on a story.  Then the other person is in control of pace, tone and experience.  And although control is nice to have, it is also good to give up and let someone else guide you through a book.  Easy enough to do with Audio books and friends -- just take a minute a listen.  

Some stories are better when you hear them more than once (and others are not).  Kids books vary greatly in quality--I definitely have some favourites among A & D's collection--and usually I hope those are the ones that get chosen to read.  However, I'm not always that lucky.  Sometimes A chooses the really boring ones or the ones with questionable teachings.  But then there are others, really really simply ones, that you can read a myriad of different ways and with different voices.  There seems to be something good about coming back to books that have lots to them (even if written very simply).  I have learned from A that most likely I haven't gotten everything from a book by reading it once.  If something seems to hold more, it likely does.  And it can be worth coming back to.

Books are better in community.  My little guys love to read with us, or with anyone, for that matter.  And knowing how much they love those moments of sharing a story reminds me to read in community with others.  That is one reason I write this blog -- to foster some small community around reading.  Because I certainly don't have any more expertise to offer than anyone else and it is so good to hear many voices.  That's why I love book club and why I love hearing what others are reading whether it is good, bad or in between.  

I hope to keep learning from my little ones.  Happy Mother's Day! 

Half Blood Blues & WW2

World War Two has an interesting significance for me in my reading history.  When I was younger I found a lull around the ages of 12-14 when books were either too young or too old for me either in content or writing style.  It was around that time that I found a number of books about World War Two and started devouring them -- the dynamic between the Nazis and the Jewish population; the realities of people living in England; the way Canadians and Americans reacted all started to enthrall my young imagination.  Years later, I still love history and even studied history at school.  A lot of that love is rooted in the readings I did as a preteen: I was engaged by the material and wanted to understand more.  

Today, WW2 still looms large on the literary scene and provides a fascinating back drop for telling the stories of marginalized and persecuted people as well as people with tremendous power.  Half Blood Blues  lives in WW2 Europe -- Paris and Berlin -- and modern day Poland, weaving the tale of a group of jazz musicians who found a community in Europe between the wars.  An eclectic group of American, Jewish, Black and German musicians, they find themselves living in the spaces between legal and illegal, legitimate and illegitimate, accepted and yet dismissed.  

I was lucky enough to be in Berlin a few years ago and it was so great to read about places I had been, seen and experienced.  Guess I'll just have to get to Paris sometime soon!  

Before I talk about what I thought of this book, I have to admit something: I'm not quite sure if it is ever important to answer the question: "Did I like this book?"  After all, is any book really about me 'liking' it or are the books about themselves?  The stories being told might be more important than whether or not I enjoyed myself.  Given, I am drawn to stories, places and characters I enjoy but when it comes to important content and important ideas that push my boundaries and challenge my assumptions, well, then I am willing to put myself aside and be pushed.  Half Blood Blues forced me to do some of that.  I found the language hard to understand at first.  Some of the slang wasn't clear and it took me a few chapters to get into the way the story was being told.  By the time I got through most of the book, I was dying for a full sentence.  And by the end, I felt that the emphasis on the past and modern story lines was out of balance.  But (and more to the point) I think the story is good and important -- there are people living in these crevices still today, on the edge of society and they need to be seen.  As the story is told, you get the sense that the gang was only noticed by a few reputable people or the law.  Most 'self-respecting' people steered clear.  Why?  Because they looked different, because their music was different and because they were told to.  It is an on-going goal in my life that I try to see beyond what I am being told to see, but books like this one remind me to open my eyes and notices the places in between.  The spots where no one is looking.  The spots where great music and great tragedy can meet.  Because it is in those small spaces that life happens.   


Coming soon: other WW2 books that are well worth reading!

The Wild West, Frontier America and Some Sisters Brothers

 Wild West might be an exaggeration -- but The Sisters Brothers is set in frontier America, on the West Coast, during the Gold Rush -- so really, similar timing, just a *bit* later on.  And, well, not really in the Wild West but more so in the Pacific Corridor.  But you get the picture -- gun-totting, horse-riding, beard-wearing, gold-stealing miscreants on a hit job.  Sounds violent?  It kinda is, but not so much that it is off putting.  Sound sweet and a little touching? No?  Well, it kinda is that too -- the characters are well developed in a simple style and with enough depth that you end up rooting for the apparent 'bad guys'.  

Patrick DeWitt's writing is compelling without being complicated and his off beat sense of humour jumps off the page in little fire cracker moments.  The sparse nature of his narrative adds to the setting and helps you feel the sparseness of life on the edge of the law and society.  Not surprised it won several awards.  Like good food, simple but well executed always triumphs. 

Truly enjoyable read!  That brought a few others to mind...

I've also read Willa Cather's The Song of the Lark and O Pioneers! which are both set in a similar time period -- the cusp of the modern era, the mid-nineteenth century, as the USA finds its footing and its personality.  Cather's writing is more dense (but compared to DeWitt, my 1 year old's books look wordy) but still entices you into a place that seems almost impossible to reach -- what is left of the imagination of discovery and pioneering?  Travel is simple, accessible and common.  I love the spirit of the characters in both DeWitt's work and Cather's: they are all attempting to forage out life against the odds.  

Finally, The Sisters Brothers couldn't help but make me think of one of the strangest little books I have ever read: McTeague.  I had to read McTeague for a class in university, with a professor who taught history without dates and just wanted you to get a 'feel' for the era.  Well, to his credit, I suppose I did.  After all, as I read The Sisters Brothers, that class came right back to my mind (and it has been awhile since I did my undergrad).  All I could think about was the characters and story of McTeague which are almost beyond description.  A multi-layered, graphic look into the psyche of a turn of the century San Franciso, McTeague stays with you -- for better or for worse. 

Books, babies and teething...

Monday morning: it's been a week and our little guy, A, has decided that he is above sleeping.  Or napping.  Or being content.  He has good moments, sure, but he certainly is not himself.  For the first time in 14 months, I feel pretty confident saying this little patch is teething.  Afterall, I can actually see molars and eye teeth pushing through with white little points and I'm guessing that can't feel good.  What also doesn't feel good?  Not sleeping.  Any of us.  And being nine months pregnant & not sleeping = a deep sense of worry.  What will I do when there are two babies?  So, as I cuddle A to sleep and remind myself that all of parenting is more or less a 'phase' I ask myself, what am I modelling for this child?  What am I teaching him?  I hope he is learning that he is deeply loved.  On top of that, I am trying to show him that we read, that we play outside, that we snuggle and that there is no greater gift than love.  But when all you want to do is drift off to sleep all day long, it is hard to remember parenting is an amazing honour and not a tiring burden.

Pride and Prejudice is far and away my favourite book.  But when Elizabeth and her Darcy don't fit the bill, I often turn to another life long friend--Anne of Green Gables.  Particularly Anne of Avonlea and Anne of Ingleside, two in the 7 book series about Canada's favourite willowy red-head.  It was a good thing that I re-read (okay, skimmed for the parts that make my heart swell) Anne of Ingleside last week.  Now a mother, Anne finds herself living with the big adventures of little souls (as well as some classic Anne-Gilbert interaction) and spends a good deal of the book reflecting on motherhood.  She talks of chubby knees, velvet elbows and grasping hands that are so incredible, so lovely and so worth loving.  When A is crying in his crib and B and I are both living in sleep deprivation I listen hard to the words of Anne as she reminds me that this little man (and his soon-to-be sibling) are worth every minute.   What are a few hours of my night?  What are long hours of my day?  What else is more important than nurturing this little soul? Yes, my sanity is up there because that is what I need in order to do the nuturing, but motherhood has made me find that sanity at a deeper level.  Strength from new, deeper sources.  Although Anne Shirley and her little brood are ficticious and not a terribly well balanced look at motherhood, they are nonetheless an example of seeing beyond the precarious moment and remembering that this second is fleeting and worth savouring.   

Not that I think he needs to be spoiled--his newest baby sign language sign is 'please' and we are pretty insistent on responding to 'please' over the point-and-grunt that A so prefers to use.  I also know that sometimes he just has to cry and that you don't learn to walk without falling.  But when he is in pain, a little fevery and distressed, what else can I do?  Perhaps you have ideas.  But in the moment, all I have is my instinct. Thank goodness for books that remind me of truth beyond myself.  

With all The Elegance of a Hedgehog.

When I was in grade ten my history teacher told me I "wrote like a gorilla."  He even put it on my interim report card.  While it seems harsh, it was true.  I have always worked at writing--editing carefully (okay, not so much on the blog) and really forcing myself to take a detailed look at grammatical rules.  I'm still fuzzy on some things (like split infinitives) and ever mindful of number agreement (so much easier to use 'them' when he/she is the right choice) but more or less, I have gotten over my gorilla-like tendencies.  Even by the end of grade 10, great strides had been made.

So when someone loves grammar or is very aware of the rules, I'm a bit in awe.  After all, I am usually doing my best to keep my head above grammatical water, let alone be able to notice grammatical flaws in public places.  I can edit and edit and edit but I don't usually choose to edit my daily surroundings.  In my experience, being too critical always ends badly. 

Grammar, and all of it foibles, plays a central role in The Elegance of the Hedgehog (I really, really love the title).  Two characters tell their own quest for truth, meaning and beauty while facing the day-to-day limitations of life and culture in modern day Paris.  A little dense, yes.  A good read, certainly.  I openly admit to skimming sections that are waxing philosophical on art and the theory of art.  I much preferred the narrative elements to the philosophical, metaphorical musings.  But whenever the author was about to lose me because we had droned on about art long enough, the story reappeared and drew me in again. 

To summarize: if lofty language and academic prose aren't your thing then this book is not for you.  However, if you are willing to read with a dictionary close at bay (another argument for e-readers), this book is a sweet read with a touching finish.  And you will completely understand why such a a title would ever be given to a book. 

Next up: a recommendation The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More (Roald Dahl) and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Alan Bradley)

Canada Reads #4: On a Cold Road

So if I said I wasn't a hockey fan (see my thoughts on The Game) then I should also admit that I am not a huge rock'n'roll fan.  However, I do love music and love love love performing (in my own little head I'm a Broadway star) which is probably why I enjoyed On A Cold Road as much as I did. 

I was a little surprised--after all, this is the wayward story of The Rheostatics as they traipse around Canada with The Tragically Hip.  As a fan of CBC Radio, I had definitely heard/of The Rheostatics but to assume that I would therefore enjoy a story of their cross-country travels?  I wasn't so sure. 

But I loved it!  It was an easy read (not nearly as dense as The Tiger) and was a great insight into what day-to-day life is like for most musicians/artists.  For me, the little stories that happen behind the scenes, the things the audience is never meant to know or notice, those are the stories I love.  And I also appreciate Bidini's willingness to share his book space.  After a story or two about The Rheostatics, he turns to the voice of "the chorus" -- a whole group of singers/musicians/music industry people who share his/her own story about a topic--their first gig, worst buses they toured on, little towns they will always remember playing in, and so on.  All of these great windows into the nitty, gritty parts of being a Canadian musician.   All compellingly written in a way that even if you have no idea  who they are talking about (like me), you can somehow relate to the story, the moment, the experience.  Where I felt like The Game never really let me get that close to hockey and the real life of an athlete, On a Cold Road managed to let me get close to the musicians and allowed me to experience all the emotions of being on the road. 

But, in all fairness, I am a performer.  I try to find my way on some kind of stage at least once a year.  I love the backstages, the comradery and the amazing transformation from regular people to actors that comes the second you enter the wings of the theatre.  Nothing is quite like creating art, creating yourself and creating community through music.  So, in that sense, I get Bidini's story.  It compels me because it allowed me to enter into the backstage of a world I will never know (ie. rock'n'roll).  It also reminds me of the moments that I hold so dear--moments no photo, no words, no blog could ever capture.  Moments that are pure art, pure relationship, pure community. 

Wanna know what it's like?  Let On A Cold Road tell you.