A set of six for JB

I read this because it'd been a while since I joined in on a goodreads Constant Reader book club discussion. I always enjoy those discussions so much. So much intellect flowing over the wires. I don't regret having read the novel, but it wasn't worth interrupting my read of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Jean Brodie is a captivating teacher who cares a little too much about herself. I couldn't help but love her "liberal" attitude for the time period. Very much a feminist in "her prime." The only other adult female characters are the spinster school mistress who is about as unhappy as an elephant who is being attacked by a pride of lions, and a Catholic mother who has a billion children with a man who sleeps with his students after he paints them nude. So, despite all Miss Brodie's flaws (she's obviously lonely, fooled by the romanticism of the fascists, and a pretty terrible teacher) she definitely feels like the winner.

The story is mostly told from the perspective of one of her students. Who I personally think has a VERY unhealthy infatuation with Miss Brodie. Others in the constant reader group don't see it that way. They think poor Sandy was a victim . . . they obviously don't work with teens all day. Sure, they are impressionable, but her obsession (which I almost view as lust) for Miss Brodie is not so innocent.

I didn't really like the writing. It's humorous at times, and I did enjoy that the narrator was anonymous and omniscient. I just don't think the read is something I'd deem classic, and I'm not sure how it's stuck around so long. I'll have to rent the movie.

Batu Kawa, I love you

This is a book I couldn't have understood without my time spent in Batu Kawa, East Malaysia. Even still, much of the statistical math calculations turned me off to the reading (and I still have no idea what a hedge fund is). And ironically, I recognize that by the world standards many living in the Batu Kawa neighborhood would actually be considered "well-off."

What struck me most, was the idea that as long as people want to be rich -- millions of others will have to be poor. Not just poor; destitute.

It's inevitable, and that made this book very depressing. Yet the globalization gap is so fascinating I just couldn't stop reading (even the chapters about hedge funds which I so clearly did not understand). Economically, the impact we all have on each other is much more pressing than our impact environmentally, even though the two co-exist.

In short, I disapprove of the free market and capitalism more than I did when I set out reading this book. By comparison, before I felt disapproval, after I feel disdain. And still, I feel deflated. The realization that there is no conceivable way to ever educate my fellow country men on the matter to point of real change is overwhelming. Even if that were possible, convincing rulers of developing countries to follow suit is even more unfeasible. A solution is unworkable.

The only hope is to make sure that every human being have healthy drinking water, basic health care, and mere literacy. How can such simple things be so hard for the world to achieve?

Wealth.

Travel the Country

I really liked this book. It took me a bit too long to read, never a good sign. But the story was told very "cutely." I loved the protagonists voice. Her grandparents (who she spends the whole book with) are equally adorable. I loved following them as they traveled across the country. The details of the drive were captivating.

I actually didn't love the whole Phoebe story. Even though that was pretty much half the point of the whole story. I just didn't think it really fit as well as it should have. I'm glad Phoebe's family had a happy ending. I probably should have been a little more saddened by Sal's family's story. But as a teacher, I love stories that simply touch on tough topics and depict real life emotions.

I will definitely keep this on my kids' shelf. I see myself being the type of mother that has mandatory summer reading. Won't that be fun! But there are just so many great books out there for our independent readers.